Vorik, Samantha Wildman, and Holodoc all sat in the confines of the Class II. Shuttle. Permission had been granted to look at the planet called "Creation". Each were curious to see what a planet so beautifully named had to offer.
Their guide, a young male by the name of Glmovr, pointed out interesting geographical wonders as well as describing various elements.
". . .all within a few hours walk, you can see and experience, a myriad of different environments and areas."
"This is fascinating. It reminds me of the "Genesis" project." Vorik said, studying the view out the window.
"Yes, but Genesis self destructed." Samantha said.
"Pardon?" Glmoyr asked.
"We had a planet very similar in the Alpha Quadrant. Developed by one of our most brilliant scientists. They made a mistake in developing it's matrix, using proto-matter. It didn't survive very long." Vorik volunteered.
"I can assure you, this planet is very stable. Has been as far as the collective mind can reach." Glmoyr said. "It is very sacred to our people and unfortunately, the Meadarit also claim it as theirs. The only nice thing about them is that they, too, believe the planet to be sacred."
A beeping sound interrupted the conversation. Vorik looked at the instrument panel and brought up the display. Holodoc also decided to look.
"Metallic object. Approximately two meters in length. Alloy properties."
"Can you get a closer scan on it?" Samantha asked.
"Yes," Vorik tapped in a few controls. "Photon casing. Registry. . ." an eyebrow rose into brown bangs. "USS Voyager."
"Fascinating." Holodoc said.
"But this isn't right." Samantha said. "We didn't eject it toward here. We sent it in a perpendicular direction. It shouldn't have came close to here at all."
Glmoyr looked at his companions. "We found the tube floating through our space. Scans detected a body in it from an unknown species. We bury our own hero's in space as well. The elders thought it would be more beneficial to the memory of the person to bring them here. It is said that their ralimrl will walk free."
"Should we inform the captain?" Vorik asked.
"Perhaps we should. She may want to know about this." Samantha answered. Doc reached over and tapped the communications console.
"EMH to Captain Janeway."
"Janeway here. What can I do for you?"
Doc looked at his fellow officers. "It's something we found on the planet, captain."
"Well, what is it?" Kathryn replied.
"Captain," Samantha began, knowing that if she informed the captain, the words wouldn't sound so hollow. "We found Commander Chakotay's tube."
Silence went through the frequency and enveloped the shuttle. "I see." Came the soft voice of the captain.
"We're going in for a closer look, captain." Vorik said. "Do you. . .require anything?"
"No. Just keep me advised. Janeway out."
**
Kathryn sat back in her chair and stared at the ceiling. Her hands crossed over her stomach. That news was the last that she wanted to hear. She had wanted him to continue the journey; to be part of the stars. She didn't want him bound to a planet. Chakotay had never seemed to the type. More at home in space.
She closed her eyes a moment. Kathryn hadn't been in a blue funk like this since they had gone through the void a couple of years back. She thought how selfish she'd been, leaving everything on Chakotay's shoulders.
When she opened her eyes a half hour later, she saw something out of the corner of her eye. Kathryn blinked a few times to clear her eyes and when she again looked, the image she saw was gone.
"I must be losing it." Kathryn said to herself.
She could have sworn she saw Chakotay, standing against her bedroom door, scrutinizing her.
**
The four shuttle occupants made their way through the underbrush to where the tube lie in lush greenery. The four stopped and looked, none really wanting to open it up. Only Doc had seen the state of the commanders body after the radiation had killed him.
"Fine." Doc said and stepped forward. He reached down and unfastened the clasps that kept the lid closed. He lifted it, sure of what he'd see. He didn't see anything.
"Doc?" Samantha asked.
"It's the commanders coffin all right. But his body. . ."
"Yes?"
Doc looked at Samantha and Vorik. "His body is gone."
V. Meeting
Kathryn couldn't believe the news that Doc and the science team had brought back. It was bad enough that Chakotay's tube had been taken from space where she had sent him, but now. . .She didn't want to think about it.
Her request had been sent to both the Senpicol elder and the Meadarit leader. She walked confidently into the conference room, alone. Her mind was in jumble.
". . .absolutely not, captain. That planet is sacred."
"But if there is a chance my first officer is still alive, I'd like to retrieve him." Kathryn stated firmly.
"And we'd like to help you, captain. But part of our agreement. . ." The Senpicol elder indicated to himself and Meadarit leader. "is that nothing is taken from the planet."
"Surely you can make an exception." Kathryn said.
"By allowing this woman to do so would be in direct violation of our agreement." The Meadarit commented, flattening his fat hand against the table.
"This isn't a matter of having just my first officer back, its a matter of crew moral." Kathryn stated. "I'm not sure I believe what you're saying. But if my first officer's body is alive, then I must have him back."
"Absolutely not."
Kathryn sighed. "Is there anyway I can convince you to allow me to have his body?"
The Meadarit looked at her. His eyes ran over her body, taking inventory. "A good reason? State it." It sounded more like a challenge.
Kathryn took a deep breath. "How about that I'm carrying his child."
The Meadarit looked at her. "No. Not at all. You don't want to risk war between your new found friends and us, now do you?" Kathryn slugged down the rest of her drink.
"No. I won't risk that." She gave the Meadarit a false smile. "I had to try."
"Of course." He said. Kathryn stood, the Senpicol elder rising with her. They left together. When far enough away, the elder turned to her. "You carry this officers child?"
"Yes." Kathryn said.
"Look, it is against the rules. But if you can retrieve body and bring it back here, we can rejoin his *ralimrl* with his body."
"I won't risk a war between you and your neighbors." Kathryn said. "No matter how much is at stake."
"I'll tell you what. You go. Act like you've turned against us. Retrieve the body of your beloved. I will give you the coordinates to a nearby planet. There, we can perform the ceremony." Kathryn smiled and the two went about making the plans. She hailed various members of her crew to tell them what she wanted, since they would not only have to convince the Senpicol, who were privy to the situation, but the Meadarits who also roamed the space station and planet.
**
Kathryn walked to the lift at the far side of the promenade where Neelix, Harry and Seven awaited.
"The word, captain?" Seven asked.
"The word is no. I am therefore going there anyway."
"The plan is implemented, you can count on us." Neelix said.
"Very good." They stepped into the lift. Kathryn tapped her comm badge. "Tuvok, the Kobayashi Maru is set sail for the promised land. Please inform all parties that simulation will begin on my order."
"Aye, captain."
"Shall I prepare the Delta Flyer, captain?" Tom said over the link.
"Yes, and the Class II. I want to take no chances." Kathryn said as the lift began moving them toward their destiny.
VI. Shared
Chakotay wasn't sure how it happened. He was floating next to Kathryn and the next thing he knew, he was sharing the consciousness of the Holodoc. It was strange. Mobility, speech, thought were all processed differently.
Once they had known that Chakotay was again free of his body, as he had once years before. The doctor implanted the same plan as he had then, only now, putting the consciousness of the dead first officer into the his own body; where it would be safe.
This time though, he couldn't share the same thought as he had the other time. This time, Chakotay was nothing more then an observer.
Yet he still couldn't get it through his mind that something was wrong with Kathryn. She didn't seem like herself.
He chalked it up to his being dead and Voyager being repaired.