So, here's the usual.  I don't own any of the Star Trek characters in this story.  If I did I would be a lot richer.  But Takma, Kail, Rosin, Aria, Xara, and all the other characters that you have never heard of before because they aren't in the Star Trek universe, they belong to me.  I would also like to apologize for not having the doctor, Harry, Tuvok, or Seven in the story more.  I'll try to make up for it in this one.The Fates SeriesPart ThreeVeil of InnocenceBy: Alys Landale	No matter who it might be, whenever two people are confined to small quarters together, the tension is always thick.	"Damnit, don't do that!"  	Aria and Paris had been stuck inside the small shuttle for over a day now with little to keep them occupied.   The only thing that separated them was the wall of curses forged from the two room mates.	"If you would be still, I wouldn't have to," Paris responded to Aria's protesting.  	Aria grew still.  Tom then gently raised the bandage that she had wrapped around her shoulder.	No, two people could never get along in such close proximity to one another for over a day.  However, both Aria and Paris had always been exceptions to the rule.	"It looks like it's healing fairly well.  I wouldn't move it too much or it might open up again."  Paris began to wrap her shoulder back up.  He made sure to be as careful as possible as he did this.	He had awoken a couple of hours ago to find her at the helm.   After she had refused to go to sleep as he had asked, the two had begun to talk.  Once he saw her wince in pain from her injury he demanded she let him take a look at it.  After a few protests she had finally consented.	"You're pretty good at that." she said.  The man had the most nimble fingers that she had ever felt.  That was probably why he was such a good pilot.	"Yeah, well I'm finding out all kinds of things I can do." he said absently.	She turned to face him.  "I'm sorry."	He gave half a smile, "It's not your fault.  If it wasn't for you I'd probably still be stuck in that damn cell."	She let her hand wander up to his hair.  She had never seen a being with such golden hair.  She gently pushed a piece off his forehead.   "I can't make up for what they did to you, but if you want, I could try to help you to remember your past."	He let his eyes meet hers.  They were the deepest violet he had ever seen.  But then again he couldn't remember much.  Her blue hair also accented the delicate features of her face.  But he knew that despite her tiny body and the beauty she possessed, a warrior's spirit filled her soul.	"Can you do that?" he asked.	"I won't make any promises but I will tell you this.  I’ll try as hard as possible to help you."	"Thank you.  That means a lot."	Aria was caught off guard by the sincerity in his voice. No one had ever spoken to her like that before.  The trust that he had in her meant a lot. 	She soon realized how close they had become.  She quickly pulled back.  "Umm, what about you.  I mean I should look over your wounds as well.  They might need some tending to."	"No need.  I checked them a while ago.  It looks like they have all sealed up."	She nodded.  She knew he had an advanced healing factor so there wasn't much point in feeling over his body.  That would just put more ideas in her head.  She couldn't let her own emotions cloud the mission that she had been preordained to fill.  It wasn't her destiny to be with him.  She just had to get him ready for his own destiny.	*I just need to clear my mind.* she told herself.	"Well, do you think you could take the helm.  I ‘d like to go in the back and try to clean myself up."	"No problem.  Do you mind telling me just where we're going?" he asked.	She thought about not telling him.  No what was she thinking, this man trusted her, she should trust him.  "We're going to one of the Resistance Bases in this area.  I'm a Commander there so I'm sure they'll help us."	"The Resistance it is then."  He turned to the Helm.  From the information he had 'assimilated' he knew what the Resistance was.  It was a group of rebel forces who were trying to bring down the Empire and return freedom to the territories the Empire had conquered.  From the files at Takma's base, they appeared to be made up of almost a hundred different species, all of which the Empire had subjected to its rule.	Aria went to the rear of the shuttle.  She had to get her mind off the man at the Helm.  He didn't even have a name yet, but all she could think about was calling out his name in a very pleasurable moment.	*You are too horny for your own good Aria.*	Curses rained through the air as Takma and Kail stepped out of their escape pod.  Not only had she lost one of her secret facilities and a means to dethrone her husband, but Takma was now forced to explain to her spouse, Portus, just what had happened.  Of course just what lie she was going to rely on this time was still up for debate.  	"Have you figured out what story you are going to use." Kail asked her.	She silently fumed.  "Just go along with what I say.  And remember, not a word about the Resistance ship that we sent out."	Kail nodded.  He wasn't stupid.  If the Pretor knew that they had been conspiring against him, neither one would be alive tomorrow.	The ship that had brought them in was none other than Portus's personal battleship.  He would be looking for an explanation and she needed a good one.  She just hoped that time would be on her side and he would be his usual tardy self.	"Why Takma, how did you ever come to be out here."  Takma's hopes were dashed the moment she heard her husband's words.  He always put up a front in the presence of his inferiors, she only hoped that he wouldn't be too mad once they were in private.	"Portus my dear, I'm so thankful that you were able to find us."  Takma flashed her husband the most sincere smile she could create.	"That still doesn't explain what you’re doing here."  He was cutting to the chase.  Takma could read the expression of his face:  what the hell were you doing.	She knew that he didn't appear to be as tough as he actually was.  He was tall with slicked-back black hair.  He had the usual tan skin of most Parvanians as well as deep spikes over his onyx eyes.  By any other standard he would be considered quite handsome.  All except for the cold, icy glare that emanated from his eyes.  It was the glare of someone who had seen his share of battles.  Someone who had killed men in cold blood for no reason at all.  It was the glare of a murderous dictator.  But of course, to be a Pretor in the Empire, one had to have killed at least a few on his rise to the top.	Takma turned back to the subject at hand.  "I was overseeing some research in one of my laboratories when the substances that we were experimenting on got out of control.  We were forced to evacuate and use the self destruct to prevent contaminating the area around us.  I'm just thankful that you were here to rescue us, otherwise we might still be floating out there in that escape pod."	She said these words in the most feminine voice possible.  She tried to make his hormones override his logic.  That was usually how she got what she wanted.	He seemed to buy it.  "Perhaps next time you will inform me of your whereabouts before you go about doing things of this nature" He turned to Kail.  "I instructed you to watch out for her.  Is this how you obey orders?"	Kail looked down.  "I am sorry sir.  It will not happen again."	"It had better not.  I don't like failure, General.  Remember, you are just as expendable as anyone else."	"Yes sir." replied Kail.	"Now Takma, since I have finally been able to track down my wife, I was wondering if you might endow this ship with your presence for the time being.  I realize how you can never stay in one place for a long time, but I am 'asking' you to at least join me for dinner tonight."	Takma picked up the sarcasm as he said  'asking'.  If she denied there was no telling what the consequences.  "I would be honored." 	"Very well, I shall send for you tonight."  He then slightly bowed. "Until tonight then."	She bowed in response.  It was a Parvanian custom to do so when greeting or leaving someone for whom they held respect.  Takma just did it for reputation's sake.	As Portus left, both Takma and Kail breathed an involuntary sigh of relief.  Now all they had to do was make sure that no one else could dispute their story.	She turned to Kail.  "Now, you make sure that no other 'witnesses' are alive to let the truth get out.  But if you find Doctor Rosin, keep him alive.  He might still be of use."	Kail nodded.  "And while I'm shooting down escape pods what might I ask will you be doing."	She smiled.  "Why I'll be getting ready for dinner."*	Seven reviewed the tricorder readings brought back from a week ago.  She had not had time to properly review them due to the chaos that had ensued after the death of Mr. Paris.   When she had first heard the news, she had felt a pain growing inside her.  She could not decipher what it meant, all she knew was that she had felt the same thing the moment One had died.  She had at first attempted to talk with Captain Janeway about it, but after bringing up the topic the captain had become even more distant.  She seemed to seclude herself since arriving back from the mission	*I shall consult the Doctor then* she resolved.	Ensign Kim then interrupted her reverie as he entered astrometrics.	“Seven,” he said in greeting.	“Ensign Kim, I have just begun reviewing the data of these tricorders.  It seems that this technology is quite more advanced than that of Voyager.  It would be advantageous to attempt to equip Voyager with these shield specifications.  I believe that we could modify our current shielding by inducing a post harmonic spectrum into...”	“Thanks Seven but how about we just finish reviewing everything first then see what modifications we can make.”  Harry walked past Seven over to a console on the other side of the room.  He tried not to make eye contact with the Borg but was unsuccessful.	“Ensign Kim, your eyes are bloodshot  and your speech is two decibels lower than its normal pitch.  It appears that you have not been using enough time to regenerate.  Explain.”  Seven rose an ocular implant.  Usually the ensign was one of the most reliable people on the ship.  He was one of the few people that she found ‘predictable’.  Now she was puzzled at his recent show of carelessness.  She also seemed annoyed by it as well, but she decided to ask the doctor about that later.	“I just didn’t get enough sleep last night that’s all.  Now could we please get to work.”  He brushed her off gruffly.  	“I have observed that since the away team returned you have used that excuse six times.  Is it the death of Mr. Paris that has brought this recent lack of sleep?”	Harry’s face reddened.  “His death?!  You treat it like you don’t even care.  I’ve spent the entire last week comforting B’Elanna, trying to keep up the image that nothing’s wrong, and you ask me if it is his ‘death’ that has caused this.” Harry immediately regretted letting his temper go.  Seven was still trying to understand her emotions.  He shouldn’t begrudge her just because she had stated what she was thinking.  “I’m sorry Seven.  It’s just, he was my best friend.  Whenever I needed to talk to someone he was the first person that I would turn to .  And now that he’s gone, I’ve been  someone that everyone else could  relinquish their problems onto.   But there hasn’t been anyone I could talk to about this.”	Seven stared at Harry.  She was still trying to comprehend the flood of emotions that he had unleashed.   “I am sorry for any offense that I may have made toward you.  I have been experiencing similar... feelings since first hearing of Mr. Paris.  I have tried to decipher these feelings but have been unsuccessful.  After approaching Captain Janeway on the matter, I was given the impression that she did not want to discuss the matter.  Perhaps it would be beneficial to both of us if we each spoke to the other about these emotions.”	It was Harry’s turn to be awestruck.  He had never thought that Seven was also upset about this.  She had worn her own ‘mask’ to the matter so well that he couldn’t tell what she had felt.  He felt a little guilty about being so blind.  He had considered himself one of the few people on Voyager who really understood her.	“Okay Seven, where do you want to start.”*	“So Takma just what were you doing out in that research base of yours anyway?”	Takma was alone with Portus in his private chamber.  They sat at the dining table eating.  She had dreaded this moment.  He was not as shrewd as she, but he was by no means dumb either.  He was also twice as strong as she, and that was the biggest odd against her.	She then decided to play her gambit.  “Well, if you must know, I was there aiding in the capture of an alien vessel.”	He looked puzzled.  “And why didn’t you just alert me to its presence.  I could have sent you some of my ships to aid in its capture.”	She could see he was beginning to fall for it.  Fortunately for her Kail had announced the news that all the survivors of the base had been taken care of.  He also had another bit of news.  The ship, Voyager, that they had tried to capture had destroyed the ship they had sent.  Usually she would be extremely upset over this kind of turn of events, however this only proved to help her in a liable excuse.	“Well, you see, there is this ship Voyager.  It is unlike any we have encountered before.  I first encountered it while on the Bonthos with General Kail, that is why we were still together.  He was helping me capture the vessel.  I had intended to use it so as to prove to you that I can take care of myself.  However it destroyed the ship that I deployed after it.”  She held her breath.  If the Fates were kind, he would buy it.	“And just where is this ship now?”	The Fates had shown down upon her.  “We last had their coordinates located in the Decan sector of this territory.”	“Then I will send this fleet after it.  Don’t worry, we shall have the ship.”  He then began to eat again.  This was not what Takma wanted though.	“My dear, I was wondering if you might let me take care of this matter.”  He looked up at this but she continued.   “In many of the species we have conquered before, they have alerted their allies about us and we have wasted precious resources and time in tracking down and conquering all of them.  It would be much more practical if we could study this species before imprisoning them.  Scans have shown that they are not even from this quadrant.  If we could convince them that we are trying to help them then perhaps we could gain the needed information more easily and in the process find a way to find out where others of their species reside and then conquer them.”	He was silent for a few moments.  Takma thought that perhaps she had overstepped her bounds this time.  Finally he spoke.  “I always knew that you were a smart being my dear but this... This is pure genius.  With any luck we can use them in overthrowing some of our Resistance enemies as well.  Good work my dear.”	She breathed a sigh of relief.  She didn’t want to  tell him her real reasons for doing this.  If she could find a route to this species’ home world she might be able to find even more like the alien she had discovered at the space station.  *Yes this might prove to be more profitable than I had first anticipated.*	Paris guided the shuttle down to the planet below.  It was a desert planet.  Violent storms filled the upper atmosphere which made it difficult to land.  Aria thanked the Spirit that he was such a good pilot.  She wasn’t too bad herself but she usually managed to have at least made whatever engineer was below cuss her into the ground for the damage she had caused to a shuttle, or sometimes building.  However, the man at the Helm had no apparent trouble bringing them down to the surface.	The shuttle rocked to the side for one moment.  “Sorry about that,” replied Paris.  “It looks like there’s a little more turbulence than first anticipated.”  He straightened the ship out.  “There is a base down there, right.”	“Oh yeah, there’s a base ‘down’ there alright.”  Aria smiled a little as she said this.	Paris on the other hand looked puzzled.  However, all his questions were answered as the clouds parted.  Aria came to stand behind him.  He stared out the window at a huge canyon underneath them.  It looked like a bottomless pit. 	“Just take us down that chasm there.” she said.  He looked a bit suspicious.  “Or would you rather have me take over.” she asked.	“No thanks.  I think I can handle it.”	He flew them down between the ledges of rocks down to the bottom of the chasm.  He was about to ask her when it ended when he saw a flicker of metal from the side of the canyon.	*I guess there isn’t a bottom.* he thought.	“Nope there isn’t.  The pit extends all the way to the center of the planet and out to the other side.”	Paris had almost forgotten that Aria and he still had the telepathic link they had established earlier.	He looked at the structure before him.  He could tell that the metal walls were encased with shields and at least a few yards thick on the front side.  All the other sides were embedded within the rock of the surrounding wall.  	“Mind telling me the name of this establishment?”	Aria replied in a professional tone.  “This is Resistance headquarters.  It’s called Kuran.”	Paris nodded and took another look at the building.  “Well, do you think we should knock?”	Danag sat at the Communications controls inside the Resistance Base.  He was bored beyond belief.  *Damnit, what do I have to do to get some action around here.*	At this point he would give anything to just be on a ship caught in a dog fight with Imperial fighters, instead of being stuck inside this boring little room.  It wasn’t that he actually liked fighting that well, in fact he usually shunned it whenever possible.  But sometimes boredom could drive a person mad.	His thoughts then drifted to the last ship he had been placed on.  It had been caught by the Empire and he along with his Commander and a few others had been the only ones to escape.  The fact that Commander Brandwin had not been caught was only due to the fact that she was on a reconn mission inside one of the Empire’s bases.  	He wished that she had been there, maybe then Sargon and the others wouldn’t have been captured.  He wondered if his best friend was still alive.  Sargon had a warrior’s heart through and through.  Actually he was more bloodthirsty than anything.  The man had practically been raised inside one of those concentration camps.  Seeing people being tortured and dying around you could do things to a man.  But he was still one of the few men that Danag actually respected.	A sensor bleeped to life on his controls.  Danag dismissed his thoughts and concentrated on the matter at hand.  On his sensors registered an Imperial shuttle right outside their gates.	“Shit,” he cursed under his breath.  How could he have missed this?	“Is something wrong officer?” asked his commanding officer, Captain Raken.	“Sir I’m registering an Imperial vessel just outside our doors.”  Danag prepared for the verbal onslaught that he knew would be coming.	“What?!”	Danag concentrated on his controls instead of the stares from the other officers at their stations.  All those who fought in the Resistance had the same nightmares of Imperial soldiers knocking on the door.	“We’re being hailed sir.” he replied as calmly as possible.	“Well, put them on screen I guess.”  No one knew what to think.  The Empire was not usually known to converse with those it was about to kill.  They would usually just go straight to the punch.	Danag did as he was ordered.  The front screen flickered to life and on the other side stood a man at the helm with blue eyes and blond hair as well as a violet eyed woman with blue hair.	All the faces on the bridge gave a sigh of relief.  Aria on the other hand only said,  “Well are you going to let us in or what.”	Aria turned to Paris.  “Pardon their rudeness.  I suppose it wasn’t the best idea to come here in an Imperial shuttle.  With the cloak we’ve had on it must have scared at least three lives out of them.”	Tom smiled.  “Well, I don’t know about you but I’m just glad to be out of this coffin.  It’s a little to small for my taste.”	Aria had sensed his claustrophobia.  She only hoped that the welcome they were about to receive would not make him regret those words.  Those in the Resistance were trained to be wary of strangers.  And ‘wary’ usually translated into shoot first, ask questions later.	“Don’t worry,” Tom told her.  “I’ll be fine.”	She looked at him oddly.  “Hey, I thought I was the one who got to read your mind not the other way around.”  She gave a small laugh as she said this.	“Well, I don’t suppose I play by the rules.”	She was consumed by his eyes once more.  She wished to the Three Fates that they would grant her wish.  Either to be with this man or to erase all feelings she possessed for him.	Her thoughts were stolen away from her as the doors of the hanger swished open.  A man dressed in a dark black outfit approached them.  A train of followers behind him added to the tension in the room.  Each one of them had a phaser.	“Commander Brandwin, I see you’ve made it back.”  The man’s tone seemed less than congenial to Tom.  	“Yes, Captain Raken.  I see you’ve managed to keep this place in one piece while I was gone.”  She remarked with not the slightest bit of humor.	“Well, it’s about time you came back from your little vacation.  If you’re going to be a member of the Resistance you must learn to take more responsibility than that.”	*Just who the Hell does he think he is?*  Tom asked.	Aria kept her face neutral as she answered his silent question.  *Why the lord of this mighty base.  Who else?*  Paris smiled slightly at her sarcasm.  	Captain Raken turned his attention to Paris.  “And just who is this Commander?   Don’t tell me you’ve been foolish enough to let a spy enter our headquarters.”	Tom stepped forward.  “I’m no spy.”	“You think I’ll let my guard down because of that.”  Raken chuckled slightly.  It was a dry laugh never reaching his eyes.  Tom made note to watch out for this one.	“Oh, you don’t want to let your guard down around me.  Believe me.”	The Captain took an involuntary step back.  There was something in the man’s tone that told said:  ‘you don’t want to shit with me.’  He knew not to take that man lightly.   He then realized he needed to say something.  “I don’t intend to.”  Not letting his eyes leave the man before him he addressed those behind him.  “Security, have these two checked out.  ‘Make sure’ they’re clean.  I wouldn’t want a spy inside here with us.”	Aria spoke up again.  “Captain, trust me, he isn’t a spy.”	“I gave my orders Aria.”  He let his gaze move to Aria.  It remained there for some minutes then he quickly turned to leave.	Aria let an irrated glare rest on the man beside her.  *You just had to go and piss him off, didn’t’ you?*	Paris flashed an innocent smile.  *Who?  Me?*	An exasperated sigh left her lips.  She said nothing more as security ushered them away.	Captain Raken watched the two being escorted away by security.  He watched as interested stares turned to Aria’s companion.  They had encountered many races before but this was the first that possessed the strangely pigmented hair and eyes.  He wondered if the man was a security risk or not.  Most likely not.  If Aria had brought him then he was probably alright.	His gaze then rested on Aria.  He had supreme confidence for her judgment.  After all, she was a legendary Nalyan warrior.  That was a species that was so rare that it had been thought extinct.  But here she was, fighting by his side in battle.  Well, not by his side, but on the same side.  She did serve under Captain Brigeg, but now that he was dead, Raken had placed a request that she be placed on his ship.	*She’d make a wonderful addition to my crew.* he thought.  He felt a small smile tug at his lips but quickly suppressed it.  His grey eyes reacquired their stony expression.  	He looked at the alien again.  Raken realized that he was not that much different than him.  Both were the same height, well maybe the alien was an inch taller, maybe two.  They had similar characteristics.  The only difference in their structural make-up was the three points on Raken’s ears.  That and the obsidian hair that the captain had.	He saw Aria turn to gaze at the blond man.  There was something in her eyes that was different than when she looked at him.  Her eyes took on a warmer expression when they rested on her companion.	Raken’s attitude turned to disgust.  How could she let her stern battle face fall and turn to that of a compassionate one.  This man couldn’t be trusted, Raken realized.  Aria was a skilled warrior,  one of the best soldiers that the Resistance possessed.  Captain Raken couldn’t let this stranger turn her attention from fighting to love.  She might be the difference between winning this war of not.	Captain Raken left his hiding place and proceeded to his quarters.  He was going to keep a close eye on this one.	Three hours later, Paris walked down the corridor.  He had been given the impression that the Resistance was only a band of loosely organized rebels with a few battered up ships.  What he saw now amazed him.  This base was filled with officers who were monitoring every move the Empire made.  By stealing a few brief glances, he was able to view all the material on their screens.  They seemed to keep track of almost all the Imperial vessels in the sector.  However he knew that ‘seemed’ was the key word in that sentence.  Due to the information at Takma’s base, the amount of ships that they were tracking was only a third of those present in the area.  Tom knew he was watching heroic people go about their jobs, but heroism alone couldn’t beat a coward with a gun.	Tom passed a few others.  He was conscious of their stares as he passed by them.  It seemed that none had ever seen a species like him before.  He found this a little unsettling but forced himself not to brood over it.		Aria was the first to pull him out of his thoughts.  “I’ll try and arrange for us to meet with Consul  Maris.  I believe he’s here at the moment.  Then we can find some arrangement for you.”	Paris nodded.  During their time on the base they had been separated and while they could still remain in contact with one another it was still good to hear her voice.  He had to admit that the processes he had been put through made him extremely uncomfortable. For some reason, he had a certain disdain towards those who composed security.  Perhaps it was due to his time as Takma’s guest, but he had a strong dread of going anywhere near the brig.  All the security procedures were beginning to get to him but they had finally let him leave.  He didn’t believe it was that they didn’t trust her as much as they didn’t trust him.	“Commander,” came a voice from behind them.  	Aria turned around to see a brown-haired man standing in the doorway.  He was slightly on the short side but, but few people paid attention to that.  Most were caught by his eyes.  They the strangest shade of black with  yellow pupils.	“Danag,” she said.  Aria approached the man and embraced him.  Even though she was his superior, she couldn’t help herself when it came to him.  He was like her little brother.	“Aria,” he said.  “By the Spirit, it’s good to see you.”	She stepped back puzzled.  “What are you doing here?  Shouldn’t you be on the ship?”	He stared at her oddly.  “You mean no one has told you yet?”	“Told me what?”	He looked down for a moment before replying.  “The Empire attacked us a few days ago.  Except for myself and a few others, everyone else was captured.  They commandeered the ship after that.”	She stared into space as she fully comprehended these words.  Although she was a telepath, she refused to invade a person’s privacy.  It would not be honorable.  She had felt feelings of resignation and sorrow around her but that was usual when one worked in these circumstances.  But the ship that she had served on for almost two years now was destroyed while she had left it.	“Captain Brigeg?” she asked.  “Sargon, Meylin, the others...”	“The captain was killed in battle, as for the others, we think they’ve been taken to a concentration camp somewhere.”	Aria  was still in shock over the news.  Paris then spoke up.  “Well if they’re still alive why don’t you mount a rescue mission to get them out?”	Danag stared in shock at the man who had just addressed him.  “Are you crazy?! No one has ever been able to penetrate the defenses of an Imperial camp.   Just who do you think you are anyway?”	Paris gave a small smile.  “I’m the one who’s about to break them out.”*	Captain Kathryn Janeway entered the Bridge.   Chakotay rose to greet her as usual.	“Captain,” he said.	She smiled.  “Chakotay.”	The Commander took in the Captain’s well-rested appearance.  “Well, you seem to have had a good nights sleep.  I was beginning to wonder if I would need to inform the doctor of your recent insomnia.”	“No need for that, I assure you.  My luck, he’d have me in sickbay for a week to make up for all the hours of sleep I lost.”	Chakotay rose an eyebrow.  “I’m not so sure that’s such a bad idea.”	Janeway knew he was trying to ask her if she was alright so she beat him to it.  “Commander I’m fine.  I actually have been able to sleep quite soundly now so you shouldn’t worry yourself over me anymore.”	“Aye, Captain.  On another note, Seven informed me that we might be able to remodify our shielding to be more effective in battle.  She said it might take a while but it could be done.”	It was Janeway’s turn to raise an eyebrow.  “I never thought I’d hear Seven say it would take a while.  I thought her Borg pride wouldn’t let her admit that she couldn’t have something completed in the blink of an eye.”	“Well it seems that she’s adapting even more to life on Voyager.  I do believe she and Ensign Kim are working on this together.  Perhaps if we separated them, she might get done a bit faster.”	Janeway caught on to his teasing.  “No, let’s let them play hooky for now.  We can scold them later.”	“I don’t know what I’d do without you.”  Harry’s voice was full of sincerity as he gazed at Seven.	She then replied.  “You would most likely be working double shifts to translate this data.  However, with my assistance, you will not have to do so.”	Harry smiled.  Seven really could work fast.  They would run through whatever work needed doing and then sit down and discuss their problems with one another.  He knew that she had emotions, but he had never realized how deeply they had run.  Perhaps she hadn’t either.  He had helped her sort through her emotions and learn to understand them more fully while she had provided a patient listener to how he felt as well.  She had made suggestions and comments upon what she felt he should do.  And instead of replying rudely and demeaning him for his human ignorance, she had worded her thoughts carefully and provided him with support.   Although she was not as well versed as most in the emotional medium of life, she had really helped him by just being there.	Now he saw the ex-Borg in a new light.  He now realized that she had so many more layers than he had first realized.  “I meant about listening to me as well.  There aren’t many people on this ship that I could talk to about these things.  Thanks for listening.”	Seven pushed her attention from her work to the man beside her.  For some reason she felt uncomfortable by the compliment he had given her but also very pleased at the same time.  This confused her somewhat.  She sensed that she should address him as well.	“There is no need to thank me.  You have provided an exceptional interpreter to the emotions which I have acquired.  I am grateful to you for that.  Therefore, since we have provided each other with a service, there is no need to thank anyone.”	Harry knew what she was trying to say.  She was telling him thank you in her own way as well.  It was a very high compliment coming from her.  He smiled to her as a response then turned back to his work.  	The comm-line then beeped to life.  “Doctor to Seven.”	“Seven here.”	“Seven, I need your assistance in sick-bay.  I would have asked for Lieutenant Torres’s help, but it is her day off and she seems to be a little moody when awoken to early.”  The EMH was using his usual sarcasm, however Seven seemed unaffected by it.	“On my way.”  She ended her communication, then turned to Harry.  “If you will excuse me.”	“Sure Seven.”  Harry watched Seven leave.  He couldn’t help but admit that she had the finest ass in the Delta Quadrant.  *The whole universe most probably* he concluded.  He then admonished those thoughts.  He had just gotten over his infatuation with the ex-Borg, he couldn’t go through that again.	He turned his thoughts back to his work.  There was no way he could fall in love with Seven.  There was no way.*	Paris stared at the faces around him.  Aria had managed to convince the superiors in the base to meet with him to discuss his plan.  She didn’t know what he was up to but she sensed he knew what he was doing.  	Paris had been compelled to take action after feeling the heartbreak of Aria when she had heard the news.  It was like a piece of him was dying as well.  So now here he was, in a room with what appeared to be the elite few who commanded ships in the Resistance.  Aria sat next to him.  	He went over his plan again.  “So if we could send two maybe three Fighters to provide a distraction, myself along with a small away team could use the Imperial shuttle and dock with the shuttle-bay of the concentration camp.  Once in we can plant explosives at the main power juncture.  That should disable their sensors for a few minutes along with any weapons they might have.  We could take the prisoners to the open arena in the center of the complex.  From there, we should be able to move them onto the backup shuttles that will be waiting on the other side of the planet.  After that we, pack up and haul our asses out of there.”		The men around the table looked at him suspiciously.  Finally one spoke up.  “Even if we could get you inside, just how would you be able to get through any of their security systems to where the prisoners are held.  You can’t just shoot your way through a complex that size.”	Aria smiled.  “Captain Raken, let me assure you that security will not be a problem.”  Just before he could launch an argument, Commander Brandwin turned to Tom.  “Show them.”	Tom raised his hands from under the table.  Somehow he had managed to hide them through his stay.  All eyes grew two sizes larger as they watched the tentacles that surrounded his hand straighten out and form four long spikes.  	“What the Hell are you.” Danag asked.  His rank wasn’t as high as any of the others at the table but he had still been allowed to be present for the meeting.  That was one good thing about the Resistance, very little protocol.	Tom allowed the blades to resume their tentacle form and wrap around his hand.  “I suppose I’m one of Takma’s science projects gone wrong.”	The man at the head of the table finally said something.  He was in what would constitute for a human’s age of forty.  He had grey hair and appeared human in every sense.  All except for the pointed ears.  They weren’t anything like Aria’s, instead they were more like Tuvok’s aside from the fact that they  had three points instead of one.  He spoke.  “And you can provide us with a way to get inside the base.”	Tom nodded.  “I  can hack through any computer you put in front of me.  All I need is a distraction to give me a reason for docking there.  If they think that I had stopped by for fear of being destroyed by Resistance Fighters, they might lower their shields.”	The man nodded.  Tom knew from Aria that this was the man they would have to convince.  He was one of the leaders of the Resistance, Consul Maris.	The Consul began again.  “And why would you help us?  By joining us your life would become worth nothing.”	Captain Raken then jumped in.  “You can’t possibly be serious.  This man has no business joining us.  For all we know he’s a spy!”	Aria jumped out of her seat.  “I give you my word he is NOT a spy.  You’ve already put him through security anyway.  We can’t just sit back anymore when the Empire imprisons our people.  If we don’t..”	Raken was now out of his seat as well.  “His plan will never work.  We’ve never been able to break their defenses before so why do you think some alien we’ve never seen before could do it.”	“Captain, Commander, that is enough.”  The man that first addressed Tom now said.  “I was speaking with...  I’m sorry but you never gave us a name.”	Tom turned to the man.  “I don’t have one.”	“What do you mean?”	Paris smiled a bit sadly.  “The earliest memory I have is that of one of Takma’s doctors standing over me and practically ripping my chest open.  I’ve been able to learn a bit more when I broke into their database.   To answer your first question, I don’t mind risking my life because right now I don’t have a life to risk.  I’m not about to sit back and let the Empire cause anyone else the same kind of pain they caused me.  So you can either help me or I’ll go myself.  But I WILL get those prisoners out of there with or without your help.”	Consul Maris looked into Paris’s eyes.  He could tell the man wasn’t lying.  He had seen his share of pain.  He could also see the resilience in the young man’s soul.  He really would do this, even if it meant by himself.	“What do you need?”*	Sargon placed a hand to his head.  His cranium felt like it would explode.  One of the guards had decided that he needed a little humbling and so felt motivated to knock him in the back of the head with a metal rod.	*Nothing new* he thought.  He had, after all been raised here since he was a little boy.  It didn’t matter that this was a new concentration camp, they were all the same.  He was one of the rare few who had managed to escape one of these places before but by the way security at this one was, it didn’t look like he would get the same luck this time around.	He crawled over to his bed.  It wasn’t actually a bed, just a mat on the floor, but it served its purpose.  His head pounded with every movement.  *Just what did I do to deserve this?*	He then laughed to himself.  *I suppose I shouldn’t have told those guards that sleeping with the Pretor was their only chance in Hell of getting promoted.*	Actually he had added some more vivid words and details in his oration to the two security workers.  Something about not being able to...  He had forgotten.  His head hurt to much to think.	He did smile although it was somewhat grimly.  Life really was a full circle.  He had once been free, then imprisoned, free again, and now back in prison.  *I suppose this is the end of the road* he thought.	A flash of pink hair caught his attention however.  He turned his eyes to see a small girl staring at him.  She had the strangest green eyes with violet pupils.  She looked to be only six maybe seven.	He turned his head to get a better look but she ran off.  	The sight of her brought back memories.  He had been about her age when he had first been sent here.  The only difference was that he had been the only Parvanian in the prison that was actually a prisoner and not a guard.	He then closed his eyes.  There were too many memories to muddle through them now.  He slipped into the vastness of sleep and let the dreams take hold of his tired mind.*	General Kail sat on the bridge of his ship the Bonthos.  He had gotten off lucky with the Pretor somehow.  He thanked the Fates above that he hadn’t been demoted or worse.	Takma sat next to him.  She seemed somewhat lost in her thoughts.  He wondered if she had said something on his behalf to her husband.  That could explain the lenience of his reprimand.	The officer at the Conn turned to Kail.  “We’re approaching the ship sir.   We will be within hailing distance in two minutes.”	Kail turned to Takma.  “Well, you heard the man.  I suppose we should lower our cloak.”	“Yes,” she replied.  “And make sure everyone knows the parts they will be playing.  I don’t want anything to go wrong.  Understood?”	“Everything has been taken care of.  You need only tell us when to hail them.”	She nodded.  Gazing at the viewscreen, she watched the ship outside glide through space.  This ‘Voyager’ would surely be a great prize.  If she could manipulate those on board then there would be no telling what information she could extract from them.	“Are we within range?” she asked.	“Yes sir.”	Takma let a smile break her stony features.  “Hail them.”	Ensign Kim had just walked onto the bridge when his console bleeped to life.	“We’re being hailed Captain.” he said.	Janeway looked puzzled.  “We didn’t pick up a ship on sensors.”	“A ship has just decloaked on our starboard side.” Tuvok replied.  “They do not appear to be hostile.”	Janeway shrugged.  “On screen.”	The viewscreen revealed a woman with ridged eyebrows and dark black hair and eyes.	“Greetings, my name is Takma.   I have come on behalf of my husband Pretor Portis to welcome you into Imperial Space.” said the woman.	“We appreciate your welcome but we were not aware that this region of space was even occupied.”  replied Janeway.	Takma smiled.  “This region of our Empire is quite desolate however we could escort you to a more populated area if you wish.  Certainly you would need supplies if you have come to be in this arid region.”	*Maybe our luck is improving* thought Janeway.  However she was not foolish enough to believe that there wasn’t a catch to all of this.  She had learned never to let her guard down.  	“We would be very grateful if you would do so.  Perhaps you would wish to come over here and we could discuss some trade of sorts.” she said.	“Of course,” Takma said.  “Myself and General Kail shall transport to your vessel in five minutes.  I look foreword to meeting you face to face.”	“We look foreword to it as well.  Until then.”  The viewscreen returned to its portrait of the stars outside.	Chakotay rose once the comm line had been cut.  “Do you think they have anything to do with that ship that attacked us before?”	Tuvok spoke for her.  “Their vessel is not of the same make nor is it equipped with the same weaponry as that which attacked us.  However it would be unwise to let our guard down due to this evidence.”	“Good point Tuvok.  Have a small security team in the transporter room.  I want to be careful but I also don’t want to scare them off.”  She turned to the helm.  “Mr. Par..Baytart, keep us in the same flight pattern as their ship.  Chakotay come with me to meet our guests.  Tuvok you have the bridge.”	She walked out at a pace fast for even her.  Chakotay followed in her wake.  All on the bridge had noticed her slip of the tongue.  He knew she was doing better than she had a few days ago, but she was still very upset over Tom’s death.  Hell they all were, but she seemed to be taking it worse than anyone else.	He just needed to be there for her;  he was sure of it.  She needed time.  That was all.  Just a little time and she would be the same as before.  But letting her have time didn’t mean that he couldn’t be there for her as well.	Takma strode towards the transporter room on the Bonthos.  Her plan was going well.  All she had to do now was tell them a few lies and they would be eating out of her hand.	She thought for one second that the only thing that could ruin her plan was if the Resistance got involved, but she dismissed that.  After all there wasn’t one good mind in that whole rebel force.  And how dangerous was a band of idiots.*	A dark haired woman walked toward him.  She had slight ridges on her forehead and the deepest brown eyes Paris had ever seen.  He took a step toward the beauty, a slight memory flickered within his mind but he couldn’t quite grasp it.  All he knew was that the emotions he held for this woman were deeper than anything he had ever felt before.	He reached out to touch her face.  It felt so warm.  It was like touching perfection.  She was a being so close yet so unattainable at the same time.	She responded to him by  grasping his hand in hers.  He remembered seeing her in his dreams before.  Once while she was crying and again on a hillside overlooking a lake.  Her eyes brimmed with tears as she wrapped her arms around him.  	She was so exquisite.  He pulled her tightly to him.  *Please don’t let this end* he thought.  *Please don’t let this end.*	She seemed to hear his thoughts, for she turned her eyes to his.  Each were lost within the other’s orbs.  *I love you* she said.  	Her words filled the void within him.  She looked so sincere, so fragile, yet so strong as well.  All he wanted to do was stay here with her.  She was all he wanted, all he could ever need.  If only he knew who she was.	*I love you too,* he whispered.  As if they were one, both searched for the other’s lips.  He could feel her smoldering breath tickling his lips.  Vague memories of this happening before bubbled to the surface.  	He closed his eyes in preparation for the upcoming kiss, only to be rebuffed as the woman was torn from his arms by an unknown force.  His eyes popped open as he watched her being pulled away into the darkness around them.  Of her captors, he recognized one.  Takma stood in the darkness pulling the woman in with her.  	Paris reached out for her but found he couldn’t move.  He was caught in the horror of immobility.  All he could do was watch as the darkness took his companion, the woman he loved.	He stared off after her disappearing form and let out an anguished cry.*	Paris bolted upright in bed.  He let out a choked breath and tried to take in his surroundings.  Sweat glazed his features and his throat threatened to collapse on itself. 	He sunk back down onto the bed.  *It seemed so real* he thought.  Bringing a shaky hand to his eyes, he tried to erase the scene he had just witnessed.  That woman.  It was like he knew her, like they were supposed to be with one another.  	Tom quickly shook his head.  It was just a dream, nothing more.  He just needed to clear his thoughts, that was all.  But still the idea that maybe that was a piece of his past rose to the surface.  What if she had been someone he had known before Takma had come along.  	No, he shouldn’t get his hopes up.  After all he had a mission to lead today, he didn’t need to be distracted.  Getting out of his bed he began to get dressed.	Paris quickly put on his newly acquired clothes and finished the last buckle on his boots.  He had been given a room on the base as well as a new set of clothes.  That which he wore at present was a black shirt and pants along with a long brown coat.  	He then slipped on the black gloves he had also recently acquired.  They hid the Borg-like tentacles wrapped around his hands and wrists.  But since his fingers were bare of any such addition, the fingers of the gloves were cut out.	It had been over a day since he had arrived at Kuran.  So far they had ironed out all the kinks in their plan.  He would lead a team inside the concentration camp and from there proceed with the rest of the plan.  They would have already left had it not been for Aria pressuring him to get some sleep.  So now here he was,  just awakening from a nightmare and getting ready for battle.  He needed to talk with Aria.  She and Danag would be leaving with him to go inside of the camp.	There was only one problem so far.  There were no ships on Kuran capable of providing a distraction for the away team to get inside.  They had agreed to pay a visit on a species that inhabited a nearby planet.  They were the Dezorisians, a savage clan of skilled fighters.  From what he had heard, they were considered some of the strongest fighters in the Empire but also the ones with the shortest fuse.  He made it a point to endeavor not to piss them off too severely.	But first of all, he needed to go see Aria.*	B’Elanna awoke to the solitude of an empty bed.  	“Lights, illumination 30%,” she barked out.	Throwing her legs off the bed, she sat quietly trying to make sense of the dream she had just awoken from.  It seemed so real.  She could feel Tom in her arms, feel his breath on her lips.  But then he was pulled away from her.  Pulled away by some unknown force as she silently watched after him.	She had finally accepted his death only to have sorrow loom its ugly head again.  *No* she told herself.  *I should be glad that he still lives in my dreams, even if in reality, he’s gone forever.*	Getting out of bed, she kept repeating that litany over and over in her head.  But deep down she knew dreams just weren’t enough.	*	Paris knocked on the door to Aria’s quarters.  He had waited a few hours before disturbing her but finally he admitted he had to go see her, if not for the dream, then to make sure she was ready to leave.  Danag was already prepping the shuttle for launch.  That meant they had five maybe six minutes until departure.	The door slid back to reveal an already dressed Aria.  She had shed the remains of her Imperial uniform and now wore a tan vest and dark brown pants.  Around her waist was a black belt with a phaser hanging down on each hip.	“Hello,” she said.  “Is Danag ready with the shuttle?”	“We have a few minutes till we leave.” He paused and let his eyes search the floor.  “I was wondering if I could ask you something.”	She could feel his uncertainty.  “Sure, what’s wrong.”  Something else came to her attention as she asked this.  She should already know what was troubling him.  After all they could read one another’s thoughts.  The realization then occurred to her that he had broken their link.  She felt a bit hurt by this, but suppressed this emotion.	“Remember how you told me you would try to help me uncover my past.”	She nodded.	“Well, I was wondering just when we could start.”	She felt his remorse.  The one thing she had disregarded was what he would do after this mission was completed.  She knew that she was given orders to stay by his side, to help him prepare for the Battle as much as she could, but Aria hadn’t realized that  he might not want to stay with her.	“Well, it takes over a day to reach the Dezorisians, perhaps we can try then.”	He nodded.	A battle waged within Aria as she wondered whether of not to ask her next question.  She finally summed up her courage and asked.  “If you don’t mind my asking, what brought on the sudden ‘need-to-know’ mood.”	He looked into her eyes.  He didn’t know how to explain this to her.  So instead of using words, he used thoughts to convey his answer.  He sent to her all his memories of his dream the night before, however, he kept the emotions he had experienced.  That was something he couldn’t part with just yet.	She frowned in concentration as she received his message.  Understanding replaced her hurt pride.  She reached out a hand to him.  “I’m sorry,” she said for not the first time.	He shook his head, “Don’t be.  This is just something I have to deal with.”	There were a few seconds of silence.	“Come on,” he said.  “We need to get to shuttle bay.”	She nodded.  “I’m ready for some action already.”	He smiled despite himself.  She had a warrior’s spirit through and through.  Looking to her shoulder he  replied.  “I see you listened to me and had a doctor take a look at that.”	She nodded a little guiltily.  Paris had practically forced her into sickbay.  After that she had used her own logic to force him to get some sleep. 	“Well, it’s more advantageous to have the use of two arms when going into battle.”	A short laugh escaped Tom’s lips.  “We’d better get going unless we want to be late.”	She looked unperterbed.  “Ah yes, may the Spirit forbid that to happen.”*	Captain Janeway finished giving Takma her tour of the ship.  So far the Parvanian was proving to be an excellent guest, but Janeway refused to allow that to let her guard down.  After all, it had not been long ago that Voyager had been attacked by an unknown ship.  Janeway needed answers and it seemed like now was the best time to get them.	“Takma, I was wondering if you could answer a few questions I have.”	The dark haired woman turned to Janeway.  “I would be happy to if I can.”	The captain went on, “About three days ago my ship was attacked by an unknown vessel.  It was in by no means, the condition as yours.  It looked to quite old.  I was wondering if you might know anything about them.  It could help us out a lot if we get in another fight with them.”	Takma’s outer expression dropped.  “From what you have said, it looks like you were attacked by a ship from the Resistance.”	Janeway’s brow knitted.  “The Resistance?”	Takma’s face remained concerned while inside, joy swept through her body.  They were rising to her bait.  “The Resistance,” she continued, “is a band of terrorists that roam throughout the borders of our Empire.  They attack our outposts and any ship that is not a member of their coalition.  You were lucky you only crossed paths with one.  I’ve seen ships torn to shreds by them.”	“Why do they attack you?”	General Kail took over for Takma.  “You see our Empire is home to much wealth and resources.  At one time, we traded with those around us but soon after they decided that they wished to take control of all our resources for themselves.  For years now, they have attacked any trading vessels we have as well as other species’ ships that come to trade with us.  We have been forced to shut down our borders to any outside trade and in the process the Resistance has gotten even angrier at us for that.  Now we’re on the verge of war with them all due to a conflict of jealousy.”	Janeway understood their predicament.  She had seen it many times before.  Wars being fought for money and power, started by the rich who wanted even more wealth to add to their over abundance.  This was nothing new.  The captain then came to a realization.  “So that was why you were cloaked when you approached us.”	“Yes, we could not be certain whether or not you were a member of the Resistance.  We scanned your ship and found it unmatching to any Resistance vessel so we hailed you.  I hope we do not insult you by doing so.”	Janeway shook her head.  “No insult, I assure you General.  We are well aquainted with caution and understand your reasons for doing so.  But let me ask you one thing.  You say you are on the verge of war yet this conflict has been going on for years.  How is this possible?”	Takma answered.  “You see Captain, the Resistance is not to be taken lightly however our own technology is extremely more advanced than theirs.  Whenever we encounter a new species to trade with, it usually involves technology as well.  That is where we acquired our transporters and forcefields from.  Even though we have not yet gone to war, we do fight a great number of battles with them.  That is how our Empire has grown.  Whenever we are pulled into another conflict, we take the space that we win and add it to our own.  We’ve tried to negotiate peace treaties by offering them their space in return for peace, but they have never aquiesced.”	“So now you just try and keep them at bay,” Chakotay said.	“Exactly,” replied the General.  “They are not very organized in their attacks so we will just put down any resistance they put up and put any prisoners we have in concentration camps until we can give them a trial.”	Chakotay couldn’t shake the feeling that this ‘Resistance’ sounded a whole lot like the Maquis.  He didn’t want to bring it up now but made a point to talk with the captain about it later.	A voice interrupted his thoughts.  “Takma you and General Kail are needed on the Bonthos.”  It came from Takma’s communicator.  	“Understood.” she responded.  Cutting the comm link she turned to the captain.  “If you will excuse me Captain, we are needed back on my ship.”	“Of course.  If you wish you may return and we can talk more of trading supplies.”	Takma smiled.  “I would be honored.”  She then turned to Kail.  “General I believe we must be going now.”	He gave a slight nod to the captain and commander and then followed Takma away.	Once they were gone, Chakotay addressed Kathryn.  “Something doesn’t seem right about their story.  I think we should keep an eye on them.”	Janeway nodded.  “Yes, but we don’t want to insult them either.  We could use some supplies and if their story holds up, I would like to have an ally in battle.  We don’t know how many ships might be out there.”	Chakotay reluctantly agreed.  There was something about Takma that he found unnerving though.  It was like she was just an actress playing a part.  And an extremely good actress at that.*	“Alright, it looks like we’re right along on schedule.”  Paris said from behind the Conn.  They had been on course to their destination for almost two hours now.  A very long two hours.  And the length was mainly due to the man behind Ops.	“I still can’t believe we’re doing this.  The Fates are going to have their work cut out with us.”  Danag complained for the hundredth time.  	Paris sighed audibly.  “Well, we are doing this so you can just face it.  And will someone clue me in as to who ‘The Fates’ are.  I’ve heard references to them as well as ‘the Spirit’ and it’s getting a little tiring not knowing what’s going on.”	Aria smiled.  She had been waiting for him to say something to Danag.  After all the man was driving both of them nuts.  “The Fates,” she said. “Are the three warriors of the Spirit.  They are said to watch over all those who fight in the name of the righteous.  We ask for the Fates to watch over us as we go to battle as a form of protection.  The Spirit is the supreme being of the universe.  It’s sort of our god I suppose.  It is said that the Spirit weaves the destiny of noble warriors and then commands the Fates to protect them until their day at battle comes.  All soldiers look to the Spirit to seek guidance.  It lets them know if the battles they fight in are right or wrong.”	Paris nodded.  “Well that explains a lot.”	Danag turned to him.  “So, oh fearless leader, I suppose you had better say your prayers to the Fates as well.”	Tom turned to him.  “I’m way past prayers now.”	He got up from the Conn and went into the back of the shuttle.  Aria watched as he left and shot Danag a vengeful look.  “You just couldn’t keep your mouth shut could you.”  She then got up and followed Paris to the back as well.	Danag was left alone on the bridge.  “What’d I say?”	Tom stood alone in the cargo area of the Imperial ship.  They had decided it would be best to offer a trade to the Dezorisians in exchange for the shuttles they needed.  From what he had heard, this species was not what one would call a charitable race.	*Your thoughts consume you*	Tom turned to Aria.  She stood in the doorway.  As she walked toward him he silently replied.  *I just needed to get off the bridge.  His whining was beginning to get to me.*	Commander Brandwin looked at the man before her.  He really could put on a mask.  To anyone else, it might appear that nothing was wrong, but she knew better.	“He didn’t mean anything by it,” she said.  “He just had this unnatural knack for pissing people off.  Gets it from Sargon I suppose.  But once you know him you’ll find out he’s actually quite a nice guy.”	Paris nodded.  “If I have the chance.  I don’t even know where I’ll be once this is over.  Hell, I don’t even know who I am.”	Aria came to him.  Her heart yearned to comfort him, but she didn’t know how.  She then said.  “I can try to help you remember now if you wish.”	His eyes brightened slightly at her words.  “Here?”	“Why not?  Danag has the bridge and here is as good a place as any.”	“Okay.   What do you want me to do.”  *	B’Elanna sat alone in the mess hall.  She had been waiting on Harry to join her for almost ten minutes now.  Her klingon temper was beginning to rise as Harry entered, Seven following closely behind.	He got a tray and sat down across from her.  Seven took a seat next to Harry.	“You mind telling me just why the Hell I’ve been sitting here alone for the past ten minutes.”  The half Klingon ground out.  	Harry gulped.  She was extremely pissed.  “I’m  sorry B’Elanna.  Seven and I got caught up in Astrometrics.  You should see the technology we uncovered.  It’s amazing.”	B’Elanna stared down at her plate.  She knew where that technology had come from.  It was a memory she didn’t want to deal with at the moment so she changed the subject.	“So have either of you seen the new guests the captain had been showing around.  By the time I reached Engineering, they had already passed through.”	Harry nodded.  “I was on the bridge when the transmission first came through.  They don’t look too different from us.  They just have black eyes and ridged eyebrows.  I think they’re called Parvanians.”	B’Elanna nodded.  Somehow the image of a species like this reared its head.  Parvanians, it seemed so familiar but she couldn’t quite grasp it.  	*Oh well,* she thought.  *It’s probably nothing.*	But she still couldn’t shake the fact that this was one species they didn’t want to mess with.*	Paris and Aria broke their psychic link.  It had been over an hour and they still had nothing to show for all their troubles.  He still couldn’t remember anything.	“Tell you what, how about let’s try this again later.” Paris said.  	Aria nodded.  “I suppose you’re right.  We could try this again after the mission.  It might be the stress that’s preventing us from helping you remember.”	Tom thought for a moment.  “Well, why don’t you tell me more about these ‘Fates’ you were talking about earlier.  I got the overall definition but I’d like to hear a few details.”	She smiled.  She realized he was just trying to evade the subject at hand but didn’t say anything about it.  Instead she started on a story.  “Well, there is one legend about the Fates.”  She began.   “There are always three Fates but they are not immortal as The Spirit is.  They will live, die, and be reborn in different bodies.  The story goes that The Spirit sends the Fates to watch over great warriors.  Once those warriors are ready for battle then the Fates will die and the warrior will take his place.  	“There is one legend of this happening.  There was a man named Landis.  He was the greatest warrior to ever live.  The Spirit had spun his destiny so that he would lead his people into battle and overcome the dark forces that plagued them.  One of the Fates watched over him though he didn’t know who it was at the time.  Once the battle came the Fate died and gave its power to him.  By flying his legendary ship, the Jihaid, he went on to lead his people into victory and was forever known as the greatest hero of all time.”	Paris didn’t have time to reply as Danag’s voice sounded from the bridge.  “Commander Brandwin, and umm you.  We’re being hailed by the Dezorisians.  And they don’t look to be in too good of a mood.”*	Takma appeared in the transporter room of the Bonthos.  *Thank the Spirit I was called over hear.  I couldn’t take another minute with those simple minded imbeciles.*	Yet as she thought this, she also thanked the Spirit for their ignorance.  If they ever picked up on all the lies she had been feeding them then all her plans would be ruined.  But then again, it wasn’t as if she couldn’t just get whatever information she wanted without their help.  	*But then it wouldn’t be as much fun, now would it?*	General Kail pulled her thoughts back to the present.   He addressed the man who had contacted them.  “What did you want?”	The young man stepped forward.  “I have just received news from the Pretor that a new ship has been ‘acquired’ from another species and that he needs some of Takma’s best researchers to work on it.”	Takma’s brow furrowed.  “What kind of ship would cause him to need use of such researchers?”	The man looked towards the floor for strength.  “No one told me, however a message is waiting for you in your quarters to explain the situation further.  It has been downloaded into your personal computer.”	“Good,”  she turned to Kail.  “Come with me.  I would appreciate it if you would accompany me to my quarters.  I can use any imput you might have on this new ship.”	The two then proceeded to Takma’s quarters.  She wondered what kind of ship would cause her husband to bestow so much attention upon.  She thought Voyager was the biggest prize to be had at the present time.  If Voyager was now not a concern of Portus then perhaps she should investigate this new vessel more thoroughly.  After all Portus shouldn’t get an advantage of such an advanced technology.  If anyone needed an upper hand it was her.  She would overthrow her husband and take her rightful place as Pretor of the Empire.	Kail and she entered her quarters and quickly opened the message on her console.  Before their eyes appeared a ship so advanced they caught an involuntary breath.  It was a sleek red vessel which looked to be almost the same size as Voyager.  Feedback on the interior of the systems of the ship scrolled down the side of her screen.  Advanced shielding,  propulsion systems twice as fast as any Imperial battle cruiser, and a sleek design to allow more maneuverability in battle.  There also seemed to be a cloaking system as well as a new and  more powerful weapon system.  It put the Photon Torpedoes on Voyager to shame.	Takma wondered now why she couldn’t have found this ship first.  Now her upperhand was nothing more than last week’s fad.  She needed to get that ship, but she didn’t know how to, so that her husband wouldn’t suspect anything.	“It looks like our planning was all in vain,” said Kail.	The woman frowned, “Don’t count it as lost yet.  It says here that the convoy transporting the ship to Portus’s fleet had to stop for repairs.  At present they are docked at the concentration camp in the Bimonis Sector.  I can just send  a message to postpone leaving until we reach them.  After we get there we can figure out how to make that ship ‘disappear.’”	Kail smiled.  He admired that woman’s ambition.  He just hoped he wouldn’t be left behind once she reached the top.*	Paris scanned the crowd around him.  He, Aria, and Danag now stood in the shuttlebay of a Dezorisian ship with ten of that species surrounding them.	The spokesman of the group finally spoke up.  “Why have you come here?”  He said this in an accusatory manner.  	Tom approached the man and replied nonchalantly.  “I believe you already have the answer to that question.  Now why don’t we just settle down and discuss trade.”	Danag held his breath as Paris spoke.  He had to admit, the man did have courage.  Very few would speak to a Dezorisian in such a manner.  And if one did, he surely wouldn’t live long after.  But here stood the six foot tall humanoid, staring up at the bulking seven foot Dezorisian.  	Paris just kept his stare on the man in front of him.  He had to tilt his head back to make eye contact.  “Well, aren’t you going to tell me who I’m talking to or do you even have a name?” Paris asked.	A low growl emanated from the man.  “I am Karnus and you are aboard my ship so you might want to show more respect before I tear your arms and legs off and use them as shelves for my quarters.”	Paris figured the man wasn’t exaggerating about his strength.  He was twice Paris’s size with huge arms and massive legs.  Tom caught a glimpse of the feet; they looked like claws.  Behind those legs was a long tail which hung to the ground and coiled in a circle around its feet.  The thing that caught Tom as most interesting was the horns growing from underneath the man’s forehead.  His shoulder length hair hid the base of them from view but they coiled in spirals around his temples.  This juggernaut was not one to be taken lightly.	“Well, Karnus, let’s get down to business shall we.”  *	Seven of Nine entered sickbay for the second time that week.  The doctor had called upon her only yesterday to lend a hand with some maintenance, however, this time it was she who had asked for his help.	“Why Seven, what brings my favorite Borg here today,” the EMH remarked as he exited his office.  	“I wish to speak with you.” she stated matter-of-factly.	Doc put down one of his ever present pads and came to stand beside her.  “Is something wrong?” he asked.	Seven hesitated.  She didn’t exactly know how to put this into words.  So instead she just began where every good discussion begins, at the beginning.  “For the past few days now, Ensign Kim and I have confided in one another different thoughts and emotions we have experienced due to the recent death of Ensign Paris.  However, I have discovered another sentiment that I can not distinguish.  I do not believe it has to do with remorse, however I feel that I cannot approach Ensign Kim with the nature of this.  I was seeking advice from you as to what my best course of action might be.”	The doctor let her words sink in.  Seven rarely came to him for advice unless she felt needed.  *And she must really feel that she needed help if she told him this.*	He tried to think of the best way to handle this.  “Well Seven, from what you have told me, it seems that you have developed a strong emotional feeling towards Mr. Kim.  If I didn’t know better I might  say that you have fallen in love with him.”	Seven raised an ocular implant.  “The odds of that being true are extremely low.  I do not have any wish to propagate at the present time.  Why then would I wish  to mate.”	The doctor let out a holographic sigh.  “There are more reasons to seek ‘companionship’ than reproduction.”	“Explain.”	“Well,” he started.  “Sometimes people just want someone to confide in.  People don’t choose their mates based on who would be the most ideal person to father a child.  It depends upon a lot of factors.  How well the two get along, what common interests they share, so on.”	“I do not see the logic.  For a species to evolve into a more perfect being, it is only logical that mating is based upon who is the best adapted to create a better second generation than the first.  Any other ties are merely superficial.”	“Well Seven for humans and many other species they don’t share the same views as you.  Remember, you are human yourself.”	Seven looked at him quizzically.  So far she was no closer to an answer than she had been when she first came in.  But she did have something else to think about.	“I appreciate your opinion Doctor but I believe it would be most productive if I settled this matter for myself.”  She said.	Doc just nodded and she left.	He went back into his office.  He hadn’t expected to be giving the former Borg love lessons today, but then again, he often did the unexpected.	*Mr. Paris would be a lot better at handling such a situation than I*  he thought to himself.  Doc didn’t want to admit it, but he missed his medical assistant more than anyone aboard the ship realized.  The man had added a personal touch to his work and even though he did berate Tom on his lack of medical skill, the man had proved to be quite an adequate learner.  	He scrolled down the Padd he held.  The captain had asked him to name a new medical assistant and so far he was still debating over who would be the best choice.  He had already lost two assistants, he hoped his next wouldn’t share the same fate.	He returned to his office.  It was just too quiet in sickbay.  He decided he would have to choose someone who would add a little life to the usually melancholy surroundings.	He sighed to himself.  *I’m  just getting too many human subroutines.*	Karnus took another gulp of the drink in front of him.  If there was one thing he could be sure of, he could outdrink this pathetic humanoid in front of him.  After all, he was a Dezorisian.	*What the Hell are you doing?!*  Aria’s thoughts screamed through Paris’s head.  She couldn’t believe that he was actually playing into Karnus’s hands.  It would do no good if he was drunk before they made the trade.	*Relax, I know what I’m doing.*  Paris kept his face a neutral mask as he responded to Aria.  Danag had already fallen drunk due to Karnus’s pressuring.  The Dezorisian had told them that he would not trade with anyone who couldn’t drink so the three had ended up with a stack of drinks to go through before Karnus even conceded to discussing any form of trade.	Aria sat back.  She hadn’t touched the glass in front of her.  Danag leaned over and placed his head on her shoulder.  “Are they ready to traddddde yettttttt.” he asked.	She rolled her eyes.  His speech was slurred, he could barely stand, and to top that off, Danag hadn’t consumed half as much as Paris.	“Sit down Danag, before you pass out.”  she pushed him into his chair.  *How are you doing that?* she asked Paris.	*For one thing, I never drank anything.*	“Alright, can we talk trade now?” Tom asked.	Karnus sat upright.  “You seem to be able to hold your drink.  That is a trait I admire in a man.  Come what do you wish to trade.”	Paris swallowed the rest of his glass.  “Fighters,” he said.  “I need two fighters and I need them ready to leave by the end of the day.”	Karnus stood up.  “I am certain  we can come to some agreement.  Come, I wish to see what you have to offer.”	Aria was still puzzling over what Paris had just told her, therefore, she didn’t notice Danag waltz over to Karnus.  	“It’s about damn time.” Danag told the Dezorisian.  He poked a finger into Karnus’s chest as he spoke.  “You think you’re so big and might.. might ...and big.  But I can take you on.”	Paris grabbed Danag by the arm.  “I would appreciate it if you would shut up now.”	“No let him finish.” Karnus growled out.  “Are you challenging me little man?”	“Well I’m sure not asking you to.. to dance.”  Danag stumbled back a step.	Tom stepped between the two.  “He’s drunk.  He doesn’t know what he’s saying.”	Danag moved to make a contradiction but only received a harsh shove from Paris to Aria.	Karnus let out a growl.  “I will not tolerate any such insolence even from a drunkard.”	“Well if you didn’t get him drunk you wouldn’t have to tolerate it.” Paris spat at him.	“He has challenged me.  If you wish to take his place, do so.  But a battle of honor must be fought.  I will settle for no less.”	“And if I refuse?”	“You don’t have that option.”	The two males stared each other off, neither willing to let go of the gaze first.  Aria stood back, forced out of the conflict due to the responsibility of holding back Danag.	It was a Dezorisian female who finally stepped between the two.	“Karnus,” she called out.  “They have done nothing.  Just let it go.”	He turned an angry gaze on her.  “Leave  female.  You know nothing of honor.”	Her face flared red underneath the bronze tan of her skin.  “I do know one thing though.  He might have to fight you but he does have an hour to prepare.  And you are forced to provide your opponent with hospitality before this battle of honor is fought.”  She smiled confidently at Karnus.  Being a runt of her species, she was barely the same size as Paris but held herself even more confidently than Karnus.	He gave an angry snort.  “Very well, show them to their quarters.” He turned to Paris.  “You should at least have a good rest before you die I suppose.”	The woman wasted no time before she herded the three newcomers into the hall.	Danag was the first to break the silence.  “You’re pretty hot.”	This resulted in a sharp jab in the ribs by Aria.	“Sorry for that.  It seems he can’t hold a drink.”  Paris apologized.	The woman turned to him.  “I understand.  Karnus attempts to get newcomers drunk so they can enter battle with him.  He seems to think that by defeating a few weak foes it will help the others to place more confidence in him as their leader.”	“And you?” Aria asked.	The woman paused to open the door to their quarters.  “I am the doctor around here.  I share no pride in watching innocent men die at his hand.”  Her gaze then fell on Paris.  “You however don’t seem to be affected by our liquor.  Have you built up a tolerance?”	Paris smiled.  “I never drank any.”   At the questioning stares from the two women, he chose to elaborate.  “My ‘digestive’ system isn’t like yours.  I can drink something and prevent the fluid from absorbing into my blood.  It’s a gift I guess.”  	The woman let that set in before she replied.  “You should be glad.  You’ll need all your wits if you hope to stand a chance against him.”	“Do you mind telling me what the rules are in this ‘battle’?”	She hesitated but responded.  “You will both enter the main hall where you will engage in a fight with blades.  The first one killed relinquishes all holds on whatever property and titles he possesses.  The victor receives them.”	Paris nodded.  “Thanks for your help.  Do you mind telling me your name?”	“I don’t have one,” she answered.  “In my species a name must be earned before one can be called such.  Currently the only one possessing such a title is Karnus.  The rest of us are known as that female or male.”	Paris nodded in affirmation.  Aria took the words in stride.  She was already knowledgeable of such customs of the Dezorisians.	Danag broke the silence again as he slipped out of Aria’s grip and fell to the floor unconscious.  “Tell me why we brought him along again?” Paris asked Aria.	“He’ll come in useful,” she said.  “Now would someone mind helping me get him to a bed.  Then we can work on sobering him up.”	*		Sargon looked outside his cell.  Well, actually it wasn’t his cell, there were at least forty other prisoners in the large room with him.  He turned to look at his cell-mates.  Aside from Meylin, he didn’t know anyone else.  And that was dangerous.  The fact that he was a Parvanian didn’t help matters either.  Anyone with a vendetta for his species would use him as a scape-goat to release any pent up hostility on.  And there were a lot of vendettas here and even more hostility.  	He caught the child’s eyes again.  She was an unusual species.  The Empire had probably expanded its borders again and taken her as a prisoner of war.  He felt confident he would see more of her kind soon.	He averted his attention back outside to where the guards stood.  He couldn’t help the girl, they were in the same boat anyway.  All he could do was strain his ears and hope to hear any plans security might be making.  Then maybe he could find a way for himself and Meylin to get out.  The others would just have to fend for themselves.	He tried even harder to listen.	“You are needed in shuttlebay two.” said one guard to the other.  “We have just gotten word from the Pretor that half our guards are to be placed around that area.”	“What’s so important?” the other asked.	“I don’t know, some new ship.  From what I hear, it could change the whole course of this war.” said the first.  Neither paid any attention to the figure watching them from inside the cell.  No one had ever escaped from a Parvavian concentration camp.  Well, maybe just one.  But they knew that no such feat could possibly be accomplished again.  	The prisoner silently wondered as well just what use his new found information could be to him.  	*Well, Sargon old boy, maybe a rescue team will come in and get us all out of this hell hole.*  He laughed out loud at this thought.  He had long since let go of childish fantacies.  After all, who would be stupid enough to attempt a rescue.*	Paris wondered just how stupid he had become.  Here he stood, in the main hall of the Dezorisian ship, face to face with the gigantic man he had challenged.  	Another Dezorisian stepped foreword.  “Take a weapon.”	Each took one of the proffered blades.  Tom silently cursed Danag again.  The man had better be as good as Aria had claimed otherwise he was going to have to kill him as well.	His eyes searched the crowd that had gathered around the combatants.   He had been told by the female that this kind of spectacle was not an everyday occurrence.  Therefore a mass of people had congregated to watch their leader triumph over yet another species.  Paris thought maybe this species was getting a bit too arrogant.	*And who better than me to give them a lesson in humility.* he thought.	“Begin!” shouted a voice off to the side.	That was his cue.  It was now or never.  He paced around the circle as he sought a vulnerable spot in the tank he was trying to defeat.  Not two seconds had elapsed before Karnus rushed him from the left.  *So much for finding a weakness* he thought.	Aria watched tentatively at the festivities around her.  She had been told of such things but had never before been so close to the actual fight.  She prayed to the Fates that the man getting ready to fight wouldn’t get killed.	*No* she told herself.  *He is a warrior, otherwise I wouldn’t be here with him.*	But still she hoped he was as good as she imagined him to be.  	Danag let out a groan next to her.  “Has it started yet?” 	“Shhh, I’m trying to watch.”  Aria scolded him.  The man had good intentions but never could seem to do much of anything right.	She held her breath as she watched Tom pace around the ring formed by the patrons surrounding the two combatants.  The attack came much more quickly than she had predicted.  She sucked in an involuntary gasp as she watched Karnus raise his blade and bring it down for the kill.	Tom saw Karnus raise his blade.  The weapons were quite crude but effective none the less.  Taking a quick side step, he moved just in time for Karnus’s intended blow to fall short and hit the ground with a metallic clank.	This was his chance.  He knocked the butt of his weapon into the Dezorisian’s skull.  Karnus did little more than blink before he recovered from the blow and backhanded Paris hard across the temple.	Tom back peddled.  He hadn’t realized just how strong the man was.  A trickle of blood began to flow from where he had been hit.  He wiped the red liquid out of his eyes and searched again for a weak spot in his foe.	“Ready to die?” asked Karnus.	Tom took another swing, hitting the man hard across the jaw.  “Only if you are.”	The Dezorisian smiled.  This man had a lot of courage, much more than most of the species he had fought.  This fight might prove much more interesting than he had first anticipated.	Paris stood back.  He could sense the man getting ready to pounce.  Karnus didn’t disappoint him either.  In the blink of an eye, the Dezsorisian’s massive tail flew around its back and wrapped itself around Paris’s ribs.	“You actually think you can beat me little man.” said Karnus as Paris struggled to unwrap the tail from where it had taken its hold.  “I always win, remember that.”	Tom could feel the tail tighten around his body.  *Pity my bones won’t break* he thought to himself.  	“You know what Karnus.” he said.  “The only thing bigger than that gut of yours has to be your ego.”	Karnus’s face flushed red.  *This is my chance* thought Paris.  He took the blade in his hand and in one quick swipe had managed to loosen the tail’s death grip around his body.  	Karnus let out a roar mixed with anguish and pain. His tail hung on just barely, but visions of torn muscle now showed themselves where once had only been sinewy skin.	He charged Paris who took another side step.  This time however, Tom caught a grip on the neck of the giant beast.  Using all his strength and leverage he managed to flip the Dezorisian onto its back.  Falling on its wounded appendage, Karnus let out a harsh cry.  	Tom then brought the blade’s tip to the exposed neck.  The kill was so close.  Tom could smell the blood around him, sense the conflicting emotions of the patrons.  They had been waiting for a kill.  It wouldn’t be right to deny them now.	He brought the blade above his head and brought it down for the death blow.	Aria watched as Tom pressed the blade closer to his opponent’s throat.  She could sense he was getting ready for the kill.  She knew that it was a kill-or-be-killed situation but somehow she hoped that it wouldn’t come to this.  She had killed her own number of enemies in battle, but that was different.	But she also couldn’t interfere now.  This was up to him.  She stood back quietly as she watched him raise his blade.  It wouldn’t be long now.	She prepared herself for the carnage to come as the blade tore through the air to the tender flesh below.		Not a breath sounded as the whistle of the blade was brought down, down, and then stopped, not a quarter inch from Karnus’s neck.	The Dezorisian looked up to Paris’s eyes.  He had predicted to be minus a head by now but instead only looked up the shaft of a blade ground into his neck.	Paris finally broke the silence around him.  He addressed not only Karnus but the onlookers as well.  “I have beaten you Karnus.  And due to the Law of Honor I now hold possession to all that belongs to you, including your life.”  A drop of blood rolled down Paris’s forehead.  He paused as he contemplated the words he spoke himself.  He then pulled the blade away.  “But I don’t think I’ll take you up on that last claim just yet.”  He then turned to the people around him.  “By your law,  I am now your clan’s leader.  All I ask is that you get the  fighters ready as soon as possible.  We’ll be leaving soon.”	He then walked through the crowd towards Aria.  A  dumbfounded Karnus lay where Paris had left him.  	“Can I ask you one question?” Aria inquired of Paris.  She gently wiped away the trickle of blood flowing from his temple.  	“Go ahead and ask.” he said. 	She smiled.  “Do you think I’ll ever be able to figure you out?”	He joined her in the smile.  “Don’t hope for too much.”	The Dezorisian female then came towards them.  “I must congratulate you.  Never before has another species been able to defeat one of our own.”	He nodded.  His body ached up and down from the fight.  All he wanted to do now was sleep.  “Come on, let’s get back to the shuttle.”	An hour later, Danag prepped the shuttle for preflight.  He looked back at the events that had just occurred.  *By the Fates, I am an idiot.* he cursed to himself.  His head pounded from his hangover.  Looking to the chair behind him, he wondered if Paris felt any better.	Tom lay reclined in the captain’s chair of the shuttle.  By all appearances, he looked asleep.  Eyes closed, back slouched in the cushion, he wanted to get some rest but something prevented him from fully going to sleep.  He had conceded however to at least take a load off.  There was no telling what he would be up against once they reached the concentration camp, he needed to be as alert as possible once they reached their destination.	Commander Brandwin stepped inside the shuttle.  “The Fighters are ready to leave.  I’ve got two pilots in them right now.  All they’re doing is waiting for our say so.”  She turned to Paris.  “Some of the Dezorisians would like to say their farewells to you.  You being their leader and everything now.”	Tom pulled his tired limbs out of the chair.  “Lead the way, Aria.”	Once the two were outside the shuttle, Paris  was greeted with the sight of almost every Dezorisian on the ship.   He nodded a welcome as the female who had helped him out before approached him.	“We have come to wish you a good journey, Rune,” she said to Paris.	He rose an eyebrow.  “Rune?”	“It is our custom to give names to those who show great courage and honor.  ‘Rune’ is our word for great warrior.”	“I’m honored,” he replied.  	Karnus then approached him.  He looked to the ground as he spoke.  “I did not have chance to speak with you after the fight.  I meant to congratulate you on your skill.”	Tom looked at the man he had just fought not  over an hour ago.  He knew he had to broach a new topic and he thought he had the perfect idea of how to handle the situation.  He addressed those around him.  “I don’t know when, if ever, that I’ll be back here.” he started.  “But I do know that you will need a leader while I’m absent.  Therefore I’m naming Karnus as my second in command.  While I’m gone, he will be your leader.”	Paris then looked at the crowd around him and reentered the shuttle.  Aria followed close behind while on her heels was the female.  Tom turned to the Dezorisian.  “What are you doing here?”	She lifted her head up.  “You are our clan leader and I intend to stay with you.  There isn’t a doctor aboard your vessel and there are very few in the Resistance from what I have been told.  Therefore I should prove to be a valuable asset to you.”	Karnus then came up behind the woman.  “You can’t possibly be thinking of leaving.”	She turned to him.  “I am ready to see more than just the interior of this ship, brother.  Besides I am not needed here.  If Rune will allow it I wish to accompany him.”	All eyes turned to Paris.  He sighed.  “She can come.”	A smile broke across the woman’s features as she heard his words.  Karnus just turned to Paris.  “Take care of her then.  She is still a very young one.”	Tom nodded.  Karnus then turned to leave.  Once he was outside the shuttle, he said one final word.  “Thanks.”	Tom then closed the hatch and went to the bridge.  He turned to their newest crewmember.  “You know we can’t just keep calling you ‘the female’ if you’re staying with us.  You’re going to have to choose a name.”	“That is the clan leader’s job.” she replied.	He sighed inwardly.  Thinking hard he tried to figure out some name.  From deep down a thought tickled at the back of his mind.  “Satira, sound okay.”	She just smiled.  “It sounds perfect.”	Paris, also known as Rune, took his seat at the Helm.  They would rondeavou with the rest of the Resistance at Kuran and then be off to the concentration camp.  He looked around them.  Their group of three had now become four.	Takma sent her message off just before  leaving for Voyager.  With any luck, she could convince the captain of the ship to follow her further into the Empire.  She had always preferred trickery to brute strength anyway.  And by making Captain Janeway believe that they were allies she could explore the ship to any extent she wished.	She appeared in the transporter room of Voyager some minutes later.  Janeway as usual was the first to greet her.  “Takma, I take it everything’s alright.”	“Yes,” she replied.  “I was merely called over for a faulty transponent coil.  It seems some aboard my crew don’t yet know how to think for themselves.”  Janeway laughed  a bit under her breath.  Takma continued.  “I came to inform you that we will be leaving shortly.  If you wish to come with us, I am sure that we can provide you with any resources you need.”	Janeway thought for a moment.  The ship was in need of supplies and chances like this didn’t come around often.  She decided to take the Parvanian up on her offer.  After all, they had already scanned the other ship and Takma’s story seemed to be true.	“ I believe we can take you up on that offer.”  she said.	Takma smiled.  “Good.  Until then, I was wondering if you might care to take a look around my ship.  You have already been quite hospitable to us, it would be rude not to offer you the same.”	Takma held her breath.  All depended upon this one coming over to her ship.  	Janeway pondered her options.  “I would love to,” she said.  Then addressing Chakotay over the Comm she said.  “Commander, I will be joining Takma aboard her ship for a few minutes.  You have the ship until I return.”	“Yes, Maam.” he replied.	Takma’s smile grew larger.  “Come then, I have been experiencing a few problems with my Engineering system.  Perhaps you could lend some advice.”	The two stepped up on the transporter platform and beamed aboard the Bonthos.  Takma thanked the Spirit for giving her such luck.	Janeway stepped onboard the Bonthos.  The ship was fascinating.  There were so many different cultures’ technologies mixed together.  It reminded her somewhat of the Federation.  She longed for home even more.  	Takma broke her train of thought.  “Do you like what you see?”	“Your ship is amazing.” she said.	Takma smiled.  “Come, I wish to show you to our dining area.  I haven’t eaten yet so I hope you do not mind that I do so now.”	“Of course, I understand.”  	“We have a great variety of different foods.  Maybe you could try some yourself.  I do hate to eat alone.”	Janeway shrugged.  *It can’t be worse than Neelix’s.*  “Sure, and on the way maybe you can tell me where you came upon those transporters.  They seem curiously like the Federations.”	The two women walked towards the mess hall.  Kail stepped out from his hiding place.  *Good* he thought.  *Once Takma gets her to eat something I’ll make sure it has a little something extra added to it.*	He held the small bottle in his hand.  It was so much easier to control a ship if you had the captain under your control.  And once the drug took effect on Captain Janeway her judgment would be so impaired, it wouldn’t be hard to get her to do whatever they wanted.	“Is everything ready?” Commander Chakotay asked.	“Aye sir.” came the reply from Baytart at the Helm.  “We can leave once the captain returns.”  Chakotay shifted in his chair.  He didn’t like the fact that Kathryn had gone onto the other ship alone.  	His worries were dissolved once he saw her step on board the bridge.  	“Captain,” he said.  “How did you like the tour of the Bonthos?”	She put a hand to her forehead.  She had only been on the other ship for a few minutes but somewhere along the line had developed a massive headache.  *It must have been from some of the food I ate.* she thought.	“Their ship is quite fascinating Chakotay.  I can’t wait until we trade with them.  You should see some of their technology.” she sat down heavily in her chair.  “Mr. Baytart plot a course following the Bonthos.”	Chakotay took his seat next to her.  “Is something wrong?” he asked.  	“No, I just don’t think something I ate is sitting that well with me.  Preliminary scans of their food showed that it was edible but I think I’ll stick to Neelix’s cooking from now on.”	He nodded.  They sat back and watched the stars fly by at warp 4.  Soon they would be deep within the Empire.  A place most people feared more than hell.  But then again, the crew of Voyager was unknowing to any of the dangers that awaited them.  They just sat back and enjoyed the ride.		Takma did so as well.  Kail had done an excellent job in drugging the captain although Takma was a little miffed that it had taken so long to finally get Janeway to concede to eating.	No matter.  It had been done none the less.  She plotted a course for the interior of the Empire.  But first she would have to make a stop at a certain concentration camp to check on another of her new-found prospects.*	The Imperial shuttle docked at Kuran for the second time.  Following close behind, two Dezorisian fighters did the same as well.  	Aria stepped out of the shuttle first followed close behind by her other compatriots.	“Commander Brandwin.” greeted Captain Raken.  “I see you were successful.”	Aria nodded.  “I believe you should give your congratulations to Rune here.  He was the one who finally got our deal through.”  Aria then turned to Paris as she said this.	Raken nodded to Paris.  “You wish to be called Rune now?”	Tom dismissed it.  “Long story.”  He then turned to the Dezorisian beside him.  “This is Satira.  She will be joining us as well.”	Consul Maris then stepped foreward.  “I have to congratulate you son.  Not many can carry such a trade with the Dezorisians.  But do you still think you can do this?” he asked, referring to the mission ahead.	“Just have another ship ready when I give you the signal.  It shouldn’t take over an hour at the absolute most to get inside and shut down their power generators.  I just need an armed transport ready to get them out of there once the shields are down.”	Maris put a hand on his shoulder.  “You give us the signal and we’ll be there.”	“That’s all I ask,” said Paris as Raken approached the two.	He shot a violent stare in Paris’s direction then he turned to Maris.  “Consul, there are a few matters I wish to discuss with you.”	Maris nodded and Raken escorted him away.  Satira then came up to Paris.  “Rune,” she said.  “Since we are back to your base, I believe it would be wise if you would let me take a look at you in sickbay.  The injuries you received during the fight might prove to be more serious than we first thought.”	Tom shrugged it off.  “I’m fine.” he stated.	She kept persisting though.  “If you would just let me take a look, then I could give you my professional opinion on the matter.”	He looked her square in the eye.  “I told you I’m fine.  End of discussion.  Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get some sleep before we leave in a few hours.”  He left abruptly towards his quarters.	Satira stared after him.  “Why does he act like that?  I was merely offering my services.”	Aria walked over to the taller woman.  “Don’t take it personally.  He just doesn’t like sickbays, I don’t think.”  She stared after Paris.  “If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to go have a talk with him.”	Aria followed in Paris’s wake.  Satira was left behind in the company of Danag.  “What was that all about?” he asked.	She rolled her eyes at the man who was just barely the same height as she.  “Don’t ask me, drunkard.”  And then she walked off as well, leaving behind a very bewildered Danag.	Raken pulled Maris to the side.  “How can you trust him?” he asked.  “For all we know this is just some trick by the Empire to lure us out and dispose of us once and for all.”	Maris tried to control his tone as he answered.   “If he was going to betray us, don’t you think he would have done so by now.  As for questioning my judgment, I’ll thank you to know that I am not a complete imbecile.  I realize the risks but if Commander Brandwin has assured us that he is safe, then I believe him.  Now good day, Captain.”	Maris strode away.  Raken watched as he left.  He knew he couldn’t trust Rune.  That man wasn’t one of them.  He would never be one of them.  Raken swore that he wouldn’t let the man trick them.  He would follow along on this little mission and catch Rune once he finally did betray them.  Then they would see he was right.  Aria would finally realize that the man she had been running around with was nothing more than a lying spy.  	He would make Aria see the light.  He swore it.	*Would you please slow down* Aria asked Paris.	He turned around.  “Yes..” he asked.	“What was that all about?  She was just trying to help.”  Aria wished they still held that psychic connection.  Deep down she knew they did, but he had learned to build up shields around his mind.  And she wasn’t prepared to break through them just for an answer.  Besides it would mean much more if he would tell her himself.	“Look I don’t want to talk about it.”	He then turned to leave but Aria wouldn’t give up that easily.  *I know what they did to you Rune.  I know your reasons for not wanting to go near sickbay but you’ve got to learn to get over that.  Let me help you.*	Paris stopped when he heard her thoughts.  Turning to face her once more, he said, “I’m sorry, but I’m fine, really.  If I need any help, you’ll be the first one I ask.”	Aria decided to let it go for now.  Instead she took on a new tactic.  “Alright, but go get some sleep now.  I don’t want you nodding off once we’re inside the camp.”	He nodded.  “That was the plan.”	She turned to leave.  “If you need anyone to talk to, I’m always here.  Remember that.”	He felt a little guilty by her words and decided to give her a little leverage.  “Tell you what, why don’t you come to my quarters.  We can talk some there.”	She smiled and then turned to follow him.  Her plans always worked out.*		Sargon noticed that the guards were acting even more peculiar than usual.  He had heard them talking of a new ship they had found but this was getting ridiculous.  Instead of the usual five or six guards placed strategically around their prisoners’ cells, there was now only one.  If it wasn’t for that damn forcefield then he could probably get out of this.  	He walked over to Meylin.  She stood at the side of the cell to herself.  	“Meylin,” he said.  “We need a plan.”	She looked at him.  Her ears pricked up at his words.  “What do you have in mind?”  Her red hair had lost its shine since they had been transferred to this camp.  He hated seeing the Chief of Security in such a state.  Her species didn’t fare very well in such conditions.  Even her orange eyes had lost that rebellious glow.  But he needed her help.  He knew he didn’t have the mind for military tactics.  He was an engineer not a soldier.	“I was hoping you could come up with something.” he said.	She slumped down a little more.  He could see how badly she was faring.  She just wasn’t used to the lack of food or the poor environmental conditions around here.  He had grown up in such places, he was used to it by now.  But she wasn’t.	“Just rest.” he said.  “I’ll figure something out.”		The little girl watched the scene before her.  She had kept her eyes on the two new prisoners who had come in.  They were different from all the rest.  She looked on as the two sat down next to each other discussing something.  	She had never before seen a Parvanian in one of his own people’s prisons.  And the other woman was much more of an enigma.  She was a strange species that the girl had only seen a few times before.  The girl thought her race was called Gerans, but she wasn’t sure.	She hid herself back in the corner.  A few of the other prisoners would sometimes come say something to her, but that was very seldom.  She had learned to just keep out of the way, that was best for everyone.  So she settled down in her corner and watched those around her.  Maybe she could get to sleep if she really tried.  Her stomach let out another growl.  Or maybe she would just stay up instead.		Tom stepped into the shuttle.  Preflight had already been taken care of, Danag had recovered from his hangover, and everyone was at their stations.  	From the helm, he asked over the Comm.  “Is everyone ready?”	Different affirmations played over his Comm line as the other ships confirmed their status.  	Aria sat behind the Tacticianal station while Danag took Ops.  Satira stood in the background.  She had protested that she come along so he had allowed her to.  Who knew what the status of the prisoners would be.  He might need a doctor on his team.	While he lead the away team, Raken was in charge of the diversion.  	“Well, it’s now or never.” he said.  The Imperial shuttle soared out of shuttle bay.  The Dezorisian fighters took the lead.  	He took in the sight of the four ships.  Along with himself and the two fighters, a large armed transport followed close behind.  It would be at least a day’s travel to their destination.  He plotted their course.  With any luck they might actually live to do this again.*		Takma’s voice sounded over the Comm system on Voyager’s bridge.  	“Captain Janeway,” she said.  “We need to make a course correction.   I’ve been asked to stop by one of our research bases to pick up another ship.  I hope this won’t be of any inconvenience to you.”	Janeway’s headache was still running full force.  “That would be fine,” she said absently.  	“We will send you the new coordinates immediately.  It should only take a little over a day to reach our new destination.  From there we can proceed to our trading ports.”	Takma sat back in her chair on her bridge.  She just needed to create a diversion to get that ship out of Portus’s hands and then she would have the advantage again.*****************	It had been a long journey but they were finally at their rendezvous destination.  A day with the arguing of Danag  and Satira had been an unimaginable Hell.  He hoped that Aria was right about them needing him.  She had refused to tell him why, just that he was a valuable person to have in battle.	He opened the Comm line to the other ships.  “Fighters one and two, take your positions.”	The two fighters then sped off ahead of them.  It was growing time for them to make their move.	Raken sounded over the Comm.  “Are you really going to do this?” he asked for the hundredth time.  	Tom sighed.  “Just stand by, and come in when I tell you to.”  He then addressed the fighters again.  “Okay, start creating a diversion.”	The pilots then flew full speed after the nearest Imperial ship they could find.  All they needed to do was pose a threat to any Imperial ship in the area.  That would give Tom and his group cause to seek refuge in the camp.	So far it was working.  The Imperial freighter was opening fire on the fighters.  Tom just hoped they were good enough to evade capture or worse, the missiles flying around them.	Guiding the shuttle through the crossfire, he led it down towards the concentration camp.  	A voice crackled over his comm line.  “Unknown shuttle, identify yourself.”	Tom responded quickly.  “This is the Imperial shuttle Caston.  We seek refuge.  Resistance fighters are all over the place.  We don’t have the fire power to take them on.”	The man on the other end of the line paused a moment.  “We cannot offer you sanctuary.”	Tom grumbled under his breath.  “Look, I’m on a mission for Takma.  If you want to explain to the Pretor’s wife just why one of her shuttle’s got destroyed for no reason, then you can do it.”	This got the man to thinking.  “Fine, you can dock in shuttlebay one.  That’s shuttlebay one. Got it.”	“Aye.  And thanks.”  The line went dead.  “Some manners,” muttered Paris.	He turned to the others in the shuttle.  “Well, it looks like it’s showtime.”		Once Rune’s shuttle had successfully docked, Raken called out to the Fighters.  “Get out of there now.  They’re in.”	He held his ship hidden behind a nearby moon.  Hopefully the Empire’s sensors wouldn’t pick them up here.  He thought about the away team.  He had conceded to allowing Aria and the rest of them to go along with Rune on this insane mission.  He wondered when he had gone insane himself.	*No matter* he thought.  *When the guy screws up I’ll come in and save the day.*	The four inside the shuttle quickly checked their supplies before stepping outside.  They concealed weapons and explosives underneath their clothing.  To anyone else, it might appear that they were crazy to think they could get away with such a thing, but they would.	Paris was the first to step out of the shuttle, followed closely by Danag and Satira, then finally Aria.  Those present in shuttlebay never knew what hit them as the four quickly took out all the occupants of the room.  Tom then walked over to a console.	Four tentacles slipped out of his gloves as he linked to the computer terminal.  Satira and Danag looked on in awe, but Aria only asked, “Can you shut down their system from here.”	He shook his head.  “I’m installing a virus but I can’t reach any of the primary systems from here.  We’ll have to go ahead with the plan and blow their generators manually.”	He disengaged the link.  “Okay the way I see it, they won’t know anything’s up for at least fifteen minutes.  The generators are at two different locations.  Danag and I will take out the first.  Aria and  Satira the second.”	He lead them out into the corridors.  They waited until the guards had finally passed by, then stepped out into the hall.  Waiting until they reached a fork in their path, Paris spoke again.  “Okay we meet back here in fifteen minutes.  Keep your communicators on but don’t open a frequency unless it’s completely necessary.  Understood.  Now move out.”	They separated at that moment.  Now came the action.	Danag held his breath as he and Paris took out another set of guards.  That made four.  He couldn’t help but think that there should be more around.	*Oh well,* he thought.  *I suppose I should be praising the Fates for this string of luck.*	Tom motioned for him to hurry up.  Paris rounded the next corner.  They were at the doors to the Power generator.  He broke through the lock and scanned the room for more guards.  No one was there.  *Something’s up* he thought to himself.	But there was no time to think of such things.  He quickly deposited his share of explosives.  They were ready.  He signaled for Danag to get clear before he detonated.	Now all he had to do was contact Aria.	Aria and Satira slipped through the halls quietly.  They too noticed that there weren’t as many guards as should be.  Aria paid no heed to this at the moment though.  Instead she deposited her explosives and exited the room.  	Tom’s voice broke through her thoughts.  *Are you done.*	*Yes* she replied.	*Set the timer for twenty minutes, then meet us at the rendezvous point.*	She turned to Satira.  “Okay we’re out of here.”	The two teams met back up where they had started.  Tom checked their time.  Twelve minutes until the explosives detonated.  He turned to Aria.  “Somehow I expected a little more of a challenge.” he said.	“I don’t understand this, there should be more guards out.”  she replied.  	“Well, I for one am just grateful we haven’t got caught yet.  Come on let’s get going.” Danag said.	Paris complied.  The virus he had installed within the computer system seemed to be working, otherwise the security cameras would have picked them up by now.  From the information he had attained from the terminal he determined the prisoner holding cells to be just below them.	“Okay,” he said.  “There are three levels to this complex.  We’re on level two now.  If we go down the next level should be dedicated solely to prisoner confinement.  Let’s go.”	The team headed out.  In a matter of minutes they had gotten to the lower level.  There was also a relatively small number of guards on this level as well.  Paris looked around.  He wanted answers.  He decided to scan the rest of the area for guards.  Reaching out with his mind, he searched for anymore guards.  He could only pick up three on that entire level.	“I need to get to a terminal.” he said.	Danag looked at him puzzled.  “We don’t have any time.  Besides we might get caught.”	“For once in your life act with courage.” scolded Satira.	Tom interrupted the two before they got to arguing.  “There are only three guards on this level.  I want to know why.”	He found a wall terminal and quickly linked up to it.  The cells were just beyond this wall, but he had to make sure first of all that they weren’t walking into a trap.  It took a few seconds, but he finally managed to break through the security codes encrypted in the computer.  There he found the answer.  All the guards had been posted around shuttlebay two.  Inside was some new ship.  He couldn’t find much information on it, but he knew enough to realize what a risk such a vessel might be.	He broke his link with the computer.  “All the guards have been posted around shuttlebay two.  There’s some kind of advanced ship inside there that they are guarding.  From what I can tell, this thing is powerful enough that if the Empire learn to use this technology the Resistance is in big trouble.”	“We have to get it away from them then.” said Aria.	Tom nodded.  “After we get these prisoners safely out of here, we’ll go after the ship.”	He then walked up to the door.  “Ready” he said.  Despite the fact that the rest of the deck had been barren of guards, he had felt three inside the Cell area.  With one quick move, he opened the door and aimed his phaser at the first guard.	Sargon rose from where he had sat next to Meylin.  They had been trying to formulate a plan for the longest but were still no closer to a solution.  The sound of gunfire turned his attention on red alert. 	*What the Hell* he wondered.	One guard lay dead on the floor.  Before the other two could turn around, they were shot to the ground as well.	A blond haired man was the first to step through the doorway.  Following closely behind was the one person Sargon had never figured on seeing again.  	“Commander Brandwin?!” shouted.	It was probably not the wisest thing to do, for after he had said these words the rest of the prisoners all came to life.  The prospect of a rescue had sent them all into a frenzy.  Sargon rushed to get Meylin before she was crushed.	She protested at this.  “I’m not a child I can..”	Sargon just stared her down.  He silenced her with only three words.  “Just shut up.”		Paris struggled to hear over the clamor of the cell’s inhabitants.  This was sure to bring some attention.  	“Quiet!  Quiet!” he yelled.	After a while the din turned to only a muffled roar.	“We’re going to get everyone out of here but you have to remain calm.” he shouted.	Checking the time, he realized that there were only a few more minutes until the generators would be gone.  It was time to check in with Raken.		Captain Raken  tapped his fingers on the console.  Rune was keeping him waiting too long.  Something was up.  He was about to pull his ship out of orbit when his Ops officer stated, “Sir, the away team is hailing us.”	“Put it through,” he barked.	Paris’s voice sounded over the bridge.  “Raken we’re about ready here.  When the shields come down, leave your cover and start beaming these people away.  Rune out.”	Raken took in the man’s words.  Now was the time he would know for sure whether or not he was a spy.  	One of his officers then reported that the shields were offline.	Raken ordered the conn officer to pull them out of orbit.  He would have to play along for now, then he could expose Rune for what he was.  All he needed now was proof.	An explosion rocked the entire complex.  As all the prisoners ran out of the cells, no one noticed the little girl still huddled in the corner.  She didn’t dare move unless she wished to get trampled by scared feet.	She sat there huddled in a little ball.  Everything was happening so fast and she had no idea of what was going on.	She watched as people began to disappear.  She wondered if she should say something or not.	“Okay that’s the last of them.” Danag said.	The cells were completely barren except for four members of the away team along with Sargon and Meylin.  Once hearing the others’ plans of taking the alien ship, the two prisoners had refused to be beamed out.	Paris then addressed Raken.  “Alright, that’s all of them.”	“What about you?” Raken asked.	Paris informed the captain of the situation.  	“Okay, I’ll stay in transporting distance until you’re done down there.  Raken out.”	Tom turned to the others in his group.  Sargon and Meylin had already acquiesced a phaser from each of the dead guards.  	Sargon was the first to speak.  “Well, let’s get going.  I’m sure there are more Imperial soldiers who would be glad to share the same fate as those over there.” he nodded toward the dead bodies.	Tom turned to Aria.  “I want you to lead them towards the upper level.  Once you get to the turbo lift, stop and wait on me.  I’m going to set some more explosives down here before we leave.”	The others left as Paris set about to do his work.	The explosion shook the entire complex.  Including the guards outside shuttlebay two.  	“What was that,” asked one.	“I don’t know but I want five of you down in the prisoner’s block immediately.  Make sure everything’s alright.”  said their commanding officer.	They left to carry out their orders.  They had no idea what they expected to find there, but they could never have prepared themselves for the reality.*		The Bonthos approached its destination.  What Takma found nearly made her fall out of her chair.  She couldn’t raise the camp on the Comm line hovering just outside the facility was a Resistance vessel.  What was most disturbing was the lack of shielding around the Concentration camp.	“Evasive maneuvers,” she ordered.  “Destroy that Resistance vessel and hail Voyager.”		“We’re being hailed Captain.” said Ensign Kim from his position at Ops.	“Put it through.” ordered Janeway.	On the screen appeared a very distraught Takma.  “Captain Janeway, we have just detected a Resistance vessel in the area.  It’s attacking our research facility on the planet below.  We might require your assistance.”	Janeway nodded.  “You can count on us.”	The screen then went blank.  Chakotay sent a questioning glance in Janeway’s direction.  Usually they would attempt to try and stay out of different government’s politics.	Janeway just rubbed her temples and replied.  “Don’t take us in just yet Mr. Baytart.  I don’t want to get involved unless utterly necessary.”	Chakotay looked a bit relieved.  For some reason he had wondered if her thinking was impaired.  But now he knew she was fine.  *		Paris only had one charge left to set.  He entered the last cell area and attached the explosive to a back wall.  Just as he was about to leave, he heard a small squeak come from behind him, then a sob come from the corner of the cell.  He turned around to see a young child huddled in the corner.  He cautiously approached the little girl.	He gently put a hand on her back.  “Hey,” he said in a quiet tone.  “What are you still doing here.”	The girl turned a tear stricken face to Paris.  She wiped away a tear and then said.  “Everybody was running around so fast, I didn’t know what was going on.  Now I’m all alone.”	He tenderly pushed back a strand of pink hair.  “You’re not alone now.  I’m here.  So why don’t you come with me and I’ll get you out of here.”	She gave a couple of more sniffs before asking.  “Who are you?” 	He flashed her his trademark smile.  “My name is Rune.  And what by chance is yours fair lady?”	She turned to her side, making the covers squeak against the floor again.  “I’mm ...Xara,” she said between sobs.	He took her hand.  “Well, Xara, do you want to leave with me?”	She nodded.  As he pulled her into his arms, her movement caused the floor to squeak once again.	“Are you sure your name isn’t Squeaker?” he asked.  “Cause that’s what the floor keeps calling you.”	He thought he picked up the slightest hint of a laugh as he stood up.  Her hands gripped his coat tightly as he carried her out of the cell area.   He had just exited the Prisoners’ area when five guards appeared around the corner.  	*Things just got a lot more complicated.*	*Things just got a lot more complicated* thought Raken as he saw the Imperial ship coming towards them.  Remaining just behind it was an alien vessel he hadn’t seen before.	It seemed that he had been right about Rune after all, otherwise how would the Empire know about them being here.  He could just picture the traitor giving away their position to Takma.	“All hands to battle stations,” he barked out.  	*Sometimes it just doesn’t pay to be right.* 	Removing one hand from his hold on Xara, Paris reached for his gun.  Due to the shock of the guards to seeing one of their prisoners out of his cell, Tom was able to get two of his assailants before the others began shooting at him as well.  He used his own body to guard Xara from the shots.  The first shot hit its mark in Paris’s shoulder.  Blood flowed out from the gash created in his left side.  After that, his body had adapted to the weapons and they no longer held any effect on him.	Xara sobbed quietly into his chest.  Keeping himself between her and the guards, he still managed to pull off a few more shots which quickly disabled all the others.	He picked Xara back up in his arms.  	“Are you okay?” she asked.	“Yes I’m fine.  How about you?”	She nodded weakly as she spoke.  “I’m alright.”	He sent her a reassuring smile.  “Now how about let’s get out of here. Okay.”	She nodded again.	He held her a bit more closely and scanned the rest of the area for guards.  Nothing.  Running down the corridor he stopped once he came to the turbolift.  He thought he was safe until a gun appeared from nowhere.	“It’s me Sargon.” he said.	Sargon stepped out and put his gun down.  “What’s she doing here?” he asked.	The rest of the group appeared as well.  Aria sent him a questioning glare.	“She got left behind,” he said.  Xara stole a gaze at the group from where her head was nestled in his chest.	Satira was the next to speak.  “By the Spirit, you’ve been shot.”	Tom disregarded it.  “It’s nothing.  Come on we don’t have time to waste talking.”	He walked past them with Xara still in his arms.  Next stop, shuttlebay two.	Raken cursed under his breath.  Their weapons were nothing compared to the Empire’s and right now the Bonthos was nearing victory over them.	“Prepare three more torpedoes!” he yelled.  “Target their primary systems.  Weapons, Tacticianal, anything you can get a clear mark on.”	He didn’t even receive a reply before the ship rocked to its side once more.	*Some rescue.* he thought bitterly.  He swore for the thousandth time that Rune would pay for his deceit.  All Raken had to do was live long enough to confront him.	Janeway stared off towards the battle.  Takma’s ship was slaughtering the Resistance vessel.  Two fighters then appeared to the side.  They fired weapons on the Bonthos but were never able to penetrate the shielding.  Baytart looked to the captain for confirmation.  He needed to know whether or not they would join in this battle.	“Don’t go in just yet Mr. Bayart.  Wait until they require our assistance.”	Deep down the Captain hoped that wouldn’t be the case.	Tom ordered his men to hold back while he surveyed their position.  Handing Xara to Aria, he went foreword for a closer look.  By his count there were at least eight guards outside shuttlebay.  He scanned the interior and found twelve more waiting inside.	There wasn’t anytime to sit and formulate the best course of action so he decided to follow his gut on this one.	*Hold your position until I tell you to come out.* He told Aria.	She nodded to him from where she and  the others lay hidden.  He could barely hear her informing those around her of his orders.	*Well, it’s now or never* he told himself.	Standing up, he walked out into the open and up to the guards.  Most of them were too surprised to do anything except point their weapons at him.  	He got in just one sentence before they began shooting.  “So nice place you got here.”	Aria told the others his orders.  She didn’t know what he was up to until she watched Paris stroll up to the guards like they were some old acquaintance.  Danag was about to ask if the man really was a spy when all his doubts were blown away as gunfire roared through the corridor.	Aria watched as Paris just stood there and began picking the guards off with his own weapon.  He had killed three before Sargon ran from their cover and into the battle as well.	Tom felt only a slight tingle as the shots hit his body.  The guards looked bewildered as they realized they were causing him no damage.  Their phasers practically ricocheted off him.	All was going well until he realized that someone was firing from behind him.  Two more guards fell down along with Paris’s three as Sargon ran up beside Paris and shot down yet another.	The look on Sargon’s face was that of an experienced killer.  *He’s really getting into this* thought Tom.	Tom shot down another guard as the final one trained his aim on Sargon.  Pushing his compatriot down, Tom let himself take the brunt of the phaser’s power as he aimed his man on the security officer and shot him as well.	Aria finally allowed the others to disembark their position once the battle had ended.  Meylin rushed over to Sargon.	“You have to be the stupidest man I have ever met,” she spat at him while looking for wounds at the same time.	Aria took a good visual estimate of Paris.  “So you’ve already adapted to their weapons.” she said.	He just turned to her and said.  “I guess I’m just a fast learner.” He then turned to Sargon.  “Either your the most stupid man or the most reckless I’ve ever met.”	The man returned Tom’s stare from where he lay on the floor.  “You didn’t think I’’d let you have all the fun now did you?”	Paris’s face broke into a satiric grin.  “I suppose not.  Mind telling me just what it is you do in the Resistance?”	Brushing off his clothes, Sargon replied in an almighty tone.  “Chief Engineer.”	Tom just rose an eyebrow.	Aria then stepped in.  “They’re going to be here any second.” she said, referring to the guards on the other side of the wall.  “And they have stronger weapons than these out here.  It would probably take at least a shot or two before you could adapt to them.”	Tom knew what she was getting at but couldn’t respond before Meylin cut in.	“Adapt!?  Do you mean to say he’s some kind of Borg?!” she asked.	Tom just rolled his eyes before replying.  “Something like that,” he told her.  He then disregarded the startled stares of those around him and focused his attention back on Aria.  “You have a plan.” he stated more than asked.	She smiled somewhat sardonically before turning to Danag and saying.  “Yes.  A diversion.”	“Shoot them NOW!” roared Takma.	The fighters were getting on her last nerve.  True, they couldn’t penetrate her shielding, but they also wouldn’t allow her to get a clear shot at the other vessel as well.  She wondered why Voyager hadn’t yet ensued into battle.  	*Let them stay behind* she thought.	Her thoughts were trained on more important matters after all.	“I want two torpedoes on intercept trajectories for those Fighters,” ordered Kail.  He had sat back as Takma had given orders long enough.  It was time he took matters into his own hands.	The Parvanian guards in shuttlebay two thought they heard something, but that was ridiculous.  The outer doors were sound proof.  And besides that, nothing could happen.  No one had ever been dumb enough to break ‘inside’ an Imperial concentration camp.  Even the computer virus and explosion could be explained.  They had experienced slight bugs in their system before.  This was no more than an engineer’s oversight.  Soon they would be up and running as usual.	Another guard then entered the room from outside.	The head of security approached the newcomer.  So infuriated was he at this lack of professionalism that he didn’t notice the doors to shuttlebay were still open.	“What is the meaning of this!” he barked.  “You were supposed to report in five minutes ago.”	The Parvanian fidgeted at his commander’s remarks.  He slid his hand to the butt of his gun at his waist.  The man addressing him never noticed the action.	Grabbing the officer by his uniform’s collar, he asked again.  “Well, what excuse do you have for yourself.”	The man looked into the superior’s eyes then towards the side wall where Tom and Sargon crept by.  He said. “I’m sorry Commander but my communicator went offline.	The Commander loosened his grip on the other’s shirt.  He then turned away.  “That is no excuse, next time...”	His sentence was cut off by an insolent remark from his inferior.  “Believe me you won’t live to see a next time.”  Before the Commander could turn around.  The speaker had pulled a gun and had it positioned at his superior’s back.	“Don’t move or he dies!” yelled out the captor.  He then turned his attention to his hostage.  “Did anyone ever tell you, you really need to work on your people skills?”	One of the other guards then rose his gun towards the two.  He never had the chance to fire though, since Paris shot him down before he could pull the trigger.  The other guards came alert at that and began shooting in Paris’s direction.  Sargon then stood up at his position to their left and shot two down as Paris took out another as well.	Shots whizzed by as Aria and Meylin uncovered themselves and joined in the gunfire.  Together the two women shot five of their own.  Paris took out another one from the side.  The last unharmed guard managed to get one shot out in Tom’s direction but it went wide as he collapsed to the floor.  Aria stood behind the corpse, her gun still glowing from its recent discharge.	Tom nodded his thanks before turning his attention towards the two remaining Imperial soldiers.	The security chief struggled against his captor.  “How dare you betray the Empire to these Resistance scum!”	“It’s not my Emp..” He wasn’t allowed to finish his sentence before the hostage elbowed him in the ribs and grabbed the gun from him.  Pointing the weapon at the traitor he prepared to pull the trigger.	The afore mentioned traitor looked up from his position on the floor to watch as the superior aimed his weapon on him and then fell to the floor.  Paris took the place of the dead man.  Tom looked down at the Parvanian on the floor and then spoke.	“So, I thought you were going to take care of him,” he said.	The security guard got up from his position of the floor.  “Hey, I provided the distraction.  If you think you can do better I’d like to see you try.”	Tom couldn’t help but smile at the young man’s audacity.  “I suppose you’re right.  You did provide a nice little distraction Danag.”	The Parvanian’s features then melted away and reformed into the figure of Danag.  He strode over to Paris.  “You’re damn right.” he said, then after receiving a steely gaze from Tom, he added.  “Of course you did pretty good yourself.”	Xara then ran out from her hiding place and straight towards Tom.  He knelt down next to her.  “You okay,” he asked.	She nodded.  “I didn’t know he was a shape-shifter,” she said.	He looked at Aria as he spoke to the little girl.  “I didn’t either.  It seems someone forgot to tell me that too.”	Aria just shot him a mischievous grin.	He then took the little girl’s hand as he stood up.  “Now we just need to get through that force field and then we’re out of here.”	Danag, now in his original form, walked over to a nearby console. “Give me a few minutes and I can get it down.”  He began to furiously push in commands.	Paris let go of Xara’s hand and just strode over to the shuttle but stopped short as he approached the field.  “Don’t bother,” he said and then reached out a hand to their barrier.  A wall of illuminated ions flickered to life.  He gritted his teeth as the electrical charge pulsed through his body.  Satira opened her mouth to protest this inhumane act but just stared in awe as his hand passed through the force field  and was followed closely by the rest of his body.	Danag just quit his work at the console and muttered, “Never mind.”	Tom then paused at the hatch of the ship and entered.  A few seconds later the force field flickered once more and then dissipated.  Tom exited the hatch and walked over to the group.  Taking Xara in his arms once more, he addressed the rest of his company.  “Shall we be leaving now?”	Janeway realized, as a shot rocked Voyager, that it was useless to try and stay out of this fight.  Try as she might, they were caught up in it now and the only way to get out would be to get in the fight.	“Tuvok ready weapons and target their weapons.  Mr. Baytart, take us in.”	Raken held his breath as the other ship finally joined in on their fray.  It had been a miracle when the two fighters had returned and distracted the Bonthos, but with this other ship, they wouldn’t stand a chance.	He held his breath, if they were going to die he was going to take someone with him.	“Target the other ship.  Maybe we can penetrate their shields instead.”	Tom sat Xara down in the Captain’s chair on the bridge of the alien ship.	The others took their positions at what they could determine to be their usual stations.  The new technology was considerably more advanced than anything else the Resistance had but they could get the gist of what each console’s function was.  The problem was, they couldn’t understand any of the language.	Tom sat at the Conn.  The console before him seemed a little familiar but he couldn’t yet place the connection.	“So how are we supposed to work this ship if we can’t read our consoles?”  asked Meylin.	Tom then answered them with action instead of words.  He allowed his Borg-like tentacles to slide through his glove and link to the console.  His eyes dilated as he attempted to translate the new language into something the others could understand.  He wasn’t aware of how many minutes passed by.  All he could feel was his mind merging with the ship’s computer.  	The others shifted their attention back and forth from Paris to their console.  The images finally changed into something they could understand.  Tom then disengaged from his link and leaned back in his chair.	“That help any?” he asked.	He only received awestruck stares from the group.  Turning his attention back to his console, he said.  “I don’t know about the rest of you but I think it’s time to leave.”	Torres grabbed onto a railing as another shot rocked Voyager.  She cursed in Klingon.  Couldn’t this ship just stay out of battle for just one week.	There was no time to think about that now.  Tom wasn’t here to bail them out with any of his hot shot flight patterns.  This caused a tinge of regret but she couldn’t think about that now.  She had a ship to keep together.	“Joe, lead a team to replace those ruptured nacelles.  Vorik help me stabilize the Warp drive.”  she ordered.	*Just another boring day at work,* she thought cynically.	Takma smiled to herself as she saw Voyager enter the fray.  At least she knew she had their trust.  Which was something few people gave her.	*Well, at least this isn’t a total loss.* 	Another torpedo hit their shielding resulting in Takma falling out of her seat.  	“Will someone just destroy that ship and get it over with!”		“How are our shields?” Raken asked.	“They’re holding at 30% sir, but I don’t know how long they’ll stay.”	Raken slumped down in his chair.  They didn’t have long at this rate.  	“Fire everything we’ve got at those ships.  Whichever’s shields fall first, destroy them.”	Tom maneuvered the ship out of shuttlebay.  He was still amazed that the Empire had constructed such a large chamber to hold their ships.  	Once they were out of the planet’s orbit, Danag read something on sensors.  “I’m picking up a battle to our port side.  It looks like an Imperial ship and some unknown vessel are attacking Captain Raken.	“Yes I can see that.” Tom said.  On the front screen images of the battle played before the crew’s eyes.  “Meylin, can you get weapons on line.?”	“Aye, I’ve already charged them.”	“Good, cause we’re going in.”		Chakotay reached for the captain so she wouldn’t fall as the ship took another hit.	“Damage.” he called out.	“Shields are at 50% and holding.” said Harry.  He paused then spoke up again.  “I’m also picking up an unknown ship on sensors.  It’s coming our way.”	Janeway’s brow furrowed.  “Can you tell whose side it’s on?”	“They are targeting their weapons on us.” replied Tuvok stoically.	She envied his seemingly calm demeanor.  “Target their weapons as well but don’t fire until fired upon.”	“Shields are at 15% sir!”	Raken’s face fell as he heard those words.  One more hit and they were done for.	He said a silent prayer to the Fates in hopes that a miracle was not too far beyond their powers.  But he didn’t expect anymore than the gift of a quick death for all.	“Rune, Raken’s ship can’t take much more.  Their shields are already falling.”  Aria told Paris.	“Meylin, get those weapons ready and fire on my mark.  Sargon give me full power to engines.  Danag, get Raken on the Comm.”	Paris began tapping out commands on his console.  Now was the time for some brilliant flying.  He hoped that he was good enough to do what he had planned.	Firing the engine, he bolted towards the Imperial ship.  Hopefully those fighters could keep it occupied long enough to give him the element of surprise.  As he neared the Bonthos, he spun his own ship around onto its side and darted between Takma’s vessel and Raken’s.  Perhaps this would give the captain a better chance at getting his ship out of there. 	Raken waited for the next blow to come.  Only he was mistaken.  The only thing that appeared was an alien ship darting between him and the torpedoes that would have sent all on his ship to their graves.  The new ship flew by in a deftly maneuvered pattern.  It sailed past on its side as torpedoes fired from its hull.  	Raken praised the Fates as two of the new ship’s shots penetrated the Bonthos’s sheilding.	“Sir they’re hailing us.”	“Put them through.” replied Raken.	His jaw dropped at least half a foot when he saw who his rescuers were.	“Well, Raken, nice seeing you here.” said Tom casually.	The captain stormed to life.  “What are you doing here you traitor.  You’re the one who led us into this trap.”	Tom’s eyes narrowed.  “I, ‘Captain’ didn’t know anything about what was going to happen here.  Right now I’m just trying to keep both our ships in one piece, so if you don’t mind, we can discuss this later.  Just get your people out of here and we’ll hold them off while you leave.  We’ll meet back at the base, hopefully.  Rune out.”	Paris didn’t wait for the other man to say anything.  He had had enough of him.	Tom looked around the bridge at the faces on it.  Everyone stood at a console spare Xara and Satira.  The Dezorisian was trying to keep the young child calm from where they sat in the command seats.	“Raken has just left, Rune.” said Danag.	“Good, it looks like we get to have all the fun now.”	Takma fumed as she saw the Resistance ship fly away.  No one had ever escaped from her.  She turned to Kail.  	“Whatever you do don’t let that ship get away.  I won’t loose it to the Resistance as well.”	He nodded.  “Recalibrate the shielding,” he ordered.  The new ship had managed to get through their shielding once but not twice.  Kail had had it set at its lowest level since he was confident that no Resistance ship could penetrate it.  Now not even this new vessel could hope to inflict anymore damage to them.	“Fire two torpedoes now.” he ordered.		“Fire now.” said Janeway from Voyager’s bridge.	She watched as the Bonthos fired as well.  The combined power of their weapons proved too much for their adversaries shielding and two shots penetrated through.	“Tuvok, what’s the damage on the vessel?” she asked.  This new ship was almost the same size as Voyager; she needed to see if it was as powerful as well.	“Their weapon systems are down Captain.”	She nodded.  “Try hailing them,  if they don’t respond, attempt to beam the occupants into the brig.”	“Status!” ordered Tom.	Meylin let an angry fire grow over her face.  “They’ve damaged our weapon systems.  I can’t access any of the torpedoes from here.”	Sargon then broke in.  “Somehow that shot damaged the computer system.  It’s frozen us out of all primary systems.  I can fix it but it’ll take a while.”	“We don’t have a while.  What systems have we lost?” asked Paris.	“Communications, Weapons, Tacticianal, you name it, we lost it.”	He pondered for a second.  “Is there any way to get them back on line?”	“I’ll have to hack into the central computer and reestablish a connection to all these systems.”	Paris had an idea.  It was crazy, but then so was this scheme of his that got them into this.	“Hold on.  I might be able to get us out of this.”	“They aren’t responding to our hails Captain.” said Harry.	Janeway considered this.  “Can you beam their bridge crew over here, Harry.”	“Negative, their shields are still up.”	She nodded.  “I don’t suppose we have much of a choice then.  Tuvok  target all primary systems and fire at will.”	*Okay, time for a miracle.* Paris told himself.	Linking himself back up to the computer, he tried to redirect all primary systems through him.  He had already felt himself murge with the ship once before, all he had to do was hold onto it this time.  Concentrating as hard as possible, he managed to get all the systems back online again.  After redirecting the subroutines to their proper consoles, he stumbled onto something interesting.  While remaining hooked up to the computer, he asked Danag.	“Danag,” he said.  “Try and patch through a comm line to the Imperial ship.”	The shape shifter didn’t know what the other man was up to but he did as he was told.		“We’re being hailed.”	Takma pondered this.  Few of her enemies addressed her during battle.  She was amused.  “Put them through.”	On the screen appeared the bridge crew of the enemy ship.  She paled from her usual tan shade as she recognized the man sitting at the Helm.	“Hello, Takma.” Paris greeted her in the most casual manner.	“You!” she said.  She hadn’t dreamed of ever seeing that man again.	“I see you remember me.”	“How could I forget.  You destroyed one of my favorite research bases.” she said through clenched teeth.  “Tell me do you have a name yet.  I’d like to know what to address you as at your funeral.”	Aria took over for Paris.  “His name is Rune.” She paused a minute as inspiration struck her.  “Rune Landis.  And I wouldn’t be so certain as to who is going to be dying.”	Takma gave a short laugh.  “We’ll see.” she said and then ended the transmission.  But that had already given Paris more than enough time.		Tuvok fired three torpedoes at the enemy ship.  Not one hit its target.  Those on Voyager’s bridge stared in awe at the skill at which the other ship evaded their weapon fire.  	*Tom used to fly like that* thought Janeway with a bit of remorse.	The ship then fired its weapons on the Bonthos.  Chakotay looked to Janeway.  He seemed to ask:  what’s your call?	“Take us in there, Mr. Baytart.”	She had stayed towards the sidelines long enough.  Now it was time to show them just what she was made of.	Meylin fired weapons at the Bonthos.  All on the bridge were astounded as their weapons actually penetrated the Imperial Ship’s shielding.  All except Paris.	He was still linked up to the ship’s computer system so he knew exactly what was going on.  After all, he had found the way to get through the Bonthos’s shields.  By opening a comm-line to the other ship, he had used the signal to hack into the Bonthos’s main computer.  From there it hadn’t been hard to disable their shields.  The only thing wrong now was that the procedure had taken a lot more out of him than he had realized.  He felt like his head was about to rip in half.  But he paid no attention to this.  He had to keep them out of the line of fire.	Guiding the ship in between the torpedoes, he ordered, “Meylin, fire a torpedo at grid 449 by 883.”	She looked puzzled but followed orders.  Punching in coordinates, her shot found its mark deep inside the aft hull of the Imperial ship.  A series of explosions ensued after that and then the Bonthos’s flight pattern turned erratic as it began to fall towards the planet below.   	Kail let out a roar as the ship fell towards the planet.  *How the Hell did they break through our shields?*	“Pull the nose up,” he ordered his helmsman.  “Try and make the impact as soft as possible.”	He and Takma clung to their seats as their ship plunged through the atmosphere of the planet.  Soon they would come in contact with the tough soil below.  He didn’t want to think about what would happen after that.		Harry couldn’t believe what he saw.  The other ship was falling toward the planet’s surface and now the enemy vessel was growing ominously closer.	“If it’s a fight they want, I don’t think we should let them down.” said the captain.  “Evasive maneuvers.  Tuvok, fire at will.”	Xara thought she should be terrified right now but somehow she wasn’t.  She knew they would get out of this because Rune was here now.  He had saved her life and defeated a band of Parvanian guards.  If he was here nothing was going to happen.	Paris on the other hand, saw things a little differently.  They had shot down the Bonthos but now Voyager was left to deal with.  He dodged the first torpedo just barely as Voyager shot at them but the second penetrated his ship’s shielding and sliced through his hull.  	 Energy surged through the computer system as the explosion rocked the ship.  He shut his eyes in pain as the force of the electricity lashed throughout his body.  Forcing the pain back he fought to maintain control.  	His voice was on the verge of cracking as he said, “Meylin fire at will.”	Four shots rocked the shielding of Voyager but weren’t able to penetrate.  The fifth one did.	“We’ve lost shields!” yelled Harry.	“Evasive maneuvers Mr...” Janeway’s sentence was never finished as the floor suddenly flew out from under her as a sixth shot ripped through their hull.	“Damage!” she called from her position on the floor.	Harry lay unconscious over his console.  Chakotay also joined in his reprieve from where he lay on the floor.  Tuvok answered the captain’s question.	“Decks nineteen through twenty one have sustained severe damage.  There are no fatalities yet reported but I am getting readings from sickbay indicating numerous casualties.”	She tried to get to her feet.  “Do we still have weapons on line?”	“No captain.” he replied.  “We have lost all weapons and tacticianal.  I am also reading severe damage in Engineering.”	B’Elanna fell to the floor as another  explosion destroyed the tenth Jeffries Tube already.  She cursed in Klingon.  They had sustained massive damage in this attack.  It was all she could do just to keep the warp core stabilized.  And she wasn’t even that successful.  Deep down she knew she was fighting a losing battle but her Klingon side wouldn’t let her admit that.	“Joe I need some help here.  Joe!  Joe!”  It wasn’t until a few seconds later that she realized  he wouldn’t be of any help.  He lay unconscious just outside of one of the collapsed Jeffries Tubes.  	“Someone help him!” she barked out.  Another ensign then pulled him out of engineering.  With all the damage they had sustained, there was no hope of using transporters.   B’Elanna stayed with her work.  She couldn’t just abandon it now.  Another explosion blew up a console near her.  The force of the blow sent her falling to the floor.  Instinctively, she pulled her hands over her head.  As she got up to survey the damage she realized that there wasn’t anything she could do.  The outlet she had just been working on was completely destroyed.  That was when the bad news really came.	The warp core started to fluctuate and then destabilize.  *No not again!* she thought.	This had happened before on her Day of Honor.  It couldn’t be happening again.	She cursed once more as she finally let it sink in that there was nothing she could do.	“Everybody out of here now!” she yelled.  “We have to dump the core.”	Ensigns ran past her as she made sure everyone was out before leaving.  Once at a safe distance, she jettisoned the core away for the second time in her career.	Slumping to a wall, she finally noticed a trickle of blood running down her forehead.	Everyone on Paris’s ship had smiles plastered across their faces as they watched the ship jettison its main propulsion unit.  Everyone except Paris.  He was struggling to stay conscious.  	“Well, come on, let’s go for the kill.” shouted Sargon.	Tom shook his head.  Something told him not to destroy that vessel.  His insides just wouldn’t let him do such a task.	All on the bridge were so preoccupied with their double victory that they failed to notice the haggardness in Tom’s voice as he said, “They’re disabled that’s enough.  Let’s just get out of here.”	He turned the ship around and drove it out of the area at Warp 6.  Meylin looked astounded.  “We should have destroyed them once and for all.  Every ship that we allow to live is another that will attack us again.”  Getting no response from Paris she further implored.  “Well, explain yourself.”	The only answer she received was that of Paris’s body slumping onto the console.  His Borg-like tentacles retracted from their grip on the computer as he fell into unconsciousness.	Aria was the first to run over to him.  She turned his body over so that she could get a clear view of his face.  His eyes were squinted in pain and his face had a pale look to it.	“Satira get over here.”			Naomi Wildman had been inside sickbay during the battle.  Samantha had remained with her daughter in an attempt to keep her calm, but now Naomi was even more frightened as crewman after crewman was rushed through the doors and escorted to either a biobed, or, after those were gone, a place on the floor.	Sam helped the doctor with the patients.	“Get me an ostioregenerator.” he told Ensign Wildman.  The EMH couldn’t believe what he was seeing.  This had to be one of the worst battles they had ever been involved in.  He didn’t think crewmen would ever stop flowing through the sliding doors.	He was working on Joe Carrey at the moment that B’Elanna Torres was brought in.  Handing the regenerator to Sam, he turned to the unconscious half Klingon.	“She passed out a while ago,” said the ensign carrying her.  “I think she might have internal bleeding as well.”	“Here, put her on the table.  I’ll try and stop the bleeding.”	Janeway stood on the bridge in quiet contemplation.  Tuvok had assured her that Harry and Chakotay had nothing more than a slight concussion, but they had been taken to sickbay none the less.  She now stared into the direction in which their attacker had fled.	She thought for sure that they would have stayed for the kill, but they hadn’t.  Luckily for her there had been no deaths yet but she didn’t know if that would last.  At any rate, she was assured that it would be a considerably long time before Voyager was back on her feet again.	She wondered if anyone on the Bonthos was still alive.			Takma pulled herself up off the floor, followed by a much slower Kail.	She looked around at her surroundings.  So far she, the general, and one more officer were the only ones alive on the bridge.	Putting a hand to her aching side, she walked towards the door leading outside the bridge.  She might as well see if anyone else was still alive.******************	A day later, all three crews were still recovering from their ordeal.  Takma stood aboard Voyager as she tried to get a diagnosis of the ship’s predicament from her.  From what she could tell, it would take months worth of repair to fix the wounded ship.	Harry Kim, who had just recently recovered from slight head trama, gave her the details.  “We’ve lost all our primary systems.  If it wasn’t for your help Takma, we wouldn’t even have life support.”  Takma’s husband had come to the rescue yet again.  Having come for the ship placed in the concentration camp, he was surprised to find him at a loss for his treasure and the founder of two crippled ships.  Now his lead ship was hooked up to Voyager to give it life support.  Takma and Kail had suffered from minor injuries from their accident and almost half of their ship was dead.  Harry continued,  “I’ve also run a scan of our computer memory.  It seems that the damage to the ship erased some of the programs we had saved in its matrix.  We lost certain Holoprograms, sensory data, as well as most of the Starfleet history information.  The one thing it seems that was untouched is the data Seven and I have been going over for the past few days.”	“Data?” Takma asked.	“Yes, we recently acquired some data from a space station just outside this sector.  So far we’ve been able to translate most of it, but there are still some things we haven’t got to yet.  By the way the ship is looking, it doesn’t look like we ever will.”	Takma was speechless for a while.  *They actually downloaded information from that station.  Maybe it has encrypted codes telling about  some of that Borg-like technology.*	She turned to Janeway.  “Captain, I feel partly responsible for this.  I should have taken you directly to the safety of the interior of the Empire.  Please allow me to give you a research station to work at.  I can guarantee you a safe location and provide you with people to help you rebuild your ship.”	Janeway seemed stunned.  “I don’t see how I could pass that offer up.  I’ll have to discuss it with the rest of my senior staff but thank you.”	Takma smiled.  Perhaps this wasn’t for nothing after all.	B’Elanna lie in sickbay asleep.  The doctor walked over to monitor her condition.  So far he had been lucky, no one had died.  And he was going to keep it that  way.	So far his patient appeared to be dreaming.  He walked away to let her sleep in peace.	B’Elanna felt Tom near her.  He was standing right next to her.  She leaned up against his muscular frame as he entwined his arms around her waist.  She could stay this way forever.	“I love you,” she whispered to him and nuzzled her face into his chest.	She felt the warmth of his kiss as he placed his lips on her forehead.  “I love you too.” he said.  	B’Elanna rose her eyes to the face of the man she loved.  He looked back to her with equal compassion, but there was something different about those sky blue orbs.  Instead of the ever present light of vivacity and life, they were now replaced with a duller glow and a deep pain that she had never seen before.	She placed a hand to his face.  What had happened to him.	Her dreams were ripped away from her just like before as a ruff wind swept away all her fantasies and disposed of her on the biobed in sickbay.	Torres awoke with a start.  The dream had been so real.  She still couldn’t shake the image of Tom’s eyes; they seemed so much colder than usual.	She shook the image from her mind.  Dreams of the dead shouldn’t preoccupy her mind now.  She still loved him more than life itself but he was gone now and there was nothing she could do.  Rising from her bed, she wondered how long these dreams would last.  They seemed to be her only solace on her lonely nights.  If she couldn’t see him on this plane of reality then perhaps another plane might be a likely substitute.*		Aria walked over to Paris’s biobed in the sickbay of Kuran.  Once they had arrived at the base, she had ordered an emergency transport for him to sickbay.  Since she was the only one present who knew anything about the man’s internal systems, she had been the one to take care of him.  Satira, lending a hand whenever needed, had stood by her side the whole time. From what Aria could tell, a power surge had fried his internal organs whole he had been linked to the ship’s computer.  While she tried to fix whatever she could, his own body seemed to be at work just the same.  It was now only up to him on when he would wake up.	She placed a hand on his face.  He appeared to be dreaming.  A few seconds later, his eyes slowly opened to the sight of her standing over him.	“I see you finally decided to join us.” she said softly.	He smiled.  “Yes I suppose I did.  How long was I out?”	“Oh not too long, just a day.”	He took this into consideration.  His mind was still preoccupied with the dream he had just experienced.  The same woman was in it as well.  But he pushed this away and struggled to get to a sitting position.	“Wait a minute there,” said Aria.  “You can’t just expect to get up right now.”	She tried to push him back down to the bed but he resisted.  “Look, the way I see it, I was out for a whole day, so that’s a whole day I have to try and make up now.  So I had better get started now hadn’t I.”	She realized she couldn’t argue with him.  Satira then came up and took her place.	“You can forget whatever thoughts you have of leaving here Rune.  You are in no state to be going anywhere.” stated the doctor.	Tom turned to Satira, “You just watch me.” He got up from the bed and strode towards the door.  Satira went over to a console and pushed in a few commands.  A forcefield then appeared over the doorway to sickbay.  Tom stopped.	“Now come back over here and get in bed.” she ordered.	Paris took another look at the woman.  She had her hands on her hips and looked like she meant business.  Tom just flashed her an impish grin and walked right through the forcefield as if it had been nothing but air.	Aria laughed to herself.  She could already see that Satira was destined to have a lifelong battle of keeping that man in sickbay.		After leaving sickbay, Tom went in search of Xara.  He found her nestled in Aria’s quarters.  She sat on the bed in quiet solitude.  He came up from behind her.	“Well, I was wondering what happened to you.” he said light-heartedly.	She turned around and ran into his arms.  “I’m so glad to see you!”	He laughed a little as the child squeezed him even tighter.  “Hold on now, you don’t want to send me back to sickbay with a few broken ribs, now do you?”	The smile on  his face had grown.  Xara could brighten his mood no matter what.  The little girl’s innocence and youthful emotions just flooded off of her in waves.  It was a relief to him to be with someone who was still so energetic and full of life.	He picked her up and took her into the living room.  Then he asked his big question.  “Do you have any family that I should notify?  I’m sure we could find them.”	She looked a little downcast at this.  “My parents died a year ago when the Empire attacked our ship.”	He hadn’t really expected for her to have anyone out there but somehow hearing it from her, made his heart break even more.	“Well, I’m sure we can find you some place to stay.  I could speak to Consul Maris and he could let you have a room here.  You’d be safe.”	She looked up to his eyes.  “Will you be here?”	He sighed.  “I don’t know where I’ll be.”  He looked at her expectant eyes and knew what she was trying to ask.  “My life’s pretty strange right now, but if you want to come along, I’d be glad to have you.”	Her eyes lit up and she hugged him even tighter.  “I want to stay with you.”	“Well, Squeaker,” he said.  “You can stay with me as long as you like.”		That was how Aria found them when she walked in a few minutes later.  They were on her couch in a big hug.  She stood in the doorway and watched the scene for a few minutes before coming in.	“Well, Rune, if you keep staying in my quarters as much as you do, I’m going to have to start charging you rent.”  She said as she walked over to the two.	“Oh come on Aria, you know this is the best room in the house.  How can you not expect a few guests every now and then.” he teased.	“Yeah,” said Xara.	Aria laughed.  “I see you’ve got someone else on your side, now.”	Tom smiled.  “Yes it looks like I do.”	*Can I talk to you for a minute* asked Aria silently.	Tom nodded and turned to Xara.  “So Squeaker, do you mind if Aria and I talk for just a minute.”	Xara looked at the other woman, but nodded in agreement.  “Just a minute,” she said and then walked into the bedroom.	Aria rose an eyebrow.  “Looks like she’s already giving you orders.”	“Yeah, looks that way.” He then opened the conversation up.  “What is it you want to talk about.”	She sat down next to him.  “I was just wondering where you’re going to go now.”	He exhaled deeply before answering her.  “That’s just what I was wondering.  There isn’t really any place for me now.  I suppose I’ll just have to go find one.”	She leaned a little closer.  “There’s a place for you here.”	He looked into her violet eyes and knew what she was trying to say.  “Thank you,” he said.  “But you’ve seen how trouble is attracted to me.  You..”	She put a finger to his lips.  “I don’t care,” she said.  “I can arrange something with Consul Maris.  He can put you on a ship.  We can...We can be together.”	She knew the last part was more than she should have said, but somehow it just slipped out.  It was her job to help this man and protect him.  It wasn’t her destiny to be with him.  The Fates hadn’t commissioned her to do that.	He gently removed her fingers from his lips.  He then slowly moved to kiss her.  She was caught off guard by the ecstasy of that kiss, but pulled away none the less.  She couldn’t get involved with this man.  She just couldn’t.	He backed off, knowing he had overstepped his bounds.  One look into those sky blue orbs and she melted.  	*To hell with the Fates* she thought and then claimed his lips in hers once more.	Captain Raken approached Aria’s door.  He was still pondering over this Rune deal.  The man hadn’t betrayed them after all, but still, that didn’t change anything.  He opened the door to Aria’s quarters.  He needed to speak with her about something.	What he found when he entered shocked three lives out of him.  There on the couch were Aria and Rune, locked in an embrace with one another.  So wrapped up were they in their kiss, they didn’t even notice him come in.	He took a deep breath and left the cabin just as soundlessly as he had come.  His body was on the verge of shaking with anger.  	*How dare that man take advantage of Aria* he thought.	As he stormed away one last vow flew through his mind.  *You’ll pay for that Rune.*		That evening, Paris and Aria met with Consul Maris.  Among others present were the higher ranking officers of the Resistance, including Captain Raken, and the entourage of people Paris had led into battle.  Tom now sat facing Maris.  		 The Consul spoke.  “I would like to congratulate all of you on your success the day before.  This is the first time we have ever been able to defeat the Empire on their own home ground and we have you to thank for this Rune Landis.”	Hearing his new name, Tom turned his gaze to Aria.  She just smiled innocently.	The consul continued.  “If you had not provoked us into action then we would have lost many good men to the Empire.  They owe you their lives.”	Tom looked down.  “They don’t owe me anything.  I just did what I thought was necessary.”	Maris seemed to be pondering something before he spoke up again.  “You never did tell me what you’ll be doing now that you’re done here.”	Paris shrugged.  “I don’t know.  I’ll find something to do I guess.”	Maris then moved in for the kill.  He looked to Raken before he spoke.  “It seems that we have some positions open here.  I was wondering if you might be interested in joining us.”	Raken then got involved.  “You can’t seriously be thinking of putting him on my ship.”	Maris shook his head.  “Of course not Captain.  I was going to offer him his own ship.” Turning back to Tom, he continued. “The ship you brought in to us is more advanced than anything we’ve ever seen before, but I’ve been told that you seem to understand it.  I was wondering if perhaps you might like to captain it Rune.”	Tom looked stunned.  He had anticipated a piloting job if anything, not a captainship.  After Aria gently nudged him, he realized he should say something.	“Well, Consul, that’s very generous.” he said.  “I don’t see how I could say no.”	Maris smiled while Raken’s face glazed over in hatred.  	“Well, you’ll need a crew,” said Maris.  	Aria then stood up. “Consul, I’ll serve on his ship.”	Sargon, Danag, Meylin, and Satira sat in the background.  Danag stood up as well.  “Well, seeing as how we don’t have anywhere to go, the rest of us would like to be placed on his ship as well.”	Tom couldn’t believe it.  Not only did he now have a ship, but a senior staff as well.	Maris spoke to Rune again.  “Well then Captain Landis.  It seems all you need now is a name for your vessel.”	Tom turned to Aria once more, but she only smiled mischievously.  “I don’t see how I could name it anything other than the Jihaid.”  Rune then spoke to the assembly present.  “Since I’m one of you now, I suppose the first thing I should do is show you how to pick up these Imperial ships on your sensors.  They...”	Aria let eyes sparkle as she watched Tom inform those present on how to disable an Imperial ship.  He was going to be a very large help to the Resistance.  Maybe now they could actually stand a better chance against their opponents.	She smiled deeply.  She was going to be on his ship.  She was going to prepare him for the war that was about to ensue.  And above all she was going to be by his side as he fought in the Final Battle.	She didn’t care about her destiny anymore.  She would carry out her mission of training him, but she would no longer hold back the love she felt for the man.	*The Fates be damned* she thought.  *I love him and nothing is going to keep me away.  Not even the wrath of the Almighty Spirit.*THE END... of Part Three.Part four will be posted at either the Archive or probably more quickly at my web page at http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Capsule/1494/index.html