Part Three
*

Tuvok emerged from the cave shortly before the first sundown. He joined his crew members, felt more centered. He stood before Janeway.

"My meditation is complete. I am indeed grateful to you, Captain, for taking part."

"I was honored to have been here for you, Tuvok."

Seven, who had been watching the woods and listening to every snap of a twig and chirp of a bird, was satisfied that Caela would not be joining them. She turned to Janeway. "Shall I signal Voyager?"

Janeway looked to the woods. "A few minutes more."

"Captain," Tuvok inquired, "May I ask who- or what- we are waiting for?"

Seven saw her first as she emerged silently from the trees. "Caela." Smug, Seven turned her back and lifted her bag. She would not make any concessions to this woman.

The woman who had saved Janeway's life approached almost cautiously, her long wild black hair pinned back off her face with barrettes made of small bones. She wore a hip length coat of silver-gray fur over her skintight black pants and shirt.

Janeway greeted Caela with a smile, and hands to grasp the young woman's slender fingers. "I'm so glad you decided to join us."

Before Tuvok could inquire, Janeway introduced the woman. "Tuvok, this is Caela. She saved me from a Fire Beetle attack- I'll explain later- and I've invited her to come aboard for a meal and a tour of Voyager." She looked to Caela, "This is Tuvok. My Chief Security officer and good friend."

Tuvok was silent. His training and Vulcan mind read her countenance.

Caela shifted uncomfortably, but met his gaze.

Tuvok released her from his visual interrogation, and nodded. He lifted his bag.

Janeway, anxious to get back on Voyager, asked Caela, "Have you ever been transported before?"

"I know of it."

Janeway pressed her combadge. "Janeway to Voyager. Four to beam up."

A pause. Tom Paris' voice, "Did you say four?"

"Yes, I did." Janeway gave Caela's hand a comforting squeeze. "Four."

Tom again. "I am only picking up three life forms."

Janeway attached her combadge to Caela. "Lock onto my comsignal, then the away team, and beam us up."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Caela took a deep breath, and held it as the forest around her began to shimmer.

*

Tom Paris adjusted transported controls as the away team and their guest took shape on the pads. He greeted them as they took solid form.

"Welcome ba-" Tom was aware of his mouth hanging open and he cleared his throat.

The woman in black stepped cautiously from the pad, staying close to Janeway. Her eyes seemed to scan the room.

Beautiful. Very, very sensually appealing. Downright sexy, and if he didn't reign in his blatant attraction right then and there -

He didn't even want to think of what B'Elanna could do to him.

He tried again, "Welcome back, Captain. Tuvok, Seven."

"Tom," the Captain introduced her guest, "This is Caela. She's my guest. Please advise Mr. Neelix to prepare a special meal, to be served in say, two hours."

"Hi Caela," Tom gave himself a mental thunk on the side of the head. Blatant attraction reign in, incomplete. "Good to have you on board."

Janeway ignored Tom's obvious reaction to Caela, and turned to her guest. "I didn't think to ask until now. Do you have any special dietary needs?

"I eat what grows in the forest."

"Tom, advise Mr. Neelix of our guest's vegetarian diet."

"Yes, ma'am." He watched the away team as they left, eyes on Caela's exquisite behind. He shook his head at himself, and hit his combadge. "Paris to Kim."

Harry answered, "Kim here."

Tom was a committed man. In love with a brilliant, beautiful woman. But Harry wasn't." Can you meet me in the mess hall in ten minutes?"

"Sure. See you there."

*

Janeway walked with Caela to her side, and Seven followed.

As they went down the corridor, Caela observed the crew members who occasionally passed. "You have a number of males on this ship."

"Yes, " Janeway said, "Is equality between the genders foreign to your people?"

"No, " Caela said, "But we were kept separate once we reached adolescence, until the marriage bonds were made at adulthood. I had only just reached adulthood when the last of my kind- the last before me- was killed. I was never paired."

Seven, who had been silent since they'd beamed aboard, spoke now. "You told us your people had died out."

Caela nodded. "They did. They were killed, and only I survived."

"Semantics, Seven." Janeway said, "Caela, your people were killed? How?"

Silence from Caela for a moment. "Hirogen. They killed all my people, most of the predators of the planet, and all the largest of the gentle beasts. Then they left."

"We have dealt with Hirogen. It's a miracle you survived." Janeway stopped in the corridor, taking to Caela’s arm to stop her, "I want you to know you're welcome to stay on Voyager. You don't have to be alone."

A deep appreciation spread over Caela’s face. "You're so kind. However, I will return to my world. It's my home. My tribe and my people lie buried there."

"I understand." Janeway said. "I'd really like to hear more about your people, Caela. At dinner, perhaps?"

Caela nodded.

"And I'd like to see why it is our sensors don't pick you up." Janeway began her tour, "First, I should tell you that we are on shifts here more than day or night. But for all intents and purposes, it's evening now."

"This is a beautiful vessel, Kathryn." Caela said, stopping to look at the map of Voyager on the wall. Her fingers traced the corridor they were in. "As a child, my father told me stories of ships like this. Of the technology."

"Did your father work on a starship?"

"No. That was forbidden. My people were..." Caela was looking for the words. "They didn't believe in communicating with other races. And technology was not encouraged. It destroys nature, and so was kept to a bare minimum. When the Hirogen went, they took what little technology we had. It wasn't much."

Janeway's combadge chirped. "Chakotay to Janeway."

"What is it, Commander?"

Chakotay, serious. "We are picking up some unexpected readings from a small star inside the nebulae field surrounding this solar system. You may want to take a look."

"Be right there." Janeway signed off, and turned to Caela. "My apologies. I have to leave you for now. Seven will continue with the tour, and see to your needs. Seven?"

Seven had been keeping a short distance, but stepped up to Janeway now.

"Seven, I had such wonderful time. I could have done without the Fire Beetles, but the rest was great." She smiled at Seven, "I really enjoyed our time together."

Seven barely heard the words. She was lost in Janeway's lips forming them. She brought herself out of distraction quickly. "As did I."

Janeway continued, "I do hope we can continue our conversation soon."

"I hope to as well."

"See you both in the mess hall, then." She headed back the way they came.

Caela and Seven stood in the hall, an awkward silence between them. Caela decided to break it.

"You don't like me. You don't want me here."

Seven didn't flinch. "My tolerance for you is irrelevant. The Captain desires your presence on the ship."

Caela's large green eyes gave Seven that slow, strange blink. Her head titled slightly, "You're jealous. Angry with me. Why?" She was puzzled, then it became clear to her. "Kathryn was in danger. I helped her, you-"

"You are an empath."

"On my mother's side" Caela said, "It's not very strong in me, but I can tell you don't like me. Your behavior alone would tell me that."

"You watched the away team and kept yourself hidden. It is untrustworthy behavior."

"I was afraid. After the Hirogen. And the way I was raised. And it had been many, many seasons since I had seen anyone." She sighed. "I am sorry if I offended you. I hope you can understand."

The sense of compassion that Seven had been working on burgeoned. "I accept your apology."

"Thank you."

Seven nodded.

"One more thing?" Caela put forth a new question. "What is this Borg? You said it was irrelevant? Why is it irrelevant?"

"You ask many questions." Seven did not wish to go into the topic with Caela.

Caela nodded, "It's painful for you. It brings sadness, loneliness. Pain in many guises." Again her head tilted, "There's longing there."

"Stop. You will cease this line of inquiry." Seven glared down at Caela, who stared up at the taller woman, absolute calm on her face.

"Seven, I understand."

"You cannot possibly."

Again, the slow blink. "I can. To a degree."

Seven, whose heart pounded with anger inside her, straightened her posture. "Explain."

"I recognized in you a deep longing for lost tribe. At the same time, a deep and terrible fear of that tribe."

Seven knew she was right. "Voyager is my collective. My tribe."

"It is an irony. " Caela said, "that you and I both feel such intense loneliness. Yet I am alone, and you have a family."

Seven did not wish to go further with this discussion. She had a question for Caela. "I could not hear you in the forest. Explain."

"My people adapted long ago. When you live in the forest, you either become one with it, or it takes you. It's very simple."

Seven appreciated the logic in Caela’s answer. "Your tour."

Caela followed Seven as she began her tour of Voyager.

*

The mess hall was just under packed, and Neelix's cooking was in rare form. He'd set out a buffet of vegetarian delights from both the Alpha and Delta quadrants, as well as Earth greens, fruits and seeds from the hydroponics bay.

The attending crew members were mingling, drinking, laughing.

Seven entered the mess hall first, followed by Caela who stopped just inside when she saw the crowd.

"I, um. I didn't know there would be so many people here. "

Seven understood. "Would you prefer not to be here?"

"No..." Caela looked around, took a deep breath. "No, I want to be here. I don't see Kathryn, though."

Seven spotted Tom Paris and Harry Kim approaching. She quickly grasped
Caela's arm, and steered her toward the back of the room.

"Caela, meet a friend of mine."

Caela let Seven steer her through the crowd, to a table where a little girl with bumps on her forehead sat eating. Caela sat in the chair opposite her, and Seven introduced her.

"Naomi Wildman. This is Caela. She is a guest of the Captain."

Naomi, always friendly to visitors, smiled big and held her hand out to Caela. "Hi! I'm Naomi."

Caela looked at Naomi's hand. "Hello Naomi."

"Converse." Seven stepped away.

She found Harry and Tom standing near the buffet and watching Caela. "Ensigns Paris and Kim."

Tom popped a seed into his mouth. "Hey Seven, why'd you steer Caela away like that? I was going to introduce her to Harry."

"That is precisely why." She answered, "The Captain expects me to see to Caela's comfort. Caela is unaccustomed to the company of men. You will avoid her."

"Seven, "Harry was somewhat offended, "I'll be a perfect gentleman."

"Come on. "Tom said, "There are lots of men in here. She seems fine to me."

Seven considered it. "Approach her slowly. If she exhibits unease, leave her immediately."

Tom and Harry both gave Seven a mock salute. "Yes, Ma'am."

She turned back to Caela, but watched her from this distance. She knew why Tom wanted Harry to meet Caela. Caela was a highly attractive woman. Her physique was genetically ideal. Her eye color, though not essential to the function of her eyes, was appealing and pleasant to look at. She watched as Caela smiled at something Naomi had said.

Her smile was appealing also.

Seven felt an unfamiliar trace of guilt. Guilt over the way she had treated Caela. She had behaved childishly. Seven should be grateful to Caela. Without Caela, her Captain, her Kathryn, would be dead. She admitted to herself, she'd been jealous over Caela's ability to come to Kathryn's aid when she could not. Seven would make a point to express her gratitude to Caela before she returned to her world.

Intriguing, what she and Caela had in common. Seven remembered what the doctor had said about cultivating relationships. 'Find something you have in common'.

Seven had indeed done that, and without even trying.

While all the crew of Voyager was far from home, they all had loved ones who waited for them. Seven did not. Whatever blood relations she might have on Earth, she was raised by Borg.

What Seven and Caela had in common was loss. For Seven, it had been the collective. For Caela, her tribe and people.

Perhaps while Caela was on Voyager, Seven would make an effort to be... friendlier.

Caela greeted Seven as she approached the table. "Seven, Naomi's been telling me all about your holodeck."

"Yes. It was on the tour."

Naomi chimed in, "I was telling her all about the programs we've run. The forest simulations."

"It sounds breathtaking. I would love to see what Earth forests look like."

"I will arrange it."

Naomi was excited, "Caela, do you want to go to the holodeck now?"

Seven answered for her. "After you have finished your meal."

"Oh." Naomi looked down at her plate. "I forgot."

Caela pursed her lips, "Food would be good." She stood, removed her coat and draped over the back of the chair. "I don't want to start without Kathryn, but I am hungry."

Seven thought she point out a formality. "Caela, while on board Voyager, it is customary to address her as Captain Janeway."

"I apologize." Caela said, "I'll remember."

"And you may partake of food now. Captain Janeway will not mind."

Caela nodded and made her way to the buffet table. Caela looked over the buffet, not recognizing most of the food there. She gathered up some greens, which at least looked safe to eat. She picked up a small citrus fruit. She saw some seeds she'd like, but now her hands were full. She tried resting the fruit in the crook of one arm, but dropped it.

A hand reached down and picked it up off the floor, and held it to her.

"Need some help?" Harry picked up a bowl, put the fruit in, and taking the greens from her, placed them in the bowl also.

Caela accepted the bowl, and took more greens from the table. "Thank you."

"I'm Harry."

Caela was gathering little purple seeds into the bowl, discarding those didn't look right to her.

"So..." Harry watched her pick through the seeds. "I understand you saved our Captain's life." He leaned one hand on the table, casual.

She was satisfied now with the food she'd gathered from the table, and turned to go back, but Harry blocked her way. She held the bowl against her body. She tilted her head at him.

"It's not my wish to mate with you. I'm in cycle, and I don't want to carry a child at this time."

Harry's hand slipped from the table. "What?"

"Thank you again for the-" she looked at the bowl, and not having seen one before, held it up. "For this."

She walked around Harry and returned to her seat.

Seven had watched the entire interaction, and suppressed her amusement. It reminded her of a similar interaction she'd had with Harry. Her combadge chirped.

"Janeway to Seven of Nine."

Seven answered, "Yes, Captain."

"Please give my apologies to our guest. I need you in Astrometrics."

Naomi's eyes widened. "Sounds serious."

Seven answered Janeway, "Understood." She looked to Naomi. "Please see to Caela's comfort until I return."

Thrilled at the prospect of responsibility, Naomi nodded emphatically. Seven left the mess hall, confident that Harry and Tom would not approach Caela for the rest of the night.

*

Reporting to Astrometrics, Seven saw that the Captain and Chakotay were studying the imaging of Caela's solar system.
A somber Janeway moved from the console, "Seven take a look at these readings."

Seven stepped up to the console, and quickly went over the readings, then looked up at the imaging. She grew pensive.

"That's what we thought." Janeway said.

"I will run the scans again."

Chakotay leaned against the console. "That star is collapsing."

Seven went over the data again. "When it does, the gases in the field will ignite. Caela's world will be destroyed."

"Along with Voyager if we don't get out of here now." Janeway said, "Seven, bring Caela to my ready room. I want to tell her personally. Chakotay, you're on the bridge."

Seven heard them leave, but continued staring up at the imaging.

Janeway peered back into Astrometrics. "Seven." She walked back in, turned Seven to face her. "I know Caela's about to lose the only thing she had left."

"I want to help her." Seven said, knowing it was futile.

"There's nothing we can do." Janeway said, "Let's just be grateful we got her off the planet when we did."

Seven agreed with an almost imperceptible nod.

"Let's go."

They left Astrometrics together.

*

Caela wasn't in the mess hall, and neither was Naomi.

Seven knew the ship's sensor probably wouldn't pick up Caela. "Computer, locate Naomi Wildman."

"Naomi Wildman is in Holodeck One."

Upon arriving at the holodeck, Seven didn't bother to look at what program was running. She simply stepped in through the doors.

And right into a Borg cube.

She froze as the woman in front of her screamed when the nanoprobes were injected. Others stood nearby, catatonic as they awaited their fate. A child screamed for its mother.

Seven demanded, "Computer, end program."

The cube was gone. In the empty metallic grid room, Caela stood a few meters away, facing Seven.

"Naomi left awhile ago."

Seven was so angry she couldn't speak. She felt hurt somehow, and shamed. She held it in check, but her voice betrayed her. "You wanted to see the Borg."

Caela bit her lip. "I see I've upset you." Caela approached her, "I wanted to know where you came from, Seven of Nine."

Realizing what a gift it had been to have one person on board with no idea of her past, Seven was angry it had been taken from her. "I am no longer Borg. I am an individual."

"I know." Caela stayed at arm's length.

Seven gathered herself. "The Captain wishes to see you. Now."

Caela's eyes narrowed, "What is it...." She sensed it.

"The Captain will tell you."

"No." Caela surprised Seven by stepping close and grasping her arms suddenly. "Tell me what's happened."

Caela's eyes pleaded. Seven felt she had no choice.

"There is a star collapsing." Seven said, and went on to briefly explain why Voyager was now traveling at warp eight away from Caela's home.

"No!" Caela's hands both went over her mouth. "Oh no." She grabbed Seven's arms again, imploring, "You have to get me off the ship. Now!"

"I cannot." Seven didn't understand why such panic had ensued in Caela. She felt she should console her somehow, but could only watch as Caela sank to her knees, her hands over her face.

"You don't understand." Caela cried, "You don't understand."

Seven knelt in front of the woman now, taking her hands from her tear streaked face. "Caela there is no choice. Your world will be destroyed. Returning is not possible."

"Get me off the ship, Seven." Caela pleaded, "Please."

Seven released Caela's hands, pressed her combadge. "Seven of Nine to Captain Janeway." She sadly watched Caela, who now sat with her face buried in her arms. "Captain, I require your presence in Holodeck One."

"Now, Seven?" Janeway replied.

"Affirmative."

"On my way."

Seven signed out, and gradually, she stroked Caela's hair as she'd once seen Samantha Wildman console Naomi.

"I knew." Caela said, teary eyes looking up at Seven. "I knew I shouldn't have come. I just wanted to be around people again. Just for a little while."

Gently, Seven took her arms, and pulled Caela to stand with her. "I am sorry. For your loss."

"It is a horrible loss," Caela's eyes wandered as she thought of the animals, the plants. "It is a beautiful planet. I understand that I've lost my home. But I cannot stay on this ship."

"Elaborate." Seven fought the compulsion to wipe the tears from Caela's face.

Caela whispered, as if afraid to speak it, "It's me, Seven. It's me." Her tears came again, and again her hands went over her face.

Seven made out the words as Caela said them.

"I'm the Howl, Seven. I'm the Howl."

*

End Part Three