Part Five
*

Seven stood before Kathryn in the ready room, a heavy silence between them. Unsure of how to begin, Seven paced to the opposite side of the room.

Kathryn sipped her coffee, and gestured with her hand. "I see you've decided to wear your hair up again."

Self-conscious now, Seven didn't answer.

Again, Kathryn broke the silence. "You said you wanted to talk. What about?"

Janeway's door chimed, breaking the tension that had built. She called for the visitor to enter.

Lt.Tuvok, followed close behind by Neelix, who held a frying pan to his chest and was visibly shaken.

"Neelix?" Kathryn stood, set her coffee on the table. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"A canine." He stammered, "Some- some kind of dog. Big. I-it was in my kitchen."

Kathryn looked at Seven in shock, to which Seven replied, "I assure you, her room was secure when I left her. Someone has let her out."

"Caela". Kathryn said, "She was telling the truth."

"That sweet woman you brought on board?" Neelix inquired, clearly stunned. "A monster?"

Seven defended Caela. "She is not a monster."

Kathryn escorted Neelix to the door. "Neelix, thank you. Now, I'd feel better knowing you're safe in your quarters."

"Of course, Captain." Neelix left, still clutching the frying pan to his chest.

"Tuvok." Kathryn waited to hear his report.

"Ensigns Lopes and Sark were attacked as they entered the mess hall. After it disabled them, it ran. Phaser fire did not seem to have an effect on it."

"What actions have been taken so far?" Kathryn sat down, took a gulp of her rapidly cooling coffee.

"All but the most necessary personnel have been confined to quarters, and quarters have been secured."
Kathryn nodded her approval while she added her own instructions. "Sound an intruder alert. I want everyone but security out of the corridors now. Let everyone know they may transport from place to place on ship, but only if absolutely necessary. Erect force fields throughout the ship. They might not work, but I want to try to keep her isolated."

"Understood. " Tuvok went on, "Since phaser guns are of no use against the animal, I have dispatched two security teams, armed with phaser rifles."

"No!" Seven's protest surprised both Tuvok and Janeway. "You cannot harm her. She does not know what she is doing."

Kathryn nodded, "Tuvok, do whatever you can to capture her unharmed."

"That may not be possible."

Seven protested. "Make it possible."

"Seven," Kathryn turned to her. "The safety of the crew of this ship comes first. You know that."

Seven was clearly upset. "She saved your life."

Kathryn, eyes full of compassion but not about to back down, grew serious, "We will do whatever we can to avoid hurting her. But she's already attacked two crew members. She must be stopped before she hurts anyone else."

Seven understood, but it made no difference to the turmoil she was feeling. "I will find Caela."

"That will not be necessary, "Tuvok offered, "As our teams will likely bring her in shortly."

Seven looked to Kathryn for support.

"I want you to beam to Astrometrics and secure the room."

Seven opened her mouth to protest again. She thought better of it, and stormed out of Kathryn's ready room.

Kathryn knew that Seven had found a connection with Caela. Kathryn herself wanted Caela brought in alive and well, but she had to put her crew first. "Tuvok. No one else needs to know it�s Caela. That might make them less likely to use whatever force is necessary to stop her. That could be deadly." She paused, and said, "Tuvok, do your best. She did save my life."

"Understood."

*

Green eyes peered across to the tall blue column. Somewhere in here, a heart beat with passion.
Somewhere in here, a heart worthy of the kill.

Her fear of this foreign place forgotten, the creature felt only her hunger.

*

From the upper level of Engineering, B�Elanna peered down at the skeleton crew that remained. She took notes in her PADD, made her adjustments, and observed the warp core.

Out of the corner of her eye, a shadow moved. She turned to look. Nothing.

Her Klingon soul told her not to leave it at that. She called down to her crew, "Everyone out."

They looked up at her, puzzled.

"Move!" B�Elanna said, and they made their way out. She knew they would use the transporter to beam to their quarters. She would have to make one last adjustment to the warp core, on the lower level.

She would contact security, let them know what she was doing.

Before she could even raise her arm to do so, the creature stepped into view. It's head low; it's green eyes on B�Elanna.

Cautiously, she gripped her phaser.

The creature growled, it's eyes on her phaser hand. Lips curled, saliva dripped.

She moved to press her combadge, but her fingers didn't make it.

When it attacked, her arm met its jaws. She fell back onto the floor. It's claws and teeth were everywhere. B�Elanna grabbed and kicked at the thing, trying desperately to keep her face away from its jaws.

The creature was relentless.

B�Elanna felt her flesh tearing. Her hands found its throat. Grasping with every ounce of strength, and ignoring the blinding pain in her arm, she pushed the creature's head away from her.

It thrashed its head around, trying to free itself, and it's claws ripped into B�Elanna's belly.

She managed to pull her legs up, knees under the thing, and she kicked hard. The creature now off of her, B�Elanna quickly moved to her feet. She held her injured arm against her bleeding belly.

The creature had landed on its side, but it now stood. It faced B�Elanna, her blood dripping from its fangs.

B�Elanna felt a growing weakness as her blood pooled on the floor, dripping through the grating of the catwalk. Her combadge was damaged, hanging half off her uniform. She aimed her phaser, knowing full well it would have no effect on the animal, but security would be alerted to phaser fire in Engineering.

Again, it leapt. Phaser fire hit console as B�Elanna and the creature fell against the wall. The lights flickered, and went out.

In the blue light of the warp core, B�Elanna threw herself and the creature over the railing. The hand of her uninjured arm grasped the railing, and the creature and her phaser crashed down to the lower level.

When the lights came back up, B�Elanna did not see the creature below. It seemed to have disappeared.

B�Elanna strained to lift herself with the one arm. She couldn't speak. She didn't know exactly why yet, but she could imagine.

*
In the privacy of her cargo bay, Seven of Nine easily tapped into the ship's systems. Transporter control, force fields.

Her brow implant would now serve to allow passage through the force fields unhindered.

And because logic dictated it, she modified a phaser rifle. It would now modulate automatically and fire at frequencies Star Fleet had never intended. Rifle in hand, Seven put her plan into effect.

*

Janeway stood with Tom Paris in sickbay while the Doctor finished repairing B�Elanna's injuries. When he had done all he could and she was resting comfortably, he left her bedside and reported to the Captain and Tom.

"Multiple lacerations and contusions. Multiple fractures in her right arm, and her larynx was, for lack of a better term, nearly torn out. She'll recover her voice in time." The Doctor looked back at B�Elanna and her vitals. "The blood loss alone would have killed any other crew member."

Tom didn't wait to hear anymore. He slipped past the Doctor, and pulled a chair next to B�Elanna's bed.

She was asleep still; he gently took her hand. He'd be there when she awoke.

Sickbay doors opened, and Chakotay came in. He saw that Tom was with B�Elanna, and stopped at Kathryn's side. "How is she?"

"Badly injured," The Doctor said, "But I have repaired her injuries, and she will recover." The Doctor went back to B�Elanna.

Chakotay looked at Kathryn. "And how are you?"

"Chakotay, I've brought a monster on board my ship."

"You didn't know." He said. "I'm afraid that most of the crew now knows it's Caela. It was only a matter of time once word got around.�

"And Neelix," Kathryn said, realizing she hadn't asked him not to say anything. "It almost attacked him, too."

The ship's comsystem chirped. "Attention Voyager crew."

Kathryn looked up at where the voice was coming from. "Seven? What is she-�?

"This is Seven of Nine. I have taken control of transporter systems. There will be no transports. Medical emergencies to sickbay excepted. Force fields have been erected in all areas of the ship, including crew quarters and the Jeffries Tubes. They will stay erected until further notice."

Kathryn pressed her badge, "Seven, what the hell are you doing?"

"I will bring Caela in." Seven signed out.

Kathryn's mouth hung open in shock. She ran her hand through her hair, and clenched her jaw. She was about to contact Seven again, when Tuvok contacted her.

"Captain. Security teams are trapped in the Jeffries Tubes."

"Why are they in the tubes, Tuvok?"

Tuvok came back, sounding as annoyed as a Vulcan could. "We followed the creature into the tubes."

Kathryn looked at Chakotay. "How the hell did it get in there?"

Tuvok again. "We are dealing with a highly intelligent animal, Captain."

*

The creature rested in the narrow passage, licking the blood from her paws. She tenderly moved her injured leg, and she rested her head on her forepaws.

Scents drifted by. Nothing enticing. Until.... The scent of youth. She stood, shook out her fur and followed the scent.

*

Seven moved through the empty corridors, rifle held at her hip ready to fire if needed.

She knew that crews were working to bypass her modifications on the ship's controls. They would be unsuccessful.

She knew about B�Elanna lying in sickbay. Kathryn had already demanded that Seven return control to the bridge. Seven would not. She disengaged incoming communications from her combadge. In her head, she analyzed the data she'd gathered on Caela.

On the planet, Caela hadn't attacked Seven and Janeway. Caela might have attacked Neelix, but two others surprised her and she ran. B�Elanna was alone when she was attacked.

Caela hunted lone prey. And the attack on B�Elanna had failed, so she would hunt again. She'd have to eat soon. She would have expended much energy on the fight with B�Elanna. And Seven thought, from what she knew of B�Elanna, Caela might be injured. This time the prey would have to be easier.

Seven kept her eyes and ears open. How would Caela find her way around the ship? The Howl might have retained some of Caela's limited knowledge of Voyager. And instinct. She would use her instinct, her senses.

Seven calculated a likely target.

*

"A wolf?" Chakotay asked, and B�Elanna nodded. Still in bed, but propped up, she quickly penned another message on the PADD and handed it to him. He read it. "I saw wolves in a wildlife reserve when I was a child. It was a wolf. Big. Black."

Chakotay nodded. Tom Paris watched as B�Elanna penned more. He read. "When am I getting out of here?" He chuckled, "No one's getting out of here just yet."

Chakotay left Tom explaining the situation to B�Elanna and joined Kathryn who had patched into the bridge through sickbay�s computers and was monitoring how Harry Kim was doing on the bridge.

Chakotay took a chair next to her. "Caela's a shape shifter."

Kathryn swiveled in her chair. "What was that?"

"Ancients stories tell of people who could change into animals at will. Cultures other than my own told of people who changed at the will of the animal in them. The practice was often called shape shifting."

"Why am I not surprised you know this?"

He smirked, and went on. "In many of the tribes it was a blessing to take on the form of the wolf. It was said that wolves were the keepers of ancient and sacred knowledge. When one seeks to know from the soul, it's said that it's the spirit of the wolf that brings the lesson."

"People who become animals." Kathryn pondered it. "It sounds like myth to me. I know there are some alien species that have morphing capabilities. But Caela�s DNA is human."

"As you know, myth and legend are often based on fact." Chakotay said, "And here on our ship, we have a living legend. Maybe the legends are based on a race of people that left Earth long before the rest of us had landed on the moon."

"Hmm." Kathryn thought it was a terribly romantic idea. "So perhaps Caela's people were originally from Earth. A colony of shape shifters that somehow found its way to the Delta Quadrant. And as the Doctor said, I'd still like to know how that happened."

*

Naomi sat on her bedroom floor, safely locked in, and reading the latest lesson that Neelix had assigned her. Her mother had already contacted her three times from across the ship, and Neelix had contacted her twice.

Happy to know her mom was safe, and that Seven was on the job, she felt completely secure. She munched on Neelix's latest creation; an Earth confection called a Chocolate Chip Cookie.

*

Green eyes peered through bars and down at the child lounging on the ground. The young two legged would be an easy and unsatisfying kill. But it would fill her belly.
She pressed the thick fur of her head against the grating.

*

Naomi had just stood to wipe the crumbs from her dress when the sound of the Jeffries Tube venting falling from the wall made her jump.

She turned to see a very large, very scary, animal drop from a Jeffries Tube and land easily on its feet, favoring one leg. It turned toward her with a limp.

She gasped.

*

Seven passed through the doors, and through the den of the Wildman quarters. Overriding the lock on Naomi's door, Seven stepped into the room.

Naomi Wildman was backed up against the wall, her hands pressed against it.

The animal ignored Seven. It advanced toward Naomi, a limp in its walk, it's head low.

Seven observed that the animal looked fatigued. She aimed her rifle. "Caela." Seven demanded, "Stand down."

The animal swung it's head at Seven and growled. It paused, as if contemplating the woman with the weapon. It returned its attention to Naomi. It took one step forward.

Seven fired, and the phaser beam hit the animal in the side. The rifle remodulated.

The animal staggered for a moment, but quickly righted itself. It leapt, and Seven fired again. The animal fell to the ground inches from Naomi.

The child was screaming. Seven quickly pulled Naomi away, and she commanded the computer.

"Relinquish controls. Authorization Seven of Nine, Omega Omega Delta." She forced Naomi to look at her and the girl stopped screaming. "Run."

Naomi obeyed.

Seven turned to the animal lying on the ground. Its breath was quick and raspy, it's tongue hung out. Its eyes had rolled back, and its lids were partially closed.

Cautious, Seven kneeled and reached out. Her fingers touched the deep soft fur of the creature's neck.
It didn't move.

Seven laid her rifle down, and pulled the animal, which weighed substantially more than Caela in human form, into her lap. Her arms cradled it, her fingers grasped the dark fur. Her head leaned down against the animal's face, and she closed her eyes. She whispered, "Caela. I am sorry."

Beneath her hands, Seven could feel the animal�s heart beat. Caela�s heartbeat.  It beat stronger every moment.

From its throat, a whimper.

Seven pressed her combadge, �Computer. Emergency transport to sickbay.�

*

In sickbay, Seven adjusted force field controls.

�These adjustments will keep Caela inside.� She said, turning to the Doctor. �I have had to bypass safety protocols, but it will hold her.�

�And incinerate anyone else.� The Doctor said, reading the frequency the force field was operating at.

�Computer, erect another force field, just outside the first. Level 5.� He turned to the Captain, �That should keep the crew safe.�

Janeway stood outside the isolation unit, arms folded, watching the animal inside the force field. It had gotten to its feet shortly after Seven laid in on the biobed. Now it paced back and forth in its enclosure.

�That�s got to be the strangest looking wolf I�ve ever seen.�

Chakotay was at her side, and he�d been silent since Seven had beamed in with Caela, the wolf, in her arms. He couldn�t help but say it. �She�s beautiful.�

Caela had sat on her haunches and was licking her paw like a cat. Her black fur shone in the artificial lighting, her large green eyes a stark contrast. Her head was slender, her ears pointed and long, ending with little tufts of silver fur. Her tail was thick and fluffy, with streaks of silver and gray here and there.

Seven noted. �Her behavior is not that of a normal Earth wolf. One might theorize that she senses the force field. She is not attempting escape.�

Janeway nodded, �What I wouldn�t give for an exobiologist right now.�

Tom Paris had left B�Elanna�s side. He stood back now, behind the others. Everything in him wanted to kill that thing in the iso unit.

The animal paused in its actions; it turned its attention to Tom, and licked its lips, and lowered its head. It stepped toward him, no longer limping.

Janeway looked to see what Paris was up to, �Tom, don�t provoke it.�

�I didn�t do anything.� He said, glaring at the animal. �I just thought about what I�d like to do.�

�She is an empath.� Seven stated, and joined the Doctor at his consoles.

Janeway twisted around to look at Seven. �And you were planning on telling us when?�

Seven ignored the irritation in Kathryn�s voice. She set to the task of modifying the Doctor�s console to take readings from Caela, taking into account the phaser modulations that had taken Caela down.

Tom was closer now, and he spoke to Janeway. �Captain, you saw what that thing did to B�Elanna. It�s not safe to have it on the ship.�

The Doctor interjected, �This is a fascinating case, Captain. I believe it is worth keeping her on board for the sake of science. As a case study.�

Chakotay shook his head, joining in on the conversation. �You are both talking about someone who is human most of the time. She should have a choice in all this.�

The howl came then. Long, wailing.

It stopped everyone in their thoughts, their words, and their actions.

All watched now as Caela lay down, her head resting on her front paws. She blinked. She whined quietly.

Seven had turned from the console and stood outside the force field. She kneeled down, and the wolf�s eyes followed her. Then it turned its head away, as if to ignore Seven.

B�Elanna had sat up in bed, and was trying to get a look. Tom returned to her, �You shouldn�t be moving yet.�

Seven kept her eyes on the wolf�s. She knew Caela was in there, somewhere. But the Howl had taken her thoughts, her emotions. It had taken her physical body. Seven stood.

�Doctor.� Seven stepped back to the console. �I am attempting to recalibrate your instruments so that you may diagnose Caela.� She turned to the Doctor. �I want you to cure her of the Howl.�

Kathryn put her hands up. �Whoa. Everyone.� She turned to the others, �Chakotay, return to the bridge.
Tom, you too. B�Elanna needs her rest.�

Chakotay nodded, and looked to Tom, who was reluctant to leave.

�That�s an order, Ensign Paris.� Janeway said.

Tom gave B�Elanna a quick kiss, �I�ll be back as soon as my shift is over.�

She smiled, nodded.

He left with Chakotay, not too happy about be leaving B�Elanna�s side.

Janeway clasped her hands, �Doctor, is this something you could undertake?�

�Of course. A cure might be possible. If not, I might be able to come up with a way to repress whatever gene it is that causes the change in Caela. First, I have to find it.� The Doctor said, �I have blood and saliva samples. Hair samples as well, and if Seven�s adjustments are successful, I may be able to go deeper than that. It would be a challenge, but I�m up for a challenge.�

�If anyone can do it, it�s you Doctor.� Janeway said.

�Of course.� He smiled. The console beeped at him.

Quickly he turned to look at the console, then the iso unit. �Seven, your modifications seem to have worked. The sensors have picked her up.�

The animal lay curled up on the floor now.

Seven read the data on the console. �The bioscans cannot identify her DNA.� She watched as the readings converted the data. �Sensors are picking up metabolic changes. A cascade. Human DNA has been identified.�

They watched as the animal�s fur seemed to dissolve back into pale skin. The body changed, the legs lengthened, and in moments, Caela the woman lay curled up on the floor. The last evidence of phaser burns faded from her skin.

To the observer, Caela appeared to be coming out of a deep sleep. Dreamily, she stretched, arms and legs out, again catlike. She relaxed, and opened her eyes. The moment she realized where she was, she quickly jumped and was on her feet.

The Doctor glibly commented, �Good reflexes.�

Caela stood silent, knowing full well why she was not in her quarters. She resolved to ask. �Was anyone hurt?�

�Yes.� Janeway was grave. �You attacked three of my crew members. And nearly attacked a child.�

Caela�s hand went over her mouth. �Not Naomi.�

�Thanks to Seven, Naomi is all right.� Janeway said, �But you nearly killed B�Elanna.�

Caela saw where the woman lay on the other biobed, apparently asleep. She didn�t recognize her. �Is she going to be all right?�

The Doctor answered with a nod.

Seven moved to lower the force field from around the iso unit, when Janeway stopped her.

�Seven, I need some time alone with Caela.� Kathryn touched Seven�s arm. �Please go to your chamber. I will see you there shortly.�

Seven looked to Caela, then back to Kathryn. �Yes, Captain.� She let her eyes linger on Caela�s for one
moment more, but turned to go.

Caela watched, surprised that Seven had left.

�Doctor,� Janeway said, �Please get something for Caela to wear.�

Caela stood calmly, obviously comfortable with her nudity. �You can take down this energy field now.�

She kept her eyes on Caela�s. She didn�t want to think about how Seven must have caressed those arms, touched the delicate complexion. Her lips might have been on those breasts? Janeway had found a small semblance of jealousy when she had first seen Caela standing here nude. It was a new sensation for her.

And she knew it only came in where Seven was concerned. �You do see the force field.�

She tilted her head at Janeway. �I can see many things.�

The Doctor instructed the computer to replicate a sickbay gown for Caela and transport it directly inside the force field. He turned to the Captain. �I�ll leave you two alone for a while. But keep your voices down, please. B�Elanna is sedated, but I don�t want her becoming agitated.�  He dematerialized.

Caela was trying to figure out where the opening for her head was in this gown. She found it, and slipped it on. �There,� she stepped up to within millimeters of the field. �Are you more comfortable now?�

Janeway clasped her hands in front of her, and let the question go unanswered. �Caela. You saved my life and for that I am grateful.� She carefully thought out her words. She stayed in her Captain�s mind; her heart might be biased. �Then you came on my ship, knowing full well you were a danger.�

�No.� Caela said sincerely, �I promise you. I would not have- as I explained to Seven. I thought I�d be home again before there was any danger. Please, Kathryn, believe me.�

Kathryn sighed, �Caela, I want to. But I don�t know you well enough to trust you with the lives of my crew. As Caela, you are welcome to stay on Voyager as long as you like. But as the wolf-�

�Wolf?� Caela said the word. Clearly she found the word familiar, but it was not entirely comprehended.

�You mean the Howl, don�t you?�

�The Howl,� Kathryn corrected herself, �As that- I cannot have you aboard my ship.�

Caela sat on the floor. She rubbed her hand over her face. �I understand.�

It would have been easier had Caela protested. Kathryn looked down at Caela. �There is the possibility that our Doctor could help you. Possibly find a way to stop your change.�

Caela looked up. �Stop it?� She was intrigued, but only for a moment, �No, it can�t be done. Anyway, it is who I am. As much as I don�t want it? who would I be without it?�

�You wouldn�t be a killer.� Kathryn crouched to face Caela. �And you�d have a home here on Voyager.�

Caela wrapped her arms around her knees, looked up at Kathryn. �I always wished and hoped that there was a way to stop the change. But the idea of actually having that happen? it was never? real. And now it doesn�t seem right somehow. I am Howl. I am the last. My people are gone.�

�Yes, I know. I can only imagine what this decision must feel like. It�s understandable for you to decide not to attempt this. And I�m not guaranteeing that our Doctor can help you. But if he does find a way, and you decline, you will be left on the next habitable planet. One without people, as I cannot in good conscience leave you where you could hurt someone.�

Caela was thinking deeply about this. She was silent.

�I understand you are in a cycle. Seven tells me you will change three times, and this was the second. Am I correct?�

�Yes.�

�And how much time usually passes from one change to the next?�

�One day. I can hold it off for a time? that�s why I changed in the morning. It was unexpected.� Caela said, �I change when the moon grows full, and the suns have gone down. There is no moon here. My cycle has been disturbed, I think. �

�In that case, I don�t want you to hold off the next change. You will be secured, and under guard until after your next change. I know the Doctor will want you here in sickbay, but I want you in the brig.� Kathryn stood.

�The brig.� Caela had seen it on her tour. She stood now, smoothing out her gown. �I will comply.�

Kathryn raised a brow. Caela was a fast learner; already she spoke words that must be new to her. But these words should come out of only one mouth. Kathryn�s stomach knotted. �You will comply?�

Caela nodded, �But I want to see Seven. I would like to talk to her about this.�

Kathryn stared at Caela. Was her Captain�s mind or her heart about to speak? Or both. �Caela, I�m afraid I cannot allow you to speak with Seven.�

Caela dropped her hands. �Here it is, then.�

Kathryn felt challenged. �Here is what exactly?�

Caela backed up and pushed herself to sit on the biobed. �Please, go on. You are the Captain. And I am a captive audience.�

Steeling herself, Kathryn did go on. �Yes, I am the Captain, and I am responsible for the crew. I am responsible for Seven. And I am concerned about what may have happened between the two of you.�

�Is it your concern, Kathryn?�

�It is.� Kathryn said, I�ve known Seven since she was liberated from the Borg. Since before she was liberated, actually. You have known her only a few days.�

�I feel as if I�ve known her a lifetime.�

�But you haven�t.� Kathryn said, �Empath or not, you don�t know her well enough to understand what is really going on in her mind. I am very concerned about what your advances could do to her.�

�My advances? We shared, Captain. We enjoyed each other�s bodies. Seven was as much a part of it as I was. This is what friends do- did, among my people.�

�This is not your world, Caela. Here, people aren�t so quick to become intimate with each other. Our people do not take sexuality so lightly-�

�Oh, I have to disagree.� Caela said, �From what Seven has told me. And from what I can sense. Aren�t you aware of the trysting on this ship? And Seven has shared with me much of her assimilated knowledge of human sexuality, as well as what she learned from data files and simple observation of your crew.�

�She is confused.�

�No. She�s not, Kathryn.� Caela calmly stated. �Not anymore.�

Kathryn ignored the pain in her heart. She swallowed her anger, the malice she felt now toward Caela. �I think it�s for the best if you don�t see Seven for awhile.�

�It�s not your decision. Do you control her?� Caela was becoming angry, �Isn�t she an individual now?�

Kathryn pressed he combadge, �Janeway to Tuvok.�

He responded. �Yes, Captain?�

�Please bring a security team to sickbay.� Kathryn said, �Modified phaser rifles. It�s time to take Caela to
the brig.�

Caela stood now, arms folded, watching Janeway. �And while you keep us apart, what will you give her in return? She and I bonded, Kathryn. What did you expect? She needs me. Perhaps if you weren�t so closed up- Perhaps then I could tell you what you need to hear.�

Kathryn could only stare at Caela in silence. In a moment, Tuvok and his security team entered sickbay.

The Doctor reappeared, watching as Kathryn took down the force field. She spoke to him.

�Doctor, I want her in the brig. You can monitor her from here, so that you can stay with B�Elanna.�

He knew better than to question the Captain when her face was hard, her eyes resolved. �Yes, Captain.�

Tuvok and his team held rifles on Caela as she stepped out, and faced Kathryn. �I would like my own clothes brought to me.� She turned to the team. �I�m willing. There�s no need to point those things in my face.�

She walked out ahead of them. They quickly formed a barrier around her, and escorted her to the brig.
Kathryn stood, her breath betraying any sense of calm she was trying to convey. She was clearly upset.

The Doctor looked into her eyes, �Captain, is there anything I can do for you?�

�No. Thank you, Doctor.� She walked out of sickbay.

*

 End Part Five