Story #4 – PICTURE THIS

By Delta

Day 61

 

The music of the night wind accompanied the muffled noises of aluminum plastic being molded around the titanium frame sheltered by the central covered pavilion area. Three human figures huffed and grunted through a strange choreography in the increasingly cold air, wanting to get the large piece of material in place before finally stopping for the night.

 

A thick thatch of Harry Kim's straight black hair kept falling into his face, as he was almost bent over to the ground holding the silvery material in place. Vorik looked unruffled, even thought he had been up since before dawn. He was using a large heating presser to mold the substance into its finished form, as Chakotay was trimming away the excess malleable material. It had been a long day's work, hybridizing the synthetic metal into sheets large enough for them to use. But now, a recognizable form was taking shape.

 

"Chakotay, this sure better work, after all the time we've put into it," Harry said, his face becoming a deeper red with each passing minute in the somewhat unnatural position."

 

Chakotay laughed. "Harry, I was building model hovercrafts on Dorvan V before I was ten; it's a skill you don't forget easily."

 

"Well, maybe you could think up an easier way now," the young man grunted.

 

"Mr. Kim, please do not talk so much. Any motion interferes with my getting a proper fit and adherence," Vorik stated matter-of-factly. "You do wish to get some sleep tonight, do you not?"

 

"Yes," sighed Harry.

 

"We're just about finished, gentlemen," continued Chakotay. "And, it looks like we have enough leftover material to start on another one."

 

"Certainly we should wait until we are certain that the design of this one works first," Vorik said flatly, not amused at the idea of wasted efforts. "There," he stated with as much triumphant expression as his Vulcan disposition would allow. "I do believe that that completes the last seam."

 

Harry stood upright, stumbling backward slightly with the light-headedness of the sudden upright position.  "Whew! It's about time; I thought my head was going to burst!"

 

"Mr. Kim, that is not a logical statement," opined Vorik.

 

"It's a joke, Vorik... an exaggeration," laughed Harry, as he swiped the long swatch of hair back onto the top of his head.

 

Chakotay was not listening to the banter of the two younger men; he was backing off to admire their handiwork. In front of him was a smooth rounded form about six meters long and two meters across, standing about a meter up from the flat dirt surface beneath them. At about twenty centimeters of width, the sides curved back to the inside, to a flat floor area inside, giving the vehicle the appearance of an old fashioned inflatable boat. But, now as the mold substance was rapidly solidifying, it was far more sturdy than any inflatable. He was taking pride in his craftsmanship... knowing that his father would have approved of the project. His body was weary, but his mind was wide-awake in anticipation of the increased mobility the vehicle would give them.

 

"All right; this is looking good! Tomorrow Harry and I will start working on the skirt; Vorik, you and Carey will be working on building the engine and splitter plates. Now... you do understand my schematics for everything..."

 

"Yes, Commander... um... Chakotay. If we have any questions, of course we will ask you," he stated. In a rare display of praise, he continued.

 

"I must say that this is a rather practical idea for rapid, efficient transit across the somewhat uncertain terrain of this planet. The use of some of the doctor's nuclear supplies for the engine, and a back-up solar panel energy source are sensible uses of our available resources. You said that this particular vehicle would attain speeds of..."

 

"...One-hundred and twenty kilometers per hour," Chakotay finished. "We should be able to get some good exploration time in using it. All right, my friends; let's call it a day," he said, stretching as he started walking towards the edge of the work area.

 

The three ex-Voyagers started their final day's treks to their respective habitats. Harry and Joe Carey were now "rooming" together, since Tom and B'Elanna's marriage two weeks earlier. Joe's former co-habitator, Neelix, had moved into the galley section in the commons building that had been built shortly after New Hope was founded, so as to be closer to the supply needs of the community.

 

Chakotay walked slowly towards the geodome he shared with Tuvok. Thin beams of light bordered the door of the shelter; Tuvok would be reading, as was his custom. He is a perfect companion... quiet, neat... but his need for little sleep does get to me sometimes, thought the fatigued man.

 

The trail also led to the Captain's... Kathryn's... dome. Light was also coming from around here door. She shouldn't still be up yet, he thought. Is she ever going to finally realize that there are almost 150 of us to do the work? He shook his head, as his steps slowly brought him to his ‘home’.

 

~*~

 

Four days later, the hovercraft was complete. A large fan was mounted at its bow, ready to be powered by the small nuclear engine. The skirt, which would be buoyed and propelled by the circulating air, allowed the craft to speed along in the air about 30 centimeters off the ground. The large rudder in its bow was its only means of steering. Braking the vehicle would be slow, and was accomplished by the slow dispersal of air from the skirt and airflow chambers.

 

Chakotay was showing the completed vehicle to Kathryn Janeway, who was acting as if she had known that nothing had been happening in the center of their ‘town’ for the last ten days.

 

"Well... I must say, I am quite impressed. Are we certain that it will work?" she queried of its builders.

 

Vorik spoke with understated pride. "The theory is correct, and it is certainly reasonable that it will function with due accord."

 

Chakotay tried to stifle a laugh at the stilted answer of his co-worker. 

 

"Tom and I are going to take it out for a trial run tomorrow, Capt.... I mean, Kathryn," Harry chimed in.

 

Since small victories were definite reasons for celebration in the little community, and Janeway stated with a satisfied nod, "Well, then, gentlemen... I think we should launch the craft. And name it! Shall we have a launching ceremony tomorrow before Harry and Tom take her out?"

 

A vocal consensus of the suggestion came from all around.

 

"Then... I have a name for it," she continued. "Since it was reborn from the remains of Voyager, I would suggest she be called Phoenix."

 

Again, there was a murmur of concurrence from the small crowd now examining the latest engineering completion on their brave new world.

 

Sam Wildman stepped over to the virgin vehicle, pristine in the morning sun.  "Captain, may I paint the name on it? It's been a long time since I put my graphic skills to use."

 

"You're hired," the older woman smiled, happy to see residual talents surfacing in the motley group.  "Now... do we by any chance have any champagne? No... on second thought, we wouldn't want to waste anything that precious!" she added. "But I'm open to any other suggestions."

 

The laughter that followed was hearty and genuine... but also with a touch of sadness, as they remembered the small luxuries that they had so taken for granted with their now-defunct replicator system.

 

~*~

 

Day 66

 

The nights were getting colder and longer; the days, shorter and crisper, bathed in the deep golds of the lower rays of the sun. This morning brought the first indication of the progressing seasons – a glistening layer of frost greeted the inhabitants of New Hope as they arose. Fragrant steam filled the air from a thick, warm grain stew that Neelix had stirred up, sweetened slightly with preserved berries from Voyager's supplies.

 

The small town slowly became alive, with all it sentient subjects venturing towards the pavilion with its new inhabitant. Harry was beaming at the large, perfectly formed letters on either side: PHOENIX.

 

True to her word, Sam had carefully painted the letters, preceded by a native American pictorial version of the avian symbol of hope.

 

The morning meal was being completed, and all were in readiness for the christening ceremony... and the maiden voyage of the mode of transport. Voices were chattering away, anxious for the start of the day. Everyone was most eager to see if they were going to gain a way to get beyond a few kilometers from their increasingly claustrophobic encampment.

 

Harry anxiously looked around. He still hadn't seen Tom... but then, what else was new? The community had ‘granted’ Tom and B'Elanna a seven day ‘honeymoon’ period, but it was obvious that the honeymoon was far from over... for the newly married couple always were the last two villagers to appear for normal morning work shifts. It wasn't that they were shirking their responsibilities; in fact, they seemed to over-compensate sometimes for their known tardiness. But... today was different! Where was...

 

"Morning, Harry," Tom's sleepy voice came over Harry's shoulder. "Are we ready?"  He edged his way forward, followed by an equally sleepy-looking B'Elanna.

 

"I'm sorry, Harry," blushed B'Elanna. "It must be... um... the cooler air. It's good for sleeping."

 

Harry looked at her, his eyes twinkling. "Yeah... I'm sure that's it!"  He nudged Tom in the ribs, as he continued. "So good of you to join us, Mr. Paris," he answered sarcastically. "Are you sure you can spare the time?"

 

"Harry... Harry... I told you that I'd be here; it took me some time to make it through this crowd!" he said, with a sweep of his hand indicating the surrounding people. "Besides... I've found something for Kathryn to use in her 'ceremony'."

 

The former helmsman-bon vivant pulled his previously hidden left hand from behind his back and revealed a small bottle of clear liquid. He held it up, for all to see.  "My friends, I have here some water from Niagara Falls on Earth. I won it in a poker game, and I propose that this be a symbol for our new beginnings here."

 

Although she had not said anything up to this point, Kathryn Janeway came to the man's side.  "Tom, I think that we should let Naomi Wildman do the honors. What do you think?"

 

"Couldn't think of anyone better!" His eyes started searching for the young Ktarian girl.

 

"Here I am, Uncle Tommy. What do you want?" her soft voice echoed from among the group, followed by her small form, moving out from the surrounding crowd.

 

He leaned over and showed her the small bottle of liquid. "You see the mover that we made... that your mom painted the pretty picture on? Well, we want you to give it good luck, by pouring this water over the front."

 

The youngster giggled. "No one will get mad if I spill some water?"

Janeway now knelt in front of her. "No, Naomi... and with this mover, we hope to find more water, and other things to make this a nice home."

 

"I like that," she whispered to Kathryn. "Can I do it now?"

 

"Why don't you do it as I tell all our friends what we are going to call it?"

 

"All right," she said softly.

 

Tom pulled the tight stopper out of the bottle, and helped the young girl hold it. Janeway cleared her throat, trying to release the lump that had suddenly become caught there, as she observed the paternal picture of Tom and Naomi.

 

"My friends, today we celebrate another step in our new lives... for today... we gain mobility! Hopefully, this will be one of several hovercrafts that we can construct, providing us with the means of further exploring our new world. I know that I speak for all of us in thanking Harry, Vorik and Chakotay for their arduous efforts in fabricating this bit of freedom for us."

 

A loud chorus of cheers and applause warmed the chill of the morning air, the names of the men becoming a mantra for the assembly. Finally, Kathryn looked down at the anxious little one in front of her.

 

"And now, Naomi, please pour the water on our vehicle, as I proclaim it the Phoenix... a promise that we will rise and prosper. My friends... The Phoenix!"

 

Naomi laughed, as the water splashed little cold droplets all over herself and Tom and Kathryn.  "Did I do it all right, Aunt Kathryn?" she said, turning shyly to Janeway.

 

"You were perfect!" the older woman said, picking up the youngster in a huge hug, as the gathering resumed their sounds of happy approval.

 

Janeway, still holding the smiling child, looked at Tom and Harry.  "Well, Mr. Kim... Mr. Paris... can we trust you to take it for a maiden spin and get it back it one piece?"

 

"Yes, ma'am!" said Harry, his smile bisecting his face.

 

"Piece of cake!" reassured Tom, as the two men were climbing into the cockpit area.

 

B'Elanna quickly ran over to the side of the vehicle. "A kiss for good luck, flyboy," she said, as she quickly pulled Tom down for a farewell kiss.

 

"Next ride will be with you," he grinned at his bride and slowly broke away from her, torn between her and his new toy. But... as with most boys, the ‘toy’ won out!

 

A low hum sounded from within the craft, as Tom initiated the small engine to start the airflow through the plenum chamber and begin the rotation of the fan on the stern. He slowly maneuvered the handlebar controls, checking the tandem movement of the rudder, mentally going through his ‘pre-launch’ checklist.  "All seems to be in order, Mr. Kim. I say we take her out."

 

"Aye, aye, sir!" Harry saluted, as the craft slowly rose above the flat surface and began a forward motion.

 

"We'll be back in time for lunch, ‘Mom’!" Harry yelled back as they quickly picked up speed.

 

Voyager's survivors stood and watched the small vehicle carry its precious cargo out over the clear area to the west of the small forested stretch. Their image became smaller and small, finally becoming lost in the dust. Silent prayers rose... for the men's safety; for the success of the vehicle; and for the promise of their own destiny.

 

~*~

 

The sun was almost at its highest apex of the day, when a solitary distant dust cloud was seen on the horizon. Vorik sounded the alert, his voice stating the fact in an unruffled Vulcan calm.

 

"I do believe that Mr. Paris and Mr. Kim have successfully achieved their mission, as I can see an indication of their return."

 

In the ten minutes it took the Phoenix and its sojourners to arrive, the village had turned out for their welcome. Tom smoothly steered the vehicle into its ‘parking space’. He and Harry were beaming with ecstasy from the exhilarance and success of the mission. As soon as the vehicle was safely moored, they jumped out into the waiting throng... and Tom into B'Elanna's welcoming embrace. The blond pilot finally came up for air, and reluctantly looked around, finally seeing his former first officer. He quickly gave the dark woman in his arms a hug and a whisper.

 

"She runs smooth as silk, Commander," Tom said running over to Chakotay. "You are a damn fine engineer!"

 

Chakotay's dusky face was flushed with embarrassment. "It's a team effort, Tom... always a team effort. Harry and Vorik are owed just as much credit."

 

"Yeah... but you were there first with the idea."

 

"Well," said the older man, with a bit of sage caution, "let's see how a few more practice runs turn out."

 

~*~

 

Over the next few days, Tom and Harry took the Phoenix out on two more runs... to be followed by one with Tom and Chakotay; then Harry and Vorik; and finally the one promised by Tom to B'Elanna. Each trip ventured further and further away from the encampment; and each expedition brought back more news about their new world. A field of ripening grain welcomed a harvest, to store for the unknown times coming. Other edible fruits and nuts were found, promising a means of replenishing their dwindling supplies. And always a welcoming group greeted each pair of explorers upon their returns. Janeway was certain that there would not be a lack of volunteers for the missions to follow!

 

Chakotay caught her in mid-thought.  "So... Kathryn... when would you like to got out in our new 'ship'?" he inquired.

 

The woman once more jumped at the sound of his voice. "Any time you want, mister," she smiled at him. "After all, we can't have the ex-captain look as if she's afraid to try it."

 

"Never!" he smiled down at her. "Want to take it out for a short spin now?"

 

She squirmed a little. "Would that look right? After all, Tom and B'Elanna just got back... and that looks as if it were for... um... pleasure..."

 

"I'll tell you what," he smiled at her. "We'll make this an honest mission. Yesterday I saw some very interesting rock formations at the base of the mountains... some that look like they might contain metallic ore. The trip is about forty kilometers from here. We can get there and back easily before it gets dark. Remember... this little ship scoot along at almost one-hundred twenty kilometers per hour!"

 

"That's really quite tempting," she said, obviously thinking about the offer and contemplating ways that ore might be useful to them.  She suddenly nodded her head in a strong affirmative. "All right; let's do it. Just remember, Chakotay... this is not a shuttlecraft; I expect you to get it... and us... back in one piece!" she laughed as she swiftly aimed her elbow into his ribcage.

 

"OOOOfff!" he groaned through his grin. "You really know how to hurt a guy!" He was already grabbing the offending elbow, and guiding her towards the seemingly tireless Phoenix.

 

Janeway looked back at Tom and B'Elanna who had yet to leave the area. "Well, it looks like we're going to take the Phoenix out again for awhile. My friend, the pilot here, says we'll back before dark."

 

B'Elanna laughed. "With his track record? Sure you don't need a real pilot, Kathryn?" she said, pushing Tom towards the duo climbing into the craft.

 

"He assures me that there is no cause for concern," the older woman stated resolutely.

 

"All right," Tom said with mock seriousness. "But just remember that you have a curfew... and behave yourselves."

 

Chakotay scowled back a fake face. "Same for you, my friend. Save us two places at dinner." With that, the two former commanding officers silently slid away from the encampment.

 

~*~

 

The terrain approaching the mountains went from the wooded area with its small lake near the encampment segued into the large expanse covered with the grain-bearing grass. After about twenty additional kilometers, the grassy area became more rocky, and the elevation took an upward climb. The ground was covered with rocks from sand-size particles up to small boulders. Much of it had an igneous appearance to it, indicating volcanic activity of some sort in the not too distant past. Extruding through that layer were lithic objects definitely bearing an indication of the inclusion of metal. Kathryn and Chakotay stopped the hovercraft, and soon were excitedly exploring the materials in this veritable garden of rocks.

 

"Chakotay... here! This one looks to have streaks of copper in it! Oh... I certainly hope we can find more..." Kathryn chattered away, exclaiming newfound delight with each piece she examined.

 

The scavenging spelunkers were so engrossed in their discoveries that they had not noticed the rapidly diminishing sunlight... until the warming celestial body quickly sank below the horizon of the mountains to their west. A noticeable chill came with the sudden darkness. They both detected the swift change at about the same time.

 

"Kathryn... it's later than either of us thought. We should be heading back. It will probably take us about thirty minutes to return to New Hope, and our daylight is quickly disappearing."

 

"You're right. Let's take what we have and get back."

 

The pair quickly climbed into the Phoenix, and Chakotay maneuvered it around 180 degrees, headed back across their arrival path. The sturdy little vehicle purred as it steadily increased its speed, and headed into the darkening eastern skies. 

 

The air had gotten quite a bit colder, and Kathryn was looking around the craft for their emergency equipment. “Chakotay, I know that there has to be a mylar blanket somewhere. Where is it?"

 

The man was concentrating on the topography ahead of them... at forms that were now only shadows with no discernible outlines.

 

"Um... we don't have one. We have a medcorder, and some spare rations and water. But we'd never planned on being out when it was cold," he responded, sheepishly.

 

Janeway's temper was rapidly surfacing, warming her in the stead of the missing blanket. "You what? You didn't prepare for contingencies?" she practically yelled.

 

"Calm down... it's not that cold! Come over here... we can share some body heat," he said.

 

"You're tricking me..." she continued, as she moved closer to his extended free arm.

 

"Hadn't meant to," he chortled, as he pulled her close to him.

 

"Ah... nothing like a moonlight ride, is there?" he sighed.

 

"Except there's no moonlight... nor starlight, in case you hadn't noticed. Chakotay… in fact, I think we might be in for some..."

 

Several large drops of very cold water hit their faces.

 

"...rain," she finished. "Damn!"

 

"Just another twenty minutes, Kathryn... we're only about thirteen or fourteen kilometers from the camp."

 

Suddenly, the soothing vibrations of the hovercraft quit their gentle rock; the low purr of the engine stopped, and the fan blades came to rest. The vehicle drifted the thirty centimeters to the ground, and rolled with the piloted impact with the ground.

 

"What the..." Chakotay sputtered. "What has happened?"

 

"You're the papa of this; you tell me," Janeway said curtly, as he pulled away from her and jumped over the side.

 

Chakotay was lifting the lid of the protective plastic engine compartment, checking the power supply. He examined the tiny reactor and noted that the indicator panels were functioning as expected. The check switch performed a back-up routine... again, all was in perfect order, and he relayed this to Kathryn.

 

"So... why are we dead in the water, so to speak?" she asked.

 

He rotated the small reactor, and then saw the culprit at the exterior of the engine box.

"Uh..oh. Here's the problem. We have a deionic flexor panel on the front, which is temperature sensitive. As the temperature has dropped, it’s contracted and no longer can transfer the energy. Our preliminary tests indicated that there would be not problem if the its temperature were kept at zero degrees Celsius or higher."

 

"And it's now colder than that." She sighed. "Chakotay, you knew that the temperatures were getting colder..." The raindrops continued to fall, albeit not heavily... just a tad more than a drizzle --- "...and wetter," she said, holding her hand out to the droplets.

 

He shot her a defensive look. "Yes, we did. But this was the only material that we had that could conduct the energy the way we needed it. You do know that we can't just replicate anything we..."

 

"I know... don't patronize me!" she spat back. "In the meantime, we are stalled out here." She took a deep breath. "I guess we could walk back..."

 

"It would probably take us at least two or three hours, on terrain that we don't know that well. Look... we have a communicator. Why don't we contact New Hope and let them know that we're all right... just stuck until daylight and things warm up."

 

"And what do we do for some shelter, since we've no blanket?" She reached out and down around her. "It's obvious that we are back in the grassy area; I don't think we'll be finding any sheltering rocks or overhangs around here."

 

She felt the hovercraft rocking, and her eyes were adjusting to the darkness through the rain. She saw that Chakotay was rocking the hovercraft.

 

"We can overturn the Phoenix and use it as a shelter," he smugly stated. "Come on... give me a hand."

 

"With a miniature nuclear power supply inside? No thank you, Chakotay. I'll risk myself to a cold night rather than tempt the fates by dislodging the gyro to the reactor."

 

"Hmmmm... you're right. It's locked in pretty securely, but we didn't test it for a one-hundred eighty degree reversal."

 

"Another little matter that should be added to your 'to do' list," she spluttered.

"All right," he said, turning pensive about their available resources. "Let's see... earlier, I remember seeing some tall broad leafed plants scattered through here. We could find some of those and make a sort of lean-to against the Phoenix."

 

"Yes!" she remanded. "You're right... those would be perfect! Let's see if we can locate some of... Chakotay?" she suddenly queried, realizing that he was no long beside her.

 

The man had gotten back into the landship.

 

"I just remembered... we *do* have a handlight on board. That should help."

 

"I guess we had better be thankful for small favors!" she smiled for the first time since their sudden standstill.

 

"Let's contact the home base and let them know our circumstances," he said, quickly locating his communicator. (Thank goodness Harry and B'Elanna had gotten that system up and running!)

 

"Maybe I had better send the message, she said to him, grabbing the wet communicator from him. She heard a quiet laugh escaped his lips, as she hit the open channel button.

"Janeway to New Hope... do you read me?"

 

"Kathryn... this is Harry. Where are you? We were starting to worry," he said, his voice echoing his concern.

 

"It seems that Chakotay has lived up to his reputation of having... vehicular problems," she said.

 

"What... uh... are you all right, Captain?" asked Harry, reverting to her former title in his concern.

 

"Yes, we're fine. It seems, Harry, that our hovercraft designer failed to realize that deionic flexor contracts when the temperature is below zero. Well, it's below zero out here, and we have a very stalled hovercraft. Chakotay thinks it will be all right in the morning, when it warms up. But... it looks like we're going to stuck out here overnight."

 

"Cap... I mean, Kathryn... what about shelter? Food?"

 

"We think we can make a shelter out of some broad leaves we've found. And, there are a few rations in the Phoenix..."

 

"Yeah... if you like compressed protein bars," Harry mumbled.

 

"We'll be all right, Harry. We've got the communicator, and we'll be on our way as soon as it warms up. And hopefully dries up, too," she said, wiping the dripping rain off her nose and chin.

 

"Okay... but if we don't hear from you by daybreak, we're sending out a search party."

 

"Thank you for your concern, Harry. We'll stay in touch. Please let everyone know that we're all right."

 

"Yes, ma'am," the young man answered back. "See you in the morning."

 

Chakotay had ventured out into the field while she was talking with Harry and returned, dragging a half-dozen of the large, elephant-ear shaped leaves. Each one was about two meters long and about a meter and half across.

 

"I think these will work fine, Kathryn. Look – they have a strong center stem that will act as a support, to hold them up and out from the craft. Let me go get a few more... we can even sit on them, to keep us off the wet ground."

 

"Don't look now, Commander, but the leaves are wet, too," she said.

 

"Right... but under the shelter, the ones we sit on won't get any wetter, nor will they allow any moisture form the ground."

 

"All right. Well, why don't I start with a semblance of a structure while you get a few more?" she said.

 

"Done," he answered, half running to complete his task as quickly as he could.

 

By the time he returned, she had interlaced the leaves in a way so that the water would have a very difficult time entering. The four last fronds that he brought back, she shook off and quickly laid them on the ground inside their make-shift shelter.

 

"I've seen better," she stated, stepping back and looking through the darkness and rain at her handiwork. "But... it should at least keep us out of the rain."

 

Chakotay had rescued a few of the ration packets from the hovercraft, and they scurried into their grassland den and sat down on their shiny, leafy ‘rug’.

 

As they started opening the supplies, for their sumptuous banquet, Chakotay started laughing. "I can just imagine what sort of talk is going on back at New Hope."

 

"And just what do you mean?" she said, tearing open a package labeled protein supplement.

 

"Oh, come on, Kathryn. You've heard the stories.. rumors..."

 

She looked at him with an honest innocence. "No; what ‘stories’ are you talking about?"

 

"Come on... you certainly know what has been said behind our backs..."

 

The dim rays from the handlight accentuated the expression of slow enlightenment on her face.  "You mean... you mean that... oh, no... you can't mean that the crew thinks that..."

 

"Oh, come on, Kathryn; it's a small community! People think all sorts of things. But we know better, and that's what counts."

 

"But... I don't even want to imagine that we have ever done anything to produce such stories. Why, I think that we have done an excellent job of concealing our... real..." 

 

Even in the diminished light, he could see her shock at her own faux pas... slip of the tongue... half confession. He decided to play along with it for a while.

 

"What? What do you think they are picturing right now? Ah, yes... I can just

picture this... two wet, cold ex-Starfleet officers... a wonderfully beautiful woman and a... um... fairly handsome man... stranded away from camp, on a cold rainy night. Now... what would they do to amuse themselves... to keep their spirits up... to stay warm?"

His eyes were dancing with a merry tease... as potent a tease as she had ever pulled on him.

 

She turned to him, and not-too-gently hit his shoulder with her fist.

 

"Chakotay! Don't even think such thoughts! After all, you are an officer and a gentleman!"

 

"Make that a former officer... as are you," he said, opening a packet of water and offering some to her. "But don't worry, Kathryn; I shall always be a gentleman... until you tell me something different."

 

She grabbed the water from him, thirstily swallowing several large gulps. "Thanks... that tastes good," she said, handing the pouch back to him. "And thanks for saying that... you will remain... the same person I've grown to... admire... over these years."

 

He could not make out the real words behind her eyes in the shadows of the night, but her unexpected words earlier led him to believe that her present words did not mirror her true thoughts. But... for now...

 

She handed him some of the pressed protein. "I never thought that I would say this... but these rations make Neelix's worst dishes taste like gourmet creations. They are awful! But... they are filling and nutritious."

 

"Now you really have tempted me," he laughed, as he broke off a bit of the bar and put it in his mouth. He thoughtfully chewed for a few minutes before responding.  "Hmmmm. As Tom would say, 'tastes just like chicken'. Kind of makes you wonder what sort of chicken he's eaten in his lifetime, doesn't it?"

 

They had started relaxing now, content in the knowledge that at least they were sheltered, and that the Voyagers knew where they were and that they were not in any immediate danger.

 

"Kathryn, please don't take this the wrong way, but I really think we should turn of the lamp and try to conserve its energy, in case we really need it during the night."

 

She readily said, "You're right. I guess we could try to just settle down for the night. It *has* been a somewhat... eventful day."

 

"Why don't we use a couple of the leaves as blankets? I know they aren't the softest of covers, but they should help keep our body heat up."

 

"Yes... and... now I'll ask that you not take this the wrong way, either... we really should continue sharing body heat. Just as a precaution," she said.

 

"Of course. I'm sure that even Tuvok would agree that it's the logical thing to do."

 

They both laughed at his comment, as they lay down, arranging two of the large leaves around themselves, rolling the edges under their bodies.

 

"Just like two peas on a pod..." he chuckled.

 

"Stop that!" she retorted.

 

They giggled themselves into a peaceful sleep, like two ten year olds at a sleep over.

 

~*~

 

Kathryn was the first to startle herself awake.  "Wha... who..." she said through sleepy thoughts in the darkness.

 

"Kathryn?" Chakotay muttered. "What's happening? Why are you pulling the leaves closer?"

 

She was awake now. "I'm not. Chakotay, I think that the leaves are closing up. They must be photosensitive, and curl up at night. The shelter also is obviously shrinking, and I'm having difficulty moving around."

 

"Let's not panic," he said, trying to twist his large upper body and finding it very difficult. "I think I have the handlamp in here with us... just a moment..." he was fumbling around in the ever-decreasing space inside their cocoon’. "Yes... I' I've found it... here, let me turn it on and see if our leafy friends retreat any."

 

The lamp warmed up the enclosed space, as well as producing light, and shortly afterwards, the leaves loosened their grip on their overnight visitors. The large overhead leaves, which constructed their shelter, had also contracted. But, without a form to mold around, they had not contracted as much, and left headroom, albeit much less than had been there previously.

 

"Well, we're learning more and more about the interesting indigenous species of our adopted planet," Kathryn sighed. "*That* was a discomforting surprise!"

 

"Mmmmm... it certainly was interesting. But I'm sure it's one we can put to use also. Never a dull moment, is there, Captain?"

 

"There hasn't been one for me... ever since you lost the Liberty almost five years ago, and agreed to join me in this ever entertaining odyssey."

 

"Nor for me," he grinned. "You have always kept me guessing, Kathryn."

 

"And I probably will for a long time yet.”

 

"We'll have to sleep a little closer."

 

"I know. But it's just for body heat..."

 

"That's right."

 

"But it is comforting..."

 

"Mmmmmm...." he murmured, already slipping back into sleep.

 

She smiled. It had been a very interesting day... and night.

 

~*~

 

Kathryn and Chakotay awoke to a rapid warming of their shelter; and true to their theory, the leaves were broadening, as they opened to the early morning sun.  The pair extricated themselves from their protective refuge, and were greeted by a field glistening with the residual raindrops on the surrounding grassland. They were almost blinded by the reflections in the bright light.

 

They stretched, and laughed at the sorry sight that they presented. Middle-aged early morning faces and bodies are not the most beautiful! They stretched some more, ridding themselves of the cramped overnight muscles, and smiled at the secret knowledge of having taken another step in their ever-growing relationship. Both made brief trips into the tall grass, and upon their returns, it was obvious in their private absences that the man and woman had tried to make repairs to their appearances.

 

Seeing her approach from the curtain of grass, he reached over, and drew her towards him. "See? I told you that we would make it!"

 

"Oh, sure. Now... just how are we going to explain this little overnight adventure to a hundred and forty-five inquisitive people waiting for us?"

 

"We just tell them the truth. That's all there is to that," he said as he climbed into the hovercraft. "Now... let's see if we can get this buggy going." He tapped in the start commands, and the friendly whirring of the engine and the start of the airflow brought happy cheers from both of them.

 

Kathryn brushed herself off a little more, trying to smooth out the wrinkles of sleep from her clothing and her hair, and, grabbing for Chakotay's outstretched hand, climbed into the Phoenix.

 

"Commander, let's go home," she said, still holding on to his hand.

 

The warmed up hovercraft lifted off the ground, to its traveling height, and started on the final leg of its most memorable journey thus far.