GRAVITAS

Title: Gravitas, 19/26
Author: Jaye (Copyright January 2003)
Codes: VOY/TNG/DS9 Many Pairings NC-17

Disclaimer: Star Trek and all related characters and concepts are the property 
of Paramount. Gladiator belongs to Dreamworks SKG and Universal. No infringement 
is intended or profit made. This is NC-17 for adult themes, violence and sex. If 
you aren't interested (or aren't old enough), don't read it.

Archive: Drop me a note first so I know where it's going. Please keep the text 
(especially the disclaimer) intact.

Feedback: Sure but be kind, or at least constructive. E-mail is 
reader8901@fastmail.fm

Summary: Treachery raises the stakes and changes lives when the leader of the 
Terran Empire seeks to restore the Federation.

Note: Very AU, as chapters 1-14 were basically the film "Gladiator" set in a 
Star Trek universe. Now it's my own invention. No Maquis, no Delta Quadrant, 
etc. This is my response to Polly's Cha!Club challenge about movies. Sisko is 
older here than in canon.

***************

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Chakotay opened his eyes.

The world was gray.

A wasteland of ash stretched to the horizon in every direction. What had once 
been a forest glen, shadowed and overgrown, now lay naked and exposed to the 
overcast sky. The carcasses of burned trees hunched under their coatings of 
soot, shriveled, blackened and broken. He could smell the lingering taint of 
smoke in the air.

The silent desolation struck him to the soul. He sank down into a crouch, his 
arms wrapping around himself in a vain attempt at self-comfort.

As Chakotay silently struggled to comprehend the changes to his surroundings, he 
noticed the sleek form of his spirit guide detach from the ravaged landscape.

The she-wolf approached to sit in front of him. They stared at each other, 
neither breaking the silence.

Chakotay's emotions rose up to strangle his breathing. He choked out, "What have 
I done?"

/What was necessary./

"No!" The denial was ripped from him as he surged to his feet. "No, this didn't 
have to happen." His vision blurred with tears as he stared, unseeing, at what 
he had wrought. "This is all my fault. My pride, my arrogance destroyed 
everything." His voice sank to a whisper. "Everyone."

/Why do you say this?/ The she-wolf tilted her head, concern in her eyes as she 
regarded Chakotay.

"All I had to do was take his hand." Chakotay stared down at his opened palm, 
speaking more to himself than to her. "Jean-Luc Picard was dead. Julian Bashir 
Picard his murderer, making himself the heir to the Imperial throne. And the son 
wanted me to serve him as I had the father."

His voice roughened with self-loathing. "But no, I knew better. I was too good 
to take Julian's offer. I was determined to bring him to justice. I was going to 
fulfill Jean-Luc's final request, to restore the Federation." His hands clenched 
into fists. "Instead I brought death to the ones I loved."

/No, Chakotay, you cannot blame yourself./

"How can I not, sister? How can I not." Chakotay sighed, a world of loss in the 
sound. "Look around us: they aren't even here to greet me on the Other Side." 
His shoulders were slumped, his expression forlorn, reflecting his despair. "I 
thought we would finally be together again," he whispered.

/Peace, youngster. There are things you do not know./ She caught his anguished 
eyes, held them. /You look at the path not traveled and conclude you made the 
wrong decision. But believe me, if you had not acted as you did, this world 
would now be overwhelmed by darkness./

"Instead it's dead. How is that any better?" Chakotay demanded.

/It isn't dead. And neither are you./

"What?"

/You still live, Chakotay. That is why your people aren't here to meet you./ Her 
gaze filled with compassion. /They knew if you held them in your arms again you 
would never leave this place. And you must return to the land of the living./

"To what purpose? I've died twice already, or close enough." Chakotay sank to 
his knees before the she-wolf. "I'm so tired."

She moved closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder as he wrapped his arms 
around her, laying his cheek against her fur. "So tired," he repeated.

/I know. It's time to let others carry the burdens for a while./ After a moment 
she drew back, turned and started to walk away. She paused, sending a meaningful 
glance at her charge.

Chakotay shrugged and stood to fall into step behind her, his feet dragging in 
the ash.

Eventually the sound of water reached them as they descended a gentle slope to a 
stream. It ran clear and swift along the rocks, a bright ribbon winding through 
the fields of gray.

Man and wolf reached the bank. She stopped and scraped at the ground with her 
paw. /Look, Chakotay./

In the patch she had cleared tiny green shoots could be seen. They were slowly 
but surely making their way to the surface. A sudden break in the clouds bathed 
them in golden warmth.

The wolf raised her head. /It will take time, but the healing has begun. This 
place will never be the same, Chakotay. The universe has changed. But nature is 
beautiful whatever form it takes./

A hawk's cry startled them both. They looked up to see it, wings spread to 
embrace the sky as it glided above them. Their eyes followed the bird's path 
along the stream.

Further down the water two squirrels chased each other, dashing up the burned 
trunks and scampering through the ash.

On the opposite bank a vixen sat, staring at Chakotay with wise dark eyes. 
Surprisingly, a butterfly rested without fear on the sleek red fur between the 
fox's black-tipped ears. The brightly-hued wings opened and closed, then the 
butterfly flitted up, dancing around the fox's head. The vixen stood to follow 
her companion away from them, across another field. They disappeared, but the 
other animals stayed.

The clouds parted further, showing a widening streak of blue and finally the sun 
itself.

/Those who have departed give their blessing to you, brother./ The spirit guide 
pressed herself into Chakotay's body in a gesture of comfort and support. /As do 
I. Your path is not clear to me, but know that you will never walk it alone./ 
She looked at him gravely. /Remember, you are never alone./

************************************************************

"Ouch!"

"Hey, Fleeter, if you can't take the beat---" B'Elanna crowed.

"---get out of the arena," Harry finished with a grimace as he rubbed his 
shoulder. "I can take it, but I thought we were distracting ourselves from 
waiting for Chakotay to wake up with a *practice* match."

B'Elanna lifted her staff to point out the large cushions on each end. It was 
like fighting with a giant cotton swab. "It *is* a practice match. If I'd hit 
you with a plain staff you'd be asking the Doc for a bone-knitter right about 
now." The concern in her eyes belied her teasing tone. "Are you sure you're all 
right?"

Harry picked up on his sparring partner's anxiety and smiled. "Yep, just 
startled. You really know how to get under my guard." And under my skin was 
thought but not spoken. He shrugged. "I guess I should be grateful I never ended 
up a gladiator, huh?"

"You're not so bad," B'Elanna said consolingly. "I trained Sisko's people and 
you'd have definitely passed the test."

"That's good to hear. You know, if you ever get tired of engineering you could 
probably get a job at the Academy whipping cadets into shape."

"Actually, Sisko's offered me a position at *his* academy for juvenile 
offenders." B'Elanna shrugged. "I'd be whipping at-risk kids into shape, as well 
as teaching them engineering skills."

"Really." Harry settled back on his heels. This was news. "Don't you enjoy 
working for Reg and Marla?"

"That's the best part. I could still do research projects for them." She glanced 
at Harry from the corner of her eye. Her voice was carefully neutral. "Sisko's 
going to do some more terraforming on the planetoid to diversify the flora and 
fauna. He's hoping to attract some businesses and farmers, have a real community 
instead of just the compound."

"It sounds...very nice," Harry said.

"Does it?" B'Elanna faced him fully, her heart beating with a mixture of hope 
and fear. "I was thinking it might be a good place to make a fresh start, or 
even to commute from Dorvan." She took a deep breath and waited.

Harry ran his fingers along his staff, considering his words. "I'm assigned here 
until Chakotay is well. After that...I was hoping to get a posting on DS9."

B'Elanna's heart leapt as hope gained a stronger hold, but she was still 
uncertain. "Are you sure that's what you want, Harry? You joined the Fleet to 
serve on starships, not a space station stuck in one place. And it's awfully far 
from your folks."

Harry smiled and lifted one hand to cup B'Elanna's cheek. "Haven't you figured 
it out yet? The only stars I'd miss are the ones in your eyes. Wherever you are 
is where I want to be."

He grinned. "I'm actually hoping to persuade Admiral Riker and the Federation 
Council that we should take advantage of Sisko's plan and try evaluating his 
kids for entrance into the Academy. By providing some Fleet personnel to teach 
protocols and procedures."

He glanced down shyly. "I was hoping you might like to get a Fleet certification 
yourself, then maybe we could sail among the stars together for a while."

B'Elanna's grin was fierce as she yanked Harry into her arms, both of their 
staffs flying. But her expression softened as she tilted her face up to his to 
tenderly whisper, "I love you, Harry Kim."

"And I love you, my B'El," Harry replied.

Neither of them said anything else for a while.

***************

Gerron Tem frowned and wondered if he should have gone back to Bajor. Five kids 
were hard enough to handle on a good day, but this quintet was wound up waiting 
for news about the Admiral.

"No, there's been no word. I'm sure someone will let us know the moment 
Chakotay's condition changes." He kept his voice even as he answered Koral. It 
seemed every few minutes one of them was asking the same questions over and 
over.

The Bajoran dearly wished Greg Ayala's wife was here to help him. He'd met Sue 
Nicoletti days before, and gotten to know her yesterday during their impromptu 
tour of Solon. Between them they'd managed to keep the children occupied and out 
of trouble for most of the visit.

But Sue was spending some time with her husband, and had left their sons, Andrei 
and Leo, in Tem's care. Fortunately all of the kids were around the same age and 
got along. If they hadn't Tem would have been pulling his hair out; instead he 
just asked the prophets for patience and suggested, "Why don't we go for a walk? 
Maybe toss a frisbee or something."

Koral looked uncertain. "What if Uncle Chakotay wakes up when we're gone?"

Tem patted the girl's shoulder. "Tom will comm us, so you don't have to worry 
about missing anything."

"Do you think he'll recognize us? When we saw him last time we weren't as big as 
we are now." The whisper was Jelene's as she shyly regarded him through her long 
lashes.

He smiled at the hesitant question. "I'm sure he'll remember you. Even if he 
hadn't been to Dorvan in years, Harry Kim told me that the Admiral talked with 
his wife as often as possible. And he had a lot of holopics in his office; I'm 
sure at least one of them was yours."

Andrei, who was nine and looked like a miniature Greg, shrugged. "Besides, even 
if he doesn't recognize you, he'll know who you are as soon as you tell him your 
names."

Leo nodded sagely. The seven-year-old had his mother's large eyes and sweet 
smile. "Andrei's right. I've never heard of anyone else with names like yours. 
My dad used to say the Admiral never forgot anyone who worked for him, so it 
figures he'd remember his family even better."

Lucien jumped up and moved to the door. "My dad said we'd be a family, so 
there's nothing to worry about. He'll make sure everything turns out okay." He 
triggered the panel. "Race you to the big tree!" He dashed out the door.

The other kids yelled a protest and took off, hot on his heels.

Tem brought up the rear, smiling at the resilience of the young. Maybe he would 
stick around for a while.

***************

"So Quark's inquisitive stranger hasn't shown himself---or herself or itself?" 
Irritation drew Kira's brows together as she drummed her fingers on the desk.

"Not so far. If it's any consolation, I think they've had a lot of experience 
avoiding detection." Odo leaned forward, appearing larger in the comm screen. 
"Has your staff come up with anything?"

"No," Kira replied. "The most likely targets are the candidates for Chief 
Minister, of course. Their opinions on joining the Federation could sway public 
opinion across the planet, so whoever wins this election all but decides Bajor's 
fate." She sighed. "We've increased our security around them, but there's no 
guarantee our would-be assassin won't slip through."

"I'm pretty sure the Kai will dismiss her guards." Bariel's eyes reflected his 
worry for his mentor, though his voice was as serene as ever.

"Don't tell me that," Kira groaned, bending her head and sinking her hands into 
her short hair. "It's hard enough keeping track of them *with* their 
cooperation. I don't need a rogue priestess deciding to go it alone."

The vedek and the constable shared a small commiserating smile. Bariel said, 
"I'll talk to the Kai. Perhaps if I frame it as in Bajor's best interest...."

"And I can scan the station for the toxin, thanks to the modified sensor 
frequencies from Mr. Paris, and pass the information on to your staff to begin 
their own search on the planet," Odo offered.

"Anything you can do, I'd appreciate it." Kira lifted her head and frowned. "I 
need to get back to my post."

"How long are you staying on Dorvan?" Odo asked.

"Garak and Ziyal wanted to wait until Chakotay wakened, but *their* people are 
also starting to make noises about their absence," Kira replied. "If there's no 
change by this evening, we're going to head out."

"Then I hope you hear something soon," the constable said gravely.

"As do we all," Bariel echoed.

***************

Tom paced the waiting room, cursing its existence. As soon as the procedure had 
been completed last night the doctor had transferred Chakotay from the stasis 
chamber to a holographic biobed and shooed them all away, saying he would 
contact them when Chakotay was conscious.

After a restless night Tom had risen to find that Chakotay's "room" had been cut 
in half. He was barred from the inner sanctum, no matter how much he protested. 
The hologram was refusing to admit anyone to see Chakotay. The Doc wanted to get 
an idea of the condition his patient was in before subjecting him to his 
"ravening horde" of well-wishers.

So Tom had spent a pretty rough morning pacing the waiting room, which still had 
half of the long window seat. He constantly returned to the opening, needing to 
smell the air and look out on the grass and flowers. It brought him some small 
measure of peace, and patience.

His friends, both familiar and new, were taking turns sitting with him. Right 
now Ziyal and Garak were curled up on a sofa together, reading padds and 
discussing Cardassian business. Greg and Sue were spending a quiet morning by 
themselves, B'Elanna and Harry a more active one in a holographic gym. Tom was 
kind of glad the half-Klingon was gone; her impatience had sparked his own.

Sisko and Kassidy were in charge of answering the comms from Earth and 
elsewhere, and Tem had taken the kids in hand. Tom wondered what the Dorvans 
were up to; they were conspicuous in their absence.

Suddenly the air was shattered by a hoarse scream.

Chakotay was awake.

************************************************************

Tom stared into the cup clenched between his hands and waited for the briefing 
to begin. He was desperate for some explanation of Chakotay's condition. After 
hearing his beloved's voice he'd started pounding on the door, but the Doc had 
only opened it briefly with a terse command for quiet before disappearing once 
more. Tom didn't even know whether he no longer heard Chakotay screaming because 
he'd stopped, or because the Doc had soundproofed the room. Tom had tried to 
adjust the holographic settings, but found he'd been locked out---in fact, 
everyone had been.

He only learned that Kate had been called for a consultation when the Doc had 
finally stepped out of Chakotay's room and sealed the door behind him. The 
hologram immediately headed for this small office, clutching a padd, his face 
set into grim lines.

Garak was also been invited for the conference call with Dr. Pulaski. The 
surprisingly kind Cardassian had pulled Tom along, then pushed him into a seat 
and shoved a mug into his hands.

Tom sipped. Hot, strong, sweet tea with a dash of brandy. The traditional home 
remedy for shock. His whole body tensed in dread.

Kate's face appeared on the comm screen, her blue eyes hard to read. "Have you 
verified your findings, Doctor?"

"Yes, there's no question about the Admiral's current condition, and nothing but 
questions about his treatment and prognosis." The EMH glanced down at his 
report, then turned his chair to include Garak and Tom in the discussion.

"As you are aware, Mr. Chakotay's system has been cleared of the original plant 
toxin using Mr. Garak's suggested method. The insect-derived poison has also 
been neutralized and removed."

The hologram's gaze was bleak as he looked down at his padd. Though he'd been 
programmed with clinical detachment, he'd found it eroding the longer he 
remained among these people. He certainly wished for it back now. "There was no 
sure way to predict the effect of the original poisoning---or the treatment---on 
the patient. We simply had to wait for him to wake. He did."

Kate took over the recitation, her eyes sad, her mouth thinned in sympathy. 
"Chakotay's neurological system has been hyperstimulated, to the point where 
even the brush of cloth or the whisper of a breeze against his skin is painful."

She heard Tom's gasp but didn't look at him as she forced herself to continue. 
"In addition, he has either suffered total paralysis or a lack of voluntary 
command over most of his body." Her frown deepened. "At waking, he had control 
of neither his bladder nor his bowels."

The Doctor took over again at that. He looked straight at Tom. "However, the 
Admiral did manage to communicate his awareness of the situation, and the 
possible course of treatments. He also made his wishes in this matter known."

Tom shook himself out of his fog of despair. "What are you saying?"

The Doc's voice was surprisingly gentle. "We can't risk compromising the free 
flow of signals across the nerve pathways. Therefore, we cannot offer the 
Admiral any pain blockers or other types of stimulus suppressants."

"You mean he's got no choice but to be wracked with pain?" Tom's voice grew 
louder with each word as the horror of it washed over him in waves.

Garak's cool hand lightly gripped Tom's arm. "If human response is anything like 
Cardassian, you risk deadening the nerves entirely. Your physician is correct in 
his assessment. The only thing he could do is sedate the Admiral, which is also 
not recommended."

The hologram waited for Tom to come to grips with the situation before he 
continued. "In addition, because everything is so very painful to experience, 
Chakotay's chances of regaining mobility and his fine motor skills at this point 
are minimal at best. That is assuming, of course, that he is simply experiencing 
a correctable lack of ability rather than genuine paralysis."

Tom's expression was dazed, but he managed to ask, "Then what are you going to 
do?"

The Doc glanced at Kate, who nodded, and at Garak, whose light eyes were soft 
with sympathy and regret. "I'm sorry, Tom, but you are no longer privy to that 
information."

"What?!" Tom practically launched himself over the desk. He braced his arms 
against the solid surface, leaning forward to shout in the doctor's face, "What 
the hell are you talking about? The Dorvans said *all* decisions were mine."

"Yes, until Chakotay could speak for himself." The Doc's eyes relayed his own 
dismay at the situation. "Chakotay has invoked doctor-patient confidentiality 
and asked that I convey his appreciation for your efforts on his behalf. He also 
asked that you leave Dorvan at the earliest opportunity. In fact, everyone is to 
depart, 'return to their own lives and leave him in peace'."

"Chakotay can't mean that," Tom protested, but the ache in his heart told him 
the words were true. His chin tilted. "I'm not going anywhere, and neither is 
anyone else."

"The Admiral has already submitted a request with the planetary council. If they 
agree to revoke your welcome, you will be forced to vacate," the EMH admitted.

"I don't understand," Tom said, his voice rough with emotion. "How can Chakotay 
get any better if we're not here to help him?" He caught the flash of a secret 
in the Doc's black eyes. The hair on the back of his neck rose. "What exactly 
are Chakotay's plans?"

"Please believe me, I will do everything in my power to aid my patient, but at 
this time there's nothing more I can say." The Doc stood and nodded to Kate.

"I'll do as the Admiral has asked, and let you know the response," Dr. Pulaski 
said gravely, and the comm screen went black.

As the hologram moved to exit, Garak hurried after him.

Tom sank back into his seat, his head buried in his hands. He couldn't believe 
after all their efforts, all their worry and wait, Chakotay wouldn't even see 
them. See *him*.

On some level he did understand. Chakotay was a strong man accustomed to being 
at the peak of his physical and mental capabilities. To be so helpless must be a 
torture to him.

Perhaps Chakotay didn't realize that Tom loved him, needed to see and touch, to 
reassure himself of Chakotay's very existence after so much time apart.

Tom lifted his head, the light of battle in his eyes.

Chakotay was going to have a visit from Tom whether he liked it or not.

***************

Blinking hurt.

So did breathing.

Chakotay stared at the ceiling, desperately trying to ignore the messages of 
pain his body was sending. The ache was constant, with sharper spikes of agony 
when he tried to move. Mostly unsuccessful attempts.

His limbs felt heavy, unnatural, as if he were mired in quicksand.

He closed his eyes, feeling his pulse thundering through his veins. Sweat poured 
from his trembling body as he struggled through another panic attack.

He was trapped, helpless, slowly sinking...or drowning....

Chakotay wrenched his mind away from the disturbing images with a gasp. He 
shuddered, and groaned at the resultant wave of pain.

It was hard not to curse his spirit guide for sending him back, but he felt he 
didn't have the right to complain. Perhaps, despite the she-wolf's words, he 
*was* being punished for failing his people. He knew he deserved it, but wasn't 
sure he could endure it.

The tear that slipped from one eye blazed a trail of fire against his skin as it 
slid along his temple to wet his hair.

The door sliding open drew his attention. The Doctor entered and immediately 
headed for the monitors. "Any change, Admiral?"

"It's just Chakotay, Doctor." Each word was torture on the nerves of his face, 
but he formed each one. It was the only part of his body he seemed to have some 
modicum of control over.

"Of course." The EMH moved to stand at the supine man's bedside. It bothered him 
more than he could say to see this powerful body so stiff and still. Even worse 
was the pain and despair shadowing the dark brown eyes. Another twinge of guilt 
made itself known. The Doc again wondered if he had done the right thing in 
using the Cardassian treatment. "I've contacted Dorvan's council, and Dr. 
Pulaski is relaying your other request as we speak."

"Thank you. For that...and for taking care of me. I know you're not a nurse or 
orderly, but---"

"But you don't wish to distress anyone by letting them see you in this state. 
Frankly, I disagree with your position, but it is your choice." The EMH 
shrugged. "A good doctor should know his way around a bedpan; I just didn't 
think I would have the opportunity so early in my career."

Chakotay's lips quirked slightly at the tone. He said, "You have an interesting 
bedside manner."

"You'll have to thank my programmer for that," the Doc said as he began briskly 
cleaning up his patient. He used the softest materials and the lightest, 
quickest touch possible, not wanting to cause any more pain than necessary. He 
could sense the tightening of the muscles under his hands as Chakotay 
involuntarily tensed in his efforts to remain silent.

When the doctor was finally finished and recycling his materials, Chakotay 
picked up the thread of conversation again. "You're really a hologram?"

"Yes, a Mark One Emergency Medical hologram, designed by Dr. Lewis Zimmerman." 
The EMH returned to stand at the foot of Chakotay's bed. "You're my first 
patient. Perhaps you should consider sending a report to Jupiter Station."

"At the moment, the only thing I can say is that you wield a mean washcloth." 
Chakotay considered his physician. "Have you settled in okay?"

"I'm not sure what you mean," the Doc replied as he began straightening covers.

"Has the council given you any problems? Do you like your room---do you have a 
room? Is there any form of entertainment for you, or anything you need?" 
Chakotay saw the hologram still, then face him fully.

"I---You---It's very kind of you to ask." Chakotay's concern touched the Doctor. 
It made him feel...real. "I guess I could make use of a small space of my own. 
I've been reviewing the Emp---Federation's cultural database." He glanced shyly 
at his companion. "I've discovered an interest in the musical genre known as 
opera."

"Then you should definitely take some time for yourself...to explore it." 
Personally, Chakotay hoped he would be out of earshot if the Doc meant Klingon 
opera. He had more than enough pain to deal with without deliberately torturing 
his eardrums.

The comm sounded in the small room. The EMH moved over to a console and switched 
on the screen. "Does 'do not disturb' not translate to Cardassian?" he asked 
dryly as he saw Garak's face.

"Of course it does, Doctor," Garak smoothly answered. "I simply wished to let 
you know I'm ready."

The EMH's brows rose. He muted the sound and looked up at his patient. "Elim 
Garak is the man who provided your cure, such as it is. He wishes to speak with 
you."

"About?" Chakotay wasn't sure he had anything to say to the Cardassian. He'd 
listened to the report of his treatment. There wasn't any way for them to know 
he'd experience such severe side effects. He didn't blame Garak, but he also 
couldn't bring himself to thank the man.

"He wouldn't tell me, but he did request a private discussion."

Chakotay considered for a moment and decided to allow it. He had no ties to this 
stranger, so there would be no emotional distress at seeing him---or being seen 
by him. If nothing else, he'd be distracted from his physical discomforts for a 
while. "All right. But *only* him."

The Doc nodded and re-engaged the sound. After a brief chat he signed off and 
went to the door. When it opened, he exited and Garak entered.

***************

Tom made an inarticulate sound of frustration as he watched the panel slide shut 
behind Garak's back.

He glared at the Doc, whirled away and threw his body onto a couch and his head 
into his hands. So far all his determination had gotten him was a major case of 
frustration.

B'Elanna and Harry had obligingly tried to crack the codes locking Tom out of 
the computer system and the holographic controls, but their best efforts were 
for naught. The encryptions would take hours, maybe even days to break through.

When he'd contacted Kate Pulaski on his own she had been sympathetic, but as 
tight-lipped as her holographic counterpart.

Tom was simply grateful the kids were still outside. He didn't think he could 
hold it together if he had to face the twins beseeching him to let them see 
Chakotay.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up into Ziyal's concerned face. "Do 
you need anything?" she asked.

"Information," he snapped, then sighed and laid a hand over hers to squeeze 
gently. "Do you know what Garak wanted to see Chakotay about?"

The young woman's face creased in concern as she looked to the closed door. "No, 
all he said was he should have known, and that he had to accept responsibility 
for the consequences of his actions. He wouldn't reveal anything else...he just 
hugged me very tightly and commed the Doctor."

Tom's gut tightened. He didn't think things could get any worse.

He was wrong. Anthwara walked in the door and headed straight for him.

***************

The disgruntled Dorvan elder stood in front of the pale-skinned man who was 
Chakotay's chosen. Anthwara still couldn't believe it.

Admittedly, his kinsman had wed an off-worlder before, but Ro Laren had shared 
some common ground with her in-laws. A strong sense of family, of responsibility 
to the community and to the land. She was also deeply spiritual, honoring the 
Spirits of the tribes as well as her Bajoran Prophets.

She'd made a place for herself over the years of her marriage.

This blue-eyed, blond scion of Imperial power seemed alien to Anthwara, even if 
he was human. Thomas Eugene Paris had grown up surrounded by wealth, servants, 
technology. He seemed to contribute little to the Terran community beyond his 
good looks and glib tongue. How could he possibly become part of Dorvan? What 
did Chakotay see in the brash younger man?

Anthwara sighed. In the end, it didn't matter if he understood. Only that he 
accept.

Yet he did find some clue to the bond between the two disparate men when Tom's 
face lifted to his. The shadows beneath the blue eyes spoke of sleepless hours 
spent worrying over Chakotay. The fire in their red-veined depths shouted his 
intent to do whatever it took to reach and keep his soulmate.

Tom Paris, strange as the notion was to Anthwara, truly loved Chakotay.

It was a place to start.

"The council has received a request from our kinsman Chakotay to have all of 
this---" he gestured at their surroundings with one age-spotted hand "---and all 
of you removed from the planet. He wishes us to revoke your stewardship of 
Trebus, and of Trebus's survivors."

Tom stood slowly, a rage beginning to build inside him. He would *not* be kicked 
out of Chakotay's life. He opened his mouth to deliver a louder protest than 
anyone had heard since this all began.

He didn't get a chance to say a word.

Anthwara ignored the signs of the blond's temper and continued, "We have denied 
him. His desire to drive away all those who care for him is natural, given what 
he suffers. But there can be no healing without help, and hope." The older man's 
voice dropped as he finished, "And love."

Tom's mouth---as well as the Doc's and Ziyal's---hung open in shock. They had 
been gearing up for a fight, not a confirmation of Tom's place at Chakotay's 
side.

Tom searched the wise dark eyes in astonishment, then hastily recovered. 
"Please, do you know if there's a way to get through to him? He won't see me, or 
any of his friends."

"Chakotay has always been contrary, and stubborn." Anthwara's wrinkles deepened 
as he frowned. "I'm sorry, young Paris, but there is no advice I can give you 
save that the answers lie in your own heart, not mine."

"I don't have any answers," Tom muttered, frustration evident, "just confusion."

"Then perhaps you should seek another set of eyes to aid you in finding your 
path." Anthwara reached into the satchel he wore at his side and pulled out a 
padd and a small device. "Rosera asked me to give these to you. She thought you 
might be genuine in your wish to understand our culture."

He nodded in approval as long fingers reverently handled the items. "The device 
is called an akoonah, and it can take the place of the herbs from the Habak."

"You mean I can contact my spirit guide with it?" Tom asked, clutching the 
gifts. He could almost hear the hawk's cry.

"Yes. The instructions are on the padd." Anthwara wrapped his hand around a pale 
wrist, feeling the strength of the bones and tendons underneath their delicate 
covering. He held Tom's eyes. "You are part of us now."

TBC