A call came in from the Bridge. Two Kazon ships were approaching the array, and it wasn't a friendly call.
A red alert was called. Those being treated got to their feet as soon as the Doctor had finished. This did not please him. While he was prescribing rest for them, they were thinking of getting back home.
Soon, the Voyager and Maquis crews were back on their respective ships. On Voyager, Janeway called for a channel to be opened to the Kazon ship. The image of Jaben soon appeared before them.
"Have you come to investigate the strange behaviour of the Caretaker as well, Captain?", Jaben asked.
"All we are concerned with is getting back home.", replied Janeway.
"I'm sorry, but I cannot let someone with your level of technology escape, Captain."
"Then we have a problem, Jaben."
"Yes. I cannot allow you to board the array."
The screen went blank. Seconds later, the Kazon ships powered up their weapons. The battle soon began, a battle the Voyager crew did not want, but knew that they fight it if they ever wanted to get home.
Soon, Sisko, Dax and Bashir arrived on the bridge of the Defiant, having gotten past several more guards. O'Brien, seated at the Ops/Navigation console, looked around. He was surprised that there was only three of them.
"Where's Garak?", he asked.
"He won't be coming with us.", Sisko replied.
"I see."
Letting Dax take her usual station, O'Brien seated himself at the tactical station, while Bashir took control of weapons. Sisko preferred to stand in front of the centre chair.
"The docking clamps are still connected!", said Dax. "We're not going anywhere!"
"I'm working on it!". said O'Brien. "I'm trying to get into the station's computer via a back door!"
"That won't be needed!"
They all turned around to see Zarkoff standing in the doorway, a bag of memory chips in his hand. Jake Sisko stood not far behind him.
"The clamps should be released within the next few seconds.", said Zarkoff. "They won't work without these chips!"
"Well done, Mister Zarkoff!", smiled Sisko.
To O'Brien's amazement, Zarkoff was right. The docking clamps were released, allowing them to move away from the station.
"Set a course for the wormhole.", Sisko ordered. "Doctor, arm the photon torpedoes!"
As the battle near the array continued, Janeway and Tuvok beamed over to the array. It was still Janeway's help that the Caretaker would help them get back home. While Tuvok scanned the area with his tri-corder in an attempt to find the data processor, Janeway found the Caretaker. He was seated inside the barn, the room darkened. He looked weak, ill, as if something was taking its toll on him. He looked up, and was surprised to see Janeway again.
"What are you doing here?"
"We want you to send us home!"
"I can't! I don't have the time!"
Janeway crouched down. She could tell by looking at the Caretaker that Tuvok was right. He looked as if he was dying.
"If you can't send us home, then help us find the way."
"I cannot. I have set the self-destruct program. In a few minutes the array will be destroyed!"
"There must be something we can do to help you."
"There is nothing anyone can do. I will soon be gone, and the Ocampa will soon be alone."
"This debt that can never be re-payed. You did something to their world, didn't you?"
The Caretaker stared at Janeway. To him, it was as if she understood him completely.
"We are explorers, like yourself, but from another galaxy. We explore the universe like you, but we had no idea that our ways could be so harmful!"
"Your race did something to the Ocampa's homeworld, didn't it?"
"Yes. Two of us were chosen to stay here and care for them. But the other one left. She became bored, so she left. Since then, I haven't been able to find anyone suitable."
It suddenly dawned on Janeway what was going on, why the Caretaker had been bringing ships here.
"You've been trying to pro-create!"
"Yes. Only my off-spring would have been suitable to care for the Ocampa, but I was unable to find anyone compatible. I fear that without anyone caring for them, the Ocampa will die!"
Her feelings about the Caretaker changed. She could sense that she really cared for the Ocampa.
"I've encountered many civilisations.", she said. "Each of them have over-come great adversity. They have grown stronger because of it. The Ocampa are nothing more than children!"
"But they can learn! They can adapt!"
Suddenly, Janeway's communicator sounded. Paris, who had taken the pilot's chair before she left, was calling.
"Captain! We're in trouble! Kazon just got some back-up!"
The image of the Kazon ship, at least five times bigger than Voyager, looked down on them from the viewer. They were indeed in trouble.
The battle had begun in earnest, but both Voyager and the Maquis knew that they were now out-gunned. On the Maquis ship, Chakotay and Torres were worried.
"We don't stand a chance against that thing!", said Torres.
"There is one way. Chakotay to Voyager. Paris, beam my crew aboard, and have one of your cracker-jack Starfleet transporter chiefs keep a lock on me. I'm gonna take some heat off your tail!"
"Don't think this will let you off the hook, Chakotay!", said Paris. "Your life is still mine!"
Soon, Torres joined Paris and the others on the bridge of the Voyager. She looked at the viewer as Paris tried to distract the huge Kazon vessel. While this happened Chakotay steered the Maquis ship so it was on a direct collision course with the Kazon ship. The seconds seemed to slow down as he got closer and closer. Paris was getting more nervous by the second as Chakotay got closer.
"Chakotay! I'm getting you out of there!"
"No, Paris! Wait!"
He got closer and closer. His ship was now less than thirty metres away from the Kazon ship, and still he got closer. Twenty metres, ten metres, five metres, four, three.
"Now, Paris! Now!"
The transporter beam was energised, and a split second before the Maquis ship plowed into the Kazon vessel, Chakotay was whisked away onto the Voyager as the huge Kazon vessel erupted into a ball of flame. However, Chakotay had no way of knowing what he had really done, and what it had led to.
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