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"Thank you," Khala said, reaching eagerly for the bottle.

"Hey, go easy on that," said Paris harshly. "This is all we've got and we don't know how long this is going to take."

"I'm sorry," Khala apologized, wiping her mouth.

Janeway turned and regarded the mountain. "Let's go."

At first, it really was just a hike, albeit a challenging one. Chakotay actually enjoyed the workout. He kept a close eye on Khala, but she matched their pace and seemed completely without a desire to escape. Perhaps she was telling the truth after all.

They made good time for the first few hours. The storms that threatened constantly did not break, though the wind picked up. The Doctor monitored their physical conditions. During a break, Telek took out his tricorder and examined the readings.

"The signal has not moved," Telek said. "The Shepherds must be waiting for us. I cannot imagine that they have not detected our advance."

"I hope that's good news," Janeway said, panting. She wiped her wet brow with the back of her gloved hand and gulped at their dwindling supply of water.

"Once we meet them, Captain," Telek said, "we will certainly know one way or the other."

Janeway removed her own tricorder and examined it. "Let's pick up the pace if we can, gentlemen. This planet isn't getting any calmer."

Despite her admonition, the hours crawled by, and the trek became far less of a pleasant exercise and more of a grueling challenge. Their stops became more frequent, and the water level in the bottles dropped steadily.

When what passed for a trail finally petered out and they stood facing a sheer wall of stone, they all stood and stared for a long moment Wordlessly Paris stepped forward and drove the first few self-setting pitons while everyone else rummaged through their packs and donned harnesses. With a clanging sound, the pitons slammed into place.

"Doctor, you first," said Chakotay. If the seemingly omnipresent dark matter was in the pitons, the Doctor's weight would test them without risking a human life. He glared at Chakotay, then, muttering under his breath, stepped forward and threaded his rope, attaching it securely to his harness.

"I do have pain sensors in my program, you know," he told them as he scaled the cliff face. "It lets me know when I am, as Seven would put it, damaged." He had reached the highest piton Paris had set and began driving some of his own to continue the climb.

"Yes, Doctor," said Janeway, "but you're a bit easier to repair than we are."

"I don't understand," said Khala, who had for the most part been silent on this trip. "He is incapable of being injured?"

"He's a hologram," said Chakotay. "He can go first and make sure the pitons are set properly. If they give way and he falls, he won't be hurt."

That's a matter of perspective, Commander," came the Doctor's voice from high above them. They had to crane their necks to see him." 'Hurt' is a relative term."

"He's almost there," said Janeway. They heard and saw two more pitons being driven into the cliff, then the Doctor disappeared momentarily. A few seconds later, he peered down at them, scowling.

"It's safe to come out now," he said, unfastening his harness. "Khala, you may use mine." Khala gave him a grateful smile.

Chakotay went next, making sure the rope was tied to his harness, then tossing up the end to the Doctor. The climb, thanks to the Doctor's setting of the pitons, was fairly easy. Chakotay had watched the Doctor closely and made a mental note of where toeholds could be found. Still, when the Doctor helped him onto the ledge and he peered down at the rest of his crewmates, Chakotay was just as glad he'd had the safety harness on.

Khala went next, her lithe, strong body having no trouble negotiating the rocky surface. Then came Telek, looking uneasy and more than a little nervous. He did not seem particularly unfit, but Chakotay surmised that regular rigorous workouts such as mountain