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Abruptly she closed her mouth, closed in on herself, unwilling to let him have the satisfaction of knowing how the news had devastated her.

The captain risked her life to save me when I almost died at the Nakani ancestral spirit sanctuapy. She underwent a grueling ritual, stepped into what might have been death. They've all risked their lives for me repeatedly! And who will help the doctor? It's a bluff, it must be, it has to be!

"am a formidable enemy if I choose to be. The weapon capabilities I have at my command are, all modesty aside, quite powerful," Aren went on. "If it is any comfort to you, it was not an easy decision for her to reach."

He fell silent, watching her with sharp eyes. Hitherto, Aren had not displayed any telepathic powers, and Keg's gentle probing of his mind had encountered a strong will but nothing more. So why did Kes suddenly feel as though she was naked before himphysically, emotionally and mentally-when he locked those knowing violet eyes on her face?

"How fortunate you are," he said, catching Kes completely off guard. "So loved, by so many. If in truth there be gods, they have smiled upon you." His own smile grew. "And upon me, in sending you to me. This is not a cage, Kes, truly it isn't. You'll see. Once you realize you can trust me to never, ever harm you, then I can take you anywhere-everywhere!-you wish to go."

"Except back to my ship. Except back to my life."

Aren sighed, and Tose. "The room in the back is yours. I realize you would like privacy from time to time. I will respect that privacy, but not forever. You may send me away on occasion, but when I wish to enter, I will."

Without another word, he turned and left her.

Left her alone. A prisoner.

Despite herwill, her stomach growled. The body had its own needs. Reluctantly, Kes reached for a shining ruby of a piece of fruit, even as diamond tears slipped, slow and hot, down her face.

"Captain."

The word made no sense, though somehow Janeway knew it should have. All she knew was pain, hot and crippling, attacking her head like some sort of beast.

-Captain."

More insistent, the word. A deep, calming voice was uttering it. She knew the voice, knew it belonged to "Tuvok.

Her voice was weak and cracked on the word, but uttering the name brought her back to reality. She blinked, and gazed up into the dark face that Tuvok liked to think was a mask of impassivity. But she'd have to be blind not to see the relief that flickered over the imperfect facade.

He held up an index finger and moved it from the right to the left. "Follow my finger with your eyes." She did so. He nodded. "Excellent. Tell me your name."

She knew what he was getting at. "Captain Kathryn Janeway, commander of the Federation starship Voyager." Each word was a victory.

"Good. Can you move your hands and feet?"

She did so, grimacing. She felt as if she'd been beaten with a large stick. Janeway licked dry lips, managed another word:

"Crew?"

"We have all survived the crash, though not without injuries. I believe you have suffered a mild concussion. I myself have broken my arm."

Janeway's eyes flickered at once to the limb in question, and she saw blood on the uniform and Tuvok's arm cradled in a crude sling.

Anticipating her question, Tuvok said, "There was a powerful pulse of ion energy that led to the crash. It has effectively knocked out all power systems."

",lid he means all," said Torres glumly, moving into Janeway's field of vision. "Everything inside the shuttlecraft has been affected. Phasers, tricorders, diagnostic tools, you name it. The only things useful in the medikits now are the bandages and some emergency old-fashioned pain pills and ointments."

Janeway eased herself upright. Neelix was there, gently helping her lean against the bulkhead. "How bad?" she asked, as Ensign Bokk came forward and put a damp cloth on her injured head.

Torres didn't pull