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Patel sighed softly and her head rolled onto Niemann’s shoulder. The small motion grabbed Kim’s attention instantly.

“She’s unconscious,” Niemann said in answer to Kim’s unspoken question, after quickly placing two fingers on Patel’s throat to check for a heartbeat.

“We’ve got to get her to sickbay,” said Kim to Chakotay, who nodded acknowledgment.

“Voyager is in visual range,” said Kaylar.

“Chakotay to Voyager.”

“Campbell here, Captain.”

“Open shuttlebay doors in preparation for emergency docking. Notify Dr. Kaz that we’ve got wounded.” He paused. “And dead.”

“Aye, sir. Shuttlebay doors open.”

Chakotay maneuvered the shuttle to a swift, smooth landing. The minute they touched the deck he said, “Everyone to sickbay. Let’s go.”

Kaz was nervous as he awaited the arrival of the injured and wondered as to the identity of the dead. He could feel Gradak just below the surface of his conscious mind; subdued for the moment, but seething, awaiting the time when he could shoot to the surface and share his torment.

You stay where you are, Kaz thought, and wondered if this was how people who were beginning to go insane felt. But no, this “multiple personality disorder” he had was not a manifestation of a traumatized brain, but a literal truth. Joined Trills did have multiple personalities inside them. They just didn’t usually manifest quite so vigorously.

But once the sickbay doors hissed open and his eyes fell upon the limp form of Devi Patel, looking like a child as she was carried by the large Niemann, his mind snapped to attention. He needn’t have worried; Gradak fell back before the medical emergency and Kaz quickly had Patel stabilized.

Once she was out of danger, Kaz turned to Chakotay. “You look like hell,” he said, “all of you.”

“Thanks,” Kaylar said wryly.

Kaz gestured that they should all sit on the beds. Chakotay shook his head. “I’m fine.”

Kaz raised an eyebrow, but a quick look at Chakotay revealed nothing dire. Chakotay could be treated last if he wanted.

“What happened?” Kaz asked as he began to examine Kaylar. “Who was…?”

“We were attacked by several strange creatures on the planet,” Chakotay said. “Kaz…they got Ellis. And Sekaya, too.”

Kaz looked at Chakotay, deep sympathy flooding him. “Chakotay…damn. I’m so sorry.” He also felt more than a twinge of guilt. I’m sorry, Ellis. Sorry for everything.

“I’ve ordered the body put in stasis,” Chakotay continued. “When all this is over, we’ll give him a burial with full honors.”

“I assume you want Sekaya in stasis as well,” Kaz said, thinking about the beautiful woman he’d met only briefly. She had all her brother’s charm and charisma, and he’d hoped to get to know her better.

“I had to…to leave Sekaya on the planet.” Chakotay rubbed his eyes and sighed.

“We can go back for her,” said Kaz.

“Maybe later, after all this is taken care of,” said Chakotay.

Kaz looked at him searchingly. Over the last six months he’d gotten to know the captain pretty well. Chakotay was under real strain right now.

“Captain,” the doctor said, keeping his voice formal, “I think perhaps you ought to have a seat on one of the beds and let me examine you.”

“I said I’m fine,” Chakotay snapped. At once he softened. “Sorry. Treat them, Kaz. I’m going up to the bridge, and then I have to talk to Fortier and tell him his brother and the other colonists were probably killed by monsters and that I can’t allow him to return to the home he and his people loved. I’m not looking forward to that.”

“I understand,” Kaz replied.

Chakotay started to leave, then turned. “By the way, I want you to delay the autopsy on Ellis.”

Kaz frowned. “That’s standard operating procedure, sir. I’m required to perform it.”

“I said, delay it. We’ve got a lot going on right now, and there’s no point in you wasting time on an autopsy. We know what killed him.”

“With all due respect, Captain, we really don’t know for certain what—”

“I saw it, Doctor.” Chakotay’s dark gaze was cold and angry. “I watched him die, firing a phaser in a futile attempt to try to save my sister and me. Sekaya