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Assylia paused, then spoke again, saying, “How is it possible that you could have sensed my people and their need while I, who was bound to every single one of them from the moment I became their rih-hara-tan, have known nothing of this?”

Tuvok cocked his head to one side, his gaze curious. “You have heard them, just as I did. But your pain and anger blinded you to their truth. You were incapable of understanding.”

“I heard nothing,” she said flatly. “I sensed… from time to time…”

“Your connection to your people was broken in the transformation. But nonetheless you were aware of their presence… and of their need.”

Though Janeway did not truly understand the finer points of the argument that was happening in front of her, she could sense Assylia’s inability to deny Tuvok’s words try as she might, as well as her unwillingness to accept the entirety of what he was saying.

“What need?” Janeway interjected.

“Their existence within this dimension is… incomplete. They are meant to pass beyond this place, through the conduit of light described by Dagan. They need to go home.”

Janeway’s mind spun at the thought. This was something Phoebe had obviously failed to mention on their little educational sabbatical. Clearly the spores that infected the Monorhans were meant for the Nacene. Now that the two species had unintentionally joined, the transformed Monorhans also believed that Exosia was their true home. The question was, if the Nacene needed the spores in order to undergo a similar transformation before they could traverse the conduit, were there enough left on the array to facilitate this for Phoebe and the others who had been exiled?

Throughout this entire exchange, a small corner of Janeway’s thoughts had been fretting over the fact that Phoebe had not yet returned with Chakotay. That worry began to blossom into fear.

Tuvok continued to address Assylia, unperturbed. “I, too, misunderstood at first. Our fragile minds cannot hold but a fragment of their truth. Nonetheless, I felt their need and answered it. They honored this by saving my life and offering me a place among them.”

Finally Assylia said, “I require proof. What you are asking me to believe is impossible.”

“What proof could I offer you?” Tuvok asked.

“The beings that I have sensed are capable of exerting their will upon the controls of this station. I have a request to make of my shi-harat.”

“What is it that you wish Naviim to do?” Tuvok asked, noting that Assylia was shocked that he would know her servant’s name.

“There is a dataport on the Betasis which has been compromised by the creatures you speak of. It tethers my ship to this station. Have them remove it so that I may send the Betasis back to Monorha. Those we left behind have a right to know of our fate.”

Tuvok closed his eyes, and for a silent moment, all stood by, breathless, awaiting his response.

Finally he opened them and said, “It is done, my rih.”

Horror cascaded across Assylia’s stern face.

“Naviim,” she whispered.

“Be at peace,” Tuvok said, then clicked his tongue in a manner Janeway recognized was meant to communicate a deeper, more personal thought meant for Assylia alone.

For Assylia, this moment was a living nightmare. She had never forgotten Naviim’s face as he stood beside her, willing to face death to protect her rather than seek out the safety of one of the preservation pods. As her final words to Naviim before the transfer that had trapped her within her ship were echoed back to her through this alien’s lips, she saw, sensed, and knew that in this moment, she was speaking to her beloved shi-harat.

“Naviim…” Assylia said again, and for the first time it was clear to Janeway that Assylia had seen the truth in Tuvok’s words.

“NOOOOOO!” A frantic wail erupted from Assylia’s throat, and she fell to her knees, clutching her face in her hands.

Janeway moved immediately to Assylia’s side, unsure how best to console her, or why this moment was so devastating to her.

“Assylia…” she said softly.

“Rollins to Torres,” a sharp voice interrupted over the comm.

“What is it?” B