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By Root 343 0

meals from the new stores that were not only nutritious but actively satisfying. A smile spread across her face then, compounded of rueful amusement. More than that, Revek had steered them to a purple-spotted leaf that, mashed and boiled, produced a drink that tasted very close to coffee, and contained enough caffeine to satisfy even the most hardened espresso drinker. She glanced at the mug sitting on her desk. It was almost empty, and she allowed herself the luxury of a second cup, pouring it from the carafe that stood beside her computer console. The supplies wouldn't last forever, of course, and then she'd be back to saving her replicator rations for the real thing, or at least its replicated analogue. But for now, she thought, I'll enjoy what I have. She took a careful swallow of the bitter liquid, savoring even the heat that stung her lips, and flipped screens to reach a second file.

Voyager's engineers had worked hard to match the Kirse's industry, and Torres's most recent report detailed the last adjustments that needed to be made. They were primarily fine-tuning, fitting the

Federation-styled emitter to the Kirse power source, and Janeway touched her communicator. "Janeway to Torres."

"Torres here." The chief engineer sounded startled, and Janeway frowned.

"How's the final adjustment coming, Mr. Torres?"

"We just ran the first live test," Torres answered. "A success."

This time, it was pride that Janeway heard in the younger woman's voice, and she smiled in answer. "Well done, Lieutenant Torres. When do you estimate finishing?"

"We're done now, Captain," Torres said. "I've turned over the last files to Silver-Hammer."

"Then beam back aboard," Janeway said. "It's time we were out of here."

"Aye, Captain," Torres answered. "Torres out."

Janeway touched the console controls, shutting down the work in progress, and rose to her feet. It was Chakotay's watch; she would let him have the pleasure of taking Voyager out of the Kirse system. "Jane-way to Chakotay."

"Chakotay here." The smaller viewscreen lit with the words, and Chakotay's face looked out at her. "Any problems, Captain?"

Janeway shook her head. "I've just heard from Torres. Her work is finished, and she's beaming back to the ship. When she and her team are aboard, I want you to set a course out of here."

Chakotay smiled, almost in spite of himself, struggled unsuccessfully to hide his relief. "Aye, Captain. What course?"

Janeway smiled back, knew the expression was wry. They'd survived this crisis, but they were still seventy years from home. Still, she thought, there's nothing we can do except do our best. She said, "Toward home,

Mr. Chakotay. The nearest point in the Alpha Quadrant."

"Aye, Captain," Chakotay said again, and his image faded from the screen. The Kirse planet reappeared, bright with cloud, and Janeway regarded it thoughtfully. Someday, she thought, we may have to make Revek's choice-but not yet, not for a long time.

"Take us home," she said aloud, knowing no one heard, and saw the image on the screen shift, the planet sliding aside to be replaced by the familiar stars.

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