In Janeway's Ready Room, Gotana-Retz is given a cup of tea. Gotana-Retz: "So if what you're saying is true, everyone I know, everyone I knew, is gone?" Janeway: "That's correct." Gotana-Retz: "Captain, I'm an accomplished pilot. That's why they chose me for this mission. I don't have the courage of the others. They made a mistake choosing me." Janeway: "I have to disagree. For someone who's like has just been turned upside down, I think you're doing fine." Gotana-Retz: "When I was a young child, the toys hanging above my crib depicted the Skyship. It's the first thing I ever remember seeing, even before my mother's face. And now I'm the only one who knows its name - Voyager. I suppose it'll be the last thing I see as well." Janeway: "That's up to you. I have no intention of keeping you here against your will. The Doctor spent some time on your planet collecting data that we hoped would help us find a way to leave orbit. We need you to assist us in interpreting that information. However, the longer you stay on board, the more difficult it will be for you to go home. Your culture is changing every second you're here. By the time you go back, you might find it more alien than ours." Gotana-Retz sings quietly: "'Star of the night, star of the day, Come to take my tears away. Make my life always bright.'" He explains: "It's a child's prayer." Janeway: "To Voyager." Gotana-Retz: "Yes." Janeway: "I hope you're not disappointed." Gotana-Retz: "How often does your very first dream come true? Of course I'll help you."

The Doctor accompanies Gotana-Retz to Astrometrics. Doctor: "The information that I brought back is in Voyager's database. Seven of Nine has been trying to make sense of it. She'll welcome your assistance." Gotana-Retz, testing the Doctor: "Mountain or Lakeside?" Doctor: "Mountain, of course. Don't tell me you're a Lakeside supporter?" Gotana-Retz: "You really were on the surface." Doctor: "How are they doing this season?" Gotana-Retz: "Not good. Five wins, twelve losses." "I don't believe it!" exclaims the Doctor. "Who's guarding for them?!" Gotana-Retz: "Torellius." Doctor: "Any relation to the Torellius?" Gotana-Retz: "His grandson." Doctor: "I saw the original defend for Mountain in the play-offs against Red River."

Gotana-Retz: "That was before I was born."
The Doctor continues, passionate about the game: "He would've gone into voluntary exile after a 5-12 season!"

	In the Astrometrics Lab, Gotana-Retz looks at data displayed on the main viewscreen. Gotana-Retz: "This information is out of date. We were far more advanced than this when I left. I can help you correct it." Seven: "Very well."
	Gotana-Retz: "Let's start with the geological data. The seismic detectors back then were off by a variance of 3.8." Seven: "A simple conversion will compensate for that."
	Gotana-Retz: "Does every planet look like ours?" Seven: "None that I've seen. Your world appears to be unique." Gotana-Retz: "If we're so out of step with everything else we'll never be able to explore space the way you have." Seven: "You're a highly adaptable species. Your scientists will find a way to compensate for the temporal differential."
	Gotana-Retz: "They better do it before you leave. Without the Skyship up above them my people might lose interest in progress. There wouldn't be anything left to reach for." Seven: "Perhaps they'll miss Voyager so much they'll do everything they can to follow us." Gotana-Retz: "Maybe so."

An alert sounds on the console and a flash can be seen on the planet's surface. "What was that?""
Seven: "An antimatter implosion. Your world is experimenting with warp technology. Sensors detected an early test. Another test, six weeks later, and a third, more controlled each time. They're learning quickly." More alerts sound and there is the sound of a thud and Voyager shakes. "Too quickly."

	Voyager is jolted by an impact. Paris: "What was that?"
	Tuvok: "Unknown but our shields are down to 82%......64%."
	Kim: "I don't know what's causing it. There's nothing on sensors."
	Janeway, via comms: "Janeway to Seven of Nine." Seven, via comms: "Go ahead, Captain." Janeway, via comms: "Are you picking up anything in Astrometrics?" Seven, via comms: "The inhabitants appear to have developed antimatter torpedo technology. I believe we're under attack."
	Voyager suffers a continuous barrage of antimatter torpedoes. Tuvok: "Another direct hit. Shields at 49%."
	Gotana-Retz arrives on the Bridge, having been escorted there via turbolift by Lt. Ayala. Gotana-Retz: "Captain, I apologise for this attack. They have no right." Janeway: "Unfortunately they have every right."
	Gotana-Retz: "Let me talk to them." Chakotay: "We've already tried to hail them. It doesn't look like they're able to receive our transmissions." Gotana-Retz: "They still don't know about the time differential." Tuvok: "A logical assumption. Shields down to 34%."

Kim: "The torpedoes are being fired at three-day intervals. They're making refinements each time, increasing the detonation yield." Paris: "Captain, isn't it time we returned fire?" Chakotay: "We've done enough damage to these people over the last thousand years." Janeway to Gotana-Retz: "You've got to go back. It's the only way. Make them understand who we are. You have the specifications of this ship. Your scientists might be able to use them to help free us. At the very least, get them to hold their fire." Kim: "Captain, the transporters are offline." Janeway: "Is his vessel still intact?" Kim: "The docking port hasn't been hit yet." Gotana-Retz nods. Janeway wishes him: "Good luck."

The Doctor accompanies Gotana-Retz to the Shuttlebay. Doctor: "This will accelerate your metabolic functions, help you make the transition." He injects medication using a hypospray. hypospray injection Gotana-Retz: "Thank you for everything, Doctor." Doctor: "It was a pleasure to treat a fellow citizen. Would you do me a favour?" Gotana-Retz: "Certainly."

Doctor: "Find out what happened to a boy named Jazon Tebreez. He lived in the Central Protectorate." Gotana-Retz: "'Jason', what an unusual name." Doctor: "Yes, he was my son." Gotana-Retz: "But you're a hologram." Doctor: "It's a long story. He's dead by now, but perhaps you could discover what happened to him. Maybe he had children or grandchildren - you could tell them about me." Gotana-Retz: "I will." He enters the Shuttlebay.

	Gotana-Retz has no problem making the transition back to his timeframe. He initiates radio contact. Gotana-Retz: "Orbital One to Launch Control, please respond. Launch Control, please respond." Co-ordinator: "Who is this?" Gotana-Retz: "Pilot first rank Gotana-Retz." Co-ordinator: "Clear this channel or I'm going to report you to the Command Centre." Gotana-Retz: "Is this Launch Control?" Co-ordinator: "I'm the weather co-ordinator for Station 004. You're in violation of transmission regulations." Gotana-Retz: "Please, listen to me. I'm trying to reach Launch Control."
	Co-ordinator, sarcastically: "Let me guess: you've finally decided to come home. You're Gotana-Retz." Gotana-Retz: "Gotana-Retz, yes! Please transfer me to Launch Control." Co-ordinator: "Launch Control became the Tactical Command Centre fifty years ago. You're dead." Gotana-Retz: "I've been inside the Skyship." Co-ordinator, still sarcastic: "Then it's a good thing you decided to leave. They're about to shoot it down." Gotana-Retz: "I've got to speak to them!" Co-ordinator: "Tactical Command frequencies are classified. Now get off this channel."
	Gotana-Retz gives up trying to convince the co-ordinator: "If you ever wanted to report more than the weather, now's your chance. Tell them to clear Central Lake of all traffic. Orbital One is comming in for a landing." He sets the destination and starts the landing procedure.

wrist-mounted temporal compensator

On Voyager's bridge, the news is grim: Voyager is suffering severe damage as the weapons barrage continues. Tuvok: "Shields at 23%.......17%. Shields are down." Paris: "What was that last one?" Kim: "A tricobalt device." Paris: "What will they think of next?" Tuvok: "Damage reports coming in. Imminent hull breaches on decks 8, 9 and 10. Life support is failing." Janeway: "Our astronaut should've made it by now." Kim: "Based on his descent velocity he landed about ten minutes ago." Chakotay: "That's about a year and a half." Janeway: "Then he must've failed." Tuvok: "I'm picking up another launch. Two massive energy signatures." Paris: "Tricobalt devices?" Tuvok: "Unknown." Janeway: "Brace yourselves." But they are not weapons. Two space capsules shimmer as they materialise in Voyager's timeframe. They lock onto Voyager - Tuvok reports: "We're in some kind of tractor beam." Paris: "Captain, if I alternate thrusters I might be able to break us free." Janeway: "No, let's give our friends the benefit of the doubt." The space vehicles convey the damaged starship Voyager out of the planet's orbit, and into space beyond! Kim: "They're pulling us away from the planet." Tuvok: "We have broken orbit." Janeway: "Try hailing them." A figure materialises on the Bridge. It is Gotana-Retz! "It's good to see you all again," he says. Chakotay: "Looks like somebody down there listened to you." Gotana-Retz: "I'm sorry it took so long." Janeway: "And now we can make first contact the proper way." Gotana-Retz: "Unfortunately that won't be possible." He indicates a device on his left wrist: "A temporal compensator. It allows me to exist in your timeframe without actually leaving my own, but only for a few minutes. I'm afraid it'll be a while before my people actually join the rest of the galaxy." Tuvok: "Captain, we'll be able to bring the warp drive back online in approximately two hours." Janeway: "Very good." To Gotana-Retz: "Thank you." Gotana-Retz: "I feel like I'm saying goodbye to an old friend." He dematerialises and thus returns to his own timeframe.

It is years later, according to the planet's native timeframe. One night Gotana-Retz sits in the same place where centuries ago the star-deity Tahal's altar stood, and the Protector launched a balloon, and the astronomer sent a message from his observatory. Gotana-Retz is now an old man. He knows that now is the time, based on Voyager's calculation of two hours in their own timeframe, that they will be able to engage warp drive and depart.

As he looks up, the bright light of the Skyship vanishes. He is glad to live long enough to see this, and his vigil is by way of making final farewell to ship and crew. He is content. music