The Delta Flyer continues to attack Iden's ship.

	Aboard the Delta Flyer. Tuvok: "Their shields are damaged." Chakotay: "Initiate transport." Torres is beamed aboard. She and Paris hug, relieved to see each other again." Paris: "If this marriage is going to work, you've got to cut back on the travelling."
	Torres: "The Doctor's on the surface. There are some Hirogen down there too." Chakotay: "Tuvok?" Tuvok: "The radiation's making it difficult to get a lock."

On Ha'Dara, Iden corners the Beta Hirogen. Beta Hirogen: "Defenceless prey makes a poor trophy." Iden: "I don't collect trophies."

	At that moment the Doctor arrives, coming up behind Iden and covering him with his gun. Doctor: "Put down the weapon. Iden: "Remember what you once said to me: you're not programmed with the killer instinct. Doctor: "Seems like a long time ago, doesn't it? Put down your weapon. Iden: "Would you really kill one of your own to save an organic?
	Doctor: "If you've taught me anything, it's that I'm not one of your own.

Iden dismisses the Doctor as a threat, certain he will not kill a hologram. He turns away and readies to kill Beta Hirogen. But the Doctor fires at Iden and destroys him.

The Doctor goes to assist Beta Hirogen, and picks up his mobile emitter as he does so. "Help is on the way," the Doctor says.

Aboard the Delta Flyer.
Tuvok: "We have a lock. Five Hirogen lifesigns and the Doctor."
Chakotay: "Beam them up."

Janeway: "Captain's log, stardate 54337.5. The surviving Hirogen have recovered from their injuries, leaving me with a diplomatic dilemma."

	Beta Hirogen (now Alpha Hirogen): "The holgrams' vessel and everything in its database are Hirogen property. I will not leave them behind. Neelix: "Captain, may I?" Janeway: "Of course. Neelix: "I imagine your people will tell stories about this hunt. The question is: which story will it be? The one about the dying Beta whose life had to be saved by a hologram? Or will it be the tale of the Beta who bravely took over the hunt, killed the holograms and destroyed their ship? You could be a legend." Janeway: "On the other hand, you could try to take the hologram ship but with so few hunters and damaged vessels, you might not survive to tell any stories at all."
	Alpha Hirogen: "You and your crew would've made worthy prey." Janeway: "Thank you, I think." The Hirogen are beamed out. transporter Janeway orders the transporter officer: "Transport me to the holograms' vessel."
	USS Voyager and the holograms' ship.

Janeway: "Report."
Torres: "Iden's program is unrecoverable. The rest of the holograms are intact in the database."
Janeway: "I guess that leaves just you. I'm willing to transfer your program to our holodeck and keep it active."
Kejal: "This is my home."
Janeway: "I can't let you go off on your own."
Donik: "She won't be alone. I reprogrammed these holograms once and it caused suffering on both sides. I'd like a chance to undo some of the damage."
Janeway: "Wouldn't we all."
Torres: "They've both proven that they can be trusted, Captain."
Janeway: "I don't suppose I have a right to tell either of you how to live your lives. All I can do is hope you consider the consequences of your actions."

Voyager's Sickbay. The Doctor discovers Janeway sitting in his office chair: "Captain?" Janeway: "Doctor. I'd hoped I could attribute your behaviour to tampering." Doctor: "My programming hasn't been altered." Janeway: "Not according to the diagnostics." Doctor: "I never intended to put Voyager in danger. If nothing else, you have to believe that." Janeway: "I believe it. But if there's one thing I'm sure of, it's that things don't always happen the way we intend." The Doctor walks over and proffers his mobile emitter in its case. "I don't understand." Doctor: "If I weren't your only Doctor, I imagine you'd confine me to the Brig. Confiscating my emitter would be an equivalent punishment." Janeway: "I'm not sure that's appropriate." Doctor: "If that's not enough you can take away my holodeck privileges and my autonomy protocols." Janeway: "You mean, turn back the clock to when you were first activated." Doctor: "You've given me extraordinary freedom over the years. I've obviously abused it." Janeway: "Maybe. Or maybe you've simply become as fallible as those of us who are made of flesh and blood. I'm just as responsible for allowing you to expand your programming as I am for giving technology to the Hirogen. How can I punish you for being who you are?" Doctor: "I don't know what to say." Janeway: "I'd like a complete report on your 'away mission'." Doctor: "You'll have it."

T H E    E N D

Thanks to Free Buttons for the rulers from the set Cosmic Gel. Thanks to Mardiweb for the button blank.