Part  F  

 

Inside the cave, Chakotay calls out: "If you can hear me, speak to me." Suddenly lights go on, trained on him, making him flinch at first. Then an alien speaks. Chakotay recognises it as the ancient language of his tribe, several words being those that he remembers spoken by the Chief they met during his father's expedition, but does not understand. Chakotay shakes his head: "I'm sorry. I don't know the ancient language of my people. I can't understand." Several aliens enter the cave chamber from behind him. They address him in his people's ancient language. Hearing them, he turns to face them. He recalls his father drawing the Chah-mooz-ee symbol on the ground and saying its name: "Chah-mooz-ee." So Chakotay says: "Chah-mooz-ee." The alien chief approaches and comes right up to him, still speaking, but Chakotay does not understand. Chakotay repeats: "Chah-mooz-ee." The alien chief turns Chakotay's face in order to examine his tattoo. The aliens have similar tattoos!

Voyager's bridge. Paris: "Altitude 6,000 metres." Computer: "Warning. Approach vector is too steep. Discontinue landing sequence." Paris, irritated: "Would somebody turn that off, please?" Janeway, via comms: "Engineering, report. We need that extra power, B'Elanna."

Torres, in Engineering, grits her teeth, increasingly desperate: "10 minutes. I just need 10 minutes."

In the cave on the planet surface, the alien chief puts a device on Chakotay's palm, then closes his own over it. The device is a translation device.

Alien chief: "Do you understand my words now?" Chakotay: "Yes." Alien chief: "Explain the face marking." Chakotay: "I wear it to honour my father. He wore it to honour his ancestors." Alien chief: "Ancestors. You are human?" Chakotay: "Yes." Alien chief: "Are there others on your world with this mark?" Chakotay: "Yes. Not many, but some." Alien chief: "We were taught all of them had been annihilated. We were taught your world had been ravaged by those with no respect for life or land." Chakotay: "There was a time when that was true, but no longer." Alien chief to those of his people watching them: "He claims to be a descendant of the Inheritors." Chakotay: "Inheritors?" Alien chief: "The ones our ancestors chose to honour. I'm surprised you have no memory of the Inheritors. One of our gifts was the memory. If you are a descendant, you should remember." Chakotay: "I'm not sure I understand." Alien chief: "Perhaps it has been lost over time." He explains: "45,000 years ago, on our first visit to your world, we met a small group of nomadic hunters. They had no spoken language, no culture, except the use of fire and stone weapons. But they did have a respect for the land and for other living creatures that impressed us deeply. We decided to give them an inheritance - a genetic bonding so that they might thrive and protect your world. On subsequent visits, we found that our genetic gift brought about a spirit of curiosity and adventure. It impelled them to migrate away from the cold climate to a new unpeopled land. It took them almost a thousand generations to cross your planet. Hundreds of thousands of them flourished in their new land. Their civilisation had a profound influence on others of your species. But then, new people came with weapons and disease. The Inheritors who survived scattered. Many sought refuge in other societies. Twelve generations ago when we returned, we found no sign of their existence." Chakotay: "My people called you the Sky Spirits. Why have you been hiding from us since we landed here?" Alien chief: "When we heard your message, who you were, observed you probing our land, we believed you were a threat. We thought you would annihilate us as you had the Inheritors." Chakotay: "Our message was supposed to communicate peaceful intentions." Alien chief: "We were taught that is the way human conquerors often introduce themselves." Chakotay: "As I said, we've tried to change our ways since the last time you stopped by."

"Stand by, bridge. We're initiating the transfer now." "That's all?" "Altitude 1,000 metres." "Storms have completely dissipated. There's not a cloud in the sky."

Voyager's bridge. Paris: "Altitude, 2,000 metres." Torres, via comms: "Stand by, bridge. We're initiating the transfer now." Kim: "I'm showing an 8 per cent boost in the engines." Janeway: "That's all?" Torres, via comms: "The fusion reactors are nearly drained. Fighting the storm is taking every reserve we have." Paris: "Altitude 1,000 metres." Kim: "Impact in 20 seconds." Janeway, via comms: "B'Elanna-" Kim, via comms: "Impact in 15 seconds." Torres, via comms: "I'm sorry, Captain. That's all we've got." Kim: "Impact in 10 seconds." Suddenly the shaking stops. Janeway: "Report." Paris: "We're free. Gaining altitude. 2,000 metres, 2500. Dampers back online." Kim: "Storms have completely dissipated. There's not a cloud in the sky." Janeway: "Stand down red alert." The lights come full on. "Anybody have an explanation?" Tuvok: "It appears the inhabitants of this planet have decided to make contact, Captain. The cloaking device has been turned off and we are showing an alien population. I have located the shuttle. It may be possible to locate Commander Chakotay without landing." Janeway: "Establish a search pattern, Mr Paris." Paris: "Yes, Captain." Janeway: "Begin scanning for human lifesigns. As soon as you find Chakotay, we'll send down an away team."

On the planet surface, Chakotay is with the alien chief in the village. Chakotay: "My ship will be coming for me soon." Alien chief: "I'm sorry we cannot permit you to extract all the materials you need." Chakotay: "You were generous to offer as much as you did." Alien chief: "You have a long journey ahead. It took us more than two generations to reach your world." Chakotay: "I wish I could see my father's face right now." Alien chief: "Does he still live?" Chakotay: "No. He died fighting enemies who would've taken our home colony. Our tribe moved there a few hundred years ago." Alien chief: "So he honoured the land just as his ancestors did." Chakotay: "Yes. Yes, he did. We weren't on very good terms when he died. Once he was gone, I didn't know how to reconcile our differences, how to heal our old wounds. I returned to my colony and continued the fight in his name. I took the mark that he wore to honour his ancestors. I spoke to him in my vision quests, but he never answered, until now." The alien chief crouches on the ground, and Chakotay joins him. The chief draws a Chah-mooz-ee. Alien chief: "Chah-mooz-ee."

They hear a rustle as the away team, led by Tuvok, arrives looking for Chakotay. Tuvok: "Commander?" Chakotay looks at their drawn phasers. "Put those away." They do so.

The alien chief and Chakotay join in a farewell embrace. It is also the embrace of cultures across the span of history.

He looks up and sees a hawk.

Chakotay hears his father's voice: "Listen to him, Chakotay. Do you hear what he says to you?" Chakotay: "Yes, father. I hear him. I finally hear him."

He looks down again, and touches the Chief in friendly farewell, then goes to stand with the away team. Tuvok taps his combadge. combadge "Four to beam up, Voyager."

The alien chief exchanges a last look with Chakotay.

They beam up. Among the benefits he has gained from this visit, Chakotay has gained a new bond with his father.