Part I.
Arrival in the Alpha Quadrant

The Doctor, USS Voyager

Sickbay was quiet.

Following the ship's most recent ordeal, the Doctor was grateful for the lull. A special data package had arrived via pod by way of an artificial corridor produced in a Red Giant star close to where Voyager was situated.

After two months of intercepted correspondences, the arrival of a communications pod was like mannah from heaven to the crew. With it came the explanation of the holographic engineer from Starfleet, which had been intercepted and altered by Ferengi; it almost led the crew to their doom (He had suspected it all along of course, but did they listen?).

However, in the wake of that near disaster came a method of nonorganic transferrance, and two months of retrograde messages and a selection of replacement components were cast into the star in the Alpha Quadrant, to emerge in the Delta Quadrant and within Voyager's reach.

He pondered his console and the paused communiqué to which he eagerly responded during the first return exchange of data. That was two days ago, and the ship was ordered to remain in position for one more exchange. Then she would continue on her way to the Alpha Quadrant.

He knew it was silly, that he wasn't actually going anywhere. But for some reason he felt a pang. All night he walked the decks of the only home he'd ever known, savoring each familiar place. He avoided people whenever he could, as though afraid his face would betray his state of melancholy. Final destination was the outside of Cargo Bay 2. At this hour, the door only responded to a verbal command to allow its resident a small degree of privacy; the Doctor set that parameter himself. He touched the door as though the essence of whomever was within could be drawn through his fingers and taken with him. And then, with a heavy sigh, he returned to Deck 5 .

Once back in sickbay, he examined the PADD on his desk, which contained specifications for Starfleet's latest uniform. "Computer initiate Sickbay lockout." The computer verbally acknowledged. The Doctor stood and stepped back from his desk. "Computer, load Plato Alpha One." His uniform metamorphosized: The jacket sported ribbed, gray quilting across his shoulders, replacing the blue he had grown accustomed to. He fingered the Lt. Commander rank pips on his aqua collar and smiled. Then, he turned to the large data storage unit at the far end of his desk, and uttered a sequence of commands. In a wisp, he disappeared.

Twenty minutes later, the Doctor automatically rematerialized. A light flashing on the unit indicated that the process had completed successfully. A wide grin spread across his face as he commanded the computer to realign his uniform and lift access restriction.

"Bon Voyage," he said.

Capt. Sulvac (Fleet Commander)

"Commander Kaj, please take a seat,"Sulvac said as soon as Kaj reported in.

Sulvac got up and sat behind his desk and Kaj took the vacant spot on the sofa.

"So, what is my secret mission, Captain?" inquired the immense Bolian.

"Commander, your mission is to take the runabout, Thames to retrieve us a holographic Doctor from the Starship Voyager. Not alone, however, along with my chief engineer, Lieutenant Kate Daniels and Chief Ops Officer, Ensign Robert Kim. They do not know yet, but I felt I should tell you about this missions objective first. Before I go on allow me to get them in here as well."

Sulvac tapped his badge and said, "Lieutenant Daniels and Ensign Kim please report to my ready room immediately. It is imperative you come directly to the ready room."

Sulvac sat down, steepled his fingers and awaited Kaj's response and his two offices.

Cmdr Dekket Kaj

Kaj readied the shuttle for final departure. The joint team assembled from the Energizer, the Fitzgerald and the Plato had all completed their work quickly and efficiently, so fast in fact that it was done before anyone knew it had been started!

In almost a blink of an eye, the Runabout was ready, the modified shuttlepod aboard and the small crew preparing to depart. Kaj tapped the ship to ship comm and hailed the station.

"Runabout Gershwin to Starbase 59, requesting permission to launch."

"This is Starbase 59, Gershwin, you are cleared for launch. Godspeed."

Kaj took the case he always carried on his belt and opened it, making sure the holo-emitter was there. He replaced it on his belt and muttered to himself.

"We're on our way, Doctor."

Under his discretion, he had 'borrowed' a couple of crewmates (OOC: NPCs) from the Fitzgerald and left Kate Daniels and Ensign Kim with their respective ships to work there.

"McKnight, take us out of Spacedock and into high orbit, thrusters only. Streebeck, make sure the verteron beam emitter is working and keep tabs on that shuttlepod. We'll be there in less than an hour."

McKnight nodded her head from the helm as Streebeck headed for the verteron emitter array. He was shaping up to be quite a competent engineer. Kaj resolved to put in a good word for both of them with their senior officers.

The Runabout left the station without incident, circled it once and then readied for warp speed.

"Heading sir?" McKnight danced her hands over the helm.

"The nearest red giant star, Pam. Here." Kaj indicated on the starchart and tapped the screen with a giant finger.

With scarcely another word, the Runabout shot into warp.

47 minutes later, they emerged from warp space and began orbiting the star, indicated on the charts as the red giant Nostromo(sic). As they neared, Kaj signalled to Streebeck, still in the aft of the ship.

"Ensign, engage metaphasic shields and prepare to launch the shuttlepod. Code it to emit a hailing signal and engage it's shield modifications"

"Aye sir," Streebeck replied. In minutes, it was ready.

"McKnight, fire the verteron beam."

The beam lanced out from the belly of the Runabout and struck the rolling ball of plasma far beneath them. Immediately, the plasma began to change, creating a rift in the heart of the sun itself.

"That, ladies and gentlemen, is what is known as a geodesic fold. Streebeck, launch the pod, I'll remote pilot it."

"Aye sir, pod away, modified shields engaged."

The shuttlepod dropped from the cargo hold of the ship and began following the verteron beam down into the star.

It entered the geodesic fold and disappeared.

"Hold position here and monitor the verteron beam."

McKnight looked at him quizzically. "Now what, sir?"

Kaj leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes.

"Now, we wait."

Head Nurse Lt(jg) Kat McCullan

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Inventory and other joys of modern life
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Kat wondered exactly what she was getting herself into. Accepting a commission on the Plato had seemed like a good idea at the time, but there were a couple of things that, had she known about them earlier, she might have reconsidered. Firstly, and this was the big one was the CO - who was in actual fact, the former *XO*. Where the original captain was, she had no clue and neither, apparently, did anyone else. While she certainly had nothing against newly-promoted Captain P'rrashta, she couldn't help but feel a tad uncomfortable heading off on this kind of mission with an inexperienced Captain. Secondly, really, was the entire medical staff. Which consisted of only two people and a handful of field-medics - herself and a 'mystery' CMO. Kat was not a fan of mystery, and liked it even less than the idea of being the only nurse on a ship this size.

She'd arrived the previous day from shore-leave on her home planet, Wantor IV, had gotten her annual shopping-spree out of the way and the station and then reported in to the then still-XO aboard the Plato. Then she'd taken the self-guided tour of the ship and even eventually managed to find her way to her new quarters. She'd then spent a good few hours settling into them, including unpacking the spoils of her spree and discovering exactly how thin the walls were when she started programming her music collection into the computer. Evidently the next door neighbors had no taste. Today she'd started the Sickbay inventory and equipment check, certainly not one of her favorite tasks, but it was necessary to make sure everything was in working order and the had all the un-replicatable supplies they needed before they left. The room still had a new-carpet smell and she found it strange to be working in a room that had yet to accustom the slight medicinal bite all Sickbays, in her experience, acquired over time. She sighed to herself and looked around the spotless room. Kat was not a pessimist by nature, nor was she really inclined to worry much, but she couldn't help but feel uneasy with the staffing situation. Sure, she was damn good for a nurse and knew it, but even if this still-absent doctor was a medical genius, there was no way she could see that two humanoids could cope with a shipfull of casualties if there was a bad attack. And they'd also be one shift short, meaning that either one of them would have to pull doubles or both risk being awoken in the middle of the night. She didn't know about this doctor, but *she* needed her beauty sleep. They'd probably have to train up some field-medic.

She shrugged mentally and powered down the room to standby. She'd done all she could here for now - the CMO needed to review the inventory before they could start doing any of the crew physicals - so there was not much point in hanging around. They could easily page here if there was an emergency that needed attending to so there was no reason why she couldn't, say, drop by the holodecks and start uploading some of her favorite programs...

Cmdr Dekket Kaj

2 hours and 8 minutes later...

"Sir?" McKnight was shaking him awake, "We've picked up something on sensors from the star..."

Kaj sat up, rubbing his eyes, sleep clearing instantly.

"Is it the pod?"

McKnight pressed a couple of buttons and studied her readout.

"Aye sir, coming up the beam on a preprogrammed course."

The shuttlepod, looking none the worse for wear, despite being thrust through the heart of a red giant star, was slowly ascending along the verteron beam.

Kaj tapped his commbadge. "Kaj to Streebeck. Tom, tractor the pod in and let us know when the hatch is closed. Our shields aren't going to hold much longer."

Seconds ticked by in complete silence.

"Commander, the pod is aboard and the hatch is closed."

"Excellent work Tom, I'll be right there." Kaj squeezed McKnight on the shoulder, "Set course for Starbase 59, maximum warp, and engage. I'll be aft."

In seconds, Kaj was in the hold, where Tom Streebeck was inspecting the shuttlepod.

"It's in perfect condition, Commander. Other than a nice tan..." Streebeck shrugged his shoulders as he closed his tricorder. "You can open it any time."

Kaj held his hand over the codelock, not touching it just yet. It was faintly warm, like a dish that had reently come out of an oven, but after a second's malingering, he touched a finger to the hull of the ship. Nothing. Raising an eyebrow in interest, he quickly keyed in his authorization and spoke the unlock code.

"Dr Livingstone, I presume?"

The hatch swung open.

Inside, on the nearest seat, was a thick, flat, rectangular data storage unit. Kaj retrieved it and turned to Streebeck.

"Know what this is?" he grinned as he opened the compartment on his belt.

"No, sir, what?"

"A genie in a bottle." Holding the data unit in one hand, he brought the holo-emitter toward it with the other. The golden triangle mated easily with the dataport and lights began flashing on both units, indicating a data transfer in progress. 10 seconds later, a light went green on the emitter, signalling a complete file transfer.

Kaj separated the emitter and returned the data unit to the pod. Then, judging approximate shoulder height, he held the emitter in place and poised a finger over the the activation button.

"Welcome to Runabout Gershwin, Doctor."

And pushed the button.

Dr. Mark Zimmerman

Streebeck's eyes widened and his mouth fell open. A man materialized before them, seemingly from out of thin air. He was quite ordinary physically, which emphasized the oddness of the phenomenon: balding, middle aged, medium build... except for the eyes, which were large, dark, and intense.

Following a moment's disorientation, the man in science uniform looked about the hold to confirm his location. He settled his gaze upon the large Bolian officer, whose hand still gripped the device afixed to his arm. Commander Kaj abruptly released the mobile emitter, allowing the man to shift his stance and face him at attention.

A wide grin spread across the newcomer's face, and when he broke the awed silence, it was in a strong, clear voice:

"Dr. Mark Zimmerman, reporting for duty, sir."

Cmdr Dekket Kaj
Dr. Mark Zimmerman

"Dr Mark Zimmerman?" Kaj was momentarily surprised, "I was unaware that you had chosen a name for yourself - I'll have to update the rosters.

"Welcome aboard, Doctor. The Plato is anxiously awaiting their CMO." Kaj smiled broadly and extended his hand, "At ease, Doctor, you're among friends. I am Commander Dekket Kaj of the USS F Scott Fitzgerald and this is Ensign Tom Streebeck, also from the Fitzgerald. I'm in charge of the mission to retrieve you. If you need anything, I'm your man."

The hologram took Commander Kaj's hand and grasped it firmly, then Streebeck's. "It's a pleasure and honor to meet you both." He pondered the latter's initial reaction and asked Kaj, "Exactly how informed is the crew about me?"

"No one knows anything, Doctor." Kaj nodded to Streebeck to finish checking out the shuttlepod as he began walking back to the main bay, signalling for the Doctor to follow. "I was sent on this mission to retrieve you on strict Starfleet security."

"Good." said the Doctor shortly. "The less people know, perhaps the better I'll blend in." Zimmerman had spent nearly seven years establishing his rights as a valued and respected member of the Voyager crew, and he wasn't about to fall back to the status of a walking hypospray.

Kaj pondered this a moment as he entered the main bay. Individuality from the holographic doctor? Interesting and something to definitely keep in mind. "I guess you're not interested in everyone knowing you're a hologram, then?"

"Not just yet, anyway," Zimmerman replied, "I want to - test the waters, so to speak, see how I fit in. I know I won't be able to conceal my true nature for long," he glanced back at Streebeck momentarily for emphasis, "but perhaps long enough for the right people not to get the wrong first impression. And once we're on our way, I can be a little more forthcoming about my affiliation with Voyager and my experiences in the Delta Quadrant."

Kaj smiled, outwardly and inwardly "As you wish, Doctor. I can certainly understand about people not understanding about your true nature and taking for granted what you appear to be."

Kaj stepped to the large table that was the center of the room and picked up a PADD. "Before I forget, Doctor, this is for you from Starfleet Intelligence. Eyes only."

The doctor nodded and took the PADD as they approached the helm of the Gershwin, where Kaj indicated their pilot.

"And the last member of our team is Ensign Pam McKnight. This is Doctor Mark Zimmerman, the new CMO of the Plato."

Dr. Mark Zimmerman

"Ensign," the doctor beamed in greeting.

It can't be, McKnight thought incredulously. Nobody could have survived that trip. The radiation which bombarded the pod would have proven fatal. At the last second, she caught herself and put on her best diplomatic smile. "It is an honor to meet you, doctor."

"The honor's mine," he purred back in modesty. He had looked vaguely familiar, but when Pam heard the sound of Dr. Zimmerman's voice, it triggered a memory from long ago. My god, she thought, could this be an EMH? As they shook hands, she noted the warmth of his. And the dark eyes were deep with comprehension. No. She had to have been mistaken. The EMH she witnessed was nothing of the sort; perhaps this man was the actual template for Starfleet's original holographic medical supplement. Wasn't his name to have been Zimmerman? "I hope your trip through the fold was a relatively smooth one."

"I barely felt a thing," he volunteered pleasantly.

Mark sensed a slight change in her pulse and blood pressure as they shook hands. But when her pupils dilated slightly upon the sound of his voice, he knew for certain that she had recognized him. Or had she? Barely in the space of a second, her composure returned to normal. The ensign had obviously dismissed her suspicions.

He felt his confidence rise within. How long could he masquerade as a flesh and blood human before he ran into someone who had experienced a Mark I EMH extensively first hand, and knew him for what he truly was? His mobile emitter would allay most assumptions; a hologram could not normally exist in an environment devoid of holo-emitters. And he could just as easily explain the device on his arm as some form of medical maintenance unit.

Why all this effort to conceal his photonic nature? His achievements earned him a genuine commission, a rank, even his own quarters. He was inspired to finally establish himself a name. But why all this? Why was he so desperate to blend in? Mark regarded McKnight's young beauty: her clear, blue eyes. Her smooth, perfect skin. Her silky blonde hair, tied back into a ponytail (as per Starfleet regulations, he noted). His gaze managed to charm McKnight into a mild blush. And so there it was. Acceptance. Plain and simple.

Breaking the moment, he turned to the Bolian. "Commander, have you a discrete console I may view this?" He held up the PADD.

"Certainly," Commander Kaj glanced over at Ensign Streebeck, who got up from a station at the far corner of the shuttle and gestured that the doctor take that seat.

After a brief "thank you," Mark docked the PADD to the computer and instructed it to run the message on a volume too low for most humans to hear from where the shuttle crew were situated...

On the viewscreen, the schematic was replaced by the visage of a man. He resembled the doctor save a tired, aged countenance and grayer hair. He appeared to be wearing a similar uniform, but with the gold of engineering and command pips.

"Well," said the man, "I guess if you're watching this, that means you've made it to the Alpha Quadrant in one piece. That's good.

"If you were debating whether or not to contact me, wondering whether I'd accept a *copy* of you..." Mark smiled at the man's mock sarcastic tone. "...don't. I was consultant for the team which made your commission possible. I know all about it." Then, the man lowered both his eyes *and* his façade of insincerity, "It was the very least I could do."

Just one year prior, Mark had managed to develop a cure for his ailing creator when nobody in the Alpha Quadrant could even diagnose the source. He figured this had to have been the closest thing to praise or gratitude anyone could ever expect from Lewis Zimmerman. He shifted in his seat and continued to listen intently.

"There were modifications made to the USS Plato which I supervised. Captain Sulvac and I saw to it that holoemitters have been installed throughout. Sickbay has the capability to accommodate your program independently from its resident EMH Mark V. So you'll have backup in case you have your hands full, just like any Chief Medical Officer would. The holodeck contains my latest diagnostic program in the event that you require maintenance.

"I think that's about it. Oh, one last thing. Call it a congratulatory present. Go get yourself anything you want on Starbase 59 before the fleet departs. Here is my access code..." and a long number displayed momentarily on the screen. "...just don't buy the goddamned starbase. Good luck."

The message terminated. Mark felt a surge of pride. Dr. Z had been like a father to him since their first encounter, and he was relieved to have been met by *someone* familiar upon his arrival, even if it was by way of a recorded message. There came with that thought the realization that he had left the rest of his family behind in the Delta Quadrant, and he felt a slight pang. It wasn't enough to know that there was one of him still aboard Voyager; *he* had the memories and experiences as well.

His somber thoughts were interrupted as the shuttle lurched violently. They were being fired upon...

Cmdr Dekket Kaj

"Report!" Kaj teetered as the Gershwin rocked again from weapons fire.

McKnight's hands were a blur as they ran across the helm.

"Ferengi Marauder on an intercept course. Shields are holding."

"Hail them." Kaj cracked his knuckles and scowled, preparing to look extremely pissed off when the channel was opened.

"They're responding, sir."

"Onscreen." the starfield was replaced by a grinning Ferengi DaiMon, who opened his mouth to speak before he was abruptly cut off by a blue man yelling a blue streak.

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS ATTACK?" Kaj boomed, nearly knocking McKnight out of her chair in surprise. "YOU HAVE 20 SECONDS TO EXPLAIN YOURSELF BEFORE I DESTROY YOUR SHIP!"

The Ferengi looked as if he had just swallowed a phaser set to overload. Then, he quickly regained his composure.

"May I remind you that YOU are the inferior ship? Give us whatever you retrieved from the red giant and we will let you go."

Kaj furrowed his brow and his face grew dark.

"You are trying my patience, Ferengi."

He made a cutting gesture under his chin and McKnight shut off the audio. Kaj turned his back to the screen and began issuing orders.

"McKnight, prepare to bring her about. Streebeck, get everything out of the shuttlepod. Doctor, I need you over here to talk to this idiot. Keep him busy and then cave in and have him beam the shuttlepod over, but give me enough time to get in the pod. Once I take the Ferengi ship, come around and beam me back. Time to get your poker face on."

Kaj turned back to the viewscreen and tapped the audio back on.

"My superior wishes to speak to you. Pray you have better luck with him than with me."

Kaj stepped aside to let the Doctor take over and once out of view, he opened a weapons locker and removed two phasers.

"Keep 'em busy..." he mouthed and headed aft.

Dr. Mark Zimmerman

Commander Kaj turned back to the viewscreen and tapped the audio back on: "My superior wishes to speak to you. Pray you have better luck with him than with me."

Kaj stepped aside to let the Doctor take over and once out of view, he opened a weapons locker and removed two phasers. "Keep 'em busy..." he mouthed and headed aft.

Zimmerman looked after the commander and winced. After a moment's pause, he took a deep breath and turned to the viewscreen.

"DaiMon..."

"Gorm, " snarled the Ferengi.

"DaiMon Gorm," Zimmerman raised an eyebrow, "I find it hard to believe you would cause a Federation incident over some mold samples."

"What doo yoo mean, Hyumon?"

"This is the Runabout Gershwin of the USS Exploration Vessel Energizer. We are on a mission to determine the effects of radiation generated by a Geodesic fold on pharmaceuticals. I'd hardly consider attacking us a profitable pursuit," he tilted his head, "unless..."

The Ferengi inched closer to the screen.

"...It might be fortuitous that you came to us when you did." The doctor sat back in his chair with an air of confidence. "The Ferengi have always been our best source for Cordrazine. Perhaps you have a supply on board?"

"It would cost you a more than what you have, Hyumon," the DaiMon snarled, "if you do not surrender the pod to us immediately."

There was a discrete beep at Streebeck's console. Apparently, the marauder was charging weapons.

Zimmerman feigned indifference as he massaged his brow. "Very well. Have it your way. But don't blame me if you find yourself in ill health once you expose its contents to your crew." He turned to the right.

Streebeck nodded, moved aft, and jettisoned the pod. Almost immediately, it was tractored by the Ferengi into their bay. Zimmerman gave a sideways glance to McKnight.

The DaiMon smiled, displaying his muddled mass of teeth (an aesthetic trait which Mark always found disconcerting). "Thank you for your patronage, Runabout Gershwin," he offered, nodding smugly. But before the comm channel could be terminated, phaser fire broke out on the Ferengi bridge, and the image was knocked out.

The three officers looked at eachother while they heard a violent scuffle, occasional bursts of phaser fire, and excessive cursing (in English, Ferengi, and sometimes Bolian). After many moments, the channel became silent.

McKnight's console beeped. "Sir, their self-destruct has been initiated."

"Beam Commander Kaj over - NOW! As soon as he's back on board, get us out of here at maximum warp."

"Aye," the other two complied in unison.

In moments, Kaj materialized behind them. "Good work," he uttered before falling to one knee.

Cmdr Dekket Kaj

"Good work..." Kaj said, as he dropped to a knee.

He waved off the Doctor as he struggled back to his feet, and he rasped out a quick command to McKnight.

"Pedal to the metal, Pam. Starbase 59. Go."

Streebeck ran up as the Gershwin jumped into warpspace. "What happened, sir?"

Kaj leaned heavily on the table and tried to order the room to stop spinning, but to no effect.

"Well, after the Ferengi tractored the shuttle onboard and opened the hatch, I fired both phasers. The first shot stunned the greedy little bugger who was trying to see what they had captured. The other knocked out the visual on the communications array. The rest is kind of fuzzy, but I do remember that they weren't much of a match for me, except the guy with the electrowhip. After the sixth or seventh time he hit me with it, he finally got my attention. Or it might have been the fact that he was the only one left standing... Anyway, I made it over to him before he could hit me another twenty times and cold-cocked him. He's counting Dentarian wool-lizards right now. About 50,000 of them. I left them a little present and beamed on over.

"And now," Kaj straightened and tugged down on his tunic front, "I think I'll pass out."

Like a big blue version of Goliath, the Bolian crashed to the floor, face first, allowing the others to see, for the first time, the electrical burn marks on his back and neck.

DaiMon Gorm slowy regained consciousness. He had been dreaming of flying through the air without any means of support except a big blue hand. In seeming slow motion, he had flown across his bridge with his arms outstretched and then saw one of his lieutenants waving his arms wildly below him.

In front of him. Under him. In nanoseconds, Gorm realized that he had no control over his new power of flight and plowed directly into his tactical officer, knocking both of them unconscious. But that had been, what, minutes ago...

As he struggled back to his feet, his vision clearing, he vaguely remembered the big blue man fiddling with the controls of the tactical station and then disappearing in a swirl of twinkly blue lights.

He staggered over to the console, his hearing returning and a dull throb beginning in his lobes when he realized he was hearing a voice...

"23, 22, 21, 20..."

The computer? But why was it counting backwards? Or was it... downwards? Oh no.

"... 13, 12, 11..."

NO! Gorm slapped a hand over the Tactical station, accessing voice command.

"Computer, this is Gorm! Abort self destruct sequence!"

"...8, 7, 6..."

Gorm realized the Tactical station had been torn apart, probably by hand, notably the abort and override controls. He slapped a hand to his forehead and immediately regretted it for the pain it caused him, although at this point he had only...

"... 3, 2, 1..."

He squeezed his eyes shut for the final blast that would claim his life and send him to the Divine Treasury when he realized, 5 seconds later, that he and his reviving crew were still alive. Then, over the computer's audio, he heard a voice he recognized as the Big Blue Man.

"Gorm, Gorm, Gorm... you nut. Do yourself a favor and never mess with Starfleet on a mission. Especially not me. Although I imagine at this point, you'll be doing everything you can to ignore this warni..."

Gorm slapped off the recorded message with a hiss and a snarl. How dare he? DaiMon Gorm picked up his helmsman from where he had begun to stir on the floor and threw him back into his seat.

"Find that ship! Run it down. NOW!" the helmsman groggily tried to comply and after an agonizing 20 or 30 seconds, the ship also jumped into warp, following the Gershwins' path closely, and Gorm silently swore he would make the Big Blue Man pay.

Dr. Mark Zimmerman

The Doctor never took "no" for an answer, so when Kaj waved him away, he simply detoured for the medic kit and extracted its tricorder. Nudging aside Streebeck, he attempted to scan the Commander, who kept pushing away the wand as he spoke.

Zimmerman sighed, exasperated. Officers are all alike: too much pride and not enough common sense.

McKnight observed this choreography as Kaj attmepted to dodge treatment. The doctor's frustrated behavior once again rekindled a memory of her encounter with an EMH. And he had survived the Geodesic Fold...

With a touch of irony, it was just before Kaj collapsed that he pushed Zimmerman away from him with sufficient force to send the tricorder to the floor and the doctor teetering off balance: just in time for nobody to catch him when he collapsed.

Zimmerman dropped to his knees, grabbed the tricorder, and slid the medic kit closer to him. According to scans, residual bursts of electrical charges were echoing through the Bolian's nervous system. A hypospray was quickly loaded with Choline and administered. Immediately, Kaj's neurological readings stabilized.

Being their first encounter, and while his patient was incapable of fending him off, Mark decided to conduct a deep scan for the record. He slowly passed the diagnostic wand along the length of Kaj's body.

Streebeck noted an odd glint in the doctor's eye and a slight wrinkle form on his brow. Immediately he feared the worst. "Will the commander be okay?"

"Hm? Oh yes..."

The hologram appeared startled; how realistic, the ensign thought.

Zimmerman assured them things were under control, all the while passing a dermal regenerator over the burns on Kaj's neck. Kaj groaned and shifted, but found resistance when he attempted to rise.

"Not so fast, Commander."

The doctor, Kaj thought. He was already under way with his treatment, might as well let him finish.

Cmdr Dekket Kaj

Finally back aboard the Fitzgerald, Kaj stumbled off the Runabout, holding his head together to restrict the stampeding targs to the confines of his brain.

After a moment, the targs were quelled enough for him to straighten and see the party approaching him across the flight deck.

"Welcome back, Commander." Captain Hawke put out his hand and Kaj shook it proudly, glad to be home and still have a job. "Any problems?"

"Nothing I couldn't handle." the Bolian smirked, but began to grin broadly when he saw his own ship's CMO.

"Margo." he smiled, inclining his head and taking her hand in his. "Nice to finally get to see you."

"Oh?" she said coyly, tossing a lock of hair red as a solar flare, "And why's that?"

"Because," he said, drawing her in as graceful as a ballet dancer and dipping her, "it gives me a chance to greet you in the manner I've been wanting to..."

He kissed her deeply, but carefully, channeling all the strength in his powerful body into a controlled expression of love and intimacy. For an immortal heartbeat, they were two halves of one being, until a sound from the Captain brought him back to the here and now.

"Um, Commander..." Hawke smiled a crooked smile, "Why are you kissing my ensign?"

Confusion flickered across the Bolian's broad face. Ensign? Had Margo been demoted? He glanced back down and realized that the flame red hair had been replaced by sunlight gold.

"Well..." Pamela McKnight said, blushing fiercely, "it's okay, really... I don't mind."

"But I do..." the voice came from their newest arrival and a strong hand, stronger than Kaj would have expected from a hologram of Dr Zimmerman's build, pulled him away from McKnight, turned him and belted him.

Kaj spun to the floor stunned, to lie faceup on the deck as Dr Zimmerman took McKnight's hand in his own.

"The lady," he said, drawing her to him, "is with me." McKnight looked down at Kaj and then to the Doctor with a look of sheer adoration on her face.

Kaj raised a hand to his jaw and tried to rise, but once again the strong hand prevented him.

"Not so fast, Commander." Zimmerman said running a tricorder wand over him as the lights from above turned everyone above him into silhouette.

"What are you doing?" Kaj was indignant. "You knock me down and then try to see if I'm alright? What kind of...?"

Kaj thrust himself into sitting position, nearly banging his head on the light above the table. Had he been unconscious? How long had he been out? He was back in the Runabout, lying on the central table. Confusion crossed his face again, a look, he realized, that was mirrored on Zimmerman.

"What are you talking about?" the doctor stammered. "You passed out, no doubt due to the multiple electrowhip hits to your tough backside. You hit your jaw on the table when you fell, but other than that, you'll be fine. Unless, of course, you've lost your mind..."

Kaj looked forward and saw stars streaking by on the foreward screen. They had not reached the Starbase yet.

"I had a dream." he said, running a hand over his pate. "And you were in it and you were in it."

"Must have been some dream," Zimmerman shrugged, nonplussed, "Care to tell us who you were making kissing noises to while you were out?"

Kaj immediately thought of Margo, and then saw McKnight. He cleared his throat and lay back down, looking at the Doctor pointedly. He was already under way with his treatment, might as well let him finish.

"Not you."

Dr. Mark Zimmerman

"Must have been some dream," Zimmerman shrugged, nonplussed, "Care to tell us who you were making kissing noises to while you were out?"

Kaj cleared his throat and lay his head back down. He looked sideways at the doctor pointedly. "Not you."

"Well, that's a relief," Zimmerman replied in clipped tones as he completed his work, "You aren't my type."

The doctor helped Kaj (who was chuckling with a grimace) into a nearby seat. "You'll have a residual headache for the next couple of hours. Other than that, you're fine. Just take it easy during that time."

McKnight reported their status as the runabout broke out of warp.

Once the medic kit was back in its compartment, Mark straightened up and stared at the viewscreen. Starbase 59 loomed ahead of them, starships docked all about its perimeter. The reality that he was in Federation Space, with many starships and many, many people from Starfleet everywhere, washed over him. Home. The sight took away his breath. "It's beautiful," he said.

Streebeck and McKnight turned to look at him. He shifted uneasily. "I've... been away."

Behind him, the Commander was massaging his temples, "I hear yuh, Doc."

McKnight circled the station and initiated communications for the final approach. Starships, shuttles, maintenance crews... thousands of lights in tiny windows through which people could view starbase activity, or simply the vastness of space... Mark's mind went off on existential tangents, which he forced to keep to himself so as not to attract too much attention.

"Starbase 59 to Runabout Gershwin. You are clear to dock."

"Sir?"

"Take us in, McKnight," ordered Kaj.

"Aye, sir"

Cmdr Dekket Kaj

Kaj opened his eyes from a short nap as the Runabout came out of warp, disappointed that the headache he had been feeling was still there, but he had the Doctor's assurances that it would soon fade.

The Bolian could not help but be impressed as the Gershwin approached the Starbase. He had seen starbases before, of course, but he stopped to take notice this time, prompted, no doubt, by Dr Zimmerman's exclamation of awe.

"It's beautiful..." the Doctor breathed, but only Kaj knew that this was probably the first time he had ever seen such a sight. He saw McKnight and Streebeck exchange glances, but waved it off.

"I hear ya', Doc."

As Zimmerman stared out the window, Kaj ordered a circular route around the base as he hailed the station.

"Runabout Gershwin requesting permission to dock, Starbase 59."

"Starbase 59 to Runabout Gershwin. You are clear to dock. Proceed to landing pad 3 and dock. Welcome back."

"Thanks, 59." Kaj shut off communications.

"Sir?"

"Take us in, McKnight," he ordered.

"Aye, sir"

The Runabout landed softly on their assigned pad and waited patiently as the platform sank into the station where private flight decks and breathable atmosphere waited.

As they waited, Kaj took Streebeck aside for a moment with an urgent order.

"Only you and I know of the Doctor's holographic nature. I'd like to keep it that way as long as possible, so unless I okay it, no one is to kow anything except that we picked up a passenger who is now the CMO for Plato, ok?"

"Aye sir." Kaj saw that he could trust the young engineer.

The lowering platform stopped with a barely noticeable jerk, but Kaj knew and opened the outer hatch. He then turned to the Doctor as sounds of the station began to come into the ship.

"I could have docked at the Fitzgerald, but I figured you could use some time on the Starbase to pick up a few amenities. I'll tag along if you need any help, um, adjusting to your new surroundings, but other than that, welcome to Starbase 59, Dr Zimmerman."