Previous Episode <<  >> Next Episode

Episode Synopsis
Kiara falls seriously ill and the only way she can be saved is through an ancient Indian ceremony. Meanwhile Lena has another problem on her hands when something happens to Tani

Quick Note
Lea Halalela's primary problem revolves around the title and its origins. It's a bit tricky to fix as this incident is mentioned in later episodes a lot, and so changing its name and everything about it isn't a good idea. The edits I've made are minor, so unfortunately it's still naively bigoted like the day it was written, but it's less so. If you feel like the main storyline is still offensive and should be changed, let me know in the forums.

Written
17th February 2002

Episode Based In
January 2378

Holodeck 2:
Virus were standing around with their new bandmates, waiting for the last original member to arrive.

"What's taking her so long?" Naomi asked, she looked towards James.

"I don't know, she just said she had to sort something out," James replied.

Right on cue Jessie walked in.

"Where the hell have you been?" Lena asked.

"I was busy, ok!" Jessie yelled back.

"Ok, no need to yell," Lena muttered.

"So, erm, is this going to be the only song on the single, or is there going to be another song?" Craig asked.

"Don't be daft, it's always two," Lena replied.

"Can we get on with it then?" Jessie snapped. Everyone looked at her oddly.

"You're in a bit of a mood, aren't you?" Triah asked.

"Don't you start," Jessie muttered.

"Maybe we should do this another time," Lena said.

"What the hell for?" Jessie asked angrily. James put his hand on her shoulder to calm her down, but she pushed it off angrily. "Get the hell off me!" she yelled and she stormed out.

"Bloody hell, what's eating her?" Faye asked. Everyone looked around at each other, no one had the answer to that question.

The classroom next to Sickbay, the next day:
Bryan, Kiara, Naomi, Lena, Duncan, Kirsty and Kyle were sitting at desks while Doctor Jones was giving a lecture. Bryan was lying on the desk, asleep with his mouth open slightly. Naomi was doing her nails blue. Kiara was listening to one of Pulse's songs on her personal stereo and she was miming to it. Kyle was hitting Kirsty, as usual. Kirsty was obviously crying. Duncan was just watching. Finally Lena was writing something on a PADD.

"I'm sure you would find this interesting once we actually got to look at some real insects," Doctor Jones muttered on, obviously not noticing that nobody was listening to him.

"I'm going to tell mummy," Kirsty cried after Kyle hit her again.

"Ooh, me scared," Kyle said and he laughed.

"Do you want me to kick his a**?" Duncan asked. Kirsty nodded.

"You can't, I am sitting on it," Kyle said.

Duncan pushed Kyle off the chair and he literally started kicking his butt. Lena looked down at the two lads.

"You go Duncan," Lena said, and she continued with what she was doing.

Naomi looked down too. "Aaw, isn't that sweet. Duncan's defending Kirsty," she said.

"What?" Kiara asked. Naomi groaned. Duncan started hitting Kyle on the head.

"Ow, you bully, leave me alone or I'll set my dad onto you," Kyle moaned.

"I'll set my dad onto him then," Duncan said.

"Your dad is too wimpy to do anything," Kyle said.

"Hey, you leave my dad alone you arsehole!" Duncan yelled and he accidentally knocked Kyle unconscious.

"Yey!" Kirsty said and she started clapping her hands.

"And this is what people used to call a Daddy Long Legs, people say that.." Doctor Jones said, completely oblivious to what was going on.

"Me good," Duncan said and he sat back onto his chair. Lena patted him on the head, which messed his hair up.

"Good boy," Lena said.

"Watch the hair," Duncan growled.

"God, he's just like his mother," Naomi said. Duncan glared at her. "Why does that glare look familiar?"

"For your safety Naomi, I suggest you be quiet," Lena muttered.

"He's only a kid," Naomi muttered.

Doctor Jones turned around after finishing what he was writing on the board. He noticed Kyle lying on the floor first, then he saw Bryan asleep. "What's going on, why aren't you paying attention?" he asked.

"You're boring the hell out of us, we don't need to learn about bugs," Lena replied.

"Secondly, why is Kyle on the floor?" Doctor Jones asked.

"Duncan knocked him out again," Naomi replied. Duncan and Kirsty giggled.

Doctor Jones sighed. "I warned him about that. This time I will tell his parents," he said.

"Like they would care," Lena muttered.

"That might be true, but I doubt Danny and Ian would be too happy if their best friends' son kept beating their son up," Doctor Jones said.

"If Kyle would leave Kirsty alone, Duncan wouldn't hurt him," Lena said.

"I'm going to talk to Duncan's parents after this lesson, and then I'm going to talk to Kyle's parents. This is none of your business," Doctor Jones said. Lena pouted.

Half an hour later:
Doctor Jones was beginning to regret his decision when he was faced by a very peeved Jessie.

"Erm, maybe I should have just talked to James," Doctor Jones muttered.

"Maybe you should have," Jessie growled.

"Erm, as you probably will know, erm, Jessie would you stop looking at me like that?" Doctor Jones asked.

"Get bent," Jessie muttered.

"I tell you what, why don't you go back to where Danny and Ian are waiting," Doctor Jones said.

"Fine, I will!" Jessie snapped and she stormed out.

"How long has she been like that?" Doctor Jones asked.

"Since yesterday," James replied.

"And she hasn't told you why?" Doctor Jones asked.

"No, do you know why?" James replied.

"Er, yes, er I mean no. Never mind," Doctor Jones stuttered. James just gave him a confused look. "Anyway, I just asked you here to talk about Duncan. He keeps having fights with Kyle."

Duncan, who was sitting next to James, just giggled and looked proud of himself.

"According to Lena, Kyle keeps picking on Kirsty, and Duncan defends her," Doctor Jones said.

"Kyle's an arsehole," Duncan said.

"Erm, and Duncan swears," Doctor Jones said.

"And?" James said questioningly. Doctor Jones just stared at him oddly.

"He's only nine months old, he shouldn't be swearing, or starting fights with younger children," Doctor Jones said.

"No, but Kyle shouldn't be picking on his sister," James said.

"Brothers and sisters usually fight, that's just the way it is," Doctor Jones said.

"Duncan's just defending his friend, I know the feeling," James said.

"You do?" Doctor Jones asked.

"Jessie was bullied a lot in primary school," James replied.

Doctor Jones rolled his eyes. "You and Duncan are just as bad as each other. Fighting back always makes it worse."

"Yeah, true, but it used to make me feel better," James said.

Doctor Jones laughed nervously. "Obviously I'm getting nowhere with you. I just hope when, er I mean, if you have another child, they don't turn out like Duncan."

"Big bozo head!" Duncan yelled.

"Er.." Doctor Jones muttered.

"You deserved that," James said.

"Er.. why?" Doctor Jones muttered.

"Forget it, you're just lucky you weren't talking to Jessie about this," James said.

"Maybe I would of been better off," Doctor Jones said.

"If you weren't a hologram I'd punch you," James said.

"Me too," Duncan said.

"That just proves my point. On your way out can you ask Danny and Ian to come in?" Doctor Jones asked.

James and Duncan just headed out. Duncan put his fingers up at Doctor Jones as he did so. Doctor Jones rolled his eyes.

Back in the classroom:
Bryan was STILL asleep. Naomi was writing something on the board. Kiara was STILL listening to music. Lena had also gone to sleep.

Kiara looked at the board, and she started laughing. Naomi had drawn a few pictures of Doctor Jones, and she had written something about Duncan and Kirsty.

Naomi turned Kiara's way and she grinned. "Duncan loves Kirsty," she chanted. Kiara started giggling like crazy which woke Lena up.

"What's going on.. aw crap, I'm still in here," Lena moaned.

"All you do is complain, so cut it out," Kiara said.

"Don't tell me what to do, brat!" Lena yelled.

"Why not?" Kiara asked.

"Because you're not my bloody mother!" Lena yelled in response.

Naomi groaned and she left them to it.

Sickbay, again:
Doctor Jones had already talked to Ian and Danny, and now James and Ian were arguing. Danny was standing around shaking her head, with her arms folded. Jessie was sitting on the biobed, trying to keep her cool. Duncan kept glancing at Kyle, and Kyle kept giving him horrible looks. Kirsty was crying again.

"Your son is crazy, why does he keep attacking mine!" Ian yelled.

"Because he keeps picking on Duncan's friend, that's why," James replied.

"That's not his concern, it's just sibling rivalry!" Ian yelled.

"Maybe if you'd learn to control your son, mine wouldn't attack yours," James said.

"Ian, stop yelling," Danny said. Ian ignored her.

"You're telling me to control MY son, that's a funny one, Jamesy. Yours swears, hits people, calls people names.." Ian yelled.

"Just like his parents," Danny whispered. Luckily nobody heard her.

"At least mine doesn't pick on little girls!" James finally yelled back.

"They're brother and sister, it's pretty normal. Maybe if Duncan had a sister he'd be doing the same!" Ian yelled.

"Would you two shut up!" Jessie yelled. The two guys stopped and they looked her way. "Can we just agree that Duncan and Kyle both did something wrong, I've got a bloody headache."

"Ok, but make sure this never happens again," Ian said. He walked out of the room. Danny groaned, she picked up both of her kids, and she followed him out.

"Duncan's just like you, do you realise that," Jessie muttered as she climbed off the biobed.

"If you say so," James said quietly.

"I want some Cherr' Coke," Duncan said.

"I know so," Jessie said and she walked out.

Later that night:
Naomi and Bryan went up to Kiara's door, and the rang the door chime. They didn't get a response.

"Here let me, I have a knack for doors," Bryan said, he keyed in some commands on the side panel. Eventually the door opened, and the pair stepped inside. They looked around the room, it was dark, and nobody was around.

"That's strange, Janeway isn't even in," Naomi muttered.

Bryan headed towards one of the bedrooms and he looked inside. "Naomi, in here!" he yelled.

Naomi rushed into the room. Bryan was kneeling beside Kiara, who was lying on the ground. Naomi tapped her commbadge. "Wildman to Sickbay, there's something wrong with Kiara."

In: "Ok, I'm beaming her here now."

Sickbay:
Kiara was lying on the biobed. Doctor Jones, Naomi, Bryan, Kathryn and Chakotay were standing around her.

"I do not understand how this could've happened," Doctor Jones said.

"Doctor, there has to be some reason why she's choking like there's no air, or Neelix farted," Bryan said.

"That's a very crude description, her lung stopped taking in oxygen," Doctor Jones mumbled to himself bitterly. Bryan rolled his eyes. "Well, I don't understand, but I will investigate."

Chakotay looked on in a daze, hesitant with his shoulders tense. "I have a theory."

"You have, how?" Doctor Jones asked.

Chakotay sighed, "it was just a story, a one my grandfather told me."

"Before or after the crazy gene?" the Doctor asked.

"Anyway," Chakotay said through gritted teeth, "the tale was to deter rebellious children of the tribe from outsiders. If they strayed into the woods, there was a chance they'd be the one who'd be caught by the wanderer."

The Doctor shook his head and continued his scanning.

"And then the scorpion stung him, and he learned the true meaning of peace," Kathryn said a touch impatiently. "What does this have to do with our granddaughter?"

Chakotay winced. While he was annoyed at the joke at his expense, he saw it from her side. "I'm sorry. The story was an old one from the days of the colonies. The wanderer was assumed to mean..."

"Oh my god, they knew about Voyager. Spooky," Bryan stammered, turning white.

Even Naomi looked at him with judgement. She tried to shake it off, "he's a baby."

"Yes. Go home," Kathryn sighed as gently as possible to the both of them. Bryan only took the hint and hurried out, still reveling in his discovery. Naomi only left to follow him. "So, this was an avoid the white man tale. It does not apply, one bit."

"It was said the curse could fall on their descendants. Lena would be considered mixed race, and then Kiara is half Q," Chakotay mumbled.

The Doctor scoffed as he straightened up, facing them again. "Ludicrous..." He noticed Kathryn's anger about to erupt, his eyes widened. "But erm, this does bring up an interesting, more scientific point."

Chakotay once again ignored him to focus on Kathryn. "I'm not insinuating anything, I..."

"Oh I get it," Kathryn said, pointing eye daggers. They had all been thrown by the time she turned to the Doctor. "What point?"

"Kiara is a Human Q hybrid, a first of her kind. The question is, why would she begin to suffer now?" the Doctor mused.

"Q dropped the charade recently. It's probably been brewing since then," Chakotay replied.

The Doctor glanced between his scans and him with a grimace. "I don't think so. It's more likely that this condition was escalated from her sudden ageing. Whatever this is, it's accelerating, spreading throughout her system."

"What?" Kathryn hissed.

Chakotay tried to swallow a growing lump in his throat. "It'll target vital organs, shutting them down." The Doctor stared, annoyed at him. "Exactly like the Lizwe, only it skipped a generation with Lena."

Kathryn ground her teeth to nearly paste. "This wanderer illness again? It could be a coincidence. Can you cure it?"

"I have a few ideas I can work on right now, however the prognosis isn't good until I discover why this is happening," the Doctor answered. "The Q compatibility might be tricky what with her DNA appearing fully human, but it's..."

"Yes, yes, just do it," Kathryn said, shooing him away. Only instead she walked off to the middle of the room to leave him to it. Chakotay dared to follow her. "If it'll make you happy, what does your people do about this Lizwe?"

Chakotay blankly stared for a while, collecting his thoughts and trying to calm himself. "Nothing about my granddaughter dying makes me happy, Kathryn."

Kathryn's shoulders slumped, her eyes squeezed shut for what felt like minutes. "I'm sorry, that was..." She saw him nod, smiling weakly at her. "Well, was there anything?"

"I remember there was a ritual, yes. Although it changed slightly everytime my grandfather told it," Chakotay said. Kathryn's blank stare in his direction made him sigh. "This was a different grandfather, if you must know."

"It can't hurt to give it a go. Do you remember any of it?" Kathryn asked.

Chakotay smiled wearily. "Not fully. I'll have to do a vision quest, hopefully I'll get the answers there. All I do remember that was the same everytime is the victim's mother performed it."

Kathryn cringed, "Lena." Chakotay nodded, also wincing a little. "She's never been interested in her heritage, both sides of it. And Kiara..."

"She still loves her, Kathryn. That doesn't go away," Chakotay said in a strained tone. "This could work, but if it doesn't it may keep her occupied during this. Like you said, no harm in trying."

The Ready Room:
Kathryn had invited Chakotay inside ten minutes earlier, but he had not said anything but a little grunt. She patiently waited, at least until her cup was empty.

She was about to say something when he spoke up after all, "there could be harm in trying."

Kathryn held her tongue for the moment. "Why?" she asked instead of several swear words and glaring.

"They called it the Lea Halalela," Chakotay started to explain. Kathryn mumbled a they to herself. "It's a ritual to resurrect the dead."

"Are you trying to get punched? It's not that hard to, you know," Kathryn said as calmly as possible.

Chakotay didn't react as she expected, he remained calm, almost accepting. "That's not it. If Lena's heart isn't in it, then the ceremony will fail. No one else can do this either. Father didn't explain, but he said I couldn't take her place. And only a member of the tribe, by blood."

"So not me either," Kathryn groaned, rolling her eyes to the side. "We have to hope the Doctor discovers a cure, and soon. If the unthinkable happens, you can do your little death ritual however many times you like."

"Kathryn," Chakotay whispered, his mood managed to get even lower.

"One of us is going to have to tell Lena anyway. We might as well do it all together," Kathryn said.

"All?" Chakotay wondered aloud. Kathryn managed a weak smile and nod. He nodded as well.

The Mess Hall:
Lena, James and Duncan were at one of the tables in the middle of the room. Duncan was busy stuffing his face with chocolate, while Lena and James were just drinking Cherry Coke.

"So when the hell is Jessie going to get out of that b**chy mood of hers?" Lena asked.

"She's out of it, Lena. And I wish she wasn't," James replied.

"What do you mean?" Lena asked.

"Well lately she has two moods, so take a guess," James replied.

"Aah, the freak people out mood. Wow, she changed suddenly," Lena said.

"Tell me about it, something's really wrong with her. Doc did an examination two weeks ago and she only told me that he said she was ok," James said.

"Why don't you ask Jones himself, I wouldn't trust Jessie's word for it. She's like me, she doesn't like telling people if she's ill," Lena said.

"Don't I know, but I have a feeling Jones won't tell me if there was. If she's keeping something a secret, then she's told Jones to keep it from me," James said.

"Typical, that's the usual story," Lena said.

Chakotay and Kathryn came over to the table.

"It wasn't me," Lena blurted out.

"What wasn't?" Kathryn asked.

"Oh sorry, just instinct," Lena replied.

"Well this time you're not in trouble. We need your help," Chakotay said.

"What for?" Lena asked.

Holodeck One:
Kathryn, Chakotay, Lena, James and Duncan went through the main doors. The three younger crewmembers looked around in awe. They were in the middle of a beautiful jungle in the middle of the night. The full moon's light was reflecting off the nearby lagoon.

They were standing nearby a huge stone slab, which was surrounded by twenty posts that had small flames on top of them.

"Wow, what is this place?" Lena asked.

"This is the place where they perform the Lea Halalela ceremony," Chakotay replied.

Lena glanced at James, he shrugged, then back at her dad. "The Lee has a lah lah what?"

Chakotay closed his eyes in a grimace, while Kathryn tried not to smirk. "Like mother like..."

"It's named after you, so must be good," Duncan spoke up, smiling.

Kathryn cleared her throat, "not quite."

"Okay, maybe we should just..." Chakotay said to her. They both nodded. Chakotay turned back to Lena, face pained. "Kiara's ill. This ceremony is supposed to help her if the Doctor can't find a treatment."

"Kiara?" Lena scoffed. "What did she do this time, get a paper cut. Where's the Red Alert?"

"She's dying Lena," Kathryn said.

James and Lena stared at her in shock and disbelief. "You've gotta be kidding me," Lena said.

"No, I wish she was. The ceremony however is a one of revival, so it must be done after... it happens. You..." Chakotay said.

"Why the hell do I have to do it?" Lena growled.

Chakotay felt his throat throbbing again. He noticed Kathryn beside him struggling to answer as well. "You have Native American heritage, my tribe's blood running in your veins." Lena stared at him intensely, reminding him of her mother's worst glares. "If I could, I absolutely would. Apparently I'm not strong enough."

"Oh great," Lena said sarcastically.

"The problem is that we can't force you to do it, and you're going to have to see through your anger for her for it to work," Chakotay said.

"I didn't understand that at all," Lena muttered.

"Lena, if you go into that ceremony forced, the gods will sense it and they won't revive Kiara. If you go in angry at her, then the gods are likely to kill you, and not do anything for Kiara," Chakotay said.

Kathryn's head snapped to the left, her eyes wide and piercing. Chakotay melted instantly. "You didn't say Lena would be in danger too."

Chakotay tried to pick himself back up, but the glares from both sides grew more intense. "I... that's how I interpreted it. I could be wrong, I'm sure."

"Dickhead father of the year award goes to, this guy," James commented.

Duncan shook his head and folded his arms, tutting once. "Dickhead," he said right before kicking one of Chakotay's feet. He had to hop for a bit until the pain eased a bit.

"Yes, I don't have any competition or anything," Chakotay muttered, briefly eyeing a smiling proudly James.

Once he was standing on both feet, Kathryn gave him a similar tap making him grit his teeth. "Anyway," she said, sending a glancing hint toward Lena.

"What?" she said, looking confused.

Chakotay sighed in relief. "It's okay. You won't fail, it'll be fine."

Lena made a loud huh sound, both eyebrows raised quizzically. "So I'm supposed to go in all sickly sweet mummy like?"

"You don't have to. Believe it or not but in your own way you do care for Kiara, you just have to believe it for yourself. That at least would be enough," Chakotay said.

"Why would I care about her, she's totally selfish. All me, me, me when it was my life that didn't happen, when she hogged my childhood. Spreading rumours about me and him," Lena said, gesturing her thumb at James. Everyone seemed to grimace in their own way. "It wasn't just me. You as well. How can I forget?"

"Lena, she's not even five years old yet. You can't expect a four year old to act mature, do you?" Kathryn asked.

"That's the same old excuse," Lena muttered.

"It's not an excuse, it's the truth. She may sometimes act the age she looks, but inside is still that four year old child," Kathryn said.

Lena rolled her eyes, "and there it is. You forget that I'm still a kid too. A kid who doesn't remember being four, not really."

Chakotay and Kathryn exchanged similar expressions of guilt. Kathryn turned back to her first. "We haven't forgotten. We just hope that you see how similar you both still are, and well..."

"Spare me," Lena grunted. "I'll still do this leelahaladooda, if you cut it out with the guilt trips."

"Guilt trips?" Chakotay said curiously, and a little offended.

"Stop being legitimately upset at your real identity crisis, you should be over it by now and it's your fault you're not. But Kiara. Your problem is totally lesser cos you're older..." James said as if he were writing a list.

"Yes we get it," Kathryn cut in.

Chakotay stared at James blankly. "Why are you here again?"

"Unlike you guys, he has my back," Lena said huffily.

"Lena," Kathryn said sadly, reaching out to gently grasp her shoulder. "That's not true, we do. We just want what's best for both of you."

"All right, you've made your point. What do I have to do then?" Lena groaned.

Chakotay brought a PADD out of nowhere and he handed it to Lena. She read through it quickly.

"I can't even read this, how am I suppose to chant that?" Lena asked.

"You don't, you have to sing it," Chakotay replied.

James laughed a little. "So that's why Janeway can't do it." Lena smirked to herself.

Kathryn put her hands on her hips and she glared at him. "What's that suppose to mean?" she said angrily.

"It'll wake the dead at least, I suppose," James whispered to Lena and Duncan. They both giggled.

"I still heard that! How dare you!" Kathryn snapped. Chakotay put his hand on her shoulder.

"Calm down Kathryn, don't let him get to you," Chakotay said comfortingly.

"Fine, I don't know why I keep letting him off," Kathryn muttered.

"First," Chakotay said while clearing his throat. "You need to get used to the ceremonial clothing," Chakotay said and he handed another PADD to Lena.

"No, not wearing this. It's not me," Lena moaned.

"Tough, you can't perform a ceremony in your usual clothes. Luckily the ceremony doesn't mention anything about having to have your hair a natural colour," Chakotay said.

Lena rolled her eyes. "I was going to have my hair purple this week for the next Virus single," she said.

"No, orangey red is bad enough," Kathryn muttered.

"Ok, fine," Lena moaned.

"I'd better get back to Sickbay," Kathryn said. She headed towards where the doors used to be. They appeared on command and she walked out.

"You'd better get changed, Lena," Chakotay said. Lena groaned and she headed out too. Chakotay looked at Duncan and James. "Seriously, why did you tag along?" Duncan stuck his tongue out at him. "Kid in tow?"

James' eyebrow raised a bit, he looked on disapprovingly. "Isn't there anything I can do to help here?"

"You'd better not be thinking what I think you're thinking," Chakotay said.

James glanced side to side, then down at his son. "I'm pretty sure I said it." Duncan nodded quickly.

Chakotay sighed a touch impatiently. Neither of the pair had any idea why. "I didn't think this was your usual style." He noticed Duncan about to kick again, so stepped back hurriedly. "Or Duncan's."

"Aaw, I wanna sing," Duncan moaned. Chakotay groaned, and he walked away.

Lena's Quarters, a few hours later:
Lena heard the door chime, and she rushed over to the door. Then she remembered that she was wearing her ceremony outfit: a small turquoise jacket, half sleeved, that was tied in the middle. A long skirt the same colour as the jacket but with a gold, patterned part at the top. Four gold bracelets hanging on both of her wrists. Painted black dots on her forehead, above her nose, and on her chest.

"Give me a minute," she called.

"Oh come on Lena, I need to talk!" Tani's voice yelled from outside.

"As long as you promise not to laugh at me when you do come in," Lena said.

"I'm not in the mood to laugh!" Tani's voice yelled.

Lena sighed, and she opened the door. As soon as Tani stepped inside, Lena headed towards the sofa.

"I didn't know you liked that sort of clothes," Tani said.

Lena groaned, and she sat down. "This top is awful," she muttered.

"Then why wear it?" Tani asked.

"Haven't you heard, I have to perform a damn ritual, this is what I have to wear. I have to get used to it," Lena replied.

"I think it looks nice," Tani muttered, and she sat next to her friend.

"Yeah, but it's not me," Lena said.

"So when's the ceremony?" Tani asked.

"I don't know, it depends on when Kiara actually dies from the illness," Lena replied.

"Erm, why does that sound dodgy?" Tani asked herself.

"Because the ceremony was originally used to revive the dead," Lena replied.

"So you have to wait around for death to come, sounds really nice," Tani said.

"Yeah well, I've been practising for hours, the singing seems the easy part to it," Lena said.

"What's so hard about it then?" Tani asked.

"I can't be angry at Kiara and do the ceremony. I have to forgive her and everything, you know all that kind of rubbish," Lena replied.

"Well when you learn how to forgive her, will you teach me how you did it?" Tani asked.

"Why?" Lena asked.

"I want to forgive Ashley and apologise for what I've done, but I can't," Tani replied.

Lena groaned. "I thought you two had sorted that out."

"I wish we could. So when you do figure out how to forgive and forget, teach me ok," Tani said.

"Erm, I'll keep that in mind," Lena said.

"Thanks Lena," Tani said, she stood up and she left the room.

The next day, Sickbay:
It was early morning, so the room was dark and deserted, more or less. Lena walked into the room, still in her ceremony outfit, and she went over to Kiara's biobed. She was still unconscious.

"Computer, activate the EMH," Lena commanded.

Doctor Jones appeared and he immediately went over to Lena after saying his usual phrase.

"How is she then?" Lena asked.

"Just last night both of her kidneys, and several less vital organs failed. If my calculations are correct the next vital organ to fail will kill her," Doctor Jones replied.

Lena just watched Kiara lying still and pale while she stood in midthought. Doctor Jones slowly headed towards his office.

Somebody rushed into the room which made both Lena and Doctor Jones jump in surprise.

"Doc, I need your help," Ashley said frantically.

Doctor Jones rushed over to him. "What is it?"

"It's Tani, no time to explain," Ashley replied, he rushed back out of the room. Doctor Jones quickly put the mobile emitter on his arm, he and Lena rushed out after Ashley.

They didn't have to go very far. Once they caught up with Ashley. He was kneeling beside Tani who was unconscious on the floor.

Doctor Jones knelt down and he scanned Tani, while Lena just watched nearby.

"What's wrong with her, Doc?" Lena asked.

"Quite a lot of things, we'd better get her to Sickbay," Doctor Jones replied.

Later:
Tani was lying on the biobed beside Kiara's. Lena stood in between both, glancing between them.

"Ok, you want to know what's wrong with her. Well, like I said earlier a lot of things. She's mainly emotionally depressed, but that on it's own didn't make her collapse, obviously. She's got a stomach bug that has to be treated in it's first day because for some reason her own immune systems can't fight it off. As far as I can tell she's had it for two weeks, and that's what caused her to collapse," Doctor Jones said.

"Why wouldn't she want it treated?" Ashley asked.

"I mentioned the depression mainly because I think that has something to do with it," Doctor Jones replied.

Lena covered her face with her right hand, and she turned away from the biobed.

"I don't understand, why would she want this to happen to her?" Ashley asked.

Lena turned back around. "She came to my quarters last night, she seemed out of place. She said something about her wanting to apologise to you about something."

Ashley frowned in confusion. "Lena, that doesn't make any sense. We talked it out, it's fine. We're fine."

"I don't know, and I frankly think you have no clue what so ever," Lena said.

"No need to take it out on me, I feel bad enough already," Ashley muttered.

"Would you two calm down. I can treat her still, but she can't get over this depression unless both of you help her," Doctor Jones said.

Lena rapidly shook her head, "but, she's been okay. She was getting better, accepting what she did, making amends."

"I noticed too," Ashley said. "What else can we do?"

"Just continue to be her friends, she certainly needs them," Doctor Jones said.

Lena focused on Kiara's bed looking sullen. "Yeah."

Captains Personal Log Supplemental, Take Four: Doctor Jones has reported that the ceremony should take place in an hour, Chakotay and I have gathered eighteen other crewmembers to join.

Holodeck 1:
Lena along with Tani and Ashley came in through the main doors and they met up with James and Jessie.

"We heard what happened, are you ok?" James asked.

"I'll live," Tani muttered. She gestured her head towards Lena as a hint.

Jessie nodded, taking the hint. "Lena, I'm sorry, was it..." she hesitated.

Lena sighed. "Her last remaining lung collapsed, luckily she was still sedated so she didn't feel any pain."

"Are you ok?" Jessie asked.

"I thought I'd be happy if she did die," Lena replied, and she tried to smile at her own joke, but failed.

Jessie suddenly perked up. "How about a group hug?"

"Er James, she's scaring me," Lena said.

James smiled awkwardly, "yeah just roll with it."

"Group hug?" Jessie said, sounding upset. James and Lena looked at each other and they sighed. They hugged Jessie. Lena dragged Tani into the hug as well. Ashley tried to keep a straight face as he watched.

Chakotay walked over to the hugging group. "It's time," he said calmly. The group separated, and Lena fixed her hair which had somehow gotten out of place.

"Lets get this over with," Lena said.

Twenty main characters were standing around the stone slab, in a large circle. Each character was standing in front of one of the posts. Lena was standing behind the stone slab. Kiara was lying on it with her arms crossed over her chest. Next to her head was 3 strange and small bottles.

The circle of characters, in order, played out like this: Kathryn, Chakotay, B'Elanna, Tom, Bryan, Naomi, Faye, Triah, Tani, James, Jessie, Danny, Ian, Claire, Harry, Emma, Lilly, Lee, Lisa & Doctor Jones.

Each person had to hold hands with whoever was standing on either sides of them. There were a few complaints about that, but they all received a glare off Kathryn.

Lena picked up one of the bottles and she opened it. She poured the powdery contents onto her palm and she held her hand out above Kiara. "Fatshe leso," she said.

"Fatshe leso," everyone repeated.

Lena slowly turned her hand over, and the powder fell onto Kiara.

Some holographic people in the background started playing gentle music. As soon as they did that Lena pulled a microphone from behind her back.

Kathryn sighed, and she shook her head. "Of course," she muttered under her breath. Several of the cast tried to keep a straight face.

Lena started to sing. During a later verse she opened another one of the bottles with her spare arm, and she did the same with thing with that bottle. Everyone else chanted along, repeating her words.

As the group chanted or sang, the fire on the posts got larger and brighter.

Lena opened the final bottle, and instead of dropping the powder in the same place, she blew it off her hand. The powder was carried by the wind, and it made the wind look glittery.

Everyone chanted the previous lines while Lena sang something else. Once they finished the chant, the group closed their eyes. Lena held her arms outstretched, and she looked up at the sky, with her eyes closed.

The wind turned a pale blue, and it circled the group, bringing a strange chill to their bones. The wind continued to circle around the group a couple of times before it finally settled over Kiara's body. Lena opened her eyes, but the others kept theirs shut.

The group continued to chant. Meanwhile Lena was singing separate words from the song. Suddenly a white flash took over the entire area, and it made everyone, but Lena, fall to the ground and lost consciousness. She continued to sing words from the verses as the cloud just settled closer to Kiara.

Cuts started appearing on Lena's arms, and face. She fell onto her knees as scratches and deep cuts continued to cover her body. She tried to take in all the pain, and she pulled herself back onto her feet. Using all her available strength she cried out the last words. Once she did that the blue cloud looked like it dove into Kiara's body. As soon as that happened Lena fell back onto her knees.

Kiara slowly opened her eyes, and she looked around, obviously confused with her surroundings. She slowly sat up and she saw everybody unconscious on the ground. Then she saw Lena on her knees, obviously very tired and in pain. She looked over at Lena, and she clicked her fingers. Lena's wounds disappeared in an instant.

Kiara walked over to Lena and she held out her hand. Lena weakly looked up, she slowly took Kiara's hand, and Kiara tried to pull her back onto her feet.

"It worked," Lena weakly said. Kiara grinned and she threw her arms around her. Lena was slow in reacting, but she eventually hugged Kiara back.

Everyone else started to wake up. Most of them looked confused as they looked around.

"What the hell happened?" Emma asked.

"God knows, I'm not doing that again," Triah replied.

Kathryn and Chakotay saw Kiara and Lena, and they rushed over to them. The two girls broke apart. Kathryn just started hugging Lena tightly.

"I'm so proud of you," Kathryn said quietly.

"Thanks," Lena said.

Chakotay hugged both of them. Kiara, not wanting to be left out, joined in.

"Ooh, another group hug," Jessie said happily. She tried to go over to them, but James and Tani held her back.

"No Jess, it's a family hug, not us," James said.

Jessie eventually gave up, and she quickly turned serious. "It's so sad, I think I'm going to cry," she said and she did so.

"What is up with her?" Tani asked.

"I dunno, but her quick change of emotions really are starting to worry me," James replied. Doctor Jones was about to say something but he decided against it. What he doesn't know won't hurt him, or will it? There's a nice rhetorical question for everyone.

Two days later, the Ready Room:
Kathryn, Chakotay, Kiara and Lena were all sitting on the sofa. Kathryn had a cup of coffee, Chakotay had tea, Lena and Kiara had Cherry Coke.

"You didn't tell me about those scars and stuff," Lena said as she rubbed her arm.

"Sorry, you weren't supposed to. If I told you it wouldn't of been much of a test, now would it?" Chakotay said.

"Test? You mean those gods were testing me. For what?" Lena asked.

"To see if you're sincere, and to prove your bravery," Chakotay replied.

"So how did the ceremony work then? When I was about to do the ceremony I didn't feel any different about her," Lena asked.

Chakotay shrugged his large shoulders. "Maybe her death made you think twice without even realising it. You didn't want her to stay dead so you naturally did your best. The gods probably sensed that, and they gave Kiara's soul back."

"I can't believe it, after all we've said to each other, you did that for me," Kiara said.

"I didn't have much of a choice. It was either me, or nobody. Actually, I do want to apologise for acting so, annoying," Lena said quietly.

Kiara shook her head, and she laughed slightly. "So do I, for being a heartless cow," Kiara said. The two girls laughed. Kathryn and Chakotay joined them.

Lena stood up. "I'd better be going, I have someone to see," she said.

"Ok, see you later," Kathryn said. The three watched Lena leave the room.

Outside Tani's Quarters:
Lena arrived outside, surprised to find Ashley there.

"What are you doing?" Lena asked. Ashley jumped slightly and he turned to her.

"If she wants to apologise about something, then I should apologise to her first. It may help her a little," Ashley replied.

"I thought you already did," Lena said.

"Yeah, I did. But I have to apologise for something else," Ashley said.

"Well, I'll leave you to it. If you get the chance, tell Tani I briefly visited," Lena said.

"Will do," Ashley said. Lena continued down the corridor.

Tani's door opened. Tani saw who her visitor was and she walked away. Ashley followed her into the room.

"How are you doing?" he asked.

"Like I've said before, I'll live," Tani replied without even turning to look at him.

"Well if it means anything to you, I want to say I'm sorry," Ashley said.

The room was quiet for about half a minute. Tani turned around to look his way.

"What for?" she asked.

"For teasing you for all those years. I was just joking on with you, but that's not the point," Ashley replied.

Tani looked confused, and she sat down on the sofa. Ashley went closer to the sofa.

"Thanks, I appreciate that," Tani managed to say.

"Well, I'd better go then," Ashley said, and he turned to leave.

"Wait," Tani blurted out which stopped Ashley in his tracks. He turned around to look her way again. "I'm sorry too," Tani said.

"About what?" Ashley asked.

"I... I was jealous, so jealous that I thought everything was about and against me. I really thought you only friended me because of Lena. Then I... no it's stupid," Tani replied.

Ashley chuckled, "it's okay. I think I understand."

"You do? I don't," Tani said.

Ashley couldn't help but smile, "I think."

"Well okay, we're in the same boat," Tani said. She smiled herself. Ashley grinned at her.

"I was wondering where that went," Ashley said.

"Where what went?" Tani asked.

"Your smile, it disappeared for a long time. I thought it went on a long holiday or something," Ashley replied.

Tani couldn't help but laugh a little. "You haven't changed a bit, have you?"

"Nope, and if you're still willing to put up with me, we can be friends again," Ashley said.

"Hmm, I have to read your fanfic first before I decide," Tani said.

"Denied," Ashley tried to say seriously, but he was smirking.

Tani pretended to huff about it, "you drive a hard bargain."

"I know." Ashley held is hand out. "Then do we have a deal, friends?"

Tani grinned and she shook his hand. "Friends."

THE END

Previous Episode <<  >> Next Episode