Lost to Time

Keten led Captain Praxas and Tey'un to Voyager's mess hall, which had been converted into a small gift shop and snack kiosk. Replicators offered "Voyager Specialties" like "Neelix Cheese," "Enaran Algae Puffs," and "Janeway's Black Coffee." The cozy atmosphere contrasted with the somber story Keten was about to tell.

"So, Tuvix?" Captain Praxas asked as he settled down with a cheese platter featuring various Delta Quadrant cheeses, meats, and fruits.

Keten nodded, sipping his coffee. "Yes, back on Stardate 49655, what was supposed to be a simple away mission involving Commander Tuvok and Neelix to collect samples of a special orchid turned into something far more complex."

Tey'un smirked. "From what I've read about Voyager, that seemed to be the case with every away mission."

Keten chuckled. "Pretty much."

Captain Praxas looked up from his cheese plate. "Why did they want this orchid?"

Keten explained, "The orchid, which you saw in the hydroponics bay, was rich in vitamins and minerals, which were crucial for the nutrition of the Voyager crew while they were stranded and low on supplies trying to get back to Earth." He sipped his coffee again, preparing to delve deeper. "The orchid reproduces through symbiogenesis, where an organism merges with another species to produce a hybrid. This usually only occurred with microcellular organisms."

Confused, the Captain asked, "But what caused this Tuvix anomaly?"

Keten continued, "Being deconstructed during beaming allowed the symbiogenesis enzymes of the plant to react with Neelix's and Tuvok's DNA in the matter stream, creating a single organism at the point of rematerialization. When Tuvok and Neelix beamed aboard, they reappeared as Tuvix, a perfect hybrid of Tuvok and Neelix. Two people fused into one, creating a unique individual with both their memories and personalities."

Taken aback, Anzyl asked, "What did the crew do? Did they immediately try to separate him? How did they fix it?"

"It took The Doctor almost a month," Keten nodded, "but he found a way to reverse the accident using a radioactive isotope to attach to the DNA strands of one of the merged species. By beaming out the segregated DNA strands, the transporter could restore the two individuals. But this procedure would save Tuvok and Neelix while effectively ending Tuvix's existence. By then, Tuvix had been a member of the crew for almost a month, and everyone had grown fond of him. He was smart like Tuvok, but outgoing and personable like Neelix."

Anzyl's eyes widened. "So Captain Janeway straight up murdered Tuvix?"

"It was one of her darkest days," Keten said solemnly. "They were stranded in the Delta Quadrant, and losing even a single individual was detrimental to the crew's welfare. They didn't have the means to rectify the issue fully."

Intrigued by how his lieutenant knew so much about the case, Anzyl pulled up the data pad that Tey'un had been looking at. Surprised, but not entirely shocked, he said, "This case is 'highly' classified, Keten. How in the world is one of my junior officers able to access Captain-and-above clearance files?"

Suddenly turning bright purple from embarrassment, Keten scratched his head, chuckling sheepishly. "Aha… well… I am still Harry Kim… And Harry Kim is now a Captain of the USS Rhode Island…"

The Captain blinked, not liking where this was going.

"And so… we both share the exact same voice…" Keten sank into his chair, "And since I'm him… and he's me… it didn't take a whole lot to guess his command codes… they are exactly what I would have chosen…"

Anzyl stared at him, unamused. "Never again, Keten. Or else I'll be calling Captain Kim with some interesting news the first chance I get. Those files are classified for a reason."

"I know, I know!" Keten pleaded his case. "But ever since I came back to Starfleet from the Kobali, I wanted to read up as much as I possibly could on my old… current… clone… Gah, this is confusing." He held his hand to his forehead. "I wanted to read up on what happened to Voyager and my friends, but most of the files, like Tuvix here, were classified. I didn't mean to cause any harm, and it's not my fault that Tuvix died. Right?"

Tey'un set his juice down. "Tuvix didn't need to die. And he probably isn't dead anyways," he stated matter-of-factly.

"What?!" Keten perked up. "Not dead? How? They split him back into Tuvok and Neelix!"

Tey'un went back to reading his data pad. "If his unique bio-pattern is still in the computer's database, and the organic matter is still present in the ship's carbon storehouses, just transport Tuvix back out. Transporter tech has skyrocketed since Voyager's era. The Nexus could do it no problem."

Intrigued by the notion, Anzyl asked, "So you're saying, Tey'un, if we got our hands on the complete transporter pattern of Mr. Tuvix and the transporter material from Voyager, and took it back to Nexus…" He pointed at an empty seat next to them. "We could bring back Mr. Tuvix, healthy and whole?"

Tey'un nodded. "It would be no different than suspended transporter animation, just like what the doc did to you to save your life those months ago. Just this would be slightly different. Since he never rematerialized, it would be like he was transporting from Voyager to Nexus... just 40 years later."

Keten sat up straight. "Computer, access all medical files, transporter logs, and any other files regarding deceased Voyager crew member Tuvix, and send them to Captain Anzyl Praxas aboard the USS Nexus. Authorization Kim - Delta - Niner."

Anzyl scowled at him with a "Did you really just do that?" look.

Keten smiled sheepishly and shrugged. "Last time, I promise."

—

The weekend ended, repairs and maintenance were completed, and the Nexus crew returned to their ship and home.

As the crew settled back in, in the main transporter room, Tey'un manned the transporter terminal alongside Keten. Captain Praxas, Commander Neil, Chief Science Officer Nolan, and Chief Medical Officer T stood around, witnessing either a landmark breakthrough in transporter medical science or an abysmal failure.

Tey'un voiced his actions as his fingers flew across the transporter terminal. "Pattern has been fully uploaded into the transporter, as has the requisite matter from Voyager's storage units." He looked at Anzyl. "Ready for transport on your command, sir."

Anzyl gave him the go-ahead nod.

In a blinding flash of white light, a Vulcan and Talaxian hybrid appeared, wearing a decorated black and gold Starfleet uniform. He had a Talaxian forehead, Vulcan pointed ears, dark tanned skin with darker spots, and balding black African hair. His piercing red eyes opened, and with a gasp, he took his first breath of air in 40 years.

"Mr. Tuvix…" Keten gasped in astonishment.