Bina Walburn
Jina (Sequel to Coming Home)
Notes: I DO NOT OWN TREK OR THE CHARACTERS.
This is my second fanfiction story to have a religious theme in it. This story also will explore another Asian religion, Jain Dharma (commonly but incorrectly referred to as Jainism). We know that Kathryn Janeway is not a religious person. She seems to worship science. But what happens when she is shown another path, another destiny? What if her seven years in the Delta Quadrant was not to be her crowning achievement? What if those seven years were preparation for the most fantastic journey in her life?
--Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state of supreme being is called 'Jina' (Conqueror or Victor).
Admiral Janeway sighed. She didn't know what prompted that physical reaction. But, nevertheless, it still came out. She did not have a problem with the sigh. It was a human reaction, and that was what she was. The great Janeway, known in all four of the quadrants in space was that. She was flesh and blood. To her crew and the Federation, she was superhuman. She didn't feel superhuman, least of all today. The universe had shown her nepotism for far too long. She knew this couldn't go on forever. She was tired...Tired of having to play the perfect hero. Tired of wondering where Kathryn culminated and the Admiral began...Or was there a Kathryn anymore? She shook her head. It was disparaging to put it mildly. She didn't know what had been MORE of a mistake... playing to the almighty Starfleet, OR Starfleet thinking they could have her ALL to themselves. The next sound that came out of her was not a sigh, but a snort. It was an uncouth sound. She knew that something had to change. She could feel the life of the baby that shared half of Chakotay's DNA inside of her. "Where are Chakotay's and my spirit guides?" She heard an anomaloussound from the other side of the room. It was her older half, the Admiral. Or at least it looked like a darn good replica of her. It WAS the Admiral, but fast forward twenty-five years into the future. The younger Admiral sighed...again. That elder Janeway that had showed up uninvited onto the captain's ship in the Delta Quadrant. The less seasoned Human crossed her arms. That Janeway had a look of repugnance on her face. The veteran Janeway had an answer. "The spirit guides have gleaned that you are too stubborn for them..." It took all of the pregnant woman's control not to turn red with umbrage. The other admiral held up her hand to try to silence her. Instead, she was rewarded with the famous former Captain Janeway death glare. She ignored the piercing look and shook her head. "Really, I would have expected better from someone as industrious as you." Both admirals glared at each other.
The elder admiral saw her opening and opened her mouth. "You will have to find your own path." The seasoned Janeway, without another moment of vacillation, made a snapping sound and was gone. Kathryn let loose another snort, as soon as the blinding light vanished. There was a pregnant pause as another identical blinding light appeared for a moment. This time a carved piece of wood landed gently in front of the Admiral.