Disclaimer: I own neither Star Trek nor its characters; I just take them out to play with a promise to bring them home happier than they were.
Author's Note: This story was originally for the Trek Big Bang being run on tumblr but, due to several unfortunate situations beyond my control, I was forced to withdraw. I love the plot of this too much to stick it away somewhere so I've decided to go ahead and post it anyways. It's unbeta'd, so all mistakes are mine.
"Report!"
Powering through the doors as they hiss open, a very angry Kathryn Janeway storms onto the bridge. Her hair is mussed, her uniform is ripped, and her cheek sports a rather nasty looking scratch. The expression on her face is terrifying in the flashing lights of the red alert, her eyes sparking as dangerously as the consoles she passes. The ship rocks again as she makes her way past Tuvok's station but she regains her balance gracefully, coming around the railing and making it to her chair just as the Vulcan speaks.
"A ship has decloaked on our starboard side and fired two torpedoes without warning, Captain."
Kathryn nods her acknowledgment as she leans over and taps a few buttons on the center console, noticing as she glances up that her First Officer has blood running down his cheek . A frown creases her brow but she says nothing, her attention demanded by damage reports popping up on her console. The list is extensive and the damage done by the unprovoked attack will almost certainly take days to repair, but she can't worry about that just yet; she still has an angry alien ship firing shots.
"Target their weapons array and knock the damn things out!" she barks, watching on the viewscreen as the alien ship spews sparks from a direct hit. There's a moment of stillness as she waits for the next barrage of weapons fire but there's nothing; Tuvok's aim is, as always, perfect. Harry's console beeps and the young man speaks up.
"Captain, we're being hailed."
"Onscreen, Lieutenant," Kathryn orders as she stands and squares her shoulders, her hands going to her hips and her chin lifting. The alien that appears looks just as frazzled as she does and Kathryn can see that the alien's bridge is in ruins.
"You are trespassing on T'chanian space!" squawks the alien. It's an interesting species, appearing nearly human except for its intensely teal-colored skin. Its bright purple eyes are wide and unblinking as it sizes up Kathryn, and she has the distinct feeling that it's as surprised by her as she is by it. Holding up one hand in a placating gesture, she shakes her head and speaks as diplomatically as she can while surrounded by smoke and sparking consoles.
"We're simply trying to get home and certainly don't mean to cause any trouble. We're far from home and would like to pass through your space peacefully."
The alien stares at her for another long moment before tilting its head. He studies for a few moments and his expression is serious as he seems to take into consideration the circumstances before he asks, "Your ship, what is it called? What is your name?"
"I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager," Kathryn replies, glancing back at Chakotay with an upraised eyebrow. He returns the expression and Kathryn shrugs slightly before looking back at the alien. "As I said, we're a long way from home and just trying to make it back to the Alpha Quadrant."
The total shift in the alien is shocking; its skin turns a vivid green and its eyes go as round as a dinner plate.
"Voyager? Oh my Goddess, you're Voyager? You're the famed Captain Janeway?! An honor, oh its such an honor to have you here in T'chanian space!"
Kathryn's caught completely off guard, her jaw dropping slightly at the enthusiasm in the alien's words. She's prepared for a long and lengthy argument about how they really don't want a fight, that they are just trying to make it home, but the alien's excitement is utterly unexpected.
"Yes, I'm Captain Janeway and this is Voyager. You seem to have me at a disadvantage; you know my name and that of my ship but I don't know yours," she replies politely, curious as to how this unusual first contact is going to play out. She watches, amused, as the alien bows low.
"Please pardon my lack of manners, Captain Janeway, I mean no disrespect. I'm Captain L'kand of the T'chanian Empire. My ship, the R'tal, is a patrol ship. I hope your ship wasn't damaged; it's our way to fire on unknown ships to scare them off. I apologize most humbly for any damage Voyager has received and I'd like to offer you the use of our spacedock, as well as any supplies you require. I'll escort you to the T'chanian home world, a place you and your crew would be welcomed. It's a 4 day journey but they'll be expecting us."
Kathryn's eyebrows rise with each sentence and by the end of the alien's speech, she's pleasantly surprised and cautiously optimistic. Voyager hasn't come across a friendly species in quite some time, though that's hardly new. She's gotten a memo from the Messhall saying Chell needs fresh foodstuffs and B'Elanna's latest reports from Engineering said the ship's supply of deuterium is running low, so this welcoming species is just what she's been needing.
"We'd be most grateful, Captain L'kand. We'll follow you to your homeworld," she replies softly, smiling as her posture finally relaxes. When the communication link cuts off, she passes the Bridge to Chakotay and heads for her Ready Room to coordinate the repair crews and enjoy a well-earned cup of coffee.
=/\=
Admiral Janeway's plan failed; Voyager didn't make it home via the Borg's transwarp hub. The Queen, in her last few moments before the Admiral's neurolytic pathogen caused her body to lose cohesion, redirected every transwarp corridor back to the Delta Quadrant. It'd been a crushing blow to have her ship fight for its survival only to come out back among unfamiliar stars; after all of their preparation, all of their struggles and hard work, the utter vindictiveness of the Queen in her dying moments left them stranded again so far from home. They'd reemerged only ten lightyears from the nebula they'd entered and faced the daunting prospect of another thirty thousand lightyears before they'd reach the Alpha Quadrant.
Kathryn had been so crushed by the failed attempt that she hadn't left her quarters for nearly a week. It'd been as bad as when she'd faced the Void; guilt and self-doubt were her constant companions. Chakotay had been, as always, the only thing keeping her sane. He'd come to her quarters every night after his shift on the Bridge and they'd sat together in the dark, sometimes talking but words weren't always needed. There was a cozy silence they'd perfected after years of being friends and they found that they didn't always need to vocalize their thoughts. It was familiar and comfortable, and something they both enjoyed. And there was something else, simmering right under the surface; that zing of attraction was back and for the first time in a very long time, Kathryn let herself be affected by it.
The sound of the door chime brings her out of her reverie and she calls for the person to enter as she stands to fetch herself another cup of coffee. Chakotay grins as he enters and she feels her stomach flutter at the sight. It's not a new reaction by any stretch- he's always had this affect - but lately she finds that her attraction to him won't be pushed into the back of her mind now that she's embraced it. She also finds that she's not at all bothered by it.
"What can I do for you, Commander?" she asks, making it to the replicator and looking over her shoulder with an eyebrow raised in question. He nods at her as he sits on the low sofa beneath the viewport, waving the padd he's brought with him.
"I've got the Doctor's report here. Nothing more serious than a scraped elbow, I'm happy to say. Lieutenant Nicoletti won't even have a scar when the Doctor finishes with her. "
Kathryn exhales slowly as she nods, turning from the replicator to hand him his tea. She settles on the couch next to him, cradling her cup of coffee in her hands as she shakes her head.
"I won't ever understand why the aliens in this damn quadrant shoot first and ask questions later," she huffs. "Thankfully no one was seriously injured."
"Thankfully our Captain is well known and held in such high regard," Chakotay retorts, his attempt at a serious expression ruined by the smile he can't hide. Kathryn laughs and shakes her head, pushing against him with her shoulder as she rolls her eyes.
"Oh please. I thought the alien's head was going to explode when he realized he'd been shooting at Voyager. I wonder how they know about us," she muses, her brow creasing for a moment. Shaking her head, she smiles up at him and reaches over to pat his knee. "I won't look a gift horse in the mouth though. Voyager needs supplies and her crew needs shore leave."
"Will her captain be taking shore leave as well?" It's a simple question, familiar even; he's asked her the same question at every planet they took shore leave on. In the beginning of the trip, before she'd been weighed down so thoroughly by the stress and responsibility, she took shore leave with her first officer. They'd explore the alien worlds and enjoy being off the ship. But as the time in the Delta Quadrant passed, she started to beg off, telling him that she just had far too much work to do to justify taking any sort of time to herself. This time, however, she nods and grins.
"She will, actually. As a matter of fact, I was wondering if you'd like to reinstate our tradition of taking shore leave together?" she asks and is pleased to see she's caught him by surprise.
"I'd like that," he answers, nodding as his smile widens. "I'm sure I can find some sort of trouble for us to get in to."
"Nothing too serious, I hope. I do have a reputation to uphold, you know." She's able to keep her expression serious for all of ten seconds before she laughs. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have work I have to do so I can take shore leave with my terribly devious first officer."
"Of course," he replies with a smirk, standing and heading for the door. Right before he trips the sensor, he turns back to look at her with a smile. "Dinner tonight, my treat?"
"Sounds perfect. I'll see you around 1700," she says, watching him nod and leave before she lets herself sit back and grin brightly.