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Title: Canaan Land Part one
Author: Arcpus/Helmboy
Codes: VOY, C/P, J/T, K/7, A/G, others, R, Challenge Story, Mature, Slash (Multi trek; Voyager, Next Generation; Deep Space 9) AU
Disclaimer: Paramount exercises sole ownership of Star Trek: Voyager. This story is mine but the characters, minus some (Thank you, Myrna darling, belong to Paramount. I borrow them for artistic purposes and no money is being made by doing so. Thank you.
Summary: An epic return to the Alpha Quadrant by Voyager and her crew.
Notes: This was a suggestion that grew into an arc that is stretching from here to infinity. This is my magnum opus, the one that really made writing make sense to me. This is the start of a family series that is AU and enlarges the whole concept of Voyager past the show, which it needs.
Feedback: will be answered.
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===Bridge, Voyager, Delta Quad...
Cheyenne and Naomi stood unobtrusively at the back of the Bridge as they entered the wormhole, their fingers entwined tightly together as they fell through the chaos of distorted time. The wormhole had asserted itself three days ago and after much testing, they knew it would take them home. Papa and Daddy had discussed it with them, long hours of their evenings having been spent asking questions and diffusing anxiety.
Chakotay seemed unfazed by the events to come and he transmitted to his children all the calm he didn't feel. He was as good with facades as Tom. It had all come too fast even though they had been gone for fifteen years. Chey was thirteen now and the boys were approaching the middle of eleven. All that they had ever known was the Delta Quadrant.
Now they would enter their ancestral space and see their home worlds again. What would be there and how would they be received? Chakotay didn't know but he was determined that his children would be safe. Chakotay had relented to Cheyenne's pleading to be allowed to 'be a little mouse in the corner' of the Bridge for the traverse, drawing a smirk from Tom as they donned their dress uniforms that morning. Four very put out boys were sent to the observation deck with the rest of the children and non-shift personnel as Cheyenne joined by Naomi Wildman, now a willowy young woman, Chakotay and Tom went to the Bridge for maybe the very last time as vagabonds.
===Star Fleet HQ, San Francisco...
"Admiral, I have some news for you."
A young and very good-looking Vulcan Commander stood before Owen Paris, a padd in his hand and told in his emotionless way that his one and only son may have just been found after long years lost in the Delta Quadrant. Owen nodded, taking the padd and the Vulcan left the room. Reading it through, Owen tossed it on his desk, leaning back in his chair, a clear view of the San Francisco Bay shining in mid afternoon sun behind him.
Tom was found. He may be coming home. He sat and stared at the wall, a torrent of emotion washing through him. Found. Sitting forward, Owen Paris commed his home. "Paris residence. Can I help you?"
"Lisa, put Mrs. Paris on please..."
They entered Federation territory, their identification beacons emitting their signature and found themselves surrounded by Federation starships. Five ships fully armed surrounded Voyager, their menace intentional. The screen flickered and a man's face appeared. "Identify yourself."
The Captain stood up straight and moved to the conn. "I am Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Star Ship Voyager. We have been lost in the Delta Quadrant for fifteen years. We have returned home."
For a moment, there was a flicker of emotion on the older man's face and then he nodded. "Explain how we can detect Borg technology on your ship."
"We traversed Borg space and had to salvage and repair what we could. We have adapted Borg technology to help us."
"I see." The man's eyes flicked from face to face as he scanned Voyager's bridge. "Your First Officer?"
Chakotay rose and moved to stand beside Janeway. "This is Commander Chakotay, my First Officer," she said.
The man stared hard at Chakotay and turned his gaze on Janeway. "You have a Maquis First Officer."
Janeway tensed. "Commander Chakotay has my complete confidence. We would not have made it home without him."
Tom tensed and glanced at Chakotay who stood silently, his emotion well hidden to all but the most practiced eye. Tom could not remember seeing him so tense.
"Captain, Commander, I would like to have you beam over to my ship so that we may talk."
For a moment, they didn't move and then Janeway nodded. Turning she gave Tuvok the conn and then moved toward the lift.
"Lower your shields, Captain. We will beam you from the Bridge."
Janeway paused and nodded, moving over to stand beside Chakotay once more. In a brief instant, they vanished.
===Paris Home, San Francisco...
Miriam Paris stared at the window tears streaming down her face as she contemplated seeing her only son once again. It was almost too much to hope.
Tom.
Home.
Those two words had never sounded so sweet. Owen had called her and told her in his guarded way that Tom may have returned from the DQ with Voyager. She looked at the holo-picture of Tom taken on graduation day at Star Fleet Academy, his smiling face and shining blue eyes burned into her heart. He was her prodigal. He was her only son. It would be impossible to count the number of tears she had wept in the fifteen years he had been gone. She had lived in an endless state of pain and anxiety since Caldik Prime, her fear, terror and hurt for him her constant companion. She could not reach him after Caldik. She had stood by his side, his hand tightly held in hers as they stripped the one thing from her boy that he craved the most, a chance to be a pilot in Star Fleet. It had been the most terrible, bitter and excruciating moment of her life.
Until the treason trial.
Turning from the window, she walked over and sat down the picture in her hands pressed against her chest as she wandered down painful trails in her mind. He had been caught running guns or something. She really didn't know. She had hurried from a dig on a border planet and made it in time to see him convicted of treason. She sat anguished and broken watching him all alone once again.
She only had a brief moment to hold him and tell him that she loved him with all her heart before they led him away to prison. She had gone to her home and had a breakdown, destroying much of their house in her rage and anguish. Owen had not been there for the court martial and he had not come to the trial. It had estranged them, driven a wedge between them that had never repaired. They slept in separate bedrooms and led separate lives, staying together because it took too much energy to leave.
In her mother's heart, her son lived even when it wasn't clear that they would ever return. His sweet smiles and openfaced wonderment as a small boy filled her dreams. They went on digs together, played in the sand at the beach. She taught him about animals and plants, how to build houses out of blocks. She watched his prodigious talents with machines and flying develop with a sense of maternal pride and a tiger-like need to protect this child grew within her. This was her most endangered cub. She would protect him with her life. But she hadn't. She couldn't. In the end, the failure of it nearly killed her.
When the news had come to them over some alien array or other that Voyager had survived and was trying to get home she had nearly come apart. Families were told and asked to prepare messages. Owen refused so Miriam had made one, pouring her love, hopes and dreams into a long message for Tom. It had been sent over the array using her husband's signature. She wanted to make sure it reached him. An Admiral commanded priority treatment, she knew and for the first time in her marriage to Owen she traded on his rank. The message was signed Owen Paris, Admiral. She knew Tommy would know she was waiting. She said so in her message...
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Canaan Land Part Two
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===Bridge, Voyager...
For a moment, Cheyenne stood paralyzed at the sight of Papa disappearing with Aunt Kathryn. She dropped Naomi's hand and ran to Tom throwing her arms around his shoulders as she stared at the view of armed Federation star ships on the screen. "Why are they treating us like this? What did we do wrong?"
Tom punched a button and pulled his daughter around, slipping his arm around her slender waist. "We didn't do anything wrong. It's just a normal precaution," he lied.
"Why did they take Papa and Aunt Kathryn like this?"
The lift door swished and B'Elanna Torres-Janeway moved tensely onto the bridge. She stared at the view screen and then Tuvok, her anxiety very clear along with her rage. "I *knew* they would do this. They are going to take the Maquis away."
"Lt. Torres, you do not know anything of the kind," Tuvok said moving from his station to Janeway's chair.
"You don't know that. Look!" She gestured at the screen, at the menacing ships that arrayed themselves around Voyager. "They have taken Kathryn haven't they, and Chako-" B'Elanna turned her head and stared into the frightened eyes of her god daughter. She stopped, licking her lips and sighed. "I...I just..."
"We know, B'El," Tom said pulling Cheyenne into his lap. She slipped her arms around Tom's shoulders and buried her face in his neck. He could feel wetness against his skin as he gently rubbed her back. B'Elanna walked over and sat tensely in Chakotay's chair, her anger contained but not extinguished. She still could destroy something but not in front of children. They would wait and see.
===Somewhere on a Federation ship...
The world coalesced around them and Janeway and Chakotay found themselves in a Sick Bay surrounded by armed men. A tall woman with chestnut hair scanned them with a tricorder of a design Kathryn had never seen before. Apparently a lot had changed since they had left. The man from the screen, compact and tense stood in the middle of the security team waiting for the doctor to pronounce whatever she would. A strangely colored man, humanoid with light skin and yellow eyes stood next to him, his stare unnerving to them. Finally, the woman nodded and the man relaxed. He stepped forward extending his hand to Kathryn. "Welcome aboard the Enterprise. I am Captain Jean-Luc Picard."
Kathryn shook his hand, containing her relief. He shook hands with Chakotay. "You are Chakotay. I have heard a lot about you."
"And I, you, Captain." Chakotay returned easily much more easily than he felt.
Picard turned to the woman and introduced her as Dr. Beverly Crusher. The odd-looking man he introduced as Commander Data. Kathryn didn't ask about him. That would keep for later. God only knew what new species belonged to the Federation after fifteen years away. A small woman and a tall man stood behind them and Chakotay recognized the man right away. The big stranger moved toward him and extended his hand, a smile on his handsome face. "Hello, Chakotay. It's been a long time."
Chakotay allowed a small smile and a firm clasp. "Hello, Will."
"You two know each other?" The small woman asked.
"Since Academy days," Will said his grin widening. "Allow me to introduce Deanna Troi, our ship's counselor."
They shook hands, Troi very much aware of the unease both Voyager officers concealed. But that was all it was, unease. She smiled at the Captain, their prearranged signal for all clear.
Picard relaxed and turned to Janeway. "Captain, Commander, would you join me in my ready room. We have some talking to do."
"And my ship? Will you stand down your weapons?" Janeway straightened meeting Picard's gaze steadily.
For a moment, he hesitated and then he smiled. Turning to Riker he nodded. Will flashed a smile at Chakotay and left.
"After you, Captain." Picard said graciously.
"Oh by all means, Captain, after you." Janeway gave him a dazzling smile and followed him out the door, Chakotay silently behind her.
===Observation Lounge, Voyager...
Four pairs of brown eyes stared out the window as four identical young boys sat on their knees, their elbows resting on the back of the couch in the observation deck watching Federation might. It did not occur to them that they were being held. It did not occur to them that they were being aimed at. All they could see were five very cool, very big and very Federation ships.
"I really like that big one. It's a Constitution class." Tim sighed and leaned forward attempting to detect the communications array of the mighty Enterprise.
"I like Voyager best," Tom said his eyes roving the smaller ship next to Enterprise. "I think we could whip their butts."
Chakotay and Tim snorted. "You are so full of it."
Tom turned and stared at them, his eyes filled with Paris perversity. "We whipped the Borg and Species 8472 didn't we?"
For a moment, no one answered. Then they all turned their eyes to the view port. "We sure did," Tim murmured softly.
===Voyager, Bridge...
"Thank you, sweetie.
" Harry took the cup of coffee from Cheyenne and gave his god daughter an encouraging smile. Chey smiled in spite of herself and moved off to give coffee to other crew. Naomi and Chey were being kept busy. It would be for the silent adults arrayed around the room watching the view screen with mixed dread and hope to worry for them.
===Observation Lounge, Voyager...
K'Karn Torres-Janeway, all of three years old crawled up and sat on his knees, leaning on his elbows, eye-balling the four boys who he worshipped like gods. Andrew slipped an arm around the little boy pulling him into his body as they stared out the window. "Big ships." Keko said his little dark eyes scanning the incomprehensible sight out the window. He turned his face to Andrew, his little brow ridges barely evident on his forehead giving him a comically worried look. "Why are they here?"
Andrew pulled him closer. "They are here because we are heroes. My grandpa is an Admiral, Keko. So is yours. They would always send a welcome like this, to heroes, especially if they were Admiral people."
The other boys nodded and Keko stared out the window. It made sense.
"My grandpa is right now coming for us. I know it." Andrew Chakotay-Paris said his voice filled with surety. "He would never not come. He's our grandpa."
===Paris Home, San Francisco...
"I'm going, Owen."
Miriam Paris stood in front of her husband, tears in her eyes as she watched him turn away from her physically and mentally. He had always had a way to shutter her out when he wanted his way. "You may not." Owen turned to her and stared hard searching for some small emotion that they still shared.
There was none.
"Fuck you, Owen. Do you hear me? Fuck you." With that, Mirian Campbell Paris turned and walked out the door.
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Canaan Land Part Two
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Deep Space Nine floated in space hanging like a jewel in the darkness. An emergency had been called and the station was put on red alert for an incoming 'situation'. All unnecessary shipping was rerouted and the station's medical and Star Fleet personnel stood by oblivious to the specifics of the actual mission but dedicated to doing it to the best of their ability.
At what would have been four o'clock in the morning, San Francisco time back on Earth five star ships escorted one small Intrepid-class star ship registry number NCC-74656 into docking at its most secure port of entry. Dr. Julian Bashir and Chief Miles O'Brien stood silently watching the proud vessel move into position. They were speechless with emotion. The stories they would learn, the hardships of the crew and their return, it astonished them into a profound and respectful silence.
===Outside the Ministry of State, Bajor...
Miriam Paris stood in the waiting room, her body shaking with fury as the Bajoran government gave her the run around. If her daughters, Kathleen and Moira had not been with her she knew she would do something desperate. They had traveled to Bajor, aware due to the sympathetic whispers of a friend in Star Fleet Intelligence that Voyager would be taken to Deep Space Nine. There was a complete blackout on the ship and no one would neither tell her it was there nor allow her to go to it. A Bajoran security officer walked in, a strangely formed alien by her side. "I am sorry, Mrs. Paris. You may not go to the station right now. It is forbidden until further notice."
Miriam pulled her tattered emotions together, her focus on a memory of Tommy when he was five years old and asleep in her arms. "Are you aware that my husband is Admiral Owen Paris, third in line to head Star Fleet Command."
"Yes, ma'am, I am. I am very, very sorry." She handed Miriam back their identity padds.
"You have no idea, Commander how sorry everyone is going to be." With that, she turned and left followed by her distraught daughters. Kira sighed her compassion filling her with pain. "I hate this, Odo."
"I know."
"I hate it more than anything I have done in a long time." Odo slipped his arm around Kira's shoulders and squeezed.
===Near New Taos, Dorvan V...
It was hot, damned hot as Miriam and her daughters walked down the road to the white adobe cottage surrounded by fruit trees and rose bushes. It had taken a long time to get here and longer to find this place but she had through sheer terror and persistence. She was a desperate woman. She knew she would not be the only one if the news ever got out about Voyager. Walking up the tree shaded front path she stopped, stepping over a large cat lounging on the cool smooth flagstones.
Knocking on the door, she stood silently her heart pounding furiously in her chest. The door opened and a small beautiful dark haired woman appeared, two taller dark haired women right behind her. They all eyed Miriam and her daughters curiously. The small woman smiled. "Yes? Can I help you?"
"Are you Maria, wife of Kolopak of Dorvan V?"
For a moment, she frowned and then she nodded. "Yes, I am."
"Then you are the mother of Chakotay."
"Yes." A mask so familiar to Miriam closed around Maria's face at the mention of her son's name. "What do you want?"
"We need to talk. Can we please come in?"
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Canaan Land Part Three
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===A private home, Vulcan...
The harsh landscape rested her mind filling it with a moment of peace that was hard to find lately. She was restless, unable to articulate her feelings to herself in a coherent way. It was deeply disturbing. Turning from the doorway, the evening breeze fresh against her skin she moved to the quiet place, the room of meditation that she used daily. Perhaps she could center herself.
She sat in the flickering light of her meditation lamp, the shadows of the room dancing before her. She could not calm the restlessness. It moved through her like low voltage electricity disturbing her sense of equilibrium. It was a familiar feeling but somehow, distant. Rising from her mat she extinguished the lamp and retired to her sleeping chamber. The evening rituals completed, she lay down to rest slowly drifting into a state of semi-awareness.
Later that evening...
Shadows cleared, things crystallized. The restlessness slowed and in that moment of stillness, all was clear. It washed over her soft and familiar, deep and profound. *He* was near. Sitting up with a start T'Pel stared around the room wildly.
Tuvok was near.
Rising from her bed, she ran to the comm system calming herself with great effort. When her will had overtaken her astonishment, she touched the panel waiting for a moment before a handsome young man appeared on the screen.
"Mother. What brings your call this time of night?"
"My son, your father is near. Tuvok is near."
===Ambassadorial Quarters, U.S.S. Enterprise...
Chakotay paced, his ire rising with each passing minute as he crossed back and forth over the perfect carpet. They had shown him these quarters and asked him to wait there after four hours of exhaustive interrogation. It *was* interrogation. He paused and walked to the door pressing the release. The door slid soundlessly revealing the presence of two armed guards. Taking a step forward the two men silently moved in front of him, the eyes unreadable but their body language clear. He stepped back inside and the door closed. He was a prisoner of the Federation.
===Voyager, Transporter Room One...
Kathryn Janeway beamed back to Voyager alone. Standing in front of the transporter padd were B'Elanna and Tom. Kathryn stepped down into the fierce embrace of her spouse. For a moment, there was only their embrace and the fearful beating of their hearts.
"Where's Chakotay?" Kathryn released B'Elanna and turned to Tom, her face a turmoil of emotions.
"He's on the Enterprise."
"Why?"
"He was Maquis. The Maquis lost their Federation citizenship back in 2372. He is being held as an illegal alien with orders to be processed."
"What the hell does that mean?"
"It means, Tom that I can't help him. I can't help any of the Maquis and it's not even clear that I can help you."
"What! The war has to be over for years and years!" He was stunned.
"Not for senior Maquis. Chakotay is a Captain in the Maquis. He was important. They are not going to release him. Not right away."
"He's being held prisoner? Caged? Chakotay?" Tom whispered the ground falling away from beneath his feet.
B'Elanna steadied him catching his arm as he recovered from his brief moment of shock. He pulled loose. "What do they mean to do, Captain?"
"I don't know but we have to get to the Bridge and make sure they don't do it."
With that, they turned and ran for the turbo lift.
===A private home, New Taos, Dorvan V...
The only sound in the room was the soft weeping of the two women. Younger women, daughters, hovered over their mothers helpless to comfort them. The ticking of the clock old fashioned and antique broke mournful counterpoint to the sounds of despair that filled the shaded and cool interior. Filled with antiques and art from Indigenous cultures all over the Federation, it was comforting and safe.
Maria wiped her eyes staring at her hands. They had worked hard her whole life raising six children to adulthood and making art that was valued by discerning eyes all over the Alpha Quadrant. She was the widow of the historian and elder, Kolopak. She was the mother of six Maquis warriors. Her sons and daughters had stood against the takeover of her world, the home her family and her people had created here on this lush and beautiful planet.
The Killing Times had come and many had died. She had feared for her children watching them leave one by one and join the fight for freedom. The worst day of her life was the news that her husband had been killed. The second was the day she was told her youngest child, her son, Chakotay had disappeared into the Badlands.
For years, she had held out hope refusing to make the rituals for the dead. She had never given up. The toll was terrible not knowing if her boy was alive or dead. All she could remember was his sweet child face and his contrary ways. Sighing she rose and walked to a bookshelf picking up a framed holo-picture. It was Chakotay standing next to his father. He was eighteen.
He would leave the next day for the Academy and the technological world that had been so painful for his people for so many centuries. It had all changed. Even knowing from the array that he was alive was not good enough. She had sacrificed sending him her mother's love so that the news of the Maquis would be told. Too many people on the ship needed to know.
She regretted that. She would have loved to let him know that she had not believed him gone. Now he wasn't. He was nearby and he needed her. She would go to him no matter what. Tenderly putting the picture down Maria of Dorvan V turned to her daughters and spoke in a calm clear voice. "Send for your brothers. Tell the Elders Council that we must meet. Tell them Maria, Clan Mother wishes to speak."
Miriam wiped her tears away and felt for the first time a flicker of hope.
===Vulcan...
That morning, the sun blazing in the Vulcan sky T'Pel walked serenely into the main office complex that represented Star Fleet on Vulcan. Her delicate features were as composed as if they were carved in marble. She had an appointment with the Federation and Star Fleet representatives. She would be interested in what they decided to tell her. Walking along the cool stone corridor, her heart stilled from fifteen years of yearning T'Pel was determined to find out the fate of her husband.
===Bridge, Voyager...
They broke from the turbo-lift running to their positions and relieving the crew who occupied their places. The scene on the view screen had not changed. Janeway turned to Tuvok. "Tuvok, raise shields and key all systems to answer only to me."
Without hesitation, his hands flew over the panel as he rushed to fulfill her orders. He glanced up. "I am unable to complete that order, Captain. We are locked out of our main computer and all systems command have been re-routed."
"By whom and to where?" Janeway growled her fury competing with her fear.
"To the Enterprise." There was a pause. "On the orders of Captain Picard."
The view screen wavered and Picard's face filled it, his eyes unreadable. "Captain Janeway..."
"Picard! What are you doing?"
"I am following my orders, Captain. You are to follow us to Deep Space Nine where you will dock and attend to extensive debriefings."
"You mean you are kidnapping us, taking us prisoner." Her eyes filled with fury, her body tight with anger as she stepped next to Tom, her hand resting on the Navigation console.
"We are assuming control of Voyager, Captain. We are setting a course for DS9 and suggest that you sit back and enjoy the ride."
She smiled a humorless smile. "Welcome back home, Voyager."
For a moment, Picard's face flickered and then he composed himself. "Enterprise out."
The screen became blank and the great engines of the ship began to charge. Voyager began to move away surrounded on all sides by Federation star ships. They were heading for DS9 whether they wanted to or not. Kathryn, shaken, moved to her chair staring at the empty one beside it and sat slowly down. For the first time in a long, long while she felt deep and burning fear.
===Ambassadorial Quarters, Enterprise...
Chakotay felt the ship move and walked to the window staring out at the stars as the ships surrounded Voyager. He saw them move together and surmised that someone besides Kathryn Janeway had tactical control of her. He heard a sound behind him and saw the door open, a big man entering. The door closed and the man moved closer, his image coalescing in reflection on the window.
"What do you want?" Chakotay was suddenly filled with hatred and loathing. He was here and Tom and their children, all his friends and colleagues were over there. He turned and faced the man his anger clear in every line.
"I want to talk to you, Chakotay." Riker said moving closer. "We were lovers once."
Chakotay turned back to the window staring at the small white ship that was trapped like a helpless insect in the clutches of voracious spiders. Tom. The children. Despair filled his heart.
"Chakotay, I want to talk to you. Please."
Chakotay turned gazing at Riker with cool eyes. "Yeah? Well, fuck you, Star Fleet."
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Canaan Land Part Four
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===Ambassadorial Quarters, Enterprise...
"What do you want, Riker?"
Will moved closer his face filled with contrite sorrow. "I want to find out how you are, Chakotay."
Chakotay smiled a mirthless smile his eyes glittering with anger. "Well, lets see. I'm a prisoner. My ship is being towed to what? A prison colony? My family and friends are over there and I don't know what will happen to them."
"You have a family?" Will said with surprise in his voice. He sat awkwardly on the couch.
"Yes, I do." Chakotay turned to the window and pressed his hands upon it staring at Voyager his heart pounding.
"Tell me about them."
Chakotay turned and stared at him. "Why should I?"
"I don't know. For old times sake?"
For a moment, Chakotay didn't move and then he walked slowly over and sat across from Riker in a chair. Lacing his fingers together, he scrutinized the other man with cold eyes. "I'm married and we have five children."
Will blinked and sat back, stunned. "Married? You?"
Chakotay smirked. "You seem surprised."
"I am. As I remember it you weren't very keen on women."
Chakotay merely gazed at him. Will sighed. "Tell me about your children."
"Our daughter is thirteen and our boys are eleven."
Will whistled softly. "You have quadruplets?"
Chakotay nodded. Riker rose and walked toward the replicator pausing and turning back to Chakotay. "Can I get you something?"
Chakotay shook his head, his cold dark eyes following Riker's every movement. Will returned after a second with a drink in his hand and sat back again, his arm draped over the back of the couch. Taking a deep sip he cleared his throat. "Tell me about your wife."
"I don't have one."
"Tell me about the mother of your children," Riker persisted his unease rising.
For a moment Chakotay grinned, something very perverse, very Paris rising in him and he nodded. "All right. The 'mother' of my children is a very tall, slender and beautiful blond with blue eyes like the summer sky."
"Sounds wonderful."
"He is."
For a moment there was only silence. "You married a man?"
Chakotay nodded.
"I see."
"No you don't, Riker! You don't see shit!"
Chakotay rose and went to the window staring out at Voyager, his fear warring with his rage. "My family is on that ship. So are alot of other people who went through hell to get back here. That doesn't count the people who didn't make it. We're prisoners." Chakotay turned, his menace palpable. "Why?"
Will rose to his feet emptying his glass and putting it on the coffee table. He walked warily over to where Chakotay stood by the window leaning an arm against it as he searched his friend's face. "I don't know, Chakotay. I do know that you are no longer considered a citizen of the Federation. Your status is also made different by your rank in the Maquis."
Chakotay turned his gaze from Voyager to Riker."I am married to Tom Paris, Owen Paris' son."
Will exhaled with surprise. "God, Chakotay."
"Kiss my ass, Riker."
"I used to," Riker replied softly.
"What do you want from me, Riker?"
"I just want to know if there is anything I can do, Chakotay. For old times sake."
Chakotay stared at Voyager and then back at Riker. "There is something."
Riker nodded. "Name it."
"Don't let them take my children away. Don't let Owen Paris get them. Contact my family on Dorvan. Do that for me."
Riker nodded a slight smile crossing his face. "I would be honored to do that," he said softly. "I will do everything that I can"
For a moment, Chakotay even believed him.
===Vulcan...
T'Pel walked from Star Fleet's Administrative Complex, her mind made up. Walking to the ground transport where her oldest son, Sek, waited she entered and carefully spread the lovely folds of her skirt. It had not been profitable this meeting. They had not been forthcoming. She would have to take other routes, option old alliances to find and secure the return of her husband.
Settling back in the seat, Sek drove his mother to her next destination. T'Pel, closing her eyes allowed herself to bask in the warmth of the connection she shared with the only person who completed her existence. Soon, husband. Soon we will be together again.
===Dorvan V...
It took very little time for Miriam to realize that Maria, wife of Kolopak was a formidable and highly esteemed woman among the people of Dorvan V. Walking into the great council chamber, sitting on a seat in the front row Maria waited patiently for al the other elders to sit.
Behind her in silent support were her sons, Beyvahl and Nayib and her three daughters. Standing among them their arms linked were the two pale and anxious daughters of Miriam Paris. She sat nearby and waited. The ceremonies and gestures of respect accorded to the small fragile-looking woman, her long dark hair hanging to her waist mesmerized Miriam and she began to watch with the eye of the scientist that she was.
Here was power, real power based on a lifetime of work and deeds. Here was a woman who stood tall among her people, her influence stretching across Dorvan whose wisdom was sought and whose voice was heeded. For the first time Miriam began to relax. Not much. But just a little.
===First Officer's Cabin, Voyager...
Tom sat at the table affecting an air of normalcy watching his children eat. He could feel their fear and anxiety and he did his best to allay it. The children struggled to be brave and not add to the burden they sensed their Daddy carried. Papa didn't come home and they knew something was very wrong. They would be brave and do their best. It was all they could do.
Naomi Wildman had been watching the children in the observation lounge. The fifteen children of Voyager, five of them Chakotay-Paris kids, two Torres-Janeway and two Seven-Kim, among others were restless picking up the tension that permeated the ship. It drained her and tested her wits to manage them all. All the older children knew something was wrong. What it was they couldn't guess. They just wandered the room restlessly, playing here and there, reading or napping. Andrew saw it first. "Hey, look!"
Everyone dropped what they were doing and ran to the windows scrambling up on the couches. They gazed in wonderment at the marvelous and beautiful sight that greeted their eyes. With oohs and aahs, they watched as Voyager docked at Deep Space 9.
===At a private home, Vulcan...
T'Pel walked with such grace she appeared to float. Moving across the courtyard she entered the verandah, covered with hand painted screens for shade and waited. Her son stayed with the vehicle. An older woman appeared in the doorway and gestured for her to follow. She did entering a house filled with books and flowers. Her husband grew orchids she mused. Tuvok and this man would have much to say to each other if they were to meet. With a movement of respect she sat folding her delicate hands in her lap and waited to speak.
The old Vulcan, his hair shot through with gray smiled inside his heart. T'Pel was the daughter of an old friend and she had grown up well. Now she came to him for help. He nodded and they traded formal pleasantries. "Tell me why you have come to me, T'Pel."
"I am in need of assistance in affecting the return of my husband, Tuvok, son of Sunak."
"I see. Tell me the circumstances of his disppearance." She bowed her head respectfully and began.
===First Officer's Cabin, Voyager...
Tom Paris stood at the window, his children asleep in their beds and struggled not to cry. This was beyond his understanding. He expected that *he* would be the prisoner not Chakotay. How could they still want to take Maquis prisoner after this many years? He still didn't know if he would be arrested. It haunted him the idea of his children being taken away and Chakotay being locked up. He knew he couldn't do it. Tom couldn't go back. It had all changed. *He* had changed. Shaking his head he struggled to fathom the meaning of their present dilemma.
Why? Why? Why?
He stared at the space way that connected Voyager to DS9. It began here and apparently, it would end here. He turned and stared at the cabin that had been home for so many years. What would happen now?
===Dorvan V...
Maria kissed her sons farewell and turned linking her arm with Miriam. The two women and their daughters would be leaving by shuttle for Bajor and DS9. Maria's sons would be doing something on their own. Not all the Maquis were dead and none but a few individuals were still in prison. They would be making calls. Maria and Miriam sat side by side on the shuttle, the letter declaring diplomatic status upon Chakotay of Dorvan V and all its attendant immunities safely in Maria's bag.
A letter from the Ruling Council of Dorvan V and one to be forwarded by the Council of Non-Aligned Worlds, the group that Dorvan was a leading member of since the end of the war would be added to this one. Others were being sent to Star Fleet HQ and the Federation High Council demanding an investigation into the holding of Maquis so long after the war had ended.
The frontier worlds aligned and once again of strategic and economic importance to the Federation were learning to band together and flex their growing muscles. Maria was a big part of that unity. Just as they were ready to go a long legged Bajoran woman stepped into the empty seat across from them and buckled in. Maria beamed at her and she beamed back. "I am glad you are here, Ro."
"So am I, Maria," said Ro Laren. "I wouldn't miss this for the world."
=0=
Canaan Land Part Five
=0=
===Indiana, early morning on a summer's day...
Gretchen Janeway stirred her tea and ate her breakfast as she had a hundred times before. Each morning as she ate she counted her blessings. Each morning before going out to tend her garden before the heat and the sun became too much, she missed with a mother's heart and a friend's regret her daughter, Kathryn. For years her grief had been private. Essentially a quintessential mid-west woman, Gretchen Janeway, Star Fleet widow and dedicated mother was a solid soul. She had learned over the years with a husband in Star Fleet that emotional displays were anathema to the 'image'. So she kept her mourning and yearning and longing and sorrow private.
Then the message came over the array. She felt a powerful rift running through her heart. Her daughter was alive and trying to come home through some of the worst and most terrifying space possible. She was leading her ship home. There were Maquis onboard. She had gotten past that fear when she realized after all these years Kathryn was still Captain. She couldn't delude herself into believing that her daughter wasn't in terrible peril. One little ship lost among terrible tracts of empty space and god only knew what kind of aliens.
She had no illusions. She had been a part of Star Fleet too long. But that wasn't her biggest fear. What seized her heart with terror oddly enough, bringing her awake at night shaking and sweating was the fear that she would not live long enough to see Kathryn once more. It paralyzed her with fright.
Finishing her breakfast, she rose and went through the familiar motions of washing up. Stacking the dishes in the oldfashioned dish rack she turned to go outside when the comm system rang. Turning to it, she walked over and activated the view screen. A serene and beautiful face appeared. "Greetings, Mrs. Janeway."
Gretchen smiled. "Greetings, T'Pel. It has been too long."
"Indeed."
Gretchen could almost hear the smile in that soft and lovely voice.
"I have some news for you." T'Pel began.
===Sick Bay, DS9
Tom sat on a chair nearby as four identical boys sat on a table their four sets of identical brown eyes followed every movement Julian Bashir made. He smiled at them overcome not only by their numbers but by their beauty. Of course with Tom as one of their parents, how could they not be? "Well now. Lets get down to business, shall we?"
"What are you going to do to us?" Chakotay asked, Timmy's fingers entwined tightly with his own. Tim leaned against Chakotay watching the doctor like a hawk as Julian picked up an instrument.
"I am going to examine you to make sure that you are well and not bringing odd diseases to this quadrant." He smiled reassuringly and was met with four expressionless and suspicious stares. They switched from Bashir to Tom. Tom smiled slightly and nodded.
When they boarded Voyager, the parents had gathered their children together in the observation deck ringing by dozens of crew as Janeway argued heatedly with Picard. Her own two children were in the protective embrace of B'Elanna and Tom standing near the window, expecting to be arrested had a contingency plan in place for five crewmen to take one child each into their protective care.
For long minutes, there was emotional discussion and then it ended. Picard came in keenly aware of the volatility of the situation. His eyes ranged over the faces of the tense and pale adults and the frightened and trembling children huddling behind their parents. Some of the smaller ones were crying. He once again felt ashamed. "We are not here to take your children away from you. We expect that you will keep them with you at all times. We must check each and everyone of you for any kind of disease that you may have contracted in the Delta Quadrant so that it is not passed into the populations here in the Federation."
"Really? You are holding us prisoner. We made it all the way back here from the other side of the galaxy, fought off every threat to come home and this is how we are treated? Some of us *died* trying to get here. These kids were *born* on this ship. Why are you doing this to us?" Gregor Ayala trembled with anger as he stood in front of Naomi Wildman. They would have to get past Geron and him both before they took her away. Samantha rested her hand on Gregor's back, her heart pounding loudly in her chest.
For a moment, Picard felt his face burn and then he sighed deeply. "I am sorry that you feel this way. It is not the welcome you deserve. But please, just cooperate and we can expedite your release."
"We *will* be released." Ken Dalby, holding K'Karn said skepticism tingeing his words.
"That is what I have been told."
For a moment, there was no sound and then bitter laughter rose from the back. Everyone turned and stared at Tom Paris his arms around as many of his children as he could hold. He stared at Picard his face a mixture of defiance and fear. "Of course, the Federation and Star Fleet never lie do they..."
===Sick Bay, DS9...
Julian pronounced the children well and they sat staring at him with blank faces.
"We could have told you that." Andrew said in a rare show of defiance.
"Really?"
"Yes. The holodoc takes care of us." Chakotay said his arm around Timmy.
"He's our only doctor." Tom said his brown eyes unblinking.
Once again, Julian was awash in the oddness of that many identical faces and voices talking to him all at once. Such beautiful boys. "The holodoc is a marvel I am told."
"He is." All four voices spoke at once and then four sets of eyes turned to Daddy.
Tom glanced at Julian who nodded and Tom rose opening his arms. The boys jumped down and rushed to him. For a moment, there was no one else around, just the five of them. "Tom, would the boys like some ice cream?" Julian asked.
Tom stared at him and then the boys and nodded. Julian led them all to a small dining alcove and soon they were eating ice cream as Julian and Tom stood in the doorway. Julian turned to Tom appraising him with his beautiful eyes. "They are beautiful children."
"They take after their father."
"Chakotay."
Tom stared at the kids pointedly. "Yes. He's currently under house arrest on the Enterprise. They won't even let me speak to him. He doesn't know what is happening to us." Tom turned to Julian his gaze cool and appraising. "What's going on, Julian?"
Julian sighed. "I don't know. I just know we were closed to regular traffic and told to wait for a special problem to arrive."
"What are your orders?"
"Just what I told you. I am to make sure you are healthy and don't bring back diseases."
At that moment, watching his children Tom struggled to believe him.
===Voyager...
Chief O'Brien walked down the hallway, Odo at his side and entered engineering. The ship was still, its non-essential systems turned off by order of Picard and he looked at the panels, some bearing alien modifications with a reverence bordering on the religious. For a long time he just looked, on occasion touching something and then he turned to Odo. "This is amazing. There are so many alien modifications that this ship has made it can almost be classified as non-standard. Some of this, if it's what I think it is could be used in Star Fleet ships right now. I'm speechless."
Odo smiled slightly letting the easy repost slip by. "Its eerie, the silence."
Turning to a nearby panel Odo bent to examine its unusual configurations. At that point, the door swished open and a tall statuesque blond walked coolly in. Stopping in front of the two men, she gazed at them with ice blue eyes. "I am Seven of Nine-Kim. I am told that you wish to discuss the Borg technology that was adapted and applied to Voyager's operating systems."
For a moment, they said nothing, the figure before them rendering them speechless and then O'Brien snapped to his senses. "Yeah. Em, yeah, actually. I would...you know, I would be very glad if you would do that."
"I don't think so," she replied evenly.
"Beg your pardon?" Odo asked his wits finally back on line again.
"You heard me. I think not." She turned to leave and then paused turning back again. "My husband asked me to tell you something for him."
"And what is that?" Odo asked.
"Fuck you, Star Fleet." she replied. Turning, Seven of Nine walked out the door.
It was the second time she had rendered both men speechless.
===Ambassadorial Quarters, Enterprise...
Chakotay dreaded sleep. When he dreamed he saw his children being taken away and Tommy...terrible things were being done to Tom. When he awoke shivering and sweaty he couldn't remember what they were. He was not sure whether to be glad or not, that he couldn't remember.
It was another day and he paced like a caged tiger. He was refused word with Voyager and he knew that they were not allowed to speak with him. All he could do was peer out the window and see, around a long curved beam of the station part of Voyager where she was docked. What the hell was going on?
===Chicago Off-World Transport Station...
Gretchen Janeway gave her ticket to the official and found her seat on the shuttle. It would be a long trip with many changeovers until she reached the Star Fleet ship that would take her to that point in space where she could rendezvous with the Vulcan diplomatic shuttle. There she would join T'Pel and her diplomatic friend and journey on to Bajor and DS9. There she would win the freedom of her daughter. Kathryn would be coming home with her or she would die trying. Nothing more. Nothing less.
TBC