Earth. Home. It's bright face stared at Janeway and her crew from the view screen. Some of the crew gasped in awe, others cried silent tears behind their consoles. The sight of the rising Sun bringing day into the beauty of the Americas almost pained Janeway with joy. Down below, her former fiancee Mark was probably playing with his one year old daughter Joy and Kathryn's cocker spaniel Molly.
"Wow..." Up at the tactical station, Harry gazed with wide eyes at the view screen, memories twisting around in his mind. Those of his parents, his bedroom in the basement, his first flight through space with his father. All the memories of a normal childhood sprang to life in that one moment in every mind on Voyager.
Even a few memories in Seven of Nine's own head popped up, as though the memories suppressed by the borg suddenly remembered who they were. Memories such as Anika playing on the shore of the Atlantic ocean with her parents, playing with her sheep dog Jake, and gazing at the stars with her father. But, being part Borg still, she reduced her memories to a minimum so the emotions wouldn't take control.
"Everyone," Janeway's voice flooded through the com system and out of everyone's com badges. "Welcome home."
Down in Sick Bay, B'Elanna gasped with a bright smile and gazed up at her husband who stood at her side. "We did it. We made it home."
Paris, who's eyes were on his new baby daughter in his wife's arms, chuckled and cooed at the child who's eyes were as wide as a nebula. "You're gonna see Earth, little one," He chidded and pet his daughter's bald head.
The Doctor, who had just finished cleaning everything up from the delivery, sighed and glanced at the young parents. "I guess now I'll be deactivated until you all need me again." He murmured loudly, but the two didn't seem to notice, being so busy carrying for their new baby.
In the Cargo Bay 2, Echeb and Naomi sat in separate chairs, both anxiously awaiting for the moment when Seven of Nine would walk through the doors and tell them they were home. Neither had ever seen the Planet Earth and were crazily dreaming of what it might look like up close.
"What do you think it looks like?" Naomi asked in a curious tone.
Echeb looked up from his PADD. "I've studied images of Earth, so I know it is a small planet with the dimensions of a sphere-"
"No, what do you think it'll look like, as in how pretty it will be?" Naomi corrected herself and stared at the older boy.
"I can only guess it will be just like most other planets we encountered in the Delta Quadrant." He replied and looked back down at his studies.
Naomi sighed and went back to her own reading.
Back on the bridge, Voyager's captain stared at the large sphere she had come to know as Home. It hasn't changed a bit, and it glowed in space like a lantern. The moon sat to the right of the Planet and seemed to smile at them from afar.
The whole crew could only imagine how it would feel to finally be back on the ground a of the place they had longed for so many years. Although, most of the Vulcans on the ship would head back to Vulcan almost immediately after they touched Earth's surface.
Now it was only a matter of what happened after all the parades and homecoming. All of them knew they would have to find a place back in Star Fleet, and many of them, like B'Elanna and Tom, would probably go off to start a new career and a new family of their own. And then for others, like Seven of Nine and Echeb, they would be homeless, since they had been raised in another quadrant of space. It would be hard to get use to a world so different from what they were use to.
Chakotay sat in his chair beside Janeway, his knee shaking like an electrical storm. The captain chuckled. "Something on your mind?"
The second in command glanced up at his commanding officer. "Oh. It's nothing, just anxious to finally eat some real Earth food again."
Janeway smiled and patted her friend on the back. "Dont worry, I'm sure there'll be plenty at the welcoming party."
"I forgot how many greetings we'll probably get when we land this thing," Chakotay joked. "Not to mention all the awards we'll probably receive, and the gifts. Tom will probably get his own ship just for breaking warp 10."
"Captain," Harry interrupted from his station. "There's an incoming signal from the Starfleet Embassy."
"Open a channel." Janeway sat straighter in her seat and smiled towards the screen.
The faces of Lieutenant Reg Barkley and Admiral Paris appear before the crew, both with excited looks on their faces.
"There is a landing port ready and open for you to land on once you've finished making your flight through San Fransisco. You will be greeted by the Head Counsel and we have made arrangements for living quarters within the Embassy for every one of your crew to live in. Greeting schedules will be sent to everyone before the morning and will list every meet and greet we will put on, including the hour long parade going through The Golden State Park. Have a safe landing and we'll see you on the surface."
The faces disappeared and Chakotay sighed in his seat. "Seems like they've planned this entire Meet and Greet over the past 7 years."
Janeway nodded and stood. "I'm off to see the new child. You have the bridge, commander."
The older man nodded and pushed a few buttons on his console as Janeway stepped into the turbo lift and ordered the computer to head to the deck in which t he Sick Bay was located.
After a few minutes of walking, Janeway entered the Medical Bay with a bright smile plastered on her face. The young couple at the back of the room looked up and hushed the captain as she made her entrance, and Kathryn nodded in understanding. She slowly walked to her Chief Engineer and Pilot and patted Tom on his shoulder.
"Congratulations," She told them with a smile. "Have you decided on a name?"
B'Elanna and Tom looked at each other for a moment, then looked back at Janeway. "We've decided on Miral. The name the future you had called her."
Janeway's eyes flashed with surprise. "Well, that was quick. I was gonna say a list of possible names if you hadn't decided already."
Tom gave an amused sigh. "Of course you were-" his words were interrupted by a sharp jolt to the ship.
The captain gasped and pressed her com badge. "Janeway to the Bridge, what's going on?"
Harry's voice came through the badge. "Captian, we seem to be under attack by one of the ships alongside us. They've fired on five of the other ships as well. Seems like they've gone rogue."
"On my way," Kathryn turned to her pilot. "Sorry to pull you away, but we're gonna need an experienced hand at the helm in case these guys decide on a chase."
Tom nodded reluctantly and kissed his wife goodbye before following his captain to the bridge.
