Depressing Drabbles, Part 2/2: Federation Quarantine, Copyright (c) 2007 kneipho, originally posted 2003
Author: kneipho
Rating: T
Fandom: VOY
Character/Pairing Codes: N/D, Admiral Paris, J, C/7, EMH
Author's Notes: Re-posted for sfcmdhq and with the assistance of Cat C. Companion piece to "Unaltered Future". Three Drabbles, post "Endgame". Contains spoilers for series finale.
Disclaimer: Star Trek and all of its subsequent incarnations, (including Voyager) are property of CBS Corporation and/or Paramount Pictures. No characters belong to me. No profit made. No harm intended.
Neelix/Dexa
His wife adored his cooking, as did his new son, Brax. Considered a master chef amongst his people, his skills were finally, appreciated. Everyone enjoyed his jokes and each day more people greeted him with kind words than with the frowns he had grown so used to on Voyager. His life was very good. Yet, some nights, as the asteroid settlement lay quiet, Dexa would wake to find her husband out of bed, wandering the house in half-light: his colorful eyes listless, his dear mouth bent into a crescent of sadness.
There had been no word from Voyager in weeks.
Admiral Owen Paris
Owen was prepared for dealing with the Maquis. With the aid of the Media, he'd marketed Voyager to the public as the kind of welcomed distraction the Federation needed. There would be no prison time - the Val Jean's captain being the only possible exception. Their crimes, B'Elanna's crimes he was positive, would be pardoned by a military supporting a civilization actively erasing the horrors of war. However, there was more than the Maquis to deal with now: Directive Violations, Captain Ransom, Borg Drones, Future Technology, Deta Quadrant Pollicies...
Gretchen's daughter was standing in the eye of a Starfleet hurricane.
J, C/7
Security advanced. The drone quailed, groping for Chakotay's hand.
"Please," Kathryn implored, "One minute?"
Warily, the guards withdrew.
"I am an individual now, with no ties to the Collective."
"They want to run additional tests."
"I do not wish to go. Captain."
"I wish you didn't have to, Seven."
"Will it hurt?"
"Maybe."
"Assimilation hurt, but I survived."
Chakotay smiled. "Yes, you did."
"They will see I am no threat. "
"They will," he whispered.
"I am prepared."
She left without another word.
"Someone should be with her." He said.
Then Starfleet took him too.
Janeway no longer had control.
Notes: "The Val Jean" is apparently the name of Chakotay's Maquis ship (revealed on a computer readout screen in season 7's "Repression").