Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek: Voyager or any of the characters therein; I just really really really wish I had been on board...
Notes: The Legend was born out of a desire (among other things) to right certain wrongs. There were basically two things I needed done in Star Trek Voyager: the first was to get everybody back together. Getting to the Alpha quadrant and then letting Janeway get away was a BAD IDEA! And then of course there was what I call the 'Star Trek Captain's Curse.' Basically: if you are the captain of a Starfleet ship, you are going to end up miserable and alone. Look at Kirk (he had lots of girls, but like James Bond they only lasted one episode). And Picard. Even Sisko – he was a widower when the series started, and turning into a prophet-wormhole-thingamagig was not an escape from the STCC. And now that they are all together it is time for a new adventure.
Chapter 1
"We're explorers from another galaxy..."
The mission had not been that successful and further negotiations would still be needed for years to come, but this had not daunted Reg Barclay. The man seemed obsessed with organising a party either for Voyager or on Voyager, and they all had finally agreed to a small party on the ship just to keep him out of their hair for a while.
Unfortunately this also meant they would have to attend the party; something Janeway was not too eager about.
That was the reason why she was dressed in her uncomfortable dress-uniform and slowly sipping expensive yet bad-tasting champagne. For the moment she stood alone. She used the time to consider the people gathered in the mess hall. It was still the same mess hall that Neelix had created. She considered that. She honestly missed Neelix. The first thing Starfleet Command had told her – besides welcome back – after she and Chakotay had been rescued from the 'Lost Ones'' planet, had been to report to Neelix. Since their return from the Delta quadrant they had finally perfected the communication between the quadrants, and Neelix could contact them at any time. It seemed he had been a bit persistent in his communications ever since he had discovered she and Chakotay had been lost.
Neelix might not be the same rational counsellor Tuvok was, but he had been valuable in his own right. And he was a friend.
She slowly turned around. Near the door stood Libby, Harry's pretty wife. Harry had been the unfortunate officer to draw the bridge-duty, yet his young wife seemed unconcerned. They all had felt like they knew her from the start as Harry had always been talking about her. And in return Libby had taken to the Voyager crew as if she, too, had known them for years. She was now happily chatting with Ensign Chadwick and obviously charming the younger man.
Next she noticed the Doctor – still unnamed – trying to chat with one of the neatly-dressed dignitaries. The poor Doctor. She knew Admiral Crewaw, and the woman was one of the most stuck-up people she had ever met. She and Crewaw had often been at odds these past two years.
Tuvok stood by himself in one corner. She knew how he disliked these functions, but as Commander he had little choice – he had to attend. When he saw her looking in his direction he slowly left his corner and started to make his way over to her.
A happy laugh rose above the general chatter and she turned to look at the source. It was B'Elanna, laughing at something another person dressed in gold had said. She did not recognise the other man, but she doubted if Tom found him as funny as his wife did. By the look of it the joke had been scientific, for the pilot only grinned that formal grin of his. It was noticeable how close to his wife he stood. Libby had brought their daughter, Miral, with her, but the girl had been put to bed about an hour ago. The little girl had had the whole room at her feet with her bubbly laughter. Janeway sometimes almost felt sorry for the cocky pilot with the two determined women in his life.
"A bar of gold-pressed latinum for your thoughts," a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts. She turned to Chakotay, noticing he had a glass of champagne, similar to her own, in his hand. He saw her looking at it and grinned. "The drink certainly leaves something to be desired," he told her. "So, what were you smiling about?"
She slightly leaned in his direction. "Not a bar of latinum's worth. But I was thinking about Tom and B'Elanna." She smiled. "Actually is was feeling a little sorry for Tom. He has his hands full with both B'Elanna and Miral."
"I doubt if Tom sees it that way," he smiled. "He seems to be constantly astonished by his good fortune."
She considered that for a moment before answering. "You know, I do believe you're right."
They both smiled, but then a cool, calm voice interrupted.
"Mister Paris truly is fortunate to have found a mate as compatible as Lieutenant Torres." They both turned to look at the tall, dark Vulcan. Tuvok had been her friend for more than fourteen years now and she still valued his advice. He was the rational voice in her life and her strong moral beacon. And sometimes he was the one that reminded her of the line drawn between her and the crew – the line between subordinates and friends.
That line had blurred all too often in the seven Delta quadrant years. Perhaps that was why she felt uncomfortable around the extremely formal structure of Starfleet these days. And if that was true then it would explain why more than eighty percent of those who had returned with Voyager from the Delta quadrant had chosen to be reassigned to the ship after it had been recomissioned. If the crew felt the same way as she did, it meant they would never really be able to return to the past. She knew she had been unalterably changed and now only felt truly at home surrounded by those who understood the slight and unique shift in boundaries that had occurred on Voyager. Even Tuvok felt it.
"Yes," she gently replied, "they had been very fortunate." She glanced at Tom and B'Elanna's group. The pilot still looked bored.
"And I suppose our own relationship had come as a surprise to you, Tuvok," Chakotay said. She sighed inwardly: Chakotay and Tuvok might not be at odds anymore, but they still did not understand one another.
"May I remind you, Captain, that as a Vulcan, I am seldom surprised." The Vulcan switched over into full-lecture mode, his hands neatly tucked behind his back. "Besides, I have been aware of the crew discussing your relationship for many years now. Even when you had only been friend the crew found reason to discuss your relationship in more romantic terms." He looked Chakotay in the eye and she knew she was not really going to like his next remark. "So, no, Captain. Your relationship did not come as a surprise to me."
Or to anyone, it seemed. She thought about that. Was she and Chakotay the only ones who had been surprised? Curious – as Tuvok would say.
It seemed as if Chakotay and Tuvok were ready for the next round and she decided to head off the conversation she saw brewing. Yet just then her com-badge beeped and she heard Harry addressing them.
Bridge to the Captain, Admiral Janeway and Tuvok, the Lieutenant said.
Chakotay answered: "Yes, Harry?"
Captain, you're not going to believe this. You and the Admiral and Tuvok had better get up here as quickly as you can. I'd suggest transporting.
The three of them instantly tensed – site-to-site transportation was hardly ever used. But while they were still considering this, the ship went into red-alert.
She took as step back while turning to Chakotay, waiting for him to take the lead. She had promised herself she would not interfere with him – well, not too much.
But he was already taking command:
"Chakotay to transporter room one: beam Janeway, Tuvok and me directly to the bridge!"
The reply came even as the world was beginning to fade. She had the unbearable urge to blink, but she seemed frozen. Then the world focussed. Between one moment and the next the room had changed and they were no longer in the mess-hall, but on the bridge.
"Report!" she barked. Instantly she regretted it, but she had long ago learned not to show any weakness in moments like these. She turned from Harry to look at the incredible scene on the view-screen.
