DISCLAIMER: You all know the drill - Paramount is God. All hail Paramount. They own everything in the Star Trek Universe - I'm just using my overactive imagination to take their characters where they refuse to go. All in the name of fun, not profit (I wish).
Well, here it is. By popular demand (okay, a couple of emails), the conclusion to my "The Long Road Home" trilogy. For those of you looking for another massive plot…I'm afraid you'll have to look elsewhere, or at least wait until I cook up something else. The Epilogue is merely my way of wrapping up the character development and pushing the characters in a new direction at the end. It's sap, all sap.
In case it hasn't been obvious this far, this is the conclusion to a previous story I wrote, "The Long Road Home" trilogy. If you haven't read "Separations", "Awakenings", and "Paradise Lost", you're going to be totally, totally lost. You've been warned.
THE LONG ROAD HOME
EPILOGUE
CHAPTER ONE: PATHFINDER
Captain Janeway took a deep breath and inhaled the salty air deep into her lungs. There was a slight fog over San Francisco Bay this morning, but the view was still breathtaking. Beams of sunlight were poking through the fog over the water, creating an almost eerie scene before her as she leaned over the railing on the pier.
It was a month today since her rescue from Section 31, and life was finally starting to get back to normal. The crew was getting on with their lives, or picking up where they had left off seven years ago. She had seen them all just last week, at the dedication ceremony for the Voyager Museum. Most of the crew had been assembled, and Tom had taken the helm one last time to lift Voyager off the parade grounds and fly it over the city to its new permanent location near Starfleet Headquarters. Admiral Paris had given a speech commending Voyager's crew and all those who had been lost in the course of their journey. She had said a few words as well, but she had been too emotional to speak for long. She had found it difficult to listen to Admiral Paris without remembering Admiral Blackwell's words when he had told her about Section 31's knowledge of what would happen to Voyager.
Starfleet Command had been unable to track down any of the culprits in her kidnapping, although Admiral Paris and Admiral Hayes suspected that Section 31 still had operatives within Starfleet Command, so they would probably continue to operate.
"Captain?"
She turned around to see Seven coming towards her. Seven had suffered no ill effects from the tests done on her by Section 31. In fact, there had been one unexpected benefit -- the Doctor had told the Captain that somehow the 'incompetent clods', as the Doctor referred to them, had managed to deactivate some of Seven's remaining implants that the Doctor thought were impossible to remove. Surprisingly, her human physiology had taken over and somehow stabilized. As a result, Seven had less than 1% of her original implants still in her body. The ocular implant above her eye was gone, as was the exoskeleton on her hand. The only outward sign of her Borg heritage was the starburst implant on her cheek. She would no longer need to regenerate on a regular basis, and the Doctor believed that it would even be possible for her to have children.
Before, that was something that Kathryn would have thought Seven would never consider, but watching her deepening intimacy with Commander Walker made her think that it was a definite possibility in the future.
"Seven! I was beginning to think you hadn't gotten my message."
"I apologize for being late. I was having lunch with Commander Walker and his daughter. I wasn't aware of the time."
"It's perfectly all right, Seven. I was enjoying the view."
Seven walked over to the railing and put her hands behind her back. "It's impressive."
Kathryn smiled and took another deep breath. "This has always been one of my favorite spots in San Francisco. Growing up in Indiana, I've never really gotten used to the sea air. I love to just stand here and enjoy it."
"What enjoyment can you find in increased humidity and sodium chloride in the atmosphere?"
She turned to explain it to her, but the smile on Seven's face told her that she was joking.
"It's very refreshing," said Seven with a sly grin.
"I didn't ask you to meet me here to discuss the merits of sea air."
Seven raised an eyebrow and waited for the Captain to begin.
She turned around and leaned her side against the railing. "I've been offered a position heading up the Pathfinder Project."
Seven's eyebrow went higher. "I do not understand. The Pathfinder Project's directive is irrelevant now that Voyager has successfully returned."
"They've been given a new directive – to study the new technology we brought back from the Delta quadrant. Starfleet is particularly interested in some of the new propulsion technologies we came across, and they're looking for people to develop them." She studied Seven for a few moments before she continued. "I was hoping you would be one of those people."
Seven's lips parted slightly in surprise. "You…want me to join the project."
"Your expertise would be invaluable, Seven. You'd be working with some of the crew from Voyager. Harry Kim, Joe Carey, Adin Jarel and Vorik and some of the other engineering staff have already requested to be assigned to the project. Tom and B'Elanna will be joining Pathfinder as soon as they're done their work on the Delta Flyer. I'll be coordinating the efforts."
"I would report to you?"
"Yes, and you'd also have people reporting to you."
Seven's eyebrow went up again. "I would be supervising?"
"In part." She grinned. "Admiral Hayes has approved my request to give you a commission of lieutenant."
Seven was actually rendered speechless for a full minute. "Thank you, Captain," she said softly when she found her voice again.
Kathryn beamed. "Then you'll do it?"
"I accept," confirmed Seven.
"Wonderful," said Kathryn, putting her hand on Seven's arm. "I was hoping you wouldn't mind staying on Earth." She grinned knowingly. "Although I did hear that you had made a somewhat permanent arrangement."
Seven barely concealed a smile. "If you are referring to Commander Walker…we will be sharing an apartment."
"That's wonderful, Seven. I'm happy for you."
"Mark tells me that Commander Chakotay will be teaching at Starfleet Academy," said Seven, returning the Captain's knowing grin.
Kathryn nodded, smiling to herself. Chakotay had been given the choice between his own command and a teaching position at Starfleet Academy. She was sure the offer of his own ship must have been tempting, but he had turned it down in favor of the teaching position so he could be near Kathryn.
"Annika!"
The two women turned around to see Cassandra Walker and Naomi Wildman tearing down the pier towards them. Kathryn turned towards Seven with a surprised expression -- that was the first time she had ever heard someone other than Mark use Seven's given name.
"Annika!" repeated Cassandra as she neared them. "Dad said he's going to take us to see Angel Falls. Do you want to come?"
"Please, Seven?" pleaded Naomi.
Seven sighed and glanced at the Captain. "Was there anything more you wanted to discuss, Captain?"
"No -- I'll contact you later with the particulars."
She turned back to Naomi and Cassandra. "In that case, I will join you. Where is your father?"
Cassandra turned around. "He's coming, but he walks too slow."
They could see Mark coming towards them, trailing behind the two girls.
"Would you like to join us, Captain?" asked Naomi.
Before Kathryn could reply, Cassandra interrupted. "She's meeting Commander Chakotay."
Kathryn laughed. "That's right. Maybe some other time."
"Cassandra," reprimanded Seven, "Your father has warned you about reading the thoughts of others."
"We're going for dinner later in Chinatown," continued Cassandra undaunted.
Naomi picked up where her friend left off. "Would you and the Commander like to come, Captain?"
"I can't make any promises, but I'll certainly try," she assured them.
Cassandra and Naomi nodded, satisfied. Mark arrived, and the girls immediately started tugging on his arms, urging him to follow them back down the pier in the direction he had come. Seven started to follow, but stopped and turned back to the Captain.
"Was there something else, Seven?"
Seven paused. "I have a request."
"What is it?"
"My commission…I have decided to go by my human name."
Kathryn was too surprised to make a response for a few seconds. "Well…I'll see that you're entered into Starfleet records as Annika Hansen, then."
Seven nodded satisfactorily and started to leave. She stopped when the Captain addressed her again.
"Do you mind if I ask why you've changed your mind after all this time?"
Seven thought for a moment. "Mark and Cassandra both call me by that name. I have come to…identify myself with it, to an extent that I never did before." She smiled. "And I do not think that 'Lieutenant of Nine' has a…pleasing ring to it."
Kathryn chuckled. "No, I suppose not. It might take me a while to get used to calling you Annika."
"I have no objection to anyone calling me Seven," she replied. "Mark suggested that it be…a nickname."
"A nickname…I like that." Kathryn patted her on the arm. "I'll see you at dinner tonight."
Seven nodded and then followed Mark and the girls down the pier.
Kathryn turned back around and leaned over the railing, looking back out over the bay. She wasn't sure how long she had been standing there lost in thought when she felt somebody come up behind her and a strong pair of arms went around her waist.
"Enjoying the view?" whispered Chakotay in her ear.
"Mmm," she said, leaning her head against him. "More so now."
"What did Seven say?"
Kathryn grinned. "She accepted. I don't think I've ever seen her speechless before."
"Was she surprised about the commission?"
"Not as surprised as I was -- she wants me to enter her as Lieutenant Annika Hansen."
"Really -- I guess Mark's made quite an impact on her."
"I guess so. Oh, that reminds me -- we're meeting them for dinner tonight, unless you have any objections."
"Of course not. I know how much you love seeing the crew."
She grinned. "That's why I jumped at the opportunity to head up the Pathfinder Project. There must be nearly a third of the crew that's requested to be assigned to it."
"I told you something would come up."
She lifted her hands in defeat. "And you were absolutely right." She turned around. "When am I ever going to learn to listen to you?"
"Hopefully never. That would take all the fun out of arguing with you."
She grinned and took his arm. "Now…what do you say we go have some lunch. I know a little coffee shop near the academy…"
* * *
Sunlight filtered through the large window, striking the furniture at odd angles and creating a pattern on the light-colored carpet. The window was open slightly, and the long drapes flapped gently in the breeze coming through. A large monitor sat near the window, a shaft of light striking one corner.
A hand reached up and pulled the drapes closed a little, stopping the light from hitting the screen and making it easier to see the young blonde woman standing in a park in front of a ship.
"People came out in droves to visit the U.S.S. Voyager museum today to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the ship's return home after seven years in the Delta quadrant. Interestingly, today also marks the anniversary of when Voyager was thrown into the Delta Quadrant eight years ago. After traveling over 30,000 light years through uncharted space, Captain Kathryn Janeway took her ship through a wormhole to the Gamma quadrant, where they traversed Dominion space to the Bajoran wormhole at Deep Space Nine.
A short private ceremony was held on board this morning, and sources say there will be a reunion for the Voyager crew later this afternoon."
Kathryn Janeway reached over and turned off the monitor then reached for a brush, running it through her hair one last time. She appraised her appearance in the mirror. Without being egotistical, she knew she looked good. She was sure she looked years younger than she had upon Voyager's return. A year on Earth living with Chakotay and working with her crew on the Pathfinder project had slowly removed the fine lines that had grown up around her eyes during her time in the Delta quadrant. She put on a little weight, but it looked good on her, hiding the toll that seven years of near-constant stress had taken on her body. She was wearing a dark blue top with a v-neck, and a striking pair of black dress pants. She ran her hands over the top one more time, smoothing it out.
"Chakotay," she called over her shoulder. "We're going to be late."
His voice behind her startled her. "I've been ready for ten minutes."
She turned around to see him standing with her jacket in his hands. Chuckling, she turned around and allowed him to hold the jacket as she slipped her arms into the sleeves and shrugged it onto her shoulders.
She turned around. "I forgot -- do you have the directions to the place Tom and B'Elanna rented?"
He nodded. "Of course."
She laughed. "What would I ever do without you?"
A raised eyebrow and a lopsided grin was his only reply.
"Oh," she said suddenly, turning around and starting for her desk. "I forgot I was supposed to look over those projections that --"
He grabbed her arm and started pulling her towards the door. "Later, Kathryn."
She tried to pull her arm out of his grip. "I'll just be five minutes."
"We're already late. You don't want to be the last one there, do you? Everyone's expecting us."
She glared at him for a moment, but then broke out in a smile and let him pull her towards the door.
"Eight years and I'm still dragging you away from your work," he grumbled.
Her laughter echoed in the empty apartment as the doors slid shut behind them.