Author's note: For those who remembered my note, from the first version
of "Love is Forever" I posted back in March '97, I stated that in the
New Life timeline, Voyager never encountered the Borg. Just say I take
that note back, when I realized I could follow some of the TV episodes
without ruining the New Life timeline.
The following story is the New Life timeline's version of
Voyager's Borg encounter. It's definitely not close to "Scorpion", so
don't expect similarities.

Disclaimers: Star Trek: Voyager is owned by Paramount Inc.
This story is owned by George Padovan. This story can be archived in
the ASC archive, but will need the owner's permission before archiving
anywhere else - archive or web page. This story is made for a non-
profit use - reading for fun, so I'm not in any way doing any
infringement on Paramount, Viacom, etc. I'm just borrowing the Trek
characters, ship, universe, etc. to play around in my head. (grin) All
feedback (comments, compliments, *creative* or helpful crit, except for
flames) is welcome at geordi@gti.net.

This story is rated PG.


Voyager: New Life

Moving On
By George Padovan

The stars were streaking by the windows of the ready room as
Captain Kathryn Janeway sipped her coffee and read some reports. One
report was an update on information received from a long-range probe
that Voyager had launched a day ago. It was a good idea, once in a
while, to use the probes to scour the space ahead for possible dangers.
The door chime sounded. "Come in," Janeway stated, to allow
entrance, as she looked up from her reading. Ensigns Freddie Bristow
and Malista York walked in and stood before their captain, who was
smiling at them.
Janeway had known the young man from Engineering and the
Science Department woman since they first came on board at DS9. At the
time, each had been busy with their work and didn't think of
socializing beyond friendship with others in the crew. A few months
after being stranded in the Delta Quadrant, the two officers had
started dating each other. The rumor mill stated the pair was very
madly in love with each other and that it was possible that they would
want to be married in the future.
"Ensigns Bristow and York, what can I do for you?" Janeway
asked the couple as she indicated for them to sit down.
Sitting down in the chairs situated in front of her desk, the
brown-haired man answered, while his dirty-blonde haired girlfriend sat
back in her chair to let him speak first. "Captain, as you may know,
Malista and I have been together for two years now. We have been
talking recently about whether or not we will ever get back to the
Alpha Quadrant."
Malista took up the story. "Fred and I know you will get us
back, Captain, it's just that we don't know *when* that will happen. As
far as we know, we might actually spend the next sixty-eight years
*living* on Voyager."
They paused and looked at each other before turning back to
Janeway, who patiently waited for them to continue.
Bristow looked sheepish. "Captain, Malista and I love each
other very much. Regardless if we will get back home next month or in
sixty-eight years, we'd like to get married and start a family."
The Captain placed her elbows on the desk and steepled her
fingers together. "Fred, Malista, are you *both* sure this is what you
want? It could be difficult later on if you realized you weren't made
for each other after all, and we still hadn't reached Federation space.
Each of you would still have to live with and work with the other,
onboard, every day. There's no place for you to escape from each other
here on Voyager."
The blonde scientist grabbed her boyfriend's hand while she
looked at her superior officer. "Captain, what you stated was one of
the major problems that we discussed before coming to you. We know it
could be difficult if that ever would be the case, but we have been
dating for *two* years. We *know* each other well and know we were made
for each other. We look forward to this commitment and feel sure that
we can make it work.
"We're both officers and would continue to respect and work
with each other even if we should decide to separate later."
Janeway nodded her head. She was impressed at the determination
of the couple to make their marriage work. She turned to Bristow.
"Fred, does Malista speak for you? Would you *also* be able to continue
to work with each other if the two of you should separate later?"
"Aye, Captain," he replied with determination shining in his
eyes.
A grin came to her face as Janeway rose. "Fred, Malista... My
congratulations."
The couple smiled at each other in relief, then returned to the
Captain. "Thank you, Captain," Fred stated.
"There are no rules about fraternization, or marriage, on
Starfleet vessels as long as it doesn't hinder an officer's job
performance" Janeway told the pair. "Voyager is in a unique situation.
Commander Chakotay and I *knew* the crew would eventually start to pair
off the longer we stay in the Delta Quadrant. We also knew
that, down the road, couples would start coming forward to ask to be
married, sometime after they start dating. You two are the *first* to
ask to be married, so don't be surprised if other couples start
following your example." She smiled. The couple just nodded since they
weren't able to formulate words in response to her statement.
"As for starting a family," Janeway continued, "you two will
have to work that out for yourselves. It's a *big* responsibility to
raise a family while continuing to adequately perform your duties. You
may want to talk to Ensign Wildman for any advice in caring for a
child. Raising Christine has given her lots of experience as she is
Voyager's first mother."
"We will definitely talk to her about that, Captain," Malista
said with a grin. "She has plenty of help from other members of the
crew in caring for Christine. Surely, we could get the same help in
raising our children."
Janeway chuckled. Malista was right about that. Samantha
Wildman has plenty of volunteers from the crew to help in caring for
her daughter during the past year. She inwardly sighed, already a year
had passed since Chris' birth. The little girl had just begun to take
her first walking steps.
"So, do you two have a date planned for this joyous event?"
Janeway asked with a grin.
Bristow shook his head, grinning. "No, Captain, not yet. We
weren't sure whether you would allow marriages onboard Voyager, so we
decided to ask for your permission first. Now that we have your
permission, we'll start planning everything. We'll inform you as soon
as we've picked a date."
Janeway nodded her agreement with their plan. "Then it's
settled. Anything else you need to tell me?"
The smiling couple rose shaking their heads. "No, Captain,"
York replied. "We thank *you* for your support. We appreciate it
highly."
"You're most welcome," Janeway returned with gray-blues
twinkling. "Again, my congratulations to you both."
"Thank you, Captain," both spoke together.
"Dismissed." The future bride and groom departed the Ready Room
with smiles still on their faces, leaving a bemused Captain behind.
Kathryn shook her head. She knew that the Voyager rumor mill would be
running at full swing with the news of the upcoming marriage. The
marriage would become quite an event for the crew. It would become a
bigger symbol, than Christine Wildman's birth, that the crew had moved
on with their lives and were now seeing Voyager as their home.
Thinking about it, she was looking forward to performing the
ceremony for the happy couple.
Voyager's commanding officer went to the replicator and ordered
another cup of coffee before she returned to her desk and the reports
that were still waiting for her.

Engineering was busy as usual. Repairs always being done to
keep Voyager at top condition, checking equipment and systems to make
sure they don't break down, etc.
Despite the appearance of business as usual, some of the
Engineers couldn't help but talk about the latest news. Everyone on
the ship was talking about it! Yesterday, to the surprise of some
people who thought the couple was not compatible, Ensigns Freddie
Bristow and Malista York announced that they were going to get married.
They said that the Captain, that morning, had given them permission to
marry, so they were going to go through with it. Many crewmembers were
now looking forward to the occasion of Voyager's first wedding.
While the crew continued to do their work and chatter about the
upcoming marriage, Chief B'Elanna Torres was at her workstation
examining the divisional job assignments, when her boyfriend and lover,
Ensign Harry Kim, strolled into the department. She smiled as he
approached.
Just months ago, she had gone through her version of Ponn Farr
thanks to Ensign Vorik, who had decided to choose her as his mate when
his mating cycle came about. While she was trapped in the Sikari caves
with Kim, she had confessed her love for him. She had always liked
Harry as a friend, but her feelings grew beyond that over time. Harry
loved her too, but didn't want to take advantage of her imbalanced
mind, at the time. Later, Torres and Vorik had battled each other and
purged their Ponn Farrs. With her hormones back under her control, she
again told Harry that she loved him. She meant it, and from that moment
onward, they had become a close couple.
"Hi, Harry," Torres greeted Kim as he finally reached her.
Kim smiled. "Hi, B'Elanna." His smile disappeared. "The long-
range probe stopped transmitting just moments ago. We received the
latest data from the probe before it stopped, but the telemetry is all
garbled up. I can't clear it. Can you help me?"
"Give me the file, and I'll see what I can do," she instructed.
The Chief Operations Officer leaned over her workstation,
quickly pulled out the files, and displayed them for his girlfriend.
Torres leaned over and began to try and make head-or-tails out of the
mixed-up probe transmissions.
At that moment, a voice interrupted their concentration from
behind them. "Keeping busy?"
They turned to find Commander Chakotay looking at them. "You
could say that, Chakotay," Torres groaned. "What are you doing here,
slumming?"
The First Officer didn't even flinch from her sarcastic reply.
"Just making a quick inspection of the divisions to see how everyone's
doing. What got your ire in a such high state?"
Torres and Kim turned back to their station and continued their
work. "This!" B'Elanna answered Chakotay. Chakotay stood behind the two
and watch the fuzzy screen. "The long-range probe has stopped
transmitting. Harry received the latest data from the it, but it's
all garbled and I'm trying to decipher it."
Chakotay took the news in stride but was worried inside. "What
incapacitated the probe?"
"We're working on it," Harry replied. "I couldn't make anything
out of the garbled data. I came down here and asked B'Elanna if she
could help me."
After a minute, Torres cried, "I think I've got it!" She
punched a few buttons and some recognizable pictures appeared on the
screen. The three officers watched the probe's video data. They slowly
turned pale at what they saw.
Chakotay tapped his comm badge. "Commander Chakotay to Captain
Janeway."
"Janeway here," the reply came.
"Captain, would you please come to Engineering. The long-range
probe has stopped transmitting, and we have something from the latest
data that you need to see right away."
"I'm on my way." The communication was cut.
A few minutes later, Captain Janeway walked into Engineering
and approached the trio of officers. "What did you find?"
Torres reported. "Just before the probe stopped transmitting,
the latest telemetry was all garbled. I was able to clear the
interference. Take a look at this." She reached down and punched a
button as Janeway stood next to her and watched the screen. Chakotay
and Kim stood behind the two.
Janeway watched as a black *cube-shaped* ship approached the
probe. Then the picture changed to the interior of the ship where the
image changed to show a humanoid man, with pale-white skin and machine
attachments on his body, looking into the video camera of the probe
before he reached up with his arm, with a machine attachment at the
end, and disabled the probe.
Inwardly, Janeway was scared as hell, but she still looked cool
and confident. She *knew* what Voyager was soon about to face when she
saw that cube ship. With a calm she didn't feel, she slowly turned to
her first officer. He saw in her eyes what they all knew, but he
voiced it anyway.
"This is it, Captain." He paused a bit. "Borg space."

The Borg! Janeway had known that sooner or later Voyager would
encounter the Federation's worst enemy. After all, it had been reported
that the Borg originated in the Delta Quadrant, so it only made sense
that along their way back to the Alpha Quadrant, Voyager would
eventually encounter Borg space.
She had pondered these thoughts constantly during the past
three days since she had been shown the video that their probe had sent
before being disabled by the Borg drone. Three days ago, she had been
in a positive mood, enjoying the good news of the upcoming nuptials of
two of her own crew. Now she was on constant alert and, to be truthful,
she was very worried.
The crew had been in a high stage of alert and was preparing
the ship and themselves for a fight against the Borg. Janeway would do
anything to avoid a direct confrontation, but she knew if such a fight
occurred, her crew would be ready.
It was 0934 hours. Janeway and the rest of her bridge crew
were manning their usual stations, when Ensign Kim's Ops console
started beeping loudly. "Captain!" Kim shouted. "I'm picking up a
transwarp signature ahead, bearing 050, mark 354! He checked his
readings closely. "A cube shaped vessel." He looked up to face Janeway.
"It's Borg."
"Have they detected us?" Janeway cried out to her Chief
Operations Officer.
Harry scanned his board. "No. They're maintaining speed on a
course that will pass us in a few seconds."
The Captain turned to Lt. Paris at the helm. "Maintain course
and speed, Mr. Paris. Hopefully, the Borg will pass us by without
detecting us."
"Aye, Captain," Paris obeyed, his fingers dancing over the
controls at the helm.
"Captain," Tuvok calmly said, "The Borg vessel is now parallel
with us." The Bridge crew held their breaths. After a few tense
moments, Tuvok broke the tense silence. "The Borg have passed, Captain.
They are maintaining their original course and heading away from us."
Except for Tuvok, everyone released the breaths that they had
been holding. They were relieved that this first encounter had passed
without confrontation, but they all wondered how long before they were
detected.
Voyager sailed on keeping to the boundaries of Borg space,
looking for a way around the vastness of enemy territory that blocked
their more direct route back home. Janeway hoped they could come up
with a solution that would help her crew avoid being assimilated and
still keep them heading in the general direction of the Alpha quadrant.

After putting their lunch trays on the table and sitting down,
Lt. Paris spoke his first words to his best friend, Ensign Kim, since
their close encounter with the Borg that morning. "That was a close
call this morning."
"I'll say," Harry agreed. "I doubt we would have been able to
fight the Borg if they had detected us." He put a forkful of his lunch
in his mouth as he gazed around the Mess Hall.
Tom too looked around the Mess Hall and saw the expressions on
everyone's faces. He turned back to Harry. "Everyone's scared, Harry.
They may not look it, but I can tell from the deadly silence in
this room."
Harry nodded. "Who wouldn't be scared, Tom? After Wolf 359,
everyone in the Federation feared the Borg would return and finish off
what they had started. No one wants to imagine becoming assimilated
into the hive.
"Captain Picard became one of them for a while. I read the
report on that. It stated that he was able to return to normal quickly
since he was assimilated for such a short period of time before the
implants were removed. Can you imagine being Borg for a year? Two
years? A decade? The rest of your life?"
Tom shuddered at the thought. "Not me. I'd like to stay the way
I am." The idea of becoming one with the Borg didn't have any appeal at
all.
"The same here," Harry stated.
The two friends remained silent for the rest of their lunch.
They didn't see Torres, so they figured she was pretty busy. Near the
end of their lunch period, the two stood up, placed their trays back in
the recycle bin, and returned to the Bridge.
Along the way, Paris asked a question. "How long do you think
we'll be able to elude the Borg?"
Harry had no answer for that and answered, "I don't know. I'm
keeping my fingers crossed, hoping we *never* have to face them in
combat."
"Same here, friend," Tom clapped Kim's shoulder. "Same here."
After a short ride on the turbolift, the two officers returned
to the Bridge and their duties. Each felt it was going to be a *long*
afternoon.

In his bright red '57 Chevy convertible, Thomas Paris was
driving alone along the road through the woods in California. It was a
bright, sunny summer day and he was enjoying himself tremendously. He
had always enjoyed driving through the woods of Northern California and
today was no exception.
Maintaining a steady cruise speed along the winding road, the
blond pilot of Starfleet hadn't noticed a few guys on motorbikes drive
up to him from behind. His eyes finally saw them as he turned his head
to the left to see the biker next to him.
He gave a grin to the biker and was about to turn back to his
driving when his head spun back in a double take with eyes wide. The
man on the Harley was pale white with gadgets sticking out of his body
and an optic eyepiece sticking out of an eye. Borg.
The Borg biker slowly turned his head to Tom, whose heart was
racing. "Surrender your vessel," the drone said in the monotone of the
Borg Hive Mind. "We will add your biological and technological
distinctiveness to our own. You will be assimilated. Resistance is
futile."
"Not this pilot, you won't!" yelled Tom.
The drone raised his gadget arm and swung it down toward Paris,
but Tom quickly maneuvered the car to the right, avoiding the blow.
He also managed to knock the Borg biker on his right side out of the
picture. He then quickly accelerated and shifted gears to the highest
level to achieve maximum speed. Tom sped away with the Borg quickly
accelerating behind him to catch up.
Swerving around bends and curves in the road, he saw in the
rearview mirror that the Borg bikers were gaining on him. Cursing, he
tried to get even more speed out of the Chevy.
The forest thinned out and finally he was in the clear, heading
toward a small town. The town looked abandoned and eerie.
Tom was so focused on his pursuers that when he turned his head
to his right, he was scared out of his wits to find a spooky white
hooded-robed bipedal being sitting next to him on the front seat. He
couldn't see the face, but the sight reminded him of the black-hooded
ghost of Christmas Future in all those Scrooge films he had seen as a
child at Christmastime.
The being pointed down the road, in the direction that the car
was heading and said, "When you reach the Blue Giant Star Diner and
Pulsar Hotel, you'll see a road at mark 248. Take it and continue along
it for 3 minutes. You'll then reach safety from the those unemotional
men behind you who want to take your vehicle apart."
"Really?" asked Paris sarcastically, as he again looked in the
rearview mirror. The Borg were still gaining on him. When he turned
back to the hooded being, he was gone. "Didn't even say good-bye," the
pilot muttered.
In another minute, he spotted a sign on the left side of the
road. It read, "Blue Giant Star Diner." The next sign said, "Pulsar
Hotel." Looking to his right, Tom immediately saw the road to which the
being had been referring. Pulling hard on the steering wheel, Tom Paris
took the Chevy up the new road and accelerated some more.
Continuing down the road, the town thinned out and he was in
the forest again. Then, up ahead, he saw a long bridge. Crossing over
it, Voyager's Chief Helmsman saw that the bridge spanned a large
ravine, which stretched a half-mile wide.
Looking over his shoulder, Tom noticed the Borg bikers were
still on his tail. Well, Tom, that guy in the robe was a liar to
boot.
Just as Paris and his Chevy reached the other side, the bridge
exploded, causing Tom to stop the car, turn around, and stare at the
fireworks as the Borg were destroyed with the bridge.
Then again, that guy was telling the truth. He didn't
understand *how* the bridge was destroyed, but the blonde man was
*glad* it was.
"RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!" the sound came, and suddenly
Tom Paris woke-up in his bed with his forehead sweaty. A dream! It was
nothing but a weird dream.
Shaking his head to help clear it, Tom ordered his alarm off
and stumbled out of bed. He went into the bathroom and took a shower.
While under the soothing warm water, Paris couldn't help but
think about the strangeness of the dream he had had. The Borg bikers,
he thought, was part of his fear of the Borg, now that Voyager was near
their territory. The being was probably some ray of hope that he and
his shipmates would *escape* the Borg, somehow. The whole thing was
just plain *weird*.
He shook his head, returning to the present. I'll sort out
this dream later.
Finishing his shower, Paris dried himself before returning to
the bedroom, where he donned a fresh clean uniform. After he made sure
he was presentable, the pilot left for the Mess Hall to start another
day, hoping that Voyager survive the Borg.

"Morning, Tom," Kim said to his friend as Paris settled down
with his breakfast across from him and Torres in the Mess Hall. No one
was in a cheery mood nowadays with the threat of the Borg looming over
them.
"Morning, Harry, B'Elanna," Paris returned the greeting as he
sorted through his breakfast and took a bite of the scrambled eggs.
"Sleep well?" Torres asked the pilot when she noticed his
grogginess and the dark circles under his blue eyes.
Tom shook his head. "Very little. I had this dream about the
Borg."
Harry gave a sympathetic smile. "Who wouldn't in the situation
we're in."
Paris nodded his head in agreement, then he told his two good
friends about the dream. When he was finished, Harry and B'Elanna
looked at Tom for a while before Harry broke the silence.
"That's a pretty strange dream, Tom. Borg motorbike riders
chasing you, and that hooded, robed man. Definitely weird."
B'Elanna just snorted. "It's probably nothing to worry about.
As you said, Harry, who wouldn't dream about the Borg in the situation
we're in? The tension on the ship is high. None of the former Maquis
have felt this tense since the last battle with the Cardassians in the
Badlands, just before we were transported over by the Caretaker."
"Yeah, you're probably right, B'Elanna," Tom mentioned. "I just
hope our luck avoiding the Borg continues."
After the three junior officers ate their breakfast, they all
headed toward the Bridge for their duty stations.
During the course of the shift, Tom's statement came true.
Voyager's luck held out for the day; no Borg vessels were detected.
However, everyone wondered how long their luck would continue with so
many Borg vessels out there in the vastness of Borg space, whose
borders Voyager was trying to get around.

Kathryn was running. With her uniform and body covered with
sweat, she kept on running for her life across the open fields of her
home in Indiana. She turned back and still saw the mechanical humanoid
monsters coming at her. Waving their arms and looking menacing,
everything they touched turned black and mechanical looking.
"You will be assimilated, Captain Kathryn Janeway," the single
mechanical voice kept drumming in her ears. "Resistance is futile."
"Never!" Janeway screamed out. "I will never be part of you!
You hear me! NEVER!" She kept on running.
All of the sudden a man in a white hooded robe appeared before
her. She couldn't see his face since he was hunched down and the hood
covered his head. He quickly pointed to a huge black hole in the
ground. "Quickly, Kathy! Go down this hole! It'll save you from the
demons you're fleeing! Once on the other side, close the hole and
you'll be safe!"
Janeway hesitated. The hole was dark and she couldn't see what
lay below. Besides, she was not sure she could trust the hooded man.
"Do you want to be one of them?!" the man pointed to the
mechanical humanoids approaching them. Janeway saw the Borg were
getting nearer. The sight of them made her decision easier.
Jumping down the hole, she shouted and screamed as the darkness
surrounded her. She couldn't even see her hand in front of her face.
Kathryn felt like she kept on falling and falling - like Alice falling
down the rabbit hole. Finally, she saw light below her.
Her body tumbled out of the mouth of a cave somewhere in the
Rocky Mountains she quickly recognized her surroundings. On the ground
before her lay two sticks of TNT or dynamite, as she remembered it was
called in the twentieth century. Then finding a campfire lighter, she
quickly and smoothly lit the dynamite and flung the sticks into the
cave.
Just then a Borg drone appeared at the mouth of the cave and
she feared she was too late. However, a moment after the drone
appeared, the explosion came.
The cave collapsed right on top of the Borg, sealing it and
burying the drone under tons of rock and dirt. Kathryn breathed easier
now. The Borg drone was dead and the others couldn't follow her, so she
was safe.
"Bridge to Captain Janeway! Captain Janeway come in!"
With a gasp and startled expression, Kathryn woke up in her
bed.
"Bridge to Captain Janeway!" Chakotay's voice was heard in her
bedroom.
Janeway spoke up to the ceiling. "Janeway here."
"Captain," Chakotay reported, "We're detecting four transwarp
signatures. Definitely Borg vessels.
"I already contacted the rest of the senior bridge crew and
placed the ship on red alert. You didn't responded."
Captain Janeway was already up and starting to dress in her
uniform. She saw it was 0450 hours.
Damn this dream! It made me slept right through a red alert!
"I'll be right up! Janeway out."
Soon she was dressed and ready. Voyager's commanding officer,
now fully awake and alert, jogged out of her quarters toward the
turbolift. After she ordered the lift to the Bridge, her mind
backtracked to the dream she had. She shook it off, concluding the
dream was nothing more than her fear manifesting itself in this way
since she never displayed such fear to any of her crew.
The lift stopped and she burst onto the Bridge. "Report!" she
barked out as she headed toward her center seat.
Tuvok reported from the Tactical station. "The Borg vessels
are now behind us, continuing to maintain their course and
speed. They have yet to--" The Security Chief's console started beeping
and he glanced down at it. He quickly raised his eyes back to his
commanding officer, who was now in her seat. "Correction. The Borg have
altered course, Captain. They are now on a intercept course toward us."
All eyes on the Bridge briefly turned to the Vulcan. He saw
they held fear but also determination. Determination to beat the Borg.
With a look of calmness and command, Janeway shouted out her
orders. "Accelerate to maximum warp! Shields and weapons at maximum!"
She turned to Ensign Kim. "Harry, sensors at maximum! Find us a star or
nebula that could elude the Borg sensors!"
"Aye, Captain!" came the voices of her trusted officers. Paris
boosted the warp engines to their peak at warp 9.2. Tuvok increased
shield strength and prepared phasers and photon torpedoes for maximum
damage. Harry widened the long-range sensors and began searching
eagerly for a stellar phenomenon to fool the Borg.
Tuvok spoke up. "The Borg have increased their speed. They will
be within firing range in 6 minutes."
The situation was tense all around the bridge as everyone
awaited the arrival of the Borg. They knew the history of the
Enterprise-D, when Q flung the Enterprise into the Delta Quadrant for
Starfleet's first contact with the Borg. The Enterprise could neither
out run the Borg nor could they destroy them. If the Enterprise hadn't
been able to do it then when they were alone, how could they expect to
do it now. Especially against *four* cubes, when the Enterprise had not
even been a match for one. On the other hand, they all knew they would
die trying to protect their ship and each other.
Lt. Paris was carefully watching the navigation and sensor data
on his helm console. He saw the four marks representing the Borg cubes,
which were increasingly getting closer and closer. Then he spotted
something at the top of the navigation screen. They were approaching a
blue giant star with a pulsar companion.
A blue giant star with a pulsar companion. he thought.
Suddenly his mind went into overdrive. A blue giant star with a pulsar
companion!
Tom remembered the dream he had the previous night with the
white-hooded man in his car. `When you reach the Blue Giant Star Diner
and Pulsar Hotel, you'll see a road at mark 248. Take it and go down it
for 3 minutes. You'll reach safety from the those unemotional men
behind you who want to take your vehicle apart.' Gods! That dream was
no dream! It was a premonition!
Seeing that Voyager was finally parallel to the star and
pulsar, Paris altered course to mark 248. His guts told him outright
that he was doing the right thing to save Voyager and the people he
care the most.
"Mr. Paris, *why* did you alter course?!" Janeway barked at
him after Voyager turned toward its new heading. The Captain rose and
approached her chief helmsman with eyes furious.
Paris didn't even turn around, just kept his eyes on the helm.
"Trust me, Captain! This doesn't make sense, but I *know* that we'll
reach safety in 3 minutes at this heading! *Trust* me!"
Janeway stared at her protege. His raised voice and posture
told her that he was telling the truth.
"The Borg are now 4 minutes behind us," Tuvok called out.
"You'd better be right about this *hunch* of yours, Mr. Paris,"
Janeway said as she stepped down to stand beside the young man. "Or
else you'll be on KP duty for the rest of the journey home if we make
it out of this situation alive."
She was bit surprised not to hear Tom even make his usual flip
joke. "Believe me, Captain, I just know this *hunch* is correct or else I
wouldn't have altered course."
Not even one minute had passed when Kim cried out in a voice
filled with surprise and hope. "Captain! I'm picking up neutrino
readings dead ahead... A wormhole! The sensors show it's definitely big
enough for Voyager to go through!"
Tom saw the wormhole on his sensor screen. "We'll be at the
wormhole in 2 minutes, Captain! This is our ticket out of this mess!"
Tuvok remained calm and straight. "The Borg are now 3 minutes
behind us." He then addressed his Captain. "Captain, despite the good
fortune of finding the wormhole, we have no idea whether the wormhole is
stable or if it will deposit us in any better situation. We may find
ourselves further from Federation space than we are at present. Also,
before we can even verify anything about this wormhole, the Borg will be
upon us."
Janeway's eyes were fixed on the helm's sensor screen and the
indication of the wormhole as she listened to Tuvok. The dream she
had flashed across her mind. `Quickly, Kathy! Go down this hole! It'll
save you from the demons you're fleeing! Once on the other side, close
the hole and you'll be safe!'
"I agree that there's no time to confirm whether this wormhole
is safe, but I'm willing to bet everything that this wormhole is stable
and will deposit us closer to home, Mr. Tuvok." Janeway turned to her
tactical officer, who gave her a disapproving gaze, then back to her
helmsman with an expression that made it clear she had made up her mind
thoroughly. "Mr. Paris, when we reach the wormhole, drop out of warp
and head straight into it! Full impulse!" She strolled quickly back to
the center seat.
"Aye Captain!" Paris replied with eagerness as Janeway settled
down on her seat. All heads turned to the screen as they approached the
wormhole.
Upon arrival at the opening, Voyager dropped out of warp and
without haste plunged into the wormhole at full impulse. The wormhole
rocked and rolled Voyager liked a sea ship in the middle of a fierce
ocean storm.
"Harry!" Janeway said over her shoulder. "How long is this
wormhole?!"
"Sensors indicate we'll be out in five minutes, Captain!"
replied the young operations officer.
"At least the Borg won't be able to catch us while we're in
here," Paris stated. "Even if they follow us, they'll have to go at the
same speed as we."
"Captain," called out Tuvok, "the Borg have entered the
wormhole. I detect only one cube, and they are at the same speed as
Voyager, full impulse. We shall be ahead of them as Mr. Paris stated."
"However, we're not out of the woods yet," Janeway mentioned as
she held on to her seat while Voyager continued to rock and roll. "That
cube will still be a threat to us once they follow us out of the
wormhole." She turned to Tuvok. "Tuvok, prepare two photon torpedoes,
aft torpedo bays! Once we clear the wormhole, I want this wormhole
destroyed! The wormhole's collapse will destroy the Borg before they
can get out!"
"Aye, Captain," Tuvok obeyed as he prepared the torpedoes to
the specifications necessary to destroy the wormhole.
After several minutes of enduring the bumpy ride, Voyager
finally exited the wormhole. "We're out!" Paris shouted.
"Firing torpedoes," Tuvok stated as he pressed the `fire'
button on his console.
"Rear view on screen!" Janeway ordered, which Kim carried out.
The screen blinked on just in time to see two red sparkles
enter the wormhole. Immediately afterward, an explosion was seen and
the bridge crew could see the wormhole collapsing.
"Captain! The Borg ship is coming out!" Harry Kim hollered.
With fear, everyone saw the cube shaped ship about to exit the wormhole
and wondered if Fate was against them. However, Fate was on Voyager's side
this time.
The edge of the collapsing wormhole touched the Borg vessel
before it could fully emerge. Like a knife going through butter, the
wormhole crushed half of the cube ship with an awesome force. The next
thing everyone saw was a tremendous explosion, which caused the bridge
crew to shield their eyes, as the vessel, representing the Federation's
worst enemy, was utterly annihilated.
When the spectacular fireworks were over, everybody breathed
easier. Their great ordeal with the Borg was *over*. However, Voyager's
commanding officer immediately reminded them of an important question.
"Tom," Janeway called out, "where are we?"
Tom pushed some buttons and the screen blinked to show a pink
and blue nebula that was in front of Voyager. He then checked his
navigation readings before answering his superior's question. "We're
ten thousand light years from where we were, Captain."
Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay saw on their Command
terminal that it was true. Voyager was ten thousand light years further
along on their journey home.
Janeway's face gave a sigh of relief. "We're now safely beyond
Borg space," she spoke to no one in particular as she turned to gaze at
the main view screen and the beautiful nebula. A small smile came to
her face. "We're ten years closer to home."
Closing her eyes, Janeway relaxed fully on full realization
that her ship and crew were safe. A miracle. she told herself. A
definite *miracle*.

Shortly after the Bridge crew got their minds accustomed to
Voyager's good fortune in escaping the Borg, Captain Janeway called
a meeting of the Senior Staff in the Briefing Room.
Janeway gazed around the table at her most trusted officers.
Chakotay sat on her right followed by Paris, the Doctor, Kes, and
Neelix, who sat at the end of the table. Torres sat at Neelix's right,
followed by Kim and ending with Tuvok, who sat at Janeway's left.
"We were *very* fortunate today," the Captain started the
meeting. "If we hadn't found that wormhole, you all know what would
have happened to us." A look at her officers' faces told her, they knew
and didn't like the thought of it at all. "This leaves us with a
burning mystery." Her eyes focused on her helmsman. "How *did* you know
that wormhole was there, Mr. Paris?"
The blonde pilot felt all eyes focused on him, but he kept his
eyes connected with Janeway's. "You probably won't believe me, but I
received the knowledge in a dream," Paris said straight without humor
showing his seriousness.
"A dream?" Chakotay asked. "What was in the dream to make you
know the wormhole was there."
Taking a breath, Tom explained the dream he had two nights
ago. Him driving a 20th century automobile and the Borg chasing him on
motorcycles. The Borg stating that they wanted to assimilate his car.
Tom described the man, wearing a white hooded robe, appearing next to
him in the car and giving him instructions on how to escape the Borg.
"He told me that when I reached the Blue Giant Star Diner and
Pulsar Hotel, I'll see a road at mark 248. He stated that if I went down
the road for 3 minutes, I'll reach safety. I crossed a long bridge and
once I'd reached the other side, the bridge blew up and took the Borg
with it.
"When we were trying to outrun the Borg, I saw on the
navigation sensors a binary star system composed of a blue *giant* star
and a *pulsar* that we were approaching." He spread his hands and gazed
at his fellow officers. "I realized that the dream couldn't have been a
fluke! No way could a dream resemble reality this closely! No way! I
took the chance that the dream was instructions for us to escape the
Borg. Sure enough, the wormhole was there *exactly* three minutes after
I altered course to mark 248 according to the hooded man's
instructions."
Everyone was astonished.
"Tom," Janeway stated, her eyes shining with revelation. "You
stated the man was wearing a *white* hooded robe. Did you see the man's
face?"
Paris shook his head. "No, Captain. The hood covered his face
and I wasn't able to see him."
"Captain," Tuvok spoke with curiosity, "why is it important to
know identity of this man in Mr. Paris' dream?"
Janeway faced her Security Chief. "Because I *too* had a dream
about a man covered with a white hooded robe." She saw she now have
everyone's attention.
"As you all know, I knew that the wormhole would be safe for us
to go through, and you're all wondering how I knew.
"Like Mr. Paris, the dream I had last night was about the Borg
chasing me. It was different since I was being chased on foot and there
was one extra difference. The hooded man pointed to a hole in the
ground and told me to jump through it. He also stated that once I
reach the other side, I will find two sticks of TNT and I should use
it to seal off the hole to prevent the Borg from following."
Janeway shook her head slightly before continuing. "It was
coincidence that the my dream matched the situation we were in. I knew
that wormhole was safe and I knew, like the hole in my dream, I had to
destroy the wormhole to prevent the Borg from coming through."
Voyager's captain gazed at Paris, whose facial expression told
her that he knew what she was about to say next so he said it for her.
"It can't be a coincidence for you and I to dream about the exact
*same* man. Also it is too much a coincidence for *both* of us to
receive instructions on how to escape the Borg in our dreams."
All around the table there were wide expressions of
astonishment.
Tuvok raised an eyebrow as his eyes met the Captain's. "The
question now, Captain, is *who* gave you and Lt. Paris the
instructions? I agree that it is logical that it is highly improbable
for you and Lt. Paris to dream about the same person and receive
instructions that fit *precisely* our predicament with the Borg."
Everyone pondered the question for a while.
Finally, Janeway rose and everyone followed suit. "It's
something for us to think about," she said to everyone. "For the time
being, it's best we return to our duties." She turned to Torres.
"B'Elanna, you stated there was minor damage to Voyager passing through
the wormhole. I want all systems check out thoroughly before we
continue our journey back to Federation space."
"Aye, Captain," the Chief Engineer replied.
Janeway gazed at everyone before saying, "Dismissed."
Everyone filed out of the Briefing Room and headed back to
work. Torres, the Doctor, Neelix, and Kes filed into the turbolift;
Torres headed toward Engineering, Neelix back to his kitchen, and the
Doctor and Kes to Sickbay. The senior officers of the Bridge returned
to their respective posts, except Janeway, who stood in front of her
first officer as he sat on his chair.
"Commander, I'll be in my Ready Room working on reports for the
remainder of the day. When Lt. Torres confirms that all systems have
check out and properly functioning, head us back on course to the
Alpha Quadrant. Warp 5."
"Aye, Captain," Chakotay obeyed. He watched Janeway as,
gracefully as always, she walked into her Ready Room.
The Bridge was silent as everyone went about his or her job.
Each was pondering how lucky they all were and wondering what would
have become of them if they hadn't found the wormhole. No one liked to
imagine assimilation into the Borg collective. It was horrifying enough
to imagine it; it would have been nightmarish to have had to live it.
Two hours later, Lt. Torres called the Bridge to report that
all systems were functioning normally and that Voyager could now go to
warp. Chakotay told Paris to head back on course toward the Alpha
Quadrant at warp 5. Complying, the pilot plotted in the course and
warped Voyager away.
They all figured it would be a while before everything returned
to normal.

Captain Janeway sat on the couch of her Ready Room and read the
reports that came in from all departments of the ship. The reports,
throughout the day, kept her so busy that when she finally glanced at
the chronometer, she found it was now 20 minutes since Alpha Shift had
ended.
Sighing, she placed down the PADD she had just read and picked
up the cup of tea she had placed on the coffee table in front of her.
Sipping the warmth of the tea, she turned and stared out the windows at
the rainbow colors of the passing stars.
The Captain closed her eyes. She couldn't help but feel relief
that Voyager had survived the Borg. It was the greatest of luck to have
found a wormhole, which bypassed Borg space, and destroy it before the
Borg gotten through.
Not only that, but now her ship and crew were less than 60
years away from the Alpha Quadrant; 10 years closer than they were
before entering the wormhole.
A miracle, she remembered saying to herself after they
discovered where they were when the Borg cube was destroyed by the
collapsed wormhole. It was indeed a miracle.
Her mind wandered back to the dream she had about the hooded
man. Who was he? There had to be a clue in the dream. Kathryn again
went through her entire dream step by step. Again she came to words the
man had spoken to her. "Quickly, Kathy! Go down this hole! It'll save
you from the demons you're fleeing! Once on the other side, close the
hole and you'll be safe!"
Then her mind snapped. 'Kathy'? In my entire life, I know of
*only* one being, who ever called me Kathy. "Q," Kathryn spoke out.
Suddenly there was a flash of light in front of her. She spun
her head to see the dark, curly, haired omnipotent being standing
before her next to the guardrail. Q was in a Captain's Starfleet
uniform like hers.
"You called, Kathy?" Q asked with a mischievous grin and eyes
twinkling.
Eyeing the immortal, Janeway placed her teacup down on the
table before standing. She crossed her arms. "You were responsible for
the dreams Tom and I had. You gave us the information we needed to find
the wormhole."
Q smiled broadly and gave a small bow. "Guilty as charged." He
leaned against the railing and crossed his legs. "I'm surprised that it
took you this long to figure everything out, Kathy. I thought you were
smarter than that."
Kathryn just shook her head while looking at this man, this
being in front of her and asked, "Why?"
"Why, Kathy? You're asking why I, a member of the Q Continuum,
would save you and your little lost ship?" She nodded. "The reason is
simple. There are only two mortals that I have ever met whom I respect
and admire. You Kathryn are one of the two.
"As a friend, I couldn't sit back and see you become a walking
zombie with gadgets sticking out of your body." Q made a distasteful
face. "It's not you. I like you the way you are."
Q raised a finger. "However, I couldn't directly help you by
flinging your ship across space as I did with Jean-Luc's. The Continuum
made it quite clear, so I decided to help you aim in the right
direction so that you could escape on your own."
"You knew about the wormhole?" Janeway queried.
The immortal smiled. "Indeed. That wormhole was created by a
powerful race a thousand years ago to grant safe passage for travelers
across Borg space. However, the knowledge of the wormhole was lost over
time simply because fewer people ever used it. They simply avoid Borg
space all together. The wormhole's creators left this galaxy couple
hundred years after it was made."
Spreading his hands, Q gave a shrug. "So, knowing the direction
you were heading, I gave Helmboy the directions to head toward the
wormhole, while I gave you the knowledge that the wormhole was safe and
that you were to destroy it once you were on the other side."
Janeway knew he wasn't telling the whole story. "You also knew
that we were going to be chased by the Borg as well. That's why you
told me to destroy the wormhole."
Grinning, Q touched his nose with an index finger while
pointing to Janeway with the other hand. "Right on the nose! Being Q, I
saw you were going to be chase by the Borg, so it made sense for you to
destroy the wormhole once you were safe." Q tossed his hand as if to
dismiss something. "Besides, the Borg were slowly conquering the space
where the wormhole was established, so it was no longer a safe passage
across their space anyway. It was best to destroy it to prevent them
from reaching this part of the galaxy any quicker than they absolutely
have to."
Kathryn, looking at the godlike being, slowly smiled. Q
certainly had come a long way from the pain-in-the-behind entity that
tormented the Enterprise-D's crew. He was still somewhat of a pain, but
she gradually came to appreciate Q. "Q, I speak for my *entire* crew. I
thank you for helping us."
Seeing her smile brought warmth to the god-like being. Q gave a
small smile and nodded his head. "You're welcome, Kathy."
The two smiled at each other for a while until Q broke the
silence. "Well now, it was a good thing Helmboy recognized what I was
telling him in his dream, or else your teeny weany vessel would have
been Borg food."
Janeway shook her head and chuckled. At that moment the door
chime sounded. "Come in."
Commander Chakotay strolled in, with PADD in hand, and stopped
in his tracks the moment he laid eyes on Q. His eyes and face turned
angry while his voice remained calm but with an edge in it. "Q, what
are you doing here? If you're here to harm Captain Janeway, I swear-"
"Chakotay, calm down," Janeway broke in, while Q held up his
hands in surrender. "Q is not here to harm me, any of the crew, or
Voyager."
"Listen to her, Chuckles," Q added while he placed his hands
down. "It's the truth this time."
The Indian was confused. When Q had appeared on Voyager before,
the immortal being always had a motive or reason that didn't bode well
for Voyager. "What are you doing here then?" he asked Q.
Kathryn answered. "I figured out that it was Q who was the
white-robed man in the dreams Tom and I had. Once I figured it out, Q
appeared to explain why he helped us as he did."
"And?" Chakotay prompted.
She turned her head toward Q and shook her head while smiling,
before she returned to face her first officer. "He simply wanted to
help us from being assimilated by the Borg. That's all."
Chakotay turned to Q. "That's it? You *just* wanted to help
us?" He was finding it hard to believe.
"That's *it*," Q repeated what Chakotay had said but with a
serious and concerned face.
"You don't want to try to mate with the Captain?" the Commander
couldn't help but ask.
Q gave a shocked face. "Chuck, I'm *shocked*! I have no
intention of chasing Kathy anymore!" The omnipotent being crossed his
arms. "I already have a lovely mate and son to care for. Kathy is a
good friend whom I was concerned for when I noticed your little ship
was about to encounter the Borg.
"Being Q I was able to see all possible futures." He glanced
at Janeway, who was listening. "To see Kathy turned into the new Borg
liaison for the Borg to conquer the Federation is not a pretty sight.
The difference between Jean-Luc and her would be that the Borg would
have turned her completely into one of them including a mechanical eye
sticking out one eye socket."
Again Q shook his head, shaking out the shivers. Chakotay
swallowed since he too didn't like to think of Janeway becoming such a
thing. Janeway just closed her eyes.
"As for Voyager and the rest of Kathy's loyal crew," Q
continued, "the Borg would have turned everyone into drones, stripped
Voyager to nothing, and assimilated the technology. With the knowledge
of a Starfleet captain and the technology of a starship, the Borg would
have easily conquered the Federation since they would know every
weakness of the technology compared to the time Jean-Luc was Locutus.
"Then the Borg thought with only the knowledge of a starship
captain, they could easily assimilate the Federation. This time they
would had not hesitate to use *everything* that was available to them."
Q noticed the gloomy moods of the two Voyager officers and
realized he had probably spoken too much.
"But you changed that future, Q," Chakotay pointed out. "You
gave Paris and the Captain the knowledge they needed to escape the
Borg."
After raising a finger, Q said, "Not exactly." He exhaled
before continuing. "I gave Helmboy and Kathy the means to change the
future. It was still up to them to decide whether or not to use what
their dreams were telling them and make a decision.
"Your Mr. Paris decided to follow the course I gave him, but
Kathy still had to decide to go through the wormhole. If she hadn't,
the future I told you about would *still* have happened."
Janeway raised her hand in that two-fingered gesture she always
made. "You're telling us that you gave us the information, but it was
still our decision to determine the course of our future?"
"Precisely, Madame Captain," Q replied with a voice filled with
confidence and amusement. He walked over and sat on the couch. He
spread his arms out. "Every individual makes many decisions on the path
of life. Where that path takes the individual is determined by the
decisions he or she makes." He folded his hands in his lap. "Most of
the time, the decision made only affects the individual; other times it
affects others whose paths are entwined with the individual."
Q turned to Janeway "So I gave Helmboy and you the information,
but you each had to decide to take the information as face value or
not, and as you know you both did." He gave a grin of satisfaction.
Janeway shook her head and gave a small smile. "True, it was
still up to Tom and I to decide to act on instinct with what the dreams
gave us, but Q you still nevertheless helped us by providing the
information *necessary* for us to make the decisions. If you had not
given us the information, we wouldn't have been given the *chance* to
decide.
"Again, I thank you for your help, Q."
Q nodded. "And again, you're most welcome, Kathy."
Janeway turned to Chakotay. "What was it you originally needed
to see me about, Chakotay?"
Chakotay handed the PADD he held to her. She scanned the PADD
contents while he spoke.
"B'Elanna is doing a series of standard diagnostics of the
major systems. She wants to be one hundred percent sure Voyager is
okay.
"The Doctor is still treating a lot of crew who are having
sleepless nights from nightmares and so forth since encountering the
Borg. He suggested that the crew needs a recreational group festival or
good morale booster to ease their minds."
Janeway nodded her head. "Agreed. Did he mention anything in
particular?"
Shaking his head, Chakotay said, "No, but I have a suggestion."
"And?" Janeway prompted.
"There is a certain couple waiting to get married, Captain."
Chakotay gave a smile, which caused Kathryn to smile in return.
"I'd forgotten about Ensigns Bristow and York's wedding." She
slightly shook her head as she remembered the couple asking her to be
married before the entire Borg crisis started. "I think the wedding
would be a great morale booster for the crew, but we should first
confer with the bride and groom to make sure it's okay with them."
Her first officer's smile only broadened. "I'm sure they don't
mind, Captain. After all, they were planning to be married before the
Borg, and now that the crisis is over, I'm sure they're more than
willing to get on with their lives."
Q watched the exchange between Janeway and Chakotay. He
wondered if Chuckles would ever capture Kathy's heart. He shrugged.
Only time would tell. Then a child's voice was heard throughout the
Ready Room.
"Dad! Where are you Daddy? Mom wants you back home!"
Janeway and Chakotay with puzzled faces glanced about the room,
but they couldn't see or tell where the voice was coming from. It
seemed it was radiating from *everywhere*.
With a sigh, Q stood up. "That's my cue to leave. It seems the
Old Ball-And-Chain is calling, and she has sent Junior to bring me in."
Kathryn, with a wry grin, looked at the immortal for a moment
before speaking. "You'd better get going then. Again, my thanks, Q."
"Any time, Madame Captain. *Anytime*," he said with a smile.
"Well, have fun conducting your *little* morale booster. Ta Da!" With a
wave of his hand and a flash, Q left.
Before Janeway could speak to Chakotay, the officers heard the
child's voice again. "Dad! There you are! Where have you been? I have been
looking for you all over the universe."
Q's voice came next. "Well, a friend of mine was having trouble
with some *annoying* pests, so I helped her out."
"Did you get rid of pests?" Junior asked.
"No, but I helped her relocate to a more *promising* pest free
location."
"Yeah, yeah. You can tell Mom and I later. Come on, Dad! Let's
go home and play some more Galactic pinball!"
"Yeesh! That game again? How dull," sighed Junior's father.
After a few moments, realizing the voices were gone, Kathryn
looked at Chakotay and burst out laughing, holding her sides. Chakotay
grinned broadly with dimples showing while he chuckled and snickered.
"You know, Captain, I still couldn't quite believe Q became a
father when you told me about his son after the Q Civil War." He shook
his head. "It's still somewhat odd for me now to see an immortal being
with a child, especially a being the likes of Q."
Calming down from her laughter, which she mentally admitted she
needed, Kathryn just smiled at her friend and first officer.
"Everything changes, Chakotay. People and things change over time, even
the Q despite their beliefs."
After another moment with eyes connected, Kathryn broke their
contact by walking to her desk with a happy expression. "I'll contact
Ensigns Bristow and York to see whether they won't mind having their
wedding in a few days. It shouldn't take too long to arrange
everything, since most of the preparations were nearly done before the
Borg, from what Neelix told me then."
"As I said before, I'm sure they wouldn't mind at all,
Captain," the Indian stated with a grin. Seeing Janeway in a happy mood
certainly made his day.
Smiling at him while she sat down on her desk chair, the
Captain held up the PADD. "Thanks for the report."
"*Anytime*, Captain," Chakotay repeated Q's earlier reply.
After seeing Janeway chuckle when she immediately got the reference to
his comment, the Commander left the Ready Room and strolled back to the
Bridge, while Janeway contacted Voyager's *first* future husband and
wife.

"By the powers vested in me by Starfleet Command and as Captain
of Voyager, I now declare you *husband* and *wife*." Janeway, in her
red dress uniform, smiled at the happy, just-married Freddie and
Malista Bristow. The husband was wearing his yellow dress uniform,
while the wife wore a simple white wedding gown. "You may kiss the
bride, Fred."
Fred complied, and the entire holo-Resort roared with cheers
and applause as the Bristows kissed with love. The guests all faced the
shore while the Captain was facing the Resort.
Breaking apart a few moments later, Freddie turned and shook
hands with his Best Man, Ensign Anthony Forrest of Security. The
security officer was also in a dress uniform, as were all the guests.
Malista hugged Ensign Samantha Wildman, who was her witness and
was dressed in a simple blue dress. It was hard for Sam to say whether
she was a Matron or Maid of Honor. Her husband was at the other side of
the galaxy and saying `Maid' made it sound like she had given up on
him, so Sam settled for just being called a witness.
Turning back to each other, the Bristows, arm in arm, walked
off the small raised platform together with Sam and Anthony just behind
them. They joined the crew in celebration. Everyone was coming forth to
offer his or her congratulations.
Closing her book, Captain Janeway looked on as she watched her
crew crowd around Voyager's *first* married couple since arriving in
the Delta Quadrant. She felt happy to see the crew's morale was high.
The crisis with the Borg was now long forgotten, even though it was
only four days ago.
Walking off the platform, Janeway was met by Chakotay and
Tuvok, who were in dress uniforms as well. Her grin was still evident
on her face. "I say Voyager's first wedding shall be remembered quite
well. Don't you agree, gentlemen?"
"No doubt about it, Captain," Chakotay answered with dimples
showing. "I have a feeling that you'll be conducting more weddings down
the road before Voyager arrives back in the Alpha Quadrant. I'll not be
surprised if the *next* wedding will be held next year."
Tuvok raised an eyebrow. "Your statements do not have any facts
to support them, Commander. We never know *when* we'll return to
the Federation. We may yet find another wormhole that will lead back to
the Alpha Quadrant or it may perhaps take the remaining 60 years under
our own power."
Kathryn shook her head and chuckled as she looked at her old
friend. "Logically, you're correct, Tuvok, but I'm with Chakotay on his
*hunch*. We may never *know* when we'll return home. As you stated, it
may take 60 years or we'll perhaps find another wormhole. Nobody knows
how long it will be. Fred and Malista decided to get on with their
lives, not knowing when they'll return to the loved ones they left
behind.
"This wedding will tell the crew to move on. It'll be up to the
individual to decide to let go or hold on." Her gaze turned to
Chakotay. "The crew can't wait for a short-cut that may never happen,
Tuvok." She paused for a moment and looked at the gathered crew as they
celebrated. The two men followed her gaze. "It's best to *let* go."
As the three Voyager officers looked at the crew, Kathryn's
mind wandered. When she was trapped on New Earth with Chakotay, she
remembered Chakotay's words about letting go. Then she had let go for
a while, but when Voyager returned, the love in her heart for Mark had
returned as well. Her *hope* to be reunited with him had come back as
well.
Now she realized that her feelings for him were no longer the
same. The question for her was *what* was there now. Seeing the
Bristows together made her heart ache. She felt very much *alone* now.
Kathryn felt a hand on her arm. "Captain? Kathryn?" Chakotay's
voice brought her mind back. "Are you all right?"
She turned and saw the concerned expression on the Indian's
face. Tuvok's face was expressionless, but his eyes showed his concern
as well.
She gave a small smile. "I'm fine. Just wool gathering." She
immediately changed the subject. "Come on you two, let's see what
Neelix made for the buffet dinner." She strolled off toward the buffet
table
Chakotay turned to Tuvok. "She's hiding something. You saw her
face. She was *not* thinking any happy thoughts at the moment."
Tuvok nodded his head. "I agree. Perhaps the wedding reminded
the Captain of those she left behind on Earth."
As they walked toward the buffet table where Janeway was
placing her dinner on her plate, Chakotay told Tuvok, "No `perhaps',
Tuvok. She was *definitely* thinking of those she has left behind.
*Especially* one particular person."
The Vulcan knew what person the First Officer was referring to,
so he again nodded his head. "Indeed."
After Janeway ate her dinner in the company of Chakotay and
Tuvok, she walked around the Resort and mingled with her crew. She
laughed and conversed as though she was happy. She was, in a way, happy
for her crew, but she didn't allow herself to show her weakness.
Janeway didn't want to ruin this joyful day.
Realizing nobody was watching her, Kathryn slipped out of
Holodeck 1 and returned to her quarters almost two hours after she
married the Bristows. It was 2130 hours when the door closed behind
her, and she was finally alone.
Entering her bedroom, she took off her dress uniform jacket and
hung it in her closet. She begun pacing the room since her emotions
were in turmoil.
Gods, Kathryn! she spoke to herself mentally. You should be
*happy* today. Two of your own crew have just been married and all you
could think about is Mark! She stopped.
Mark. Janeway closed her eyes. I haven't thought of you
since Chakotay and I were picked up on New Earth. I had hopes I'd be
reunited with you, but today... Her mind suddenly stopped talking when
reality hit her hard.
She brought a hand over her mouth as she realized her feelings.
It seems I don't love him anymore. I have to accept the high
possibility that he has moved on with his life. Her misting gray-blue
eyes opened as she turned to stare at the passing stars out her
windows. I *have* to let go.
Coming to a final decision, Kathryn Janeway slowly approached
her night table, where a framed photograph rested. She had moved the
photograph here from her Ready Room a month after Samantha Wildman told
her of her pregnancy.
Picking up it up, she looked down at the face of her boyfriend and
fiance, Mark Hobbs Johnson and her dog, Bear.
"Mark," she started with a soft voice before she gave a smile.
"Today, two of my own crew have gotten married." Kathryn gave a soft
chuckle. "It seems like only yesterday since we were pulled into the
Delta Quadrant by the Caretaker. Then the Maquis crew joined Voyager
once their ship was destroyed. It took a while but we've learned to
accept each other and are able to work together."
Her voice returned to normal as she wiped her eyes. "During the
past two and an half years, I kept hope alive that I would see you
again, Mark. However, I realized when I looked at Voyager's first
married couple, that we, Voyager's crew, can't keep hoping our loved
ones will still be waiting for us back home.
"The crew are *all* settling in for the long haul. We were
lucky days ago, to find the wormhole that brought us 10 years closer to
our goal; all thanks to Q. However, this still leaves us with 57 years
to go." She shook her head. "Still too damn long."
Janeway began pacing. "Fred and Malista's marriage is the
beginning of the great changes Voyager will go through during the years
to come. Other marriages will be made and eventually children will be
born." She stopped and looked at the picture. "I don't know how we'll
cope with many children, but it would be wrong not to allow the crew to
continue on with their lives, *especially* if our journey does take 57
years."
Her head lifted up to look out the windows. "*Home*. We'll
never forget the home we left behind, Mark, but I've noticed that most
of the crew have made a home *here*... on Voyager. As Captain, I made a
promise to them I'll get them back to the Alpha Quadrant and everything
we're familiar with, and surely I'm going to *keep* that promise. They
all know I'll get Voyager and them back safely some day." Her voice
cracked as her eyes closed. "*Some day*."
With lips trembling, a tear slid down her cheek before she
opened her eyes again to gaze at the picture. "You must have gone on
with your life, Mark. By now, Mom, Phoebe, my niece and nephews, and
you have given me up for dead. After two and a half years, I shouldn't
expect you to hold on. You're as human as everyone else." Janeway bowed
her head and closed her eyes. "And frankly, so am I." She felt her
cheeks were beginning to get wet as the teardrops rolled down them even
faster. Her whole body was trembling now, her free hand balled into a
hard fist.
Turning, Kathryn opened her eyes to guide herself to the room's
bureau. Her tears were still coming, her face in emotional agony.
Opening a middle drawer all the way, she pushed aside some things to
make room for the photo. Afterward, she looked one last time at the
photo of Mark and Bear.
"I *have* to let you go, Mark. I *have* to continue with my
life. Gods, I will be alone, but it's for the best. I'll *not* become
involved with a member of my crew. It'll be against everything I stand
for, but I know I *can't* hold on to you."
The frame began shaking in her trembling hand. Her tears were
now pouring out of her dropping onto the framed picture while she was
sniffing. "I *loved* you, Mark. You'll always have a place in my heart,
but I realize I no longer love you as intimatly as before.
"I know you promised me that you'd take care of Bear, so I know
you'll continue to care for her as your own."
She bent down and placed a kiss on the face of Mark on the
picture. "Good-bye, Mark. I wish you well in your life. I hope to see
you again... *someday*." With that said, Kathryn placed the photograph
in the very back of the drawer, covered it up, and slowly closed
the drawer on her past.
By the time the drawer was fully closed with a soft thump,
Kathryn Janeway's heart was breaking and aching tremendously. She could
not stop the downpour from her eyes. Voyager's commanding officer
slowly walked the short distance to her bed and fell face first onto
the top covers. For that one moment, she *fully* let go.
Kathryn loudly sobbed out her grief and loss as her tears
flowed constantly, wetting the bed. Her hands clutched the bed covers,
as her body was racked with mourning and sadness.
Mentally, she knew it was for the best. For Voyager, for her
crew, and... for herself. Janeway wouldn't *dare* allow the crew to
see her such a state, so she knew it was best to let go and mourn here,
in the privacy of her quarters, before *Captain* Janeway resumed
command again tomorrow.
For several minutes, Kathryn poured out all the sorrow and
frustration she had into the covers. Her heart aching for comfort but
unable to find it. By the time her tears slowed to just a trickle, her
body was no longer shaking and her mind was more at ease than it had
been before she had entered her quarters.
She sat up and wiped the remaining moisture from her face. Her
eyes were still a bit misty, but now they were a bit swollen and red
from her bawling.
Standing, Janeway took off her boots and the remainder of her
uniform before she donned her long peach nightgown. After unpinning
her mussed up hair, she crawled under the bed covers.
As her head lay on the pillow, she closed her eyes and waited
for sleep to claim her. She felt emotionally and physically drained
from her crying jag. With a melancholy heart, Janeway fell into an
uneasy slumber, knowing tomorrow would be a start of a *new* day for
her and... a new life.

The next day, after the Bristow's wedding, everyone on Voyager
was in high spirits as they all went about their daily business. All
except one, Chakotay couldn't help but notice.
The Captain arrived on the Bridge looking chipper and perfectly
okay, but the Commander *saw* that her gray-blues had no sparkle or
light in them. Those beautiful eyes were cold and closed when he gazed
into them. He knew that Janeway was *still* thinking about someone and
that someone was Mark.
About two hours after Alpha shift had started, Captain Janeway
gave the Bridge to Chakotay while she retreated into her Ready Room to
go over the ship's reports.
Chakotay wanted to help Janeway deal with whatever demons the
wedding and thinking of Mark had brought out into the open. He felt
concern for her, not just as her first officer but also as a close
friend.
An hour after she entered the Ready Room, the Indian received
the latest medical report on the crew's health. He figured that this
was the best time to try to figure out what was bothering his
commanding officer.
Getting up from his chair, the determined man, with report in
hand, walked to the Ready Room and pressed the door chime. "Come in,"
he heard the usual reply.
Strolling casually into the room, he saw Janeway was sitting on
the couch, reading a PADD. She glanced up to him. "What is it,
Chakotay?"
He walked up the few steps to the upper level of the room and
held up the medical report. "The latest medical report on the crew's
health." He handed the PADD to her.
She glanced at it and gave a small smile before looking up at
him. "Thanks, Chakotay."
"Captain... Kathryn," Chakotay said with worry in his voice.
Kathryn knew what he was about to say and braced herself. "As your
friend and first officer, I couldn't help but notice something *was*
bothering you yesterday. What were you thinking of-"
"It's *none* of your business, Chakotay," Janeway cut him off
with her command voice. She returned to reading the PADD she held in
her hand before he had entered her room.
"Kathryn," he continued in a soft voice, "you're in *pain*. I
want to help you."
Her command mask was solidly in place, but he saw anger in her
eyes now. "As I stated, it's none of your business, *Commander*. I'm
fine. Dismissed."
Sighing, Chakotay complied. "Aye, Captain." Turning, he left
the Ready Room and returned to his seat on the Bridge.
He knew about her stubbornness and it sometimes was a nuisance
when it came to her mental health. Janeway would hide behind the
Captain's mask and continue on in the name of duty and dedication to
the crew. This galled him.
If Kathryn will not confide in me, perhaps she'll open up to
one other. He returned to work with a plan.

"So that's the story. Kathryn would not open up to me and I
believe you're the best person to get her talking. She trusts you."
Chakotay said with a sad smile. "After all, you're her best female
friend on board, Kes."
The long-haired blond Ocampa standing next to the long rows of
vegetables and fruit in the hydroponics bay gave a small smile. "You're
right that she considers me her best *female* friend, Commander, but
that's no guarantee that she'll talk to me, either. You know as well as
I do how stubborn she can be."
The First Officer chuckled. "Stubborn as a rock sometimes." His
face turned sober. "At least try, Kes. The crew needs the Captain
physically as well as *mentally* fit as a fiddle."
Kes nodded in agreement. "I'll see what I can do. You know as
well as I, that she needs time to sort through her feelings. Even if
she talks to me, she'll still need time, so don't push her, Chakotay."
She gave a grin. "The Captain Janeway we all know and care about will
slowly come back."
This time it was his turn to nod in understanding. "Thank you,
Kes." He glanced at his wrist chronometer. "I'd better get back to the
Bridge. My lunch break is almost over."
"I'll see you later, Commander," Kes waved to him as he
departed the hydroponics bay.

Sitting in her Ready Room's desk's chair, Captain Janeway
continued her duties relentlessly even several hours after she had
returned from lunch. However, her mind couldn't help but wander back
to the conversation she'd had with Chakotay in the morning. The
thoughts disturbed her concentration and authority as she stopped
reading the warp engines' diagnostic report visible on her computer
screen.
Outside she looked calm but she was not tranquil inside.
Chakotay had no *right* to ask me about my feelings! I trust him, but
this is something that doesn't concern him! I can handle this alone
and I *will* get through it okay! She was boiling mad.
Janeway picked up the cup of coffee she had replicated and took
a sip. Knowing him, he'll not give up so easily. I wonder what he'll
do next. Her mind went through all the possible scenarios that
Chakotay would do to help her.
The door chimed and Kathryn sighed. Here he comes. She bid
the person to enter. To her surprise, instead of Chakotay, the
door opened to reveal Kes. Janeway gave a small grin as the Ocampa
walked inside. Of all the moves, I didn't think Chakotay would send
Kes. She knew that she couldn't brush off Kes as easily as she had
Chakotay, since there was very little to hide from the three-year old
Ocampa.
"What can I do for you, Kes?" Kathryn asked with her best
polite and caring face.
Kes gave a warm teasing smile. "I think you *know* what I'm
here for, Kathryn."
Janeway gave a lopsided grin and shook her head. "That man is
incorrigible."
"You should hear him say the same thing about you," the medical
assistant commented with a chuckle.
Kathryn laughed for the first time since yesterday's mourning
episode after the wedding. It felt good to laugh outright. Shaking her
head, the Captain kept her gaze on her friend. The Captain knew that
she had told Chakotay about Mark while on New Earth, but this time it
was different. Perhaps telling a *female* friend would be better than
telling a male friend.
Janeway got up and indicated that Kes follow her up the small
staircase to the couch. The two friends sat down facing each other. Kes
began the conversation.
"Chakotay told me what he thought you're going through since
the wedding yesterday. Kathryn, I thought you had gotten over your
feelings for your boyfriend long ago." Kes' concerned blue eyes held
Janeway's troubled gray-blues.
"Not exactly, Kes." She sighed and began her story. "When
Chakotay and I were stranded on New Earth, I was slowly letting go of
Mark and allowing Chakotay to enter my life bit by bit. However, the
return to Voyager changed all that."
Kes took a guess. "You mean that returning to Voyager caused
you to withdraw Chakotay from your life?"
The Captain nodded. "Yes. He and I can't be involved intimately
as long as I'm Captain and he's the First Officer. Besides, Voyager's
return renewed my feeling of hope that I would be reunited with Mark."
Understanding, the Ocampa pressed on. "So to prevent your
working relationship with Chakotay from failing, you let him go while
you replaced him by putting Mark back in your heart."
A tear trickled down Janeway's cheek, and the sight caused Kes
to reach out and grab her friend's hand. "That's correct, Kes," Janeway
sniffed as she wiped her eyes. She had thought she was done with these
feelings last night. "It was safe for me to let Mark back in while
distancing myself from Chakotay. Chakotay and I had a chat during our
second day back on Voyager and we agreed to remain best friends for
sake of our command positions and the good of the crew."
Silence came to the room for a few moments, so Kes gently
coached her. "And?"
Janeway turned to the windows. "Fred's and Malista's wedding
made me realize ,yet again, the situation Voyager is in. Made me
realize that the crew is forging a new life on board. The wedding
showed me front-and-center that the crew has accepted their fate and
has let go of everything they had left behind in the Alpha Quadrant
holding only the memories within themselves. Can I do less than they
have?"
Closing her eyes she continued. "I realized that I *can't* hold
on to Mark for the rest of my life. It was foolish for me to have let
him back in my heart when I was slowly letting him go. I decided to
continue on with *my* life and allow Mark to go on with his." Her eyes
were misting. "Last night I *finally* let Mark go from my heart, Kes."
Kathryn opened her eyes and faced her friend as tears started
running down her cheeks. "I placed his picture in the back of my
bureau drawer and let *him* go. I cried for the loss of him from my
heart. I felt so very *alone*."
Kes quickly hugged Kathryn, who returned the gesture. The
Captain didn't mind since it was quite comforting. "Kathryn, it's okay
to let go of your feelings once in awhile," Kes softly mentioned as
they embraced. "The crew and I highly respect *Captain* Janeway, but
*Kathryn* Janeway needs to come out once in a while or the Captain's
performance will slowly suffer."
They disengaged and held each other's eyes while the petite
blond grasped the redhead's hands. "You're *not* alone, Kathryn. There
are many people on board who *care* for you as a person, not just as
the Captain. Neelix and I, Chakotay, Tuvok, Tom, Harry, B'Elanna, and
The Doctor consider you our *friend*. We want you to be happy and we'll
do anything we can to help you with your problems."
"Oh, Kes," Kathryn whispered with a small smile and a sniff,
before she hugged the Ocampa again. "I'm so glad I have you as a
friend. Talking about this to Chakotay or Tuvok wouldn't seem right to
me."
A smile came to Kes' face. "I understand. A man wouldn't able
to understand what you went through as easily as another woman can."
Janeway chuckled and smiled broadly. "Indeed." She pulled back
and held Kes' hands firmly. Kes saw her eyes were twinkling in a manner
that matched her smile. "Thank you, Kes."
"You're welcome, Kathryn," the Ocampa replied with gladness in
her eyes and heart. "Besides this is what friends are for. You're
welcome to talk to me anytime."
Still smiling, Kes stood up. "I think you'll be all right now.
I'll leave you to your work and your thoughts. I'll see you later."
"Thanks again, Kes," Janeway said before her friend left the
Ready Room.
With a small smile, the Captain turned back to gaze out the
windows as the stars streaked by. Kathryn still felt the emptiness that
loving Mark had filled, but it was far less painful than yesterday. She
was reminded of the good trusted friends on board who cared for her,
and that knowledge gave her an inner sense of peace.
Kathryn Janeway knew she would be okay in the years ahead. As
long as her friends were there, she could prevail against loneliness
and despair.
With that knowledge in mind, Captain Janeway returned to her
desk and her work. The Captain was better than before now that Kathryn
had resolved her personal problem and was at ease.
As she worked, a thought came to her mind.
The crew had moved on, and now so had she. Voyager was now
spiritual, its own entity, separated from the Alpha Quadrant. They
would always have the hope of returning some day, but they were no
longer counting on that hope to actually occur. Their past would always
be remembered, but it no longer held them bonded in heart and soul.
Janeway turned to the windows once more. She knew that like
Voyager flying past the stars, the crew... her *family*... were not
looking back but looking *forward*. Heart and soul heading forward...
to the *future*!

The end

**************************************************************
STAR TREK: VOYAGER is copyright of Paramount Inc. (1997)
"Moving On" and all characters, not created
by Paramount, are copyright of George Padovan (November 1997)
**************************************************************
Voyager: New Life series, so far, in order of series'
chronological history:

"Moving On" (rated PG) [January `98]
"Next Step" (rated PG-13) [April '97]
"The Joining of Hearts" (rated R) [June '97]
"Unexpected Start" (rated PG-13) [August '97]
"A Day on the Long Winding Road" (rated R) [September '97]
"The Bonds of Family" (rated PG-13) [October '97]
"Love is Forever" (rated R) [March '97]
"A Day of Motherly Thanks" (rated PG) [May '97]
**************************************************************