Disclaimer see chapter one.
Chapter 2
2377: - autumn.
Chakotay sat alone contemplating the starry vista through his office viewports, trying to find some inner calm after Admiral Janeway's revelations. Having 'two' Janeways on board was playing havoc with his emotions; just when he thought he'd put things into some sort of perspective, this 'woman' pops into their/his life bringing a few unexpected 'spanners' along with her, to throw into the works. He admitted that he'd responded to her friendliness at first, now he wasn't sure what to make of her, especially since the Admiral had spoken to Seven. It had certainly changed things between himself and the former ex-Borg drone, throwing up some unforeseen possibilities that unsettled him, leaving him feeling rather vulnerable. What really upset him though was his standing with Starfleet and the Federation, if he were honest about it that was what bothered him the most. The messages they'd been receiving over the last few months of their regular contact with Starfleet had been rather silent on the issue, not that they'd asked about it, only their reply to Admiral Hayes had been all that had been said on the subject. It was the not knowing how Starfleet and the Federation felt about the Maquis that worried him, not just for himself, but for the others as well.
Sighing deeply he turned from the starry view and looked at the reports awaiting his attention on his desk. Carefully he sat down and tried to get back to work, so that Captain Janeway would have the reports in the morning. After a half hour of futile attempts to get the work finished, he stopped realising his mind and heart wasn't concentrating on his duty.
"Computer; locate Admiral Janeway," he asked decisively, leaning back in his chair, hoping the computer could differentiate between the two women.
#Admiral Janeway is currently located in Voyager's Mess Hall# He was dutifully informed. This response gave him pause for thought, frowning.
"Would there be another Mess Hall?" he asked casually, getting to his feet.
#Please re-phrase the question# was the automatic response.
"Never mind," shaking his head bemused and left for the Mess Hall on deck #2.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
He found her as he'd often come to find her younger self, reposed in the lounge chairs, PADD's scattered on the low table with a large pot of coffee to hand; the only difference was the woman's attire and disposition. Hard, cold, bitter and if possible uncaring; not that it really showed on the woman's face. One very hard mask was firmly in place, more so than before.
"Am I intruding?" he asked alerting her to his silent presence.
"Take a seat, Commander," she invited, leaning back into the chair to study him as he took a seat opposite her. Her scrutiny made him feel uncomfortable. "I can't give you any details, Commander. Temporal Prime Directive," she said her tone over casual.
"I'm not asking for any, Admiral," he told her feeling strangely defensive with this woman, something he'd not felt with 'Captain' Janeway for a long time. "Why now?" He was pleased to see he'd surprised her, leaving her face unguarded for the first time since she'd arrived through the time rift with a Klingon Bird of Prey hot on her tail. Yet the open nakedness was short lived, which sadden him, as her features re-schooled themselves and settled into a mask again.
"Why not!?" her remark off-hand, hoping to fool this man, but she could see it hadn't worked because his dark eyes narrowed.
"You need to do more than that, Admiral,"his tone hard, very hard. "What?" puzzled by her reaction to his tone of voice.
"Please, don't ask," making to pour herself some more coffee, but he removed the pot out of her reach.
"Why, Admiral?" he knew he was pushing, but something in her response to his voice worried him. "Quoting the Temporal Prime Directivewon't work. You've already broken that just by being here, Admiral."
"You used to call me, Kathryn," she purred softly, hoping to side track him.
"Sorry, Admiral," Chakotay said shaking his head and putting the coffee pot well out of her seated reach.
The stress he'd constantly been putting on her title wasn't lost on the older Janeway.
"You always did know me better than I knew myself," she sighed, her mask slipping a little, yet not enough to show him the woman he'd once given his loyalty to. "Chakotay; I realise Seven must have told you something of how your relationship would go. Especially if anything untoward happened to her," pausing to gauge his reaction to her information. His face hadn't changed which really did surprise her, as if he was waiting for something else from her; but as to what she had no idea.
"That isn't what I'm asking," he said softly his tone chilling her. "Why now? Why not before Carey was killed? Or some other point in time. Why here? Why now?" pushing her deeper into the emotional corner, one she could only answer one way by going 'through' him; fighting him rather than trying to work around him. "If as you've said; these Transwarp hubs exist all over the Delta quadrant. Why this one? Here and now!" pressing her right into the corner.
"Chakotay………!"
"NO! Admiral," he hadn't shouted, but her reaction of flinching away from him, it was as if he had. "Why?" his tone telling her it was the one universal question that required even demanded an answer, a truthful answer, even if it hurt him and her.
For a moment she contemplated whether she could somehow dodge round the truth and still give him a satisfying answer. His steady gaze told her otherwise.
"Someone or thing died. Not physically and I'm not even really sure as to what or who died exactly. I'm sorry, Chakotay," she said softly. He frowned puzzled. "I thought the changes after a death came later, but it didn't. I want – wanted for you to be happy," she couldn't finish, her blue eyes pleading with him. Something said she wasn't telling him all of it; the question was did she even know herself?
"Even if it meant you'd be alone, Admiral?" the fact that he still didn't call her Kathryn said much more to her than any amount of words could have done. She'd still lost this man, her friend.
"Yes," the coldness creeping back into her voice, the mask slipped easily back into place. "This hub gives Voyager the best chance of making it back to the Alpha quadrant and home, in one piece and about 16yrs earlier," she told him, her mask now firmly back in place shutting him out and hiding her true feelings from Chakotay and possibly herself as well, he realised. Quietly he stood, picked up the coffee pot and put it back within her easy reach and left without another word. She watched him a moment, face devoid of any emotion; picked up the coffee pot and poured herself a generous mug full and began to read the PADD's again, as if he'd never entered the Mess Hall and interrupted her.
He returned to his quarters feeling confused and disturbed. Finding his Medicine bundle he sat on the floor and hoped to contact his spirit guide tonight; knowing he really needed some sound guidance for his troubled soul. He felt somewhat adrift, a ship without an anchor, opening the bundle and picking up the stone holding it in both hands close to his chest. Carefully he activated the Akoonah and softly spoke the words that would put him in touch with his spirit guide to find an anchor to secure him in place again.
2394:- New Leaf
On Abnaki, dawn broke the night time silence with birds singing their hearty welcome to the new day whilst the sun steadily climbed into the lightening sky. The roar of impulse engines shattered the natural sounds drowning them out all together with the mechanical din, from the white metal bird that sat on the river plain. Slowly the noise wound down and the chorus could be heard once more. Olan emerged from the obelisk control room, with Wenonah having checked and re-checked his handy work with the computers, in order to protect Abnaki from outsiders and the ion storms that frequently visited the seven-planet system. Although the ion storms tended to stay around the outer gas giants, one such storm had arrived late causing major disruption to the obelisk's original programming, making it go into overdrive in protecting the N'de. With help from the Federation Starship, Voyager [see White Dream 18yrs ago things had been put right and the humanoids settled on the right planet – Kaldora. Now that the two Silver Keepers were to leave the system possibly forever, he – Olan was making provisions to keep Abnaki safe from Kaldora and the ion storms, from wherever they might travel to.
He stood gazing out across the valley plain taking in the sights and sounds of the new leaf day; Wenonah had raced off to the river to bathe, splashing in the water, until the white metal bird's engines roared again, startling the young female.
//Have to do something about that noise// he said mentally. He smiled at Tatti's witty reply. //Our metal bird needs a name// he commented softly gazing at the sleek smooth broad swept back winged shape.
//Hakan said it reminded him of a swan in flight, when he first saw her// came Tatti's voice clearly, the engines silent once more.
//White Swan?// he queried, puzzled at what he was picking up from Fiery.
//Come on board; we'll discuss it with some coffee//
//Transport?// he asked, making for the ship at a jog.
//Sorry. Off-line// His response caused her to laugh, making Jabez turn to her startled. She grinned at him. "Let's join the others for some coffee," she suggested verbally to her mentor and friend.
It didn't take long for all of them to be comfortably seated in the Mess area – it couldn't really be called a hall, as it wasn't that big – just adequate for their needs, plus a few guests maybe.
"Our starship needs a name. Any suggestions?" asked Olan picking up his coffee and taking a seat next to Owissa his half-twin.
//White Swan – Magaski// Hakan said quietly.
"Why that name, Fiery?" asked Kitto, standing near the viewports.
//Magaski was a wise woman and she helped Kindred Spirit and I to come to terms with some important issues//
"Magaski means White Swan," Tatti added quietly.
"The shape of our ship does indeed look like a swan in flight," noted Stella, her voice dropping into the soft companionable silence.
"Well are we all agreed? White Swan?" Jabez asked. Everyone nodded. "Good, that settles that. Hakan perhaps you can tell Tatti or Olan how to write it in your language as Magaski," looking at the silver-grey Lupine.
//Certainly, Jabez// Hakan said, his tone happy.
"I think we've done all the checks that can reasonably be done to the computers and engines, here on the ground. Our transwarp drive is untested and untried. Although we know – via all the computer models – that it should work in theory; in practise?" leaving the question unanswered. "We are going to have to give it a go once we're in deep space and hope that we've got our sums right," he said, more or less just speaking his thoughts out loud. "How's the com-system?"
"It is working reasonably well. There are some minor problems to private quarters; but to all the major areas it's working ok," Kitto informed them. Although he had trained as a pilot – at which he excelled – he'd also taken a course in electronic engineering/operations systems maintenance, so he could be more useful to the two qualified engineers.
"Good. Medical?"
"Everything is up and running within its programmed parameters," she smiled. "Medical supplies are also stowed on board along with the food and drink stores. Thanks to my father," she said her tone softening on the last. Olan squeezed her hand comfortingly.
"All sensors are operating at maximum efficiency," said Stella, before he could ask her arm around her husband's waist. "The shuttle is stowed in the shuttle-bay. It too will need a name," she added.
"How about, Cygnus?" he suggested. "Well as the ship is the swan, the smaller craft should be the cygnet."
"Can't argue with that!" noted Kitto with a grin. The others agreed.
"The obelisk?" he asked, looking at Olan.
"Ready to go; we shall be able to link into the data-node from wherever we are. The further away we are, the longer the signal will take, though," he admitted. "Other than that it is ready."
"Good. Once the naming of both craft is done, we'll be ready to roll," he said, with some satisfaction.
//Where to?// asked a soft female voice.
"Kindred Spirit," Tatiana answered. Nothing more was said; each set about their business of getting 'White Swan' ready for her first deep space transwarp flight.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
White Swan hung in space in orbit of the blue/green jewel of Abnaki – Morning Land, but slowly the glowing orb vanished first from the electronic sensors and then to the naked eye.
"Abnaki's secure," Olan announced from his place at the computer console. Two lupines had watched sadly as their home had disappeared from their sight, through the spaceships large viewports; they then turned to watch their new friends ready the new starship for her first transwarp jump. Kitto carefully manoeuvred the streamlined ship out of the now six-planet system to deep space, whilst the others secured all systems for the jump. They feared it might be a rough ride as the system was untested. Silence descended as they reached the outer edge of the solar system. Jabez took a deep breath and quietly ordered:
"Bring transwarp on-line. Set vector 007.53. Engage," he said.
At first nothing seemed to happen; slowly the engines warmed and then hummed louder as the transwarp kicked in hurtling them across parces of space in seconds. Chaos reigned on the bridge as the ship shuddered from stem to stern and then stopped when they whooshed back into normal space.
"Where are we?" someone asked in the dim emergency lighting. Bodies scrambled back to their places from off the floor and checked consoles, sensor readings and injuries.
"Possibly more a case of when are we!"
"So where and when?" asked Kitto, standing by his pilots chair, having picked himself up from the floor, as Owissa checked him over with her med-tricorder. She smiled her assurance that he was uninjured.
"We're still in the Delta quadrant and near a Borg transwarp hub. Year 2377!" said Olan having read the info twice just to be certain his eyes weren't deceiving him. "Voyager is just off our starboard bow," he added quietly. Stunned silence greeted this news.
//I can feel him. He is confused, angry. A ship adrift without an anchor// puzzled by this last thought. Tatti joined Wenonah.
"I think I understand your last statement," she smiled quietly. "Can you reach him?"
//I might. He is on a vision quest. But he feels lost// her amber eyes worried. Tatiana suggested that she and Hakan talk to Kindred Spirit via his vision quest.
"Find a quiet place and just try and help him. We'll talk to him in person later," she encouraged the Lupines; who both trotted off the bridge. "I'd better check the transwarp drive," her face worried. Jabez said he'd help leaving the deck with her.
"What we need is someone's help with the drive," Kitto noted, checking over his own console. "Do you think we could ask the Borg!?"
"Kitto!" Stella admonished startled. He shrugged apologetically.
"Maybe we could ask, a Borg. Seven of nine!" queried Owissa softly.
"I've been checking the sensors. Voyager isn't going anywhere and it looks like some extensive modifications are taking place on her outer hull. Plus there are two Janeway's on board." Stella joined the young silver-haired male at his console and checked the scanners herself, feeling the startled response from the others around her.
"There is an extra shuttle in the shuttle bay. Time reference is 2404. 26yrs into the future," she added softly. "That transwarp hub we're currently near is about to fully come on-line. Initial destination co-ordinates are," pausing to re-check the computer's references. "Sector 001."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
The web spun around and around, it was not being made/woven or unwoven, it just spun like a dream-catcher caught in the wind. Stars in the form of the Lupus constellation shone among the web's silver strands; then the tribal mark separated itself from the web to curve over the left eye of the Great White Lupine. Across from him stood another lupine silver-white furred coat, young and female. She seemed uncertain, her amber eyes wary.
//There is nothing to fear here// he said softly, the web strands still separating them from each other. Slowly she transformed; rising up into an upright young humanoid female with silver-white hair tied into a single thick plaited braid draped forward over one shoulder; her figure covered in a soft downy silver-white fur and a simple tunic dress made of woven cloth in a pale green shade; she stood tall and proud before him. Another figure joined her a male, older and wiser his body clad only in a loin cloth made of the same woven cloth; his muscular body covered in the same downy fur as her, but of a silver-grey colour, like his thick hair that framed his face.
//Hello, Kindred Spirit// the male said softly.
//Fiery?!// he exclaimed startled a moment. The Great White Lupine before the pair changed into his true human form, clad in brown homespun pants and tunic top with the Dakota bead pattern around the latter's hemline. He smiled at them both, picked up the small dream-catcher that had been spinning between them and quietly stepped forward and embraced them both. //Hakan! I cannot believe that you are here!// he said still amazed yet pleased to see them. The N'de male smiled, warmed by Kindred Spirit's welcome.
//You didn't think you'd get away so easily, did you?// he teased. Kindred Spirit smiled at that. //This is Wenonah// introducing the white haired female.
//Hello// she responded shyly, blushing under his brown/amber eyed scrutiny.
//Forgive me// remembering his manner and then frowned. //You look at least eighteen. But Voyager only left Abnaki two years ago// his voice puzzled.
//All will be explained soon, Kindred Spirit// she said confidently, placing the palm her hand flat against his chest. //Return; we will see you soon// with that the two faded…
He found himself sitting cross-legged on the floor of his quarters with the small silver stranded dream-catcher still in his hands. Chakotay stared at it, knowing it had come via his vision quest rather than something he owned. Quietly he packed it into his medicine bundle that he returned to its safe hiding place.
"Seven of nine to Cmdr Chakotay. I require your assistance in holodeck 2."
"Acknowledged Seven. I'm on my way," he said, closing the com-link as he strode from his quarters and set off for deck #6.
He entered the inactive holodeck to find Seven waiting.
"You required my assistance!" he said by way of greeting. She looked askance at him.
"She doesn't. We do," said another female voice as she appeared as if from thin air next to him. A male appeared similarly next to Seven and took her arm.
"Programme is set," he told his female companion, who gripped Chakotay's arm, neither alien's faces revealed anything. Before either Voyager's could respond to their abductors they found themselves clearly on another ship's transporter pad, smaller then Voyager's but of similar design.
"Hello, Commander," said the female behind the console, her ginger coloured hair marking her as very different to the two abductors.
"Voyager will note our absence and come looking for us," said Seven as her male companion had appeared to have lost his voice, as he tried to take everything in; surprise, puzzlement and questions all vied for attention across his solid face.
"No they won't," the young silver-haired male said, grinning.
"We'll join the others on the bridge. All questions can be answered there."
"Tatiana?" he questioned, clearly at a loss. The silver-haired female smiled, the warmth of it lighting up her honey coloured features as she gazed at him. Slowly a smile spread across his own features. "Lead the way," he invited quietly, some of his misgivings buried for the moment realising these youngsters had as many questions as he had.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
Once the introductions – or rather re-introductions – were out of the way and they'd all settled down on the bridge, silence surrounded them all wanting to ask their questions that their presence together engendered, yet not wanting to be the first to break the soft companionable silence. Chakotay noticed the square plaque at the rear of the bridge area, got up from his seat and walked over. On it was a silver swan in flight with text symbols below; carefully he read them:
"Magaski," he read out softly. "White Swan," turning to smile at the ship's youngish crew.
"You read that script?" asked Seven astonished.
"Yes, Seven. It is an ancient form of Mayan text script," he said, deciding not to enlighten her further on the matter. "You mentioned that Voyager wouldn't miss us. How? And why didn't you trip the intruder alerts?" he asked re-taking his seat on the lounger set to one side of the bridge area.
"Olan, that is your field of expertise," noted Jabez kindly.
"The programme currently running on holodeck #2 is of two people enjoying an evening meal together at Sandrines. The computer will register the holograms as solid; one a part Borg blonde human female; the other a more solid individual of Amerindian descent and male. Both will interact with whoever contacts them or enters the holodeck," he informed them with a smile of pride. "As to the intruder alerts, I masked our life-signs," grinning. "Even Voyager's external sensors don't know we're here."
"What about if someone looks out a viewport," he teased casually. Olan shrugged.
"They might see us; but against this bright nebula it could be difficult." Chakotay smiled.
"Why here? Why now?" Seven asked, startling her male companion, as she'd voiced the very same questions he'd asked of Admiral Janeway only hours earlier.
"It might have something to do with that Transwarp hub out there," noted Jabez. "We've a newly tested transwarp drive on this ship. It could be that it tuned itself into this hub and brought us here."
"Why this hub?" he asked carefully. Tatti gave him a quick worried glance sensing his growing unease.
"This hub is due to become fully active, according to all our sensor data. Initial destination co-ordinates, sector 001," said Stella.
"Earth!" astonished. "So that is why she's here," he whispered quietly, realising the implications of that news.
"Seven, we'd ask the Borg for some advice about our transwarp drive, but I think they're rather busy right now," Jabez explained his tone offbeat; making Chakotay hid a grin as the irony was lost on Seven. "Perhaps you'd like to look it over. Give us the benefit of your expertise?!" he asked politely. Chakotay nodded his unspoken encouragement to her. She stood and suggested that Jabez lead the way.
Kitto joined them, saying that the com-system could do with her expert eye also, as the three left the bridge.
Suddenly a silver-grey body hurtled into the area and flung itself at Chakotay knocking him off the lounger and onto the floor.
"Hey?!" he said startled, feeling the full weight of the four pawed musky scented body and rough tongue frantically licking his face. "FIERY!" he growled, trying unsuccessfully to avoid the rasping tongue. "Will you get off!" he commanded, finally managing to grab the thick neck ruff and push himself and the panting N'de into a sitting position. "You rascal," he said, his tone of voice affectionate smiling at the grinning Lupine. Chakotay pulled the creature close, hugging him.
//Good to see you too, Shikasha// that caused the human male's arms to tighten, before letting go and then he saw the silver-white female.
"Wenonah," he said softly. Quietly she padded over to him, feeling shy as the others silently watched. Chakotay let go of Hakan and carefully stroked the young female around her head, ears and muzzle. "You're very beautiful," he smiled. She stepped forward and gave his cheek a swift lick.
"I think she likes you, Chakotay," Tatti said a smile in her voice as well as on her face.
He sat back up on the lounger with Wenonah close to his legs and resting her head on his knees as he played with her soft white ears, making her rumble with pleasure.
"Chakotay, would you like to tell us about Admiral Janeway?" Stella invited gently and sitting down opposite him. "And especially how you feel right now," she added. Tatiana sat next to the human male, pressing her body close to his, whilst he continued to play with Wenonah's white ears, his dark eyes troubled.
"I'll find us something to eat. Olan?" called Owissa, getting to her feet and making for the rear exit point.
"Er? What? Oh right! Coming," he said hurrying after her. Hakan sat beside Stella watching and listening, as Chakotay softly explained events since Admiral Janeway's sudden arrival.