DISCLAIMER: You all know the drill - Paramount is God. All hail Paramount. They own everything in the Star Trek Universe - I'm just using my overactive imagination to take their characters where they refuse to go. All in the name of fun, not profit (I wish).
SUMMARY: Voyager is aided by a surprise ally and successfully returns to the Alpha quadrant.
THE LONG ROAD HOME
PARADISE LOST
CHAPTER FOUR : THE RETURN
Clawing through the fog in her brain, Captain Janeway tried to figure out what was going on. She couldn't remember what had happened or where she was. After a moment's struggle, it all came back to her in a rush – the wormhole. The Jem'Hadar. A ship approaching.
She was aware of people around her, and after a few seconds of confusion felt a hand on her shoulder. She tensed immediately – the presence was unfamiliar. After seven years, she could tell her senior staff apart from anyone else, but she didn't even think that the hand belonged to a member of her crew. Her suspicion was confirmed when she heard an unfamiliar voice, male with a slight accent.
"I think she's coming around."
She felt a hand touch her arm, but this one was comforting and familiar, and it was accompanied by a voice she knew well.
"Kathryn?"
She slowly opened her eyes and saw Chakotay kneeling in front of her, concern lining his face. She saw his shoulders slump in relief when she met his gaze, and he smiled affectionately at her.
"How are you feeling, Captain?"
She turned her gaze to the unfamiliar speaker, and saw a young man with dark hair kneeling beside her opposite Chakotay. She was sitting on the ground with her back leaning against the railing in front of Ops, and surprisingly she wasn't in pain any more.
"Better," she replied hoarsely. "Who…" Her voice failed her when she noticed how the man was dressed – he was wearing a familiar gray outfit with a blue turtleneck poking out the top of his jacket, adorned with two solid pips. A newer Starfleet uniform.
He smiled at her surprise and extended his hand. "Dr. Julian Bashir," he introduced himself. "Deep Space Nine."
"You came through the wormhole," she said quietly.
He gave her a small lopsided grin. "Admiral Paris thought you might want an escort. He sent us in the Defiant."
Chakotay, knowing the first thing that would come to her mind when the shock of their rescue passed, interrupted them and started speaking to her just as the thought first crossed her mind.
"We've almost managed to disable the dampening field."
"Casualties?"
"None," he said, but she could tell he was holding something back.
"Seven?" she asked cautiously.
He sighed. "We used the Defiant's transporters to beam her to Sickbay. The Doctor's working on her now. She…might not make it."
She nodded and put her hand on his shoulder to pull herself up. She wobbled for a moment, lightheaded, but quickly steadied herself and looked around the bridge. There were more lights on than before, and there was now a flurry of activity, with crewmen moving back and forth in an attempt to get the ship back up and running. Most of them she recognized as her crew, but there was the occasional unfamiliar face wearing a newer Starfleet uniform mixed in among the workers.
Torres to the bridge.
"Go ahead," said Chakotay.
We're in business. We've got the engines and the cloaking device back online.
"Good work, B'Elanna," said the Captain as she moved slowly over to her chair.
Chakotay took his chair as well and hit his commbadge. "Chakotay to Commander Kira."
"Kira here," replied a voice, but it came from behind them rather than over the comm.
Janeway turned around to see a red-haired Bajoran woman step out of the turbolift accompanied by a young Ferengi. Both were wearing Starfleet uniforms.
Chakotay turned around in his seat as well. "I think we're ready to get going," he said, "If you want to get your teams back to the Defiant."
Kira nodded, then noticed the woman sitting in the chair beside Chakotay. "Captain Janeway," she said, surprised and pleased to see her awake.
"That's right," said the Captain with an amused smile.
"Commander Kira Nerys, Deep Space Nine," said the woman, extending her hand as she moved around the bridge to the command chairs. Captain Janeway took the hand warmly and smiled.
"You can't imagine how glad I am to see you," she told the Bajoran.
"Likewise, Captain. It's a pleasure to finally meet you." Kira hit her commbadge. "Kira to all rescue teams – prepare to return to the Defiant."
"Are there any sign of Dominion ships?" the Captain asked Tuvok.
"Negative, Captain."
She sighed with relief and turned her attention to Kira when she addressed the Captain. "I had one of my officers assist your chief engineer with the cloaking device. We've modified it so the Dominion won't be able to detect it."
The Captain was surprised. "Your staff has experience with cloaking technology."
Kira was surprised too, but then remembered that what was common knowledge in the Alpha quadrant wouldn't necessarily be known on Voyager.
"The Defiant is equipped with a cloaking device," she explained. "That's why they sent us after you."
Julian packed up his medical equipment and walked over to stand next to Kira. "Ready when you are."
She nodded. "Hopefully we'll get a chance to get better acquainted at Deep Space Nine, Captain."
"Hopefully."
"Kira to the Defiant."
Go ahead, sir.
"Lock on to the rescue teams and beam us back, Ensign."
The Defiant crew assembled on the bridge dematerialized, and when they were gone the Captain sat back in her chair and looked slowly around the bridge. There was still smoke hanging in the air, and much of the debris was piled over by the science station. While she was surveying the damage, she saw the Defiant on the viewscreen start to power up its thrusters, and after a few seconds it cloaked. She noticed her officers looking at her expectantly. Harry and Talia were both at Ops, looking ready to jump out of their skins with anticipation. Tuvok was watching her from his station with a raised eyebrow. Tom was turned around at the helm and appeared eager to pounce on the controls.
She finally turned her gaze to Chakotay beside her. He was watching her with such undisguised satisfaction and pride that she was transfixed for several seconds before she looked around the bridge again.
"What are you waiting for, Mr. Paris?" she asked wryly. "Match their course and speed. Tuvok, engage the cloaking device."
They complied, and Voyager shadowed the smaller Defiant and followed it when it jumped to warp.
* * *
Captain's personal log, Stardate 55236.5. After nearly seven years, we are mere hours away from the Alpha quadrant. I'm relieved that we've seen no sign of the Dominion in the 10 days since we encountered the Defiant, and the crew is ecstatic.
Even Seven of Nine, of all people, seems to be showing signs of anticipation. I can't help but wonder if her most recent brush with her own mortality is responsible. We very nearly lost her after the Jem'Hadar attack – it took the Doctor hours to stabilize her condition, and even now she hasn't fully recovered. I can tell that she was quite shaken by the incident. Whether her new attitude towards our imminent return to the Alpha quadrant is due to her injury or to something else I can't say, but I'm glad to see it.
I find myself, however, unable completely share the crew's enthusiasm. Despite the fact that getting this crew home has been my goal for nearly seven years, the closer we get to home the more I realize what I'm going to lose when I get there. My crew…my ship…my career…
"Captain, we're approaching the coordinates of the wormhole," announced Harry, unable to keep the almost child-like excitement from his voice.
"Take us out of warp, Tom," ordered the Captain quietly. "Onscreen."
An unimpressive view of space appeared on the viewscreen.
"Doesn't look like much," cracked Tom, but underneath his joking exterior the Captain could detect the undercurrent of emotion and anticipation in his voice.
"The Defiant's hailing us," Harry told the Captain.
She nodded at him and Kira appeared on the screen, seated in the isolated Captain's chair on the Defiant.
"We're about to enter the wormhole."
Captain Janeway nodded. "We'll be right behind you. See you in the Alpha quadrant."
The Commander nodded with a smile and the screen went blank. They saw the Defiant angle into a slow turn, and suddenly a large blue and white vortex opened in front of the small ship. Eyes on the bridge went wide at the sight.
"Six years, eleven months," whispered Kathryn.
"Captain?" said Chakotay.
"That's how long we've been waiting for this," she said a little louder, barely containing her emotions. "Six years, eleven months, three days, and this morning."
He reached over and put his hand on top of hers on her armrest, and she put her other hand on top of his and squeezed it.
"Take us in, Mr. Paris," she ordered softly.
"Yes, ma'am," he said. B'Elanna, who had come up to the bridge for the momentous occasion, walked behind him and put her hand on his shoulder.
Voyager entered the wormhole and was immersed in a sea of breathtaking colors. The entire crew watched in silence as the ship traveled through the anomaly, and the silence was only broken by Tom when they were nearing the end.
"We're almost clear," he said quietly, stealing an emotional glance at his wife.
They exited the wormhole, and when they saw Deep Space Nine just a short distance away, there was hardly a dry eye on the bridge. Even Tuvok and Seven were moved by the scene.
"We're in the Alpha quadrant," said Harry, too awed to realize that everyone had realized that by now. "They've given us permission to dock."
"You heard him, Mr. Paris."
Tom nodded and maneuvered Voyager closer to the station, bringing her in to one of the docking pillars.
Harry frowned at his console. "Captain? They're refusing us permission to disembark. They want to beam aboard."
The reality of her situation hit home and Captain Janeway stiffened immediately. Chakotay picked up on it and looked at her in concern before turning to Harry.
"I'm sure it's just until we've been debriefed, Harry," he said with a smile he didn't feel.
The Captain got up slowly out of her chair.
"All hands, this is the Captain."
She took a deep shaky breath and blinked back tears. When she spoke again, her voice was cracking.
"I've been waiting nearly seven years to say this – we have returned to the Alpha quadrant." Losing control, she had to pause a moment before she could continue. "Secure your stations and stand by for your orders. We'll be setting a course for Earth shortly."
She looked around the bridge at the elation on the faces of her senior staff.
"Welcome home," she said softly.
She nodded at Harry to cut the channel and then turned to the console behind her chairs. "Commander Walker, you have the bridge." She nodded at Chakotay to follow her, and as an afterthought turned back around. "Tom?"
He thought for a moment then nodded, getting up to follow her to the turbolift.
"Deck four," she ordered as soon as the doors closed. She felt Chakotay's hand on the small of her back, and despite Tom's presence she allowed the contact, needing the comfort.
"You really think my dad's here?" said Tom finally, guessing why she had asked him to accompany her.
"He's the one who sent the Defiant to rendezvous with us. I'll bet he wanted to be here to meet us. Not to mention get a look at his granddaughter."
Tom chuckled uneasily. "Who'd have thought after all these years I'd still be nervous to see him again."
"I'm sure the feeling is mutual," she assured him. "But I happen to know he's quite proud of you."
She had debated for a moment before asking Tom to join her, because she had a sinking feeling that Admiral Paris would not be alone – that she was going to get dressed down here and now, before Voyager's return became public knowledge. She knew Owen was behind her, but she couldn't shake the feeling of apprehension that came over her. She was reluctant to let any of her staff see her this vulnerable, but she trusted Tom enough to let him accompany her. Of course she wanted Chakotay there, but she thought she would be able to draw comfort from Tom's presence as well.
"You're dismissed," she told Ensign Lang at the transporter controls when they entered the room. The young woman nodded enthusiastically and left the room with a bounce in her step.
Chakotay moved to the transporter controls and waited for a signal from Kathryn. She squared her shoulders and took a deep breath, then nodded in his direction.
Three forms materialized on the transporter pad – Admiral Paris, Admiral Hayes, and Admiral Necheyev. A chill ran down her spine at their grim faces as Admiral Hayes stepped forward to address her.
"I understand you disobeyed orders, Captain," he said sternly.
"Yes, sir. I take full responsibility for my actions in this matter."
"Did you enter Dominion space?" asked Hayes.
"No, sir."
"Did you violate the terms of our surrender agreement with the Dominion?"
"No, sir. We were attacked by a group of Jem'Hadar and defended ourselves."
"To your knowledge, did you violate the Prime Directive or any other Starfleet directives, other than disobeying your orders?"
"No, sir."
She was starting to wonder why he was taking this line of questioning here, in the transporter room. She had expected this, certainly, but in the privacy of a debriefing.
"There will be consequences, Captain," said Hayes gravely. He glanced back at the other two Admirals, and when he turned back to Janeway there was a grin on his face. "You might have to wait a year or two before you make Admiral."
She stared at him, not really comprehending until Necheyev, who was notorious for being cold and unemotional, stepped forward and offered her hand to Captain Janeway.
"Welcome home, Captain."
The Captain took it warmly and returned the gesture, a smile slowly working at the corners of her mouth. Hayes also offered to shake her hand, and she took it eagerly. She saw Admiral Paris step towards Tom and offer his hand.
"Good to see you, Tom," he said.
"You too, Dad," replied Tom with more emotion than he usually showed where his father was concerned. The two men shook hands warmly, then Owen turned to his former protégé.
"Good to see you, Kathryn," he said warmly, then enveloped her in a fatherly hug. She returned it, and tears sprung to her eyes as the magnitude of her success hit home. As she pulled away from Admiral Paris, she stole a glance at Chakotay and their eyes met. Seven years of hardships and triumphs passed between them at that moment. Seven years of trust, disagreements, rebuilding, friendship, and lately so much more. It took all their willpower to subdue the emotions that were no doubt apparent on their faces. If anyone noticed, they tactfully kept it to themselves.
After a moment, she cleared her throat and turned to the Admirals. "With your permission, we'll be on our way," she said with a smile. When they nodded, she hit her commbadge. "Janeway to the bridge."
Go ahead, said Mark over the comm.
"Lay in a course for Earth, warp 9."
Yes, ma'am.
"How long till we're there?" Chakotay asked him.
There was a slight pause before Ensign Hawthorne's voice came over the comm. Twenty-seven days, five hours, sir.
"Thank you, Ensign," said the Captain, and she turned to say something to her companions, but stopped when she realized something.
"Captain?" said Chakotay.
She simply stared at him with her mouth open slightly. "Twenty-seven days," she repeated quietly, wondering if anyone else had grasped the significance of that.
She realized that they hadn't when Chakotay, Tom, and the three Admirals looked at each other in puzzlement.
"A journey of twenty-seven days," she explained softly, "Will put our arrival at Earth on April 25th."
The significance of this hit home with the rest of the group and their eyes widened.
"The anniversary of when we got stranded in the Delta quadrant." She looked at Chakotay with her eyebrow raised.
His surprised expression slowly faded as he looked at her and he smiled.
* * *
Captain's Log, supplemental. I've been waiting far too long to make this log entry. Voyager has successfully returned to the Alpha quadrant, and we have set a course for Earth at maximum warp. The Admirals are staying on board, and they have informed me that they wish to begin the debriefing process en route, so the crew will not be detained as long once we reach home.
Kathryn entered her quarters distractedly rubbing the back of her neck with one hand. The lights were off, so she assumed that Chakotay was already asleep and moved quietly around the room. She had just finished another meeting with the Admirals, and although it hadn't gone quite as well as she'd hoped, she was satisfied with where they seemed to stand with respect to her actions in the Delta quadrant. Unfortunately, she knew that Paris, Hayes, and Necheyev were probably her biggest supporters, so she till had no idea what to expect when they reached Earth.
Stepping quietly into the bedroom, she could see Chakotay laying in the bed, asleep. She smiled and moved over to the dresser, pulling out her nightgown. She stripped her uniform off and pulled the soft material over her head, then moved over to the bed. She climbed under the sheets beside Chakotay, trying not to wake him. She realized that she had been unsuccessful when his arm went immediately around her waist and he spoke in her ear.
"How did it go?"
She shrugged. "The Admirals were less than impressed with the initial behavior of some of the Maquis, but after meeting some of them I don't think there's going to be any problems."
He reached over and ran his fingers along her cheek, and she rolled over on the bed to face him.
"We did it, Chakotay. Seven years, but we did it. We're home."
"I never doubted you for a second. You should see the crew – it's like they're walking on air."
She smiled. "I haven't had a chance to talk with many of them."
"Tell you what – why don't you start deserting the Admirals at lunch and join me in the mess hall. That way, we'll get to have lunch and you'll be available to talk to the crew."
She smiled. "You've got yourself a deal."
Following his train of thought, he brought up something else that was on his mind. "How much are you going to tell the Admirals about us?"
"I don't see that it's any of their business."
"If you don't want them to know, I could find somewhere else to stay. A few people have already had to double up to make room for the Admirals – one more person won't make any difference."
"No," she said, shaking her head. "No," she repeated, in a softer voice with a small smile. She reached over and put her hand on his bare chest. "You're not going anywhere. I'd like to keep this…private…but I'm not going to hide anything. If they find out, then we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
"Are you sure?"
"Mmm-hmm," she said, nodding and trying to conceal a yawn. When she saw that he had noticed, she smiled. "It's been a long day," she said, rolling back over so her back was against his chest.
"And an eventful one," he replied, wrapping his arms around her.
He watched her as her breathing slowed and she started to drift off. He reached over and gently traced her jawline with his fingers, moving down towards her chin before running his fingertips across her lips, which curled up in a smile at the contact. She gave a contented sigh and moved her head back slightly so his cheek was touching her hair.
"I love you, Kathryn."
He hadn't meant to say it out loud. He lost track of how many times he said it to her in his head, but the words had formed on his lips before he even had a chance to think. Although he knew she returned his affection, he sensed that she was still a little wary of commitment, and that moving in together had been a big step for her. This was the first time he had told her he loved her, and she had never really put her feelings into words.
When the words came out of his mouth, her eyes opened and she rolled over slightly to look at him. He was unable to read the expression on her face, but he was afraid to trust that she was happy he had said it.
"Kathryn, I – I didn't – "
She silenced him by putting a finger on his lips. "I love you, too," she whispered.
She smiled demurely as the surprise on his face slowly gave way to happiness, then rolled over and shifted closer to him. He pulled her tightly to his body, and they slowly drifted off to sleep.
* * *
The next morning, Chakotay was laying in their bed on his side with his head propped up on one elbow, watching Kathryn sleep. Her face was illuminated by the soft glow of the stars streaking by, and she looked so peaceful that he didn't want to wake her. She was laying on her back with her head to one side facing him, and her hair was spread out behind her head on the pillow.
He could have stayed there watching her all morning, but he wasn't too disappointed when she moved slightly and then opened her eyes. Seeing him watching her, she smiled shyly.
"Good morning," she said, stretching.
"Good morning. Sleep well?"
"Too well," she said, glancing at the chronometer and sitting up in bed with the sheet around her waist. "Why didn't you wake me up? I have a meeting with Admiral Hayes in twenty minutes."
He reached over and put his hand alongside her face. "You looked so beautiful laying there I didn't want to disturb you."
She chuckled and gave him a playful shove.
"I'll replicate breakfast while you take a shower," he offered, throwing his feet over the side of the bed.
She pouted. "You're not going to join me?"
He barely resisted the temptation. "Not if you want to make it to your meeting."
She sighed dramatically, but then smiled and moved towards the bathroom to take a long, hot shower, a real one – a sonic shower certainly wasn't going to wake her up.
Chakotay got dressed and moved over to the replicator to get breakfast. He thought for a moment before he smiled and punched in the commands for a breakfast that he had been wanting to prepare for her for years now. When it was ready, he carried the plates over to the table and replicated some coffee as well. He had just poured himself a cup when the chime on the door rang.
"Come in," he said, blowing the steam off the top of the cup. The mug nearly fell from his hands when the doors opened to admit Admiral Paris.
The Admiral seemed surprised as well. "Commander Chakotay – I'm sorry. I thought these were Captain Janeway's quarters. I didn't mean to intrude."
It took Chakotay a minute to think before he could reply. Kathryn had said she didn't want the Admirals to know unless it was necessary, but he wasn't sure if this situation qualified. While trying to decide if she would want him to tell Paris the truth or not, the matter was solved when Kathryn stepped out of the bedroom in a white cloth robe, drying her hair with a towel.
"Chakotay, I hope you've made some coffee because I'm…" Her voice trailed off as she moved the towel out of her face and saw Admiral Paris standing near the doorway.
"Good morning, sir," she said after a minute. She glanced at Chakotay nervously and then cleared her throat.
"Admiral, I…"
He held up his hand to stop her. "No need to explain, Captain. I had suspicions that the two of you were involved…although I had no idea it was this serious. Now I know why Tom suggested I wait until after you had your morning coffee to speak to you."
She chuckled. "Tom's not-so-subtle way of telling you that I wouldn't be alone this early in the morning. I'm sorry I didn't tell you myself," she added after a second, watching for any sign of disapproval.
He noticed her appraisal of him and smiled reassuringly. "I don't have any objections, if that's what you're thinking, Captain."
She let out a breath that she had been holding, but her relief evaporated when his expression became grave.
"Others, however, might," he continued. "If there's anyone against you, they could use this to their advantage. Protocol, you know."
"Protocol," she repeated.
"What do you mean, 'anyone against her?'" said Chakotay. "Is there something you're not telling us?"
Paris shook his head. "No – just a feeling. When I spoke with Headquarters about your safe return, I got the impression that not everyone is as willing to forget you disobeyed orders. I still don't expect there'll be anything worse than a Board of Inquiry," he added hastily.
"Do you really think so, Admiral? I disobeyed a direct order from Admiral Blackwell – I was expecting at least a court-martial."
"Starfleet can't afford to court-martial you right now. The damage to their public image would be far to great. They can't touch you, at least not publicly. Some of the Admirals may see you as a Captain who disobeyed orders and risked a war with the Dominion, but you're perceived by the public as a Captain who fought against unthinkable odds and braved the Gamma and the Delta quadrants to bring your crew home."
She glanced at Chakotay. "What about the Maquis?"
"I think they're safe. The media is portraying them as your crew, not as terrorists. They're heroes, and so are you, Captain. Starfleet could use a few of those – they can't afford to reprimand you in view of the public."
"What about in private?" asked Chakotay. "What do you think they'll try?"
"Like we said earlier, I think they'll keep you away from the promotion you deserve for as long as they can, but I doubt that will last more than a year or two."
Kathryn and Chakotay looked at each other with relief.
"Well, I can see I've interrupted your breakfast," said Paris. "So I'll see you shortly, Captain."
She nodded and showed him to the door. When it closed behind him, she took a deep breath and turned to Chakotay with a smile.
"Well, that was easy."
He grinned and brought her a cup of coffee. She took a sip and savored the warm liquid flowing through her before she inhaled deeply and turned to him.
"Whatever you put together, it smells lovely. What is it?"
He led her over to the table and held out the chair for her as she sat down. "Eggs Benedict with asparagus, and strawberries and cream."
"Oh," she said, touched. "The first day I invited you for breakfast…almost seven years ago."
"The best seven years of my life."
She looked up at him. "You mean that?"
"Absolutely."
She thought for a minute. "You know, I think that goes for me as well. I can't remember feeling this much…at home. Anywhere."
"You know what they say – home is where the heart is."
She reached for the glass on the table as they sat down and lifted it up in a toast. "To home."
"To home."
* * *
"We're entering the system, Captain." Harry was unable to hide the excitement in his voice.
"Take us out of warp, Mr. Paris," ordered the Captain.
"Yes, ma'am," replied Tom, as if he had never been so happy to follow an order from her.
"Let's see it, Harry."
An image of Earth appeared on the viewscreen. Silence fell on the bridge as Captain Janeway slowly rose from her chair and moved a few steps towards the viewscreen. The bridge was crowded – the entire senior staff, the three Admirals, and many other officers were gathered on the bridge to watch Voyager's final approach to Earth.
"Orbital control is hailing us," announced Harry, breaking the awed silence.
"Open a channel," ordered the Captain in a breaking voice. "This is Captain Janeway of the U.S.S. Voyager requesting permission to enter orbit."
Welcome home, Voyager. Permission to enter orbit denied – we've got instructions to let you land on the parade grounds at Headquarters.
"Understood." The Captain took a few steps towards Tom and laid a hand on his shoulder. "You heard the man, Tom – let's make an entrance."
"Yes, ma'am," he said cheerfully.
Voyager slowly descended through the atmosphere. When they cleared the clouds, they had a breathtaking view of San Francisco bay.
"Engaging atmospheric thrusters," said Tom. "Deploying landing struts."
He continued going through the landing sequence while the rest of the bridge crew stood awed at the sight of Starfleet Headquarters looming larger in front of them. They could vaguely see a crowd of people gathered, waiting for their arrival.
The Captain tore her gaze away from the viewscreen to look at Chakotay, who had left his chair to come stand behind her. He smiled at her, and she returned the smile before looking at the rest of the bridge crew. Harry looked like he wanted to take the helm himself just to get them there faster. Seven, Mark, Talia, and B'Elanna were all mesmerized at the sight. Neelix was just standing there amazed, and the Doctor appeared extremely proud of himself for some reason. Tuvok, she noted with amusement, looked probably as close to excited as a Vulcan would ever get.
She smiled to herself when she saw Admiral Paris – he was watching Tom with a mixture of wonder, admiration, and pride that she had seen directed at officers under his command but never before at his son.
Voyager set down lightly, and many of the officers on the bridge laughed and hugged each other. B'Elanna moved over to embrace her husband at the helm.
Captain Janeway stood in the middle of the bridge motionless, tears forming in her eyes. She could see Starfleet Headquarters over near the edge of the viewscreen, and the Golden Gate bridge was barely visible between some of the high rises. There was very little cloud cover, and the view was spectacular.
She was startled out of her thoughts when Chakotay stepped closer and put his hands on her arms. She turned her head to look at him, and reached up to put her hand on top of his.
She pulled her attention away from him and turned to the others.
"Harry, Mark, get to the transporter rooms and start coordinating the disembarkment."
After a glance at Harry, Mark replied, "I'm sure I can handle this. I think Harry should coordinate things from the ground."
The entire bridge crew chuckled when Harry was unable to conceal his enthusiasm at an idea that would get him off the ship faster.
"Do it."
Mark nodded at Seven to accompany him, and Harry followed them into the turbolift.
* * *
Captain Janeway took one last look at the deserted bridge before she moved up the stairs and over to the turbolift where Chakotay was waiting.
"It'll be a shame if they decommission her," she said sadly. "We've been through a lot together. This is probably going to sound strange, but I feel as close to Voyager as I do to any member of the crew."
"Sounds perfectly normal to me. She's a good ship." He smiled and took her hand as she joined him in the turbolift.
"Deck four," he ordered.
They walked down the deserted corridor on the way to the transporter room.
"It all seems so quiet," said Kathryn, looking around.
She stopped for one last look when they reached the doors to the transporter room, then stepped on the pad with Chakotay. Seven was alone at the transporter controls, and she set the controls for the transport before stepping up onto the pad with her commanding officers.
When they materialized on the planet, the Captain was surprised at the sheer number of people around them. It was so crowded there was barely room to move. Looking around, she didn't immediately see anyone she recognized. Beside her, she saw Seven shift uncomfortably out of the corner of her eye, and she put her hand on her arm reassuringly.
"I know you don't like crowds, Seven," she said loud enough to be heard over the noise.
"I'll adapt," she muttered wryly with a smile.
Despite the Borg phrase, Seven actually looked more relaxed than the Captain would have expected, considering the circumstances. She was wearing her uniform, and her hair was pulled back, falling down to her shoulder blades. Even her facial expression seemed more human somehow.
Naomi Wildman came running towards them. "Seven!" she said. "My father's here – come meet him!" She reached out and took the ex-Borg's hand. "And you should see what Cassandra has – her grandparents are here and they brought her cat. Have you ever seen a cat before? I haven't."
As the excited child started to pull Seven away, the Captain called after her, "Seven – don't leave without seeing me again."
She nodded her acknowledgement before following the young girl through the crowd.
After a few minutes of moving through the crowd, stopping to talk occasionally with the crew and their families, Chakotay felt somebody pull at his pant leg. Looking down, he saw a young girl standing next to him.
He chuckled and squatted down so he was at her level. "Do you know where Captain Janeway is?" asked the girl.
He started to tell her, but stopped when he recognized the young girl. It was Kathryn's niece.
"I'm sure she'll be anxious to meet her favorite niece. She's right over…"
He stood up to look for Kathryn, and it took him a few seconds to find her since they had been momentarily separated by the crowd. She was standing close by, meeting Joe Carey's wife and children.
"Come on," he told the young girl, taking her hand. When they neared her, he cleared his throat. "Captain? Someone to see you."
She looked at him in puzzlement before she glanced down and saw her niece holding his hand. Her eyes widened and she smiled.
"Auntie Kathryn!" said the girl excitedly, and she rushed over to embrace Captain Janeway as she knelt down to her level. Kathryn stood up with the girl in her arms and a tearful smile on her face. "Thank you," she mouthed to Chakotay, and he nodded.
"Kathryn! Mom, there she is! Kathryn!"
Chakotay and the Captain turned to the new voice and saw her mother and sister pushing her way towards them.
"Katie! There you are," said Phoebe as she saw her daughter in Kathryn's arms. The girl jumped down and ran to her mother.
"Mommy, I found her!"
"I see that," said Phoebe, and she stepped forward to embrace her sister.
Gretchen was next, and while Kathryn and her mother shared a tearful reunion, Phoebe introduced herself to Chakotay, even though they had already met over a comm channel. She chatted with him for a few minutes while Kathryn and Gretchen talked. When they were done, they turned to Chakotay and Phoebe.
"Kathryn's going to stay with us for a few days until she can find an apartment," said Gretchen. "Perhaps you'd care to join us?"
He and Kathryn had already discussed this, so Chakotay had his answer ready. "Actually, I'm going to stay with Tom Paris and his wife in Marseilles for a few days."
"If it's all right with you, Mom," said Kathryn. "There is somebody else that I know who doesn't have a place to stay yet…"
* * *
Starfleet had given the senior staff a few days' reprieve before beginning the heavier debriefings that would be limited to the senior officers on board. Most of the general crew was finished already, and they were dispersing across the planet and the sector, returning home or visiting loved ones.
Kathryn had spent a few days in Indiana, staying at her mother's house with her sister and her family until she found a San Francisco apartment that she liked. She had invited Seven of Nine to stay with her at her mother's, but Seven had declined on the grounds that she still needed to regenerate, and setting up a Borg alcove in Gretchen's house would certainly be an inconvenience. The Doctor, Neelix, and a few of the Maquis that had no family were also staying on Voyager, so she had decided to stay with them for the time being. Tom and B'Elanna had rented a place in Marseilles, and Chakotay had gone to stay with them while Kathryn was at her mother's. Tuvok had gone to Vulcan for a few days, but had returned in time for the debriefing.
When Kathryn found an apartment to her liking, she had immediately invited Chakotay to share it with her. He had declined at first, not wanting to excite the suspicions of the Admirals about their relationship, but she had explained that the apartment was large, with four bedrooms, and she was going to invite Commander Walker and his daughter to stay with her as well. She argued that it would seem perfectly natural for her to invite her two senior officers to stay with her when she had so much space, and nobody needed to know that one of the bedrooms wasn't being used.
The debriefings had gone much better than Kathryn had expected. Even the Board of Inquiry, which had lasted for nearly two weeks, had gone well. The Admirals seemed inclined to side with her, and had only shown real disapproval on a few occasions. Operation Fort Knox in particular had not gone over well – although there had been more than one snicker at the name she had given it. They hadn't been impressed with her involvement in Unimatrix Zero, either, at first. The phrase 'provoking the Collective' had come up more than once. The Admirals had been definitely displeased until she explained that she had responded to a direct request for assistance. Her explanation of the effect it would have on the Borg Collective hadn't hurt her standing either.
The final day of the Inquiry had been yesterday, so she was finally free. At least for now. She and Chakotay had gone out to dinner to celebrate, as had Mark and Seven. They had been spending a lot of time together recently, Kathryn had noticed with an approving eye.
Pulling her robe closer around her, Kathryn made her way into her new kitchen and rooted around for the coffee. The real stuff. After nearly seven years without real coffee, she craved it so much in the morning that often she couldn't sleep and would get up to make a pot before crawling back into bed. It was quiet in the apartment this morning because Cassandra was visiting one of her cousins at the Utopia Planitia shipyards, so it was just Kathryn, Chakotay, and Mark in the house this morning.
Or so she thought.
Just as she had started the coffee brewing, she turned around and was surprised to see Seven of Nine standing in the kitchen.
"Seven!" she said, chuckling. "You startled me. I didn't hear you come in…" Her voice trailed off as she noticed what Seven was wearing. Her hair was down and slightly mussed, and she was wearing a long-sleeved blue dress that fell to just past her knees. She looked like she was dressed for dinner instead of breakfast, and Kathryn's eyes widened when she realized that Seven must have spent the night.
Seeing the Captain's surprised reaction, Seven blushed and looked at the floor. Trying to smooth over the awkward moment, she offered Seven a cup of coffee, which she accepted – a first for her.
Before she had poured the first cup, she heard Chakotay come into the kitchen.
"Seven – you're here early," he said when he saw her.
Seven blushed again and before Chakotay had a chance to wonder why, he saw Kathryn glaring at him to be quiet. He complied, moving over next to her to get some coffee, and it took a few seconds for him to figure out what was going on.
"I see," he muttered, for which he got a firm elbow in the ribs from Kathryn.
Seven breathed a sigh of relief when the computer terminal nearby beeped with an incoming message, taking the focus away from her. Captain Janeway moved over to the terminal with her coffee cup and sat down in front of it, pulling up the message. As she read it, her face clouded over and she frowned.
"Captain?" said Seven, who was watching her.
Chakotay turned around from the coffee pot and looked at her as well.
"Kathryn – what is it?"
She sighed. "Starfleet wants to do another round of debriefings…and they want me to stay at Headquarters for their convenience."
"How is this inconvenient?" said Mark as he came out of the bedroom, overhearing their conversation. "You're within transporter range, and it's a ten minute walk to headquarters."
She leaned back on the couch with a sigh. "Tell that to Starfleet. It seems I don't have a choice."
Chakotay moved over and sat beside her on the couch. "Well, Tom and B'Elanna asked me if I'd want to spend a few more days with them. Maybe I'll take them up on that offer."
"I won't be here either," said Mark. "I'm taking Cassie to Betazed to visit her grandparents." In a quieter voice he added in Seven's direction, "Did you decide if you're coming with us?"
Before Seven could answer, Kathryn interrupted. "I'm afraid she can't, Mark – Starfleet wants to talk to her, too. It seems they're looking into our encounters with the Borg very carefully and they want to talk to the both of us."
He sighed. "Another time, then."
"Another time," agreed Seven.
* * *
Captain Janeway entered her quarters in the Starfleet compound, removing her jacket as she walked. She tossed it on a nearby table and collapsed into the chair near the window, exhausted. The debriefings she had been going through the last few days were being run by Admiral Blackwell, and he was mostly interested in their encounters with the Borg. Dealing with Admiral Blackwell, having to dredge up all their confrontations with the Borg, and being without the support of Chakotay and her crew had left her mentally and emotionally drained.
She sat in the chair with her eyes closed, not moving, for a few minutes before she opened her eyes and frowned. She got up and walked over to the desk and sat down in front of the comm terminal.
During the last interrogation, she had asked Admiral Blackwell about Seven but he had been evasive and had changed the subject. She hadn't seen Seven since their arrival here four days ago, and she wanted to make sure that she was all right. She reached for the comm terminal that had been provided. She had been so busy that she hadn't used it yet – she hadn't even talked to Chakotay since he had left for Marseilles.
She activated the terminal and tried to access the communication system.
Access code required, the computer told her.
"Janeway pi zero zero one."
Invalid access code. Please restate.
"Janeway pi zero zero one," she repeated.
Invalid access code. Please restate.
She sat back in her chair and sighed. It was probably just an oversight – she suspected that her access codes had been deactivated years ago, and somebody had probably just forgotten to reactivate them.
She tried a few more times to get the terminal working without success before she got up and headed for the door, trying to ignore the suspicions gnawing at the back of her mind.
Those suspicions were confirmed in an instant when the doors slid open to reveal to security guards stationed on either side of her door.
She started, surprised – she wasn't aware that there were guards posted outside her door. She recognized them as Ensigns McCarthy and Phillips. She had seen them around during the past few days, and they often escorted her to and from her quarters…but she had no idea that they remained there.
"I wasn't aware I needed protection," she said when she overcame her surprise.
The guards looked at each other and didn't answer.
"My access code doesn't seem to be working," she told them, pointing back at her desk. "I'd like to find another comm station that I could use."
"That won't be possible," said McCarthy.
She raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry?"
The guards looked at each other again.
"You'll have to stay in your quarters, Captain," said Phillips.
"I'll just be a few minutes," she insisted, taking a step forward.
Ensign McCarthy stepped in her way and put his hand on the phaser in his belt.
When he did so, the Captain froze, realizing that they were there not to protect her but to keep her from leaving.
"What's the meaning of this?"
"You'll have to stay in your quarters, Captain," repeated Phillips.
"Under whose orders?"
They were silent.
"Under whose orders?"
Her frustration building, she took a deep breath to calm down. "I want to speak with Admiral Blackwell."
"He's not available right now. If you'll just wait in your quarters…" McCarthy stepped forward and took her by the arm.
She shook him off roughly. "Where is he? I demand to know the meaning of this."
Ensign Phillips put his hand on his phaser and stepped forward.
Seeing she had no choice, she reluctantly stepped backward into her quarters and the doors shut in front of her.
* * *
Her quarters were exactly ten paces across. No more, no less. She had gone back and forth so many times this number was burned into her mind, probably for good. Counting her steps was helping her to focus and keep her mind off the reason she was going back and forth like a caged animal, which was exactly how she felt. Reaching the end of the room again, she pivoted and started back to the other side.
The doors to her quarters slid open, and she stopped pacing when she saw Admiral Blackwell enter.
"Admiral, what the hell is going on here?" she demanded as the doors closed behind him. "Why am I being treated like a prisoner?"
"A prisoner?" he repeated. "No…not exactly."
"My comm terminal's been disabled and there are guards at my door who won't let me leave. What do you call it?"
He stepped closer to her. "You have information that could harm the Federation if it fell into the wrong hands. Until we know what you know, you're a security risk."
"I don't understand – I've already been debriefed. I've told Starfleet everything I know."
"Oh really?" he said, moving towards her and extending a hand towards a nearby chair. "Why don't we see about that?"
She stood her ground and glared at them. "I'd prefer to discuss why I'm being held against my will."
He raised an eyebrow and continued eyeing her coldly. "Against your will? You're not willing to share information with us?"
"I've already been debriefed. I don't understand why I'm being treated like this."
He continued staring at her and inclined his head towards the chair. Sighing, she gave in and took a seat while he paced in front of her.
"You made some powerful allies in the Delta quadrant, Captain," he began. "The Hirogen, Species 8472, the Borg."
"I doubt the Borg would see me as their ally. They've hardly fared well in our confrontations."
"Nevertheless…you've made alliances with enemies of the Federation. I want to know why."
"Except for the Borg, the species we encountered were unknown to the Federation," she replied, watching him circle her. "So I hardly think that's a valid observation."
"The Borg, then."
"Admiral, what's this about?"
"Answer the question!"
She squared her shoulders. "I formed an alliance with the Borg to secure passage through their space. In my opinion, species 8472 posed a greater threat, not just to me and my ship but to the entire galaxy."
"In your opinion! In your opinion!" he shouted angrily. She looked at him, surprised by his outburst. "That's the problem, Captain. Was it best in your opinion to assist the Borg in developing an assimilation virus?"
"What?"
"Operation Fort Knox – you obtained a transwarp coil in exchange for assisting the Borg in their attempt to assimilate Earth."
"That's preposterous!" she exclaimed. Trying to calm down, she took a deep breath. In a more controlled voice, she said, "Admiral, if I'm being held here because you think I'm in league with the Borg, you're sadly mistaken. I don't know where you got this idea, but – "
"From looking at the facts," he said vehemently. "Your drone remained with the collective because they wanted her assistance to develop a virus to assimilate Earth. Voyager ends up with a transwarp coil and your drone back. Coincidence? I think not."
"Admiral, we had to put together a rescue mission for Seven of Nine. She didn't assist the Collective in the development of the virus. She was being held against her will."
He looked at her carefully. "Yes, that's what she maintains as well. We'll see if she changes her story."
Alarms went off in her head at his tone. "Where's Seven? What do you want with her?"
"Oh, I'm very interested in what she has to tell us. Examining her will provide us with a wealth of information on the Borg. She could be the greatest intelligence find in years."
"Intelligence find?" she repeated incredulously. "She's not some piece of equipment. She's a person – a human being."
"She's Borg!" snapped the Admiral.
"I want to speak with her."
"I'm afraid that's not possible. She's undergoing a minor medical procedure."
Her eyes widened in horror. "What are you doing with her?"
"Gathering information about Borg cybernetic systems. We're trying to develop a new weapon against the Borg. A biogenic virus. Your drone will be very useful to our research."
"I want to speak with Admiral Paris," she said, jumping out of her chair and stepping closer to him.
He smiled and shook his head. "That won't be possible."
"Well, then, I want to talk to Admiral Hayes. Or Admiral Necheyev."
"You seem to be quite agitated. Perhaps we'll continue tomorrow."
He turned to leave without acknowledging her again.
"Admiral!" she called after him, following him to the door. When she reached the entrance, the guards blocked her way and she watched as Blackwell moved down the corridor away from her. She glared furiously at the guards but they didn't so much as blink. Fuming, she turned around and marched back into her quarters to continue her pacing.
