My Lifeline Pairing J/C By: AW Rating: MA

Part 7

[0900 Billy Telfer and Tal Celes' quarters]

Billy woke up and looked at Celes snoring on the sheets beside him. "Wake up, and no I'm not helping you with any engineering problems today."

Celes groaned, "It's our day off, do I have to get up?"

"You know we didn't get a chance to talk to anyone about our plan when we set down on the planet..."

"Come on Billy, the command couple was having enough trouble dealing with everything without our troubling them with everything in our lives."

"I know Celes, but we have to talk to them."

"I know, I know I'll see if we can get a meeting with the Captain today."

[0950 Janeway quarters]

"Okay Kathryn we've done this, we've gone over the plans over and over again."

"I know but there's something that isn't quite right Chakotay. There's something we're missing."

Chakotay sighed, "Fine, but we have to get this going. We'll be at the planet in an hour."

"I'm just so -"

"I know Kathryn; you're concerned about the double funeral that you have to perform today. I understand, but we have to get going, the ceremony is supposed to start at 1100 and we still have to finish the setup."

Kathryn looked at him, "Fine, we'll go. Thank god Tom gave me permission to leave my quarters for the ceremony."

1030 mess hall

Kurt Bendara, Chell, Ensign Baytart, they gathered around. Bendara opened his mouth first, "Yosa did a good job of covering our tracks."

"Too bad he had to sacrifice his life, he was an able engineer."

Chell looked at his former 'Maquis' collegues. "I can't believe he did such a perfect job of ridding us of that Vulcan spy, I never liked him."

"Oh come on Chakotay isn't much better, he follows Janeway around like a puppy dog and now he knocked her up."

Baytart laughed, "You know that could have been the best thing he did for us, without trying. That pregnancy is going to keep that bitch out of commission for a while."

Just then Henley walked up. "I see the meeting is already underway."

"We couldn't wait for you to start; we were just going over the many different events that have taken place..."

"The only thing I have to say is Yosa could have been a bit more subtle."

Bendara looked at the group, "Maybe subtlety wasn't what he was going for. I mean we all knew when we accepted our assignments as 'Maquis' that we might have to possibly die for the cause. When he wasn't subtle they were sure he was acting alone."

"And with Tuvok out of the picture, there really isn't anyone to follow up." He paused, "Well Jor is on it, but we know that she's covering for us."

Baytart sighed, "Yeah but the problem is we know that Janeway is going to put Ayala in charge and we all know who's side he's on."

"Yeah Janeway has her little rats everywhere. Even after six years she's still cautious: I don't think she ever trusted us."

Chell piped in, "Except B'Elanna, I seriously think she's on Janeway's side, and contacting her with this is too big a risk."

"Yeah she's married to that slime-ball Paris, and we all know that Paris was Janeway's personal reclamation project."

"Yeah until she liberated that Borg Bitch." She paused and shook his head, "What is it with her trying to save everyone, everyone except herself that is."

"She has Chakotay for that." They all laughed at the folly that was their life right now. "So we're all clear on what happens right? The minute she lands this ship and decides that it's safe to disembark: Voyager is ours." The group turned around at the sound of the doors open and Janeway in all her pregnant glory walked in.

Chell whispered to Baytart and Henley, "Now it's time for the fun to begin."

Janeway stood at the front of the group, a somber mood to all those around her. "We are all here today to celebrate the life, not the death of two of Voyager's finest. Crewman Yosa and Commander Tuvok."

Janeway had tears in her eyes, and Baytart turned to Henley making a motion like he was wiping the tears from his eyes, although sarcastically.

The group of former Maquis looked around at those who had let themselves find happiness on this ship and let themselves be fooled by Janeway's random acts of kindness. Chell snickered and turned as Tabor and Doyle walked up to them. "Are we ready?"

Henley turned to the group, "Let's do it!"

Kathryn jumped back in surprise as half the group stood and unholstered their phasers, life went in slow motion for B'Elanna as Tom pushed her down, out of the way of the possible line of fire, and Chakotay yelled out from the back of the room. The last thing Kathryn saw was Chakotay's horrified face and Tom out of the corner of her eye, protecting B'Elanna.

END PART 7

TBC IN PART 8