Chapter 7 – Gone

Seven opened her eyes, her regeneration cycle having just ended. A vague notion of a forest danced on the edge of recollection. Before the destruction of Voyager, Seven didn't recall ever dreaming, but now she found she was experiencing what must be half-remembered dreams when her cycles ended. A mixture of images and visions from both Chakotay's past and her own. She turned her head to scan the interior of their quarters. The blue-white glow of the Cochrane's nacelles shown in through the window in the door. That would have to be covered at some point. By its light, she could clearly see that Chakotay was still asleep on his own bed across from her. The Sphere was apparently under warp, so nothing must have delayed B'Elanna's last projection when she and Chakotay had went to bed four hours earlier. She disconnected the regeneration bracelet attached to her wrist and sat up, trying to make as little noise as possible. Four hours regeneration was sufficient for her, but she wanted Chakotay to get as much sleep as he could. She paused for a moment and then swung her legs off of the bed and onto the floor.

The computer console was just a few steps away. She sat at the single chair they now had and pulled up the current status. Scanning the log entries it appeared that everything was still going as planned. Their first encounter with Caatati ships was projected in just over an hour. The six vessels had been closest to their position when they went to warp. Tuvok planned to have the three shuttlecraft intercept them before they were in range of the Sphere with a ninety-eight percent probability all would be disabled in quick succession. After that, the Sphere would make a course change and thirty minutes later another ten Caatati ships would come into range. The strategy was to keep adjusting course to limit the number of vessels the Caatati could concentrate into a single attack. If all went according to this plan, Tuvok would allow B'Elanna and her team an additional forty-two hours to complete the internal structure. Not exactly what the chief engineer asked for, but at least enough time to complete the structure enough to increase their speed above warp three point two so they could leave the Caatati threat behind.

As far as the trans-warp contingency plan was concerned, they were as ready as they could ever be without conducting an actual test with the warp engines. She and Chakotay had worked with Vorik to first go over Voyager's fatal trans-warp test using the data recovered from the back-up computer core. They picked through the sensor readings millisecond by millisecond and programed a host of simulations to work out how best to use the Sphere to open a conduit, slip into it, and exit it three seconds later. Both B'Elanna and Harry were onboard but still apprehensive about employing this contingency plan. Fortunately, it appeared the plan wouldn't be required anyway.

"What time is it?" Chakotay asked from behind her.

Seven turned to face him. He was already sitting up in his bed. "I apologize if I woke you," she said.

Chakotay shook his head. "I've been sleeping lightly," he replied and rubbed his eyes. "A lot going on," he added.

"It's just past 0800," Seven said, answering his initial question. "We encounter the first Caatati vessels in about an hour."

Chakotay yawned and looked out their quarter's small window into the interior. He obviously noted, as Seven had moments before, the glow of the warp nacelles and perhaps was looking for signs of the ongoing construction of the interior structure. "We have about forty minutes then before we need to be on the bridge," he finally said. When the interior of the Sphere was finally pressurized, they had opened up the Cochrane's doors for easier access. Now, the inside space of the shuttlecraft was being referred to as the bridge. Access to all the key systems in the Sphere were from within the converted shuttlecraft, and so it also contained main engineering, deflector control, and weapons. There would be a bit of a crowd in there when the time finally came.

Tuvok's plan called for Chakotay and Seven to stay aboard the Sphere with the bulk of the Voyager crew. Chakotay would be in command and also be in position to either defend the Sphere from attack or employ the trans-warp contingency plan if the situation warranted. The three shuttlecraft would be manned with just three people each – Captain Janeway commanding the Tereshkova, Lieutenant Commander Tuvok in the Liu, and Lieutenant Andrews in the Ride. Each would also have a pilot and engineer/weapons officer. Hopefully, their maneuverability and speed would overwhelm the inferior capabilities of the Caatati.

"Are you satisfied with Vorik's results?" Chakotay asked. He was still thinking about the trans-warp simulations.

"We've been through each case a half dozen times," Seven answered. "I think between the three of us and B'Elanna, we should be able to perform adequately if required."

"And what about pulling Ayala from construction and having him at weapons?" B'Elanna had disapproved of this idea, but Chakotay had been insistent.

"A wise precaution," Seven replied. "I'd trust Ayala over anyone else besides you and me."

Chakotay smiled and nodded. Seven suspected he might prefer that she was the one at weapons, but knew she had to be free to implement the contingency plan if it came to that.

"What's that?" Chakotay asked. He was nodding towards a Star Fleet container on the edge of the desk.

It took a moment for Seven to remember. The container was where she placed it the day before. "Ayala gave that to me for you the other day," she said. "I'm not sure what's inside. Something that was recovered from the Voyager debris field."

Chakotay moved down to the end of his bed and reached over to take the container from its perch. He opened it and pulled out the bundle that was inside. It appeared to be an animal hide tied together with a leather cord. "Remarkable," he muttered as he turned it over in his hands.

"What is it?" Seven asked, although it did appear vaguely familiar, something she should recognize.

"My medicine bundle," he replied. "I'm surprised it survived the explosion in such good condition." Indeed, there only appeared to be a slight darkening of the hide on one corner. How it survived and was later recovered was a mystery.

Once he said it, Seven did recognize the medicine bundle at once, although of course she had never seen it before. She remembered it from his memories. And then she recalled something else. "A coyote," she said softly.

Chakotay looked up at her in surprise. "What did you just say?"

"A coyote," Seven repeated. "From my dream this morning in the forest." There was something important about this particular creature and pertaining to Chakotay. The coyote held some significance to him personally. She remembered too late.

Chakotay looked down at his medicine bundle for a time, testing the cord and again turning it over in his hands. "I imagine I shouldn't be surprised," he eventually said. "How can there be secrets between the two of us?"

Seven knew the coyote was Chakotay's animal guide, and she also knew it was something he believed he should have kept secret out of respect for what he considered the animal's spirit. "I am sorry," Seven began. "I…"

"You have no reason to be sorry," Chakotay interrupted. "You didn't initiate the link that we used to distract you. To sever your ties to the Hive Mind. I didn't realize just how jarring that was for you."

"I understand why you and the Captain did it," Seven said. "I understand your motives."

Chakotay was shaking his head. "You have no reason to be sorry," he repeated, emphasizing this time with his hand. He appeared thoughtful for a moment and then added, "I know better than anyone what you've been through."

They were quiet for a time. Seven tried to recall what she could about Chakotay's spiritual beliefs and the importance of his animal guide. The vision quests were something he started in earnest after his father's death. A way of perhaps speaking to his father and learning from him. Learning from him in death things he ignored in life.

"You feel your animal guide helps you," Seven began tentatively. "In understanding your path in life. The meaning of things. Something your father believed in, but you didn't until later."

"Both my parents were spiritual, in their own way," Chakotay replied. "My father was interested in the more ancient traditions and customs of our tribe, particularly the myths associated with the Sky Spirits." He again appeared thoughtful. "You have an objective opinion. What is your impression of my father?"

Seven concentrated and tried to recall what she could. There had been much conflict between Chakotay and his father. Kolopak did not approve of Chakotay's plan to enter Star Fleet and Chakotay resented his father's demands. The chasm between them only grew wider with each passing year. But when Kolopak had died defending the colony against the Cardassians, it had driven Chakotay to leave Star Fleet and join the Maquis. In a way, to search out and understand his father better. "Obsessed," she finally answered. "Wanting to validate those myths. Like his search for the lost tribe of the Rubber Tree people."

Chakotay nodded. "Isn't it ironic that Voyager fulfilled his dream and discovered here in the Delta Quadrant the aliens who tens of thousands of years ago encountered the ancestors of the Rubber Tree people. Encountered the distant ancestors of my tribe as well. A clear scientific explanation with no supernatural intervention required."

"It was quite a coincidence," Seven replied. She knew there was something deeper and that Chakotay was troubled by this. Something that hit at the core of his spirituality and faith. "Do you now think your spirit quests can be reduced and explained strictly with science? Manifestations of the subconscious mind and an echo of the inheritance given to your distant ancestors by that alien race?"

Chakotay frowned. He seemed to be turning Seven's comment over in his mind. "I don't think I've ever put it into words quite like that before, but I think you're right. I've always been interested in archeology. But there's a sense that for every question you answer, a dozen more questions come to mind. There's always something more. But now, that fundamental questions about the so-called Sky Spirits and the origins of those beliefs have been definitively answered, and so there aren't any more." He looked down again at the medicine bundle in his hands. "It's true that I've not gone on as many vision quests since that time. The last was months ago." He looked back up, searching Seven's eyes. "I suppose I have had a crisis of faith of sorts."

"There are other questions Chakotay."

Chakotay shrugged. "Perhaps. What are your spiritual beliefs?"

He probably already knew the answer, but perhaps wanted to hear it for himself. "I have never given it much thought," Seven said. "The Borg sought perfection, and so as a drone, I sought perfection too. My parents sought answers to their own questions, and didn't consider questions to which science couldn't provide an answer."

"As you say, there are plenty of questions to busy oneself for a lifetime," Chakotay said thoughtfully. "And when all those questions are answered, what have you gained?"

"A better understanding," Seven offered.

"Fair enough. And yet, after all that, there is still one thing science can't explain. All those questions and answers lead ever back to the beginning with no easy answer. The fundamental question of existence."

There were of course many things science couldn't explain. It was never meant to. "Your mother's faith was of a different sort," Seven commented. "She didn't need science to answer that question."

"I was just thinking of her," Chakotay replied. "It's funny, but when I think of her now, I can't help but think of your mother as well. Unlike my father, her faith was rooted in the more recent beliefs of my tribe. An amalgamation of different religions, both indigenous and introduced over the centuries. She had a particular devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, the mother of the living God."

"I have an image of your mother in my mind," Seven said closing her eyes to visualize it better. "She is standing in a doorway, silhouetted against the light from outside. I can see the detail of her dark hair, almost the individual strands in the light."

Chakotay cleared his throat. "She died when I was young," he managed. "That might have been the last time I saw her."

Seven scolded herself. She needed to think before she said these things that came into her mind. But as Chakotay had said, there could be no secrets between them. She again felt compelled to reach out and touch the side of his face. A similar sensation to the day before when they embraced. She traced her fingers along the path of the tattoo on his temple. A design from the Rubber Tree people and a connection to his dead father. Chakotay reached up and took hold of her wrist, but not to pull her hand away but to hold it there in place. To make sure the contact wasn't broken. He closed his eyes and held it there. "I've been missing something in my life for a long time now," he finally said softly.

Seven reached her other hand up to rest on Chakotay's shoulder and leaned forward to be closer to him. Just a week ago she couldn't have conceived of a moment such as this. She had known the mechanics of being human, but not the feeling of it. How could she have answered the questions she didn't know to ask? Her consciousness was no longer confined to her own experience and to the limits of a Borg drone. The desire to return to those confines was now unthinkable to her. This amazing transformation in just a matter of days, and it was all because of him. B'Elanna was right. How could she help it? She perhaps knew him better than she knew herself. She wanted to tell him that perhaps he had already found what he was missing. She felt confident she had found it for herself.

Seven didn't know how long they stayed like that. At some point she noted a change in the light from the nacelles and a knock at the door. Someone was standing just outside. Chakotay opened his eyes and the two of them gazed at each other for a moment. He then got up and moved to open the onetime hatch to the escape pod that now served as their quarters.

It was B'Elanna. "It's almost time," she said. "The shuttlecraft are breaking formation. We should all get to the bridge."

Chakotay sighed and nodded. "Let's go."

Seven stood and followed Chakotay out. They stepped onto the circular platform that surrounded the Cochrane and allowed access to the twelve escape pods in the interior ring along the outer diameter, and the interior of the shuttlecraft on the inner diameter about a quarter of the way around the circle. It was just a short walk from their quarters to the bridge and Seven noted the artificial gravity was only strong enough to keep them from floating off. Different than from inside their quarters which was at one Earth standard and she had to be deliberate in her movements. This was likely to make the continued construction easier to accomplish, and indeed she looked up and saw two dozen or more personnel working on the interior structure. The dodecahedral main support was in place, but now they were fabricating the beams and supports that would not only strengthen the Sphere, but also allow easy access to the sixty other escape pods in the outer portion of the new ship. The artificial gravity returned to normal when they entered the confines of the bridge. Ayala was already at his station along with Harry at sensors, Marina Jor at the helm, Vorik at one of the two engineering stations, and Cathal at deflector control. B'Elanna took her position at the other engineering station and Seven moved to stand next to her. If they needed to employ the trans-warp contingency plan, this is where she would need to be to open and close the conduit.

"Harry what's the status," Chakotay said.

"The shuttles are closing on the first Caatati formation," Ensign Kim replied. "It appears half of their ships are separating from the other three and the shuttles are moving to intercept." It sounded to Seven that the Caatati were trying to divide the shuttles' attention with more separated targets than they could engage simultaneously. A strategy that might work if it took longer than expected to disable each individual Caatati vessel. "Should I put the comm up on speakers?" Harry added.

"Not just yet," Chakotay said and turned to his pilot. "Marina, are you ready to execute the post engagement maneuver."

"Aye sir. Programmed and ready."

"Weapons?"

"Ready."

"Deflectors?"

"Fully charged."

Chakotay nodded. With any luck, they wouldn't have anything else to worry about during this initial conflict. "Okay, let's hear what's going on."

"… and get back to intercept the vessel at point zero six." It was Captain Janeway's voice. "Tuvok, once your target is disabled, return to my coordinates to help with the rest."

"Understood."

"Ma'am, still no answer to any of our hails." This was Andrews in the Ride.

"We can't let them get any closer. Target their engines and open fire when in range."

Seven glanced back towards Chakotay. Their eyes locked for a second. This was it. Although technically, Seven had only been on the Voyager crew for fourteen days, three hours and twenty-three minutes, she felt fully invested in the outcome of the current events. For the second time this hour, she marveled at the transformation that had taken place within her. Any yet, she didn't feel much different. In her mind, each moment progressed continuously. An unbroken consciousness from a Borg drone to now.

"Opening fire," Andrews said over the comm, interrupting Seven's thoughts. This was followed quickly by both Tuvok and Janeway announcing the same. After what must have been a few more volleys, Andrews came on again. "Phasers are having no effect."

"Their weapons appear to be offline and they are channeling all available energy to their forward shields," Tuvok commented.

"Fire at will," Janeway barked. "Full power to the phasers."

Again silence over the comm. "How's it going Harry?" Chakotay commented.

Ensign Kim was examining the readout from sensors. "Andrews has just disabled his target and moving to the next," he said. "Tuvok and the Captain are having trouble… wait, both have disabled a target. Tuvok is moving back to rejoin the Captain."

"Distance?" Chakotay asked.

"Thirty seconds to warp field merger if they're not disabled," Harry replied.

It wasn't supposed to be this difficult. Chakotay resisted the urge to move over to sensors to see for himself.

"Their shields are stronger than we anticipated," Tuvok commented over the comm.

"Concentrate your phasers on the trailing vessel," Janeway responded. "Chakotay, stand by. One of these might get through to the Sphere."

"Aye Captain," Chakotay said and then turned to Ayala. "Fire both batteries when the Caatati are in range. Full power." And then to Harry, "put up a visual of their approach."

Ayala nodded, his attention focused on the phaser lock and an image of the trailing star field appeared on the screen. The fire fight was close enough now to see both the Tereshkova and the Liu circling the two remaining Caatati vessels and the near continuous phaser fire. Suddenly there was a flash from the lead Caatati vessel. It immediately dropped out of warp and disappeared.

"One more to go," Captain Janeway said, but it was already too late.

"Warp fields merging," Harry said a moment later. "They're on a collision course."

"That's their strategy," Chakotay commented. "They've diverted all power to their shields and intend to ram the Sphere to force it out of warp."

"Twenty seconds to impact!" Harry said with alarm.

"Fire those…" Chakotay began to say, but was interrupted when both phaser batteries on the Sphere's poles opened fire.

"Direct impact," Harry confirmed. "It's still coming."

The Sphere's phasers continued to fire with the Tereshkova and Liu also still engaged. An agonizing five seconds later, there was a bright flash. The Caatati vessel broke apart into a half dozen pieces, but since it was contained within the Sphere's warp bubble, each piece continued to approach in an expanding debris field because of their previous momentum. Chakotay eyes widened. "Evasive maneuvers!" he shouted.

Marina Jor had only a fraction of a second to react. Judging what looked like the most dangerous debris, she altered course accordingly. It was impossible, however, to avoid all of the debris. Several glancing impacts occurred one after the other. Inertial dampers took care of most of the jarring, but with the internal structure not fully completed, all those on the bridge glanced about wondering if the hull integrity was going to hold.

"Shields are down twenty percent," Cathal commented. "Good thing we made those enhancements."

B'Elanna looked over the readouts at engineering. "Still maintaining warp two," she said. "I'm surprised we held together."

"Chakotay, status," Captain Janeway called over the comm.

"We're okay Captain," Chakotay replied. "That was close."

"Captain," Tuvok cut in. "We did not anticipate their tactics. I estimate a twenty two point four percent probability that the next encounter with the ten Caatati vessels will result in the Sphere taking a direct hit."

"We have to intercept sooner and engage with full phasers," Janeway countered.

"I've already taken that into account," Tuvok replied. "It gets worse. If we make it to the fifth encounter with the nineteen Caatati vessels, I estimate our chances as no better than fifty-fifty. The cumulative probability of success is now very small."

There was an extended silence. "Chakotay, are you ready with the trans-warp contingency."

"As ready as we'll ever be Captain," Chakotay responded.

"We'll press forward with our original plan, but don't let them into your warp field. If any of them are getting close, I want the Sphere gone. Understood?"

"Understood." Chakotay turned to B'Elanna and Seven. "Pull up the program and have it ready on my command."

"It was already loaded Chakotay," B'Elanna commented. The chief engineer seemed resigned to the fact that they might actually have to attempt trans-warp travel.

"How much time between when I give the command and we can enter the conduit?" Chakotay asked.

Seven knew he knew the answer, but apparently wanted confirmation. "Five to seven seconds," she replied.

"Harry, I want a countdown starting at sixty seconds as the next wave of Caatati approach."

"Yes sir."

"And put up the tactical map on the main screen. I want to see where everybody is."

Harry tapped in the commands and the map appeared. The sphere still in the center of the display. It was moving nearly perpendicular to the plane of the Galaxy. The three shuttlecraft were trailing behind and closing on various clusters of Caatiti ships in this next group. Two groups of three, and then four other single vessels spreading out to force one of the shuttles to pursue.

"Closing on first vessel," Andrews commented over the comm.

"Turn that off," Chakotay said. "We need to concentrate on our jobs."

Harry nodded and the comm was off.

"Cathal, how are the shields?"

"I've rerouted some power from the gravity plating and they're back up to ninety percent. Gravity down to point eight."

"Weapons?"

"Fully charged."

They all watched the map spellbound. One by one, the Caatati ships were disabled, but it was agonizingly slow. Each minute, they closed the gap with the Sphere. "They're having trouble," Harry commented, breaking the silence. "Sixty seconds."

"Steady," Chakotay said. "Prepare for trans-warp on my mark."

"Fifty seconds. Three vessels still converging. The Ride is too far off to intercept... Forty-five seconds. One of the remaining Caatati vessels has been disabled... Forty seconds… Thirty seconds…"

It was clear to Seven that the other two vessels wouldn't be disabled or destroyed in time. Chakotay must have come to the same conclusion. "Engage trans-warp," he ordered, "and switch to external view."

"Energizing the matrix," Vorik replied immediately.

"Subspace field is forming," Seven said a moment later.

"There's the conduit," B'Elanna said. A multicolored distortion formed in front of the Sphere and folded in on itself. "Threshold in three, two, one…"

There was a sharp shift as the Sphere crossed the threshold. Both Chakotay and Seven were nearly knocked off their feet and an alarm started sounding at Cathal's station.

"What the hell was that!?" Chakotay shouted.

"A transdimensional shift across the subspace barrier" Seven said, regaining her footing and scanning the engineering console. "We're still in the conduit."

It had already been enough time at trans-warp speed to get them far enough away. "Get us out," Chakotay said.

"There's feedback in the tachyon matrix," Seven replied. Her fingers danced over the controls and she shook her head. "Compensating. Vorik, disengage the matrix."

"Powering down," Vorik replied.

"We're still in the conduit," Harry said nervously.

Seven studied the readouts. Core pressure was holding steady and the tachyon levels were now beginning to fall. "Don't worry," she finally said. "The conduit will collapse on its own and we will return to our warp field. Prepare for another shift."

"I don't know if we can take another shift," Cathal commented. "I'm detecting a crack in the Sphere's outer hull."

"Disengage weapons and divert all power to the shields," Chakotay ordered. He turned to Seven. "How long?" But as if in answer, there was another sharp jolt. Another transdimensional shift that Seven had warned about as the Sphere exited trans-warp space. More violent this time. Chakotay was knocked off his feet and fell to the floor with a grunt. Sparks and fire flew out of Cathal's deflector control station and he jumped away and fell to the floor as well.

Seven rushed to Chakotay and knelt. "I'm okay," he said groggily, still a bit dazed. There was a cut on his right temple where he must have hit the edge of a console.

Seven turned to Cathal who was holding his hands out in front of him having been burned by the console fire. Ayala was already at the station, having quickly put out the fire and was assessing the damage. Seven touched her comm badge. "Doctor, come to the bridge at once. We have injuries."

"Dropping out of warp." B'Elanna said. She was still at the engineering station. They could all hear the warp drive power down successfully. "Core pressure within limits. Everything looks fine here."

"Hull status," Chakotay croaked.

"We have a breach," Ayala said, "but shields are still up and holding and a force field is in place. I'll get a crew on it."

Chakotay nodded and Ayala left quickly nearly bumping into the Doctor who was just arriving. He started to approach Chakotay first, but Seven waved him off. "Treat Cathal, I'll look after the Commander." She pulled down a nearby medkit and took out a bandage, applying pressure to the wound. Curiously her hand was in nearly the same position as it was when Chakotay had held it there himself earlier. He must have realized the same thing and smiled as their eyes met.

"Commander, we have a problem," Harry said. He was studying the sensors and looked concerned. "We were in trans-warp for twenty-three seconds. Given our trajectory, we're…" He frowned as he studied the sensors some more.

"What is it Harry?"

"Sir, we're outside the Galaxy. A thousand or more light years from the nearest star."

"On screen," Chakotay said, and both he and Seven shifted to see the screen more directly.

Strictly speaking, Ensign Kim was incorrect in his statement. The Sphere was still well within the gravitational influence of the Galaxy, but they had left the plane of the Galaxy far below them and were now in a sparsely populated region of space. Intergalactic space. The elongated view of the Milky Way extended on either side, with the large central bulge glowing brightly before them. Typically the central part of the Galaxy was obscured by intervening dust in the plane, but now it shown in all its glory. Millions of stars surrounding the central black hole, the wisps of the spiral arms spreading outward on either side and below. It took a moment to take in what they were seeing.

"Where no one has gone before," Cathal said, the Doctor still bandaging his burnt hands.

Harry slowly scanned the visual so they could see more of what was about the Sphere. On one side, the blackness of intergalactic space with dim smudges of light showing relatively nearby globular clusters in the Milky Way's halo and a half dozen other distant galaxies of the Local Group, and on the other, the four hundred billion stars of the Milky Way itself. It felt as if they could see them all at once.

"Remarkable," Chakotay said after a time, and then asked the question that was on everyone's mind. "But can we get back?"

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Author's note: Thank you for reading and to those who have left reviews. They do provide a great deal of encouragement and are appreciated.