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Date With Destiny II

of Star Trek: Voyager. I just own the story.

12. Questions and Answers

The clock of life is wound but once
And no man has the power
To tell just when the hand might stop
At late or early hour

Now is the only time you own
Live, love and toil with a will
Place no faith in tomorrow
For the clock may then be still (12)

Chakotay thought about the words. The words passed to him by B'Elanna. The words describing the nature of relationships, life and love. This was one that had been chosen. These were B'Elanna's chosen first words for Chakotay, and simultaneously Kathryn. These were the words his old friend was sure would help bring them together. He was finally getting the chance to
re-read and to think about their meaning. The unfortunate part was how accurate those words were in so many ways he didn't want them to be accurate. They were accurate in the fact that he had wasted time, and there were things he could never go back on and never re-accomplish. These words were good in other ways…he had lived, he had loved and he had been happy, for a short period of time. He had loved Kathryn, and now he had the product of their affections: Little Kearstin. Thing was, no matter how hard he tried to forget who's child this was, he couldn't. The child was forever branded and claimed as his and Kathryn's no matter how much he did or did not want to remember.

Two roads diverge in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down the one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps a better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Through as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves not steps had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way lead on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence;
Two roads diverged in a wood and I –
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference (13)

Paths, choices…lives lost and possibly avoided for what? Why tempt fate? But under the same notion, why believe in it at all. If there were two roads, which would I choose? Which did I choose? Why did I do this to myself? Why did she do this to me? What did I do to her that she believed in necessary to hid something like this from me?

I need to know what happened to her while my life was embroiled in Section 31.

He looked further down and saw a piece of paper. It had two words on it: Tau Ceti. What did it mean? Why had B'Elanna written those two words on this paper? He needed to find out what that meant. What was the meaning of 'Tau Ceti?'

He left and took Kearstin with him. He went to the Starfleet archives, there had to be something there. He arrived at Headquarters and went to the archives. Nothing. On that day all those years ago, there were surprisingly few entries. In fact that whole mission had very few and very sparse entries. My god Kathryn, what did they put you through?

He looked at Kearstin. The young, the innocent face of a child who had been left behind. A child who was suffering past the events of her parents…a child who might still be saved.

Chakotay knew how Starfleet was, and he knew that there were more than likely things that had been left out of those log entries. He also knew that these were more than likely classified and that they explained her actions, and gave the answers to questions he had yet to ask. Kearstin started fussing in his arms.

Chakotay started singing in a low baritone voice. A soft sultry voice, that was soft and peaceful but which demanded attention.

Hush little baby, don't you cry
Daddy's gonna sing you a lullaby
Hush little darling, don't you weep
Close your eyes and go to sleep

You're gonna have lots of pretty toys
Gonna learn how to play with all the girls and boys
Never gonna learn what it means to hate
Hush, little baby, just you wait

You're gonna build a brand new world
Where people will live side by side
Gonna teach them all how to love
Teach them all not to hide inside

Hust little baby, sleep and dream
Oh a whole new world like you've never seen
A world where all your cares pass by
To the gentle tune of a lullaby. (14)

The baby had quieted by the time he had finished the song. He had once heard Kathryn since the original song to Naomi Wildman. Kathryn had the most beautiful voice. She had a strong voice, a lovely voice; he hoped his daughter had inherited some of Kathryn's better traits. Every time he looked at her he saw in Kearstin, Kathryn's beauty and intelligence. One day, he would realize what had happened and he would find her, find his love and re-unite his family. Together forever more, in body, mind and soul.

He knew what he had to do. He went to Starfleet headquarters to ask his admiral advisor all the favors he had collected over the past year. Approximately 8 months ago, he had saved the admiral's daughter from the Cardassians. Admiral Johanis had told Chakotay if he ever needed anything all he had to do was ask.

/\/\

He approached the admiral's office. He still held Kearstin who slept peacefully in the basinet he had acquired from B'Elanna. He looked at her so peaceful. If only you knew little one. He rang the chime, and awaited an answer. He got one from the lieutenant who manned the desk. "Admiral Johanis' office. What can I do for you?"

"I need to speak with him. It's very important."

"He's extremely busy right now can I…"

"Tell him it's Captain Chakotay. He'll see me."

There was a silence over the comm. line. He heard her leave. He heard a sound of muffled words, then the woman returning to the desk. "The Admiral will see you now."

Chakotay entered the office and met the man. "I assume you need something Chakotay."

"You could say that."

"When did you become a father Chakotay?" He looked at the child. "She's beautiful."

"Thank you. Yes I need to redeem that favor you promised me." He looked deep into the admiral's eyes."I need to know what happened to Kathryn Janeway at Tau Ceti."