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CHAPTER 21

20 YEARS LATER

Sitting by a window of the house that had been her home for over two decades, Kathryn topped up her cup of coffee and looked out at a wintery Lake George. Her hair was silver now, and was swept away from her face in an elegant bun, and her once smooth skin showed the signs of aging. At her feet, looking up at her with hopeful brown eyes, was a little white terrier.

"Oh, ok, Snowy," Kathryn smiled, unable to resist the animal's silent plea. "Just a little piece of cookie..."

She picked up an oatmeal cookie from a plate before her, broke off a little piece, and handed it to her pet.

Suddenly, the far-right living room door burst open and Adriena barged in. Her step-daughter was now an attractive woman of twenty-eight, and had glossy black hair that tumbled over her shoulders.

"Don't tell me," Kathryn said as the young woman crossed the floor. "You were fired again." Over the past few years, Adriena had been fired from more occupations than it was possible to count.

"I quit," Adriena declared, sitting opposite. "That scally-wag Martin promised that I would get the part of Regan, but he gave it to Tracy and cast me as Goneril."

"Does it matter?" Kathryn asked. "If I remember King Lear correctly, aren't they wicked sisters who kill each other?"

"That's not the point," Adriena bewailed. "He promised me the part and I've learnt all the lines. But even if I hadn't, he was way out of line to mess me about like this!"

"He must have had his reasons, darling."

"I can't think of any, except that Tracy wanted to play Regan and he gave into her because she's his wife. But she can't act to save her life and there's no way I'm playing opposite a clod. He can find someone else to play Goneril. I've had enough of her telling me what to do and lording it about. In fact, I've had enough of acting. I'm going to do something else."

Kathryn took a sip of coffee and hardly dared ask the next question. "What do you have in mind?" Already Adriena had tried Starfleet, Scientific research, private piloting, teaching, art and design, catering, dress-making, music lessons and musical theater."

"I don't know," Adriena replied. "I think I'll go to Trebus for a while...recharge my batteries."

"You like it there, don't you?"

Adriena nodded. "It's so tranquil. I always feel a great sense of peace when I'm there and find I don't lose my temper as much."

Kathryn laughed. "It certainly brings out your calmer side."

Adriena sighed. "I don't know why I'm so bull-headed. I just get so cross inside and suddenly I'm letting everyone know."

"You're part Cardassian, darling," Kathryn reminded her. "As your father would say, it's in your nature."

"I guess," Adriena conceded. "But it's so frustrating."

"Maybe you should talk to B'Elanna. As part-Klingon, she's always struggling to contain her temper too. She may have some techniques to share."

Adriena was about to answer when the door chime sounded.

"I wonder who that is," Kathryn said, putting down the cup in her hands. "I'm not expecting anyone."

Adriena got to her feet. "I'll go find out."

In less than five minutes, she returned with Admiral Hayes...a tall middle-aged man with graying brown hair.

"Admiral Hayes," Kathryn said, getting to her feet. "Good morning. This is a surprise. What can I do for you?"

Adriena spoke before he had a chance too. "He says he has news about Daddy."

The brightness in Kathryn's eyes faded. She could tell from the man's face that it was not good news, and while she had always known that Chakotay was dead, it was still going to hurt to know for certain. "I see," she said quietly.

"I'm afraid it's not good news," the Admiral began. "His body has been found by one of our explorer crews in Cardassian space." Now that relations with the Cardassians had improved, licensed travel was permitted through their space. "They located his remains in a mass-grave near the site of a former Cardassian prison on Orvan. Several other human bodies were found in the same grave, including those of your husband's companion and his sister. Tests reveal that Chakotay and Darkin died approximately twenty years ago and Marla almost thirty. I'm sorry."

Kathryn made no reply, just turned to look out of the window.

"Their bodies will return with the crew," Admiral Hayes went on, "and can be buried as you wish."

Again only silence answered.

"We will make the necessary arrangements," Adriena said on her step-mother's behalf. "Thank you for coming to tell us."

"I only wish my news had been happier," the Admiral said sadly. "My condolences to you both."

"Thank you," Adriena replied.

"Well," he said uncomfortably, "I'd better get on...I'm heading for a conference on Vulcan."

Adriena gestured to the door. "I'll show you out."

"No," he protested. "There's no need. I'll find my own way out." He then looked at Kathryn sadly. "Again, my condolences."

With that, he left awkwardly, closing the living-room door behind him. When he was gone, Adriena closed the gap between her and Kathryn and placed a comforting hand on her step-mother's shoulder. As she did so, a tear escaped Kathryn's eye and she finally spoke.

"Marla was already dead," she whispered. "He died for nothing."

At that, Adriena drew Kathryn close and they wept together.

"Damn," Adriena said as she removed a burning chocolate cake from the oven that evening. "Damn, damn!"

From the doorway, Snowy watched as she put the cake down on a table and began to prod it with a knife to see the extent of the damage.

"Burnt to a crisp," she cried. "I'm going to have to replicate something or Mom and I will have nothing for dessert."

Suddenly, a bleep sounded, followed by a male voice. "Incoming transportation request, Doctor E.M.H Shmullus."

Adriena took off her apron and walked into the living room. "Accept."

In seconds, the Doctor appeared.

"Good evening, Doctor," Adriena said. "If you're looking for Mom, she's not home yet, but I'm expecting her any moment now."

The Doctor stepped closer, his face taut with pain. "It's actually you I wanted to see," he said quietly. "There's been an accident. I don't know what happened exactly, but it seems your mother was attempting to fix an engine malfunction in her shuttle when it exploded. She was severely injured and is in a critical condition at Starfleet Sanatorium." He paused and strugged with the next words. "We've done everything we could, but her injures were too severe. I'm afraid it's only a matter of time. I'm sorry."

Tears flooded Adriena's eyes and she stepped away from him. "No," she said. "Not Mom..."

"If you would like to see her," the Doctor went on. "Then I suggest you come with me right away. If not, I know she would understand."

Adriena looked up to the ceiling and let out a cry that pierced the Doctor's heart. Then, before he knew it, several objects were flying around the room, crashing and breaking as they landed on the wooden floor.

"Adriena," he cried. "Stop this!"

Exhausted, the half-Cardassian fell to her knees sobbing.

Cautiously, the Doctor stepped closer, his holographic heart bleeding for her. "Shall we go?"

Tears blinding her, Adriena looked up and nodded.

Standing at the doorway of Kathryn's room at the Sanatorium, tears streamed down Adriena's face as she looked at her beloved step-mother lying so still, her body attached to a number of devices.

"She's conscious," the Doctor said, "but extremely weak."

In a daze, Adriena walked over to the bed, sat down, and took her step-mother's hand in hers.

"You can't die, Mom," she wept. "Please don't die."

Kathryn stirred beneath her and briefly opened her eyes. "Adriena," she whispered. "My darling..."

"You must get better, you must..."

"You must...be strong," Kathryn replied. "Promise me..."

"But I need you. I love you so much."

"Love you too... am sorry...don't know...what happened...shouldn't have...exploded."

No doubt an inquiry would be held into the cause of the explosion, but Adriena didn't need any inquisition to tell her it was due to a lack of concentration because of what Admiral Hayes had told them earlier.

"You can't die, Mom," Adriena continued. "You can't ..."

"Must be strong," Kathryn said again. "Take care...Hanara...Promise me...Promise me..."

"I promise," Adriena wept. "But I don't want you to die..."

"Is my time...must be strong."

"I'm sorry, Mom," Adriena sobbed. "I'm sorry I disgraced you by getting kicked out of the Academy. I never told you, but I want you to know. I'm so sorry I made you ashamed."

A glimmer of a smile crossed Kathryn's pale face and Adriena felt a feint squeeze of her hand. "Was proud...never told you...Wish I'd...poured bucket...on Dragon-Wagon."

Adriena had to laugh at that and through tears she kissed Kathryn's hand. "You've been the best mother I could ever have had...you loved me when no one else did...I'm so thankful."

"So thankful...for you," Kathryn replied, her voice barely audible. "So proud...of my...little girl..."

With that, her head drooped slightly to the side and a dead bleep filled the room.

"No," Adriena cried, hardly able to breathe. "No...Mom!"

She then felt a gentle hand on her shoulder and heard the Doctor speak.

"I'm sorry. She's gone."

At that, Adriena cried out in absolute despair, and gathered Kathryn in her arms, cradling her inconsolably.

TWO WEEKS LATER

Dressed all in black, Adriena stood at an open grave in Bloomington Crematorium. An icy winter wind blew through her body, but she was oblivious to the cold. All her attention was on the hole before her and the two coffins that had just been interred. After so many years apart, her father and the woman she regarded as her mother were together again, lying together in death as they should have done in life, but it was little comfort to her aching heart. Standing beside her was a pretty young woman with long auburn hair, olive skin, and distinctive blue eyes, and the woman put her hand on Adriena's shoulder. "Come on, sis. Everyone's left for the hall."

"You go," Adriena replied. "I want to stay here for a while."

"They'll be waiting for us," Hanara persisted. "Come on. Let's do Mom proud and grab a coffee."

"A coffee?" Adriena cried, turning to her sister. "How the hell can you think of coffee? We've just buried our mother...and our father."

"Because one of us has got to think about something! All you've done for the past two weeks is hide away in your room crying. I'm the one who's had to take care of everything, I'm the one who's had to deal with everyone. You've got to snap out of it, Adriena. You've got to get on with your life!"

"I can't," Adriena said honestly. "I loved her so much...I can't accept she's gone."

"Well you have too!" Tears filled the young woman's eyes. "I loved her just as much as you, and I'm hurting just as much as you, but Mom wouldn't want us to wallow. She'd want us to get on with things and have a good life like her."

"A good life?" Adriena scoffed. "You think she had a good life?"

"I know she did. She achieved so much and we've always had a good happy life together."

"No," Adriena retorted. "You've had a good happy life. Mom's life was full of tragedy and heartache and her death was just as miserable."

"That's not true. Mom was happy, I know she was."

Adriena shook her head. "You only think she was happy because you were happy. I was there when Daddy left and I was there when he didn't come back. I heard her cry, many times, but you were too busy wailing your baby head off for a damn feed to notice her pain. We had a happy life because Mom was determined to give us one, but don't for a minute think hers was all candy and ice-cream, because it wasn't."

Unable to listen to anymore, Hanara walked away.

"That's right," Adriena cried. "Turn away from what you don't want to hear!"

Anger surfacing now, Hanara turned around and walked back. "Why, Adriena? Why are you doing this? Why are you taking all this out on me?"

"Because I don't understand you! It's like you don't care that Mom has gone."

"Of course I care! There's just nothing I can do! All I can do is carry Mom with me in my heart and live a life to make her proud." A tear ran down her cheek. "But I'm going to miss her every day for the rest of my life!"

At that, Adriena softened and turned back to the grave. "So am I," she said quietly. "If it wasn't for her, I don't know what would have happened to me. All these years she's loved me, for no other reason than she wanted too. I had nothing, but she gave me everything. I owe her so much, and some how I've got to pay her back."

"By having a good life," Hanara replied. "I know that life has been very different for us, and that your bond with Mom was very special because of everything you'd been through, but the last thing she would want is to see you grieve like this."

"I know," Adriena admitted. "Before she died she made me promise that I'd be happy... but I can't. I can't accept she's gone and I can't accept how things are. I have to make it up to her, I have to make things better for her as she did for me."

Hanara frowned, not understanding. "What do you mean?"

"I have to make things better," she said. "How, I don't know, but I will."

"I don't understand."

"No," Adriena replied, her tone not unkind. "You wouldn't. You're the perfect Starfleet officer...play by the rules, die by the rules. Me, on the other hand, well, we both know what I am." She paused and turned again to her sister. "I'm joining the Maquis-Nouveau." The Maquis-Nouveau was the name of the official fighting force protecting all independent planets in the former demilitarized zone. It was named in honor of all Maquis who had died fighting for freedom, but was now a legitimate military body defending a new political state - Libertia.

Hanara's eyes widened in alarm. "What?"

"It's where I have to be."

"But if you join them, you'll have to take up citizenship in Libertia and lose all your rights in the Federation."

"I don't care. I'm joining the Maquis-Nouveau."

Desperate tears filled Hanara's eyes. "Don't go, please...I can't lose you too."

At that Adriena drew her sister close and held her tight. "You won't lose me, Hana. Whenever you need me, I'll be here, I promise."

FIVE YEARS LATER

Sitting at the helm of the most advanced Cardassian shuttle she could get her hands on, Adriena flew the vessel towards a pulsating temporal rift on her viewscreen. Her visage and physique were now completely Cardassian, and her human DNA was undetectable except by advanced biometric scans. The surgery had been performed secretly by a doctor on Zarkon, the capital planet of Libertia, and she had told no one back on Earth, not even Hanara, about the transformation.

A bleep sounded, informing her of an incoming transmission, and Adriena accepted it. Instantly, Korath's face appeared on a small comm-screen.

"Remember our deal, one rift only."

In exchange for persuading B'Elanna to support his campaign for a place on the High Council, Korath had agreed to generating one temporal rift with his deflector. When she had arrived at his house looking like a Cardassian, she had simply told him she was adopting her maternal heritage, and he couldn't have cared less.

"If you're not where you want to be," he continued, "as I can make no guarantees, you'll have only minutes to turn back before the rift collapses."

"Understood," Adriena replied.

The rift was directly before her now, and Adriena flew into it at maximum warp. As she did so, the shuttle rocked and the connection with Korath sizzled and terminated. Before her on the viewscreen, blue light danced, and then finally swirled with black as the shuttle left the rift and soared into open space.

As soon as the shuttle was clear of the rift, Adriena brought it to a standstill and checked her location in the space-time continuum. In seconds, she had determined that, while the destination was correct, she had arrived three months later than intended.

"Damn it," she said, hitting the console before her. Her plan had been to intercept her father and Darkin as they arrived in Cardassian space, have them enquire about Marla, and inform them that she had died years before. Now she was too late.

Quickly, she scanned the rift...it would collapse in less than three minutes. That was more than enough time to reverse course and go back to the future, but if she could not convince Korath to open another rift, this could be her only chance of changing history.

Sweating, Adriena accessed a file she had previously created and pulled up a chart she had made of her father's journey through this space. She firmly believed her father and Darkin had ended up in Orvan because they had found out Marla had been held there, and using their average travel speed, their location when they sent a letter to Kathryn, and their time of death, she had estimated their course and arrival time at Orvan. Peforming a quick calculation, she determined that, based on her estimations, she could catch up with them before they reached the planet. Their shuttle could only travel at a maximum of warp 5 whereas hers could fly over 9.

Having manually instructed the computer to inform her of the rifts demise, the computer spoke.

"Rift will collapse in 60 seconds."

Adriena looked up at the viewscreen. "Display."

Immediately, the rift appeared on the screen and Adriena's heart thumped in her chest and echoed in her ears. The lives of everyone she loved hanged on the decision she made now and she had less than ten seconds to make it. After that, it would be too late to turn around and reach the rift before it collapsed. Closing her eyes, Adriena prayed to the Great Spirit and made her decision.

"Pursue course Chakin78," she said, her voice trembling. "Maximum warp."

The engines powered up and Adriena opened her eyes just in time to see the temporal rift disappear.

END OF CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE