"I want you to think about it, Chakotay. This has to be your decision. If you choose to go after him, I know I speak for the entire crew, Starfleet and Maquis alike, when I say we'll stand behind you."
When Chakotay left to consider whether to mount a rescue effort for Seska and her child, Kathryn stood in front of the window and closed her eyes to the world around her. She concentrated on her breathing and tried to calm her racing mind.
The thought of Chakotay's child being left to be raised by Seska, of all people, sent chills up her spine. She had only rarely thought of herself as a maternal person, but all she wanted at the moment was to tear the child away from the clutches of the Kazon and care for him herself. She hadn't thought that her relationship with Chakotay had developed to the point of thinking about children yet, but here she was ready to claim and defend his child.
She began slowly to pace the length of the room, as her thoughts kept drifting back to the image of the child in Seska's arms.
It's Chakotay's decision, she told herself, but she knew what she would choose were it up to her. Every fibre of her being told her that she should protect the child as her own.
She sat down on the sofa and closed her eyes. She was a goddess of knowledge, after all. She should be able to divine whether this was a trap or not. She opened her mind to the universe around her. The thoughts and emotions of the crew immediately assaulted her senses. Everyone was tense, waiting to see what the command team would decide.
She expanded her awareness to the well of energy within her that bound her material form to the other planes of existence. Her consciousness sailed along through currents of energy, searching for knowledge of the events that lay ahead of them. As the moments passed by and her searches were fruitless, she began to grow frustrated. This was supposed to be her domain, gods damn it! Why couldn't she do this one thing to help her crew? To help her friend?
She slowly came back to an awareness of her body where she found a large hand shaking her shoulder.
"Kathryn?" Chakotay said, kneeling before her. "I've decided."
And so they went. They embarked on a noble rescue mission and ended up flying straight into a Kazon trap. They were outnumbered eight-to-one. Janeway grit her teeth and ordered the crew to battle stations.
Their efforts were valiant in the face of such overwhelming odds, and she could fault no member of her crew, but slowly it was becoming clear that the Kazon were winning. Paris volunteered to take a shuttle to go for help, and she tried not to let it show how little hope she had for his survival.
And then the Kazon boarded the ship.
The turbolift doors swished open and phasers began firing. She ducked low to dodge a phaser blast and snatched up the phaser stashed under her command chair. She fired off two shots at the incoming enemies and then a Kazon phaser blast hit her in the chest and her whole world went black.
When she woke, she was surrounded by concerned crewmembers in the center of the Bridge while Kazon guards patrolled around them.
"Easy," Chakotay said as she pushed herself up.
"I want to speak to Maje Culluh," Janeway said to one of the guards.
"Easily arranged, Captain," Culluh's voice came from the 'lift behind her.
"Hello, everyone," said an all-too-familiar voice. Seska stepped out from behind Culluh. "What do you think of your son, Chakotay?" She cradled in her arms the child that had unwittingly drawn them into this elaborate snare. "He has your eyes, don't you think? Thank goodness he doesn't look too human. You all have such weak foreheads."
"May he grow up never knowing the contempt his father has for his mother," Chakotay spat.
"I think I can assure you of that, Commander," Culluh said proudly. "I intend to take him for my own son. A man who would violate a woman under his own command doesn't deserve a son."
"Is that what she told you?" Chakotay asked.
"The boy will be trained as a Nistrim askari," Culluh continued. "Already he has helped us win the greatest battle in our history."
"Culluh," Janeway said, standing up. "I'd like to discuss what happens now."
The next thing she knew was a sharp, stinging pain across her cheek and the hard deck plating as she was thrown backwards.
"You'll be given no more respect than any Kazon woman, now that your ship and technology are mine," Culluh spat at her. "I will tell you when you may speak."
"Allow my crew to live," Janeway insisted. "They were following my orders."
"You're even worse than she is," Culluh said, motioning to Seska. "What is it about the women from your quadrant? You know, she contradicts me in front of the senior askara? My own woman disputing her Maje in front of others. This is your fault. You've let your women get out of control."
"You know you have my deepest respect, Maje," Seska said.
"Why is it so dark in here? Somebody turn on the lights." At Culluh's order, the red alert was cancelled and the regular lighting lit up the dismal scene. "Order the repair crews to begin work immediately. I want to leave for the Hanon system as soon as possible."
"What's in the Hanon system?" Chakotay asked.
"Your new home. Take them to a cargo bay. Have the whole crew brought there. Check all quarters."
Culluh snapped his fingers, and the Kazon set to work.
"Goodbye, Chakotay," Seska's words hung in the air as they were shoved roughly towards the turbolift. "I'll take good care of our son."
