Chapter 3

Kathryn heard the whir and whine of engines. "What's going on?" she shouted.

"The Imperium found us," Chakotay shouted back. "We need to get to the shuttle bay and evacuate. Our fighter pilots will have already engaged the Imperium shuttles."

A boulder crashed nearby them, throwing them both off-balance. As she regained her bearings, Kathryn saw someone pinned underneath another rock. "Chakotay, over here," she called. Together, they tried the lift it, but suddenly, Chakotay stumbled back against the tunnel wall, and Kathryn saw red seep through his torn clothes. He looked grimly at her as he took a step forward to try again. He wasn't going to let another person die, and she understood that.

They were straining against the rock again when they heard, "Need another set of hands?"

Kathryn turned to see Jaffen making his way up to them and nodded vigorously, too out of breath to speak. The three of them heaved the rock off of the injured man, and Jaffen supported him from one side while Kathryn helped Chakotay.

"Let's go," Jaffen commanded.

Soon, they were in the shuttle bay. They were among the last the make it into one of the ships. "Open the launch doors," Jaffen shouted. The ceiling opened to reveal the night sky studded with stars. It looked so peaceful, but the deafening noise from weapons fire reminded them of the battle raging above.

"Listen up, people," Jaffen said through his communications headset, "It isn't going to be easy getting out of here, so fly your best, shoot your hardest, and regroup at Base Omega. I want to see every ship land there safely. We've lost too many already, and plenty of friends with them. Good luck, and Godspeed." The small fleet shot upwards on his mark.

Kathryn took tactical almost instinctively. As they flew past Federation shuttles, she steeled herself, aimed, and fired at the propulsion and weapons systems. One after another spiraled and fell out of the sky, clearing their path forward. Suddenly, the operations officer warned, "Photon torpedo on approach!"

Complete focus gripped her. She traced the weapon's path mentally and locked her aim on where she knew it would go.

"Anytime now, Kathryn!" Jaffen called.

Wait…and…shoot! Kathryn heard her trainer's voice from the Academy as she fired. The torpedo exploded not ten yards away from them.

Their pilot swooped down and sideways to avoid the shockwave before pulling up again. "Almost clear," she reported.

They broke past orbiting range. "Jump to Warp!" Jaffen ordered. The ship lunged forward, and Kathryn breathed a sigh of relief as she leaned back.

A day later, they arrived at Base Omega. They had lost two ships in the escape.

Kathryn saw Jaffen sitting at the edge of the forest, facing the small lake that they had set up camp near. The surroundings were so different from the peaceful mountainside with the ocean lapping quietly at its rocky base. Here, she could almost make out crickets chirping in the grass over the exotic birds trilling deep in the shaded forest. She watched as he looked out, the wind blowing through his hair.

He heard her approach and said, "That was some pretty good shooting back there. Thanks."

"You're welcome," Kathryn returned. She settled down quietly next to him.

"How's Chakotay?" Jaffen asked.

"The Doctor said he'll be just fine in a day or two." Kathryn gave a light laugh, commenting, "Frankly, I'm amazed you all managed to steal an EMH and completely reprogram him." Then, she inquired, "How did the queen manage to find us?"

"Kashyk was working for the Federation," he told her. "He sold us out."

Kathryn jolted involuntarily in surprise. "Kashyk?" she asked. "As in Kashyk of the Devore?"

"Yes," he said curiously. "You know him?"

"Only as a xenophobic, self-important, and tricky person," she replied. "I played a game of cat and mouse with him for a few days while getting my ship and some telepathic refugees across Devore space. I'm ashamed to say I was…drawn…to him sometimes, but I could never fully trust him."

"I wish I'd had your counsel before recruiting him," Jaffen lamented. "We just received intel saying the Devore Imperium and Federation Imperium have merged."

"Oh dear," Kathryn murmured.

Jaffen stared out over the lake again and sighed gently, "Kathryn, I want you to know…"

"What?"

He continued hesitantly, "Right when the attack began, I went back for you. I realized how much I cared about you when I thought I might lose you. Even though Chakotay had already gone after you, and I knew he was a good soldier and survivor, I needed to…"

"I understand," she said softly.

"I'm sorry for all the grief I've caused us. I'm sorry for all the grief I've caused you," he apologized.

Kathryn nodded. She drew her knees up close to her body and wrapped her arms around them, replying, "Part of it was my fault. I'm sorry, too. I didn't realize that I'd already changed things just by being here. I…" She trailed off, unsure of what she was really thinking and feeling right now. She wanted to be honest with him, but she couldn't find the words.

"I understand," he said quietly.

She looked into his eyes. They were so much like her Jaffen's now. Gone was the righteous fury that had dominated them. They were full of exhausted grief and pleading. After what she'd seen today, her decision from the mountainside had solidified. These people needed her, and, Prime Directive or not, she had to follow her conscience.

"Jaffen, I want to help you," she said fiercely. "I want to go on the mission."

She smiled as a flicker of hope grew in those tired eyes. She gazed into this renewed fire and knew that whatever came next, they would act as one. It filled her with such happiness, and she smiled brightly. The wind brushed past them and rippled across the water's surface, blocking out every other sound as they took the time to truly understand one another.

Suddenly, Jaffen stared down speechlessly at the spot between them. Kathryn glanced down and gasped.

Jaffen had tried to put his hand over hers, but it had gone straight through.

I'm sorry this chapter took so long. Reviews are greatly appreciated!