Chapter 6

She saw a look of shock on Queen Janeway's face and heard a cry of surprise from Kashyk.

Kathryn turned to see the doors blast open. Shrapnel flew through the room. Belanna and Tuvok rushed in following the explosion.

Voices shouting.

Agony.

Something thin and cold encircled her wrist.

Phaser fire.

Nothing.

Belanna finished setting up the transport enhancers and took one final horrified glance around the room. Tuvok was carrying Kathryn's limp form the few feet to the transport site. Jaffen, Chakotay, Kashyk, and at least five guards all lay dead. Janeway was nowhere to be seen.

"Transport, now!" she shouted into her communications radio. The place was set to blow in less than ten seconds.

The transporter beam took hold, and the last thing she saw was her comrades' bodies as she wished them a final, silent farewell and let one tear slip from her normally battle-hardened heart.

Back up on the ship, Belanna slipped into command. It was something she'd never wanted or expected to do, but she began barking out orders. "Pull back and re-establish our perimeter! Squadron 2, evasive pattern Alpha-6! Get someone down to fix those plasma leaks stat! The Val'c is surrounded; squadron 4, pull around to defend it! Come on, people, we can do better than this!"

She took a breath. Wreckage was beginning to be a problem. Not only did all the ships need to avoid the crossfire, but they also had to duck and swerve around the chunks of metal and out-of-control damaged vessels crowding the space above the planet. To her satisfaction, sensors confirmed that the palace had been obliterated.

The ship rumbled and rattled. Conduits blew out all over the bridge. Explosions flared momentarily in space, and then the airless void extinguished them. But, slowly, the tides turned.

"Commander, they're running!" one of her officers exclaimed.

"Let the cowards go; we've done enough for today," she ordered, and collapsed back into her seat. They couldn't take any more losses chasing down the enemy. Most of their ships wouldn't be able to go past Warp 2 if they had Warp at all. She only hoped that their other strike teams had been able to accomplish their missions.

Kathryn awoke to sobbing. The fog around her lifted, and she turned her head. Belanna was sitting nearby, her face in her hands and deep convulsions of tears shaking her body.

"Belanna," she croaked, getting the young woman's attention. The half-Klingon sprang to her feet and came over, her face still wet with her crying. "I'm so sorry," Kathryn whispered, her own tears beginning to blur her vision.

"It's wasn't your fault. We almost…we almost lost you too," Belanna choked out, helping Kathryn to sit.

After a momentary wave of dizziness, Kathryn said, "You loved him."

"Yes, I did. Just like you loved him."

"Yes. I don't know how to move on."

"Neither do I."

With that, the two women held each other, and let the cleansing rivers of grief loose into each other's embrace.

When the tears finally subsided, Belanna pulled away from Kathryn and told her, "The Doctor and I created that bracelet to try and keep you in sync with this universe. It looks like it's working."

Kathryn glanced down at the metal bracelet on her wrist and nodded her head mutely.

Belanna said gently, "Kathryn, almost all of our leaders are dead, and as far as we know, Janeway's still out there. She probably beamed out just before we did, and she'll gather her forces again. We got a major victory just now; all of our targets were destroyed, and we even have the Vulcans on our side, but we need someone to hold us all together if we're going to see this galaxy completely freed. I know this is a lot to ask, but most of us think you would be the best person for the job."

Kathryn still didn't look up.

"I mean, only if you want to. We got the device, and we wouldn't force you or anything. I know you've just been through a personal hell…we all have…and what's left of the Resistance is a mess…but…I think Jaffen would've wanted you to be the one," Belanna explained uncertainly.

"I'll do it," Kathryn finally agreed softly.

"You will? You're sure?" Belanna asked. "You're not going back to your universe?"

Kathryn smiled as she met the young woman's eyes. "Yes, I'm sure. I'm a part of this battle now. I won't abandon you."

Thank you to all of you who have stuck with me! I know it's short; this story hasn't exactly wanted to write itself lately. Again, reviews are much appreciated!