Chapter 9

"Yes."

The cold air stilled with the word. One word which betrayed all the sorrow and suffering that Kathryn had kept bottled up since that day at the palace. One word which exposed both her anger and fear at the same time. One word which might sell her soul if she followed its lead.

She heard voices in the field behind her, but the snow that was beginning to fall in light flakes over the grass made them seem too far away to be real. She and the Empress were alone, it seemed, as if time had stopped. Her whisper carried only across the small space between them.

"But I can't."

She lowered the phaser rifle. The Empress made no move to take it from her or draw any weapon of her own. It was over.

"Tell me," Kathryn said quietly. "What did happen to the real Kathryn Janeway?"

"She died on the day I murdered her father and first fiancé." The Empress looked out into the distance, saying bitterly, "I chose loyalty toward the Federation over love toward my own family. It destroyed me. There was no way to turn back to the light from something that dark. It's only on snowy, moonlit nights like this that I hear her ghost echoing her grief now."

The voices were getting closer. Lights swept over them. Kathryn nodded. She turned away to join her Rebel comrades as they came up behind her, and she raised her hand to signal that they should lower their weapons. Then, she faced Empress Janeway again.

The wind seemed to sense the importance of the moment, and it calmed. Kathryn held the Empress's gaze steadily, and in a loud voice that carried over the meadow, she called out, "Empress Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Imperium. You are now under arrest by the Rebel Alliance. You will be tried for your crimes against the races of this galaxy, and all peoples will finally be free to live without fear." She asked the rebels behind her, "We'll make sure of it, won't we?"

And even though the voices behind her were probably few, they cheered a resounding approval.

"We will!"

"Aye, Captain!"

"You can bet on it!"

"Hurrah!"

"Amen!"

"So," Kathryn drawled once they had Janeway safely in custody. "How did you manage to find me?"

Belanna glanced down guiltily. "The bracelet might have a signal that's trackable if you know what to look for," she admitted. "I'm just glad you took the slower shuttle. We would never have caught up if you hadn't. Who knows what she could've done to you if she had any fight left in her? Or if she wasn't alone?"

Kathryn laughed lightly, "Pure luck. I took the first shuttle I saw."

Belanna finally laughed as well, tension draining out of her as she said, "God, I was so scared for you when I found out you were gone. I'm glad you're okay."

The young half-Klingon's honesty touched her deeply. "I'm sorry I ran off like that. I wasn't thinking rationally. I was just so … bitter … and a bit desperate, too. We had beaten her so badly already, and I wanted to finish it." Kathryn sighed, "I'm glad you showed up when you did. I didn't really have a plan for what I would do when I found her."

"It sure looked like you did," Belanna countered.

Both their eyes flicked momentarily to the weapon's locker of the shuttle.

"Perhaps," Kathryn whispered.

Belanna said, "I don't think anyone would've minded if you had done it, Kathryn. She'll probably face it sooner than later for multiple counts of genocide alone."

Kathryn mused, "I was really afraid of myself for a few moments there."

"Hey, you would've never fired, even if we hadn't shown up. I know you. You're better than that," Belanna assured her.

"I know that now, but thank you for your confidence, Belanna. This is the end, though, and it's a little bittersweet…because…this victory means that I have to go home now. Luckily, I have an idea of who could replace me in leadership," Kathryn smiled broadly.

Belanna's eyes widened in realization, but she began to smile as well.

Later that day, Kathryn inaugurated Belanna Torres as leader of the Alliance in front of a cheering crowd. In a way, it was symbolic, especially with the half-Klingon's heritage.

Just hours afterward, the two women prepared to activate the parallel universe transporter. Belanna smothered Kathryn with a crushingly strong hug. "I'm going to miss you," she whispered in Kathryn's ear.

"I'll miss you, too," Kathryn replied, tears rising in eyes.

They parted slowly. "Well, I guess we'd better get to it," Belanna said reluctantly. She pressed a few buttons, and then she indicated that Kathryn should stand next to the transporter. "Hopefully this second trip will be easier than your first."

"Good luck," Kathryn called.

"Goodbye!"

A white light engulfed her.