Chapter 10
Voyager
The bridge rattled again. How long will they keep this up? Chakotay thought. He was beginning to lose patience. They had recovered all but one member of the away team, the Captain. Vorik had reluctantly reported that, despite how illogical it sounded, she had seemed to simply vanish while helping crewmembers out of the clearing. Chakotay hoped that the aliens had not taken her, and he had immediately called for a search on the ground. Their theories now surrounded the device on the planet, but they hadn't wanted to risk moving it.
Now, on the third day of the investigation, the aliens were back. Luckily, they did not seem interested in the planet this time. It seemed they were intent on getting revenge for Voyager's previous trespass, and that meant they were using every ounce of their firepower on her. Chakotay couldn't abandon the away team this time.
Another blast rocked the ship. "Our shield modifications are effective. Ninety percent and holding," Tuvok informed Chakotay. "I believe I have located a weakness in their defenses."
"No response to hails," Harry said.
"They'd rather bite than bark," Tom muttered, pulling the ship away from another strike.
"Tom, evasive pattern Omega-9. Tuvok, target their weak points and fire on my mark. Harry, open another channel," Chakotay ordered. There was a bleep, and then he said, "This is Commander Chakotay of the starship Voyager. Again, I apologize for whatever we've done to upset you, but we are trying to retrieve some of our crew from the planet below. I would like to discuss this peacefully…"
Voyager took a direct hit, and he was thrown forward, barely managing to hold onto something nearby.
"Close channel," he sighed. "I guess we're doing this the hard way. Tuvok, now!"
Voyager dove nimbly out of the way as phaser fire burst out from their weapons banks, along with a volley of photon torpedoes.
"Harry, anything from the surface?"
"I'm trying to regain contact," the young ops officer called back.
Down on the planet, Kathryn materialized near the rock face. Although Belanna had wished her a smoother ride back, she leaned against the solid red stone and threw up anyways. The ambient lighting was too bright, but she squinted against the sun determinedly. It looked like she was indeed back where she had begun her journey.
"Captain!"
"Kathryn!"
She looked around hurriedly and began walking unsteadily forward, her head still throbbing. As she did so, fire rained from the sky near the device. Someone had pulled her backward just in time. "I've missed you. Bad timing though," he said.
She would know that voice anywhere. She had yearned to hear it each night for the past two weeks. "Jaffen!" she exclaimed. "What's going on?"
"Let's get inside there!" he shouted over the chaos. "Incidentally, we're under attack, just like when you disappeared." They dove into a nearby cave.
"Can we get back to Voyager?" she asked urgently.
"No," he answered.
They both looked back outside just as a third strike hit the parallel universe transporter. It sparked and then exploded in a brilliant flash of light. They pressed themselves against an inside crevice, and the hot wind from the shock wave flew past their hiding spot. All was quiet.
Jaffen combadge crackled with static. He pried it open and adjusted it. "Voyager to Jaffen," they heard.
"I'm here. Actually, you'll be glad to know that the Captain's with me," he reported.
Kathryn smiled, "It's good to hear your voice, Chakotay."
"Likewise. I'm assuming you'll want to transport back as soon as possible?" he asked.
"Yes," Kathryn laughed. "I've got a very interesting report to write."
Chakotay said, "I'll bet. The aliens are retreating. Obviously they got what they wanted."
Kathryn and Jaffen looked to the wreckage of the transporter and then back at each other. "Any sooner and it would've been too late," Kathryn replied softly. She didn't want to begin thinking further about what might have happened if she had not come back at the moment she did or if Jaffen hadn't seen her in time.
"Initiating transport of all away team members," Chakotay informed them. The blue transporter light brightened and then faded, revealing the bridge.
"Captain on the bridge," Chakotay announced. The relief was evident in his voice, and she gave him a reassuring smile. There was almost too much joy in her heart at seeing them all again, although she knew they had been anxious about her.
"Guess it wasn't meant to be a routine day after all, Commander," she tried.
His signature dimpled grin appeared on his face as he replied, "In the Delta Quadrant? No way."
Laughter dissolved the last of the tense worry from the bridge.
"Warp 8, Mr. Paris," the Captain called.
Tom nodded, "Yes, ma'am." They leaped safely into the streaking stars.
Later that evening, Kathryn heard Jaffen enter their quarters quietly, but her heart was still in too much turmoil. She kept her gaze fixed on the stars that streaked by. Her legs were curled up comfortably under her, and she rested her chin against one open palm, looking deeply lost in her own thoughts.
"Hi," Jaffen said softly. He sat lightly next to her and wrapped his arm around her. She turned finally and shifted to receive his hug, snuggling closer to his warmth and drawing in a deep breath.
They sat there for a long while before she said, "I don't know where to begin. I don't know if I can even put in all into words. My report had all the official details, but my feelings?" She trailed off and sighed.
"You don't have to tell me," Jaffen said.
"I want to," Kathryn whispered.
"Then I'll accept whatever words you can find."
Kathryn smiled and closed her eyes. "Well," she began, "You fell in love with me a second time."
"No surprise there," he smiled, bringing her closer to him.
"No," she agreed. "But…I lost you in that universe, Jaffen. I lost hope. I almost lost myself." There was a long silence, and she knew he could feel her trembling ever so slightly against him, like a small bird or a frightened rabbit. Eventually, she steadied herself and continued, "She was so evil, and I was so angry. I wanted revenge from the moment she took away the people who mattered most to me. But at the same time, I was afraid that the darkness growing inside me would swallow me. I wanted to defeat her because in a way, it would be like defeating the evil inside myself. After a while, I'd been fighting it so long that I didn't know how to stop. I didn't realize that I was letting it take over instead, and when she gave me the opportunity and reason to kill her – the one person who deserved it – I almost did. Twice. I almost gave in. What does that say about me? Was she right to say we're not all that different? If the situation were the same, would I be her?"
"No," Jaffen said firmly. "No, she wasn't right to accuse you and try to change you. You didn't pull that trigger. You didn't cross that line. You don't have ice in your soul, Kathryn. You have the fire of love. There's nothing that could overcome that. You have people who care about you. When you fall, we'll pick you up. When you fail alone, we'll succeed together. When you cry, we'll comfort you. When you laugh, we'll share your joy. We'll keep you from turning to that darkness. I'll keep you from it, just like you keep us facing the light of hope."
Kathryn laughed lightly, "I don't deserve you, Jaffen."
"Yes, Kathryn. You do. Which is why I have something for you," he replied. "I was going to give it to you after a nice romantic dinner, surrounded by candlelight and soft music, but it's okay."
Kathryn watched in amazement as he drew a small box out of his jacket. He knelt down beside the couch.
"You've been my light and happiness since the day I met you. You've filled an empty place in my heart that I never knew about before, and I think I'd be lost without you. I want to spend the rest of my life loving you more each day. Kathryn Janeway, will you marry me?"
For a brief moment, she was too stunned for words. Finally, she cried, "Oh, Jaffen, yes. A thousand times yes!" Then, she added earnestly, "If there's anything I've learned through all this, it's that you can't waste a moment of the present."
She caught a glimpse of Jaffen's smile and the look of pure joy on his face as he slid the ring on her finger. Then she kissed him before hugging him tightly again.
"I love you," he murmured.
"I love you, too," she repeated, and she knew that her heart finally felt whole again.
This story was an emotional one for me, just like for Kathryn, but I think we're both better for it. So, what do you think about this next step in Kathryn and Jaffen's life together? Let me know in your reviews!