Star Trek Voyager characters are the property of Paramount Pictures.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

ELISSIA
Part Two

As soon as Chakotay stepped into the light, the feeling of peace Arlei had described consumed him, and a warmth seemed to seep through his body. He looked up and saw a rainbow of lights descend on him They were magnificent. A million colors dancing and twirling. His eyes then fell to the beloved woman in his arms and he wandered deeper into the pool until she was completely immersed. The lights glittered on the water above her and seemed to magically restore color to her face. Her blue lips began to turn purple, then pink. Blood was once more pumping through her veins. Chakotay lifted her out of the water and let the now pure white light shine on her.

Moments later, Kathryn's eyes fluttered open and looked into his.

"Chakotay?"

She stood upright in the water and all Chakotay could do was draw her close.

"Oh Kathryn," he wept. "Oh Kathryn..."

Kathryn held him tight in return and tried to make sense of where she was and what was happening. The last thing she could remember was trying to escape Engineering and a deafening explosion.

The babies.

Fear gripped her when she realized she wasn't pregnant any more. She drew away from Chakotay, frightened tears flooding her eyes.

"The babies..." she cried. "The babies..."

"They're fine," Chakotay said tearfully. "They're just fine..."

Kathryn calmed at this but still didn't know what was happening, where she was, or what she was. Was she dreaming? Or had she died and this was some kind of after life?

"Where are we? What is this place?"

"Elissia," Chakotay replied. "A place of miracles that heals and gives back life."

Kathryn swallowed. "Gives back life? Then was I...?"

Chakotay nodded, fresh tears welling in his eyes.

"Oh Chakotay," she said, drawing him close again. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. How long?"

"Days," he said, "but it felt like an eternity. I felt as though someone had wrenched out my heart and thrown my soul into an abyss. It was so cold and empty without you."

Kathryn held him tight, her tears falling in rhythm to his. "I'm here now," she whispered. "I'm here now."


B'Elanna and Seven stared, mouths open, as their captain walked out of the light, holding Chakotay's hand.

As soon as Kathryn was out of the water, B'Elanna hurried over to her and took her in her arms.

"Oh Captain," she said, tears welling in her eyes. "It really worked. You're really alive."

Kathryn held her in return. "It doesn't seem five minutes since I spoke to you over the comm."

B'Elanna squeezed Kathryn before letting her go, and then hugged Chakotay. "I'm sorry, big guy," she said. "I'm so sorry I didn't believe."

"It's alright," he said, hugging her back. "In different circumstances, perhaps I wouldn't have believed so much myself."

Kathryn turned to Seven now and smiled warmly. "It doesn't seem like five minutes since I was having lunch with you, either."

Seven's lips curled in what was almost a smile. "Welcome back, Captain."

Kathryn lay her hand on Seven's arm and squeezed it.

"You should go in, Seven," Chakotay said. "It may restore your human physiology."

Seven flinched. "I think not, Commander. Water is distasteful to me."

"I'll come with you," Kathryn said.

"No," Chakotay cried, more panic in his voice than he intended. "If you go in again, it will undo all that it's done. At least according to legend, and so far everything has been true."

Kathryn shivered and B'Elanna offered instead. "I'll go with you. There's some redundant Borg implants in me that I really wouldn't mind getting rid of."

Seven swallowed as she looked at the water, but didn't think she was going to have much choice in this.

"Very well," she said. "Let us proceed."

B'Elanna and Seven ventured into the pool, and Chakotay slipped his arm around his wife. Kathryn leant against him and he kissed her hair, cherishing her closeness, her nearness, and wondering how he would ever let her out of his sight again.

After a few minutes, B'Elanna and Seven returned. Kathryn gasped when she saw Seven. Her blonde hair was loose over her shoulders and all her Borg implants were gone. Seven stopped before Kathryn and it was a moment before she spoke.

"I am no longer Borg."

Kathryn couldn't help draw her close. "You never were," she said. "You never were."


Only Tuvok, James Riley, and Celes were waiting in transporter room one when the away team materialized. The news that Chakotay had taken the captain down to Elissia was all over the ship, but no one wanted to be present if the pool did not revive her, and Chakotay has to return her lifeless body to the ship. It would be too heartbreaking to witness.

As soon as Kathryn materialized, Celes hurried over to her and hugged her.

"I knew Elissia would work, Captain. I just knew it."

Kathryn smiled and held the young girl close a moment.

"Seven!" Riley exclaimed, his attention finally shifting from the captain to the former drone. "Your implants..."

"Elissia removed them," Seven answered.

Tuvok hesitantly approached Kathryn now, and she broke away from Celes to look at him.

"Welcome back, Captain," he said.

Kathryn could see many emotions in his dark eyes, a deep sincerity, warmth, and yet a longing for forgiveness, regret, and even pain. And, for the first time since their encounter with the Voril, she didn't feel anger towards him. It would take time to heal the rift between them completely, but, for the first time, she believed it was possible.

She smiled. "Thank you, Tuvok."

Chakotay slipped his arm around her. "We'd better get going to our quarters so we can shower, change, and go see Silvie and Stevie."

Kathryn wished she could race to sickbay right now and be with her precious babies, but she was muddy, windswept, and in no fit state to hold Stevie.

Chakotay turned to Seven and B'Elanna. "You two go to sickbay. The Doctor will need to examine you." He then addressed Tuvok. "Tuvok, you can announce to the crew that the captain is back with us."

"At once, Commander," Tuvok replied.

Riley spoke. "Once everyone knows this Elissia performs miracles, everyone will want to go there. Should I transport them?"

"Once the Doctor has confirmed everything is alright," Kathryn answered. "Just procedure."

"Very well, Captain," he smiled. Then he laughed. "It's so good to say that."

Kathryn smiled, put her hand on his shoulder, and squeezed it affectionately before leaving the room.


The doors to their quarters opened, and Kathryn stepped inside, followed by Chakotay. She looked around. Everything was just as she had left it, in what seemed to her only a couple of hours ago. Even her knitting bag was still on the couch. It was hard to believe that she had been dead for almost two weeks. It didn't seem possible. And yet she clearly had been.

There was only one thing missing.

"Where's Petal? Is she with Naomi?"

"She's probably in the bedroom," Chakotay replied. "The poor thing has been missing you profoundly. Over the past few days she hasn't eaten a thing and just lies on the floor or in her doggie bed." He put his hand on Kathryn's shoulder. "I'll go find her."

The doors to the bedroom were open, and Chakotay found Petal lying in her doggie bed, her head on her paws.

"Someone's here to see you," he said from the doorway. "Coming to say hello?"

Petal didn't so much as move a muscle.

Kathryn joined Chakotay at the door now, and the sight of her beloved pet in such misery knifed her heart.

"What's all this, old girl? Where's my perky Petal?"

At the sound of Kathryn's voice, Petal jumped up. Her dull black eyes sparkled when she saw her mistress before her, and she wagged her tail with a "woof woof". She then ran over to her mistress and Kathryn scooped her up in her arms. Petal licked her face, showering her with sloppy kisses.


The Doctor had discharged Arlei and B'Elanna, but was still examining Seven when Kathryn and Chakotay arrived at sickbay. He was completely astounded and dumbfounded at what had taken place, and almost as soon as Kathryn stepped into sickbay, he was upon her.

"It really is true," he said. "You really are alive again. First Arlei, then B'Elanna and Seven, and now this. I can't explain it. It's as though Arlei never had a disease, and as though Seven was never assimilated. And now it's like you never died."

Kathryn paid no attention to his words. All her attention was fixed on the incubators in the distance that housed her darling, precious, babies.

"Some things just can't be explained, Doctor," Chakotay said. He saw the way Kathryn was looking at the incubators and put his arm around her.

"But exclamations, examinations, and questions can wait, Doctor. Right now a new mother wants to see her babies."

"Of course," the Doctor said, Chakotay's words making him fall serious. "Come with me."

Chakotay guided Kathryn over to the incubators, and a tear ran down her cheek as she looked at Silvia and Silvesta. They were so tiny, so helpless, and yet so beautiful and perfect.

"Oh Chakotay," she whispered.

Silvesta was moving, kicking his feet, stretching his tiny hands, but Silvia was still and almost completely surrounded by glass. Kathryn touched the glass, her heart aching with longing to hold the tiny person inside.

"My darling little girl," she whispered. "My darling Silvia..."

"Don't be alarmed by the tubes and the wires," the Doctor said kindly. "Most of them are just monitoring her."

"She's so beautiful," Kathryn said, gazing at her daughter in adoration. "She looks just like you, Chakotay. There's such a resemblance."

"I thought she looked like you," Chakotay smiled.

"Well," Kathryn replied. "She is fifty percent both of us."

She moved away from Silvia's incubator to Silvesta's, and thought her heart was going to burst from so much love and happiness. She touched Silvesta's cheek and kissed his forehead.

"Hello Silvesta Kolopak," she said softly. "I'm your Mom." She turned to the Doctor and wiped away a tear. "Can I hold him?"

"You certainly can," the Doctor smiled. He carefully raised Silvesta out of his incubator, wrapped his little blue blanket around him, and then handed him to his mother.

Kathryn drew her son to her chest, cradling him, and Silvesta nestled there, perfectly content in his mother's arms. Kathryn kissed him again and let him hold her little finger.

Chakotay watched mother and child and had to wipe away his own tear. For a while it had seemed that Kathryn would never get to hold her babies, that Silvia and Silvesta would never know their mother's touch or kiss. But now, here she was cradling her son, and it was beautiful to behold.


"You're in perfect health," the Doctor said, as he finished examining her an hour later. "It's incredible. There's no trace whatsoever of the injuries to your brain. And all the extraneous Borg implants inside you I was unable to remove have gone."

Kathryn glanced at Chakotay and he smiled, his eyes moist.

"But you're not lactating," the Doctor continued. "Which means you won't be able to breast feed."

"I wasn't planning to anyway," Kathryn answered. "A bottle is more convenient, especially with twins."

"And I get to feed them that way too," Chakotay added.

The Doctor turned to Chakotay. "I'll need to examine you too, Commander."

Chakotay smiled. "Then let's get it over with."

The Doctor began scanning Chakotay with his tricorder and again was amazed.

"Unbelievable," he said. "Your artificial limb has gone. It's as though your leg was never amputated."

Kathryn smiled, tears in her eyes now.

"What ever's in that place," the Doctor said, "it's beyond anything that I can comprehend." He turned to Kathryn. "We're going to have to perform a detailed investigation of this Elissia, Captain. If we can find out how this technology works, and recreate it, it'll change the lives of millions..."

"Our technology can't even detect Elissia," Chakotay said, "let alone determine what it is. Unless we tear that mountain apart, we have no way of finding out what is there. And it's not our place. Elissia has given us a gift. We say thank you, and we leave her alone."

"But Commander..."

"Anything else wouldn't be right, Doctor. Quite the contrary, it would be sacrilegious."

"But you surely don't believe these healings are the work of some god or goddess, Commander? Such beings don't even exist..."

"That's enough, Doctor," Kathryn interrupted. "Whatever you believe, you have no right to demean Chakotay's faith. We don't even know what lies beyond our galaxy, let alone beyond the universe. Superior intellectual incorporeal beings may well exist. The Q exist, and their capabilities far surpass ours. It's only logical, therefore, that beings may exist who are superior even to them. A creator, perhaps, gods, goddesses. You may not believe such beings exist, Doctor, but you don't know for sure that they don't exist, and what is not certain, cannot be said to be a truth. It can only be a theory, a belief. That's why it's called faith."

"I still think there is a scientific explanation, Captain," he said. "I think this Elissia was created by an advanced species and abandoned for who knows what reason. Arlei's people discovered it, found it could heal, and assumed it was a holy place."

"And that might well be the case, Doctor. I've been thinking of something like that myself. Aliens from another galaxy, perhaps. It may be some kind of temporal duplication technology. But we have no way of learning more about Elissia unless, like Chakotay says, we start breaking into the mountain. And that's not something I'm prepared to authorize. Who knows what we would disturb, what technology we could damage."

"But Captain..."

"And that's my last word on the subject. As soon as everyone who wants to has been to Elissia, we're leaving."

"There's an inhabited planet in the next solar system," Chakotay said. "The only one we've found in this whole region. I think we should head there. Arlei's ancestors may dwell there."

Kathryn nodded. "Agreed."

The Doctor spoke again. "I think you're making a big mistake, Captain. This technology is like nothing we've..."

Kathryn held up her hand. "I said that was my last word, Doctor. And that means your last word too. We're not exploring Elissia. That's final."


Chakotay watched as Petal ate all her food for the first time in days, the sight warming his heart. Then he made his way to the bedroom. Kathryn was getting ready for a party the crew were putting on to celebrate her return, and all the healings that had taken place, and was closing buttons on an elegant blue dress she was wearing for the occasion. Her hair tumbled over her shoulders, and he thought she looked beautiful. He watched her get ready from the doorway, tears in his eyes, and she must have felt the weight of his stare as she turned to look at him.

"Everything alright?"

"Yes," he said quietly. "I'm just so happy."

For the first time since returning, Kathryn noticed how tired he looked, how dark the shadows were beneath his eyes, and she held out her hand to him. Chakotay went over to her and she lay her hands on his arms.

"When I think of what you did," she said quietly, "carrying me all the way through those tunnels just on the hope that I would be healed, it hurts my heart."

Chakotay put his hand to her cheek. "Then it shouldn't," he said gently. "I would have done whatever it took."

Tears welled in Kathryn's eyes and all she could do was draw him near and hold him tight.


Cheers and applause filled the mess hall as Kathryn and Chakotay entered.

"We'd all just like to say welcome back, Captain," Tom said, approaching them with a glass of champagne in his hands.

Kathryn smiled, deeply touched at how genuine the crew's happiness seemed to be that she was back with them. "Thank you, thank you all."

Tom continued. "And, we'd like to give a proper Voyager welcome to our two latest members, Silvia Rennay and Silvesta Kolopak. So, on behalf of the crew, I say congratulations, Mrs and Mr Janeway, and may your two tiny tots bring you as many sleepless nights as our bundle of joy ... not."

Everyone laughed softly.

Tom raised his glass. "To the Janeway family!"

The crew raised their glasses in a toast. "The Janeway family."

As everyone began to chatter amongst themselves, Kathryn drew to the side with her husband, and Samantha and Naomi approached them. The child held two parcels in her hands, both covered in shiny silver paper, one with a pink bow, the other with a blue.

"It truly is good to have you back with us," Samantha smiled.

Kathryn smiled in return. "Thank you."

Naomi held out the parcels to her captain, and Kathryn took them gratefully. "Thank you, Miss Wildman."

She beamed a smile, and Kathryn could tell that she was eager to see her gifts opened. So, Kathryn handed one parcel to Chakotay, and began to open the other, carefully undoing the blue ribbon.

Naomi addressed Chakotay. "You can open it if you like, Commander."

Chakotay smiled and began to open the parcel.

"Oh, how lovely," Kathryn said, pulling out a beautiful white crocheted shawl.

"We made them ourselves," Naomi said proudly. "Mom taught me." She pointed to an area on the shawl that had slightly uneven loops. "I did this bit."

Kathryn put her hand to the child's cheek. "You're clearly a very talented young lady."

Just as she was about to take the second shawl from Chakotay, Seven approached with Ayala. Her blonde hair was loose over her shoulders, and she was wearing tight black trousers and a low cut red top that shimmered in the light.

"Seven," Kathryn exclaimed, "you look stunning."

Seven responded rather uncomfortably. "Thank you, Captain."

"Or Anneka," Ayala smiled. "Seven has decided to become Anneka Hanson again."

A lump gathered in Kathryn's throat. "You have?"

"Yes, Captain," Seven answered.

"Then I have to say that's wonderful," Kathryn said sincerely. "Really wonderful." She smiled. "And now that you don't have to wear a catsuit, we can think about giving you a uniform. Like Arlei, I think your position on the ship merits one, even though you have no rank. So, how would you like a teal uniform? I think that would be most appropriate for you."

"If you think it would be appropriate, Captain," Seven replied.

Chakotay couldn't help tease. "Or there's always the option of the plain gray ones Starfleet is wearing these days." He knew Kathryn hated those uniforms.

"Don't even think about it," Kathryn smiled. "It'll be bad enough having to put up with them when we get home. Until then, I would like some color on my ship."

Roxa and Vixi now approached her, and Vixi also bore a gift in her hands in the shape of a small glittering red box. Roxa greeted Kathryn with a kiss and Vixi held out the box to her. Kathryn took it gratefully, and began to open the box. Inside she found two beautiful silver rattles.

"Just what we needed," Kathryn smiled. "Thank you very much."

Vixi smiled happily and Chakotay took the box and lowered it to her level. "Let's see if you can show the captain what you can do. Make them rattle."

Kathryn looked at him curiously, and then back at the child. Vixi focussed all her attention on the silver rattles and, now that she was at ease and happy, effortlessly made them rattle.

"You're telekinetic," Kathryn said in surprise.

Naomi looked at Vixi in awe. "Do it again," she asked. "Please..."

Vixi obliged, and Naomi watched in amazement.

Kathryn looked around the room, and was pleased to see that everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Harry now approached her and smiled warmly as her eyes met his.

"Captain," he said, "it's so good to see you."

Kathryn drew her favorite ensign close and held him a moment.

"Arlei not with you?" she asked as she drew away.

Harry's face fell serious. "That's something I want to talk to you about."

Kathryn drew him to the side, away from the others. "What is it?"

"She blames herself for what happened, Captain. She thinks it's her fault that you were..." He couldn't say the words. "She won't come here tonight because she doesn't think you'll want her here. I've tried everything to persuade her, but she won't hear of it." He paused. "I thought that now you're," he hesitated, "back with us, she would get better. But she's still torturing herself about what happened."

Kathryn put her hand to Harry's arm. "I'll go and speak with her."


Kathryn stood in an empty corridor and rang the door chime of Arlei's quarters. When there was no response, she rang it again. This time, the doors opened and Arlei stood in the doorway. Her face was pale, and there were remnants of tears on her cheeks.

"Captain," she said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you. Can I come in?"

Arlei nodded. "Of course."

She stood aside and Kathryn walked into her quarters. The living space was small, just like Seven's, but very cozy. Arlei had even hung some purple curtains on the windows.

The doors closed as Arlei moved away from them. "Is there anything I can get you, Captain?"

"No, thank you," Kathryn said, turning to her.

Arlei was trembling slightly and there was so much pain in her eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Captain," she said. "I'm so sorry."

"What for?"

"For what happened. For leaving you in Engineering..."

Kathryn bridged the gap between them and lay her hand on Arlei's arm.

"I told you to leave. You were acting on order."

"But I shouldn't have gone. I should have made sure that you got out aswell."

"If you'd have stayed, we'd both have been killed."

"But I may have been able to shut down the generator. Then the explosion would never have happened."

Tears welled in Arlei's eyes and Kathryn squeezed her arm. "Now you listen to me. It wasn't your fault. None of it. There's nothing you could have done to stop the explosion. If we'd have tried to shut down that generator, then we'd both have been killed. And I know that, because when we went through that temporal chaos a few months ago, I saw a future in which we were both dead. I didn't know how or when, only that we were. It wasn't until we were in Engineering and trying to stop the generator, that I realized that was how we had died. I knew then that we had to get out. If you hadn't of obeyed me and got out when you did, we'd both be dead now. And there would have been no one to tell Chakotay about Elissia."

Arlei sobbed softly as the terrible guilt that had weighed on her since the incident lifted. "Oh Captain."

Kathryn drew her close and Arlei wept against her shoulder.

"So no more blaming yourself," Kathryn said kindly. "It wasn't your fault. It wasn't your fault."


Kathryn lay in Chakotay's arms in the soft starlight of their bedroom. In the corner of the room, Petal slept in her doggie bed, but raised her head every now and then, just to make sure her mistress was still there.

"Silvie and Stevie are so beautiful," Kathryn said thoughtfully. "So tiny and yet so perfect."

"Amazing to think we made them," Chakotay whispered. "That we're capable of making life."

"Makes me want to be pregnant again. Have a dozen."

Chakotay laughed softly. "I'll remind of you that when they're crying and needing a nappy change."

Kathryn smiled and then raised herself to look at him, falling serious. "I know we had decided that Celes was going to look after them as soon as I had recovered from the birth, but I don't think she should. I mean, not all day, not so soon." She paused. "I wish I could take more than a few days off to be with them when they leave sickbay, but it's out of the question. I have too many obligations. But how would you like to take the mornings off for a few weeks to be with them? Then at least they'll be with one of us, and will only have to be with Celes in the afternoons."

Chakotay brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face. "I'd love too. I was thinking the same thing myself."

Kathryn smiled and took his hand in hers. "I can't wait to have them here."

"Neither can I."

She hesitated. "If I hadn't gone to Engineering when I did, then there probably wouldn't be a Voyager right now. But when I think what could have happened to them..."

"I know," Chakotay whispered and squeezed her hand. "It was hard," he continued, "hard to accept that after everything we've done, everything we've been through, it was a virus that took your life." He paused. "It should never have happened. We should have detected that virus before it began to attack our systems."

"It was cleverly disguised, very sophisticated," Kathryn answered. "Viruses of a technological nature can be just as destructive as those of a biological. Sometimes it's impossible to stop them running their full course. But you're right. We should have detected it sooner. Hopefully the new program you had created will alert us immediately if we're ever infected with such a virus again." She paused. "But the Voril were more advanced than us. No doubt they scanned our ship and found our security weaknesses. We're just lucky it was a rushed job on their part. Otherwise none of us would be here today."

"You don't think the virus was perfected?"

"No. I think infecting our system with a virus was something they came up with while we were in brief conflict with them. I don't think they had time to perfect the virus, so it didn't do exactly what they intended, which I think was to blow up the warp core. But they probably had back up mechanisms, and causing an explosion if we tried to access the file was one of them." She paused. "Although we'll never know for sure that it was the Voril, of course."

"It had to have been them," Chakotay replied. "They had the opportunity, the motive, and Tuvok had been in the brig. If he hadn't of been, then he would probably have detected the virus." He paused. "When B'Elanna told me it was probably the Voril, I couldn't help feel that Tuvok was to blame. I said some terrible things to him. And I shouldn't have. He couldn't have known what was going to happen. And he was the only one who truly supported Arlei and I in our search for Elissia. And if it wasn't for him, we might never have found it."

"It was understandable, Chakotay. If the situation had been reversed and it was you dead, I probably would blamed him too. I know I would have." She paused. "But you were right, what you said before the explosion. We can't go on blaming him. We've all been through so much together, care so much for each other. He thought he was doing the right thing, truly thought that. There was no malicious intent. He was misguided, mistaken. And we've all made mistakes." She smiled. "Let's invite him to dinner as you suggested. Mend those bridges. I'll cook us a feast."

Chakotay raised his eyebrows in amusement and Kathryn laughed.

"Alright, I'll replicate us a feast."

Chakotay smiled and brushed his fingers against her cheek. Then his face fell serious.

"Did you ... did you know?"

"Know what?"

"That day we went through the temporal chaos ... what you said to me afterwards. Did you know you were going to die?."

Kathryn was silent a moment and then answered honestly. "I didn't want to worry you, Chakotay. And of course there was the temporal prime directive. If I was to die, I didn't want us to spend the rest of the time we had together living in fear of it." She paused. "Leonardo Da Vinci told me that knowledge of the future shifts the sands of time. And he was right. As soon as I realized the virus would cause an explosion if we tried to access the file, I knew that was the moment Arlei and I had died in that future. If I hadn't of witnessed that future, I wouldn't have known it, and Arlei and I would both have been killed. And you would never have known about Elissia." She paused. "In a way, it's kind of unnerving to think how just one thing done differently can change the future so profoundly."

"Ce sera sera," Chakotay said quietly. "Eventually, what is meant to be will be, no matter how many existences we live in the creation of that ultimate timeline. And who knows how many existence we have lived, how many we have yet to live."

"A frightening thought," she said. "To live a million existences and yet only have true knowledge of only one. I suppose, in many ways, we get second chances that people never had before space and time travel."

"Oh, I don't know," Chakotay replied. "De ja vu has been reported for centuries. I think more people were given second chances in life than they realized."

Kathryn touched his face tenderly. "I'm so glad we've had this second chance, Chakotay. I'm so glad that you, me, Silvie and Stevie have a chance to be a family."

"So am I," he whispered. "And I never want to go through anything like I've been through over the past couple of weeks again. I love you so much, Kathryn."

Kathryn gazed deep into his eyes. "I love you too... Mr Janeway."

Chakotay smiled, having a feeling that title was going to be a regular from now on, and he rather liked it. He took Kathryn's hand and kissed it. Then he caressed her arm gently. Her skin was warm, soft. Alive.

"Where did you go, Kathryn? I mean your spirit. When I died after rescuing Naomi, I remember being drawn towards a light. There was darkness all around me, but this light shone brightly in the distance. I drifted towards it, floating as though I was weightless. It was so peaceful there, and a part of me wanted to become one with the light. But another part of me didn't want to reach it. It didn't feel right. Not the right time. Then, before I knew it, I was being pulled backwards. I could hear your voice, hear you say my name. And I wanted so much to be with you. The light disappeared, and the next thing I can remember is waking up in sickbay."

"A lot of people have reported experiences like that," Kathryn said quietly. "Some have even claimed to meet up with dead relatives and friends. But for me, there was nothing. All I can remember is trying to escape from Engineering and then waking up in Elissia." She paused. "But that doesn't mean there was nothing. I might just not have any recollection of it."

"I had a dream," Chakotay said softly. "We were on New Earth. I asked you why you had left me, and you said that you never would. You said you would always live on in my heart, in our children, and told me to take care of them. It was so real, Kathryn. And I'm sure it was you."

Kathryn traced his tattoo with her fingers. "Perhaps it was," she whispered. "Perhaps it was."

She then gazed deep into his eyes, and then slowly lowered her lips to his in a gentle kiss. Chakotay deepened the kiss and they kissed softly, tenderly, as though they were kissing for the first time.


It was good to be back in her Ready Room. Kathryn looked happily around the room, and then went over to the replicator.

"Coffee, black."

Immediately, a cup of steaming hot coffee materialized. Kathryn picked it up and savored the aroma before taking a sip.

The door chime sounded and Kathryn called out.

"Come in."

B'Elanna came in. She walked over to Kathryn and handed her a padd. "A report on all the damage that was done to Engineering, and all the repairs that were made. I thought you'd want to know."

Kathryn took it gratefully. "Thank you. I was going to request one." She sat down on the couch. "Time for a coffee?"

"I'd love to, Captain, but I've just finished my shift and Tom'll be waiting to start his. Well, at least I hope so. He puts these twentieth century cartoons on, supposedly for Miral, and gets so caught up in them that he loses all track of time. I don't know how many times he's forgotten to give Miral her breakfast."

Kathryn laughed. "But you wouldn't change him."

"Oh, I don't know, Captain," she teased. "Maybe a little fine tuning here and there." Then she fell serious. "But no. He's great with her. He really is. Just like Chakotay will be with Silvie and Stevie." She paused. "He was totally devastated when you ... you know. I was really worried about him. This past year has been the happiest I've ever seen him. He's been through a lot in his life. He was so angry when I first met him, so hurt and lost. And I just knew that the Chakotay he displayed to the world wasn't the Chakotay he was inside. Women used him, but he never used them in return. I usually had to fight men off, that's how it was in the Maquis. It attracted a lot of people who were just looking for a fight, looking for trouble. But never Chakotay. He always treated me with respect."

"He's a very special man," Kathryn said quietly. "I often think I don't deserve him."

"You do, Captain," B'Elanna said sincerely. "You're made for each other. Anyone can see that."


All the crew stood up when Kathryn arrived on the bridge. Chakotay stood before his seat and smiled warmly, love and pride shining in his eyes.

As Kathryn took her seat, everyone sat again.

"I'd forgotten how comfortable this seat is," she said to Chakotay. "It's been a long time." She then addressed Tom. "Alright, Mr Paris. Engage."

He turned to her. "I'm still waiting for our course update from Seven ... I mean Anneka."

Kathryn frowned. "She should have sent it through by now. What's taking her so long?"

"Perhaps there's a problem," Chakotay said.

Kathryn hit her commbadge. "Janeway to Seven of ... I mean Janeway to Anneka Hanson."

There was no response. She tried again.

"Janeway to Anneka Hanson."

There was still no response. Kathryn got to her feet. "Mr Kim, is there a problem with communication?"

"No problem, Captain."

"Computer," she said, "locate Anneka Hanson."

The computer voice responded. "Anneka Hanson is not onboard."

Kathryn questioned Harry again. "Was Seven's new identity transferred properly to the computer?"

"Yes, Captain," he said. "I did it myself."

Then James Riley's voice sounded over the comm. "Riley to Captain Janeway."

Kathryn responded. "Go ahead."

"I've just transported Seven to the surface. When I told her we were preparing to leave, she pulled out her phaser on me and threatened to use it. I had no choice but to transport her. She was upset and distracted and I don't think in any state to be down there alone."

"Understood," Kathryn replied. "I'll be right there. Janeway out." She turned to Chakotay. "I'm going after her. You have the bridge."

Chakotay caught her arm, an unsuitable, but instinctive, reaction. "No, Kathryn," he cried. "Let someone else go."

"She's going to go back into the water. I've got to stop her."

"Let someone else..."

"There's no time to debate this, Chakotay. Take the bridge."

With that, she left, leaving Chakotay to stare in trepidation at the turbo lift.


It was night on the mountain, and Kathryn could see nothing as she materialized. In her haste to follow Seven, she had completely forgotten about torches. She quickly asked Riley to beam her down a torch, matches, and palm beacon, and when they materialized, made her way to the cave. Inside, she lit up the torch, and then hurried on down the tunnel.

The passage seemed to wind on an eternity, much longer than it had seemed when she had left Elissia with Chakotay, B'Elanna and Seven. When she reached the cavern, the light blinded her, and it was a moment before she could make anything out. Then she saw Seven. She was sitting on the ground, leaning against a rock, crying. A dying torch was beside her, as was a backpack. The sight took Kathryn by surprise. She had never seen Seven cry before. Had never seen her so emotional. Kathryn walked slowly over to the former drone, and had to remember to use her birth name when she addressed her.

"Anneka..."

At the sound of the captain's voice, Seven slowly stirred and turned to face her.

"Leave me alone," she cried. "You shouldn't have come."

"I was worried about you," Kathryn replied.

Seven got to her feet, tears staining her cheeks. "Why? Incase I go back into the water?"

"Isn't that why you've come?"

"It doesn't matter why I've come. Just go, Captain. Just leave me."

Kathryn stepped closer. "I understand that it must be frightening, suddenly being fully human again, but there's no need to be afraid."

"This existence is insufficient," Seven cried. "Anneka Hanson is insufficient!"

"She's who you are."

"No she's not," Seven wept. "Seven of Nine is who I am. Seven of Nine I have to be."

"But why? Why would you want to be Borg? Think of all the things your human physiology will allow you to do..."

"I cannot function as a human." She hit her forehead with her palm. "Cannot function..."

"How do you mean?"

"It's gone," she cried, "all gone!"

"What has gone?"

"My knowledge. All the knowledge I assimilated as a drone."

It was all suddenly clear to Kathryn. When Seven's brain had been restored to a human brain, all her Borg memory files had been removed, and with them all the knowledge they contained.

"When I went to astrometrics today," she continued, "I could remember nothing. Could do nothing! Not even operate a console! It's insufficient! I must be Borg."

"No you don't," Kathryn said, trying to catch her arm. "Now you have a chance to be who you really are. Anneka truly has a chance to live again..."

Seven shook her head. "No. I must be Borg. Otherwise I'm no use. No use."

"That's not true. We love you for who you are, not because of your knowledge..."

"How? How can you know what I am when I don't even know myself? I must be Borg. I must be what I was..."

"You're just frightened," Kathryn answered. "Just give yourself time. Just let me help you..."

"No. Time is insufficient. I must be Borg..."

With that, she ran away from Kathryn and waded into the water.

"No," Kathryn cried. "Don't do this..."

But it was too late. Seven had disappeared into the light.


Kathryn sat in her quarters and stared into a cup of black coffee. Chakotay watched her as he made his way from the kitchen, and Petal watched him from Kathryn's feet. Chakotay went over to her and sat on the couch beside her.

"It wasn't your fault."

"I know," she said quietly. "But I can't help feel that I let her down. I should have stopped her going into the water. This was perhaps her only chance of being completely human again. Now it's gone."

"But it was her choice," Chakotay said softly. "And one she had every right to make."

"Except it was made out of fear," Kathryn said sadly. "She was afraid of what she had become, of all that was familiar that was lost to her. Familiar is comfortable." She paused. "But I suppose what's done is done. I just hope she doesn't come to regret the decision."

Chakotay leant back against the couch, and Kathryn cuddled up to him. Chakotay could smell the coffee she was drinking and couldn't help comment. "Coffee again?"

"Making up for all those lost months," she smiled. "You don't know how much I've pined for it."

"Oh, I think I have an idea." He kissed her hair. "Just go easy on it." He then stilled and hesitated with his next words. "I'm sorry for what I did today."

"When?"

"On the bridge. I addressed you as my wife, not as my captain. That was crossing the line."

"It's alright," Kathryn replied. "It's bound to happen sometimes. And you've been through a lot."

"I've been though hell," he said. "So you're going to have to forgive me if I'm rather protective of you from now on."

Kathryn smiled and turned to face him. "You've always been protective, Chakotay. Overly."

He brushed her hair away from her face. "I've just always wanted to keep you safe."

"I know," Kathryn smiled. "And while I might not always have appeared grateful, I've always appreciated your care and concern." She lowered her eyes and gazed into the black pool of coffee in her cup. "I used to feel so alone sometimes, so lonely. I would lie awake at night thinking of all the responsibility on my shoulders, all the lives I was responsible for, all the people I needed to take care of. Sometimes it would frighten me. Sometimes I wondered if I had the strength. Because while I was responsible for all these people, all these lives, a part of me wanted someone to take care of me too. But there was no one. There was no one to comfort me, no one to hold me when I desperately needed to be held." She paused. "But you were always there. You made me laugh when I wanted to cry, lifted me up when I needed someone to lean on." She smiled. "Gilbert to my Anne."

Chakotay frowned, not understanding.

"Anne of Green Gables. One of my favorite books when I was growing up. She had red hair and freckles just like me, and as studious too. This boy Gilbert was in love with her, and, over the years, was always there for her."

"Did she marry him?"

"Oh yes, and had a dozens of children. Twins too. Something else we have in common." Holding her coffee in one hand, she ran her other through Chakotay's gray streaked hair. "He was also dashingly handsome. Just like you."

Chakotay laughed softly. "I'd hardly say that."

The Doctor's voice sounded over the comm. "Doctor to Mrs and Mr Janeway. There's a little Miss Janeway Junior here waiting for a cuddle."

Kathryn gazed at Chakotay, her eyes sparkling with joy and anticipation. "We'll be right there."


The Doctor was cradling a sleeping Silvia in his arms when Kathryn and Chakotay arrived at sickbay. She was wrapped in a pink blanket, only her little head peeping out. Kathryn took her tiny daughter in her arms and gazed at her lovingly.

"Hello Silvia," she said softly, "hello darling."

Silvia woke up as Kathryn spoke, and tried to open her little eyes. But the light dazzled them, so she closed them again.

Chakotay touched his daughter's fluffy black hair, and then kissed her forehead tenderly.

The tiny little boy still lying in his incubator, suddenly began to cry. The Doctor went over to him and gently took him out of the incubator, wrapping him in his soft blue blanket.

"I think this little fellow's jealous of all the attention his sister's getting," he said with a smile, "and wants a cuddle too." He held him out to Chakotay. "Daddy?"

Chakotay smiled and gladly took his son in his arms. Almost instantly, Silvesta stopped crying and nestled in his father's arms.

The Doctor watched the new parents fondly for a moment, and then made to leave. "Well, I'll leave you alone with them for a while."

"Not just yet," Kathryn said, finally looking up from her daughter. "Let's have a picture taken first."

At that, the Doctor beamed a smile. "I'll go and get a camera."

END OF PART TWO