Star Trek Voyager characters are the property of Paramount Pictures.

CHAPTER THIRTY

RESTORATION
Part One

The meal over, Kathryn, Chakotay, B'Elanna and Tom relaxed around the dining table talking. The rainbow asteroids outside cast a multitude of colors around the Paris's dimly lit quarters, merging with the flicker of soft candle light.

"A what?" Kathryn asked in amusement, not sure she had heard Tom correctly.

"An honesty hat," Tom said again. "You put it on your head and it compels you to tell the truth."

"Right, Tom," Kathryn said in disbelief.

"Seriously," B'Elanna continued. "Didn't you ever play it at the Academy?"

"I can't say I did."

"No doubt you were too busy studying," Chakotay teased. "I remember playing it a couple of times, although I never got to wear the hat."

"Then you can be first," Tom smiled.

"I don't know about this," Kathryn said. "It really makes you tell the truth?"

"Yes," B'Elanna replied. "I don't know how it works exactly but it influences the brain somehow."

"It will be fun, Captain," Tom urged. "Unless you have dark secrets you're keeping from us."

Kathryn laughed softly. "Damned if you do and damned if you don't. Alright, Tom. Have it your way."

Tom beamed a smile and got up to replicate the game, which included a hat and a pack of question cards.

"You call that a hat?" Kathryn remarked when he returned from the replicator with a large silver metal framed hat. "Looks more like a helmet to me!"

"As Seven would say, design is irrelevant to function," Tom smiled, handing the hat to Chakotay.

Chakotay studied it a moment and then put it on his head.

"Very handsome," B'Elanna smiled.

"All you need now is a shield," Kathryn continued. "You could be a Viking."

"Well, I always told you I was an angry warrior," Chakotay said, a visible tenderness in his eyes.

"Alright," Tom said, "here's question one."

Before he could continue, Kathryn interrupted. "Why do the cards have a different color star on the back?"

"They indicate how personal the questions are," Tom explained. "Green means not very personal, yellow means moderately personal, and red means very personal."

"I see," Kathryn replied. "Make sure you keep to the green."

"Now, Captain," Tom answered. "Where would be the fun in that?"

"Green," Kathryn smiled. "That's an order."

Tom picked up a card with a green star on it and read out the question to Chakotay. "What is your favorite musical instrument?" He then sighed. "Oh man, that's so boring. Let's go to yellow at least."

"The way we would play it," B'Elanna said, "was to mix the cards all up and fan a handful so that the stars were hidden from view. It's more fun that way. You never know what kind of question you're going to get."

"Come on, Captain," Tom continued. "What's the point in playing if we're just going to ask him what his favorite instrument is?"

"Alright," Kathryn yielded. "You win. Mix them up."

Tom grinned and shuffled the cards. He then held them up to Kathryn in a fan. "You pick, Captain."

Kathryn picked out a card and B'Elanna tried to stifle a giggle when she saw that it had a red star on it. Kathryn blushed slightly as she read the question to herself and put the card down. "We'll pass on that one."

"Not so fast," Tom said, picking the card up before Kathryn could protest. "Let me see..." He read the question and then smiled. "Okay, we'll pass on that one..."

B'Elanna tried to reach for the card, wanting to know what the question was, but before she did, Tom had mixed it into the pile.

"Spoil sport," she laughed.

"Okay," Tom said, randomly picking out a card from the pile in his hands. "How about this one?" He looked up at Chakotay. "When was your first kiss and with who?"

"A girl in our tribe called Karlina when I was fifteen," Chakotay answered.

"There," Tom answered, casting a glance at Kathryn, "that wasn't too painful was it?"

He put the used card down and then held out the rest to B'Elanna. "Your turn to pick."

B'Elanna picked out a card and read the question. "What is your biggest regret?"

"That I wasn't there to help my family when the Cardassians attacked," Chakotay said, a small trace of sadness in his voice.

Tom held out the cards to Kathryn. "Captain..."

Kathryn picked out a card and read the question. "If you could suddenly have omnipotent powers, what is the first thing you would do with them?"

"Give life back to all those who died too soon."

Again Tom picked out a card from the pile. "Now, this is more interesting," he smiled. "If you are married, what do you least like about your spouse?"

Chakotay considered a moment, then answered. "Her stubbornness."

Kathryn frowned and turned to Tom. "How many divorces has this game been responsible for?"

Tom smiled. "Maybe one in ten."

Kathryn reached out and took the hat from Chakotay's head. "I suggest we play another game."

"But the fun is just beginning..." Tom protested.

"In this instance, I don't share your definition of fun, Mr Paris," Kathryn replied. "How about we have a game of poker, replicator rations to play for?"

"Sounds good to me," B'Elanna said.

Tom turned to Chakotay. "But don't you want to hear the Captain's answers? It's only fair since you've given yours."

Chakotay played it safe. "I say we play poker."

Tom turned back to Kathryn determined to have his way like a child. "Come on, Captain. Just the same questions..."

Kathryn looked up into his boyish face and couldn't bring herself to disappoint the childish anticipation she saw on it. "Oh, alright," she said. "But only the same questions."

Tom beamed a triumphant smile. "I knew you would be game..."

Kathryn picked up the hat and put it on her head. "Ask away..."

Tom picked up the used cards and read out the first question. "When was your first kiss and with who?"

"Cheb Parker," Kathryn answered, "when I was 16."

Tom handed the next card to Chakotay, who asked the next question. "What is your biggest regret?"

"Losing my father for so many years."

B'Elanna took the third card from Tom and read out the question. "If you could suddenly have omnipotent powers, what is the first thing you would do with them?"

"Get Voyager home."

"And now for the most interesting one," Tom smiled. "What do you least like about your spouse?"

Kathryn was just about to answer when Voyager shook suddenly and she was thrown forward by the turbulence. As soon as she was upright, she hit her commbadge. "Janeway to the bridge. Report..."

As the ship went to red alert, Harry's voice answered. "We were hit by some kind of temporal pulse, Captain...I'm trying to find a source..."

"I'll be right there, Harry. " She got to her feet. "Chakotay, Tom, you'd better come too."


As soon as Kathryn, Chakotay, and Tom entered the bridge, still dressed in evening wear, the ship shook again.

"Have you found a source, Mr Kim?" Kathryn asked, going over to his station.

"No, Captain," he answered.

"Status of shields?"

"At maximum, but the last pulse penetrated them as though they weren't there."

Chakotay questioned. "Are there any ships in the vicinity?"

"Only The Homebird."

The Homebird was the name of the alien ship belonging to the latest additions to the Voyager family, one chosen by them at the commence of their journey.

"Is that the source?" Kathryn asked. "We can't rule out any possibilities."

"No," Harry replied, "I'm trying to find the source, but whatever it is, it just came out of no where... there was nothing on sensors...no warning..."

"Perhaps this region of space is not uninhabited," Tom surmised. "Perhaps we're being warned off."

Chakotay responded. "With a temporal weapon? Unlikely."

"I agree," Kathryn replied. "My guess is it's some kind of temporal anomaly..." She hit her commbadge. "Janeway to Justin Tighe..."

Justin's voice responded. "Go ahead..."

"We're being pounded by temporal pulses but we can't determine the source. Do you know of any temporal anomalies in this region of space?"

"None whatsoever. We've never encountered any kind of anomaly, temporal or otherwise..."

"Is your ship currently being pounded?"

"Negative."

"Understood. Janeway out."

Seven, who was also on the bridge, spoke. "Casualty reports are coming in. Fifteen injured so far."

Another jolt shook the ship and Kathryn had to grab the bar before her to stop herself falling. If she was not mistaken, the intensity of the pulses was increasing.

Kathryn turned to Tom. "You'd better get to sickbay, Mr Paris. The Doctor may require assistance."

"Yes, Captain."

Just as she spoke, the Doctor's voice sounded over the comm. "Doctor to Captain Janeway."

Kathryn responded. "Go ahead..."

"Silvia has sustained some minor injuries. I need your consent, or Commander Chakotay's, to perform surgery."

Kathryn's stomach sank at his words. "What kind of injuries, Doctor? If they are minor why does she need surgery?"

"Her arm is broken. I need to set it."

"I see," Kathryn said quietly. "Do whatever you have to do, Doctor. Chakotay or I will be there as soon as we can. Keep me informed."

The connection terminated and Kathryn turned to Harry. Her anxiety for Silvia manifested itself in short temper.

"There has got to be a source for these temporal pulses or whatever the hell they are. I want it found..."

"There is no..."

Kathryn turned away from him to question Seven. "Seven?"

"The source is undetectable, Captain."

"Perhaps we should move the ship..." Harry suggested.

Kathryn almost snapped at him. "And move it where exactly, Mr Kim? If we don't know where the pulses are coming from, how the hell are we going to move away from them? We might fly right into the heart of this anomaly..."

"The pulses are hitting our starboard side," Harry continued. "If we moved to the other side of the Homebird, we might move ourselves out of harms way..."

Another pulse shook the ship, more severely than the last.

"Why didn't you tell me they were hitting our starboard side sooner?" Kathryn cried in annoyance. She turned to Chakotay. "Chakotay...Take the helm. Move us west of the Homebird."

Chakotay did what he was told and took Tom's seat at the helm. Voyager's engines started up and within seconds he had moved them to another position.

"According to my calculations," Seven said, "there was approximately 5.7 minutes in-between each energy pulse. It has been 4.5 minutes since the last pulse. If there is no pulse within the next few minutes, then I would say we have moved clear of the anomaly."

Kathryn moved to her chair and spoke as she sat down. "Then we'll just have to wait."

The Doctor's voice sounded again. "Doctor to Captain Janeway."

Kathryn responded. "Go ahead."

"The operation on Silvia was a success. But her head injury means I will need to keep her in sickbay for a day or two for observation."

Kathryn's anxiety for her daughter increased. "You never said anything about a head injury, Doctor..."

"It isn't serious," the Doctor replied. "But because of her tender age it's best that I keep an eye on her."

"Acknowledged." Kathryn replied. "Janeway out." She looked in Chakotay's direction and found that he was looking back at her, infinite concern in his eyes. She hit her commbadge. "Janeway to Lieutenant Farrow. Report to the bridge at once." As the connection terminated, Kathryn addressed her husband, her tone softer. "As soon as he gets here, Chakotay, you go to sickbay." There was no way she could leave the bridge until she knew they were clear of the anomaly, even though every part of her wanted to be with her injured daughter.


An hour later, there was still no sign of another pulse. Feeling confident that they had moved safely away from the anomaly, Kathryn got up from her seat on the bridge.

"Looks like we have safely cleared the anomaly," she said to Harry, "so I'll call it a night. Inform me immediately if you detect anything unusual in this space."

"Yes, Captain," he answered.


Silvia was fast asleep in an incubator in sickbay when Kathryn arrived there. A couple of injured crew members were sleeping on biobeds and the Doctor was attending to one. Kathryn quietly made her way over to the incubator and gazed at her precious baby inside. Tears welled in her eyes at the sight of a little bandage on her daughter's tiny arm. A starship was no place for children. Silvie and Stevie deserved better.

From the corner of her eye, Kathryn saw the Doctor approach and questioned him. "What happened to her?"

"Celes was picking her out of the cot when the first pulse hit the ship. She fell forward and Silvia knocked her arm and head against the side of the cot."

"I see," Kathryn said quietly.

"But she's a tough little lady," the Doctor said kindly. "She's going to be just fine."

Kathryn wiped a stubborn tear away from her cheek. "No, she isn't tough, Doctor, she's just a baby. She's small and helpless and needs us to take care of her. What kind of life for her is this? It's no life...she's not even six months old yet and already has a broken arm..."

"Accidents happen," the Doctor replied. "Babies and infants get hurt just like children and adults do. You can't blame yourself. Silvia has a wonderful life. She has a mother and a father who love her and a ship full of people who care for her. What more could she need?"

"Safety," Kathryn replied, "a proper home. She deserves that, every child does..."

"Yes, and she has a safe loving home. No child could have a more loving home than she does or greater parents..."

"No," Kathryn said, turning to look at him, "Voyager isn't safe. If it was safe she wouldn't be here now with a broken arm and a head injury. She would be lying in her cot in the nursery, protected from all harm. Voyager is dangerous, Doctor, and no place for a baby..."

Sickbay doors opened and Chakotay came in. He walked over to Kathryn and the Doctor. Concern consumed him when he saw that Kathryn was agitated.

"Is Silvie alright?"

"Sleeping peacefully," the Doctor replied. "The Captain is just a little...upset."

"I'm not upset, Doctor, I just...Silvie and Stevie deserve better. Miral, Naomi and Vixi too. Voyager is no place for children..." She turned to Chakotay. "And where have you been, Chakotay? You were supposed to be here..."

"I went to see Celes, make sure she's okay." He paused. "We can't blame ourselves or each other for this. We know that Voyager isn't the ideal environment for children, but it's our home and it's their home too. And no parents could love their children more than we do."

"Love isn't enough to keep her safe, Chakotay. It isn't enough..."

"No environment is completely safe," Chakotay went on. "No child can be wrapped in cotton wool and saved from all harm. Accidents happen. True, Voyager is a more dangerous environment than most, but look how many more people Silvie and Stevie have looking out for them than most children. Everyone on this ship cares for them and will protect them. As they grow up they will have all kinds of adventures that other children will never even dream about and see things that other people may never see. There are many good things about growing up on Voyager too. Look at little Naomi. You couldn't find a happier child."

"I know," Kathryn said quietly. "I Just...when I think about what could have happened, and when I think about the way Silvie and Stevie were born...I feel as though I've failed them."

Chakotay put his hand on her shoulder. "You've never failed at anything, Kathryn. And you certainly haven't failed Silvie and Stevie. You're a wonderful mother to them. And one day they will tell you that themselves."


Celes was feeding Stevie in the nursery when Kathryn and Chakotay returned to their quarters. The young girl looked at her captain anxiously when she entered the room.

"I'm so sorry about Silvia," she said. "I shouldn't have lost my balance..."

"It wasn't your fault," Kathryn replied. "We're fortunate there weren't more injuries to more people." She paused. "It's been quite a night. You go and get some rest or whatever you want. I'll take over here."

"Are you sure, Captain?"

"Absolutely."

Celes got up and passed Stevie to his mother. Kathryn took him in her arms and kissed his little forehead before sitting down and giving him his bottle so he could finish his feed. Celes made her way to the door way, but then turned around to look at mother and child.

"I really am sorry about Silvia, Captain. I would rather have had her injuries myself and a thousand more than..."

"I know you would," Kathryn replied. "It wasn't your fault. Don't blame yourself. You're a great nanny."

Celes smiled wanly. "Better than I'm a Starfleet Officer?".

Kathryn smiled in return. "Let's just say I think we've found your strength on Voyager." She paused. "But you mustn't underestimate your scientific abilities. You got through the Academy, not every one does. When we get home, perhaps you should consider another field of science. Physics and astrophysics isn't everyone's strength. You may find yours lies in biology."

"Thank you, Captain," Celes replied. "But I don't think I have the ability to be a scientist. I passed exams at the Academy, but only because I memorized things. I didn't always understand them."

"Then why not apply your qualifications to another area...teaching, for example. I think you would make a fine science teacher. What you knows goes way beyond the knowledge of a fifteen year old, and you have all the experiences of the Delta Quadrant to pass on."

Celes smiled a happier smile now. "I never thought of that, Captain. Thank you for the suggestion. I think I would enjoy being a teacher."

"You're welcome," Kathryn replied. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Captain."

Celes left and seconds later Chakotay appeared.

"You really need to get some rest yourself, Kathryn. You've got an early shift again tomorrow...or rather I should say today."

"I'll be alright," Kathryn replied. "Besides it's almost morning anyway..."

"That's not the point. You need some sleep. You can't work two full days without rest..."

"I have in the past."

"And exhausted yourself in doing so. You need to sleep, Kathryn. Let me take care of Stevie. I don't need to get up as early as you."

Kathryn sighed. "I'm not going to win this round, am I?"

"No," Chakotay replied.

"Then I give in," she smiled. "But let me finish feeding him, okay?"

Chakotay smiled. "Deal."


The morning was busy. Kathryn had spent most of it in astrometrics with Seven trying to determine the source of anomaly they had encountered, but they could find no trace of it. Afterwards she had inspected damage to the ship and visited all those who had been injured. It was well passed noon before she could take a coffee-break, and even that was interrupted by Tuvok.

"Formal business or informal?" Kathryn asked, holding her cup of coffee in her hands.

"Neither and both," Tuvok replied.

"Then we'll make it informal," Kathryn smiled. "Have a seat. Can I get you a drink?"

"No, thank you, Captain. I am fully replenished."

"As you wish." She took a sip of her coffee. "What is it you want to talk about?"

"The status of our new members," Tuvok said, sitting beside her on the couch. "I have conducted an informal interview with each member and reviewed their individual qualifications. While several are qualified to hold a position on Voyager, most are not."

"I see," Kathryn replied.

"However," Tuvok continued, "many of those with no formal qualifications have, through experience, gained more than adequate knowledge and expertise to hold a position on Voyager. Of the remaining, their skills can be put to various use. A woman of the name Alice Brown is a qualified elementary school teacher, and another woman of the name Susan Morris is a qualified physician. She will be able to assist the Doctor in sickbay. A man of the name Jason Roberts is a qualified chef and will be able to assist Roxa in preparing food for the crew."

"Excellent," Kathryn replied. "We will certainly be in need of a teacher, and if the Doctor has someone else to assist him in sickbay, Tom can concentrate more on piloting and his family."

"There is one problem," Tuvok continued.

"Go on," Kathryn said, putting her cup of coffee down on the table before her.

"As an Admiral, technically your father outranks you. His presence on Voyager alters the chain of command."

Kathryn smiled. "My father and I have already discussed and settled this matter. Given his age, his infirmity, and his unfamiliarity with our technology and situation, he does not feel within his rights to exert the authority he clearly has over me. Neither does he desire to as my father. He has therefore given notice of his retirement, and it will come into effect in several days time. In the meantime, he has delegated all authority to me. Of course he wants to be involved with the ship and our journey, but only in an informal capacity."

"I believe that is a wise decision, Captain. Rank alone does not bestow the necessary qualities needed to captain a ship. I believe in every way your ability surpasses your father's."

Kathryn laughed. "Just don't tell him that, Tuvok. He might change his mind. All commanding officers have their egos, relations or not."

The ship suddenly shook and Kathryn lurched forward and then flew back against her seat.

"Looks like the anomaly is back," she said, getting to her feet. "We'd better..."

Before she could finish her sentence, a bright light engulfed the room, blinding her. As it consumed her, she felt her body tingle... the familiar sensation of transportation...


The first sight that came to Kathryn's attention when she remateralized was the friendly face of a tall, slim, woman with long ginger hair swept up in a bun and dark brown eyes. There was a brown haired man beside her who Kathryn felt she should know, but didn't. She glanced quickly around and then knew where she was and where she had seen the man before... She was on the Federation Timeship Relativity.

"Welcome to the Federation Timeship Relativity," the woman said with a smile. "I'm Captain Laura Marsden and this is Lieutenant Ducane..."

"We met before," he said, "about three years ago to you."

"Yes," Kathryn replied, "I remember." She smiled. "What mission are you going to draft me into this time?"

"What we hope will be a simple one," Captain Marsden replied. "Enemies of the Federation have reverted our history to a timeline in which the Federation was involved in a devastating conflict with the Borg, a conflict that killed thousands of our people and weakened the Federation for two centuries. The temporal pulses that have been attacking Voyager over the past 24 hours were generated by them in their attempt to erase your timeline from history. They stole the temporal weapon they used from us and because they were unfamiliar with it, their initial attempts failed."

Kathryn comprehended her words, but didn't understand the motive... "Why target Voyager? Why use us to change the timeline?"

"Because Voyager was central to the chain of events that lead to the conflict with the Borg," Captain Marsden replied.

"I see," Kathryn said quietly. Then a cold shiver ran through her body as she remembered the words of Old Chakotay... I don't know what will happen as a result of my intervention, but I do know that things could never be as bad as what has happened in my existence. Even if you don't get home, even if Voyager is destroyed, it couldn't be as bad... Was this what he meant? A terrible conflict with the Borg? But how would this be possible...how would they have managed to "revert" history to this timeline? Surely it was only possible to change a timeline? "You said they have reverted the timeline," Kathryn asked. "How is that possible? I thought a timeline is erased from existence as soon as it is changed..."

"Temporal mechanics has advanced considerably since the twenty fourth century. We have a much better understanding of the way temporal paradoxes work and the way different timelines interact. As Captain Braxton might once have explained to you, A leads to B leads to C and so forth. The threads of each timeline weave together to create one ultimate existence, but they never disappear completely. Echoes of them remain. With the right technology, it isn't difficult to change one variable to change the whole."

Like sand in a box. One shake, and everything is different.

"We need to restore the timeline," Captain Marsden went on. "And we need you to help us. Our enemies have placed a device on Voyager that will destroy Voyager within minutes of returning to the Alpha Quadrant. Their motive for this is to kill your counterpart in this timeline, and Seven of Nine, so they will not assist the Federation in defeating the Borg. Also the destruction of Voyager will destroy the chain of events that will lead to the timeline you and I are from." She paused. "We need to remove that device from Voyager so events can happen as they must to create our timeline. The difficulty is they anticipated we would do this and have therefore made it very difficult for us to retrieve the device. Firstly, they have erected a shield around the device that reacts to any attempts to penetrate it by changing the shield's frequency, preventing us from getting a lock on it to transport. With our superior technology we will be able to disable this shield, but it will take a few minutes as we synchronize our technology to all possible shield frequencies. Anticipating this also, they have programmed the device to alert Voyager's Crew of a security threat as soon as we attempt to penetrate the shield, which then leads to the raising of Voyager's shields. Knowing we would easily be able to penetrate Voyager's shields, they have programmed the device to react with Voyager's shields to deny us access. We have attempted to compensate for this in various ways, but every time we've tried, it's resulted in the destruction of Voyager and we've had to erase our actions."

"I take it this is where I come in," Kathryn said.

"Yes. We need your assistance to remove this device from Voyager. By substituting you for your counterpart in this timeline, you'll be able to ignore the security threat and deactivate shields. Then we'll be able to remove the device."

"Why me?" Kathryn asked. "Why not recruit my counterpart?"

"Because we need to be sure of your co-operation." She smiled. "We're aware that you can be very stubborn at times. We need a Captain Janeway who knows what is at stake."

"I see," Kathryn replied.

"We want to send you to 07:00 hours on Stardate 54859.4. Your counterpart is sleeping and we'll transport her here and make sure she remains asleep until our mission is complete. Then we'll transport her back. She won't have any recollection of events, but we'll compensate for that by generating a temporal wave to engulf Voyager while we transport the device. We'll also transport a couple of crewmembers, as many as events make necessary, from Voyager and erase their memories of events. The conclusion drawn will be that the wave was responsible for their lack of memory ... that in effect it suspended or erased time for certain crewmembers. It will also appear as though the wave was responsible for the security alert. There will probably be some turbulence while we remove the device so the wave can also be held responsible for that." She paused. "But you needn't concern yourself with all this. It's our job." The woman couldn't help smile. "You look confused, Captain."

"That's because I am," Kathryn replied. "But temporal mechanics was never my strongest point." She paused. "If these enemies of the Federation erased our timeline from history and reverted it to another timeline, one preceding our timeline but contributing too it, how did you recruit me? Or does our timeline exist simultaneously to this one in an alternate universe? Is that what you meant when you say the timelines don't disappear completely... that they merely trade places?"

The woman laughed softly. "It took me two years of graduate study to understand temporal paradoxes and even now sometimes it gives me a headache." She paused. "Obviously I can't tell you the secrets of temporal paradoxes or we'll advance science by a couple of hundred years, but suffice it to say that your timeline and my timeline no longer exists."

"Then how did you recruit me?"

"We had an idea what our enemies were planning to do. While we couldn't stop them from erasing our timeline, we did manage to transport you from Voyager seconds before it was erased. I wanted to save you just incase we needed your help to restore the timeline."

"I see," Kathryn replied. "But it's only minutes since you've transported me. You said you've made several attempts at restoring the timeline already..."

"That is correct. It seems only minutes to you because we've kept you in transportation suspension for several hours." The woman smiled. "Just try not to think too much about the paradoxes. All you need to remember is to make sure that you deactivate shields when you receive a security alert and to keep shields down until the temporal wave we generate has gone. It would also help if you could bring Voyager to a standstill."

"Understood," Kathryn replied.

"Now," Captain Marsden said, "would you like a coffee while we fix your hair to match your appearance in this timeline? If what I've been told is true, it's your favorite beverage."

"I see my reputation precedes me," Kathryn smiled. "A coffee would be good. I can tell you if the 29th century variety is as good as the 24th.

Captain Marsden laughed and then showed Kathryn into her ready room.


"I'd forgotten how comfortable this hairstyle is," Kathryn said, looking at herself in the hand mirror Captain Marsden held before her. "When this is all over, I think I'll pay our new hairdresser a visit and have my hair bobbed again."

Captain Marsden smiled. "But don't change the color, we redheads need our heroines."

Kathryn laughed softly at that.

"There's one more thing," Captain Marsden said as she handed the mirror back to the holo-hairstylist who had cut and dyed Kathryn's hair. "Your wedding ring."

Kathryn looked at the band of gold on her hand and was almost reluctant to take it off. She hadn't taken it off since the day she had married Chakotay. It had even stayed with her when she was on Quarren. But she had a mission to complete and this was no time to be sentimental. She slipped the ring off her finger and handed it to Captain Marsden.

"You'll find things very different on this Voyager," Captain Marsden went on. "But I'm sure you'll be able to compensate for that. Just try to keep conversations to a minimal. I'm hoping we'll only have to keep you in this timeframe for an hour at most. It will only take about five minutes to transport the device, but we'll need to allow you time to make your way to the bridge and allow a respectable amount of time after your arrival there to pass before we do anything so as not to raise undue suspicion."

"Acknowledged," Kathryn replied.

The woman smiled. "Now, I think we're all set. Let's go to the transporter pad."

She turned towards the door and Kathryn followed her out of the room and across the bridge to the transporter pad.

"Good luck," Captain Marsden said as Kathryn took her place on the pad.

"You too," Kathryn said warmly.

Captain Marsden then gave the order for transportation, and Kathryn felt herself dematerialize.

END OF PART ONE