Star Trek Voyager characters are the property of Paramount Pictures.

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

HOMEBIRD
Part Two

Kathryn sat in the briefing room, eyes fixed on her hands, as Chakotay told the senior staff of the new plans. She knew it was really her place to tell them, but she couldn't do it. All she could do was listen, and that was hard enough. Everyone was present except for B'Elanna who had returned to The Homebird.

"No way," Tom said as Chakotay told of his intention to stay behind. "Unless we all go, none of us do..."

"I agree," Harry said. "How can we go and leave you behind?"

"One of us has to stay," Chakotay answered. "And that someone has to be me..."

"But why?" Tom asked. "Why does someone have to stay? So what if Voyager falls into alien hands? What can they do with her? She will surely be no more advanced than their vessels."

"All kinds of reasons," Chakotay replied. "To begin with, it would be a violation of the prime directive..."

"To hell with the prime directive," Tom cried. "This is your life we're talking about..."

"And the lives of others. Countless others. We have a chance, a good and real chance, of getting the crew home with this ship and we have to do it. If we don't, the overwhelming likelihood is we will lose people before we get home. How would you feel then? How would you feel if we lost B'Elanna or Miral?"

"If," Tom answered. "We're dealing with uncertainties against a certainty. We might lose no one..."

"But the likelihood is that we will. For all we know, we could all be killed. We have to do this. We have to take this chance..."

"The Commander is correct," Tuvok interrupted. "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Such an opportunity may not rise again."

"So what?" Tom replied. "I don't care if we never get home. There, I've said it. My life on Voyager is better than anything I ever had back there..."

"That may be the case for you, Mr Paris," Tuvok continued, "but that is not the case for most members of this crew. They have families and loved ones they wish to return too."

"But at the expense of Chakotay's life?"

"The Commander will have everything at his disposal to return to the Federation."

"And just how long will that take?" Harry said. "If he makes it at all..."

"Exactly," Tom went on "One man alone against hostile aliens? Come on..."

"I've made my decision," Chakotay said.

Tom turned to Kathryn now. "How can you even consider this, Captain? Don't you want Silvie and Stevie to have a father?"

At this, Kathryn got to her feet. "Enough, enough, enough!" Tears welled in her eyes. "I am barely keeping my head together on this and what I need now is your support! This is the hardest and most painful decision I have ever had to make but we have no choice! It's either leaving one person behind with a vessel to get home or it's continuing our journey which most likely means we will lose people. Right from the beginning we've known that was the case. We knew that unless we settled on an m-class planet, we would be traveling through uncharted and unknown space, with the overwhelming likelihood we would encounter hostile aliens along the way. But to get home, every single one of us has been prepared to give our life. Some have given their lives and we honor their sacrifice."

"But we didn't abandon them," Tom stated. "They died from disease or in battle..."

"All in the pursuit of getting home," Kathryn continued. "And we're not abandoning Chakotay. We'll leave him with more than enough to return home. We may even be able to come back for him in the The Homebird or he may find a wormhole that will get him home sooner..."

"And he may never return." He paused. "You said we would only do this if everyone of us agreed that we should. Well, I don't, Captain. I say we continue our journey."

"So do I," Harry said. "If I die during the journey, so be it. But I won't support abandoning a crew-member."

Kathryn made no reply. Her mind was full of fog and she desperately tried to clear it. She had to focus, had to be the captain. There was truth to Tom's words, and Harry's sentiment was her own, but while their views were admirable, deep inside she knew they were letting emotion cloud their judgment.

Tuvok got to his feet. "Permission to speak freely, Captain."

"Granted," Kathryn said quietly.

" I believe this matter is too emotionally charged for any of you to make a rational decision. My assessment is that the Captain wishes to be the one to remain behind, but out of love and duty, Commander Chakotay wishes to take that burden upon himself. Out of friendship and concern for the Commander, none of you are willing to allow him to stay behind." He turned slowly towards Kathryn. "Not wanting to make an alone decision that affects the lentire crew, you wish for a consensus of opinion. However, I do not feel it will be forthcoming in this case." He paused. "Captain, refrain from expression of opinion. Everyone else, please raise your hand if you believe we should go ahead with the mission and leave Commander Chakotay behind."

Chakotay and Tuvok raised their hands.

"Therefore, we do not have consensus, Captain. I believe this matter should be put to the crew. It does, after all, involve them. I believe we should ask every crew member to vote on the matter and take the course of action the majority vote for."

"No," Kathryn said, getting to her feet. It had been a mistake to bring this to her officers. It wasn't helping, it was only making things worse. She was the captain of the ship and it was her place to make these kinds of decisions. And she had to make one now. "I won't ask the crew to take responsibility for our decision. It isn't fair. They look to us for guidance. If we can't agree, then we'll have to do this the old fashioned way and flip a coin." She turned to Tom. "Mr Paris, replicate us a coin."

"I don't think that..."

"Just do it!"

He was subdued. "Yes, Captain."

He went over to the replicator, replicated a coin, and then took it to his captain.

Kathryn looked at the bright twentieth century English penny and couldn't help feel a twinge of hope. There was a good chance that the answer it gave them would be in the negative -- that they destroy The Homebird instead of Voyager and leave this asteroid zone as planned. With this thought dominant, she looked up at her senior staff. "Heads we do this, tails we don't."

Without another word, she tossed the coin into the air and then caught it on the back of her hand, her other hand over it.

But she couldn't withdraw her hand to reveal the answer. For a long time she just stared at it. The fate of all their lives lay literally in her hands and she didn't want to know what destiny had decided for them. But she had to know, she had to pull her hand away. She took a deep breath and then lifted her hand.

The answer was heads.

Kathryn stared at it as disappointment consumed her but she wouldn't give in to it. She looked up at the anxious faces before her.

"Heads. We do this." Without waiting for their response, she turned to Tuvok. "The Homebird is ready for us to board. Begin evacuation of this ship." She turned to the rest of her senior staff. "The rest of you, dismissed."

The staff hesitated and looked at each other in concern.

"I said dismissed!"

At that, they began to leave the room. Just as Harry reached the door, he turned around, about to protest, but when he saw the way his captain was looking down at the table, her body taut, face pale and eyes glazed, the pain in that expression silenced him and all he could do was turn around and leave.

The doors closed after the last person left, leaving Kathryn and Chakotay alone.

"I remember the first time I came into this room," he said quietly. "It was just after we had been stranded and you called me and several senior Maquis officers to join you and Tuvok here. It's where you made me your First Officer." He paused. "It's befitting then that it's the place we say good-bye."

Kathryn looked up at him, tears in her eyes.

"There's no point prolonging things. There's no more you can do on Voyager. You're needed on The Homebird now. And prolonging our parting will just make things harder, for both of us." Tears flooded his eyes and he took Kathryn's hands in his, holding them tight. "I don't want you to wait for me, Kathryn. I don't want to put you through that. I'll stay on Voyager and die with her. Then you can marry Justin and..."

"No," Kathryn said, shaking her head as tears fell. She drew him close and held him tight, squeezing him against her. "You'll take the Delta Flyer and you'll make your way home. And when you get home, I'll be waiting. How ever long it takes, I'll be waiting. I promise you I'll be waiting."

"I might never get home, Kathryn," he whispered. "You have to move on with your life."

"You will," she said, drawing away from him to look at him. "You will get home." She put her hand to his cheek and her voice fell to a whisper. "Promise me..."

Chakotay took her hand in his. "Justin loves you. With him you can have a better life than the one you'll have waiting for me. And Silvie and Stevie will..."

Kathryn put her fingers to his lips, silencing him. "I don't want Justin. I want you." A tear ran down her cheek. "I love you, Chakotay. I love you more than..." Her own words choked her. "Promise me you'll get home...I can't do this unless you promise me."

Chakotay touched her face, traced her tear. "I promise."

Kathryn drew him close again and they held each other tight, held each other long.

Then Chakotay drew away. "You'd better get to The Homebird..."

"What about Silvie and Stevie? You'll need too..."

"It's better this way," he said. He couldn't say good-bye to Silvie and Stevie, he just couldn't.

He lowered his lips to Kathryn's and kissed her gently, sweetly. Then he gazed deep into her eyes.

"I'm so glad you came into my life, Kathryn. I wouldn't change a moment..."

"Neither would I."

"I love you so much."

"I love you..."

He opened his mouth to say good-bye, but anticipating that he would, Kathryn put her fingers to his lips.

"No," she whispered. "We won't say good-bye. We'll just kiss one last time and then I'll leave."

A tear ran down Chakotay's cheek and Kathryn slowly, tentatively, raised her lips to his and kissed him one last time. His arms crushed her against him and they kissed long, kissed deep, neither wanting to let go...

Then, at last, Kathryn drew away and without another word, left the room.


Outside in the corridor, Kathryn felt her heart break. She realized she had stopped walking, and when she tried to force her legs forward, she found they had frozen. She couldn't go on. All she could do was go back. There was no way she could leave Chakotay behind, no way she could go through with this mission. They would find another way home...

Before she knew it, she was walking back through the doors and into the briefing room...

But it was empty. There was no Chakotay.

Kathryn span around, searching the room for him, but all she saw was a single peach peace rose on the table before her. She picked it up and found a beautiful diamond eternity ring on the stem. There was a silver tag attached to it with an old saying emblazoned in gold writing upon it: "To see what is right and not to do it, is want of courage."

Kathryn rang her fingers over the words and then put the ring on her wedding finger. He had known she would do this, that she would turn around... He knew her better than she knew herself... And, in a way only he could, had helped her find the strength to go on with the hardest thing she had ever had to do.


Chakotay entered the bridge and found it was empty. The viewscreen was operational and in the distance he could see The Homebird. A lot of windows were illuminated, but it was too far away for him to see inside. He looked around the bridge and the silence was unsettling. Tuvok had been instructed to tell him when he was leaving in a shuttle with the last crewmembers, and all he could do now was wait. He went over to the seat that had been his for over seven years, sat down, and waited...


From a window in her father's old room on The Homebird, Kathryn looked out at Voyager. Only hours ago, the thought of destroying the ship that had been their home and haven for over seven years had been terrible, but now, the destruction of Voyager was the last thing on her mind.

"Here," her father said, holding out a cup to her, "Coffee, black, just how you like it."

Kathryn made no response. She just continued to gaze out of the window. Her father put down the cup and lay his hand on her shoulder.

"It doesn't have to be this way, Goldenbird. There's still time to change your mind."

A stray tear ran down Kathryn's face and she clumsily wiped it away. "Unless you're going to say something useful, Daddy," she said sharply, "don't say anything at all."

With that, she left the room.


More lights glowed on The Homebird as more people arrived there. Chakotay looked at the ship for a few moment longer, and then got to his feet. He had to do something, had to occupy his mind.

"Tuvok to Chakotay."

Chakotay responded. "Go ahead."

"Everyone except myself and Lieutenant Riley has left Voyager. We are also now ready to depart. I wish you all the best in your journey to the Federation and hope we shall be in each others company again very soon. It has been an honor to serve with you. Live long and prosper."

The connection terminated. Chakotay returned to his seat again and operated his console. It informed him of an imminent shuttle launch and then of a successful departure.

Chakotay looked up at the screen before him and on it he could see the shuttle head steadily for TheHomebird. He watched it until it was nothing more than a small speck and disappeared inside the mammoth ship.

A coldness engulfed Chakotay at the awareness he was now completely alone and a profound sense of loneliness. He looked around the bridge and it didn't seem as inviting as it once did, seemed even quite hostile. A console creaked to his left and Chakotay turned to it. There were those who believed the bridge was haunted by the spirit of a young woman who had lost her life at the helm when the ship was pulled to the Delta Quadrant by the Caretaker. Chakotay shivered as the console creaked again, but a part of him felt that even the company of a ghost would be welcome as he waited all alone to see if this mission was a success.


"Report," Kathryn said as she entered the unfamiliar bridge of The Homebird. There were only a dozen people present as all unrequired crewmembers and civilians were in adjoining rooms.

Justin responded. "We are waiting the arrival of Commander Tuvok and Lieutenant Riley. Everyone else is on board."

"Acknowledged." Kathryn then hit her commbadge. "Janeway to Torres. We are awaiting only the arrival of Commander Tuvok and Lieutenant Riley. We will then be ready to leave. Stand by."

The connection terminated and Seven spoke. "Commander Tuvok and Lieutenant Riley are now on board."

Kathryn went over to the large brown central chair that had clearly been designated as belonging to the leader by the Moralyn, and sat down.

The tension on the bridge was suffocating. No one spoke, no one moved. Every second that passed seemed an eternity and Kathryn could endure it no longer. She got to her feet and paced the room.

"Mr Kim, are all primary systems operating to maximum capacity?"

"Yes, Captain," he replied.

"What about inertial dampers?"

"Fully efficient."

"Structural integrity?"

"One hundred percent."

She paced again and couldn't help hope that some problem would be found so they could abort the mission. She was just about to ask about life-support when the doors to the bridge opened and Tuvok entered.

"Welcome aboard," Justin said.

Tuvok gave an acknowledging nod and then went over to his assigned console. Everyone then fixed their eyes on their captain.

For the first time in her life, Kathryn flinched under their gaze and for a moment felt as though she was going to collapse beneath the weight of it. But she didn't. She simply went over to her seat and sat down. The arm rests were strong, solid, and Kathryn gripped them firmly. She then closed her eyes and forced her lips to say the word that would probably put hundreds of light years between her and the man she loved.

"Engage."

There was a soft roar as engines came online and then the ship began to move.


Chakotay watched from Voyager's bridge as The Homebird moved slowly. It then gathered speed and in seconds was gone. Only rainbow asteroids glittered before him.

A tear ran down Chakotay's face, but mixed with the pain was the knowledge that at last, at long long last, Voyager's crew were on their way home and Kathryn's mission would soon be complete.


Swirls of blue and white light filled the viewscreen. Kathryn kept her eyes fixed on them, forcing herself to focus... to observe and focus.

Harry spoke. "2.3...4...5... minutes."

Kathryn got to her feet as they entered the most perilous part of the mission.

"Taking us out of transwarp," Tom said.

Seven spoke next. "Warp core has been ejected..."

Kathryn gripped the back of her chair as the ship shook from turbulence, but as the swirls on the viewscreen decreased in intensity, so too the turbulence. At last, the swirls dissipated into the familiar view of streaming stars, and then gradually came to a standstill.

For a moment, no one did or said anything. Then Kathryn turned to Tuvok.

"Our location?"

Tuvok worked his console and then responded. "0.8 light years from earth."

Lieutenant Hillman then spoke. "We're being hailed...Starfleet Command."

Kathryn turned to the viewscreen. "On screen."

Admiral Carter, Admiral Paris, and a man she didn't recognize appeared on screen. Admiral Carter was about to speak but swallowed when he saw who he was in communication with.

"Captain Janeway?"

"Sorry to surprise you," she said, forcing herself into captain mode.

"Why are you in an alien vessel?"

"It's a long story. But I assure you all is legitimate."

The man smiled. "Then I look forward to hearing your tale."

"We've exhausted the ship and our resources in getting to the Federation and have had to eject the warp core. We need assistance."

"We'll send a ship to you as soon as we can and a squadron to take charge of the alien vessel."

"Thank you, Sir."

He smiled. "Welcome home."

The link terminated.

Kathryn turned to Tuvok. "Inform everyone what is happening."

"Yes, Captain," he answered.

She turned to her right. "Lieutenant Hillman. Starfleet Command are taking possession of this ship. Make sure your people have collected all the personal belongings they want before we vacate."

"Yes, Captain," he answered.

Kathryn returned to her seat, but it was a bad idea to do nothing. Images of Chakotay invaded her mind and she had to fight against them. She couldn't allow herself to think of him. She had to be the captain, had to be strong...

"We're being hailed again."

"On screen."

The face of Jean-Luc Picard appeared. He smiled. "Captain Janeway. Welcome home."

"Thank you."

"We are informed you require assistance."

"Yes. We exhausted the ship and our resources in returning to the Federation. In short, we are stranded."

"We have just entered transporter range. I will send my First Officer to help oversee transportation of your crew."

"Thank you."

"I look forward to hearing more about your return."

The connection terminated.

Talk filled the bridge and somberness changed slowly to excitement and anticipation. They had done it, they were home. But Kathryn felt numb inside. Her heart was hundreds of light years away. The joyful chatter around her seemed suffocating and she couldn't take it anymore. She turned to her left.

"Lieutenant Hillman, you have the bridge. Tuvok, meet William Riker when he arrives and help prepare the crew for transportation."

"Yes, Captain," they said in unison.

Without another word, Kathryn left the bridge.


Justin followed Kathryn from the bridge and caught up with in the corridor outside.

"Where are you going?"

"To Engineering."

"What for?"

"To see how things are there. Now we're severed from Voyager, our internal comm system won't work..."

Justin caught her arm, forcing her to stop. "You've just lost your husband. You need to..."

"I need to keep busy," she answered. "And I haven't lost him. We've just been separated for a while."

"Kathryn..."

She shook him loose. "Excuse me..."

With that, she continued to walk down the corridor and Justin knew it was futile to follow.


Smoke hung in the air in engineering and several crew members were extinguishing fires. When she saw her captain enter the room, B'Elanna went over to her and pulled her back into the corridor outside.

"All systems have burnt out," she said, coughing lightly. "But it's all under control."

Kathryn knew the question she was going to ask was pointless, but she had to ask it anyway. "What are the chances of being able to use this ship again?"

"Engineering is wrecked, Captain," B'Elanna replied. "And as we have no way of reproducing their technology, there's no way of flying this ship again."

There was a sadness in her voice and Kathryn didn't see the tears in the half-Klingon's eyes for the ones in her own. But she fought to suppress them.

"When you've done all you can here, report to the bridge. The Enterprise-E has come for us and transportation is probably commencing as we speak."

"Yes, Captain," B'Elanna replied.


From the window in his ready room, Captain Jean-Luc Picard looked out at the curious looking alien vessel that had brought the famous crew of the USS Voyager home. Even if it was useless as a space ship now, it was still of infinite value to the Federation in what it could reveal about the secrets of transwarp travel.

The door chime sounded, and he turned away from the window.

"Come in."

The doors opened and Captain Kathryn Janeway came in.

Jean-Luc smiled and went over to her, holding out his hand to her. Kathryn took his hand and he shook it firmly.

"This is a great honor," he said sincerely. "Like so many people, I have followed with interest your journey in the Delta Quadrant, and have been both inspired and moved by the courage and determination you have all displayed."

"Thank you," Kathryn replied.

"But I have to say," he continued, "when we lost contact with you several months ago, we feared the worst." He smiled. "Can I get you a drink?"

"No," Kathryn replied, "thank you."

Jean-Luc looked again at the alien vessel outside. "So, tell me. How did you obtain that alien vessel? It's quite impressive."

"We found it occupied by humans in an asteroid zone."

"Humans?"

"A species named the Moralyn visit the Federation in cloaked ships searching for the bodies of those drowned or frozen to death. Or at least they did twenty years ago. They revive them for experimentation." She paused. "As it happens, my father was on that ship."

"That's incredible."

"Yes. He and his comrades were trying to make it home, but their warp core failed eight years ago and they were stranded. We used Voyager's warp core to empower the ship to get home."

"What a double blessing, to find your father and get the crew home."

Kathryn made no reply, but tears welled in her eyes.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

Jean-Luc took her hand in his. "It's alright. I can't imagine what you've been through all these years. The responsibility on your shoulders must have weighed very heavily."

She nodded.

"And you must be concerned about the fate of the Maquis. But I wouldn't worry too much on that score. My feeling is they will be pardoned. "The Dominion war has taken a heavy toll and we had to recruit ex-Maquis members to fight. I doubt old wounds will be deliberately opened by bringing your Maquis crew-members to trial. They will probably be invited to rejoin Starfleet."

The door chime sounded and Jean-Luc called out. "Come in."

Deanna Troi came in. She went over to her captain and handed him a padd. He read it, closed his eyes, and then handed it back. As Deanna left, he turned again to Kathryn. "I had no idea. My God, Kathryn, I'm so sorry."

"I don't want to talk about it," she answered quietly. "If I do, I'll..."

"I understand." He put his hand on her shoulder. "How about I give you a tour of this new ship of ours?"

Kathryn gave a wan smile, grateful for his understanding and assistance. "Thank you."


Miles and miles of lonely space stretched out before Chakotay on the screen in Voyager's astrometrics. For hours he had been combing through sector after sector of space incase the mission had been aborted and The Homebird was stranded close by. But he could find no sign of it. If the mission had been aborted and the ship was stranded, they were all too many light years away for him to do anything about it.


Spectacular fireworks lit the San Francisco skyline and crowds cheered as The Enterprise-E came into view.

With Jean-Luc Picard, Kathryn looked out in surprise from the ship's view point at the throngs of people who had gathered to welcome her crew home.

"As I said," Jean-Luc said warmly. "Many people have been following Voyager's journey."

The ship gently landed and streams of fireworks filled the black sky now.

"Come on," Jean-Luc smiled. "It's time to lead your crew one last time."


The cheering was deafening as Voyager's long lost crew disembarked The Enterprise-E. Family members waited on the ground to greet their loved ones and joyfully embraced them as they were reunited. From the top of the disembarkment steps, Kathryn watched. For years she had dreamt of this moment, but now it all seemed detached somehow, as though she was only a spectator, not a participant.

Slowly she began to walk down the silver steps and Ella and Celes followed, carrying Silvie and Stevie. Petal was with Naomi and her father had disembarked inconspicuously with the crew of The Homebird. Kathryn was going to tell her family about finding him before introducing him. It would be better that way, give them a chance to prepare. It would be as much of a shock to them as it had been to her.

As she reached the ground, a small group of people approached: her mother, her sister, brother-in-law, her little niece Katy, and her old Aunt Martha.

Before she knew what was happening, her mother had taken her in her arms and was holding her tight.

Kathryn then embraced the rest of the group and introduced them to Silvie and Stevie. Her mother wept as she looked at her beautiful grandchildren and kissed them both tenderly.

"There's someone else you all need to say hello too," Kathryn said.. "The alien ship we came home on belonged to a species called the Moralyn. For years they've been visiting the Federation and taking the bodies of humans drowned or frozen to death to be revived for experimental use. A number of captives managed to escape and were trying to use the ship to get back to earth." She paused. "Daddy was among them."

Gretchen's face paled and her lip trembled. "Your father?"

Kathryn nodded. "He's not dead, Mom. He's very much alive..." She looked around and saw her father watching them from a distance. "In fact, he's right over there..."

She gestured with her hand and everyone turned to look at him. Gretchen raised her hand to her mouth when she saw him, and her whole body trembled. "My Edward," she whispered.

Edward slowly bridged the distance between them and without a word took his wife in his arms and held her tight.


Music and laughter filled the grand hall at Starfleet's Headquarters. A rainbow of flags representing every planet in the Federation hung from the high ceiling and long windows overlooked the city of San Francisco. Kathryn stood in a corner of the room with her sister and watched as happy couples danced. Apart from a somber mood amongst the senior and bridge staff, it was almost as though Chakotay was forgotten already. But then he had always been a quiet man, kept pretty much to himself. His sacrifice wasn't personal to so many crew-members and over the years many of their comrades and friends, even lovers, had died on the journey home. This grief was mainly her grief ... except perhaps B'Elanna's. Her eyes found B'Elanna and she studied the half-Klingon. She was equally as sullen and was gazing absently into a glass of champagne in her hands.

"Just one interview," Phoebe said. "The press will leave you alone then."

"No," Kathryn answered.

"You can demand to know the questions beforehand..."

"No," Kathryn said again. "I'm not talking to them."

They would ask about how she got the crew home, would ask about Chakotay. She couldn't bear it.

"People are waiting to hear from you. They want to hear from you."

"I said no," Kathryn cried. "Now, let it be!"

Suddenly the music stopped and people gathered on the stage. As everyone focussed their attention on Admiral Paris, silence filled the room.

"I have a very special announcement to make," he said with a smile. "Because of the years of devoted service on board Voyager by all Maquis members, it has been decided that no charges will be brought against any of you and you are all welcome to rejoin Starfleet."

Cheers filled the room.

"Further more, we wish to honor certain individuals for their outstanding achievements over the past seven years. Will the following people please come on stage: Ensign Lyssa Campbell. Ensign Vorik. Ensign Harry Kim..."

To encouraging applause, the young ensigns ascended the stage and formed a line. Admiral Paris continued to call out names, Tom and B'Elanna's amongst them.

At any other time, Kathryn's would have watched with joy and pride as her brave officers lined up for what was evidently a promotion, but now that joy was buried by Chakotay's absence.

"Captain Janeway, please come on stage."

The words registered with Kathryn, but it was a moment before she acted on them and joined her officers on the stage.

"This is all a bit impromtu," Admiral Paris smiled as an aide appeared carrying a box containing pips. "but special circumstances warrant special occurrences. Captain Janeway, please step forward."

Kathryn dutifully stepped forward.

"For your determination in getting your crew home against almost impossible odds, you are hereby promoted to Admiral."

The crowd applauded and Admiral Paris informally put his hand on her shoulder. "Congratulations."

He then moved down the row and the crowd continued to cheer as he promoted Tom and B'Elanna to Lieutenant Commander's, and Harry Kim to Lieutenant.

Kathryn looked out at the crowd and saw the former Maquis members of her crew hug each other as they celebrated their newly given freedom. She was happy for them, but the vision stung her heart because of the one who should have been celebrating it with them.

At last, music once more filled the air and the newly promoted officers began to leave the stage. Kathryn was only too glad to step out of the limelight and into the relative obscurity of the crowd. Most of the attention was on Seven of Nine, the Doctor, Icheb, Roxa and Vixi because of their uniqueness, and she was so glad of that.

Nevertheless, there was a line of people waiting to congratulate her as she stepped off the stage. Kathryn made her way through them all, smiling and thanking them, but inside her heart was breaking.

"This is wonderful," Phoebe said, embracing her sister when Kathryn at last returned to her family. "Congratulations."

"I'm very proud of you, Kathryn" her father said. "And I'm glad that Starfleet are proud too..."

Kathryn smiled, but tears welled in her eyes. "Excuse me," she said quietly. And with that she left the room.


Alone in a side room, Kathryn sat by a table and wept painfully. She was glad the Maquis had been exonerated, it truly was wonderful news, but the pain inside was unbearable. Chakotay had sacrificed himself for nothing. It should have been her who stayed behind, should have been her... Playing with the ring he had given her, she looked up at the window and out at the black sky full of stars. Somewhere beyond them was Chakotay. So far away and so alone...

But he would come back to her. She had to believe that. And she would wait for him. No matter how long it took, even to the end of her life. She wouldn't break her promise to him. And she knew he wouldn't break his promise to her either. He had never broken a promise to her. Never. He would return. One day he would return and they would be together again.


Chakotay looked at the picture of Kathryn in his hands and touched her face tenderly. He then looked up at the window of asteroids before him and focussed on the small image of Voyager in the distance.

Then, there was a mighty explosion, and all that was left of Voyager was scattered debris.

END OF PART TWO