CHAPTER FORTY
REDEMPTION
Part Two
Gretchen and Edward watched anxiously as Seven tried to determine the new shield's frequency. The former drone worked busily, her thin fingers flying over the console.
At last she spoke. "I have it...Accessing..."
Edward questioned. "Is Chakotay still alive?"
"I am detecting five lifesigns. The shield is interfering too much with sensors to identify them, but three appear to be male." She worked the console again. "Two males are closing in on one...that one must be Chakotay." She worked the console again. "One of the lifesigns with a Borg signature is weakening. It has to be the Admiral. If assimilation is not done properly, it can kill... Initializing transport. Stand by."
Chakotay watched anxiously as the two hostile men closed in on him. It was useless to fight. He was outnumbered and he didn't want to endanger Kathryn's life any more than it was already. Strong arms suddenly seized him and held him hard. The naked queen then walked towards him, taut as a cat closing in on her prey. She pressed her body against his and ran her tubules across his cheek. "
"Soon you will know perfection."
She moved her claws to his neck, but just as she was about to dig them in, Chakotay dematerialized.
When Chakotay rematerialized, he found himself back in the transporter room of Griffy Manor. He looked down and saw that Kathryn was lying on the floor before him. She lay still now, completely still. There was no tremor, no sign of life. Fear gripped Chakotay and he frantically knelt beside her, searching for her pulse...
There was none...
Tearfully, he turned her onto her back and began to give her mouth to mouth resuscitation...
Gretchen stepped forward, frightened tears in her eyes. "What's happening?"
"She's dead," Chakotay cried as he pumped her chest... "Come on, Kathryn, come on..."
He put his mouth to hers, desperately trying to breathe life into her lungs...
"Come on, Kathryn," he cried, pumping her chest again, "don't leave me now..."
He put his mouth to hers again, giving her all the breath he could give...
But it was no use...
Tears ran down Chakotay's face and he gathered Kathryn close. "No, Kathryn," he wept..."No..."
Gretchen and Edward stood stunned, while Seven approached Chakotay.
"Stand aside," she said anxiously. "Nanoprobes may help revive her."
At that, Chakotay gently drew away from his wife and tearfully lay her on the floor.
Seven knelt at the opposite side of her and extended her tubules. She then put them to Kathryn's neck and injected her with nanoprobes.
"Now try to revive her," Seven said.
Tearfully, and trembling violently, Chakotay leant over Kathryn and once more put his mouth to hers. Then he began to pump her chest.
"Come on, Kathryn," he cried, "come on..."
He was just about to put his mouth to hers again, when her body heaved...
Chakotay gasped, both from lack of breath and relief.
"Kathryn," he whispered...
She was still unconscious, but was breathing. He took her wrist and searched for her pulse. He found it.
"She's alive," he said, tears of relief falling now. He looked up at Seven. "Transport her to the nearest hospital...quickly..."
"I'll transport her to Starfleet Medical Hospital," Seven said, returning to the console. "That's where she was told to report..."
Chakotay looked up at his mother-in-law. "Gretchen, you go with her..." As much as he wanted to go, he had to help protect Seven and her aunt. It's what Kathryn would have wanted... He kissed Kathryn's hand and touched her face. "Hold on, Kathryn... Please hold on."
"Initializing transport," Seven said.
Chakotay kissed Kathryn's hand again, and watched as she dematerialized.
When she was gone, Chakotay slowly got to his feet, still trembling. He had to stay focussed...had to be focussed...
"Edward, you stay here with Roxa, Rennay and the children..."
Edward questioned. "Where are you going?"
"Your shuttle with Seven and her aunt. They're not safe here..." He turned to Seven. "Come on, we don't have any time to waste."
Chakotay made to leave, but Seven remained where she was. "If I flee, who will help apprehend Covington?"
"They won't listen to anything you have to say. If you stay, there's no saying what will become of you. Starfleet will battle this their way. We need to concentrate on keeping you safe."
"What about Icheb?"
"His Borg implants were removed by Elissia. They won't be interested in him." Chakotay pulled out his phaser again. "Now come, we're wasting time..." He turned to Edward. "Clear transportation history. If Starfleet arrive, don't let them know Seven has been here. If they ask where I am, say I've left for the hospital in a shuttle."
As soon as they were all in the shuttle, Chakotay made his way to the helm and got the vessel airborne as quickly as he could.
"Replicate some essential supplies," he said calmly. "Make sure you have enough to last a few days."
Seven questioned. "Where are we going?"
"There are some caves in the Mexican mountains I once visited with my cousin. No one will find you there. I'm going to transport you both there and then go to the hospital where I said I would be. Once all this is over, I'll come back for you."
When Chakotay arrived at the hospital twenty minutes later, he found a most hostile welcome. They would tell him nothing about Kathryn's condition, or let him wait on the premises. All they told him was to go home and await news. When he tried to insist on knowing what was happening, he was threatened with imprisonment. Feeling he had no choice but to leave, he returned to Bloomington.
When he arrived at Griffy Manor, Gretchen and Edward were gathered in the living room, and his mother-in-law was weeping softly.
"We're going to lose her," she said tearfully. "After getting her back after all these years, we're going to lose her..."
Chakotay slowly sat opposite her, trying not to show the concern and fear he felt inside. If Kathryn died... He couldn't even bear to think about it. He had lost her once before and it had almost killed him. He couldn't go through it again, he just couldn't...
"My guess is Starfleet wants to keep knowledge of this incident from the general public," he said quietly. "Kathryn's in good hands. They'll do everything they can..."
Gretchen looked up at him, her eyes red from crying. "What if it isn't enough?"
Chakotay took her hand in his, tears in his own. "It will be. Kathryn's a fighter. She's never lost a battle with the Borg yet. She won't lose this one."
Light...bright... Kathryn's eyes struggled to adjust to the brightness. Then there were colors...a face...a familiar face...
"Doctor?"
Voyager's former EMH smiled. "Welcome back, Admiral..."
For a moment, Kathryn couldn't remember what had happened ... how she had ended up in hospital. Then it all came back to her...
"Brenna... the Borg..."
"It's all over," the Doctor replied. "Brenna Covington was killed during the attempt to apprehend her. her accomplices, Trevor Blake and Brian Grady also. All those assimilated by the virus have been operated on and are going to be fine."
A wave of relief washed over Kathryn. "Then it really is over."
"It certainly is. And I'm just grateful Starfleet are keeping this incident from the general public. If it became common knowledge that an EMH Mark One was responsible for transforming Covington into a Borg...well, my days could be numbered. His program has been completely destroyed." He began to scan Kathryn with his tricorder. "Slightly elevated blood pressure, but other than that you're in fine health, although you're going to be sore for a few days."
Kathryn questioned. "How did I get here?"
"I don't know," the Doctor replied. "But it was a close call. We lost you more than once..."
Kathryn's eyes wandered from his to the window. Tears filled them as more memories returned to her.
The Doctor questioned in concern. "Are you in pain?"
"I heard Chakotay," Kathryn said quietly. "I'm sure I did... I heard him say my name..."
"You may have experienced hallucinations," the Doctor concluded. "Your body went through a range of physiological changes and traumas."
"But it seemed so real," Kathryn replied. "I could feel him..."
The Doctor looked at her sadly. "Hallucinations often seem real..."
A tear ran down Kathryn's cheek. "He said he was home... he said..." She paused, closed her eyes. "But you're right. It was just a dream... just a dream..."
Montgomery's dull office was as foreboding as the look on his face. Chakotay, Seven and Irene, sat before his desk, absorbing his admonishing words.
"You are fortunate, the three of you, that we are keeping Covington's attempt to assimilate Earth from the general public. Otherwise, you would all find yourselves in serious trouble. Commander Chakotay, you seriously jeopardized our mission by not allowing us to take Miss Hanson into custody. As much as Miss Hanson was innocent of involvement, she may have been used against her will to further Covington's plans.
Seven protested. "Admiral, that is not..."
Montgomery held up his hand. "I demand silence when I speak." He turned again to Chakotay. "However, it is commendable that you brought Miss Hanson and her aunt to us once this incident was over." He got to his feet. "I must remind you not to discuss these events with anyone. Failure to comply will have dire consequences for the guilty person. And before I let you go, I must demand possession of the frequency scatters."
Seven and her aunt began to remove them as Montgomery continued talking.
"I am disappointed, Commander, that you did not hand these over to Starfleet Command when you reported your return."
"They slipped my mind," Chakotay replied. "I was not asked to give a detailed report of my homecoming, only to write one at my own convenience."
Seven and Irene handed Montgomery the devices and he took them with a thank you. He studied them a moment, and then looked up.
"You may go."
The three of them got to their feet and eagerly left the room.
Exhausted, Chakotay sat on a bench in the garden of Griffy Manor. It was just after dawn and the sun bathed the garden in a warm bronze light. It was a beautiful garden, full of all kinds of colorful flowers. In his hands, he held the picture of Kathryn he had kept with him the whole time they had been separated, and he gazed at her, tears in his eyes. There was still no word from the hospital and they still wouldn't let him wait there...
A shadow fell over him, and Chakotay looked up to see Edward standing before him. "If the worst had happened," the old man said kindly, "they would have let us know by now..."
Chakotay's eyes once more fell to the picture in his hands. "I couldn't bear to lose her," he said quietly. "Not this way...not now... I couldn't go through it all again..."
Edward sat beside his son-in-law. "As you said yourself, Kathryn's a fighter. She won't give up..."
"I just wish they would tell us what's happening," Chakotay replied, "it's agony not knowing..." He ran his finger tenderly over Kathryn's face. "I love her so much. I've loved her since the first day I met her. She had such spirit, such courage, and was so beautiful..." He paused. "I hardly dared dream that she could feel the same. How could she? I was a Maquis criminal, a man she was meant to be capturing. I couldn't expect her to love me, and yet I wanted her too so much it was like a constant ache. I tried to stop loving her, I tried so hard, but I couldn't. "
"If we can stop loving someone just by willing it, "Edward answered kindly, "then we can't really love them in the first place." He paused. "I used to worry a lot about Kathryn...more so than her sister. Phoebe was more artistic and creative, but she was far more independent. Kathryn appeared the tougher of the two, but I knew that really she was the more vulnerable. She felt things more deeply, but buried those feelings away in her heart. Science was her escape, her way of channeling emotions she couldn't vent. I worried about the kind of men she would meet, worried they wouldn't see her tender heart because of her tough exterior." He paused again. "I'm so glad you came into her life. You're everything and more I could have hoped for her. You're kind and gentle, yet have a strength of spirit that Kathryn needs."
Chakotay looked up at him now and smiled wanly. "Thank you. That means a lot." He paused. "For a long time it worried me that I wouldn't be accepted by Kathryn's family because of my past..."
"A past you should have no shame in," Edward replied. "What the Cardassians did to your people...to your family...it's beyond horrendous. Any good man would have fought..."
Chakotay lowered his eyes and gazed at the picture of Kathryn again. "But there are other ways I could have fought..." He touched Kathryn's face again. "But I'm so glad I met Kathryn, so glad we shared the journey that we did..." Fresh tears welled in his eyes. "All I ever wanted was to keep her safe. But it was so hard. There were so many dangers and she is such a strong, determined, woman..."
Edward smiled. "That's for certain..."
"She died once before," Chakotay continued. "I don't mean in Engineering, but four years before that. We'd gone on an away mission, just the two of us, and we crashed our shuttle in a storm. It was the time when that alien impersonated you... When I came round, I found that Kathryn was dead. I tried my best to revive her, but I couldn't..." He paused. "For weeks afterwards I had nightmares..." A tear ran down his cheek. "When she was dead last night, it all came back to me...memories of that, of Elissia...I'd tried so hard to forget..."
Edward was just about to speak, when Gretchen appeared, her face shining with joy. "I've just heard from the hospital," she said happily. "Kathryn's going to be okay and we can visit her any time..."
Chakotay smiled, infinite relief consuming him, and he wiped away his tear as he got to his feet. " I'll go right away..."
Kathryn stood at the window of her hospital room, and gazed out vacantly at the holo-simulated view of snow-capped mountains, fields and sky. A tear ran down her cheek and she made no effort to wipe it away. It had felt so real, hearing Chakotay's voice, feeling his hand in hers...so real... And how she wished it was... She missed him so much that the ache in her heart was unbearable...
The door to the room opened, and Kathryn glanced behind her briefly to see who was there. It was the Doctor.
She turned to him slowly, her back aching. "Don't worry," she said quietly. "I'm on my way back to bed..."
"If I were you, I wouldn't rush..." the Doctor smiled. "I've found out what happened last night. I think you'll want to stay on your feet to greet the one who saved you."
With that, he disappeared through the door again and Kathryn frowned, slightly confused.
Then a shadow fell on the wall and someone else entered. Kathryn gasped when she saw who it was.
"Chakotay..."
He stood before her in black trousers and white t-shirt and looked so well, so well... He smiled tenderly, tears in his eyes.
"Not quite the homecoming I was expecting."
Kathryn gazed at him, almost in disbelief, as tears and laughter combined.
"Chakotay..."
Chakotay closed the gap between them and gently drew her into his arms.
"I'm home, Kathryn, I'm home."
Kathryn wrapped her arms around his neck, oblivious to the pain it caused, and squeezed him tight.
"Oh Chakotay... my Chakotay..." Tears ran down her cheek, merging with his. "It was you I heard...you're really here..."
"Yes," he answered, "it was me. I had to get you out of there..."A tear ran down his cheek and fell into her hair. "But when we got you out, you were dead... I thought I'd lost you and I couldn't bear it...I couldn't go through it again..."
Kathryn held him tighter. "I thought it was just a dream...hearing your voice... but you're really home..."
"A few weeks after you'd gone," Chakotay explained, "Arlei found me. She and her people had discovered that one of the wormholes in the cluster we found in the Delta Quadrant terminated close to Federation space. We traveled together to the wormhole and used it to return."
Kathryn drew slightly away from him, her face wet with tears. "Arlei returned with you?"
Chakotay nodded. "Harry picked her up from Starfleet Headquarters last night. She was worried he wouldn't welcome her, but he couldn't come fast enough."
"Of course not," Kathryn replied. "He's really missed her." She reached out and traced the course of Chakotay's tattoo. "And really I've missed you. These past few months...they've been hell...I've missed you so much..." She drew him close, holding him tight. "So very very much..."
" I've missed you," Chakotay whispered, burying his head in her hair. "I never want to be away from you that long again. I never even want to be away from you..."
"Nor I you...I love you, Chakotay... I love you so much..." She squeezed him tight. "We should never have left you behind...should never have left you... it's tortured me..."
Chakotay gently drew her away from him. "It had to be this way," he said kindly. "And I'm glad it was this way." A tear ran down his cheek. "I found her..."
"Who?"
"Rennay. She wasn't dead all these years, Kathryn. She was with the Cardassians."
"Oh, Chakotay..." Kathryn whispered.
"The wormhole terminated in Cardassian space. I was taken prisoner and they brought Rennay to me. They wanted to make me suffer by seeing her suffer. But they didn't get a chance to do much. A Cardassian I saved when I was a Maquis helped us escape and Arlei found us. Her vessel was cloaked so they didn't capture her. We traveled home in her shuttle."
Kathryn put her hand to Chakotay's cheek, her fingers trembling. "Did they... did they hurt you?"
"No," Chakotay replied. "They didn't get a chance."
Infinite relief consumed Kathryn at that. She knew only too well what they were capable of.
"Then Q was right," she said tearfully, "it really was better this way..."
Chakotay nodded. "I never thought for a moment she was alive, Kathryn." Fresh tears welled in his eyes. "If I'd known, if I'd only even imagined, I would have searched for her and never stopped."
"I know you would have..."
"I'm going to take her to Trebus. She'll have all the love there she could ever need to heal." A tear ran down his cheek and his voice fell to barely more than a whisper. "It all seems too good to be true...being home, my mother alive, and Rennay not dead..."
"Well, it is true," Kathryn said, another tear running down her cheek. "And you so deserve it to be..." She smiled warmly. "And as I'm sure you know by now, I've been made an Admiral. I'll be working here in San Francisco. We can all be together; you, me, Silvie and Stevie... No more separation... no more sacrifice... we can be together..." The light in her eyes faded and she lowered them. "Unless..."
Chakotay put a gentle finger to her chin and raised her head, forcing her to look up at him. "Unless what?"
"You take up a position on a ship. All Maquis have been exonerated and..."
Chakotay put his fingers to her lips. "I'm going nowhere, Kathryn. For too many years we've had to make sacrifices. This is going to be our time." He smiled. "Besides, I was offered a teaching position at the academy when I returned yesterday and I've accepted."
Kathryn smiled through tears. "You're right, this really is all too good to be true..."
Chakotay tenderly brushed his face against her wet cheek. "I love you so much..."
Kathryn gazed deep into his eyes. "I love you, Chakotay...I love you..."
Chakotay tilted her face gently, and then slowly, softly, brought his lips down to hers and kissed her lovingly. Kathryn's arms found their way to his neck and she deepened the kiss as he gathered her close, wanting to drown herself in him and their love...
Two hours later, Kathryn arrived home with Chakotay. He landed her father's shuttle in the grounds of Griffy Manor, and then helped his wife to disembark. Kathryn linked her arm with his, and slowly they began to walk towards the imposing house.
Kathryn looked up at the towers as she walked and smiled. "It's a beautiful house, isn't it?"
"Very characteristic," Chakotay smiled.
Kathryn stopped walking and turned to him, looking into his eyes. "But if you don't love it as much as me, then we'll find somewhere else..."
Chakotay gently brushed his fingers against her cheek. "I love it, Kathryn." He looked deep into her eyes. "And I don't care where we live, so long as we're together."
Tears welled in Kathryn's eyes and Chakotay tenderly lowered his lips to hers and kissed her softly.
When they drew away, Kathryn turned to look at the main door, her eyes sparkling. "You know," she said impishly, "it's traditional for a husband to carry his wife over the threshold of their first home."
Chakotay smiled. "So it is." He then fell serious. "But are you up to it?"
"You bet!"
Chakotay gently picked Kathryn up and she held around his neck. He then carried her tothe door and Kathryn keyed in the access code. When the door opened, Chakotay carefully carried Kathryn over the threshold, and they laughed softly and kissed before he lowered her to the ground. Kathryn then took his hands in hers and gazed into his eyes.
"I know I've lived here for a few months now, but this is the first time I've truly felt that I'm home..."
Chakotay squeezed her hands, and they gently surrendered to another long, lingering, kiss.
When at last they made their way to the living room, they both gasped when the door opened to reveal a sea of faces...familiar faces...family and friends... Amongst them were Gretchen and Edward holding Silvie and Stevie, Phoebe and Katy, Roxa and Vixi, Celes, Ella and Heidi, the Doctor and his wife, Samantha and Naomi, Reg Barclay, Seven and her aunt, and Harry and Arlei
"Welcome home," they all cried in unison, and shot rainbow streamers into the air.
As people stepped forward to personally welcome Chakotay home, Kathryn slowly made her way over to Harry and Arlei. She smiled at the attractive young woman with pretty violet eyes.
"Arlei," she said, embracing her. "it's wonderful to see you."
Arlei smiled. "It's good to see you too, Captain... I mean Admiral... "
Kathryn drew away from her. "I could hardly believe it when Chakotay said you'd come back with him."
"I wasn't sure whether I should," Arlei replied, "but Chakotay thought I should...and so I did..."
"And I'm so very glad you did," Kathryn smiled. She cast a glance at Harry. "And I'm sure Harry is too..."
"I thought I was dreaming," he said happily. "I had to pinch myself ten times to make sure it was real..."
Kathryn laughed softly. "So have I. I still am..." She then fell serious again. "I know that Harry was part of the reason you came back to look for Voyager, but I'm very grateful that another reason was to help us get home. If you hadn't made that trip, Chakotay would still be out there." She paused. "It was also brave of you to search for him in Cardassian space. You saved his life."
"Anyone would have done the same.," Arlei replied. "Chakotay has been a good friend to me, you all have. After my family died, I was forced to move from one place to another, always searching for a place to belong but never finding it. Voyager was the first place in years that became a real home. Thankyou for allowing me to stay."
Kathryn put her hand on Arlei's arm. "It was good to have you. And I'm sure you'll feel at home here in the Federation within no time."
"In a strange way, I already do," Arlei said honestly. "Harry's here and Earth is such a wonderful planet. I love it already."
Kathryn smiled. "And you're a very skilled engineer. You'll be very welcome in Starfleet."
"Thank you, Admiral. I would like to join Starfleet and serve as an engineer on a ship..." She glanced at Harry. "Preferably the same one as Harry will be on..."
"I'm sure that can be arranged," Kathryn said kindly.
Harry spoke. "It's great that Chakotay found his sister..."
"It certainly is."
"Ten years with the Cardassians...it turns my blood cold just thinking about it..."
"It says a lot about her strength of character that she survived that long," Kathryn said thoughtfully. She smiled softly. "And now if you'll excuse me, I must return to Chakotay. I'll speak to you both again soon."
Harry and Arlei nodded and Kathryn made her way back to Chakotay. He was talking with Samantha Wildman, while Naomi talked with Vixi. At Kathryn's approach, Naomi addressed her.
"May Vixi and I go and play in the garden?"
"If you want, honey," Kathryn replied.
Naomi smiled happily. "Thank you, Admiral."
The child took Vixi's hand and they disappeared through the door.
When Chakotay and Samantha had finished talking, Kathryn approached him.
"Where's Rennay?"
"Looking after Petal," he replied. " Your mother said she wasn't very comfortable at the thought of a party, so she asked her if she'd like to look after Petal instead. She's upstairs in the observatory."
Kathryn put her hand on his arm. "Then I'll meet her later."
When the last guest had left, Kathryn went to sit in the garden while Edward, Gretchen, Roxa and Vixi cleared up. Her back was hurting, but the pain was tolerable, unlike the time she was assimilated before. Then she had been in silent agony. As she sat down, she looked around the garden and thought it was more beautiful than ever. But then, everything seemed more beautiful than ever, everything seemed perfect...
Suddenly Petal appeared, running across the garden as fast as the wind to greet her mistress. Kathryn gave her due attention and then looked to see if Chakotay and Rennay were following. They were. Rennay walked beside Chakotay and looked painfully thin next to his well-built frame. She was wearing a long black dress and her hair was tied back from her face in a black ribbon. On her forehead she wore the marking of her people. She looked a lot like Chakotay, but not as much as Sekaya. Her face was longer and her eyes bigger.
Kathryn smiled warmly, tears in her eyes, as Rennay approached.
"You must be Rennay."
Rennay nodded.
"I'm Kathryn, Chakotay's wife." She paused. "I can't tell you how wonderful it is to meet you. I've heard so much about you."
Rennay smiled and tears welled in her eyes. Kathryn stepped forward and gently embraced the fragile, trembling, woman...
Chakotay watched as Rennay tentatively responded and a tear ran down his cheek.
Stars twinkled and a silver full moon gleamed against a black sky. Chakotay looked at the moon from a window in the bedroom he was to share with Kathryn, and gazed at it as though he was seeing it for the first time...
"For so many years I barely gave the moon a second thought," he said quietly. "But it's a precious sight now."
Kathryn put down the white satin nightrobe she had just taken off, and joined him at the window, dressed only in a sleeveless nightie.
"Every night you were away," she said, taking his arm between her hands and caressing it softly. "I would sit on this window seat and gaze out at the stars, thinking how you were somewhere amongst them." She paused. "On my birthday, I made a wish upon a shooting star that you would come home and..." She smiled. "I guess it came true."
Chakotay turned slowly towards her and touched her face. "Every night I would look out at the stars and think of you..." He took her hand and kissed it softly. "And speaking of birthdays, I have something for you..."
He went over to a black suitcase he had put in a corner of the room and opened it. He pulled out a gold velvet box the length of his hand, and returned to Kathryn.
"I made this for you, for your birthday..."
He handed Kathryn the box and she opened it carefully. Inside, resting in white satin, was a sparkling red rose made of glass, with an exquisite green stem and leaves.
"It's beautiful," Kathryn said tearfully, touching the rose tenderly. "You really made this?"
Chakotay nodded. "While I was looking for dilithium crystals, I came across a substance on a demon class planet that set like glass after a couple of hours in normal temperature. I dyed it and moulded it to my liking as it set."
Kathryn looked up at him and put her hand to his cheek. "It's amazing. Thank you."
Chakotay smiled and then returned to his suitcase. "I also made something for Silvie and Stevie on their birthday."
He pulled out a pink and blue velvet box and then carried them over to the foot of the bed, where he put them down. Kathryn lay her box beside them on the bed, and opened the lid of the pink box. Inside she saw one of the golden eagles Chakotay had carved.
"Oh Chakotay," she said, "it's wonderful..."
She opened the blue box and saw the same inside.
"They're both wonderful..." She picked the second eagle up and studied it closely. "And the wood is incredible. I've never seen anything like it..."
"I found it on a planet Arlei and I waited on for the first wormhole to stabilise. It was full of all kinds of beautiful flowers and planets and trees." He paused. "I'm lucky that Arlei and I decided to store everything in her ship, otherwise I would have lost all these things with the Delta Flyer."
Kathryn ran her fingers over the eagle. "Silvie and Stevie are the lucky one," she said quietly. "They're lucky to have such a wonderful father and they're lucky to...to have you home..."
She could say no more as tears choked her.
Chakotay took the eagle from her hands and put it back in the box.
"I'm sorry," Kathryn whispered, "I just..."
Chakotay put his hands on her shoulders. "Don't be sorry. It's been a terrible time, for both of us. We've both been dealing with a lot of emotion."
The tears flowed heavier now, sobs shaking her slender body, as years of worry, guilt, burden and responsibilty, finally lifted their crushing weight on her. Chakotay gently gathered her close and Kathryn clung to him, holding him tight, and never wanting to let him go...
It was cold on Trebus. Soft snow fell, covering the rich brown soil with a white blanket. Wrapped in warm padded coats with thick hoods, and wearing knee high boots, Chakotay and Rennay walked their way to the village. Kathryn had stayed home with Silvie and Stevie. Partly because it would be winter on Trebus, partly because she felt this was a journey Chakotay and his sister needed to make alone.
The village was quiet. Everyone was inside, sheltering from the cold. Smoke puffed out of wooden hut after wooden hut and a warm orange glow of firelight emanated from several windows. For a moment, Chakotay had to stop walking and just look around. It was all so different to the last time he had stood here. Then there had been nothing but barren land, nothing but the bitter pain of death in the air. Now there was life once more.
He slipped his arm around his sister and began to walk again. Kathryn had told him in great detail where he could find his mother's lodging, and he saw the hut exactly as she had described in the distance. At a steady pace, he and Rennay walked over to it. When they reached the door, he lowered his hood and then knocked. It seemed an eternity before it opened. When it did, he saw Sekaya in the doorway.
"Hello Sekaya," he smiled.
The woman's eyes widened in delight. "Chakotay!" She drew him close and hugged him. "Oh, Chakotay..."
Then she disappeared inside and returned with what seemed a crowd of people. Chakotay gasped when he saw his mother walk towards him. She looked just as he remembered her, just the same...
"Oh, my boy," Enola said tearfully, "my son.." She took him in her arms and kissed his cheek. "The gods have answered and sent you back to us... Oh, my boy..."
Chakotay held his mother close a moment and then drew away from her.
"Not just me," he said kindly.
He turned to Rennay and gently lowered her hood.
"Rennay too..."
For a long moment, Enola just stared at her daughter. Then she pulled her close, weeping from joy.
"My little Rennay. Oh, my sweet daughter. The gods have been good to us...so good..."
Rennay clung tight to her mother and they wept together.
A MONTH LATER
The new Voyager gleamed in the San Francisco sunlight. Crowds of people had gathered at the dock to watch her take off for her maiden flight, captained and crewed by the famous Voyager crew themselves.
Inside the ship, the bridge crew waited eagerly for their Captain to arrive. Everyone was at their post: Harry, Tuvok, Seven, Tom, and Chakotay was sitting in the First Officer's chair. As they waited, Tuvok looked around the bridge, absorbing every detail.
"The likeness is remarkable," he commented. "If I did not know this was a replica, I would believe it was Voyager herself."
"So would I," Tom agreed. "Everything is the same...everything..."
Chakotay smiled. "That was the idea..."
As he spoke, the turbo lift doors opened and Voyager's former captain stepped out of them.
"Captain on the bridge," Tuvok said formally.
At his words, everyone got to their feet.
Kathryn stood still a moment and looked around. Everything was just as she remembered. She looked at the familiar faces looking back at her and a lump gathered in her throat. She walked to the center of the bridge and smiled, tears in her eyes.
"I don't know about you all," she said warmly, "but I have the strangest sense of de ja vu."
The crew laughed softly.
"It's good to be here with you all. I've missed you..."
Eyes moistened at those words and several crew members looked down.
"We shared many special times on Voyager," Kathryn continued, "and I'm sure it's those we are all remembering today." She paused. "But before we take off, there is something I need to say." She turned to Harry. "Mr Kim, put me through to the whole ship."
Harry did what he was told and then nodded to indicate that task was complete.
Kathryn then prepared to speak. "This is Kathryn Janeway to all. I was just telling the bridge crew how good it is to be with you all again. We had many difficult times on Voyager, but it is the good times we are here to remember today, and I'm sure we all agree that there were many many good times. We shared together a remarkable journey that will not only live on in our hearts, but will live on in history. In so many ways, the warp-core is the heart of a starship, it's what makes her take flight to the stars. As I'm sure you all know, Voyager's warp-core was retrieved by my good friend, Captain Abigail Tanner, and now lies in engineering of this ship. So, just as the journey will always live on in our hearts, so too will the heart of Voyager live on in this new ship that has been built especially to honor her." She paused. "Before we take off on this very special maiden flight that will be watched by billions across the Federation, I need to remind you all of one very important thing. While we are all gathered here today in celebration of our past journey, we will be taking this ship into space. Therefore, until we return and disembark, we will once again be a Starfleet crew, in a command structure, and all Starfleet rules and regulations will apply. This is absolutely essential to protect the safety of every crew member and all civilians onboard. Professionalism must be displayed at all times without exception." She paused again and closed with a smile. "With that, I will close this message and wish you all a very joyous and memorable flight. Janeway out."
As the channel closed, Kathryn turned to Tom.
"Alright, Mr Paris...at my command."
She sat down in the captain's chair, savored the moment, and then spoke.
"Engage."
The engines started up and, in moments, the new Voyager was out of Earth's orbit and soaring to the stars.
Beautiful flowers and white ribbon decorated the mess hall. Stars twinkled outside, and inside soft music played. Beneath an arch of white and pink roses, Kathryn stood in formal dress and waited with the gathered crowd for the bride to appear. Harry Kim stood to her left, smartly dressed in a white suit and white shirt, and to her left, Tom Paris stood in uniform, holding a red velvet cushion which had two wedding rings carefully placed on top of it.
At last, the mess hall doors opened and Arlei appeared. She was wearing an elegant long dress of white satin, and crystal shoes sparkled on her feet. Her dark hair tumbled over her shoulders, and in her hands she held a small bouquet. Her arm was linked with Chakotay's, and they slowly began to walk through the aisle of people to the arch. In pretty pink bridesmaids dreses, Naomi and Vixi followed, smiling at the people around them. Harry gazed at Arlei in adoration, his feelings for her evident on his face, and his mother shed a tear of joy.
When they reached Kathryn, Chakotay stepped aside for Harry to take his place, and Arlei handed her bouquet to Naomi.
"Ladies and gentleman," Kathryn began. "We are gathered here to day to witness the marriage of our dear friends, Harry Kim and Arlei Marvo. They have written their own vows which they are now going to share with us."
Harry took Arlei's hands in his. "My dear Arlei Marvo. I, Harry Kim, promise before all those present here today, to love you, to cherish you, to honor you and respect you, from this moment on for as long as we both shall live. I promise to be your companion, your helper, your guardian, your friend, your lover, and your shelter. I devote my life to loving you, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse." He then took the smallest ring from the cushion Tom was holding, and slipped it onto her finger. "I give you this ring as a token of our marriage, as sign of the promises I have made to you today."
A tear ran down Arlei's cheek, and she took his hands in hers, gazing softly into his eyes.
"My dear Harry Kim. I, Arlei Marvo, promise before all those present here today, to love you, to cherish you, to honor you and respect you, from this moment on for as long as we both shall live. I promise to be your companion, your helper, your guardian, your friend, your lover, and your shelter. I devote my life to loving you, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse." She took the remaining ring from the cushion, and slipped it onto his finger. "I give you this ring as a token of our marriage, as a sign of the promises I have made to you today."
Harry and Arlei then united their left hands, and Kathryn placed her hand over theirs. "It gives me great joy to pronounce you husband and wife."
The crowd applauded and Kathryn stepped back as Harry took his bride in his arms and kissed her.
As the newly weds drew apart, B'Elanna shouted from the crowd. "The bouquet!"
At that, Arlei took the flowers from Naomi, turned her back to the crowd, and threw them over her head. As they flew through the air, she turned around to see who would catch them...
Seven.
The crowd cheered and, if Kathryn wasn't mistaken, Seven blushed.
While the happy couple and civilians continued to celebrate in the mess hall, the crew returned to duty. They needed to get the ship back to San Francisco where she was to be opened to the public as a museum.
On the bridge, Seven had taken Harry's place, and listened while she worked to those around her discussing the wedding.
"I can't say how glad I am that Harry finally got the girl," Tom smiled from the helm.
"If I recall correctly," Tuvok answered, "'getting the girl' was never Mr Kim's problem. It was keeping her."
"Right you are, Tuvok," Tom laughed. "And gives a whole new meaning to the phrase loser in love..."
Kathryn smiled at their verbal banter from her seat on the bridge. It was just like old times. While she was so glad to have completed her mission and got the crew home, she knew a part of her would always miss being on Voyager.
"Alright, Mr Paris," she said warmly. "We've got a schedule to keep. Set a course for..."
Seven interrupted her, the former drone's anxious words destroying the tranquility on the bridge.
"There's a displacement wave heading right towards us."
Kathryn's stomach sank and she turned to the viewscreen. "On screen."
The viewscreen illuminated and displayed a glowing wave closing in on them.
Kathryn turned to Tom. "Get us out of here, maximum warp..."
He powered up engines and in seconds the ship was at maximum warp. But it had no effect. The wave was still closing in on them.
Kathryn turned to Tuvok. "Raise shields to maximum. Try to disperse it with..."
But it was too late. The wave was upon them.
A blinding light flashed across the bridge and the ship shook as it was tossed about by the wave, throwing Kathryn to the floor.
Then all was still.
Kathryn got to her feet and looked around the heavily damaged bridge. Others had been thrown to the floor and slowly got up. Kathryn turned to Tuvok.
"Report."
"There's severe damage to the ship, including a hull breach on deck fourteen, but no fatalities."
Seven spoke. "I'm detecting something, perhaps a vessel, approximately 8 kilometers away..."
Kathryn turned back to the viewscreen. "On screen..."
The image of an array, identical to the one that had pulled them to the Delta Quadrant eight years ago, showed before her. Tears flooded Kathryn's eyes. It couldn't be happening again, not again...
"If sensors are correct," Seven continued. "We're at the other side of the galaxy."
Kathryn stared at the array in horror, unable to move, unable to speak...
Then the sound of familiar laughter cut across the bridge.
Kathryn whirled around, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "Q."
Q was sitting in her seat, laughing heartedly. "Oh what fun... the look on your face..."
Kathryn swallowed, still trembling from the shock. "I don't happen to find your joke in the least bit amusing."
"Oh come, Kathy. Can't you appreciate it just a little?"
"What I would appreciate is you undoing all of this..."
Q's son suddenly appeared next to him. "That was awesome. Your face, Aunt Kathy..."
Kathryn stepped closer. "No wonder you're having problems with your son if this is the kind of example you're setting him."
"What would you have rathered, Kathy? That it be a real array out there?"
"You try my patience."
Q got to his feet. "And you're trying mine with your dour seriousness. You need to lighten up, my dear, learn how to enjoy a little humor..." He bridged the gap between them, pulling a puppy dog face. "There's got to be some part of Kathryn Janeway that appreciates the joke. A teeny weeny small part..."
Tuvok spoke. "One must concede it was well executed."
Kathryn looked over to him. "Tuvok, stay out of this." She then turned to Q and fixed on him a death glare. "I want all of this undone. Now!"
Q sighed under the weight of her stare. "Oh, very well. Mortals never did have much sense of fun." He clicked his fingers and, as he and his son disappeared, the bridge returned to it's former glory.
As Kathryn returned to her seat, Chakotay entered the bridge.
"Don't worry, it's all over," Kathryn said when she saw him. "It was just Q's idea of a joke."
Chakotay frowned. "What's all over?"
Now it was Kathryn's turn to be confused. "You didn't see the wave or feel the turbulence just now?"
"Nothing," Chakotay said, sitting in the First Officer's chair. "What happened?"
"I'll give you two clues," Tom said from the helm. "Displacement wave and array."
"I see," Chakotay said, trying to stifle a smile.
"Q's idea of fun," Kathryn answered. "But I'll tell you this, it wasn't mine."
Chakotay couldn't help laugh now. "I'm sorry," he said. "But you have to admit it's pretty funny..."
Tom was laughing now too, and several others, and their laugh was infectious.
"I suppose I can see how it might be," Kathryn said, looking around. She then looked back at Chakotay and, as she looked into his eyes, found herself laughing too...
Then, as everyone sobered, Kathryn turned to her Chief Pilot. "Mr Paris, set a course...for home."
END OF PART TWO
