The door to the Brig opened allowing Lieutenant Commander Tuvok to enter. "I have been instructed to perform the interrogations." He informed the security officer that stood guard.
"Yes, Sir." The officer nodded, lowering the force field that kept Ro Laren under control.
Tuvok stepped through and signaled the security officer to raise the force field again. He stood, legs casually spaced and his fingers entwined behind his back. He watched the Maquis woman with fascinated interest. In his logically and perfectly controlled mind, she did not appear to be a hostile person. But as his measured Vulcan gaze rested on her she became agitated and uncomfortable.
"You must answer each question carefully and truthfully." He began and paused to let her think this over. "It is in your best interests to cooperate. If you do, we will be sure you are treated well wherever we decide to take you. Do you understand?"
She hesitated, not sure whether or not she should trust him. He was, after all, under the command of Chakotay, wasn't he? According to a great deal of rumors she had heard, this particular Vulcan had once betrayed the Maquis and she knew his knowledge of their weaknesses must be extensive. What could it hurt to trust him? He looked like a very nice guy, for a Vulcan. "All right . . . I'll cooperate." She inclined her head slightly in anticipation of the first question.
"During your attack . . . " He began, and questioned her for hours that day. But no matter what kind of questions he asked, no matter what kind of answers she gave, Chakotay failed to be satisfied.
Over the next week the interrogations continued. Ro Laren was overly cooperative and Tuvok was fairly impressed. He wondered if Chakotay's denial of Kathryn's death had something to do with why he kept dismissing Tuvok's request to offer Ro Laren leniency.
During the week, Voyager had rendezvoused with the escape pods and shuttles that were waiting impatiently to be returned to their home and their family. The Doctor ordered that everyone be checked out by Tom for any serious injuries.
After Sickbay had undergone an acceptable amount of repairs, the Doctor had completed surgery on B'Elanna. He ended up having to repair 54 bones, muscle tissue in several places, her entire spinal chord, two punctured lungs, and he had to repair nerve damage in more than one hundred places. The Doctor informed both her and Tom that recovery would be long, hard, and strenuous, but he had permitted her to return to her quarters so she could be with her husband, daughter, and the newest member of the family, Thomas Bryan Paris.
Harry found himself in the holodeck more and more often, unable to escape the torment that he'd been going through since his captain's death. Chakotay had permitted him to go into Kathryn's quarters to look through her stuff and just spend time there.
Eight days after Captain Kathryn Meryl Janeway died, and five days since the rendevous with the rest of the crew, a memorial service took place. She was jettisoned into space and the entire crew of 102 were present in the Mess Hall and saluted as her space "coffin" drifted away.
Following that, some told stories of her life, and tears were shared by most.
"Harry was the first to speak. He stood, placing his untouched glass down. "Captain Janeway," He began slowly. "Was my first captain. She was always looking after me, making sure I was okay." He paused to catch his breath and to wipe his tear-filled eyes. "She was a close friend, and . . . I'll miss her." He sat down in a small chair. Putting his head in his hands, he began to cry. Then he felt an arm slip across his shoulder and squeeze gently. It was comforting and he looked up to see, to his surprise, B'Elanna.
"You're not the only one who misses her, Harry. . . . We all do." She gave him a slight reassuring smile.
He nodded. "I know . . . It's just so hard without her."
Tom stood and held up a glass of synthehol. "To Captain Kathryn Janeway; the best mother we ever had."
His words were softly echoed and melancholy laughter swept through the room as the crew drank to his toast.
He then took B'Elanna's hand and helped her up. He put his arm around her for support, making it easier for her to stand.
"Janeway was the first enemy I made on Voyager, and my second was Vorik." Everyone laughed at the unexpected choice of words that she used. "Anyway, I was very angry when she destroyed the Caretaker array."
"Weren't we all?" Asked Samantha Wildman.
"I suppose we were. But I grew to respect and even agree with her decisions and choices. So many times I watched her put total strangers ahead of us. It used to make me angry, seeing people regaining what they lost, sometimes at the cost of one crew member. She indirectly taught me that our personal goals in life should be to help those less fortunate than we are. I also noticed that she always took each individual crew person into consideration. Before I had Miral, she offered to give me time off to let things sink in. I secretly was really angry with her. Now that I look back, I realize that she was simply making sure I didn't overwork myself . . . she was looking after me." She took a deep breath, held it, and let it out slowly. "If she were here now, I'd hug her and thank her for how much she cared."
Tom helped her sit down and Miral climbed carefully onto her mother's lap. B'Elanna distracted herself with her daughter, getting her to smile, but keeping her quiet.
Tuvok stood up to the surprise of everyone present. "I have known Captain Janeway for 36 years and have served with her longer. She is the only one that I have ever called 'my friend.' She was always there, no matter what the circumstances." He nodded and returned to his seat.
Six others spoke before Seven walked toward the center of the room.
"I have much to thank the Captain for. She was . . . like a sister to me. She was the first person to show that she cared about me," She glanced over at B'Elanna who smiled. "That my humanity and individuality were important to her. I do not know what would have happened to me if she hadn't saved me and allowed the Doctor to remove my unessential Borg implants. I have to say that she'll be missed." Seven retreated quickly to the back of the room and gazed out the window port.
The doors whisked open and Chakotay walked in. Everyone simply stared at him. "Sorry I'm late. I couldn't get my daughter to sleep."
B'Elanna shook her head and allowed a small smile slip through her faked disappointment. "That's okay. You could've brought her."
"I wasn't really thinking." He looked down and Miral, who was now sitting on the floor, tears streaming down her cheeks. It was obvious to him that she had been told Kathryn wasn't coming back.
Tom picked his baby girl up, gently setting her back on B'Elanna's lap and, kneeling down next to them, picked up Thomas off the blanket he had been sleeping on and cradled him in his arms.
Chakotay looked around the room, sweeping his gaze over everyone. "Captain Kathryn Meryl Janeway has died in a tragic accident. We are heading over to Deep Space Nine. While we're there, you're all free to leave the ship, and shore leave is mandatory for everyone . . . " Pausing he looked at them all again. "Let us have a moment of silence." After three minutes Chakotay began again. "I will be leaving the ship and heading for Earth on DS9's next transport ship. All those who wish to leave should put in their request before we dock. Thank You." He quickly left.
B'Elanna looked at Harry who began to speak. "I wonder why he didn't want to stay?"
Her response was carefully thought out for a moment. "He's very tired and upset, and really needs to sleep."
The remaining crew; men, women, and children sat in a peaceful quiet for 48 minutes before rising to leave.
"Sensors detect several Cardassian warships closing on our position, Commander." Harry stated looking around the bridge.
"Hail them." Chakotay said.
"They're responding."
"On screen."
"You are illegally harboring a Maquis insurgent who is wanted by the Cardassian government on counts of citizen murder." The face of a Cardassian general filled the screen as he spoke.
"No. We're actually holding her in our Brig. We intend to punish her for the deaths of many Starfleet personnel."
Tom glanced at B'Elanna who sat in the corner of the Bridge. "We?" He mouthed.
She shrugged.
"We will escort you to the nearest space station." The Cardassian general waved the screen off and proceeded to follow them.
"Ensign Kim, contact Deep Space Nine and put it on screen."
"Aye, Sir."
"State your business." Came a familiar voice that caused every head in the room to snap up and look at the screen.
"Q!" Chakotay exclaimed in shock.
"Right my facial art friend. You're a smart one today. Allow me and a buddy of mine to beam on over."
"I doubt I'd be able to stop you."
"Another good one! I want armed guards there for our protection. Give us 21/2 minutes."
After the communication link was severed, B'Elanna turned to face Chakotay. "Commander, why would he want to beam over and who could this friend be?"
Chakotay stared at her for a moment then whirled to face Tuvok. "Armed guards in the Transporter Room . . . now!"
The Commander's orders were carried out quickly and by the time 21/2 minutes were up, Chakotay, Tom, Harry, Tuvok, B'Elanna, Seven, and six security officers stood ready by the Transporter pad.
Two pillars of light sparkled into existence as the two that came over manifested into their original shapes. All jaws dropped at the sight of Captain Janeway.
"Requesting permission to come aboard, Captain." She held her hand out to her dumbfounded first officer.
He shook his head then took her hand. "Of course, Kathryn. "His mouth spread into a wide grin as reality struck and pulled her into a friendly hug. He finally released her and smiled again.
"Captain?" Harry reached over and touched her shoulder then pulled back as if he were afraid his hand might go right through her.
"I'm real, Harry." Kathryn smiled. She then pulled him into a warm embrace. He began to cry as he laid his head on her shoulder. After a few minutes she pulled back to half an arms length and wiped the tears from his eyes. "Well, at least somebody missed me."
The room filled with laughter and tears. Everyone hugged everyone else, and even kissing Tuvok.
Sometime during the "celebration," Kathryn found B'Elanna. "I see you had the baby."
"Yes, I did, Captain. We named him Thomas."
Kathryn smiled and hugged B'Elanna tightly. She returned it, though not quite as hard.
"Kathryn . . . " Chakotay tapped her on the shoulder.
"Yes?"
"We have a. . .prisoner."
"Show me."
The two left along with Tuvok, to introduce Kathryn to Ro Laren.
"Sure . . . Everybody just jump up and thank me." Whined Q, and he received a hug from Harry who had an evil smile on his face.
"This is the Maquis rebel responsible for the attack on Voyager." Chakotay said, leaning against the wall opposite the area Ro Laren was in.
Kathryn ordered the force field lowered and she stepped through. "Welcome aboard. I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway and I'm glad you're here. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Tuvok, get this woman a room, she doesn't look very comfortable in there."
Tuvok raised a nearly comical eyebrow, then led Ro Laren out.
The young woman grabbed Tuvok's arm to stop him. "Captain Janeway? You made many Maquis part of your crew...Why?"
"An act of kindness." She waited for an answer from Ro Laren.
"Speaking strictly hypothetically . . . if I wanted to rejoin Starfleet, would I...could I be on your ship?"
"Strictly hypothetically? Yes. Why, do you?"
After several moments, she caved in. Yes! Please give me a chance!"
"We'll have to keep you under observation for a while, but I don't see why not."
"Thank you, Captain."
After she left, Chakotay walked over to Kathryn. "You have to be kidding. Do you know how dangerous she is?"
"About as dangerous as you?" It was most definitely a rhetorical question.
He nodded reluctantly. "I see your point."
She chuckled and they left for the Bridge.
"This is Kathryn Janeway . . . "She said over the somewhat repaired ship's intercom system. "There has been a misunderstanding. I am not dead and I'm still the Captain. I want full damage reports from all sections. Janeway out."
"Sleep well?" Chakotay asked.
"Yes, I did." She thought a moment, not sure if what she went through was real. "Tell me, Chakotay, did I ever have a tragic accident as a teenager?"
He thought before giving her an answer. "Yes, you were stabbed, almost to death, when you saved your sister from the same fate you experienced."
"So Q wasn't lying." She mumbled.
"About what?"
"Long story, Commander." She smiled.
"Tell me later?"
"Sure. We have new orders." She addressed the Bridge crew. "Before we can once again boldly go where no star ship crew has gone before . . . we have to go to Earth for an extensive overhaul and extended shore leave."
Cheers filled the Bridge, most of which was coming from Harry and Naomi.
"Lieutenant Paris . . . show Ensign Ro Laren how to work our enhanced system."
Tom grinned. "Yes, Ma'am." And with that he began to show her how to work some of those enhancements.
"It Feels good to be back on Voyager." Kathryn looked around then settled her gaze on her new secondary piolet.
"Course laid in, Captain." Ro Laren said casually.
"Good. Take us to Earth, full impulse. . . Engage. . . .
