Unforgettable
"When the Captain told us to start collecting deuterium, Seven suggested a series of modifications to the Bussard collectors. The problem is I didn't realize the extent of the modifications until after we'd begun the sweep. I mean, not that there was anything wrong with them, in fact efficiency is up twenty three percent," Harry explained.
"In a nutshell, Harry," Chakotay said looking at the young ensign.
"The collectors are almost full, but I can't tell exactly how full until I realign my sensors with Seven's," Harry concluded.
"Why didn't you just say so? Next time work closer with her from the start," Chakotay said suppressing a smile.
"Closer. Right," Harry nodded.
"So, you're going to realign your sensors with Seven's. Sounds like fun," Tom grinned as Chakotay suppressed his own laugh.
"Very funny," Harry said as the ship shook lightly.
"What was that?" Tom asked as he tightened his grip on Quinn who was on his lap.
"Are you getting feedback from Seven's modifications?" Chakotay asked looking up at Harry.
"Negative," Harry replied looking at his sensors.
"Report," Kathryn said walking onto the bridge.
"I am picking up proton surges just outside the ship. The first was off the port beam and the second two were off the starboard bow," Tuvok reported.
"On screen… There's nothing out there," Kathryn observed raising her eyebrow slightly.
"Whatever it is, it's getting closer," Tom said tightening his grip on Quinn.
"Red alert. Janeway to Astrometrics," Kathryn said sitting down in her chair.
"Yes, Captain?" Seven asked from the other side.
"Use the Astrometric sensors to scan for the disturbance," Kathryn said.
"I am detecting close range weapons fire," Seven reported.
"Source?" Kathryn asked looking up at Harry who shrugged then at Tuvok.
"Proton surges suggest two cloaked ships engaged in battle," Seven added.
"With us caught in the middle," Harry said.
"Evasive maneuvers," Kathryn ordered as Tom complied.
"Aye sir."
"There's a massive power surge, like one of the ships is exploding," Chakotay said as he tapped a few buttons on his panel.
"Captain, there is one life sign aboard that vessel. It is no longer on our sensors," Tuvok replied.
"We're being hailed, audio only," Harry said to his commanding officers.
"Let's hear it," Kathryn replied.
Chakotay, please, I need your help. Chakotay, are you reading me? Please answer.
"This is Commander Chakotay. Who are you?" Chakotay asked raising an eyebrow. Kathryn looked at Chakotay and raised her own.
Please, anyone on Voyager, if you can hear me, I need help.
"There has been an explosion on the vessel," Tuvok replied.
"The hull is destabilizing. Life support is offline," Harry announced.
"Beam her directly to Sickbay," Kathryn replied nodding to Harry.
"Targeting her co-ordinates. I've lost her. Trying again. I don't understand, I get a clear lock then it drops out," Harry replied anxiously.
"If we can get an away team over there we could stabilize her ship and tractor it in," Chakotay suggested.
"Do it," Kathryn said as Chakotay nodded.
"Tom, Tuvok, let's find out what's going on," Chakotay replied.
"Kathryn?" Chakotay asked walking into Kathryn's ready room where she was reading her reports, as Quinn laid on the floor sleeping.
"Sssh," she whispered gesturing to Quinn. "What can I do for you Commander?"
"I just came to talk to you… How are you doing with this whole Kellin thing?" Chakotay asked walking behind Kathryn and placing his hands on her shoulders as he started to massage away her tension.
"Chakotay, I'm fine," Kathryn replied. "Just find out what really happened."
"I will," Chakotay replied with a smile giving her shoulders a squeeze before he walked out of the ready room.
"I think our guest will enjoy this, Commander. Fried soy meal, buttered carrots, and a delightful almond pudding," Neelix smiled as Chakotay and Kellin smiled.
"Sounds wonderful," Kellin said as she looked over at Chakotay.
"Very nice. Thanks, Neelix," Chakotay said before walking away with Kellin.
"You were very diplomatic," the Alien smiled.
"Why do you say that?" Chakotay asked as the two sat down.
"You hate carrots, fried food upsets your stomach and you refuse to eat pudding because you think it's slimy. Right?" Kellin asked with a knowing smile.
"I'm curious. When you were here before you said we worked together, but you also said you were here to retrieve a runaway. How was I involved?" Chakotay asked as he played with his food.
"Aren't you more curious to hear about how we fell in love?" Kellin asked.
"We? You said you were in love with me. You didn't say I felt the same way," Chakotay asked looking at the woman in front of him. Some how he couldn't wrap his brain around being in love with someone other than Kathryn.
"If you hadn't returned the feelings do you really think I would have taken such a terrible risk to get back to you?" Kellin asked.
"Let's take it one step at a time…" Chakotay started. He had no idea what to think. He had something with Kathryn and Quinn, let it be known however that he and Kathryn didn't have an actual relationship. But they had a small family… in a way.
"I felt an attraction right away but I couldn't afford to get distracted. I had work to do. And I didn't know if you felt it, too," Kellin explained.
"What happened next?" he asked.
Kellin smiled and looked at him, "You took me to Captain Janeway. I explained the situation. She didn't like the idea of a stowaway on her ship, so she told you and Tuvok to work with me to flush him out."
"And did we?" Chakotay asked.
"You keep trying to jump to the end. You're skipping all the parts about us," Kellin grinned.
"And you keep trying to talk about your feelings. I'd rather you stick to the events, not the emotions surrounding them," Chakotay said.
"Why? Does it make you uncomfortable?" Kellin asked.
"I don't want to play this game. I've been assigned to talk to you to figure out whether or not you're telling the truth. Even if you are, I have no memory of meeting you and I certainly have no memory of feeling anything for you. You might remember a relationship between us, but as far as I'm concerned, it didn't exist," Chakotay explained.
"I see."
"I'm sorry. I just want to make it clear how I feel," Chakotay said. That I feel something for someone else.
"Of course," Kellin said knowingly.
"Is there anything I can do for you?" Chakotay asked with a smile.
"Can I have your pudding?" she asked.
"Gladly," Chakotay smiled handing her the bowl.
"Then you're forgiven," Kellin smiled taking a bite of it.
"Chakotay and Kellin, report to the bridge immediately," Kathryn said over the Com.
"It's the Tracers. They've found me," Kellin said wide-eyed.
"Evening, Commander. Craving a late-night snack?" Neelix asked seeing Chakotay enter the messhall.
"No. Something to help me sleep. Got any ideas?" he asked looking at the Alein.
"I know humans think warm milk will do it. Frankly, I find it repulsive," Neelix replied
"I agree. What's available in the tea area?" He asked sitting down.
"Herbal is best. I have several Terran varieties, as well as some more exotic blends," Neelix offered.
"Just mix me up whatever you think is the most relaxing," the Commander sighed.
"Problems? Forgive me. I wasn't trying to pry," Neelix said.
"I know that. I'm just not sure how to answer you," Chakotay said with a small chuckle.
"How's our guest adapting to life on Voyager?" Neelix asked, setting down a cup of tea and seating himself opposite the Commander.
"Quite well, I think," Chakotay replied.
"She must be happy to be here," Neelix smiled.
"I'm sure she is," Chakotay nodded.
"Forgive me, Commander. But sometimes it's best to be straightforward. It's obvious how she feels about you, to me at least. I see how she looks at you. Might that be the source of your consternation?" Neelix asked looking at the man in front of him.
"She says she, or rather we, fell in love when she was here before. Since I can't remember any of that I don't know if it's true. But somehow, it's hard to believe…"
"Why is that?" Neelix asked.
"I don't know. It just doesn't seem like me. I'm still suspicious of her. I don't know if she's using me in some way just for her own purposes… You know how I feel about Kathryn," Chakotay confessed.
"You don't trust her?" Neelix asked.
"Not really," Chakotay answered.
"May I suggest that maybe it's yourself you don't trust. You're own feelings that you're afraid of. Sweet dreams," Neelix said standing up.
"Neelix?" Chakotay said standing up.
"Yes Commander?" the alien asked.
"I can't hurt Kathryn…"
"I know Commander," Neelix said before leaving the Messhall.
As the days wore on, Chakotay grew more anxious about Kellin's feelings towards him. He still hadn't mentioned his 'relationship' as it were, with Kathryn and how he couldn't help the feelings he had for her. That was until the unthinkable happened… Chakotay kissed Kellin. Not like a peck, which was normal with any one of his friends…this was a full-blown kiss that brought out feelings he couldn't understand…
His relationship with Kellin just confused him even more. A part of him was glad that she had to go…while a part of him didn't want to see her go.
"Your ship's ready," Chakotay said looking at Kellin.
"Thank you, Commander," Kellin said thankfully.
"I've implanted a computer virus to eliminate any reference to our being here. By tomorrow afternoon you'll have forgotten everything. It will be as though we never existed. It's better that way," Curneth said to Chakotay, who nodded in acceptance.
"You're such a kind person. I won't forget that," Kellin replied as Chakotay gave a soft smile.
"I wish you both the best. Energize," he ordered as the two aliens disappeared and Chakotay took a breath before he walked out of the room.
"Hey Chakotay," Tom smiled as he walked with Quinn on his shoulders. "We're going to go play Flotter, you wanna come?"
"Actually… I would," Chakotay smiled nodding his head as the two men and Quinn made their way through the corridors. "Harry! Do you feel like playing Flotter?"
"Sure," Harry smiled standing up from the console he was working at. "Just let me finish up here."
"No problemo," Tom smiled. "While we're at it, wanna see if the Doc will join us?"
"Sure," Chakotay laughed. "Too bad Tuvok wouldn't set foot in Flotter."
"Haha, yeah," Harry laughed.
"More coffee, Commander?" Neelix asked walking up to Chakotay.
"No, thanks. I'm almost done," Chakotay replied.
"Strange to see you using those ancient writing implements," Neelix pointed out.
"It's the only way I could get a permanent record of what's happened in the last few days. I want to get it down before I forget it all," Chakotay explained.
"I'm sorry things didn't work out for you," Neelix said.
"That's okay…I've been trying to make sense of it. I was supposed to fall in love with her. But I couldn't… every time we got closer…I couldn't stop but think what am I doing to Kathryn and Quinn? I keep going over and over our last conversation, trying to think if there was something I could have said, could have done, but nothing comes to mind… If I did anything, I would hurt Kathryn, and I can't. I'd rather die myself than hurt her."
"Commander, I don't think you can analyze love. It's the greatest mystery of all. No one knows why it happens or doesn't. Love is a chance combination of elements. Any one thing might be enough to keep it from igniting. A mood, a glance, a remark. And if we could define love, predict it, it would probably lose its power. I'll let you finish," Neelix finished as he got up and left the mess hall.
"Good night," Chakotay whispered before looking down at the PADD. A few minutes later he threw the PADD down and walked out of the mess hall.
"I'm sorry," Chakotay said softly looking at Kathryn. Kathryn looked up from the floor where she was building blocks with Quinn and raised an eyebrow.
"For what?"
"I kissed her…I let myself feel something for her," Chakotay replied sitting down across from Kathryn and helped Quinn with her tower. "I'm so sorry."
"Chakotay," Kathryn started.
"No, listen…I'm really sorry…I shouldn't have done it," he said. "Not to you or her."
"You don't need to apologize," Kathryn said looking at Chakotay.
"Yes I do… I promised that I'd never hurt you and Quinn and I'd be there for you two always…"
Kathryn looked up at Chakotay and blinked a few times before looking back down at the little girl in front of her.
"Kat…" he said softly. "I'm sorry."
"Don't. You didn't hurt me, the only way you could was if you left for good," Kathryn replied as Chakotay smiled softly reaching over and taking her hand.
"That is never going to happen, not now not ever," he winked as Quinn squealed in accomplishment. "You did it sweetheart!"
Quinn's smiled brightly before she moved and crawled onto Chakotay's lap, resting her head on his chest she looked at her mother. "Me Dada."
Kathryn's eyes widened when she heard what Quinn said and looked at Chakotay who was in even more shock. Chakotay looked at Kathryn before she nodded with a smile. "That's right sweetheart, I'm Daddy."
Kathryn smiled, moved over beside Chakotay, and tickled her daughter gently. "I'll never hurt you two. I promise."
"I know," Kathryn smiled.
What did you think? Feedback is the best way for me to post another chapter:P Just kidding but remember people I really do love feedback!
