Chapter 10 - Together
Annika and Chakotay were sitting on the porch swing in front of their small shelter on the bluffs overlooking the ocean. Each had a mug of warm tea in their free hand, their nearer arm wrapped about the other. The clouds were like brush strokes on a deep blue canvas and the slight breeze off the ocean added a moist saltiness to the crisp late afternoon air. They were celebrating three months together, two as husband and wife.
Annika marveled at the chain of events that had brought her to this place. How dramatically her life and future had changed in these past months. If she closed her eyes she could still see the threatening interior of a Borg vessel. Row upon row of drones aligned in their alcoves, eager in their own way to serve the Collective and strive for perfection. The whispers and lies of the Hive Mind ever present, and the illusion of Unimatrix Zero unremembered. She shivered slightly at the thought. It was a part of her that would always be there, but successfully overshadowed now by her human self. The experiences of Unimatrix Zero uncovered and the human body, mind and soul inexorably now linked to the man next to her. Their marriage had been a simple ceremony with Captain Janeway presiding and conducted just before Voyager had left the system. There had been little time for a proper celebration, so it was postponed until Voyager's return, whenever that might be.
Soon after arriving and realizing where they had ended up, they had used Voyager's long range communications to contact the Federation. The revelations from the brief communication with Star Fleet Command had been staggering and instigated a whirlwind of activity. The Federation and Klingon Empire were at war with the Dominion. Species 7995. A more devastating blow to them personally was the destruction of the Maquis. It still weighed heavily on them both. Kathryn had decided to depart immediately, and so decisions were made in haste. Chakotay had originally wanted to return and do what he could for the remnants of the Maquis, but nearly all of the former Maquis on Voyager had opted to stay on the planet, so Annika and Chakotay's choice was clear. The Maquis were gone and they would be stay with those who remained. And so, they would also remain disconnected from the Federation which many still felt had betrayed them, more so now than ever, and three years under Janeway's command hadn't changed that. Cathal had volunteered to return with Voyager to contact the families and others personally. Kathryn vowed to bring him back and return with news and any remaining former Maquis who were willing and able. For now, Annika and Chakotay simply wanted to start a new life. Together. Away from the worries of the Galaxy.
Their current living arrangements were in a small standard Star Fleet issue shelter, but this was only temporary while the two of them restored the nearby house they had chosen on the bluff that overlooked the ocean. This structure had once been a modest home, long ago abandoned by the original inhabitants when the Borg had ravaged the world. They had obtained permission from Rogert and the local authority to occupy the property and were well along their way in completing the renovations. Annika pushed thoughts of the Borg out of her head and turned from the lowering sun on a bed of clouds to face Chakotay. He was looking wistfully at their future home. It was one of the finishing touches that still remained. "Are we ready to paint the outside?" Annika asked.
Chakotay snapped out of his thoughts and nodded. "Yes we are. Quamal found the perfect color for us. We can start work on it tomorrow."
Annika snuggled up closer to Chakotay and then took a sip of her tea. It was near the end of the standard year, late December by the old calendar, but early autumn in the hemisphere of this planet and there was a telling chill in the air of the winter to come. "That's about it. With our well drilled and solar panels and replicator installed and working, I think we'll be ready to move in the next day or two," she commented. "Completely self-sufficient, and just in time for the winter."
Chakotay nodded again absently. He was unusually quiet.
"What is it?" Annika asked, a touch of concern now in her voice, although she could very well guess.
Chakotay huffed. "I was just going through the past three months," he replied. "It is incredible how much has changed in such a short amount of time. Voyager and the delta quadrant feel like a lifetime ago. And my time in the Maquis a lifetime before that." Learning of the Maquis' fate had opened up old wounds for Chakotay. Decisions he had made. The course of his life he had chosen. He frowned and breathed deeply again, and if expelling the feelings these things conjured up with his breath. "The Maquis, the Federation, the war, Voyager. For three years we were on our own, disconnected from the alpha quadrant. And yet, life elsewhere and history marched on, uncaring about us and our individual lives and concerns."
"I was disconnected from humanity for eighteen years," Annika stated matter-of-factly. Again, to think of where she was just three short months ago was staggering. Without Voyager, without Chakotay, where would she be now?
Chakotay squeezed her tighter. "I know." He frowned again and shook his head. "It's not even comparable to what you've gone through. I shouldn't…"
"That's not what I mean," Annika interrupted. How to articulate how she felt? How to capture it all in mere words? "I know I've thought it, but I want to say it out loud. Thank you. I can't imagine what my transition away from the Borg would have been like without you with me. The uncertainty. The loneliness. How much would my Borg past have influenced me?"
Chakotay shrugged and then smiled. "Even without the link, I can only imagine we would have been drawn together eventually," he finally said. "I can't imagine it any other way."
Annika raised an eyebrow. "You and me?" she asked. "What do you suppose would have brought us together?"
Again Chakotay shrugged. "What brings any two people together?" he asked instead. "A shared experience, a shared interest, a compatibility with the other. A comparable need only the other can fill."
"Perhaps," Annika replied, noncommittal. How much did Kes's revelation of Unimatrix Zero and the unlocking of her memories factor in? Experiences she didn't have as a Borg drone but was able to draw upon as she reclaimed her humanity. She couldn't complain about the end result, in fact she didn't want to conceive of other possibilities than being here with Chakotay, but the succession of unlikely events that had brought the two of them to this place in such a short amount of time was almost unbelievable.
It was getting colder and soon they would have to retreat to their shelter. Chakotay's thoughts returned to Voyager. "It's been almost two months since they left for Earth. Kathryn said she would return as soon as possible, so we should be hearing from them any day now I imagine."
"I'm certain she will return as soon as practical," Annika said. Although, she was quite content with their current circumstances and didn't necessarily share Chakotay's desire for news from the outside. He was most concerned about any news Cathal might bring back about the surviving Maquis. Who knows what might have happened on Earth and in the Federation to delay Voyager's return, both places she was happy to be removed from. "And when we do hear, we'll have a few days to prepare." Chakotay might be thinking of getting more news from Cathal, but she would rather think about arranging their belated marriage celebration they hoped to have with their friends here, and embark on their delayed honeymoon.
Voyager had left two shuttles with the settlements to help in providing transport about the planet. In fact, Annika had used one recently to shuttle the Borg data nodes that had been removed from Voyager's cargo bay to their house for a more detailed study. Annika and Chakotay were attempting to extract what information they could that the Borg had assimilated concerning this world and its inhabitants. The Kamar had lost much of their history with the collapse of their civilization. The two of them had decided to try and reconstruct what they could and write a history of this planet from what they pieced together from before and after the Borg attack. The shuttles were useful for other activities as well, and with their subspace receivers, Voyager would be able to contact them when it was about five days out. At some point, the two of them wanted to borrow one for their honeymoon and explore more of the world on which they now called home, but for now they were sticking close to the settlements.
The planet they were on had been transported by the Ocampa to an uncharted and nondescript G-type star on the fringe of Federation space. They shared their new star system with a few small uninhabited rocky planets and were far removed from any other system. At maximum warp, Voyager had been expected to reach Earth in about a month. Most all of the Star Fleet crew had stayed aboard, many eager to help in the war effort, along with a few of the Unimatrix Zero survivors including General Korok and Lieutenant Hernandez. The Maquis crew members stayed on the planet with the bulk of the survivors, and of course the half million indigenous inhabitants. The Kamar, of which Rogert was one of the local leaders, had welcomed them all with open arms. Indeed, in the past two months, more of them were coming out of hiding as the realization of their new stellar neighborhood and circumstances sunk in. Together, they would all rebuild this world.
Annika and Chakotay heard something coming from behind them. A crinkling sound on the gravel path that led up to the house that had become so familiar. "Sounds like Tom and B'Elanna are coming for a visit," Chakotay remarked. Their shelters were in the nearby settlement, although they were eyeing a place further down the coast to also renovate. Annika and Chakotay untangled themselves from each other, stood up and turned around to greet them. B'Elanna was driving one of the ground vehicles she and Tom had been restoring. One Chakotay and Annika hadn't seen before and that also looked to be newly painted a bright red. The vehicles were in great demand throughout the settlements and made transportation in the local area easy and convenient. Annika and Chakotay had one of Tom and B'Elanna's early restorations parked beside their home.
"Hey guys," Tom called out from the open window. B'Elanna stopped the vehicle nearby and the two of them exited. "What do you think?" he asked as they walked up.
"It's bright," Chakotay replied.
"Arrest-me red," Tom said, looking back and framing the vehicle with his hands.
Annika raised an eyebrow and B'Elanna simply smiled and shook her head.
Tom turned back to the rest. "Anyway, I just talked to Quamal. Voyager is six days out. He tried to contact you but you weren't answering your communicator. We thought you'd like to know, so decided to stop by for a visit."
"We left it in the house," Chakotay replied. Along with as many replicators and provisions Voyager could spare, Kathryn had left those who had stayed on the planet a number of communicators and a base station to help everyone stay connected. Annika and Chakotay, however, enjoyed going into town to gather their news directly.
"Six days out," Annika repeated. "You two planning on combining your celebration with ours?" She still had that on her mind.
B'Elanna's eyes flashed with both irritation and amusement. "Et tu Annika," she scolded.
"I'm still working on her," Tom replied with his own smile. "She still feels like we're rushing things a bit."
Chakotay turned to B'Elanna. "Annika and I got married after knowing each other for only a month," he reminded.
B'Elanna huffed in reply. "Well, you and Annika are a whole different type of couple," she retorted.
"Only a week left now," Chakotay teased. "You're running out of time."
B'Elanna folded her arms and squared off with Chakotay. "What do you think Chakotay," she said with mock skepticism. "Do you really see me settling down with some Star Fleet flyboy?"
Chakotay shrugged innocently and turned to Annika. In fact, Tom and B'Elanna had been inseparable ever since they arrived here on the planet. Tom had originally planned on returning to Earth, but decided to stay on the planet instead in all likelihood to be close to her. Chakotay hadn't seen B'Elanna as happy and comfortable with herself as he had in the past two months. Tom adored her, Klingon half and all, and was clearly delighted with their blossoming relationship as well. "Yea," Chakotay and Annika answered in unison.
"Word is, some of our family are being transported here on Voyager for a visit, including my father," Tom chimed in. "Might be providential."
"Our families? Who else?" B'Elanna asked accusingly, wondering why Tom had saved this nugget of information until now and if one or both of her own parents might be coming.
Tom shrugged. "I was there with Quamal for the last part of the transmission. I don't know all the details," he said innocently. "Perhaps Chakotay can go over and contact them directly to chat with Cathal. Two-way communication will become easier in the next couple days. I did get a personal message from Harry though," he added quickly, changing the subject. "He's resigned his commission and is planning to settle down here too."
"Despite the war with the Dominion?" Annika said. That didn't sound like Harry.
"Perhaps because of it. He and, ah Eal are apparently a thing now. Doesn't want to see her get hurt."
Annika scratched her head trying to remember. "I thought he was attracted to Ial," she finally said in surprise. At least, she thought she had overheard something to that effect at one point. The two sisters had worked closely with Star Fleet personnel on several aspects of establishing the settlements and had decided to accompany Voyager back to Earth to fill in at positions vacated by the Maquis personnel. "Although I must admit, I can't tell the two of them apart."
Tom shook his head and laughed. "Something about Harry and twins," he remarked. "I know while here, Ial wouldn't give him the time of day, but Eal and he apparently hit it off on their trip back to Earth. He says, once you get to know them, they are very different. At least to Harry."
That did sound like Harry. Chakotay finished the rest of his tea and then motioned to the shelter. "Let's all go inside for a bit. It's getting too cold out here."
They all started moving towards the shelter that stood beside the house. "When are you going to finally move into your house anyway," Tom questioned. He glanced critically at the nearby structure but then nodded approvingly. "It looks finished to me." A bit weathered, perhaps, but that gave it charm.
"This time next week we'll be moved in," Annika replied. "We still need to paint the outside and just a few finishing touches left to go."
They entered the shelter and the lights turned on. There were decorations about the room. A small evergreen stood in a corner adorned with lights and a star on top and wrapped presents underneath. On the table was a wreath made of branches from the local conifers and white candles in a ring. It almost looked like it could be worn on your head. On another small table wooden models of people and animals in what looked like a gathering of some sort. Behind it was a recreation of an ancient painting of a young woman with a veil of stars. Tom was taking it all in and then turned to Annika and Chakotay. "Is it that time of year already?"
"In three days," Annika replied.
Tom shook his head. "Where did the year go?" he wondered aloud.
B'Elanna was looking more closely at the tree. "My father and I used to decorate one of these things during Christmas," she said and touched an ornament of an icicle. She stood up and frowned, not sure if she was comforted by the memory or angered. If he was one of the family members coming, how would that reunion go?
"These are mostly from Chakotay's childhood," Annika remarked. "We used some of our replicator rations to create them."
Tom looked surprised and turned to Chakotay.
"My mother was very devout," Chakotay said. "My father had his own beliefs and traditions, but was happy to participate with my mother in hers. It was always a festive time of year, full of family and traditions."
"What about you Annika," Tom inquired. "Did your family have any Christmas traditions?"
"No," Annika replied quickly and then frowned. One of the items they reproduced was from her heritage, but not from any family tradition. Her memories of her parents were only that of a child's and also tainted by her assimilation. She had an uneasy resentment towards them, for placing their young daughter in harm's way as they did. "At least, none that I was aware of," she added with more measure. "I believe my parents did not bother themselves with anything they couldn't test and prove with science." A very constricted and close-minded point of view, in her estimation. The scientific method was indeed a powerful tool, but could only divulge truths that were observable and not the underlying reasons for those truths nor those that were unobservable. Science, by its very nature, was incapable of proving the non-existence of anything, let alone the basis of morality, the flow of history, or the depths of experiential love.
Tom had moved over to the display and touched the animal feeding trough that not only contained some dried grass as hay but also an infant boy. He now recognized it for what it was. "If you ask me, I've always found it unlikely that the creator of the Universe, if one even exists, would become one of us to save us from our sins." He sighed and turned to the others. "To put it plainly, it's hard to believe in miracles."
"Is it that hard to believe?" Annika retorted. She was not going to let her views be so constricted, as her parents had done. If these past three months had taught her anything, it was there was much more to the universe than that. "Is it easier to believe that you mutated into an amphibian-like being because of warp ten threshold experiments and then kidnapped, transformed, and mated with Captain Janeway only to be restored by the Doctor with no ill effects?"
"Ouch. Don't remind me," Tom replied defensively.
"And B'Elanna," Annika continued. "You were split into your human half and Klingon half and existed simultaneously as two beings before being reintegrated by the transporter. Your two halves existing separate and simultaneous. That stretches the limits of credulity if you ask me."
"I still get confused sorting through my memories during that time," B'Elanna admitted.
"Chakotay stood side-by-side with a supposed distant descendent of an Earth species before the Voth elders to argue the existence of a sentient saurian race on Earth sixty-five million years ago where absolutely no evidence remains. I still find that difficult to believe, but don't doubt it happened. And for me?" Annika paused and looked down at her hands. She turned them over to see again and ensure herself the traces of the Borg implants were indeed gone. "I was assimilated into the Borg at age six. My growth was accelerated so I could join a collective of drones. I then helped the Hive Mind expand and conquer worlds throughout the Galaxy for the purpose of perfection. I spent eighteen years as a mindless drone with interludes in the dreamland of Unimatrix Zero that I've only recently remembered, only to be disconnected and rescued by Captain Janeway and Voyager a little over three months ago." She shook her head. "Just three months ago," she repeated. "And now, I'm on a planet that has been transported thousands of light years in a blink of the eye, not once but twice, by a race of ancient non-corporeal lifeforms, one of who lived among us without understanding her heritage and who inadvertently brought to us thousands of other Borg drones from across the Galaxy." She reached out and touched Chakotay's shoulder. "Beside me is my husband, someone I didn't even know existed three months ago and yet can't imagine life without now. Do I believe in the possibility of miracles?" Annika laughed to herself and looked between them all urgently. Chakotay had moved closer as she was speaking and now wrapped an arm about her waist. She turned and looked into his eyes. "Do I believe in miracles?" she repeated and then sighed quietly again leaning herself into her husband and drawing him close. "Of course I do."
#
The two couples were on a raised platform facing forward with Captain Janeway between them facing the other guests. The day of the joint renewal of vows, wedding and celebration was unseasonably warm, and thus the ceremony and reception was held in the yard of Annika and Chakotay's new house on the bluff overlooking the ocean. The dress was generally casual, although both grooms wore a more formal suit and both brides a white gown with no veil.
Voyager was in orbit, arriving two days earlier, but could only stay for another few days before returning to Federation space. It was operating with a skeleton crew, primarily those recently assigned from Star Fleet during their time in Earth's system, while the rest were in attendance on the surface. All of those who had been with the ship while it was stranded in the Delta Quadrant were there, including the Maquis members from the settlements, many Unimatrix Zero survivors, and Neelix and the Doctor using the mobile emitter on indefinite loan from Star Fleet Command, at least for the time being. Many family members were also in attendance. Admiral Paris was there, overjoyed to see is son and new daughter in law. B'Elanna's parents, Annika's aunt, Chakotay's sister, Marina's mother, Cathal's brother. The list of guests included over three hundred people and the yard was near capacity.
"We're gathered here today," Janeway began, "as friends and family, to celebrate the marriage of Chakotay and Annika and Tom and B'Elanna." She then lifted her head as if she was looking about the crowd. "Any other couples out there wanting to be included?" she asked which was followed by some laughter and nudging amongst some of those present. "Speak up now, there's still room up here."
B'Elanna took the opportunity to glance towards where her parents were standing next to Admiral Paris and Ambassador Jor, but the two of them appeared to be behaving themselves. She smiled nervously. She was really going through with it.
"I know we're all anxious to sample Neelix and Chell's buffet," Janeway continued with a smile, "so let's continue." She looked back and forth between Tom and Chakotay. "Let's just cut to the heart of the matter, shall we? Gentleman, do you vow to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish your amazing brides?"
"I do," the two men said in unison, both with wide smiles.
Janeway then turned to Annika and B'Elanna. "Ladies, do you vow to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish your lucky grooms?"
"I do," the two women said together.
"The rings please," Janeway said.
Chakotay and Annika had removed their rings from their fingers just before the ceremony and now Alaya and Marina Jor stepped forward to hand them back. A renewal of vows for them since they were already technically married. Harry Kim and Mariah Henley stepped forward to hand rings to Tom and B'Elanna. The two couples positioned themselves holding the other's hand and ready to put the rings on their spouse's finger.
"You are now holding the hands of your best friend," Janeway said. "The person you have just vowed and promised to love today, tomorrow, and forever. The ring, in its never ending loop, represents that unending love. Through thick and thin, this is it." She nodded to the two couples who then fitted the rings onto their spouse's finger. Janeway then turned and looked out over the crowd of family and friends. "It is my great pleasure, to present to you all, Mr. and Mrs. Hansen and Mr. and Mrs. Paris." And then to the couples. "You may kiss your spouse."
And with that, those present erupted in applause.
The buffet line was opened and the two couples started to move about the crowd, greeting all the guests. Each doing a circuit to make sure they saw everybody, starting first with those who had just recently arrived on Voyager, and then those who were with them on the planet. The rest of the day went by so quickly. Near the end of their first circuit, and slightly separated from the rest were Marina and Ayala, Annika's maid of honor and Chakotay's best man. Annika was pleasantly surprised to see them still together and wondered where Marina's mother was, a past ambassador from Betazed who had made the trip to the planet aboard Voyager. Marina was pointing to the top of one of the trees that bordered the property and Ayala was crouching down to look up in that same direction. Chakotay and Annika went over to investigate. "About two meters from the top," Marina said. "Oh, it just hopped to a branch behind the trunk as well."
Ayala shook his head. "Missed them again," he said in frustration.
"What are you looking at?" Annika asked.
Marina and Ayala turned and smiled. "You're here!" Marina said instead. Ayala moved forward and shook Chakotay's hand while Annika and Marina hugged. They then switched places for more hugs. "Congratulations again," Marina added. "You look amazing in that gown. It was all so beautiful."
Chakotay looked up at the blue sky. "The weather has been perfect," he commented.
Marina winked. "By beautiful, I was talking mostly about Annika," she teased.
"Of course!" Chakotay replied quickly in defense. He moved over and wrapped an arm about his wife's waist while she smirked. Chakotay turned back to Marina. "I had an interesting talk with your mother earlier. She and Admiral Paris were solving the Galaxy's problems."
"That's mom for you," Marina replied with a smirk.
Annika turned back towards the tree and pointed. "Were you two looking for that bird?" she asked.
Ayala quickly turned and then clapped his hands. "Gotcha!" he said, and then turned back to Marina. "You were right. Definitely a different species. A little bit bigger too, as you thought."
"We see those brown birds all the time along the bluff," Chakotay acknowledged, all four of them now looking at the bird in the top of the tree. A second bird was now on the same branch. A mated pair.
"Well, grayish brown," Ayala corrected. "With a slightly lighter nape and bluish legs and feet."
Chakotay looked again and narrowed his eyes. "How can you see all that?" he asked with a note of skepticism and humor.
Ayala and his birds. Annika moved a half step back and glanced out to the crowd to try and soak it all in. Their family and friends moved about in the yard. Talking and laughing. Tom and B'Elanna were again with their parents and a group from Star Fleet. Annika looked forward to the debriefing on how that was going. It was a magical day, the worries and concerns from the outside Galaxy forgotten. She then glanced up at their home, the tan of the outside paint they had applied the week before blended well with the nearby bluff and contrasted perfectly with the forest green colored gables. It was exactly what they had envisioned. Exactly what they had wanted. Safety, comfort, a sense of permanence, of belonging to a place. It's ultimately not about what you disconnect from… the Borg, the Federation, the Maquis, but what you choose to connect with.
In many ways, the two of them separate were both broken. For Annika, the Borg had robbed her of a childhood and almost of her life. The memories of assimilations and horrors would be with them forever. For Chakotay, his homeworld no longer existed, his people scattered, and his cause was now irrelevant. Again, these tragedies would forever haunt them. Together, however, they complimented the other. Together, they were complete. No longer just an ideal to be grasped, but a reality to live. In their new home and the start of a lifetime together.
Annika sighed with contentment. She moved back up to where Chakotay was still talking to Ayala and Marina and slipped her hand into his.
This was it. They had found their Green Gables at last.
#
THE END
Author's note: So completes this AU story. I hope you enjoyed. Thank you to all who have left reviews.
Some thoughts from along the way... When I wrote the teaser, I had originally intended the main "disconnect" to be Kes helping Annika and Chakotay to disconnect their mental link after C/7 was well established and they went through a different sort of adventure (vaguely involving more problems and Borg-like behavior in the beginning with them perhaps leaving Voyager for a time and eventually Annika being in command when Captain Janeway and Chakotay were incapacitated). As often happens, however, the story decided to go a different route, which is fine since it is an AU after all and meant to explore something different than canon or all the other AUs. In the end, I decided to leave whether Annika and Chakotay are still mentally linked a bit ambiguous and repurposed the original title to a different meaning that bubbled up. I also intended to have more things with the minor characters I introduced (some drama with Axum, more development of a friendship between Marina and Annika, flesh out some of the Unimatrix Zero survivors and their histories), but there were too many of them and again the story never got around to it. Having extended periods of time between the writing of chapters didn't help.
So with that… Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and an amazing New Year to all!