Life Circles

by Angry Warrior

This goes through the series and changes it a little. Makes more sense to me how the relationships went and builds a back story for some of the characters.

9. Chapter 9

Life Circles

9. Terminal Velocity

J/C, P/T

Rated MA

May 2009

By: AW

Summary: 6 months after 'Unknown Territory', we read 'Scorpion' and find out the real identity of Seven of Nine.

Length: 11, 978 words

Disclaimer: blah blah blah, I DON'T OWN THEM

[6 months after 8. Unknown Territory]

It had been six months since Haley was born. She had lost most of the baby weight and the baby completed her and Chakotay's life. She had begun spending time in the holodeck, running a new program: DaVinci.

She stared at the hologram of one of the greatest men ever to have lived and studied the prototype of the 'first air plane' so to speak, she would make it better, "So what if you based it on the hawk, instead?"

He stared at her, the light bulb going on so to speak: "A hawk: A creature that glides through the air."

"Essatto."

He patted her on the shoulder, "We will design a new machine, and you, Catarina, will help me fly it."

Kathryn bartered for workspace and a time to work on things. It was nice to get out of the 24th century once in a while. Then her fantasy was disrupted as the real world came crashing down her.

Her husband and first officer's voice came across the line: "Chakotay to Janeway."

She sighed and tapped her combadge: time to be the Captain again, "Go ahead."

"Captain, we need you in Engineering. There's something here you should see."

"I'm on my way." She took one last look at DaVinci and called out to the computer, "Computer, end program."

Kathryn exited the holodeck and walked along the corridors meeting many crewmembers on the way. She saw them all working on whatever needed to be done: Chakotay had obviously given orders about what needed to be done while she was taking a couple of hours break.

*I wonder what the hell is so important?*

This would be the last normal day of her life for a long time to come.

She just didn't know it yet.

She marched into engineering ten minutes after the original hail to see Chakotay and B'Elanna huddled around a console staring at imagery, she watched, but she wasn't close enough to really see what they were looking at.

She slowly, almost uneasily walked up to the station. Everything appeared to be happening in slow motion. Chakotay was staring at her with a look of not fear, but concern on his face.

Whenever she saw that look she knew she was in for a surprise and normally it wasn't a good one.

She saw what they were staring at, and inadvertently let a sharp intake a breath escape her body. Her eyes focused on the picture in front of her. She stared at her husband worried; and felt the tension in the air around her, "What have you got?"

"Some bad news; the long range probe we sent out two months ago has stopped transmitting."

B'Elanna pointed at the images in front of her. Images of space around her, then all of a sudden the picture changed to that of a Borg Drone checking out the probe.

"At first I thought it was a problem with the communications grid. Then I cleared up the last few seconds of telemetry. Take a look at this."

Chakotay walked up to her and took her by the shoulder forcing her to stare into his deep obsidian orbs, "This could be it, Captain: Borg space."

Kathryn turned her big baby blues on her husband but refused to open her mouth, refused to admit how very much fear was coursing through her at that moment and just stared.

[Briefing Room 30 minutes later]

Kathryn wiped her hands over her face. The senior staff would be here soon enough, and then stuff would begin.

*Could they beat the Borg? She had always thought her crew could do anything, but possibly this was one battle they couldn't win.*

Kathryn had spent ten minutes walking the halls of Voyager in dazed silence: this was it. This was Borg Space.

She sighed, she looked out the window. She couldn't even save her kids, let alone her crew. She let a tear fall down her face. *Time to pull another rabbit out of your hat Kathryn.*

The doors opened and in came the senior staff.

The staff sat around the table, and Kathryn stood up. *Time to be the Captain Kat.* She looked at the staff trying to portray an air of confidence. "We don't know exactly how many vessels are out there; but their space appears to be vast. It includes thousands of solar systems: all Borg. We are no doubt entering the heart of their territory. There's no going around it but there may be a way through it."

She saw Chakotay's cynicism, and she knew that at some point she was going to be alone as a Captain if not as a wife. He turned away from Kathryn and towards the senior staff. "Before the probe was disabled, it picked up a narrow corridor of space devoid of Borg activity. We've nicknamed it 'The Northwest Passage'."

B'Elanna piped up, "Unfortunately, the passage is filled with intense gravimetric distortions. Probably caused by a string of quantum singularities."

Tom looked at B'Elanna and then turned to Kathryn. 'The past and the present colliding.' "Better to ride the rapids than face the hive."

Chakotay agreed with Paris, and this in itself was a miracle, "Exactly. We're going to set a course for that corridor; and go into full Tactical Alert. Where do we stand with weapons?"

"I have reprogrammed the phaser banks to a rotating modulation, but I suspect a Borg vessel will adapt quickly."

Chakotay looked at Tuvok who had just finished stating how they were going to try and beat the Borg. Even at this moment, Kathryn had her doubts, but Chakotay continued. "We can use every edge." He looked to Harry, "Ensign?"

Harry ever the optimist continued. "I've already configured the long-range sensors to scan for transwarp signatures: An early warning system."

"Good work. Doctor, how are you coming on the medical front?"

Kathryn stared at the EMH, hopefully he had an answer, he seemed to have come through for them every other time. "I've analysed every square millimetre of the Borg corpse we recovered three months ago. I'm closer to understanding how their assimilation technology works, and I might be able to create some sort of medical defence."

"Redouble your efforts. This is your top priority. Neelix, I doubt we can resupply the ship any time soon."

"No problem, Sir. I'm working on a plan to extend our food and replicator rations."

Finally Kathryn had listened to everything and now was the time to act. Now was the time she had to step up. "We have to act fast, the Borg have captured one of our probes: They know we're out here. We'll do everything in our power to avoid a direct confrontation; but if and when we do engage the Borg, I'm confident that we'll be ready. I have faith in each and every one of you."

She drew in a deep breath refusing to let anyone know that she was unsure and kept the sigh to herself. "Let's do it."

Kathryn walked out of the briefing room and entered her ready room. She was so tired, but she couldn't let herself be tired. She slapped her combadge, "Janeway to Wildman."

"Wildman here." Kathryn smiled at the sound of her science officer's voice.

"How are the girls doing?"

There was a sigh and she heard the littlest Janeway crying on the other end. "I think Haley's teething, and Taya is making a mess; but I have to admit that Naomi is having fun."

Kathryn laughed, "Thanks for the update: I'm not sure how long I'm going to have to stay on the bridge tonight."

"It's no problem Captain, really. I know that whatever you and the Commander are doing is important and has to be done."

Kathryn smiled to herself and tapped the combadge, "Well since everything seems to be going okay, Janeway out."

Kathryn sat behind her desk and looked at the readings. *What was she going to do?* She sighed. *No rest for the never weary.*

Kathryn wiped the tears away from her eyes; she was missing so much of her daughters' lives: but it was imperative that she get this crew home.

She'd stranded them out here and she was going to fix her mistake.

She sighed, "Janeway to Chakotay."

"Yes, Captain?"

"This isn't a professional call Chakotay: I know you're off duty in not too long, I have stay on the bridge and take care of some stuff. Can you make sure the girls are okay?"

Chakotay sat in his command chair on the bridge, "Of course Captain. I'll make sure they get tucked in tight for night."

Kathryn let a smile grace her features and thought how lucky she was to have a man like Chakotay to share her life with.

"Captain, could you come to the bridge for a few minutes, there are some things we need to take care of before Alpha Shift is done for the night."

"Of course Commander, I'll be right there. Janeway out."

Kathryn breezed onto the bridge, all set to become the Captain again. "Commander." She nodded her hellos.

She turned to Tuvok, "How's Kes?"

"Unsettled and uncertain. Over the past two hours, she has experienced several telepathic visions about the death of Borg, and the destruction of Voyager."

Chakotay looked to Tuvok, looking for answers. "Some sort of premonitions?"

"Possibly."

Janeway looked around at her senior officers, especially Tuvok and Chakotay. "We can't just ignore her intuition but I see no reason to alter our plan. Tuvok, I want you to keep an eye on her."

Harry gave his opinion, "Captain, long range sensors are picking up transwarp signatures, five point eight light years distance: Closing from behind."

Chakotay looked unsure, "Red Alert."

'Evasive manoeuvres.'

Chakotay looked at Paris, "What's happening?"

"We've dropped out of warp."

Kathryn looked at the whole bridge crew, maybe she was out of her league. She tapped her combadge. "Bridge to Engineering; what's going on down there?"

B'Elanna's flustered voice rang out over the comm. line. "I'm not sure, Captain. Some kind of subspace turbulence is preventing us from creating a stable warp field."

They scanned the Borg, there were many cubes in the way and then they moved off.

They fought with the Borg so to speak, playing chicken, wondering what their next move was going to be until they flew off into the sunset.

She turned to the senior staff occupying the bridge. "I'll take this near-miss as a good omen. Resume our course, Mister Paris."

Chakotay dubiously stated, "If we needed any more evidence that we've entered Borg space, I think we just got it."

She turned towards her ready room and stated as she was leaving, "I'll be in my Ready Room."

[Ready Room – 2 hours later]

Kathryn had been sitting behind the desk in her ready room for two hours, maybe more, maybe less. She wasn't sure. She was taking in all the many things that had been said by Starfleet brass over the years that had encountered the Borg.

Kathryn was sure of one thing though, they were alone.

There was no Starfleet to lean on. There was no Starfleet Brass to answer her questions or to shuffle her self-doubts.

She had no one.

The chime to her door rang and she knew it was her husband. She knew it had taken him a while to get the guts to actually interfere with what she was doing, but she also knew he worried about her. "Yes. come in."

He walked up to her desk and handed a padd. to her. "We've just completed the latest sensor sweep. So far: so good. 'The Northwest Passage' is still clear of Borg activity."

She reached out and took the padd., refusing to read it at the moment. "I'd like to see a tactical update."

"According to my calculations, neither of us has eaten since last night. Join me for dinner? The girls miss you. I was thinking that we'd have dinner with the family."

"No thanks, I'm not hungry. And I've got a lot of work to do."

"I see." He felt like he was losing his wife to the Borg without ever having been assimilated.

Kathryn sighed, thinking about all the reading she'd been doing and all the time with her girls that she'd been missing. "I've been looking through the personal log entries of all the Starfleet Captains who encountered the Borg. I've gone over every engagement, from the moment Q flung the Enterprise into the path of that first Cube to the massacre at Wolf Three Five Nine: Every battle, every skirmish; anything that might give me an insight into the mind of the Collective."

"And? Was it worth missing out on time with me and on time with our children?"

Kathryn glared at him. "It's not like that Chakotay. You knew from the get-go when we got involved that I am the Captain, and the ship's business had to come first."

He looked at her, "I know, but it still hurts for me and the girls: to possibly be put on the backburner." He paused and sighed staring at her determined face.

"In the words of Jean-Luc Picard, 'In their Collective state, the Borg are utterly without mercy, driven by one will alone: the will to conquer. They are beyond redemption, beyond reason.' And then there's Captain Amasov of the Endeavour. 'It is my opinion that the Borg are as close to pure evil as any race we've ever encountered.' What's so funny? "

Finally something had gotten Chakotay's attention, he grinned showing his dimples and despite the desperate times they were in, Kathryn felt her knees begin to shiver at the smile she had fallen in love with all those years ago. "Nothing."

"You're smiling. Obviously, I've said something amusing."

"You sounded just like Amasov."

"What?"

"Just now, while you were reading his log: You were using his inflections."

"I did not." She smiled at her husband showing the crooked smile that had fascinated him for years.

"Yes, you were. And before that, you were doing a pretty good Picard."

"Was I?"

"It's nothing to be ashamed about. Echoing the Greats. Ensign Hickman in Astrophysics does a passable Janeway." Kathryn's jaw dropped open; they thought she was a great: they thought she was a 'great'.

"If we manage to survive the next few days, I'm going to have a little chat with Ensign Hickman. Imitating the Captain, huh? Surely that violates some kind of Starfleet protocol. This day was inevitable; we all knew it; and we've all tried to prepare ourselves for the challenge ahead. But at what point is the risk too great? At what point do we come about and retreat to friendly territory? Could the crew accept living out the rest of their lives in the Delta Quadrant? I keep looking to all these Captains, my comrades in arms. But the truth is. I'm alone."

He was losing his wife and she had to realize she was never alone. "If that moment comes, we'll face it together. And we'll make the right decision. You're not alone, Kathryn."

Kathryn walked up to Chakotay and laid a hand on his chest: thinking about was what under the uniform. She looked into his brown soulful eyes, "Three years ago, I imagined a life without you, and never seeing you again. After years of pining, I have to wonder what has brought us together," She paused and rubbed a hand up and down his chest feeling the muscles lying just under the heavy Starfleet uniform, "Today I can't imagine a day without you."

Kathryn looked up and took her hand away from his chest, almost feeling guilty at being caught in a compromising position.

Tuvok interrupted the moment, "Captain Janeway to the Bridge."

[Bridge]

Kathryn stood on the bridge looking at the senior officers around her and at the sensor data.

She looked to her husband and they shared a look that spoke volumes, but said nothing.

Kathryn's eye's and heart fell at the thought that Harry had just informed her that there was someone more powerful than the Borg. *How was she going to deal with this?*

She knew deep in her heart and soul that as Captain she had to send Chakotay over to the Borg cube: He was the most qualified.

Kathryn sighed and looked at Chakotay, "Commander Chakotay, I want you to take an away team inside. Try to get a short-range scan of the bio-mass."

Tuvok stared at his Captain, "There are still Borg life signs, but they're unstable."

She - so to speak - 'pulled up her socks' and turned to the man she loved. "We'll keep an open comlink and an active Transporter lock. We'll pull you out of there at the first sign of trouble."

Chakotay gave one last longing look at his wife and looked to Tuvok, "Tuvok, Harry, you're with me."

[Bridge 30 minutes later]

Kathryn felt like she had been sitting on the bridge for hours, just waiting. In reality it had only been about 30 minutes.

Kathryn sighed.

[Sickbay]

Kes and the doctor were going about their rounds. Checking out the many Borg pieces of hardware they had acquired over the months and years they had been in the Delta Quadrant.

Kes stared at the doctor and lost her footing as she fell against the biobed."Kes?"

Kes stared at the doctor with fear in her eyes, "Harry's in danger."

"What are you-"

"Get them out of there."

[Bridge 45 minutes later]

Kathryn stared blankly at the console in front of her, hoping that the away team was okay, then she heard the doctor over the comm. "Sickbay to Janeway."

Kathryn hailed the away team hoping against all hopes that it wasn't Chakotay who was going to end up in sickbay. "Voyager to Away Team."

Kathryn heard her husband's voice and let an audible sigh of relief escape her. "Go ahead."

"Stand by for transport. We're getting you out of there." Kathryn all of a sudden felt better knowing the love of her life and the father of her children was soon going to be safe on Voyager.

"Good idea."

Kathryn breathlessly almost yelled "Energise." Everyone stared at the Captain knowing what was at stake for their Captain.

B'Elanna feeling her pain and tried her best and realized that sometimes even she couldn't produce miracles, "I can't get a lock on them."

Kathryn was almost in a panic as she stated, "What's the problem?"

"It looks like bio-electric interference from whatever's coming toward them."

Her panic was growing as she stared at B'Elanna, knowing that if anyone could save them she could. "Narrow the confinement beam."

"No effect. I'm going to try a skeletal lock."

Kathryn felt her eyes light up with hope. "What?"

"I think I can get a clean lock on the minerals in their bone tissue. I just came up with it, but I think it might work."

Kathryn stared at her chief engineer, hoping that this idea of hers would work and that her chief engineer was indeed as good as she'd hoped all these years, "I've got them."

Kathryn let a breath escape her and stared at her best friend with a look of thanks in her eyes, "A skeletal lock, huh? We'll have to add that one to the Transporter manual."

Tom interrupted the moment between his former love and his present love: his wife, "Captain, the bio-ship is powering up, like it's charging some kind of weapon."

Janeway went into Captain's mode. "Mister Paris, get us out of here. Maximum warp!"

"The alien ship is not pursuing."

Kathryn watched Kes walk onto the bridge and wondered what was going on that would bring her Ocampa doctor onto the bridge, "Kes?"

'I could hear its thoughts. The pilot of the bio-ship was trying to communicate with me. They're a telepathic species. I've been aware of them for some time now: The premonitions. Captain, it's not the Borg that we should be worried about, it's them."

Kathryn was worried; her new nemesis was in complete contact with a member of her crew. "What did it say to you?"

"It said: the weak will perish."

Kathryn walked into her ready room, and decided to make a log entry stating what was going on in case they ever did get to the Alpha Quadrant and Starfleet ever did look at their logs.

Captain's Log, Stardate 50984.3. It's been twelve hours since our confrontation with the alien life form. There's no sign that we're being pursued and we've had no further encounters with the Borg. I've decided to hold our course. The Northwest Passage is only one day away and I won't allow fear to undermine this crew's sense of purpose, even if that fear is justified.

Kathryn had gone to sickbay after everything; she had to make sure that Harry was okay.

The doctor had gone on about the many miraculous breakthroughs that he had made, and about the incredible immune response that Species 8472 had, and then she had stared at Harry. This virus was eating him alive.

She looked to the doctor for hope and answers, "Does Harry 'have' several days?"

"I wish I knew."

She walked up to where Harry was laying in wait for a miracle. Kathryn felt responsible and guilty, she had sent him on this away mission and she had wished that if anyone was going to die on this away mission it would be anyone but her husband, and now she faced her greatest fear, the hope had cost one of her crew their life.

"Fight it, Harry. That's an order."

Kathryn spun around as she heard the doors to sickbay opening. She watched B'Elanna walk in. "Captain!"

B'Elanna sounded surprised that anyone was in sickbay at this hour, but Harry was here fighting for his life. "Hello B'Elanna what brings you here?"

"Uh...um...I didn't think anyone was going to be here at this hour."

The doctor came out of his office. "Oh, hello Lieutenant."

The doctor came up with a tricorder. "What can I do for you tonight?"

B'Elanna fidgeted with her hands, "Uh...I need you to do a scan for me."

The Doctor rolled his eyes, "I need something more specific than that B'Elanna."

"I need to know if I'm pregnant. I just thought I'd come here and sickbay would be empty."

Kathryn stared at B'Elanna, "Were you and Tom trying?"

B'Elanna let her eyes fall downwards, "No. But I'm three weeks late and I've been miserable in the mornings."

The doctor opened his tricorder and scanned her, "It appears that Miral is going to have a brother in about 6 months."

Kathryn walked up to B'Elanna and hugged her, "It will be fine B'Elanna: Tom is a good man he'll take it all in stride."

B'Elanna nodded, "I know, but I'm still nervous. Miral wasn't even planned, and now this one."

She placed her hands on her stomach in a protective motion. "How's Harry doing?"

Kathryn shook her head, "I don't know; and I don't think we will know until the doctor figures it out."

[2 hours later – Janeway Quarters]

Kathryn walked into their quarters. Chakotay was asleep; she guessed that everyone needed some shut eye.

She walked into Haley and Taya's room: They were both asleep, napping like they didn't have a problem in the world.

Kathryn sighed; she was due on the bridge in less than two hours: Chakotay probably didn't expect her home before she went to the bridge. On days like this she didn't sleep.

She slowly brushed the red-brown locks out of Haley's face and looked at the tiny dimples that the child shared with her father: In fact that child was more hers then her father's except the tiny dimples that donned her cheeks.

She turned around and left the girls' quarters and headed for the mess hall.

[Ready Room – one hour after staff meeting]

Kathryn had spent the staff meeting worrying about everything. It seemed they knew the reason that there was no Borg activity in the 'Northwest Passage': it was the domain of Species 8472. She felt like she was in over her head. What the hell was she going to do?

She sat down on the couch in the ready room and let her head fall to her hands as the tears fell. She looked up and prayed to whatever higher force was up there that her and her crew and her family would make it through this in one piece.

She heard the door chime and lifted her head, wiping the tears from her eyes, "Come."

Her husband walked in. "Hey, Kat: what's wrong?"

She sniffled, "Nothing, I just think I'm overtired." She stared at him, thinking it was time for the Captain to make an appearance: "That moment we spoke about? It's here: Any thoughts?"

Chakotay looked at her and knew this was the Captain speaking not his wife. "Just one: Flying into that corridor would mean certain death."

"Agreed. The Northwest Passage is no longer an option. So now the choice is between facing the Borg in their space or finding ourselves a nice planet here in the Delta Quadrant and giving up on ever getting home."

"We'd be turning around, but we wouldn't be giving up. We may find another way home."

Kathryn stared at him; she knew he wasn't going to like what she had to say. She walked up to the bars breaking her ready room up and pounded her hand on it. "I'm not ready to walk onto the Bridge and tell the crew we're quitting. I can't do that. Not yet. There must be an alternative."

Chakotay walked up to the woman he loved and all he could think was: "Kathryn; you haven't slept in two days. Try getting some rest, and clearing your head. We're safe, for the moment. We can tell the crew tomorrow, if we have to."

Kathryn turned around and grabbed his hand, hoping that she had support from him at least a little anyway. He pulled his hand away and she felt her life shattering. "See you in the morning."

She knew that tonight she would be sleeping alone.

[Janeway Quarters]

Kathryn went to their quarters and listened to the silence. No children, no husband. Her life felt like it was falling apart.

As she tried to let sleep overtake her, a thought came to her mind. She sat up quickly and was glad that she hadn't changed out of her uniform.

She walked out of her quarters and made her way to the holodeck, and activated the DaVinci program.

She walked in and revelled at the simplicity of the holodeck program in all its glory.

The hologram representing DaVinci, one of the greatest scientific and artistic minds in human history approached her. They began talking, in code about the Borg and Species 8472.

Finally she got to the point of coming to the holodeck. She looked at the candlelight on the wall. "There's a path before me. The only way home. And on either side, mortal enemies bent on destroying each other. If I attempt to pass through them I'll be destroyed as well. But if I turn around, that would end all hope of ever getting home. And no matter how much I try to focus my mind I can't see an alternative."

DaVinci looked at the wall where Kathryn's blue eyes seemed to pierce it. "When one's imagination cannot provide an answer, one must seek a greater imagination. There are times, when even I find myself kneeling in prayer. I must deliver a bronzetto to the Monks at Santa Croce. Come with me, Catarina, hey? We will awake the Abbot, visit the chapel and appeal to God."

Kathryn just about laughed at the simplicity of his answer. God, if there was one, would not help her today. "Somehow I don't think that's going to work for me. But there is an alternative I haven't considered." She stared bright eyed at DaVinci, "What if I made an appeal to the Devil?"

[Briefing Room]

Kathryn stood at the head of the table. She had just explained her plan, and Tom was dubious, "An alliance with the Borg?"

"More like an exchange. We offer them a way to defeat their new enemy and in return we get safe passage through their space. In developing a treatment for Harry, the Doctor has found a way to attack the aliens at a microscopic level."

She wished she was as confident as she sounded. She'd looked every member of her senior staff in the eyes and assured them that she knew what she was doing.

They had taken her at face value. Finally she'd turned to B'Elanna and Tom, the 'yes ma'am' and the 'aye captain' had sounded hollow to her ears.

Finally she turned to them all and stated, "Dismissed."

Everyone left save Chakotay. She stared at her husband; she had to make this the Captain and Commander speaking not Kathryn and Chakotay. "You were awfully quiet. "

He walked up to her looking for the 'Kathryn Janeway' that would listen to reason. "I didn't want the others to hear this, but I think what you're proposing is too great a risk."

"How so?"

He was spitting mad now. "We have two children to care for and keep safe. God knows how many others and others on the way, and a crew of adults of 150, I think it's just too great a risk."

"Chakotay, we promised ourselves that our children wouldn't get in the way of command decisions and neither would our marriage, I've already had this discussion with you."

He sighed, thinking how best to get through to the strong headed woman in front of him. "There's a story I heard as a child, a parable, and I never forgot it. A scorpion was walking along the bank of a river, wondering how to get to the other side suddenly he saw a fox. He asked the fox to take him on his back across the river. The fox said no, if I do that you'll sting me, and I'll drown. The scorpion assured him, if I did that, we'd both drown. So the fox thought about it and finally agreed. So the scorpion climbed up on his back, and the fox began to swim. But halfway across the river, the scorpion stung him. As the poison filled his veins, the fox turned to the scorpion and said why did you do that? Now you'll drown too. I couldn't help it, said the scorpion. It's my nature."

Kathryn glared at Chakotay, "I understand the risk and I'm not proposing that we try to change the nature of the beast, but this is a unique situation. To our knowledge, the Borg have never been so threatened: they're vulnerable. I think we can take advantage of that."

"Even if we do somehow negotiate an exchange, how long will they keep up their end of the bargain? It could take months to cross Borg territory. We'd be facing thousands of systems, millions of vessels."

Kathryn stared at her 'Commander', she had to make him see, "But only one Collective and we've got them over a barrel. We don't need to give them a single bit of information, not until we're safe. We just need the courage to see this through to the end."

He stared back; the glare might work on some, but not on him. The cautious approach: maybe that would work, "There are other kinds of courage. Like the courage to accept that there are some situations beyond your control. Not every problem has an immediate solution."

"You're suggesting we turn around."

He walked up behind her and entwined his arms around her waist. He whispered in her ear, "Yes. We should get out of harm's way." When she stiffened under his touch: he backed off. "Let them fight it out. In the meantime, there's still plenty of Delta Quadrant left to explore. We may find another way home."

Home, she had thought that he was beginning to think of Voyager as home. Her Irish temper flared, "Or we may find something else. Six months, a year down the road, after Species 8472 gets through with the Borg, we could find ourselves back in the line of fire, and we'll have missed the window of opportunity that exists right here, right now." She had to make him see, she needed his support.

"How much is our safety worth?"

"What do you mean?"

"We'd be giving an advantage to a race guilty of murdering billions. We'd be helping the Borg assimilate yet another species just to get ourselves back home. It's wrong!"

Now she was angry and sad, "Tell that to Harry Kim. He's barely alive thanks to that species. Maybe helping to assimilate them isn't such a bad idea. We could be doing the Delta Quadrant a favour." She knew what she was saying was wrong, she knew what she was trying was too dangerous: but she had to make him see this was the only way.

"I don't think you really believe that. I think you're struggling to justify your plan, because your desire to get this crew home is blinding you to other options. I know you, Kathryn. Sometimes you don't know when to step back."

"Do you trust me, Chakotay?"

Now he was pissed, "Now who's using our 'personal relationship' to gain control in the command one?"

She shook her head, "We can't do this now Chakotay, there's too much at stake."

"Trust isn't the issue Kathryn, and neither is our personal relationship."

"Oh, but it is. Only yesterday you were saying that we'd face this together, that you'd be at my side. And all those years ago when you pledged to be at my side, trust was what you were saying you'd give me."

"I still have to tell you what I believe. I'm no good to you if I don't do that."

"I appreciate your insights but the time for debate is over. I've made my decision. Now, do I have your support?" *That's always the issue isn't it Chakotay.* Kathryn thought.

"You're the Captain. I'm the First Officer. I'll follow your orders. That doesn't change my belief that we're making a fatal mistake."

"Then I guess I am alone, after all." She waved him away, "Dismissed."

And she once again felt the uncertainty of her decisions, and the lack of trust her husband had in her.

Kathryn rubbed her tummy and prayed that the child she was carrying would see the end of the tunnel that her parents were trapped in.

[Bridge]

Kathryn looked out the viewscreen at the many Borg Vessels that were surrounding them. She finally did her duty and decided to talk to the 'Borg Collective'. "Borg vessel, this is Captain Janeway of the Starship Voyager. I have tactical information about Species 8472. I want to negotiate."

Chakotay was watching her; she was going to go through with this. One thing about Kathryn Janeway is when she made up her mind there was no changing it. He listened to the Borg Collective answer her request. "Negotiation is irrelevant. You will be assimilated."

Kathryn turned and looked at Chakotay, he wasn't sure if she was asking for his support or just requesting answers. It didn't matter; she was going to go ahead. "Borg vessel. What you're receiving is a sample of the knowledge we possess. If you don't disengage your tractor beam immediately, I will have that data destroyed. You have ten seconds to comply. We know you're in danger of being defeated. You can't afford to risk losing this information. Disengage your tractor beam –"

Chakotay watched breathless as Kathryn disappeared before his very eyes. No matter how mad he was at her she was still his wife and the mother of his children.

[Borg Ship]

Kathryn opened her eyes and found herself in the Borg Cube: staring at the many Borg alcoves.

She felt the fear drain from her face, and her hand unconsciously went to her abdomen. *She could not have this baby.*

"State your demands."

Kathryn sucked in a deep breath; she had to make this work. "I want safe passage through your space. Once my ship is beyond Borg territory, I'll give you our research."

The Borg answered her suggestion. "Unacceptable. Our space is vast. Your passage would require too much time. We need the technology now."

Time to play her trump card: time to make this work. "If I give it to you now, you'll assimilate us."

"Species 8472 must be stopped. Our survival is your survival. Give us the technology."

She paused considering her options and then decided that she had been right all along. "No. Safe passage first or no deal."

"State your proposal."

"Let's work together. Combine our resources. Even if we do give you the technology now, you're still going to need time to develop it. By working together, we can create a weapon more quickly. If you escort us through your space we can perfect the weapon as we –"

Chakotay was standing on the bridge, he was grasping at straws, he didn't want his last words to Kathryn to be the ones he had said to her. Chakotay heard the comm. System engage. "Wildman to Chakotay."

"Chakotay here, what's up Samantha?"

"Your babies are getting rather grumpy; do you know when you'll be home?"

Chakotay sighed, "The Captain is stuck on the Borg Cube, when she gets back I'll make sure that we come and get the kids; can you keep them for now?"

"I can, I'm sorry Chakotay. I hope you get your wife back safe and sound."

"Thanks, Chakotay out."

He looked to Torres, "B'Elanna?"

"I'm trying to energise. The Borg are scattering the beam."

If anyone could do it, it would be B'Elanna, "We're being hailed."

Chakotay was frustrated. "I need her here B'Elanna, this ship needs her Captain. Put the Borg on screen."

Kathryn's face appeared on the viewscreen, "Commander. Cut the transporter beam."

He looked up at the viewscreen confused, "Kathryn, we need you here."

"I said cut the transporter beam Commander."

Chakotay turned around and faced B'Elanna, making a 'cut' motion. B'Elanna cut the transporter beam. "Captain?"

"Do it. I've reached an agreement with the Collective. We're going to help them design a weapon against Species 8472. In exchange, they've granted us safe passage through their space."

Tom looked at Chakotay, "The Cube is altering course. They're heading toward the Alpha Quadrant."

Kathryn was on the Borg Cube and she'd be lying if she said she wasn't afraid, but she had to make this work. It was not an option she couldn't spend that many years fighting with the Collective and not making her stance known.

She looked to her husband, "That's part of the plan. We'll work on the weapon en route. Once we're across their territory, we'll give them the nanoprobes. They appear to be holding up their end of the bargain. I suggest we do the same."

Chakotay was a little bit confused by the turn of events. "How do you propose we begin this collaboration?"

"I'm going to work here, on the Cube. They have technology that'll make the job go faster. I want to take advantage of it."

Chakotay was livid. "Kathryn, you don't have to stay on that Borg Cube: It's not necessary for you to stay there. We can set up a comlink with the Borg and –"

"It's part of the deal. I work here."

"Damn it Kathryn, think about the crew, think about Haley and Taya."

"COMMANDER, this is not the time to let personal feelings get in the way: I work here."

"All right, as long as we're co-operating, maybe the Borg would be willing to disengage their tractor beam. We can match their course without a leash."

"I'll propose it. Mister Tuvok, transport to my co-ordinates."

"Understood."

"We're going to make this work, Commander. Janeway out."

At least Chakotay was confident that Tuvok would try to keep her safe. He would try to save his Captain from herself.

He knew despite the problems that he and Tuvok had had in the past that he loved her in a way and would keep her safe.

Chakotay turned to Torres, "You heard the Captain."

Then he walked up to Tom at the helm, "I need to go and visit the kids for a little bit."

Tom nodded, "You're whooped commander."

Chakotay stared at Tom, "Oh like you have a right to talk: I think B'Elanna has you by the hair there Tom."

Chakotay felt a sense of relief that even during a time this dire; there was still room for levity on the ship.

Chakotay walked off the bridge and headed for Sam's quarters where his family was. "Chakotay to Sam?"

"Sam here, what do you need Chakotay?"

"I'm going to come by and see the girls for a little bit."

"Sounds good Commander, but they are being cranky, I think they're tired."

"Okay well I should be there within the next ten minutes."

"Sounds good; Wildman out."

[Wildman Quarters]

Sam walked up to Naomi who was holding little Haley, "Here, let me take her for a bit, you go check on Taya."

"No problem mom. Did I tell you that I think that you watching the Captain and Commander's girls while they are on duty is a really great thing. I love having the babies around."

Wildman nodded and ran her hand over Naomi's golden-red locks. "Thanks Naomi, go check on Taya and I'll see you in a bit."

Naomi walked into the other room, Samantha began rubbing the six month old's back and before she knew it baby Haley was asleep in her arms.

Chakotay rang the chime and Samantha bid him entrance, "Hi Chakotay. Your daughter finally decided it was time to take a nap."

Chakotay reached out for his daughter and took the baby from Samantha's arms. He rocked the baby in his arms. "Can I leave them here with you for a little bit longer? I need to make sure that Kathryn is okay."

Samantha smiled, "No problem Chakotay."

Naomi walked out of her room, "Mom, Taya fell asleep on my bed."

"It's okay Naomi; you can sleep in my bed tonight."

Naomi nodded and went to crash for a bit.

Chakotay went to lay Haley in the playpen to sleep for a bit. "It's really getting tense on the bridge right now; I've taken you off duty for the next couple of days so you can watch the kids."

Samantha nodded, "No problem Chakotay. I know you and the Captain have a lot to deal with."

Chakotay nodded and walked out of the quarters, thanking her on his way out.

As Chakotay walked along the hallways of Voyager, praying for his wife he thought about the precious children that Kathryn had given him.

He wondered why the crew supported her no matter what and then he realized that they loved her and wanted to see her happy too.

Then he contemplated this crazy Borg plan that she was coming up with, hoping that she would survive the 'coming apocalypse' with the Borg.

He walked onto the bridge, "Report."

Tom piped up, "We still haven't heard anything new from the Captain, but the Borg are keeping course."

Chakotay nodded, "Stay course then and hopefully everything will work out for the best for us."

[Borg Cube]

Tuvok stared at his Captain. "The Commander is worried about you."

Janeway smiled, "Tell me something I don't know."

"May I ask where we're being taken?"

"Grid nine two of sub junction twelve: Our very own workspace. It's near the centre of the Cube."

He handed her a tricorder, "These are my tricorder readings of the bio-ship we examined. I believe you will find them most revealing."

Kathryn opened her mouth surprised, "Have you compared this to the Doctor's analysis of the alien tissue?"

"Yes. Many of the cellular structures are identical."

"The aliens and their ships are made of the same organic material."

"Apparently so."

The two officers walked along going to the chamber that had been classified as theirs.

The Collective's voice rang out, "You have entered grid nine two of sub junction twelve. Proceed."

Kathryn looked at Tuvok hoping that he agreed with what she was doing before standing up ramrod straight and addressing the collective. "All right. We've analysed one of the alien vessels, and it appears to be constructed of organic material vulnerable to the modified nanoprobes. I suggest we begin thinking about a large-scale delivery system, a way to infect their ships and destroy them at the microscopic level."

"We will begin."

The Borg Drone that had approached them, threw them to the ground and began trying to attach a neuro-transmitter to their necks. Tuvok spoke up and Kathryn could almost feel the palpable fear in his voice. "What are you doing?"

"A neuro-transceiver is required for maximum communication. We will work as one mind."

Kathryn began to feel the fear coursing through her body as well, and hoped that she was going to see her husband and girls again. "No. That wasn't the agreement."

"The neural link is temporary. You will not be damaged."

"I don't care. I prefer to communicate verbally, thank you."

"Your primitive communication is inefficient."

Tuvok spoke up, guaranteeing his place in this conversation. "On the contrary. We work better with our individuality intact. Surely, we've proven that to you by now."

"Irrelevant. You must comply. "

Kathryn held her own, "We must do nothing. Tell your drone to remove the transceiver. What about choosing a representative? A single Borg we can work with and talk to directly."

"Elaborate."

Kathryn was going to make this work, "You've done it before. When you transformed Jean-Luc Picard into Locutus. We will not be assimilated. Choose a representative or the deal's off."

A single Borg Drone escaped from the clutches of the collective. She was their 'ambassador, "I speak for the Borg."

She stared at the Borg Drone, "I'm Captain Janeway. This is Lieutenant Tuvok."

The Borg Drone looked smugly at them, "We are aware of your designations."

Kathryn ignored the 'Borg Superiority' attitude, "What's your designation?"

"Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix Zero One. But you may call me Seven of Nine. You are proposing a large-scale weapon. We concur."

"I thought you might."

Tuvok decided it was his turn to enter into the conversation and give his input. "We could encase the nanoprobes in some of our photon torpedoes. In essence, turn them into bio molecular warheads."

"Your torpedoes are inadequate. They lack the necessary range and dispersive force."

"Do you have a better idea?"

"We are Borg."

Tuvok felt his Vulcan resolve taking a hit, "I take that as a yes."

"A multikinetic neutronic mine. Five million isotone yield."

"An explosion that size could affect an entire star system."

"Correct. The shock wave will disperse the nanoprobes over a radius of five light years."

Kathryn got a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. That could jeopardize everything that could make her the nemesis of most people in the Delta Quadrant: but she had to get her crew and her family home. "That's somewhat larger than I had in mind. You're proposing a weapon of mass destruction."

"We are."

"Well, I'm not. You'd be endangering innocent worlds."

"It would be efficient."

Tuvok decided now would be the time to be the voice of reason, "We'd need approximately fifty trillion nanoprobes to arm this mine. It would take the Doctor several weeks to replicate that amount. You are losing this conflict. Are you willing to risk further delay?"

"Right now your enemy believes it is invulnerable. If we create smaller weapons using our torpedoes and destroy a few of their bio-ships, it may deter them; convince them to give up this war."

Seven stared at the officers almost with a penetrating gaze, "You are individuals. You are small, and you think in small terms. But the present situation requires that we consider your plan. Voyager's weapons inventory. Photon torpedo complement thirty-two class six warheads. Explosive yield two hundred isotons."

If a Vulcan could seem surprised, now was the time, "How did you obtain this information?"

"We are Borg."

Kathryn felt for this woman who had had a life no doubt on Earth, and who was now being forced to become a tool for the collective, but she couldn't let her feelings of self-doubt shade what she was doing.

Her hand went instinctively to her belly, comforting the child that lay within, and knowing that with the Borg ahead of them for who knew how long she could not carry this child to term: She barely had enough time for the two that she did already have.

On Voyager, Chakotay was doing his best to try and keep the Captain and his wife safe.

Paris made his presence known by coming up with bad news, "They're charging weapons."

"Shields! Keep a lock on the Away Team!"

B'Elanna who was never on the bridge but who could pull a rabbit out of her hat when need be, gave the answer that Chakotay didn't need to hear but needed to embrace, "Direct hit to our secondary hull!"

Harry answered that he had lost transporters and by proxy the lock on the away team as well as weapons and shields.

[Borg Chamber]

Tuvok looked with wide eyes to Seven of Nine and to the Captain, "Voyager has taken heavy damage."

Kathryn looked scared at her chief of security, and then away and to Seven of Nine. "My children and my husband are on that ship...and the nanoprobes."

"We cannot let the nanoprobes be destroyed."

On the bridge of Voyager, Paris and Chakotay had no options left, "We're being targeted!"

Chakotay looked at Paris, knowing they were out of options and saying the only thing that came to mind. "Brace for impact!"

He felt his eyes closing and waiting for death, when the impact was seen on the screen. It wasn't them, it was the cube. *Kathryn.* He turned to Tom, "The Cube?"

Paris numbly answered, "Destroyed, and it took the bio-ship with it."

Chakotay heard the com. line open. "Tuvok to Chakotay."

Chakotay felt his heart jump, if Tuvok was okay, maybe Kathryn had made it too. "Go ahead, Tuvok. Where are you?"

"I'm in Cargo Bay Two."

Tuvok crawled along the floor of Cargo Bay Two, seeing the Borg making themselves at home, and Kathryn Janeway lying on the ground: no doubt hurt from the blast she had sustained. "Along with the Captain and a number of Borg."

[Bridge]

Tuvok hailed Chakotay giving him the answer he was looking for. "We were beamed over just before impact. We require assistance."

Chakotay tried to keep the line open, what had happened? "Tuvok. Tuvok? Secure that deck. Security Team to Cargo Bay Two. Paris, you have the Bridge."

[Cargo Bay Two]

Seven stared at the Starfleet Security officers, coming in this guns blazing, "Lower your weapons. We are here with your Captain's consent. It was necessary to sacrifice our vessel to protect yours."

Chakotay walked in and he watched the Borg Drone lift her hand and no doubt her weapons, "We have an alliance do we not?"

Chakotay nodded and against his better judgement kept the alliance.

[Sickbay]

Tuvok and Chakotay were discussing the fact that for the moment the Borg were staying put. Kathryn was stuck in sickbay waiting for surgery from the doctor.

Chakotay had asked him and in the end almost ordered him to not sedate her before he'd had a chance to speak with her.

The doctor approached the Captain. "Captain, have you had a chance to tell the Commander yet about his son?"

Kathryn shook her head, "No, and you're not going to tell him. The crew needs me more than I need another baby. Please, I'm giving you permission that if you have to abort the baby to save me please do."

The doctor sadly nodded and motioned for Chakotay to come over.

Kathryn motioned for him to get closer to her, "The Doctor explained my condition. You're in command." If only he knew that the words she was stating were a double-edged sword.

He nodded, "I understand." All she could think was 'no you don't' but continued, reaching up and grasping his hand with her one hand and his uniform with the other. "They'll push you, they'll threaten you, but they need you. They need this alliance. You have to make this work. I want you to make this work. Get this crew home and our family home."

"I won't, and the crew can't without you."

"Yes they can and yes you will." He bent down and gave her one last kiss on the lips, making sure she understood how much she meant to him.

The Doctor approached, interrupting the moment. "I must begin."

The hours, and even the days progressed. The doctor worked vigilantly on the Captain and Chakotay cared for their children and her ship.

He escaped many time to sickbay to stand vigil by her bedside praying she would make it.

One night he'd even pleaded to her, hoping she would hear and understand, "Well, I've made my decision. If it were only a matter of going against the orders of my superior officer. You're more than just my Captain, you're my friend, you're my lover and you're the mother of my children."

He paused looking at the deathly still woman in front of him. "I hope you'll understand."

He held her hand and kissed her fingers one last time. Taya had begun asking where 'Mama' was. And he just had to say she'll be home soon.

He hoped he was right.

[Bridge]

The next morning on the bridge, they were looking for a spot where they could drop off the Borg. Finally after two days of searching, and two days of the Borg making a mess of Cargo Bay Two, they discovered it. "Class H moon. Oxygen-argon atmosphere."

"It'll do. Take us out of warp and enter orbit."

Paris turned around and looked at Chakotay, "Aye, sir."

"Stand by to transport the Borg directly from the Cargo Bay. After they're on the surface, have Security run a sweep of –"

"I'm reading power fluctuations in the deflector array."

"Cause?"

"It looks like the Borg have accessed deflector control. They're trying to realign the emitters."

Chakotay was getting really worked up. First the Borg take his wife and put her in sickbay, and then they try to take their ship. This had gone too far. "Shut them out."

The tension on the bridge was palpable, they needed to get control. "They've bypassed security protocols."

Chakotay swore under his breath.

B'Elanna was on the bridge, trying to get control, trying to help Chakotay get control: "We're emitting a resonant gravitation beam. It's creating another singularity."

Chakotay yelled, almost losing control: "Reverse course."

"We're fighting intense gravimetric distortion. I can't break free!"

Chakotay spoke out to the Borg, "Bridge to Cargo Bay Two. Stop what you're doing, or I'll depressurise that deck and blow you out into space. This is your final warning."

The Borg refused to cooperate and Chakotay turned to Tuvok, "Do it!"

"Decompression cycle complete."

Harry piped up not knowing why it wasn't working, "I still don't have deflector control."

"Commander, a single Borg has survived."

Paris yelled, "We're being pulled in!"

Chakotay stared at the colours encompassing the screen and turned to look to Tuvok for answers, "Report."

"We appear to have crossed an interdimentional rift."

"We've definitely left our galaxy. No stars, no planets."

B'Elanna was the voice of reasoning for once, "I'm re-calibrating sensors. The entire region is filled with some kind of organic fluid. This isn't space: it's matter."

Chakotay heard the Borg's voice come across the comm. line. This was the Borg that was still there, the one that would make their life a living hell. "Commander

Chakotay. We have entered the domain of Species 8472. Report to the Cargo Bay."

He turned to Tom, now he was being ordered around by a Borg Drone, "Paris, re-pressurise Cargo Bay Two."

He turned to Tuvok beckoning him to join him, "Tuvok."

[Cargo Bay Two]

Chakotay walked up to the Drone that was standing in the Cargo Bay as if she owned it. He stared into her blue orbs: there was something familiar there.

He pulled his gaze away from the blue spheres and looked at her for answers. "Our entry into fluidic space has created a compression wave. They know we're here. A fleet of bio-ships is already converging on our position. Time to intercept, three hours, seventeen minutes."

Chakotay stared at her, "You've been here before. How else, could you know about fluidic space?"

"We must prepare this ship for the altercation. We will construct –"

Chakotay was spitting mad, "Why? Why were you here? You started this war, didn't you? What's the matter? Our galaxy wasn't big enough for you? You had to conquer new territory? But this race fought back: a species as malevolent as your own."

"Species 8472 was more resistant than we anticipated. Their technology is bio-genically engineered. It is superior to that of all species we have previously encountered."

Tuvok looked at her, "Which is precisely what you wanted."

"They are the apex of biological evolution. Their assimilation would have greatly added to our own perfection."

"So instead of assimilating these aliens you opened a door for them to our galaxy."

Seven stared at the commanders; sure of what she needed to do in order to save her species. "There is only one course of action. Destroy them first. My subspace link to the Collective has been weakened by the interdimensional rift. We cannot signal for help. We are alone. We must construct a compliment of bio-molecular warheads and modify your weapons to launch them."

Chakotay shook his head incredulous, "I've got a better idea. Why don't you open that singularity again and take us back."

"If I did that, you will no longer co-operate."

The comm. line opened and he heard the doctor`s voice above the din of what was going on in the Cargo Bay. Doctor to Chakotay."

"Go ahead."

"Report to Sickbay at once."

He stared once more at the Borg Drone and answered the doctor: "On my way."

[Sickbay]

The doctor shook his head. "The Commander will be here soon, but I have to tell you...I was forced to remove the foetus from your body: you're lucky to be alive forget the baby you carried."

Janeway nodded slightly as the sickbay door opened; she stared at the ground holding back the tears for the child who never had a chance.

Chakotay stared at his wife, head down: he knew she was a little pissed. "Kathryn?"

"As you can see, I've repaired her neural damage. Ensign Kim, the Captain, I'm two for two."

"Doctor, if you'll excuse us a moment."

"Hmm? Gladly. Computer deactivate EMH Program."

Kathryn lifted her head and walked towards her husband, but at the moment he was her commander, and couldn't be anything more. "The Doctor brought me up to speed but he couldn't tell me what I really wanted to know. Why?"

Chakotay looked at the woman he had loved and cherished for as long as he could remember, but right now he was staring at 'the Captain'. "The Collective ordered me to reverse course. Travel forty light years back the way we came. What would you have done?"

"I probably would've reversed course. Maintained the alliance as long as possible."

"In my mind, the alliance was already over."

Kathryn was getting angry, not the Captain but Kathryn. This had all been too much for her today and she was letting her personal feelings override the Captain's orders. At this moment though: she didn't care. "You never trusted me. You never believed this would work. You were just waiting for an opportunity to circumvent my orders."

The devil had reared its ugly head; they had lost themselves in the Captain and Commander. "Trust had nothing to with it. I made a tactical decision."

"And so did I."

"They have been taking advantage of us from day one."

"We made concessions, so did they."

Chakotay decided at that moment he had to say something that would appeal to her sense of morality and her sense of goodness. She had trusted the wrong person. "They lied. The Borg started the war with Species 8472. We've only got one Borg left to worry about. We should try to disable her and get back to the Delta Quadrant. We might be able to duplicate the deflector protocols they used to open a singularity."

"Don't Chakotay, don't do this. I want our marriage to still stand a chance when this is over."

"Kathryn I'm not telling you anything that you didn't already know."

Kathryn had tears rushing down her face. She approached Chakotay and he tilted her head up to look at him.

She drew back and her fists began pounding on his chest. "That's not fair. This is a fight between the Captain and the Commander, not Kathryn and Chakotay."

Chakotay scoffed, "Can you really compartmentalize your life that easily? Your father did that and look where it got him, you resented him, and you didn't want to be like him. You told me so yourself."

Kathryn took in a deep breath, ignoring the feelings that were bubbling to the surface. "I won't be caught tinkering with the deflector when those aliens attack. There's no other way out of this, Chakotay. It's too late for opinions, it's too late for discussion. It's time to make the call, and I'm making it. We fight the aliens in full co-operation with the Borg."

Chakotay was angry now, he was losing his wife to their duties as Captain and Commander, "I was linked to a Collective once, remember? I had a neuro-transceiver embedded in my spine. I know who we're dealing with. We've got to get rid of that last Borg and take our chances alone."

"It won't work. This isn't working, either. There are two wars going on. The one out there, and the one in here, and we're losing both of them."

"It has always been our undoing Kathryn that attempt to separate our 'personal life' from the 'professional life'."

"I don't know what else to do Chakotay; I have been the Captain for so long that I can't differentiate them anymore."

"It will be your undoing."

Kathryn turned around and stared at her husband. "What?"

"Our conflicted nature. Our individuality. Seven of Nine said that we lack the cohesion of a Collective mind, that one day it would divide us and destroy us, and here we are, proving her point."

Kathryn spun around to face him, "I'll tell you when we lost control of this situation, when we made our mistake. It was the moment we turned away from each other. We don't have to stop being individuals to get through this; we just have to stop fighting each other."

Kathryn and Chakotay had spoken, and before they knew it they were kissing, and it was like old times. His hand approached her breast and she cut him off before things got out of hand.

"I'm sorry Chakotay; we can't do this right now."

Chakotay looked hurt but nodded, "Well we have talked out this Borg situation and I think what you suggested can work. I must say that I hate being hooked up to the 'Collective' again."

Kathryn smiled, "I know Chakotay, but we have to make this work."

Chakotay nodded, "I know Kathryn, for us, for our children, for the crew and for the future."

Kathryn nodded, "I'm going to the bridge to meet our 'ambassador', and hopefully we won't have to use this alternative; but in the moment that we have to good luck."

He kissed her once more, and they went off to their respective places.

Kathryn entered the bridge and fought with Seven of Nine over the nanoprobes, stating she was now in charge and that Commander Chakotay was confined to the brig.

Kim interrupted their conversation: "Borg modifications are complete."

"Bring them online."

"Torpedo launch tubes active. Hull armour engaged. Shield enhancements stable."

All Kathryn could think was this might work; they might make it through this with their lives and loves intact. Tuvok stared at Kathryn and she was sure that from time to time he was reading her mind. "Bio-molecular weapons are ready. Thirteen standard photon torpedoes and one class ten, armed with a high-yield warhead."

Kathryn opened her comlink, "All hands, this is the Captain. Ready your stations. Seel all emergency bulkheads and prepare to engage the enemy. Stand by for my orders. Battle stations."

All she could think was this how most Captains must feel and must have felt from the beginning of time. She was unsure, she was hopeful, but she was unsteady.

Then it happened the bioships exited fluidic space and entered normal space, and they fired and nothing happened, and Kathryn's worst nightmares were coming true.

The bioships all charged weapons and fired.

And then they blew up, and then there was no threat any longer.

Kathryn breathed out a sigh of relief and turned to Tuvok with a questioning gaze, "Thirteen bio-ships have been destroyed. The others are in retreat."

Kathryn spun around at the sound of the Drone's voice, "I have regained full contact with the Collective."

"What are they saying?"

"All remaining bio-ships in the Delta Quadrant are returning to their realm. The Borg have prevailed."

Janeway stared at her, "With a little help from us. Now it's time you fulfilled your end of the agreement. Tell the Collective we expect safe passage from here on out. We'll give you a shuttlecraft. You can head for the nearest Borg ship."

Seven looked at Kathryn smugly, "Unacceptable. This alliance is terminated. Your ship and its crew will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile."

She tapped her combadge, "Bridge to Chakotay. Scorpion."

He heard his wife's voice and went to work, "Seven of Nine, stop what you're doing. You're human, a human individual. Our minds are linked. We are one. I can hear your thoughts "

The doctor chimed in, "His link is stable, but it won't be for long. You must hurry!"

B'Elanna answered, "Just a few more seconds."

Chakotay felt the memories entering his brain, he felt them encompassing 'who he was'. "I can see your memories: You remember being human."

Chakotay stared at the image of a red-headed girl, of a young Kathryn pregnant of Tom Paris being his cocky self. *My god.*

The woman answered, breaking his concentration: "We are Borg. Your appeal to my humanity is pointless."

The doctor spoke of losing the link, Chakotay saw the baby, saw 'Admiral' Paris, he saw his wife's past flash before his eyes. "Listen to your human side, to yourself, the little girl. Seven of Nine. Jennica!"

The doctor looked concerned, "He's losing the link!"

B'Elanna saved the day once again, "Initiating power surge now!"

[Bridge]

Tuvok was taking the readings. Kathryn stared at the body of the Borg, and then back at Tuvok. "Her connection to the Collective is severed."

She looked at the Borg woman, then back at Tom, "Get her to Sickbay."

Then her mind went back to Chakotay, her Commander, her husband, the father of her children: the love of her life. "Bridge to Doctor. Report."

"Commander Chakotay's going to be all right, although he may wake up with a bit of a headache."

[Bridge]

She looked at Tom and pleaded for him to alter course before he took the woman to sickbay, "Tom, plot a course out of Borg space. Maximum warp."

Tom nodded, and entered the coordinates. "Yes, Ma'am."

Captain's Log, Stardate 51003.7. Three days, and no sign of Borg or bio-ships. We appear to be out of danger, but the entire crew is still on edge and so am I.

Despite everything that seems to have happened over the last few weeks, it seems that mine and Chakotay's relationship will survive. I saw the girls for the first time in three days tonight, and I spoke with Chakotay. He seems to be none the worse for wear after his ordeal with the Borg.

Not even the calm of Master Da Vinci's workshop is enough to ease my mind.

[Da Vinci's Workshop - night]

Chakotay walked up to his wife. "Am I interrupting?"

She smiled at him then reached up her face to him and kissed him. "Not at all: Just finishing up my Log."

He looked at his scientist wife writing her logs on old fashioned paper with an old fashioned quill pen, forcing him to wonder what was up. "The old-fashioned way."

"I wanted to get as far away from bio-implants and fluidic space, and this feels more human somehow."

"I hate to spoil the mood, but you might want to look at this Engineering report. It'll take at least two weeks to remove the Borg technology from our systems. B'Elanna did note that the power couplings on deck eight work better with the Borg improvements."

"Leave them. How is our passenger?"

"The Doctor says she's stabilising. Her human cells are starting to regenerate." He paused not sure how to broach the next subject. "I think I know who that Drone is; I shared her memories, and in a way I shared yours."

Kathryn stared at her husband. "I'm sorry, I don't think I understand what you're talking about, all I know is that I wonder what's left under all that Borg technology. If she can ever become human again."

"You plan to keep your daughter on board."

She stared at him, "What are you talking about my daughter?"

"I asked the doctor to do a genetic work-up on her after seeing her memories: That Borg is your daughter."

Kathryn's jaw dropped open. "That Borg is Jennica?"

"As far as he can tell that Borg is the mixture of yours and Tom Paris' DNA."

Kathryn shook her head confused, "I'm not sure what you're implying."

"That is your child."

She shook her head, "She was never my child."

He took his wife into her arms, "You plan to keep her aboard, and all I know is after all is said and done there are going to be a lot of questions that need answering and a lot of answers that you need to give."

Kathryn shut herself off, "Good. Well, I think it's time we get back to our bridge."

Chakotay stared at his wife shutting herself off, he took her shoulders and turned her to him. "You need to deal with this."

She stared at him, "I need to get back to work."

"Kathryn we'll deal with this."

"Yes but not right now, right now the crew needs me."

"No argument there; and know that I will always be there for you."

She nodded and took his hand as they went to stand on the bridge, the discoveries of the day on the backburner.

"Let's take care of what we have to on the bridge, and then we'll go home. I need to see my girls."

Chakotay nodded and led her to her comfort zone.

Hopefully all would be good in the days to come.

END Velocity

TBC in 10. Flaws and Demons