Letters Home
Voyager has been in the Delta Quadrant for just over ten years now. They have been in contact with Starfleet via Pathfinder for four years, thanks to Reg Barclay. These are the letters members of the senior staff wrote to their families.
Usual disclaimers apply; I just can't be bothered writing one at the moment.
Acoochymoya… (continue the 'away from the something, something of our fathers' thing)
Dearest Sekaya,
I greet you in the traditional way our father taught me – in respect for the spirits that protect us wherever we go.
I'm amazed, I must say. When Kathryn told me she had written to her mother, I knew I had to write you, my only remaining family. Save Kath, of course.
So, on my nice and boring bridge shift, which I am spending alone by the way, I am hereby writing my letter to you. I'll have you know that Ensign Carson at the conn keeps giving me weird looks, which you probably would appreciate, and I'm probably moments away from being bombarded by one of my twin daughters.
You're probably thinking something along the lines of 'what the hell?' right about know. I know you know that I would never settle down, marry and have a family. Well, sorry sis, but that was the old Chakotay, the one you did know.
I'm the new Chakotay, and you can thank Kathryn Janeway for that. Kathryn Janeway, my captain, my wife, my lover, my friend. Kathryn Janeway, mother of my children. That is who changed me.
It all started about ten years and four months ago, give or take, when an entity named the 'Caretaker' brought us halfway across the galaxy in the matter of minutes. We were taken from the Badlands to the Delta Quadrant. At that time, I didn't know Kathryn Janeway, Captain of the Federation Starship USS Voyager. Suffice to say, we met on the Caretaker's array, and I sacrificed my ship to save hers. Luckily, she offered all of my Maquis crewmembers field commissions on Voyager, partly due to the fact that we were stranded 70 000 lightyears away from anything familiar.
So, I pretty much owe her my life; and those of about fifteen others as well.
We worked together for many years, her as Captain, with me as her first officer, and my chief engineer from the Liberty, B'Elanna Torres, was given the position of Chief Engineer aboard Voyager, and the rank of Lieutenant.
I couldn't believe the trust Kathryn put in me, but now, I'm so glad she did.
Over the seven years we worked together, until we destroyed the Borg, we were strictly professional, for the most part. But when her 'future self from an alternate timeline' appeared and persuaded Kath to destroy said Borg, I think that was when it happened. One moment we're all just watching the transwarp hub implode on itself, and the next, a day after actually, she turned into the Kathryn I knew on New Earth.
Before I knew it, we were dating, spending more and more time together, and a year later, I proposed.
Our wedding was great. Planned by Paris, Kim and Torres, as usual, and lacking the standard pranks we had learnt to expect from Tom. Since our wedding, I know we have never been happier. I realised how much of a mother Kath is and was to the crew then, and that helped me settle into the role of father to the crew. Kathryn and B'Elanna are best friends, have been for years, and it was B'E that suggested to me that Kath was pregnant.
Just over two years ago, the doctor called me off my duty shift early down to sickbay. In my experiences, if Kath had dragged herself to sickbay, she really was sick.
In this case, she wasn't sick, she said. Just pregnant. I laughed, told her it was a great joke, and then she showed me the tricorder in her hand. I took one look at the scanner and my jaw dropped.
She was not only pregnant. Oh no, she's two months pregnant with twins.
I was shocked. Okay, so shocked isn't the word for it. I was ecstatic.
She gave birth at eight months, which is just about full term for twins. And especially with her age, eight months was great.
Taya Elizabeth and Kimberley Hope Janeway are now 18 months old and have settled in well on Voyager. They are growing nicely, walking, very close to talking and have lots of friends for their age, especially the Paris kids, who have been raised by just about everyone. Taya, Kimmy, as well as Miral, Imogen and Ryan Paris, and little James Kim, are the six that are inseparable.
I know I sound like a boasting father, but I really do love my family; my whole, extended family. Every child belongs to every parent. The senior staff are like a family of our own.
I would never, ever swap these last ten years for anything. During my time on Voyager, I have met my soul mate. We may have fought so many times it's not funny, had our fair share in partners that weren't each other, but we will be together forever. It's just one of those things we'll never lose.
Don't get me wrong, I still love you, miss you, think about you every day, but I have my family with me. As much as I'd love to see you again, introduce you to Kathryn, make sure my kids know their Aunty Sekkie, it wouldn't kill me if we never reached Earth. I have everything I need here, on Voyager. My home.
Surprisingly enough, Voyager is more of a home than our tribe ever was. I know I was branded a contrary from birth, but that's something I can deal with, and have probably lived up to. Something I'm proud of.
Just think, if I had never left the colony, never joined Starfleet, never deflected with the Maquis, I would never have met the love of my life. I can never regret that.
Sekkie, you will be one of the first to know when we reach the Alpha Quadrant, probably one of the first to meet Taya and Kimmy, you know that. Right?
I miss you so much, I always will, you're my only sister.
I can't wait for you to meet Kath and the girls. My girls. God, it feels good saying that.
Keep a line open for me,
Chakotay
(The only contrary you'll ever love)
Sekaya looked up from the letter she finished reading.
"Mommy! Mommy!'
She sighed. "What's wrong, Heather?"
The 18 month old ran over to her. "Mommy, Ben and So'mon hurtsted me!"
Sekkie sighed again. "Heather, his name is Solomon, and I don't think he did it on purpose, baby."
Before her only daughter could answer, another figure walked into the room.
"Daddy!"
John Worthington, Sekaya's husband, was greeted by his screaming sons before he even greeted his wife.
"Hey, boys," he said, ruffling their hair.
Sekaya looked up at him, tears glistening in her already-blue eyes.
"What are you reading?" he asked, seeing the padd in her lap.
"Only a letter from Chakotay. It came today, and I just realised how much I miss him."
"Chakotay! Chakotay!" Heather screamed, her cheeky grin lighting up her adorable face.
Sekaya laughed at the outburst. "Sure, you get his name right…"
Heather couldn't help but grin again. She looked just like her uncle, the one she was yet to meet.