Star Trek Voyager characters are the property of Paramount Pictures

Hearts Astray

Chapter 13

"No Borg, no Kazon, no macroviruses," Kathryn said as she and Chakotay approached his office. "I'm almost disappointed."

Chakotay smiled and opened the door. "Don't speak too soon. Hirogen might be haunting my office."

They stepped into the room but only emptiness and calm greeted them.

"No Hirogen either," Kathryn said. "I'm definitely disappointed."

Chakotay laughed and then looked around his office. "Well, if it's excitement you're after, you've got it. This is definitely not 2374."

"So I can see. You didn't have blue carpet in 2374."

Chakotay turned to her, somewhat surprised. "I didn't know you paid that much attention to the decor of my office."

Kathryn smiled. "I pay attention to everything."

"Evidently. So, hazard a guess. What year?"

Kathryn looked around the room, looking for clues, and found it in a picture on a shelf. It was of the Voyager crew and Naomi was standing in the front with Icheb. They were older than the Naomi and Icheb she knew, but not a lot older, just a couple of years older.

"I'd say about 2380. You?"

"Not fair for me to guess. I have an unfair advantage. But I think you're right."

"Let's see. Computer, what year is it?"

The Computer answered. "The year is 2380"

Kathryn smiled. "Good guess."

"Indeed. But how did you know?"

"That picture over there," she said, pointing to it. "Naomi's a couple of years older in it so I did the math. Attention to detail gets you everywhere."

Chakotay smiled. "Clever." He then fell serious. "But I don't think you should be looking at pictures from the future. As this isn't a past time-frame, I suggest we move on."

"What difference does it make what I know of the future? When Voyager is whole again, and history restored, I won't remember any of this."

"But what if you do? I remember everything that happened when Voyager was shattered the first time. There's a possibility, albeit a small one, that you will remember too."

"I won't," she said, wondering over to the picture. "And neither will you. Besides, I know so much about one possible future that learning about another can only balance the scales. That way, if I do remember, how will I know which is the ultimate timeline?" She picked up the picture and looked at it closely. "But I won't remember. When time is whole again, I will forget."

There were several infants in this picture, nine at least, and they were all about the same age. They were all wearing Starfleet uniforms and one infant, a plump little boy with black hair, was smiling in her arms. At the sight of him, grief for the baby she had lost filled Kathryn's heart, and yet a hope too, a hope that her little James was destined to exist in a kinder timeline.

"Who's this?" she asked, pointing at the child.

Chakotay took the picture from her. "As I said, you shouldn't be looking at pictures from the future."

"But I need to know. Is he my son?"

Chakotay pondered his answer a moment, but then nodded. "Yes."

Tears filled Kathryn's eyes and she took the picture back from him. "Then he lives. In this reality, in my reality, he lives."

Chakotay looked at her sadly. "Did he not in your reality?"

"No," she said quietly. "He wasn't even born. But I loved him. Very much." She tenderly touched his smiling face. "Is his name James?"

"Yes. James Edward."

Kathryn smiled. "Exactly the names I chose. He even has the same black hair. And he looks like I thought he would. He has the same big eyes, same rosy cheeks..." A tear ran down her cheek. "This is how he looks in my dreams."

"I'm sorry," Chakotay said. "For what you must have been through."

"It wasn't real. What's real is what is to be, and this gives me hope that James is to be." She looked up at Chakotay. "I just want to know one more thing. Is he...Is he our son?" There was every chance that he could be. Perhaps Seven wasn't his wife, perhaps she was his wife. The ring, the baby...they could both tell that story.

"No," Chakotay replied quietly. "His father is...someone else."

"I see," Kathryn said, lowering her eyes. "I just thought...the ring...maybe he was."

"I wish he was. But...well, time will tell you."

"Time doesn't have to. I can figure it out. He was conceived under mind control and I raise him on this ship alone. That's why there's so many babies. They were all conceived under mind control."

"It's dangerous to second guess the future," Chakotay warned. "Leave it alone."

"Then tell me so I don't have to guess."

"It's not my place, Kathryn."

She was about to argue her case when her eyes fell on two identical black haired baby boys. One was in Seven's arms and one was in Samantha's. The sight brought back another memory, the memory of Seven and Chakotay's twins.

"These twins," she said, pointing at them. "Are they yours?"

Chakotay tensed. "Kathryn..."

"Please, Chakotay. I need to know."

Chakotay hesitated, but then answered. "Yes."

At the confirmation, Kathryn's heart sank. Then it was true, he was destined to be with Seven. They were destined to marry and together have twins.

"I see," she said. "And their mother, your wife, is Seven?"

Chakotay flinched. "Seven?"

"Yes. Isn't she?"

Chakotay gave no answer, just stepped away from her. "I think we should be on our way."

"I asked you a question."

"Which you know I can't answer. Temporal Prime Directive."

"But..."

"We've got a job to do," he interrupted. "Let's do it."

This time, Kathryn didn't persist. She just put the picture down and followed him out of the room. But, as she stepped into the corridor, a dizziness overcame her and she swayed.

"I'm ok," she said to Chakotay as he grabbed her. "It's just a sign that you're right. We need to get moving and get the job done."

Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed down the corridor and a mechanical voice cried. "We are the Borg. You will be assimilated."

"This way," Chakotay cried, pulling Kathryn down the corridor. "We'll go to astrometrics. It might..."

But before he could finish his sentence, another Borg drone appeared, blocking their only exit.

"Back to my office," Chakotay yelled. "Quick!"

They scrambled back into his office and the door closed just in time to shut the drones out.

Kathryn leant back against the door and took a deep breath. "I swear I'm a fly to the gods," she said. "They play with me for sport."

"Well," Chakotay replied. "You wanted excitement. You got it. And more. Time has changed in here. It's no longer 2380."

Kathryn opened her eyes and looked around. Sure enough, the room had changed. It was decorated differently, almost femininely, and the furniture was arranged differently. No longer was the desk opposite the door but opposite the window. The carpet was purple, the walls pink, and in the far wall was a gold door that had never been there before.

"Definitely not 2380," Kathryn agreed.

"But how has time changed here? We haven't uploaded anything."

"I don't know," Kathryn answered. "There's so much about this anomaly that I don't understand. But I think sometimes that it's intelligent."

"What makes you think that?"

"I can't put my finger on it, exactly, but the way it behaves, the places it puts me. It all seems too convenient to be coincidental. But maybe I'm wrong."

"I don't recognize this room," Chakotay said. "That has to mean it's either from my future or another reality."

"Your future," Kathryn declared. "At least 2415. The pictures give it away every time."

On a shelf beside them there was a row of pictures, several of children, and in one she and Chakotay were both old.

"I see what you mean," he said. "Good to know I have a long life." He then fell serious. "But let's not jump to conclusions about what this means for Voyager. For all we know, Voyager is home and in service. Maybe Miral's First Officer."

"Maybe," Kathryn said. "But I get the impression we're still in the Delta Quadrant."

Suddenly, another wave of dizziness overcame her and she fell to the floor.

"Kathryn..." Chakotay cried.

"I'm ok," she said, sitting up. "It's just the treatment...it's wearing off." Pain seared through her brain and she raised her hands to her head with a groan.

"Let's get you seated," Chakotay declared.

"No," she replied, lowering her hands as the pain eased. "We can't stop. We don't have time. We've got to...get the job done."

"And we will. But we're resting a while. I insist."

"Ok," she conceded. "But only a short while. I'm not one to sit on a job."

"Don't I know it. But needs must."

Gently, he helped Kathryn to her feet and then guided her to a couch. She slumped into it and leant back against the soft cushions.

"Just so we're clear," she teased, "I'm holding you personally responsible if we don't get this job done."

"Understood, but we will."

"Promise me. Promise me that if I don't make it, you'll finish the job."

Chakotay took her hand in his and squeezed it. "I promise."

Suddenly, the gold door opened and a middle-aged woman, in plain clothes, stepped into the room. Her hair was short, black, and she looked familiar.

"Tal Celes?" Chakotay asked.

The woman pulled out her phaser and pointed it at them both. "Her daughter, Tal Meles. Who are you both and why are you impersonating Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay?"

"We're not impersonating them," Chakotay said. "We are them. A temporal anomaly has fractured Voyager into different time-frames and realities."

"If that is so," Tal Meles replied, "I will be able to verify it."

Keeping her phaser aimed at them, she walked over to the desk and switched on the computer. As she operated the keyboard, she glanced at them every few seconds, but then she relaxed.

"You are telling the truth," she said. "A temporal anomaly has fractured Voyager into different time-frames. 46, to be precise."

"You are able to determine that?" Kathryn asked in surprise.

"Yes," she smiled. "Technology has advanced since your time...or times."

"Can you determine which realities the time-frames belong too?"

"That is harder, but according to these readings, all time-frames belong to the same reality."

At this unexpected news, Kathryn turned to Chakotay. "Then it must be working," she said. "Our plan. As soon as B'Elanna uploaded the messages the realities disappeared. Only ours is left."

"I'm glad you have a plan," Tal Meles declared. "Fixing a fracturing of this magnitude is extremely difficult, especially as the time-frames keep changing. There are now 41."

"I don't know why they're changing," Kathryn said, "but so long as there are past-times that precede the moment of the strike, the changing shouldn't compromise our plan."

"The strike happened in 2378," Chakotay told Tal Meles. "Can you tell us where an earlier time-frame is? Preferably the closest."

Tal Meles operated her keyboard. "As the time-frames stand at the moment, Laboratory 3, four decks down. It's 2373 there."

"Then I'll get myself there," Chakotay said. "Captain, you stay here."

"Over my dead body," Kathryn declared, getting to her feet. "As long as there's life in these limbs, I'm on the job."

"But..."

"No buts. I'm coming." She turned to Tal Meles. "That door over there, where does it lead?"

"The museum," she answered.

Kathryn raised an eyebrow. "Museum?"

The woman smiled. "Voyager's been in space a long time, Captain. Many original items are now antiques."

"I guess so," Kathryn said. "Come on, Chakotay. We're heading down memory lane."

"Shall I come too?" Tal Meles asked. "A lot of the time-frames are future ones. You may need my help."

"I'm afraid you can't," Chakotay answered. "To pass through the different time-frames, you need to be inoculated with a special serum, but we don't have any."

"Then I'll say goodbye to you both," she smiled. "And wish you good luck."

Kathryn smiled back. "To you too."

Kathryn then made her way to the gold door, Chakotay following, and stepped through it. As she did, blackness fell before her eyes and all was dark.

"I...I can't see," she said in concern.

"Neither can I," he answered calmly. "The lights are off."

Relief consumed Kathryn. "Thank heaven for that. But we must be in a different time-frame."

"Computer," Chakotay said. "Maximum illumination."

But nothing happened, nothing at all.

"Voyager must be damaged in this time-frame," Kathryn said. "We're going to have to think our way out." She held up her phaser and set it to stun. "When I fire my phaser, take a good look around and see what you can see. I know the light will be dim, but do your best."

"Ok."

"On the count of three. One, two...three."

Kathryn fired her phaser and kept it firing for a few seconds. She was right, the light it cast was dim, but it was bright enough to give them a good outline of the room. It was long, wide, and was full of infants cots.

"So much for the museum," Kathryn said. "Looks more like a nursery to me. And I don't mean of the plant kind...unless you're Welsh."

"Welsh?" Chakotay asked.

"Plant is children in Welsh."

"I see," he said, amused. "I didn't know you can speak Welsh."

"I can't," she answered. "But my Aunt Martha was married to a Welshman and he taught me a few words."

"Which, knowing your modesty, means you're semi-fluent. I'm impressed. And it's true, we really do learn something new every day."

Kathryn laughed and linked her arm with his. "Come on, there's a door to our left. Let's see where it leads. I guess the corridor, but as this Voyager is full of surprises, who knows!"

They made their way blindly to the door, but when they got there, they found it wouldn't open.

"Damn," Kathryn cried. "There's no power. We're going to have to force it."

"Allow me," Chakotay said. "I've gotten used to forcing doors."

"You have? Don't tell me, Voyager catches my replicator's temperamental mood."

"Not quite," he laughed.

Skilfully, he forced open the door and light flooded in.

"Well," Kathryn said. "Light is hope. Let's see where we are." She stepped through the door and found herself, as she guessed, in a corridor. "Exactly where we thought we'd be. And the coast is clear. No Borg."

"Or Kazon, macroviruses or Hirogen," Chakotay smiled. "Disappointed?"

"No, siree. I've learnt my lesson."

Chakotay laughed and they quickly headed down the corridor to the nearest lift. As they did, Kathryn's legs gave way beneath her and she went crashing to the ground.

"I'm ok," she said, stumbling to her feet. "Keep moving."

Chakotay took her arm, just for added support, and Kathryn leant on him as they continued to the lift. When they reached it, Kathryn lay back against its silver walls and tried to recover her breath. She was hot, dizzy, and increasingly weak.

"I don't think I've got long," she said. "But I'm not giving up yet. We're almost at Lab 3. I just hope time hasn't changed there."

"Me too."

A terrible pain suddenly gripped Kathryn's insides and she sank to the floor in agony. Chakotay knelt beside her anxiously and put his hand on her shoulder

"Take deep breaths," he said. "We went through a volatile temporal barrier. I felt it too. Breathe easy..."

Kathryn did as he said and the pain started to ease. As it did, she relaxed and looked up at him. "Good diagnosis. I thought I was a goner. How did you know?"

"A feeling," he said. "A hope..."

Their eyes locked and for a moment Kathryn saw love in his eyes, the love she had always seen in them, but then his eyes looked away.

"We're here," he said. "I'll see if the coast is clear."

He opened the lift's door and looked outside. "It is. Want me to carry you?"

"No," Kathryn replied, getting to her feet. "I'm not beat yet."

They stepped out of the lift and Chakotay offered Kathryn his arm. She took it and they began to walk down the corridor.

"I've no idea where Lab 3 is," Chakotay said, "but as we've just passed Lab 10, and are now passing Lab 9, I'm guessing we're heading in the right direction."

"I'd say," Kathryn replied.

She was clearly still in some pain and Chakotay slowed his pace.

"If it's no longer 2373 there," Chakotay said, "we'll try the other labs. The chances are one of them is in the right past time-frame."

Kathryn stopped walking momentarily and put her hand to her side. "Good idea."

Chakotay stopped walking too and turned to her. "Let me carry you, Kathryn. You're clearly not..."

"I'm fine," she said, walking again as though to prove it. "Keep going."

Chakotay reluctantly walked with her.

"I hope it is 2373 there," she said, rambling a little as her body temperature soared. "I liked 2373. It was the year of New Earth."

"I liked it too," Chakotay replied. "It was a special year."

"I was angry at first...about us being stranded...so frustrated. All I wanted was to...find us a cure. But then...after weeks...I didn't want to go back to Voyager. I wanted to stay there...with you. Just you. Wanted there to be...just us."

"I wanted that too," Chakotay said. "More than anything. But when Tuvok said they had medicine, I was glad. I was glad for you."

"I wasn't. I..." She swayed and fell against Chakotay, but managed to stay on her feet. "It meant...it meant we couldn't be...together. And I wanted us to be. I want you to...to know that now. I..."

But Kathryn didn't get to finish her sentence as a vicious white creature with octopus like legs flew out of nowhere and attacked them. Chakotay quickly grabbed Kathryn's phaser and stunned the creature, but as he did so it pierced his neck with a black tendril. Chakotay screamed in agony and fell backwards against the wall. As he slid to the floor, clutching his neck, Kathryn dizzily knelt beside him.

"Chakotay," she said. "Can you hear me?"

"Yes," he replied, his voice weak and breathless. "But I can't move...paralysed...dying."

Tears flooded Kathryn's eyes. "No," she wept. "You can't be. We've got..."

"I am," he said. "The creature...it kills...2386. We lost...five people."

"I'll get help...I'll try." Dizzily, she tried to get to her feet, but no matter how much she wanted to stand, her legs wouldn't hold her up. "I can't...I can't walk. I'm too weak."

"It's ok," Chakotay said. "Just come close. B'Elanna will...complete the job. If not...Tom. Time will...be restored."

"No," Kathryn protested, trying again to stand. "I've got to...do it. Got to...complete my mission." But it was no use, her legs crumbled underneath her every time she tried to stand. "Damn," she cried. "Damn..."

"Time will be...healed," Chakotay said. "Lie still...by me."

Kathryn turned to him, accepting defeat, and took his limp hands in hers. "It better be. It so...better be. And when it is...I hope things are better...for all of us."

"I wouldn't change...anything. Not a...thing."

"But you'll still have her...Seven. Even if we get home...you'll still have her...and your twins. You will be...happy."

Suddenly, there was a screeching in the corridor, a horrible high-pitched sound. Kathryn turned towards it and saw another creature hovering in mid-air. It's legs were flapping and its eyes, it's ugly yellow eyes, were staring at her. Then it lurched forward, aiming right for her. But, just as the creature was about to pierce her with a deadly tendril, phaser fire shot it and it slumped to the floor. Then Tal Meles was beside them.

"Captain, Commander, has it jabbed you?"

"Chakotay," Kathryn said. "I have...temporal chaos. But how did you...get here?"

"When you left, it occurred to me that the serum you mentioned might be in our replicator database. I checked and it was. So, I replicated some and injected myself with it. Thankfully, it came in a time-protected case so I have it with me." She pulled a hypospray out of a pocket. "I'll inject you with it, it should..."

"No," Kathryn protested. "The temporal chaos must...take its course. You must...complete our mission."

"Tell me what to do."

"Go to Lab 3... or if time has changed there...to a past time-frame that...precedes 12 June 2378. When there...upload a message to...security file. Instruct computer to...deploy deflector dish on...12 June 2378...at precisely 06:09 hours."

"I got it," Tal Meles said. "12 June 2378, 06:09 hours."

"That's right. You must...succeed."

Tal Meles put her hand on Kathryn's shoulder. "I will. You can count on me. All my weapons are time-protected, standard policy these days, and I haven't failed on a mission yet. I might look like my mother, but when it comes to proficiency, I'm definitely not my mother's daughter."

Kathryn smiled. "Good luck...Captain."

Tal Meles flinched. "How did you know that's me?"

"Because I know who...I'd leave my ship too."

The woman smiled, but then fell serious. "If your plan works, I'm guessing we won't see each other again. If it doesn't, if time isn't made whole, then I'll be back."

"It will work and we will...see each other again...in the future."

"I hope so. Goodbye, Captain...Commander."

"Goodbye," Kathryn said.

Tal Meles then left and her echoing footsteps faded into silence.

"Looks like," Chakotay teased, "men will...never sit in...the big chair...on this ship."

"No, siree," Kathryn smiled. "She's a...lady's lady."

"I'm glad. I'm so...proud of you. Of all you've...achieved."

Tears filled Kathryn's eyes. "I'm proud of you too, Chakotay."

"And...I love you. I want you to...know. I never wanted...Seven. I always wanted...you. You're my...wife. My darling...beautiful wife."

A tear ran down Kathryn's cheek. "But your twins...my baby."

"We were taken...biometric...examination...2379. Babies were...made artificially...for experimentation. We found out...rescued them. Raised them. James was... yours. Twins were...mine. Other parent...alien. 10 babies...altogether. That's why...the nursery." He gasped, struggling to breathe. "I love you...Kathryn. Don't want you to...die not knowing...to think I...love someone else."

Kathryn tearfully kissed his hand and held it to her cheek. "I love you..too. Always. And I've longed for you...so much. These last two years...I never want them...to happen. I hurt so much...ached for you so much. But you weren't...you weren't there. When time is whole...I want you to...be there. I want us to...be together."

A tear mixed with blood escaped Chakotay's eye. "We...will be...my darling. Time will...bring us...together." He wheezed, panted. "Just lie...close. Lie...close."

Kathryn tearfully snuggled up to him and lay her head on his broad chest. His heart was beating, she could hear it, but the beat was faint, getting fainter.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, struggling to breathe herself. "For the...wasted years."

"No," he gasped. "I've been...so happy. I love you...so much."

Kathryn raised herself to look at him and tenderly stroked his face. "I love you...my angry warrior...my brave warrior."

Colors started to flicker in the corners of her eyes but Kathryn ignored them. All her attention was on the man beneath her, the kind and courageous man who she loved more than life.

"I'm so glad you...came into my life..." she said. "So glad we...got stranded. I never told you...never told you...so many things."

"I know," he whispered. "I know."

His eyes then closed and the last breath left his body.

"No," Kathryn wept. "No...Chakotay...don't leave me."

But he was gone. Her brave warrior was dead.

Kathryn cried out in agony and then collapsed onto his body with heartbreaking sobs. Then she clutched him tight, tighter than she'd ever clutched anyone or anything, and surrendered herself to the assailing colors. For in those colors, those ever haunting colors, lay death and oblivion.

END OF CHAPTER THIRTEEN