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Switched

Chapter 34

The Timebird rematerialized in 2378 with a severe jolt and Kathryn found herself lying on the floor. There were no flames this time, however, no smoke, and she was unhurt.

"Everyone ok?" her father asked as he got up from the floor.

"I'm fine," Kathryn replied.

"Me too," Dawson said.

Kathryn looked in Cayla's direction and saw that her twin was safely lying on the trolley.

"Let's hope we are where we're supposed to be," Edward said. "I'll check." He pulled out his tricorder but found that it wasn't working. "It's dead... must have been damaged during transport. I'll go to the bridge."

"No need," Kathryn said, looking out of a window and seeing an unconscious officer on the floor. "We've definitely made it. Everything is just as it was when I left." She turned to her father and Dawson. "Welcome to the future."

There was a sudden rapping on the door and they all shared a concerned glance. Until Edward and Dawson were safely back in 2345 the temporal loop would not come full circle. And until it came full circle, the past, the present and the future were all at stake.

"I'm the only one supposed to be here," Kathryn reasoned. "I'll get it."

She went over to the door, opened it, and came face to face with Admiral Dawson.

"Admiral," she said in surprise.

"Who else?" he smiled. The old man then stepped into the ship. "Brings back memories. Edward, good to see you again. My younger self...good to remember you."

For a long moment he looked at the man he used to be, and the man he used to be looked at the man he would become.

"Did I hear right?" young Dawson asked. "You're an admiral?"

"Yes," old Dawson replied.

"Then seems I have quite a career to look forward too."

The old man nodded. "When you finally have the courage to give up medicine and pursue the command career you've always wanted." The Admiral then went over to Cayla. "But there's no time for reminiscence or revelation. Every temporal transport is not only degenerating this ship, it's also degenerating your bodies. You all need treatment for post-transportation-trauma." He put his hand to Cayla's neck. "Her pulse is weak, she's deteriorating. Edward, my younger self, you'll both survive another transport...just about...but Cayla needs urgent medical attention." He turned to Kathryn. "And as you're pregnant, so do you, Captain."

Now it was Edward's turn to be surprised. "Captain? My goldenbird?"

"Soon to be Admiral," old Dawson replied. "And I know, I shouldn't have told you, but you've known it for years because I have." He got hold of Cayla's trolley and began to push it towards the open door. "I have a couple of officers waiting outside to convey her to the sanatorium."

Young Dawson helped him to push Cayla outside while Kathryn and her father looked at each other with both joy and sadness in their eyes.

"Soon to be Admiral, huh?" her father said.

"That's right," Kathryn replied. "For special achievement." Tears filled her eyes. "I just wish I could tell you what it was...wish you were here sharing it all."

"I am here," he said, closing the gap between them. "I'm here now. And I'm so proud of you."

A tear ran down Kathryn's cheek. "I don't want to say goodbye. I don't want to let you go...forever."

"Who's to say this will be the last time we meet? Death is only a parting, Kathryn. We'll meet again. Either in this life or in the next. Believe that."

Old Dawson and his younger self returned. "It's time to go," the Admiral said. "Time to spin the wheel."

Edward put his hand to his daughter's cheek. "Goodbye, my Goldenbird."

Kathryn tearfully wrapped her arms around her father's neck and made the goodbye she had once been denied. "Goodbye, Daddy," she whispered. "I love you."

"I love you too," Edward said, holding her in return. "Always."

They held each other a while, then Edward let her go with a kiss.

"Have a good life, Kathryn," he said. "Be happy."

They looked at each other one last time, then Edward left the lounge with young Dawson. Kathryn watched him go with a terrible ache in her heart.

"Come on," old Dawson said kindly. "Let's watch the wheel turn."

His words brought Kathryn out of her trance and she followed him out of the ship. They walked over to the console, which was a safe distance away from the ship, and then turned back to look at it one last time. Young Dawson was standing at a window in the bridge and old Dawson raised up his thumb in a go-ahead. Then he and Kathryn watched and waited for the green light of the temporal transport. It came at last and then the ship was gone.

"A full circle," Dawson said. "Mission accomplished."

For a long moment Kathryn said nothing, just stared at the spot where the ship had stood, then she spoke. "All these years you've known this would happen," she said quietly." And that means you've known for the past seven that Voyager would get home. When everyone else thought we were dead, you knew we were alive." She paused. "Who else knows?"

"Just Admiral Terence and Admiral Linten," he answered. "But while we anticipated this event, and prepared for it, we couldn't be certain it would happen. Nothing is certain until it occurs. But I'm glad that it has. I'm glad that a loop 33 years in the making is finally complete. It's a shame the ship had to be lost but that's not altogether a bad thing. It's been a tremendous responsibility since it was found for very little benefit. We've learnt from it but most of the technology is far too advanced to be of use to us." He paused. "As you read on the padd, this case is to remain classified. Does anyone, except yourself and Cayla, know about this?"

"Only Chakotay. And his discretion can be counted on." A blackness suddenly fell before her eyes and she swayed.

"We'd better get you to the sanatorium," Dawson said in concern. "It's just down the corridor."

"In a moment," Kathryn replied. "I'd better let Chakotay know what's happening."

"Ok," Dawson said. "But make it quick. You really do need medical attention. Tell Chakotay I want to speak to him. As he's involved in this I need to. Tell him to meet me outside in about thirty minutes...or as soon as he can. While you do that, I'll wake up Commander Hanton."

"Yes, Sir," Kathryn said.

Dawson then searched under the console for a medkit and Kathryn hit her commbadge. "Kathryn to Chakotay"

Chakotay's voice immediately answered. "I'm here. What's happening?"

"It's all over. The past is safe. But I'll be here a little while longer as I've got post-transportation-trauma. It's a long story. Cayla has too, and more besides, so won't be going anywhere anytime soon. You can bring her ship out of orbit."

"Right away. Are you still at Rylan Dock?"

"Yes. And Admiral Dawson wishes to speak to you. He'll meet you outside in about thirty minutes."

"I'll be there. Chakotay out."

When the connection terminated, Dawson put a hypospray to Commander Hanton's neck. The Officer immediately woke up.

"What happened?" the man asked in confusion.

"Nothing for you to concern yourself with," Admiral Dawson replied.

As the Commander got to his feet he noticed that the ship was gone. "The ship...Where's it gone?"

"I'm afraid that's classified information."

Kathryn suddenly felt faint and had to clutch the console to stop herself from falling. Admiral Dawson got to his feet and put his arm around her. "We really should get you to the sanatorium." He turned back to the Commander. "Take the rest of the day off, Jovis. And remember, what happened here today is classified. You can't tell anyone."

"I've nothing to tell," he said. "I don't remember anything."

The Admiral smiled. "Then your task is all the easier."

With that, he left the cell with Kathryn.

"Definitely Post-Transportation-Trauma," Voyager's former EMH said as he examined Kathryn, "aswell as some asphyxiation, bruising, untreated burns and exhaustion. Should I ask what you've been up to or should I prefer not to know?"

"The latter, Doctor," Kathryn replied, trying hard to fight swirls of blackness that kept falling before her eyes. "Believe me, this is one adventure you don't want to know about."

"I suspected as much. You don't get injuries like this from a walk in the park...well, unless you're Commander Chakotay that is. You both have a genius for trouble, that's for sure. But I must remind you that you're pregnant, Captain. That means you don't have the liberty of fire play. You must start taking care of yourself. Your baby is depending on you."

"There's no need to give me an earache too, Doctor," Kathryn replied. "The situation was out of my control."

"Isn't it always? And unless you start taking things easy I certainly will give you an earache. A profound one, every day. I have a good mind to give Chakotay one too, although I don't suppose you listen to him any more than you do to me."

A door opened and Admiral Dawson came in.

"How's Cayla?" Kathryn asked.

"Cayla?" the Doctor said. "I might have known your double would have something to do with this. Every emergency I treat these days regarding yourself or the Commander has something to do with her. What's the wicked witch done now?"

"More than you can ever imagine," Kathryn answered. She then questioned Dawson again. "How is my sister?"

"Out of danger," he replied. "More than that I don't know."

"That's enough for now. Thankyou for enquiring."

"No trouble. Now, I'd better go and meet your husband."

"Indeed. See you both later."

Dawson left and the Doctor put a hypospray to Kathryn's neck. The dizziness immediately began to subside.

"This will ease your symptoms," the Doctor said, "and start regenerating the degeneration. But you'll need several treatments, which means I'm going to have to keep you in for at least a couple of days."

"Is that necessary? You can treat me at home. I'll rest better at home."

"Rest and Kathryn Janeway are not words I'd use in the same sentence," the Doctor replied. "I'm keeping you in. That's final."

Having safely parked Cayla's shuttle in a near by shuttle park, Chakotay waited outside Rylan Dock's main entrance for Admiral Dawson to arrive. While he did not know the Admiral personally, he knew him by sight. The Admiral had taught several biology classes at the Academy when he was a cadet and he'd attended some of his lectures. Goldy was now safely in Gretchen's care, courtesy of Cayla's transporter system, so Chakotay was completely alone. As he waited outside the tall domed building, he studied the colorful painting commemorating great scientists that adorned the oval entrance. Some of the scientists he recognized, others he did not. Amongst the faces of great minds was that of Leonardo da Vinci, and Chakotay made a mental note of pointing him out to Kathryn when they left.

Suddenly, the door opened and Chakotay turned around, hoping to see Admiral Dawson. But it wasn't him. Instead of the Admiral, two Vulcan women left the building. They talked as they did so and headed towards the shuttle park. Chakotay turned back to the painting, intending to find more familiar faces in the collage, but as he looked up at the display, a red transporter beam unexpectedly engulfed him and he dematerialized.

END OF CHAPTER 34