Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 25

Riku woke to find Sora beside him, reading. Things had been looking up, Sora had willingly talked to Mickey, they'd found new engine technology…and now they were stuck in a void. It was incredibly…unsettling. Even the Realm of Darkness had more features to it, more light, than this section of space. And apparently it would take two years to cross. He honestly wasn't sure the crew could mentally deal with that, he knew how detrimental time in the Realm of Darkness could be to the mind, beyond the effect of Darkness on the Heart.

He shifted to lay his head in Sora's lap, smiling softly when a hand began to run through his hair as Sora kept working. He had the feeling someone had arranged their duty shifts to allow them time like this together and he wouldn't complain. He heard Kairi mumble in her sleep before she was moving closer, an arm around his waist.

He felt Sora tense, and looked up at him, seeing him reading with narrowed eyes, tapping in something, and then Sora was smiling, almost a grin.

"Sora?"

"I have to speak to B'Elanna," Sora murmured, shifting, and Riku lifted his head to let him slide out. Then Sora kissed him. "Go back to sleep."

Riku watched Sora quickly get dressed and then leave their quarters. What had he found or worked out?

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

"Sora to Torres," he called as soon as the door closed, not wanting to disturb them anymore. Technically, none of them were on shift for a few more hours but this was too important to wait.

It took a few moments for her to respond and he felt a flash of guilt, had she been sleeping? "Torres here, what is it Sora?"

"Please meet me in Engineering, it's important."

There was a pause. "Give me ten."

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

She rolled out of bed and threw her uniform on, wondering what could have Sora calling her when they were both off shift. She knew it had to be important, he had never called her for anything frivolous unlike some of the crew. B'Elanna shoved her shoes on, ran a brush through her hair quickly, and then left her quarters.

She found Sora at his console, fingers flying over the controls, a PADD set nearby that he consulted every few seconds. "Sora?"

He looked up at her, and she could see his excitement in his eyes. "I worked it out. It was the Slipstream system that gave the necessary calculations."

She stepped up beside him, looking over the calculations. Her eyes widened as she realised what she was seeing. "This is…"

"Not a way to Earth, not yet. But it's a way out of here and to a safe haven."

He'd done it, he'd really done it. Between the transwarp coils, slipstream, and the information sent by his old friends…they had a way to get Voyager safely back to where Sora came from. She looked back at Sora and grinned, getting a smile in return.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

"Torres to the Captain."

Kathryn closed her eyes. She thought she'd re-routed all comm calls to Chakotay but apparently engineering or at least her head engineer could still get through.

"Captain?"

"What is it lieutenant?" B'Elanna wasn't likely to let it go and call Chakotay.

"Sora's done it, Captain. A way out of the void and to safety."

Her answer had Kathryn straightening from where she'd been slumped back on her couch. "I beg your pardon?"

"It's not Earth, but it's safer than here considering all the radiation we've been picking up."

"I thought Voyager needed modifications to make it back to their worlds?"

"Sora cracked them thanks to the new data from the Dauntless."

"I'm on my way." For the first time in weeks, she left her quarters. Seeing the relief in the eyes of those she passed, she felt bad. Chakotay had been right, her crew needed to see her. Despite the fact she was the one who had stranded them so far from home.

She found the two working at the same console, speaking softly as they talked, but Sora looked up as soon as she began approaching. "Report."

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

The briefing room filled quickly, but Tom was surprised to see Sora, Riku, and Kairi present. Sora and Kairi worked specifically within departments but Riku kind of moved between them, willing to help anywhere and learn. Tom had been working with him a lot on piloting Voyager since he knew how to fly their version of spaceships. You could never have too many pilots when cut off from reinforcements.

It was a relief to see the Captain too, had she left her quarters at all since they entered the Void? Maybe the four had been working on something and that had kept her busy? And she could have been keeping it need-to-know which was why none of them mentioned seeing her.

"I'll get straight to the point people. Thanks to Sora's tireless dedication in adapting various engine technologies, we have a way out of this Void," the Captain told them.

Tom was more than relieved at hearing that. The never ending black of space was getting to everyone, including him. He knew the Doctor had had to treat people for anxiety the last few days, how much worse would it get in two years? So leaving, yeah, he was very much in support of that idea.

"Earth?" Harry asked, but Sora shook his head.

"Sorry, not yet. It would be our Worlds; I'd suggest Radiant Garden since the most useful information was from Cid and that is where he lives."

Riku nodded at that. "You'll also fit in better there. The Castle…well the people there are very different to any species I've come across in your records. Though the King would probably come to us, to see Sora."

"This method will get Voyager to Earth, in a leapfrog method," Sora stepped in again. "Basically, the ship will travel to our Worlds, stay for a while, and then return here but having travelled three thousand light years. Then after some time travelling at normal warp here, we go back to our Worlds. It will still take time, but a lot less than travelling the whole way at warp in the Delta Quadrant."

So that would equal around twenty trips, even if they only did it once a year, that was twenty years rather than sixty. Plus, they'd be travelling at warp between trips and cutting even more time and distance off that way. Maybe it wasn't as fast as actual transwarp would get them back, but it was better than they'd been able to hope for.

"This will really work?" Chakotay asked, leaning forward.

"It has in all the simulations," B'Elanna spoke up, and he could see how proud she was of Sora's work.

Getting back to Earth would be great…but so would be getting to see where Sora and the others came from. It sounded so different, so fantastical. Magic was something no one believed in anymore…was that why Sora couldn't use it like the other two? Between being Assimilated and no magic around, maybe he couldn't use it anymore. Then again, he'd gone back to visit and hadn't regained it, had he?

"I'm sure by now we've all heard of the unique dangers the Worlds of Sora's home have, which is why I am not going to make the decision to do this. I want the crew to have the final say on if we go."

"Captain?" Tuvok was staring at her in what passed for concern from a Vulcan, and Tom didn't blame him.

Two years in the void or a trip to Sora's home? He knew which he preferred. Hell, he'd rather face a Borg cube or ten than face two years of this place.

"Captain, exposing the crew to this Void for two years is not a good idea," the Doctor warned, again. "If there's another option then my medica advice is to take it."

"I concur with the Doctor," Tuvok nodded.

"Agreed," Chakotay glanced at them, and Tom nodded, Harry agreeing as well. "B'Elanna, Seven?"

"It'd be a waste of time to have done all that work and not use it, I'm in."

"Their Worlds hold dangers we are ill equipped to deal with," Seven answered, "however, the length of time needed to travel through this Void will prove detrimental to the crew and we do not know what else may be in here. At least the risks there are known. We should go."

"I'll prepare an announcement for the crew, after which you will need to speak to your departments and get their answer," the Captain announced, "dismissed."

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

The possibility of leaving the Void and having a safe haven was the talk of the ship, and the three of them were getting a lot of considering looks and questions. It was a little uncomfortable to be stared at even more than when she'd first come on board. And some of the questions she had no clue how to answer! It was kind of strange too, to not be worrying about World Order but that had kind of gone out the window a while ago.

Kairi was relieved when she reached Sickbay since the Doctor wouldn't let anyone linger to pester her. She sat at her desk and brought up what she was studying at the moment. A lot of it went over her head since she'd never technically finished high school but that was what references were for, to look up what she didn't understand. She'd never considered medicine as a career but it was very interesting. Sora was taking classes to possible join Starfleet Academy…maybe with the Doctor's help she could formally study medicine? Was she really planning to stay forever?

It felt like she was abandoning her duty to do that but…hadn't they given enough?

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

The Doctor stepped out of his office as Mr Paris helped Neelix inside, taking in his visible symptoms. Hmmm…another case. Kairi had already picked up his tricorder for him. She really did make a far better nurse than Mr Paris, and she was interested in learning too. "On the bed please," he called as he took the tricorder.

"Some morale officer I turned out to be," Neelix panted even as the Doctor pressed a hypospray to his neck.

"I've given you a mild sedative. It should control the urge to hyperventilate and alleviate some of your anxiety."

"Anxiety? Anxiety's what I feel when I burn a pot roast. This. This is more like…."

"Dizziness? Nausea? Unspeakable dread?" he suggested, and Neelix nodded.

"Yes."

"Nihiliphobia, the fear of nothingness. Or in layman's terms, the fear of nothingness. If it's any consolation, I can relate to it. I go into a void every time I'm deactivated. Emptiness, complete and utter oblivion. I'll admit it was unsettling at first. The existential horror of it all."

"You're not helping, Doctor," Neelix glared at him, gripping the edges of the biobed tightly.

"Sorry. My point is, you'll get used to it. You're also not the only one to be suffering due to our circumstances. Hopefully, we will soon be away from here."

"I hope so," Neelix murmured.

"Just lay back and relax for a while. Kairi can get you anything you need."

He had been right in his diagnosis; the crew's mental states would not survive two years of this. Something had to be done, whether it was going to Sora's home or something else.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Seven paused just passed the doors, surprised by what she was seeing. "Commander. Am I disturbing you?"

"No," Tuvok answered from where he was seated on the floor.

"Is the Astrometrics lab designated for recreational use?" Had she missed that notice? There were odd things happening as they struggled to deal with the never-ending darkness.

"I come here to meditate. Needless to say, the view from my quarters has been less than stellar lately."

"Astronomical phenomena help you to focus your mind," she determined, and he nodded.

"Yes. I imagine that each star represents a single thought."

"Meditation. It rejuvenates you?" She knew Sora often meditated with him when he had the time free but she had never seen the point to it. Though it had been very helpful for Sora she had no memories to retrieve or need to further control her emotions like the younger ex-drone did.

"Indeed it does."

"I suggest you try Borg regeneration. It's much more efficient. A simple cortical implant would be required."

"Another time, perhaps." He stood and the console beeped. "What is it?"

She moved to the console, bringing up the data. "Long range sensors are detecting more theta radiation. Dangerously high levels."

"Source?"

"Unknown."

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

"It's probably nothing. Just background theta radiation. But it could mean there's someone nearby," Chakotay reported.

"Distance?"

"Approximately twenty-five light years."

The Captain sat back in her chair, he was just glad she was in her ready room and not her quarters like before. "And the other issue?"

"All crewmembers have reported in. The decision is almost totally unanimous, they wish to go."

She nodded. "Then we better go," she stood up and he followed her onto the bridge. "Janeway to engineering."

"Torres here."

"Prepare for trans-dimensional drive," she told her. It was a mouthful but the best they could come up with for where the trio was from was another dimension.

"Understood."

"Janeway to all hands. Prepare for trans-dimensional travel. Yellow alert."

The lights dimmed, flashing as yellow alert came on. A few moments later the turbolift arrived and Riku moved to join Tom at the conn while Sora took the engineering station.

"Mr Paris, set our course."

"Aye Captain."

"Torres to bridge, we're ready here."

"Agreed," Sora was studying his monitors.

Chakotay could see she was tense, that she was wary of trying but also worried about staying. He understood, but there were risks either way. Something was weighing on her since they'd entered the Void, but what? Hopefully once they were out she'd deal with it. She moved to take her seat and glanced at him. He nodded as he checked his console.

"All decks report ready, Captain," he informed her.

"Engage," she ordered.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

As the Captain made the announcement Kairi grabbed her phone and sent a message to Cid. They didn't know exactly where they would appear and they didn't want to cause a panic if it was in the atmosphere and visible to the people of Radiant Garden. Sora and Riku immediately headed for the bridge to help and she went to Sickbay to be ready for any possible injuries if it was a rough ride.

Knowing how the original medical staff had died, she sat on the floor in the middle of the room, ready to throw up a barrier spell if needed. The bemused Doctor joined her, bring a PADD with him, apparently not even travelling between dimensions could get her out of studying.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Sora held on tight to the edge of his console as the ship shook and shuddered. The stars looked…strange, nothing like when at warp or transwarp. Every simulation said it would work. It had to work. He could not be responsible for everyone dying.

"Shields at sixty-two percent," Tuvok announced. "Fifty-nine…fifty-two…forty-seven."

With a last shudder everything went still and quiet.

"Mr Paris?" the Captain called.

"All stop Captain," Tom answered.

Sora stared at the viewscreen, they'd…they had done it. "Radiant Garden," he murmured, but they all heard him.

"Janeway to all decks, damage reports," she ordered. "Riku, if you would contact your friends and let them know we're in orbit?"

"Of course Captain," Riku pulled out his phone to call the Restoration Committee or the Castle?

Seeing stars again was a relief after almost two months in the Void.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

"He Cid, can you scan the space around our World?"

"Why?" he looked over at Leon from the computer.

"Riku called, the ship is here."

"What?!" he began typing away madly, and Leon smothered a smirk.

It had been such a relief to hear that Riku had found Sora, but he hadn't heard anything until they'd received the ship data and request for help. Hearing that Sora had been changed, suffered amnesia, it was worrying. The kid had really grown on him, on all of them. What would he be like now?

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Riku moved onto the transporter bad with Commander Chakotay, Tom, and Seven. They were the away team being sent down to meet everyone and start the process of working out shore parties and scientific exchanges. It had been his idea to include Seven over Lieutenant Torres, to see how everyone reacted to her since she had fewer visible implants than Sora. She would be a good way to ease those there into the idea of what had happened to Sora. He figured Seven knew that when Sora had declined to come. Kairi was staying onboard with him, for support.

"Energise."

The ship vanished and they reappeared on familiar cobblestones, the sound of water filling his ears while the scent of flowers was heavy in the air. The damage hadn't been completely fixed but it was so much better than even the last time Sora had seen it…which had been through the Gummiphone screen when he'd called Riku who'd been there with Mickey looking for clues to Aqua's location.

Riku smiled as he saw Leon, Cid, and Tiffa waiting for them. All three of them fighters just in case, but they relaxed when they saw him. But he stayed where he was, Chakotay was in command after all. That had taken some getting used to.

The Commander stepped towards the three and the rest of them followed, though Riku moved up to be beside him since he was kind of the ambassador between the two groups. He could do this.

TBC…

So the S5 ep1 for Voyager only partially happened. Who would want to stay in that place if they had a way out? Though, bad news for the aliens they helped in the episode.