"Surrender?!" Natasha spoke up. "How can you even think of surrendering?! What happened to 'fight till we can't fight anymore'?! We've been through hell and back, just to surrender to one Federation starship." There was an immense hate in her voice. A hate that had been built up during her eleven years of life (three of them with the Maquis).
Beilah came up behind Natasha, and pulled her back. She was Natasha's mother. She had to protect her. Ever since Natasha's father had left them, Beilah had been her sole parent. She loved Natasha with all her heart.
"We're being hailed," Katy announced.
"On screen," Veron answered.
A woman in her late-40's forties with red hair appeared on the viewscreen, "This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Starship Voyager. Please identify yourself."
"This is Veron Maryi of the New Maquis Order. We are willing to accept any terms set for our surrender." A little piece of Beilah died inside with those words, but Maryi was right, they could not fight them.
A somewhat confused, male voice said, "This is Commander Chakotay. Perhaps-" Beilah immediately stopped listening. She ran over to Maryi to see if it was really him. It was.
He stopped in mid-sentence, shocked. "Beilah..." he trailed off. What were the odds? And how had she gotten involved with the Maquis?
"Perhaps," the Bajoran woman interrupted, "we should come aboard your ship and discuss things further. I'm sure we have much to clear up."
"Of course," Janeway answered, "In say an hour?"
"Perfect." The transmission ended.
Kathryn turned to him, "Commander, I need to see you in my ready room." She didn't sound mad, just confused. Maybe even a little embarrassed.
The ready room doors closed behind them. "Who was she?"
He swallowed hard, "Just a friend."
She looked at him skeptically. Janeway knew he was lying. But how could he ever tell her the truth? How could he ever hurt her like that?
"Chakotay," she said, interrupting his thoughts, "tell me the truth." Her blue eyes burned through him. He was trapped. No way out. He couldn't continue the lie, no matter how much it would hurt her.
Unable to look into her eyes, Chakotay kept his eyes cast downward, looking
at his fumbling fingers. "It was a little more than 13 years ago, I was
lieutenant on the USS Missouri. Beilah was in the science department. One
day, we were teamed up for an away mission.
Complete shock washed over her face. Kathryn sat down, and looked at the
stars. Maybe he shouldn't have been so blunt, or he shouldn't have revealed
everything, or... a thousand other things.
"Why..." she finally stuttered, "Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"
He walked over to her, sat down, and put his arm around her. She immediately
wriggled out. He replaced his hands back into his lap. "There wasn't time."
She turned back to look at him. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. "We've
been lost in the Delta quadrant eight years. We've been married for two years.
We have a one-year old child, and you tell me there wasn't time?" She was
furious. She had every right to be. He had kept something immensely important
from her.
"You realize," she said, "that this makes our marriage null and void.
He nodded slightly, "Beilah annulled our marriage after I joined the Maquis.
She took our daughter off with her somewhere. I haven't seen either of them
since. That's why there wasn't anything in the reports about them." He was
referring to the reports Starfleet had given Janeway about him.
"I don't even remember them," she said. "I haven't looked at them since our
first year in the Delta Quadrant. You know why? Because I trusted you.
**********
"The end of the Federation-Dominion War was, to say, a joke," Veron began.
"Sure, we had control of Cardassia, but we gave the Cardassians too much
freedom. They began to experiment with the same kinds of genetic engineering
that the Founders had used. Before we knew it, they had created Jem'Hadar
to use against us."
"Us?" Janeway inquired.
"The new occupants in the Cardassia Territories."
"The Federation let people settle in the former Cardassia Empire?" B'Elanna
asked, astonished.
"It was the Federation's attempt to make friends with the Cardassians," Maryi
replied. "They wanted the Cardassians used to us, so as to later induct the
Cardassia Alliance into the Federation (or at least have them as an ally)."
"What made the Federation think that the Cardassians could be trusted?" Chakotay
asked, astounded.
"During the war, we had formed a temporary alliance with the Cardassians"
Beilah responded. "The Federation wanted to make it a permanent one. Plus,
Legent Garak had assured our safety. It wasn't till after his assassination
that..."
"The Federation pulled back and left us to fend for ourselves," Maryi finished.
"Hmm..." Janeway pondered. "I'm sure you have updated reports that we could
look at later.
An amount of awkward glances was exchanged among the Maquis crew members.
Finally, Maryi spoke, "It's an experimental drive."
Janeway's ears immediately perked up. "This drive, this technology, could
it possible get us home?"
"The drive is nonfunctional," T'Dara, the Damascus's chief engineer, said.
"And even if it wasn't, there's no way we could adapt it to fit Voyager."
"And the technological information?" Voyager's half Klingon engineer furthered.
"I have the available information, but it is doubtful-"
"The information will do fine," B'Elanna interrupted.
"Now that that's settled," the Captain said, "There is the question of your
crew.
"As much as I don't want to leave the Damascus," Maryi said, "I must agree
with your assessment. The Damascus is too damaged to house a crew. I can
have the crew moved in about three hours."
"Sounds good to me. Dismissed."
The Damascus and Voyager senior staff filed out of the Briefing Room. Having
gotten out first, Beilah patiently waited outside for Chakotay. She felt
a small tug at her sleeve. "Maryi?!" she exclaimed.
"Come with me," Maryi ordered. "I'll help you find your's and Natasha's
quarters."
"But Chakotay..."
"Later."
Beilah sighed and hesitantly followed Maryi. She had waited nine years, she
could wait another hour or so.
**********
Reluctantly, Chakotay (having worked things out with Kathryn in the Briefing
Room) pushed the chime to Beilah's quarters. He was incredibly nervous. What
should he say? Hi, Beilah. I'm sorry I ran off and joined the Maquis. Oh,
by the way, I've been married to the Captain for about two years and, in
that time, we had a little boy. He's one now. Yeah, right.
"Chakotay?!" Beilah exclaimed. Her eyes twinkled in delight. The eyes, the
magnificent eyes he used to loose himself in so many years ago were blind
to what was about to happen. Unbelievably blind.
"Come in, " she beckoned. He stepped in, and the doors swooshed behind him.
The lights were dim. "Klingon opera?" he asked, knowing the answer before
he saw her nod. So little had changed. Well, some things had changed.
He felt two arms snake around his neck. Her lips came up and engulfed his.
He just stood there, frozen. Chakotay didn't push her away, nor did his lips
respond to her's. Nothing moved. His brain, however, was going a mile a minute.
Thoughts of Kathryn and Chris ran through, among memories of Beilah and Natasha
from long ago. His mind was torn.
Beilah made the decision for him. She pulled away. "What's wrong?" she asked.
Her blue eyes told of her confusion. They told of everything.
"I don't know how to tell you this," he said, walking across the room. "I'm
married."
"She's a very lucky woman," Beilah said in a wispy manner. She turned and
walked over to the sofa. She sat, her legs no longer able to support her
weight. Things were spinning. She had lost her chance to make amends. She
had wanted so very much for her to apologize and make things like they had
been before. Too late.
Then it hit her, it was very amusing. She laughed. Chakotay turned to look
at her. "Our timing was never right, was it?"
"I know don't understand," he said walking towards her.
"You join the Maquis, I annul our marriage. I join the Maquis, you get married,"
she paused. "It's been hell on Natasha, you know. Her father leaves and her
mother joins the Maquis, forcing her to stay with her grandparents. You know
how many times she ran away and tried to enlist with the Maquis? Six. Six
times, Chakotay."
"Is she on Earth?"
Damn. She had to tell him. He would be mad with her, but there was no way
out. She would be walking through those doors any minute now. "She's on the
Damascus."
"You brought a twelve year old girl along with you on a Cardassia raid?!
Our daughter, Beilah!" he screamed. His face was flushed red. He had always
been overprotective with her. Natasha was their only child.
Suddenly, the doors swooshed open revealing a girl of about eleven with raven
black hair that reached down to her waist. Her ice-blue eyes, however, looked
much older. They told her story. "You wouldn't believe the size of this ship,"
Natasha exclaimed, oblivious to Chakotay's presence. She set down the things
she had been carrying (various packages and a Vulcan lyre).
"Hello," Chakotay half-greeted half-croaked.
"Hi," she returned, unsurely. Natasha looked over at Beilah for an answer.
Beilah wasn't sure she had one.
"Natasha," she said, hoarsely, "we need to talk."
**********
Beilah slowly walked down the corridor to the turbolift. It had been a week
since the Damascus crew had joined Voyager's. She pushed the button and waited
for the lift. She pulled at the neck of her uniform, she had forgotten how
uncomfortable these things were. Finally, the doors opened.
"Lt. Commander,' the women inside greeted. She was medium height and had
short blonde hair.
"Lieutenant," Beilah returned, after entering. "Deck 1."
For about 20 seconds, all that was heard was the buzz of the turbolift. The
woman turned to Beilah, "Hi, I'm Samatha Wildman."
Beilah smiled, "Beilah Grossman."
"You have a daughter, right? Natasha?"
"Yes."
"Well, I thought maybe my daughter, Naomi, and your's could get together
to play or something. They are so few children on Voyager, none of them Naomi's
age. That is, until now."
"Of course, that sounds wonderful. How about tomorrow on the Holodeck?"
"Great," Samatha replied. The doors swooshed open. "Well, this is my stop.
I'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye." The doors closed. For the first time in a week, Beilah felt truly
welcome. She and the Captain had talked, but deep down Beilah sensed that
Janeway still had some issues to work out. Chakotay had been flat out avoiding
her. The rest of the crew was yet to accept the former Damascus crew.
The doors opened, revealing the Bridge. Beilah stepped out and walked towards
helm. "Lieutenant Paris still in Sickbay?" Janeway asked, suppressing a laugh.
"Yes, Captain," Beilah replied.
"Well, that'll stop him from eating alien foods before checking their safety
with a tricorder first." Janeway was referring to a diplomatic mission where
the lieutenant had sampled some of the local cuisine, only to have his entire
surface skin turn blue. It had become the butt of many jokes lately.
"Yes, Captain," Beilah mused taking her post. It was a slow watch. They hadn't
run into a ship in days. This gave Beilah time to think. The pieces were
coming together. T'Dara had become assistant chief engineer. She had also
met another Vulcan (someone named Vorik). Beilah expected Kalifar to take
place sometime within the next year.
Maryi had found her place among Voyager's crew as their new tactical officer
(the former tactical officer, another Vulcan, now had more time to focus
on his chief of security duties).
Beilah was piloting. She loved piloting, but yearned to be back at what she
had originally been trained to do: be a scientist. Perhaps she would put
in for a duty change with Chakotay, or not.
The puzzle piece that seemed to fit nowhere was Natasha. Natasha had become
spiteful towards both Beilah and Chakotay. Beilah didn't blame her. Beilah
had told her long ago, when she asked about her father, that he had died
in a shuttle accident. Any news of Chakotay, she shelter from Natasha, and
from herself. Nonetheless, she had lied to her daughter.
The beeping of the sensors snapped Beilah out of her reverie. "I'm picking
up an alien ship heading towards us," Beilah announced. Another beep sounded.
"Their hailing."
"This is Rydh of the Eaoliah empire. You have trespassed in our space. Prepare
to be boarded."
Janeway stood up and walked towards the viewscreen. Beilah felt the Captain's
commanding presence behind her. "This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the USS
Voyager. We were unaware of our infringement on your space. Perhaps, you
could beam over and we could discuss this further."
"Ignorance is not an excuse. Prepare to be boarded or face the consequences!"
The viewscreen shut off. Moments later, the ship rocked from the Eaolian
phasers.
"Return fire," the Captain ordered.
"Aye, Captain."
The ship continued to be pounded by the Eaolian weapons, despite Voyager's
efforts to stop it. Beilah saw sparks flying through the air behind her.
Suddenly, that was all she saw: white sparks. A deep pain seared through
her stomach. She felt herself falling off of her chair and to the deck. She
heard voices around her calling for Sickbay, but they were fading. Fading,
fading, faded; gone.
**********
"How is she, Doctor?" Chakotay asked. Beilah's seemingly lifeless form lay
on the bio-bed. She couldn't go this way. She had so much left to do. Natasha
needed her. And so do I, he thought.
"Not well," the Doctor replied. "There was massive internal bleeding.
Slowly, Chakotay walked towards her. She was the woman before Kathryn. In
a way, he still loved her. At least, he would never forget her. Every time
he looked in Natasha's eyes, he saw his beloved Beilah.
Her eyes were open and appeared semi-aware of their surroundings. "Hi," he
greeted, holding back his tears.
"What happened?"
"The console exploded."
"The Eaolian ship?"
"Destroyed."
She blinked, trying to stay conscious, "I'm dying."
"Don't talk like that," Chakotay scolded, "You'll be fine. All you have to
do is rest."
"I see your ability to lie is as bad as ever." She coughed. "It's good to
know some things haven't changed... But so much has changed, Chakotay. Even
my accent's gone. Remember how you used to tease me about it? Whenever I
switched my v's and w's, you'd laugh. Please, tell me you remember?" her
tone became increasingly urgent with each breath. Chakotay knew she wanted
to get it all out before-
"Of course I remember."
She smiled, "Never forget, Chakotay. Never forget the past. Never forget
where you've come from, lest you loose where you're going..." Her stare went
blank. She was gone.
*
