A Glimpse Into The Future

Aurora Khan (Ltrotsky17@hotmail.com)

Series: Star Trek: Voyager/Ds9

Codes: Kes, P/T, Voyager Crew

Rating: G

Disclaimer: Paramount is paramount.

Archiving: Please do not archive anywhere.

Please feel free to link to this story or my

webpage, but please let me know. I like

to know where my stories are so I can come visit.

Author's acknowledgments, assorted ramblings, chit chat and other

nonsense-

This story was first written in November 1997, and only referred

to episodes up to the Scientific Method. It has been subsequently

modified, and now includes references to several other episodes.

This time, I'll let you figure out what they are. It was edited

extensively on May 22 and July 1, 1999.

This story assumes that Kes evolved into something similar to that

of the Prophets of the Bajoran Wormhole, based on stuff I remember

from The Emissary.

And a quick thanks to Jim Wright's wonderful reviews -- they were

very helpful for some quick answers to questions like "What was

the name of that woman in that desert episode?" Thanks a bundle,

Jim!

After The Gift and Kes's disappearing act, I was always

bugged by the question of what had happened to her, what could she

do, what kind of powers did she acquire in her new state of being?

To answer my questions is A Glimpse Into The Future.

Synopsis: In her new state of being, Kes looks into her friends'

Futures to see what will happen to them and to Voyager

during their journey home.

This story is located on my web site at

http://www.oocities.org/TelevisionCity/Set/8770/ If you'd like

to link to it, please just e-mail me and let me know first.

Historian's Note: This story takes place directly after The Gift,

and refers to episodes such as Revulsion, Nemesis, Before and

After ,The Raven, Scientific Method and Day of Honor. And a few

others. But as I said earlier, you can figure out what they are.

;-)

~~~~~~~~~

Somewhere in the vast void of the cosmos, a minuscule amount of

debris was the only remains from a Federation-issued shuttle

craft.

Of the occupant of the shuttle craft, there were only bits of bone

and flesh, scarcely enough for a DNA analysis for identification

purposes.

The physical being known as Kes no longer existed.

In the place of the blonde, blue eyed, three year old Ocampan was

a non-corporeal being who was no longer limited by the

constraints of living a linear existence.

Voyager was long gone, her having propelled them nearly ten light

years away. Kes regretted not being able to say good bye to each

of her friends, to provide them with the closure they would need

to move on with their lives. She would miss being able to help the

Doctor with his bedside manner and quest for a name, meditating

with Tuvok, talking with Neelix, working in the hydroponics bay...

just being with her friends in general.

But now, as she explored her new found capabilities, Kes

discovered she was able to 'see' into the future. Anytime, any

place she wanted, she could watch what was/would/had happened,

depending on who's frame of reference it was from. Out of a long

standing sense of curiosity about the land her friends had so

longed see, Kes "peeked" over at the Alpha Quadrant.

Earth was absolutely marvelous! The thousands of different life

forms and life styles on one planet alone! No wonder Kathryn

Janeway had been so determined to get her crew home. So much to

explore, so much to do! If she had had the opportunity to visit

Earth in a physical form, she doubted she would have even been

tempted back into space. Why, just exploring the oceans could take

centuries!

If she could have, she would have flinched --- how dare the Breen

destroy the Golden Gate Bridge? There had been no reason to do so,

aside from the psychological terror it would inflict on every

single officer at Starfleet Headquarters. Every time they

glanced out a window, they would be reminded of the Breen's deadly

power. Not even the Klingon forces had ever dared to attack Earth.

This war was more brutal and deadly than anything in recent

history.

The Founders against the Federation. A conflict that had been

building up for years until it had become inevitable. Kes didn't

understand how any sentient, caring living beings could put each

other through petty warfare just for...what? What the hell were they

fighting for anyway? Did they even remember anymore? She didn't

think so. No...wait, she took that back. She knew they didn't know.

There was a human who felt great frustration over his lack of

success, and regret at not being able to see his son. Joy for his

new wife always tempered by the fact that he knew, deep down, his

union was not blessed by the Prophets. A shape shifter who had

rejected his people, but had finally found the love and acceptance

he had been seeking. A husband and wife separated by war, when

finally reunited, would vow never to be apart. And that poor boy,

feeling such anger towards his father. How did one so young become

so choleric?

Instinctively, she remembered Tom Paris. Never without a care-free

smile or clever witticism, she had been the only one on Voyager,

who could truly sense what he felt for his father...the same anger

that little boy--that young man---was feeling towards his father.

Owen's letter, sent through the array should have gotten through.

Why wouldn't have? Did B'Elanna would have something to do with it?

Protecting the man she loved, no doubt.

Protecting the man whose new part time profession was protecting

others. He would take over her position in Sickbay. Only logical,

Paris had the most medical training of every non-hologram onboard

Voyager. His main job would still be pilot, but now he would have

to alternate his time

between Sickbay and the Bridge. Kes watched in amusement as she

could see the Doctor berating the pilot for leaving Sickbay in a

state of chaos. One of Sickbay's most frequent patients now a

healer. There was a certain irony in that.

It was his private life that would change the most, Kes observed.

Or maybe it should be not-so private life. Despite his best

attempts at being discreet, news of his personal life would be all

over Voyager .

Tom and B'Elanna Torres would finally realize that the time for

shadow dancing was over, and perhaps a more stable relationship

was in order. Although Tom, being Tom, would never, ever, "be so

presumptuous."

More so than anybody else Kes knew firsthand from her experience

with the bio-temporal chamber and peek into the alternate future

how much B'Elanna Torres meant to Voyager's pilot. But Tom was

just realizing it. Deep down, he was a lonely, insecure person,

who just wanted someone to love him for who he really was. He had

friends, but what he needed however, was love only one woman would

be able to provide him

B'Elanna.

Kes recalled when the alternate-Tom had spoken about B'Elanna, in

a time when Kes and Tom had been married for six years with a

daughter and grandson. The pain that just the mention of the late

engineer made him feel had been clear in his eyes, a burden on

his soul, a wound with a treatment that was lost forever in the

past. Tom had loved Kes, but never as thoroughly or as

passionately as his first love. The brief time she'd spent with

the alternate Tom Paris had been enough to know that while she'd

been a physical being, a relationship between her and Tom would

have been an exercise in futility.

When B'Elanna would finally confess her love for the pilot, out in

space, death from asphyxiation only moments away, it would change

his-and B'Elanna's---life irrevocably. The times ahead would be

trying at moments, passionate the next, a constant flux, but the

bond the engineer and pilot shared was strong...it would be able

to withstand anything, from Tom's increasing boredom and

secretiveness and B'Elanna's depression. They'd even survive those

horrible aliens who had insisted on performing experiments on the

crew. Although the aliens had been nothing compared to the

dopamine-frazzled Kathryn Janeway who had come close to crushing

the ship like a tin can. That would probably be their toughest

challenge...facing Janeway on a daily basis.

Kes didn't understand how Captain Janeway could transform from

such a caring, compassionate woman to...to...Kes couldn't even

articulate it...to an...ice queen.

Ice queen. That was the only way to describe it. The way she

treated Tom, almost killed him when all he was doing was following

his heart. Demoting him may have been an appropriate punishment, but

thirty days solitary confinement? Only required sustenance?

Everyone on board knew that Tom Paris had the least tolerance for

Neelix's...creations.

Dear, sweet Neelix. Despite his friendly demeanor, and good heart,

the Talaxian had always subconsciously felt like an outsider. He

was the only one of his race on board, and he had no training in

Federation technology, only the faintest grasps of the concepts of

time and space that sustained Voyager's travel through the cosmos.

Fortunately, Neelix wouldn't have to feel that much longer. After

he completed his first duties as Ambassador, most of his doubts

would be vanquished. Although, after his experience with the

inebriated and hedonistic Kadi ambassador, Neelix might be

rethinking his new career choice.

The arrival of the Kadi ambassador coincided with Seven of Nine's

first date -- with poor Lieutenant Chapman! She should have just

chosen Harry -- but maybe his refusal to copulate had befuddled

the former Borg. Not to mention the fact that Harry was still

recovering from his separation from Derran Tal. He would certainly

be cautious the next time he met up with an attractive alien

woman!

Seven of Nine...when Kes had last seen the former Borg, the Doctor

had been in the process of removing the Borg implants. Seven had

been angry at having been torn away from the only life she had

known and had attempted to contact the Borg. If Kes hadn't

interfered, Voyager wouldn't have survived.

Kes could see that once the Doctor finished, Seven would

physically become an attractive young woman. The other changes

would come slower. Feelings such as guilt or remorse were foreign

in the Collective, and were something Seven would have to become

re-accustomed to. Eating, sleeping, requirements of her new found

human physiology would be completely new experiences. Even

referring to herself in the first person instead of 'we', would be

revolutionary.

All her new found crew mates reacted differently to her. Some

would pay no attention, preferring to keep their distance, others

would be openly hostile, unable to forgive Seven of Nine for the

atrocities she had committed against thousands of beings when she

had been Borg. And a few others would be friendly, such as Harry.

But the once and future Annika Hansen would find solace in the

company of young Naomi Wildman. Biologically, Seven was a grown

woman, but because Annika had been assimilated by the Borg as a

child, emotionally Seven was closer to Naomi than anyone else on

Voyager.

And if Naomi was Seven's first choice for companionship, Harry Kim

would be her second.. The young Ensign and Seven of Nine

certainly had gotten off to an auspicious beginning. Upon their

first meeting, Seven had attempted to decapitate him and contact

the Collective. And later, Chakotay thrust them together so they

could work on updating the Astrometrics lab. If Kes could have,

she would have thrown her head back and laughed delightedly. Poor

Harry-he hadn't had any idea what to do, with his conflicting

emotions about his fear of Seven and his obvious attraction to

her. And Seven wouldn't have an easy time either, trying to

decipher what Harry felt about her. His body language seemed to

scream that he was head over heels about Seven, but his words were

to the contrary. The daily deception that occurred in human

society was another aspect that the former Borg would have to

which she'd have to adjust.

Kes could see some happy times ahead for Tuvok-not that the

security chief would ever acknowledge that they were 'happy', an

illogical, irrelevant emotion, according to his Vulcan

philosophies. He would be promoted to Lieutenant Commander, thanks

to his three years of dedication to duty. His patience would be

tried in the process, but he would live long and prosper.

The Vulcan missed his wife, T'Pel, and children. He had rarely

spoken of them, it was not logical to dwell on the unattainable,

but she had always known that the loss of his family was something

that had affected Tuvok deeply. The bond between Tuvok and T'Pel

was deeper than just the telepathic link they shared. It was a

pure, deep love, the kind of love that there could never be enough

of in the universe. Noss realized that, when she melded with

Tuvok, just before she left Voyager. 'Til death do you part was

not just a figure of speech for Vulcans.

Another peek into the Alpha Quadrant let her glimpse Tuvok's

family. It turned out the soon to be Lieutenant Commander Tuvok

had grandchildren. A granddaughter, to be precise, named after his

mother. He would find out eventually, and that pleased Kes. Tuvok

would be reunited with his family, as would the rest of the crew,

but only in due time.

Chakotay had no family to be reunited with. Kes knew his father,

Kolopak had died long ago, but he had never spoken of his mother.

The Ocampan know knew that she had passed on only

weeks after Chakotay had been stranded in the Delta Quadrant by

the Caretaker. The Commander would be devastated at the news-he

still lived hoping that his last relative, the woman who had

brought him into this universe, would be there to see him come

home.

He wouldn't discover the news until quite a few years from now-

whenever now was-Kes wasn't exactly sure. Living-if this was

indeed living---in a place where time had no meaning, no

boundaries nor limits, took some adjustment. After all, she had

lived her entire life knowing that she had no way of predicting

the future, no way of correcting the past. (Until the bio-temporal

chamber and the chronoton radiation poisoning incident, but that

had been a catastrophe, to put it mildly).

Despite all the difficulties and challenges the displaced Alpha

Quadrant beings faced, they would make it home.

The credit for Voyager's success had to be given mostly to Captain

Kathryn Janeway. Her leadership skills had successfully merged to

crews of two distinctly different temperaments, and they were now

one unified whole, proudly serving the lone Federation starship,

lost in the Delta Quadrant. For the sake of her crew, Kathryn

Janeway would never accept defeat, and for the sake of their

captain, her crew wouldn't either.

As someone who had now evolved beyond the limitation of flesh and

bone, Kes should have no regrets, no desire to return to her past

state. Even so, to realize that everything and everyone she'd

ever known were no more significant than particles of dust was

slightly disconcerting.

But one was never able to out run destiny, after all. Even the

most ambitious had to know their limits.

And Kes knew that for her, the adventure was just beginning.

*************

In his quarters, Lieutenant Tuvok placed the memorial lamp on his

window sill and paused for a moment to gaze out into the blackness

of space.

He lost a valued colleague today, but although it was most

illogical, he knew, somewhere in that vast void of nebulas,

planets, moons and stars, Kes was not fully gone.

She still existed, perhaps in a different state, but nonetheless

it was Kes.

Then in that case, perhaps the memorial light would help her find

her way back should she ever need it.

And that Kes, who had touched the lives of all onboard Voyager,

was always welcome to come home.

*************

THE END.

Please send all comments to Ltrotsky17@hotmail.com They would be

most greatly appreciated and highly valued.

Copyrighted 11/97 - 7/1/99 to Aurora Khan

(Ltrotsky17@hotmail.com) Please do not distribute without author's

permission. All comments welcome.