"Maya's Letter"
by Andra Marie Mueller
AUTHOR’S NOTE: This was my contribution to the Voyager Virtual Season 7.5 episode “Letters II”. The entire epiosde can be found at the VVS7.5 main site.
DISCLAIMER: Paramount is the legal owner of the characters of 'Star Trek: Voyager'. I just borrow them for my own nefarious purposes and to give them real lives.
**********************************************
Chakotay was in his office preparing the latest set of crew evaluations for the captain when the door chimed.
“Come in.”
The door opened to admit Neelix and the Talaxian flashed him a friendly smile as he walked over to stand in front of him. “Good afternoon, Commander. Am I interrupting anything?”
“Nothing that won’t keep for a few minutes,” Chakotay assured him. “What’s on your mind?”
“I came to give you this,” Neelix answered, and handed him a small PADD. “It came through in the latest data stream.”
The XO accepted the PADD and glanced at it for a moment before breaking into a smile. “I was hoping this would come through,” he said.
“Good news, I trust?”
“It’s a letter from my sister.”
“Well, I’ll leave you to read it in private,” Neelix replied. “I have several more letters to deliver, and I’m sure the other recipients are just as eager as you are to get theirs.”
“Thanks for bringing this by, Neelix.”
“My pleasure, Commander.”
Bidding Chakotay farewell, the Talaxian exited his quarters. Setting aside his work for the moment, Chakotay crossed over to the replicator and ordered a refill of his spice tea before walking over to his couch and settling himself down to read Maya’s letter.
From: Maya Lupes
CMO Dorvan Medical Center
Router Heading: Sector 047; Dorvan V Colony
276478341
To: Chakotay, First Officer, U.S.S. Voyager
NCC-74656
Stardate 54663.2
Dearest Chakotay -
Apologies for taking so long to respond to your letter. A trade ship full of injured Benecians arrived unexpectedly and my staff and I spent several weeks restoring them to full health. It seems they attempted to establish mining rights on a small moon in the Orias sector that is rich with corebalt ore, but unfortunately discovered the hard way it already had been claimed by an especially volatile group of Nausicaans. Needless to say the Nausicaans were quite unhappy at the unwanted intrusion and their anger manifested itself into violence against the Benecians. I haven’t seen so much brutality deliberately inflicted on another sentient beings since the Cardassians attacked Dorvan V all those years ago. Needless to say it resurrected some unpleasant memories.
But enough about that. I cannot tell you how surprised I was when I received your letter and learned that you were once again serving Starfleet. Terven had mentioned that Voyager was a Starfleet vessel, but the implications of that did not seem to sink in until I read it in your own words. When you resigned your commission to join the Maquis, I was certain that you would never again wear the uniform. Yet under the circumstances I suppose you had little choice; transferred against your will to the other side of the galaxy by an alien creature and forced to destroy your ship to save Voyager. Truth be told, I found that most surprising of all. Because the Chakotay I remember was an angry, bitter man who would sooner have left a Starfleet vessel to the mercy of its attackers than risk his own life and ship to aid them. During our time with the Maquis, your resentment for all of the things Starfleet represented was the fire that fueled your hatred. It was your fear of their retaliation that prompted you to forbid me from joining your crew on the Freedom. Yet perhaps with age comes wisdom, and time has doused the flames of anger. I am pleased that your heart led you to make the right choice.
The descriptions you provided of your friends and crewmates were very interesting; quite a unique group you have there. A former Borg drone is now a member of the crew? And B’Elanna Torres is Chief Engineer and married to the son of an Admiral? Last time I saw her, she would have been more likely to feed a Starfleet officer his fingers for lunch than fall in love with one. Of course, the Terrans are fond of saying that opposites attract, and on some level my own marriage is proof of that. When I first met Esteban, I thought he was an arrogant, selfish man who cared less for his patients than he did for himself. Yet as time passed and I was granted glimpses of the man beneath the facade, I saw someone I could share my life with. He is intelligent, passionate, warm, and funny. And he loves me with an intensity that I have never known. His devotion to me is matched only by his dedication to our cause; the efforts to rebuild Dorvan V would not be as successful if we had not been fortunate enough to have encountered Esteban. We hope to start a family someday, as we both long for children to pass along our heritage to. But for now our focus must be the work we are doing, until the Spirits show us that the time is right to start the next generation.
I must admit that I am most curious about your captain, Kathryn Janeway. I can only imagine the burden she carries as the sole Starfleet commander in an unknown region of space so far from the world she knows. She is fortunate to have you by her side to support her and steady her as you make your journey home. It is obvious from your letter that you care for her a great deal, so she must be a remarkable woman to have earned the affections of the most honorable man I know. I only hope she is willing and/or able to reciprocate your feelings. You love as deeply as you hate, and with such a thin line between the two, I fear you may be setting yourself up for a fall. It has ever been your nature to think with your heart instead of your brain, and I would not want to see you hurt.
Be safe, Big Brother; I love you and will ask the Spirits to keep watch over you and those you care for until we are together again.
Maya
**********************************************