The refitting of the USS Albany began in earnest a week later. Janeway had been assigned two dozen engineers and technicians, in addition to her elite picks from Voyager, to implement the rigorous overhaul. Janeway was a constant presence in the work; she was seen dashing among the different task groups, and was back to her old habits of working as many as twenty hours straight. But the hard efforts seemed to rejuvenate her; she was a tireless dynamo.

Towards the middle of the third week, when it was apparent that the refit was going to succeed, she and Tuvok could be seen huddling in secretive conversations. The newer workers of the project thought nothing of these conferences between their two leaders, but the ever-inquisitive Tom Paris felt his trigger hairs going to red alert. During their midshift down period, he convened his wife and Harry and Seven, sharing with them his intuitive feelings.

"There’s something a little off here," he told them. "I talked with my dad about this project the other night, and he said that it was proposed by both Janeway and Tuvok. Although it’s supposed to be a routine re-building post-war project, Janeway seems awfully anxious to get it completed and take the Albany out for a test spin. I think she’s got something up her sleeve."

B’Elanna looked at him, shaking her head. "Tom --- there you go again with that overactive imagination of yours... seeing things that don’t exist! This is just Captain Janeway; when she gets an idea, it’s full speed ahead. She can be a little impulsive, you know."

Tom laughed. "Why, whatever do you mean! There aren’t any *other* women around here like that, are there?"

B’Elanna hit him.

"I agree with Lt. Torres," Seven chimed in. "The Captain... can be rather irrational when she becomes obsessed with an idea."

"I think that’s what Tom means," Harry stated. "That’s just it --- she is obsessed with something. And Tuvok appears to be as driven by its completion as she is."

Tom appeared deep in thought. "What if... the Albany’s completion was just a beginning?"

"What do you mean?" the tall Borg/human asked of him.

"I mean... what if she has a mission for this ship?" he continued.

"Like... what?" Harry asked.

B’Elanna’s thoughts suddenly merged with her husband’s. "Like... going back into the Delta Quadrant... to finish up some business!"

Seven blanched. "The Borg? Oh. no!"

Obviously still deep in thought, Tom shook his head. "No... not the Borg. But there *is* something, and I’m going to ask her."

"I’m going with you," said B’Elanna as she jumped up to join him.

"Well, you’re not leaving me out of this!" said Harry, following them.

"I don’t want it to be the Borg," repeated Seven, closing in on her friends.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The quartet found Janeway and Tuvok conferring in a small walled cubicle to the side of the reconstruction area. Tuvok’s enhanced aural sense alerted then to the arrival of the younger people, but Janeway still had an expression on her face of having been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

Tom took the lead.

"Captain, I think we have to talk."

"Talk?" she inquired innocently.

"Yes, talk," he repeated. "This isn’t just about Starfleet, is it?"

Janeway and Tuvok stole glances at each other. She had been backed into a corner.

Tuvok looked at her, and received her silent nod of approval to divulge their plan.

"Please, be seated. This might take awhile," he said. When the foursome was settled, he began his story.

"Five years ago, we were compelled to leave Commander Chakotay on the planet that he and the captain had named ‘New Earth’. Seven, while I know you were not with us at the time, and you have not had the privilege of knowing Commander Chakotay, you have heard many positive things about him. He indeed was a good person and an excellent Starfleet officer..."

"But damn... was he hard on shuttlecraft!" interjected Tom.

"Mr. Paris... please," reprimanded the Vulcan.

"Sorry," apologized Tom.

Tuvok continued. "In recent months, the captain and I have both been subject to some unorthodox subliminal messages, which we believe have originated from the commander. We have approached Starfleet about attempting to contact Mr. Chakotay, but there have been other priorities.

"I do not believe that I’m breaking the confidence of the captain when I tell you that her mental health was traumatically affected by these thoughts. As illogical as it seems, I believe that I, too, was the recipient of these... messages." He stopped and cleared his throat.

"While our future actions may destroy our Starfleet careers, she and I are planning to take the refitted Albany, using the slipstream modifications, back into the Delta Quadrant in an attempt to find the source of these communications, and, indeed, possibly find Commander Chakotay."

The young people were dumbfounded. The two most straight-arrow Starfleet officers they had ever known... proposing their own mutiny!

B’Elanna finally broke the shocked silence. "Well, I’ve been a maverick before; why not a second round of it? I would like to go with you, Captain."

Tom grabbed his feisty wife. "If you’re in, I’m in too. Hell... my dad will probably blame me for it anyway!"

Harry smiled broadly. "I’m not even Starfleet anymore. What’s the most I could be charged with --- stealing a starship? Count me in."

Seven’s eyebrow rose as she looked at her companions. "And I have never been commissioned into Starfleet. Besides, you will need my expertise in operating the slipstream requirements. It is only logical that I accompany you."

Janeway stared in disbelief at her former crew. Years ago, she had expected... no, demanded their unswerving obedience. But now... they could change their lives forever by joining her in her act of anarchy.

"No, no; I can’t allow you to do this to yourselves... to your lives..." she entreated them.

B’Elanna firmly stood her ground. "Captain, I’ve known him longer than you have. He was my friend, too. I’m doing it for him as well as you."

The others quickly reaffirmed their allegiance. The die had been cast.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eight days later, the Albany was set for her maiden slipstream journey. Seven had plotted three slipstream accesses between Earth and the edge of the quadrant. Her calculations showed that they could complete the round trip in a little over a day. Starfleet command approved the test flight, with the now reinstated Lt. Paris at the helm, with Lt. B’Elanna Torres, Commander Tuvok and Seven accompanying him. A small crowd gathered to watch the medium-sized older Starship begin its voyage of rebirth.

It wasn’t until the following morning, when Kathryn Janeway was late in coming to her office, that Starfleet headquarters received a subspace message from the USS Albany... from Kathryn Janeway. She appeared rather confused and apologetic in her appearance.

"I regret to inform you that somehow or another, Harry Kim and I were doing some last minute inspections aboard the ship when we were overcome by some fumes from a spilled container of polyethylene dichromate. Since we were in a remote part of the ship, and we were unconscious for many hours, and we’ve just now found our way to the bridge. I guess we’re along for the ride, too. Please accept this belated request to accompany the test crew."

Admiral Kostman laughingly granted her permission. But Ross was right next to him, and as the communication was cut off, he said to his fellow ranking officer, "I don’t trust her; she’s up to something..."

Kostman slapped him on the back. "Michael, you’re still smarting after twenty-five years; let it go! Janeway is one of our best; what is there to worry about?"

"That!" Ross said, as he exploded and emphatically pointed to the digital trajectory path of the Albany, which showed it disappearing into a fourth slipstream segment... and into the Delta Quadrant.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Seven downloaded her extended flight plan into the ship’s computer. Massive calculations had determined that the slipstream patterns would have them arriving at the planet only known as New Earth in about five days after they left Earth --- a far cry from the over five years it had taken them to get back to the Alpha Quadrant.

Spirits aboard the Albany vacillated between euphoria and a knowledge that here would be hell to pay upon their return... if they were able to return! A gentle routine settled in. With the new programming, there was little to do but keep the ship on course, making adjustments as necessary.

Star and planet formations that they had seen years earlier flashed by them, only to be obliterated by entry into the space continuum passages. Initially chatty and lively, Janeway had become restive and anxious; B’Elanna mumbled something to Tom that it was like she was getting ready for a very personal meeting with someone.

"Maybe she is," was his response.

By the third day, Tuvok mentioned that he felt more and more that Chakotay was trying to contact him mentally. He calmly assured the his fellow travelers that indeed they will find the commander.

Early in the fifth day, Harry was monitoring the comm. Signals alerted him that there was an incoming message. He opened the designated channel, and heard a familiar voice.

"Approaching vessel... I have detected Starfleet signatures. Identify yourself."

Harry gulped. "Commander, uh... it’s good to hear you. This is Harry Kim."

Chakotay’s voice choked with the sudden emotion. "Harry Kim! Is that you? Where are you? How are you?"

"We are only three light years away, Commander. We’ve... we’ve come back..."

"Back? Then you made it... Kathryn? Where’s Kathryn?" he called out.

"She’s in her ready room. I’ll call her..." He signaled the captain. "Oh.. and I’ve discovered that you’ve modified a comm relay; I think I can get you on visual. On screen," Harry said jubilantly.

The image of Chakotay came onto the bridge viewscreen just as Janeway came out from her retreat. They were still out of range for anything more than a blurred image of their former first officer; but there was enough of that angular face for them to know who it was.

Kathryn walked over to the screen, and his focus became centered on her. His voice trembled with emotion as he managed to speak.

"Kathryn... my wonderful Kathryn!"

She stood before the screen, mesmerized by his countenance. She reached out towards the image, trying to touch him.

"Oh, my," she said, her hands pulling back and instinctively crossing her heart, struggling to get ahold of herself.

"Chakotay... my husband."

There was a collective gasp from the other people witnessing this scene. A stunned silence paralyzed them... all but Tuvok, who stood serene and tall, relieved that he was no longer burdened by the secret that he alone had known all these years; relieved as he sensed the haunting grasp on his soul being released, as it once more flowed back into Chakotay.

The silence continued, as the remarkable story started unfolding before them.

Kathryn was drawn towards the screen. She brought the fingers of her hand to her lips, and reached up, transferring her kiss to his likeness in front of her. Even with the blurred transmission, Chakotay could sense the emotion in that touch.

"You kept your promise," he whispered, choking with surfacing emotions.

Her words enfolded him. "You helped me keep it. My strength by itself was faltering, but you... you reached out over tens of thousands of light years and pulled at the very core of my existence."

They were oblivious to the small group who were spellbound in their observations.

"Where... where are you? " he asked. "How long have you been searching? Did you come back? Turn around? How"

"Later, later... too many questions! We’re here, that’s all that’s important. We’ll talk. We should be arriving in about..." she turned to Seven, who quickly adjusted to the needs of duty and consulted her calculations.

"In about an hour, Captain," she responded.

For the first time since he had seen Kathryn, Chakotay looked beyond her and towards the voice he had just heard. Again, the image was less than perfect, but he responded in a horrified tone at seeing the tall Borg/human behind Kathryn.

"Kathryn... is that a... Borg with you?"

"A former drone... she was Borg... this is Seven of Nine. That, too, is a very long story, which you will learn also. There is so much that... that..."

"Shhh... when you get here, my love; when you get here."

He surveyed the rest of the crew behind her, calling out their names like a sacred litany. "Tom, B’Elanna, Harry, Tuvok... why? how?"

Tom answered first. "Hello, Commander. Yes, well, as to why and how... well, we might be in hotter water than any of the Maquis ever were..."

Chakotay quickly understood the intent of the comment.

"Then... this isn’t really a Starfleet mission?" he asked.

Harry jumped in. "Let’s just say it started out that way, but we turned a wrong corner."

Chakotay shook his head, a smile displaying his trademark dimples which were still as deep as ever. "Kathryn, this can’t be your idea; not stick-to-Starfleet rules Kathryn Janeway!"

She was still hovering in front of the view screen. "Actually it was Tuvok’s idea..."

Tuvok suddenly jerked to attention. "Captain, it was not my intention for this..."

B’Elanna, sensing a need to shift the current line of thought, interrupted. "Um... not to change the subject, but... but... uh... are you ... and Captain Janeway... uh... I mean.. she called you... you..."

She stammered and turned irately on Janeway. "Captain, why didn’t you say anything to us?"

Kathryn begrudgingly pulled her concentration away from the screen. "That’s another part of this long story. In due time, B’Elanna." And she returned back to her center of attention.

Chakotay moved nervously. "Well... um... I really wasn’t expecting company quite so soon. I’d better get myself a little better prepared."

Janeway now looked beyond him. In the background, she recognized the structure from years ago. "You’re still... there..."

"Mmm... made a few changes and improvements."

A muddled chattering could be heard in the background, also behind Chakotay. He turned and called sternly, "Max! Quiet"

Kathryn’s face brightened. "Max? He’s still around?"

"Hasn’t left me since you did. He seemed to sense that I would need companionship. He even comes into the house every now and then, just sort of looking around... wondering..." He sat back, his smile pushing away the worn weariness that had been his body when they first saw him. "An hour, hmm? Why will that hour seem longer than these five years?"

"An hour. We will be there. Oh, yes... we will be there..." she said.

"I’ve been waiting since that first day after you left. I’ve kept up the booster hypos of the viral antiserum, so as not to have a relapse. I wanted ... to be ready. Well, I have a lot to do..."

"Yes, you do," she said quietly. "Janeway out."

"For now," he whispered back, as the screen went blank.

With the close of the link, Tom, Harry and B’Elanna were clamoring all over Janeway, their questions coming at her faster than energy blasts from a phase rifle.

"Captain... the antiserum... worked?... husband?...how long?... when?... and you never told anyone?... no wonder you went into those... and Tuvok, you knew? why, you old.... Man, I sure hope no one calls in any of those old Voyager bets... "

Janeway put up her hands, begging for some quiet.

"All right. You deserve to know the entire story. And yes, Tuvok has known... most of it. He had to, in order for me to have his trust over those..." her voice began faltering, "...those empty years.

"When Voyager returned to New Earth for us, we were quite shocked. As more than two months had elapsed and we had heard nothing, we decided that you were a good distance further along in your trip back to the Alpha Quadrant. Following the plasma storm that I told you about that had destroyed my research equipment, I truly felt lost, and for the first time admitted that we might be remaining on the planet for a long time... although I did think that eventually Starfleet... or someone... [she winked here] would come back for us. But... the raw energy of that storm ripped away something that I had long hidden inside... something that Chakotay knew was there.... and I should have." She paused, and took a deep breath. "We have loved each other since that first year on Voyager. It just took being deserted on an alien planet with no one but ourselves before we could admit it."

She looked around. "Well? What would you have done?"

Seven started to answer the rhetorical question, but Harry quickly shushed her...

"Here we are... seemingly a Delta Quadrant version of the old story of Adam and Eve... and if Starfleet did come for us... it could have been decades later... and we wanted ... to make sure... that we would be... remembered."

The quartet was now thoroughly engrossed in her tale, as Tuvok quietly took over the helm, preparing for their last slipstream journey.

"Like the "original" Earth pair, we had no one there to bless our union other than ourselves..." a slight smile illuminated her face... "but, as a Starfleet captain, I decided that I could do the honors. So, it was in that sense, that we were..um... joined. When Voyager came back for us, we knew that we could not continue the journey as a married couple, for the good of the ship, so Chakotay chose to stay behind, with the long range hopes of our making it back one day. I devised with Tuvok the story that you as the crew would be told... that the antiserum had not worked in his body, and that he would have to remain. I’m afraid I tampered with Starfleet property in recording those erroneous results in the medical logs."

Tom sank back, the first one to say anything. "Whew! Guess I know now why you got all hot and bothered when B’Elanna and I started getting ‘friendly’. That explains a lot!"

"And the decision with the Borg," B’Elanna chimed in. "I’d worked with Chakotay too closely long before; I know he would have changed your mind about that decision, too!"

"Yeah," Harry interrupted. "But then... we wouldn’t have found Seven"... he smiled at her... "or gotten to know her and have her help us through so many problems... and having her help us with the slipstream technology, which is why we’re here right now anyway."

"Indeed, Mr. Kim... an astute observation of coincidence and fate," Tuvok commented, looking up from his work. "And now, I have located the final slipstream corridor for this journey. I would suggest that we all prepare for it."

The crew settled back into their assigned positions, Janeway sitting in the Captain’s chair, looking for the first time since they could remember... looking like a captain.

"Thank you, Tuvok. Please relay the coordinates to the helm."

"Mr. Paris has them already, Captain."

"Very well. Mr. Paris, lock on to the coordinates and prepare for slipstream shift, warp 7." she called out.

"Aye, aye, sir!" came his affirmative compliance. And the USS Albany outraced the stars through the slipstream’s distort of time and space.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Only moments had passed when the ship suddenly appeared at the edge of the plasma anomaly of the final slipstream entrance. They were just outside of the gravitational pull a dwarf yellow sun.

Seven looked up at the viewport. "Captain, we have arrived in the area of the quadrant that you indicated. We should be able to see the planet for which you are searching about... now!" she pointed to the screen, as a distant object appeared as a small orbiting planet, forming a shallow crescent in the shadow of its sun.

"New Earth... Chakotay!" the older woman whispered.

The five other members on the ship were watching a transformation occur with their former captain. The very thin woman took on a radiance that they had never seen before, her dark eyes glowing with an inner light.

Tuvok took the initiative to speak. "Captain, we should hail the Commander and let him know of our impending arrival."

"Yes, yes; of course," she said, suddenly pulling back to reality. "And we should prepare an away team to go down..."

Tuvok gently iterated. "Captain, might I suggest that just you go down at first... to greet the Commander? He... um... he hasn’t seen people in a long time, and perhaps it would unwise for him to be faced with... such a large group."

Seven said, "I hardly think that three or four people could be considered..."

Harry cut her off. "Um... Seven, Tuvok is right. We can set up an orbit around the planet, and be within contact if necessary. Chakotay and the Captain... need to meet alone at first."

Rebuffed, Seven continued, "Starfleet regulations state that any away team should be composed of at least..."

Tom was laughing now. "Since when has this trip been by Starfleet regs? Come on, Seven... think a bit!"

Janeway began laughing at the banter. "Well, this is fine, but she’s right. We really should have someone..."

The comm link became live. Chakotay had picked up their signal.

"Albany... USS Albany... come in!"

Harry touched the screen in front of him, and Chakotay’s image, now very clear, showed up on the view screen.. That was all it took for Janeway. She spoke his name, and then announced that she alone would be joining him momentarily.

His smile lit up the galaxy. "Welcome home, Kathryn."

She lowered her head, hoping that her blush wouldn’t be too noticeable. Regaining her composure, she said, "Give me five minutes. I would like to change.. and there’s something I have for you."

He laughed. "And I have a lot for you, too!" He paused. "But, Kathryn, please come down in your uniform."

She looked at him, a startled question coming over her face.

"What?"

"I’ll explain... later," he answered, his eyes showing more life than she could even remember. "Five minutes... one for every year --- no more!"

"No more," she whispered as the link closed.

"Mr. Tuvok, you have the bridge. I’ll... I’ll be going planetside for a while."

"Yes, Captain," came his serious response.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Four minutes and twenty-five seconds later, Kathryn Janeway was in the transporter room. Tom and B’Elanna were waiting for her, their smiles as radiant and happy as hers.

"Ready?" Tom asked.

"I’m... nervous," Janeway stuttered.

"Just be yourself; he won’t bite!" B’Elanna retorted.

"Hmmm... you do," Tom chimed in. "And that isn’t such a bad thing..." he continued with a grin, setting the transporter into action.

B’Elanna whacked him.

And as she had five years earlier, Janeway twinkled into the miasma of space between a Starfleet vessel and New Earth. But this time, her expression was filled with the life and hope and she had left behind on that formidable day so long ago.

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