Liberty Logs Continuation

MEMORY:

A Harry Kim Log

We were given shore leave at a mountain resort on Cerdec IV. It reminded me of the place where I completed basic survival training during my academy days. Except the Cerdec resort was much nicer. A bed instead of dirt, I didn't have to find my own food, and there was no poison oak.

We all enjoyed ourselves--especially the Captain and Commander. I would see them walking as I strolled around the lake. For the first time, they seemed comfortable being with each other on public display. At times that's what it is. They would walk by, and we would watch them. There would be quiet whispers, mostly positive. Some jerk (whom I won't name) made a comment about *Captain's Prerogative*. He shut-up when I asked if he wanted the position. None of us envy their positions, their rank. We know what they have sacrificed, and what we don't know, we can make an educated guess.

For our brief stay, we could almost forget that home was a battle-scarred Intrepid-class ship, enjoy a certain lack of responsibility, and just...enjoy ourselves.

The last night, the Cerdecians hosted a dance. A skeleton crew of volunteers (there were actually some who didn't want to come--besides Tuvok) remained on Voyager, the rest of us attended. So did she and Commander Chakotay. There was a small band--Cerdecian music is intriguing--it has a 21st century Post-Modernism sound. The mood was relaxed. Jenny Delaney and I danced several dances. I also danced with B'Elanna. I was surprised to see her. I think Tom convinced her to come somehow.

The Captain and Commander came about an hour after the festivities began. We could see that they were much more comfortable about being seen in public. I had noticed that a little on Voyager. There were several times recently that I had seen them touch, or tease each other in public.

They danced almost every dance together. The real surprise was afterwards. The last dance had just finished. The musicians were putting their instruments away. *They* were still dancing--to their own song. They stopped and he looked down at her. It always surprises me that she is so much shorter than he is (for that matter me too.) She has such a command presence that usually you don't notice. Well, he looked at her, bent down and kissed her. She kissed him back. The kiss was short, but the passion was intense. She smiled as she noticed that we were watching them. They stayed longed enough to say good-night to us, then left.

It was our last night on the Cerdec. The group split into smaller--more intimate pairs. They were not the only ones planning to spend this last night together.

These past two weeks since our return, we've been re-establishing our routine. We've had two battle drills and one boarding drill. We're again heading into a new sector of the Delta-Quadrant. What new foes we'll find, who knows. But on Cerdec IV, we made friends. At least some of our memories of the Delta-Quadrant will be pleasant.

FUTURE DREAMS:

A Kathryn Janeway Log

I never would have thought this possible. After almost three years of continuously being Captain, always on duty, always subject to the whims of the Delta Quadrant; I allowed myself to relax, to stop being Captain, to be just Kathryn.

It was intoxicating. Freedom does that. When I announced that Chakotay and I would be spending our entire shore leave on the planet, I heard the whispers, the innuendo. "Captain's prerogative," I had said. No explanations needed or given.

Actually, I was very reluctant to do this. I was going to be so behind when we returned, I was almost dreading it.

We're never off duty, even when we are, we aren't. If there is problem one or both of us respond: many an evening has been interrupted like that.

It sounds like I'm trying to justify my actions to myself, Maybe I am. The hardest part about life in the Delta Quadrant is learning to find time to relax. The job is never done. I'm still learning. I have to learn, or within a couple of years, I will be useless.

Cerdec IV was lovely. It's incredible, just being on real ground, smelling real air, allowing myself to relax. It's wonderful.

Our second day we spent hiking through the pine forests surrounding the lake resort. We spent the entire day exploring. For those few hours we were just 2 people enjoying gorgeous scenery. We ate lunch on a rock overlooking a small valley. There was no one about, and well...one thing led to another.

We stayed there for several hours.

When we returned to our cabin, we learned an impromptu dance had been planned for that evening at the lodge. We decided to go.

We were the main attraction. Ever since we had returned from New Earth...No...ever since that fateful day at the Caretaker's array, the crew have watched us. Waiting to see if we would acknowledge what everybody saw.

They got a show. We both got so lost in the music, the place, the time, that when the dance was over and our eyes met, we kissed. In front of everybody. And even more surprisingly, neither of us cared that we were being watched.

Being free is intoxicating. But duty calls. When we beamed back to Voyager, the burdens of command immediately made themselves known. Reports to be read and written, schedules to be created, and problems to be taken care of.

The crew's morale has improved dramatically, I can feel it throughout the ship. A renewed sense of hope and purpose. Everyone is smiling and joking.

I wonder about the future: the crew's, mine, his, ours. What does it hold for us, what promises will it make, will we ever be free like this again?

I don't know.

The future I envisioned just 2 years ago is so different from what exists today. I hadn't included falling in love with my First Officer; becoming lovers; planning for a future that includes him as a major part of my life; dreaming of a life--that in the Delta Quadrant may never come to pass--a life of being more than a Captain.