|
Disclaimer: Paramount Pictures owns Star Trek: Voyager and all things contained therein. No infringement intended. See Chapter One for details. Chapter Two It took only seconds for Q's words to penetrate Janeway's exhausted mind. Could he be telling the truth? Were they really about to stumble onto a wormhole that would lead them home? It seemed too easy. And yet, as questionable as Q's morality was, she had never known him to be a liar. And then his last words rang through her mind. I am here to stop you. Why? "You're saying that we're about to discover a wormhole that will get us home in a matter of hours? If that's true, why would you try to stop us?" Chakotay asked. Q rolled his eyes and shook his head at Chakotay pitifully. "Okay, we'll take it slowly for the big, dumb Indian." He disappeared, and in a flash reappeared at the head of the table. An old style three-piece suit and striped necktie had replaced his Starfleet uniform. The suit was peppered with chalk dust and eraser marks. Q stood before an ancient blackboard, the kind used in 21st century public schools. Chakotay now sat on a stool in the corner wearing a pointed hat that read DUNCE down the front. "Okay class…" Q spoke in a condescending, particularly nasal voice. He drew circles and stick figures on the chalkboard as he narrated. "Pay close attention. This gets a bit technical. Here's the wormhole, and here's the brave lady captain and her mighty starship…" He drew an oversized, rather attractive Hercules type figure between the "ship" and the "wormhole". "And this aesthetically pleasing fellow is, of course, little old moi." Janeway rubbed her temples in frustration. Her irritation, and her headache, just stepped up a notch. "Will you please make your point, Q?" Without a word, the school teacher garb vanished, leaving Q and a slightly disoriented Commander Chakotay seated in their previous positions. Chakotay glared angrily at the super being. "Can we do this without all the theatrics?" "Oh, all right. You humanoids are just no fun." Q pouted. "I honestly don't know why I even bother with you." "Nor do we." Added Tuvok. Ignoring the Vulcan, he continued. "I'll put it in the simplest, most mundane form I can manage for you." "Please do." Janeway said snidely. "You'll find the wormhole on your long range scanners and set a course. When you're tiny craniums determine that it leads to your beloved Alpha Quadrant, you'll take this rickety barge through it and return with the intention of spending the remaining portions of your brief, uninspiring lives there. But I'm afraid I just couldn't live with myself if I stood by and allowed you to make such a titanic mistake. What kind of guardian of the galaxy would I be if I did that, I ask you." Janeway stood and paced around the table, as she always did when she was unsettled. "I'm sure no one would debate that you possess incredible powers, Q. We all know that you could stop us from doing anything at almost any given moment." "Almost?" She glared briefly at him as she continued. "The truth of it is this. You didn't have to come here and tell us any of this. You could've simply destroyed that wormhole so that we never encountered it to begin with. For that matter, you could've moved it to another galaxy if you'd wanted to." She halted her pacing and folded her arms across her chest. "We all know that you have to power to stop us from using this wormhole to reach Earth. What I want to know is why. What reason would a member of the Continuum have to stop us from going home?" "You say the word 'home' with great frequency when you speak of your precious Earth. Home. Such a relative term, don't you agree? I mean, what does it really imply? You humans have hundreds of quaint little chestnuts making reference to this word home. Home is where the heart is. Home is where you make it. Home is where you hang your hat. There's no place like home…" "Is this recitation of irrelevant Earth cliché's necessary?" Seven of Nine asked. "Oh, relax worker bee. I wouldn't expect you, a calculator with a pulse, to comprehend the significance of home and hearth." He pointed a finger at Janeway, staring intently into her blue eyes. "But you do, don't you my dearest Captain? You know that home has nothing to do with geography." Janeway shook her head. "Stop speaking in riddles, Q. What are you desperately trying to say?" He leaned forward, his palms pressed flat against the table. "I'm saying that the Alpha Quadrant may not be the home you think it is. Try to wrap your tiny minds around this. Time has passed since your ill-fated jaunt into this godforsaken region of space. Have you ever considered that your precious Federation may have changed? The people you knew, your so-called friends and family - maybe they aren't the same people you hugged and kissed goodbye. Have you ever thought about that?" "It would be illogical to assume that everyone and everything we knew would remain unchanged during our absence." Tuvok offered. "See?" Q enthused. "The Vulcan gets it." "You're saying that things in the Alpha Quadrant are not the way we remember them?" asked Chakotay. "Oh! Goodie! Chuckles finally gets one. Well done my primate friend, and thank you for playing. But I've grown tired of your incessant babblings. Game over." With a snap of his fingers the senior officers disappeared, leaving only Q and Janeway. They were now seated side by side at the large table. "You really know how to clear a room." Janeway smirked. "I usually just say Dismissed." Q took hold of Janeway's shoulders, his eyes boring into hers keenly. "Listen to me, Kathy. I implore you. You must not go through that wormhole." Kathryn placed a small hand on his forearm. "Tell me why, Q." "It's not going to be like you've anticipated. There will be no ticker tape parade on main street, no grand reception to celebrate your homecoming. Your crew will not be hailed as heroic explorers who forged a trail through uncharted space." His expression softened as he gazed at her with something akin to affection. "You know I'm fond of you, Kathryn. I've proven that. After all, it's not every millennia that I ask a mortal to procreate with me. You must trust me when I tell you to stay here in the Delta Quadrant." Janeway laughed aloud. "Trust you? You repeatedly interfere with the operations of my ship, put my crew in danger for your own amusement, humiliate my officers, not to mention abduct me and drag me into the middle of your civil war. Hardly laudable actions to stand on. And now you're asking me to deny my crew the opportunity to see their homelands again simply on the basis that I trust you?" "Well, when you put it that way…" "Listen, Q…" She lowered her voice and took his hand in hers gently. "I appreciate your … concern for our well-being. But I made a promise to these people. I told them that I would get them home. If an opportunity occurs to allow me to keep that promise, I have to take it. I stranded them here. I made the decision that took them away from the only families and homes that they'd ever known. Now it appears I have a chance to repay them, to see them stand on Alpha Quadrant soil again. I have to do it, Q. I have to keep my promise." "You know, that's one of your most alluring qualities, Kathy. Your persistence, your allegiance. But in this case, it is woefully misguided." "Maybe." Kathryn arched a graceful eyebrow. "But you still haven't answered my question. If you really planned to stop me from entering that wormhole, you would've done it already. Instead you're spending time trying to persuade me to stay in this quadrant." She leaned in close to him. Her voice carried a deadly intonation as she spoke. "You either will not or cannot intervene. And I want to know why. Enough riddles and double talk. Tell me what the truth, Q, now." He looked to her, a sheepish expression on his all-powerful face. "The truth is, I've been forbidden by the Continuum to intercede on your behalf. They believe that you humans have the right to see for yourselves, to look your fate in the eyes so to speak." "I see. And so you're here to try and reason with me for my own good, is that it?" "Yes, Madame Captain. I'm trying to stop you from making a mistake that you'll regret for the rest of your life." "Why?" she asked pointedly. Q looked genuinely offended. "Well, because I'm a moral and considerate super being, of course." Her patent death glare prodded him to continue. "Because, Kathy. You and your ship of circus chimpanzees amuse me. Believe it or not, omnipotence can be dreadfully boring. Seeing the same sights, eon after eon. So when I find something that entertains me, I naturally try to hang on to it. At least, until I grow bored." She regarded him evenly, calmly. "You've made your case, Q. But I'm afraid you weren't quite persuasive enough. I made a promise to my people, and I intend to keep it. And, as you said yourself, you can do nothing to stop me. So, if you'll excuse me, I have a wormhole to find." That being said, she stood up and walked out of the briefing room. She didn't even look back to see Q shake his head, a look of genuine sadness on his normally smug face. "She's even more stubborn than Jean Luc." He muttered. Okay… candles, plates and silverware, fresh flowers on the table. Kathryn tapped her finger to her chin contemplatively. What was missing? "Of course! The wine goblets." She mumbled aloud. This was a special evening worthy of using her treasured crystal. It was their last night in the Delta Quadrant. She had invited Chakotay to share this evening with her. A nice, relaxing dinner, some soft music, and a bottle of wine. Kathryn rarely drank, but this was a celebration. This was what she had spent the last seven years of her life striving for. So … why did she feel so damn ambivalent? She should be giddy with joy. After all, she was about to fulfill her promise. She would soon see her crew returned to the loving arms of their families and friends. And she would see her mother and Phoebe again. She had missed them terribly. She'd spent the last several years daydreaming about all the things she would say to her mom and sister if she ever saw them again. Now she would get the chance. So - why did she feel so alone? Before she reached an answer, the door chime sounded. "Come in." she called, a smile curling on her lips at the knowledge of who was waiting at her door. "Whatever that recipe is, I like it already." Grinned Chakotay as he strode into Kathryn's quarters. "It must not include leola root, because it smells wonderful." Kathryn chuckled and glanced up at him as she put the hot dish of pasta on the table. "It's my mother's recipe actually. Lasagna - vegetarian of course." She plucked the wine goblets from their case and placed them gingerly beside the plates. Chakotay noted with a grin that they were the ones he'd given her for her last birthday. That was one of the things he loved most about Kathryn - she cherished every gift he'd ever given her. They took their seats at the small table and chatted amicably. Kathryn poured them each a glass of chardonnay. She eyed Chakotay over the rim of her glass, wondering if he had any idea how incredibly handsome he was. The raven black hair, the deep brown eyes that displayed such emotion and passion, he was definitely enough to make a woman's heart rate increase. Her eyes traveled from the chiseled features of his face to his broad chest and muscular arms, finally settling on his large hands. They looked so strong and masculine as he gripped his wine glass. She had seen such power emanate from those hands, and yet - when they touched her, it was with all the tenderness in the universe. She marveled, not for the first time, at how such a strapping man could be so very gentle at the same time. That was Chakotay - the perfect combination of softness and strength. She realized as she looked at him that, despite her attempts to do otherwise, she had become undeniably attached and dependant on him. This could be their last night on Voyager - and then what? Would they shake hands and go their separate ways? She knew she would always have some level of contact with Chakotay, would always seek him out. But the thought of not seeing his radiant smile or hearing his melted caramel voice every day filled her with a fear the likes of which she'd never known before. She was terrified. Yes, that was it. Terrified that she'd be separated from Chakotay. Her heart wrenched in her chest. What if that's what Q was trying, in his misguided and obnoxious way, to warn her about? What if they were all about to be separated? What if she were about to lose them? To lose him? I can't imagine any greater fear Than waking up without you here. And though the sun would still shine on. My whole world would all be gone. Chakotay's soft voice pulled her from her from her thoughts. "What's on your mind, Kathryn?" She was startled as an irrational fear that he somehow knew just where her thoughts had been flashed through her mind. She hesitated before she answered. "I…" She sat her glass down on the table and looked intensely at him. "I've decided, despite Q's words of warning, to take the ship through the wormhole." He said nothing, but she thought she saw a sadness darken his eyes. "We'll arrive at the wormholes coordinates early tomorrow morning. We're going home, Chakotay." There's that word again - home. Q's foreboding words echoed through her mind. I'm saying that the Alpha Quadrant may not be the home you think it is. Chakotay had expected this announcement from her. Yet he found he was somewhat disappointed to hear it nonetheless. He'd come to think of Voyager as his home, one he was able to share with Kathryn. But he knew how much this meant to her, how badly she had wanted this for so long. So regardless of his feelings, he would support her. "I knew when you stepped out of the briefing room that you had already made your decision." Well, that was a fairly benign and non-committal answer. "And?" she prodded. "And what?" It's your decision to make." "Yes…" she gazed intently at him. "But I would prefer to do it with your support, Chakotay. I want to know what you think." He sighed quietly and a small smile formed on his lips. A forced smile, Kathryn thought. "I've never stopped believing that you'd get your crew home, Captain. If you've decided to proceed through this wormhole, I'll stand behind you." "I'd rather you stood beside me. If we do this, we should do it together." She rubbed her temples with her small hands, a nervous habit of hers. That's when he noticed that she was shaking slightly. His eyes searched her face carefully, slowly, as if he were trying to crawl inside her thoughts. "Why do I get the feeling that there's more on your mind than the wormhole?" "Isn't the wormhole enough?" "I know you, Kathryn. Something's bothering you." He covered her hand with his own. "I'd like to help. But I can't do that if you won't tell me. We've always been honest with each other. Talk to me." He was right, and she knew it. It was unfair of her to hold back. She'd known she was still in love with Chakotay for some time now, but she thought she kept those feelings under control. She had to stay in control - for the good of her ship and crew. So, she'd spent the last seven years pulling him closer when she needed comfort, and then pushing him away when she felt afraid. And he'd been there by her side the entire time, taking what she offered and never pushing her for more. He deserved to know what was really on her mind. He deserved to know that he mattered more to her than anyone else in the universe. "I keep thinking about what Q said today." She brought her free hand to her chin thoughtfully. "He told me that our return to the Alpha Quadrant wouldn't be what I've anticipated. He said it might not be the home I think it is. I got the distinct impression that he was trying to tell me we are all in for a rude awakening." He nodded his understanding. "And that frightens you. That's perfectly understandable." Typical Chakotay, gently offering comfort and solace. She felt her eyes stinging with unshed tears. She tried to blink them back before they spilled down her cheeks, tried to conceal them from her dearest friend. But he saw them. He was skilled at seeing what Kathryn Janeway tried desperately to hide. "What is it, Kathryn?" he prodded softly. "Is it Starfleet? The Maquis? What?" "Actually, Chakotay… it's you." His brow furrowed in surprise. "Me?" "Coming face to face with the prospect of returning to Earth has made me realize something. I've gotten used to having you in my life on a day to day basis; hearing your voice every morning on the bridge, our quiet dinners and times on the holodeck…" She stood and moved to the viewport, her back to him as she gazed out at the stars. Chakotay moved and stood silently behind her, resting a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You're afraid that's about to change?" She turned to face him, a renegade tear streaming down her face. "After all this time of pushing you away and taking your presence in my life for granted, I've realized that everything I've come to depend on is about to be irrevocably changed." She laid her hand on his chest, a gesture she found herself repeating when she needed comfort. "I don't know how to let you go. I don't know how to say goodbye to you, Chakotay." In an instant he had folded her into his arms, his chin resting in her hair. "Why do we have to say goodbye? Just because we're leaving the Delta Quadrant? I'll always be here for you whenever you need me. No matter what region of space we're in." He held her tightly to him, relishing the moment of having her in his arms. "You're part of my life, Kathryn. Part of who I am. I can't imagine a life without you. No matter where our paths take us - I believe we'll always find our way to each other." She looked up at him, a deep sadness in her eyes. "That's just it. Our paths could take us anywhere. We have no idea what Starfleet will do, or what events will follow our return. We could be separated, assigned to different ships - or worse. We could be just a communiqué away, or hundreds of light years apart. It's hard to imagine you not being right next door. We could drift apart, lose each other…" In all the time Chakotay had known her, he'd couldn't recall ever seeing her this insecure. Captain Janeway was usually the most self-assured person he'd ever known. "Hey…" He put a finger under her chin and lifted her face to his. "It doesn't have to happen that way. You know how I feel about you, Kathryn. I'll be as much a part of your life as you'll let me. You can have me by your side every day for the rest of your life, you know that. The choice is yours to make. But you have to remember … no matter how far apart we are, I will always find my way back to you. There's no where Starfleet could send me, no obstacle large enough they could put in my way, that would keep me from getting to you because I would never stop trying." He cupped her cheek in his hand, marveling at how beautiful she looked with her emotions displayed on her face. "There's no place in this universe so unreachable that I wouldn't find a way to get to you. There's no place that far." It wouldn't matter why we're apart Lonely miles, two stubborn hearts. Nothing's sure If God above Can turn me away from your love. I need you that much. If I had to run… If I had to crawl… If I had to swim a hundred rivers, Just to climb a thousand walls - Always know that I would find a way To get to where you are. There's no place that far. Chakotay guided Kathryn to the sofa and pulled her down next to him. She relaxed into his embrace, resting her head against his chest. The stress and exhaustion of the days trying events had taken their toll on her. She wanted to put it all out of her mind for just a couple of hours. She didn't want to think about the wormhole, the Alpha Quadrant, or even her crew. All she wanted to think about was the fact that she was curled up in Chakotay's arms, breathing in the scent of his aftershave and listening to the sound of his breathing. Tomorrow would come soon enough, plenty of time to worry and fret then. So, for the moment, she tried to push it all aside. She tried to ignore the feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach. And she tried to ignore the hairs standing up on the back of her neck, reminding her that Q was lurking somewhere nearby. All feedback Ladychakotay@yahoo.com |
|
There's No Place That Far Chapter TWO (pg-13) |
