Chapter Text
Kathryn sat at her Ready Room desk on the Dauntless reading through the many mind numbing reports. When she started to nod off behind her desk she went over to the replicator.
“Coffee, Black.”
The replicator bleeped angrily back at her.
“Unable to comply. Doctor Noum has restricted all access to caffeine until further notice.” The computer replied back in its monotonous voice.
Kathryn sighed, rolled her eyes at the replicator and physically shrunk when she realised that she had to drink tea.
“Alright then, Tea.” Kathryn sighed. “Black.”
As the tea materialised Kathryn wanted to chuck it back into the replicator and forget the entire ordeal. But she picked up the cup and started drinking it. However, instead of a bitter caffeine taste she was met with a bitter taste that even decaf coffee couldn’t give. She sat back at her terminal leaving the tea to the side. The chime rang throughout the room.
"Come!"
The door opened and Tysess walked in.
"Can I help you Commander?"
“I have the reports that you have requested from Astrometrics and Engineering.”
“Thank you Commander. Is there anything else?”
Tysess looked like he was pondering for a moment. Then he decided to speak up. “Permission to speak freely, Admiral?”
Kathryn nodded her head for Tysess to keep going, intrigued at where this conversation was going, but keeping her Captain’s mask in place.
“Why did you take on the mission to find the Protostar ? There are plenty of qualified captains that could’ve taken on this mission, in fact one could argue, better suited to the task.”
Seeing where this was going to head, Kathryn steeled herself and said, “Tysess. Why don’t you take a seat.” Kathryn pointed to a chair on the other side of her desk.
Tysess took the seat that Kathryn pointed towards and waited for her response. Kathryn had to think this through carefully, “I’m trying to find a highly classified ship. One that if the Romulans found, they could use it as a weapon against us. But, I’ll tell you this like I did Asencia just before we embarked on this mission. There are some people that you’ll tear the entire galaxy apart to find them again. For me, that is anyone who served under my command when I was on Voyager . Especially my First Officer. Because some people’s advice is just worth hearing again.”
“Admiral, don’t mind me saying this, but before we embarked on this mission, I’ve heard some rumors about you and Captain Chakotay. Are they true?”
Kathryn was surprised that her First Officer would say anything like that, something flickered over her face but she quickly put her Captain’s mask in place. “That’s not anyone's business but my own, Commander.” Kathryn snapped, but when she saw his face again she remembered that Tysess is her friend and has supported her with trying to find the Protostar . “No, they are not just rumors after all. But suffice it to say… It's complicated. He’s my closest friend Tysess. I care about him and I’ll do all it takes to find him.”
“So you're driven by your emotions to find him? You told me some of the best commanding officers don’t succumb to emotions to make sure they keep everyone safe,” Tysess quizzed.
He wanted the Admiral to slip up. To let Kathryn out for one moment, but Kathryn wasn’t going to let Tysess slip her up, she was finding Chakotay no matter the consequences it would take on her soul.
“I’m trying to find an old colleague and friend, someone who would do the same if any Starfleet Officer went missing in the line of duty because he is driven by his ideals that won’t let another man suffer if he can prevent it, and that is what I’m trying to achieve right now, because we have no choice but to find our colleagues when they get themselves into trouble because that is the sort of people we are, people who will find each other no matter the cost. We never leave our people behind, Commander! My personal feelings have no bearing on whether that should be true or not.”
The Andorian was confused about what Kathryn was saying but she didn’t add anything, because she didn’t want to let him know just how close she and Chakotay got before the Protostar launched. Kathryn got up and recycled her tea, because if she was being honest with herself, she was never going to drink it. Then she sat back down at her desk and picked up the PADD’s with the reports that Tysess just delivered but not really paying attention to the words instead observing her First Officer with a curious eye. Chakotay would have probably understood her words already and had either said something or left, but with Commander Tysess there was a hint of something that he probably didn’t understand about human culture which was the way that anyone would sacrifice each other only to save each other in the end. “But isn’t that what Starfleet is all about?’ Kathryn wondered.
Before the two officers could say anymore a call from the bridge came through, “Bridge to Admiral Janeway and Commander Tysess. We have picked up a distress signal. Can you please report to the bridge?”
Both of them looked at each other before Kathryn replied, “We’re on our way.”
They both stood up from where they were both seated and Kathryn placed the PADD’s on her desk, and they walked out onto the bridge straight to ops. “What’s the distress signal, Lieutenant?”
“This isn’t like any sort of distress signal I have ever seen Admiral. Not only does it have a temporal variance, it seems to be personalised. Could you take a look at it?”
Kathryn didn’t say anything but instead walked up to the console intrigued, her heart suddenly beating fast. She recognised the code on the console. “May I decode it Lieutenant?”
“Admiral, it's impossible to decode. We won’t be able to respond to it.”
Kathryn smirked her lips up and said, “There are only a few people able to decode it because we wrote it together. On Voyager we created a unique temporal distress signal, and it was quite useful since anyone who was a part of our crew could enable us to find them.”
Kathryn changed some commands around and the distress signal was clear. She put it up on the view screen and Chakotay’s face popped up. It looked like he was in an underground cavern, and it looked like he was mistreated like he was a prisoner or something. Kathryn tried her hardest not to yell at the sight before her but she gasped. Out of the corner of her eye both Doctor Noum and Commander Tysess looked at her with concern etched over their features. Kathryn touched another command and the video started playing.
“This is Captain Chakotay of the Protostar . We have been knocked into the future to a planet that we haven't made First Contact yet in our time. We are being held prisoner.”
Chakotay was looking around furtively, probably making sure the guards couldn’t see them. Least of all him, making a call for help.
“You cannot go near the Protostar. It has a weapon that can destroy the entire Federation, it is called the Living Construct. The people here on Solum, the Vau N’Akat blame the Federation for destroying their world. They planned to send the Protostar back in time with the weapon aboard to destroy the Federation before we have a chance to initiate First Contact. However one thing they didn’t count on was me sending the ship back with no one on it except the Training Holoprogram. However, I made sure it was deactivated to ensure it wouldn’t go back to Federation space. Until I can free my crew and find a way back to the ship no one is safe, they sent many of their soldiers back with their android servants called Drednok to find the Protostar I don’t know how long I have prevented the destruction of the Federation but I hope it's enough time to get us back in time too. If there’s anyone from my former Voyager crew decoding this know that I have embedded our spatio-temporal coordinates. I hope you get this. I hope…” Chakotay’s voice caught in his throat. Kathryn thought that maybe the guilt of getting his crew taken prisoner on an unknown planet was getting to him, or whether or not someone would find him, or his message. “I hope I can see you soon. Chakotay out.”
Kathryn stood still from where she was standing and saw out of the corner of her eye that everyone was in shock about what was just said but Asencia looked like she was angry.
“Ensign, set a course for the coordinates I’m about to send to the helm.” Kathryn looked at the console and decoded the spatio-temporal coordinates embedded in the signal. She sent it off to the helm, trying her damndest to control the sudden thundering rhythm of her heart, and the Dauntless went into the slipstream drive.
=/\=
The Dauntless arrived at the spatio-temporal coordinates that Chakotay had given them. Kathryn sat in her chair, her mind racing because the next part would be tricky, getting the Dauntless in position to do a temporal jump to find Chakotay. Her crew was busy while she waited, oh how she missed getting her hands dirty, helping the engineering teams get things in order. Kathryn paced the bridge, reading reports as they flowed through onto her PADD. She just could not be still right now. A little part of her mind said, ‘You're sitting here letting everyone else have the fun that you want to do. No, this is what you have to do because you’ll be leading the mission to rescue Chakotay and his crew, don’t beat yourself over this, remember the Fates will not get in the way of the Woman Warrior and the Angry Warrior.’
“Admiral, we are ready to jump through time on your order.” Tysess said.
Kathryn took a deep breath, knowing that time was of the essence when they finally jumped, so she went through the checklist, making sure that her crew was ready before she gave the order, “Tactical?”
“Ready and waiting on your order Admiral.”
“Ops?”
“Ready and waiting on your order Admiral.”
“Engineering?”
“Ready and waiting on your order Admiral.”
“Helm?”
“Ready and waiting on your order Admiral.” Ensign Asencia replied.
‘I have to keep my eye on her, make sure she doesn’t compromise the mission after I found out who she actually is. I have to wait until she slips up to the rest of the crew, before I can put her in the brig.’
“Let’s go into the future.”
The ship projected a spatial and temporal incursion that used Borg technology that enabled them to jump either back in time or in the future, and the ship went straight into the anomaly. It was a smooth ride through and moments later they arrived in the orbit of a desolate-looking planet. This had to be Solum. The ship went straight into Grey Mode, lowering power usage to absolute minimum to make sure that any remaining Vau N’Akat would not detect them. They scanned the surface but found no human or Starfleet signatures. The Lieutenant on ops even said that using transporters, even with enhancers, was risky. As the information processed in Kathryn’s mind, her heart thundering at the knowledge of being close to Chakotay again she had made her decision, one less risky/reckless decision (as Tuvok would say). Kathryn smiled at the memory of her old friend.
“We’ll be taking a shuttlecraft to the surface. Away Team, report to the shuttlebay.” Kathryn closed the channel before responses could flow through.
The away team assembled in the turbolift. Kathryn ensured that Asencia was on the ground with them, while Tysess was keeping the ship in one piece for the team to come back to. When they got to the shuttle bay everyone left but Asencia stayed behind. Kathryn was behind Asencia and didn’t move forwards.
Asencia turned to Kathryn and said, “I don’t want to go down to the surface.”
“You will be doing as ordered Ensign and if that is going down to the surface then you will go down there. Get into the shuttle Ensign.”
Asencia didn’t budge. Kathryn had enough of her antics.
“Get into the shuttle, Ensign. That’s an order.” Never once in her entire career did she have to say that to a seasoned officer, not even when Harry Kim was fresh out of the Academy. But Asencia started to move towards the shuttle and Kathryn followed closely behind. They all assembled in the shuttle and made their way to the surface. As much as Kathryn hated how the shuttle was slower for their escape, it was necessary to ensure the safety of everyone involved.
Once on the surface Kathryn opened her tricorder following the coordinates from the encrypted message, and they all made their way to the underground cavern. They came across some guards but, taken utterly by surprise, they were easily taken out. They kept going until they found a uniform, not just any uniform. A Starfleet Uniform. Standing with a hunched back. Kathryn’s heart skipped a beat and she rushed ahead when her light shone upon bronzed hands then, moving the light up, her heart in her throat, at once recognized the salt and pepper hair. Splayed at awkward angles and a little longer due to not being able to cut it to the appropriate length. Another light shone to the side and there was a group huddled to the side sitting down, looking weak. Kathryn took another look and she recognised those faces from the dossier of Chakotay’s crew.
As he turned around Kathryn said in a voice no louder than a whisper, “Chakotay.”
Chocolate eyes burned into her sapphire orbs, her gaze wandered over his face eagerly, taking in his familiar features and the tattoo that had been etched into her memory like a scar. Although he looked as though he had been through hell, with cuts and bruises and his hair splayed across his forehead, to Kathryn he looked just as good as the day they first met. When Chakotay finally recovered from the shock of seeing his friend. He spoke no louder than a whisper, “Kathryn?!”
“Yes, it’s me Chakotay.”
All thoughts of her crew vanished and within two steps they both embraced in a hug that could crush worlds. Chakotay could do nothing except say, “I’ve missed you so much. Oh Spirits, how I have missed you. I have never stopped thinking about you, Kathryn. I could never let you go completely.”
Kathryn looked up with shiny eyes and said, “I know. But we need to get your crew, my ship will be discovered soon.”
Chakotay just nodded his head on top of Kathryn and then let go. The warmth of the embrace missing Kathryn wished they didn’t have to let go already. However, they both knew that time was of the essence and that they could have a bigger reunion when they are safely back together on the Dauntless . Chakotay rounded his crew up and they made their way back to the shuttle.
While on their way to the shuttle, Asencia decided to make a run for it, Kathryn looked back and she was changing from her Trill skin to her Vau N’Akat. Kathryn stopped because she wasn’t letting Asencia get in the way of completing their mission to get the crew to safety. As Kathryn stopped, Chakotay took a couple of more steps then realised Kathryn wasn’t beside him. He looked up and watched her run after another Starfleet uniform which from the back looked a lot like a Vau N’Akat. Chakotay watched as Kathryn tackled the officer to the ground and saw her change into a Trill. Once the officer was secure, Kathryn stood while her officers circled the prisoner, pushing her towards the shuttle. Kathryn and Chakotay settled at the controls.
Chakotay looked towards Kathryn before take off with a mix of awe and curiosity, “Dare I ask?”
She’d grinned to herself before tossing him a look. “I’ll tell you about it later. For now how about we get out of here.”
Chakotay nodded his acknowledgement and when they took off, they were immediately met with resistance, but Chakotay maneuvered the ship to miss the attacks and Kathryn gave him the course directions. As soon as they made orbit, Kathryn hailed the Dauntless .
They landed in the shuttle bay and Kathryn gave the order to open the temporal fissure and for their guests to be taken to the brig and a security team to meet them upon arrival to take Asencia into custody.
Then they felt the ship lurch into the temporal vortex. They made their way out and the security team took Asencia into custody and found her genetic augment device that changed her from a Vau N’Akat into a Trill. They activated the device to get her back into her own skin. Medical teams met them to treat the members of the Protostar . Chakotay and Kathryn were the last to get up, they lingered in the shuttle for a little longer. They turned to face each other and Kathryn had tears in her eyes.
“I don’t know how many times I have been told by both Command and Commander Tysess that I have been driven by emotions to find you.”
“I’m guessing a lot. Did they put up a lot of resistance?”
“To tell you the truth, I actually ended up in the Brig at one point. I think I’ll have a lot of explaining to do when I get home.”
“Kathryn Janeway ending up in the brig? That doesn’t sound like my Warrior Princess.”
“We were chasing the Protostar just before we found your distress signal.”
“Let me guess.”
Kathryn placed her hand up to stop Chakotay from speaking. “I know about the Living Construct, it actually embedded itself into that Holo Program that looks like me, but let's just say it's an… interesting story but that can wait. I had also found out that the person I tackled down there was masquerading as one of my crew. Anyways, I stopped the influence of Training Holo Program’s systems. When I was released we found the distress signal. Everyone told me it was impossible to crack. But, everyone was impressed when I cracked it and your face came onto the view screen but when I saw you my spirit wanted to jump out and wrap itself around you. Chakotay, I haven’t stopped thinking about the time that we spent together before you left. I haven’t stopped thinking about that conversation when you launched and the hidden meanings we gave each other. Because Chakotay you’re a hard man to ever stop thinking about. I. Love. You.”
“I know how to destroy the living construct, and I’m never leaving you again. Because, I love you too.” Chakotay sighed and said, “Kathryn.”
Before leaving the shuttle Kathryn stepped closer to Chakotay and put her arms around his neck. Chakotay didn't move, not wanting to ruin the spell that was showing itself. Kathryn lifted up onto her toes and started to kiss Chakotay. Chakotay then wrapped his arms around Kathryn and lifted her up to meet him better. As she was lifted into a better position she took advantage and got Chakotay into a bear hug. They then deepened their kiss until they had to leave to get some oxygen.
Panting Chakotay said, "Spirits, you're beautiful."
Kathryn shot her lopsided smile back at him and they walked out together and made their way to sickbay, Doctor Noum treated Chakotay for dehydration and malnutrition as well as repairing some cuts and bruises. He told Chakotay to rest and take it easy for a couple of days, before they all made it back to the Protostar to take care of the living construct. Chakotay then asked for an update on the rest of his crew. Once both Chakotay and Kathryn were satisfied (she wanted to make sure Chakotay was okay and Chakotay wanted to make sure his crew was okay) they left sickbay together holding hands. They made their way to the bridge but by the time the lift arrived they were standing with a command respect apart. Tysess acknowledged them both as they stepped onto the bridge.
“Admiral, I’m pleased to report that we have made it back into our own time safely.”
Kathryn nods her head, pleased with the results of the latest mission. “Commander Tysess. Do we have a location on the Protostar ?”
“Affirmative Admiral.”
“Helm. Plot a course. Maximum Warp.”
The Lieutenant on the helm inputted the course and said, “Course plotted, Admiral.”
Kathryn looked at Chakotay and he nodded his head. Together they could take on the universe, she felt most at peace when he was by her side. Because, most importantly because they loved each other so much that Fates can never keep them apart ever again.
“Engage.” Their next adventure awaited.
