Chapter Text
Chapter 1 — The Tachyon Switch
Captain Kathryn Janeway shifted slightly in her chair at the head of the conference table, one hand resting unconsciously against the curve of her abdomen. The movement was subtle, but everyone around the table noticed. It had become impossible not to notice lately.
She was very pregnant.
The senior staff briefing had been running for nearly thirty minutes, and the captain had insisted on standing through the first half of it before Chakotay firmly—but quietly—guided her back into her chair. The small exchange had earned several discreet smiles around the table.
On the main viewscreen, a dense region of swirling particle readings drifted slowly closer to the small icon representing Voyager.
Seven of Nine stood beside the display. “The region ahead contains unusually high concentrations of tachyon radiation and chronometric particles,” she said with clinical precision. “The configuration resembles a temporal bifurcation node.”
Harry Kim leaned forward eagerly. “Think of it like… a railway switch between parallel universes.”
Janeway raised an eyebrow. “Harry, somehow I suspected that analogy would appear.”
He gave a sheepish grin but continued. “If certain past decisions differed even slightly, those alternate timelines might exist nearby. The field could momentarily shift individuals—or even parts of the ship—into those neighboring realities.”
B’Elanna Torres folded her arms. “Meaning we might suddenly find ourselves in a universe where someone made a different choice ten years ago.”
Tom Paris grinned. “I’m hoping for the timeline where I actually finished the Academy on time.”
“Unlikely,” Tuvok said calmly.
Laughter rippled briefly around the table before Janeway raised a hand. “Let’s focus on solutions.”
Seven inclined her head. “Lieutenant Kim and I have adapted Voyager’s deflector shields to dampen the radiation effects. The probability of physical displacement is minimal.”
“But?” Janeway prompted.
Seven’s gaze flicked briefly to the captain’s stomach before returning to the display. “The chronometric interference may still affect neural patterns. Temporary memory inconsistencies are possible.”
Harry jumped in. “Basically… someone might remember things that happened in another version of reality.”
Torres grimaced. “Great. Temporal confusion.”
“The Doctor has developed a preventative treatment,” Seven added.
Right on cue, the hologram shimmered into existence beside the table. “Thank you, Seven,” said the doctor with theatrical flair. “Yes, I have created a neural stabilizing vaccine designed to reinforce each crew member’s established memory engrams. A simple inoculation should prevent cross-timeline contamination.”
Janeway nodded approvingly. “How soon can we begin?”
“Immediately. We will have enough doses synthesized for the entire crew by the end of the day.”
“Then let’s not delay.” She looked around the room. “Vaccinations will begin at once. I want everyone protected before we reach the field.”
The officers nodded.
“Dismissed.“
The meeting broke apart quickly, officers filing out to begin their preparations. But as Janeway rose from her chair, three people remained behind.
The Doctor.
Chakotay.
Torres.
Janeway frowned slightly. “That look usually means bad news.”
The Doctor clasped his hands together uneasily. “Well… not bad exactly. Merely… medically inconvenient.”
Chakotay stepped closer to her chair. „Someone explain.”
The Doctor cleared his throat.“The vaccine is perfectly safe for the crew. However… it is not safe for pregnant patients after the first 12 weeks of gestation. Especially this close to the due date. The chronometric compounds could potentially interfere with fetal development.”
Janeway’s hand instinctively tightened on the table “So I can’t take it or should we induce labor? It’s only 5 week or so…”
“I’m afraid these aren‘t good options. There‘s not enough time and infants should be at least six weeks old to receive the vaccine.“
Silence settled over the room. Torres spoke first.
“We’ve been running additional scans of the field,” she said. “There’s one place on the ship where the radiation effects are weakest.”
Janeway already knew the answer. “The warp core.”
Torres nodded.“Closest thing to a chronometric anchor we’ve got.”
Chakotay’s voice softened. “If she stays there during the crossing, it’ll minimize any neurological effects.”
Janeway considered it only a moment.“All right.”
Torres raised a finger.“One more thing.”
Janeway narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “What?”
Torres smirked. “As long as you’re not planning to give birth in my engine room…”
Chakotay laughed. Janeway tried to look offended but failed. “No promises.”
Torres rolled her eyes. “I’ll have my team install a rest platform near the warp core.”
Janeway’s eyes brightened slightly. “And while I’m there…”
Chakotay groaned quietly.“No.”
“Yes.”
„Kathryn—”
She folded her arms. „I’m still a capable engineer, Commander.”
Torres tried not to grin. „She does have a point.”
Chakotay sighed in defeat. „You’re both enjoying this.”
“Immensely,” Torres said.
Janeway stood slowly. “I’ve missed getting my hands dirty in engineering.”
Torres gestured toward the door.
“Then welcome back to the engine room, Captain.”
„First, I‘d like to have a Word with you, Lieutenant Torres“, the Doctor chimed in. Torres followed him to sick bay. „See you in 5, Captain!“
⸻
Later, in the corridor outside the turbolift, Chakotay walked beside Janeway more slowly than usual. His hand rested lightly against her back. “You don’t have to prove anything,” he said quietly.
“I know.”
“You could just rest.”
She glanced up at him with a warm smile. “I’ve been commanding this ship for more than give years, Chakotay. Let me pretend I’m still an engineer once in a while.”
He chuckled. “I suppose I can allow that.”
“Can you now?“ She raised an eyebrow but smiled and squeezed his hand.“What about Taya?”
At the mention of their daughter, Chakotay smiled immediately. “I’ll take her to sickbay for her vaccine.”
Two-year-old Taya Janeway had already developed an uncanny ability to charm half the crew into giving her extra dessert. Naomi had also taught her some tricks.
“She won’t like it,” Chakotay admitted.
“She’ll forgive you,” Janeway said.
He leaned closer. “And after my shift… we’ll come visit you in engineering.”
Janeway nodded. “That sounds perfect.”
He kissed her gently on the forehead.
“Take care of yourself, Kathryn.”
⸻
Hours later, deep inside Voyager’s engineering section, the warp core pulsed steadily with blue light. The temporary rest platform Torres had installed sat only a few meters away. Janeway sat on the edge of it, one hand pressed to her lower back as she watched a plasma relay stabilize on the console. Torres leaned over the control panel beside her. “You still sure you want to help?”
Janeway smirked.“Hand me that spanner.”
Torres did.“Just remember,” the engineer added, “no babies in my engine room.”
Janeway laughed.
“Relax, B’Elanna.”
She rested one hand over her stomach as the baby shifted quietly.
“Our son can wait.”