Voyagers
By Maquis Leader
Chapter 7: The Searchers
“Based on Voyager’s last known position, I’ve come up with the most likely course.” Harry indicated the display on the screen. “I took into account the deuterium and other supplies they’ll need and Voyager’s scanner range.”
“Plus we have the advantage of knowing exactly where those supplies are.” Kathryn smiled. “We can set a course to catch them while they’re on an away mission and the shields are down.”
“Commander Cavit and the others insisted on using the replicators or eating the emergency rations.” His face flushed as he remembered being drawn into Cavit’s web. “They’ll need to find the energy to replace what they’re using.”
“They’re going to be constantly searching for supplies.” B'Elanna’s lip curled up in disgust. “There’s no way Voyager will survive 10 years – let alone 75 – not the way they’re abusing her.”
“Find us a likely place to ambush them.” Chakotay looked at Kathryn who nodded in agreement. “We don’t want to damage Voyager any more than we have to when we take her back.”
“Any problems with our supplies?” Kathryn asked Neelix.
“We’re in great shape, Captain! We’ve got crews working on the hydroponics bay for Kes and they should be done in a day or so. We can trade with the Ereri for seedlings – “
“I’d prefer to find an uninhabited planet. No sense leaving a trail for the Kazon to follow.”
“Of course, Captain, I understand completely.” The Talaxian bobbed his head. “We’ll make an outing of it. I’ll cook up something special!”
“I’m sure everyone will enjoy that.” An outing? Kathryn caught Chakotay hiding a grin behind his hand. Only Neelix would consider rooting around in the dirt for plants an outing. “Make sure our water supplies are restocked as well.”
“There is a problem that must be addressed.” Tuvok waited until he had everyone’s full attention. “When we retake Voyager, what action do we take against Commander Cavit and the others who participated in the mutiny?” Complete silence smothered the room. “We cannot simply confine them to the brig for the same reasons they could not confine us.”
“We aren’t going to maroon them either.” Kathryn rubbed at her temple. This was one headache she’d been wrestling with in the days since they had left the Kazon planet behind. “But it’s going to be a nightmare trying to watch them constantly.”
“We could turn one of the holodecks into a prison setting.” Harry said.
“No!” Tom looked a little flustered as the others turned to look at him. “One power failure and they’re loose.” He finished weakly.
“Tom’s right.” Kathryn forced back a smile. “And we’ll need the holodecks for recreational purposes. Shore leaves will be few and far between.”
“We could make restraining systems like they had at Auckland.” Tom grinned at the picture of Cavit wearing the ankle restraint with its flashing lights. “If they go into a restricted area, it shocks them and alerts security.”
“We need to come up with something. I don’t want to spend 75 years sleeping with one eye open.”
“Maybe when we catch up to them, they’ll have seen the error of their ways and be happy we’re back.”
“You just want to pound Cavit into seeing ‘the errors of his ways’, Chakotay.” B'Elanna laughed.
“Harry, find us an uninhabited planet. Neelix, you and Kes get whoever or whatever you need to help out so we can get hydroponics off to a good start. Tom,” Kathryn let the smile loose. “Work on that idea for me.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
“Dismissed.”
Chakotay waited until the others filed out. “We may have a morale problem on our hands.”
“Already?”
“Now that the excitement of our escape has worn off, some of the crew is getting depressed.”
“That’s only natural to have that low after something that dramatic.” Kathryn rubbed her temples trying to ease the pounding in her head.
“The general consensus is that because we’re at least two months behind Voyager and she’s faster, that we’ll never catch her.” He moved behind her to rub her shoulders. “Someone did the math and figured out we’ve added another 15 years to our journey.”
“Did they take into account that Voyager may be moving at impulse not warp? And that we have starcharts and they don’t?”
“No, I didn’t know if you considered that general knowledge.”
“Why not?” Kathryn rolled her head forward as the knots loosened under his gentle touch. “Let them know Cavit’s not cruising along at warp 9.”
“I’ll make sure that gets around.” He kissed the back of her neck.
“Don’t do that…”
“Why not?” Kisses laid a trail along her skin. “We’re alone.”
“Because I can’t stop at kissing.”
“I don’t have a problem with that.” He nipped at her earlobe.
“With our luck, Tuvok would come in and catch us. I really don’t want to explain why we’re rolling around on the floor naked.”
“Who said anything about getting naked?” He blew across the back of her neck causing her to shiver. “I’ll just jerk your pants down and bend you over the table.” His teeth sank gently into the nape of her neck. “And fuck your brains out.”
“Lock the door first.” She tipped her head back to kiss him.
“Captain!” Harry burst through the door barely giving it enough time to open. “Captain, we found a wormhole!”
“Where?” Kathryn got to her feet. Maybe they wouldn’t need to find Voyager to get home.
“In the database! We’ve been digging though the starcharts in the ships computers and it shows a wormhole leading to the Gamma Quadrant!”
“Calm down and show us what you found.” Her voice was calm, but her fingernails were digging into her palms.
“I was comparing the charts Tom got with the ones in the ships computers.” He brought up a display. “And I found this.”
Kathryn and Chakotay studied the display. Very clearly marked was a wormhole to the Gamma Quadrant. “Is it stable?”
“Very.” He changed to another display. “Here’s what’s mapped on the other side.”
Planets, nebulas, and other information were neatly labeled on the display. Kathryn felt her knees weaken. “How far away?”
“Well, that’s the downside.” Harry lost some of his enthusiasm. “At our current speed, about 7 or 8 years.”
“Less, if we find Voyager.” Chakotay studied the display. “It doesn’t show the wormhole leading to DS9.”
“The Traben only charted 5,000 light years. If we can add in the charts from the Bajoran wormhole heading into the Gamma Quadrant – “
“They may fit together like puzzle pieces!” Kathryn finished excitedly. “We need Voyager for that.”
“Captain, you realize there’s still a 10 or 15,000 light year gap between the two wormholes?” Chakotay told her.
“That far?” That was 10 or more years. Closer to 15.
“I’ve been on the other side. It’s about 15,000 light years into the Gamma Quadrant. This one drops us 15,000 inside from this direction. There’s a gap.” He patted her shoulder. “It’ll still cut 45,000 light years off our journey. Even if we can’t locate the Bajoran wormhole, it’s 30 years to the Alpha Quadrant instead of 75.”
“That’s at Voyagers speed.” She reminded him.
“True." Chakotay nodded. “But it’s still less than 75 and if we find the other wormhole – that’s another 15 years off our journey.”
“Harry, double check – no triple check this information. Then spread the word around.”
“Yes, Captain!” Harry grinned. “Tom got these charts from Taxil. The guy was a per – sleaze but his information was accurate.” He’d almost said pervert.
“Well, let’s be thankful Tom was lucky enough to meet this particular sleaze, Harry.” She patted his shoulder.
“Yeah.” He shoved down the image of the man stroking Tom’s hair and face. “Tom was real lucky.”
“Hey.”
Tom looked up from the PADD he was working on to see B'Elanna leaning against the doorframe. “Hey yourself, gorgeous.”
“You were gone when I woke up this morning.”
“I had work to do. I want to be sure Cavit’s ankle jewelry is done when we catch them.”
“Oh. I just thought…”
“B'Elanna, you don’t have to pretend, it’s okay.” He laid the PADD down.
“Pretend?”
“We’re safe now, you don’t have to hang around. If you want to forget about it, I understand.” He shrugged and smiled.
“You understand? You understand? Well, I don’t! How can you –“ She growled in frustration.
“B'Elanna, honey.” Tom got up from the desk and went to her. Taking her hands in his, he pulled her into his cabin so the door would close. “We were in a situation where you had to be with me. You don’t have to do that anymore.”
“So you’re going to throw me over? Just like that?”
“What?”
“Now that you’ve got another shot at the Delaney twins or Nicoletti – “
“I could care less about them! I just don’t want you to stay with me because you think you have to.”
“I’m not thinking that way, Tom. I want to be with you.”
“Why?” He turned away from the hand she extended to him. “Jesus, I’m the biggest screw up in the universe, don’t you know that? I got lucky this time, that’s all!”
“Why do you keep putting yourself down?”
“I killed people, B'Elanna, three innocent people died because of me!” He clenched his hands into fists. “Because I made a mistake!”
“Everyone makes mistakes!” She’d heard about the accident that killed the other cadets. “And you came forward and told the truth!”
“Oh yeah, sure! After I’d lied and covered it up for months! And you know what B'Elanna? It didn’t make them any less dead! It just eased my conscience! I did it so the fucking nightmares would stop!”
“Tom, everyone makes mistakes. You learn from them and try to do better.” Her heart was breaking as she realized he was trying to slip back into the old Tom Paris’ skin. Shoving everyone away from him and trying to pretend he didn’t need friends. “You’re a good man! If it weren’t for you, we’d still be in that hellhole! What you did – Tom – I don’t think – “
“Is that why you’re here? Pity?” Tom grabbed her upper arms and shook her. “I don’t need your goddamned pity!”
“I love you.” B'Elanna said quietly. “Ask Harry how worried I was about you that night – even before I knew what happened. I love you, Tom.”
“How? How can you?” The anger drained out of him as quickly as it had flared up. “I always screw up, B'Elanna. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You’d rather hurt me by rejecting me?”
“Yes.” The baby blue eyes were bright with unshed tears. “Better now than a few months from now. Better to kill it before it grows.”
“Is that why you haven’t told me you love me?” When he didn’t answer, she shook her head. “Fine, you want to end it? Say one thing for me and I’ll never bother you again. Look me in the eye and say you don’t love me.”
“Don’t ask me to do that.”
“Because you can’t!”
“Because I’m a born liar.” He laughed bitterly. “I could look my mother in the eye and tell her I don’t love her. I’ve got the talent!”
“Then do it! Look me dead in the eye and say ‘B'Elanna, I don’t love you’!”
“If that’s what you want.” He cupped her face in his hands. “B'Elanna, I don’t love you.” The pain in her amber eyes was a spike through his heart, but he didn’t flinch or blink. “You were just a convenient piece of ass. Thanks for the fuck.”
She smiled. “I don’t believe you.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re rubbing your thumbs over those damned ridges.” She laughed as he jerked his hands away. “I’ll take my chances, helm boy. If we don’t make it, well, at least we tried.”
“You’re a glutton for punishment, aren’t’ you?”
“Come’s with the territory.” She put her arms around his neck. “I don’t blame you for being scared. Hell, I’m scared! But I want to try. I love you, Tom. “
“I do too.” Tom pulled her against his body and lowered his lips to hers. “I do love you, baby. I just don’t understand why you love me.”
“Because I’ve met the real Tom Paris and no matter how hard you try to pretend otherwise, he’s a good man.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I am.” She kissed him again. “Now get your stuff, you’re moving. This is too far to schlep from Engineering.”
“Yes, ma’am, Captain Klingon!”
“Everyone be careful.” Chakotay addressed the away teams. “There’s no large predators, but there are some smaller animals that can be dangerous. Stay with your teams.”
As the teams headed for their designated areas, Kathryn handed Chakotay a shovel. “Come on, Neelix has a patch of leola with our names on it.”
“I’m not digging up any of that noxious plant.” A mischievous smile curved his lips. “I have the survey scan and there are plenty of other edible plants on this planet.”
“Any coffee?” She asked hopefully.
“Sorry, no.” He laughed at her crestfallen expression. “There is a plant with high caffeine content that may – “ He waggled a finger at her. “May be a substitute.”
“Let’s go, what are you standing around waiting for?” She pushed him. “Let’s go! There’s coffee in them thar hills!”
“You’re hopeless.” Consulting the PADD he’d loaded the survey information into, he led her toward the area the plant was in.
Tramping through the grass behind him, Kathryn admired the view of his backside in the tight leather pants. “Any chance we can find someplace romantic to be alone for awhile?”
“Why, Captain, whatever are you suggesting?” He flashed a dimpled grin over his shoulder at her.
“I’m not suggesting anything. I’m telling – me and you getting naked.”
“Ah, I see.”
“And you have someplace in mind?”
“Maybe…” Chakotay waited a beat. “Hot springs.”
“Hot springs?” She grabbed his arm. “Where?”
“Just down this hill.” He pointed.
“Oh, Chakotay, you don’t know how bad I want a bath!” Kathryn moaned. “I’ve been dreaming of soaking in hot water…”
“Here I thought you were dreaming of me.”
“Oh I am.” She patted his butt. “You were my towel boy.”
“I forgot the towels.” He shook his head as he started walking down the hill again. “Guess I’ll just have to dry you off with my hands.” Another dimpled grin in her direction. “Or my tongue.”
“How far away is the damn thing?” She caught up to him and pushed at his back to make him walk faster.
“Patience, Kathryn. Ouch!” He jumped as she slapped him on the butt.
Stepping down around an outcropping of rock, they found a series of connecting pools with steam curling up from them. A waterfall poured down from a steep cliff above them, swirling into a stream that flowed past the pools.
“Hot and cold running water!” Kathryn pulled her shirt off. Sitting down, she tugged at her boots.
“Kathryn, wait until I scan it to be sure it’s safe!”
“Trust me, it’s safe!” She threw her pants down and walked to the first pool. “Anything in here tries to keep me from a bath – dies!”
“Somehow, I don’t doubt it.” After making sure there weren’t any Captain eating life forms in the water, Chakotay stripped his clothes off and joined her in the steaming pool. “Oh, Spirits, this is nice…”
“Nice and hot…” Kathryn stood up suddenly. “How hot?”
“What? It’s comfortable. And private.” He pulled her down on his lap. ”Make love to me, Kathryn.”
“How hot? How hot did it read?” Pushing against his chest, she got to her feet again.
“I don’t remember.” He shook his head. “It’s safe enough.”
“Where’s the tricorder?”
Chakotay watched in confusion as she scrambled out of the pool and snatched up the tricorder.
“38.3 degrees, I think that’s safe.” She found her combadge in the jumble of clothing. “Janeway to Kes.”
“Kes here, Captain.”
“Water of 38.3 degrees, is that okay?”
“That’s fine, Captain, just not any hotter. Where did you find hot water?”
“We found a hot springs and a beautiful waterfall, too.”
“Don’t go from the hot water right into the cold. I’m not sure, but I don’t think that would be good for the baby.”
“Thank you, Kes. Janeway out.” Dropping the combadge back on the pile of clothes, she stepped back into the pool with Chakotay.
“Baby?”
“My booster ran out over two months ago.” She studied him. The black velvet eyes were wide and surprised. “Are you angry?”
Chakotay shook his head, unable to speak. His hands slid over her body under the water, curving over her belly. Was it more rounded than before? “How long?”
“How long have I been pregnant? 10 weeks. How long until we have a baby? About 8 months. How long have I known? Since this morning.”
Silently he moved his hands over her, cupping her breasts and weighing the fullness. The nipples were a little darker and the soft mounds did seem a little bigger. “I should have noticed.”
“I barely noticed.” She looked at the big dark hands cupping her breasts. “Are you happy?”
“Happy? No.” He smiled, giving her a dazzling display of dimples. “Overjoyed? Yes!”
“I love you.” Melting into his arms, she pressed her lips to his hungrily.
“I never thought I’d enjoy a bath that much.” Ayala lay with his head in Sue Nicoletti’s lap. “First time I’ve ever seen hot water as a treat.”
“Funny how you don’t miss something until it’s gone.” She combed her fingers through his dark hair.
The away team was lounging around a huge bonfire resting. After a day digging up and transporting plants, the crew had entered the stream and hot springs with the abandon of children. Water fights and dunkings held no respect for rank or dignity. Tuvok had decided retreat was the better part of valor and returned to the landing site with the pretense of checking the security perimeter.
Tom had spent at least an hour scanning the area for a holoprogram and was busy trying to program by firelight.
“I’ve got an idea for getting more water onboard.”
“Tell me.” Kathryn’s ears perked up.
“Well, it may sound… odd.” Chakotay unconsciously tugged at his ear. “We take ice with us.”
“Ice?” She frowned. No hot bath there.
“We’ve filled every water tank onboard, but there’s the danger of running low before we find another planet with fresh water. We can store blocks of ice – “
“And use them to replenish the water supply!” B'Elanna said excitedly. “Chakotay, that’s brilliant!”
“The cargo bays have temperature controls, so we can keep them frozen until we need them.” Chakotay smiled at the enthusiasm for an idea that seemed slightly off the wall. “We’ve also got plenty of areas that are shut down to conserve energy, no reason we can’t use them to store ice as well.”
“We’ll have to cut it in blocks and transport it.” Tom’s eyes lit up at the thought of extra flight time.
“We’ll have to set up a system for melting it down…” B'Elanna grabbed Tom’s PADD.
“Hey! Save my program!”
Soon they were planning the removal of blocks of ice from the planet’s polar ice caps for storage on the Liberator.
“Good idea.” Kathryn snuggled back into Chakotay’s arms.
“Just good survival planning.” He hoped she wouldn’t remember his survival skills didn’t include fire building.
“So you weren’t trying to keep the Captain happy?”
“Like I said, survival planning.” He grunted as she elbowed him in the ribs.
“Captain!” Harry’s voice rang out across the bridge. “I have her!”
“Where?” Kathryn bolted up from the Captain’s chair.
“There’s a class 5 nebula bearing mark 5.2 to starboard.” He adjusted his sensors. “It’s a Federation signal, but very weak. We almost missed it.”
“Are they hiding in there?” Chakotay peered over Sam’s shoulder at the science station. “The nebula’s making it hard to get a good scan.”
“It’s Voyager’s signature in the signal.” Harry grinned in triumph. After two months of traveling, they’d finally caught up to their stolen ship.
“Red alert, Tuvok.” The bridge lights dimmed and reddish pulses beat in time with her heart. “Take us in, Tom.”
“Cloaking circuits are functioning, Captain.” Tuvok glanced up. “Voyager has not detected us.”
“They seem to be stationary.” Harry silently cursed the Liberator’s less sophisticated sensors. “They could be waiting for us.”
“Well, let’s make it a short wait.” A grim smile crossed her face.
“Captain.” Harry looked up from his board. “Warp core is offline and I’m not picking up impulse engines either.”
“Captain, there’s no life signs.”
Kathryn turned to look at Sam. “None? Could they be masking them somehow?”
“I don’t think so. I’m reading no life support and environmental controls appear to be offline.”
Dead in the water. The phrase came to Kathryn as she looked up to meet Chakotay’s gaze. “Bring us closer, Tom.”
“Captain, the nebula is interfering with the cloaking circuits.” Tuvok reported.
“Shut them down, there may not be anyone to see us anyway.” Chakotay ordered.
“Captain! We’re being hailed!” Harry called out.
Chakotay smiled. “So much for nobody being home. “
“Main screen, Harry.” Hands on her hips, she raised her jaw up a notch. “Voyager, this is – “ Her mouth fell open as an image appeared on the screen.
“This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager.” There she stood in red and black with her hair neatly pinned up. “You are disrupting a delicate scientific mission and I ask that you withdraw immediately.”
Kathryn turned to look at Harry. He shrugged. She turned back to the screen. “This is Captain Kathryn Jane –“
“If you do not withdraw, we will be forced to assume your intentions are hostile.”
“Captain, it’s an automated message.”
“I assumed that, Harry.” She said dryly. “Back us off, Tom.”
“Thank you for your understanding.” The onscreen Captain Janeway smiled and said before the image disappeared.
“Bring us back in slowly.” Kathryn patted Tom on the shoulder. “Let’s see what I have to say this time.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He chuckled softly.
“This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. You are disrupting a delicate scientific mission and I ask that you withdraw immediately.”
“Automated indeed.” She motioned to Tuvok. “Get a tractor beam on Voyager and pull her out of there. Let’s see what I have to say about that.”
“If you do not withdraw, we will be forced to assume your intentions are hostile.”
“Start assuming, honey.” Kathryn touched her own hair self consciously. Compared to her perfectly coifed onscreen counterpart, she must look like a ragamuffin. Feeling a tug on her braid, she turned to see Chakotay standing beside her.
“Don’t even think it.” The dark eyes glimmered with amusement. “I like it this way.”
“If you do not withdraw immediately. I will be forced to open fire.” The faux Janeway said sternly.
“I’m not detecting weapons of any kind.” Tuvok reported.
“We have powerful weapons from the Alpha Quadrant.”
Her hands were planted on her hips and her chin was set resolutely. “The
Photonic Cannon will destroy your ship.”
“Photonic Cannon?” The bridge crew chorused. Tuvok raised an eyebrow.
“Still no life signs, Captain.” Sam told her.
“Cut the signal, Harry. Tuvok assemble a boarding team.” Kathryn patted Tom’s shoulder again. “Back us out of here, Tom.”
As they pulled out of the nebula with Voyager in tow, Tuvok instructed a security team to meet him in shuttle bay 2.
Kathryn turned to go with Tuvok, but Chakotay stopped her with a hand on her arm. “It’s too dangerous.”
“She’s my ship.”
“I know.” He didn’t take his hand off her arm.
Damn him! “Be careful, Chakotay.”
“I will I – “
“Oh my God!”
They turned at Tom’s outburst. Voyager had cleared the nebula and was clearly visible now. Not a single viewport was lit and her running lights were dark. Her hull was marked with battle scars and there were gaping holes in several places.
Kathryn gasped and felt Chakotay’s arm slide around her waist to support her as her knees buckled. For a moment, she allowed herself to lean on him before pulling her self back up. “Mr. Paris, I want you to pilot the shuttle.”
“Yes, ma’am.” His blue eyes were huge in his pale face. As he walked past, he touched her arm lightly and a look of understanding passed between them. Voyager was as much his ship as hers.