by K.N. Senko

Disclaimer:  Paramount and Viacom own Star Trek (oh the pain, the pain):  they would never inflict this kind of pain on Captain Janeway and her crew.
 
 
 
Back to Day 8
 
 
 
Day Eight Old Version

Kathryn's eyes opened at the break of dawn.  She wasn't certain what had woken her, until she heard the sound of footsteps outside.  She went and opened the door, and saw Chakotay already a few shacks away, walking toward his own temporary residence, hair mussed, blanket under his arm.

"Commander Chakotay chose to sleep on the floor."  Kathryn turned to find Seven standing at the foot of her bed, hands behind her back.

"I fell asleep at the mess hall."

"Correct."

"How is he?"

"I did not speak to him:  why?"

"We had an argument."

"It was not the first," Seven's tone suggested that she was angry.  She sat down on her bed.  Kathryn closed the door and stepped further into the room:

"I'm sorry, Seven.  I guess that I'm not very good at this," she sat down on her own bed.  Seven's expression seemed to soften:

"I am sorry as well Captain.  I have been worried about both of you."

"Worried?"

"You and Commander Chakotay are the closest thing that I have to parents," Seven began, "and though I do not see you in the same light as my own, nor expect you to reciprocate my sentiments, I have used both of you as the template for my own beliefs.  You have both sacrificed much for this crew and have helped us all to become a family."

A tear ran down Kathryn's cheek.  Seven continued:  "However, Torres and Paris seem to have many arguments:  my observations have revealed that their love does not subside, nor does their relationship seem to suffer.  I believe that you and Commander Chakotay will eventually find a similar relationship."

"I hope so, Seven.  I hope so."
 
 
 

Chakotay got his food, then pushed through the aisles, trying to find a place to sit down.  That's when he saw Kathryn.  She was standing between B'Elanna and Neelix, who was holding the baby blanket that Kathryn had been working on.  It looked like she had finished it.

"Chakotay!  Come sit over here!"  Tom waved from his seat next to where the trio was standing.  Chakotay sighed and trudged over.

"The workmanship is exquisite, Captain!" Neelix raved. "I don't know if I'd go that far, Neelix," she smiled modestly.

"Look at this, Chakotay, isn't it so cute?" B'Elanna held up a little sweater.  It had been knit from the same yarn as the blanket.

He set down his tray, then took the tiny piece of clothing.  The yarn was so soft in his rough hands, hardened by the work he had been doing in the fields.  Suddenly he realized that his hands were still dark with the soil he had been working with, and he gave the garment to Kathryn:

"I'm sorry:  I didn't mean to get it dirty."

"It's alright, Chakotay," Kathryn answered.  "It will wash out."  She sat down next to him as he took his seat.  He found this a bit disconcerting:  he hadn't seen her since he had left her cabin that morning, and he hadn't known what to expect from her.  She seemed to be acting as if nothing had happened.

They ate in silence.  Chakotay tried to ignore the couple who sat across from him.  B'Elanna and Tom were flirting horribly, offering each other a bite off their own plate every couple of minutes.  It was a bit sickening.

Kathryn's arm seemed to have found its way around his waist, and he looked at her in surprise.  She had already removed it and was carrying on a conversation with Seven.

"...at tonight's briefing." she finished.  Seven nodded:

"I will be ready, Captain."

"And Commander," Kathryn turned to him as if nothing had happened, "Make sure the crew gets a good night's sleep tonight.  Everyone's going to have their work cut out for them tomorrow night."

"Understood," he managed without any surprise or wonder seeping into his voice.  Kathryn turned away again, and contemplated what had just happened, wondering what all of this was about.
 
 
 

Somehow, his hand found its way into his pocket instead of the sack that was slung over his shoulder this time.  He stopped and pulled the weed out, put it into the bag, but put his hand into his pocket again:  he thought that he had felt something...

Chakotay pulled out a little blue bootie, knit in the same pattern as the sweater had been.  How had that gotten in there?  Suddenly it dawned on him:  Kathryn.  He examined the delicate construction.  They were so small:  and to think that his child's foot would fit inside.

Suddenly, something caught his eye:  it looked like there was a piece of paper tucked inside.  Chakotay pulled the paper out, and discovered that someone had written on it.  He read the cursive that had been neatly written out with controlled loops and arches.

Dearest Chakotay,
I'm sorry that I hurt you last night.  Please forgive me.  I hope that we can discuss things soon.  I'm sorry that you didn't sleep well last night.  Thank you for the massage and for keeping me safe at your own back's expense.
shmily,
Kathryn

Suddenly, he heard a noise overhead and there was a shadow overhead.  He looked up, shielding his eyes.  It was a shuttle, one of the ones that had brought the crew to the camp.  Chakotay wondered where they were going.  He put it out of his mind and began to pull weeds again.

Then the bell started to ring.  Chakotay stood up and brushed his knees off.  Time for dinner.
 
 
 

"Captain."  She turned to see Chakotay grabbing a tray and stepping into line beside her.

"Commander," she replied back.  Such a formal greeting:  she wondered if he had gotten the note.  Oh well:  he would find it eventually.  That or he had lost it and she had just wasted hours worth of work.

"How are you, tonight?" Chakotay continued.

"A bit tired, but fine otherwise.  And you?"

"Exhausted.  Looking forward to sleeping in my bed again."  Kathryn paused, not knowing what to say.  She knew that the truth was that Chakotay would rather be sharing a bed with her, but she still wasn't ready to make that step.

"Tomorrow night, hopefully," she finally managed.

"Tomorrow..." he nodded in agreement, but he seemed quiet:  contemplative.  Like he wanted to talk to her about something but didn't know how to start.

Kathryn turned and led the way to the nearest empty table.  They found one with surprisingly little difficulty and sat down next to each other.  As soon as they were settled, Chakotay cleared his throat:  "I was wondering..."

"I'm famished," B'Elanna interrupted him as she set her tray down and seated herself.  "I didn't even do any work:  I can't imagine how you must feel, Chakotay."

"Pretty hungry," he admitted soberly.  He took a bite before she could try and get more of a conversation out of him.  Kathryn wondered what he had been about to ask her.  It looked like their conversation would have to wait until later.
 
 
 

"Seven," Kathryn began.  "I believe that you were going to begin our briefing tonight."  Seven nodded and began.

"I have translated most of the tricorder's data," Seven reported.  "I believe that we can effectively destroy the camp's forcefield network by causing a power overload in several key systems.

"After that we will be able to leave the compound with little difficulty.  The distraction caused by the shield's failure should be adequate to throw the guard off enough to allow a team to disable enough individuals for capture of the shuttles and escape."

"I believe that two teams would be sufficient to capture the shuttles," Tuvok interjected.  "Commander Chakotay and I will be in the first:  Lieutenant Paris and Ensign Kim, the second.  I will be able to incapacitate several guards until we have enough weapons for key personnel."

"Where is Voyager right now?" Chakotay asked.

"She's in orbit of this planet's largest moon," Paris answered.  "It shouldn't be too hard to get us there after we leave the surface."

"We should begin moving into position at least thirty minutes prior to that," B'Elanna remarked.  "That will give us enough time to move into position, disable their key defense systems, and escape."

"What about Voyager's defense systems?" Janeway asked.

"We should be able to repel any further abductions by slightly modifying Voyager's shield frequency," Tuvok replied.  "I will be able to make the adjustments in under two minutes.  However, their weapons will still be of significant enough effect that we may sustain some damage."

"Does Voyager appear to have been damaged so far?"

"Everything appears to be fully in tact," B'Elanna answered.  "There's no hull damage, and the warp core is online.  The impulse engines and thruster generators are also functioning."

"Transporters, forcefields, turbolifts, and life support are all operational..."  Kim reported, then paused.

"What about the holodecks?" asked Neelix.  Chakotay looked up, startled: he hadn't thought of that.

"Most of the holographic systems appear to have been taken offline," Harry answered.

"So the Doctor might not be operational," Chakotay finished.

"Yes."

"Do you know how long it would take to bring him back online?" Janeway asked.  Harry shook his head:

"The holo-emitters are offline and have been powered down.  I'd say we're looking at at least five hours work, maybe more."  No Doctor.  Chakotay sensed Kathryn's silent sigh, but she moved on:

"Alright, we'll prepare for departure at 2200 hours.  That means I want B'Elanna and Seven in position by 2130.  Take Vorik with you."

"Understood," B'Elanna answered.

"Yes, Captain," Seven replied.

"Tom and Harry, once our team has disabled the guards, I want you to get inside and begin powering up the shuttles."

"Okay."

"Yes, Captain."

Chakotay had been startled by Kathryn's words:

"Our team?" he asked.

"Yes:  I'll be in your group."

"Captain, are you sure that is wise?" Seven asked.

"I sincerely doubt that the guards are going to shoot me, Seven."

"Excuse me, Captain..."  Chakotay was suddenly aware of the young woman that was standing at the end of the table.  She was a starfleet member of Voyager's crew, and he didn't know her.  "I'm sorry to interrupt, but there's something I thought you might like to know."

"What is it, Celes?" Kathryn asked gently.  Celes:  that was the name of the young woman who had gone on Kathryn's "lost sheep" mission aboard the Delta Flyer.

"It's the shuttles," the young woman swallowed nervously:  "they're all leaving."

"What?" asked Neelix.

"All but one of the shuttles have left the camp," Celes confirmed.

"I was afraid of that," Harry stated:  "when I saw those two this afternoon..."

"There's nothing we can do about it now, Ensign," Kathryn stated quietly.  Chakotay wondered how she stayed so calm:  she seemed to have been emotionally distraught in regard to plenty of other subjects in the past week.

"With only one shuttle there's no way that the entire crew is going to be able to get off the surface," Tom commented.

"An interesting observation, Lieutenant," Tuvok remarked.  "That is most likely the very reason that the shuttles have been removed."

"The shuttles can't hold more than twenty people at once, Captain," Chakotay commented.  "Maybe twenty-five, but I doubt it."

"Then we're going to have to find another way off the planet," Kathryn stated.  "Thank you, Celes:  you're dismissed."  The bajoran nodded and turned to go.  Kathryn continued:  "Harry, you said that Voyager's transporters are operational."

"Yes, ma'am:  they are."

"Alright:  we're having a slight change of plans," Kathryn leaned forward:  "Neelix, when B'Elanna and Seven disable the shield, you will lead the crew out of camp and towards the mines.  You can hide there until Voyager gets back.  Inform the crew tonight and make sure that everyone is ready to go."

"Understood, Captain," Neelix nodded.

"We are going to retake Voyager and then come back to beam up the crew. Nothing changes except what I just discussed, understood?"  The crew all said they did.  "Dismissed."

Chakotay remained seated, fully intending to talk to Kathryn after everyone else left, when Kathryn stood and turned to leave.

"Commander, could you help me?"

"What is it, Neelix?" Chakotay asked the talaxian.

"Well, I was wondering if you were free:  I have to inform over a hundred people about tomorrow night, and if I'm going to go to bed early..."  He glanced toward Kathryn again, but she was leaving the building.

"Sure, Neelix:  I'd be glad to help."
 
 
 

Now she was wondering why Chakotay had been so quick to leave.  He must not have gotten her note.  It had been such a hectic night.  She was exhausted, but she still wanted to see him before she went to bed. As she passed Tuvok and Neelix's cabin, she noticed that Tuvok and Chakotay were engaged in a conversation.  She approached them just as they finished their conversation.

"Captain," Tuvok was the first to see her.

"Good evening, Tuvok:  Chakotay.  I was on the way to my cabin, but I was wondering if there was anything that we needed to discuss before tomorrow night."

"I don't believe so, Captain," Tuvok stated. "Actually, Captain, I do."

"You want to know why I decided to join your team," Kathryn finished for him.  Chakotay tugged on his ear, looking a little guilty.  Tuvok remained expressionless.  Kathryn paused, searching for a way to put what she was feeling into words:  "I feel like I need to be on this mission, Chakotay.  I am going to be in danger no matter where I am, and I would rather be useful than wondering how things are going, wondering whether or not my crew made it.

"As Captain, I owe that to my crew:  if either of you were to be captured, I would want to be there so that I could plead for your lives, even if it meant giving my own.  If I were to be captured, I want to know the two best friends I have in the universe are going to be there to rescue me.  I know that there are dangers, but I don't really care:  I'm going to go out there, and I'm going to fight, and no one is going to stop me.  Do you understand?"

Janeway stared who stood before her.  Chakotay was clearly startled.  Tuvok raised an eyebrow: "Yes, Captain," he replied.  "I believe that you made your intentions quite clear."  Kathryn looked away:

"I'm sorry," she said softly.  "I think that I'll go to bed now.  Good night."  Tuvok nodded his agreement, and she could feel Chakotay's eyes follow her as she turned to leave.  It had been a long week.
 
 
 
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