Horizon

August 2430

 

"Get back here!"

"No way!"

"Coward!"

"Never!"

"If I catch you I'm gonna skin you alive!"

"Hey! What's going on here?"

"Aw, Aunt Kathryn, let me go!" cried Kennad Paris. He struggled against the hold of Kathryn Janeway, who showed no intention of letting go. Nanine Kadi reached the fence and turned to stick her tongue out.

"Now someone explain what's going on," Kathryn said firmly. Kenn glared at Nanine, who still hung onto the fence posts, ready to run at a moment's notice. Kenn's Klingon ancestry had all but disappeared from his physical features, but remained evident in his young temper.

"Ask Nanine. It's her fault," Kenn said stubbornly. He struggled again, but couldn't loose himself from the holograms grip. Kathryn may have hit 100 not long ago, but no one could tell.

"Someone better tell me, or I'm going to have to interrupt your mothers' dinner to tell them that you two are getting into trouble again."

"Kenn started it!" Nanine shouted back.

"I don't care who started it. I'm tired of having to chase after you every time I have to baby-sit you two."

"Then you should get Aunt Seven to do it," Kenn muttered. Kathryn gave him a sharp poke in the ribs.

"You leave her out of this."

"Leave me out of what? Why do I miss all the fun?" Seven stomped out of the front door and down the porch, broom in hand.

"Your favorite little relatives are acting up again."

"Ratting for Jennifer and Torres again?"

"You couldn't tell by the noise?" Kathryn smirked, and pinned the younger boy's arms behind his back. "I swear I think we should just let them duke it out sometime."

"Let me, Aunt Kath!" Kenn said. Kathryn shook her head and sighed.

"Don't let him go! He'll hurt me!" Nanine protested. Seven made it up next to Kathryn and Kenn.

"So how'd you catch him?"

"I'm not slow," Kathryn said with a smirk. Seven gave a little laugh.

"Neither am I, grandma," she said. Kathryn quirked a brow.

"That's great-grandma to you."

"Oh yes, dear."

"Hey, are you two gonna smooch or something? 'Cause if you are can you let me go first?" Kenn called up. Kathryn shook her head at him.

"You still haven't told me what's up between you two."

"I don't see why we have to play together," Kenn said. "Why can't I play with Davis or Peter?"

"Or Janet? Or Adie?" Nanine said mockingly.

"Shut up!"

"Why do you have to play with all the little boys, Kennad?"

"Because everyone else is a girl." Kenn wiggled a bit and fell silent.

"And because your parents are weird," Seven said.

"Don't let Jeremy hear that," Kathryn laughed.

"He couldn't touch me," Seven snorted and tossed her hair a bit. She stomped the ground with the broom for emphasis.

"I'm sure he couldn't, but he could probably call B'Elanna's ghost up from the dead."

"Ooh, quit trying to scare me."

"Alright I'll talk!" Kenn shouted, obviously annoyed by being left out of the conversation. "Just let me go!" Kathryn loosed her grip a bit and leaned into his face.

"Talk. Quick too because I haven't eaten my dinner yet and I'm liable to use you as an appetizer."

Kenn blanched a bit, but then pointed out: "You don't eat real food."

"No one said I couldn't start."

He considered this. "Make Nanine come over here."

"No way!" she shouted back.

"Nanine get you butt over here, right now!" Seven yelled at the girl. With a grumble she climbed down and stomped across the field. She stopped a few feet away.

"We were in the barn," Kenn said.

"Yeah," Nanine agreed.

"Why were you in the barn?"

"Looking at Bersy."

"You mean Percy?" Kathryn tilted her head.

"Yeah, one of the horses," Kenn said.

"My horse," Seven said pointedly.

"You never ride it," Nanine said.

"Anyhow, why were you looking at Percy?" Kathryn urged the conversation back on track.

"Because she's pretty," Nanine said softly.

"She's also very old," Seven said. She and Kathryn exchanged a glance. "I've had her since 2421."

"But that's only 9 years," Kenn said. "And I'm 8. That's not that old."

"It's getting old for a horse."

"How old are you, Aunt Kathryn?" Nanine asked sweetly. Kathryn pursed her lips.

"Too old for you to worry about. Now," she reeled Kenn back in as he tried to slip off. "What happened that you two had to go raise the dead about it?"

"Kennad wanted to pull Bersy's tail!" Nanine cried, shifting on her feet.

"I did not!"

"Kennad!" Seven looked at him in annoyance.

"I just wanted to see what it felt like," Kenn said in defense.

"And I said that he shouldn't do it," Nanine said. "And he said he was gonna anyways, and I said I'd tell!"

"She's a tattletale!" Kenn cried.

"And so he started chasing me, but Aunt Kathryn caught him so I got away!" she clapped her hands with sudden delight and giggled. "I got away!"

"Wait till your mother hears about this," Kathryn said, looking down at Kenn. He pouted.

"Being a boy stinks."



 

"Being old stinks."

"Oh, come now Jeremy, it's not that bad."

"You aren't 55, now are you?" the chief engineer looked at the Captain in distress.

"I'm almost that old!" Marija shot back. "You need to stop this pouting."

"I'm grown up. I can pout if I want to." To prove his point Jeremy Paris stuck his lower lip out as far as it would go.

"A blackbird's going to land on that sucker," Marija sighed.

"What did I tell you, Captain?" Rhea shook her head. "He's hopeless."

"Do I have to put someone else in charge of Engineering?" Marija glared lightly.

"No," he muttered.

"And what's going to happen when you turn 60?" Marija said.

"Please don't take us that far ahead now," Rhea pressed a hand to her forehead.

"Jeremy, it has been two weeks since your birthday. Now I didn't want to do this, but I'm ordering you to report for duty. If you don't I'm putting your daughter in charge as the new Chief of Engineering."

"Geneva?" he sat up quickly. "But she doesn't know anything about Engineering."

"She meant Torres, you nitwit," Rhea tugged on his arm.

"Well, that wouldn't be so bad," Jeremy said thoughtfully.

"Jeremy!" his wife punched him in the arm.

"I want to resign, Captain," he looked at Marija.

"Oh, no you don't," she put her hands on her hips. "You're too young to have nothing to do all day. And I'm not sending you to the holodeck. You'd drive my parents crazy."

"They aren't already?"

Marija Janeway squinted. "You're pushing your luck." She put her hands down. "And besides, Torres doesn't have the training for the position yet."

"Well no better time that the present for her to finish," Jeremy said. Marija leaned into his face.

"Listen, Commander," she said evenly. "You will retire when Voyager reaches Earth. Then, and only then." She stood back up.

"Great, I'm going to die sitting in front of the warp core," Jeremy threw his hands up.

"Oh, then at least you'll be having fun," Rhea patted him on the shoulder and smiled. Marija laughed.

Then the alarms went off.

"What the hell?" Marija had started for the door of the Paris's quarters before the second wave of klaxons started.

"Captain, that's the blue-red alert," Rhea said, her voice wobbling slightly.

"I know."

"Bridge to the Captain," Denise Janeway's voice came through her commbadge. She was the wife of Jason Janeway.

"Report, Lieutenant," Marija said, crossing into the hallway.

"Please report to the Bridge immediately," Denise said.

"On my way."



 

The alert lights glowed red and then blue, and then back to red as Marija stepped off the turbolift and onto the Bridge. It seemed a bit more full than normal, with both sets of senior staff being present. Both sets minus the elder Paris's, of course. Marija moved to in front of her seat.

"Report," she barked. "And shut those damned lights off, we get the point by now." There was a nervous giggle from the conn.

"Yes sir."

"Captain, we're picking up a ship of Federation origin approximately two light years from here," Lt. Janeway said from her station at Ops. The senior beta officer nodded in agreement. "No, wait."

"What?" Marija turned without sitting.

"It's not a ship," Denise said. "It's stationary." After another moment. "It's a space station."

"This far out?" Commander Chakotay whispered wonderingly.

"It's possible that after so many years they've begun to venture out more," Marija said softly to her first officer.

"True. But why would they set up a post ten years away from Earth?"

"No idea," she admitted.

"I suppose we'll just have to ask."

Marija Janeway smiled as the alerts finally quieted. "I suppose so. Ensign, take us into an intercept course. Begin waiting for hails."

"Aye, Captain."



 

Five hours passed. Many of the older senior staff, the Senior Alpha crew, departed to do things elsewhere on the ship, while the Beta crew remained put. Marija sat in her captain's seat, both lazy and tense at the same time. Finally she launched herself from her seat and started for the exit.

"I'm going to get something to drink," she announced, and left without even handing command of the Bridge over to Michael. Not that it was necessary.

Marija made her way down to Holodeck One, which was in a buzz, considering the early hour of the afternoon. Word of the Federation station had spread through the ship within the first twenty minutes of its being found. She couldn't blame them for their excitement. She was feeling oddly bouncy herself.

"Hi Moma, hi Mama," Marija smiled and joined Kathryn, Seven, and Tuvok on the porch after getting a glass of lemonade from the pitcher in the kitchen. They were playing checkers. Or at least Seven and Kathryn were, with Tuvok stiffly giving Seven hints.

"Hi dear," Kathryn said as she watched Seven move.

"Hello Marija," Tuvok said evenly.

"Isn't there something about ritual Vulcan suicide?" Kathryn muttered as she kinged another of Seven's pieces.

"Not when it pertains to checkers," the old Vulcan said. "And besides, you won't let me do it."

"Of course not," Kathryn smiled, but offered no reasoning as to why not.

"So what's the latest on that station?" Seven asked as Kathryn moved.

"We're still getting closer, but they haven't contacted us yet," Marija said.

"Have you detected life forms on board?" Tuvok asked. She nodded.

"Yes, 23 so far. So whoever is there either doesn't see us or is ignoring us."

"They don't really know that they should be looking for us," Seven pointed out.

"I know. Wishful thinking I guess. We started sending out beacons half an hour ago, we'll see what results that gets us."

Seven moved. "Will you tell them about us?" A simple question, but one that made Marija pause.

"I don't know. I'm not sure if it's a good idea."

Kathryn moved. "Why not?"

"Don't you think they'll treat you like a new science experiment or something?" Marija leaned on her elbow. Kathryn turned a checker in her fingers thoughtfully.

"I hadn't thought of that. Before it hadn't seemed so pressing a matter."

"I suppose it hasn't been," Marija said slowly. "But how hard can it be to have everyone not mention you guys around any officials?"

"For ten years? With 249 people on board? And how many loose jawed little kids?" Kathryn looked doubtful. "I don't see why not."

"What a vote of confidence." Marija sighed. "I'll see what I can do."

"King me," Kathryn said.

"I thought I jumped that piece," Seven said.

"No, that's your piece."

"I was red."

"No, I was." They exchanged a look. "Tuvok?"

"What?" he blinked.

"Who was the red pieces?"

"I don't remember," he admitted. They all sighed, and Marija set her glass down.

"It'll be interesting to see who's memory goes first."

"I hope we're not like the computer, with limited memory," Kathryn said suddenly, and then laughed.

"I don't know, " Seven said. "I think you need a tune up."

"I'm not a shuttlecraft."

"You run like one."

"Shut up!"

"Bridge to the Captain-"

"Thank you Lieutenant, I'm on my way," Marija used the moment to slip out of the argument unnoticed.

"Yes ma'am."

Marija left the holodeck, which was noted only by Tuvok and a few other sitting on the porch. Kathryn and Seven's argument had returned to the checker game.

"I think you cheated."

"I did not!" Kathryn crossed her arms. "Why would I have to cheat?"

"Because I was beating you," Seven said.

"No you weren't."

"I beg to differ," Seven pointed down at the board. "I had four of your checkers, and three of mine were kings."

"So?"

"So I was beating you."

"You two sound like some old hens,' Tuvok piped up.

"You're one to talk," Kathryn muttered.

"I could just shut up and die," he said evenly. The women sighed.

"I'm sorry, Tuvok. Just leave the henning to the hens."

"Then what should I do?"

"Meditate," Kathryn turned back to Seven. "I didn't cheat."

"Did too."



 

"Thank you for calling me," Marija smiled to Lt. Janeway as she came back to the Bridge.

"Uh, you're welcome, Captain," Denise said. "But you said to let you know as soon as we hear from the station."

"They've hailed?" Marija stood in front of the command chair, and looked to Commander Chakotay.

"Yes, about two minutes ago," Lt. Janeway said. "They're? on hold."

"On hold?" she balked. "The first words from Starfleet in over 50 years and you put them on hold?" Marija glared at Michael.

"They wanted to talk to the Captain," he said simply. Marija sighed, rubbing her nose and then nodding back at the Lieutenant at the Ops console.

"Then let them know I'm here."

"Aye, Captain."

A moment passed, and then the announcement, "They're returning our hail. The carrier wave that they're using is at a slightly different frequency than ours, but I'm compensating."

"Good. On-screen." Marija crossed her arms as the image of a man in his late sixties appeared onscreen.

"This Captain Victor Admerline, of the deep space station Delta Five. Please identify yourself."

"I am Captain Marija Janeway, of the starship Voyager. Thank you for answering our hails."

"It is our duty," Admerline said. He smiled thinly. "Marija Janeway? daughter of the original?"

"Yes, sir, I am," Marija nodded. "I'm afraid she passed on some time ago, though, so you won't be able to speak with her personally."

"I'm sorry to hear about that," he said. "It certainly is a pleasure to be speaking with you. Pardon me for phrasing it this way, but where have you been all these years?"



 

"And so we've finally made it this far," Marija Janeway concluded.

"Incredible," Admerline pressed his hands on the conference table. "I was just a little boy when Voyager disappeared. Only about eight. I never imagined that I been the first one to see this ship return."

"It has been a long journey," she consented with a smile. "But as I've said, we've held together."

"Well you can certainly attest to that," said Admerline. "I would think you're itching to see Earth sometime soon?"

"There's a first time for everything. I'll admit that I was surprised to find a station this far away from Earth. Why, it must be almost a ten year journey from here."

"The way the crow flies, yes," he said. "But it's only five years for us."

"Five years?" Marija said in surprise. "Has warp technology progressed that far?"

"Not exactly," Admerline said. "About twenty years ago the technology to create an artificial wormhole was perfected, and we created what's been called the 'Delta Hole'."

"'Delta Hole'," she repeated slowly. "How does it work?"

"It's just like a regular wormhole, if there is such a thing," he said. "It connects this area with space to an area about five years deeper into the Alpha Quadrant."

"Amazing," Marija said. "It does explain why you're so far out though."

"Well enough," he agreed. "Since this ship has been gone little has happened, to tell the truth. We had a war, but that ended within a few years. To tell the truth, you've arrived in a rather dull time for the Federation."

"Well I hope that we don't cause too much of a stir," Marija sighed.

"Don't worry, you will." They laughed. The door to the conference room chirped.

"Come in," Marija called. Michela Chakotay passed through the doors, but immediately stopped when she realized that the Captain wasn't alone.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she apologized, "I didn't know you were busy."

"It's alright," Marija smiled. "Is there something you need?"

Michela rubbed her thumbs together. She was James Chakotay's wife--they'd only been married a few months before, and Michela wasn't even 20 yet.

"It can wait," she said finally. "It was just about the new crew schedules."

"Alright. You can bring it up at the open council tomorrow afternoon."

Michela nodded and exited quickly.

"Who was that?" Admerline, who'd remained quiet during the exchange, asked.

"My niece in law."

"Who?" he looked puzzled.

"The wife of the son of my half sister," Marija said slowly.

"Oh. I see," he nodded.

"So," Marija tapped the tabletop with her palms. "What's the travel plans for here to Earth?"

"Well, I myself won't be making the journey," Admerline said. "Since I'm the commander of Delta Five."

"That's understandable," Marija smiled.

"You'll be escorted back by the USS Jaymes, which was going to leave in a few weeks anyway. But I'm sure that Captain Davis won't mind leaving early. I think he's been wanting to see how his grandchildren are growing up."

She nodded. "Having a few of my own, I think I can share that feeling." Admerline chuckled.

"Yes, I have two granddaughters, and last time I saw them they were in the little monster stage." Another laugh. He scratched his chin. "The Jaymes is departing the day after next now, I believe. You'll stop at the Delta Four station before crossing over."

"The Delta Four?"

"Yes, it's stationed at the wormhole. For security reasons mostly."

She tilted her head. "I thought you said we'd arrived at a boring time period."

"Well, yes," Admerline said slowly. "But we can never be sure when things will quit being boring."

"Mm, yes. That's very true."

"It will take a little under two months to reach the Delta Four station. They'll check your ship to make sure it will make it through the Hole alright."

"Why wouldn't it?" Marija seemed to bristle at a possible insult to her ship.

"They check every ship that passes through, Captain," Admerline shrugged. Her shoulders unclenched some."

"What type of check is it?"

"The hull and shield strengths are inspected, and the warp core is inspected."

"Then we're going to be there awhile," Marija said as she rubbed a hand over her mouth.

"What?"

"Well, in our time we've had to make a few.. modifications to keep the warp core going. Things haven't always been smooth sailing."

"Well if your getting here says anything, than I don't think there will be many problems at the Delta Four station," Admerline assured her.

"Good," Marija said with a short nod.

"If that's all, I'd like to invite your crew to spend some time on Delta Five. We're not highly populated yet, but I'm sure the change of scenery would be appreciated," Admerline offered.

"Indeed it would be. I'll let my crew know." They both pushed away from the conference table and stood. Marija offered Captain Admerline her hand. "It is a pleasure to be working with you and your associates."

He shook her hand. "Please, Captain Janeway, we're all friends here I hope. All Starfleet." He smiled, and after a moment so did she.

"Yes. All friends."



 

That night the two senior crews were gathered in the mess hall for an impromptu celebration. Michael Chakotay stood, his glass in hand. The table fell silent.

"I'd like to purpose a toast," he said.

"Yes, a toast!" Amanda agreed, smiling broadly. Michael clasped his glass for a moment, looking thoughtful.

"A toast," he said finally, "to this ship, which after a long journey is entering her final leg home. And to the Captain who will bring her there."

There was happy agreement from around the table. Marija Janeway slowly stood. The eyes of the senior staff looked on expectantly. She smiled.

"Thank you all, very much. I wish I had the time to thank every member of this crew personally for all that they've done. Maybe I will sometime." There was a chuckle. "Without hard work and dedication to finish that which our parents have started, the past 60 years would have likely been in vain. Earth is no longer the faint distant glimmer that we saw it as children. Thanks to a little help, we should be in orbit within five years. And so, on such a thought, there's someone I'd like to thank." Marija turned to the holographic occupants of the room. "I want to thank my mothers, Kathryn and Seven Janeway. Because without you, this ship would never have had the drive that it needed. And without you, this would have all been a dream."

Kathryn smiled and colored some, Seven smiled too. They nodded their thanks, and after a quick hug Marija returned to her seat.

"And as you all know," the Captain continued from her seat, "we will be attempting to keep them as hush hush as possible until we get back to Earth. The last thing that they need at this point in time is to become the point and puncture of the member of the Starfleet ethics committee. So please, for now, do not mention my mothers to anyone." There was a murmur of general agreement.

"It does feel a bit awkward though," Kathryn said softly. "Lying to Starfleet and the Federation like this."

"It isn't lying if they don't ask," Amanda pointed out.

"True. But you did falsify the records," Kathryn said, looking at her daughter. Marija drummed her fingers on the table.

"They've been falsified for almost ten years now. What difference will another five be?"

"Not much, I suppose," Kathryn agreed.

"We'll just have to get used to keeping Tuvok company again," Seven said with a laugh.



 

October 2430



 

"I don't think I can stand this much longer," Kathryn Janeway growled. She banged a fist on the gate that blocked her from being able to exit the holodeck. "Let me out, dammit!"

"Unable to comply," the computer replied evenly. Kathryn sighed.

"Mother, will you just give up?" Marija called scornfully from the porch.

"Yes dear, there are Starfleet on the ship," Seven called.

"Starfleet," Marija snorted.

Kathryn muttered something under her breath. Only Tuvok seemed to hear it, and he gave a short laugh. Kathryn stalked back to the porch.

"Are you still contemplating your loyalty to the family?" Kathryn asked her daughter.

"I hardly call it that," Marija said sourly. Despite being on duty she was out of uniform, and sitting on the porch steps with her chin on her hands. "It just feels wrong, having people I don't know creeping around my ship and poking at systems."

"But they're Starfleet," Kathryn said insistently.

"When was the last time you called yourself that?" Marija challenged her mother. Kathryn found herself unable to respond. "See, that's my point. In all the years I've been captain of Voyager, I've never referred to it as a Starfleet or a Federation ship. And I can't remember Daddy ever call it that either."

"He didn't?" Kathryn said in surprise. Marija shook her head.

"I don't think even you did after a few years, Kathryn," Seven pointed out. Kathryn made another thoughtful noise.

"This is so unfair," Marija grumbled, pushing a strand of graying black hair out of her eyes. "Why don't you get any older?"

"Non-adaptive parameters," Kathryn said, surprised at the sudden change of topic. "It takes up too much of our projector's running capacity to have to constantly worry about what we should look like."

"Oh."

"My point is, Marija," Kathryn said slowly, returning to the previous subject, "Is that you're just going to have to trust them for now. If something goes wrong or they do something that you don't want them doing, you have every right to make them stop. It doesn't matter if this was originally their ship, we've had it and maintained it a lot longer than any of these engineers would have been able to. They can't wait until we get back to Earth so they can have Voyager decommissioned and dissected."

"Decommissioned?" Marija looked at her with alarm. "Why would they want to do that?"

"Because this ship will be 64 years old when it reaches Earth," Seven said. "Extremely out of date."

Marija returned her face to her hands. "I won't let them. They don't have any right." Marija shook her head. "I suppose though that that will be the least of our problems. My problems."

"I know," Kathryn said in a soothing voice. "I remember? my biggest worry was that, when we returned to Earth, what would happen to the Maquis? But now there are so few of them--of any of the original crew--left that it doesn't seem so important."

"Something like that," Marija murmured.

"Are you concerned that they won't accept you as a Captain?" Seven said.

A pause. "Yes."

"But Marija, Captain Admerline met you with one of the warmest welcomes that I've seen in a long time," Kathryn said.

"Yes, but I'm also the first women of his age that he's probably seen in a long time too," Marija pointed out, her voice becoming sour again.

"Oh, dear?" Kathryn sighed and sat next to Marija on the steps. She rested a hand on her shoulder. "Do I have to flatter you to make you feel better?"

"It would help," Marija said into her palms. Kathryn chuckled.

"Marija, you are a very intelligent woman. You've probably done a better job at being Captain of this ship than I ever did."

"There's a stretch," Tuvok said softly. Kathryn smiled.

"What I'm trying to say is that I think you're capable beyond all needs," she said. "And if you think that we're doing the wrong thing, then who am I to argue?"

"You were the Captain," Marija whispered. "And you started this journey. It was your goal to return to Earth!"

"I know, my goal," Kathryn said. "It doesn't have to be yours."

"But it is, and I don't know why," Marija said. "We just keep going the same way, and I don't know why."

"Habits can be hard to break," Seven said.

"Some are impossible," Marija replied. "Getting back to Earth is the only focus that we've ever had. It was born into us as children, and we bore it into our own. And now they're doing the same." She lifted her face, her eyes staring out at the distant fields. "I'm afraid. I don't know what's going to happen, and I don't know if I want to. I don't know what's going to happen to my crew when we get back to Earth. What will we do when we get there? All we know is life on Voyager."

"It is a lot to think about," Kathryn agreed. "A lot to worry about. I used to bear the load of those worries. Sometimes I still wish that I do."

Marija barely seemed to hear her. "All the ranks of this crew will mean nothing to Starfleet when we return. Sure there'll be wonderful 'Welcome Home' ceremonies and the like, but what do they mean? Who are they welcoming home? Tuvok and Ramirez? Aunt Alex? How can they be welcoming me home? How can they welcome my grandchildren home to a place that they've never been before? Voyager is home to this entire crew. We're so tightly knit--we're our own family. We aren't Starfleet or Maquis. We aren't Federation. All these generations.. all our lives we've spent trying to reach some destination, and we don't even know why." Marija shook a bit, and put her hands back in her face. "I feel like it's been such a waste. I feel like such a coward."

Kathryn frowned. "Marija Janeway. You are my daughter. The last thing you are is a coward." Kathryn pushed to her feet and stepped down in front of Marija. "You are a brave soul, just like I was. You wake up every morning not knowing what you're flying this ship into without even blinking. It is our life, Marija. It may have not begun that way for me or Tuvok or Seven or anyone on this ship, but it was and is our life now. It is who we are. Not Starfleet. Not Federation. We are the family and crew of the starship Voyager. And you are this ship's Captain. You make me proud every day that I see you in your uniform. And you're going to continue to do so." Marija looked up at Kathryn Janeway with wonder. Kathryn took her daughter by the arm and made her stand. "I don't care if you are 54 years old, you are still my daughter. Now you are going to go to your quarters right now and put on your uniform, and be damned proud of it. Then you are going to go down to Engineering and show them what this ship is made of."

Marija blinked. "Yes ma'am!" After being released she quickly passed through the gate and left the holodeck. Her stepped seemed a bit cockier than anyone present could remember it ever being before, but that was expected.

"What a way to boss the Captain around," Tuvok said dryly. Kathryn let her shoulders drop and turned back to the porch. She smiled.

"Damned if I'm going let a bunch of little Starfleet punks push the crew of my ship around."

"Still your ship, Kathryn?" Seven smiled.

Kathryn's eyes glinted as she smiled. "Always."



 

"Hello, Captain," Jeremy Paris greeted Marija as she entered Engineering about twenty minutes later.

"Hello Commander, Lieutenant," she nodded at Rhea, who stood next to her father but was watching the inspection teams like a hawk. "So, Jeremy, have they detected anything unusual yet?"

"Well? unusual?" he noticed her tapping her wedding ring. "Oh, that kind of unusual. No, they haven't."

"Good."

"Captain Janeway, is something wrong?" an ensign from the Delta Four inspection teams came to a stop next to Marija. She squinted at him slightly.

"I was seeing how the inspections were progressing," she told him.

"Well if you were going to do that than you should have referred to one of us," the ensign said.

"Well I was referring to my Chief Engineer," Marija replied defensively. The ensign missed the intonation.

"You should still have at least talked to me or someone else on the inspection team."

Marija bristled. Her hands planted themselves on her hips and she drew herself up. "Listen here, young man, I don't care who you think you are, but I'm the Captain of this ship, and before you and your teams ever try to do anything to this ship you'll go through me first. I won't be asking permission of any of you to talk to my crew. Is that clear?"

The ensign merely pursed his lips. Marija fought back the urge to grab him by his ugly gray collar.

"Captain Janeway, is there a problem?" Commander Umbra came to join the growing group. He looked and spoke in a condescending manner towards the Voyager crew. Marija looked at him sharply.

"Yes, there is," she said, pointing directly at him. "You've overstayed your visit."

"But miss, we're only half way through the inspections," Umbra protested. "And we still have to check out the holodecks."

"Don't 'Miss' me," Marija growled. "You've spent quite enough time on board today, and yesterday, and the whole week before that. Time for a break." She paused, watching the offended look appear on Umbra's face. "And it was stated nowhere that the holodecks needed inspection."

"Well they have to be," Umbra said sharply. "If the inspections are not completed you cannot pass through the wormhole."

"Who says that we even want to?" Torres said to her father quietly.

"Listen here, young lady, you will not address your superiors like that," Umbra snapped at Torres. He moved toward her, but was blocked in mid-step by Marija.

"Don't you dare speak to any member of this crew in that fashion," she said, her voice growling in her throat as she nearly touched his nose with her finger. "You are a superior officer to no one on this ship. You have no authority on this ship. Who the hell are you to come on board and think you can just nose around without asking anyone? You don't know a damn this about this ship." She lowered her finger but her glare never changed.

"You have no idea what you're dealing with," Umbra said evenly back to her. Marija angrily lurched forward.

"And neither do you! I don't give a damn who you are, get the hell off my ship!" Jeremy and Torres leapt forward and pulled Marija back as two of the inspection team members drew their phasers and pointed them at the Captain. She leaned against their grasp, clearly not finished.

"You have no right to be on this ship! I didn't invite you!"

"Put your phasers away!" Jeremy shouted.

"Get off my ship!" Marija shouted again, and tore herself free from Torres' grip. Her left side pitched forward, and Marija's fist hit Umbra hard across the right side of his face. He staggered backwards as Jeremy let go. Marija glared at him and balled her hands into fists at her sides. The ensigns holding phasers hesitated.

Holding his jaw Umbra tapped his commbadge. "Umbra to Transport station three, beam all inspection teams off Voyager."

"Yes, sir," a confused voice warbled through his commbadge.

"You're going to be very sorry that you interfered with procedure, Janeway," Umbra said menacingly.

"I'm not afraid of you," she said, still visibly seething. Umbra and his team disappeared before further retorts could be made.

There was a moment of silence in Engineering as the dozen or so Voyager engineers looked on in surprise.

Then from Torres: "I never knew you were left handed, Captain."

Marija was apparently out of breath, because she merely smirked in affirmation at Torres. There was another pause.

Then someone started clapping. And then two more people. Three, four, and quickly everyone in Engineering was applauding. Someone whistled.

"Go Captain!" someone else shouted. Marija laughed and bowed a little.

"Secure all systems," she said after the applause died down, and then wordlessly left Engineering.



 

"I don't remember telling you to punch the head of the inspection team," Kathryn called grandly as she and Seven swept onto the Bridge. Marija just smiled and didn't turn to face them.

"I took your advice to heart," she replied. "I realized that you were right."

"What did you tell her?" Michael asked, turning in his seat. "We've been getting all sorts of messages from Delta Four all evening."

"All I said was that if she didn't feel comfortable with them on her ship that she should ask them to leave."

"Or something like that," Seven supplied.

"I never used the words 'fist' or 'punch'," Kathryn continued.

"I'm sorry, Moma, Mama."

"What's to be sorry about?" Seven laughed. "It got us out of the holodeck."

"Yes, I notice that they let you two loose," Marija smiled.

"Lieutenant Paris took a particular delight in watching us squirm while she was 'unlocking the gate,'" Kathryn said. "Now what have the messages been saying?"

"The commander of the Delta Four station wants me to personally apologize to Commander Umbra, and Ensign Faille."

"But you didn't do anything to the ensign," Seven said in surprise.

"I'm still supposed to apologize."

"I don't think you should have to," Kathryn said, crossing her arms.

"Neither did I."

"You didn't tell the commander off, did you?" Seven rose a brow in surprise.

"No.. not really."

"Then what did you tell him?"

Marija smiled. "I haven't told him anything just yet. I was waiting to speak with you two." She motioned them to come down to the command level. They stepped their ways down and crouched next to the command chair.

"What is it, Marija?"

"I know that you have been heartened some by the resent shortening of the distance to Earth," Marija said softly.

"Yes, of course," Kathryn replied softly. Seven nodded in agreement.

"How would you feel if I added those five years back to the trip?" Marija asked. Kathryn and Seven looked at each other.

"It would still be acceptable," Seven said.

"Yes. There isn't any hurry," Kathryn smiled. Marija returned the smile.

"Thank you." They gave Marija a hug and then went to stand up near the secondary security station.

"Ensign, contact Captain Jackson."

"Yes, Captain."

The commander of the Delta Four station appeared onscreen. Commander Umbra was visible over his shoulder.

"Captain Janeway, I'd assume you're contacting us to let us know that you've come to terms," Jackson said smugly. Marija didn't bristle this time.

"Captain Jackson," she said in an authoritative voice that made Kathryn and Seven both smile, "I've considered what you have said a great deal. And I have to agree with you."

"Excellent."

"Maybe not for you. You see," Marija smiled slowly, "You accused me of acting in a way that was totally unbefitting of a Starfleet officer. And you're right. I'm not a Starfleet officer, Captain Jackson, and I never will be."

"What?!" Jackson pounded the console in front of him with a fist. "You're crazy, Janeway."

"We're not crazy, Captain. We're different, that's all."

Jackson struggled to regain his composure. "Then I am afraid we cannot permit you to use the Delta Hole for your travels."

"Good," Marija smiled again. "We weren't planning on using it anyway."

"How will you get to Earth?" Jackson demanded.

Wordlessly Marija Janeway waved to the communications officer, who cut the link. She stood, turning away from the viewscreen to look around the Bridge, and then back to the officer at the conn.

"We'll get to Earth the way we've always done it. Lieutenant, set your sights to the horizon."



 

*Unhappiness was when I was young

And we didn't give a damn

'Cause we were raised

To see life as fun and take it if we can

My mother, my mother she hold

She hold me, when I was out there?.*



 

The End