By:AW

Published in Unicorn Press. Editor: Nancy Border & Pat
Hayden.

You can buy it from Unicorn Press @
http://members.aol.com/UnicrnPrs/press.htm

Disclaimer: You know it, I know it, I don’t own idea
of Star Trek: Voyager. I just own the story.

Date With Destiny I

2. The Next Chapter

Kathryn sat and watched the display in front of her. The stars going past far faster than anything she had ever thought possible. She was wound tighter than a violin string, lost in thought. Thoughts of her life back home. Thoughts of how they would reacts to Kathryn Janeway back in their lives…and most of all thoughts of Chakotay. She hardly heard when Tom opened his mouth to announce their arrival on the edge of earth. Spatial Grid 001…

“…exit the conduit in four…three…two…one.” Kathryn looked at the chronometer she had been sitting that way statue still for over four hours. But here she was…home. She had accomplished her self-proclaimed mission; she had gotten her crew home. She looked up to the view screen and saw the blue sphere that was her birthplace, and her home. She realized Harry was talking to her. She stood up and turned around to face him.

“We’re being hailed Captain. It’s from Starfleet Command.” She could hear the barely contained excitement in his voice…yes they were home. “On screen ensign.”

“This is Lieutenant Arnold missions officer in charge of Earth One. Stand down shields and weapons and prepare to be boarded.”

She knew after this long, and after the disappointment with the destruction of the communications array that this was a reasonable course of action for Starfleet to take, especially if the stories of the Dominion she had heard in her letter and the encoded message had been true. “Harry, stand down weapons and take the shields off line. Open a channel.”

Harry complied as he always did. She was so thankful that she had been caught with the good crew she had. She relied on them sometimes to the point of dependence, and she didn’t regret it, but she hoped her next crew would be as good as this, though she doubted that was possible. To be blessed once was one thing; to be lucky enough to experience it twice was an anomaly that would not likely happen. She steadied herself to respond to the Starfleet hail.

“This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Starship Voyager. We’re home.” She heard the hesitation over the comm signal.

“Welcome home Captain, but with the threat of the dominion, we must board your ship and make sure that you are who you say you are. You understand don’t you? Dock at docking port four immediately. Your crew will be screened and transported to headquarters. You Captain are to meet with Admiral Paris upon your arrival. Arnold out.”

Kathryn broke into a grin. Soon enough they would be home rejoicing with their families. She would be back on a normal mission. She would no longer have the weight of the world on her shoulders alone.

“Alright people you heard the man. Commence docking sequence. Open a ship wide channel.” She got ready to make the announcement she had been waiting over six years to make. “This is the captain speaking. We’ve arrived at earth. I want all crewmembers to report to their quarters and await further instructions. And in case I don’t get a chance to say this again with all
of you listening, I want you to know that working with you has been the finest experience I have ever had. You have performed exemplary, and I hope to have the chance to do it again. Welcome home.” She closed the comm line. “Senior staff meeting in ten minutes…don’t be late.”

She looked toward Chakotay. There was no mistaking the twinkle in her eyes. “Would you meet me in my ready room Commander?” He grinned showing his dimples. “Aye Captain.” Voyager’s two most senior officers made their way to her ready room. Paris watched them retreat and gave a low whistle. He sent a message to Harry via the inter-ship communications. Two guesses
as to what they’re doing in there.

Harry received a message and saw it was from Tom. He could guess what this one said. He read it and responded promptly. Whatever it is…it’s none of our
business. Paris let out a cackle and heard the reprimanding tone of Tuvok behind him. “Something funny ensign?” Tom just rolled his eyes. “No sir.”

In the ready room Chakotay watched Kathryn. She had yet to turn around. She had yet to face him since their entrance into her closed off safe haven. She was close enough to touch and he could feel the tension in the air, but he dared not touch her. Then he had something unexpected happen. Kathryn spun around with a feral look in her eyes and slammed him into the wall. Then she kissed him so hard it almost hurt as the sexual tension of the past six years was finally released. At first he was surprised, then after he got over the initial shock, responded with a passion he didn’t think he possessed. After what felt like an eternity she broke it off. They were both breathing hard.

Chakotay came to his sense first. “Is this what I have to look forward to?” She blushed as she realized what she had just done. This was not what she had
intended on doing upon their entrance, but it had felt so right.

She gave him an enigmatic smile. “Staff meeting in five minutes. Then we have to meet the admiral in transporter room one. I want you, myself and the
entire senior staff to beam down to earth at the same time. A show of solidarity can’t hurt.”

“Aye Captain.” He knew there would be time to discuss this later, and now was not the time. He had just had the preclude and was waiting for the allegro, and looking forward to it.

They headed out of the ready room and to the conference room. They entered the room and realized that half the senior staff was already there. They must be really excited, and why shouldn’t they be? Six years and finally, we’re home. She smiled at the staff and noticed that at this point there were only two members missing. She could just guess what they were doing. Well, they had three minutes to get here. And so she waited.

Ten minutes later Tom and B’Elanna were still missing. “Janeway to Lieutenant Torres.” There was a pause and then reply. “Torres here Captain.” She sounded out of breath, she also heard whispering in the background.

“Lieutenant, there will be time for that later…would you please report to the staff meeting and bring Ensign Paris with you.” She heard some mumbling then some fiddling around and realized he was looking at the chronometer.

“Oh shit…” She heard B’Elanna again, muffled. Her hand must be covering her combadge. “We’re late for the meeting Tom.”

Then she heard Tom, denying a usual…the whole senior staff was listening with smirks on their faces. “It wasn’t my fault B’Elanna, I got…caught up in what we were doing…” Then she heard a moan escape B’Elanna. Time to stop this, as amusing as it was, they had a limited amount of time on their hands.

Then B’Elanna came back. “Stop it Tom, we don’t have time for this.” Then she addressed Janeway again. “We’ll be there shortly, Torres out.”

As soon as the comm line was closed, the whole of the senior staff erupted into laughter. Janeway tried to stare them down. “Alright people, enough is enough, we all know what was going on, let’s get past it.” Janeway sat down with a sigh; life would finally be complete, home sweet home.

Exactly eight minutes later Tom and B’Elanna entered the conference room looking a little flustered. A grin was plastered on the pilot’s face and she noticed he was walking with a slight limp. B’Elanna had a smug look on her face and all present knew what had gone on. “I apologize Captain, we were…detained.”

The Captain looked B’Elanna in the eyes. “I can see the lieutenant.” Torres eyes opened wide with shock, and from her vantage point, Kathryn saw Chakotay suppressing a chuckle; unfortunately his dimples gave him away. “Something funny Commander?”

He smiled at her. “No ma’am.” She just let it all go; it had been too long since she had seen such happiness in her crew.

“Alright let’s get started.” She sat herself down at the head of the table. “We have to report to transporter room one in fifteen minutes…I suggest everyone avoid being late.” She glared at Tom and B’Elanna. “We are going to be screened at which point the senior staff, mainly you, will beam down to
Starfleet headquarters with me. We are to explain the modifications etc., which were made during our stay in the Delta Quadrant. I want each of you to report to your departments and assure everyone that Hell will freeze over before I let any of them get arrested. I need you to alleviate their fears. Now, you have thirteen minutes to get that done. Dismissed.”

Everyone exited the conference room except Chakotay. She looked at Chakotay with a look that spoke volumes. It said I’ll always be there. It said I love you, and it said there’ll be time for this later. She exited the conference room, and proceeded to the transporter room, waiting for her staff, her fiends and her family to arrive and for a new chapter of the book that was her life to begin.

TBC in Chapter 3: Destiny Dismantled I

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