Lineage

shelly@camcomp.com

This is a J/C romance of sorts (eventually) but probably not until part
two, or late in part one. I’m not really sure. I’ve tried to keep it
simple by keeping anything actually dealing with Voyager out of the story.
This is really just a story about Janeway and Chakotay (though Janeway
doesn’t arrive until much later in the story). I still think it’s worth
reading, or it probably wouldn’t be here.
DISCLAIMER: PARAMOUNT IS GOD. They own Voyager, Janeway and Chakotay.
The rest of the characters are figments of my twisted mind.
I couldn’t really think of a title, “Lineage” is the best I can do (if you
have a better idea I’d like to hear it). If you liked the story let me
know. All comments, suggestions, whatever, are welcomed, as long as you
censor your language and BE POLITE! If you really don’t like it, maybe you
should leave me alone. You can send all of your comments and stuff to
thompson@gnatnet.net, but don’t send any garbage, and don’t give out my
email address. Also, if you want to archive this or whatever, ask me
(except for you Alara, I don’t mind if you archive it) or I’ll have to hunt
you down (because my stories are like children, they may misbehave, but
they’re mine and I love them and will protect them with the deadliest of
force) and rip your story stealing fingers off. Just kidding. Well, maybe
not….

Sforzando

Lineage
Part One
By: Sforzando

Chakotay woke suddenly, his head throbbing. He looked around. He sat on
a rock, at the edge of a forest. The sky was purplish, the sun just
beginning to rise. Chakotay hit his commbadge, but there was no response.
He knew, somehow, that this wasn’t the holodeck. It was too real. So
where was he? Not sure where to go, Chakotay started off into the forest.

Chakotay had barely walked a mile through the tangled undergrowth, when a
rustling in the bushes ahead made him stop. A large, bird-like head popped
out of the bushes. It squawked, and emerged. Even if he was better verse
in ancient Earth mythology, Chakotay still wouldn’t have recognized the
young griffin standing before him. All Chakotay knew was that this
creature stood five feet taller than him, and had the claws of a lion.
The baby griffin squawked again, then reached forward with its beak to tug
on Chakotay’s uniform. Realizing that the baby wanted him to follow, he
did, carefully. The baby griffin had the body of a juvenile lion, and the
head of a young eagle. It was cute in a strange way. The griffin lead
Chakotay to a clearing, where an even stranger sight met him.
A fully adult griffin, presumably the baby’s mother, lay on the ground.
Her eyes were closed, her breathing heavy. Her wings were folded on her
back, and Chakotay spotted a long gash on her back. The baby bounded to
it’s mother, squawking. Chakotay wondered if Chakotay had been brought as
lunch. He hoped not, since he had no idea where or when he was.
The mother griffin lifted her head, and looked at Chakotay. She gave a
few reassuring chirps to the baby, then turned to Chakotay.
“It’s alright,” she said.
“You can talk?” asked Chakotay.
“Why not?” said the mother. She shifted her weight.
“Why am I here?” asked Chakotay.
“You have to help me,” said the mother.
“Help you what?” said Chakotay.
“I’m ill,” she said, “I have an infection, and I’m going to die without
help. I can’t bear the thought of leaving Avion defenseless in this
world.”
“Avion?”
“My baby,” said the mother, “he’s barely even five months old. It was a
week ago, I was shot by a hunter. I got away, but caught an infection in
the process. It’s a common human disease, but among us griffins, well, let
me just say that we’re defenseless.”
“And you want me to help you,” said Chakotay.
“Yes,” said the mother, “you are the first person that we’ve come across
in a week.” Chakotay was reluctant.
“What if I don’t help you?” he asked. The mother worked her jaws.
“I think you know the consequences,” she said. Chakotay swallowed.
“Well,” he said, “okay then. What do I need to do?”
“There is only one plant that can help me, and it is very rare,” said the
mother, “the only place to find it is a Duke Nehin’s castle.”
“What is it called?” asked Chakotay.
“‘Kathryn’s rose’,” said the mother griffin. Chakotay paused at the name.
“How do I get to Duke Nehin’s castle?” he asked.
“Avion will take you,” said the mother, “he knows the way pretty well.
You’ll just have to trust him, he doesn’t speak human very well. He can
understand it, but he won’t be able to speak it fully for a year.”
“Is there anything else I need to know?” asked Chakotay, as Avion bounded
over to him, squawking playfully.
“Getting into Duke Nehin’s castle is very difficult,” said the mother, “he
doesn’t like visitors. I suppose you’ll just have to figure it out as you
go along.”
“Okay,” said Chakotay. The mother griffin said something to her baby,
then turned back to Chakotay.
“You have to hurry,” she said, “if you do not return in two days, there
will be nothing for you to save on the third.” Her eyes were full of
trust.
“I will,” said Chakotay. He turned to Avion, “well Avion, shall we go?”
Avion squawked, then lay down.
“He wants you to ride on his back,” said the mother.
“He is going to…”
“No, he can’t fly very well yet,” said the mother, “but he’ll carry you.”
“Right,” said Chakotay. He climbed on Avion’s back, between the folded
wings. “Lets go.” Avion started off at a quick pace, Chakotay holding on
to a few long feathers on Avion’s neck.

“Avion, stop,” commanded Chakotay. Avion came to a stop. It had been
three hours. Chakotay got off of Avion’s back. “Avion, I want you to
stay here in the woods,” Chakotay said, “there’s a pub up there, and I
doubt they take kindly to griffins. I’m going to go in there, and get some
directions. Just to be sure you know where you’re going.” Avion dipped
his head in a nod.
“What’ll you have to drink?” asked the woman standing at the bar, as
Chakotay sat down.
“What do you have?” asked Chakotay.
“You’re new around here, aren’t you?” asked the woman. Chakotay nodded.
“Well, we have ale and water around here. Since your new, you can have
this drink on the house.”
“Thank you,” said Chakotay, “I’ll have ale.”
“Ah, such a polite fellow,” said the woman as she poured Chakotay his
drink, “they’re hard to come by in these parts.”
“I was wondering,” said Chakotay, “what do you know about a flower called
‘Kathryn’s rose’?”
“Well,” said the woman, “I know that the only place to find it is at Duke
Nehin’s castle. And that its used as an aphrodisiac, and it’s been known
to help griffins when they’re ailing.”
“What do you know about Duke Nehin’s castle?” asked Chakotay.
“I know it’s the hardest castle to get into in all of England,” said the
woman. “I also know the story about the woman he had working’ for him.”
“The woman?” said Chakotay.
“About ten years ago, the Duke met a woman, she grew plants for medicines
and was something of a scientist,” said the woman, “he took her as
prisoner, and made her work on a secret project. She worked for him for
five years. At the end of the five years, the woman had created a
beautiful variation of rose.”
“What happened to the woman?”
“She hated her life in the castle, and so she slit her wrists with the
thorns from the roses. The Duke named the roses ‘Kathryn’s roses’ after
his lost prisoner. The strange thing was that he had secretly fallen in
love with her, and he went insane at her death. He’s spent the past five
years looking for a replacement.” The woman leaned over, as if sharing an
important secret, “rumor has it that he’s found one.” Chakotay nodded,
finishing his ale.
“Thank you,” he said. The woman nodded.
“If you come by this way again, stop in,” she said, “I could use some
better company that those drunks.” She waved at the men in the back of the
pub.
“Bye,” said Chakotay, and left the pub.

Avion was sleeping in a clearing half a mile away.
“Avion, why’d you go so far? I thought I told you to stay back there,”
Chakotay approached the baby griffin. Avion shrugged, and let Chakotay
climb back on.
They traveled for three more hours, then came to a break in the trees.
Chakotay and Avion had landed almost right on top of the castle. It loomed
in the distance, barely half a mile away. It didn’t appear quite as
desolate as Chakotay had imagined it would be. Lush gardens spread out in
all directions around the castle, bisected by a tiny streak of a road
leading to and from the main entrance. Chakotay left Avion, told him that
he really should stay put this time, then started down the road. He was
stopped by three guards.
“What is your business here?” asked the head guard.
“I’ve come seeking a plant sample from the Duke,” said Chakotay. The head
guard nodded to the others, and led Chakotay down the rest of the road. He
was brought before the Duke. Just one look at him and Chakotay could tell
that the Duke was crazy.
“So,” said the Duke, “you’ve come seeking a plant?”
“Yes, sir,” said Chakotay.
“What type in particular?” asked the Duke. Chakotay swallowed.
“The variety known as ‘Kathryn’s rose’,” he said. The Duke frowned.
Anger sparked in his eyes.
“Take him to the secondary room,” he said to the head guard.
Chakotay was taken to a room which had a glass door in it. The door led
to one of the gardens. The Duke shooed away the guards, and closed the
door behind Chakotay.
“You can have your flower,” said the Duke, “but first you have to prove
yourself worthy of it.”
“How do I do that?” asked Chakotay.
“I have a woman that works in the gardens,” said the Duke, “she is very
fair of face, and I have killed every man who has went after her. I am
going to put you and her in the same room.”
“And?” Chakotay wasn’t sure what the catch was.
“You must spend six hours together. You cannot speak to her, or touch
her,” said the Duke, “if you do as you are told, you will be given the rose
and sent on your way. But I’m warning you, this woman is so striking, that
men can’t seem to keep their hands off of her. So, if you say a thing to
her, or lay so much as a finger on her, you will die.” Chakotay nodded at
this.
“Is she allowed to speak to me or touch me?” asked Chakotay.
“That is the other catch,” said the Duke, “if she does either of those
things, you will still die.” Chakotay nodded again.
“Alright,” he said.
“Fine,” said the Duke. He opened the main door, and spoke to the guards.
“Does she know the terms of this?” asked Chakotay.
“Yes,” said the Duke, “she’s done this before. Usually she does something
wrong right off the bat, especially if she doesn’t like the looks of you.”
A woman was led in by the guard. A veil was over her face. The Duke
motioned to the guard. “Remove the veil.” The guard pulled away the
fabric. Chakotay’s mouth dropped open, as did the woman’s. She was on the
verge of saying something, but Chakotay put a finger to his lips.
“Good luck,” said the Duke, “we’ll be watching.” The main door slammed
shut. Chakotay peered at the woman. She was indeed very beautiful. Her
eyes were a dark blue, and her hair reddish brown. A true Irish beauty.
She stood there, hands on hips, eyes narrowing slightly. It made sense to
Chakotay then, the rose’s name… She had never seemed so beautiful as she
did at the moment. He wished he could hear her voice, then he would know
for sure.
Kathryn Janeway glared wistfully at Chakotay. Chakotay stared right back.
He really wished he knew what was going on. Suddenly her hands began
moving rapidly. It took a moment for Chakotay to realize what in the heck
she was doing. Kathryn was using sign language. He knew enough to
understand her, but signed, “Please repeat that all over again”. She
stopped, then restarted.
“C-H-A-K-O-T-A-Y,” she signed.
“My sign is this,” signed Chakotay, making a motion.
“Chakotay, do you have any idea what happened? I woke up, and I was
sitting in this very room, and I have no d-a-m-n idea what is going on,”
Kathryn signed frantically.
“Captain,” he made the motion for the word, “how long have you been here?”
“A month,” signed Kathryn.
“I just got here today,” signed Chakotay, “do you remember the last thing
you did on V-o-y-a-g-e-r?”
“I was in E-n-g-i-n-e-e-r-i-n-g,” signed Kathryn, “you were there too. I
think we were working on aligning the warp core with T-o-r-r-e-s.”
“Yes, that’s right,” signed Chakotay, “but if there was an accident, why
did you end up a month ahead in time before me?”
“I don’t know,” signed Kathryn, “maybe it had something to do with how
close we were to the warp core.”
“You were closer.”
“Yes.”
“But what about T-o-r-r-e-s?”
“I think she was on the other side of E-n-g-i-n-e-e-r-i-n-g, wasn’t she?”
“Yes, that’s right. So, how do we get out of here?”
“I’m not sure,” signed Kathryn, “why are you here?”
“It’s a strange story,” signed Chakotay.
“I don’t think we’re going anywhere for a few hours,” signed Kathryn,
sitting down. Chakotay sat too. He proceeded to tell her his story.
After he finished, she signed.
“How long do you think we’ve been in here?”
“An hour
“You look like h-e-l-l,” signed Kathryn, “maybe you should get some rest.”
“I guess I can try,” signed Chakotay. He lay down, and promptly fell
asleep.

Something was tickling his nose. Chakotay sneezed, and woke up. Kathryn
backed away, smiling slightly.
“I think our six hours are almost up,” signed Kathryn.
“How’s that?” signed Chakotay.
“When I was sent in here, it was a little past noon, and the sun sets at
seven. The sun is beginning to go down now,” Kathryn signed.
“After I get the rose, I have to figure out how to get you out of here,”
signed Chakotay. “Then maybe we can figure out how to get back to
Voyager.”
“Chakotay, what if they don’t find us?” signed Kathryn with a frown.
“I don’t know.”
“Do you think we’re on E-a-r-t-h?” signed Kathryn.
“From the plants I’ve seen, yes,” signed Chakotay, “also, I met a creature
from ancient E-a-r-t-h myth, and it could have only been from E-a-r-t-h.”
“This whole situation is very strange,” signed Kathryn.
“I know this is out of line,” signed Chakotay, “but the Duke wasn’t
kidding when he said that you were beautiful.” Kathryn smiled.
“Thank you,” she signed.
“Will you be terribly unhappy if we never get back to V-o-y-a-g-e-r?”
“I don’t know,” signed Kathryn, “I’d rather not think about that right
now.”
They both turned as the main door finally reopened. The Duke appeared, a
bag in his hands.
“Well done,” said the Duke, “you have met the challenge, and you will
receive your reward.” He handed the bag to Chakotay, who carefully opened
it and looked at the rose. It was dark in color, almost black, with a red
fringe around the top half inch. The Duke motioned to the guards, who
roughly grabbed Chakotay and led him out of the room. As he was led down
the hall, Chakotay could hear the Duke’s words to Kathryn.
“Ah, yes my dear, it’s sunset. And you remember what we do every day at
sunset, don’t you?”
As he was thrown out the door, Chakotay heard Kathryn’s scream echo
through the halls. The door slammed shut, and there was nothing more he
could do. He walked back down the road, and found Avion waiting for him.
“I got the rose,” said Chakotay. Avion squawked happily. He flattened
himself on the ground. “Lets go back to the pub where we stopped earlier.
I think I can probably get a room there, or at least someplace to sleep.”
Avion nodded, and set off at a very fast pace. They reached the pub just a
short while after dark.
“You don’t mind me coming back so late, do you?” asked Chakotay. The
woman behind the bar smiled.
“Ah, no, I don’t mind. Usually stay open another hour or two anyhow,” she
said, “care for a drink?”
“I’m afraid that I don’t have any money, but I work to pay off my dues, if
that’s alright,” said Chakotay.
“Mm, yes, that’ll do,” she said, pouring him an ale. “Can you wash dishes
and tables?”
“Sure, I guess so,” said Chakotay, “do you have a place that I might sleep
until tomorrow morning?”
“Yes, we have an extra room,” said the woman, “I’ll let you sleep in there
if you tell me what’s in the bag, and how you got it.”

END PART ONE

DISCLAIMERS: Same as last time.
Comments and stuff are, as always, welcome.

Lineage
Part Two
By: Sforzando

Chakotay woke early the next morning, thanking the woman, who was already
awake, for her hospitality.
“Pay me another visit some time,” she called as he left.
“I will,” promised Chakotay.
Avion was waiting at the edge of the woods, and they set off quickly.
Avion’s mother lay where they had left her.
“You came back,” she smiled.
“I got the rose,” said Chakotay. Her eyes brightened.
“You did!” she cried, “well, hurry up with it, I can’t wait all day.”
Chakotay took the rose out of the bag.
“What should I do with it?” he asked.
“Take the rose and give it to me,” she said, “all I have to do is eat it,
and my system should be cleared in a few hours.”
“Won’t it hurt going down?” asked Chakotay, as he set the rose in the
mother’s beak.
“A little, I suppose, but not as much as it will make me feel better,” she
said, and swallowed the rose whole. She coughed as it scratched going
down, but afterwards, the mother already seemed to improve.
“I have a favor to ask of you now,” said Chakotay.
“Yes?”
“Have you heard of the Duke’s prisoner?” asked Chakotay.
“Yes,” said the mother, “she works in the gardens.”
“That’s right,” said Chakotay, “I met her in the process of getting the
rose, and I feel that I have to save her.”
“Why?”
“I know her from a long time ago,” said Chakotay. The mother nodded.
“Enough said,” she said, “now, how do I come into this?”
“Well,” said Chakotay, “I suspect that she’ll be out working in the
gardens, right?”
“Correct,” said the mother.
“Well, all we have to do is find her, fly down there really quick, pick
her up, and go,” said Chakotay.
“A reasonably good idea,” said the mother, “but I think we should wait
until tomorrow.”
“Why?”
“I think that you should write her a note, and we’ll drop it to her,” said
the mother, “that way she can be prepared to go.” Chakotay nodded.
“Now where am I going to find something to write with?”

Chakotay watched Kathryn pick up the letter and read it. She looked up
and nodded. The mother griffin carried Chakotay back to the pub, and her
baby back to her lair. Chakotay had procured what he needed from the woman
at the pub, her name was Loreen, who had gladly supplied him when she heard
his reason for needing the paper.
“You just bring her by so I can meet her,” Loreen had said. Chakotay now
lay on his cot, thinking of Kathryn. He still wished to hear her voice.
Chakotay wondered what they would do if they never made it back to Voyager.
This was somewhat like when they had been on New Earth, just less
technologically advanced. Maybe they could get a job at the pub, thought
Chakotay ruefully. Maybe he could get an agreement from Loreen and her
husband, and build some sort of hotel. That would bring in customers, and
money, and Chakotay and Kathryn could run it. The possibilities were
endless, yet Chakotay knew in the back of his mind that they would be
eventually found by Voyager. Somehow.

The next day, at the arranged time, Chakotay, riding on the back of the
mother griffin, swooped down into the garden of the Duke’s castle. He
lifted Kathryn, who was carrying a bag, in front of him.
“Hurry now,” he said to the mother. She took off quickly, “hold on
tight,” Chakotay whispered to Kathryn.
“I am,” she said.
They were long gone before the Duke, or anyone else even realized what had
happened. Oddly, there were no witnesses. Though the fact that Kathryn
had drugged the guards probably had nothing to do with it. Kathryn leaned
forward.
“Thank you…” she whispered.
“Diama,” said the mother.
“What?”
“Diama is my name,” said the mother griffin, “now, Chakotay, should I take
you two to the pub?”
“Yes, please,” said Chakotay.

“Thank you again,” said Kathryn, as Diama lifted off into the night sky.
“See you again sometime,” called Diama. Kathryn turned to Chakotay.
“Well…” she said softly.
“We’re going to have to share a room,” said Chakotay.
“What?”
“You heard me,” said Chakotay, grinning, “I can only wash enough dishes to
afford one room.”
“Oh,” said Kathryn. She remembered the bag in her hands, and handed it
over to Chakotay. “This is for you.”
“What is it?”
“Gold coins,” said Kathryn. “I stole them from the Duke. I took all I
could fit in the sack.”
“Kathryn, this is a lot of money,” said Chakotay, looking in the bag.
“It’s all yours,” said Kathryn, “I owe it to you.”
“You didn’t bring anything else?” asked Chakotay.
“I had nothing to bring,” said Kathryn, “I think that money should keep
you secure for a few months, if we’re here that long.”
“Thank you,” said Chakotay. He stared at Kathryn, then set the bag down.
Chakotay pulled Kathryn forward, and kissed her.
“What was that for?” laughed Kathryn as Chakotay pulled away.
“You deserved it,” said Chakotay. He picked up the bag, and took
Kathryn’s arm. “I have to introduce you to the landlady, Loreen, before we
get settled.

“Ah, so this is the woman from Duke Nehin’s castle,” said Loreen.
“I’m very pleased to meet you,” said Kathryn.
“Same here,” said Loreen, “let me get you something to drink.”
“Do you have an extra cot lying around somewhere?” asked Chakotay.
“Let me see,” said Loreen, pouring ale into a mug for Kathryn, “yes, I do
have one. For Miss Kathryn, I suppose?”
“Yes,” said Chakotay.
“I’ll get my husband to put it in your room,” said Loreen.
“About the room…” said Chakotay.
“Yes?” said Loreen, pausing from rousing her husband.
“I recently came across.. an award for something, so I’ll be able to pay
for the room,” said Chakotay.
“That’s good,” said Loreen, poking her husband, “up now, I got something
for you to do.”
“I was wondering if I could continue washing up around here, for a small
payment?”
“As in a job?” said Loreen, pushing her husband through the back door,
“sure, I hate having to clean up the pub anyhow. It would be a pleasure to
keep you two around for awhile.”
“It would be very kind of you,” said Kathryn.
“Think nothing of it,” said Loreen, “I’ll be right back.” She went off to
help her husband with the bed.

A few hours later, Chakotay and Kathryn sat on their beds.
“Loreen said the dressmaker would be down in a few days to get me
outfitted,” said Kathryn.
“Jake gave me some of his old things,” said Chakotay. Jake was Loreen’s
husband. “There’s a tailor that’s coming down in a week to get me
clothed.” He kicked off his black Starfleet issue boots, lying back on his
bed. Kathryn had already changed into a nightgown borrowed from Loreen’s
daughter, Gena. The daughter spent five days a week in town working, and
came home on Thursdays and Fridays.
“Do you mind if I turn off the light now?” asked Kathryn.
“Go ahead,” said Chakotay. Kathryn extinguished the lamp.
“Good night,” she said into the darkness.
“Pleasant dreams,” whispered Chakotay.
He was only mildly surprised, when waking later in the night, to find
Kathryn snuggled next to him on the cot.

The next morning, Loreen stood behind the bar, as usual, when the door
opened. Several of the guards from the Duke’s castle entered. Loreen was
thankful that Chakotay and Kathryn were still asleep.
“How can I help you gentlemen?” asked Loreen.
“We’re looking for a woman that escaped from Duke Nehin’s castle
yesterday,” said the head guard. “You wouldn’t happen to know where she
is?”
“No,” said Loreen, “I don’t think so. I haven’t had any unusual customers
lately.”
“Do you mind if we checked the back rooms?” asked the head guard.
Loreen’s hesitation was unnoticeable.
“I don’t see why not,” said Loreen, “just let me make sure my husband’s
dressed.”
“Hurry please,” said the guard.
“You two have to hide somewhere,” said Loreen, quickly ducking into their
room. “There are some guards looking for you Kathryn.”
“We’ll hide,” said Chakotay.
“You better hurry,” said Loreen. She scurried back to where the guards
were waiting. “You can go ahead,” she said. The guards went back, then
returned a few minutes later.
“Every checks out,” said the head guard, “thank you for your time. If you
do see anything strange, please contact us.”
“I will,” said Loreen. She waited until the guards were long gone before
telling Kathryn and Chakotay it was safe to come out. They had been hiding
just outside the window.
“Thank you for warning us,” said Kathryn.
“Don’t mention it,” said Loreen, “I think you would have done the same
thing for me.” Kathryn nodded.

Several months passed, and Chakotay and Kathryn continued living at the
pub undetected. The locals paid no real care towards the couple, and they
tried not to draw too much attention to themselves. The guards never came
back again to check. And as more time passed, Chakotay and Kathryn knew
that their chances of ever being found were slim. It made some sense.
After all, how could Voyager ever find them, when it was no where near
Earth, or in the right time period.
They had to face something else. Something more prominent than the fact
that they had to start new lives. Chakotay and Kathryn, like it or not,
were falling in love. Loreen stated this fact plainly to Chakotay every
afternoon while Kathryn was outside working on her art. Kathryn had taken
a liking to making clay art, and no one was stopping her from pursuing the
hobby. Chakotay never really denied his attraction toward Kathryn to
Loreen, but he always dropped the subject as fast as she brought it up.
“So when are you going to ask her to marry you?” asked Loreen, out of the
blue on afternoon.
“Excuse me?” said Chakotay, pausing in the middle of washing dishes.
“You heard me,” said Loreen, “when are you going to ask.”
“I don’t think…”
“Come on Chakotay, admit it, you’re in love with her, and she loves you.
You’re not going anywhere, and there is no one else to come between you, so
why don’t you ask her?” Loreen leaned toward Chakotay over the counter.
Chakotay sighed.
“Who would marry us?” he asked.
“I could get the priest to marry you,” said Loreen, “he comes down here
every other week anyhow, might as well make his journey worthwhile for
once.”
“Maybe,” said Chakotay, “I have to think about it.”
“Oh, please,” said Loreen, “if you think about it for too long, she’ll
find someone else. Trust me.” Chakotay glared.
“I’ll ask her,” he said, “just give me a few days to find the right time.”

Chakotay went outside, sat on a rock, and closed his eyes. He was well
out of sight of Kathryn, who sat in a clearing in the woods on the other
side of the pub. Chakotay concentrated for a few moments. Then he felt a
rush of warm wind on his face, and opened his eyes. Diama was sitting
before him.
“Hello,” said Diama, “long time no see.”
“I need to ask you something,” said Chakotay.
“What?”
“Do you think that I should ask Kathryn to marry me?” asked Chakotay.
“Do you love her?” asked Diama. Chakotay thought.
“Yes,” he said.
“Do you think she loves you?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think she’d say yes if you asked?”
“….”
“Well?”
“I don’t know,” said Chakotay.
“Think hard,” said Diama. Chakotay did. He thought of they way she acted
around him, both publicly and privately. He thought of how she always
ended up lying next to him on his cot every night.
“Yes, I think she would say yes,” Chakotay said.
“So then ask her.”
“I don’t have a ring.” Diama shook her head slowly, then shook her front
left paw. A small, simple gold ring fell to the ground. Chakotay picked
it up.
“Go ask her.” Chakotay nodded.
Kathryn was seated on a bench, working away on a piece of clay. It had
the slight shape of a bird, which made sense, since she had just started
working on it. Chakotay sat next to Kathryn on the bench.
“Hello,” she said, through her teeth, which were clenched around a small
carving tool. She was working at the clay with her fingers. Chakotay took
the tool from her, set it down next to the clay, took Kathryn’s hands,
which were surprisingly clean. She turned more to face him. Chakotay
looked at her, looked at her loosely pulled back hair, at the delicate
smile that graced her lips, and knew that he was doing the right thing.
“Kathryn…”
“Yes?”
“Kathryn, back on Voyager, our lives never would have happened like this.
But I feel that this is right. That somehow we were meant to live here,
now,” Chakotay paused, staring into Kathryn’s eyes.
“Yes?”
“Kathryn… will you be my wife?” he waited for her reaction. She smiled.
“Yes,” she said. Chakotay gave a happy hoot, a kissed Kathryn. He slid
the gold band on her finger. She kissed him again, and Chakotay merrily
lifted her off the bench.
“Just where do you think we’re going?” Kathryn laughed.
“I think you know,” said Chakotay. Kathryn’s smile froze.
“No, not now,” she said, “can’t it wait at least until we’re married?”
Chakotay looked at her, then smiled.
“Sure,” he said, “I’ve waited this long, what’s a few more days?” He
pulled her up for another kiss.

They were married a week later, by the priest from Sunton. Chakotay
carried Kathryn back into their room, which now housed one bed instead of
two cots. Chakotay laid Kathryn on the bed, slowly unbuttoning his shirt.
Then he helped her pull off her dress. They pulled off the rest of their
clothes. Kathryn pulled Chakotay down to kiss him. A small tear streaked
down her cheek. He caressed her cheek, wiping away the tear. Kathryn
rested her head on Chakotay’s chest, listening to his heartbeat.
“I love you,” he said softly.
“I love you too.”

END PART TWO

DISCLAIMERS: SAME AS PART I AND II.
All comments are welcome, as always.

Lineage
Part Three
By: Sforzando

They had been married two months when Kathryn first noticed it. Barely
noticeable, but she could tell. Kathryn ran a hand nervously over her
stomach.
“Chakotay, do I look funny to you?” asked Kathryn.
“What do you mean?” Chakotay asked. They were eating breakfast.
“I think I’m pregnant,” said Kathryn. Chakotay nearly choked on his eggs.
“Are you sure?”
“Not really,” said Kathryn, “but I haven’t had my period in two months,
and there is a slight difference…” she ran her hand over her stomach
again. “Are you okay with this?”
“Of course,” smiled Chakotay, “I’m just not used to hearing that when I’m
eating breakfast.” Kathryn smiled too.
“I’m glad,” she said.
“I was thinking,” said Chakotay, “the other day, I spoke to Loreen and
Jake about an idea.”
“What idea?” asked Kathryn, sitting down at the table.
“I suggested that, since a lot of travelers come through here, may they
should build some sort of lodge,” said Chakotay, “we could live in it, and
run it.” He looked at Kathryn, waiting to see here reaction. She smiled.
“I think that’s a great idea,” she said.
“Loreen even said she would give us the land to build it on,” said
Chakotay.
“So it would be our establishment?” said Kathryn.
“In a way, yes. We’d just pay a small fee to Jake and Loreen every
month,” Chakotay paused, “so what do you think?”
“I think we should do it,” Kathryn said. Chakotay grinned.
“Good, I’ll tell Loreen after breakfast,” he said.
“Now what about the baby?” asked Kathryn. She wouldn’t be pulled off
subject that easily.
“What about it?” Chakotay grinned, “you’re having it, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I think so,” said Kathryn, “but what about the risks?”
“Risks?”
“Yes,” said Kathryn, “isn’t there a risk of birth defects in mothers over
40? And what if we somehow pollute the time-line?”
“I don’t know what we can do about that,” said Chakotay, “we’ll just have
to wait it out.”
“What about the time-line?” pursued Kathryn.
“Well, I don’t think we’ll do too much damage to the time-line,” said
Chakotay softly, “if we keep ourselves low key.” He shrugged, “or maybe it
won’t make a difference. Maybe we’re supposed to be here. Maybe its part
of destiny.”
“You mean you think we were born destined to be transported over a
thousand years back in time?”
“Maybe,” said Chakotay, “the fact that we’re still here says something.
If the future has already played itself up to the 24th century, then if our
having a child now affected the future, we wouldn’t be here, we may not
have ever been born.”
“So, you’re saying,” said Kathryn, trying to grasp the confusion of time
in her mind, “that if our children born now affected the future, then we
would have never possibly been born, or at least never transported back in
time to have the children?”
“Yes,” said Chakotay, “that sounds about right.”
“And by having children, and by our descendants not having any major
impact on the future, we would still have existed in the future up to the
point when we were transported back here, to have the children?”
“Yes.”
“Then Voyager is still out there, lost in the Delta Quadrant,” said
Kathryn.
“Well, not really,” said Chakotay, “the crew of Voyager won’t be born for
a thousand years.”
“But if the future already exists…”
“Then yes, they would be still out there,” said Chakotay. “But you have
to realize that… well, that they don’t exist now. Their predecessor
might, but they don’t.”
“Chakotay,” said Kathryn suddenly, “what if the accident that transported
us back in time affected the whole ship? What if everyone was transported
back in time, but at different points, like we were?”
Chakotay frowned, “somehow, I don’t know why, but that just doesn’t seem
likely.”
“Why?”
“Well, for one thing, Ensign Bema was standing right behind me,” said
Chakotay, “shouldn’t he have been transported to a point in time shortly
after I appeared, and in the same relative area?”
“Maybe,” said Kathryn. She sighed. “I guess you’re right.”
“Now,” said Chakotay, rising from the table, “finish your breakfast, and
I’ll meet you outside at your workbench in an hour.”
“Okay,” smiled Kathryn, tilting her face up to receive a kiss from
Chakotay. He left then, off to tell Loreen the news about the lodge.

An hour later, Kathryn was seated on her workbench, as promised, working
away. She had finished the bird a week before, it was in its second firing
at the moment. Kathryn rolled the new clay in her hands, trying to think
of something to make. She felt the bench move as Chakotay sat next to her.
She still had her back facing him, but Kathryn knew that he was smiling.
“So what are you working on now?” he asked.
“I don’t really know,” laughed Kathryn. She set the clay down, and turned
to face Chakotay.
“I think you should make a model of Diama,” said Chakotay, staring up at
the clouds. Kathryn looked up too, and saw the large and small forms of
Diama and Avion cruising around.
“You think so?” said Kathryn.
“Yes,” said Chakotay. “I bet I could even get her to pose for you.”
“That sounds like a good idea,” said Kathryn, “so, did you talk to
Loreen?”
“Yep,” said Chakotay, “she said we could start working on the lodge right
away. “Loreen also said that Jake knew some men from Sunton who could help
in the building.”
“That’s good,” said Kathryn, “did you tell her about the baby?”
“Yes,” said Chakotay.
“What did she say?” asked Kathryn.
“Well, first she ran off and told Jake, and then she came back and
congratulated me,” said Chakotay, grinning, “she wants to see you later.”
Kathryn picked up the clay, working it with her hands again. “You know
Kathy, you’re very talented when it comes to working with clay. Did you
every think about trying to sell some of your work?”
“Not really,” said Kathryn, “but if you’d like to try and sell some of it,
with my consent of course, I’m not stopping you. We could always use the
money.”
“Maybe we could display it in the pub somewhere,” said Chakotay said, “or
in the lodge.”
“I don’t know if I’d trust it around the drunks,” grinned Kathryn.
Chakotay laughed, looking up at the griffins again. He put two fingers in
his mouth, and whistled shrilly. This caught Kathryn off guard, and she
slapped him on the arm, “don’t do that!”
There was a squealing noise, and Diama and Avion landed with a thump in
the clearing.
“Good flying Avion!” called Chakotay. Mother and child trotted over to
the couple.
“Ah, hello Chakotay, Kathryn,” said Diama. She nudged her son, “say hello
Avion.”
“Hallo,” said Avion quietly.
“Oh, Avion, that’s wonderful!” said Kathryn, stroking the griffin’s beak.
“How much can he say?”
“Well,” said Diama, thinking, “not much really. His first word was “rose”
believe it or not. I think I’ve heard him say “tree”, “fly”, “wind”, and
“hallo”. That’s all really. But he’s progressing normally for his age.
Learns a lot by mimicry.”
“Well, I think you’re doing very well Avion,” Kathryn said to the baby,
“you’ve grown too.” Avion squawked happily.
“Yes, and his flying has improved too,” said Diama proudly.
“Kathryn has an artistic proposal to make for you,” said Chakotay.
“Really?” said Diama, sitting down and facing Kathryn.
“Yes,” she said, “I don’t know if Chakotay’s told you, but I do clay
sculptures.”
“Mm, yes, he did mention it once,” said Diama.
“Well, I’m going to do a model of a griffin, and I’d like you to be the
model for it,” said Kathryn.
“Oh, I’d be delighted to,” said Diama, “when will you start working?”
“Well, I guess you could come here tomorrow afternoon, maybe every other
day in the afternoon,” said Kathryn. Diama gave a pleased nod.
“That sounds quite nice,” she said, “and it’ll give me something to do.
There’s not much to do around here in the summer. Except fly, and swim,
and sleep really.” Diama shrugged. “Well, I’m afraid we must be going,
Avion hasn’t had his breakfast yet.”
“Have a nice day,” called Kathryn as the two griffins took off.
“Fly!!” called back Avion as he and his mother disappeared over the
treetops.

“So, how’s your sculpture coming along?” Chakotay helped Kathryn off of
the work bench. A month had passed, and construction on the lodge was in
full swing. Kathryn’s belly was slowly becoming noticeable. She brushed
back a loose strand of hair, and returned her attention to the griffin
posed in front of her.
“Very well,” Kathryn mumbled, “Diama, move you left foot a little, yes,
that’s better.” Diama shifted her feet.
“Shouldn’t we be facing the other direction this time of day?” asked
Diama.
“Why do you say that?” asked Kathryn, not looking up.
“Well, doesn’t my shadow make it harder for you to see?” Diama cocked her
head.
“No, actually quite the opposite,” said Kathryn, “during the summer it
gets very hot in the sunlight, and you provide shade. And bright sunlight
makes me squint, so I wouldn’t be able to see anyhow.” Diama nodded,
trying to hold herself still again. She towered twenty feet tall, and
Kathryn’s neck hurt, so she decided it would be easier to work on the feet
today, and not have to crane her neck up.
“The work crew left for the day, so I thought I’d come see how you’re
doing,” said Chakotay.
“I’m fine,” snapped Kathryn.
“Still managing to keep your lunch down?” asked Chakotay.
“Yes,” said Kathryn.
“I find it amazing that you haven’t gotten morning sickness yet,” said
Chakotay.
“I find it amazing that you find that amazing,” sighed Diama.
“Why’s that?” asked Kathryn.
“Human’s are one of the few species that I know of that actually get
morning sickness,” said Diama, “and there is a large percentage of pregnant
women who don’t get morning sickness.”
“How many?” asked Chakotay.
“Probably almost 25%,” said Diama. Chakotay humped.
“Don’t feel bad Chakotay,” sighed Kathryn, “you can have morning sickness
if you want it. I’ll probably get it eventually, so count your blessings.”
“I thought the saying was don’t count your chicks before they’ve hatched,”
said Diama. Kathryn’s laughter broke the quiet of the afternoon.
A man dressed in green moved silently through the forest. Eyes jealously
followed the woman’s form, as she leaned against the man. And a griffin
too! Wouldn’t that be grand, kill a traitor, and a griffin, and get his
love back? He thought of his horse, waiting just a few yards away.

Kathryn was still laughing, when Diama uttered a low cough. Kathryn
quieted.
“Is something wrong?” she asked. Diama quickly hunkered down. She said
only one thing.
“The Duke.” Kathryn and Chakotay whirled as one.
Duke Nehin stood before them. He had a sword drawn, and was pointing it
at Chakotay. Kathryn made a soft cry, and collapsed to the ground.
Chakotay cursed Kathryn’s hormones as he dove away from the swipe of the
Duke’s sword. The Duke angrily threw the sword. It slashed Diama on the
forelegs. Diama screamed angrily, still hunkered on the ground. Chakotay
stumbled to his feet, turning to glance at Diama, just briefly if she was
alright. Diama’s eyes widened and she screeched again. Chakotay whirled.
The Duke and Kathryn were gone. He could hear the gallop of hooves.
“Diama, we have to stop him!” cried Chakotay. Diama was already picking
up Chakotay with her beak, and depositing him on her back.
“Hold on!” she cried, and launched herself into the air, “we’re going to
have to fly, because I can’t run with my forelegs torn to shreds.”
Chakotay knew she was exaggerating, but it didn’t matter. They had lost
the Duke.
“Where are they?” called Chakotay, as they dove low over the treetops.
“I don’t know!”
“We’re going to have to be waiting for him at his castle!”
“What if he doesn’t take her there?”
“He will,” said Chakotay, “he will.”

The Duke kicked the main door to his castle open. He shoved Kathryn in
front of him. She gave an angry, and pained cry as her left shoulder
cracked against the hard floor of the main hall. She rolled onto her back.
“Thought you could get away, hmm?” sneered the Duke, “well, you were
wrong. Running away with that man, when you know damn well that you belong
here. HERE!!” Kathryn tried to sit up, but couldn’t. She stared up
hopelessly at the ceiling. At the endless expanse of glass that formed the
skylight.

They zoomed over the Duke’s castle. The trip had taken longer than
expected.
“You’re going to have to stall when I tell you to,” called Chakotay.
“Are you crazy?” Diama yelled back.
“Just stall when I tell you to, okay?”
“Okay!”
“Now!”
“Now?”
“YES!!!”

Kathryn stared up at the skylight. A smile came to her face.
“My hero,” she mumbled, rolling onto her side, curling into a ball as best
she could.
The skylight shattered into a million pieces as the huge force of Chakotay
and Diama plummeting to the ground hit it. Diama unfurled her wings again,
slowly her decent. She dropped Chakotay to the ground, zooming down the
hall, trying to slow her speed. Chakotay pulled Kathryn, whose was covered
in shards of glass, off the ground. He turned back to the Duke, who had
found another sword.
“Think you can try and save her again?” laughed the Duke, “good luck.”
“Luck happens to be on my side,” said Chakotay, pulling Kathryn back to
the ground. They were buzzed by Avion, who had descended from above. He
slammed into the Duke, who went flying. Avion turned and landed in front
of Kathryn.
“Kattrin,” he said, proudly beating his wings. Kathryn laughed.
“Yes, thank you Avion,” she said. Chakotay stood again, picking up the
Duke’s sword. He walked down to where the Duke lay. Chakotay nudged the
Duke’s body.
After a moment, he turned, “he’s dead.” Avion helped Kathryn up. Diama
landed behind them, panting.
“Good flying Diama,” said Chakotay.
“Do you think you could find something to wrap my feet in?” she wheezed.
“Will do,” said Chakotay, “you stay here Kathryn, I’ll be right back.”
Chakotay ran off down the hall, Avion on his tail. Kathryn stood with her
hands on her hips, peering around the hall.
“It won’t be long before the guards get here,” she said softly.
“What are you going to do?” whispered Diama.
“I’m just wondering how much gold the Duke had hidden in his pantry,” said
Kathryn. Diama had no idea what Kathryn was talking about.
“I’ll be right back,” promised Kathryn, pulling open a door. Diama caught
a whiff of stale bread.
“Be careful,” she said. Kathryn reappeared a few moments later, carrying
two cloth sacks. She shook them. Diama heard the jingle of gold coins.
“I am being careful,” Kathryn said, a dazed look on her face, “very
careful.” She set the bags down. “Come look.” Diama stuck her head in
the doorway. In the dim light, she could see, behind sacks of flour, the
unmistakenable form of bags, identical to the ones at her feet.
“There is a lot of gold in her,” said Diama.
“I think we deserve it,” said Kathryn absently.
“Maybe you should ask Chakotay.”
“Ask me what?” Chakotay appeared at the door, rolls of linen in his
hands. He spotted the bags. “Oh my lord.”
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Kathryn stood with her arms crossed.
“I think so,” said Chakotay, turning to Diama, “how much weight do you
think you can carry?”
“How much can you load me up with?” Diama would have been grinning, if she
could.
“All of it,” whispered Kathryn.

“Can’t you slow up?” panted Diama, as she flew behind Avion, who carried
Kathryn and Chakotay. Twenty bags of gold were tied to her back.
“You said to put as much weight on as we could,” called back Chakotay,
laughing.
“That money is going to keep us secure for a very long time,” said
Kathryn.
“This money is going to be the death of me,” whined Diama.
“How did you know the gold was there?” Chakotay asked Kathryn.
“I remembered having to go in that pantry once,” she said, “and I saw one
of the sacks of gold. The Duke saw that I saw it, and offhandedly told me
that there was enough gold in that room to buy twenty-three million roses.”
“How much does the average rose go for these days?” Chakotay asked.
Kathryn shrugged.
“Let’s just say that the gold on Diama’s back is worth enough that it
could have cancelled out the United States’ debt back in the twentieth
century,” called Kathryn. Chakotay whistled.
“That’s a lot of money,” said Chakotay.
“I know,” grinned Kathryn.
“Don’t you feel even the smallest bit guilty about stealing the Duke’s
gold?” called Diama.
“Strangely enough, no,” said Kathryn.
“You know, we can have a really big lodge built with that money,” said
Chakotay.
“We can have a really big house built with that money,” said Kathryn.
“And a really big pub.”
“And a really big house for Loreen and Jake.”
“And for Avion and Diama,” Chakotay laughed.
“You’d really do that?” called Diama, “build us a mew?”
“Sure,” called Kathryn, “why not?”
“I thought we were going to stay low key,” mocked Chakotay.
“You’re right,” said Kathryn, “okay, so everything won’t be too big or
extravagant. But we can live well.”
“That’s better,” said Chakotay. He leaned forward, and kissed Kathryn on
the cheek, “so how are you?”
“What do you mean?”
“The baby.”
“Oh, I think she’s just fine,” said Kathryn.
“She?” Chakotay raised a brow.
“Yeah,” said Kathryn, “she. Why can’t it be a she?”
“Why can’t it be a he?” Chakotay asked. Kathryn laughed.
“Because I want a girl,” she said.
“Last time I checked, there was no way to be certain,” said Chakotay.
Kathryn shrugged.
“Well, I think it’s going to be a girl. I have a feeling…” Kathryn
drifted off.
“Mother’s intuition?”
“Something like that,” smiled Kathryn, “do you want a boy?”
“Well… I’m not saying that I don’t want a girl. In fact, I think a girl
would be nice. Especially if she’s as beautiful as her mother.”
“Thank you,” said Kathryn.
“I just better get a boy next time,” laughed Chakotay.

END PART THREE

DISCLAIMER: SAME AS PART I, II AND III
Lineage
Part Four
By: Sforzando

Kathryn had her baby half a year later. A healthy, screaming baby girl.
Just like Kathryn had predicted, and much to Chakotay’s joy. They named
her Maria Rose Fieaway. Chakotay and Kathryn had decided to take that last
name shortly after they were married, as to keep any future suspicion down.
The Rose in Maria’s name was suggested by Diama, as a reminder of how
their lives had grown together in the first place.
The lodge had been finished ten days before Maria’s birth. It was just
after their first night in their new home that Kathryn went into labor.
The labor itself was short, but extremely painful.
“And how are the two most beautiful women on the planet doing this
morning?” Chakotay cooed. He had become such a doting father, almost to
the point where he became annoying.
“We’re fine,” sighed Kathryn.
“Something wrong?” asked Chakotay, sitting on the edge of their bed. He
ran a hand over Kathryn’s hair, smoothing it.
“No, just tired,” she said.
“Well that’s understandable,” said Chakotay, “how long do you think it’ll
be before you’re on your feet again?”
“Maybe tomorrow,” said Kathryn. Chakotay smiled. Kathryn’s eyes were
already half-closed.
“You should get some more rest first,” said Chakotay. His words were lost
on Kathryn, she was already asleep. Chakotay took his week-old daughter
from her mother’s arms, and carried her outside.
“See Maria? That-” see pointed to the break in the trees, “that is a
sunrise. Next to the sunset, and you and your mother, it’s the most
beautiful part of my day.” Maria squirmed in Chakotay’s arms. “Ah yes, I
know, I know, you could care less. But someday you will care, someday.”

The years passed. Four, to be more exact. Maria grew into a near
spitting image of her mother. She had the same face, and spent so much
time helping Kathryn that she began to pick up her mother’s mannerisms.
Maria had deep blue eyes, lined with her father’s long lashes, and straight
dark brown hair. She was also as hard-hearted, stubborn, and strong willed
as her mother.
Kathryn also had another baby, a girl, that they named Julia Anne Fieaway.
She exhibited more of her father’s traits. Julia had curly jet black
hair, and her father’s narrow eyes, except they were her mother’s blue.
She was also, strangely enough, fully colorblind. The world to Julia
existed in shades of grey. But the world was just as beautiful to her in
black and white as it was to her father in color, so Chakotay did not mourn
this fact much. Julia could distinguish the difference between the sunset
and sunrise, and the difference between the leaves of spring and fall.
And Kathryn was pregnant again.

The day the strangers arrived was warm and sunny. They opened the door
marked “office”, and entered the office of the Fieaway Lodge. The name
also threw them off too, because they were searching for someone, but not
in realization that they had come to the right place. A short, shout woman
was sweeping the wooden floor, and greeted the entering trio with a warm
smile.
“Ah, hello, may I be of some help to yah?” she said.
“Um, I think so,” said the first stranger.
“Can we get a room?” the second stranger, a woman, barged into the
conversation.
“Ay, yes, let me get the manager,” the woman said. She went back through
a curtained door. The second stranger noticed the curiosity in the woman’s
eyes. They heard the woman call, “aye, Miss, couple o’ new ones we gots.
Yup, they’ve never passed by here afore.”
“I’m coming,” said another, low, female voice. The strangers did not
recognize the voice, nor did they recognize the voice’s owner as she
entered the office. The entering woman, however, recognized the strangers,
and paused, mouth gaping slightly, before stepping up to greet them.
“Hello,” said the second stranger, “we’re in need of a room.”
“Just one?” the woman raised a brow, ambling back to the desk in the
corner of the room. Ambling was the right word, because the woman was
very, about seven months, pregnant. As she turned her back, the strangers
stopped to take a look at her. Aside from being very pregnant, the woman
had long brown hair that flowed down her back, streaked with grey and
blonde, from a combination of age and exposer to the sun. The woman’s skin
was bronzed, and she bore a small tatoo on her right shoulder, which was
exposed through the cut of the dress. The first stranger was staring.
The second stranger hit the first, hissing, “Paris!” The woman turned
back to the strangers, smiling.
“From Paris, did you say? That would explain your clothes. They do wear
such strange things in France,” she picked up a small book from the desk.
The woman, though the strangers didn’t realize it, was extremely talented
at playing dumb, though she wasn’t.
“Um, yeah, Paris,” said the second. The third stranger had remained at
the door unmoving. The woman’s eyes traveled warily from stranger to
stranger, pausing longest on the silent third.
“I have two rooms,” said the woman, “would you prefer top or bottom
floor?”
“Top,” said the third stranger. The woman smiled.
“Alright then,” she said, “I’ll get my husband to take you to your room.
I’m in no condition to going up those stairs, you know. Loreen’s such a
dear, she cleans all the upstairs rooms for me.” The woman smiled,
offering a hand to the second stranger. “My name is Kathryn Fieaway, and
my husband… well, where did he go? Excuse me.” The woman walked back
through the curtained door. The three strangers looked at each other.
“Kathryn?” the first one said softly. The second shrugged. They heard
the another door open, and Kathryn call,
“CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-KOOOOOOOOOOO-TAAAAAAAAAAAAAYEAY!” It was then the
second’s mouth hung open. They heard a whistle, then a male voice.
“I’m coming, I’m coming,” the male voice said.
“Got a group you need to show to their room upstairs,” Kathryn said. The
strangers heard some undecipherable whispering.
“Okay,” the man said. As he entered the room, the second stranger let out
a whoop.
“Chakotay!? Omigod! Is that really you?” B’Elanna Torres screeched,
practically jumping on top of him.
“B’Elanna?” the curious voice of Chakotay.
“Yeah!” Kathryn started laughing.
“I can’t believe you guys actually thought we’d never recognize you.
Walking around in Starfleet uniforms like that,” Kathryn laughed.
“Well, we didn’t recognize you,” said Tom Paris. Kathryn gave him a hug,
then turned to Tuvok.
“It is good to see you again Captain,” said Tuvok. Kathryn cringed.
“Please don’t bother calling me that,” she said.
“Captain, you’re pregnant!” said Torres. Kathryn laughed again.
“Like I didn’t know that,” she smiled, “do you all still need that room?”
“Well, yeah, I guess,” said Paris.
“I’ll take you up there,” said Chakotay, “but you all are going to have to
join us for dinner.”
“We will,” said Torres. Chakotay led them upstairs.

“I’m not sure who should go first, you guys or us,” said Torres, sitting
at the dinner table.
“When did you get married? When did you have kids?” Paris shot off
questions.
“How did this happen in the first place?” asked Kathryn. Torres smoothed
the blue fabric of the dress Kathryn had lent her. Paris and Tuvok had
also changed.
“Well,” Torres started, “the day you two disappeared, we were working on
aligning the warp core. We’re still not really sure what happened, but
there was some sort of cascade. One moment you two were standing there,
the next…”
“We were gone,” Chakotay said softly.
“Momma, what’s a warp core?” Maria asked, sitting on the other side of the
table.
“Please shush for moment Maria,” Kathryn said softly.
“Why don’t you help Julia get the pie?” Chakotay said to Maria.
“Okay!” Maria hopped out of her chair, helping her sister, “come on,
Dadda wants us to get the dessert.” The two girls disappeared into the
kitchen.
“Well,” Torres began again, “we studied the sensor data for months, but
all we could find was that the warp cascade caused a temporal loop, and you
got caught in it. We worked on trying to find you two for almost a year
and a half, but we finally had to give you up as lost.” Torres frowned,
staring down at the table.
“And?” Chakotay prodded.
“And,” said Paris, seeing that Torres wasn’t about to continue, “we
continued on our way for two more years, before we ran into the Undiranets.
They had some strange technology that we barter for. Initially we were
looking for some part for the main computer grid. But Torres-.”
“I stumbled across something in the Undiranets’ technology that somehow
was able to shift temporal and linear space, even thought the Undiranets
had never used it for that,” said Torres.
“What did it do?” asked Kathryn.
“It is really difficult to explain,” Torres said, rubbing her chin, “but
the simplest way would be this: Imagine that linear time extends forward
and backward, indefinitely. Within the time line, for each moment in time,
there exists a point for every point in the universe.”
“That’s a big thing to imagine,” said Kathryn.
“I know,” said Torres, “now, if something happened, like the warp cascade,
it might break off a small line on the time line, probably big enough to
contain our galaxy. If the time line is twisted backwards, to make a loop,
then wherever the two lines cross, a shift will occur, allowing something
from the smaller line to cross onto the larger line.”
“Like a line intersecting a plane,” said Chakotay.
“Yeah,” said Torres, “and the shift would occur at that one point in time
and place. It was by pure chance that you were sent a thousand years back
in time, to Earth.”
“We could have landed anywhere, anytime,” whispered Kathryn. Torres
nodded.
“We think that there might be some sort of attraction between different
times and places,” she said, “but, the intersection would only occur for a
few seconds, half a minute at most. After that, the line twists forward
again, and rejoins with the original plane. It’s in this way that no
alternate dimensions are ever formed. And this kind of break can only send
things back in time. We can’t just go back to right before the accident,
because there is a risk that if two lines open too closely to each other,
then there might some terrible side effects.”
“But then how did the Undiranets’ technology come into play?” asked
Chakotay.
“Using part of their technology, we went back into the old sensor logs
form your disappearance,” said Torres, “and were able to pin-point when and
where in time you were. The Undiranets’ technology allowed us to form an
artificial break from the main time line. We were able to direct the line
back to Earth’s point, and then back to the relative time where we thought
you’d be. This was our fourth try.”
“You mean to say that with this technology you can go anywhere in the
universe, more specifically, you can go back to Earth?” Kathryn was
intrigued.
“Yes,” said Torres.
“Then why didn’t you?”
“We wanted to find you guys first,” said Torres.
“That’s very touching,” Chakotay noted with light sarcasm.
“How long until you have to go back to Voyager?” asked Kathryn.
“That’s the tricky thing,” said Torres, “we’ve been having difficulty
pinpointing exact time; we can open the line once, then it will close, but
we can record those exact coordinates, and reopen the line. But the
coordinates will be slightly off, and they will go to a different time,
ahead in time, because in the 24th century we’re still progressing forward.
So the amount of time covered between our time and yours will always be
the same. The device we used takes almost two days to recharge, so two
days will pass before the line opens again here.”
“Gives us plenty of time to choose our actions,” Kathryn said softly,
watching her daughters reenter the room, carrying a large pie. She
absently ran a hand over her belly. Torres noted the small glint of
sadness in her former Captain’s eyes.
“You know Captain,” Torres said softly, “you can go back to Voyager, and
decided whether or not you want to stay here or there.” Kathryn looked at
Torres, then nodded.
“I might do that,” she said.

That night, Chakotay and Kathryn lay in bed. Kathryn was crying softly,
her head buried in Chakotay’s chest. He ran a comforting hand down her
back, still marveling at how soft Kathryn’s hair was after all this time.
“Why, Chakotay? Why?,” Kathryn sobbed, “why, after all this time, why did
they come to take us back?”
“You don’t want to go back?” Chakotay said softly.
“I don’t think so,” she sobbed.
“Do you want to go back to Voyager?”
“Yes… I need to say good-bye to her properly.”
“It would have to be secretive, no one but Torres, Paris, and Tuvok could
know.”
“I know.”
“Why don’t you want to return to the 24th century?” Chakotay smiled into
Kathryn’s forehead. She swallowed.
“I just don’t think I belong there anymore,” Kathryn said softly, “and I
don’t think… I don’t think I could take Maria and Julia away from here.
I just can’t get up and leave this life behind.”
“That’s the answer I was waiting for,” Chakotay whispered.
“The decision isn’t mine alone,” said Kathryn.
“To me it is, because whatever makes you happy, makes me even happier,”
Chakotay stroked her back again. Kathryn sighed.
“Then we’ll go back to Voyager, do anything that needs to be done…”
“Maybe get the Doctor to look at your baby, off the record…”
“Maybe… and then, we come back. It’s the best option.”
“Yes,” Chakotay said softly. He thought quietly for a few minutes. “Do
you think Torres and the others will be terribly upset at this?”
“At little, maybe,” Kathryn said, “but I think they’ll understand, in the
long run.”

“I understand,” Torres said softly.
“What?” Paris looked up from his report.
“I understand why they had to stay behind,” Torres moved to sit next to
him.
The former Captain and Commander of the USS Voyager had returned to their
ship for two days. The Doctor had inspected them, and declared them to be
in good health, giving the couple a few vaccinations and such, and taking a
look at the baby in Kathryn’s womb. Everything had checked out. Kathryn
and Chakotay had went through their respective quarters, which had
surprisingly remained untouched for almost four years. The rooms would be
cleaned out, the few belongings left behind would be pack up and given to
the proper relatives when Voyager finally returned to Earth, which wouldn’t
be long now. The crew in Engineering was already working on recharging the
devices, and tracking the proper coordinates.
Torres had hugged Kathryn and Chakotay goodbye, as did Paris and Tuvok.
Torres knew Tuvok had given Kathryn a few things, to be remembered by, as
did Paris, and eventually she herself. After the hugs, Torres had operated
the line opening device, and she, Tuvok and Paris were the sole witnesses
of this event. Even the memory of his checking over the Captain and
Commander had been wiped from the Doctor’s ‘mind’. Torres’ heart had
broken watching them go, knowing that the moment the rift closed, Kathryn
and Chakotay were effectively dead. Again.
“Tell me,” said Paris softly.
“They couldn’t come back, for one thing, because it wouldn’t be right.
And…” Torres couldn’t focus, “and, by staying behind, she still secured
her lineage’s future.”
“I don’t think I follow.”
“I’m not sure I do either,” said Torres, “but… when she stayed behind
and began to raise her family, they were living at the same time that their
ancestors were living, that part of their family line was living then too.
But when Chakotay and the Captain were sent back in time, their lineage
effectively ended. Yet, as they went back, the lineage started over, still
living with the first part of it, and the Captain and Chakotay’s
descendants are probably still living today. So the lineage continues.”
“Interesting,” said Paris.
“And it works, even though she probably never realized it or intended it,”
said Torres.
“Computer,” Paris said suddenly, turning on the nearby monitor, “show all
Starfleet files containing the last name ‘Fieaway’.”
The monitor spewed out several dozen documents, which Paris scrolled
through, before stopping.
“There,” he said, pointing to a line on the screen. Torres leaned over,
reading.
“Maria Katrina Fieaway, former Admiral…” she drifted off.
“Look at the photo,” said Paris.
“My Gods, I see the resemblance,” said Torres.
“The eyes,” said Paris.
Maria Katrina Fieaway’s eyes were the same as Kathryn Janeway’s had been,
bright sparking blue, issuing a challenge to the galaxy.

Kathryn and Chakotay sat, watching the sunset. Thomas Torres Fieaway sat
in her lap, and Julia and Maria were squeezed between their parents. The
autumn wind rustled the leaves in the trees, golden to some, grey to
others, yet beautiful in the eyes of all.

The End… of the Beginning…

END PART FOUR
END STORY