"Emily? Are you alright?" asked Evon with a worried and a painful expression on the young woman.
"Huh? Oh...I'm fine" answered a calm Emily."Why?"
"Then can you explained why are you clutching my hand?" asked Evon who was in pain as she felt Emily nails on her flesh.
Emily immediately let go of Evon hand "I'm so sorry Evon...it's just that...well...I guess I'm nervous about meeting the admiral, that's all"
Evon nodded understandbelly. " You know Emily...I used to be in the same situation like you"
Emily looked at her, surprised. "Don't give me that look Em." Evon said as she gently rubbed her painful spot on her hand.
"Sorry" Emily answered, barely a whisper.
"Anyway...I was really dead nervous like what you are going through right now. I didn't know what to do at the beginning but I realize, it is always the first time for a new reporter to meet the legendary person..."
"How did it went on your first day?" asked Emily unexpectedly
"She fainted" answered a third person in the room with a chuckle, startling both Emily and Evon.
"May!" said Evon as she stood up and walked over to the young woman. "May? What are you doing here? Don't tell me you got to interview the admiral too?"
The young woman smiled at her old friend and nodded to her. "Yep. It was a short noticed." She said " I never realize I get to meet the admiral herself in person. Anyway, are you surprise to see me?"
" Of course! It's been so long since I last heard of you...oh..." she stopped as she remembered Emily, the young reporter that she companies for the interview. "Emily, let me introduce a very dear friend of mine. Emily, meet May. May, meet Emily"
Both women shook hand with a smile before Evon lead May to the couch where she and Emily were sitting a while ago. As soon as they sat, the door to the room whooshed open and reveals an old woman and a young lady accompanied her.
The trio stood up to greet the old woman and the young lady to sit on the couch across them where they were sitting.
"Admiral, thank you for coming in a short notice" Evon started "It is a great honor for us to finally meet you in person"
"Yes Admiral" agreed may "For a minute there I thought you would refuse for an interview" she added as she shook her hand with the admiral and the young woman next to her.
The old woman smiled at the three young woman" It is an honor of mine to be here too. Lucky for me that I didn't refuse this interview or I won't be able to meet three fine young ladies" The admiral then turned to looked at the young lady who accompanied her. "Phoebe...maybe you want to go for a walk around the city? It's going to take a while" she suggested to the young woman.
Phoebe looked at her grandmother and shook her head. "No nanny, I want to stay here with you. Besides, I want to know all about the Delta Quadrate that I had heard so much about. It may get interesting" The young woman smiled cheerfully at her.
The old woman smiled warmly at her granddaughter. " Very well, I did warned you that it's going to take a while though and don't fuss about it when you get bore"
"Nanny!"
The old woman gave out a chuckle before she turned her attention back to the three young women who sat across of her with a smile waiting to be interview. "Alright...before we starts, how about letting me know your name for starter?" she said before sitting down on the couch.
*****
It seems it was a while ago since the admiral arrived but it was almost two hours after the interview began.
Evon slump on the couch with a whistle. "Wow! That is sure one hell of an adventure you had there, admiral."
"Ya" agreed Emily " How were you able to arrived safely back to the Alpha Quadrate?"
The old woman smiled at the young lady who had been so quiet a while ago when the other two reporters asked the question as she quietly listened to her as she answered their questions. "We found a wormhole after our six years journey after we were lost. We found that the wormhole leads back to the Alpha Quadrate and here I am now, forty five years later, an old woman."
"It must be a very wonderful experience, isn't it admiral?" asked Emily again
The admiral face suddenly change into a sad expression, with a single tear slowly escaping at the corner of her eyes.
Promise me
"Nanny? Are you alright?" asked Phoebe, concern. " Do you want to end it here?" she said as she put an arm around the elderly woman shoulder.
Promise me that you will live on for me
" I'm alright my dear" The old woman said as she wiped her tears away. She turned to look at Emily who was worried that she might have said something to upset her.
"I'm sorry Em, I...I guess it's that I suddenly remember an old friend of mine. Do you mind me calling you Em for short?" asked the admiral
Emily shook her head " Not at all admiral. You don't have to answer my question if it is uncomfortable for you ."
The old woman smiled warmly at the Emily. She was almost the same age as her granddaughter. " It's alright Em. I won't mind answering that question. Yes. It was the best experience I ever had when we were lost in the Delta Quadrate. We were the first ship and crew to visits interesting planets and meeting new species..."
She stopped as she started to examining at her hand "...and also the worst" almost a whisper "... when you have to be so far away from your family you loved, thinking that you would never be able to see them again. I lost a lot of good people on that mission when I was asked to go after the Marquis."
The admiral let out a heavy sigh. Phoebe looked at her, concern about the old woman "Nanny, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to"
She shook her head to her, "No Phoebe, I think I want to share it with all of you. It's been so long since I last shared it with someone" she said as she clasped her hand tightly on the young woman hand. Phoebe nodded to her before she continued.
"You know what is the best thing about being lost in the Delta Quadrat?" she asked them
All shook their head. She smiled as she thought of him. "It was able to fall in love and...and also learned to loved and cared for all the member of the crew... like a family that you never imagined that you would ever will as a Captain." She took a deep breath before she looked at the three women sitting across her and her granddaughter next to her..
" Would you like to hear about it?" asked the old woman
The three women nodded. " Yes admiral, we love to"
"Call me Kathryn. It's been a while since someone call me my first name."
Evon smiled as she and the other companion nodded. "Yes Kathryn...we love to hear about it"
"Well..." she started "... It all begins when we were lost in the Delta Quadrate and the Marquis joined the crew when they sacrificed their ship to save ours. You must have heard all about this. It was difficult for the Marquis and the starfleet to settle down so I make the biggest decision. I asked the leader of the Marquis to become my first officer. I guess I make that decisiond so that I'm will show them I'll going to be fair and squard to the Marquis. It was very complicated at first but we manage because two years later, we were all like a family." She stopped as she licked her lips before she continued " But what I'm going to tell you is about after our five years journey in the Delta Quadrate...."
*****
*Chirp*
"Come in." she called out. She didn't looked up as she continued reading the report. When the person didn't attempts to speak, she looked up to meet her first officer gaze.
" For a minute there I thought I was an invisible man" teased Chakotay as he leaned on the corner of the desk.
Kathryn gently put down the report that she was reading on the desk and smiled at her first officer "I'm sorry Chakotay. I was reading the report that Tuvok gave me a while ago. It was very...amusing"
Chakotay raised his eyebrow at the Captain. "Amusing? Tuvok? Okay, what have you done to my Captain?"
Kathryn couldn't help but to chuckle " I'm sorry. It is highly authorize, only the Captain and the person who wrote the report knows about it. I have to leave you out for your imagination Commander"
"What? Leave me out from it? Oh come on Captain, can't you just give me a hint?" said Chakotay, showing his famous innocent puppy looks.
Kathryn looked at Chakotay before she finally gave up. "Oh alright...but you have to promise me that you won't tell a single soul."
"Cross my heart and hope to die" Chakotay swear
The Captain shook her head at her first officer. Here goes nothing, she thought to herself. " It had something to do with one of Tom little prank."
"Why wasn't I surprise?" question Chakotay as he slumped on the chair across his Captain
" It seems that our friend here had gone overboard with one of his tricks again." She said with a chuckle "Well..." she continued "I'm sure that you haven't seen Tuvok when you walked into the bridge, right?" she asked as she tried to hide a chuckle.
Chakotay nodded. "In a matter of speaking, you are right. I haven't seen him at all the whole day. What happen?"
The Captain coughed out as she speak "I think that Tom had accidentently filled Tuvok hair condition bottle with color perm as he thought it belongs to Harry when Tom was in his quarters and ...." The Captain couldn't finish as she started to laugh out load as the thought of her poor friend.
When she has finally calmed down, Chakotay asked her to continued although he knows what will actually happen next.
"Uh hum....as I was saying..." she said with a chuckle "Tuvok had to get used to seeing his hair in pink for a week or more. You should see him Chakotay when he came by yesterday in my quarters. I was ordering a cup of coffee when he suddenly dropped by. I couldn't stop staring at him before I finally burst out laughing. Big mistake because I wasted a cup of good coffee as I dropped it on the floor" Tears were sliding down at the corner of her eyes.
Chakotay handed her a tissue for her as she wiped her tears away "Thank you Chakotay. Anyway...you know what's the most funny part of it?"
"What?" he asked, curious as it was getting very interesting coming from the Captain.
" He said ' I don't find any logical for this amusing pranks that Lieutenant Paris had, but I find it very troublesome for me to be on duty tomorrow until I find a way to solve the problem' before he handed me his report and leaves my quarters immediately. You should see one of the Ensigns when he left my quarters. As soon as he saw Tuvok, he couldn't help but to laughed at him before he was rolled on the floor, still laughing at Tuvok. Of course I had to pitied Tuvok but also the poor Ensign, he had to be send to the sickbay when he develop a very bad ache."
The Captain then stood up from her seats as she tried to walked to the replicator as she find that she was having trouble walking steadily. "Would you like to have something to drink Chakotay? My treat"
" Tea will be fine Captain" he replied as he walked to the couch and waited as the Captain handed him the drink before sitting herself next to him.
As Chakotay took a sip on his tea, he couldn't help wondering about the poor Ensign " I guess the Doctor must find this very amusing."
Kathryn shook her head as she slowly and gently tried not to spill the coffee. "Well, it was at the beginning but it seems later that he had to relieved Tuvok to his quarters. It seems that more than thirty, and I mean THIRTY of our crew members develop the same problem after our first Ensigh was sent to sickbay until Tuvok find a way to solve the problem with his hair before he was allowed to leave his quarters"
The Captain then burst out laughing again as the thought of the Doctor address her a while later after Tuvok left her quarters. Chakotay joined her laughter as well. Both were laughing like schoolchildren. They were unable to hear the doorchime as both were laughing out loud.
It took them a moment later before they heard the doorchime. The Captain didn't try to hide her laughter as she called out " Cco..come...come in"
The small Talaxian walked in with a Padd on his hand with a very cheerful mood as always. When he saw both the commanding officers were laughing, he couldn't help wondering what was that all about. " Captain?"
"Ne..Neelix...wh..what can...I do for you?" asked the Captain who was desperately trying to control herself from laughing.
"Uhh...I was wondering about...Captain, Commander, are you sure both of you are alright?" asked Neelix,worried that the two commanding officer may both suffering the same condition as the thirty crew which was awarded to sickbay after seeing Tuvok. He heard that it had something to do with the color of his hair?
"No...We...we are fine Neelix...we were just...what did you wanted to see me about?" changing the subjeck as she slowly calmed down.
Neelix looked at the Captain then to the Commander who was still trying desperately to calmed down before looking at the Captain "Well, it is about the next talent night and..."
"Is it next week already?" asked the Commander who finally calmed down
"Uhh...yes. it is. As I was saying, Captain, are you going to perform on that day?" asked Neelix hopefully, with his finger crossed on his back.
The Commander than looked at his Captain with a grin "So Captain, are you going to perform on that night with one of your most famous dying swam performance again?"
The Captain raised an eyebrow at her first officer before she gives him a wicked grin. "In a matter of fact, yes, and a certain officer will be performing on that night too"
Chakotay gave the Captain a curious look. Then only he realized what it meant. Before he was able to protest, it was too late as she beats him to it. " Neelix, Not only will I be going to peform on that night but also my first officer will be joining as well"
Neelix face showed many emotions. Surprise, exited, amused and was that a grin that he saw on the Talaxian face?
" Oh Captain, this is going to be the best talent night with our two commanding officer performing that night. I can't wait to tell the crew about it."
Before Chakotay could said a single word, Neelix had left the ready room in a speed of light. He turned to look at the Captain who was trying desperately to hide a chuckle before she burst out another laughter. It was going to be a good week for the Captain, thought Chakotay as he watched his Kathryn laughed with the most beautiful thing in the world. He joined her laughter again as the thought of the poor Vulcan. He wondered as he thought of dropping by later on the Vulcan's quarter later after the shift.
Laughter can be heard from the Bridge as the crew stopped as they looked at the ready room before continued with their duty with a smile.
*****
* A week later *
As Chakotay stood outside of the messhall, he wondered again was it a good idea to go in. For a minute he wanted to turn and walk away but decided to against it. It was useless hiding from them. He closed his eyes for a minute and prayed before he stepped in.
Speak of the devil, as soon as he stepped into the messhall less then a second, B'Elanna walked up to him with a wide grin on her face. " It seems that a particular officer will be performing on the talent night, do you happen to know who?"
Chakotay gave B'Elanna 'none-of-your-business' looks before he went to an empty table after taking a tray of meal that Neelix had offered him. He thought that she would leave him in peace but he was wrong. After sitting down less than a minute, B'Elanna, Tom and Harry quickly walked up to him and sat down next to him.
"So Chakotay" Tom began " What are you going to perform tomorrow night?" asked the young Lieutenant with an innocent look while the young Ensign tried to hide a chuckle.
"Ya old man" said B'Elanna " Are you going to tell us what are you going to perform? I heard that the Captain will be performing the dying swam, do you happen to be the prince who happen to drop by and save her?"
Chakotay gave all of them a stare before he calmly smiled at them as he pushed the plates away that he was eating, " It seems that the Jeffries tube needs their cleaning up and the Captain had asked me to be in charge of ordering three special crew to clean it up. I was wondering... where can I find them? Maybe you can help me out with this one" he asked, pretending to ignored his three friends who was smiling and grinning a while ago had change into a serious look.
"Uhh...I think I am needed in the engineering. Uhh...nice chatting with you Commander. I...I'll see you guys later. Bye" before B'Elanna Torres left the messhall leaving the two young men on their own.
One down, two to go. "So...as I was saying...there were two crew I was thinking..."
He stopped at midsentence as his communicator chirped. "Janeway to Chakotay"
Chakotay tapped his com-badge "Chakotay here, what can I do for you Captain?" he asked as he wondered what the Captain wanted.
" May I see you a moment Commander?" She said "I hope I didn't bother you"
"In a matter of fact, no. I can come right now." Replied Chakotay with a smile.
"Good, I'll see you a while in my quarter. Janeway out"
The communication ended. Chakotay stood up as he wiped his mouth with the napkin. "Well, it seems that the Jeffries tube won't be needing a clean up after all. I'll see you guys tomorrow on the bridge."
Both Tom and Harry watched as their Commander left the messhall without looking back before both left out a deep heavy sigh. "Man, that was close.We were that close cleaning up the Jeffries tube" pointed Harry to his friend
Tom didn't replied as he was staring at his plate with his head on his hand, deep in thoughts. He was grinning and Harry didn't like the look at it. "Tom...I hope you are not planning what I thought you are planning of getting the Captain and the Commander together"
" Harry, Harry ,Harry. Why would you said a thing like that to your dear old friend? I'm helping by getting them together. Trust me buddy. " Tom said with full confident on himself "Besides...it worked out very well with you and seven"
" Ya, it should did" Harry said with a smirk " I end up in sickbay with a broken nose while you have the most enjoyment entertainment and seven refused to speak to me almost a week." Harry sighed as the thought of the incident " Whatever you are planning Tom, you better be careful or you'll end up lock in the brig with the rest of your journey with Neelix cooking or you'll be lucky enough if the Captain decided to throw you out at the air lock"
"Who said that I'll be doing it alone?" grinned Tom again
Harry stared at his friend with his eyes widen as it is going to popped out before burrying his face on his hand.
*****
* chirp *
" Come in" Kathryn called out. "Chakotay,thanks for coming . There are something that I need to discuss about an important matter with you"
"Does it had something to do with the talent night ,which we are suppose to perform tomorrow night Captain?" asked Chakotay unexpectedly, hopping that she won't canceled it in the last minute.
" In a matter of fact, Yes" She said as she led him to the couch for them to sit down to discuss. The Captain knows what was the Commander thinking. "Chakotay, if you must be wondering why I called you so sudden because...well...I'm not sure how to say this but I think ..."
"You wanted to be out from the performance" he finished for her with a disappointed look
The Captain looked at him, shocked to think that she was cancelling the performance "Of course not Chakotay. I had been looking forward for the talent night since Neelix came into the ready room last week. Why would you say that it had something to do with me getting out? Commander?"
He let out a deep breath. "I'm sorry Captain, it's just that...well, for a minute there I thought you wanted to back out because...well...I..." he was toughed tide. For a minute there he was relieve to know that she wasn't going to quit but now he had to explaine why he thought of her quiting.
"Anyway..." changing the subjeck "Lets not talk about you thinking of me quiting, but the most important thing is...well...I don't know how to say this..."
"Go on Kathryn...it's alright. Tell me, maybe I can help you with it" Chakotay said as he clasped her hand with his. Kathryn looked deep into his deep brown beautiful eyes before she spoke
"Do you think you are able to lend me a few of your replicator ration? I had finished mine and I'm desprate for a cup of coffee"
Chakotay looked at her with of his eyebrow raised."You mean the emergency was a cup of coffee? I don't believe you. You must be addicted to it aren't you? You know that drinking too much coffee is bad for you and..."
He was unable to finish when she lifted up her hand to the air to surrender " All right mister, since you won't offer to help me, that's okay. I can always ask Neelix"
Chakotay chuckle as the Captain walked around the living room in circle as she grumble about the Doctor being concerned for her not having enough rest, her Vulcan friend concerned about her being over work and stressful of worrying about the ship and now the Commander concerned about her drinking too much coffee is bad for her health.
She stop pastering when she smell a familiar scent. She turned to looked and find her first officer replicated a coffee for her.
"You wanted coffee Captain?" he said as he handed the cup to her. He smiled as he watched her take her first sip of coffee that he replicated for her. She looked up at him and smiled to him. "Thank you Chakotay"
"You're welcome" he replied with a smile.
They stood there longer than they thought as both were gazing at each other eyes. Each were lost in thoughts before both were startled by the sound of the communicator.
The Captain quickly snapped out of her thoughts as she quickly tapped her com-badge. "Janeway here"
"Captain, can you come down to the engineering, there is something I need to show you"
It was B'Elanna. She sounded urgent. "I'm on my way, Janeway out" she looked at Chakotay and shrugger, "Well, duty call."
"Ya...duty call" he sounded dissapointed. Kathryn looked at Chakotay closely before she smiled. The next thing Chakotay knows, the Captain gave him a kiss on the cheek."Thank you for the cup of coffee Chakotay. You are a life safer" she said before she leaves Chakotay in her quarters alone, surprised and very confused.
*****
Applause can be heard outside of the holodeck as the show ended. As all the contentest slowly came out one by one, each were welcomed with an louder applause. Tom the magiciann with his tricks. Harry and his clarinet with little Naomi singing. The delaney sister with their skills on dancing. Everyone was great in their performance but the star of the show was the two commanding officer.
Chakotay came out behind the curtain after Ensign Sue. Everyone cheered as he came out. The cheered and the applause grew louder as the star of the night came out. Their Captain with her talented dying swam performance. Both commanding officer stood infront with all the crew cheering, still applausing.
" Are you ready Harry?" asked Tom
Harry gave him a nervous look, nodded and prayed that he won't get in trouble by throwing him and Tom to the brig for the rest of their life.
"Ladies and Gentlemen" shouted Tom as he took the microphone from Neelix. " As I know that to anyone of you, the star of the night are our most beloved Captain and our Commander with their most skillful performance although I'm very surprised that the Commander can actually sing. Boy! Do I mean he sure can sing, right guy?" Everyone cheered, agreed with Tom.
Tom looked at his two commanding officer who was giving him suspisious look with thier eyebrow raised. " I know you guys must be wondering what I'm up to this time. Well, sorry to dissapoint you guys as I won't be up with one of my tricks which left one of our officer with his hair pink." Everyone laughed at his remark as they turned to looked at the chief of security who was raising his eyebrow.
Chakotay and Kathryn couldn't help but to chuckle at the remark that Tom had make. "So..." Tom continued "It is an honor of mine to present a special gift to our beloved Captain and the Commander. B'Elanna?"
B'Elanna walked up to the stage with a dozen of roses, beautifully wrapped with ribbons as she handed it to the Captain. The crew watched as their Captain accepts the gift with the most beautiful smile. Those who were able to catch a glimpse on the Captain on the stage, there were tears sliding down on her cheek, a tears with joy.
"Now...we can't forget about the Commander, do we?" Tom said as he looked at Harry who was standing behind the Captain, waiting for his signal.
When Harry received the signal from Tom, he gently pushed the Captain, causing her to trip as she accidently kissed Chakotay on the lips. Everyone cheered even louder with that. Both commandng officer face blushed with deep red as they parted their lips. Both looked away embrassed but deep down in them, they were glad for the young Lieutanant special gifts. A gift which got them closer, much closer.
*****
When the admiral opened her eyes, four sets of eyes looking at her, staring at her with surprised. All were speechless.
"What happen after that?" Phoebe managed to asked as she smiled at the old woman with a grin.
The admiral smiled and continued. "Well, after that night, I guess the crew didn't mind that their commanding officer seeing each other. Of course we had to thanked Tom and Harry for that although they took the chance even the risk of putting them behind the brig forever. Without their bravery, I don't think Chakotay and I would had our chances"
Her smile then faded as the thought of what happen a few days later after the talent night. Their happiness was cut short when they were attacked by an unknown alien.
" I guess the hardest part...was the fact that my happiness only lasted only a short while. Although it is only a short time I spent with Chakotay, it was enough for me to know that I had finally admitted to myself that I love him..."
*****
She was on the Bridge on that faithful day when the attackes begin. They were traveling in a safe space when it suddenly happened. The enemy suddenly appeared out from no where and started to firing at the ship.
It was all so sudden. She didn't know what happen next. All she could remembered was that she was on the floor with blood flowing out from her injuries with everyone on the floor.
On the floor lied her first officer and lover next to her. He didn't attempt to move as the ship was rocked with another blast on it, causing few of her crew to fly out from their console. Tom, Harry and Tuvok were lying around her, unconcious or possiblely dead.
Her hand tried to reached Chakotay but it was far away for her to reach it. She can hear a few explosion from the console as another blast attacked on the ship. She knew the ship won't be able to sustaine another blasts for it will blow the ship up.
Lying there with bodies lying around her, she knew it was hopeless to fight anymore. She watched helplessly as few of the remaining crew on the Bridge tried to fight the unknown alien that they were against at. She prayed that the fights would stop, anything to save her remaining crew.
Suddenly, everything stopped. The alien species had retreat as Voyager had finally won the battle. The captain smiled faintly as she heard the cheering from her crew that it had finally ended.
They stopped cheering as they realize it wasn't over yet. There were injured crewman which was needed to have medical assistance immediately. One by one they checked on their senior officer pulse to detain whether they were alive. Although she was not able to see, she can hear one of the Ensign burst out crying when she check that most of the senior officer was dead.
Harry, Tom, Seven...Chakotay ...all dead. Her life seems to end there. She didn't want to live anymore knowing that she had to fight alone without her first officer and lover.
"The Captain's alive! Quick, we better get her to the sickbay immediately"
One of the Ensigns was able to found a pulse from the Captain. It was very faint. The transporter room wasn't working and the crew had to carry her and the other injured crew to the sickbay on foot.
"Captain, please hang on...we need you...please don't leave us...please..."Kathryn heard them pleading to her to hang on as she and the others gently carried her to the sickbay before she knows no more.
*****
