The Fly Chronicles Part 3: HORNETS! by Celestia Hey look! It finally happened! I finished this thing! For those of you who don't exactly follow that, I've been writing this since the beginning of June.... I used to have a lengthy set of author's notes here, but after 5 months, it was a little *too* lengthy! But I would still like to thank a lot of people. This story wouldn't have gotten done without the likes of: Shorty- who was the 'official nagger' right from the start Jenna- who came in with suggestions and helped nag me halfway through Taryn- who gave me the ideas about the hornets in the first place after listening to me complain about swarming hornets, as well as nagging (notice a pattern, anyone?) Andrea- for reading a VERY rough draft or two, and saying "Whatever happened to that story about the flies and the hornets story?" everytime I mentioned some other story that I needed to write. Also, thanks to all the people above as well as the people from jr7, jr8, & stvstories for beta-ing! DiSCLAiMER: I don't own Star Trek, as much as I'd like to, and Paramount doesn't own this story, not that they'd want this piece of insanity anyhow. One last note..... WARNING! This one isn't quite as happy as the last two, and you may want a Kleenex or two handy...I also find it a bit angsty, but everyone who's read it so far doesn't seem to mind...tell me what you think! PLEASE?! I'm down on my knees here....celestia@innocent.com ~*~*~*~*~ "Chakotay, sometimes you can be such an idiot." "It's not as if you're much better." "Oh really?" "Really! What, you think this is all my fault?!" "As a matter of fact, I do." I groan inwardly. They've been at this for over an hour, now. It seems they don't know how to stop. And as much as I'd like to, I can't seem to be able to stop them either. Maybe I'm losing my touch, maybe I've been out of the service too long... Maybe I just need a break. I thought I was giving myself a break. After I got back from my last official mission, I dated Pierre for a while. We married a month later. I know I hated him in the beginning, but...I don't know what it is. Maybe it's somewhat like the relationship of Tom and B'Elanna. While I was helping Kathryn, I couldn't help but notice that they fought like cats and dogs, even though they loved each other oh-so-very-sounds-like-it's-out-of-a-romance-novel-much. I guess it's somewhat like that... Anyway, flies that are married aren't allowed to officially stay in the Fleet. No, not all flies take on missions and influence people's minds onto their destined track, we have to go through fly academy and all that, extensive training and reading of rule books and memorizations of regulations and whatnot. Married flies supposedly have too many ties to their relationship cluttering their minds to serve properly. Considering I'm one of the most accomplished flies in the Fleet, they begged me to stay, offered me a cushy desk job, like I would want to sit at a desk. I don't regret my choice in the least bit. I now have a wonderful husband and a wonderful son named Clyde, and I don't always have to follow Fleet rules. What? You'd think that, just because I married, I'd actually give this up?! No way! I live for the righting of wrongs, remapping people's lives...you get the idea. Plus, I've started to think of Kathryn Janeway as a friend, whether she knows me or not. And Chakotay...well, I've forgiven him for swatting me that one time. He's a pretty okay guy. And he's perfect for Kathryn. So I've taken them both on as personal assignments. Extra-curricular activities, if you will. Unfortunately, according to this fight, something seems to have gone wrong. I've never seen them fight before. At least, not before they got back to Earth. That's right, they've finally finished their long trip home. They were ready to settle down, try to keep their relationship together, and perhaps even start a family. But, I say it again, something's gone wrong. They're almost constantly fighting, and there's no stopping it. I can't seem to implant thoughts in their minds, even from my close perch, right on Kathryn's ear. Another thing that's weird...whenever they're fighting, I hear a buzzing noise, and it doesn't go away until they stop fighting, seemingly forgetting what they were fighting about... That's what just happened....they're kissing again! Awww...I think I'll leave them alone now, and fly off to my own home and my own love....maybe he'll be able to help explain what's going on here. *~*~*~*~* It's nighttime, for the humans, anyway. Clyde is fast asleep, and Pierre and I have some time to talk. I explained my predicament to him, making sure I mentioned the strange buzzing noise. He looks at me, a questioning, somewhat exasperated, look in his compound eyes. "Didn't you ever read the rule book, Juniper?" I glare at him. "The rule book?! Pierre, who reads that thing, anyway? Seriously." "Well, when I met you...I thought you were the only fly who had." "Nah...just the 'Top 10 Rules You Must Obey While Working For The Fleet' part on the front page. The rest of it....it could have been my father's recipe for Cragnok, for all I cared." "What's so bad about your father's Cragnok?" I sigh. There's no accounting for taste....if there's one thing dad *cannot* do, it's make a good bowl of Cragnok. "Nothing, Pierre. So..do you have any idea what the problem is?" "Actually...the same thing happened to me, once. But it fixed itself, and before I knew what was happening, they were gone. I only found out later." "Who? Who was it?" "Section 12, Paragraph 2, Heading :Things to avoid and watch out for. Hornets." My eyes widen. Even someone like me, who hasn't read all of the rule book, knows the horror of hornets. They're basically the epitome of everything we flies try to prevent. We were the same race once, much like Vulcans and Romulans. We chose the peaceful life of helping others with our powers, showing them to the light and the correct destiny. The hornets, on the other hand, chose a life of violence, and they use their powers to literally try to shove people off of their correct path, onto the wrong one. I suddenly realize what's causing Kathryn and Chakotay to constantly fight. The hornets. "What are we going to do?" He shrugs four of his six arms. "What can we do? Notify Fleet headquarters that there are hornets in the area." I laugh sarcastically. "Like they'd believe me. They think I'm just a crazy old coot that gave up one of the highest ranking jobs in the Fleet to run off and get married." He smiles at me. "Well, if you are crazy, at least it's a good kind of crazy." I smile back, but now I'm uneasy. Something will have to be done...this is wrong! We can't allow the hornet's to continue ruining people's lives! And, most of all, we can't let them break up Kathryn and Chakotay. *~*~*~*~* It is now, by human standards, 4 in the morning. Even a night-time fly like me is usually off to dreamland by now. But what am I doing? Pacing, being worried sick, that's what. "There had to be something we can *do*!!!" I look to Pierre, who is lying on the couch, for some kind of answer, but I realize he has fallen asleep. At my words, he wakes up, totally disoriented. I go over and sit beside him. "Sorry, dear. Go back to sleep." He totally disregards my advice (as per usual) and instead sits up and puts an arm around me. "I hate to see you like this." "I hate to see *them* like this." Pierre sighs, as he's done many times this evening...and now, I suppose, this morning. "Juniper, all you can do is contact Fleet HQ. You've still got ties up there--frankly, so do I. Pull some strings. Do whatever you need to do. Somehow, someone will want to help, and they'll round up whatever flies are down here or nearby and form an invasion force." "You think so?" "Have I ever lied to you?" I think that over for a moment. "No, sweetheart...but there's a first time for everything, and I really don't want this to be it." He kisses me lightly on the forehead and gets up. "No worries....do what you feel is right. Do what you have to do. But, I'm going to check on Clyde, then catch myself some shut-eye...try to get some yourself eventually too, ok hon?" I nod blankly as he leaves. I get up, and walk towards the almost microscopic hole that serves as a window. It faces into their living room, where Kathryn is on the couch, weeping, not sharing Chakotay's bed after yet another pointless fight. I stare, almost weeping myself, hoping it's not too late. *~*~*~*~* I don't expect any Fleet big-wigs to be up this late (or early), but, then again, it's not necessarily the big-wigs whom I want to talk to. I look away from the papers I've been furiously scribbling on, and away from the chronometer (which has just changed to 0500), and stare into the communications console. On it has just appeared a very familiar face. She, however, has not noticed me yet. "Good morning, Fly-Fleet Headquarters. How may I help you?" "Wanda! You can help me by telling me what you're doing as Fleet Secretary at this god-awful hour!" A wide smile of recognition appears on her face, matching my own. "Juniper?! Oh my stars! How long has it been? How are you and Pierre getting along?" "Just wonderfully," I say, falling into an easy banter. "Actually, you've never met Clyde, but he's doing just excellent as well." "Oh! Must be nice to have a larva around the place." "We've been gone longer than that, Wanda. He's certainly no larva anymore..." A moment of silence as we realize just how much time has passed. I feel reluctant to break this silence, but I have to get to the point of my call. I take a deep breath, then let it out slow. "Wanda...there's hornets. Here. On Earth, in Indiana." Wanda's multi-lensed eyes widened. "There hasn't been a hornet problem there for years! How bad is it?" "They haven't attacked us, yet. I don't think they even know we're here. But in terms of Kathryn and Chakotay..." I trail off, then shrug. She smiles an almost motherlike smile at me. "Juniper, you've got a special thing for those two, don't you?" It's a rhetorical question, and I know it, so I just smile and nod slightly. "I'll do everything I can. I think Admiral Carla's in....I'll go talk to her. Meanwhile, take care of yourself, ok?" I give her a big grin. "Of course. Haven't I always?" "This from the fly who holds the 'Fleet record for being swatted, the record for most escapes from a hostile situation, the record for--" I laugh. "Bye Wanda!" And then I sign off, and am left with nothing but a cold, black screen. Nothing to do now but wait. *~*~*~* The fleet, which arrived about six hours after my call, did not come quietly, like you'd expect it to. It came in a rush of noise, phasers firing and wings fluttering loudly. When they arrived, just two hours ago, my family and I watched in awe, eyes wide, mouths open, hugging each other tightly. Wanda didn't only get a fleet out here, she got the best warriors in FlyFleet. The Dragon Corps. Muscular flies on the backs of dragonflies, the flies holding tiny phasers and the dragonflies belching fire when provoked. They all landed, giving the dragon flies a chance to rest after their long flight, and giving the flies a chance to find something to eat. Sergeant Edward came up to me, a smile of a friend seeing someone he'd missed pasted on his face. Edward has been a good friend of mine for years. In fact, his voice was one of the strongest ones telling me not to leave the 'Fleet, so long ago.... He'd walked up to me and we'd embraced. Pierre had looked a little uncomfortable, but he knew that Edward was just an old friend, nothing more. All of a sudden, Ed was all formalities. He grabbed a phaser rifle out of the pack on his back. "Juniper, former Captain in FlyFleet, based all over the place, I have been given permission by Admiral Carla, who, by the way, sends her best regards to your family, to give you, for the duration of this operation, temporary reinstatement, regardless of your marriage." He handed me the rifle, a wide smile on his face once again. "Welcome back." "Good to be back, Sergeant. Now, what do you have planned for this 'operation'?" He shrugged. "Find the buggers and shoot 'em 'till there's none left. How does that sound?" We all laughed. "Sounds good to me!" I'd turned to Pierre. "Sweet, can you take Clyde to his room, get him set up with a book or something? I don't really want him to see this..." "But Mom--!!!" "No buts. Then get back out here, Pierre....help us kick some black and yellow striped behind!" He smiled and nodded, gave me a quick kiss before he left with Clyde. Clyde. Gods, my baby! I hope he's all right....only two hours ago....two hours of an eternity! I can't wait until this mess is over. I don't even know how we're doing...all I know is that I still hear fire, from both sides, and that I can see the bodies of my comrades littering the lawn. Bodies of respectable, honorable, young flies, too many for any of them to have a chance to be reborn.... But they knew that. Coming into this part of the 'Fleet. They knew that might happen!!! Somehow, it doesn't make it feel any better. I'm hiding out behind a rock, have been for what feels like forever now, although it's probably only been a half-hour or so. An arm (mine, I think disjointedly) lies beside me, ripped of by ferocious phaser fire. I hope, somehow, that Pierre managed to get through this, and Clyde..... I'm too tired to bother thinking about myself. Although, there is something I need to tell Pierre....something that makes all the difference. And, I'd like to get back up and fight, to face this head on, to save Kathryn and Chakotay... Well, Earth, too, but that's a secondary concern, really... My strength is almost sapped. I try to get up.... But instead, I fall into someone else's arms. "Juniper! Oh, Gods, I thought you were dead...." It's the voice of my love, my life, the voice I questioned ever hearing again. "Pierre!!!" I wrap my five remaining arms around him with all the strength I have left. "You're hurt..." He bends down to examine the stump of my arm as I slump to the ground. "I'm fine....how are we doing?" "After that failed Operation: Destroy, not too well....but I think we'll beat them by sheer numbers. There aren't that many of the hornets left." He lowers his voice to a whisper. "And you'll be happy to know that Kathryn and Chakotay are beginning to get along again. I've only heard them exchange a couple harsh words with each other since the fighting started. Our influence is stronger than the hornets." That makes me smile as I stare into his shining eyes, filled with concern for me. "Juniper....I know you're hurt, and I don't want to make you do this, but--" "But Ed wants me to help re-attempt Operation: Destroy." He gives me a queer look. I smile. "Hey, it's not only humanoid minds I can read, you know. Help me up. I think I'll have to borrow a dragonfly from the 'Sergeant'...." "Yes Ma'am!" We laugh. It feels good. A few moments ago, I wasn't sure I'd ever hear him laugh again. *~*~*~* Operation: Destroy was the plan to find the hornets' nest and destroy it. Ed and the Dragon Corps had located it on their way in, and they thought it'd be relatively easy. They were wrong. Over half the Corps was lost, gunned down by the green fire of the hornets. They used their stingers quite efficiently, too, without mercy. We had to abandon the mission, until we figured something else out. Or, at least, I thought we were going to try to figure something else out... Ed's gone. One of my best friends from so many years ago....I practically killed him! I dragged him out here, to this almost useless fight.... Not useless! I remind myself...but I don't think I believe it. But I have no time to think about that now. Some young upstart has taken over the Corps, for now, anyway. I don't think he has any idea what he's doing. I should probably pull rank on him or something, but, with Ed gone, I don't think he'll consider my rank in good standing. He's young enough to have just come in the 'Fleet when I was leaving, and must've heard stories about how 'irresponsible' I was, for falling in love and, therefore, falling out of my job. If only he knew how I now ached to go back.... But I know that's impossible. It's not just my family, there are other reasons I never could have known about before. But now, for one short moment, I can pretend, like many humanoid children do. I can be part of the 'Fleet once again, killing the bad guys and saving the world. We're just about to storm the nest, our tiny phasers at the ready, our dragonflies' noses smoking with anticipation. I am at the back of the force, reading to pick up where they leave off. Suddenly, they stop. I almost bump into the young ensign in front of me. I look up, for I've been staring at the ground this entire ride, trying to ignore the pain in my missing arm. If I didn't believe in those 'phantom limb' theories before, I definitely believe in them now. I can see why they stopped. My breath catches, and I almost faint. Kathryn and Chakotay are standing right under the nest, surveying it. This wasn't supposed to happen! What if they see us? We've thrived so long in secret, I don't think we could carry out our work in the same way of the humans turn around and somehow discover that we're sentient. And what if the hornets decide to continue this bloody battle anyway? What if Kathryn and Chakotay end up in the middle of this war? They're giant compared to us, but they can still be injured. Wait a minutes...I just noticed something...why aren't they fighting? They're standing right under the nest, and they're not fighting with each other...and what's that can in Chakotay's hand? And why has that annoying drone of the hornets stopped? Uhoh. "HE'S GOT INSECT KILLER! FLY! FLY AWAY! QUICKLY!" Was that scared voice *me*? Yes, I suppose it was. Now every soldier is steering their dragonfly away, not wanting to get cuaght by Chakotay's can of posion. But maybe he's not going to turn around...I think I'm going to stay behind a little while. Somehow, I don't think Chakotay's going to try and get rid of me like he just got rid of the hornets... He and Kathryn are too busy in each other's arms, making up for all those fights. I'll stay until my arm aches too much, and then I'll go home, to my own love's arms...and I can't wait to see my baby Clyde smile again. There were times during battle when I thought I'd never seen that innocent grin again. But something in my gut says that I may not see too many of his smiles again, and a good fly never doubts here intuition. *~*~*~*~* "And, I now bestow on you, Juniper, the highest honour we have to bestow, the Golden Wing of Bravery," Carla intones as she sticks the medal to my thorax. I smile at her. She may not've actually come to fight the war, but she knew how it'd been. Ed was her husband. "You do realize, Carla, that we didn't actually win...Chakotay came out with that pesticide and they were all goners." "Oh shush, Juniper! You've deserved this for a long time..." The small audience laughs. But Carla leans in closer and whispers to me. "Besides, Ed would've wanted you to have it." She smiles bravely and we shake hands. The audience stands and claps. I look to Pierre, who's already received a medal; and Clyde, proud of his mom; they're clapping too. We're soon ushered towards the door, and I'm glad to go. I don't deserve all this...it wasn't me! It was all those flies who died in the battlefield...Ed, half of the Dragon Corps, Wanda's young son...but I suppose I'm the one alive, so they clap for me. I choose to take this clapping and standing ovation as an honour for the departed. I start clapping on my way out. They think I'm clapping for Pierre, and the general victory. Pierre knows better. I dread the news I have to tell him, but it can wait awhile...I think we can enjoy some piece and quiet first. Kathryn and Chakotay have once again happiest when together. I think I even heard them say they want a daughter. I wonder if I can convince them to call it Nicolette? I almost miss that name... THE END!!! *phew* "But wait," I hear some of you say. "Celestia! It can't be done! You hinted at some foreboding stuff there...you can't leave me hanging...WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN?!?!?" The author throws her head back and lets out an evil sounding laugh. "Well.....get ready people, I may need some hearty motivation again.....You'll find out what happens next in PART 4!" So, you want to nag me now, huh? Email works, when I check it....celestia@innocent.com Who knows...maybe I'll actually manage to get that one done before another millennium comes upon us!