Copyright 2001, Susan S. McCrackin  Reprinted with permission of the author.

They approached the docking bridge, moving forward without hesitation. To their great relief, they were able to enter without being stopped. As soon as they moved through the doors of Voyager, Kathryn Janeway immediately ordered the computer to close them and set the security locks. She looked at the people with her, "That was easier to do than I thought it would be."

Chakotay and Tuvok nodded at her. Tuvok turned to his family, "You should go to my quarters and stay there." T’Pel raised her hand to touch his briefly, then led their children toward the turbolift.

Dr. Zimmerman said to her, "I’ll go with them."

Nodding her approval at him, Janeway turned to Otoro, "We’ll go to the bridge, and you can send Kahkar a message."

The four of them moved immediately toward the bridge. Once there, Otoro went to work to open communications with Kahkar, and Janeway sat in her chair, opening a line of communication with Admiral Paris.

As soon as she heard his voice come back to her, she spoke, "Admiral Paris, this is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. This is to inform you that we are taking Voyager to launch a rescue attempt of Kathryn B’Elanna. I request you instruct the docking officials to release the docking locks on the ship."

"Captain Janeway, you need to let the Federation handle this."

"Admiral Paris, with all due respect, I do not think the Federation is capable of getting her back."

"And you think you can."

"Yes, sir. I think we can. Now, please instruct that the docking locks be released."

"And, if I don’t."

"We are undocking, Admiral." She made her voice firm and her intentions clear.

Silence filled the bridge. Then, she heard his voice, "The docking locks are being released. Captain, I suggest you rethink this."

"Admiral, I assure you, I have thought about this a lot. We are going after Kathryn B’Elanna. Janeway out."

She turned out to look at the three men with her, "Well, that played well. Prepare to undock and leave."

Chakotay took his place at the helm, "Do you think they will send ships after us?"

She shook her head, "Not if Leader Orvis is successful in convincing the rest of the leadership that ours is an act of desperation and not of treason."

"And if he isn’t?"

She gave him a hard look, "We’ve been in fights before, Chakotay."

Tuvok spoke from behind her, "Shields are ready, Captain."

She turned to him, "Good. We might need them." Looking at Otoro, "Are ship’s systems ready?"

"Yes, Captain." 

"Chakotay, take us away from the space station, full thrusters." She waited and listened as he reported the ship’s status. This action could be considered an act of treason. If so, they were prepared to accept what might happen, but she honestly believed they would be heading away from Earth and to their hiding place. Once they found Kathryn B’Elanna, they would leave the Alpha Quadrant.

Behind them, Leader Orvis and Admiral Paris would work to try to confirm their suspicions about who had been compromised on the leadership. Once they did that, they would work to make things safe for Voyager to return. She wondered if that would ever happen.

Looking down at the PADD in her hand, she thought again about the look on the Admiral’s face as he had handed it to her and asked her to give it to Tom. Her eyes teared as she fingered the PADD, knowing what this action would cost him. He had not even gotten to know the man his son had become, and he would probably not get to see his grandson grow up. It was, he had said, for the good of humanity. It would be for the good of his own grandson. He had promised her he would not rest until he had done everything possible to make certain it was safe for them all to return.

In the meantime, in order to protect him and Leader Orvis, she and the men with her would appear to act without their support or permission. It would be considered an act of treason by many. Maybe one day, people would be able to know the truth. Right now, there was more to be concerned about than whether they could ever return to Earth.

They had to find Kathryn B’Elanna, and they had to rescue her.

Tom called out, "Kahkar. I think we have company."

They watched the view screen and saw the ship quickly decelerate out of transwarp speed. As soon as it came to a stop, Kahkar said, "Lower our shields. Make certain the cloaking system stays at maximum."

It only took a few moments for her to materialize on the bridge, accompanied by three drones. Kahkar walked up to her, "Welcome to my ship."

She almost smiled at him. Instead, she asked, "Have you found the child?"

He shook his head, "No, we have not been able to do so, yet."

She walked up to him, "I can enhance your scans."

"If I allow you to do that, you will also take control of my ship."

"Yes, I will."

He stared at her, his eyes searching her face. Finally, he turned aside, offering her his seat.

Tom watched, not quite believing what he was seeing. The drones who had accompanied the queen held their positions as she moved toward Kahkar’s chair. He was struck by the dignity with which she moved and slowly sat in the chair. He could tell it was not a natural action for her, and he noticed that she sat stiffly on the edge of the seat. He saw her put her hands on the controls, and he turned his attention to his console, watching the results of her work. It only took a few minutes for her to speak.

"I have found her."

He watched as the coordinates were automatically entered in the ship’s systems, and he saw that the ship was starting to move. He leaned back in the pilot’s chair, knowing there would not be much for him to do on this trip. He was surprised that the cube did not follow. Instead, it moved away, disappearing back into a transwarp conduit. He quickly realized that made sense. The cube would only draw attention. There were probably Federation ships headed to the place they had been at this very moment. Now, he was on a ship from the Delta Quadrant with the Borg queen and three Borg drones, going to rescue Kathryn B’Elanna.

It was a stranger moment than he ever thought he would live to see.

He crawled out of the cargo container as carefully as he could. He was relieved to realize there was no one around. The place was actually rather quiet. Frowning, he moved forward, his phaser drawn. He had expected to meet with resistance, but he did not run into anyone. 

Following Andrew’s directions, he moved through the complex, watching for security devices but finding none. These people appeared to be decidedly confident based on their lack of security controls. But then, why shouldn’t they be? He had been well placed, and this was the first he had known about these people and this place. He strongly suspected this was not their only complex. That was a frightening thought.

As he walked, he thought back to what Andrew had told him. This group was well financed and widely spread. They worked between the anti-Borg and pro-Borg factions, using both groups to advance their own purpose. They planned to forge an alliance with the Borg, but only long enough to become stronger. Their intention was to learn how to defeat the Borg. Once they did that, even the Federation would fall to them. The fact that they had advanced their plan so far gave him a strong indication of how powerful they were.

And Seven of Nine and Kathryn B’Elanna Hansen were seen as key to their eventual success. He had to stop that from ever happening. He had to keep them out of their hands. 

Looking carefully around a corner, he saw the door that led to the place where Andrew thought his quarry would be with the child. Tightening his grip on the phaser, he slowly walked toward the open door.

As soon as he entered, he saw the back of the man, standing next to a crib, his hand on the back of the child sleeping inside it. Immediately, he knew the child was not just sleeping. He knew she had to be tranquilized. He tried to move forward quietly, to take the man by surprise, but brushed by a chair, scrapping it on the floor. As soon as the man at the crib turned, he raised his phaser, training it on the surprised face.

"I have come for the child."

Otoro quickly accessed the console, accepting the incoming message, "Captain!"

She turned to him.

"I have received coordinates."

"From Kahkar?"

He frowned, "The coordinates are coming from his ship."

"Is there anything else?"

Otoro shook his head.

She looked to Chakotay, "Head for those coordinates, maximum speed allowable." Her eyes moved to the view screen, and she concentrated on watching the stars in front of her. For the first time in seven years, she recognized the stars she saw in front of her. But now, instead of being the friendly stars she had looked so forward to seeing again, they looked strangely alien to her. Instead of heralding home for her, they how heralded loss and pain.

She thought about the sealed home of Seven and the Doctor decks beneath her, her heart growing heavy at the thought. She would do everything possible to protect their child. Suddenly, she remember a discussion she had had with B’Elanna, her word now weighing on her, ‘…I question whether we are equipped to deal with her as she grows. Especially as her powers develop, and she learns to control them…she will need special guidance and careful watching. And, she will need special protection. That is why I think the best place for her is where the Federation can keep a careful watch over her. It will be the best for her. And the best for her mother.’

She remembered the look on B’Elanna’s face as she had spoken those words. B’Elanna had not believed her. B’Elanna had wanted to argue with her. She had recognized the look in B’Elanna’s face immediately, but there had been no argument. It would not have made any difference, and both women had known it.

But B’Elanna had been right. She had been wrong. The best thing for Kathryn B’Elanna would have been to be around people who truly loved her for who she was, people who only cared about her well being.

Good children were children who were loved, not just protected. Not just dealt with. Her family of Voyager was better equipped to do that than anyone else. They would get Kathryn B’Elanna back and raise her. She would spend the rest of her life trying to make up the loss of her mother and father to her.

Seven set down the ship according to her directions. She departed quickly from the small shuttle and moved toward the place where he told her he would be waiting. She did not pull any of her weapons. At this point, she did not think it would be necessary. She checked her vest one more time, making certain she was ready. Then, she purposely moved forward.

She heard the voices before she reached the place she had been told to go. Stopping, she realized in shock she recognized both voices. Anger crossed her face. She gave herself a moment before moving forward to enter the door.

She saw them, each standing at one end of the crib where her child lay sleeping. Almost as one, they looked up at her, each man’s face showing shock at seeing her. She took her eyes from her child to see that each man held a phaser on the other and both phasers were held over her child. She looked back and forth at the two men.

Alta Ro’bara was the first to speak, "Seven, I thought you were dead!"

Darrian Green looked at her, his eyes wide, "Seven of Nine?" He looked back at Alta Ro’bara, then back at her, "Is that really you?"

Alta Ro’bara looked at her, "How did you survive?"

She finally found her voice, "I am here. Is my daughter safe?"

Darrian Green looked down at the sleeping child, "Yes, she is." He held the phaser on Alta Ro’bara, "Move back, and let her have her child."

"Me?" Alta Ro’bara looked at the man like he was crazy, "You move back." He lifted his own phaser, "You’re the one who kidnapped her daughter. Seven, come get your daughter. I’ll hold him off."

"Don’t trust him. He’s the one who kidnapped your daughter. If you come closer, he’ll kill you. Or Kathryn B’Elanna."

"You’re crazy. I’d never hurt her or her child."

"Right," Darrian Green smiled at him, "because you are in love with her."

"What? You’re the one who’s in love with her."

She was growing more and more confused. One of these men was the man in her mind. Or, maybe it was both of them. She pulled her own phasers, one in each hand.

"Seven?" Alta Ro’Bara’s voice was tinged with pain, "Seven, no. I’m trying to help. I’m trying to protect Kathryn B’Elanna. Can’t you see?"

Darrian Green did not speak. He watched the man in front of him. The man was staring at him. He felt Seven step forward, then he watched as the man’s eyes moved toward her. He saw the phaser move, its aim going slightly away from him. He quickly moved farther away, firing at the man as he did. The man fell immediately.

Seven’s eyes widened in surprise as she looked at Alta Ro’bara, now lying on the floor at the foot of the crib holding her daughter. She quickly looked up to Darrian Green, her eyes locking on his.

He gave her a weak smile and dropped his phaser, slowly raising his hands in the air and stepped away from the crib. "You can take your daughter, Seven."

Her eyes narrowed, "What did you call me?"

He frowned at her, "I called you Seven. Why?"

"You did not call me Seven of Nine."

He gave her a strange look, "Would you rather I call you Seven of Nine?" This was a unexpected conversation. He was beginning to wonder if she was sane.

"The man in my mind has always called me Seven of Nine."

"In your mind?" 

She saw the look in his eyes, "It was not you."

"I don’t know what you are talking about."

Still holding her phaser on him, she walked to Alta Ro’bara, feeling for a pulse. Not finding one, she turned his head, seeing the device still attached to his neck. She pulled it off and crushed it in the left hand, letting the pieces of it fall on top of his body. Rising quickly, she replaced her phasers and moved to pick up her child, grasping her close to her body.

Darrian Green watched as the mother held her child, tears slowly dripping from her eyes. He slowly walked up to her and gently reached up to touch the child’s hair. He was not surprised when she pulled her child away from him.

"You don’t have anything to fear from me, Seven. I really did come here to save your child." He could tell from the look in her eyes that she did not believe him. He backed up and dropped his hand, "I know you have no reason to believe me, Seven. I…I did not treat you very well on Voyager, but you need to leave here. You need to take your daughter and get away from this place." He looked around the room, "These are dangerous people, and they don’t portend good for you. We don’t have much time. Someone is bound to come soon."

She blinked her eyes, trying to clear the tears. She glanced down at the unconscious child in her arms, her hands taking her child’s pulse even as she tried to decide what to do. At least her pulse was strong and steady. Whatever they had used on her seemed to have only rendered her unconscious. Regardless, it would not matter much longer. She nodded at him.

"Come on, I’ll help you get to your ship."

She looked at him, "What about you?"

"I came somewhat prepared. I have a communication device. Once you are safely away from here, I will contact Admiral Paris. He will have this place surrounded by Federation ships within a matter of hours."

"Will you be safe?"

"My safety isn’t what is important here," he looked at her, "it’s yours and your daughter’s. Come, let’s get the two of you out of here."

Before she allowed him to pull her away, she looked one last time at the body of Alta Ro’bara. He saw her look and waited. Finally, she broke her stare and he pulled gently on her arm, relieved when she did not resist. 

They had almost reached her small shuttle when they heard the first alarm.

"Hurry," he pulled her forward, almost pushing her toward the shuttle.

"What about you?"

"I’ll watch out until you leave. Then, I’ll activate the communication device. The message will automatically be sent, regardless of what happens."

She saw the look in his eyes, "Activate it now."

"You need every minute you can get to get away."

"Activate it now."

He saw the look in her eyes, knowing that he would only waste time if he tried to argue with her. He pulled the communication device from his pocket and activated it, "Now, will you hurry?"

She nodded and started to leave. Then, she turned back to face him, "Thank you."

He smiled at her, reaching forward to brush back Kathryn B’Elanna’s hair, "Take good care of her." They locked eyes, and he was suddenly scared at the look in her eyes, "Seven?"

She turned from him, taking the child into the shuttle. 

"Seven, don’t do…"

She turned back to look at him, "She will never be safe here. And neither will I."

His expression was pained, but she could see that he knew she was right. "Seven, I’ll come with you. We’ll find another way."

"There is not another way. There is only one way." She gave him a hard look, "There is only one solution."

"I’ll still come with you."

"No."

"I don’t want you to have to go through this alone."

For the first time, her look softened, "Thank you, but we will have each other. We will not be alone."

He didn’t know what else to say. He could see from the look in her eyes, there wasn’t anything else he could say.

"Know that what you did here today saved humanity. May that give you comfort." She closed the shuttle door. He stood back as the shuttle engines were fired, and it lifted from the planet’s surface and quickly left the planet’s atmosphere.

He watched, thinking about her final words to him. What he had done had saved humanity, but at what cost? He gave a short, bitter laugh. She had given more to humanity than it had ever given her. 

Supala was hunched in a corner, her eyes tightly closed. She was concentrating. She had to reach Kahkar’s ship and tell him what was happening. Fighting the pain, she fought harder to let him know what was happening. Suddenly, she felt the path clear, even as the pain intensified. She sent the message and held on to the path, hoping that somehow, Kahkar would find a way to communicate with her.

"We are being hailed." Tuvok’s voice was slow and deliberate, "It is a Federation ship."

She grimaced, "Open a channel. This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of Voyager."

"Captain, this is Captain Harrow of the Federation Starship Explorer. You are ordered to return to the space station immediately."

"Thank you for that kind invitation. Please understand if we do not accept." She looked over her shoulder, "Tuvok, terminate transmission." Pausing, she added, "How close are they?"

"Five million kilometers."

"Good," she turned her attention back to the screen in front of her, "we probably have time. What is our status, Chakotay?"

"We are approaching the coordinates now." He looked up at the screen, "But I can’t read any sign of Kahkar’s ship."

Suddenly, Otoro called out, "I am receiving a message. It is from Kahkar." She turned to him expectantly and he continued, "He wants to beam on board."

"Drop shields. Tell him to transport to the bridge." She commanded and stood, waiting for him to materialize.

As soon as the figures materialized, she caught her breath, reaching for her phaser.

"Kathryn, no." Kahkar stepped forward, "it is all right." He saw the look on her face, "You must trust me in this."

Kathryn Janeway stared at the face of the Borg queen. She barely heard Kahkar as he spoke to her.

"Kathryn, we have identified numerous ships converging on this location. There are both Federation and ships that we cannot identify. All are heavily armed. If we are going to be successful, we must join forces." He walked up to her, "She is already in control of my ship." He left the rest of his words unsaid.

She stared at him in shock. "Give her control of Voyager? Kahkar, are you mad?"

The queen moved to her, "Do you want the child back or not?"

Janeway looked from her face to Kahkar’s and back to her face. Give up control of Voyager to the Borg queen. She could not. How could she do that?

"As well as Seven of Nine."

Janeway and Kahkar looked at the queen simultaneously. Almost as one, they spoke, "What?"

"She is alive." The queen turned to face them both, "She has gone after her child."

Kahkar was the first to find his voice, "How do you know that?"

"Your crewmember sent a message. I received it. It is why we are here."

"My crewmember?"

"Her designation is Supala."

His eyes widened, "You have been in contact with her?"

"No, she tried to be in contact with you. I received her message." She turned her eyes to look at the view screen, "Seven of Nine has imprisoned her and the people she is with on the bridge of their ship and taken a shuttle to find Kathryn B’Elanna."

Janeway’s eyes were closed, trying to understand what she was hearing, "Seven is alive?"

The queen ignored her, "I believe we can use your crewmember to communicate with her." She gave Kahkar an odd look, "I do not believe she will believe anything I try to tell her. I will facilitate communication between the two of them."

He gave her an equally odd look, "Of course."

The queen looked at Janeway, "Your ship, Captain."

Janeway could not believe what she was being asked to do. Turn over control of Voyager to the Borg queen. She looked at her chair, trying to decide what to do. A single thought fought its way through. Sometimes, the only way to gain control was to first give it up. She nodded her head and moved aside.

The queen moved to the chair and sat stiffly on its edge, placing her hand on the control and raised her head in concentration.

Supala felt the path get clearer, but she was not connecting with Kahkar’s ship. Suddenly, she knew she was connecting with Seven.

"Seven?"

"Supala?"

"Seven, where are you?"

"Where I am is not important."

"Do you have Kathryn B’Elanna?"

"Yes."

"Is she okay?"

"She was unharmed."

"I’m glad, Seven. Will we see you soon?" When she did not receive a response, she tried again, "Seven? Will we see you soon?" Again, there was silence. She concentrated, listening hard, but she couldn’t hear anything. Suddenly, she understood, "Seven, don’t. Kahkar is out there. Find his ship. Seven!"

She did not respond.

Supala tried again, "Seven! No!"

"Supala, I am sorry. I do not have another choice."

The black eyes sought Kahkar’s, "I have her location."

The view screen showed the small shuttle, moving quickly through space. Janeway watched the scene in front of her, studying the stars, trying to determine the path it was taking. Suddenly, she caught her breath, "No." She whirled to look at the queen, "Stop her."

Kahkar was at her side immediately, "Where is she going?"

She looked up at him, her face anguished, "The sun."

"What?"

"She is headed directly for the sun."

Janeway strode to the queen’s side, "Do something. Get her a message. Let her know we are out here."

"I do not believe she will listen to me."

Janeway whirled to look at the small shuttle, "Tuvok, open a channel to that shuttle."

Tuvok frowned as he concentrated on his console, "I am sorry, Captain. The shuttle is not accepting any messages."

Janeway watched the shuttle, working hard to try to think of a way to reach her. She could tell the ship had picked up speed and was moving at maximum warp, but it was only matching the shuttle’s speed. Without going to transwarp speed, they would never catch her. She started to turn to encourage the queen to engage the transwarp coil when she heard Kahkar speak.

"Otoro, open a channel to my ship." He waited only a beat, "Meloka."

"Yes, Kahkar."

"Meloka, get the Doctor."

Janeway could not believe she heard him, "The Doctor?"

He ignored her, waiting. After a moment, the Doctor’s voice filled the bridge, "Yes, Kahkar."

Janeway reached for a chair and collapsed into it.

Kahkar looked at the queen, "Can you facilitate communication between the Doctor and Supala?"

She thought for a moment, "If he will download his program into the communication system."

"Doctor, I do not have time to explain. Listen to me. Seven is alive."

"What?"

"I said Seven is alive. But she might not be for long. Download your program into the communication system and do it now. Supala will help you communicate with her."

He waited. In a moment, Meloka’s voice came back to him, "His program has been downloaded." He immediately turned to the queen, watching as she concentrated.

Harry sat staring at Supala. He had been doing so for the last ten minutes. It looked as if she were sleeping, but, for some reason, he knew she wasn’t. He moved closer to her, watching her face. As soon as he did, he saw the pain in it.

He reached out to wake her, then pulled his hand back, knowing that something was going on that he could not understand. Biting his lips, he knew she was doing something, something to help them or to help Seven. He did not understand how he knew that, but he did. Without touching her, he moved beside her, trying to reach out with his presence to help her.

"Supala?"

"Doctor?" She could not believe she was hearing his voice.

"Yes."

"How?"

"Kahkar copied my program. I assure you, it is me."

"I should not be surprised. How are you here with me now?"

"I’m not sure, but I am here. What is happening?"

"Seven has Kathryn B’Elanna."

He was puzzled, "Isn’t that good news?"

"Doctor, she is flying with her toward the sun."

"What?"

"She plans to fly them into the sun."

"No." She could hear the hope in his voice turn to grief. "Can you connect me with her?"

She concentrated, then responded, "No. I don’t know how to do that."

"Can you get a message to her?"

"I’ll try. What do you want me to tell her?"

He thought. What could he possibly say that would make her stop? Finally, he had a thought. "Supala, listen carefully. This is what I want you to say to Seven."

She set the controls to autopilot, then leaned back to hold her child in her arms. Kathryn B’Elanna was starting to stir. In a way, she was glad. It would be good to see her child’s eyes one last time. She glanced up at the sun that was growing brighter and bigger in the view window in front of her. She fingered the phaser she had lashed to her chest. She had fixed it, so as soon as the shields failed, she would be able to trigger it, killing both of them instantly. That way, they would not suffer. The shuttle would continue into the sun, totally destroying their bodies. They would not survive and neither would either of their genetic material. Neither they, nor their bodies would be used by anyone to create a new species of genetic Borg. They would find safety in the comfort of darkness.

As Kathryn B’Elanna’s eyes slowly opened, she smiled at her, "Hello, sweetheart."

"Mama?"

"Yes, it is Mama."

Kathryn B’Elanna reached an arm up to her, trying weakly to hug her neck. Even as Seven hugged her, she was grateful their phaser death would be quick and painless. She did not want to hurt her child any more. She glanced up at the sun and fingered the phaser. Then, she heard the voice in her head again.

"Seven."

"Go away. You cannot stop me."

"I am have a message from the Doctor."

"The Doctor is dead."

"No he isn’t. Kahkar copied his program."

She stopped, not believing what she was hearing. It could not be. The Doctor was dead.

"Seven, are you listening?"

"Yes." She watched the sun loom larger, listening, but not certain whether to believe what she was hearing.

"The Doctor told me to tell you this. ‘Always remember our time in the dance.’"

She froze. Who would know that? She had not told anyone about that, not even Kahkar or Ketaria. The computer program files of that adventure had been corrupted. No one else would know about that, except maybe Meloka. But, she would not understand what it meant. Did she hear it right?

"What did you say?"

"I said, the Doctor told me to tell you, ‘Always remember our time in the dance.’"

"Did he say anything else?"

"He said he loved you and please come back to him. He is on Kahkar’s ship, waiting for you and Kathryn B’Elanna."

Always remember our time in the dance.

In just those words. She looked at the sun, now large in front of her. She looked down at the child in her arms, the eyes opening wider, coming more alive. She listened to the inside of her mind.

Always remember our time in the dance.

She looked at the ring on her finger. Then, she grabbed for the controls.