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Noise boomed across the room like thunder during a particularly aggressive spring storm. Lights glittered in harsh bursts of chaotic lightning for a moment before settling down to reveal the Voyager mess hall filled with a plethora of diverse Starfleet personnel.
What the...?
Janeway began, but her own surprise
overwhelmed her vocal chords enough to make her pause. She heard
the door swoosh shut behind her, as if she'd just entered the room.
But she didn't remember coming to the mess hall.
It's a party, Captain!
someone called, and a glass of
dubious yellow liquid was thrust into her hand.
So I see,
she answered to no one in particular. A party!
When they were light years from home and truly had little to
celebrate! What would this group of people come up with next? Then
she smiled. One thing about this Voyager crew - they were
definitely resilient.
Suddenly the Starfleet personnel changed. Not changed, exactly, she decided - it was more like people who shouldn't be on board abruptly appeared. She saw Admiral Nelville talking to Kes, completely transfixed by the Ocampan's winsome smile. Commander Sisko seemed to be engaged in some kind of drinking challenge with B'Elanna Torres, and a Bajoran woman she vaguely remembered from Deep Space Nine was in animated conversation with Chakotay.
Welcome, Captain!
someone bellowed, and when Janeway
turned towards the voice, she saw Mark standing near the door,
grinning at her.
Mark! Of course he was here - it made perfect sense to her that in all this irregularity he should be with her. Her smile grew and a flood of contentment washed over her.
Then people crowded between them and Mark disappeared in the crowd. Distraught, she began searching for him. Personnel plucked at her uniform sleeve, trying to engage her in conversation, but she ignored them. Janeway crossed the room, frustrated at the number of people in her way. She swallowed the desire to shout at them and push them all aside. She wanted to talk to Mark and to see her dog and nobody would let her!
Mr. Paris chose that moment to materialize at her side. Hey,
Captain! Is there anything you want?
Frustrated, Janeway turned to him, took a deep breath, and
pitifully stated, I want to go home!
He looked confused at her proclamation, but he patted her shoulder in sympathy and as he opened his mouth to reply...
...the buzz of the alarm startled her into jerking up so hard that she practically tumbled off the edge of her bed. The cabin was still darkened according to her chosen sleeping preferences, but the stars displayed through her window revealed the bright flashes of warp six or above. The lights in my dream, she groggily deduced. The thunderous noise must have been the boom as the Voyager's engines powered up to send the ship bursting through space. Apparently Engineering had finished their testing sometime while she slept and then given the signal to take the ship into warp. Once again they were speeding onward towards home.
Unfortunately, just at that moment, Janeway couldn't quite remember what home looked like.
The alarm chirped again, an irritating reminder that it was past time to get up and start the day. But instead of answering the call she reached out an arm to turn the noise off, then rolled over and proceeded to fall back to sleep.
When the chirping started afresh only seconds later, she groaned
and buried her head under the pillow. Finally she reached out one
more time and punched the panel of buttons set into the bulkhead
behind her bed. But the incessant squawking continued, and she
lifted her head to stare in bewilderment at the alarm. It was only
then that she realized it wasn't the alarm at all, but the door
chime sounding over and over in increasing agitation. Climbing
wearily out of the rumpled bed, she grabbed a robe from the closet
before stumbling to her sitting room. Still, it was almost too much
motion for her mind to organize all at once. She was vainly rubbing
the grit of sleep from her eyes when she yelled, Come
in!
The door of her cabin swooshed aside at the verbal command and
Chakotay entered, not even remotely embarrassed to see his
commanding officer in her present tousled state. Good morning,
Captain,
he greeted in a light tone.
You're certainly cheerful,
Janeway noted wryly. She
pushed a lock of brown hair out of her eyes and gestured for him to
take a seat. This is an unprecedented visit, Commander. What can
I do for you?
I was hoping to catch you before the first duty calls.
He
eyed her appearance as he took a seat on the couch fronting the
substantial observation window. I see I caught you just in
time.
Feeling more awake, Janeway raised an eyebrow and gave him a
half smile. Careful, Chakotay - I haven't had my morning coffee
yet,
she warned in a bantering tone. Then she sank down next to
him on the cushions. Now, there must be a reason why you came to
see me. Is there trouble? Some new catastrophe that we don't have
the parts to fix?
Chakotay chuckled at her words. No, no catastrophes. No
emergency warp core dumps. No anomalies off the port bow. No fights
in the mess. Nothing's going on.
Janeway waited for him to continue and when he didn't, she
prompted him, So?
So there's no need for the captain to be on the Bridge
today.
Her brow wrinkled. But I'm scheduled for first duty.
He nodded. I know that. You're always scheduled for first
duty. And second. And every now and then there's been a third stuck
in, just for fun, I'm sure. So I took you off duty for the
day.
The wrinkles deepened. You did what? It takes my clearance to
change my own schedule. How did you...?
Commander Chakotay grinned pleasantly. I'm not Maquis for
nothing, Captain.
Captain Janeway glared at him balefully. As I'm frequently
reminded.
She sighed and glanced down at the nondescript gray
carpet under her bare feet. Her eyes were caught by the color;
gray, always gray. Now why couldn't they have put in a different
color, just in this one cabin, for something different to look
at? she wondered. Sometimes she felt like that drabness was
seeping into her straight through her feet. She gravely
contemplated the carpet, one hand thoughtfully rubbing her chin.
What's the status of the sensor relay repairs?
she
inquired.
Ensign Kim and Lieutenant Rollins are planning to complete
repairs this morning.
And the dilithium analysis?
B'Elanna believes it'll hold out longer than we'll need it
to.
Janeway looked pleased. Well that's good news at least. Good
news is something we haven't had much of lately.
It does seem as if things have started piling up on the wrong
side of the canoe,
Chakotay agreed, eyeing her
meaningfully.
Janeway glanced once more at the commander, thinking about the
appeal of his suggestion. But she forced herself to shake her head.
Look, Commander, I appreciate what you're trying to....
You're not sleeping well.
I beg your pardon?
Kes said she can see it in your eyes. Dreams that keep you
awake.
It was that obvious then? She had been trying to hide her
sleeplessness from the crew, but apparently she hadn't been exactly
successful. Janeway's sigh was of exasperation this time. What
does Kes have to do with this?
She suggested that a day off wouldn't hurt, that's all.
You're the only senior officer who hasn't scheduled a leave day
since we left the array several months ago,
he reminded her.
Kes wouldn't leave me alone until I promised her I would see
what I could do about it.
The captain couldn't refrain from letting down her guard and
smiling softly. Kes is that way, isn't she?
She's a very precocious woman. I often forget that she's only
a year old.
Such an advanced species, the Ocampa.
Janeway shook her
head in amazement.
Chakotay's skin crinkled around his eyes in a gentle smile.
They have much to teach, as we have much to learn.
He let
the implications of his statement sink in before saying, Is it
agreed then?
Amused at the way her crew had conspired to force her to relax
for a day, she nodded her assent. Very well, Commander. The
Bridge is yours.
Chakotay accepted the responsibility with a brief nod of his
own. I'll keep you informed of all the catastrophes as they
occur. But no uniforms, and no coming to the Bridge, even for a
stroll.
I see you've talked to B'Elanna too,
she said, referring
to her habit of frequently taking strolls throughout the ship. She
chuckled and patted the commander's shoulder. I promise to be
appropriately incognito for the remainder of the day.
A whole
day of no command duties, no worries, no stress - what on earth was
she going to do?
The commander stood, satisfied at last. Good. Now go back to
bed. You look like you could use the extra sleep.
Sleep? Janeway perked up at the mention of it. That doesn't
sound like a bad idea.
Chakotay left the captain's quarters and strode purposefully down the carpeted hallway to the nearest turbolift. There he was met by Chief Engineer B'Elanna Torres.
Well?
Torres asked with more than a hint of her renowned
Klingon impatience.
You owe me a dinner,
was all Chakotay said.
Torres' eyes widened in surprise. Are you kidding me? She
actually agreed to it?
She followed him into the turbolift.
Chakotay grinned widely. Bridge,
he said. The lift moved
upward.
Torres was shaking her head. I never thought you would talk
the captain into this.
Obviously, or you wouldn't have bet an entire meal on it. And
I want you to cook it yourself. No replicator.
The chief engineer slumped against the wall and peevishly
crossed her arms. I hate to cook.
I know. That's why I agreed to your wager.
The turbolift
halted and the door slid open to reveal the typically active Bridge
starting a fresh duty rotation. Chakotay looked one last time at
his sulking companion. Oh, I'll give you my menu choice later on
today.
B'Elanna grunted. Keep it simple. Remember, I'm not
Neelix.
Chakotay laughed aloud. Thank the stars for that!
He
exited the turbolift and took the captain's chair, still
laughing.