12Dreams by amberholguin23
A/N: Star Trek Voyager's characters are the property of Paramount. I am writing this for fun and the enjoyment of others. Enjoy.
Summary: Like many I really hated that Chakotay's culture, though found to inaccurately represent native american culture, was not seen more in the series. Janeway is shown her animal guide by Chakotay in the episode the cloud. What happens afterwards when they start to share prophetic dreams and form a deeper connection than before? Rated M for later chapters.
Chapter 1 :
"Personal log, Stardate 48546.2. Our journey home is several weeks old now, and I have begun to notice in my crew and in myself, a subtle change as the reality of our situation settles in. Here in the Delta Quadrant, we are virtually the entire family of man. We are more than a crew and I must find a way to be more than a captain to these people, but it's not clear to me exactly how to begin. At the Academy, we are taught that a captain is expected to maintain a certain distance. Until now, I've always been comfortable with that distance. Maybe this is just the way it works. Maybe the distance is necessary. Maybe more than ever now, they need me to be larger than life. I only wish I felt larger than life. Computer, delete last sentence."
After completing her morning stroll through voyager, Captain Janeway stopped at the mess hall for her first cup of coffee of the day which was unusual for her. By this time, she should be starting her third cup of the day. Yet, being in the delta quadrant with limited supplies has made her cut back.
Entering the mess hall Janeway's eyes immediately settle upon Tom Paris and Harry Kim at a table, picking at their meal trays.
"Gentlemen." Janeway began. In response as both the ensign and lieutenant rose from their seats, "As you were. So, has Neelix concocted anything interesting this morning?" Katheryn inquired.
"There's an ancient Chinese curse, Captain. May you live in interesting times. Mealtime is always interesting now that Neelix is in the kitchen." Ensign Kim replied diplomatically.
Janeway and Tom chuckle in response. "We shouldn't judge him too harshly. He is helping us conserve replicator energy."
"And I'm sure the gastrointestinal problems will go away as soon as our systems get used to his, er, gourmet touch." Tom quipped back.
Janeway laughed at that, knowing the extent of Neelix's 'gourmet cooking'. The emergency medical hologram reported this week about 14 cases of gastrointestinal issues related with Neelix's cooking. Janeway didn't really see an alternative but to continue to have Neelix serve food. The energy supply on the ship was just too low to replicate food.
There was an awkward pause in the conversation and Janeway started to be acutely aware of her rank, "Well, I'll see you at duty call."
Janeway left the conversation or lack thereof and went off in search of Neelix. She needed coffee, badly. Her coffee withdrawal symptoms started rearing its ugly head in the form of a headache.
"Neelix?" Janeway inquired; not seeing him in the kitchen or anywhere in the galley.
She took it upon herself to search for some coffee and get to her ready room to catch up on some reports.
Looking around she saw two thermalised flagons and helped herself. Disappointingly, one after the other was empty. Katheryn shrugged and wandered into the kitchen. Seeing first hand all of the odd dishes and aromas that these low boiling pots were emitting. No wonder why the crew was feeling ill effects.
"Captain! May I say, you look beautiful this morning. Is that a new color lipstick?" Neelix complimented; walking into the mess hall kitchen carrying vegetables from the aeroponics bay.
"No. No, it's the same color I always wear."Janeway said, feeling taken aback by the compliment.
"Well, perhaps it's just the way the glow of the food heater lamps hit you but you look wonderful. Not to suggest you don't always look wonderful." Neelix said backpedaling as to not offend the captain.
Stopping Neelix from verbally spiraling Janeway interrupted,"Neelix. Do we have any coffee left?"
"No, but we have something even better."Neelix said with his usual optimism.
Katheryn had another sharp pang from the headache that was getting stronger.
"I don't want 'something even better'. I want coffee." Janeway said; genuine annoyance starting to grace her features.
"It's made from a proteinaceous seed I discovered on an expedition", Neelix continued on, ignoring the captain's protests.
Shaking off Neelix, Janeway started to walk out to the galley, "Never mind. I'll use one of my replicator rations for coffee."
Neelix poked his head out of the kitchen, "That would not be appropriate, Captain."
"I beg your pardon?" Janeway turned around, not liking the public challenge of authority.
"You need to set an example for the crew." Neelix chastised.
"Well, thank you for reminding me." Janeway said, calming down.
"You're welcome. After all, if you want the crew to begin to accept natural food alternatives instead of further depleting our energy reserves, you need to encourage them by your own choices, don't you?" Neelix guilted.
"Fine." Janeway said in a huff giving in, "Give me your even better than coffee substitute."
Neelix lifted the flagon and poured the most gilatonus, grotesque, and unappealing substance that the captain ever saw. She opened her mouth in disbelief that Neelix would call such a thing coffee.
"Bridge to Janeway." Chakotay's voice rang through the mess hall kitchen.
Dropping the cup with the 'coffee' substance in it into Neelix's hands tapped her combadge to reply, "On my way. Janeway out."
Stepping off the turbolift and on to the bridge, Janeway inquired, "Yes, Commander?"
"There was no need for you to come to the bridge, Captain." Chakotay said with concern.
"Yes, there was. You saved me from Neelix's 'coffee substitution'".
"I just wanted to alert you to a nebula we've picked up on long range sensors," Chakotay said with humor in his tone.
"Put it on screen. Magnify." Janeway commanded; liking that the commander was getting into a nice working groove.
After setting a course for the nebula, Janeway leaned over to the commander in his seat.
"Exploring this nebula should raise some spirits around here, don't you think, Commander?" Janeway beamed.
"No way to go but up." Chakotay gave a half smile and leaned towards Janeway in response.
"You're closer to the crew than I am. How bad is it?" she said with genuine concern on her face.
"There's a nuanka, a period of mourning, that everyone's going through. It's a natural reaction." Chakotay said reassuringly, looking deeply into Katheryn's beautiful blue eyes.
Janeway held Chakotay's gaze, "I'm worried about them. I wish we had a counselor on board, but the nature of our mission didn't require one."
"We talk to animals. It's a Native American tradition."
"Animals?" Janeway said, immensely intrigued.
Chakotay nodded, "Our own counselors. We're taught that an animal guide accompanies us through life. Basically, it's what Carl Jung thought he invented when he came up with his active imagination technique in 1932, but we've been doing pretty much the same thing for centuries."
"Is there a different animal guide for everyone?" Janeway inquired; the scientific curiosity bubbling inside of her.
"Actually, yes." Chakotay replied, keeping the intensely intimate eye contact.
Surveying Chakotay like she hadn't had a chance to before, Katheryn took a guess to what animal guide would fit him the best. From what she had read about him in his maquis intelligence file was that he was a sharp thinker. From what she could observe looking at him presently was that he had a very strong, attractively built body.
"Let me guess. Yours is a bear." Janeway said with excitement like she was a part of a guessing game.
Chakotay was amused and took the compliment. He was grateful that she did not guess right, it would upset his guide. Curiosity struck him as well. What did she see in him to make that guess? Did she really know him that well even though it's been a few weeks since the crew became one.
"What makes you say that?"He asked, changing to a flirtatious tone.
"You strike me as the bear type."Janeway replied wanting to know the answer.
Chakotay made an attractive, and Janeway hated to admit it, sexy smile.
"Thank you. The bear is a very powerful animal. It has great pokattah. But he's not my animal guide. The creature that guides us doesn't define who we are. It merely chooses to be with us."
"Okay. If not a bear, then what?" Janeway didn't want this guessing game to end until she knew who his guide was.
Chakotay smiled again, liking the interest Janeway had, "I can't tell you that. It would offend my animal guide if I spoke its name."
Janeway was a little disappointed she wasn't able to find out who Chakotay's animal guide was. Knowing would really allow her to get to know her first officer better. She would be serving alongside him for the rest of the journey home.
"But he guides you well?" She pushed wanting to know more.
"Actually, it's a female. But yes, she usually guides me very well." Chakotay responded, really appreciating the care that Janeway was taking to learn more about him and his culture.
"Can one just choose their own animal guide?" Janeway asked, starting up another round of 20 questions; taking Chakotay from his thoughts.
"It's not quite that simple", Chakotay began wanting to give her the information she seeked.
"Captain. We're approaching the perimeter of the nebula." Tom interrupted the command team's intimate conversation.
"Slow to one third impulse." Janeway commanded; turning back to the warmth of the conversation with Chakotay.
"If you're interested, I'll be glad to teach you how to contact your animal guide." Chakotay offered.
"You've got a date." Janeway said with an excited smirk and a lift of an eyebrow.
Janeway spent the rest of the night looking at sensor data of the nebula. She was really hoping to find a better way to approach and harvest the omicron particles from the nebula. She needed a cup of coffee. Her headache finally subsided when she used one of her replicator rations to order herself a cup of gloriously steaming coffee. Katheryn settled back into her desk, coffee cup in hand, and continued reading sensor data.
The doorbell for the ready room called, and out of reflex Janeway responded "Come in."
Chakotay entered, carrying a skin, "Repair crews have degaussed the hull, Captain."
"Good. Let's plan an oh seven hundred departure." Janeway responded, still looking at her PADD. She glanced at Chakotay thinking there was something more, "What's this?"
"My medicine bundle", Chakotay replied, " I've never shown it to anyone before. After what you said this morning, I thought it was important to let you see."
Chakotay really had not trusted anyone to see his medicine bundle before? He trusted Katheryn with the sight of something very precious to him. He just hoped he could help her with the answers she seeked.
"Will it help me find my animal guide?" Janeway asked.
"Eventually you'll have to assemble your own medicine bundle, like Belanna when she tried, but this will allow me to assist you in your quest for a guide." Chakotay advised.
"Now? Janeway questioned; forgetting about their conversation earlier, Now."
Chakotay goes up to the seating area by the window, puts his bundle on the low table and sits on the floor.
Is this really what I want? Janeway questions herself, feeling slight trepidation about the whole process of meeting one's spirit guide. What if I scare off my guide? What if It doesn't want to talk to me? What if nothing happens at all; the scientist in Janeway is always questioning. She internally chuckled to herself, and sheepishly approached Chakotay who was kneeling at the coffee table; medicine bundle in hand waiting patiently.
As soon as Katheryn was settled, Chakotay began the ceremony, "A blackbird's wing. A stone from the river. These items are not in every medicine bundle. If you choose to make one in the future, you will add items that symbolize things that matter to you most. Then we have what every medicine bundle has; an akoonah."
"Akoonah?" Katheryn questioned with wonder.
"My ancestors used psychoactive herbs to assist their vision quests. Now they're no longer necessary. Our scientists have found more modern ways to facilitate the search for animal guides." Chakotay took Kathryn's hand, feeling a spark as their skin touched and guided it, "Place your hand on it and concentrate on the stone. A-koo-chee-moy-a. We are far from the sacred places of our grandfathers. We are far from the bones of our people. But perhaps there is one powerful being who will embrace this woman and give her the answers she seeks."
Chakotay noticed that Katheryn was fighting to keep her eyes open. "Allow your eyes to close. Breathe to fuel the light in your belly, and let it expand until the light is everywhere. Prepare yourself to leave this room and this ship, and return to a place where you were the most content and peaceful you have ever been. You can see all around you and hear the sounds of this place."
Katheryn opened her eyes and found herself at the beach that she spent her summers at with her parents. Tears started to well up in Katheryn's eyes. She never thought that she would be able to see this beach ever again. She missed how the wind would toss her hair, making her feel free. She loved the smell of the sea breeze; the mixture of salt and water. All of those things she was experiencing now.
"I know this place. It's-" Janeway was cut off by Chakotay.
"You must not discuss with me what you see, or you will offend your animal guide. As you continue to look around, you will become aware of other life that shares this place with you. It will be the first animal you see. That is the one you will speak to."
As Katheryn made a pause in speaking looking around for her guide, Chakotay took this moment to really gaze at her and admire her. He felt a sense of pride that he was the one to connect her to her animal guide. His own would be very proud of him being able to guide others. He suddenly felt the presence of his own animal guide in the room. She was by the doorway and was slowly making her way into the ready room. She padded over to sit between Chakotay and Katheryn.
"Do you see an animal?" Chakotay resumed guiding Katheryn with the help of his own animal guide.
"Yes." Katheryn said with an exalted whisper.
"Speak to it." said Chakotay, shifting his gaze from Janeway to his own animal guide in wonder.
When he guided B'elanna before, his animal guide was never there. His guide was watching Janeway like she was waiting for her to reply to Chakotay. This support his guide was showing was interesting. Why would his animal guide be present now and with Janeway?
"What do I say?" Katheryn asked; taking Chakotay from his wonder of this unique situation.
"You know what you want to ask." Chakotay said somehow knowing the feeling behind his captain's questions.
The doorbell brings her back with a jolt breaking her meditative state. With her jolt Chakotay's animal guide faded away.
Turning to look at Chakotay, Janeway apologized, " I'm sorry. I should've asked the computer for no interruptions. Come in."
As Chakotay started to wrap up his medicine bundle he gave her a quick smile laced with disappointment that they were interrupted; but knew this was her life as captain.
Torres stepped in with a look of worry on her face.
"The Commander was introducing me to my animal guide." Janeway explained sitting up and putting the captain's mask back on.
"I hope that you have better luck with yours than I had with mine." B'elanna said; smirking from the memory.
Chakotay moved to stand beside Katheryn, "B'Elanna's the only one I know who tried to kill her animal guide."
They both chuckled. To change the subject B'elanna reported, " I'm sorry to interrupt, but the Doctor and I have come up with a rather surprising analysis of the matter left on the hull. It's organic."
Torres handed the PADD to Captain Janeway and Chakotay.
"Microscopic life forms from the nebula." Janeway mused aloud.
"That's not what I mean. The samples are clearly organic elements of a much larger life form. It appears, Captain, that this nebula is not a nebula at all." B'elanna reported.
Chakotay leaned over the pool table with strength and concentration hitting the orange solid 5 ball into the left center pocket. Katheryn entered the room feeling trepidation wash over her. Chakotay continued to circle the table assessing his next angle and move. He wiped a thumb and forefinger along his cut jaw assessing the table. Three figures lingered around the table, their features indistinguishable.
"Commander", Katheryn said, trying to get Chakotay's attention.
Chakotay leaned away from the table and looked towards the familiar voice. His face lit it up with joy when he saw his Captain in the doorway to sandrines.
"Ah Captain, glad you could join us, this game is pretty much finished", Chakotay said with swagger.
"I'd love to play, so is this pool or billiards?" Katheryn said, smiling innocently approaching the table.
"Its pool captain", Chakotay answered her.
"Right, pool is the one with all the pockets", Katheryn responded demurely keeping her facade going, "Mind if I join you commander?"
"Of course, let's get you set up and you can break"
"Commander Chakotay, your stick"
"It's called a cue.." Chakotay began to explain; a blush forming on his cheeks from his not so innocent mind.
Katheryn took the cue as Chakotay began to rack the pool balls. She couldn't help but notice the confidence Chakotay had as he circled the pool table. She couldn't wait to wipe that smug look off his face.
"A cue", she mused back to Chakotay, "Do I go first?"
Chakotay extended a hand to allow the captain to go first. She effectively ended her ruse and expertly broke and landed 4 solid pool balls.
"Solids", she called.
Her victory of hustling the smile off Chakotay's face was interrupted by flashes of light erupting through the room. She was blinded by the bright light and fell to the floor. Suddenly, the ship was in a free fall, Chakotay disappeared from the room, and she was on the bridge. Hanging on with a death grip to the railing she signaled her crew to report. She couldn't hear a reply but as if it was out of her control she began to speak.
"Reset IDF baseline at three zero zero and reinitialize", She commanded hanging on for life.
Katheryn jolted awake and looked around her quarters and out to her viewport. She let out a sigh of relief when she saw the calm space outside and that the ship seemed to be in good condition; in no danger. She stretched and flipped her starfleet issue sheets over and swept her legs out of bed. She immediately went to the replicator and ordered a black coffee.
She reached for the steaming mug as soon as it materialized, saying a silent prayer over it. She gazed into the mug moving to take a sip and noticed something was off about the coffee. She took a sip and the metallic taste of blood washed over her senses.
Immediately revolted, she spit the blood from her mouth; loosing the grip of the mug. The blood spilled all over her pink satin nightgown. In horror, she made her way to the bathroom to clean off. As she went to pull out the sink, her eyes darted to the tokay gecko on the edge of the sink, dipping its tail into the cool water. She was initially taken aback and jolted backward but knew she was in no danger and slowly approached her Animal Guide.
"Hello again," She began, "Chakotay told me you would visit me again. I hope I didn't offend you earlier".
With no response, Katheryn instinctively followed her guide's lead and reached into the same flowing water as her guide and washed her face. She reached for a towel to dry off. As she looked at the reflection in the mirror she saw a timber wolf sitting behind her at the other side of her quarters. The wolf was sitting, almost obediently, watching Katheryn with its dark brown eyes. If Katheryn wasn't feeling as if she was being hunted at the moment she would think that the wolf was beautiful and powerful looking. She turned around slowly and scanned the wolf with her eyes. The timber wolf appeared to be a female and had a creamy white coat with brown and gray markings. Katheryn's eyes trailed down to the animal to assess if the she-wolf was on the attack. As her gaze trailed down she noticed the wolf's creamy fur faded into a scarlet red.
Katheryn, the animal lover she was, slowly approached the injured wolf and was met by Chakotay that seemed to appear out of nowhere. They made brief eye contact, both in the understanding that they were approaching this injured animal as a team. As they neared the she-wolf she showed her teeth in warning that if either of them got too close she would attack. The team backed away slowly.
"We can't leave her like this, she needs tending to that wound", Katheryn mused to Chakotay.
"We could distract her, captain, you can take these treats and throw it as I try to knock her unconscious with this hypospray and then we can have the doctor suture her up."
Katheryn nodded in agreement to the new plan and took the treats out of Chakotay's large yet gentle hands.
Janeway looked into Chakotay's eyes, "Ready?
He silently nodded.
Katheryn took the treat and threw it in an arch over to the wolf. The treat oddly lit up like a bolt of lightning, distracting the wolf and confusing Katheryn. Chakotay quickly moved to stun the wolf with the hypospray.
"Bridge to Captain Janeway", Tuvok uttered in his usual Vulcan monotone voice.
Janeway bolted awake. Gathering her surroundings and pitching herself for good measure.
"Janeway here", She responded.
"Captain you are needed on the bridge we have come up with a plan to help the nebula being"
"I will be there momentarily, Janeway out"
Making her way to the bridge Janeway shook the odd dream from her mind wanting to get to this being and help fix its injury that they unknowingly made.
"We are approaching the perimeter", Tom Paris announced.
Janeway jumped from her command chair and stopped in front of the view screen. Chin up, hands on hips, she commanded, "Disengage impulse engines, Engage thrusters one third".
Tom responded accordingly and continued to make the adjustments to their speed. The ship was put into red alert as they slowly entered the creature.
"Shields are up. Adaptive harmonics are operational." Tuvok reported
After solving the issue with the dust Voyager was tracking into the creature, they progressed forward. The breach was now visible on the view screen, and Janeway and the rest of the bridge crew gained attention as the wound of the creature became visible. The wound was large, almost the length of Voyager at length and width. It was abnormally shaped, which would be consistent with the damage they caused. Of course Janeway knew the size of the wound, but approaching it and seeing it with her own eyes, and not with sensor data, the guilt sunk in. How was she so careless to harm this creature? All in the pursuit of energy for her ship. She glanced back at Chakotay and he met her eyes. Almost knowing what she was thinking, he gave her a look to convey that they were doing the right thing coming back, and they did not intend to harm this creature on purpose. Janeway let out a sigh and turned back to the view screen.
"Engineering, ready your nucleonic beam." Janeway said to B'elanna.
"Ready and awaiting your orders, Captain." B'elanna said obediently.
"Mister Paris, bring us into position."
"Coming about forty degrees." Paris confirmed.
Suddenly the mesmerizing purple and blue nebula was illuminated by what looked like a bolt of lightning. The light was so blinding they lost visual connection to the creature for a few seconds. As Janeway was trying to ascertain what the sudden bolts of electricity were and if they were in any danger they lost control of the ship and Janeway was thrown to the floor. In the commander's chair, Chakotay felt helpless as he saw his Captain be thrown to the floor and hit her head. All he wanted to do is be by her side to physically steady her. But knew logically that he needed to brace himself so he wouldn't be thrown to the other side of the bridge.
"Engineering, initiate emergency shutdown of all thrusters." Janeway commanded, gripping the railing to try and stand up.
"The only way we can shut down all thrusters is to vent their deuterium into space. We can't afford to lose all that fuel." B'elanna reported over the comm from engineering.
"We have no choice. Do it!" Janeway commanded straining to pull herself up from all the stress pulling against her.
"Acknowledged! Cutting thrusters." B'elanna disappointedly confirmed.
"Inertial dampers are still offline." Paris reported; also trying to make his way to the con and try to regain control of the ship that was spiraling out of control.
Suddenly Janeway had a rush of dejavu. She couldn't really place it, why Voyager in a freefall and Tom reporting inertial dampers were offline was the cause of the feeling.
"Reset IDF baseline at three zero zero and reinitialise." Janeway using her intuition requested.
From the viewscreen the ship seemed to stop spinning and leveled out and calmly stopped.
"Field processors coming back on-line. Inertial damping restored." Tom reported, relief evident in his tone.
Janeway breathed a sigh of relief that she just knew the exact adjustment to get the inertial dampers up and running. Not knowing how she was able to do that without another thought, she became confused by the feeling of dejavu still present. She refocused her thoughts and stepped back into command mode.
"All stop. Damage report." Janeway announced, wanting to get her barings of the situation that just happened.
"Electroplasma leaks reported on deck fourteen. Repair crews are being dispatched. Otherwise, we seem to be in one piece." Ensign Kim reported in.
Chakotay was working at the console at the command chairs and noticed something, "I believe the optical data network is down, Ensign."
"Yes, sir. I'll get right on it." Ensign Kim said with defeat that he didn't catch the problem.
That feeling of slight defeat was felt all around when Tom reported from the comm, "We are approximately seventy thousand kilometers from our former position. Deeper inside the creature than before."
Janeway smirked and shrugged feeling defeat and frustration, "Let's hope it has a slow digestive process", Janeway joked, hoping to dispel the negativity in the room.
"Yes, ma'am." Tom said, a half smile on his face; turning back to the con.
Nervously pacing the bridge Janeway began to muse,"We need to get back to the wound without causing a response from its defense systems. Suggestions?" Janeway extended the question to the bridge crew.
Commander Chakotay was the first to voice a suggestion. Musing aloud he said, "It seems to be leaving us alone now that we've cut off all propulsion systems. Maybe that's what cues it to respond."
Chakotay got up from his command chair and walked towards the con, "If I'm right, we might be able to get back without engaging any engines."
"No engines?" Paris said back to chakotay and confusion not understanding where he was going with his line of thought.
"We've been reading these swirling energy currents since we first got here. When we thought it was a nebula, we weren't looking for any pattern. We thought they were just random eddies. But now I'm wondering if these currents might be some kind of circulatory system." Chakotay continued to explain.
Janeway got a flash of the dream she had the night before, holding a cup of coffee and it being filled with blood. It suddenly dawned on her Chakotay was right. The currents where the blood of the creature and the omicron particles they were after was a part of its blood.
Wanting confirmation Janeway spoke to Ensign Kim, "Mister Kim, are you showing omicron particles in these currents?"
"Affirmative, Captain."
"If the currents are distributing omicron energy throughout the life form, the circulatory system might pass right by that wound." Janeway mused.
"We could get in one of those currents and surf back." Tom added.
Voyager was then off to drift in the creature's blood stream, hopefully leading to the wound that Voyager initially created. Neelix stopped by the bridge with Kes serving stuffed Cardaway leaves. Janeway appreciated the gesture from Neelix. She knew he was doing this to make amends with her after wanting to coward away earlier, and be left behind. She took a stuffed Cardaway leaf, and it actually tasted good compared to the food Neelix was serving this morning. It was also well appreciated, Janeway just realized she skipped breakfast this morning.
Janeway put down the last half of the Cardaway leaf and saw from the view screen that they were approaching the open wound, "Well done, Mister Paris. Take us gently out of the current. Stay in RCS drift mode."
"Aye, Captain."
"Miss Torres, prepare your nucleonic beam. Let's give the wound
Two doses to start. Five bursts at a two second interval. Now."
The beam seemed to be somewhat effective as a part of the wound began to close. Janeway called from belanna to report how effective the burst of the nucleonic beam was. B'elanna reported that the beam did not really make an improvement and began to doubt if the beam would be effective.
Interrupting Belanna's wallowing the doctor opened comms, "I believe a slight alteration of your treatment plan is necessary. As inspiration, I've drawn on an ancient medical technique known as a suture."
"A Suture?" Janeway repeated the doctor's suggestion, the dejavu feeling coming back stronger.
Chakotay also had a strange sense of dejavu and felt like he said something similar to the captain before but it didn't make any sense. He glanced towards her trying to remember.
"I will try to knock her unconscious with this hypospray and then we can have the doctor suture her up." Chakotay's own voice echoed in his mind.
The doctor continued, interrupting Chakotay's concentration, "Before the advent of laser technologies, Surgical fiber was used to stitch together a wound to allow it to heal naturally."
"How does that help us?" B'elanna questioned.
"The ship's energy systems are compatible with this life form's omicron particles, are they not?"
"That's right." She confirmed.
"It is very likely that this vessel could serve the life form's needs in much the same manner as a suture. By allowing the ship to serve as an energy conduit across the wound, the life form should be able to regenerate itself more rapidly."
"And how are we supposed to get the ship into the wound without getting the hell beat out of us again?" Paris questioned.
"That's your problem, not mine. Doctor out."
Paris annoyingly turned around in his seat and said, "That's sort of like asking a hurt dog not to bite you while you tend to its wounds."
Then it all came to both Chakotay and Janeway in a flash. The wolf in the dream; injured. Chakotay and her coming to its aid and Janeway throwing the treat and Chakotay rendering the wolf unconscious to tend to its wounds.
"We can't leave her like this, she needs tending to that wound", Katheryn's beautifully husky voice rang in Chakotay's mind.
"We could distract her, captain, you can take these treats and throw it as I try to knock her unconscious with this hypospray and then we can have the doctor suture her up." Chakotay's voice played out in Katheryn's mind.
Janeway made a quick glance to Chakotay, a thought in the back of her mind, wondering if they shared the same dream last night. She shook it off, deeming it childish and silly to think such a thing.
"You like dogs, Mister Paris?" Janeway asked, gathering her thoughts and coming up with a game plan.
"Yes, ma'am. I always had a dog." Tom replied.
"I like dogs, too. When I had to clean out a cut on my dog's leg, I needed to create a little diversion first to take her mind off it. Mister Kim? Prepare a class four microprobe." Janeway commanded.
Chakotay looked at the Captain. His dream last night, his animal guide was wounded and the captain and him teamed up to distract it so they could heal it. This could be a message from the spirits, Chakotay thought to himself, this might be the right path to take.
"Aye, Captain." Kim said, readying the probe.
"Lieutenant, if I gave you a short burst from our thrusters, would it be enough for you to maneuver into the breach in ten seconds?" Janeway asked, gathering a plan.
"I'd feel better if I had twenty." Tom said with a hint of humor.
"Once we launch that probe as a diversion, you might have ten, maybe even less than that."
"Ten sounds good." Tom said, turning around to face the con and view screen.
Janeway called to initiate her plan. Voyager launched the probe and it distracted the creature. The bolts of energy followed the probe attacking it as Voyager quickly moved to settle in the gash. They activated the nucleonic beams suturing the wound. Voyager then escaped before they were closed into the wound. Collectively the entire bridge let out a sigh of relief as the last parts of the creature turned into normal space. Janeway had a wave of emotion crash over her, grateful that she was able to help the creature and right her wrong.
As Voyager changed course to a planet over 10 lightyears away for another shot at some energy resources, Janeway turned over the bridge to Beta shift and entered the turbolift. She wanted to head to her quarters and contact her animal guide, hoping to get some answers about her dream last night. As she tried to scientifically think her way through her prophetic dreams of last night, Ensign Harry Kim entered the turbolift.
"Turning in for the night, Captain?" Ensign Kim politely asked.
"Actually, I'm going to talk to an animal and then turn in. Something Commander Chakotay taught me. It's supposed to be quite therapeutic. You might want to ask him about it." Janeway replied shocked that she admitted to the spirituality she had been seeking lately.
"I will." He replied and started to walk out of the turbolift as it came to a stop. "Captain?"
"What is it, Ensign?" Janeway replied curious as to what he was about to ask.
"Well, I don't mean to be out of place, but if you'd care to join us, you'd be welcome."
"Join you where?" Katheryn said with delight and wonder. Her animal guide would have to be contacted another night.
Janeway and Ensign Kim entered the holodeck and then entered through the doors of Sandrine's.
"Well, this is remarkable. Mister Kim tells me this is your doing, Mister Paris." Janeway said, taken aback by Paris's engenuity.
"Er, yeah. It's just a little diversion, Captain." Paris replied, slightly embarrassed.
Janeway's attention turned to the pool table as Chakotay was leaning over the table. That same feeling from the bridge came back again, but she shook it off. She could add this to her list of questions to her spirit guide.
"Commander", Katheryn said, trying to get Chakotay's attention.
"Would you like to play captain?" Chakotay asked, wanting her to feel included.
"I'd love to play, so is this pool or billiards?" Katheryn said, smiling innocently approaching the table.
"Its pool captain", Chakotay answered her.
"Right, pool is the one with all the pockets", Katheryn responded demurely, keeping her facade.
"Let's get you set up and you can break", Tom joined in.
"Commander Chakotay, your stick"
"It's called a cue.." Chakotay began to explain; the memory of her saying that last night in his dreams came to him. Chakotay really needed to meet with his guide; this was one of the oddest dreams he has had. He has never experienced prophetic dreams before, but knew it could happen. Great leaders of tribes of the past were known to be seers and see things before they happened.
"A cue", she mused back to Chakotay.
"Do I go first Mr. Paris?"
Paris extended a hand to allow the captain to go first. She effectively ended her ruse and expertly broke and landed 4 solid pool balls.
"Solids", she called.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed the chapter/episode. Please feel free to favorite and write reviews. It is much appreciated as this is my first fanfiction I've written. The next episode I wish to cover is Cathexis season 1 episode 12. What happens when Chakotay is in a coma and none can reach him?