Co-writer: @KayJayne 

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Chapter 1: 
"Home" 

Captain's Log, Stardate 53740.8  

It has been two weeks since we learned the truth about Icheb's parents and their plan to sacrifice him to the Borg. This period has understandably been difficult for him, but I am encouraged by his thirst for knowledge and desire to grow. Having expressed an interest in joining Starfleet, several of my senior officers have assisted Icheb in developing a curriculum and continue to support him in his studies.  

Whilst I am pleased that Icheb appears to be settling back into life aboard Voyager, I am mindful that this arrangement may not be as permanent as I once thought. Long-range sensors have detected a wormhole. The destination? The Alpha Quadrant.  

Experience has taught us to approach such discoveries with caution. We've been presented with opportunities to shorten our journey before, only to watch them disappear as quickly as they appeared. So far, however, our scans have remained consistent. The wormhole appears stable.  

I'm not sure how much longer I can keep hope at bay.

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For a moment, the Ready Room stood still as Captain Janeway, seated behind her desk, looked on at Seven of Nine and the latest addition to their family - Icheb.            

"It is not every day you're called to see the Captain," Icheb tilted his head, his mind racing.      

"Have I done something wrong?"            

Immediately, Janeway eyed Seven.            

Seven exhaled loudly.           

The reality was that, after his ordeal, anybody would be unsure. They'd be on the lookout for the shoe to drop, almost expecting what they believed to be security to be snatched away.            

"Not at all," Janeway attempted to reassure him with a raised palm.      

"I simply wanted to see how you were."            

He paused. He hadn't known these people long and yet they, Seven especially, were the people who had shown him the most grace and kindness.          

"I am functioning perfectly--" He trailed off, certain that they wouldn't buy it just as much as he didn't.            

Lowering her palm, Janeway's eyes fell to her desk for a moment. He'd said so little and yet so much at the same time. It was no surprise.            

"There's an old saying--" Janeway met his eyes.      

"It's okay not to be okay," she told him softly.      

"No one aboard Voyager blames you for what happened."            

Quietly, Icheb stared, not quite sure if or how to respond.            

"I have explained to him, Captain, that much like I once did, he must endure this uncomfortable period of adjustment--" Seven began as she stepped forward, her hands behind her back.      

"--This is not a failing. It is a learning experience."           

Janeway regarded Seven, silently acknowledging the many complexities at play.            

"Naomi Wildman to Icheb," a soft voice broke through the silence.            

"Icheb here." He tapped his commbadge.            

"Where are you? Myself and Flotter are waiting for you on the Holodeck. You agreed to help us find Trevis. We have to get past the dragon, remember?"            

As if on cue, Seven rolled her eyes.            

How these things possibly passed as entertainment for children was totally beyond her. What was more, it was a totally inefficient use of one's time.            

"Captain?" Icheb shifted awkwardly, not quite sure how to proceed.            

"Sounds like a dangerous mission. Sounds like Naomi needs all hands on deck," Janeway replied with a faint smile.            

"Thank you." He inclined his head and turned toward the door.            

"Have fun," Seven instructed somewhat stiffly.            

Icheb stopped just before the door and turned his head to study her for a moment.            

They hadn't always seen eye-to-eye and had on occasion even come to blows, but since his recent experience, his relationship with Seven had undeniably taken on an entirely new kind of weight and meaning.       

The corner of his mouth twitched into the faintest smile. Stepping forward, he proceeded on his way and finally, the doors hissed shut behind him.          

"He's a remarkable young man," Janeway noted as she watched the door and rose to her feet.            

"His intellect indeed leaves very little to be desired," Seven observed, tilting her head.            

Janeway furrowed her brow as she moved around her desk, past Seven and up the steps to the upper level of the Ready Room.          

"I'm not talking about his intelligence, Seven--"          

She raised an index finger.            

"Although, there's no doubt in my mind he'll go extremely far if he applies himself."            

"Explain."            

Seven stepped in Janeway's direction, stopping just short of the steps and rail that marked the higher level.           

Janeway licked her lower lip. Here they were again.            

"Intelligence, just like everything else, is a part of an individual. It's not the quality that defines them."            

Straightening herself, Janeway's features softened.            

"His resilience, his courage--his determination to trust and carry on--after everything he's experienced."            

She lowered her head for a moment before lifting it once more and meeting Seven's eye.           

"Not many people survive that kind of betrayal, Seven."            

"I--"           

Seven began, stopping short as she processed Janeway's words. There was no escaping how true they were. When Seven had learned that Icheb's parents had infected him with a pathogen designed to destroy the Borg, she had been outraged. Her own experiences had left her feeling betrayed on his behalf.            

Seven sighed heavily.            

"And yet, if sensors are correct, we will be in the Alpha Quadrant soon. I'm not sure resilience will be a strong enough defence against a planet filled with people who will undoubtedly regard us as Borg and, by extension, a threat to their existence."            

Allowing the idea to settle, Janeway turned towards the replicator. To her left, just above the elongated sofa, a starfield drifted past the large viewports.            

"Coffee. Black."           

Within a second, a silver cup filled with her favourite beverage materialised before her.            

Slipping her fingers through the handle, Janeway picked it up and turned her focus back to the former drone.            

"Are we talking about Icheb's fear now...or yours?"            

"Both," Seven sighed again, diverting her gaze to the desk.            

"I see."            

Janeway lifted the cup to her mouth and took a sip.        

"I can't make promises on how individuals will respond to you, Seven--"            

She lowered her cup and stepped down to meet the blonde at her own level.            

"--But I would encourage both yourself and Icheb to look at the most sustainable evidence you have, not least because I know that's a language you both understand."            

Allowing that to sink in for a moment, Janeway placed her cup on the desk with a gentle clink.           

"When you first came aboard, there were people who were unsure about my decision to let you stay. They were unsure that a member of the Collective could return to who they once were, and as time has passed, you've shown each of those people not only what you're capable of, but you've forced them to confront their own fears."            

Seven swallowed awkwardly.            

The harsh reality was that she already possessed the lived experience she was now projecting onto Earth. She'd faced it.            

And survived.            

"Captain to the Bridge."   

Tuvok, Voyager's Tactical and Chief Security Officer, sounded over Janeway's commbadge.            

Lightly, Janeway tapped Seven's arm as she stepped towards the Bridge.            

"Report," Janeway commanded as she stepped into Voyager's command centre, Seven of Nine in tow as the Ready Room doors hissed closed behind them.           

"We've approached the wormhole, Captain," Tom Paris reported from the helm.            

Janeway's eyes fixed on the viewscreen. A swirling, light-blue vortex dominated the display.            

"All stop, Mister Paris."            

She stepped further into the centre of the Bridge as Seven shifted to the upper level and took her place at the station behind the command chairs.           

"Aye, Captain."            

Tom's fingers danced across his console.           

"Telemetry from the other side is the clearest it's ever been, Captain," Harry Kim reported from Operations, unable to suppress his smile.            

"There's very little doubt where this leads," Chakotay chimed in. He had temporarily joined Harry at Operations.            

"Logic dictates that we remain cautious," Tuvok advised, not failing to notice the change in atmosphere which had finally culminated in an overwhelming sense of positivity.            

Turning to her oldest friend, Janeway couldn't help but smile.            

Tuvok the logical one.            

Tuvok the cynic.            

"The only thing about being too cautious, Tuvok, is that if we're not careful, we allow it to deprive us of certain opportunities."           

Janeway placed her hands on the railing in front of the Tactical console.            

"I don't know about the rest of you--"           

She licked her lips as she released the railing and turned to survey the Bridge, soaking in her people.            

"--But I feel lucky today."            

Noticing Chakotay step away from Operations and make for the centre level, Janeway crossed the Bridge to meet him.            

"This is it, Kathryn."            

His voice was barely above a whisper as they stepped aside.            

"Any reservations?" she asked.            

"I can't say I'm looking forward to Starfleet's reaction to the Maquis, but I think I'm ready to face the music."            

"Ex-Maquis," Janeway corrected.      

"Getting home doesn't stop us from being a family. Starfleet and former Maquis alike will have my unwavering support."           

Appreciating her sincerity, Chakotay offered a small smile.            

"Mister Tuvok, open a ship-wide channel."            

"Channel open," Tuvok replied.            

"This is the Captain to all hands."           

Janeway clasped her hands, placing the heel of her left hand against her stomach before covering it with her right.            

"Six years, four months, two weeks, five days. That's how long Voyager has been in the Delta Quadrant."           

Tom Paris stiffened slightly. Sure, he knew Voyager had been charting the furthest reaches of the galaxy for years, but he'd long since lost count of exactly how long. How long it had been since Captain Janeway had given him a second chance at life. A second chance to prove that he wasn't the reprobate he'd always believed he was destined to be.            

Harry stood a little straighter, his mouth watering slightly at the prospect of getting home just in time for one of his parents' renowned Sunday roasts.            

In Engineering, B'Elanna Torres looked up from the console attached to the warp core's ring and prepared to give her full attention to what was about to come next.            

"In that time, we've faced our share of challenges. We've been left deflated when opportunities haven't gone our way, but not once have we given up."            

Janeway lowered her head for a moment.            

"It's my firm conviction--"            

She lifted her head once more.            

"--that we've endured because we've forged friendships, in some cases relationships, and most definitely a family."            

In the Mess Hall, Voyager's resident Talaxian swallowed as pride tightened his throat.            

Six years ago, by chance, Neelix had been in the sector that housed the Caretaker's Array. The same array that had hurled Voyager seventy thousand light years from home. He had helped Captain Janeway understand what was happening and had ultimately found himself welcomed aboard as part of the crew.            

His own homeworld destroyed and his family massacred many years before, these last six years spent acclimatising to a newfound family had meant everything to him.            

In the Holodeck, distant roars occasionally echoed as Naomi, the first child born aboard Voyager, Icheb and the blue water-based lifeform Flotter crouched behind a rock.            

Icheb listened intently.            

After everything he'd recently been through, after being discarded by his own parents, he couldn't deny that Captain Janeway possessed a quality that left very little room not to trust her.            

"Who's that, Naomi?" Flotter enthused, a little too loudly.            

"Shhh!"            

Naomi pressed her fingers to her lips.            

"The dragon might hear you."            

She shook her head.            

"But that's our Captain--"            

She lowered her voice to a whisper.            

"I'm a little sad because we're almost at Earth. Everyone's really excited about it except me, and not only will I not get to be Captain Janeway's bridge assistant if we do get back to Earth, but--like the Captain just said--Voyager is my family."            

"Your assessment is incorrect," Icheb replied, drawing the attention of his companions.            

"You're not alone."            

His gaze settled on Naomi.            

"I too do not enjoy the prospect of returning to Earth."            

Naomi studied him carefully.            

Was he simply telling her what he thought she wanted to hear, or was there truth in what he'd said?            

"Really?" she asked.            

On the Bridge, Janeway stepped down towards the helm. There, she placed a hand against Tom's back as she looked out at the wormhole she'd been told would take them home.            

"I have watched each and every one of you grow. Some of you have overcome extraordinary personal challenges and have been determined to leave the past behind so that you can become better people."            

Feeling her hand on his back, Tom dared to look up at her. As his cheeks warmed, he realised he was blushing.            

In a show of gratitude, he smiled.            

This was the woman who had freed him from the penal colony in New Zealand. The one person who had given him a chance to prove himself. The one person who had trusted him to pilot her ship. The one person who had believed in him enough to let him see the error of his ways and grow.           

At her station, Seven clasped her hands behind her back.            

After their many discussions, she was under no illusion that Captain Janeway was also referring to her. The times she'd been encouraged to push herself and explore new, more human ideas. The times she'd doubted herself and her capabilities, and yet Janeway, along with other members of the crew, had always been there to guide, teach and reassure her.            

Unable to stop herself, the slightest smile crept across Seven's face.            

In Sickbay, the Doctor lowered the test tube he'd been working on, a broad smile spreading across his face.            

When Voyager began its trek through the Delta Quadrant, he had been confined to the four walls of Sickbay. Three years earlier, the mobile emitter had been discovered, allowing the Emergency Medical Hologram to traverse the ship and far beyond. During his time aboard, he had sought to expand his programme, exploring hobbies and relationships alike.            

A lesser captain would surely have limited him to his original purpose.         

In Engineering, a passing crewman offered B'Elanna a report.            

Her eyes widened in mild irritation as she snatched the PADD and watched the crewman hurry away..

A surge of emotion washed over her.            

The urge to cry was palpable, though she was certain she could keep it at bay. After all, she had a reputation to maintain.            

The urge to find comfort in Tom's arms.            

The urge to tell the Captain that six years ago she had hated her for insisting on merging the crews. For insisting on the Starfleet way. For challenging her at every conceivable opportunity.            

That was until B'Elanna had realised Janeway had never relished those conflicts.         

She had been teaching her.            

Teaching her that it was okay to embrace who she was. That it was okay to be challenged because sometimes--just sometimes--it meant the other person wanted to see you grow into a better version of yourself.         

"She did it," B'Elanna whispered as she placed the PADD upon the red ring surrounding the warp core.      

"She came through on her word. She actually did it."          

On the Bridge, Janeway turned and made her way back up the steps to the central level.           

"When I tell you that you're the finest crew in Starfleet--"           

She looked towards Harry, who immediately lowered his head.           

He had been the baby of the crew. Fresh out of the Academy.        

He hadn't simply been handed a job.           

He'd been handed a lifetime's worth of experience too.           

Janeway's gaze then fell to her First Officer.           

Chakotay smiled as he thought back on everything they'd shared.            

How far they'd come.          

He had started as Janeway's quarry, a Maquis captain she had been tasked with capturing. Six years later, they trusted each other implicitly. They knew things about one another that they hadn't dared share with anyone else.          

Like many others, he hadn't been happy with Janeway's decision to destroy their original route home.          

But he had understood it.           

And he had defended it.          

Then her eyes settled on Tuvok.         

Standing tall and awaiting her next command, Tuvok had taken in every word.          

Although, as a Vulcan, he failed to understand the necessity of such emotional displays, it had not escaped him how far Captain Janeway herself had come.            

He had observed her loneliness.            

Her doubts.            

Her regrets.            

And yet so much of what she had spoken about reflected back upon herself.            

She had promised to get her crew home.           

And here she was, about to fulfil that promise.            

"--I do so with the evidence, scars, sacrifices and power of endurance to prove it. It has been an honour to serve alongside each and every one of you."            

As she continued, she moved towards the railing below the Tactical station.           

"We've done the hardest part, and now we've got one final stretch to go. See you on the other side."    

With a small nod, she signalled for the channel to be closed.          

Tuvok's hands moved across the controls.           

"Channel closed," he reported.           

Janeway acknowledged him before turning.           

As she did, Chakotay approached from the opposite side of the Bridge and within moments they were seated in their respective chairs.           

"Any regrets?" she asked quietly as she leaned slightly to her left.            

"Does allowing Neelix to bring leola root aboard and feed it to us all count as a regret?"            

Janeway chuckled, pleased that amidst the tension and anticipation, the humour had not been lost.        

"You?" Chakotay asked.        

At the question, her smile faded as she stared down at her lap.           

"What if--"           

She looked back at him.           

"--What if everything does happen for a reason, Chakotay?"            

He simply regarded her, recognising it as one of life's greatest mysteries.            

"We've suffered. Loved ones at home have suffered and been forced to move on with their lives. But we've had our good times too. We've changed the balance of this quadrant and we've made the kind of imprint that... I'm not sure it's something I should apologise for."

In understanding, Chakotay smiled.

"If you'd told me we'd do all that six years ago, I'm not sure I'd have believed you. Today? I'm glad we have."

Janeway returned the smile. After being unsure how he would respond, it was comforting to know they were on the same page.

"Ensign Paris."

"Yes, Captain?"

Tom turned in his chair.

"It's time to go home."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Smiling, Tom turned back to his console.

"Engaging engines."

"Full speed ahead."

And with that, the U.S.S. Voyager crossed the threshold and entered the anomaly.

Chapter 2:
"Uncertain Horizons"

They had wanted to send all 97 children onto a Jupiter to send them to Alpha Centauri and leave the adults behind to deal with the robots. Until Will had pointed something out. The robots wanted Will and they wanted the engine. Wherever Will and the engine went, the robots would find them and they couldn't subject kids and an entire colony to that. But they also couldn't put everyone currently on the Resolute at risk either. So they made a decision. The Robinsons would stay behind and deal with the robots, they would open a rift to get the rest of the colonists to Alpha Centauri, and then they'd stay behind. They had to be quick though as currently the robots were fighting throughout the Resolute and trying to get onto their own ships. They didn't have much time. As colonists boarded their Jupiters Maureen and John made their way to the bridge of the Resolute.

They ran onto the Bridge as Maureen began making her way through it going to different consoles to do different things.

"I'm dropping the bulkhead doors throughout the ship." She began as she started pressing buttons and pulling leavers in the first console. "It won't slow them [the robots] down for long but-" She began to run over to another console as John walked over to another.

"How exactly do you start the Resolutes self destruct sequence?"

Maureen sat down at another console. "The Resolute doesn't have a self destruct sequence."

John looked over at her from his console. "It doesn't?"

"Why would somebody design a way to blow up your own ship? That's insane."

"We don't have time to crash the ship, into the planet."

"No we don't." Maureen said as she got back up. "We're gonna crash parts of it-" She walked to the main console at the center of the bridge, where it also showed their map. "Into that." She pointed at some space debris. "Put in the coordinates. So we can lay in an intercept course. When we're on route to it, I'll break off the parts of the ship. Then we need to get to our Jupiter, because the whole ship could also get caught up in it."

John tried to put the coordinates to intercept the debris but the ship knew what he was trying to do and denied the request as part of it's safety and anti collision protocol.

"Request denied potential collision detected" The system voice projected into the room.

"Oh no." Maureen rushed over to help John.

"How do you fool a ship into thinking you're not doing what you're doing?"

He huffed and rushed off as Maureen took the consol he was at. As she started trying to make it work, however after a few seconds of getting nowhere she let out her own huff of dismay, how was they going to do this. These safety systems, the same ones she had worked on for years to perfect, to never damage the ship or the people on it and now it was all coming back to haunt her. That's when she had an idea. She was one of four people in charge of the safety systems and there was only one way of overriding them. If all four put in their access codes, in the correct order. She tapped the communication button on her control band on her arm.

"Hastings! Hastings come in." She called as she walked over to the safety controls console.

"What do you want Maureen." He sounded annoyed. He did hate them after all, had tried to kill Maureen and John. But he was the only person with all the other codes.

"I need to override the Resolutes safety systems."

"Safety systems? We designed those systems to protect the ship from damage."

She was literally part of the team that designed them, she already knew this.

"I'm not gonna damage the ship. I'm gonna break it apart and atomize parts of it. It's the only way that we can make sure these robots don't come after you and all the other colonists on the way to alpha centauri... please."

After a few seconds of silence, Hastings finally spoke. "Sending the access codes now."

As soon as they were on the screen of her arm band she began to type them all in. "I'm in." They then managed to change the telemetry to intercept.

Maureen once more made an announcement. "All Jupiters make your way toward the the coordinates of where the rift will be... Robot, open the rift." The rift opened and colonists made their way through.

Maureen watched the screen as the Resolute got closer to the debris.

"Five, four, three, two." She paused for a second. "One." She put in the controls and took apart the ship. Before her and John ran out of the Bridge. "We need to get to our Jupiter" She stated as the pair ran. It was on the other side of the ship and she didn't know if they'd make it. As parts of the ship broke off, several bulkhead doors were still closed, they were just lucky that most of the robots were now trying to get off the Resolute and onto their own ships as they broke off.

After a few minutes of running they both stopped as the computer voice ran through the Resolute "Collision imminent."

"The Jupiter is too far." Her breaths were heavy as John turned to her, they both knew what she was saying, if the whole ship collided with the debris, which was very possible despite their best efforts, they weren't going to survive. They wrapped their arms around eachother and in that moment, the separation back on earth, the fighting, the hating, none of it mattered, what mattered was in the end they had reunited and they had spent the last year back together, happy and in love and they were with each other in the end. They cried as they collapsed together on the floor, they kissed for a long moment before they just embraced each other and waited.

Then they heard a voice over their comms. "Not to interrupt this magical moment, but anyone want to get rescued?" John and Maureen looked through the window to see their Jupiter with Don and the kids pulling into the closest Jupiter docking point.

"Come on." John pulled Maureen up and they ran to the Jupiter and got on. They ran through it as Don flew it away from the Resolute. The pair got to the front of the Jupiter as they watched the last of the Jupiters go through the rift and it closed behind them.

"They made it." Don whispered as the whole family stood there. They were now alone.

It was silent for a few minutes before John asked. "What now?"

"We weigh up our options." Maureen stated. She then turned to face the family. "We need to move away from here, in our current situation we can't fight the Robots. We need to move away and take the Resolute with us, try and rebuild it and then come back."

"How? There's no resources here to rebuild it." John stated.

"Then we need to find somewhere there is." She sighed. "The robots already know about earth, maybe we go back and fix it there. Nasa built this ship, they'll be able to rebuild it."

"That's still putting everyone on earth in more danger." John reminded her. "The robots know about alpha centauri, but we didn't go with the other colonists because of the dangers."

"Then we go just outside the solar system and make quick trips to and from earth for resources without using the engine. That way there is no engine trace to earth. If we move the engine onto the Resolute. Only one or two of us go on the Jupiter to reduce our traces."

"Or we could recover parts of the broken pieces of the Resolute and put it mostly back together. The robot can fuse metal. And you helped build it in the first place. And we have Don." John suggested, it reduced the amount of people at risk.

"Even if we do that, we'd still need to go out of this star system, even if it's just outside the border. If we stay here we'll be attacked before we have any chance of fixing the Resolute, they're too close. We'd have to take the Jupiter to salvage parts and bring it back."

"Then let's do that! We can't put any more lives in jeopardy."

"Let's just get away from this star system and figure it out then." Maureen said, she wasn't giving up the idea of going back to earth, but she also understood John's point.

The rest of the family had stayed silent during Maureen and John's exchange, they honestly didn't know what would be better at this point. Don silently stood up at Maureen's final words, moving from the captains chair, she changed places with him and sat down. "If we connect ourselves to the Resolute we can pull it using the Jupiter away."

"How longs that gonna take?" Judy asked, being the first of the children to speak up.

"Honestly? I don't know. It's going to take a while, we won't be able to go fast." Judy nodded and they all took their positions. Carefully Maureen flew them through the debris field, and connected near the bridge of the very heavily damaged Resolute. Before putting her plan into place and moving it as fast as they were able to, although it wasn't as fast as they'd like, they needed to get away as soon as possible before more alien ships got to them.

"Judy go to the bridge and look out for any alien ships." Judy got up and made her way to the bridge as her mum instructed. Realistically, Maureen could use the Jupiters sensors, but she wanted a fresh perspective from the bridge, plus it would tell her if the bridge was actually functional.

"Will, Penny, take the Robot and assess the damage. See if there are any areas he can fix... and be careful." Penny and Will nodded and went off to get the Robot.

"Don, I want you stay here with me and John."

"What about me?" Maureen frowned and turned in her chair.

"Smith?" Maureen asked highly confused, she thought she had died when she tried to stop the robots cutting the wires to set themselves free from the control room. "I saw you... you, you died trying to-"

"You should know me by now Maureen, I'm a fighter... so where do you want me?"

It took a moment for her to find her words, but finally she spoke. "Stay with us. I'd say rest but you seem okay?" It was more a question than a statement, how is someone who was meant to have died in space, but is actually alive meant to be?

"I'm happy here. I'll just stay on standby until you need me." She said and took a seat. Maureen turned to face the window and left it at that, there was time to talk about it later, right now they needed to get away.

Suddenly Judy came through on her comms. "I'm not seeing any robot ships on the map or on sensors."

"Alright Judy, thank you." That was the first bit of good news in a while.

After a few hours, they were finally reaching the edge of the star system and there had been no threats, and the Robot had almost completed all the fixes he could make on the Resolute. For the most part the control room on the Jupiter had remained silent, everyone feeling the effects of the last few hours as well as the fact they had to stay behind, knowing they were in danger, that this wasn't over.

It was Don who finally spoke. "Look, we're safe for now, we're not in any immediate danger. You both have been through a lot, and you haven't had a minute together. Me and Smith can take over for a bit if you want to go and talk, or whatever."

Maureen looked over at Don. "We can't there's too much work to be done."

"We've got this, anyway we can't do much until we get out of the system and that'll take a couple more hours. Get some rest and then when the hard work begins you'll be ready."

"What about you and Smith? You both have been through a lot as well."

"Firstly, I haven't been through nearly as much-"

"And I've hardly done anything for the last few hours, I'd say I've rested." Smith was actually trying to help selflessly? Maureen didn't know if she should be grateful or suspicious.

Maureen looked at John who gave her a nod, he agreed with Don and Smith.

"Alright. I guess we could use a couple of hours." Honestly a part of her was grateful, she was emotionally and physically exhausted. Half of her wanted to punch something in anger, another part of her wanted to break down and cry and the other just wanted to be close to her family, the amount of times they had been in danger and nearly lost each other and she was so fed up.

Maureen and John stood up and Don took Maureen's seat while Smith took John's as they continued the trip.

Clasping hands, John and Maureen made their way to their bedroom and closed the door behind them, sitting on the bed, facing each other, hands continuing to be laced together and in the comfort of their room, with everything else shut out, just the two of them, Maureen finally allowed herself to break down as she sobbed, her body shaking as they wracked through her body. John pulled her close to him, resting her head on his chest and arms wrapping around her as he placed kisses to the top of her head, his own tears filling his eyes.

"We're going to get through this, I promise." He whispered against her hair, causing Maureen to open her eyes and look up at him with watery eyes.

"How? We're stuck here, we have to deal with these robots who want to kill us and wants Will. We can't make it through this." She sobbed. "I thought moving to Alpha Centauri was safe, they had 23 successful trips. But now we're trapped and we're going to die and it's all my fault. It was all a disaster."

John pulled away from her and put his hands either side of her face, making her look at him through her tears. "Listen to me, this isn't your fault. And this trip, even though we ended up here, was not a disaster. If it wasn't for this we wouldn't have gotten back together, I wouldn't see our kids grow up, or fixed my relationships with them. I could be dead in the middle of a combat zone, thinking I could save the world instead of being with my family. When you told me you were taking our kids to another planet, it made me realise what was really important. And that's because of you."

"But-"

"No, listen to me Maureen, this isn't on you. We can't predict the future, you done what you thought was best with the information you had. Our kids growing up on earth, with wars, never seeing a blue sky ever again, in constant fear. Or the idea that we could have a better life on alpha centauri, with no wars, blue skies, being able to live their lives. You're an amazing mum and you wanted better for them and we'll get there."

"I just don't know how much more I can take." She whispered, broken. She was tired. Tired of the fighting, tired of being on edge every second of every day, tired of worrying if her family were going to survive the next day. Actually Maureen wasn't tired, she was exhausted.

"I know." John said softly. "And it's okay to feel like that."

"Is it? Because I feel like I'm going insane. Everything just feels so dark and bleak and I'm just waiting for the moment I open my eyes and we're back on Earth, all together and this was just a bad dream."

"I promise, it will get better." He tried to reassure her, a part of John believed it, he had to, if he could get his family back, despite him and Maureen separating on earth and her wanting to have full custody to take them to a new planet, then he could believe that they would get through this.

"You'll have to hold the hope for us both, because at the moment, I can't see it."

John nodded. "I can do that." He smiled softly. "And in the meantime, just remember, we're the Robinsons, we can do anything we put our minds to. And I'm always here for you."

A small smile of thanks formed on Maureen's face, despite the tears still falling. She was breaking, but he was here to catch her, and with the two of them and the resilience of the Robinsons they could get through anything. If they could turn a space ship into a boat and sail through a monsoon to a lightning storm, or fly the Resolute into a gas giant without major damage, not to mention, getting their Jupiter out of a glacier, and fighting off alien eels, they could do anything.

"I love you John Robinson." She whispered and placed a soft kiss to his lips.

"I love you too." He said kissing her back. "We should probably get some rest."

She shook her head. "No, I can't rest. I need to forget for a while, I want to be present with you, just you. Just us, in our own bubble for a while." John understood exactly what she meant and pulled her close once more.

At some point they had managed to fall asleep, they must have drifted off at some point, after being wrapped in eachothers arms, although she can't say for how long before she heard Don calling for them through her comm system. Maureen reached down and picked it up from the floor and groggily replied. "Don, is everything okay?"

"Uh, yeah. I think we've got far enough away from the system now. We're kind of in the middle of nowhere." Maureen checked the time on the comm and realised they had been gone for a few hours. She hadn't even realised they were gone for that long.

"Alright thank you Don. We'll be in to take over in a few minutes."

"Take as long as you need. Also I've sent the kids to get some sleep just after you and John left."

Maureen didn't even think about how exhausted the kids must have been. "Thank you Don."

They ended their communication and Maureen sat up to grab her clothes from the floor and get them back on, something John had already started to do while she was talking to Don.

"I knew you needed that sleep." John commented, trying to keep the atmosphere light like it had been for a few hours.

Maureen turned her head around to look at him with a grin. "Really? And here was me thinking you just wanted to get me into bed."

John laughed. "And that." Maureen joined him in a small laugh as she finished getting on her clothes. She then walked over to him.

"Thank you for helping me forget for a while and reassuring me, and just being you." She placed her arms over his shoulders and kissed him.

"Always." They looked at each other for a moment and smiled. "Shall we get back out there?"

Maureen nodded and they made their way out of their room.

They walked back into the cockpit, finding Smith and Don still there.

"Well if it isn't the two sleeping beauties." Don teased in his usual way, however they knew he genuinely cared and was grateful they got some rest.

"If you two want to get some rest then we can take over for a bit." Maureen suggested, it was only fair, especially as she and John had, had some time alone.

"I think first, it might be a good idea for the four of us to talk about what we want to do next." John suggested, he had thought some more about Maureen's idea about going back to earth to fix the Resolute. If they done it right, it could work.

"I thought you wanted to stay here and just use whatever we can salvage from the Resolute?" Maureen asked, confused. She thought John was pretty set on the idea of his original plan.

"I did, but I was thinking over your plan. I don't think the seven of us can fix the Resolute on our own. We need a bigger crew. If we try on our own it's going to take years. We don't have that time."

"But what about the risk to the occupants on earth?"

"If we don't get the Resolute back to a safe working condition, future colonists won't make it to Alpha Centauri and there's no real life for anyone on earth anymore."

Maureen knew what he meant, but she needed to make sure they were all on the same page.

"Don, Smith, what do you think?"

"Wait I actually get a say in something?" Smith sounded genuinely surprised.

"I still need to have a chat with you and you're certainly not in the clear. But you did risk your life for us, and you stayed behind to help us, so yes, you get a say. But I'm watching you closely." Maureen stated before she turned to Don, awaiting his answer.

"I think it's worth going back. As you say, despite how capable I am." Maureen rolled her eyes, of course Don was joking around and being egotistical. "We can't get the Resolute fixed with just our small number of people. We need a proper crew and we need new parts."

Maureen nodded and turned back to Smith.

Smith thought about it for a moment. Going home, that could put her future at risk, she had stolen the colony place from her sister, faked her identity, put a security officer in a coma and whatever other crimes. She was wanted on earth, and she couldn't risk going back. "I don't think it's a good idea." She simply said.

Maureen frowned and crossed her arms. "Why?"

"Well the risk to everyone there. If we put them in danger, and bring the Resolute back like that, after what we've done to it, it's not exactly going to be a welcome back ceremony."

Maureen saw right through it. "You can't go back there, can you? How many people did you cross on earth?"

"I just don't think it's a good idea." She tried to divert.

"Well three of us agree to go back, so that's exactly what we're going to do." Maureen stated, she couldn't let Smiths shady history stop them from doing what was necessary.

"Well shouldn't the kids get a choice as well."

Getting the kids involved instantly put Maureen in the defensive. She wanted to keep the kids out of it as much as possible from now on. This wasn't their decision to make. They hadn't had the chance to be kids since they crashed on the first planet, so while they could help when necessary, the children we're staying out of it from now on.

"No, we are not involving them." Maureen raised her voice. "From now on they stay out of these decisions. They've been through too much. We go back, they get to have some form of normality for a while and we deal with this." John knew Maureen was worked up.

"Okay, I think we've had enough talking for now. The decision is made, we go back." John said, diffusing the situation before it escalated.

That's when the kids all made an appearance, all clearly still sleepy.

"Hey, we heard raised voices, is everything okay?" Penny asked rubbing her eyes, the three of them still in their pyjamas.

Maureen instantly softened at seeing them. "Everything's fine sweetheart." She said softly. "Actually we've made a decision. We're going back to earth. We're going to get the Resolute fixed and then come back."

Judy frowned. "But what about the robots chasing us?"

"If we stay here they are just going to find us, before we're ready. We'll sit on the outside of the solar system and go to and from earth without using the engine." John stated their plan.

"Uh, don't we get a say in this?" Penny asked.

"The Robots want me, if we go back they'll come to find me." Will added.

"It's the best option we have." Maureen stated. "We're doing this. Will go and tell the Robot to open the rift back to earth." Will sighed and walked off to get the Robot prepared.

"I'm just going to get ready for our trip." Smith said, standing up from her seat to leave the cockpit, she needed to stop them going back.

"As long as that's all you're doing." Mauren said as she turned to face the window with crossed arms. She didn't trust Smith's intentions at all. She knew that woman too well at this point, and even then surprised her.

Smith walked off to find Will, she put her arm around the young lad as he and the Robot were making their way to the engine that was still laying in the basement.

"Listen, I think the best place to go would be the other side of the galaxy. It won't take us long to go to and from earth from there, and it keeps us far enough away to keep earth safe." She claimed to Will.

"But mum wants us to go back to earth. And the only reason it doesn't take us long is because of the engine. Do you know how far away earth is to the other side of the galaxy?" Will wasn't stupid, he loved learning about space and knew that without the alien engine it would take hundreds of years to get from one side of the galaxy to the other, and they couldn't use the engine if they didn't want to leave a trace.

"Yes, but do you really want to risk the lives of everyone on earth? Even without the engine, they are still at risk. Especially as we still have you and the Robot. And your mum isn't going to keep you on the Jupiter while the Resolute gets fixed, especially if we are so close to earth and repairs could take months." She stated.

Will thought for a moment. "Well no. I don't want to risk everyone's lives."

"Exactly. It's not that far if we use the engine to a certain point then turn it off on each trip, and it keeps everyone safe."

Will turned to her fully at this point. "Why do you really want to keep away from earth? We all know you by now, you have an ulterior motive. You always do."

"The one thing your family have taught me is you stick together and that you always do what's best for everyone else. Taking us that close to earth puts millions of lives at risk, plus Alpha Centauri isn't really that far from earth, not compared to the distance if we stayed across the galaxy from them. It keeps both planets safe."

Will wished he could argue with that. And he knew there was a reason she wasn't saying, but at the same time, he couldn't justify putting all those lives at risk. So he decided to go with her plan.

"Alright." He said and Smith grinned before she went off to get back to the cockpit.

Will got the Robot ready, told it where it needed to go, to the other side of their home galaxy, and joined his family on the cockpit.

"Is the Robot ready?" Maureen asked from her seat and Will nodded.

"Alright kids go take your seats." Will, Penny and Judy went into the central room where their seats were.

Maureen then transmitted to the robot. "Robot, take us home."

A few seconds later their rift opened. However they weren't being pulled in like they would normally, they were trying to fly towards it, but it was pushing them back.

The Jupiter began to violently shake as they tried to push forward and the rift kept pushing them back.

"Why aren't we going in?" Penny asked into the cockpit.

"I don't know. Will do you have any idea?" Maureen asked her son. Out of all of them, Will knew the robot best.

"I don't know, I told him where we wanted to go, he was fine, he was getting ready when I left."

They continued to try and fight the push from the rift but it wasn't working they just couldn't get into it. Nothing was making sense, they just kept trying, but their engines were over heating and nothing they were doing was working.

Eventually the stopped, it wasn't working and if they carried on they would have ended up blowing up the Jupiter or tearing it apart. However despite them stopping, the rift remained open.

"What is going on?" Penny asked a few moments later as the three kids made their way back to cockpit.

Maureen just shook her head, she had no idea. She looked through the window, why wasn't the rift closing? Why weren't they being taken in? She had so many questions, the family all had questions. They just didn't know what was happening.

Chapter 3:
"Strangers in the Dark"

As the Intrepid-class vessel began her journey through the anomaly, the viewscreen drowned the Bridge in its blue hues. The spirals within were a sight to behold.

"It's beautiful," Harry observed.

Across the Bridge, Tuvok looked down at his fellow officers. This wasn't the first time a comment of this nature had been made. Much like before, it baffled him how humans always tried to find beauty in things as innocuous as clouds or, in this case, a wormhole.

Without warning, Voyager shuddered.

Instinctively, Janeway's hands gripped the armrests.

Her mind raced.

Was this where it was all about to go wrong?

"Minor gravimetric fluctuations, Captain," Paris reported after a beat. "Nothing to worry about. Just a little turbulence."

"Steady as she goes, Mister Paris," Janeway instructed.

* * *

In the Holodeck, the three friends pressed their backs against the cave wall as the ship shuddered.

"Naomi!" Flotter exclaimed as he leaned across Icheb to address the young girl, who'd taken point. "You didn't tell me we could expect earthquakes!" His little blue face drooped, almost disappointed that she hadn't filled him in on all the details.

Naomi looked up at Icheb.

Neither of them seemed particularly concerned.

Sure, the young girl hadn't been expecting earthquakes to complicate their mission, but that had hardly been the part she'd focused on when choosing this particular story.

"HELP MEEEEEEEE!" Trevis wailed dramatically from afar, his voice reverberating off the cave walls.

Naomi winced as her friend screamed for support.

"Flotter, the details don't matter. Trevis needs us. That's what's important." She offered the water-based man a reassuring smile.

"I concur." Icheb looked behind him. "You have endeavoured to take on a dragon. I would have thought an earthquake would be no obstacle."

"I'm just being silly, aren't I?" He waved a dismissive hand, a broad grin returning to his face.

Naomi returned his smile, glad they were once again all on the same page.

"Now..." She turned forward, her right hand pressed against the cave wall as she peeked around the corner.

Her gaze fixed on the mouth of the cave. Beyond it stood a castle. Their destination. The dragon's shadow danced across the structure as it circled overhead.

"We've just got a little further to go," she informed her team.

Again, the cave shuddered. This time, it was accompanied by an unwelcome shower of dust and a sound that told them the rock formation was beginning to shift.

* * *

"Shields are down to 87 percent," Tuvok informed the Bridge.

"So much for an easy ride," Chakotay observed.

Janeway side-eyed him. The worst part was that he wasn't wrong. Perhaps it had been too much to hope for, given everything they'd been through.

"Talk to me, Tom," Janeway commanded.

"We're still on course, Captain, but I'm having slight difficulty with navigational controls," Paris replied.

"Captain, I'm also detecting fluctuations in the navigational deflector," Harry offered.

"Janeway to Engineering."

"Torres here."

"I need someone down in deflector control. Now."

"Acknowledged. Sending a team now."

And with that, the communication ended.

Turning to Chakotay, she was slightly surprised to find him already looking in her direction.

"Just one final test. A parting gift from the Delta Quadrant, I'm sure." She attempted a smile, though it failed to reach her eyes.

For good reason.

It was rubbish.

* * *

Both Icheb and Naomi watched as the cave threatened to crumble.

"I advise we move from this location," Icheb remarked, much to Flotter's delight as the children's character offered an enthusiastic nod.

"Come on. Let's go!"

Naomi threw herself around the corner and raced to the mouth of the cave, crouching as she did so.

"Wait!" she ordered, throwing an arm out behind her.

Several metres ahead lay a ledge. Beyond it was a gap of roughly a metre. Then came a narrow outcropping, just large enough to accommodate two people, followed by another gap and a final stretch of rock.

On the far side stood the castle.

Directly below flowed a river of molten lava that seemed designed to dare anyone to cross in an attempt to gain entry.

Above, the dragon completed yet another pass of their location.

Again, the cave trembled, more violently than before.

A frown etched itself across Icheb's face.

"Something's wrong," he noted.

Raising a hand and extending his index and middle fingers, Flotter tapped him three times on the back.

"If I can be brave enough to face this—this oversized bird, you can too!" Flotter grinned.

Biting the inside of her cheek, Naomi considered the possibilities. Perhaps Icheb was right.

Then again, maybe he wasn't.

"I'm sure it's really just part of the program," she opined.

Deferring to her judgement, Icheb lifted his eyes to the glorious blue sky. Their first priority was ensuring that whatever plan they settled upon, they didn't get caught by the beast above.

* * *

"Shields at 81 percent," Tuvok reported.

"Compensate," Chakotay ordered.

Harry's fingers danced across his controls.

"I'm trying, Commander. I'm having difficulty identifying the source."

"This phenomenon is indeed intriguing. Even as part of the Collective, I cannot say I ever experienced anything like this," Seven offered.

Leaning slightly to her right, Janeway looked up and to her left at the former drone, her gut twinging. The part of her desperate to get home wished Seven had forgone sharing that particular nugget of information.

"Who said being an individual meant missing out on all the fun?" Janeway quipped before straightening herself and facing forward.

Observing the interaction, Chakotay bit his lower lip. He hadn't needed to say anything to know he and the Captain were on the same page. He knew her well enough to recognise that the explanations they were clinging to were running dry.

"Estimated time to clear the anomaly: five minutes, seventeen seconds," Tuvok stated.

Propping her right arm on the armrest, Janeway rested the knuckle of her index finger against her lips.

That was tantamount to a lifetime.

Voyager began to shudder. With each passing second, the intensity grew.

"Captain!" Tom called over his shoulder. "We're being pulled off course!"

On the upper level, along the back wall that housed a computerised display of the vessel, a console exploded.

Instantly, and without an order needing to be issued, the Red Alert klaxons began to sound as the lights dimmed and were replaced by flashing red beacons.

* * *

"That was a big one!" Flotter stated the obvious as all three of them wrestled to maintain their balance.

Naomi dared to look in Icheb's direction.

He wasn't satisfied.

She shrugged.

"Look, it wouldn't be much of an adventure if it was straightforward, would it?"

Before he could answer, the dragon roared as it swooped overhead. Only, as it made its pass—

"The dragon is flying away from the castle." Icheb lowered his head as thoughts swept through his mind.

"Brilliant!" Flotter enthused as he jumped to his feet. "That's our chance."

Grabbing for his arm, Icheb applied a little more pressure than he had intended.

"Sit down," he ordered. "I have observed the dragon fly several times now. Its route has remained consistent, but it has now diverted."

"Naomi!"

A voice called excitedly from between them. It was familiar. Familiar enough to divert their attention.

"Trevis!" the young girl called out.

Trevis, unlike Flotter, resembled a tree stump. He represented the earthly elements.

"How did you get there?!" Flotter scolded, pointing a finger in his friend's direction. "We come all the way out here to save your butt and—"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Mom!" Trevis dismissed him.

He leaned towards Naomi.

"So, when are we going to challenge that pesky ogre of fire?" Trevis grinned.

Naomi swallowed awkwardly as she once again met Icheb's eye.

This was bad.

* * *

"Getting damage reports from multiple decks," Harry called across the Bridge.

"Our structural integrity field is fluctuating," Seven offered.

"Mister Kim." Tuvok set his sights on the Operations station.

The call drew the young Ensign's attention.

"I am detecting unusual readings. Are you receiving the same?" Tuvok queried.

His eyes falling back to his console, Harry frantically searched, knowing he'd understand what Tuvok was referring to if he could only find it.

"I see it," he finally stated. "Are those neutrino emissions? They can't be."

Harry scowled.

Janeway's head swung towards the Operations station as the potential explanation washed over the Bridge.

Without warning, everyone lunged forward as the ship violently shook and exploded around them.

"Shields down," Tuvok called out.

"Now would be a good time to get us out of here, Mister Paris," Chakotay remarked, somehow managing to maintain his composure.

"I'm trying, but I'm losing control!" Paris called over his shoulder.

* * *

As the simulation once again shook, Flotter, Icheb, and Naomi shared a look of concern.

"Hehe!" Trevis sounded. "I love a good earthquake." He chuckled.

"It's not great that they can uproot my kind--BUT--" He emphasised the point with a raised index finger. "It can be funny when a tree timbers and crushes someone or something I don't like!"

"Trevis!" Naomi slapped him with the back of her hand, astounded that anyone would say such a thing. "That's mean!"

"Quiet!" Icheb hissed as loudly as he dared.

Complying, albeit begrudgingly, everyone fell silent.

The only sound was that of the flowing lava below.

"Can you hear that?" Icheb asked the group.

"The sound... of adventure?" Trevis guessed, earning a disapproving side-eye from Icheb.

"The dragon. It's gone," Icheb noted.

"A dragon?" Trevis leaned in. "I always miss the best parts of life!" He chuckled.

"Don't be such an oaf!" Flotter interjected.

Trevis swung his head in Flotter's direction.

"Call me that one more time and I will wring you out!"

"Gentlemen!" Naomi warned the pair, and not for the first time, as she rose to stand between them. "Make friends. We have a problem to fix, and we need each other to do it."

She looked between the two of them.

Flotter huffed and turned to his left.

Trevis rolled his eyes and turned to his left.

"Now." Naomi folded her arms.

"Fine!" Trevis sighed. "There are worse things than being friends with a literal fountain."

Affronted, Flotter put a hand to his chest.

"A fountain?!"

"Sure," Trevis began. "All someone has to do is open you up just a teeny, tiny, incy-wincy bit and you'll go--GUSH!"

Dramatically, Trevis threw his arms wide.

"Computer, end program," Icheb called.

"Unable to comply," the Computer responded.

"Icheb to the Bridge."

He tapped his commbadge.

Static crackled from his communicator.

Nothing.

Naomi's heart sank.

She didn't understand what was going on, but what she did understand was that this was all part of the same pattern she'd seen before. Voyager gets the promise of getting home, something goes wrong and, at best, several years are shaved off the journey. The less likely it became that she'd ever get her chance to work on the Bridge.

"And if I just went gush, you'd best make good use of what little time you have left because without my water, your sappy branches wouldn't survive!" Flotter shot back, not at all amused.

Softening, Trevis shook his head.

"And I thought you had a sense of humour."

He offered Flotter his hand.

Flotter eyed it for a moment before deciding to accept.

The environment shook violently once more, forcing all four of them onto their backs.

"Safety protocols offline," the Computer warned.

"Oooh!" Trevis sounded. "It almost sounds like a daaaare."

His widest smile spread across his face.

Jumping to his feet, he lunged forward and raced towards the ledge.

"TREVIS, NO!" Naomi screamed as she pushed herself up and took off in hot pursuit.

Icheb could see it happen as if it already had.

"Naomi! Wait!"

He clambered to his feet and chased after them.

"No safety for the Ogre of Fire!" Trevis enthused as he stepped off the ledge.

For a moment, he lingered there as Naomi reached out to grab him--

Then he fizzled into nothingness.

Stumbling, Naomi dropped to the ground, shrieking in horror as momentum carried her forward.

She rolled over the ledge.

Below, the river of lava churned violently.

* * *

"The hull is under tremendous pressure, Captain," Tuvok noted over the explosions ripping through the Bridge.

"Janeway to Engineering."

Static.

"Lieutenant Torres, respond." There was a sternness in Janeway's voice as she eyed her First Officer.

"Bridge--communications malfunction--"

"Can you clear it up?" Chakotay tossed the question in Harry's direction.

Kim simply shook his head.

"I'm trying, sir, but systems are failing throughout the ship."

Then maybe they only had one shot at this.

"B'Elanna, I need you to route all available power to the engines."

"--nowledged," came the Engineer's reply as the comm link cut out.

"Hopefully she heard you." Chakotay nodded in her direction, forever trying to be the optimist.

"Harry, shut down all non-essential systems."

"Running system shutdown--wait."

Kim's brow furrowed.

"Holodeck Two is in operation and not complying."

Harry bit on his lower lip before looking over to his senior officers.

"Safety protocols have been deactivated."

Seven swallowed as dread swept over her.

"Naomi and Icheb are down there, Captain," she reminded her.

"Get down there, Chakotay. Get them out of there."

With a gentle nod, Chakotay jumped up from his chair and rushed towards the turbolift.

"I will accompany you," Seven stated as she made her way across the Bridge.

"Seven--"

Janeway rose to her feet and turned to face her two officers, who had now stopped just short of the exit.

"I need you here--"

Then it hit her.

The look in Seven's eye.

The concern.

The pain.

Exactly what was at stake.

Her heart.

Without another word, Janeway offered the pair a small nod, granting the permission they needed to leave.

* * *

"Naomi!" Icheb called as he clambered towards the edge of the cliff.

For a moment, all he could see was the lava below, certain to seal the fate of anyone who fell into it.

"Icheb."

Naomi called his name, tears streaming down her face.

There she was, clinging to a fortunately placed outcrop just beneath the ledge.

"Flotter, get behind me and pull on my leg," he instructed the hologram.

"We're coming for you, Naomi!"

He cupped his hands around his mouth before doing as instructed.

This was a gamble.

What if Flotter disappeared?

He would lose his anchor.

That said, compared to Naomi, he was in the more favourable position, and she needed him.

"Take my hand!"

Icheb reached over the edge, his hand hovering inches above Naomi.

The young girl stared at it through tear-soaked eyes.

"I--I can't reach it."

* * *

"The wormhole's being intersected, Captain," Kim informed her.

Moving across the Bridge, Janeway placed her hands on the railing below the Ops station.

"By what?"

He shook his head as he searched for an answer.

"It looks like some sort of anomaly. I've never seen anything like this before."

That was getting old fast.

Uncomfortably, Janeway turned to face the viewscreen. The glorious blue had vanished. In its place was a blinding white light.

"Tom, I'm reading a power surge in your console!" Harry called to the helm.

"In a minute. I think I've got some control back," he insisted.

"Tom, move!" Janeway bellowed as the ship rocked violently once again.

As predicted, the surge shot through the helm console, catching Ensign Paris squarely in the face.

"AHHH!"

He cried out in pain as he slumped to the left and fell to the deck.

Racing forward, Janeway descended to the lower level and knelt beside her helmsman.

"Tom?"

She placed two fingers against his carotid artery.

He was alive.

"Beam him to Sickbay!"

Totally overwhelmed, Harry puffed out his cheeks as he attempted to juggle multiple duties at once.

Spinning the helm chair around, Janeway dropped into the seat and turned her attention to the console.

"Helm's not responding," she reported.

She placed a hand atop the controls.

"Come on, Voyager. You've never let me down before."

The words were barely more than a whisper as she fought for control of the ship's engines.

Then, like music to her ears, the transporter effect began to envelop her injured helmsman.

"Transporters are having trouble maintaining a lock!" Harry shouted across the Bridge, becoming more frazzled by the second as the ship lurched forward once more.

"Hull integrity is weakening. Hull breaches on Decks Six through Nine," Tuvok reported, his usual composure not escaping Janeway's notice.

"Seal them!" Janeway roared as she fought mercilessly with the controls in front of her.

The lights on the helm flickered before going completely dark.

Janeway's jaw dropped open.

"Sickbay has Tom, Captain," Harry reported as he instantly threw himself into the next crisis demanding his attention.

For te first time, she found herself utterly unsure not only of what to do next, but of how they had ended up in this position in the first place.

"Captain--"

Harry gulped as he stared ahead.

"What is it, Harry?"

She swivelled in the chair.

He seemed transfixed and, since he didn't appear in any hurry to answer, she followed his gaze to the viewscreen.

A starfield.

They'd been spat out of the anomaly.

"Is it over?" she asked.

"Affirmative," Harry replied. "But engines and other key systems are offline."

"That is not the least of our worries, Captain," Tuvok added.

Heaving a sigh, Janeway pressed the back of her hand against her mouth before pushing herself out of the chair and making her way to the centre of the Bridge.

"What is it, Tuvok?"

"Sensors are erratic," he noted before turning his full attention to her. "However, I am detecting a vessel containing human life signs."

Surely that had to be a good sign.

Under other circumstances, Janeway knew she would probably laugh.

Was this Tuvok trying his hand at being dramatic?

"Scans have failed to identify the vessel."

"Put it on screen."

Janeway placed a hand on her hip as she stepped towards the viewscreen.

For a moment, the image remained distorted.

Despite everything they'd just been through, Captain Janeway allowed herself a flicker of hope.

But why hadn't they been able to identify whatever was out there?

Were their systems simply too damaged?

"A Jupiter," Janeway stated to nobody in particular, her brow furrowing.

"I beg your pardon, Captain?" Tuvok sought clarification.

Thrusting her tongue into the side of her cheek, Janeway turned back towards him.

"I don't think our biggest question right now is where we are..."

She glanced back at the alien vessel on the viewscreen.

"...but when."