Star Trek Voyager: The Forgotten Episode

Chapter Three

"Commander you can't!"

"That would be illogical."

"Tuvok is in critical care, you can't just leave!"

Chakotay looked around at the faces staring at him, Tom Paris' worried gaze, Seven's cold look, B'Elanna Torres, who was bordering on the edge of fury.

"This ship cannot survive without Captain Janeway." He stated simply, although his treacherous mind whispered: I cannot survive without Kathryn. Tom threw up his hands in exasperation.

"Chakotay. I know you don't think my opinion is important, but listen. You're in command now. There's no way in hell you can just leave us and go down there by yourself, that would be suicide." His wife B'Elanna nodded.

"He's right y'know. I know I've known you for longer than anyone else Chakotay, but you just can't do this when Tuvok is hurt, none of us have the proper command experience to protect Voyager while you go galavanting off." Chakotay swallowed hard. He felt something brush his arm, and nearly jerked away when he saw Seven had lightly rested her fingertips on his bicep.

"You are letting your emotions control you." Damn her, she was right. Hating this, and feeling totally isolated from everyone around him, Chakotay left the little group and stalked back to the command chair. He pressed the com while everyone watched silently.

"Bridge to Sick Bay. How is Tuvok Doctor?" There was a pause, then the slightly annoyed voice of the Emergency Medical Hologram came through.

"He is unconscious Commander, which I'm grateful for. He is badly burned has at least six broken bones, and brain trauma. Ensign Kim is no better, he's gone into neural shock." Chakotay swallowed again, his throat feeling dry.

"When will they be better?"

"Not anytime soon I'm afraid. They are both in need of intense medical care, which I was in the middle of giving them." Understanding the Doctor's irritation, Chakotay told him he would check back in later and closed the com. He looked up to see B'Elanna standing in front of him.

"Chakotay. . ." She growled softly, arms folded across her chest. "I can feel a stupid plan forming in that mind of yours." Chakotay narrowed his eyes at her. Was all of his motives on display for everyone to see?

"Helm, prepare to take Voyager to the surface." He ordered to Paris, who took a deep breath, and said "aye Sir" under his breath.

"Commander Chakotay." Seven suddenly appeared beside B'Elanna. "If you continue this. . . this illogical behavior, the Lieutenant and I will relive you of duty for unfit frame of mind." Chakotay laughed bitterly.

"You don't understand, do you?" The two looked confused. "I'm willing to risk everything to save Kathryn, without her, this ship will fall apart into mutiny within a month. There would be no point in even getting home then!" B'Elanna took a step back, shocked at the raw pain and fury in Chakotay's dark eyes. Seven however stood her ground.

"Chakotay,"

"Don't call me that." He winced as the words bit deep at Seven, and he thought he saw a bit of pain flash through her pale eyes. "Make preparations for planetary atmosphere entrance." He addressed Paris, and B'Elanna turned away to silently leave to head back to Engineering. Seven stayed for a moment more, then sat in Chakotay's usual chair.

"She talks about you." She said quietly as Tom manuvered the starship towards the planet. "Not directly, but I can see it. I do not understand the emotional attachment, but it is there Commander." Chakotay winced, then risked a glance at the former Borg. Her eyes seemed less hard and more understanding than he had ever seen. "I do not blame you for going after her." Seven said quietly, and the stood up to return to her station. Chakotay was shocked into silence. How did Seven know. . . ?