BSG/Voyager Crossover - Part 7a
For 
bantha_fodder's BSG/Crossover ficathon. Dedicated to
regencyg!
Pairing:Janeway/Adama, Sr. or Janeway/Roslin
Prompt: Galactica stumbles into the Delta Quadrant and meet Voyager, Bill and Kathryn bond over the demands of keeping everyone safe. Or Kathryn and Laura bond over being women in charge. Or both.
Title: Flying Colours Part 7: Talks of Home
Word Count: 4,201
Rating: T
Disclaimer: Refer to Part 1
Flying Colours - Part 7a: Talks of Home
Kathryn shuddered, wishing she could just indulge in the relief of a simple hug, but Chakotay--though they still tried hard to maintain their friendship--was married to Seven of Nine and was no longer available for even such simple, non-threatening intimacies.
God, what a disaster this day had turned out to be and she'd been going for nearly twenty hours straight. She sighed as she took another deep draught of her coffee.
"Feeling better," Chakotay asked.
"Mmm, much better," she replied softly. "Good Lord, what a day," she said tiredly as they sat down on the couch together. The large, ungainly ships floated past her window as she gazed out at them. "How do we get ourselves into these situations, Chakotay?"
"We work hard at it," he laughed. "And you know what they say, Kathryn … it's Starfleet, weird is part of the job." She laughed heartily as he unconsciously echoed the old adage. She rolled her head from side to side, feeling some of her tension dissipate. "Anyway, our crack engineering teams have been busy beavers surreptitiously scanning anything and everything and I have to tell you, from B'Elanna's excitement, they may very well have components we need, or ones we can adapt to suit our needs," he said soberly. "I think you should seriously consider President Roslin's offer, Kathryn."
"I am," she said softly. “Don’t worry, I am.”
"Well, from the Doctor’s report, the patients he’s treated should all recover," he continued more cheerfully. "Furthermore, they’re all human, unlike the Cylon cadaver Dr. Cottle sent over for our study; the Doctor’s already found some interesting nano-tech he plans to go over with Annika. Their computers may be less sophisticated, but whatever these people are and wherever they’ve come from, they've simply moved off on a different technological track than we did--into hyperspace jump technology instead of subspace warp technology, but it may not necessarily mean anything in terms of sophistication. Granted, warp technology would be extremely dangerous to them and we have to be careful, but I think for the most part Adama and Roslin will be mindful of the limits you wish to set."
"I get the same feeling too," she said quietly. "I just hope they can keep their people in line. Anyway, I did manage to persuade Admiral Adama to give me their next set of jump coordinates and it’s faily close to a Type 2 hyperspace instability--and well, put hyperspace and subspace together, mix in a little anti-matter and you get an extremely big bang!" she said wryly.
"How far away is it?" he asked.
"Approximately twenty-seven light years," she replied. "Twelve days at warp 9.5 using conventional warp and twelve hours if we generate a slipstream--if we want to risk another one."
"There's nothing wrong with the technology, Kathryn," he reassured her, "only with bullies like the Dii'Qorcho. No one here is going to detonate a multiphasic quantum torpedo in our path. We have just enough reserve power to generate a couple more," he told her softly. "After that we'll have to deal with a mighty angry Klingon," he chuckled and she laughed with him.
"Don't remind me," she quipped. "I've been getting black looks over towing those ships. Tom will be escorting Laura Roslin to the bridge in a few minutes--let me talk to her and perhaps sleep on it. Anyway, the Delta Flyers have stocked us up on duterium and other goodies from the third planet in this system."
"The operative word here is sleep, Kathryn," he said firmly and she nodded. "You should go off duty directly after--"
"Sickbay to Janeway," the Doctor's voice interrupted him. "Mr. Paris just left with President Roslin."
"Thank you, Victor," Kathryn replied as they rose and headed for the door. "We're all ready up here--Atawsio set the table a few minutes ago with everything you recommended for her. How did the therapy go?"
"Very well," he replied as they exited onto the bridge. "It seems that the hybrid Cylon child had nano-probes that were blank of programming beyond DNA and tissue repair. Understandably, Ms Roslin wants the probes out as soon as possible, and flushing them out of her system shouldn’t be a problem, but I want to make sure that her systems can handle the purge before I attempt it. I'll know more once I'm finished my analysis. Sickbay out."
Kathryn smiled at Chakotay when the lift opened a moment later and Laura stepped onto the bridge with Paris and Starbuck. Kathryn went forward to greet her. "Hello, President Roslin," she said quietly. "Welcome to the bridge."
"Thank you, Captain Janeway," Laura replied enthusiastically as she looked around curiously. "It is indeed an honour."
"Commander Chakotay, you have the bridge," Kathryn said formally as Chakotay took the command chair.
"Aye, Captain," he replied and she turned to Roslin and Starbuck.
"Captain Thrace, perhaps Tom could show you to the mess hall while President Roslin and I dine," she said.
"Thank you, Captain Janeway," Starbuck replied smiling, taking up her post opposite Voyager’s security personnel. "But Tom was kind enough to provide me with a meal while I waited for President Roslin to complete her therapy."
"Understood, Captain Thrace," she replied with a courteous nod and gestured to Laura to precede her. "My, she's rather fierce," she commented with a smile as the door closed and she led Laura to the head of the table.
"I must apologize for Starbuck," she said softly as Kathryn indicated she should sit next to her on the left at far end of the long conference table. “I didn’t realize that Admiral Adama had assigned her as my bodyguard until we were in sickbay--Admiral Adama tends to do things “for my own good” without telling me. Please forgive any unintended insult.”
She sank into the comfortable chair as Kathryn chuckled and began to uncover the dishes. "Not at all, Laura," she laughed. "Why do you think there are two security personnel outside this door? You haven't met Tuvok yet--but believe me, nothing compares to a very precise, very unemotional Vulcan security chief. Between him, Chakotay, Atawsio and the Doctor, it's a wonder I'm able to go to the bathroom alone," she said and Laura laughed as her tensions dissipated.
"You have young children aboard, Kathryn?" she asked in astonishment, gesturing to a brightly finger-painted picture on the table as she settled in her chair.
"Yes," Kathryn replied as she poured them each a glass of pale blue Hanaran ceremonial wine the ever-resourceful Paris had picked up on shoreleave earlier that year, from a delicately wrought crystal carafe. "Being out here for over ten years with no support from home, leads to the inevitable, Laura," she said. "Most people have paired off and many have children--it wasn't something I could deny them. Back in the Federation, having children on a small ship like Voyager was not an issue, but we had a lifetime of travel before us. One of my officers had become pregnant before Voyager was taken--at home it was a simple thing to put in for a transfer with her husband to an assignment where they could be together. Her child was her last link to her husband and they had been trying for some time. It wasn't my place to dictate to her what to do about it--it was up to her whether she wanted to bring a child into our situation, as it's been up to … to those who've decided to have children.”
Kathryn’s voice caught on a painful note and Laura studied her drawn face. After a moment, she cleared her throat. “We love our children," Kathryn said simply as she met Laura’s gaze again.
"I understand, Kathryn," Laura said softly. "One of my first dictates to Adama was that we needed to get as far away from the Colonies as possible and start having babies--you can imagine how that went over." They shared a chuckle and she sampled her wine. "What is this?" she asked, surprised at the taste.
"Hanaran ceremonial wine," Janeway replied as they began to eat. "An alien delicacy; between that incurable rogue, Tom Paris, Mr. Chell and Malaquier--a security officer we sort of picked up last year; she has … well she has a rather colourful past--we've managed to supplement our stores quite nicely. Paris has managed to keep a number of clandestine games of chance going, can generally find a man, who knows a man, who can get what most people need and on holidays manages to spike the punch with some good cheer--and it's good fun for the crew as long as he doesn't go too overboard."
"I know all about incurable rogues," Laura laughed. "I wouldn't be here without the chief among rogues, Starbuck--" she smiled wryly. "And of course there’s Chief Tyrol who has a still in one of his machine shops,” she said laughing as Kathryn gaped at her in complete shock, “and named a prototype fighter he built after me. Then there's Dualla," she continued. "Your systems are frustrating the hell out of her--she can't even find Voyager since Paris repaired his Cobra."
"I know," Kathryn chuckled. "Tell her she's up against the best in the business, Seven of Nine, Annika Hansen. Borg encryption alphanumerics are notoriously hard nuts to crack."
"Oh Lords," Laura giggled. "You don't want to give these young people a challenge, believe me. Between her, Lieutenant Gaeta … all of them, they are very effective," she said. "They've kept us ahead of the Cylons--especially the Viper pilots and the deck crews. So many good people died to save us," she soberly. "And I've personally put some of them in danger time and again because I either didn't know what I was doing or I had no choice. And then there are those I ordered left behind because to stay with them meant death for everyone else."
"I know," Kathryn replied quietly.
"Do you?" Laura asked looking down at her plate and toying with her food.
"Yes," Kathryn replied, placing her hand on her shoulder. Laura looked up bleakly as Kathryn spoke, "My crew have placed themselves in terrible jeopardy a number of times to get us out of some bad situations and some of them never made it out. And then there are those you lose," Kathryn said hoarsely as their faces floated before her. "Those you lose because you're not fast enough or good enough, wise enough or just plain too ignorant to keep them from being brutally hurt or killed. On a small ship like this you get to know everyone after ten years; there’s nowhere to transfer to. Despite every layer you put between them and your heart, you get to be so close to everyone and then you have to send your friends out there, possibly to die. And you tell yourself it is necessary for the good of the ship. So many have died over the years, Laura, and so many more may die because they follow me in what may ultimately be a futile attempt to get home."
"That's the way I felt yesterday the moment your slipstream phenomenon hit," Laura said smiling wanly. "That I'd killed fifty thousand people; that I'd passed up a habitable planet--Baltar's New Caprica--and brought the last remnants of my civilisation out here to die in a futile attempt to find a new home, a safe home … Earth. But it wasn't futile."
"No it wasn't," Kathryn replied as they resumed their meal. "You'll find them a home, Laura." She could see Laura's surprise at her statement, but she said nothing as they finished their meal in companionable silence. Laura smiled in delight at the large bowls of mousse Kathryn uncovered.
Voyager's captain chuckled. "At the risk of spoiling it for you, yours is chocolate and enriched with a number of supplements the Doctor had the kitchen add--and mine is coffee flavoured."
"Don't tell me you're a coffee-swilling barbarian!" Laura teased.
"Barbarian?" Kathryn said in outrage as she began her dessert and Laura sighed appreciatively as she tasted hers. "I'll have you know, coffee is the only civilized drink," she sniffed indignantly.
"Civilized hah!" Laura laughed. "It never ceases to amaze me how something that smells so good, can be so vile and unpalatable. A cup in the morning to wake me up is as much as I can usually stand, but Galactica’s officers drink it like water. I prefer chamomile tea, though it's impossible to find in the Fleet now."
"You--" Kathryn said pointing her spoon at Laura, "have uneducated tastebuds."
"Then ignorance is bliss," Laura teased as Kathryn joined her giggles.
"Oh Lord," Kathryn said catching her breath. "They must be wondering on the bridge what the hell is going on in here--"
"Tuvok to Janeway." Kathryn looked at Laura and they burst into another gale of laughter. "Captain, is everything all right?" came the concerned voice.
"Speak of the devil," Kathryn whispered. "Janeway here," she said trying to control her urge to laugh. "I'm fine, Commander--the President and I were just having a chat."
"I see, Captain, well enjoy your chat--Tuvok out."
"See what I mean about Vulcan security chiefs?" she laughed. "I've known Tuvok for close to fifteen years and he's more of a mother hen than my own mother."
"I know exactly what you mean," Laura said. "My aide, Billy, is--was exactly the same way." Kathryn nodded silently and waited for her to continue. "There are times when you try to do your job to the best of your ability and things happen--then suddenly you're the leader of the remnants of humanity. I knew politics, but I was only the Secretary of Education, for crying out loud," she said hoarsely. "I didn't want to be President--not at that moment, but there was no one else. I knew President Adar, we were good friends … had been lovers …"
"I'm sorry," Kathryn said.
"Thanks," she replied, toying with her wine glass. "Actually, I never meant to reveal that much, but one explanation leads to another ..." Her voice trailed off uncertainly.
"I know what you mean," Kathryn returned wryly. "It's been a long time since I've been able to talk to someone who isn't a part of my crew about the things that matter. I didn't mean to reveal as much as I did in sickbay. Believe me, all the lies I could have told to explain away the Doctor just fled, simply because you wanted to know. There were ways I could have explained him without revealing that we're trying to make our way home after being taken and dumped unfathomable years away from all that was familiar and have been on our own for over a decade."
Kathryn grimaced; there were tears in her eyes. "I arrogantly made a vow ten years ago that I was going to get them home--instead, here we are, still struggling to get back. I've watched so many die, yet I keep going, pushing them on and I’m deathly afraid that there's a breaking point somewhere and one day, I'll lose them all--"
She took a deep breath and smiled at Laura as she sat back in her chair, "But not today, Laura, not today. Anyway, I've given your offer a great deal of thought, and I must say that I can't really afford to turn your generosity down. We need very desperately to re-supply and hopefully to refit. But I know, no matter your good intentions, Laura, you couldn't possibly afford all that--however, I have an alternate way that you can help us if you still wish to."
"Most definitely, Kathryn," Laura said sincerely. "What's your idea?"
To Part 7b
bantha_fodder's BSG/Crossover ficathon. Dedicated to
regencyg!
Pairing:Janeway/Adama, Sr. or Janeway/Roslin
Prompt: Galactica stumbles into the Delta Quadrant and meet Voyager, Bill and Kathryn bond over the demands of keeping everyone safe. Or Kathryn and Laura bond over being women in charge. Or both.
Title: Flying Colours Part 7: Talks of Home
Word Count: 4,201
Rating: T
Disclaimer: Refer to Part 1
Flying Colours - Part 7a: Talks of Home
Kathryn shuddered, wishing she could just indulge in the relief of a simple hug, but Chakotay--though they still tried hard to maintain their friendship--was married to Seven of Nine and was no longer available for even such simple, non-threatening intimacies.
God, what a disaster this day had turned out to be and she'd been going for nearly twenty hours straight. She sighed as she took another deep draught of her coffee.
"Feeling better," Chakotay asked.
"Mmm, much better," she replied softly. "Good Lord, what a day," she said tiredly as they sat down on the couch together. The large, ungainly ships floated past her window as she gazed out at them. "How do we get ourselves into these situations, Chakotay?"
"We work hard at it," he laughed. "And you know what they say, Kathryn … it's Starfleet, weird is part of the job." She laughed heartily as he unconsciously echoed the old adage. She rolled her head from side to side, feeling some of her tension dissipate. "Anyway, our crack engineering teams have been busy beavers surreptitiously scanning anything and everything and I have to tell you, from B'Elanna's excitement, they may very well have components we need, or ones we can adapt to suit our needs," he said soberly. "I think you should seriously consider President Roslin's offer, Kathryn."
"I am," she said softly. “Don’t worry, I am.”
"Well, from the Doctor’s report, the patients he’s treated should all recover," he continued more cheerfully. "Furthermore, they’re all human, unlike the Cylon cadaver Dr. Cottle sent over for our study; the Doctor’s already found some interesting nano-tech he plans to go over with Annika. Their computers may be less sophisticated, but whatever these people are and wherever they’ve come from, they've simply moved off on a different technological track than we did--into hyperspace jump technology instead of subspace warp technology, but it may not necessarily mean anything in terms of sophistication. Granted, warp technology would be extremely dangerous to them and we have to be careful, but I think for the most part Adama and Roslin will be mindful of the limits you wish to set."
"I get the same feeling too," she said quietly. "I just hope they can keep their people in line. Anyway, I did manage to persuade Admiral Adama to give me their next set of jump coordinates and it’s faily close to a Type 2 hyperspace instability--and well, put hyperspace and subspace together, mix in a little anti-matter and you get an extremely big bang!" she said wryly.
"How far away is it?" he asked.
"Approximately twenty-seven light years," she replied. "Twelve days at warp 9.5 using conventional warp and twelve hours if we generate a slipstream--if we want to risk another one."
"There's nothing wrong with the technology, Kathryn," he reassured her, "only with bullies like the Dii'Qorcho. No one here is going to detonate a multiphasic quantum torpedo in our path. We have just enough reserve power to generate a couple more," he told her softly. "After that we'll have to deal with a mighty angry Klingon," he chuckled and she laughed with him.
"Don't remind me," she quipped. "I've been getting black looks over towing those ships. Tom will be escorting Laura Roslin to the bridge in a few minutes--let me talk to her and perhaps sleep on it. Anyway, the Delta Flyers have stocked us up on duterium and other goodies from the third planet in this system."
"The operative word here is sleep, Kathryn," he said firmly and she nodded. "You should go off duty directly after--"
"Sickbay to Janeway," the Doctor's voice interrupted him. "Mr. Paris just left with President Roslin."
"Thank you, Victor," Kathryn replied as they rose and headed for the door. "We're all ready up here--Atawsio set the table a few minutes ago with everything you recommended for her. How did the therapy go?"
"Very well," he replied as they exited onto the bridge. "It seems that the hybrid Cylon child had nano-probes that were blank of programming beyond DNA and tissue repair. Understandably, Ms Roslin wants the probes out as soon as possible, and flushing them out of her system shouldn’t be a problem, but I want to make sure that her systems can handle the purge before I attempt it. I'll know more once I'm finished my analysis. Sickbay out."
Kathryn smiled at Chakotay when the lift opened a moment later and Laura stepped onto the bridge with Paris and Starbuck. Kathryn went forward to greet her. "Hello, President Roslin," she said quietly. "Welcome to the bridge."
"Thank you, Captain Janeway," Laura replied enthusiastically as she looked around curiously. "It is indeed an honour."
"Commander Chakotay, you have the bridge," Kathryn said formally as Chakotay took the command chair.
"Aye, Captain," he replied and she turned to Roslin and Starbuck.
"Captain Thrace, perhaps Tom could show you to the mess hall while President Roslin and I dine," she said.
"Thank you, Captain Janeway," Starbuck replied smiling, taking up her post opposite Voyager’s security personnel. "But Tom was kind enough to provide me with a meal while I waited for President Roslin to complete her therapy."
"Understood, Captain Thrace," she replied with a courteous nod and gestured to Laura to precede her. "My, she's rather fierce," she commented with a smile as the door closed and she led Laura to the head of the table.
"I must apologize for Starbuck," she said softly as Kathryn indicated she should sit next to her on the left at far end of the long conference table. “I didn’t realize that Admiral Adama had assigned her as my bodyguard until we were in sickbay--Admiral Adama tends to do things “for my own good” without telling me. Please forgive any unintended insult.”
She sank into the comfortable chair as Kathryn chuckled and began to uncover the dishes. "Not at all, Laura," she laughed. "Why do you think there are two security personnel outside this door? You haven't met Tuvok yet--but believe me, nothing compares to a very precise, very unemotional Vulcan security chief. Between him, Chakotay, Atawsio and the Doctor, it's a wonder I'm able to go to the bathroom alone," she said and Laura laughed as her tensions dissipated.
"You have young children aboard, Kathryn?" she asked in astonishment, gesturing to a brightly finger-painted picture on the table as she settled in her chair.
"Yes," Kathryn replied as she poured them each a glass of pale blue Hanaran ceremonial wine the ever-resourceful Paris had picked up on shoreleave earlier that year, from a delicately wrought crystal carafe. "Being out here for over ten years with no support from home, leads to the inevitable, Laura," she said. "Most people have paired off and many have children--it wasn't something I could deny them. Back in the Federation, having children on a small ship like Voyager was not an issue, but we had a lifetime of travel before us. One of my officers had become pregnant before Voyager was taken--at home it was a simple thing to put in for a transfer with her husband to an assignment where they could be together. Her child was her last link to her husband and they had been trying for some time. It wasn't my place to dictate to her what to do about it--it was up to her whether she wanted to bring a child into our situation, as it's been up to … to those who've decided to have children.”
Kathryn’s voice caught on a painful note and Laura studied her drawn face. After a moment, she cleared her throat. “We love our children," Kathryn said simply as she met Laura’s gaze again.
"I understand, Kathryn," Laura said softly. "One of my first dictates to Adama was that we needed to get as far away from the Colonies as possible and start having babies--you can imagine how that went over." They shared a chuckle and she sampled her wine. "What is this?" she asked, surprised at the taste.
"Hanaran ceremonial wine," Janeway replied as they began to eat. "An alien delicacy; between that incurable rogue, Tom Paris, Mr. Chell and Malaquier--a security officer we sort of picked up last year; she has … well she has a rather colourful past--we've managed to supplement our stores quite nicely. Paris has managed to keep a number of clandestine games of chance going, can generally find a man, who knows a man, who can get what most people need and on holidays manages to spike the punch with some good cheer--and it's good fun for the crew as long as he doesn't go too overboard."
"I know all about incurable rogues," Laura laughed. "I wouldn't be here without the chief among rogues, Starbuck--" she smiled wryly. "And of course there’s Chief Tyrol who has a still in one of his machine shops,” she said laughing as Kathryn gaped at her in complete shock, “and named a prototype fighter he built after me. Then there's Dualla," she continued. "Your systems are frustrating the hell out of her--she can't even find Voyager since Paris repaired his Cobra."
"I know," Kathryn chuckled. "Tell her she's up against the best in the business, Seven of Nine, Annika Hansen. Borg encryption alphanumerics are notoriously hard nuts to crack."
"Oh Lords," Laura giggled. "You don't want to give these young people a challenge, believe me. Between her, Lieutenant Gaeta … all of them, they are very effective," she said. "They've kept us ahead of the Cylons--especially the Viper pilots and the deck crews. So many good people died to save us," she soberly. "And I've personally put some of them in danger time and again because I either didn't know what I was doing or I had no choice. And then there are those I ordered left behind because to stay with them meant death for everyone else."
"I know," Kathryn replied quietly.
"Do you?" Laura asked looking down at her plate and toying with her food.
"Yes," Kathryn replied, placing her hand on her shoulder. Laura looked up bleakly as Kathryn spoke, "My crew have placed themselves in terrible jeopardy a number of times to get us out of some bad situations and some of them never made it out. And then there are those you lose," Kathryn said hoarsely as their faces floated before her. "Those you lose because you're not fast enough or good enough, wise enough or just plain too ignorant to keep them from being brutally hurt or killed. On a small ship like this you get to know everyone after ten years; there’s nowhere to transfer to. Despite every layer you put between them and your heart, you get to be so close to everyone and then you have to send your friends out there, possibly to die. And you tell yourself it is necessary for the good of the ship. So many have died over the years, Laura, and so many more may die because they follow me in what may ultimately be a futile attempt to get home."
"That's the way I felt yesterday the moment your slipstream phenomenon hit," Laura said smiling wanly. "That I'd killed fifty thousand people; that I'd passed up a habitable planet--Baltar's New Caprica--and brought the last remnants of my civilisation out here to die in a futile attempt to find a new home, a safe home … Earth. But it wasn't futile."
"No it wasn't," Kathryn replied as they resumed their meal. "You'll find them a home, Laura." She could see Laura's surprise at her statement, but she said nothing as they finished their meal in companionable silence. Laura smiled in delight at the large bowls of mousse Kathryn uncovered.
Voyager's captain chuckled. "At the risk of spoiling it for you, yours is chocolate and enriched with a number of supplements the Doctor had the kitchen add--and mine is coffee flavoured."
"Don't tell me you're a coffee-swilling barbarian!" Laura teased.
"Barbarian?" Kathryn said in outrage as she began her dessert and Laura sighed appreciatively as she tasted hers. "I'll have you know, coffee is the only civilized drink," she sniffed indignantly.
"Civilized hah!" Laura laughed. "It never ceases to amaze me how something that smells so good, can be so vile and unpalatable. A cup in the morning to wake me up is as much as I can usually stand, but Galactica’s officers drink it like water. I prefer chamomile tea, though it's impossible to find in the Fleet now."
"You--" Kathryn said pointing her spoon at Laura, "have uneducated tastebuds."
"Then ignorance is bliss," Laura teased as Kathryn joined her giggles.
"Oh Lord," Kathryn said catching her breath. "They must be wondering on the bridge what the hell is going on in here--"
"Tuvok to Janeway." Kathryn looked at Laura and they burst into another gale of laughter. "Captain, is everything all right?" came the concerned voice.
"Speak of the devil," Kathryn whispered. "Janeway here," she said trying to control her urge to laugh. "I'm fine, Commander--the President and I were just having a chat."
"I see, Captain, well enjoy your chat--Tuvok out."
"See what I mean about Vulcan security chiefs?" she laughed. "I've known Tuvok for close to fifteen years and he's more of a mother hen than my own mother."
"I know exactly what you mean," Laura said. "My aide, Billy, is--was exactly the same way." Kathryn nodded silently and waited for her to continue. "There are times when you try to do your job to the best of your ability and things happen--then suddenly you're the leader of the remnants of humanity. I knew politics, but I was only the Secretary of Education, for crying out loud," she said hoarsely. "I didn't want to be President--not at that moment, but there was no one else. I knew President Adar, we were good friends … had been lovers …"
"I'm sorry," Kathryn said.
"Thanks," she replied, toying with her wine glass. "Actually, I never meant to reveal that much, but one explanation leads to another ..." Her voice trailed off uncertainly.
"I know what you mean," Kathryn returned wryly. "It's been a long time since I've been able to talk to someone who isn't a part of my crew about the things that matter. I didn't mean to reveal as much as I did in sickbay. Believe me, all the lies I could have told to explain away the Doctor just fled, simply because you wanted to know. There were ways I could have explained him without revealing that we're trying to make our way home after being taken and dumped unfathomable years away from all that was familiar and have been on our own for over a decade."
Kathryn grimaced; there were tears in her eyes. "I arrogantly made a vow ten years ago that I was going to get them home--instead, here we are, still struggling to get back. I've watched so many die, yet I keep going, pushing them on and I’m deathly afraid that there's a breaking point somewhere and one day, I'll lose them all--"
She took a deep breath and smiled at Laura as she sat back in her chair, "But not today, Laura, not today. Anyway, I've given your offer a great deal of thought, and I must say that I can't really afford to turn your generosity down. We need very desperately to re-supply and hopefully to refit. But I know, no matter your good intentions, Laura, you couldn't possibly afford all that--however, I have an alternate way that you can help us if you still wish to."
"Most definitely, Kathryn," Laura said sincerely. "What's your idea?"
To Part 7b