Written
24th, 25th October 2016

Some Scenes Partially Written
May/June 2014

Kathryn was standing in front of the window, staring into space. The door chimed loud enough to break her out of her thoughts.

"Yes?"

The door opened for Chakotay, he wasn't alone though. Behind him were James, Jessie and two young teens. Kathryn barely noticed as she made her way over to her desk. The first thing she did was grab her mug and sip at it.

"Apparently you and I have the same problem. I get why we have a bunch of kids on our ship; Marquis attracts angry, vengeful and even bored people of all ages, but Starfleet..." Chakotay said.

Kathryn rolled her eyes as she sat down in her seat. "A bit of a mix up. Before we were sent to look for you, they were supposed to get a bit of experience. That class should have been told it had been cancelled."

"Hmm, and here I thought it was just a bad fanfiction trying to bring in characters that were too young," Chakotay chuckled.

"Duh," Kathryn shrugged. "Any of yours can join our pre-cadets in the schools I told Tuvok to setup. What else have you got?"

Chakotay frowned as she downed the whole extremely large cup, with steam still rising from it. "Wow, um..." he tried to compose himself. "These are the last lot, they were the two who were kidnapped by the Caretaker."

"Mmm hmm," Kathryn said as her head turned to the replicator.

Chakotay turned to the group behind him. "Kids, you can go." The kids left quickly, the coffee smell was overpowering. Jessie started to leave as well. "Not you."

"Oh so I'm old, am I?" she huffed quietly.

"I never said that," Chakotay rolled his eyes. "The last two are a problem. One worked in Engineering and that's full already. The other, well I don't think you have any need for a hacker."

"The day shift is missing someone to man the Engineering station, he/she could take that," Kathryn said from the replicator. Chakotay was a little shocked, he hadn't seen her walk there. The pair behind him were just as surprised, James tilted his head to one side and squinted his eyes.

"Okay, so that's Jessie sorted. I don't recommend him for the Bridge though," Chakotay said, gesturing behind him.

This time he caught Kathryn going back to the desk, she held another cup of coffee. "There's only really Sickbay left," she said.

Chakotay tried not to laugh, he felt one glare behind him. He didn't know it was Jessie that was doing it though. "Thanks for that image."

Kathryn stared at her new first officer like he had walked in wearing a dress. To him she looked just as ridiculous with the giant mug in her hands and a straw sticking out of it. "Put him on the Bridge, I'm sure there's something else he can do if he's that clever. What's the fuss?"

Chakotay was torn between laughing again and frowning. "I wouldn't say clev... um, just he's got an attitude problem and..."

"It's rude to talk about people like they're not there," Jessie found herself grumbling.

"Indeed, you're one to talk about an attitude problem," Kathryn muttered between straw slurps.

"Really? Hypocrisy all around," Chakotay said before clearing his throat. "Ok you two, bridge day shifts. You can go."

Jessie rolled her eyes as she turned to leave, she stopped when she realised she was the only one doing that. "What? James, what's wrong?"

James finally stopped tilting his head and staring, then turned to her. "Is it just me, or is there something really odd looking on her head?" His finger pointed at Kathryn. Jessie turned her own head to look.

Kathryn's eyes widened, and she started feeling her hair.

James' did as well, he shook his pointed finger. "There, you got it."

Kathryn glared at him. "That is my hair." Chakotay meanwhile slapped his forehead with his right hand.

"Well it sure is odd, bye," James said. Jessie giggled as they both walked out.

"Chakotay," Kathryn muttered.

Chakotay sighed, "that's what I was talking about. He's rude, bad tempered and doesn't shut up. He'll fit right in around here."

"What are their names? I'll need to know when I start yelling at them," Kathryn asked. Her eyes then narrowed, "what do you mean by that?"

"The girl's okay, well she was until he joined the crew. Jessie... erm, Jessie Rex something. He's James Taylor," Chakotay answered with a frown. He missed Kathryn's eyes almost falling out of the socket as they widened so much, he was too busy frowning. "Think Stuart is on the end, the step dad that joined was called that. Doesn't matter."

"Did you say Taylor?" Kathryn stuttered.

Chakotay looked puzzled. "Yes, is there a problem?"

"I think I might have erm, met his father," Kathryn replied. The urge to get a much bigger mug was strong, especially now that her current one was empty. "What are the odds?"

"Um tiny. Though to be fair his name is really common. He may not be related to the same Taylor you know," Chakotay said. He almost jumped out of his skin as Kathryn had gone again, she was back at the replicator getting the new mug. "How do you do that?"

She casually walked by him, staring at him with the judgmental eyes she gave him before. "Do what?"

"Uh the replicator thing," Chakotay stuttered. Kathryn's stare got even worse. He was starting to feel like he really was wearing a silly dress with the way she was looking at him. "That was fast, um. Forget it. Have you talked to Paris yet?"

"No, but I do have to address the crew. We've got a long journey ahead," Kathryn answered. A loud slurp echoed around the room. "I'm trying to think of what to say to them."

"I'm sure you'll think of something. Excuse me," Chakotay said over the slurps. He quickly left.

Kathryn spent the next few minutes lost in her thoughts. At least until her eyes fell onto the photo displayed on her computer. Her sitting with her precious dog Molly, her arms wrapped around her with a big grin on her face. The fiance Mark sitting on the far edge of the shot, staring at her with a frown with his arms folded. She remembered him complaining when she made it the screensaver all over her house.

"Learn to smile then you muppet, and shave your face, you're not a hobo," she had told him.

He said something about intruding on her family reunion, which she didn't get, then he didn't come over for two days. Kathryn smiled wistfully, "I miss you, you big drama queen." Her door chimed, interrupting her bittersweet moment. "Yes?"

Tom stepped inside, "you asked to see me Captain?"

Kathryn smiled as she took a seat, "I'm afraid you're in an ickle bit of trouble."

Tom immediately started to splutter nervously, "whatever she says, I was only talking."

"What are you dribbling on about?" Kathryn frowned.

"Oh. It's a joke, still working on it," Tom quickly covered.

"Yeah right," Kathryn rolled her eyes. "We don't have many pilots onboard, the only two I know like to crash into things, and we can't afford to be picky."

"Technically they crashed into me," Tom said.

Kathryn shook her head, silently judging him for now. "I'm making you a legit Lieutenant, assigned to the conn. Don't make me regret it."

Tom broke out into a huge grin, "what, really? I'm speechless."

"If only," Kathryn said exasperatedly. "I hope you realise that since the Marquis will be a part of this crew, you'll already have to watch your back. I wouldn't increase your odds."

"Ah, will I be needing a bodyguard?" Tom asked.

"Apparently Chakotay owes you his life. Better him than me," Kathryn answered.

Tom's smile was back, "oh this is going to be fun."

"Not for you. He'll be my first officer, so you'll still need to answer to him," Kathryn said.

"It could be a lot worse," Tom grinned. He stepped back to leave, opening the door. Before he could Kes and Neelix hurried inside.

"Ah Captain, we were just coming to see you," Neelix said excitedly.

Tom nodded, mouthing yep as he left. Kathryn didn't get it, she mouthed yep a couple of times. Then she remembered she had further guests. "Oh right. We've stocked up your ship with plenty of water, it's ready to go. I'm sure it'll last you a while with how often you must bathe."

"Well you see, that's what we wanted to discuss," Neelix said.

Kathryn looked disgusted, "I don't want to know. I don't care how much fur is in the plughole when you're done, as long as you get rid of it."

"No," Neelix's cheeks flushed.

Kes laughed behind her hand, "what he means is we want to come with you."

Kathryn blinked, her face locked in half a grimace and half shock. A thought occurred to her which she had to voice, "this isn't a cruise liner. We don't take passengers."

"Oh we won't be passengers," Kes said.

Neelix shook off his earlier embarrassment, "we'd be valuable colleagues."

"I could put another tank of water in," Kathryn said meekly. "It'd take only a hour."

Neelix wasn't put off, "whatever you need, is what I have to offer. You need a guide, I can guide. You need supplies, a tool..."

"You're a tool? Yes I get it," Kathryn muttered.

"You'll need a cook. Oooh, you haven't lived until you've tasted my angla'bosque," Neelix continued. Kes quickly shook her head and widened her eyes whilst he was focused on Kathryn. When he looked to her to back him up she could only shrug an apology.

"It will be my job to anticipate your needs before you know you have them. And I anticipate your first need will be me," he said with a flourish. Once he finished he and Kes both noticed Kathryn wasn't in front of them anymore, they looked around and spotted her by the replicator.

"Wrong," she said in between coffee sips.

Kes smiled warmly, "Captain, we'd very much like to be a part of your journey." Neelix put his arm around her lovingly.

Kathryn groaned as she wandered back, firmly grasping her hot cup. "So, what will you do?"

"I really love to..." Kes began to say.

"Welcome aboard," Kathryn said with a beaming smile. She held out her hand to shake while the other raised the cup to her lips.

Neelix glanced between them, confused once more. "So, are you interested in me?"

Kathryn almost spat out her drink and laughed. "Oh god, you really are a hoot. You're welcome aboard too you lovable goof." She slapped him hard across the shoulder and strolled out, still laughing.

"Why does she keep thinking I'm making jokes when I'm serious?" Neelix asked.

Kes shrugged and smiled back, "she didn't laugh at the cook part yet, so not always."

Neelix nodded while she left without him. He stopped and scowled, "what?"

The Bridge:
Everyone stood mostly to attention, staring towards the pacing Captain. A few worried that her speech would last a while so they brought a PADD to read, or were standing next to something to lean or sit on. The Marquis crew were already suited up in Starfleet attire, which one of them found rather uncomfortable.

"This thing is hideous," Jessie whispered to James standing beside her. "Yellow and black, ugh." He tried not to smirk.

"We're alone, in an unfamiliar and hostile area of space," Kathryn started her speech. "We've already made some friends here," she said towards Neelix and Kes. "And some enemies." Her face crumpled as she tried to remember the middle of her speech, but it was gone. "Crap," she whispered. As everyone were still staring at her she quickly tried to cover that up and continue on somehow.

"Who would have thought that this eclectic group of voyagers..." Kathryn paused to let the pun sink in. Most of the Bridge rolled their eyes. "Could actually become one crew. Starfleet, Marquis. Klingon, Ocampan... um," Kathryn stared at Neelix. "What were you again?"

"Talaxian," Neelix was offended.

"I thought it was Neelix, Mr Talaxian," Tuvok actually sounded annoyed for once.

"That's stupid. How could any moron get that mixed up, Mr Vulcan?" Neelix huffed.

Kathryn ignored them both, "Ocampan, Talaxian, that whiny hologram, Borg..." She frowned, "wait, that's not right."

"You think?" James commented.

Tom pouted, "I was going to say that."

Kathryn stared at him like he did say that, "even Mr Paris. Granted, we'll have our share of difficulties. Hopefully coffee shortages and office explosions won't be amongst them."

"Captain," Chakotay interrupted. Kathryn growled at him. "You do realise that's the Doctor's speech from Year of Hell, right?"

"No, yes," Kathryn badly improvised. "What's that?" Chakotay shrugged, he couldn't remember. "Ok fine, what was it?" Her face lit up. "There was this parable I heard as a child, and I never forgot it. A scorpion was walking along the bank of a river..."

"Really?" Chakotay groaned into his hand.

Kathryn started to pout as her mug or bucket of coffee had worn off. "We'll be looking for one person, amongst thousands..."

Everyone shook their heads.

"Here's the sequence of events, we will drop our shie..." Kathryn said.

"No!" everyone shouted.

"Oh fine, I'll improvise," Kathryn grumbled. "Yes our journey looks long and bleak, but it doesn't have to be. We're explorers, this is an opportunity to explore this unknown area of space. In the meantime we'll be looking for wormholes, advanced technologies, coffee brewers, spatial anomalies. Somehow, someday, we'll find our way back." She smiled broadly, "I knew I'd remember the end part. Nailed it."

Chakotay tried not to smirk, "uh huh, fifth time's the charm."

"And I'm sure we'll all get on much better without all the snark you people think I don't hear," Kathryn said dangerously.

"Well it's official, I'm not getting along with anyone," James said.

Two Days Later:
B'Elanna and the Engineering Lieutenant Carey were arguing at a station, while everyone else was crowding around to watch.

"This is my gig, I'll take care of it!" Carey yelled.

"Move it or lose it, and I mean all of that literally," B'Elanna grumbled. She pushed him away from the console.

Carey though pushed back. Everyone saw smoke coming out of B'Elanna's ears. She pushed him away once more to deliver a massive punch to the face. He went flying to the ground. Blood started pouring down his face.

B'Elanna walked up to him, and she knelt down beside him. "Sorry, maybe you should go to Sickbay," she said in a very unsympathetic voice.

To everyone's surprise she went to carry on the repair as if nothing happened.

"One thing's for sure, this trip sure isn't gonna be dull," Ian snickered.

****THE END****

Part Seven <<  >> Next Episode

Please Note: The next episode link will take you to the original prequel episodes which were written in 2002. In my opinion the quality drop is very noticeable.