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Part 1 of Threshold Tails , Part 1 of Let's Do The Warp 10 Again
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Star Trek: Voyager - Threshold AU
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2022-03-10
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Uncharted Territory

Summary:

Not content to leave anyone behind, Chakotay and Tuvok bring all five "evolved humans" back aboard Voyager.

Based on @baylardo and @maliciousalice's threshold AU over on Tumblr.

Notes:

If you've been on Tumblr recently and are into Star Trek: Voyager, you've no doubt seen @baylardo and @maliciousalice's threshold au. I love their art and am so glad to have written this fic based on it. When you've finished reading, make sure to pop on over and give them some love!

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

Commander Chakotay stepped off the transporter pad beside Lieutenant Tuvok. He was wet, tired, and slimy. All he wanted to do was strip down and get into a shower. A real one. He wanted the hot water to wash away the absurdity that had become their latest attempt to get home. Too many things had happened in the past week – things he wanted to forget. Removing the grime that had glued itself to him would be an added bonus. The look on Ensign Kim’s face when he rushed into the transporter room, however, suggested that such luxuries would have to wait.

Kim’s nose wrinkled when the smell of the two men proceeded them. Nevertheless, he pressed forward and, stumbling over his words, informed his commanding officers, “The, ahh, Captain has escaped from sickbay, Commander. Security currently has her cornered, but we aren’t sure what to do. The Doctor told us we weren’t to stun her under any circumstances because he needs to observe her awake before he can determine how best to proceed, sir.”

Chakotay bit back a sigh and ran his fingers through his sticky hair, leaving tuffs of it poking up in various directions. He turned to the man beside him. “Tuvok, clean up and take the bridge. I’ll deal with the Captain.”

“Very well, Commander.” Tuvok nodded and stepped quickly out of the room.

“If I didn’t know any better,” Chakotay remarked, “I’d say that is a man who’s afraid I’ll change my mind and make him drag the Captain back to sickbay.”

“You’re going to drag her?” Harry yelped.

Chakotay laughed and clapped the younger man on the back. “I hope not! She’s a fighter, our Captain is.”

“Yes, sir.”

With Kim at his side, Chakotay rounded the corner to see the large amphibian-like creature pressed against the intersection of two walls. She chirped and hissed and waved her tail but the security officers who’d cornered her didn’t back away.

“Stand aside,” Chakotay ordered as he passed through the cluster of men and women. Crouching down, he held out his hand and shuffled closer to the creature who had once been the woman sent to capture him.

The creature, Chakotay had a hard time thinking of it as Captain Janeway, curled tightly into herself. The Commander continued his slow advance, muttering soft reassurances to her. When he was almost upon her, she pressed her snout forward and sniffed him. Her feelers? whiskers? maxillary barbels, his brain unhelpfully supplied, tickled him.

Something about his scent seemed to soothe her. He hoped it wasn’t the muck he’d managed to bring back with him. Taking advantage of her relaxed state, Chakotay extended his hand further and scratched behind her ears? external gills? – he mentally shook himself; precise terminology wasn’t important right now. To his surprise, she liked the gentle scratches, relaxing even more and chirping happily as she leaned into his hand.

Carefully, Chakotay reached out his other arm and scooped her up. He thanked the spirits that she was content despite him bouncing and jostling her about as he tried to get a grip on her slippery limbs. Once he’d managed to stand and have her somewhat secured, he turned around and noticed the surprised looks on his crew’s faces.

“Dismissed,” he grunted. At his command, all but Ensign Kim filed away. Together, they walked the corridors until they managed to return the creature to sickbay.

“Commander! Ensign. A pleasure to see you both. If you could put the Captain in there with the others, please,” the Doctor said, pointing toward the hip-high enclosure on the far side of the room.

Grunting, Chakotay lowered the creature onto the spongy material lining the enclosure.

“Don’t want any messes on the sickbay floor!” the Doctor sing-songed as he scanned the Captain. When he finished, he nodded, stating, "No harm done. I believe I am about ready to proceed.”

When Chakotay didn’t respond, the Doctor paused, questioning, “Commander?”

Ignoring him, Chakotay stepped over the barrier.

“Commander, please!” the Doctor huffed, displeased with the human’s action.

Crouching down. Chakotay watched Voyager’s newest additions, mesmerised by how the three small creatures burrowed in under the Captain’s evolved body. He was enamoured by the tiny creatures despite the bile he tasted in his mouth every time he thought of Captain Janeway and Tom Paris procreating. Though he struggled to reconcile the creature before him with the woman he loved – yes, he could admit it, even if only inside his head – he could only see the infants as hers. And therefore beautiful in their own right.

He reached out a hand and smiled when the one with brown markings popped its head out and pushed against his extended fingers.

“Commander, I must protest.”

Chakotay looked up at the EMH and nodded. Rising to his feet, he brushed off his hands onto his already filthy trousers and stepped back over the barrier.

“If you need me,” he began before he was cut off by the Doctor.

“Commander, I must warn you about this procedure.”

Chakotay felt his heart rate increase. Beside him, Harry’s eyes widened in concern.

“While I am confident that I can return the Captain and Mr Paris into fully functioning members of the crew, I cannot guarantee that they will regain a completely human appearance.”

The Doctor’s words were like a punch to the gut. Schooling his features, Chakotay took a deep breath and said, “Thank you, Doctor. I’ll prepare the crew.”

Chakotay and Harry started toward the exit when the EMH called out, “Commander, this is a medical facility, not a menagerie. The juveniles need to go.”

Chakotay felt a curious sense of fury burn through him. In his mind, these were her children, not pets or animals to lock up and admire through glass walls or metal bars.

Looking around, he spotted the small tank they’d used to transport the triplets. Gesturing at it, he said, “Harry, hold the tank?”

It took Kim a moment to comprehend what the Commander was planning. Nodding, the young man walked over and grabbed the topless, reinforced glass box and carried it back to where Chakotay was climbing into the enclosure.

Carefully, Chakotay picked up the infants. The last to go in, a small girl with green markings, bit his hand as she tried to free herself from his grasp. “You’re a fiery one, aren’t you?” he said as he lowered her into the tank. Stepping back over the barrier, he took the triplets from Kim, ordered the Doctor to keep him updated, and left the room.

Back in his quarters, Chakotay called in a team of engineers to create a large tank that included water to swim in, a bank to sleep and rest on, and a heat lamp to stay warm under. After they took his specifications and were about to leave, he stopped them, adding, “And a ramp. I want them to be able to get in and out on their own.”

The ensign who had been tapping out the details on his padd looked up with a frown, saw the Commander’s determined face, and quickly looked back down. “Yes, sir,” he said, “It should be ready by this evening.”

|||||

While he waited for the Doctor to run the full course of the reversal procedure, Chakotay grew closer to the triplets, learning their unique personalities. In the beginning, he was nervous about caring for them. But as he got to know them more and felt his attachment to them grow, he knew he would fight for their wellbeing with everything he had.

“Three bowls maggots/insects mix, small, room temperature. One bowl corn chowder, hot,” Chakotay requested one evening after a long day on the bridge. When the bowls of insects materialised, he pulled them from the replicator and lowered them to the floor. Straightening up, he fiddled with his combadge. There was still no word from the Doctor regarding the Captain’s status, other than that she and Tom were responding to the treatment well. He itched to know how much longer the procedure would take.

“Kids,” he called softly, breaking the silence of his quarters. “Dinner time.”

The three amphibious creatures scurried down their ramp toward him, chirping as they approached. Chakotay smiled as he watched them attack the bowls with gusto.

“Hey, now, my little Wanderer, you leave your sister’s food alone. Just because you eat quickly doesn’t mean Pip has to.” Chakotay lifted the small boy, pulling him away from his sister’s bowl and cradled him in his arms. It hadn’t taken long for Chakotay to name them. They had distinct personalities and markings. It had felt wrong to keep referring to them in a collective sense.

Chakotay scratched the small tuft of brown hair beginning to grow behind Wanderer’s ear. He had decided to call them ears because external gills felt too cumbersome, though it was probably more anatomically correct. Shaking his head to clear the recurring internal debate he’d been having with himself over the infants’ physical characteristics, Chakotay watched Pip swipe at her sister for getting too close to her bowl.

Pip was a fighter. She was always scrapping with her siblings and had bitten him more than once. He’d found himself referring to her as “Pip” early on due to how she chirped. Unlike the other two, it sounded like little pips or peeps, especially when she was angry.

Absentmindedly, Chakotay continued to scratch behind Wanderer’s ear gently. “Are you going to let me shower in peace tonight?” he asked the boy. Like his sister, Wanderer’s name came naturally. He was constantly exploring, and Chakotay hardly ever found him in the same place twice.

Out of the three, he also seemed to attach himself to Chakotay the most. Chakotay wasn’t sure if it was because he was a man and Wanderer spent his days with his sisters and needed a little break, or if there was something else going on. He didn’t mind; coming back to his quarters to find the brown and tan amphibian-like creature scurrying toward him chirping happily was enough to make Chakotay smile, no matter what the day had brought.

The last of the three was more aloof. She didn’t fight Chakotay or her siblings like Pip, and she didn’t explore every nook and cranny of his quarters or follow him around like Wanderer. Instead, she seemed to be the perfect example of whatever new species of “human” they’d been born as. She swam with little effort, ate daintily, and seemed to understand whatever he said.

Chakotay had thought long and hard about what he was going to call the princess of the trio. That was until he woke up the other night. He’d found her sitting in the dark on top of his couch, gazing out at the stars. The light from the burning orbs hit her pale markings and blond tufts of hair that had begun to make themselves known on her head. In that instant, he knew. She was his little Starlight.

|||||

A great sense of relief flowed through Chakotay when he got word that the Captain’s procedure was finally complete.

“Commander, the Captain is ready to see you now.”

“On my way, Doctor.”

“Commander?”

The EMH's tone gave Chakotay cause for concern. “What is it?” he asked.

“I must warn you that my suspicions prior to the procedure were correct.”

Chakotay’s brow furrowed. “I see. I’ll be down there shortly. Chakotay, out.”

Voyager’s acting captain set down Wanderer, who had climbed into his lap during the brief conversation and stood. Looking down at the chirping infants, he said, “Well, kids, it looks like your mom is going to be okay.”

When he walked into sickbay, however, he wasn’t so sure. The space was empty. No Doctor, no Paris, and no Captain. He looked around and called out, “Doctor? Captain?”

The EMH popped out from behind a privacy screen. “Ah, Commander. The Captain is almost ready.”

“And Tom?” Chakotay wondered aloud.

“Ensign Kim and Lieutenant Torres have already picked him up. He was itching to get out of here even more than the Captain.”

Chakotay stopped short. That didn’t sound right. He took a step forward toward the privacy screen, his heart pounding as he contemplated what might be behind it. He was only a few steps away when she emerged from behind the screen.

His whole world stopped.

Beautiful.

From the thick hair running down her back to the teal “ears” fanning out from her head and the layers of plum, brown, tan, and teal colourings painting her skin.

She was beautiful.

She looked at him uncertainly. Her eyes hadn’t changed; they were as captivating as the day he first met her. But now, they looked out from above brown freckle-like spots and barbels that quivered with anxiety. She lifted her hand, and he caught sight of the teal pads beneath the tips of her fingers and palm of her hand.

So beautiful.

Her tail flicked out from behind her, full and plump, and edged in that gorgeous teal Wanderer and Starlight had inherited.

Absolutely beautiful.

“Chakotay?” Janeway questioned quietly.

He blinked rapidly, trying to reign in his thoughts – thoughts he should not be having about his friend and superior officer.

“Captain, it’s good to see you up. We’ve missed you.”

At the utterance of her rank, Janeway crumpled.

Chakotay panicked. Unsure of what to do, he rushed forward and caught her up in his arms. She clung to him.

“Kathryn,” she choked out against his jacket.

Chakotay pulled back. “What?”

She looked up at him, tears shimmering in her eyes. As if realising that she was wrapped around her first officer, she pulled back and tried to straighten her grey top. “Call me Kathryn. I’m sure as hell not your captain. Not anymore; not like this.” She took another step back and raised her chin defiantly, preparing herself to do what was required, no matter how painful. “It looks like you get to be captain after all.”

In a sudden burst of bravery, Chakotay grabbed her face between his hands and looked her in the eye. “Kathryn,” her name felt both odd and divine on his tongue, “I don’t care what you look like, and neither will anyone else. We missed you and are so glad you are back, regardless of whether you look the same or not. We need you, Captain.”

Tears ran down Kathryn’s face. “But I’ve got a tail,” she whispered.

“And B’Elanna has ridges, Chell is blue, Tuvok has pointed ears, and Neelix has whiskers, a mohawk, and hairy feet–”

Kathryn let out a wet chuckle.

“It doesn’t matter what you look like. You are our captain, and there’s no one else we want more on the bridge leading us home.” He rested his forehead on hers and closed his eyes, willing her to believe him.

After a long moment, she lifted her hand to cup his cheek. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you.”

|||||

It didn’t take long for the crew to get used to the new look of their captain and helmsman. Unsurprisingly, out of everyone, Neelix made the most fuss.

“Captain! May I say, you look wonderful this morning. In fact,” the Talaxian leaned forward conspiratorially as he poured Janeway her coffee a few days after leaving sickbay. “I might even say you look better now than you did before.”

While not as vocal as Neelix, the rest of the crew agreed with his sentiment. She looked good; she looked like the captain who would bring them home. Chakotay was overcome with pride, knowing that their crew – her crew – were as loyal as ever and intent on getting home. The Warp 10 experiment might have failed, but they weren’t discouraged. The journey continued.

|||||

“Commander Chakotay to my ready room.”

“On my way, Captain.”

Passing through the door, he spotted her sitting on the couch looking out at the stars. The tilt of her head and the look in her eyes reminded him of another Janeway, one he’d left in his quarters only that morning. A small smile pulled at his lips.

“Chakotay,” Kathryn said as she turned around. “Come sit.”

As he did so, she took a deep and steadying breath. “I know it’s been a month since the procedure and even longer since my, uh, evolution,” Kathryn slowly let out the air she’d been holding. “But there’s something on my mind.”

“What is it, Captain?”

“Kathryn, please. I have a feeling that this conversation is about to become a little more personal.”

“Okay. What is it, Kathryn?”

“The babies, what happened to them?”

Chakotay felt his skin flush. He reached up and pulled on his ear.

Kathryn continued, “The logs say they were brought on board, and while I’d really rather not think about how they came to be, I have to admit, I’m curious. I haven’t seen them, but surely they’re still on Voyager?”

Chakotay looked down at his fingers as he twisted them in his lap. Stealing himself, he said, “It’s best if I show you.”

Kathryn frowned but willingly followed him down to deck three. When he paused in front of his quarters, her frown deepened.

Chakotay raised his arm and invited her to enter before him. After glancing at him curiously, she strode through the open doorway and gasped.

Without thinking, Kathryn stepped toward the large tank that took up most of Chakotay’s living area and pressed her hands against the reinforced glass. One of the small creatures swimming back and forth ducked under the water and looked at her quizzically.

Kathryn spun around. Her eyes widened even more. In Chakotay’s arms was another one. Stretching out his hands, he offered the creature to her. She backed away, her head shaking, horrified at the thought of taking the little one in her hands. She thought she’d been ready to face the amphibious offspring she’d had with Tom. But now, seeing them face to face, she wasn’t so sure. With a gentle “thump,” her back hit against the cool glass of the tank.

Understanding, Chakotay lowered the youngster to the floor. It chirped angrily at him before turning around and sniffing the air, its barbels quivering. In a sudden movement, the creature rushed toward her, chirping loudly. Soon two more joined it.

“Ahhh, Chakotay…”

“It’s okay. They won’t hurt you. I guess they’re just excited to see their mama.”

Kathryn’s brain short-circuited at the term. Eventually, she managed to ask, “Why… Why are they here?”

Chakotay bent down and picked up one of the creatures, holding it close to his chest to demonstrate his point that they were friendly. It chirped happily, nuzzling its head against him.

“Someone had to look after them while you and Tom were recovering, and then neither of you mentioned them.” He looked up and gave her a sheepish smile. “And I’ve got to admit, I’ve grown rather attached to them. The curious thing, though, they seem to be becoming more humanoid.”

“What?”

“I’ve been thinking of taking them to the Doctor. Maybe he can speed the process up? It would mean I won’t need such a big tank anymore.” He froze and swallowed heavily. “That is if you and Tom don’t want them back.”

Kathryn’s eyes darted about the room. “I. I. I, um.”

“You don’t need to make a decision right now. There’s plenty of time.” He paused and considered her closely, “Would you mind helping me to take them to sickbay?”

Before she could answer, Chakotay reached down and picked up another one. It was greener than the one in his arms and had the beginnings of orange curly hair.

“If you could grab her?”

Kathryn looked down to where he’d gestured with his chin. The palest of the three was curled up at her feet. Taking a deep breath, Kathryn bent down and picked her up, surprised by how heavy she was. Carefully, Kathryn rearranged the dozing creature in her arms and followed Chakotay out of the room. As she walked, Kathryn considered the bundle in her arms. Though she knew she was the little one’s mother, Kathryn struggled to think of the creature as her baby.

“Captain, Commander, I wondered when I’d see the offspring again,” the Doctor said by way of welcome.

“Doctor, could you give them an examination? They appear to be becoming more human,” Chakotay said, forestalling any small talk. “They’ve grown hair, their bodies have changed, they’re spending more time out of the water. They’re also becoming more dependant, less self-sufficient.”

Voyager’s EMH nodded and began scanning the triplets, humming to himself as he did so. “You’re right, Commander. They are distinctly more human-like than when you brought them back from the planet. If you like, Captain, I can speed up the metamorphosis process. I would speculate – with a high degree of accuracy, I assure you – that in the final stage, they will share many characteristics with you and Mr Paris.”

“Will they still be babies?” Kathryn asked, surprising herself. Why is that important? she wondered.

The Doctor thought for a moment before nodding. “By my estimates, if I speed up the metamorphosis, they would appear between nine and ten months of age by human standards. As for developmental milestones? I could not tell you. We are in uncharted territory; they are the first of their kind, after all! To think, Captain, your children are highly-evolved humans.”

Chakotay turned toward Kathryn. “What do you think? Do you want to do it?”

She looked up at him and then down at the infant in her arms, trying not to panic. “I need more time to think.”

“Of course, Captain,” the Doctor smiled. “Rest assured; there is no harm in waiting. The natural process will continue at its current rate. Please, take all the time you need.”

|||||

“I don’t know, Chakotay.”

Chakotay stood up after placing Wanderer and Pip onto the ground in his quarters. “It’s okay; it’s a big decision.”

“I should probably ask Tom.”

“You can, tomorrow. Right now, why don’t you get to know your children a little bit more?”

“My children…”

“They are, aren’t they?”

“Yes, I suppose so. But how am I meant to do this? Be a mother out here in the Delta Quadrant? And not just of one, three!”

Chakotay took her gently by the arm and sat her down on his couch. “You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. None of this was your choice. It’s okay to say you need help or ask someone else to have them. No one’s going to judge you for that. In fact,” he took a deep breath, “I’d be willing to resign my commission to care for them.”

Kathryn looked up in shock. “What?” she croaked.

“It doesn’t have to be permanent. When they’re big enough not to need me as much, I could pick back up some of my current duties. We can work this out, Kathryn.”

Trying to hold back a disgruntled huff, Kathryn sighed. “Chakotay, I can’t ask you to do that. I need you at my side on the bridge.”

He nodded. “Okay, but I’m serious. I’m happy to continue looking after them. I have had them for almost two months now, after all.”

“Chakotay, please, give me a bit more time.” She raised a hand to her forehead and began massaging the headache starting to form there. It was all too much. She didn’t want to abandon the babies, but she didn’t know if she’d be able to be the mother they deserved. And Chakotay. She needed him, wanted him with her. She couldn’t captain the ship without him. Can I really do this? What should I do? she fretted.

“Of course, like I said, there's plenty of time,” Chakotay said, unaware of her internal dialogue. He watched the triplets stretch out in various positions at their feet as they sat in silence. On a whim, he reached out and grabbed the closest one. “Hello, little Wanderer,” he said softly, drawing the boy onto his lap.

Kathryn reached out a tentative hand toward the infant, the reality of who he was to her finally sinking in. The tiny creature in Chakotay’s hands was her baby. “He’s so small,” she said as her heart whispered, I’ll find a way. I won’t leave them behind.

“He is,” Chakotay agreed, encouraging her to take him.

|||||

In the end, they decided to take the Doctor up on his offer, and Voyager now had three infant “super-humans,” as Tom called them. It had been a few weeks since the children’s procedure, and they’d quickly fallen into something of a routine. The babies were now spending as much or more time with their biological parents as with Chakotay. The way Kathryn embraced motherhood eased any pain of separation he felt.

As he tapped at the console between the command chairs, Chakotay thought back to that morning when Kathryn had carried Amelia (as Starlight was now known) in a baby wrap while going about her duties. Amelia’s siblings, Phillipa (there were times when he still called her Pip) and Edward (his little Wanderer), had been snuggly wrapped against his own chest and Tom’s.

Peppa, as Phillipa was affectionately called, had been at the helm with Tom. At first, Chakotay was surprised by how much the little firecracker had taken to the pilot. Despite his surprise, he was glad they were building a close relationship. Chakotay hoped it would be good for them both.

Edward, meanwhile, had clung to him. It was nice that some things didn’t change.

In an effort to shake the musings from his brain, Chakotay looked up to where the children were playing on the floor in front of Tuvok’s station. While the Vulcan seemingly disapproved, Chakotay knew that the security officer was as enamoured with the babies as the rest of the crew was.

After a while, Amelia became bored of her siblings’ game. She’d already perfected standing without the aid of a couch or wall; why would she need the front of Tuvok’s station like Edward and Phillipa? Making her way down the steps carefully, she crawled over to Kathryn. Standing up on wobbly legs, she raised her arms and repeatedly opened and closed her hands. “Mamamamamaa,” she babbled, wanting to be picked up.

Kathryn’s eyes welled with tears. It had only been a day, but she still couldn’t get over being called “mama.” Reaching out, she pulled her daughter onto her lap.

Beside her, Chakotay smiled at the picture mother and daughter made.

“That’s right, baby girl, I’m your mama. What about your daddy? Where’s Daddy?”

Tom spun his chair around and waved at her.

“Dada, dadadada,” Amelia said with a smile.

“Good girl!”

“And who’s that?” Kathryn asked, turning Amelia to look at Chakotay.

“Pap, pap, papap, papa,” Amelia responded.

Kathryn’s eyes widened.

Chakotay chuckled nervously and tugged on his ear, looking away. Edward had been calling him “papa” for the last week. It looked like it had caught on.

“You owe me an explanation, mister,” Kathryn said with an arched eyebrow.

“How about tonight? On the holodeck? We can go for a swim?” Chakotay asked, knowing how much she and the kids loved to be in the water. The Doctor said it was a carryover from their time in the amphibian-like state, but Chakotay didn’t care about the why. It was his time alone with Kathryn and the kids, and he cherished it more than he could describe. And if he was lucky, the swim would distract her.

“Sure, but no holding out on me.”

Or not.

Chakotay laughed, “No, ma’am.” Peace and joy flowed through him, his response drawing the expected wrinkled nose and wiggling barbels. Today was good day to be on Voyager.

Notes:

Thanks for reading!
Have an awesome day.
JBeans

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