- Children of the Universe
by Camilla Sandman
Disclaimer: They're not mine. Maybe just as well, considering how mean I am to them in this story. Heh. There are many referances to Norse Mythology in this story. If you have any questions about that, feel free to e-mail me. The Voyager part of this story is the first part in a triology about Norse Mythology. The next parts take place in different Universes.
The universe lay cold, vast, silent. Dead.
But alive in us, for in many ways we are the Children of the Universe. Like all children we slowly learn to walk on our own. Still, we are children, children that are so busy playing with our toys that we can no longer hear ourselves. And when we cannot hear ourselves, we cannot hear the universe.
We could not hear the scream. The silent scream of something that had gone wrong. Something was here. Something - or someone that shouldn`t be here.
1.
The Ship of Tears
He awoke with a scream. Covered by cold sweat, his heart pounding, it took him a second to realize he was unharmed - and alone in his own quarters. And as always, it was a bittersweet discovery. Another nightmare. Another night in hell.
"Captain?"
"Chakotay here."
"You better come take a look at this, sir."
***********
As soon as he exited the turbolift, he knew something was wrong. Hideously wrong. It took him two long seconds to realize what. The silence. The utter silence. No one was acknowledging him, everyone had their gaze fixed on...
The ship. As soon as he lifted his eyes to look at it, he felt himself stiffen where he stood, becoming paralyzed. He forgot all about Voyager, all about the strange silence. All he saw and heard - was the ship. It was beautiful. Slightly alien, yet slightly familiar, though he had no idea from where. And for no reason, the sight scared him so much he couldn�t move. It was beautiful the way a volcano is beautiful. Also dangerous - and deadly. And it called to him. Called his name. And even without thinking it, he stepped forward.
Flash.
"Cha-k-o-tay.."
Confused he opened his eyes only to look straight into hers. She was dying in his arms again, the flames eating at the shuttle around them. And her blood everywhere, covering him.
"I.. Chak..."
She couldn�t bear to talk, and taking one last breath she said her last words.. and then..
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Flash.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
His scream filled every corner of the bridge, and he blinked, confused. For a second he...
Slowly lifting his gaze to the viewscreen again, he could see the ship still hanging there, but silent now. Silent - as in the grave? He felt a cold shiver down his spine. This ship had a feeling of Death to it. Not because it was threatning.. but because it was what it was.
Around him people started moving again, like as if they were waking up from a dream.
"Captain.."
"Scan it for lifesigns!"
"No lifesigns, sir. The ship doesn�t match any of our races on record, but.."
"I know, Harry," he said through clenched teeth, "it looks familiar."
He didn�t need to see Harry�s nod to know he was right. The ship was just hanging there. Why wasn�t it moving. What was holding it back?
"Chakotay...."
Oh God. Her voice. It was calling to him with her voice. He had to go. Be with her again.
"The ship appears to have 8 engines.... oh my God.."
He didn�t even listen. It didn�t matter. All that mattered is that she was there.
"It has writing on the side of it.. our computers indicate that it is.. Its not possible..."
Harry�s voice tuned out, and the ship called again.
"I�m coming.."
Flash.
"Chakotay! Save me!"
Flames. Blood. Her blood.
"Cha-k-o-tay.. Chak... I love you.."
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
God, she was beautiful, even covered in blood. Like a goddess nothing could steal the beauty from.
"Kathryn!"
Her blood on his hands. Her death. His hell. For all that was left for him was eternal suffering.
"Nooooooooo! God, noooooo!"
"Chakotay..."
He turned. She was standing there, right in front of him, blood still covering her.
"Kathryn! Oh Gods, Kathryn, I�m sorry. I�m so sorry."
He reached out to her, getting hold of one of her hands, but she remained motionless.
"Let me go."
She spoke clearly, yet it came far away, like it was the ship itself taking.
"No!"
He refused to let go of her hand, clinging to it like a drowning on a suddenly appeared lifeboat.
"Then you will stay here forever. Trapped in hell. Your hell. Let me go."
"No, no, please don�t ask me to. You�re all I have left."
"I�m dead, Chakotay. You must let me go. It is time. I am on another voyage now, and one day you will join me. But this is not the time. Let go of the guilt, of me, but not from your heart. Let go"
He closed his eyes, and slowly, he could feel his grip on her hand lessened, and without really wanting it, finally letting go of her hand.
Flash.
Opening his eyes, he saw the ship coming to life, turning to leave.
"Captain! Shall I.."
"Let it go. It doesn�t belong here. Its going.. home. And so are we."
"But Captain.. The writing..."
"Yes, ensign?"
"The computer.. Its runes, sir. An old form of Norse writing."
"Did the computer make out what it meant?"
"Yes, sir."
As Harry spoke, for a brief second, Chakotay, Captain of the U.S.S Voyager, could swear he heard his heart speak to him.
"Animals die
Friends die
You will die in the same matter
But the words glory
Will never die
In honorable reminisce"
(From "H�vam�l" ["Words of the God"], ancient Norse literature)
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