Part 6: Kathryn's Choice

Pairing: J/C, P/T
Rated T
Summary: Will they do the god's bidding?
Disclaimer: Paramount/Viacom own the series and the characters that are related to Star Trek: Voyager, but the story is mine.
Length: 454 words
Date: September 1998

Kathryn could hear sounds. They were indiscernible. She couldn't tell if they were ships sounds, people talking, she couldn't make anything out. Slowly the sounds became clearer, more precise, started to make sense. She could finally make out some of the words. *Where am I?*

She opened her eyes and saw three forms. They were humanoid, of that she was sure, but she did not recognize any of them, did not know who they were. She was not in control, and this scared her. Kathryn Janeway was always in control. She needed to be in control. This was a constant she required in her life. This was a constant that at the moment had disappeared. She had no ship here, no backup; she was alone. Despite the many times she had told Chakotay she was alone, she had never actually truly been alone... until now.

*She is looking inside herself. She is realizing what is truth and what is a defense mechanism; her defense, against her fear, her loss, and herself.*

"Who are you?"

"It doesn't matter who we are, it only matters why we are here."

"Then why are you here? You're talking in riddles and puzzles and I..."

"You are a scientist. You need facts. This is what you think, what you believe is it not?"

Kathryn watched on helplessly as her own words were used against her. To what end? She did not know, and so she chose her words carefully.

"I believe there is always a scientific explanation."

"Why Kathryn? Why is this, what you believe?"

She didn't know what to say, how to respond. She felt as if she were being interrogated. This was what she had always been taught so it had to be the truth, didn't it?

"I believe there is an answer, you just have to know where to look and how to find it."

"Kathryn, you are on trial."

"For what?!"

"For the rejection of the gift, for the denial of the truth, and for your refusal to believe."

"What gift? What truth? What belief? You can't try me for something I don't know anything about, a belief I have yet to find, or a truth I have to get to..."
"You know Kathryn. It has been presented, you just have to see. The trial has begun."

Once more darkness engulfed her, and for the first time in her life, Kathryn prayed for a happy ending.

END PART 6

TBC IN PART 7