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yourbuerokrat2 · 1 year

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havent stopped thinking about q's biggest relationship problem being strafleet/people who care about picard. like on one hand its gotta be frustrating for q but worse for picard bc these are the people he trusts and sure picard is usually sure of his choices and sticks to his guns but people whos opinion you value doubting you and being concerned has got to take its toll. and that would def cause friction in their relationship w/ q's only option would really be to make nice w picards friends and that would just be. a disaster. but it would also be really funny and kinda like a scott pilgrim situation where instead of battling exes hes gotta prove he has good intentions. first opponent starfleet, then picards main crew, and finally guinan.

I think if Picard started something with Q after ST:TNG the reactions would not be that negative or sceptical because there is evidence that Q actually cares about Picard (saved his life twice) and that he also lends a helping hand in The Trial.

But anything before Tapestry? Especially after Amanda, where the TNG crew has become aware that Qs can cause someone to become attractad/fall in love with them and that apparently to Q it was not much of a big deal? After all, Data could point out in his usual neutral way, all Q would have to do is increase a few of Picards hormones when he is around like testosterone, dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, oxytocin and vasopressin. Something everyone who is aware of what Q is would be done with a snap of his fingers.

And even though this is an interesting dark scenario, I don't see Q doing something like this.

But can you blame others thinking that Q might do that?

So, this is something I like thinking about as well, so there is quite a rant:

Imagine you are a higher up in Starfleet, more of a pencil-pusher but you are stil respected and have a good amount of power. And then you hear the rumors. That the entity known as Q, the one whose file you have only briefly read through on one occassion after you had been informed about The Trial Humanity was seemingly put on by the Q Continuum. And let's be honest, especially on paper reading that someone who could possibly be put on death-row has started a relationship, and a romantic one at that, with the very Judge of the Trial and on whose opinion not only that persons but also most everyone that person values life depends on, doesn't sound exactly healthy, does it? Add to that Q being the one who introduced the Enterprise to the Borg (and I highly doubt a lot of people agree that Q had wanted to 'help' them in some way and there is also the bad sidetaste that Q throwing the Enterprise at the Borg and then snapping them back was what had caused the Borg Collective to get interested in Picard and you can't deny that (whatever his intentions may have been) Q is at least partially responsible for Locutus), reading a file about how Q had put some of Picards crew in a game with Death Penalty Boxes... and you get what I am saying.

Janeway and Sisko are well.. Janeway and Sisko. But I can actually see some in Starfleet recognizing and treating Q for the very real threat that he is especially if they never met Q and have a lot more safer jobs/positions.

Add to that having actually met Captain Jean-Luc Picard a few times via video meetings or in personal. A bit awkward if you try to make small talk and talk about personal lifes but generally very professional, has a bit of a proverbial stick up his arse and not exactly someone you can even imagine would so much as willingly be in the same room as someone who could very much consider blowing up a solar system as something fun.

With the crew, there would be a bit of a nuance considering most of them actually met Q. Again, the earlier in TNG the more questionable this relationship looks.

Riker: Riker at one point seemed more amused by Qs presence than anything. But then again, he was the one who had suddenly fallen in love/become attracted to Amanda not entirely out of his own accord, which would make him at least just a tad bit suspicious of the Captain telling him about having started something with Q. Also Riker is a bit of a mother hen when it comes to Picard and with Q he can't do anything to help his captain if something goes wrong. Q decides he wants to kidnapp Picard to somewhere more 'fun' or just doesn't want to 'share' Picard with his crew anymore? Well, the Captain is now gone and the Enterprise will never be able to contact him or find him again. Remember the Shuttle Craft scene?

Worf: Worf hates Q. Q in Worfs eyes is incredibly dishonourable and if it's after Deja Q in Worfs opinion they should have killed him when they had the chance. He would totally belief that Q brain/hormonedwashed or in some other form manipulated the Captain into this. Whatever Qs intentions with the Captain are Worf doesn't think they are good. Probably something despicable.

Beverly: Own personal, difficult feelings aside, when she pictures Jean-Luc with anyone besides herself it's usually someone.. a lot nicer. And kinder. less of a nuissance and a potential threat. And someone who would not have turned her into a dog. Her opinion of Q is not as bad as Worfs, but she probably doesn't see Q as someone capable of wanting a serious romantic relationship and uses her close friend more as a distraction/toy than anything. In her mind, Q is probably one hell of a selfish partner and considering her differences with Q because of Amanda probably would think that Q did at least something to the Captain.

Geordi: Well, Q did not exactly do a great impression on him the time he was a human, but Geordi has made friends with people he had been told were evil and his enemy. And he finds it somehow difficult to believe that someone who gave Data the ability to laugh is truelly evil. But he can't disagree that the Captains, to them, sudden feelings for Q are suspicious and that he thought that Captain Picard would ever go for someone who like Q personality wise. And godlike-entity-who-could-destroy-their-warp-core-with-a-snap-of-his-finger-wise.

Data: Data is more fascinated by this, not really understanding due to to the vast differences in species and previous recorded and documented meetings between Picard and Q he had made the conclusion that Q must at must be as fond of the Captain as one would be of a pet at most. So this was a rather interesting development. He trusts the Captain but Data is also aware of the possiblities Qs power might bring. Nevertheless (provided this is after Deja Q) from his own previous interactions with Q he can't see the entity actually do something bad or badly intentioned regarding them or their Captain.

Deanna: Hard to tell. If it's after Déja Q she had felt Qs emotions that time on the Bridge. And besides the terror she had felt quite a few different emotions coming the entity and so she could be very much aware of Qs 'interest' in the Captain. Wether she thinks that Q would have bad intentions (or perhaps better to say good intentions that due to the incredibly different nature of beings between Q and Picard could result into bad actions) or if he would go as far as manipulating Picards biology is debatable.

Guinan: She and Q must have had beef. And if you remember how Q was in the beginning of TNG and how careless he treated other peoples lifes, again the game and turned Tasha into ice and generally didn't seem to care about anything I can see a Q before Star Trek acting quite.. unfavourably towards other species. We never find out why Q2 complains how he regularly has to apologize because of things Q did and what Q did to the Calamarians. Her overall opinion of Q is pretty low. And she cares about Picard a lot.

Would you want your best friend to be with someone who you have heard and have seen treat others like toys and who seems indifferent at best towards the pain and suffering of others? To be in a relationship where the power dynamic is so utterly in the favour of someone you think to be quite dangerous and untrustworthy?

#Now that we got the perspectives of 'why Starfleet and Picards friends think this relationship is not good for Picard' covered I am going #to write about your 'Q having to convince them he actually means well with Picard #scenario #seperatly

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tinderbox210 · 1 year

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Picard 3x01 thoughts:

!!!Spoiler Warning!!!

Just as always I’m going to hold out final verdict until I’ve seen how everything played out, and while I still have my beef with how the show was treating the new characters in s2 and then getting rid off almost all of them, the first episode did give me enough to be excited to see the story unfold.

The look and feel/atmosphere reminded me less of the TNG show but the TNG movies, at the same time there were so many little and big nods to the show and Picard’s and Riker’s beautiful dynamic just felt like old times. There were also so many callbacks to The Wrath of Khan, that I can’t help but feel like the show could revisit the Augments storyline (my La’an loving heart is rejoicing!!!) - and the Starfleet building getting blown up reminded me a lot of Khan’s attack in the AOS movie so maybe that means something.

Beverly’s back in all her glory and I’m so excited to see her again. It’s a bummer she hasn’t kept in contact with the others, but she surely had good reasons aka her “son”. I’m not sure if he’s her biological son or she adopted/created him. I’ve seen people speculate that he could be Picard’s son or clone. While that’s possible, I also think he could be an Augment, and since Federation outlaws genetic augmentation, it would be enough reason for Beverly to leave to keep her son save. Not sure which theory I prefer, just... please don’t make the son turn out to be the clone of Jack Crusher!

I was also not happy about the hints of Will and Deanna having trouble. I hope it will be revealed that Deanna and Kestra are just fed up of Will moping around because he misses to go on adventures (his talk about having to do a speech, maybe Will’s having a late midlife crisis) so he gets to have dad time with the old band.

And Riker setting everyone bashing the Enterprise D straight! Damn right, that’s the f****** Galaxy Class!!!

I have the stong feeling we’ve seen the last of Laris here. Maybe she’ll show up in the finale, but the romance subplot is very much dead which I can’t say I’m sad about. As much as I loved Laris in s1, her and Picard never worked for me. I’m just sad, that there’s only Raffi as a real new character left and that nothing from the previous seasons was mentioned.

I’m curious about Raffi’s plotline and how it will tie in with the rest, but hopefully they won’t keep her separated from the main plotline for too long.

I loved the Titan reveal and Seven being on board immediately starting a mutiny when her friend needs her help, bless her! I’m with Picard here - I think Seven belongs in Starfleet but not serving under someone like Shaw. I knew I would dislike him from the start and I wasn’t wrong. Maybe he’ll redeem himself in the end because truthfully he does have a certain point regarding Picard and Riker, but he’s still an asshole, and for now, I just want him to take his dirty hands off of the Titan!

I’m going to say it - I think Riker and Seven would make a neat Captain/No. 1 team!!!

Speaking of Voyager, I loved when Janeway was mentioned, still hoping against hope she’ll show up at one point, and squealed so hard at seeing the ship being part of the fleet museum (like she deserves!!!). Before the season, I had the theory that down the line Picard and co. would go to a ship graveyard and reactivate a galaxy class ship, but now I think, with Geordi working at the fleet museum, they will get a ship from there, and it very well could end up being the Enterprise D!!! I know, no matter the circumstances, I will tear up if we see the queen take flight one last time!

Last but not least, they included my beloved theme from First Contact in the credits!!! Hearing that song will never stop giving me chills and all the feels!!!

#star trek: picard #spoilers

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kosovoisnotserbia · 7 months

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Your Focus Determines Your Reality (Ojonn Bristar OC!Jedi x Seven of Nine) Chapter 2

In an unfamiliar place, your starfighter is failing. Close to death, will you be saved?

Warnings: 18+ only, mature language, angst, medical mentions, MAYBE SMUT, major character death (bc its my story and I say so, plus I don't like the character I killed off)

Word Count: 1236

MINORS DNI!! THIS POST CONTAINS MATURE THEMES AND AS SUCH IS NOT SUITABLE FOR THOSE UNDER AGE 18!!

I looked over to my HUD, and saw that I had less than two minutes of air. Seeing as nobody had gotten my Distress Signal, I resigned myself to the fact that I would not make it out of this alive. Little did I know, the Force would aid me a third time.

I heard a chirp over the comm channel, and a woman's voice spoke.

"This is Captain Kathryn Janeway, commanding the Federation Starship Voyager. Did you send the Distress Signal?"

"Y-yes, that was me. Please help, I have just about two minutes of oxygen left", I pleaded.

I heard some background chatter, and then the woman calling herself Janeway spoke.

"Alright sir, we are going to beam you over. Please remain still."

Taking a few last looks around my starfighter, I breathed a sigh of relief. I was finally saved. I heard a hum, and then I was aboard an unfamiliar ship. I looked around, and found myself in some sort of transport room. A person looked back at me from behind a control panel.

"I am Lieutenant Commander Tuvok, and this is Captain Kathryn Janeway."

"Thanks for the introduction, Tuvok. Now, sir, we must get you to SickBay. Our doctor can treat you there," Janeway spoke.

I followed the two of them to their SickBay, marveling at the sights I saw. This ship, whatever it was, was clearly far more advanced that my starfighter. As we walked, I was engaged in conversation by Janeway.

"So, Mr..."

"Bristar. Ojonn Bristar", I finished.

"Mr Bristar. How did you come to be in this situation? Your ship is quite unlike anything I have seen. Your attire is also unusual for humans," Janeway asked.

"It's quite complicated. I believe it would be best told privately, and sitting down, for you would not believe me."

We reached SickBay, and once inside, I was greeted by a man wearing similar uniforms to Janeway and Tuvok, but with green-clothed shoulders.

"I am the Doctor, how may I assist you?" the man spoke.

"We just picked up this man, Ojonn Bristar, from a failing starship. We do not know if he has been injured, so I thought it best to bring him here to be evaluated by you," Janeway stated.

"Well sure, that's my programming. I am to help and render medical aid when needed. Now, Mr Bristar, if you would follow me over to this biobed, we can proceed on your physical examination," the Doctor stated.

Surprisingly enough, the examination flew by. As I had passed with a clean bill of health, I was released from SickBay. I followed Janeway out, and the two of us headed to her quarters. Having "given Mr Tuvok the bridge", whatever that meant, we were free to talk.

We reached her quarters, and as I entered, I let out an exhale. I ran over and sat down on a lush couch I saw.

"So, Mr Bristar, you were going to tell me how you came to be in this situation?" Janeway queried.

"Ah, yes. Let me explain, though I doubt you would believe me. I am Ojonn Bristar, Jedi Knight. I w-"

"Wait. Jedi?!" Janeway exclaimed. "You must be lying, Jedi aren't real."

"I told you that you would not believe me. And rest assured, I am telling the truth. Let me prove it to you."

I stood up, and unholstered my lightsaber. Bringing it and myself into fighting stance, I ignited it. A familiar purple blade sprung from it, illuminating the room.

"Holy shit-." Janeway gasped. "Come to think of it, you look familiar."

She strode over to her computer, and typed in some command, then turned it around to me. On the screen was a scene I did not think possible. Me, in my starfighter, evading Clones above Cato Neimoidia.

"What is this? How did you get footage of this event?" I asked, confused.

"What do you mean, 'How did I get footage of this event?' It's from a movie, Revenge of the Sith." Janeway stated. "It came out over 370 years ago."

"Wh- That's not a movie, that actually happened. That's real." I stated.

Janeway sat back in her chair, looking pensive. She sat forward, then stated,

"You know what, I believe you. I've had enough weird shit happen to me and my crew over the past few years that I've gotten used to it all. By the way, I should show you to your quarters, seeing as you're going to be staying with us for the foreseeable future."

I followed her out of her quarters, and down the hallway to another set of doors. I entered, and found a room similar to Janeway's, but smaller. She handed me a strangely shaped combadge, and told me to make myself at home.

Over the next few days, I managed to acquaint myself with the crew. There was Ensign Harry Kim, Lieutenant Tom Paris, Seven of Nine, B'Elanna Torres, and Neelix. Seven and Neelix were particularly interesting to me. Neelix because of his *many* quirks, as well as his exotic foods. Seven because of her implants, which I was informed were as a result of her assimilation by a species known as the Borg. Sensing something was missing, I inquired about it. I was informed by Tuvok that there was indeed a missing presence, that of the former XO, Chakotay, who had been killed in a transporter accident.

In that same time period, I grew closer to Captain Janeway. Sensing my weapons knowledge, she offered me the position of weapons officer, which I graciously accepted. One night, I was in the mess hall when Lieutenant Torres came over to my table.

"Ojonn, I have several questions." she asked me.

"Ask away," I responded.

"For starters, what kind of starship was that of yours? I've never seen its kind before, except in movies. What is that staff you carry on your waist? It is unfamiliar to me. Where did you come from? Where did you go? Where did you come from, Cotton Eye Joe?"

"Whoa whoa, slow down. First, it's not a starship, it's a starfighter. And its type is Delta-7 Aethersprite-class light interceptor. Second, thought I doubt you will believe me, that 'staff' I carry with me is a lightsaber. And finally, though again I doubt you'll believe me, I came from Coruscant." I finished.

"You were right, I don't believe you. In fact, prove it to me." Torres stated.

Nodding, with a wave of my hand, I used the Force to move Neelix over to us.

"Satisfied?" I asked, with a smirk on my face.

"Uh, yes." B'Elanna mumbled.

Apologizing to Neelix, I turned and left the mess hall. Returning to my quarters, I found my door blocked by the woman called Seven of Nine.

"I wish to speak with you, Ojonn Bristar." She stated in a flat monotone.

"Ask away," I responded.

"You, you are not like the others. You are not from this galaxy. You are a Jedi. That staff you carry, that is known as a lightsaber." Seven said matter-of-factly.

"Well shit, you're the first person aboard this ship to believe me. In fact, everyone else hasn't believed me until I've proven it to them." I stated.

"I have acquired many wealths of knowledge over my years, so it is only natural for me to know about you and your past. Good night, Ojonn Bristar."

"Good night," I said.

#star trek voyager #star trek #star wars #jedi oc #jedi #seven of nine

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myenterpriseisparked · 3 years

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Hold Me Tight

Time to publish my compulsory Endgame Fix-it Fic.

This assumes that C/7 never happened.

In the seven years aboard Voyager, Chakotay had been through a lot; he’d been linked up to a hive mind, he’d been brainwashed into committing mutiny, and he’d watched his friends die more than once (some of them dying more than once per person, in fact). He’d seen death, he’d seen new life, he’d been tortured, he’d been healed. Somehow, all of that experience (and, frankly, trauma) did not prepare him for the absolute rollercoaster that was their final day in the Delta Quadrant and their first day back in the Alpha Quadrant.

From the arrival of Admiral Janeway to the heart-stopping moment that Earth came onto their viewscreen in the wake of an exploded Borg cube, each moment had taken its toll on the first officer until, in the quiet moments after they had come into orbit around Earth and were ordered to stay put until Starfleet could confirm their identities and open a bay for them, he was certain he was going to fall asleep on his feet.

He stood at the helm, too afraid to sit for fear of actually drifting off, keeping an eye on the sensors as Earth passed, blue and green and more beautiful than he ever remembered, quietly below.

“Commander Chakotay: my ready room.”

Her husky voice sounded much more awake than he felt. “On my way.”

She was standing at the window, watching Earth drift below just as he had been a moment before. Her hands were clasped behind her back, but she seemed more relaxed than he remembered seeing her in quite some time. Quietly, he stepped up next to her and mirrored her stance.

“Well, we made it.” It felt stupid to say because, of course they had made it, Earth was right there but he couldn’t think of anything else to say. The weight of their journey was heavy in the air and yet, Chakotay felt just a bit lighter than he had in the Delta Quadrant before the admiral had arrived.

“We did.”

He heard the smile in her voice and glanced down at Kathryn for just a moment; the morsel of joy gracing her lips was somehow more beautiful than the vast planet below.

He turned back towards the window as a pleasant warmth settled in his chest. “I-”

Suddenly, slender fingers were grasping the collar of his jacket, pulling him downward with a surprising strength. Soft lips met his with a firm but brief pressure. Just as he registered what was happening, the moment was over and nervous blue eyes were looking up into his.

He froze for a moment, scarcely believing that Kathryn Janeway had kissed him. He’d dreamt of such a scenario, imagined what it would feel like to finally push away all of their parameters and show her exactly what she meant to him. A thousand different scenes of such an action had run through his mind in the seven years they had been in the Delta Quadrant. None of them compared to the real thing.

Every cell in his body wanted to lean back down and kiss her until someone told them to stop. Every cell, that is, save for one.

“Kathryn,” he swallowed, trying to clear away the rasp in his voice, “are you sure?”

She held his gaze with a look he had seen in her eyes many times before, the one where she was nervous about the result of her actions, but too stubborn to back down from the decision she had made. “More sure than I have been in a long time.”

“But our parameters-”

“The hell with them.” She swallowed. “I’ve taken you for granted for far too long, Chakotay. You’ve always been there and I’ve always kept you at arms length. Now that we’re back home, I-” Kathryn gave him a small smile. “Well, I realized that no place could ever be home without you.”

He smiled back cautiously. “Are you sure you’re really ready for this? Because to love you openly, Kathryn... I’ve got seven years of pent up romantic tension behind me and I might get serious about this very quickly.”

“Good.” She smiled even wider, her eyes lined with silver. “Because I also happen to have seven years of dreaming about a future with you behind me and I want to get started as fast as possible.”

The last bit of his mind that was holding him back let go and he smiled fully, his heart suddenly very full. “That almost sounds like a challenge.”

Her smile became a playful smirk and she tilted her head. “Maybe it is.”

“Good. Because I want a big house with a dog and lots of kids and I want to be so affectionate that Harry Kim refuses to be seen with us.”

She laughed aloud at that, throwing her head back and patting him on the chest. “I’ll agree to all of that save for one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“I want two dogs.”

“I’ll agree to another dog if we can also get a cat.”

“A cat? I didn’t take you for a cat person.”

“No that’s right - you thought I was a bear person.”

The reference to their earlier years on Voyager made her laugh again as he tucked her into a tight embrace, her head resting nicely under his chin. They stayed like that for a moment, savoring the closeness they had both craved for years.

“I’m sorry it took me so long to- to let us be like this.” Her voice was quiet.

Chakotay leaned back and lifted one hand to softly cup her cheek. “Hey, don’t blame yourself. I was holding us back too, I’m just not as good at hiding my feelings. What’s important now is that we’re here.”

Kathryn leaned into his touch with a smile. “I love you, Chakotay.”

The smile he gave in return was nearly blinding. “I love you too, Kathryn.”

He wasn’t sure who kissed who this time; maybe they leaned forward at once. What he did know was that kissing Kathryn Janeway with the hopeful future they had just laid out before them in his mind was the most at-home he had ever felt, on a planet or in space or otherwise.

#this was originally going to be a lot more subtle #but then i said #nah #lets make it mushy enough that a baby could eat it #This will also be on AO3 #Star Trek Voyager #chakotay #kathryn janeway #I'm certifiably in love with Captain Janeway #captain janeway #J/C #J/C deserved batter

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giffingthingsss · 3 years

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J/C, C/7, and Me

Disclaimer: I am not necessarily a J/C shipper. I just have eyeballs and enjoy the show. Long ass post.

In the Beginning

Was a Janeway/Chakotay romantic plot baked in? I tend to think not. At least not at the very start. But this is pure speculation on my part.

If romance is your goal, then it’s much more interesting to have Chakotay not immediately being 100% supportive. (An AU where they never get lost and it’s just Janeway pursuing this Maquis leader and maybe eventually being persuaded and helping him, please.)

I think initially they were flirting with the idea of Janeway/Paris. The character of Tom was described as being a potential love interest for Janeway. That idea doesn’t seem to have made it past the character sketches, but you can see a trace element of it in the very beginning.

The writers played with a number of character combinations. A pretty natural chemistry was cropping up between Captain and First Officer. Little things were dropped into scripts. Performances certainly came across as interested, whether intended or not, who knows.

Ramping Up

Where before there were hints and moments, Resolutions kicks off a series of flashing red sirens.

From this episode on there would be declarations of... ‘you bring me true peace’, and ‘I’m frickin jealous, okay?’ and bawling declarations of ‘you can’t die!’ These developments are not in the shipper’s imagination. They’re building toward something. Clearly. Obviously. Said all the people with eyes.

For the first couple seasons, Janeway being engaged kind of kept this at bay. But now they’re fully playing with it.

Road Block

However, Kate Mulgrew (and maybe others, I dunno) was like, ‘sure. develop the relationship. but no sex. the first female captain isn’t going to be having booty calls in the ready room. not gonna happen. people are going to take this captain seriously.’

So they played with it here and there, but it could only go so far. Kate seemed to want the best of both worlds. A deep, complicated, growing relationship, that never tipped over into the sexual. Her focus was on getting the crew home.

Beltran flat out says (in one of the books I own that I don’t feel like digging out) that Chakotay was in love with her. But Beltran was getting frustrated. When Year of Hell came around, he apparently called up the writers and said, ‘how long is this guy gonna keep throwing himself at a woman who never reciprocates? it’s getting pathetic. either do something with these two or don’t.’

Loner Janeway

Along the way, I think Kate became enamored with the idea of the loneliness of command, the sacrifices it entails. Fell in love with the poignancy of it all.

This is not something that’s out of character for Janeway. Beyond the fact that in the beginning she was engaged, pairing off was a luxury she didn’t think the captain had. So any kind of romantic relationship she might pursue would have to start with her being broken out of that mindset.

That’s basically what Resolutions did. Once they finally pried Voyager out of her fingers, you could see a burgeoning love very clearly. But then Voyager came back. And with it her... resolutions.

Coulda Woulda Shoulda

If they had wanted to snip it and move on, they should have had that conflict between Janeway and Chakotay at some point. Perhaps after Beltran called them up and said, ‘hey. Make up your minds.’

Have the characters actually talk about it and reach a conclusion and there ya go. But maybe the writers just didn’t know wtf they wanted to do with it and wanted to leave their options open. And then did nothing at all.

Me, a Non-Shipper

Personally, I tend to agree with the Mulgrew side of things (and can also see why Beltran would be bored with the eternal holding pattern and not mind when they said ‘hey, you can kiss Jeri Ryan.’)

They developed the Tom/B’Elanna romance, which was great. We didn’t need non-stop romantic plots. I think the shippers could understand Kate’s reasoning and were willing to go with the slow burn...if the writers had actually sat down and decided that’s what they were doing. If only they hadn’t dropped the ball at the very end.

Here’s the thing: if you build up a relationship like that, you can’t be upset when people notice. And you can’t give up on it behind the scenes without telling the audience on screen. ‘There are some lines we never cross’ might have been an attempt, but was too late. And was certainly not closure. The audience deserved better.

C/7? WTF!?

Well, if you thought there was no build up for it, it’s because there wasn’t. If you felt like it was whirlwind and came out of nowhere, it’s because it was, and it did. Apparently even in the writer’s room.

Brannon Braga wanted Seven to die in the finale. He was writing her episodes to gear up for that. Human Error, the episode where Seven experiments with romantic ideas with a holographic Chakotay (with a kiss that was apparently the result of a dare Beltran made to Jeri), was written with Seven’s death in mind. It wasn’t supposed to be the opening salvo of an actual relationship.

I think Seven of Nine should have bit the dust. I think there had to be a real sacrifice for this crew getting home, a real blood sacrifice. Seven of Nine was, for me, designed to be a character that was gonna die tragically. I planned that.... There’s an episode called Human Error that I wrote...she's trying to feel emotions. She actually succeeds and then almost dies. She learns there’s a Borg implant, that if she becomes too human, it will kill her. And it was that moment in my mind that would set up the finale, where she realized she can’t live here, she can’t live there. And she dies getting her family home. - Brannon Braga

I’m glad they didn’t go that way for various reasons. I love Endgame as it is. But it’s interesting to know the thought process. They weren’t gearing up for romance, they were aiming for tragedy. At least Braga was.

Human Error was only about six episodes from the end. At the time of that writing, that's what was in at least his head.

Human Error was not written with an eye toward a C/7 future. Without that episode I doubt highly C/7 would have been a thing. And it wasn’t even written to make it a thing.

Endgame obviously didn't go that way. Janeway-palooza instead. So. What do we do now? What to do with Seven? And from here on, all I have is speculation.

Retooling

'Well, we've got this holodeck scenario from the episode we wrote when we were planning to kill her off that hints that she might like Chakotay. So. I guess we'll go with that.'

It appears to me that they retooled recently written story elements to fit their ending, to provide more motivation for that ending.

They picked the three people it would kill Janeway most to lose. Tuvok, obviously. An ongoing torment, visiting him every week. Seven dies (a remnant of plan A) and in a sense takes Chakotay with her.

This is all fuel for Admiral Janeway without making it about saving her lover (unless you’re a J/7 shipper, in which case, hog heaven).

When you think of it only in terms of ‘what can we do to make the finale work’, it’s not terrible. When you think of it in terms of seven preceding years, it doesn’t work at all. They got myopic.

In hindsight I think the writers could probably admit it was a mistake in terms of the show, and they should have resisted the urge to do something that was thrown together and jarring rather than nothing at all with Seven.

Gossip

Apparently neither Mulgrew or Beltran were opposed to C7 in the end. Maybe because they had at points been a bit frustrated with each other behind the scenes. Whether those frustrations were forefront in anyone’s mind at the time, idk.

I tend to think Kate really was over the idea of Janeway’s destiny having much to do with romance at all.

It is interesting that when Seven first arrived on the show, Kate specifically mentioned not wanting the writers to throw her with Chakotay. At that point perhaps feeling a tad possessive. Perhaps didn’t want him ‘sullied’ by the busty blonde.

But this was seasons in the past by the time the finale rolled around, and I doubt highly it had anything to do with anything. Who knows.

Me on Endgame

Personally, I'm glad Endgame was a Janeway palooza. I love 99% of Endgame. I’m glad it was about Janeway vs.Janeway vs. Borg Queen. I wouldn’t have wanted it to be about J/C either.

But if you’re not willing to go there, leave it then to the imagination. It's cruel to basically tell your audience that these two would be together if not for their delta quadrant circumstances, and then rip the rug from under them the second they get to the quadrant where this romance is supposed to be possible. Not cool, man. Not cool.

When I first saw Endgame (as a non-shipper with eyes) C/7 was jarring and weird. But I thought the scene where Seven was distancing herself was well acted and stirred up an emotion or two (even if it was a little histrionic, considering they'd just started dating). So I wasn’t throwing things at my television. Just confused.

I also basically dismissed their future relationship. They got home after like one date, not ten years of marriage. And now their lives will completely change. So I just kind of hand-waved it away. "It did its job for the episode, but the future's changed and they won't last. So whatever."

Headanons on Janeway’s romantic reasoning and original timeline reaction to C/7

Captain Janeway had no idea how long it would take to get back home. Obviously you hope for tomorrow, but it could be twenty years from now. She resigned herself to not pursue romance. Her sole purpose in life was to get the crew safely home.

So I speculate her reaction to C/7 would be quite stoic. She would recognize it’s not fair for him to just pine away, possibly forever. That she has made this choice and he shouldn't have to be alone because of it. Her being alone is just part of the price she must pay, the burden she must bear. Her own wants and needs must take a backseat. She has greater responsibilities.

In fact, I can see her encouraging C/7. She would see it as a form of selfless love. ‘It doesn’t matter that he’s with me; it matters that he’s happy.’ Of course feelings would rear their heads from time to time, but she would quickly corral them into that channel.

Lots of lovely internal martyrdom. She would make it her mission to make sure they were both okay and happy. A bit of a masochistic streak that she buries under a sense of nobility and sacrifice.

This is the kind of angle I think Mulgrew came to prefer. That lovely little tragic pang. She loves drama, if nothing else.

“It’s a lonely thing, but I’m gonna get this crew home.” - Kate Mulgrew

“You always made it hard for yourself. If there was a rocky path and a smooth one, you chose the rocky one every time.” - Coda

This is a woman with a lot of love to give. But finds herself, or perhaps unnecessarily forces herself, depending on your view, in a place where that’s not a possible life choice. So those instincts expand outward, enveloping them all. She finds fulfillment in the well-being of the crew and the ship as a whole.

Post Endgame

Their trip was shortened by a lot because of Endgame. The future is no longer written in stone. So the possibilities are endless, the sky’s the limit. And apparently Seven’s a lesbian (I haven’t seen it, but I hear tell). So. There ya go.

(She is crying here, btw. I never noticed before I did that episode and feel the need to point it out once again. Lest anyone else still not have noticed.)

If you actually read this whole thing, congratulations. Hopefully it made sense. I now continue with my rewatch and probably won’t talk much about this in the future. Unless something new comes up, I’ll just continue to be a non-shipper with eyeballs, enjoying whatever’s around.

#voyager things #long ass post #of fact and probably fiction #my best current take on what went down

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curator-on-ao3 · 3 years

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C7 happening in endgame out of nowhere :/

Okay, yikes. I knew this day might come, and I’m going to do my best.

For anyone reading this without context, please know the point of this ask series is to try to help people feel better about things in Voyager that bother them. Ideas expressed as part of that effort may not reflect my actual views. This is an attempt to help everyone love the show even more, per my blanket offer to try to improve the Voyager experience for anyone who asks. If you don’t want to read this, please go ahead and scroll onward….

Still here?

All right.

C/7.

We’re going to focus on Scorpion II, Day of Honor, Shattered, Human Error, One Small Step, Natural Law, and, of course, Endgame. Every inch of this is canon-compliant, though it also takes into account J/C fanon that Chakotay was waiting for and hoping for a relationship with Janeway.

Here we go….

You’re Chakotay.

You remember the cold metal of a neurotranceiver embedded in your spine.

You’re terrified, skin clammy and heart pounding, but no one else can do this, no one else can save the ship and crew. So you allow the transceiver on your neck, allow your mind to be joined with a Borg drone, a member of the species that scares the hell out of you, the species you warned Kathryn about and your predictions came true.

You’re in the drone’s mind.

It’s not algorithms or cold efficiency.

It’s the joy of running as a little girl. It’s a mother and father and the father swings you up off the ground into his arms. It’s innocence and childlike wonder and love.

You try to help the drone remember.

She refuses. What good would it have done her to embrace her human side in the Collective? If she’s not Borg, she’s nothing.

But she’s not nothing. She’s someone under all that technology and you sense the name no one has spoken to her for so long and you call out to her — Annika! — and shared pain is like a knife in your neck just before everything goes black.

When you regain consciousness, her biobed is next to yours in sickbay. The Doctor says her human cells are starting to regenerate.

Embarrassment warms your cheeks. You were in her mind, you know who she is at her core — a person she may not even want to remember.

But she begins to stutter-step toward individuality.

She asks you for a duty assignment.

You immediately grant her request.

Your best friend, your ride or die, tells you you’re naive and she won’t allow Seven to work in Engineering. You trust B’Elanna with your life, but you know what you saw in Seven’s mind and you pull rank, give your best friend an order, because you trust Seven, too — and you know you’re not being naive.

You see Seven volunteer to sacrifice herself, offer her expertise to save the crew, begin to form working relationships and friendships.

She’s beautiful, intelligent, strong-willed — definitely your type.

But you enjoy sitting next to Kathryn on the bridge, weekly dinners in Kathryn’s quarters, chats in the ready room. Your life is good.

Then you’re in the past and a version of Kathryn looks at you in a way you’ve not allowed yourself to think about in years.

She wants you.

When did that stop? Why did that stop? Was it time that set the lines that you two never crossed? Was it Noah Lessing? Was it the space beast that showed you some part of Kathryn still hopes for a possibility with her former fiancé if the ship ever gets home?

What if you don’t ever get home?

The adult version of Naomi said you died.

My God.

What the hell are you doing with your life?

You don’t ask, but discretion isn’t the Doctor’s strong suit and you learn about Seven’s holo-program. You won’t violate her privacy by running it, but you check the character profiles and put two and two together.

She’s lonely.

You’re lonely.

Your mind wanders.

She downloaded the Ares Four database for you.

She offered you the blanket from the Ventu.

She listens to you, and you’ve certainly had to be careful over the years to keep your eyes from roaming her body.

What was it you said to her when you two discussed childhood dreams in the Delta Flyer?

Maybe it's not too late.

Well, maybe it’s not. Maybe she wants more than a holographic life, maybe she wants to build a real life — with you.

Chest tight with nerves and hope, you ask her out.

She says yes.

There are dates. Conversation and silly jokes and you know your goofy grin is reflected in her own because this giddy feeling of beginnings puts the very best kind of butterflies in your stomach. Except it’s not really the beginning, it’s the middle — the time between friendship and something more — and you can’t stop looking at her, can’t stop thinking of when you’ll see her again, can’t stop your excitement over living, really living, out here. She kisses you, her fingers clutching the nape of your neck, your hand grasping her rear end, and then you kiss each other and there’s an echo of the mental link from all those years ago and this, this is love.

And it was worth waiting for.

I hope this helps you feel better, @unknownwhalesworld. 💕

If anyone has something about Voyager they would like to feel better about (in-universe, not behind the scenes stuff), please send me an ask and I’ll try to help you.

#star trek voyager #loving voyager #i love asks #chakotay x seven #chakotay #seven of nine #unknownwhalesworld

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ieattaperecorders · 4 years

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I’m seeing a lot of TMA Star Trek AU on my dash, and it seems largely TOS-based. I love TOS, but allow me to propose: Star Trek Voyager AU.

The crew in Voyager aren’t on a scientific mission, they’re survivors lost 70,000 light years from Earth. It’s campy fun Star Trek stuff, but instead of having the resources and support of the Federation, the crew is alone - trying to get back to known space, forced to depend on one another. Found Family ensues harder than you can possibly imagine.

Captain Sasha James!! Janeway is capable, cool-headed and good at managing the crew on a personal level, but it’s hard to really know her. The pressures of her role mean she wears masks even with people she cares for, which fits Sasha perfectly.

I’m inclined to put Tim as her First Officer – it’s a good role for him, and the Captain and First Officer must be a dynamic duo. Science Officer works for Jon, though with the reduced crew and vulnerable situation, he might end up with multiple roles. I like the idea of Martin as medic (and I’ll get more into that later, because oh boy.) Georgie can take Neelix’s role, (though she refuses to stop saying that the Admiral is the official Morale Officer and she just interprets for him.)

Half Klingon Melanie King!! Half Klingon Melanie King struggling with anger issues and frustrated with people who define her by them!! Who had to push and fight to keep from being dismissed because of her heritage!! Half Klingon Head of Engineering Melanie King!!

THE BORG. THE BORG, GUYS. Think of the possibilities that threat could present to these characters.

Danny Stoker was assimilated by the Borg. It was Tim’s motivation to join Starfleet. He refuses to talk about it until the day the crew is cornered in Borg-occupied space and makes contact with a drone that bears a disturbing resemblance to him.

(Danny Stoker as Seven of Nine and, like, twelve paragraphs of JonMartin under the cut.)

Tense standoffs ensue and the crew escapes with the Danny-drone still on their ship. Sasha (the only one Tim told about his brother) makes the risky call to subdue him and sever his link to the Collective rather than killing him.

Now Tim has the brother that he thought was gone forever, but he’s profoundly changed. He doesn’t seem like the Danny he remembers, he might even be a threat. Meanwhile Danny is lost without the Collective, struggling with the idea of individuality as well as his memories/emotions regarding Tim.

They have to negotiate around both their traumas if they want to heal and recover, but at least they have a chance to know each other again. (And the rest of the crew helps.)

Now, the chief medical officer on Voyager is a hologram - intended to be turned on only in emergencies, but left running nearly all the time due to the lack of medical staff. Over time his personality expands beyond his original programming, the others start treating him less like a computer program and more like a member of the crew, and friendships eventually develop. (It’s one of those “am I a person? What does it mean to be a person?” stories. Voyager has a lot of that.)

There’s two directions I could see that going. One is Helen/Michael slots into the role. (Either or both, who says the Emergency Medical Hologram doesn’t have two interfaces?) Personality-wise they’ve got the campy smugness, and the whole “am I a who or a what?” thing works super well. I mentioned Martin as a medic and the idea of him having to put up with Helen’s bullshit/getting to irritably banter with Helen is very good.

BUT ALTERNATELY, Martin is the medical hologram. Instead of leaning into the “inhumanity” angle, we lean into the angle of being initially overlooked/not seen as one of the crew, then slowly making meaningful connections. (Can squeeze in a “self-worth outside of what you do for others” character arc too.)

Jon is for sure the first one to treat Martin like a person. It’s a reversal of S1 Jon being an ass to him, but it feels appropriate for Jon - who can sympathize with creatures that aren’t human, even when others don’t. There’s another fun parallel - in canon, Martin continues to treat Jon like a person even as he becomes less and less human. Here, Jon treats Martin like a person from the beginning and he becomes more and more of one.

Plus, come on, think of all the “Jon gets injured and Martin has to overclock himself/push past his intended limits to save his life” scenarios. Think of Martin getting a crush on Jon early because he’s Nice To Him, panicking and trying to hide it. Think of Emergency Medical Hologram Martin taking an interest in poetry instead of opera.

The Lonely may not exist in this AU but I bet being turned off feels a lot like it : (

I like Vulcan/half Vulcan Jon, so we can slot him there. (He’s not a parallel for Tuvok, that wouldn’t fit - he’s just Jon and he’s Spock and he’s on Voyager and you’re all going to have to deal with it. Besides, “half Vulcan/caught between two worlds/struggling with the concept of Emotions” is so good for Jon.)

Now mix half Vulcan Jon in with Hologram Martin and imagine the pining. IMAGINE IT.

Jon refuses to accept he has feelings at all, let alone romantic feelings for someone else. And Martin? He isn’t even sure he’s capable of love, if what he’s feeling is real or some flaw in his programming. Jon’s nice enough to him – sometimes Martin thinks he even sees him as a friend, but surely there are limits? The absurdity of a holomatter projection thinking that it’s in love with him must be too much for even Jon to indulge.

They��ll get there after four or five seasons of mutual longing, of course. Probably in some intensely dramatic circumstance.

In fact, that’s a thought - something something backup drive holding Martin’s personality is stuck on a planet that’s incredibly toxic. (Maybe filled with poisonous fog because, of course, gotta keep the aesthetic.) Something something Vulcan physiology, Jon is the only one who can survive on the surface long enough to get it.

He has Martin’s mobile emitter with him while he goes after the drive, and the whole time Martin is trying to convince him to stop. It’s too dangerous, the planet is killing him, Martin’s given up on himself but he doesn’t want Jon to die too.

“You don’t have to do this, the default program for me is still on the ship, it can be reset.”

“That is not you. Your personality, your experiences, everything you’ve gained over these years would be lost.”

“But it has all my medical knowledge. It can do my job just as well, you’ll still have a doctor - -”

*losing all pretense of a Calm Vulcan Exterior* “I did not come here to retrieve our doctor, I came to get you back, and I am not leaving without you!!”

(Of course they get back safely and Jon immediately collapses upon returning to the ship, then it’s Martin’s turn to make sure he doesn’t die.)

Also it’s Star Trek so holograms can be solid, they’ll get those fabric rustles in don’t worry.

#tma #star trek au #tma star trek au #i cannot believe this lives in my brain now

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bastetsbard · 3 years

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20 Questions, Writer’s Edition

Thanks for the tag @totchipanda !!

How many works do you have on AO3?

Um, I have two accounts. 1 is SFW, one is NSFW. 2 on the NSFW, 3 on the SFW, and I think 3 on FF.Net but I can’t get back into the account :( Not sure if I’m willing to link the NSFW account to this username yet...

What’s your total AO3 word count?

Adding the two accounts together, just under 20k.

How many fandoms have you written for and what are they?

Some are posted, some are not yet, most may never see the light of day.

Published: Star Trek: TNG, Spirited Away, Jupiter Ascending, Grishaverse (specifically Six of Crows)

Unpublished and might never be, as I’m not currently active in the fandoms and/or they were terrible tweenager OC fics: Lord of the Rings, Magi: Labyrinth of Magic, Moribito: Guardian of the Sacred Spirit, Asklepios (whee, obscure manga!), Attack on Titan, Kotoura-San, One Piece (for like a hot second), Hunter x Hunter, Escaflowne, Trigun

I have like, so MANY other fandoms I’ll also read for. Which might mean I’ll also write for them at some point. <_<

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

I actually only have 5 fics total between two accounts so I’m just going with the top on each. (I promise I’ll finish the 7ish WIPs once my life settles back down a bit more (I hope) by next month.)

Um, currently one of the E-rated ones. >_> (Over 125!! Squee!)

On the SFW account: Collar (Jupiter Ascending)

Do you respond to comments, why or why not?

Almost always, unless I have some reason I don’t want to engage--e.g. spoilers or the commenter totally missed the point and I’m trying to be cordial.

What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

Um, probably Collar? My fics tend to not be angsty. More FEELS than anything, but the angst usually has a tidy wrap-up before the real ending.

Do you write crossovers? If so what is the craziest one you’ve written?

Yes, though it was just outlines. I think it was Escaflowne/Hunter x Hunter?

Have you ever received hate on a fic?

Thank heavens no! But I fully expect to with a future one as one primary OC is an abortionist.

Do you write smut? If so what kind?

eheheheh. um. yes. F/M, might consider specific M/M ships in the future but not totally sure. I seem to enjoy putting my characters in funny-but-also-emotionally-resonant sexy situations.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

AFAIK, no, and I better not find any.

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

No but I’ve had a beta save my sorry ass.

What’s your all time favourite ship?

Honestly, I think Kanej might be it. Like, possibly forever. Even if I move on at some point they will hold a special place in my shipper heart. I’ve had SO many OTPs though. Royai, EdWin, Janeway/Chakotay, and Vash/Meryl are up there as well.

What’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?

Seven Monsters, Seven Gods. It was supposed to be a sprawling continuation fic for Jupiter Ascending that involved Stargate-like universe-bending shenanigans, and also professors who are not what they seem. I would have had to write it in college but the moment’s past.

What are your writing strengths?

Eerie little personal details about characters that make them relatable and all too human. (I hope.)

What are your writing weaknesses?

Finishing shit. Also, complex plots are something I need to develop. Not abusing commas and em-dashes. Run-on sentences (fuck you, Cicero, you ruined me).

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

If you can get a native speaker to help you, then hell yes. Otherwise, you damn well better be pulling it from a well-vetted source to be respectful. Specific words and phrases are find for extra color in a story, as long as you’re being mindful. (e.g. I usually use names of specific dishes for a culture)

What was the first fandom you wrote for?

TNG, but I never published it. I had SUCH a crush on Wesley Crusher at 12 and it was a terribly indulgent Mary-Sue fic.

What’s your favourite fic you’ve written?

Of the published ones? The erotica that currently has the most kudos. Even if one of my writer buddies still roasts me over specific historical details (we are writing equivalent periods 20 YEARS APART, my dear).

Of the unpublished, I’m loving writing one with a plot device OC who started off as mirror-universe me and got worse from there.

Tagging @voidfishersong, @bigwidogastenergy, @adhdchaosgremlin, @xandrei, @sloppywetbread, @loudsilence99

#memes #tag memes #20 questions #writing #fanfic #fanworks

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bumblingbabooshka · 2 years

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If Chakotay and Janeway played an open world game together Janeway would be adventuring and going on quests and slaying monsters while Chakotay found the safest and most aesthetically pleasing spot to set up base and from there spent the entire time building houses and cultivating wildlife.

#he'd also protect the little town he made but he's gonna stay in that town...the people need him v_v #but you know I wasn't just thinking about Janeway/Chakotay. The real highlight of this is Tuvok watching them play and having opinions about #all of it but refusing to actually play with them #Tuvok only plays two video games and they're Whatever His Kids Ask Him To Play and Sudoku #picturing Janeway giving Tuvok's kids minecraft and the sims #his 4 kids all huddled around and sharing the one save file bc they are cooperative and want to play together #in minecraft they build accurate buildings and landscapes from blueprints or just structurally sound ones from imagination #in the sims they have their families live the most safe and boring lives possible - NO killing and NO messing around #they have a timer on the desk and everytime the timer goes off they switch who controls the game though everyone has their own opinions #on what they should do.#Janeway: Have you kids tried deleting the pool ladder when a sim is in it?#Tuvok's kids do so and watch the screen.......and then they're all horrified when the sim dies. Like if they were humans they'd be screaming #about it. T'Pel has to come and load the game from the last save so their sim can be alive again.#Tuvok: Were there no signs that your little person was on the cusp of death?#Asil: We believed in his strength... / Sek: It was illogical that he would not be able to lift himself from the pool.#Elieth: I cannot speak about it. / Varith is unbothered - too young to understand the tragedy that has befallen their little person....#AHA. You thought this was a J/C post but you look a little deeper and its actually a Tuvok family fluff post! GOTCHA!

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sharpnothashtag · 3 years

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The Good Ship CrushWay, Chapter 47

Bridge: KJ, Data, Daneel, Tasha, Tom, Patrick

KJ: Conn, current speed? Tom: Warp 3. KJ: Helm, current heading? Ro: 315 mark 47. KJ: When will we be there, Number One? Data: At current speed, 2 weeks, 4 days, 7 hours. KJ: Daneel, any word from Dukat? We'll be entering Cardassian space soon. Data: In 4 days at our present speed. KJ: Thank you. Daneel: (looking down, multitasking) Dukat's last message was a strange one--we'll be picking up a couple of people who need to be ferried to DS9. His neck was very tense, and he was more articulate than usual. Patrick: Was he annoyed, perhaps? Daneel: (clearly working on something else and not concerned about this) Unclear. KJ: (blinking...realizing she is going to have to get used to someone who doesn't read emotions that well) Are there any ships we need to be aware of in sensor range? Daneel: No. (KJ turns away) However (KJ turns back, fake smiling to put her best foot forward with new Lieutenant) there is a Gamma Class Nebula right (bringing it up on the viewscreen) here if you would like to study it. KJ: Would you like to study it, Lieutenant? Daneel: I have been. (buttons) There are some dilithium crystals that could be used as bargaining chips with the Borg, provided they are in a dire enough state to need them. I have also found trace elements of Galantium. KJ: Data, isn't Galantium the normal antidote given for Lyantirum poisoning? Data: Galantium Byzantride, yes, however it is only used for extreme cases. KJ: You saw the elevated Lyantirum levels from the weapon they were using. Are those levels severe enough to cause poisoning? Data: Yes, but all the drones rescued thus far have not needed the treatment. Hypothetically, with their method and frequency of travel, it would have taken a full year for the effects of Lyantirum poisoning to take effect. However, at the rate the drones were dying due to the phase variant disease, many of them did not succumb to the effects. KJ: Tom, take us by the nebula. Collect all the Galantium we can store. I have a feeling that the Borg we are about to encounter need help, and lots of it. Janeway to Seven of Nine. Seven: Yes, Captain? KJ: Coordinate with Dr. Crusher on the information I'm sending to both of you now. We need to know how the Borg reconstruction surgery could be altered due to the effects of Lyantirum poisoning. Communicate with headquarters that we have found a large cache of Galantium and are collecting it in hopes of using it for treatment. Janeway out. (turning to Ro) Ensign Ro, you and Commander Data figure out the most efficient way to dispense the treatment to as many drones at a time as possible. Lieutenant, you're in charge of harvesting the Galantium. Get down to Engineering, and make sure everyone is on the same page. Daneel: For clarity's sake, what page is that? KJ: (typing into the padd on the arm of her chair, over this before it even starts) The page where we save the Borg's asses. Again.

(throw to commercial)

B'Elanna: Emptying the Bussard collectors is going to take time, Lieutenant. Miles: We'll be here another 6 hours just making sure that they're ready--apparently no one at Utopia Planitia thought they were important enough to test before we left. Daneel: Understood. The Captain sent me to help in any way I can. (B'Elanna nods and takes them off to help clean and test the collectors. Miles is left in Engineering to deal with the programming side of things.)

B'Elanna: Can you hand me that plasma spanner? (Daneel hands it to her. B'Elanna clearly feels awkward.) So...Miles tells me that you and Data hung out last week. Daneel: (blushing deeply) Yes, we did. B'Elanna: May I ask you in what context? Daneel: We went on a date. B'Elanna: (beaming) I like the two of you together. You are both very sweet--almost innocent. Daneel: Innocent? B'Elanna: You're both consenting adults, so it isn't a "young love" situation, but it does feel like you two are generally inexperienced. Daneel: I don't come across as cold and jaded? B'Elanna: I don't think so. But I'm not really one to judge. Daneel: You aren't? You seem neurotypical. B'Elanna: That's true. But that doesn't mean that I trust the way I interpret people's characters. If I were fully Klingon, I think I would be a better judge. But (shrugs) I'm half human. Daneel: I kind of thought that I came across that way. B'Elanna: Why is that? Obviously something in your past has scarred you, but I do wonder why you think of yourself in that way. Daneel: Have you ever found someone who understood you in a way you didn't understand yourself? B'Elanna: Yes. Daneel: Besides Tom. B'Elanna: Strangely enough, yes, besides Tom. Daneel: Wesley Crusher is that person for me. (B'Elanna cocks her eyebrow.) We met while we were in the Academy. One day at lunch, I was studying for my robotics class with the textbook that Data wrote. B'Elanna: (sarcastically) A real page turner. Daneel: (enthusiastically) I know, right?! Anyway, the seat next to me in the cafeteria was open, and Wesley just interrupted my study session.

Flashback (Those of you who know me know I am not a huge fan of Wesley Crusher. That isn't Wil Wheaton's fault. I'm about to try to do him justice. Please bear with me, nonexistent readers and Wil Wheaton.) Wesley walks past Daneel without looking at them. It is as if he isn't allowed to go past--like a video game character hitting an invisible wall.

Wesley: I know this is a really weird thing to say, but I feel like I'm supposed to sit here. Glasses: (Daneel doesn't look up from their book) Go ahead. Wesley: (blinking in surprise, sits down. Notices the book.) Oh, Data's book! I really miss him. Glasses: (deeply surprised, about to fan-person) You know him?! Wesley: Yeah, he's on the Enterprise where my mom was assigned. Daneel: Cool! What's your name? Wesley: I'm Wesley Crusher. He/him/his. Daneel: Wesley? (Wesley nods. Daneel sticks out his hand.) Daneel Akares. They/them/theirs. I have a potentially strange series of questions to ask you. Wesley: (smiling, sitting back in the chair with finger guns) Shoot! Daneel: (hearing the screams of their friends as they exploded; immediately panicked, ducking under the table) Who's shooting?! Wesley: (surprised, talking to them slowly and calmly as he sits on the ground with them) I'm so sorry--I thought you knew that slang term. I just meant to go ahead and ask me the questions you want to ask. No one has weapons here. You're safe. Glasses: I'm sorry. (Daneel is hugging their legs to their chest) I'm still processing a lot of stuff from the Occupation. Wesley: That's okay. (He scoots around under the table to sit side by side with Daneel) What did you want to ask me? Glasses: (looking around) Do you know someone called "The Traveller"? Wesley: (shocked) Yes. He and I know each other well. Daneel: He saved my life. I think he was looking for you, though. Wesley: What makes you say that? Daneel: He called me by your name. He said he was "here to help find her." Wesley: I know when that was. I'll never forget it. Stardate 44161.2. The day my mom disappeared. Daneel: Did the Traveller find her? Wesley: Yes. It was one of the scariest times of my entire life. Daneel: I had a bomb inside my chest. He defused it. Wesley: I'm so sorry. (Daneel puts their head on Wesley's shoulder, still shaking a little.) Do you want to come to my quarters and get to know each other? Daneel: I would like that. However, you should know first that I am not romantically or sexually attracted to you. Wesley: (laughing) Nor I you. Come on, let's go. (Wesley gets up, dusts himself off, and offers Daneel his hand to help them off the floor. Daneel accepts.)

Conference room: KJ, Data, Ro, Miles, Bev, Tasha, and Tom

KJ: Data, report. Data: We have devised a solution. As soon as the threat of assimilation is neutralized, we will beam as many drones as possible into our six cargo bays. Galantium Byzantride will filter in through the environmental controls. Once the treatment is complete, Seven of Nine will take a sample drone, input the command to regenerate, and then we will head back to Utopia Planitia. KJ: How long will it take for the treatment to take full effect? Ro: Only an hour. It's a wonder no one has tried this method before. KJ: Tasha, I want security teams on those cargo bays nonstop until we get back. (Tasha nods.) Doctor, will there be any side effects that would affect the reconstruction surgery? Bev: There is a 30% chance of death with our current surgical routine. Data, Seven, The Doctor, and I will have to perform several holographic simulations in order for this to succeed. KJ: Understood. Lieutenant Daneel, are the Bussard collectors prepared? Daneel: Ready, Captain. Miles: Once the Galantium is collected, Dr. Crusher and I will need to coordinate on how to make the vaccine airborne. Bev: I have a plan in place for that--I'm in the final testing stages. KJ: Good work. Daneel, start the collection process. Ro, when we start the collection, drop the shields and immediately start recharging them. Tom, as soon as we're done, I want to be out of here. Ro and Tom: Aye.

Bev and Miles in Engineering

Bev: (typing in several codes) So, I heard the lovely pieces you, Data, Jean-Luc, and Patrick played at Worf and Deanna's wedding. Would you like to play for mine and Kate's? Miles: Sure. I'd love to. As far as the rest of the quartet goes, you'll have to ask them. Bev: Oh, I already have. I talked to Keiko before we left. She specifically told me to mention it while you were doing something else. Miles: (laughing) That's my wife, alright. She knows I do better when my brain is otherwise occupied. Bev: (laughs. Quiet settles in) So, this couple that we're picking up. Do you know them? Miles: Do I ever. Bev: ...do I get an explanation for that? Miles: (pressing a few buttons in a final flourish) Not at the moment. It's time to collect the Galantium! Bev: You can't just leave me hanging in suspense like that. Miles: I'll tell you this much: there is no more confusing couple in all of Starfleet, and of the same token, they are the most loving couple I've ever known. Bev: (smiling) I suppose I can handle that. Miles: (touching his combadge) O'Brien to Janeway. We're ready to start collecting. KJ: Acknowledged.

(Exterior shot of the ship. The Bussard collectors power up briefly, and then from the nebula, a Borg sphere emerges.)

KJ: (understandably pretty freaked out) Ro where the hell was that thing?! Ro: I'm picking up traces of...synthetic Lyantirum? Data: The cloaking device. Ro: We're being hailed, Captain. KJ: Take the damn thing. Borg: We are the Borg. Your technological-- KJ: I killed your Queen, you directionless drones. You report to me. Borg: Insufficient. Your simple human mind cannot possibly organize the thoughts of millions of drones. KJ: You look at me, Borg ship. I am the only person to ever negotiate with you. I am the one that has gotten away time and time again. You keep chasing me around the galaxy. Years ago when I was ripped away from my crew, it seemed that I was almost immediately forced to deal with you AGAIN. You're almost as stubborn as I am. But notice that I said almost. My efforts to help you have finally worked. Borg: We have noticed the voices disappearing from the collective. KJ: Yes, and that's because of me. And a few hundred other very important people. Patrick: (looking for permission) Captain? (KJ nods) My designation was once Locutus. Does the collective remember me? Borg: The collective recognizes Locutus of Borg. Patrick: Does the collective remember the plans of the Queen before stardate 16147.3? Borg: To research synthetic Lyantirum as a source for a superior cloaking device. Patrick: And did the collective achieve this goal? Borg: Affirmative. Patrick: How?

One drone's voice comes above all the others.

Drone: Because they assimilated us.

Three drones walk to the front of the viewing area.

Data: Sissun? Chuti? Keriss? KJ: The members of the Lyantirum think tank on Mars. Drones 1, 2, and 3: We were assimilated, and then the collective destroyed Jouret IV. KJ: I thought you weren't on Jouret IV when it was attacked. Drones 1, 2, and 3: We were not supposed to be. However, our transport ship was delayed by a plasma storm. We were assimilated. The colony was destroyed. We helped form the Lyantirum transport device and the synthetic Lyantirum cloaking device. KJ: Those devices are dangerous to you and to the space you use them in. Borg: Enough. This discussion is irrelevant. Assimilation is imminent. Resistance is futile.

The communication is cut off.

KJ: Ro, raise shields. Tom, prepare evasive maneuvers. Data: (on communicator) All hands, battle stations. KJ: The Borg have engaged us.

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rimmers-swimming-certificate · 4 years

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For the prompt, can you do 21?

“sometimes, being a complete and comes in useful”

21 was a popular one. I got three requests for it! And I really struggled to write it too.

Also I just want to point out that although Star Trek fans are referred to as nerds in this fic, that is in no way meant to be an insult! I’ve loved Star Trek since I was about 11, possibly even before I first saw Red Dwarf, and I used to go to a Star Trek fanclub meeting every month for years. If anyone’s a nerd around here, it’s me, and I’m proud of it!

@areyoucorrectingmypronunciation you asked for 21 and another one, so I’ll try to do the other one for you too

“Duane Dibbley,” muttered Cat under his breath. He shook his head from side to side and lifted a hand to his face and hair as though he wasn’t sure he had been transformed back again and needed to check.

“I can’t believe we got out of that alive,” Lister said as he collapsed, relieved, into his seat in Starbug’s cockpit and began programming a course to literally anywhere.

“What a dork!” Cat muttered to himself.

“Don’t speak too soon, Listy,” Rimmer told him. “I’m not going to relax until we’re not only out of this planet’s atmosphere, but out of its whole solar system. Whoever heard of a society built around gambling for emotions? It’s utter madness.”

Kryten glanced at him. “Well sir, emotions are valuable currency in many GELF societies, and a society built around gambling isn’t that unusual. Surely you’ve heard of the Earth city of Las Vegas?”

“Yes, but gambling on Star Trek trivia knowledge?” Rimmer said. “Absolutely insane.”

“From what I could gather, this particular GELF clan discovered some old Star Trek videos on a crashed ship quite early in their civilisation, and it has somehow become a religion to them. We weren’t gambling on Star Trek trivia, we were gambling on knowledge of religious doctrine.”

“Duane Dibbley,” Cat said again, disbelievingly.

Rimmer shook his head. “A religion built around a fictional Science Fiction story. Well that’s even more insane, frankly.”

Kryten nodded. “Yes, but again sir, far from unique. For example, have you heard of…”

“Lister, can you hurry up and get us out of here before those insane GELFs decide they want a rematch?” Rimmer said, cutting Kryten off before he could finish.

Lister nodded, already working on plotting a course as far away from the moon as possible.

“Why is it always Duane Dibbley?” Cat said. “Why is my coolness so delicious that these emotion-slurping things always want to gobble it up?”

“They don’t,” Rimmer reminded him. “The first time we encountered one, it took your vanity, remember?”

“Don’t remind me!” Cat told him. “I’m not sure which was worse.”

“I rather liked you that first time,” Rimmer told him. “No self esteem, convinced your opinion was worth absolutely nothing…” he nodded appreciatively. “You should be more like that all the time, we’d get on much better.”

Cat glared at him. “Now you listen to me…” he said, pointing an angry finger at Rimmer.

Lister finished programming the flight path and hit the ignition. “And we’re off. Relax, guys, we’re fine. Everyone’s back to normal.”

“Easy for you to say,” Rimmer told him. “I mean, it’s not like they took any of your emotions, is it?” Lister glanced back at Rimmer. “They gave them back when we won,” he reminded him. “Anyway, they only took your charisma, Rimmer. Honestly I couldn’t even notice a difference.”

Cat grinned at that. “Yeah, I’m surprised they even thought that was worth taking.”

Rimmer glared at him. “Now you listen to me, you stupid, useless excuse for a cat…” “Hey, back off Rimmer.” Lister interrupted. “If it wasn’t for him we’d still be trapped there getting into more and more emotional debt.”

Cat grinned. “Yeah! I saved you.” He frowned “Well, I saved me, but you happened to be there at the same time.”

“It wasn’t you though, was it? It was Duane Dibbley that saved us.” Rimmer smirked triumphantly. “Unless you want to admit that he’s actually a part of you?”

“No way!” Cat said immediately.

“Well then you don’t get any kind of recognition for what you did, because you didn’t do it. I mean, let’s face it, you wouldn’t know Captain Kirk from Captain Janeway.”

Cat grinned. “Sure I would, grease stain! Kirk’s the captain from the first show, back in the really olden days when the sets were made of cardboard or something. Cool guy. Totally in love with the dude with the ears. Janeway’s the lady captain from Voyager; got stuck in the Delta Quadrant, like that’s a real thing.” He rolled his eyes and shook his head.

Rimmer stared at him. “What? How do you know that? Fine, answer this one, genius…” He frowned, trying to think of another question. “Give me a minute, it’s been a while since I’ve seen it, and I want to come up with a really hard one…”

Lister sighed and resisted the urge to rest his head in his hands. “Guys, can you have a nerd-off another time? Preferably when I’m not here.”

“It’s not a ‘nerd-off’ Lister. I’m simply trying to work out how on Io the Cat knows this stuff.”

“Hey, I know stuff!” Cat insisted. “What, you thought Duane Dibbley could do something I couldn’t?! You thought the duke of dork had skills that I don’t? You’re crazy!”

“Right,” said Rimmer. “So you’re saying that you, the Cat, actually has all that Star Trek trivia filed away somewhere in the recesses of your brain. You?”

Cat shrugged. “Yeah, I guess so.”

Kryten looked over at Rimmer. “It makes sense, sir. After all, when his coolness was extracted, nothing was added in its place, therefore it stands to reason that any knowledge Mr Dibbley has, must be knowledge that the Cat has too.”

“Yeah!” Cat said, then frowned “I don’t know what he’s talking about, but it sounds like he’s saying I know stuff. And I do! I used to watch a lot of videos before you guys showed up.”

“Huh,” said Rimmer. “Well, I suppose you did save us then.”

“Damn right I did. Me and my super-smart brain! You didn’t know the answer to those questions, did you?”

Rimmer shook his head. “No. No I didn’t.” He smirked. “So, you’re a nerd. A complete and utter nerd.”

Cat glared at Rimmer. “Am not!”

“Here’s one. What’s the first rule of acquisition?”

Cat opened his mouth to answer, then closed it again and sighed. “Fine,” he said. “So maybe I am a nerd. I’m still about a thousand times cooler than you,” he said. Then shrugged. “And hey, I still saved our asses, so I guess sometimes, being a complete nerd comes in useful.”

#red dwarf #red dwarf fanfic #arnold rimmer #the cat #dave lister #kryten #I'm not hugely pleased with this one if I'm honest #hopefully it's better than I think

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doopcafe · 3 years

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Star Trek Voyager: Scorpion, Part I and II (3x26 and 4x01)

Summary: Janeway stubbornly drives straight through Borg space and then abducts a Borg.

Comments: Hey, the Borg are here!

Okay, so we watched this two-parter back-to-back on a weekend, which is probably the best way to watch this. Even though Scorpion is not spectacular television, there’s something enjoyable about its momentum. It jumps along from one scene to the next in a logical progression. There’s even a planet that gets itself JJ Abrams-ed!

However, as much as Scorpion tries to be The Best of Both Worlds, it is not. Whereas the TNG episode built towards one of the most epic cliffhangers in television history, Scorpion Part I just sort of... ends.

That’s all generic review BS so lemme say one negative and one positive.

First, there is a huge fundamental flaw in all of this: Scorpion effectively castrates the Borg as a threat by compromising the bulk of what made them so effective as antagonists. The Borg were so effective in TNG because they were introduced as an insurmountable threat against everything you knew and loved. In Q Who? the Enterprise was only saved by the god-like powers of Q. In The Best of Both Worlds, Starfleet (and Earth) could only be saved by stopping the Borg at a tremendously heavy price.

So introducing an opponent in Voyager (Species 8472) that can beat the Borg undercuts one of their most defining characteristics. It makes them less threatening and undermines the reputation of an existing, successful antagonist in order to replace it with... what? A lackluster 1990s CG monster that Kes is afraid of?

As an example, Janeway holds a conference with her senior officers (and Harry) to discuss plans for passing through Borg space. If these were the same Borg as portrayed in TNG, the only logical course of action would be to “nope the f— out” and avoid the Borg entirely. This is because there is no winning against the Borg. Instead, Janeway gives orders like “evaluate our tactical readiness” and “stock up on some food,” which serves only to reduce the Borg to a casual threat, akin to the Vividians or the Kazon (ugh).

There’s other bits as well. Janeway equates the Borg to humanity, making the comparison that “like us” they’re “just trying to survive,” robbing the Borg of their alien quality. The Borg are even portrayed as being so familiar to the crew that Chakotay can recognize a “distribution node” aboard the cube and Harry can just, uh, “download their tactical database” (or whatever). These bits just serve to diminish them further.

As a reminder, a single Borg cube nearly destroyed Earth and the entire Federation in TNG. But when Voyager arrives in Borg space, a fleet of 15 Borg vessels is no big deal. Given the attention that the Borg have earned over the years, there’s really only a handful of routes you can take this. The writers chose an interesting, but risky path: introduce a threat even worse than the Borg. The problem is that their opponent MUST be something genuinely special to justify that choice. Simply being able to beat the Borg is not enough.

Anyways, one positive. Let’s see...

Scorpion has the strongest character moment to date of the entire show. The relationship between Janeway and Chakotay is probably the strongest character dynamic on the show (which isn’t saying much). I mean, Harry/Paris is nowhere near as interesting as O’Brien/Bashir or Data/Geordi. But episodes like The Cloud or Coda have demonstrated that there’s at least some compelling evidence to support an interesting Janeway/Chakotay dynamic.

Superficially, this is the awful suggestion of a possible love interest that Taylor keeps trying to unnaturally shove down our throats, but more interesting is the fact that Voyager is a ship with two captains. Chakotay has accepted his bottom-spoon position, so when Janeway is out cold in Sick Bay in Scorpion, Chakotay isn’t new to the reins—he’s stepping back into a command position. So when Chakotay gets the opportunity, he dissolves the alliance Janeway created and he never supported. Therefore, the confrontation between the two in Sick Bay after Janeway wakes is actually really interesting. They argue about their motivations and orders. And—for the first time in the entire show—they feel like real people.

In conclusion, I guess they’re in Borg space now? I hope they keep the Borg modifications to their ship. I like continuity.

My enjoyment: 4/5

#pie211-voy #star trek #voyager #st voyager

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annakie · 4 years

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Am I once again posting about the Voyager Relaunch Novels? Yes. Yes I am.

I am re-reading the Post-Endgame Voyager Relaunch novels and marathoned reading The Eternal Tide over the last two nights and all I have to say is Janeway and Chakotay love each other so much, I was literally sobbing through about six sections of the second half of that book.

The Kirsten Beyer books are SO GOOD. And as I’m re-reading them I love how she handles every single one of the Voyager characters but especially Chakotay. I feel like she understands Chakotay and gives him everything the writers of Voyager never quite grasped about his character in seven seasons. Full Circle is such a powerful story of his love and his grief, and the rest of the crew’s love for him (especially Tom, B’lanna, Harry and Sev-- wow his friendship with Seven is so awesome throughout the Beyer books, everything it should have been in the show and not what we got in Endgame. The support they have for each other without forcing a cringey relationship back onto them adds so much to BOTH of their characters. Hey this paragraph went way off the rails but I don’t care.)

Anyway I really love the plots of each of these books, I love how they handle EVERY character (well, I miss Tuvok -- at some point I’m gonna get to the Titan novels) and the new characters are pretty great (oh man Cambridge is a fave, and so much better than the new consular that was introduced in the Spirit Walk books. Loved Eden, love Farkas.)

I made a post a few days ago about how Chakotay is the whole “upstanding, solid, good guy” archetype that some people dare to call “boring” I’ve previously talked at length in a post about Mass Effect about how that’s just... my favorite kind of character. And Chakotay is just... so that. It also made me realize that the Janeway / Chakotay dynamic is also very similar to a Shepard / Kaidan dynamic (powerful commanding officer of her own ship woman character, solid, good, honorable mature right-hand man first officer (or close to it) male character and maybe that’s why they’re both two of my favorite ships.

Anwyay here’s some spoilery thoughts about The Eternal Tide.

Chakotay telling Seven about his relationship with Janeway evolving before she died, and how he doesn’t think he’ll ever love any other woman!

Confirmation that Chakotay was thinking about proposing when they were supposed to met in Venice!??! What!?

Janeway thinking about Chakotay right after her resurrection and how deeply she feels for him and wondering about how her death affected him! Also I kind of love that Chakotay DIDN’T come to her mind when deciding whether to return to life or not? This was her decision and making it about A Man I think would have made it feel less about her and how she knew she would be taking responsibility for The Multiverse, which is what it absolutely should have been about. Realizing what her death would have done to him basically the second she was alive again... that part was so well written. I loved it. Her relationship shouldn’t become the basis of who she is -- but it adds to her.

Their... reunion... scene... almost being ruined by Q... Chakotay’s utter shock and disbelief and the description of him slowly beginning to have his heart open up to the possibility, him inching closer to her as she’s thinking that maybe she’s made a mistake and understands just how deeply her death hurt him... that.... entire... SCENE. (Actually about once a year I dig that book and Full Circle out just to read their getting together / reunion scenes.)

Getting Seven’s reaction to Janeway was also very, very good. I wish they hadn’t cut past the scene where the rest of the Voyager staff sees her for the first time but we did get a little taste of it.

Um okay and then Janeway tells Chakotay she loves him for the first time and he says it back, naturally but like, this is as Chakotay was preparing to go on a suicide mission? SOBBING. They didn’t even get a day together, but at least they got to say goodbye this time.

Janeway forcing herself not to think about Chakotay’s death because things just got so much more dire.

Yes they won, but Janeway all alone on the battle bridge and she can’t even bring herself to contact Voyager yet because she just needs time to mourn Chakotay for a few seconds and takes a few seconds, a few breaths, a few moments... and then... OMG.... Chakotay is returned by Godson Q just before his death and they’re so happy... I CANNOT.

THE EPILOGUE where they’re in bed and had spent every possible moment together and so casual and free and happy together... it’s everything we ever wanted for seven seasons and seven more books.

Oh I started this post now almost a week ago and now I’m a few books forward and hey am I now going to talk about Protectors? Yes, yes I am.

J/C don’t get to spend a lot of time together in this book. Janeway gets sent back to the Alpha Quadrant to undergo counseling and evaluation which, tbh, is totally valid considering she DIED A VIOLENT HORRIBLE DEATH and then WAS DEAD FOR FOURTEEN MONTHS and then you know RESURRECTED AND IMMEDIATELY HAD TO SAVE THE MULTIVERSE oh yeah not to mention WAS REUNITED WITH THEN HAD TO TELL CHAKOTAY GOODBYE FOREVER A FEW HOURS LATER then oh wait THE MAN SHE LOVES WAS ALSO BROUGHT BACK FROM THE DEAD (or the brink of death, whatever.)

There’s a short and sweet goodbye scene then for the bulk of the book Janeway is back on Earth going to counseling (which, that second counseling scene was so great, and seeing her slow down and enjoy life with her mother was so great, and um also that scene with her and Picard? Wow. Just Wow. Also I can’t wait to go back and read some TNG books because I need to see JL/B actually get together.) And the entire time she’s just like... not even doubting her relationship with Chakotay even a little. She thinks of him and is excited to be reunited but every time it’s like “the man I love” “The person I plan on spending the rest of my life with” and even “the love of my life.” WOW. Just Wow. Chakotay worries a bit but never doubts.

Oh and then she basically tells her commanding officer “yeah um, thanks but I absolutely have no plans on curbing my relationship with Chakotay to make you feel more comfortable. Also JL/B and Riker/Troi are all married so fuck you?” She does agree to keep separate quarters on another ship which is like.. fine... whatever. But also her going “Yes he’s my subordinate but we’re not going to let that affect our working relationship, we’re adults.” Fuck. Yeah. Montgomery asks if they’re gonna get married and Janeway is all “IDK, probably? We’ll let you know.”

And B’Elanna asks Chakotay the same thing and his answer is also basically “Yeah at some point, we haven’t talked about it yet but yeah we’re spending the rest of our lives together now stop prodding me.”

Their reunion when she returns doesn’t go as planned and it’s a teensy bit worrisome at the end but with notes of positivity.

OK I’m only about 1/3rd into Acts of Contrition but I got to a part last night that made me put the book down for a minute and thank Kirsten Beyer out loud.

J/C finally get to spend some time alone several days after she makes it back to the fleet in the Delta Quadrant. They have a brief discussion about The Plot, then Chakotay is like “Know what? We’ll talk about The Plot Stuff tomorrow in the briefing. Let’s instead talk about us.” And then he stands up for what he wants! And Janeway listens, and they talk, and agree! And then Chakotay is like “Okay, now I really want to hear about what happened to you back on Earth for all those weeks!” So... literally they just... sit and talk for several hours like, I don’t know, real people would? There’s no drama! And they both affirm their commitment to each other and their relationship!

It’s just... it’s... so good? Their relationship is so solid! They LOVE EACH OTHER and it’s based on their solid friendship (something else they actually say out loud!) and they talk to each other and there’s no like drama for drama’s sake about their relationship so far and it’s like, better than even any fanfic I’ve ever read (and there’s some great fic out there for these two) because nearly every other character is also getting their screentime and character development (minus Tuvok -- who’s off with Riker and Troi on the Titan and Neelix isn’t around much -- though he’s spoken of and we see him a bit when they visit New Talax). Also it’s... beta canon. No matter what, this is real and accepted beta canon.

I have been going back and listening to all the episodes of the Literary Trek podcast episodes about these books, and for Eternal Tide and Protectors Beyer herself was on the podcast and listening to her talk about Chakotay and Janeway both individually and as a couple her love for them both is clear, she loves the show and knows what she’s doing and is allowed to do it, and her writing is so damn good. One of the hosts of the podcast has said in several episodes that he used to really dislike Chakotay as he was in the show and now book Chakotay is one of his favorite characters. And honestly? I do love show Chakotay but book Chakotay is... everything show Chakotay should have been. But he’s also been through hell and back and I love how Beyer used that experience -- and now Janeway’s resurrection experience -- to advance them BOTH individually and how that’s affected them as a couple now that they actually get to be that.

There’s so much other good in these books. Tom and B’Elanna’s storyline and the way she writes them and their marriage... I could write so much about it. Harry gets better characterization! A plotline! A promotion! A love interest that may actually work out?!!? We’ll see. And SEVEN. Wow. So much happens with Seven and it’s so great, I love her so much and Book Seven is again, even better.

Two more books have come out since the last time I read the series and the final book comes out next month, I can’t wait to see all the great moments Beyer has coming up for them. It also makes me twice as happy that Beyer is so involved with Picard. It’s so clear the love she has for these two and I can’t imagine J/C not still being Alpha canon with her involved.

#star trek #voyager #janeway x chakotay #kathryn janeway #chakotay #Kirsten beyer #annakie's misc stuff

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technoturian · 4 years

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I finally finished Picard. I enjoyed about 80% of it but felt like it stumbled at the final hurdle, tbh. My main issues below...

- For a show that started with Picard and Data, it felt like the show’s main emotional line was Data/Picard and Soji/Data and that it would connect Data and Soji as strongly as it started to do with Dahj before she died. But then after they left the Troi-Rikers it felt like Data was completely absent from the story and it became not about who Soji is as a person but who Soji is as a synthetic, a basic “synthetics vs. organics” argument rather than about what makes a person alive and an individual and what made Soji in particular so special. Soji became less about being Data’s daughter and more about being part of Soong’s collective of synthetics.

It was so muddled what the message even was beyond that very surface level debate, to the point where Soong found out his daughter killed one of her own he goes, “they’re just as bad as us” -- once again lumping them all together -- and chooses to “switch sides” and stop them by force. Instead of, y’know, *talking* to the rest of his children after the one individual that was clearly evil and influencing them was out of the way.

If anyone had told Soji that Narek hadn’t been the one to kill Saga, wouldn’t it have been much easier to convince her? But that would’ve undercut the big fight and their big message that.. to be honest just didn’t make sense to me at all. Soji felt completely lost as a character the second the homeworld entered the picture. Suddenly she knew things and felt things because the story needed her to.

- And let’s talk about this clearly evil android sister of hers. Why does she look just like Soji except because of all the heavy handed twin metaphors? I thought that face was like... specifically designed by Data in his painting? I’m so confused. I’m incredibly confused about the timeline of events at this point. And I’m confused as to why the Data-like androids are so capable of emotion and obviously far superior to Data, but Data could not be rebuilt. I’m confused as to why Soji and Dahj were made, superior even to these new androids, and then mindwiped and shoved off to chase shadows rather than just getting some actual humans to do that spying and protecting these incredibly precious creations. I’m confused as to why no others like Soji and Dahj were made afterwards. I’m confused as to how Narek and the others even heard about Soji or Dahj without knowing where they came from, yet they were certain there were more like them (spoiler, there weren’t even more like them, so why did Narek’s group have that impression?).

- Speaking of Narek, what even happened to him at the end? Did I just miss it? I’ve been waiting this whole show for his boring manipulative ass to die, please don’t tell me they’re going to try to bring him back. I don’t need a discount CW Romulan “I did murders but I also cried so I’m sympathetic” Kylo Ren who thinks having a British accent and a leather jacket is the same as having a personality showing up AGAIN and sucking the air out of MORE scenes.

- There were a lot of things that felt unearned in the last episode, but Picard’s “death” is a big one. Riker just goes “Okay bye!” and then Picard dies and they’re playing it off like this old man dying surrounded by his loved ones but as much as they tried to build it up with all of those goodbyes, he met half of them like a week ago. His second in command for years just nopes out of the scene so some kid he read Dumas to once over a decade ago can be the family in this situation? This is supposed to feel meaningful and earned? It wasn’t. It would have been better earned if it had been solely between Soji and Picard, as they had invested most in this relationship, and them ‘having each other’, and yet the idea of Soji finding belonging with Picard was practically thrown by the wayside in those last two episodes to ask “bigger” but less emotionally satisfying questions about her status as a synthetic. So in what should be the most emotional scene in the entire season, he just dies with a half-hearted “aww, you guys” to the new team and I felt... not much. And then it doesn’t even count! And then we’re having a funeral, but now it’s for Data? The same Data who y’all forgot to even talk about during most of that synthetics vs. organics dialogue??? It was nice to see Data again, but completely unearned by the events of the episode.

- Speaking of unearned... This show’s handling of its ‘romances’ is abysmal. It’s kind of sad that Agnes and Rios are the romance with the most buildup simply by virtue of the two of them actually having a FULL conversation with one another before making out. I really disliked Agnes and Rios in the end, partially because I don’t think they adequately built it up (even though like I said, it’s sadly the relationship they put the most effort into building), but also partially because I selfishly want Rios to die so Picard can captain and we can just have more of the great hologram Rioses because they’re way more fun. And also I love holograms more than people. Blame the Holodoc.

Soji/Narek was cringe-inducing garbage, an absolutely artless manipulation from a guy with zero charisma whose entire existence depends on him seducing a girl and him doing so by being evasive, distant and moody. Just the worst. And somehow that makes her like him instead of running for the hills, because he throws in the odd non-sequitur love confession two days into their relationship.

I thought Maddox was Agnes’ father in that old vid until she kissed him and that was. Woof. That was a real gross brain switch. In any case, not a fan, but I will say MAYBE this relationship should really earn the ‘most developed’ title because they were actually in a relationship. And she literally murdered him.

And don’t get me started on Seven and Raffi coyly threading fingers together in the final scene after, to my recollection, not even having a single conversation together??? Why do this? Why? *Why* do this. If you wanted to get them together but you know you’ve done no work on it, save it for a possible second season or *don’t do it at all*. Seven and Raffi being randomly paired off at the end made me wonder why they didn’t just throw in Soji/Elnor too for the whole set. Raffi/Agnes is more believable than Seven/Raffi because at least she gave her cake. Seven/Rios is more believable because they had that one shoe-horned heart-to-heart.

While we’re talking about alternate pairings, I personally think they all should be paired off with a member of Rios’ holosuite. Including Picard. INCLUDING RIOS. Because Santiago Cabrera is too hot for words and there are SIX of him on that ship.

- Another reason Seven/Raffi being thrown together was kind of infuriating to me is it felt the same as the scene where she said she had no one, and basically any scene that was like “Seven is completely alone and adrift and THIS is her new family! Just forget that she’s only had one random heart-to-heart with Rios and a few cute dialogues with Elnor and other than that absolutely no contact with any of these people.”

Where the heck are the rest of the Voyager crew? Okay, so nobody liked Chakotay with Seven. Okay, so Kate Mulgrew and Jeri Ryan didn’t get along so it would be unlikely to ever see them together on-screen. But Janeway literally loved Seven so much she rewrote time just to save her life or whatever that series finale was about. The Doctor, who knows *exactly* how it feels to be disenfranchised and dehumanized, is her best friend. Naomi Freakin’ Wildman who Seven called family who would absolutely have been there for her if she needed her. Why did they make her so sad and throw away all the rest of Voyager’s crew to do it?

I loved a lot of the stuff with Seven more than I thought I would after some of the things I’ve heard. But when I read someone say how “sad” they’d made her life, I have to agree. And mashing her into this crew at the end without putting in the time to show how she can fit aside from a few scenes with Elnor feels wrong and sloppy. If anything I would’ve liked her to leave with the borg at the end and then she could make another amazing grand entrance near the beginning of season two. Because basically the best things about Seven in this show were her kicking in the door scenes.

#Picard #Picard Critical #Anti Narek #Seven of Nine

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