Chapter 1: Annika
Annika Henson stared at a holographic image of the Starship Voyager. It had been so many years ago that they had returned to Earth and she wondered what her former crewmembers were doing now. Would they recognize her without her Borg implants? She had only kept in touch with one…Naomi Wildman, at the child's request.
She sighed and brushed a strand of gray-streaked hair away from her face, remembering her days as a recovering Borg. She was completely human now and had been for almost fifteen years.
"Mommy?"
Annika turned around to face her nine-year-old daughter, Tenika.
"Ten! I didn't hear you come in."
Ten was a bright young girl with great potential for Starfleet. Her huge blue eyes complimented her wavy blonde hair and her smile could lighten up any room.
Annika had two children, Ten and her eleven-year-old son, Geniya. A year or so after returning to Earth, she visited Tendara Colony, SD 25479, where she lived as a human child. That is where she met Telis.
"Is that Voyager?" Ten asked with great curiosity. Annika nodded, remembering that she had never shown Ten a picture of Voyager. She had told her children so many stories, but never showed them what the ship looked like.
"It's more wonderful then I imaged it! Do you ever think about them?"
Annika let her lips form a broad smile. She had always thought of them. Wondered how Tom and B'Elanna were doing with their daughter, how Chakotay was, if Harry Kim had found anyone. She even missed the doctor.
Annika shrugged and brought Ten closer to her in a warm hug. "You still have your eyes set on the stars, don't you! You and Geniya have always been so curious about everything."
Ten snuggled in tight to her mother, her eyes still glued on the mighty ship.
"Aunt Naomi was on Voyager! How come you stayed in touch with her, but no one else?"
"It's just the way things turned out to be." Annika sighed and let the room fill with silence for awhile. "I was keeping that image for you," she said finally. "I think that it is the right time to give it to you. Take care of it."
Ten's eyes grew wider then they ever had before. Her full mouth smile stretched from ear to ear. Ten flung her arms around her mother's neck, happily squeezing as hard as she could.
"Mom! Mom!" Geniya rushed into the room, a datapad in his hand. Completely out of breath he flopped into the chair across from Annika and Ten. He struggled hard to speak, taking huge gulps of air to calm his racing heart.
Geniya and Ten looked nothing alike. Ten took after Annika, where as Geniya took after their father, Telis. Geniya had dark chestnut brown hair and average hazel eyes that were to close together. His half-Bajoran features showing more then Ten's. Ten let go of Annika and stared hard at her brother.
"What's gotten you so excited?"
Still unable to speak, Geniya handed his mother the datapad. Annika briefly skimmed over it and a smile grew on her face. "What is it, Mommy? Who's it from?" Ten questioned, looking over her mother's shoulder.
"It's Naomi," Annika looked at Ten, then turned her gaze to Geniya. "Feel like going on a trip?"
Ten's eyes widened even more and Geniya sat on the edge of his seat.
"You mean space travel?" Geniya let his lower jaw drop open. "Like one of Dad's scientific expeditions? Traveling to different planets? Meeting other species?"
"Well, we will be traveling to different planets and you will meet other species, but this is no expedition. This is a formal event."
"Space travel? You really mean it!"
Both children zoomed off to their rooms, before Annika could say anything more. Telis, who was walking down the hall in the opposite direction, had to press himself firmly against the wall to avoid being run over.
"What's gotten into them?"
Annika stood up and wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders. Telis grabbed her hips and gently their lips met. "Naomi's invited us to Earth."
---
Annika didn't stay long on Tendara Colony. On one of Telis' planetary expeditions, he found a race that could "cure" her in only three minor operations. Annika agreed to go with Telis to Synthes V, only because she had feelings for him and she couldn't risk her optical implant shorting out again. Not like it had on Voyager when she was exploring her human side with Chakotay.
Synthes V was the most peaceful planet that both Telis and Annika had ever seen. It was a colonized planet, built on a tiny moon that was hidden from its sun by a massive planet. Most of Synthes V was artificially created under several different shaped domes. The larger ones were cities and recreational areas and the smaller ones were privately owned. The only reason for having such synthetic cities was because there was no breathable air on the moon's surface.
Nobody on Synthes V minded the unnatural days and nights or the handmade lakes and rivers. The heavenly atmosphere of the domes alone was enough to give a feeling of not wanting to leave. Annika fell in love with the planet as soon as she stepped foot on it.
Annika lived with Telis for two years in a small city apartment. He was by her side the whole time as she went through her painful treatment. He helped her every step of the way as she struggled with pure humanity.
When they got married, Telis bought a separate little dome, which included a small cottage on the lake and a holosuite. The holosuite was mostly used by Ten and Geniya. Telis was often to busy for recreational activities and Annika had her fill of holoprograms on Voyager. Today, however, Annika thought she would use the holosuite to say 'hi' to an old friend.
"Seven!?!"
"Doctor!" Annika couldn't help but laugh at The Doctor's surprise glare.
"I hardly recognize you. You look great!"
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything."
"Not at all!" The Doctor curiously looked around, trying to figure out where he was. His eyes widened a second as an interesting thought ran through his mind. "I don't think I'm on Earth anymore, Toto."
Annika laughed, happy to see that The Doctor still had his sense of humor.
"You're on Synthes V."
"Ah yes! A colonized moon that never receives real light. Sounds like a delightful place!"
"It's quite beautiful."
The Doctor gave a smirk and rolled his eyes, slightly disgusted at the boring landscape of the gray walled holosuite. "You could have at least invited me into a more enjoyable setting. Annika cocked her head to the side slightly.
"I didn't design the place, Doctor, I just own it!"
This time, The Doctor laughed. He remembered saying something similar to Neelix, when the Telaxian had commented on the Sickbay ceiling. I didn't design the room, Mr. Neelix. I just work here.
"Feel free to change it then, Doctor."
Slowly the room materialized into a replica of Voyager's sickbay. Annika smiled, happy to see it again.
"Ah!" The Doctor sighed, relaxing into his usual chair. "Right at home."
Their conversation extended well into the evening. Annika was glad to hear that The Doctor was made an official Earth citizen and even had control of his own programming. In exchange, The Doctor extensively listened to Annika, as she explained her journey to pure humanity.
Annika returned to the house in total darkness, her smile no where near fading. With an image of The Doctor still fresh in her mind, she gave one last sigh and cuddle in close to Telis for much needed sleep.
---
"Computer, activate holosuite program Tenika Three."
"Password," the computer's female voice chimed in.
"Tenika Alpha Beta Zero."
Ten smiled as the gray walled room materialized into a space observatory complete with long and short range telescopes. She had created this program right from scratch. Her father had given her a old photograph of an ancient Earth observatory and Ten used it as a model for her program.
"Ah, young Tenika! You have returned."
"Hello, Hanz." Tenika replied sweetly, walking over to the tall, thin, balding man in a white lab coat. "How's work doing?"
"Everything is on schedule. We have our telescopes set on Bajor, care to take a look?"
Ten thought a moment then shook her head. She had seen Bajor before. Today she had her mind set on seeing a planet that she had never seen.
"Well then, young lady. Feel free to adjust the telescope to a planet of your liking." Hanz placed a hand on Ten's shoulder and led her over to the computer that operated the large telescope.
"Set her to Earth, Hanz."
The scientist quickly typed in the co-ordinates and nodded for Ten to take a look.
"It's beautiful!" Ten gasped. "All the blues, greens, and whites swirling together." Ten pause as she noticed giant patches appearing all over the planet. Millions of tiny lights flickering into existence. "What are all those lights?"
Hanz smiled and gave a little laugh.
"Why, buildings, young Tenika. Thousands upon thousands of them."
Ten nodded, remembering that Earth was a highly evolved planet. Not like Synthes V, whose tallest building was a stunning two floors high.
"Computer freeze program!"
Ten stepped away from the telescope, slightly annoyed at someone intruding into her program.
"Interesting place you got here, Ten!"
Ten rolled her eyes.
"What are you doing here, Ny?" Ten lashed at her brother. She glared coldly at him as he looked around.
"Chill out! You forgot to lock the door." Geniya looked at the telescope, then looked at his sister for reassurance. "What in high heavens is that?"
Ten burst out laughing. She could barely contain herself and clutched her stomach in laughing pains.
"It's a telescope, dummy. Here...come take a look."
Geniya, slightly blushing, cautiously tiptoed towards his sister.
"Computer, continue program." Ten said with great confidence. "Oh? And who is this?" Hanz asked, coming over to greet the newcomer.
"Hanz, this is my older brother, Geniya. Ny, meet Dr. Hanz Lymburdink."
Geniya gave a feeble wave and looked through the telescope. "Cool! What planet is that?"
"Earth, young man."
Geniya didn't take his eyes away from the planet and his mouth hung open with amazement.
"Computer, end program!"
Ten and Geniya, in unison, turned to see who had come through the holosuite door, as the room materialized back to the original gray.
"Geniya, when I told you to get your sister, I didn't mean for you to join her."
"Sorry, dad!" Geniya sulked.
"It was my fault, daddy. I distracted him," Ten added. Telis belted out a high yelp of laughter and pulled his children in a group hug.
"You guys ready to go?"
"Now!" Ten eyes widened.
"No, yesterday. Of course now."
Telis picked up Ten's scrawny form and swung her onto his shoulders. With one large hand on Geniya's shoulder, they walked down the long gravel pathway to the ship. Ten and Geniya's eyes roamed around for one last look at the only home they've ever known, before entering the dimmed interior of Telis' tiny ship. Like most children who have never left the atmosphere of their home planet, this trip was like a dream come true.
Ten stared out the viewscreen as the ship blasted into lightspeed. She watched in amazement as the dots of stars blended together in thin white lines. She leaned in closer to Geniya and smiling she gently whispered into his ear. "We've made it Ny! We're in space."
Back | 1 | 2
