Disclaimer: Paramount owns all...and probably have stock in a foam rubber factory too. We all know this is not how they want the characters to behave...
Includes the additions for Once Upon a Time, Timeless, Infinite Regress, and Nothing Human.
Sequel to the episode additions for Fortune's Foe (last seven episodes from season 4) and Fortune's Dream 1 (Night; Drone; Extreme Risk; and In The Flesh).
B'Elanna took a deep breath as the door opened to her quarters. A strong aroma wafted from a bouquet of flowers on her table. "Tom?" She called out as she pulled one of the flowers from the vase. She sniffed it and smiled. It was a delta-quadrant flower they had found over a year ago. The large purple and violet blooms were fragrant--and had a food value. Though they were rarely used for that.
She was so engrossed in the flower she didn't hear him approach from behind until his arms were around her. She leaned back against his chest.
"Seeing you again makes life worth living," Tom whispered into her left ear.
"Don't start being sentimental," she tried to snarl. But she couldn't be angry at him for being *mushy.* She'd come so close to losing him.
Tom chuckled gently. "I know you aren't one for flowery speeches...But I just wanted you to know that I was thinking of you those final minutes. All the times we wouldn't share...The family...well...That I had to come to the Delta-Quadrant to meet you under conditions that were more conducive to you not killing me."
"I wouldn't count yourself safe yet. I've read the preliminary reports on the Delta-Flyer..." She was embarrassed at his sentimentality, and felt uncomfortable. Her Klingon-side didn't react well to mush.
Tom ran his hands up her arms to her shoulders. "Have I told you recently that I love you." He kissed her shoulder. "That you are the most precious thing I have..."
"Tom!" She said in a whisper. "I...I love you. And I nearly lost you...I know there is no guarantee that won't really happen...It's a fact of life and the Delta-Quadrant." She turned slightly so she could see his face. "Kiss me." His fingers brushed her lips before he kissed her.
#
Kathryn lay on her bed reading a PADD. But her mind was drifting to events of the past couple of days. To Neelix, Naomi, Samantha, Tuvok, Tom and B'Elanna. To everyone.
She didn't look up when Chakotay sat down beside her. "Interesting reading?" He whispered.
"Tuvok's report. Neelix is right, this is no place for a child." She continued to stare at the PADD. "Naomi came so close to losing her family."
"No she didn't. Naomi is one of the luckiest children in the galaxy. She has a family of 146 doting relatives."
She shook her head slightly. "Life is so precarious here. It was a routine mission..."
"There is no such thing as routine--not even in the Alpha-Quadrant. And you know that. Samantha could just as easily slipped in the bathroom and cracked her head." He reached behind her and started to gently massage your shoulders. "There's an old Earth saying, 'it takes a village to raise a child.'"
"From your people?" She smiled slightly.
He shook his head. "No, we can't claim that one. But it's true in Naomi's case--and any other child born on this ship. The Doctor is teaching her biology...Even you have given her some art lessons." He laughed quietly at that. "Though I'm not sure fingerpainting is truly considered art." He kissed the top of her head.
"I was trying to teach her perspective--it's not my fault she tried to use her fingers rather than a paintbrush." She frowned. "Any other child? Do you know something I haven't been told?"
"Probably, but nothing like that--yet. There has been talk though."
She knew that. The thought of families on Voyager bothered her. They weren't set up to be a generational ship; but she also couldn't tell the crew they couldn't have children...And like he'd said, what seemed a long time ago, if the trip truly took 60-70 years, it would be their children and grandchildren who would bring Voyager back to the Alpha-Quadrant.
"Kathryn, we have adapted to every situation the Delta-Quadrant has thrown at us...We can adapt to having families on board." She smiled. Somehow he knew where her thoughts were.
"I know. Perhaps we should start thinking about it now." She'd avoided putting together a task-force to escape admitting that Voyager was their home now: not the Alpha-Quadrant. Even after she'd been able to admit it to herself, it was still difficult to admit to others.
"It might be a good idea, several of the crew have expressed interest in being involved..."
"I'll leave it in your capable hands, Commander." He was still rubbing her shoulders. She yawned as she called for the lights.
#
"Whacha doing?" A little voice asked. Harry jumped slightly as he turned.
"Naomi. You startled me." He looked behind her, expecting to see Sam or Neelix follow the little girl into the astrometrics lab.
"I'm sorry." She giggled slightly. "I'm by myself. Is the Borg-lady here?"
"Seven? She's on the bridge. Did you want to speak to her?"
Naomi's eyes opened wide as shook her head. "No. I don't want to be assimilated."
Harry chuckled. "She's not going to assimilate you. She's not Borg anymore."
"Yes she is. She's got those funny things on her eye and hands."
Harry frowned. He knew many of the crew still harbored similar feelings. He had found Seven to be a very efficient worker--but sometimes a very insecure human. "She's scared of us sometimes too."
"She is?" Naomi's eyes opened real wide at this revelation.
He nodded. "She's also lonely."
"She doesn't have anybody to play with?"
Harry had to smile at the little girl's look of understanding. "And her favorite food is brumble pie too."
This caused Naomi to smile. "I like brumble pie too. Maybe she would like to play with Flutter and Treevis?" Harry had to laugh at that idea. He couldn't imagine Seven enjoying a child's program.
"So, whacha doing?" She re-asked her original question.
"Calibrating the aft sensor array."
"Oh. Is it fun?"
"No, but I need to do it."
"Homework." She looked at her feet. "I'd better get back to my quarters before mommy finds out I'm not there. Bye Harry!" She skipped out of the lab. Harry whistled softly as he returned to work.
Naomi seemed oblivious to what had happened, Samantha decided as she watched her daughter sleep. She had to smile. They were alive and ten years closer to home. If the journey truly took 43 years, she and Naomi could still be alive. She would see home.
Samantha leaned against the door. But Voyager was the only home Naomi had ever known. For four years it had been her home too. Strange how distance made things relative--the closer the came to Earth and the Alpha-Quadrant, the more Voyager became home. It was a curious paradox.
#
"Ten years..." Chakotay leaned against the window.
Kathryn laughed. "Forty-three to go." She stood and walked over to him. "I wonder what your life was like..."
"Miserable." He wrapped his arms around her. "Assuming your scenario that the shuttle somehow survived is correct."
"It is a logical assumption." Or so Tuvok had said. She leaned against him. "I hope you found somebody in that time--I would hate to think of you alone."
He took her hand. "No one could ever replace you here," he said while placing her hand over his heart. He leaned down to kiss her.
#
The Doctor busied himself in sick-bay. If the two patients he'd just treated were any indication, he would be treating a lot of inebriated crewmembers soon. With the usual bruises and lacerations. He started to hum. Not that Voyager's crew had given him much practice in that regard. And the party had Janeway's tacit approval. He prepared several hyposprays with the appropriate medication. He started to sing.
"Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home;
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home."
There was a crash against the door. "My next patient is here, I believe."
#
Harry opened the log for the fifth time. He'd run every conceivable analysis on it. "Freeze image." He stared at himself from another future. No one had said anything, but he could feel all their eyes on him. But he wasn't sure why--for nearly getting them killed, cutting the trip short, or saving their lives. Or all of the above.
Janeway was right, he decided as he shut-off the message, temporal paradoxes were not to be analyzed. The past is the future, et cetera.
Actually, her admonishment from early in their journey was better advice. 'This is Starfleet, weird is part of the job.' From another paradox. "Live the adventure." He almost laughed at that. An ad for Starfleet...From his youth.
"Gees," he muttered as he opened up the data on the slipstream. "When did I get old?"
#
B'Elanna slid under the covers and snuggled against Tom. "Did you talk to Harry?"
"No," he said as he gathered her into his arms. "He didn't want to talk about it. It's got to be weird--seeing yourself from another future like that."
"Can't be much worse than being split into two people..."
Tom smiled. "Or leaving the Voyager in your universe for ours...Poor Harry--he does seem to have seen the stranger side of the universe."
She kissed him. "Here's to the Delta-Quadrant..."
"And weirdness."
#
Neelix looked around the holodeck as he gathered up the dishes. It had been a relatively quiet party, considering. He hummed a Talaxian popular song as he packed the few supplies he'd brought. Everything else had disappeared when he'd ended the program.
While it had been a quiet party, it had been a successful one. And typical. Most of their victories and successes were tinged with disappointment and sadness. This one was no different. A voice from a future came back to the past and warned them. What their fate would have been, no one had any idea.
He continued humming as he gathered the leftovers. Enough for lunch tomorrow, he decided. He tossed the empty glass bottles into a trash can--a home brew from...he couldn't remember which department, one of the sciences he figured. Only a few of the crew had over indulged--they had dragged themselves (or had been dragged) to sick-bay afterward.
The senior staff had made a brief appearance. Harry seemed more than a bit unhappy. Neelix made a mental note to look in his notes for Harry's favorite foods. The young ensign needed serious cheering up. And as morale officer it was his job to do just that. He smiled slightly. Tuvok had a sweet tooth--and a fondness for spice desserts. Not that Mr. Vulcan would admit to that. The Captain had a thing for chocolate--as did many of the humans. B'Elanna preferred salty things.
It was surprising what he had learned about the crew during the past four years.
#
Tessa sat in front of her computer screen and scrolled through a file. It was, she knew, an obsession actually. For the past decade she had read every file; she'd even hacked her way into the Starfleet confidential files. If there was an expert on Voyager, it was her. She opened a second file and made a few notes. Perhaps some day she would write a book. Unless Voyager returned, the story of the journey would have to be based upon that one dream--so long ago.
"Mommy!" The door slammed and she smiled at the sound of her daughter's voice. She closed the file.
"In here, Catherine..."
Seven stared at the board. She found chess to be a curious game. Very logical, yet Ensign Hickman was going to win after making some very illogical moves."
Hickman grinned at her. "It's mate in one...You don't have many options."
"I have ascertained that, ensign," she said in her typical monotone. "I find chess to be a logical and mathematically precise game," (She had learned it the previous day), "Yet I am unable to comprehend how you were able to be successful with your apparently illogical approach." She moved her bishop to block his castle.
"It is logical. It's a strategy that also works against Vulcans." He moved his queen. "Checkmate."
She nodded and studied the board. "I believe if I had not taken your knight twelve turns ago I would have had better success. I shall study the situation. Thank-you for the game, ensign." She was already moving the pieces back to the positions of that apparently crucial moment.
Hickman offered her a rematch and departed. Seven barely acknowledged the ensign's departure.
#
"Doctor?" Samantha asked quietly as she entered sick-bay.
He shimmered into existence. "Good-morning Ensign. Is there a problem?"
"It's Naomi." The Doctor looked behind her expecting to see the little girl. Sam noticed. "She's doing her lessons. She's driving me crazy." The last sentence was said with more than a bit of exasperation.
The Doctor smiled. "A common complaint, I understand. Is there a particular reason?"
"She's taken to using phrases, like 'I will assimilate that.' Or 'I will comply.'"
"I have noticed she and Seven have been spending time together." He chuckled. "Seven is in many ways still a child."
"She and Naomi are playing together...But it's this hero worship of all-things-Borg--just a couple of weeks ago she was terrified of Seven. It can't be healthy."
"It is a phase." He looked a bit flustered. "My program does not include much information on child-psychology..."
She sighed. "I've read Thornsen's book...It wasn't very useful."
"I can imagine. Thornsen's solution to every problem was to introduce the child to new children. And Naomi is the only one for the moment," he gave her a knowing look.
She stared at him. "Do you know something?"
"I know lots of things...but let us just say I know some things other people don't know."
Samantha quietly voiced her thanks, and made her way to her station. She did find herself looking at the female crewmembers and wondering...
#
Harry swallowed whatever he was eating quickly, concentrating on not making a face rather than the bizarre taste. He glared at Tom who was trying not to laugh.
Neelix stood next to their table explaining his newest creation. "I call this dish Viyaran Surprise. It's a mixture of vegetables with combination of Vulcan and Teloran spices in a sauce with a dash of Tabasco sauce. Should I add it to my recipe files?"
It was all Harry could do not to not to groan--but it was Tom who spoke. "You know, Neelix, I think it might have too much spice."
The Talaxian's face fell. "Too much spice? You're telling me you don't like it? Be honest." He tried to look stoic.
Tom glanced quickly at Harry. "Umm. I find the combination of spices to be...umm..."
"I understand," Neelix said walking away.
"He's been with us for over four years--you'd think he'd have developed a better understanding of our palates." Tom took a deep breath as he looked at the vegetables in front of them.
"He tries," Harry said just as quietly. "And usually he does okay. Last night's casserole was pretty good."
"I missed it," Tom smiled slightly, then leaned forward. "Have you heard the newest rumor?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Which one?"
"Someone is pregnant."
"No!" Harry leaned over the table. "Who?"
Neither man noticed Jenny Delaney lean back in her chair to catch the rest of their conversation.
#
"Here are the reports you wanted," Chakotay said as he placed two PADDs on Janeway's desk. He smiled at her, then returned to a professional demeanor. "Did you know that Seven and Naomi have become friends?"
"No." She looked puzzled. "I was under the impression that Naomi was scared of Seven."
"So she was. At least until a few days ago. Remember those strange squares that had been drawn in the corridor of deck-three the other day?"
Kathryn nodded and Chakotay continued. "Apparently it's for a game called hopscotch. I asked Naomi and Seven to limit their artwork in the holodeck."
She laughed. "I'm glad Seven has found a friend. Naomi can teach her more about being human by giving her a childhood." She leaned back and let her expression become somber. "I'm worried about her though...she's become very retrospective since her experiences."
Chakotay sat on her desk. "It's a very human thing to do. Maybe you've been more successful than you realize." He watched as she thought about that. "And since you are now officially off duty, I was wondering if you would like to spend a couple of hours on the holodeck? I have a picnic dinner all ready."
"First you give me two reports to read, and now you want me to relax...Give me an hour."
"Holodeck two in one hour." He left her to gather what he needed. He was surprised she'd agreed so readily.
#
Jenny sat down on her sofa and slipped her boots off. "I must have walked the entire length of the ship three times today." Her sister only laughed. Jenny growled slightly as she placed her feet up on the table. "I still think it's Susan..."
"No way," Megan said with a snort. "She and Dave broke up three months ago. I think it's Joanne. She was sick today."
"So was half her department. Susan has been acting very strange this week." Jenny leaned over to rub her feet.
"That's because Dave started dating Angie. Didn't you see them at the back table last night?"
Jenny laughed. "I was too busy with Gerron. But speaking of being close, did you notice that the Captain and Commander have been closer than usual?"
It was Megan's turn to laugh. "And here I thought you were too busy."
"Way too busy to pay attention to what other people are doing. But seriously, I think there is something between them."
"Jenny! You've been saying that for three years."
"This time it's different--watch them."
Megan shook her head. "So, do you want to burn replicator rations or brave the mess-hall?"
"Oh, the mess-hall, definitely. Maybe Neelix has heard something."
Chakotay looked around the holodeck for the third time, still puzzled why Kathryn had programmed an empty courtroom. "Kathryn?"
A door closed behind me and he turned. Kathryn was dressed in black robes and a white wig--he was curious what she was doing. He called her name again, she only responded with a dark frown as she sat behind a high desk. He moved to a spot a meter from the bench when she motioned for him to stand there. He wasn't sure if there was a hint of a smile when she began to speak.
"Commander Chakotay, you are hearby charged with one count of mutiny. How do you plead?"
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Now he was totally lost.
"The charge is disobeying a direct command from a superior officer and inciting others to disobey the same order."
He shook his head, she looked serious. He scratched his brow in frustration. "Kathryn..."
"The prisoner will address the judge as *Your Honor.*" This time there was no mistaking the tiny upturning of her lips when she spoke.
"Your Honor," he said, "What the hell are you talking about?"
"You deliberately disobeyed a direct order three days ago, thus condemning your Captain and several of your crewmates to over an hour of excruciating torture."
He almost laughed. "I understand. Perhaps I can arrange a plea bargain?"
"The prisoner pleads guilty then?"
"I throw myself on the mercy of the court--what's my sentence?" He stepped toward the bench with a definite purpose in his mind.
"Is the prisoner trying to influence these proceedings?" She smiled when he pulled her out of the chair.
"Most definitely, Ma'am..."
#
B'Elanna threw the bowl against the door, startling Tom who was working at his desk. "Be?"
She glared at him for several seconds. "She had no right. Starfleet regulations are very specific that treatment can be denied by *any* individual--and no one can intervene..."
He took a deep breath. This was dangerous ground, as the bruise on his arm attested. "B'Elanna, I..."
"I know what you think." This time there wasn't the dangerous edge to her voice. Perhaps she was starting to realize that she was alive. She fingered another dish. "Damn, can't you convince that overzealous electronic quack to at least release me back to duty?"
He almost smiled. This was a good sign. It was the first time since the removal of the creature that she'd spoken about returning to duty--in fact Tom had wondered if she would resign in protest.
She must have realized his thoughts. "I can't change what was done; and I'm not sure I can forgive her for denying me my wish--but I can't sit here and do nothing."
"I'll talk to him." He was relieved.
She smiled. "I did consider resigning over this--but the thought of that Borg in command of my engines is more than I can take."
"You would also be bored to tears within minutes," Tom added cautiously.
"True..." She looked at him, her expression changing to sadness. "I'm confused. It was so cut-and-dry a couple of days ago. I really believed the Doctor was wrong to use that...that...information. But now. Are we condoning such techniques if we use the information? Or are we at least giving his victims' deaths meaning?"
"I don't know." It was a topic of debate through-out the ship--even a number of the Starfleet crewmembers weren't sure if they agreed with the captain's decision. Though everyone was delighted that B'Elanna was still alive.
She shrugged and took a deep breath. "I do know one thing, despite my distaste at how, I am glad to be alive."
"Good," he thought. He'd been worried that this incident might push her back into the depression she'd only recently been in.
#
Jenny sat down by her sister and smiled secretly. "Have you heard the latest rumor?"
Megan laughed. "Well, I heard from Ayala that there is a still in the back of the airponics garden."
"No, not that one. The one where Tom convinced Janeway to order the Doc to save B'Elanna's life because she's pregnant?"
Megan laughed harder. "No way. I thought it was impossible for her to become pregnant because she's half-human."
"I hadn't thought of that. I think every female has been named in at least one rumor. I even heard it was you."
"That's too funny, considering this morning I heard you were pregnant."
Both sisters sat there laughing, drawing stares from the other diners. Megan took a sip of water and looked at the bowl of purple gruel she wasn't going to finish. "I have to work with Seven today."
"You'd better finish breakfast then. You'll need your strength."
Megan studied the fast-congealing lump. "I don't think so. Lunch is only in four hours."
"Well, I might see you then, but I doubt it. And by the way, did you hear about Susan and Trevor?"
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