Captain Paris' commbadge trilled, and he ended the log, tapping his chest where the badge resided.
"Paris, here." It was Commander Tuvok fromt he bridge, "Captain, we are presently nearing the end of the Delnari sector and Mr. Neelix informs me we may soon be nearing a small planet with valuable food sources. Would you like for us to set a course heading in that direction, sir?" Paris smiled, rising from his desk with the intention of heading up to the bridge. So it seemed the uneventfulness of the past few weeks was coming to an end. And good riddance. Supply-gathering missions weren't exactly exciting, but then again they were something. 'Might as well revel in the adventure while it lasts, he thought with a wry grin.
"Very good, Commander. Have Baytart input the necessary course corrections. I'll be up to the bridge momentarily. Paris out." But Tuvok stopped him with, "Captain?" "Yes, Mr. Tuvok?" "I should inform you that the planet is urrounded by a rather dense ionic cloud that is emanating some anomalous energy readings. We are not yet near enough to determine the volatility of the ionic atmosphere, but we are continually scanning to do just that." Paris' brow rose in classic-Tuvok-like interest (a testament to the age and intimacy of thier friendship). "A planet and an ion cloud in one day, eh Tuvok? Be still my beating heart." He could almost imagine his XO's non-reaction to that. Tuvok replied, "The past few weeks have been...uneventful [Tom smiled at Tuvok's use of the only word that seemed to fit the tediousness of traveling through the sparse Delnari system]. However, I do not believe that to be a luxury that we will have in passing through the upcoming Borraiis system. Mr. Neelix informs me that the Borraii are a most unwelcoming species." Yes, Neelix had briefed Tom on the Borraii - they were indded most unwelcoming...and provocative. At the time Tom dreaded the encounter. For this moment, however, restless with the inactivity of the past month, Tom almost welcomed a bit of a challenge. "An 'unwelcoming' species they may be, Tuvok, but at least they're a species. I was beginning to think we were all alone out here in the Delta Quadrant. Who knows, the Borraii might have lightened up a little since the last Talaxian convoy passed through here. It might even be fun to make a few new friends." Tom detected the slightest bit of wry humor in Tuvok's impassionate Vulcan response when he said: "I believe there is ahuman phrase that applies to this conversation, Captaion. It is: 'Be careful what you wish for'." Tom resisted the urge to laugh out loud, but grinned. "Very true, Commander. Be sure to remind me of that when we reach the Borraii homeworld. But as for the ion cloud, unless the scanners pick up any dangerously high-energy readings maintain a steady course. We aren't hurting for supplies just yet, but I hate to let a thing like that slide, considering any unforeseen difficulties we may be facing before we reach the next hospitable planet." "Agreed. We will maintain the present course heading. I will see you on the bridge, sir. Tuvok out." Tom smiled again, happy at the prospect of seeing something else on the bridge viewscreen besides endless blackness interrupted by a scattering of distant stars. He stopped at the edge of the desk, noticing the picture of Seska and Honor. He took it to Honor's quarters and placed it by her bed before leaving for the bridge.
'Be careful what you wish for' Tuvok had said. 'Or you just might get it,' Tom finished in his mind. He thought to himself, 'How true' on the turbolift ride up to the bridge. The best things in life were those you didn't expect, much less wish for: the captaincy of the Voyager, his friendship with Harry Kim, a certain beautiful Klingon engineer and a child - a blonde-haired, blue-eyed Cardassian girl who had the hearts of every crewman aboard Voyager, particularly the captain's. 'That's really all you could hope for', Tom thought - 'For a little something unexpected.' Fate, or whatever you want to call it. That and luck. Luck, loyalty, and love. And an ion cloud or two every now and then to make things interesting. And with those absurd thoughts, Captain Paris strode onto his bridge, anxious at the chance to have a use for it again.