VIRTUAL SEASON 7.5

episode 32b

Reconstruction Blues

Part 1

By Rocky and the VVS7.5 staff

Time Frame: March 2380 - January 2381

Prologue:

Utopia Planitia Shipyards, Mars - October 1, 2380 Stardate 56756.2

The shipyards at Utopia Planitia were a vast hive of activity. At any given time, between ten and 15 ships could be found in various stages of construction. Major ship refits were occasionally done at the Mars facility--particularly ones involving the replacement of aging warp drives--but maintenance-related activities were mostly shunted to McKinley Station. Utopia Planitia, long a center of research and development, was in the business of producing brand new starships, to augment and increase the size of the fleet.

Captain Kathryn Janeway watched as the ensign's hands flew smoothly over his controls, guiding the small shuttle easily among the never-ending stream of support ships and repair pods. At regular intervals they passed some large vessel, covered with the tentacles of supply lines and power cables. Idly, Janeway wondered how the shuttle pilot was able to navigate in the absence of stars, then chided herself for her foolishness. Even in space, courses were set by computer, by mathematical precision. But still...

*All I need is a tall ship and a star to steer by.* The feeling of wonder, the thrill of exploration evoked by those words could not be denied.

Janeway glanced over at her companion. Admiral Hayes sat relaxed, a PADD on his lap. He looked up to meet her eyes and smiled.

"Almost there, Captain."

Janeway smiled back, at what she hoped was the message implicit in those words. It had been nearly a year since Voyager's triumphant return. Almost immediately, it seemed, the excitement of their homecoming had given way to the slowly turning wheels of bureaucracy, to review boards and talk of court-martials, prosecutions, and pardons, and finally, the crew--together for eight years--going their separate ways.

Janeway herself had been given an Earth-bound assignment, to teach at the Starfleet Academy for a period of "six months", according to Hayes, while he and the rest of the brass figured out just what to do with her. Janeway could appreciate his quandary--in the eyes of the public she was a hero, but to many of her fellow officers--and more importantly, her superiors--she was a maverick who couldn't quite be trusted to operate within the confines of the chain of command.

The six months had already stretched to eight, with no end in sight, no official word yet from HQ. Janeway had to admit she found the teaching enjoyable, the interaction with her students rewarding, but part of her yearned to return to space. In the last few months that yearning had increased, become a palpable ache. Despite the pleasures of living on Earth, of being close to Chakotay as he completed his degree and began his own academic career, something was missing.

Then, unobtrusively, almost casually, a communiqué had arrived from the Commander-In-Chief, asking her to report to Utopia Planitia. No further details were given. Janeway had heard the rumors--that the team at the Warp Propulsion Lab had finally made progress on the transwarp drive, that a prototype had been developed and tested, that a mission was already being planned to take advantage of the almost unlimited potential of transwarp and explore the far reaches of the galaxy. Her sources of information were better than most; she knew how much was fact and how much fiction. But nothing had been confirmed. Until now.

The shuttle banked sharply and entered an enormous chamber, set apart from the rest of the shipyard. A slender ship was anchored there, its elongated, spoon-shaped saucer section rising gracefully from its midsection. Twin warp nacelles were attached to the aft section of the ship, with a third nacelle set perpendicular to the others. Whether it was a trick of the light, Janeway could not say, but it almost appeared as though the ship shifted restlessly beneath the cables tethering it to the dock, as if it strained to be free to soar among the stars.

The shuttle approached the vessel from the starboard side, skimming across the large hull. Janeway leaned forward in anticipation, and her breath caught sharply as the bold lettering came into view.

U.S.S. Voyager II NCC-75700.

Hayes hadn't failed to notice her reaction. "This is the latest vessel of the enhanced Intrepid Class. Longer and more powerful than the older ships of that type, and as you've no doubt guessed from the additional nacelle, capable of transwarp." He gestured at the ship through the viewscreen. "She's a beauty, isn't she?"

Janeway nodded slowly, never once taking her eyes off the ship. "She certainly is." With an effort, she turned to the Admiral. "Of course, it seems a bit strange seeing a ship with that name in the Alpha Quadrant."

Hayes laughed. "I agree. Which is why this beauty isn't going to be here much longer, not much past the time it takes to finish getting her ready for her great adventure." He glanced at her expectantly. "So, Kathryn, what do you think? Ready for another mission?"

Act 1 : March - May

Student Dormitories, University of Chicago-March 13, 2380 Stardate 56204.2

Chakotay wearily set down his PADD and flexed his shoulders up, forward and back. The first third of his dissertation was complete, and it was time for a break. True to the ancient saying, March had indeed come in like a lion. The lingering chill of a harsh Chicago winter seeped through the walls of the students' quarters despite the temperature controls. He shivered involuntarily and crossed the small room to the replicator, from which he extracted a large mug of hot tea. He clasped his hands around the mug to warm them and stood at the large window for a while, letting his mind rest and wander. The grassy quadrangle below bore signs of late winter: tiny, bold patches of snow surviving defiantly in shady nooks. The trees, however, had small swellings on the tips of their branches. Spring was most certainly on its way, but the cold made it feel as if winter would never end.

His impatience with the weather fed another growing irritation; despite his fascination with anthropology and archaeology, the subjects of his dual doctorate, he faced another two, perhaps three more months to obtain the degree he was determined to have. He sighed and moved away from the window.

A doctorate certainly wasn't achieved overnight, he reminded himself, but took years of dedicated effort--effort which he'd already invested. He was very fortunate that all he had standing between himself and the degree was the dissertation--the research had already been completed on Voyager. Even if he wasn't genuinely interested in his topic, this was certainly preferable to contemplating the blank walls of a prison cell for 18 months--which is what would have happened had the Presidential pardon not gone through. Still, he longed to be doing something else, something vigorous. Something to challenge his body as well as his mind.

He sighed again as he thought of the years which had elapsed since his Academy days--his earliest assignments aboard Federation starships, the daring raids with his Maquis cell, then Voyager's adventures in the Delta Quadrant. That part of his life was over. He had left Starfleet behind twice now, but this time it was final.

Kathryn crept into his thoughts. During the final work on the dissertation, he had suggested remaining at the university during the week instead of transporting home each evening, and she had reluctantly agreed. They could be together on weekends; a practical but lonely solution which would enable him to drive towards completion in a timely manner. Only two more days till he could hold her in his arms again -- it was certainly something to look forward to.

His comm unit beeped. He smiled when he saw who it was. "Kathryn! I was just thinking about you!"

:::Aren't you supposed to be working?::: she said teasingly, though he could see she was pleased.

"Believe me, I'm working very hard," he reassured her.

:::I'm glad to hear that,::: she said, giving him her 'captain's glare'. :::No slacking off, mister, if you know what's good for you.:::

"Yes, ma'am," he said with a salute, nearly upsetting his mug of tea. He hastily grabbed a napkin. "Is that what you say to your students?"

:::I don't have to,::: she said smugly. :::They wouldn't dream of being slackers.:::

"Got them beaten into submission already?" he nodded sagely. "I'm not surprised."

She chuckled. :::Seriously, Chakotay, they're a good bunch. Lively, inquisitive--they'll all make fine officers one day.:::

"It sounds like you're enjoying yourself."

:::I am, I really am.::: She paused. :::You know, when Admiral Hayes first brought up the idea of teaching at the Academy I had my doubts. I didn't expect him to give me another ship right away--I don't even know if I wanted one, or at least not right away. But I never envisioned myself in the classroom.:::

"Where did you see yourself?" he asked curiously.

:::Scientific research,::: she said promptly. :::The data we brought back from the Delta Quadrant is enough to keep entire teams of scientists busy for years.:::

"And you thought you'd be one of them. Well, I'm sure you will be called in for consultations from time to time."

:::It's already begun,::: she said. :::I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon at the Lunar Observatory, to meet with Dr. Haydn.:::

His eyebrows rose. "Dr. Alex Haydn? Of the Haydn Solar Genesis Theorem?"

:::The one and the same.:::

Chakotay whistled. "You're moving in pretty rarefied circles, Kathryn."

:::Not bad for a starship captain,::: she agreed. :::It beats lecturing about supernovae at the Federation Geographic and Astronometric Society.::: She looked at something outside his field of vision. :::Chakotay, I've got to run. I've got a class in a few minutes. But I just wanted to call and say I miss you.:::

"I miss you, too, Kathryn. But I'll be seeing you this weekend."

:::I know. Still...::: she held out her hand.

He pressed his to the screen, wishing he could touch her. "I'll call you tomorrow, darling. I love you."

She smiled. :::Bye.::: The screen went dark.

Chakotay glanced at the PADD-laden desk and heaved a sigh. He sat down and took a sip of his now-cold tea. He picked up the list of comments from his advisor, Dr. Zaji, and resumed work on the second third of the dissertation, "A Study of the Rubber Tree People of Central America: The Sky Spirits", grateful once again that he had made good use of his limited spare time in the DQ. Without that advantage, to have arrived at this stage would have taken another year -- or longer.

Parade Grounds, Starfleet Academy, San Francisco March 25, 2380 Stardate 56231.8

"Cadets," the voice of the Commandant thundered across the stadium, "Dismissed."

With these words, Parents Weekend at Starfleet Academy officially began. The disciplined lines of Starfleet cadets collapsed into chaos as the students dispersed willy-nilly. Some headed for the exit, some for the stairs leading to the stands and some seemed to wander aimlessly around the field. March was going out like a lamb, and the unexpectedly mild day seemed to give everyone a case of spring fever. Cadets and parents alike moved without hurry, as if determined to enjoy the sunshine.

In the stands, Samantha Wildman tightened her grip on her husband's hand without taking her eyes off her daughter. Below, Naomi's golden hair was easy to find in the crowd as she made her way toward her parents. Sam watched the young woman move confidently, pausing to exchange a word with another cadet before continuing on. Naomi had been enrolled at the Academy less then ninety days, but she had already acquired a new poise. "Oh, Gres," Sam said. "Look at her. She's all grown up. She's not my baby any more."

He squeezed her hand briefly. "She'll always be your baby. Just don't tell her that today. I don't think she'd appreciate it."

Sam smiled, and together they turned and made their way down the steps to the spot Naomi had suggested as a meeting place. Parents Weekend at Starfleet Academy always began with a dress parade by the cadet corps. When Samantha had been a plebe, she had forgotten to arrange a meeting place in advance and it had taken over an hour find her parents. This time, she had been smart enough to make arrangements. Next year--Sam decided she wasn't going to think about that yet. Right now, all she wanted was a hug from her daughter.

She didn't have to wait long. Almost as soon as her feet left the stone steps and touched natural grass, Sam was engulfed by a blonde streak that shouted, "Mom!" just before wrapping her in a bear hug. Eyes closed, Samantha returned the embrace and tried to commit the feeling to memory. Her daughter had grown--suddenly she was taller than Sam--and she had clearly grown up as well. Whatever her calendar age, by Ktarian standards Naomi was an adult, and it showed. Sam found that realization both daunting and comforting.

Then Naomi pulled away to hold Greskrendtregk just as enthusiastically. "Look at that," she said, lightly touching the shiny new third pip on her father's collar. "Looks good, Dad."

"Thanks." Heedless of her dignity, Greskrendtregk put an arm around her and tucked her close. "So do you."

Naomi smiled widely. "You always said you hated dress uniforms, Mom, and now I know why. They're such a pain. But they look sharp, don't they?"

"I don't think your father was talking about the uniform, but yes, they do." Samantha still couldn't stop staring at her daughter. It wasn't just the physical development that was noticeable. Naomi had acquired a confidence that seemed to radiate from her, as if from some hidden warp core.

Before Sam could think of something to say, she realized that a young Human cadet was standing awkwardly to one side. Like Naomi, he wore the hash marks of a first year midshipman and like Naomi he was blond and attractive. He cleared his throat, and Naomi suddenly noticed him. "Oh, good. Mom, Dad, this is my friend Griff Harley. Griff, these are my parents, Lieutenant Commander Greskrendtregk and Lieutenant Wildman."

Griff straightened immediately. "It's a pleasure to meet you both."

Greskrendtregk smiled. "Oh, yes, Naomi's mentioned you. You were in the same temporal mechanics class."

Sam watched the young man's face light up when he realized Naomi had spoken of him. "Yes, sir. I don't think I would have passed it without her help."

"And now we're both on the Archery Team," Naomi added. "Griff's much better than I am, though."

"You've improved a lot," he said quickly, and looked from Greskrendtregk to Sam. "Really. Considering that she'd never been in competition before, it's amazing."

Naomi looked pleased, and Sam understood. Participation in some athletic endeavor was required of all cadets, and Ktarians were almost always at a disadvantage in that regard. Competitive sports were not part of the Ktarian culture and in any event, Naomi never had the opportunity to participate in any group sports on Voyager. During their last year in the Delta Quadrant, though, Tuvok had had the foresight to give Naomi instruction in Archery. Still, she was a comparative novice, especially in relation to her teammates. "I'm sure you've been a big help to her," Sam said.

To her secret amusement, the young man blushed scarlet and his gray eyes took on an unmistakable puppy-dog expression as he looked at Naomi. He was rather sweet, Sam decided. She caught her husband's eye and he smiled in return. He, too, realized that Naomi had made a conquest. She wondered if Naomi knew it.

"Are Neelix and Sarexa here?" Naomi asked, looking around. "I promised to introduce Griff to them."

"We're meeting them later," Samantha said. "We wanted to have a chance to talk with you first." She smiled at her daughter's friend, wondering just how much of a friend he was. "Are your parents here yet?"

He shook his head. "Not yet, ma'am. Their transport got held up at Deep Space Six. They're coming from Osurah II."

"Well," Greskrendtregk began, but Naomi suddenly brightened and thrust her hand in the air.

"Icheb!" she called, waving frantically. "Over here!"

Sam noted that Griff's mouth tightened slightly before assuming a forced smile. Turning, she saw Icheb, flanked by Owen Paris on one side and Alicia Paris and a female cadet on the other. The Paris family smiled in unison and came in their direction.

"Who is that with them?" Greskrendtregk asked. "Is she Deltan?"

"Yes. Her name's Mialla. She's on the swim team with Icheb."

Greskrendtregk looked over Naomi's head to catch Sam's attention, and then raised his eyebrows. The complete absence of inflection in Naomi's voice was a dead giveaway--Naomi didn't like Cadet Mialla.

Sam looked again at the young woman whose shoulder touched Icheb's as they walked. Like all female Deltans, she was tall, graceful and bald. The lack of hair only emphasized the perfect shape of her head and her large, dark eyes. Even though Deltans were required to take suppressants to reduce their natural pheromones, Sam fancied she detected something unusual. It could be that Mialla's suppressants were not 100% effective, which sometimes happened, or it could be that Sam's mind was filling in a gap it didn't expect to find. She glanced at Greskrendtregk to see his reaction. Sure enough, his nose was twitching, a sure sign that he, too, noticed something, which meant the suppressants were probably not working correctly. He realized she was studying him and shrugged ruefully.

"Lieutenant Wildman," Icheb said as the Paris contingent drew close. He seemed unaffected by the Deltan cadet. "It is good to see you again. And you, sir."

"You're looking well, Icheb," Sam said, and it was true. As introspective as ever, Icheb nevertheless conveyed the impression of a happy young man. It was also true that his notable efforts on the swim team -- apparently the Brunali physiology was perfect for the butterfly stroke, and Icheb was setting records every time he dove into the pool -- had enhanced his physique. Old married woman though she was, Sam could appreciate why Mialla was clinging to Icheb's arm possessively. "I hear congratulations are in order, to you and your team."

Owen Paris beamed. "Yes, the Academy won the FCAA swim meet for the first time in forty years."

"It was a team effort," Icheb said earnestly. "Mialla -- oh, I forgot." He quickly introduced Mialla to Greskrendtregk and Samantha. "Mialla was a team captain this year."

"Then congratulations to you, too," Samantha said.

"Thank you." Mialla spoke with the same slight accent of all Deltans speaking Standard. She fixed her gaze on Icheb, and the pheromone level increased perceptibly. "He's right, it was a team accomplishment."

"We will see you at the restaurant, won't we?" Alicia Paris asked Sam. "I'm counting on a mini-reunion for our Voyager alumnae."

Sam smiled slightly. As a mother, she recognized the hidden meaning behind Alicia's innocent wording - she wanted to make it clear to Mialla that dinner was to be a family function, and not one at which the girl would be comfortable. "Absolutely. Ambassador Neelix and his wife would never forgive us if we missed them."

"Oh. Mother, I have invited Mialla to join us," Icheb said. "Her parents were unable to make the trip to Earth."

Alicia's smile seemed only slightly forced. "Of course."

"Griff is going to join us too," Naomi said quickly. "His parents aren't going to arrive until tomorrow."

From the look on Cadet Harley's face, Sam guessed he hadn't been aware of his invitation. She also guessed he didn't mind. Icheb, on the other hand, frowned slightly but he said nothing.

No one said anything, and the silence was suddenly awkward. "Commander, Lieutenant," Owen Paris said a little too heartily, "I haven't congratulated you on your new posting."

Sam bit her lip. This wasn't how she and Greskrendtregk had intended to break the news.

"New posting?" Naomi turned to her father.

"We were just about to tell you," Greskrendtregk said. "Your mother and I have been transferred to Deep Space Twelve."

Owen's face reddened. "Put my foot in it, didn't I?"

"Deep Space Twelve is in the Gamma quadrant." Icheb looked at Samantha with confusion, as if he didn't quite believe what he had heard. "On the other side of the Bajoran wormhole."

"I know where it is," Naomi snapped, but she recovered her composure at once. "That's, uh, big news."

"It's a real honor," Owen assured her. "Admiral Ross is demanding Starfleet's finest for the inaugural crew."

Naomi's smile was weak, as was her voice. "That's wonderful. When do you leave?"

"Next Tuesday." Naomi suddenly looked miserable, and very young, and Sam had to stifle an impulse to stroke her daughter's hair.

There was another uncomfortable silence, this time broken by Alicia Paris. "We were just about to tour the new library. Cadet--Griff, is it?--why don't you join us." She smiled at Samantha. "You can catch up with us later."

Samantha gave Cadet Harley credit for perception, for after a quick, worried glance at Naomi, he nodded immediately. "Cadet Griffin Harley, ma'am. And it would be my pleasure."

As Alicia bundled the Paris party off, Cadet Mialla called over her shoulder, "It was nice to meet you."

"Icheb's girlfriend seems, uh, very nice," Greskrendtregk said, and Sam winced. That was not the way to ease into a difficult family discussion.

"She's not his girlfriend. She just wants to be. Even if she has to dilute her suppressants to do it."

Naomi's mouth set in a flat line, the way it always did when she was upset. "So. Does everyone know about this new assignment but me?"

"Admiral Paris hardly constitutes 'everyone.'" Samantha was irritated by Naomi's tone. "We wanted to tell you first, but keep in mind that Headquarters told *us*."

"You must have known this was coming." Naomi looked from one parent to another, her gaze accusing them of silence, and conspiracy and who knew what else.

Greskrendtregk suddenly looked miserable, and Sam felt a flare of anger. The poor man was constantly fighting his own guilt about being absent during Naomi's childhood -- as if it were his fault. This had to stop, and stop now. "We applied for the positions last month," Sam said coolly. "We just heard yesterday that we had been accepted. The competition for this posting has been fierce and you should be proud that your father was selected."

"And your mother," he added.

"You're going to the other side of the wormhole. If anything happens to it, you'll be decades away."

Naomi folded her arms across her chest with a maximum of drama.

Samantha knew her daughter had intended that comment to be a shaft to the heart. Instead, she almost laughed. "Naomi, you of all people should realize that Starfleet has faster-than-warp drive now. We brought it to them, with Voyager."

"But things can go wrong." Naomi glared at her mother. "You know they can."

"That's the risk of being in Starfleet," Greskrendtregk said firmly. "If things do go wrong, we cope. If we can't, we don't belong in the uniform."

His tone was gentle, but Naomi's head jerked slightly at the rebuke. "But it's not fair. We've only just got back together, and you're leaving me alone."

"You won't be alone," Sam reminded her. "You've got Icheb here at the Academy, and Neelix and Sarexa will always be there for you. And I suspect Alicia Paris would love to see more of you."

"You've got everyone from Voyager," Gres added. "Plus, it's not like we would see each other that often anyway. Even if we were on Earth, you would be pretty busy for the next few years."

Naomi's frown showed that her father's point hit home. Both she and Icheb were going to have to remain as full time students for the entire summer session in order to advance with the rest of their respective classes in the autumn semester. The Academy had strict rules limiting visitation and time away for underclassmen. There would be little opportunity to see her parents unless they signed on as faculty. Naomi was constructing her own life now, one which moved her out of the family nest.

Finally, Naomi said quietly, "You're right. But it feels so strange, like I have to start over, somehow. Is it always like this, after a long mission? Do you always feel alone?"

"Nothing stays the same forever," Gres told her. "Not even for civilians. The trick is to find your anchor, build around that and let everything else sort itself out. Your mother is my anchor, and nothing can ever change that, no matter how far apart we may be. Now that you're an adult, you'll find your own anchor. And I'm willing to bet it won't be your parents. That's part of growing up."

Samantha studied her daughter as she considered these words. To her relief, Naomi nodded. "I guess you're right. But -- it's okay if you two are still my anchors for a while longer?"

Gres hugged her. "Of course. You'll always be our girl."

"You'll at least be back for Parents Weekend next year, right?"

"Umm," Gres looked to Samantha for help.

"We probably won't be able to make it next year, honey." Samantha gave in to her instincts and let her hand stroke Naomi's hair. "You see, that's when the baby is due."

Naomi's eyes grew large. "A baby? You're going to have a baby?" Then her face brightened with delight and she hugged Samantha enthusiastically. "That's wonderful! Why didn't you tell me right away? Is it a boy or a girl? Does anyone else know?"

"It's too soon to tell. I'll write you as soon as we know." Sam couldn't help grinning. Until now, she hadn't realized how nervous she had been about breaking this news. "And other than the Doctor, no one else knows. We wanted to tell you first."

"Well, come on!" Grabbing Sam's hand, Naomi began to lead her across the stadium field. "We have to find Icheb and the Parises. And wait until Neelix hears!"

Smiling, Samantha tightened her grip on her daughter's hand and reached to clasp her husband's.

ShahKar, Vulcan April 5, 2380 Stardate 56262.2

Carefully, Tuvok set the young orchid plant, newly repotted in the special bark he had brought with him from Earth, inside a support frame before carrying it to the tree sheltering his most prized orchids. He studied the tree's twisting branches for several minutes before selecting one which promised to support the young plant properly, where it would be shaded from the harshest rays of the noon sun while still receiving good light all day from beneath the maze of leathery leaves tufting out of the tree's uppermost branches.

Stepping three paces back, Tuvok looked over his plant collection again with a critical eye before deciding to switch two of the specimens, refining the pattern of plants against tree branches. As important as proper physical conditions were to the healthy growth of orchids, Tuvok also believed it essential that they be arranged to form a visual composition which was aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

Moving two paces to the right and three more back in order to change his point of view, Tuvok again tried to determine whether all the plants would receive the right balance of light and shadow for optimum growth in this arrangement. The new one was placed well, but it could create too much of a shadow onto one of the older plants hanging lower in the tree. Perhaps if that one were moved to the other branch, towards the left...

"Tuvok. There is a communication for you from Starfleet Academy."

Tuvok turned slowly towards the courtyard doorway. Although T'Pel stood in deep shadow, she was backlit by the light shining from within the passageway behind her. Her eyes, barely visible to him, softly gleamed in her face. Their eyes met only briefly, but it was all either needed to communicate that both of them had been expecting this call for some time. Although both of them knew dozens of people at Starfleet Academy, thanks to Tuvok's past assignment there, only one person was likely to desire a conversation with Tuvok over subspace.

With a barely perceptible nod, Tuvok acknowledged his wife's beckoning and strode across the courtyard, gently rubbing his hands together to dislodge any remaining traces of the potting bark. Fortunately, the bark was a very clean substance compared to others used in horticultural pursuits. As Tuvok passed T'Pel, he allowed the palms of his hands to brush softly against her upper arms as if to compensate for the sudden breaking of their gaze.

Tuvok sat down before the terminal and tapped the controls to open the channel. The screen flickered to reveal his caller. "Good day, Captain. It is good to speak to you again."

:::Tuvok! You certainly look well rested!...:::

Tuvok cocked an eyebrow, anticipating what she really wanted to say in that slight hesitation and choosing to ignore it by responding to the comment at face value. "Indeed, I am well-rested, Captain. You look very well yourself. Teaching at the Academy appears to agree with you. I trust your students are not causing you undue difficulty."

:::Not at all. They're an absolutely marvelous group of students--challenging in the way they put their questions sometimes, but so intelligent and gifted I feel privileged to teach them. Frankly, they're often the ones teaching me!:::

"I often found that to be the case when I was an instructor there."

:::Are you interested in coming back to teach this semester? I'd be happy to put in a good word for you with the commandant.:::

Tuvok glanced at his wife, who was standing in the doorway of the study, out of Janeway's visual field but able to hear every word with ease. "Thank you, Captain. I will take the offer under advisement."

The slender figure on the screen leaned further forward, her left hand twitching upwards for moment before returning to rest upon her right hand again. Tuvok was certain she'd had the impulse to touch him on the arm, as she was wont to do on Voyager at odd times during their journey homeward. A wry smile spread across her face. :::Your advice is something I always would want, Tuvok. You know that, I hope.:::

Tuvok nodded slightly to acknowledge the implicit compliment. "And the comman . . . And Chakotay. How is his dissertation progressing at the University of Chicago?"

:::Very well, Tuvok. Very well. And T'Pel and the rest of your family are all doing very well, too, I hope? But I didn't open a channel from Earth to Vulcan to exchange social pleasantries, you know.:::

"I know."

:::Well? Have you decided when you're coming back from leave?:::

He hesitated, meeting his wife's gaze for a second before responding to Captain Janeway's question. "I have not yet decided when to return. Or, for that matter, if I would wish to return to active duty at all at this stage in my life."

A shadow crossed Janeway's face. :::Tuvok, I wish I had more details about my next assignment. I'd share them if I did. As of yet, Admiral Hayes has been maintaining a very mysterious 'We'll see' attitude whenever I send out feelers about what he might have in mind for me. I'm sure he *does* have something specific in mind, and that it's a ship. I know what ship I'd *like* to be offered, but there's nothing definite to offer yet. However, no matter what I'm doing--whether it's replacing Picard on the Enterprise or taking command of a small science vessel--I want you there at my side as my first officer!:::

Tuvok leaned back on his chair and said softly, "I am honored at your regard for my abilities, Captain, although many officers are just as qualified for the position and are eager to serve you."

:::It wouldn't be the same, Tuvok.:::

"It never is the same, from one tour of duty to the next."

Janeway's eyes flicked down a moment before returning to look through the screen as if only a desk rather than vast light years separated them. :::That goes without saying, Tuvok. But I think you understand my reasons without my needing to spell them all out.:::

He did, indeed. The command team would necessarily be very different on any future voyages of exploration Captain Kathryn Janeway might take. At one time Tuvok would not have needed to mull over any such offer from his captain, but that was before he had spent eight years apart from T'Pel.

"I do understand your reasons, as I think you do my own for hesitating to respond in the affirmative to your request. If your next assignment is one in which a certain civilian comparative sociologist of our mutual acquaintance may participate, I will accept your offer to become your executive officer with pleasure. However, I will not risk another long separation from my wife if it is at all possible to prevent it. Since I suspect that you would have already mentioned it if you could offer T'Pel such an opportunity, then I continue to be unable to commit to a position as your first officer at this time."

The captain heaved a deep sigh, smiling sadly. :::I was afraid that would be your answer; and you're right, of course. I'm not in a position to offer anything to T'Pel right now. Unfortunately, I've been told off the record there are many deserving Starfleet officers with credentials much like T'Pel's who have earned a chance to serve under my command. I don't want to hold out false hope to you--unless T'Pel would be willing to join Starfleet herself, of course!:::

Tuvok turned his hand over, palm up, and gestured to his wife to join him at the terminal to respond to Janeway's comment. Leaning over Tuvok's shoulder, T'Pel said, "As a matter of fact, Captain, we have discussed this option. Both of us agree I am a little too advanced in age to become one of your students at the Academy, even if I so wished."

:::I'm sure we could manage to pull a few strings to avoid your having to attend any classes, T'Pel! But I do understand. I promise I'll keep up the pressure to have you come along with us, no matter what the assignment is! In the meantime, it's lucky you have so much accumulated leave time, Tuvok.:::

"It was indeed, although good planning had more to do with it than luck." Tuvok controlled his reaction to his wife's tap upon his back. The comment had resounded more with smugness than sagacity, he did have to admit.

:::Yes, I'll just bet you saved your time, expecting to use it for a nice long home leave after eight years on the other side of the galaxy!::: Janeway laughed. :::And at that, I think it's time I let you get back to whatever it was you were doing when I interrupted you. My best regards to your children and granddaughter!:::

"Thank you, Captain. Our regards to Chakotay and to any of the crew you may encounter."

For several moments after the screen went dark, Tuvok sat in front of the console, his fingers steepled before him as he contemplated leaving Starfleet for a second time--this time, undoubtedly for the final time. He was barely aware of T'Pel, who was still standing behind him and leaning against his shoulder, until she remarked, "You neglected to mention that other communication from a former shipmate, Tuvok."

"It was not a deliberate omission, T'Pel. Quite frankly, I forgot all about it while I was speaking with the captain--although she may not have believed me had I shared such news. You nearly did not, and you were there."

"That is true," T'Pel mused. "Had we not been telepathically linked at the time, enabling me to sense it for myself, I would have thought it impossible." She stood up suddenly, as if a thought had just struck her. "Perhaps the time has simply not come to reveal what happened. In fact, I know it is not the time to reveal it."

"And how do you know this?" Tuvok asked quizzically, although in some strange way he perceived this was so himself.

"I do not know how I do, but I do; and I also know that when the time comes to disclose it, I will know that, too."

Tuvok turned his chair and looked up at his wife, wondering again how he could have ever survived for so long without her when every fiber of his being was so deeply entwined with her own.

"Parted from me, yet never parted." The words of the bonding ritual came to mind. That was the simple answer, of course. After the experience of the last few years, however, Tuvok was aware of another simple truth: never would he be willing to test this maxim again. To risk a permanent separation from T'Pel was something he could not bear to contemplate.

French Quarter, New Orleans April 13, 2380 Stardate 56285.3

"Sarexa?"

Neelix knelt in front of an open storage unit in the bedroom of the apartment he and Sarexa shared. Even after all these months he hadn't gotten used to the amount of space available in their new home. He had spent so many years living in much smaller quarters that even the size of the bathtub in this apartment continued to amaze him. His own ship had had barely enough room to house his bed, a few necessary supplies and what he considered a very meager wardrobe. Any extra space on the vessel was jammed to the ceiling conduits with trading and salvage materials. His quarters on Voyager, although more efficiently laid out, were not much larger, and had quickly been filled with the many fascinating objects as well as the constantly expanding wardrobe he'd begun to acquire almost immediately after coming aboard.

He remembered Captain Janeway once commenting that when Voyager arrived in the Alpha Quadrant she was going to have to commandeer two shuttles just to move Neelix's possessions off the ship. She had very nearly been right.

When Neelix and Sarexa had first seen their new home they'd gasped at the size of it. They'd had a wonderful time storing away all their belongings -- and been amazed there were still places left empty when they were done.

The problem was that with all this space, Neelix could never remember where anything was. On his ship, and on Voyager, everything was always at his fingertips. And if by some chance he couldn't find what he was looking for immediately, it usually turned up pretty quickly.

He leaned forward and peered intently into the open bin. "Sarexa!"

There was no answer, and Neelix sighed in frustration.

"I know I saw it last week," he muttered, and pushed at the sleeves of his newest jacket. They were loose and flowing -- just as he'd designed them. After several disasters he'd finally found a tailor he liked, and this jacket was the finished product -- the result of many intense discussions and countless fittings. But the jacket would be nothing without the cravat made from the Dresabian silk he'd picked up on one of his Delta Quadrant trade missions. It completed the outfit.

He and Sarexa had been invited to an affair at the residence of the Takaran Ambassador, and he wanted to look his best. The reception, which the invitation referred to as 'high tea', was the first of several forwarded to him from Starfleet Command recently, and Neelix was well aware that many sets of eyes would be on him this afternoon. The Takarans were known to be sticklers for protocol, and this reception would, he hoped, prove to those who might doubt his abilities that he and Sarexa were more than capable of assuming active diplomatic responsibilities themselves.

Although he had served as Voyager's goodwill ambassador for many years, he was finding real ambassadorial duties were far more complicated than he had imagined. After he'd made his presentation to the Council, and been designated the official Talaxian Ambassador to the Federation, he'd been given a book of protocols and procedures which he'd studied at great length. But some of the instructions were contradictory and difficult to understand -- in fact, some of them made very little sense at all. When he'd mentioned this to Captain Janeway, during one of their recently all too rare conversations, she'd laughed and told him the art of diplomacy was indeed complex, but if he tried to stay on good terms with everyone for as long as possible, or even longer, he'd be fine.

At first, with all the attention focused on Voyager's return to the Alpha Quadrant, he and Sarexa had been objects of a great deal of attention--from the media as well as from Starfleet Command--and he'd had ample opportunity to practice 'meeting and greeting', as Tom Paris called it. But recently they'd been left more or less alone, and Neelix was getting frustrated. He liked to be busy.

He dug into the storage bin and rifled through its contents.

"Oh. I've been looking for this for ages." He pulled out a brightly colored shirt and flung it carelessly over his shoulder. "And that!" An oversized apron followed the shirt.

He found several other long-forgotten pieces of clothing, but no Dresabian silk. He stood up and pushed the bin back towards the wall, recovered an orange sock that had somehow escaped during his search, and tossed it back into the unit.

"I guess I should try over there," he muttered to himself, and turned his attention to a bank of drawers set into the wall on the other side of the room.

"Sarexa?" he tried again, hoping this time there'd be a response.

"Neelix, did you call me?" Sarexa entered their bedroom, and with a great sense of relief, Neelix saw she was carrying the missing cravat.

"Sweeting!" He rushed over to plant a kiss on her cheek. "Have I told you how much I cherish you today?"

Sarexa grinned at him and handed him the object of his recent search. "Were you looking for something?" she asked innocently. He stared at her for a moment and they both burst into laughter.

"What's this?" Sarexa asked, when they'd both recovered. She nodded towards the interesting pile of clothing in the middle of the floor.

"Oh, just a few things I was looking for. He bent down and retrieved the apron. "Do you remember last time I wore this?" he asked, and continued without waiting for her to answer. "It was when I was preparing the cake for Naomi's seventh birthday."

"I remember. It was a beautiful cake, Neelix--Denobulan chocolate. And it was a wonderful party, too. Wasn't that the time Tom Paris taught us all how to play that funny game. It was...."

"It was called Pin the Tail on the Donkey!" Neelix responded immediately. "And Naomi and Icheb kept saying they were too old to play."

"Yes, but the rest of us played and were having such a good time that Naomi and Icheb couldn't help but join in! Oh, I do remember, Neelix. Now, let's see how this looks with your new suit."

She proceeded to arrange and tie the cravat carefully around his neck, tucking it neatly into the loop the tailor had stitched onto his shirt. "There," she said. She stood aside so that Neelix could see himself in the mirror. "You look very handsome, Ambassador."

"Thank you, Madam," he replied formally. He picked up a PADD lying on the table beside their bed. "I've been studying the traditional high tea service, and I believe I've got it."

He activated the PADD and scrolled through until he found the passages he sought.

"Did you know high tea is a tradition dating back to the 17th century on Earth, and that the Takarans developed the custom at approximately the same time. The Takarans have taken the ceremony much farther than the Terrans ever did, though. The protocols involved are extremely rigid, and if an error is made during the ritual, the entire procedure must begin again."

"It sounds complicated. Are you sure you're ready, Neelix?" Sarexa asked him.

"Oh yes," he replied. "I found a traditional three-handled tea pot in a store near Bourbon Street and it turned out the proprietor of the establishment had spent several years on Tarkara. He was very helpful and explained all the different pouring and drinking motions to me. I've been practicing. Come, I'll show you."

***

Seven extremely long hours later, Neelix and Sarexa sat side by side on their living room couch, shoes off and feet up on the coffee table.

"That was exhausting," Sarexa said. "I never realized quite how difficult it was to be an ambassador."

"If being an ambassador means standing around for four hours while someone pours tea into cups the size of an Ocampan's toe nail, then it's not for me." Neelix pulled off his cravat and tossed it onto the table in front of him. "I liked it much more when I was making our presentation to President M'Renn on behalf of the Maquis and Tom Paris. Now that was what I call being a diplomat."

"Did you know," Sarexa smiled as she quoted the wife of the Takaran Charge d'Affaires, "'the population of the Talnaran continent celebrates the traditional tea ceremony every ninth hour during their summer harvest season.' And," she continued "'each Takaran daughter is presented with her first tea set at the age of six.'"

"I did," Neelix sighed. "As a matter of fact, she told me the same thing during our conversation at the beginning of the ceremony, and at the end of it. And again just before we left the reception."

"But the Moropan Ambassador complimented you on your pouring skill, Neelix," Sarexa reminded him. "And Admiral Taylor mentioned he'd heard good things about you during a meeting with Admiral Ross."

"So he did, Sarexa, so he did." He paused for a moment and sighed again. "But I wish someone would give me a proper assignment. Like the kind Captain Janeway used to when we were on Voyager. I remember when I had to learn to converse with the Tak Tak. Now *that* was interesting. Or the Kadi Ambassador. There was a challenge!"

Sarexa patted her husband's hand and stood, gathering up the pile of discarded clothing as she did. "You're doing fine Neelix," she assured him. "You know the Starfleet people have to make sure you really are qualified before they give you an important assignment."

"You're right, of course," Neelix replied, rising to join her. "But this ambassador stuff just isn't what I'd thought it would be." He bent over to retrieve the Dresabian silk. "I miss Voyager," he said as he handed it to her. "I miss exploring and I miss our friends."

"I know you do," Sarexa replied. "So do I. It seems we only get together for special occasions now, as opposed to seeing each other on a regular basis. But life here is good, too. And who knows, maybe we'll be sent out on a mission sooner than you think."

Neelix smiled and took the bundle of clothes from his wife. "Come on, Sarexa. I'll help you put all this away, and then I'm going to make you a very special soufflé for dinner. I think I've finally found a combination of spices that tastes a little bit like leola root."

Starfleet Housing Complex, San Francisco April 19, 2380 Stardate 56300.8

"Slowly, gently, da-da-da-da-da," Mark Lewis sang quietly as he entered the security code for the apartment he shared with Reginald Barclay. He still felt euphoric from the night's rehearsal. Everything had clicked--the music, the acting, even the chemistry between him and Lieutenant Lind, the medtech who was playing Christine. In fact, Lieutenant Lind had actually laughed at one of his jokes between scenes. It felt like great progress; for weeks, she had been visibly nervous around him and insisted on calling him "Doctor Zimmerman." Tonight, for the first time, she had called him simply, "Doctor." A small step, but it left him happy nonetheless.

The door opened, and his reverie was broken as he realized the loft apartment was ablaze with light. He never left the lights on. Warily, he stepped inside. Other than the lights, everything appeared to be in order. He took two more steps and stopped, feeling that something was wrong. Then he realized what it was--the cat hadn't attacked him yet. There was only one explanation for the absence of Neelix the Cat. "Reg?" he called. "Are you home?"

"Oh, hi, Mark," came the voice of Reg Barclay from the kitchen, one level above. He stepped out, still in uniform, with the fat white cat wrapped around his shoulders like a shawl and purring loud enough to be heard from a distance. Reg was holding a large dish of ice cream.

"You're back early," Mark said. He noted the volume of ice cream in the dish, the quantity of caramel sauce and the height of the whipped cream. Reg usually resorted to sugar when he was upset. "Anything wrong?"

"No, no," Reg said quickly. So quickly, in fact, that Mark knew immediately he was hiding something. Reg came down the short stairway and sat on the sofa. Neelix lifted his head and glared at Mark as they passed, then returned to purring. "So, were you working late?"

"No, I was at rehearsal. The Medical Department's production of 'The Phantom of the Opera,' remember? I told you about it before you left for Jupiter Station." He sat down in the next chair and watched Reg closely. The man's eyes seemed focused on something far away.

"Uh, right. That's good."

Mark frowned, suspecting that Reg wasn't listening. "It's going very well. But we made a cast change."

"Uh-huh. Good."

"I'm not playing the Phantom any more. I'm playing Christine."

"Uh, good."

"In the nude."

"That's good--uh, what?" Reg finally seemed to see him, and he looked confused.

Mark shook his head. "What is wrong?" A sudden fear gripped him. "Everything's all right at Jupiter Station, isn't it? Has something happened to Lewis or Haley?"

"They're fine," Reg said glumly.

"Then what is it?"

"Lewis kicked me off the Station." Reg shoved a mountainous spoonful of ice cream into his mouth. "Ee sez Ah kent cum back."

"He says you can't come back?" Mark translated the caramel dialect and stared at him. "I don't believe that. You're Lewis's protégé. Why would he bar you from coming back?"

Reg stared down into his dish. "He, uh, he caught me kissing Haley."

"You kissed my sister?" Mark half-rose from the chair, his voice louder than he intended. He forced himself to sit again. *After all*, he reminded himself, *this is Reg.* "Just a chaste peck on the cheek, I presume, but Lewis misunderstood?"

The man's whole body slumped. "Not exactly."

Mark felt his jaw clench. "Then what, exactly?"

"We, uh, we were on the sofa in the parlor. Kinda lying down." Reg finally looked up. "It wasn't what it looked like, really."

"What did it--no." Mark squinched his eyes shut, trying to block out the picture his imagination had conjured. "Don't tell me anything more." Then, unable to contain himself any longer, he stood up and leaned over his friend. "Of *course* Lewis threw you out. What were you thinking?"

Neelix the Cat raised his head and hissed in his direction, teeth bared. Mark took a step back.

"I think I'm in love with her," Reg said miserably. He looked up, and his eyes were filled with pain. "I really think I love her."

Mark caught his breath. Of course Reg was in love with Haley. Reg had always been partial to holograms, and he had spent a lot of time on Jupiter Station. Haley was beautiful and sweet. And she had always been particularly understanding of Reg's various paranoias and foibles; after all, she was originally programmed to be tolerant of Lewis Zimmerman. They should have seen it coming.

With a sigh, he sat down. "Well. That's different. Have you told her?"

"Not exactly."

"What does that mean?"

"I was trying to tell her, but the words just kind of got stuck, you know? So I, I just kissed her."

"And that's when Lewis walked in."

"No, that came later, when we were on the sofa--"

"Never mind. It's not important." Mark scrubbed his imagination again. "I take it Haley didn't object."

Wonder suffused Reg's face. "No. I think--well, I'm pretty sure--she liked it."

Of course. Except for one brief visit to Deep Space Nine, Haley had never been anywhere other than Jupiter Station and had never spent extensive time with anyone except Lewis and Reg. Knowing Reg, he'd probably been sending awkward, nonverbal signals of his feelings for a long time, and Haley was bright enough to pick up on them. What lonely young woman wouldn't respond? The only question in his mind was whether Haley was in love with Reg, or in love with being in love.

"You know, Reg," he said slowly, "that was probably Haley's first kiss. She may be sentient but she's very...inexperienced."

"Believe me, I know. That's why I was so surprised when she kissed me back."

Mark waved his hand. "Just stop. I don't want to talk about the details. What I'm trying to say is that's probably why Lewis was angry. He might have thought you were taking advantage of her."

"I would never--" Reg began, but then he slumped again. Neelix the Cat, annoyed by the repeated changes in posture, jumped off his shoulders to sit beside him. Reg still held the dish of ice cream in his lap, and the cat began to lick it. "You're right. Lewis will never let me see her again."

Privately, Mark thought this was entirely possible but he said, "We'll see. I know you would never do anything to hurt her, but have you stopped to think about the difficulties you would face if you did become," he swallowed visibly, "involved?"

"What do you mean?"

*Bless him,* Mark thought, *he's got no idea what I am talking about.* "Sentient holograms are a new concept for most people. We aren't exactly everyone's favorite life form."

Frowning, Reg said, "What do you mean? You're not having any problems. The only person who doesn't like you is Neelix here."

Mark looked at the cat and shook his head. It was true, the feline Neelix had taken an instant dislike to him and no amount of coaxing, feeding or attempted petting had changed the animal's mind. They finally concluded that the cat didn't trust a being that had no scent. "That's not entirely true."

"But you're doing great. I mean, you're at Starfleet Medical and you made that presentation to the Federation Medical Association and you've got an agent for your holonovel. You're doing great."

"On the surface, I suppose it looks that way." He paused, trying to think of how best to illustrate his point. "Do you know, you are the only person on this planet who calls me 'Mark'? No one else will use my name. They call me Doctor Zimmerman."

"That's not true," Reg said. "Your friends from Voyager don't call you that."

"No, they still call me 'Doctor.' Except for Mr. Paris, who insists on calling me 'Doc.'" He smiled. "That's different. It's like a family nickname now. But my colleagues at Starfleet Medical--other physicians, nurses, administrators--they all call me 'Doctor Zimmerman.' Both names, all the time, even when I ask them to be less formal. They don't ask me to join them for lunch, or when they go out after work or when they play golf. They don't talk to me at all, except to discuss a case."

There was more he could say, but he stopped there. Once he had imagined that as soon as he was declared a legally sentient being, he would be accepted by his Starfleet colleagues at the very least. Wasn't that the point of Starfleet, to meet new life forms? Apparently it was easier to accept alien life that looked alien than someone who looked Human but wasn't.

Reg sat quietly for a moment. "Maybe it's just because you're new."

He smiled wryly. "It's been a few months. I'm not new any more. It's possible some of them don't like me, but to be honest, almost no one knows me well enough to have an opinion."

"But that's just--wrong. It's, it's prejudice."

"Yes, I think so. But it's very subtle. And if you get involved with Haley, it's likely you'll be on the receiving end of it. Haley can't leave Jupiter Station easily, but word will get around about you. It might even hurt your career."

To his surprised, Reg suddenly grinned. "More than a diagnosis of holoadiction and transporter psychosis already has? Look at me, Mark. I'm a middle-aged lieutenant. My chances of making lieutenant commander are slim. In five years I'll hit the up-or-out rule." He set the bowl on the table beside the couch and stood up. "I think I'd rather have Haley than a third pip."

"Maybe you should find out how she feels about it," he suggested. "Before you start planning your retirement party, that is. Why don't you call her?"

"I will," Reg said. "That's just what I'll do--"

The chime of the comm system interrupted them, and Reg froze like Neelix the Cat when he heard an invisible mouse. Mark raised his eyebrows. It was just too perfect. He went to the console and activated the screen. "Hello, Haley," he said even before her image was up.

:::Is Reg there yet?::: his sister asked. She looked upset. :::He should be home by now.:::

"He's here."

:::Did he tell you what happened?::: Mark nodded and Haley went on, :::I am so angry at Lewis. He had no right to treat Reg that way.::: Her face softened. :::Is he okay?:::

"Why don't you ask him yourself? He wants to talk to you."

Mark turned and gestured for Reg to come over. "I'll wait in the other room," he said quietly.

The other room was Reg's bedroom, the only room with an interior door for privacy. He rarely went in it, since he had no need for sleep. Most nights Mark sat up in the main room, working at the computer on his holonovel or a professional monograph. Occasionally, he would deactivate himself. That was one reason why he and Reg got on so well as roommates.

But he did come here when he was in the mood to read. The bedroom was lined with shelves filled with bookPADDS. Reg was an inveterate reader with wide-ranging tastes; he had everything from detective

stories to westerns to melodramas to technical manuals. Mark pulled a PADD at random and sat in a chair.

The pages didn't hold his interest, though. He found himself reflecting on the conversation that had just ended. The depth of his bitterness surprised him. Until now, he hadn't realized how deeply hurt he was by the attitude of his peers at Starfleet Medical. Overt hostility was one thing, and he could cope with that. The problem was that Neelix the Cat was one of the few beings who was overtly hostile to him, and he couldn't blame a non-sentient feline for not understanding photonic life forms. It was the little things, the small snubs and subtle exclusions and exaggerated courtesy that was really discourtesy that ate away at him.

He missed Voyager. At least there, he had been accepted for what he was. True, he sometimes had to remind people that he was just as real as they were, but in hindsight, he realized there was no malice in their actions. They were learning how to react to a suddenly sentient hologram just as tentatively as he was learning to be one.

Things were very different now. Just today, he had walked into the physician's dining room only to discover that he apparently could stop time. Every one of his peers had frozen for a split second, whether they were talking or eating, and stared at him. It was as if the entire room slipped into stasis for one point seven seconds before they resumed their activities. No one invited him to sit down. He guessed that the idea that a hologram might join them for lunch had never occurred to them before.

But, he reminded himself, there were other moments. When he'd come home tonight he had been happy simply because Jenna Lind had called him 'Doctor.' A small victory indeed, but a victory nonetheless.

His thoughts turned to Haley. His sister was not one to complain, but she had to be lonely, stuck on Jupiter Station with no one but Lewis for company for long stretches of time. Even if it turned out to be nothing more than her first crush, it would be good for her to enjoy a little romance. Reg would never hurt her deliberately, and if nothing else, she might have some cherished memories. He still remembered Denara Pel warmly.

"Mark!" Reg called from the other room, and he set the PADD down and hurried back to the living room. The comm console was dark again, but Reg's face outshone the wall lamps. "She loves me! She says she loves me! She wants me to go back to the Station!"

"I'm glad," Mark said, and he meant it. "Come on, I'll help you pack."

Main Quadrangle, University of Chicago May 19, 2380 Stardate 56383.6

The warm spring sunshine streamed through the full trees, dappling everyone in spectral leafy patterns. Chakotay, seated on the dais in robed splendor with the other graduates, looked out into the crowd. One by one, he picked out his friends: the EMH, smiling and waving from the rear of the rows of chairs neatly laid out, Tom Paris...and yes, B'Elanna and Miral with him. To the right he could hardly have missed Ambassador Neelix and his wife. The little Talaxians certainly stood out in a crowd in their bright and garish outfits. He didn't see Tuvok, and Harry must not have been able to obtain leave from the Enterprise, but Ayala was there, as were the Careys. Nearly all his old crewmates from Voyager were in attendance. His heart swelled in gratitude. Kathryn, of course, beamed up at him from where she sat with his cousins Tervan and Julia in the front row.

The ceremonies progressed and soon his name was called. For a millisecond he heard his father's voice, again and forever questioning his choices. *These are not our traditions, Chakotay. Your accomplishment pleases me, but you did not have to leave the tribe to attain your goal.* In his mind, he answered, *I honor you and the tribe, Father, but I must follow my own path!* and he stepped forward, sternly holding his emotions in check, to accept the proffered roll of parchment. This was the moment he'd been waiting for. This made everything he had been through worthwhile.

After the ceremony ended, the class of newly designated PhD's left the dais and mingled with the crowd, each soon surrounded by tightly knit groups of family and friends. Not surprisingly, within a few short moments it became difficult for those on the outward fringes to enter the fray.

Despite his sturdy frame, Chakotay found himself nearly jostled off his feet by the horde of people rushing past him, and he grabbed at his traditional mortarboard before it fell to the ground. Entwined in his fingers was the heavy tassel, the quaint but lasting symbol of academia.

"Congratulations, Chakotay!" Tom Paris enthused, clasping his hand and shoulder. "What do I call you now? Captain, Commander? Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief?" he teased.

"Just 'Chakotay' will do fine, Tom," he said good-naturedly, enveloping both B'Elanna and Miral in his arms. His old Maquis friend had tears of joy in her eyes.

Friends and well-wishers crowded around, offering congratulations, hugs and handshakes. "Well done!" "Congratulations -- good to see you again, Commander." "Three cheers for the graduate!"

Holo-imagers clicked left and right, as time and again he posed with this or that fellow student, old crewmember, or friend. Suddenly, the crowd divided, and a tall, dignified man emerged from the throng. A warm brown hand took Chakotay's, the grip strong and respectful. Chakotay looked up into the stern face.

"Allow me to congratulate you...Doctor."

"Tuvok!" Chakotay clasped the hand in both of his and for a brief moment, he saw an answering warmth in the Vulcan's eyes. So he had come, after all. "I'm so glad to see you!"

"This is a remarkable accomplishment. I will be watching your career...with interest."

"Thank you. I hope it brings our paths together once again."

"As do I." The Vulcan leaned toward him and whispered, quite uncharacteristically, "I know your family would be ... proud." Then as quickly as he had arrived, Tuvok departed, and the sea of humanity closed after him.

Somewhat taken aback, Chakotay exchanged glances with Tervan. His cousin, who so closely resembled Kolopak, smiled. Before he could say anything, however, Chakotay caught a glimpse of auburn hair on the outskirts of the crowd. "Kathryn!" he called, making the crowd aware of the small woman attempting to worm her way in. He enveloped her in a bear hug and she smiled at him.

One more person navigated the opening plowed by Kathryn; a tall, dignified woman with skin the color of ebony, in colorful African robes, high scarf and dangling earrings. Chakotay released Kathryn to take both the woman's hands in his.

"Kathryn, may I introduce my research advisor, Kimani Zaji. She was instrumental in getting me to this day."

"I believe your own effort got you to this day, Pr-r-r-ofessor." She turned a warm smile on Kathryn. "Chah-kah-tay's mind has hahd but two rooms, Kahthryn. His studies occupied one. You inhahbited the other. I suggested he occasionally lock the door between them so that he could concentrate on the studies," she said, her eyes twinkling.

Clearly intrigued by the woman's lilting accent, Kathryn smiled. "Chakotay told me how you helped him. It's very nice to meet you."

"Professor Zaji's name means 'Sweet and Beautiful Woman' in Kiswahili --and that is certainly so--but I think her most vital asset is her intelligence," added Chakotay.

"I would agree," said Kathryn, warmly. The crowd was thinning now that the ceremonies were drawing to a close. "We were planning to have dinner with all our friends this evening to celebrate. Will you join us, Professor?"

'Thank you very much, but--no, you have many friends and family to share your joy with. I go now to meet my next student. I have high hopes for him -- as I had for you, Chah-kah-tay. You surpassed them all." She leaned over, as tall as he, and lightly kissed him, then turned with dignity and walked away.

"Chakotay, you never cease to amaze me," Kathryn said, taking his arm.

***

After an excellent celebratory dinner, the two of them returned home to their quiet apartment.

"I'm so glad Tom and B'Elanna were able to make it," Kathryn said, as she kicked off her shoes. "You know that they're reporting to Utopia Planitia the beginning of next month."

"It was good to see them, and Mike Ayala and Joe Carey, but the real surprise for me was Tuvok. I really didn't think he would be here." Chakotay sat down on the couch and patted the cushion next to him invitingly.

"Yes," Kathryn said as she sat down next to him and slipped her feet into his lap with a pleading look. "I would have liked to have a chance to speak with him longer, but he said he had an appointment in San Francisco. My guess is he went to Starfleet Headquarters--to formally hand in his resignation," she added regretfully.

"Well, I didn't expect him to make the trip all the way out here just to attend my graduation." Noticing that Kathryn hadn't budged, Chakotay relented and picked up one of her feet, beginning to massage the sole with broad, firm strokes. "How's that?"

"Ooh," she said, closing her eyes. "Feels good."

"And if you're a good girl, I might just follow it up with a back and neck rub, too." She didn't answer, lost in the pleasure of the moment. He shook his head fondly. "I wish my sister could have been here, but at least Tervan and Julia came."

Kathryn opened her eyes. "We just saw Maya a few months ago on Dorvan, Chakotay," she reminded him.

"I know." He fell silent, thinking about his homeworld--and Tuvok's comment. With all his heart, he hoped it was true.

He stood up. "Where are you going?" Kathryn asked.

"Be back in a second," he called over his shoulder. He opened the chiller and removed the bottle of champagne he'd put there earlier, and picked up two crystal flutes as well. "Here you are," he said. "What's a celebration without a toast?"

"I like the way you think," she said approvingly. She watched as he expertly removed the cork and poured the sparkling wine. She lifted her glass. "To the future, whatever it may hold."

"To the future," he repeated. He took a sip and said, "Actually, I've got a pretty good idea of what comes next. I've received confirmation from the University of Arizona, Kathryn. I'm to report in two weeks."

"Post-doctorate teaching?" she asked, taking a sip from her own glass.

"Of course. And possibly some field work--with my students of course--if I can get an appointment to see Dr. Jones, the head of the department." He couldn't help dimpling with pride and soon his smile broke into the wide grin she loved so well.

"Well. I'd say congratulations are in order." She raised her glass and he tapped it with his. "That is, unless you're tired of hearing that word."

"Not really."

"Jones, wait a minute--isn't he the Sherman's Planet nut?"

Chakotay winced. He put his glass down on the coffee table, then reached over and took her glass from her, putting it down as well. "Aficionado, Kathryn, not 'nut.' And they say the planet is an archeological treasure trove." He pulled her to her feet.

She put her arms around his neck. "I stand corrected."

He bent his head and kissed her, then nuzzled her neck. "What do you say we take this celebration into the other room?"

"A wonderful idea, Doctor Chakotay," she murmured approvingly.

Act 2: June - July

Transwarp Propulsion Lab, Utopia Planitia June 9, 2380 Stardate 56441.6

B'Elanna Torres was eager to get back to work. Much as she'd enjoyed her two weeks leave with Tom and Miral--settling into their new quarters at Utopia Planitia, exploring the station, even taking a family trip down to the domed Mars Colonies to see the sights and shop along the two kilometer long promenade fronting the Bradbury Canal--she'd started to feel impatient.

Tom had sensed her eagerness--he'd practically pushed her out the door this morning, more than happy to spend some father-daughter time with Miral. In a week he would start his position at the station's Test Pilot Facility, but in the meantime he wanted to ease Miral into her new environment. They'd briefly considered working different shifts so one of them could be with Miral, now that Tom's family wasn't readily available for babysitting duty. But B'Elanna had convinced her husband that Miral would enjoy the activities at the daycare facility and the chance to play with other children, and would benefit more from the three of them spending time together as a family in the evenings. After thoroughly researching the safety record and amenities available at the Children's Center--a project that Tom had managed to make more comprehensive than a Level One all-systems starship diagnostic--he'd agreed.

In all, their lives were about to take on a new stability. During the past few months they'd been constantly in motion, with the weeks of debriefings and hearings following Voyager's arrival from the Delta Quadrant, the visit to Qo'noS (where her Klingon family had openly welcomed Tom and Miral), and then their brief return to Earth. With Tom going back and forth to Australia while she was posted at Starfleet Headquarters, it had still felt like their lives were in flux. Now they were out of the temporary apartment in San Francisco where they'd barely unpacked, and settled for the foreseeable future here. And she was at the station's Transwarp Propulsion Lab, ready to tackle a long term project, one which, if not dear to her heart, certainly important to restoring her battered ego.

She had Admiral Ch'tin to thank for that, along with Captain Geordi La Forge, who had requested her for his transwarp team. Her work at Headquarters' Starship Design--incorporating some of the technology Voyager had brought from the Delta Quadrant into current starship design--had been challenging to a degree. But it wasn't in the same league as perfecting a working transwarp coil, especially since the slipstream drive had proven too unwieldy and unreliable for regular use--

"Thank you for waiting, Commander Torres."

B'Elanna nodded cordially to the Tellarite lieutenant who approached.

"If you'll follow me, I'll take you to Captain La Forge."

B'Elanna followed, down several radiantly clean corridors. She'd taken the short VIP tour several days ago, so she could have found her way, but there was no circumventing protocol when it came to Starfleet.

"Here we are," the lieutenant said, stopping in front of a door labeled Transwarp Propulsion Lab. He submitted to a retinal scan, and a moment later the door slid open. "Your scan will be in the database by 0900 hours."

B'Elanna had intentionally arrived early, and the minor inconvenience didn't bother her. "Thank you, Lieutenant," she said as she stepped through the door.

The lieutenant moved away as the door closed between them. B'Elanna walked past the collection of equipment, all of the latest design--oscillators, flux generators, plasma conductors, and the like--and headed for the bank of computer screens situated in front of the wall-length window overlooking the main shipyard. A man in a Starfleet uniform was studying one of the screens. He turned at the sound of her footsteps.

"Lieutenant Commander B'Elanna Torres," he said, smiling warmly. "I'm sorry I wasn't here last week to meet you and give you the tour. I had to attend a conference at Headquarters, and a boring one at that. But it is a pleasure to finally meet you." He held out a hand. "Geordi La Forge."

B'Elanna shook his hand. "It's good to finally meet you, Captain. I've heard a lot about you."

"Likewise," Geordi said. "You are the first person to ever come up with a working transwarp coil."

"Not for long," B'Elanna said ruefully.

Geordi laughed, a rich, generous sound. "Well, it was a good start, and the person who came up with such ingenious solutions to some of the more vexing problems belongs on this project. We've been working at a disadvantage without your input. In the meantime, I hope you and your family have settled in and are feeling at home."

"We are," B'Elanna said. "For the past few months we've been trying to figure out where home is now. We were on Voyager for so long--"

"I understand," Geordi said, his expression sympathetic. "I served on the Enterprise for nearly fifteen years. It became home to me, and I still think of many of the crew as my family. Ships can be like that."

B'Elanna nodded. "Yes. But I think we'll like it here. Miral is already fascinated with Mars--that's my daughter."

"I recall Admiral Paris boasting about her all over Starfleet Headquarters," Geordi said, grinning. "I'm looking forward to meeting her, and your husband."

"Right now they're spending time together before Tom reports to his new post next week," B'Elanna said. "I believe they are going to Mars this afternoon to 'ride the dunes.'" She grimaced, since she'd questioned the wisdom of taking a sixteen-month old on a dune buggy through the dusty Martian hills, despite the fact that the environmental suit transponders were programmed to initiate an immediate beam-out to the dome at any sign of trouble. "My husband is a still a boy at heart."

Geordi chuckled. "Tom sounds like every pilot I've ever known. The Test Pilot Facility is headed by Commodore Nadaara now. She's ninety if she's a day, though I understand that's not very old for a Capellan. She's an unusual officer, considering that she places a high value on independent thinking."

B'Elanna laughed. "I'm sure Tom will feel right at home then." She already felt that way with Geordi. He was as likable as she'd heard. "Tom's almost as ready to fly again as I am to come up with a permanently functioning transwarp coil."

Geordi smiled at her resolve. "With you here now, I don't know how we can miss." He pointed to the screen he'd been studying. "The rest of the team usually shows up around nine hundred hours, but I wanted to go over some of your logs from Voyager again. The tests on our latest prototype are very promising, but we're still having problems with the Zornon tech, specifically maintaining the resonance frequencies."

B'Elanna nodded. "It was problematic from the beginning, but every other viable theory for protecting the warp core from tachyon radiation failed."

"I have a couple of ideas about the revising the shield modulation equations."

B'Elanna pulled her PADD out of her uniform pocket and activated the screen. All other thoughts were forgotten as her mind immediately became caught up in the engrossing dynamics of astrophysics and engineering. "I've been thinking about that too..."

Faculty Offices, Starfleet Academy June 15, 2380 Stardate 56458.2

The cadet's worried expression slowly eased as she bent over the computer monitor. "That's it?"

Janeway nodded, but kept her amusement from showing. "Is something wrong, Miss Hemmings?"

"No, not at all! It's just I didn't think the solution to this problem would be so easy."

"Most answers are, once you can see them," Janeway answered. "Is there anything else you need me to help you with?"

"No, ma'am. I think I understand everything else now." The cadet gathered up her study PADDS. "Thank you so much for going over the material with me, Captain Janeway."

"My pleasure," Janeway said, rising from behind her desk and escorting Hemmings to the door. "That's what I'm here for."

Hemmings paused at the threshold, just in front of the automatic door sensor. "I'm so glad you're teaching at the Academy, Captain. I hope to take at least one course with you in the fall as well."

Janeway smiled as the cadet left, but her expression changed once the door closed. She went over to the replicator. "Coffee. Black." Instead of returning to her desk, she leaned against the wall sipping her drink, its welcome warmth soothing her jangled nerves.

Fall. Cadet Hemmings had spoken of it as casually as if it were a fact that Janeway would still be teaching come September. Of course, why would anyone think otherwise? Even though Admiral Hayes had assured her that her stint at the Academy would be only six months, Janeway herself was beginning to have her doubts. She had had no further communication with Hayes on the subject--or any other subject, for that matter. For all intents and purposes, it was starting to look like a permanent assignment.

Just a few months ago she had spoken blithely of a future command to Tuvok, so sure she would be back in space within a short period of time that she had sought to gain his acceptance of the position of her first officer. Now that conversation seemed woefully premature.

She strode purposefully over to the comm unit, started to punch in the code to the Commander-in-Chief's office, and then stopped. No, she couldn't just call Hayes and demand to know what her next assignment was. The six months weren't up yet, after all. Surely by the end of the summer, she would have heard something. Until then, she would keep her mind on her teaching duties.

Resolutely pushing away all thoughts of the rumors from Utopia Planitia of new ships and faster-than-warp drives, she began preparing for her next day's lectures.

USS Enterprise-E June 22, 2380 Stardate 56477.5

Lieutenant Harry Kim laughed out loud. Several heads in the mess hall turned in his direction but he didn't notice. His attention was focused on the small vid monitor in front of him. "I wish I'd seen that."

Tom Paris's face grinned from the screen. "It was priceless. She was determined to sleep in that little bed, with all her stuffed animals. She actually demanded we take the crib away, in abbreviated language, but her meaning was clear. B'Elanna wanted to ease her out of the crib, but Miral's already got a stubborn streak."

"She's definitely your daughter, Tom," Harry said, still chuckling. "And B'Elanna's."

"Yeah, she is." Tom shook his head. "And she's not a baby anymore, Harry. Where does the time go?"

Harry wondered that himself. He didn't have an answer. "Speaking of temporal conundrums, how's the transwarp project going?"

"Good, I think. You know B'Elanna. Until she can say it's a rousing success, she doesn't want to talk about it. But she and Geordi La Forge work well together. He's a talented engineer, and a pretty nice guy."

"He certainly is held in high regard here," Harry said. "I feel a little sorry for Commander Stone having to follow in his footsteps, the way everyone still talks about him."

"I guess it's never easy being the new officer on the ship. Speaking of that, how's it going for you?"

Harry shrugged under Tom's suddenly scrutinizing gaze. "I'm doing fine. It's a beautiful ship--a huge ship--and Captain Picard commands a great deal of respect and loyalty. He expects everyone to do their best job, and they do."

"You always do your best job," Tom said with a small smile. "The job is going good then. How about your personal life?"

Harry tensed at that question. "Tom--"

"Harry, please tell me you do take a little time out for fun?"

Harry relaxed at Tom's plaintive tone. Tom wasn't asking about romance--which was something Harry had banished from his life for the foreseeable future. "There's a weekly senior officers poker game here." Or a weekly fleecing from his point of view. "And I've downloaded a holoprogram or two."

"Whew. For a moment there I was afraid I'd taught you nothing."

Harry shook his head at Tom's grin. He wasn't about to tell his friend the programs he'd downloaded had been a reflex training program and a cultural dissertation of jazz music throughout the Federation. "Don't worry, Tom. I have plenty to occupy my free time."

"Good," Tom said. "Don't forget some of my old programs from Voyager are in the general entertainment database now."

"Does that include Slave Girls from Planet Ten?" Harry joked.

Tom flushed a little and cleared his throat. "Uh, no. That one got erased a long time ago."

Harry laughed. He was sure it had. B'Elanna and the slave girls would never have happily coexisted.

"So what about the crew, Harry? Taken anyone under your wing yet? Perhaps an eager young ensign in need of your greater experience and wisdom to save him from the unscrupulous scoundrels of the galaxy?"

Harry grinned at the reference. "Like you took me under your wing, Tom? Are you sure you weren't one of those unscrupulous scoundrels?"

Tom laughed. "Scoundrel, maybe. Unscrupulous, though? Harry, you wound me."

"Sorry. There are lots of young, eager ensigns here who value my sage advice."

Tom nodded, apparently satisfied with that patently evasive answer. Or maybe he had just run out of time. "Hey, buddy, I gotta go. I'll talk to you in a couple of weeks, and let you know the how the new Flyer design is going, and the latest word on Voyager Two. Oh, and Miral's latest stunt I'm sure she'll pull in the meantime."

Harry smiled. "I can't wait."

"Bye, Harry. Keep in touch."

"You too..." The vid screen went blank before Harry finished those two words. He sighed, regretting for a moment that he wasn't there to help with the Flyer design and watch the new Voyager go from the drawing board to actual starship.

Harry had told Tom the truth. His job was going well. He enjoyed being head of Operations on the Enterprise. His duties on such a large ship were extensive, and as challenging as those on Voyager in their own way. He was gaining valuable experience that would serve him well for later career advancement. And he did like the crew. They were close-knit by almost any standards.

But it wasn't the same. Voyager had been his first ship assignment, and it had lasted eight years. The unique circumstances had forged a bond among the crew that had been extraordinary. He knew there were strong bonds among many on the Enterprise too. But he hadn't formed any yet, not like he had on Voyager.

The truth was, he missed more than just Tom and B'Elanna, and all his other friends, and seeing his goddaughter grow and change. He missed the life that had been, as odd as that seemed to him, considering his zeal to get home. Maybe it had been about the journey rather than the destination, more so than he'd realized. And compared to Voyager, life on the Enterprise was tame and fairly predictable. Though he'd never again want to face that kind of exile from home and loved ones, he'd gotten used to the uncertainties on Voyager, and the satisfaction of overcoming real fear and dangers--in short, to living on the edge.

Harry couldn't help smiling, thinking about the incongruities in that sudden insight. He used to accuse Tom of wanting to live too much on the edge. Now, every time he talked to Tom, he sensed his friend was as content with his more orderly life at Utopia Planitia as he'd been on Voyager. Could it be he'd turned into Tom Paris, and Tom had turned into him?

Harry snorted softly at the idea. They'd both changed over the years, but Tom was still Tom. He had simply put all the pieces of his life together, professional and personal. And Harry hadn't yet.

Harry immediately pushed that notion away. Any errant thought that might bring Marla to mind he banished before it could fully form. He rarely thought about her anymore, thanks to hard and deliberate effort on his part. Dreaming was another thing, but he never remembered his dreams anyway, if he could help it.

He refocused his thoughts on the Enterprise. She was still the premier ship of the Fleet, and he was glad he'd gotten this posting. He was just getting used to being here, and adjusting to his new life. He knew he could expect more transfers in the future. That was the nature of shipboard duty and the path to command, so he just had to learn to accept people coming and going out of his life--

"Excuse me, Lieutenant Kim."

Harry looked up at the young man from Engineering. Ensign Mondi Banahuele had joined the Enterprise at the same time Harry had, in his case coming straight from the Academy. They'd worked together a few times, and they'd had a few interesting conversations in Ten Forward after hours. Harry liked the kid, but he tended to take himself and his duty very seriously.

Ensign Banahuele offered him a PADD. "Sir, you said you wanted to see this report on the new shield frequencies."

"In the morning would have been fine, Mondi."

"Yes, sir. I just wanted to make sure I'm on top of everything."

Harry wondered if he'd been that stiff and proper years ago. "You are. Right now though, you're off duty. So I'm just Harry."

"Right." A smile spread across Mondi's dark face as he sat down. "Are you joining the senior officer's poker game tonight?"

"I don't know," Harry said. He added ruefully, "I'm not sure I have any more credits left to lose to Commander Data."

Mondi sighed. "I haven't won once in the engineering department's game. Commander Stone told me I need to learn how to bluff."

"That does take some practice," Harry said. He recalled once during that first year on Voyager how Tom had told him his face was as easy to read as an unencrypted dataPADD. But he'd learned, even if it didn't always work on Data. "Mondi, are you busy for the rest of the evening?"

Mondi shook his head. "I was just planning a quick stop at Ten Forward, then an early night going over some equations on warp harmonics. I like to keep up with the latest theories."

Harry shook his head. "You can't work all the time. You'll burn out. I have a holoprogram you might enjoy. It has some historical and cultural significance, and you can learn a few things about tactics and strategy...like bluffing. And best of all, it's fun. Interested?"

Mondi's face lit up. "Yes, sir--I mean Harry."

"Good." Harry stood and clapped an arm on Mondi's shoulder. "I have holodeck three reserved for two hours, starting in ten minutes." He'd planned to work out in his reflex training program, but Tom had given him a better idea, and why not? He grinned. "You're really going to like this one."

"What's it about exactly?" Mondi asked as they exited the mess hall.

"It's a role-playing program about a hero who defends the galaxy against an evil scientist bent on galactic domination. The hero's name is Captain Proton, and he has this trusty and stalwart sidekick named Buster Kincaid--that's you..."

New Molokai, Bajoran System July 4, 2380 Stardate 56512.5

She was dreaming, and for once the dreams were peaceful. The scene was too dark to distinguish, the voices were soft and the faces were blurred, but it all felt calm and strong. It felt like Harry.

"Marla," a voice whispered insistently. "Wake up."

Reluctantly, Marla Gilmore pulled her mind from the sweet dream darkness to the real darkness of the dormitory. The Bajoran vedek everyone called Sister was leaning over her bed, little more than a shadow but for the pressure of her hand on Marla's shoulder. Marla blinked, trying to re-orient herself. "Is it my shift already?"

"No," Sister whispered. "It's barely midnight. You have an incoming call. It's someone from Luna City. Do you want it?"

If Sister had tossed a bucket of cold water, Marla could not have come to full alert any quicker. Luna City? She knew who the caller must be. The only question was how he knew where to find her, and what news he might have. "Yes," she whispered back. Her seven other shift-mates were asleep in the room and they deserved a night without interruptions. As Sister left, Marla snatched up the terrycloth robe that was her only luxury and cinched it tightly.

She had to squint against the brightness of the common room, but her eyes quickly adjusted to the light. Touching the "accept" control on the console, she didn't wait to see the image before saying, "Hello, Noah."

Noah Lessing stared back at her. Despite the fact that he had placed the call, he seemed surprised. :::Damn,::: he said. :::It is you. I almost hoped it was a different Marla Gilmore.:::

"How did you find me?" she asked. "My sister?"

He shook his head. :::Not directly. But Kaylyn has let a couple of things slip over the past few months, and I finally put two and two together. What are you doing on that leper colony? Have you lost your mind?:::

"New Molokai is not a leper colony. It's a hospice for patients with CCNS-- Complex Cellular Necrotaceous Syndrome." She spoke calmly; she and Kaylyn had gone through the same conversation often enough.

He shook his head. :::Don't play word games with me. It's a modern plague and contagious as hell. That's why they put patients there as soon as they're diagnosed. What are you doing there? You're an engineer, not a nurse.:::

"I'm an engineer here when one is needed. I'm an orderly when one is needed. Sometimes I'm even the cook." She smiled. "We don't have a lot of resources here. We each do what needs doing."

His dark eyes locked on hers. :::You don't need to do this, Marla.:::

She chose to misunderstand him. "Someone needs to. I don't know whether this is a Cardassian biological weapon that got loose or some Malthusian catastrophe, but it's a horrible way to die. They have to be quarantined, but someone has to help them."

:::You know what I mean.::: His gaze bore down on her.

Marla took a deep breath. "Maybe I do. But it doesn't change the fact that these people are in pain, and I can help them. I can help them, Noah. Do you have any idea how important that is to me? I can really help them."

He looked as if he were going to argue with her, but instead of speaking, he looked away for a moment. :::How are you?::: he finally asked.

Relieved that the worst seemed to be over, she relaxed and smiled. "I'm fine. It's hard work, but it's good. I'm sleeping better than I have in a long time. I've even dropped a couple of pounds."

:::Like you needed to,::: he snorted.

"What about you?" she asked quickly. "How's the flower shop?"

:::It's great. Business is good and I see Hannah every day. Can't ask for better than that.:::

Marla's smile broadened. "I bet she loves having you there."

:::Well, we're making up for lost time. She's so grown up, Marla. She's taller than Ginny already.::: He almost glowed with pride. :::She's at the top of her class. Says she wants to be a xenobotanist, like me.:::

"That's wonderful. And things are good with Ginny?"

His smile faded a little. :::Yeah. Her new husband's a good man. We get along fine.:::

The Human voice was an amazing thing, Marla thought. It could convey so many contradictory things in a few words. Noah's voice had been both contented and regretful. She wondered if he realized it. "That's good."

His eyes narrowed a little. :::Harry Kim was looking for you. He was about out of his mind when you disappeared.:::

Marla steeled herself, the way she always did when she thought of Harry. "You can't tell him where I am. Promise me."

:::I probably won't see him for years,::: Noah said. :::You know he shipped out on the Enterprise.:::

She couldn't help smiling. "Kaylyn told me. He's the Ops Officer on the flagship. That's terrific, isn't it? I knew he'd do well."

He looked at her for several seconds. :::You had something special there, girl.:::

"I know," she said quietly. "But it wouldn't have lasted, Noah. I ... I didn't like myself very much. I didn't respect myself at all. Sooner or later, Harry would have felt the same way."

:::Is that why you're there? So you'll like yourself again?:::

"I suppose so. That wasn't what I was thinking when I came here. I just wanted to make a difference some place. But, yes, I think I'm learning to like myself again."

He exhaled slowly. :::There must be easier ways. What if you catch this disease?:::

"None of the volunteers have ever caught it. We use extreme isolation techniques for everything, and we go through full decontamination four times a day." Her mouth curved slightly. "I think that in a few months I just might feel clean again."

:::Would have been a whole lot simpler if you'd stayed on Earth and seen the counselors,::: he muttered.

"Maybe." She leaned closer to the screen. "But this is the truth, Noah. I'm so glad I came. The facility is thrown together and the work is hard, back-breaking hard, but it's the best thing I've ever done in my life. And the other volunteers are amazing. There are some Cardassians and some Bajorans and some Vulcans and a couple of Humans. Everyone is here for the same reason -- we just want to help. It's, well, like I said, it's amazing."

He studied her for a long time. :::You do look good,::: he said after a pause. :::You look like you did, before.:::

There was no need for him to explain 'before' what. They both knew -- before the Equinox was stranded in the Delta Quadrant, before they became accomplices to mass murder. "What about the others?" she asked.

:::Angelo's on Bajor, with Tal Celes. They'd be a whole lot happier if they didn't have to cope with in-laws. I haven't heard from Sofin. And Jim,::: he frowned. :::Jim calls me when he needs credits. He's doing a lot of drinking these days.:::

Her heart ached for her former shipmates. None of them were bad people. They had just made a terrible mistake. Did that have to haunt them forever? "I should go," she said. "It's just a few hours before I'm on duty again."

:::All right. Will you write, or do I have to wake you up in the middle of the night again?:::

"I'll keep in touch. But Noah -- don't tell anyone where I am. Not anyone."

:::I won't.::: His face tightened in an effort to control it. :::You take care, Marla, you hear me? You take care.:::

"You, too. Thanks for calling, Noah."

He nodded, and then the screen darkened. She sat for a moment, then rose and began to leave.

Sister walked in before she cleared the room. "I hope it wasn't bad news."

"Not at all," Marla said. "It was an old friend, just catching up."

The young Bajoran smiled. "I'm glad. As long as you're awake, would you mind taking a look at the replicator in the pharmacy? It's acting up again."

"Of course." Marla smiled easily. "I'm here to help."

Dahkur Province, Bajor July 9, 2380 Stardate 56524.4

"I am stuffed!" moaned Angelo Tessoni, rubbing his stomach and collapsing backwards into his wife's lap.

"Whose fault is that?" Tal Celes laughed. "I don't remember forcing you to eat all that hesperat."

"But they're so good," he confided. "You wouldn't mind sharing the recipe with us, would you, Narel?"

"So you can stuff yourself every week?" Kajee Narel replied sweetly.

"Maybe he wants to learn self-discipline--nobly refusing to eat any when Tal cooks them for dinner," Michael Ayala remarked.

"When he cooks them for his own dinner, you mean," Tal corrected. "He's the cook most nights. I do the simple stuff, like breakfast."

"Ah! So he *does* want to stuff himself every week!" Ro Laren sniggered knowingly.

"Not every week...just every other week," Angelo admitted sheepishly.

Everyone laughed. Tal ruffled up his hair affectionately. Angelo was anything but undisciplined when it came to eating; although he had enthusiastically dug into the food at the picnic, he certainly hadn't overeaten. His joking had pleased her, for Angelo tended to be overly solemn at social gatherings. Of course, most social gatherings were with her own family, who still hadn't welcomed him into the fold the way he deserved.

As the laughter died down, the five adults sprawled around the blanket became silent, permitting Tal to enjoy the almost perfect day. The weather was beautiful, warm without being oppressive, with a breeze redolent of the scents of herbs and flowers blowing lightly from the north. From their vantage point along the river Tal could see to the other side of the valley, where the forest was reclaiming a scarred area along the hillside where the Cardassians once had had a strip mine operation. Many meters away, Kajee Lajen and Raul Ayala were banging away with slender racquets at something called a "burdee," trying to send it over a high net. The youngsters shouted encouragement to each other, but without the stridency she'd heard in their voices in the past when they'd played together. Perhaps they were growing up. Both had shot up in height since she'd first met them upon Voyager's return to the Alpha Quadrant.

At first, Ayala's other son was nowhere to be seen. Disquieted, Tal scanned the area until she caught a glimpse of him, far apart from the other children, sitting on a rock along the bank of the river. Alone again, as usual. Tal wondered if there was something she could do to include him in the group--one of the groups. He didn't seem any more comfortable with adults than he did with the younger kids.

Her musings were interrupted by the beep of Ro's communicator. "Looks like my ride is here," Deep Space Nine's head security officer said, just before she responded to the summons.

"I'm sorry you couldn't slide out of that meeting today, Ro," Ayala said.

"That's all right. I'm just glad I could squeeze in lunch at least, and this way, I get out of clean-up duty! See you back at the station, Ayala. Good to see you again, Celes, Angelo. Narel--I'll call you next week about that other matter. Bye, everyone!" As Ro headed towards the descending shuttle, she waved to the younger children but made a point, Tal was glad to see, of walking over to Luis, saying something which caused him to get up and follow her to where the shuttle was landing. Ro said something else to him which he must have answered, since she laughed and gave him a quick pat on the shoulder before hopping inside the small craft, which promptly flew off.

"Ro is very good with Luis," Kajee said.

"She's one of the few people he has much to say to," Ayala agreed.

"He's still very quiet, isn't he?" Tal asked, watching Luis stroll slowly back in the direction where Raul and Lajen were playing, but never actually joining them.

Ayala grunted noncommittally. For an awkward few seconds, Tal wondered if she should have kept her observation about Luis to herself; the silence was finally broken by Ayala when he asked, "Narel, is it true about the Careys?"

Suppressing a sudden chill of alarm, Tal asked, "What about the Careys?"

"Yes, it is true, and it's nothing bad, Celes," Kajee said, a sudden smile lighting her face. "Anne's having another baby!"

"She is? That's wonderful!" Tal grinned, thinking of her superior office Joe Carey and of his wife, who had been separated for so many years during Voyager's journey home. "I'm not at all surprised."

"I spoke to Sam Wildman last week. She said she's expecting again, too," Ayala said.

"That's not a surprise, either," Tal said.

"What about the two of you?" Kajee asked pointedly. "Any news yet?"

"Oh, please! We just got married! Let us have a little time for ourselves first before saddling us with diapers!" Angelo said, sitting suddenly erect.

"That's not a denial," Ayala said with a smile.

"We are *not* expecting a baby--yet," Tal confirmed primly. "Angelo wants to get his construction firm established before we expand our family. Is that enough of a denial for you, Ayala?"

"Accidents will happen," Kajee said knowingly. "Lucky accidents sometimes." The Bajoran woman's voice trailed off as her gaze drifted towards her daughter. Kajee's face assumed a soft, almost melancholy expression. Tal suspected Narel could speak with more authority about accidental pregnancies than Tal really wanted to hear at as casual a function as this picnic.

"What about Tom and B'Elanna? Any news about them?" Angelo asked. "Wouldn't be surprised if they ended up with a dozen kids, considering . . ."

"Angelo!" Tal laughed, poking him on the shoulder, although she couldn't help but agree. Her sleeping quarters had been on Deck Nine on Voyager, and her sleep had been disrupted frequently by the antics of the two senior officers.

"No word yet, but Miral is still pretty young." Ayala leaned in closer to Tal. "I've heard rumors about Janeway and Chakotay, though!"

"You're kidding!" Tal exclaimed.

"I don't believe it," Angelo said flatly. "She's going to get the first transwarp ship, you just watch!"

"Without Chakotay as her first officer? I doubt she'd accept a command without him on board. I heard she might stick at the Academy. If she stays in San Francisco, I could see the two of them starting a family," Ayala said.

"Are they married yet?" Kajee asked.

"Not that I've heard, but that wouldn't necessarily stop them from having a kid together."

"Ayala, this is Kathryn Janeway you're talking about! I don't see her settling down and becoming a mother now, when they're building a new ship loaded with all the technology Voyager brought back from the Delta Quadrant and then some," Angelo pointed out. "I won't believe she's gone domesticated on us until I hear someone else has command of that new ship."

"What new ship? The one nobody is supposed to know about, you mean?" Ayala responded facetiously.

"Talk about open secrets!" Angelo said, shaking his head. "I'll bet the Romulans are going nuts trying to get their hands on the specs."

"Do you have any other good gossip, Ayala?" Tal asked.

"Well, Megan Delaney is going to command school . . ."

"I thought Jenny was going to go to command school."

"No--well, maybe it *is* Jenny. I can't remember which one it is now. One of the Delaneys is going to command school, I know that. Harry Kim is serving on the Enterprise, you heard that, didn't you?"

"No, I didn't! That's great for his career," Angelo said, with so much heartiness Tal felt a pang of regret. As much as she loved her life with Angelo, she was well aware her husband had once harbored ambitions of serving on the flagship of the fleet himself one day. The Delta Quadrant and Captain Rudy Ransom had robbed him of that chance, and it still rankled.

"It *is* good for his career," Ayala replied, not seeming to notice--or perhaps choosing not to notice--Angelo's overtly hearty reaction. "And I understand Noah Lessing opened that florist's shop on Luna he used to talk about."

"We heard that, too," Tal said, hesitating a moment before asking, "Any word from Marla?"

"Still missing, as far as I know." Ayala looked away, unable to meet Tal's gaze. "I haven't heard anything about Brian Sofin, either, but Jimmy Morrow turned up in a prison on Alpha Centauri."

The silence that slammed over the group quickly became oppressive, and gossiping about their old crew mates suddenly lost its appeal. Tal reached over to rub her husband's shoulders. They'd gone all stiff the way they did whenever Angelo was upset, but he curled away from her hand and jumped up. Stretching his arms high in the air before setting his hands on his hips, echoing a favorite position of their former captain, Angelo sighed. At first Tal thought he was looking far into the distance. Then she realized he was studying Luis Ayala, who was now leaning against a tree at the riverbank, who *was* staring out into space.

"The prisons we build for ourselves can be pretty bad, too," Angelo said quietly. Glancing down at his wife, he gave Tal a quick, apologetic smile and bent down to pick up the ball Luis had brought with him to the picnic but had not yet used. Angelo walked towards the riverbank casually tossing the ball into the air.

Until he arrived at Luis' position, Tal, Kajee, and Ayala maintained their silence. Angelo said something to the boy that Tal couldn't distinguish from so far away. Tal didn't even realize she was holding her breath until Luis responded to her husband's overture, holding out his hand for the ball and rolling it out onto the ground in front of them. The pair began to run along the edge of the meadow, tapping the ball between them, using only their feet.

"How are things going for you, Celes? Really?" Kajee inquired.

Tal sighed. "Professionally, fine. Most people don't seem to mind accepting free building services, even from someone they think is a murderer. My family is another matter. We settled in Derron Province to be near them, but except for my sister Sheron, most of the family won't speak to Angelo. Sheron and I had to beg our parents to come to the wedding, and they've never accepted an invitation to our home. They barely tolerate our presence when Sheron invites us to hers."

"That must be very discouraging to you both," Kajee said sympathetically.

" 'Give them time,' I keep telling him, but I'm starting to feel impatient with them myself. They know the whole story and still treat him like a monster! What did they really think he could have done? He wasn't an officer! If he refused to take orders or tried to stop the others, he would have been treated like a mutineer! And he never killed any of those aliens himself except in self-defense!"

Ayala reached out his hand and rested it upon Tal's forearm. His touch grounded her, helping her get her temper under control. "It *will* take time. It took quite a while for the rest of us on Voyager to accept the Equinox crew, too, but we did--eventually."

"You weren't my own family, though," Tal said, unable to keep the bitterness out of her voice.

"I don't know about that," Ayala replied. "That's one of the things I miss. I love having my boys back, but sometimes I wish I could have gotten them back without losing my Voyager family, too."

"If you had the chance, would you return to the Delta Quadrant, then?" Kajee asked cautiously.

"It wouldn't be the same. Couldn't be, without Chakotay as first officer and without Tuvok."

"Without Tuvok? Has something happened to him?" Tal asked.

"The word is he's retired from Starfleet. I know he's still on Vulcan and never returned to active duty."

"I guess I'm happy for him. He's spent enough time away from his family."

"He has," Ayala agreed, his voice showing evidence of strong feeling which were perfectly understandable, in the light of his own long separation from his own.

Tal watched her husband and Luis running down the field, skillfully passing the ball back and forth. Soccer, that was it. Luis had played the game with JJ and Patrick Carey, Tal recalled. When the gap in the conversation became uncomfortable, she finally said, "I don't know, Ayala. It seems we worked for so many years to get home, but now that we are home, life is even more of a struggle!"

"That's how life is, Celes," Kajee said. "Struggle and change--but joy, too, if we allow ourselves to recognize it when we find it."

"Just have to give it time," Ayala agreed. The tall man stood up, nodded to Tal and Kajee, and strolled down to join his older son and Angelo's kicking game. Tal watched them for a few moments, not feeling like she had anything more to