Part 2 added on 20 September 2000
Disclaimers are in part 1.
Rating: PG13
The chime to the Captains ready room sounded, and Kathryn Janeway quickly put down the sandwich she had only just managed to find time for, after swiping a napkin over her mouth to take away any embarrassing traces of mayonnaise, she called out "Enter."
The door slid open and in walked Ensign Tom Paris, a slight smile touching his lips as he stood to attention in front of the captains desk. Janeway looked at the young man in front of her and although his smile was as disarming as ever there was something different about the way he held himself, his usual posture conveyed his relaxed nature even when standing at attention, but today his body was ramrod straight in a pose that even the academies strictest drill instructor would approve. Janeway was immediately put on guard, the only time she'd ever seen a stance approaching this the helmsman had just defied the Prime Directive and was being demoted. Wracking her brains Janeway tried to think of what trouble the man might have caused this time, but so far she was coming up a blank.
"Yes Tom." Came the Captains neutral greeting, she didn't want to show her trepidation at what could turn out to be a harmless report or request for more holodeck time.
"Captain, I wanted to talk with you about my duties aboard Voyager."
"Your duties?"
"Yes ma'am, or rather about extending them."
"You want to extend your duties?" Janeway slightly relaxed in her chair thinking this was another ploy by the young man to either be included in what he hoped would be an exciting away mission or perhaps to upgrade the Delta Flyer.
"Yes Captain. I've been thinking a lot lately about my role on Voyager, specifically since I was demoted, and I have come to the realisation that although I've always thought of Voyager as my home and the people here as my, well as my family I guess," here he gave Janeway one of his puppy dog grins, "I now know that I haven't done everything in my ability to protect that family and help us get back to Earth."
Janeway sat forward in her chair and looked searchingly into the man's eyes, this was what she had been hoping for from the helmsman ever since they were stranded in the Delta Quadrant. After six years she had begun to think that although he was a great pilot and for the most part a good officer he would never be mature enough for command.
She was fortunate, Voyager's crew consisted of a number of outstanding officers who under other circumstances would have been heading towards commands of their own, well so long as Starfleet overlooked the fact that a few of them had once belonged to a terrorist organisation or the borg collective, but now for the first time she hoped to add Tom's name to that list. Kathryn realised she was getting ahead of herself, and the ensign, and she should find out exactly what his ideas for helping his 'family' were.
"So what are you proposing Mr Paris?"
"Well, I thought the best way for me to benefit Voyager would be by using what I'm good at to its fullest potential." Paris scrutinised the Captain hoping to gage whether or not she was responsive to his approach, so far her reactions had been what he hoped but he knew that with Janeway he had to be on his guard, not that he didn't mean what he was saying, Voyager was his home, only he had a few incentives besides group welfare for his current proposition. "The one thing I am truly good at being my piloting skills."
"But you are already helmsman on the alpha shift," Janeway interrupted, "and the most consistent pilot of the Delta Flyer, how do you intend to stretch your piloting skills to further advantage Voyager?"
Tom Paris smiled and loosened up his pose, this was the part of his plan that he knew would clinch it for him, offering to share the thing that made him special, the one ability that he had always prided himself on.
"I want to teach what I know to others."
"How do you mean Tom?" Janeway was intrigued by his suggestion, even if she was uncertain exactly what he meant. Voyager had a plethora of experienced pilots, even if none did quite come up to Tom's level, shuttle piloting was taught to all recruits so the crew were all at least aware of the basics of flying a craft.
"As I see it ma'am there are perhaps four people on board that are capable of piloting Voyager to its full potential during a crisis.
One of those people is Commander Chakotay, who if you were to become incapacitated, would be called upon to captain the ship."
The Captain nodded, she had long made plans for the possibility of her death, the fear of leaving her people unprotected a more terrifying prospect than meeting up again with the Borg Queen.
"That would leave us with three first class pilots," Paris continued, "not a sufficient number to man the helm of Voyager and the Delta Flyer for any extended period, and that doesn't even take into account the possibility of one of those being injured or killed."
"So what do you have in mind Ensign?"
"I want to start training a number of the crew from different departments in the finer arts of flying both the Delta Flyer and Voyager." Tom looked his captain in the eye and tried to convey his earnestness, this was the moment when she could most easily say no and spoil all his plans.
"That seems a reasonable request," Janeway looked slightly unhappy, "what I want to know is why no-one else has pointed this out before?"
"Erm, well Captain its not something that a great deal of the ships company would know about, I mean to most a pilot is a pilot, its only if you know the difference between a really good one and an average one that you see the problem." Tom shifted his eyes to look at the floor for a second. "As a pilot I should have seen the problem sooner, but it was only as I began to examine my own role on the ship that I recognised the inadequacy of the present situation." Kathryn nodded again, it still concerned her that a situation like this could be allowed to develop, but she was again impressed with the young mans willingness to take responsibility for his oversight, Tom Paris of a few months, if not days, ago would have instead come out with an instant excuse.
"Have a written proposal on my desk by 21 hundred hours." Kathryn smiled at the now relaxing young man. "I'll have Commander Chakotay rearrange the duty roster once you and he decide on the candidates for training."
Tom wasn't too happy with having to consult with Chakotay, but recognising that he'd succeeded in his plan, gave the Captain a wide smile and said a jaunty "Yes ma'am."
"Tom."
Paris once again straightened into parade stance at the commanding tone of the Captain's voice.
"Good work."
Tom felt himself infused with a sense of pride that had nothing to do with his plans for regaining his rank. Giving a curt nod of appreciation he turned and left the captains ready room.
Activity in main engineering had decreased since the excitement of the mornings test, but for the chief engineer and astrometrics officer work continued at the same elevated pace. Preparations for the second test, which would measure the output of the false sensor data needed to establish a working cloak, were being discussed, along with finalising the installation of the new sensors monitoring equipment. It was the placement of the monitoring equipment, or rather the access panels that enabled it to be reprogrammed or repaired that was causing friction between the two officers at present.
"In an emergency it is my engineers who have to have quick and easy access to the equipment." B'Elanna stated for the third time, after hours of high pressure activity the engineer was ready to snap at the next person who spoke, her antagonism towards Seven, although tamed over the last week, made the ex-Borg an obvious recipient for her pent up frustrations.
"Sensor analysis is to be carried out in astrometrics," Seven calmly responded, recognising that the engineer was more than probably arguing due to excessive amounts of stress she had decided to desist from annoying the Klingon and remain extra calm and logical during their debate, but there was no way she was going to give way to the fiery woman, after all she was right, "it is therefore logical to place the access hatches and internal systems diagnostic in that area. A separate monitoring system should then be placed in engineering, as it is for other non engineering systems."
"Great, so every time your little sensors have a hiccup I have to send out an engineering crew on a trek to fix it." Seven's lack of emotion was making the Klingon even more angry as the argument progressed. "That is a waste of my teams valuable time. If the.."
"I am more than capable of fixing the sensors if a 'hiccup' should occur." Seven interrupted, she was becoming angered by the Klingon's disregard of her own engineering skills.
"You are not an engineer Seven." Seeing the flash in the former Borg's eyes B'Elanna decided to amend that statement, especially as Seven had spent the previous ten days working as an engineer, and a first class one. "Well all right you are capable of fixing the equipment, but not everyone in astrometrics is as well versed in engineering as you are."
It was at this time that a hesitant Harry Kim made his presence known to the two women, walking up to them slowly as if afraid of taking some friendly fire, he gave a slight cough to announce his arrival.
"Ensign Kim, do you have an infection?" Seven enquired.
"Yeah Harry I hope its nothing catching." Joined in an amused B'Elanna Torres having seen what she took for a mischievous look in Seven's eyes, and hoping to dispel the mounting tension between them.
"No Seven I was just being polite." Harry gave the Klingon what he hoped was a hard look, not recognising that the borg was in fact joking, he thought it his duty to help school the inexperienced woman in one of the social niceties the doctor had obviously overlooked.
"Expelling bacteria into the atmosphere is a form of politeness?" Seven enquired, placing her hands behind her back she gave the young man her most attentive look.
"Well." Harry began.
"And here I thought the Cardassians cornered the market on disgusting customs." B'Elanna piped up.
"Klingon's have their fare share." Harry shot back, then realising that Klingons also have a large share of the 'killing people for insulting their culture' market, decided to address all his comments to Seven, and quickly. "The cough is just a way to announce your presence without scaring the other person."
"So if you saw a Klingon engaged in one of their many disgusting customs you would cough before announcing yourself to them?" Seven asked in her most neutral voice, casting a quick glance towards B'Elanna to make sure she took no offence, which she obviously didn't as it appeared that all she could manage at that moment was to bite the inside of her cheek in an effort not to laugh at the unfortunate ensigns ever reddening face.
"Erm I, yes I guess, not that they would, but if they did I would, although maybe not." Harry stammered caught between trying to instruct Seven and not insult B'Elanna's people.
"I see, thank you for the explanation ensign." Seven cut in, deciding to be lenient.
"So Harry, now that we've established you're not in need of any medical assistance, how can we help you?" B'Elanna asked, her mood having improved greatly with his interruption.
"The Captain sent me down to consult with you both about the interface between the new systems and the bridge."
"They shouldn't be too difficult, most of the sensor readings will still be able to be displayed on the existing equipment." Torres began, turning around she pick up a data pad from the pile sitting on the console behind her, and after giving it a quick scan handed it to the ensign. "Seven and I worked up a draft proposal for bridge modifications, if you want to look at it and tell us what you think."
"Excuse me." Came a voice from behind the trio.
"Yes Vorik, is there a problem?" Answered B'Elanna.
"No Lieutenant, but I require Seven of Nine's assistance in calibrating the secondary relays to astrometrics." Vorik turned slightly to face the ex-Borg.
"Yes of course." Seven gave the Vulcan a slight nod. "If you will excuse me Lieutenant, Ensign."
"Sure Seven."
"Yeah." B'Elanna caught herself staring at the borg's retreating form, and what a nice form it was, and immediately forced her eyes away to study her friend, who she noticed with a tiny smile was also paying rather a lot of attention to the retreating woman. "Nice to know that the Vulcan's have managed to evolve a way of interrupting without splattering everyone with four strains of virus."
"Ha, ha." Harry having turned from watching Seven quickly glanced back in her direction. "She probably thinks I'm a cultural buffoon now."
"Does it matter what she thinks?"
"She's my friend B'Elanna." Harry was once again ready to defend the ex-Borg.
"That's not what I meant Harry." The Klingon rushed in, seeing her friends protective streak start to exert itself.
"Then what did you mean?"
"I know you used to have a thing for our little borg," B'Elanna smiled trying to take away any embarrassment he might still feel over his encounter with Seven, "but I thought now you and Claire were seeing each other you wouldn't be so anxious about how Seven saw you."
"Claire and I haven't even had our first date yet." Self conscience Harry began to tug on his uniform jacket to remove non existent wrinkles. "I know Seven and I will never be more than friends, and I'm okay with that, but I still value her opinion."
"I'm sorry Harry, of course you do."
"I guess I just fell for her a bit too quick." Continued the ensign with an indulgent smile.
"Who Seven or Claire?" Probed the engineer.
"Seven." Seeing his friends puzzled look he decided to elaborate. "I began to develop romantic type feelings for her after she'd been on the ship for only a short time. So when she sensed what I was feeling she reacted to it in a very borg way, which just happened to be blunt, to the point and very embarrassing."
A small laugh escaped the Klingon as she recalled Harry's description of what had occurred between him and Seven.
"Yeah well, but the point is, if I'd fallen for her now things would have been different."
"How so?" Despite herself B'Elanna was very intrigued by her friends insight into the ex-borg.
"She's not a drone anymore." Harry stopped thinking that would explain everything, but from the expectant look on B'Elanna's face he knew she was waiting for more. "She feels."
"She feels?" B'Elanna looked slightly disgusted. "That's it."
"Shhhhh," Harry cautioned, looking around engineering to make sure no-one had heard the Klingon's rather loud last words, "the fact that Seven's developed her emotions to the point where she's ready for a romantic relationship is a big deal."
"You think she's ready for romance?" B'Elanna whispered.
"Yes I do."
"Then why aren't you first in line?"
"I told you its too late for me and Seven, it just feels different between us now, I don't know." Harry seemed to try and work out for himself what he was feeling before continuing. "I still find her attractive, but then who wouldn't, but now its as a friend nothing more. Besides now there's Claire, and I feel about her what I used to feel towards Seven, only Claire agreed to go out with me."
"So tonight's the big night then." B'Elanna enquired, hoping to change the subject from Seven, even though she was eager to question Harry some more about his perception of the beautiful young borg, she felt strange about her sudden fascination with the other woman.
"Yeah," after recovering from a tiny blush Harry proceeded to tell the engineer all about his plans for the evening, listening intently to her friend B'Elanna still found her eyes drawn to the figure of Seven of Nine deep in consultation with Vorik. The two bodies were both still in conversation, but while the Vulcan stood there passive the ex-Borg seemed to convey a sense of captured energy, as if at any sign of danger she could spring into action, that combined with her sleek look reminded the Klingon of an Earth cat. B'Elanna found her mind then pondering whether or not Seven would be as soft to the touch or as ferocious.
"B'Elanna........B'Elanna." Harry poked his friend in the arm.
"Yes, what?" An embarrassed B'Elanna cleared her head of those strange and unwelcome images and tried once again to concentrate on her friend, her concentration greatly improving when Seven left engineering.
After being commanded by the Captain to leave engineering and get some well earned rest, B'Elanna and Seven found themselves entering the mess hall together, an unusual enough occurrence to garner a few looks from the people seated about the room. Had they known that their reason for dining together was to further discuss the sensor grid, the looks of astonishment would most likely have turned to mutters of 'workaholic' or some such thing. Collecting their food from a smiling Neelix the two women went to join Commander Chakotay and Ensign Paris.
"Finally decided to call it a night then ladies, I know the Captain was anxious that you would work yourselves into the ground." Asked the second in command, his handsome face creasing into a happy grin.
"Overanxious." Muttered the Klingon.
"Hmm?"
"The Captain ordered Lieutenant Torres and myself to leave engineering." Clarified Seven, even though she sounded just as pleased with the situation as B'Elanna.
"You've both had a busy day, I'm sure the Captain just wants you properly refreshed for tomorrow." Chakotay continued, "We were all pleased with the results of the test, its good to have sensors back up, I think I might even be able to sleep tonight."
"I was unaware of a connection between the sensors and crew sleep patterns, or is this a condition pertaining only to yourself Commander?" Seven asked, despite all her knowledge of humanity there was always something new to assimilate.
Tom let out a laugh at this, while Chakotay smiled and prepared to explain to the young woman, but B'Elanna beat him to it.
"He was referring to the peace of mind the sensors produce Seven." Forestalling another question B'Elanna hurried on, "The sensors warn us of incoming danger, with them off-line danger can be upon us with out warning, this causes everyone on board to be more apprehensive than usual."
"And when people are apprehensive their sleep is disturbed." Finished Seven.
"Right," B'Elanna looked to her Marquis friend, "but I think in this instance Chakotay was exaggerating to convey a better sense of the security our work has afforded him."
Tom watched this exchange between his girlfriend and the ex-Borg, something in B'Elanna's manner had definitely changed. Before this when Seven asked a question of a similar nature the Klingon, if forced, answered with barely restrained annoyance, but here not only had she volunteer the explanation but did so with patients and an even temper. The helmsman found the change intriguing but not worth pursuing at the moment, his mind was much too taken with his own plans to worry about inconsequentials like B'Elanna's relationship to Seven.
"Did you hear about the new project the Captain has placed me in charge of?" Tom piped up hoping to make a quick start in re- establishing his worth among the crew.
"What, did she make you chief of the holodeck or something." Asked an uninterested B'Elanna.
"No, I'm going to be teaching an elite group of pilots for battle readiness." Having dropped what he hoped was a bombshell on his two female listeners he sat back to await their praise.
"I thought we already had dozens of pilots" B'Elanna was still less than riveted.
"Yes but not of the right calibre." Tom looked towards Chakotay to back him up.
"We seem to have a shortage of well trainer experienced pilots," Chakotay begun, "Tom volunteered to train others so that in an emergency helm could be continuously manned by our best pilots."
"It seems a logical decision." Stated Seven before going back to eating what Neelix had described as a Roolan stew, avoiding the pink tinged objects of more pressing concern at that moment than one of Mr Paris's schemes.
"Hmm." Was the Klingon's only comment as she tried to work out what would be in it for Tom, then chiding herself for such an uncharitable thought added, "sounds great Tom, I'm sure you'll do a fine job."
This wasn't exactly the overflowing enthusiasm Tom had been hoping for, but he knew that given time his contribution to Voyagers safety would garner him the respect he craved. Deciding to change the subject he pointed his fork towards the corner of the room and asked the two women, "Have you seen Harry?"
Both women looked up from their plates to scrutinise the couple sitting at the corner table, which Seven realised had been moved marginally to afford the occupants a little extra seclusion. Harry Kim was adorned in a new dark grey shirt, one that he had finally chosen after repeated consultations with an increasingly agitated B'Elanna. The woman sitting across from him, and from the look on her face, thoroughly enjoying her evening, was Claire Mortimer, an ensign assigned to security. Claire was of a similar age to Harry, a small woman of an athletic build, her most striking physical attribute being her bright red hair, which at that moment was tied back in two small plaits. Her hands seemed to be in continual motion as she related what looked to be an amusing story to a rapt Harry. Both women having come to the conclusion that they made a happy, or suitable couple turned back to their meals.
"Seems to be going well." B'Elanna commented.
"Come on, you'd think he's take her to the holodeck or somewhere, he's not gonna get anywhere making her eat Neelix's food." Disagreed Tom.
"I don't know, if you can survive Neelix's stew together, a lifetime commitment is a piece of cake." Replied the commander with a chuckle.
"Ensign Mortimer does not care for the holodeck." Seven clarified.
"Everyone likes the holodeck," Paris argued, "even Tuvok uses it."
"Tuvok uses the holodeck for meditation and training exercises only, not as a form of entertainment." Seven countered.
"It's unnatural not to like the holodeck." Paris persisted, even though he was aware that he'd gone too far, but the borg was starting to bug him, I mean what did she know about what normal humans found enjoyable.
"Maybe not everyone prefers spending all their time in one, some people actually like reality." B'Elanna got in heatedly.
Seven having finished her meal rose to leave, "Relying on artificial constructs and make believe to build and sustain a romantic affiliation is a flawed hypothesis. Ensign Kim has been wise enough to realise this. Good night."
B'Elanna watched Seven leave thinking she's just described my whole relationship with Tom.
"Since when did Seven become an expert on romance?" Tom asked flippantly.
"When indeed." Mumbled the Klingon before, with a nod to the two men, leaving the mess hall.
To be continued....