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Personal log- Lt. Commander Tuvok- Stardate 51008
It has been two days since Kes left us. While I am pleased that she has reached a point in her development where she is ready to move on to bigger and better things, I find that her absence has left an empty spot in my life. I have spent the last four years helping her grow, and now she is gone. I only hope that she was able to benefit from the lessons I taught her as much as I was able to benefit from teaching them.
--End Log--
Just as Tuvok finished his log entry, his door chimed. He called out, "Enter!"
Captain Janeway walked in. Tuvok said, "Captain, this is a pleasant surprise. Come in. What can I do for you?"
They sat down on the couch, and Janeway said, "I guess I need someone to talk to. I miss Kes. I know she needed to go, but I wish she could have stayed."
Tuvok said, "I am sure that she misses you, too. She regards you as a maternal figure. You raised her more than her biological mother. She cares a great deal about you, and she is grateful for the guidance you have shown her. She wouldn't be the person she is today without your help. You should feel honored that she is ready, in part because of your efforts, to leave. I remember when my oldest son reached adulthood and moved away from home. His absence was difficult, but I knew that the only way he could continue his development was to leave."
Janeway smiled. "I had no idea Kes felt that way. She regards you highly as well. She told me that she considers you to be like a father to her. When you and Neelix were fused in the transporter accident, she was just as distressed at the prospect of losing you as she was at the prospect of losing Neelix. She is very grateful for all the help you have given her."
Tuvok went over to the replicator and ordered two glasses of juice. He came back, sat down, and offered one of them to Janeway. He said, "On Vulcan, when a child reaches adulthood and moves away from home, the parents drink a glass of plomeek juice in remembrance, and as a blessing of goodwill. I think that it would be appropriate for us to follow this tradition."
Janeway raised her glass and said, "To Kes. May she continue to grow and learn, and may she continue to remember us as we will always remember her."
Tuvok raised his glass, and then they both took a sip of the juice. Suddenly, being thousands of light years away from his own family didn't seem so bad. After all, Voyager had become like family as well.