A/N: This is Part II of my Excalibur Series. Part I is entitled "Moonshine", please read that one first.
Set immediately following the events in Kirsten Beyer's novel "Eternal Tide" (the one where Janeway is resurrected).
Rated T for one suggestive situation. Relaunch/non-canon. J/C and my favorite OC, Helen Andris.
Moonshine Recap: Chakotay went back to Earth a year after Kathryn's death to ask an old friend (and ex-Starfleet captain), Helen Andris, to return to duty with the Full Circle fleet. Chakotay learns that Helen left service when her lover (and CMO) died under her command. He also finds out that Janeway was the one she tendered her resignation to.
"To our wives and our lovers…...may they never meet." -Old Irish Toast
Prologue
Voyager - 2 Months Ago
"Welcome to Voyager, Captain." Chakotay smiled broadly as Captain Helen Andris stepped down off the transporter pad. They shook hands, embraced lightly and then stepped apart. Though they had met again only days ago after years apart, Chakotay appreciated the effortlessness in which their friendship seemed to resume.
"Nice Transporter Room," she said, looking around. "It's bigger than my bridge."
"Wait till you see the bridge, it's bigger than your ship." Chakotay quipped back.
"Size isn't everything, Captain." She winked, then turned her attention to the other officer in the room. "You must be Commander Paris."
"Yes Ma'am."
Tom Paris politely shook her outstretched hand. She was, he thought, an attractive woman. Her gentle features framed by shoulder-length brown wavy hair. The hair, of course, had been appropriately tied back in a simple ponytail. He was instantly at ease and could tell why Chakotay had been talking about her for the last three days. The back of his mind played out a scenario where she and Chakotay had been more than just the 'good friends' he swore they were.
Andris broke his train of thought. "I've heard stories about you from your father, Commander. He was a good man. I'm very sorry for your loss."
"Thank you," Paris replied.
Andris restarted cheerfully. "So, Who's going to show me the rest of this boat?"
Chakotay nodded to Paris. "I'm going to leave your tour to my very capable first officer. I have some business to attend to, but I'll meet up with you later for lunch."
"I'll be there," Andris patted Chakotay on the back and he left the room.
Andris turned to Paris. "Chakotay called you 'capable'. Was he referring to your abilities as an officer or as a tour guide?"
"Beats me. I got lost on my way to the infirmary the other day," Paris replied, guiding her out the door and into the hallway.
They walked a while, peaking in here and there until Andris had seen all she wanted to. And soon they were on their way to the mess hall where Chakotay would be waiting.
"I'd like to arrange for my crew to have leave on the other fleet vessels when proximity and missions permit. I'll have my first officer contact you when we are settled in the Delta Quadrant. As you probably know, Excalibur is extremely tight on space."
"I do know," Paris replied. "Actually I've been studying the specs since I learned we were adding a Defiant-class to the fleet."
"I bet you have."
Tom stopped walking for a moment. "Actually, ma'am, I've been meaning to ask you…."
"If you can take her for a spin?"
Paris raised an eyebrow. "How did you know?"
Andris shrugged. "Not hard to figure out. You're a pilot right? And Excalibur is a thing of maneuverable, tactical beauty." She put an arm around his shoulder as they resumed walking. "Actually, I came prepared to make a deal with you."
"Oh?" he asked.
"I hear you're good with holoprograms. Make one for me and once I've put Excalibur through her paces, you can have a turn."
Tom Paris extended his hand. "It's a deal."
