Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek. I'm just using it to sharpen my writing skills and to have fun.

Future's Present

Chapter 1

It had been a long, slow day, in a long, slow week, in a long, slow month on Voyager. They were traveling through a boring region of space. There were no anomalies, no nebulae, and the nearest star system was still another month away. The senior officers were at their posts on the bridge, and Lt. Paris was secretly hoping for some excitement. Suddenly, he got his wish.

A beep sounded, and Ensign Kim said, "Captain, I'm picking up an automated distress call."

"Source?" asked Captain Janeway.

"It is 50,000 km straight in front of us. It appears to be a Federation signal."

"Try hailing it."

"No response, but we are in visual range."

"On screen."

The viewscreen came to life, and the entire bridge crew gasped. It was an escape pod, bearing the registry NCC-74656. As Captain Janeway stared at the screen in shock, Tuvok said, "Captain, I have scanned Voyager, and all of our escape pods are accounted for."

Ensign Kim said, "I'm detecting chronoton radiation in the escape pod. I'm also detecting one lifesign. I'm having trouble getting a clear reading, but I think it might be human."

Janeway sighed. Chronotons were an indication of time travel. "Can you get a tractor beam on it?"

"Yes. I'm bringing the pod into the cargo bay."

Janeway nodded and said, "Chakotay, you have the bridge. Tuvok, you're with me."

Janeway and Tuvok headed to greet their guest. When they arrived, the engineers were just getting the door open. Out stepped a young man, in his late 20's or early 30's. He wore a blue Starfleet uniform, rank lieutenant. He had medium toned skin and pointed ears. Janeway did not recognize him.

She said, "Hello. My name is Captain Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. Are you in need of assistance?"

The mysterious guest said, "I am Lieutenant Sorek, also of Voyager. I'm sure you have many questions for me. As you can probably tell from the chronoton radiation surrounding the escape pod, I come from the future."

Janeway looked puzzled, but said, "Welcome aboard. Let's get you to sickbay."

"A most logical course of action," replied Sorek.

As they were walking to sickbay, Sorek turned to Tuvok and said, "Although you do not recognize me, it is agreeable to see you again, Father."

Tuvok's eyebrow shot up in surprise. He was speechless. As soon as they arrived in sickbay, Sorek fainted. The Doctor examined him and gave him a hypo spray.

The Doctor said, "It appears that what Lt. Sorek has told you so far is accurate. According to the temporal displacement in his cellular structure, he comes from roughly 30 years in the future. A DNA scan proves that Lt. Tuvok is indeed his father."

Tuvok said, matter-of-factly "But my wife is back on Vulcan, 70,000 light years away."

The Doctor said, awkwardly, "Quite right. However, T'Pel is not Sorek's mother."

While Tuvok took a moment to process that information, Janeway asked, "So who is?"

The Doctor paused before saying simply, "You are, Captain."

Janeway and Tuvok looked everywhere in sickbay except for at each other. Before anyone could say anything, Sorek regained consciousness. The Doctor took out his tricorder, scanned Sorek, and said, "Your system was in shock from the time shift. You should be fine now."