Future Perfect
(Or Voyager: The Next Generation)
By AnnaPhylactic
Disclaimer: Don't own Startrek:Voy, don't own the StarTrek universe, you know that, surely? But I DO own my original characters – represented here by Sans Redekka and J'Essa Paris, will be more to come… The story (I hope) is my own as well.
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Part One
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Lt. Commander Naomi Wildman stepped on to the terrace of Deep Space Nine, smartly adjusting her uniform as she did so. She had arrived from Star Fleet academy the day before and was spending her last few days of leave at the space station before departing on a journey to the Delta quadrant. She welcomed the chance to readjust to being a normal person again. At the Academy, Naomi Wildman was something of a celebrity, the first child to be born on the Star Ship Voyager, the first Star Fleet offspring to be raised in the Delta quadrant.
Naomi herself did not class herself as anything special. True, her formative years had perhaps been a little unorthodox, but then she was far from the only member of Star Fleet to be raised on a Star Ship, and she had always been surrounded by people who loved and cared about her.
Slowly she made her way to her quarters. She had messages waiting for her. She let the computer relay them as she slowly changed out of her holo-programme outfit. The first was from her mother, asking her to call her before she left. Samantha Wildman was now living on earth, working at one of the Academy's research units. The next message was from J'Essa Paris, Naomi's closest friend from Voyager. J'Essa was one of Star Fleet's most promising young pilots. There was very little that J'Essa didn't know about starships, big and small, and her courage and strength combined with great confidence and charm made an unforgettable combination.
"Hey Naomi!" J'Essa's familiar voice called out.
"I'm on my way. Should be arriving at Deep Space 9 in about twelve hours. Then maybe I'll get to find out the big secret? See you soon, Paris out."
The next few messages were mostly friends offering congratulations, or best wishes. Naomi involuntarily shook her head; the Voyager crew didn't need to be on a star ship to let news travel fast.
She missed it though she had to admit. She had spent her childhood growing up in a confined community where she knew everyone and they knew her. There was a closeness between everybody, an unspoken closeness that still remained. She had not found that on any other vessel since leaving Voyager, but then she had not served for very long anywhere. Her skills always seemed to be needed somewhere else. Her passion for discovery and adventure moved her on, but her longing for security made her lonely. And now she was going home.
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Despite making a career out of her life in the Delta Quadrant, Naomi had never been back since Voyager returned to the Alpha Quadrant when she was 15 years old. It was not as though she couldn't go back if she wanted to. The same technology that had brought Voyager back was now helping others to travel there on a regular basis. She had been offered more than one assignment there - her expertise was a rare commodity. But she had never accepted them. She preferred to stay in the Alpha Quadrant; close to those she loved the best. Close to her father whom she was still just getting to know. Yet now she was going back, for the first time in eleven years, and she had no idea what to expect.
The Delta Quadrant. The place J'Essa would call home. Naomi had never thought of it that way. But J'Essa's upbringing had been so different from hers. Her parents - Captain's Tom and B'Elanna Paris, were never sure of where they fitted in in the alpha quadrant - to them, the delta quadrant, or more specifically Voyager, was where they were happiest. Samantha Wildman on the other hand, had left behind a husband and a life in the alpha quadrant. And had been left with a much-wanted child to raise alone. Despite being happy on Voyager, Samantha had taught her daughter that the Alpha quadrant was home, and the stories she had told her were of there and the people that lived there. But that was not the reason that Naomi was looking forward to this assignment with such foreboding. Or the reason that she had accepted it in the first place.
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Lt. Commander Naomi Wildman strode purposely through the boulevard of Deep Space Nine. Tall, attractive, and with a reputation as one of Star Fleet' most important intelligence officers, Wildman was not short on confidence. But despite her cool professional exterior, inside she was as excited as she had been on her fifth birthday, when Neelix threw her a party in the mess hall of the Star Ship Voyager.
J'Essa Paris was the latest in a long line of Paris's to become a Star Fleet officer. Her Grandfather, Owen Paris, was one of the leading administrative officers at Star Fleet Academy now that his distinguished field career was over. Her father, Captain Tom Paris had achieved a more colorful curriculum vitae, but had nonetheless distinguished himself also, and since his return from the Delta Quadrant, had been researching new flight technology. J'Essa herself was another promising young Paris. Naomi had known all along that she would make it, and now she had no doubt about what she needed to do.
Naomi met the shuttle as it landed. As soon as J'Essa saw Naomi she began running, her honey coloured hair waving in the wind, her bright face shining. More than a few heads turned to see the attractive girl rush to greet her friend.
"Naomi! Well, I made it!" J'Essa cried, thrilled to see her best friend again. "I'm so glad you're here! I can't believe you're going back to the delta quadrant!"
"Yes," said Naomi warmly. "We'll have to have a real good gossip about old times."
J'Essa smiled at Naomi and kissed her. "Come on, Commander - I'd like to get some good old earth-style coffee before I do anything. After that, you're in charge."
"Yes, Ma'am." Naomi saluted smartly. "Follow me."
Later, sat in J'Essa's quarters, with several coffee's and part of a chocolate cake inside them, they discussed the latest gossip from the old voyager crew.
" I heard that Harry Kim has got command of the latest Delta-Quadrant exploration mission." J'Essa said.
"Yeah I know, Aunty Kath couldn't believe it. Said that the whole time we were in the Delta Quadrant, Harry couldn't wait to get back, and now we are back he's choosing to leave!"
J'Essa laughed. "But there's a huge difference between knowing you can get back and never being quite sure. Dad always said that was part of the adventure - the not knowing. But it depends what you've left behind I guess."
Naomi nodded, and settled herself more comfortably in her chair.
J'Essa looked at her.
"How do you feel about going back? You haven't been back at all have you?"
"No, I haven't... I don't know how I feel. The actual going back I don't have a problem with so much, its the - "
"What?" J'Essa asked, as Naomi stopped abruptly.
"J'Essa, I have to talk to you seriously." Naomi began.
"Sure, you know you can" J'Essa replied, as Naomi knew she would.
"I need to say that I'm not just going on a social visit."
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J'Essa Paris was the eldest child of B'Elanna Torres and Tom Paris. She seemed to have been lucky enough to inherit the best traits of both parents - her mother's strength and independence, her father's sense of humour and charm. And of top of it she was an extremely good pilot and had all the makings of an excellent Star Fleet officer. Her knowledge of all spacecrafts was second to none, and few could fly better than she could.
She was not, of course, completely faultless, her most obvious vice being pride. But being the inheritor of her father's sense of humour, it didn't often get the better of her. But even a good sense of humour had trouble when it came up against her stubbornness.
As a child, J'Essa had worshipped Naomi, and although as adults their relationship was more even-handed, J'Essa still looked up to Naomi as a superior, as someone whom she could learn from. It was only when it came to flying that J'Essa would stamp any authority. Naomi was certain that if she could choose any pilot for the forthcoming mission, then J'Essa would be the one.
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"J'Essa, you must have heard about the problems in the delta quadrant, many of its peoples are objecting to it being overrun by Federation vessels. Especially after the war the Romulans started in the X'Taran sector."
"Its being exploited you mean!"
"Well, yes. And there are fears that more wars may break out. Starfleet is trying to do something to ease the tension. My specific brief for this mission is to contact some of our allies and attempt to meet with the victims of the Romulan war. At the moment they are doing their best to thwart peace negotiations by the Federation. They're being helped by some of the more militant planets – including the Kazon."
"Are you sure that you're allowed to tell me all of this, Naomi?"
"Well, that's just it, J'Essa. I'm telling you for a specific reason. For specific reasons the details of this mission must remain as secret as possible – even from other Starfleet vessels out there. Plus there is a very strong chance that we will be involved directly in battles and will be attacked ourselves. In short I need the best team I can put together."
"And let me guess," J'Essa was smiling. "You need a pilot."
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J'Essa took the helm of the vessel that was to transport herself and Naomi and their small crew to the delta quadrant. It was quite small, technology was still not advanced enough to move large star ships regularly in safety, but things were improving. J'Essa herself liked the look of her new flight. She was relishing the chance to be in control of a shuttle traveling such a great distance - it was one of the few flight experiences she had never had.
"Lt. Paris?" An authoritative voice called out suddenly behind the conn.
J'Essa swung round in her seat. She recognized the pips and rose to her feet.
"Commander." She acknowledged.
"At ease, Lieutenant, I'm just taking an unofficial tour. My name is Commander Sans Redekka."
J'Essa nodded, but her faced showed no recognition.
"We've met before, Lieutenant. We were at the academy at the same time. - I'm going to be on this mission as well?" The Commander added impatiently.
"What - on Naomi, I mean Commander Wildman's, mission?"
"Yes, Lieutenant. Didn't she tell you?"
"No she didn't. Sir, I mean. I was under the impression that Cmdr Wildman herself was to be the senior officer on this mission."
"So she is," he sounded impatient. "In terms of background and practical experience Naomi is *my* superior. Rank in this case is superficial."
"Oh, is it." J'Essa muttered, wondering if she had to respect the rank of someone who themselves didn't.
She took another look at this Commander Redekka as he started to overview the recent scans of the ship. He was tall, dark; cranial ridges. He was obviously part Klingon. That explains the bad attitude, thought J'Essa.
Sans glanced across at J'Essa Paris at the conn. He remembered her well from the academy. She had always been surrounded by admirers. Once he had tried to get her involved in a project he was in charge of - say what you like about her personal conduct she was a first class pilot - but she had refused. Thought he was trying to pick her up. She was big headed. But then why not? She had probably been pampered and flattered all her life, thought Sans. And she's green. The lieutenant had never been chief helmsman on a long-term flight. She was lacking in command experience. Sans wondered a little over Naomi Wildman's choice of Conn officer. He had rarely known Naomi to make a personnel mistake, and he had known her a long time. All right, he would give this Paris woman a chance. Then he smiled to himself. Of course, he didn't have to let her know that.
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Naomi came to take her place next to Sans on board the small bridge of the Federation Starship Fortuna, she nodded at her crew.
"Is everything ready?" She asked.
"Yes, Commander," Sans replied. "All that's left to do is get under way."
Naomi steadied herself, trying to relax her grip on the chair arms.
"Then let's go, Lt. Paris?"
J'Essa turned around to grin at Naomi as she started the thrusters, slowly releasing the Fortuna from the space dock.
"Next stop – Delta Quadrant!" J'Essa grinned, as they shot quickly to warp.
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To be continued…
Will Commander Wildman and her wily team of Starfleet's finest make it safely to the delta quadrant? Will they encounter strange new worlds? Will there be more character development? Find out in the next exciting installment of Voyager:TNG!
Please Read/Review (it's harder to write when you actually – gulp – make up characters of your own.)