I'm stuck on another story and this one popped in my head and won't leave me alone. I usually enjoy the mentor relationship that Owen Paris and Kathryn Janeway have and I don't like when he is cast in a negative light. But, the story took me there. I don't own any of these characters or anything of Star Trek: Voyager. If I did we wouldn't have non-Star Trek fans directing Star Trek movies. I hope you enjoy!
It had all started so perfect, a reunion/welcome home dinner for Captain Janeway and Tom, B'Elanna and Miral Paris hosted by Admiral Owen Paris and Elizabeth Paris. Tom's sisters, Kathleen and Hannah joined them for the dinner as well. Elizabeth Paris had created a masterful feast and the former Voyager crew regaled everyone with tales of their adventures and lighter moments on Voyager.
Kathryn Janeway was in the new gray-style Starfleet uniforms with her command red turtleneck and four gold pips on her collar. Even nine months after Voyager had returned to Earth, she was still busy with meetings about Voyager. She had come straight from Voyager debrief meetings at Starfleet Command to the Paris home. Overall, she couldn't complain about the outcome of their homecoming for her crew. The Maquis had been cleared of any charges and allowed to retain their field commissions and continue to serve in Starfleet if they chose to, the Equinox Five were given a dishonorable discharge, Lieutenant Tom Paris had his prison sentence considered served on Voyager, Seven of Nine and The Doctor were not sent to be experimented on by Starfleet and Kathryn Janeway was cleared of any wrongdoing as Voyager's Captain. She had been able to reunite with her sister, Phoebe and her mother, Gretchen in Indiana. She was trying to keep busy to avoid thinking about Chakotay and Seven. She had been overjoyed when Owen had invited her to join his family for a celebration dinner.
It was meant to be a celebration after arriving back in the Alpha Quadrant after seven years with the help and sacrifice of the future Admiral Janeway. But, Owen Paris had already had some whiskey to give him courage for the dinner before it had begun and drank more during the dinner. He loved his son and could not be more proud of his son's accomplishments and life choices since joining Voyager, but there was still the underlying discord that ran between he and his son and he wasn't sure how to fix it. What happened next felt like some kind of slow motion shuttle crash. Owen wondered later, if some alien took over his body.
The conversation had shifted to the topic of Tom and he tried not to look too uncomfortable. B'Elanna squeezed his hand under the table to give him strength. Captain Janeway kept trying to redirect the conversation as well as defend Tom, while his father had started to criticize Tom. 'Some things never change.' Tom thought.
Tom had zoned out trying to tune out what his father was saying until he heard his captain say in a shocked and cold tone, "I beg your pardon, what did you just say, Admiral?"
"You heard me Katie, I don't think I need to repeat it. My son has been a disgrace to the Paris name and I'm just glad that you were able to whip him into shape. The boy has never been grateful for all that I have been able to provide for him even after he killed those three officers at Caldik Prime." Owen took another sip of wine.
The famous Captain Janeway death glare was directed at the Admiral as she shot back with verbal photon torpedoes, "Admiral, like all of us Tom has made some mistakes in his life and had the added pressure of a Starfleet legacy to live up to and to be honest Sir, you didn't always make that very easy for him. Even if he was not your son, he deserves more respect as a Starfleet officer."
"Captain, you better watch what your next words are or I will drop kick your ass back to Ensign so fast you won't be able to sit down for a week," Admiral Paris warned.
"NO! Consequences be damned." She said as she slammed both hands on the table, standing up. "I'd like to see you explain yourself to the Admiralty and why their Delta Quadrant PR tool is suddenly an Ensign. Tom has grown into an honest, and hardworking man whom I am proud to have served with and count as a friend. He has excelled at any challenge I've ever given him as his commanding officer and has served with distinction and valor as a senior bridge officer that I trust with my life. I've lost count of how many times he has saved countless lives and contributed to the quality of life aboard Voyager. I will not allow you to continue to berate and belittle him."
Owen Paris's neck and face had turned a deep shade of red and everyone at the table looked between Kathryn and Owen to see what would happen next. B'Elanna felt her Klingon blood boiling with rage at her father-in-law and was struggling with thoughts of dismembering his limbs from his body.
Kathryn saw the moment Owen snapped from his eyes, they looked dangerous and she had only seen him look like that on a few occasions, until now, none had been directed at her. She had disappointed and angered him a few times while serving under his command, but nothing like this. The only sound that could be heard was the scrapping of Owen's chair as he stood up and swiftly walked up to Kathryn. She pushed her hands off the table and stood at attention as Admiral Paris approached.
"Captain Kathryn Elizabeth Janeway," Admiral Paris yanked three of her rank pips off of her collar, "for conduct unbecoming of an officer, I hereby reduce you to the rank of Ensign and further disciplinary actions will be considered at a review board which you will be notified of at a later date to answer for your behavior. You are dismissed, Ensign Janeway."
Kathryn looked down to gather her pride and then glanced at Tom and B'Elanna giving them a reassuring nod to them. She continued to ignore Admiral Paris and looked to Elizabeth Paris, who was looking at her husband with disgust, "Elizabeth, thank you for your hospitality and wonderful cooking as always. I wish circumstances had turned out differently. Kathleen, Hannah it was nice to see you again. Tom, B'Elanna take care and give Miral a kiss for me."
Tom tried to stand, "Captain-", getting a glare from his father. Kathryn flexed her jaw to contain her emotions, "It's okay Tom, the Admiral is right."
Ensign Janeway smiled sadly then turned to leave walking out of the dining room and to the front entry hall. She paused, straightened her back with conviction and headed back to the gathering in the dining room.
Kathryn stood just inside the room and shot the final shot at the Admiral facing him down like he was an enemy from the Delta Quadrant. She spoke in that deceptively soft voice, "What the hell, may as well say all that needs to be said. You know, I'm actually thankful that my father is dead. If Edward Janeway were here to see how low his friend has actually sunk to, he would be ashamed of what you have become, a bitter old man. If this is how you treat someone you consider like a daughter, I can understand why Tom had so many challenges to overcome living under your shadow.
You know, we have seen each other at our worst in that Cardassian hell hole and your strength, courage, determination and sacrifice pulled us through what they did to us until we were rescued. You probably have never told your wife or children what we went through. I will never forget all that you have done for me and I looked to you as a second father. One that was actually there for me. Even when my father was alive he was always away on some important mission or in important meetings for Starfleet.
You were there to sponsor me and encourage me. I got to see what I thought was a kind and compassionate man beneath the tough exterior that cadets and young officers under your command saw. You convinced me to switch to the command track, you were my inspiration and model of what I aspired to be as a Starfleet officer. It's a shame it has come to this." She paused briefly and then laughed bitterly, "You know what, it's like I never left the Al Batani. I was an Ensign then too. But, at least then I saw a man I was honored to serve under. Now, well I know better." She gave one last glare at Owen Paris, said "Sir" as if it were an insult and charged out the door without looking back.
Tom squeezed B'Elanna's hand and nodded to her as they heard Miral crying in one of the upstairs bedrooms. B'Elanna slowly got up and as she left she growled at the Admiral. Tom and B'Elanna had not really unpacked too many of their belongings from Voyager with the majority of them still in storage. B'Elanna went to Miral soothingly speaking to her as she went about packing up their clothes and a few other personal items that they had brought from Voyager. She changed Miral packed up her diaper bag and nursery care items and in less than 10 minutes she was done. She could hear nothing from the dining room as she came back in with all of their bags. Tom was staring down Owen and his sisters were trying to escape the room, bumping into B'Elanna.
Kathleen leaned into B'Elanna patting her arm and whispered, "We're sorry for father's behavior. Please let mother and the two of us know if we can be of any help and where you will be staying."
B'Elanna nodded then stepped forward into the room. "Tom, we're ready." She made sure she was a safe distance from her father-in-law, for Miral's sake.
Tom glanced over then came over to wrap his arm around his wife and child. He then set his jaw and said in a controlled rage, "You know I thought I had seen everything you could ever do, but I shouldn't be surprised anymore. Insult me all you want, but I will never forgive you for what you have done to my Captain and my friend. Kathryn Janeway is a better person and Starfleet officer than you will ever be. Mother, sorry."
They went to the Admiral's personal transporter pad and set the coordinates for the Janeway home. Tom decided that this was one time that it was good for Admirals to have transporters in their homes. Although he really wanted to have one of those dramatic exits like he love from his favorite 20th century drama shows and movies.
Gretchen Janeway had been expecting Katie home soon, so she wasn't surprised to get a transport request, approving it right away. What materialized on her transporter pad was the last thing she was expecting, two of Katie's Voyager officers and their child. Well, this would be an interesting story. And where was Katie?