AN: See bottom.
Co-Authors: sernity1806 and BMH210683
Disclaimer: Star Trek Voyager belongs to Paramount, and the Paxon's are from a video game called Wing Commander so they own that. (If I have the owners of Voyager wrong let me know).
For Naomi
Kathryn shifts in her seat not because the seat is uncomfortable but due to her feeling agitated and yet she can't understand why they're not under attack or being attacked? Nothing bad is happening, in fact she would call it an uneventful shift with everybody quietly doing their job and yet something doesn't feel right for some reason.
With this thought in mind she tries to figure out what is wrong, it isn't the planet they are currently in orbit of, which is called Pax-Seven, from the view screen it looks like a beautiful world very much like Earth in a weird way, except the entire planet is covered with land, and there is no water unlike on Earth which is 98% water and 2% land.
Slowly Kathryn turns her attention from the view screen to the Ops station where Mr. Kim is working quietly. He must be able to feel her eyes on him because a minute after she looks at him he lifts his head and looks at her giving her a small rather nervous looking smile before quickly lowering his head and doing his best to look as though he is really working or that he is working hard she isn't sure which impression Harry is trying to give her. As she continues to watch him Kathryn can't help but find this both cute and funny due to the fact that despite how long they have known one and other and been working together she still has the same affect on her Operations officer as she did when he first came aboard.
Slowly Kathryn turns her attention from the shy Ensign to the man sitting in the seat next to her looking down at a PADD in his hand he too must feel her eyes on him because after a minute of her staring at him Chakotay lifts his head and looks at her which causes her to blush slightly due to him having caught her staring. He smiles at her and gives her a nod of his head which is his way asking her if she is alright she responds by nodding her head back letting him know that she is. Chakotay then turns his attention back to the PADD in his hand and quietly continues to read what is on it. As he does this Kathryn can't help but frown due to the fact she doesn't mind staring at Harry Kim even if he catches her and yet when she stares at Chakotay and gets caught she feels guilty for doing it.
She quickly shrugs this thought off as she turns her attention over to her Tactical officer and long time friend Tuvok, who despite knowing that she is now staring at him doesn't look up from his work station he just quietly continues doing whatever it is he is doing. Kathryn can't help but smile at this due to Tuvok being the only person on the Bridge who can withstand her stare and not look at her back well the only one of two people who can withstand her stare and not look back. The other person being her helmsman, who leads Kathryn to turn her attention from Tactical to the helm and quickly realizes that the back of person she is staring at isn't Lieutenant Paris's but rather Ensign Nelson.
As she thinks more about it the fact that Ensign Nelson is at helm and Tom isn't the more Kathryn starts to realise why she is feeling agitated it's because of how quiet it is despite everything else that is going on the Bridge the silence is not normal. What is normal is for her to be chatting to either Tom or Chakotay, or Tom talking to Harry, or telling a joke or something, and even if he isn't the one talking Tom is normally the instigator of conversation on the Bridge and everybody ends up getting involved in whatever conversation Tom starts, except for Tuvok even though Tom does do his best to try and bring the Vulcan into the conversation.
Kathryn smiles, unable to believe how one person's absence can change so much even though to some, it wouldn't seem like a lot Tom's ability to strike up a conversation helps the shift when it is like this seem less monotonous.
"Paris to Janeway."
Kathryn blinks realising that Tom is contacting her from the planet's surface via the com.
Speak of the devil. She mentally says to herself as she taps her communicator.
"Janeway here, go ahead Tom."
Down on the planet's surface
Tom smiled, unable to believe how much he missed hearing his Captain's voice for the past 6 hours.
"I'm happy to report we have just successfully concluded our negotiations with the Paxon high command." He says as he continues to lead his away team towards the beam out site the very same spot where they first beamed down to the planet 6 hours ago.
"That is great news Tom congratulations on a job well done." Kathryn's voice says over the communicator.
"Thank you ma'am." Tom says even though he can't see it, he can tell by the tone of her voice that she is smiling as he looks over his shoulder and see's Neelix and Sam Wildman walking side by side chatting about something although he can't hear what it is.
"However the congratulations should go to our Ambassador." Tom adds which causes both Neelix and Sam to stop their conversation and turn and look at him.
Sam smiles as she turns her attention back to Neelix who is staring at Tom in shock.
"Well." Neelix says evidently embarrassed by Tom's gesture. "I may have gotten things started between our two parties however it was Mr. Paris who managed to seal the deal, I believe is the correct term." Neelix says smiling at his good friend.
Tom smile's back at him as Neelix and Sam go back to their conversation and he turns his attention back in the direction they are headed.
"Well congratulations to the both of you." Kathryn says over the com.
"To all of you in fact." She adds.
Tom looks at the two security guards that are with him, Sam and Neelix, one of which is walking on the left side of him and the other is walking on the right neither of them seem to have heard their Captain's praise and both seem focused on the surrounding areas and making sure that they are safe which Tom guesses is a good thing since that is their job.
"When can we start trading with the Paxon's Tom?" Kathryn's asks over the com, causing Tom to turn his attention back in the direction they are heading and focus on her.
"They have asked that we give them 24 hours in order that they may prepare the things that they are willing to give us in trade, which will give us 24 hours to prepare the things we are willing to give them in exchange." Tom tells her over the com.
"Very well. How long before you're able to beam back aboard?" Kathryn asks.
"We are just about to reach the transporter-"
"Lieutenant!"
The Security officer on Tom's right suddenly snaps causing Tom to turn and look in the direction of the security officer who just grabbed his attention and when he does the Security officer nods his head in the direction behind them which causes Tom to turn his attention to the direction they just came from.
"Tom?" Kathryn asks over the com sounding concerned.
Tom moves around Sam and Neelix to get a better look at the two Paxon's coming towards them.
"Tom what's going on?" Kathryn asks getting more concerned due to Tom having not responded.
"Two Paxon security officers from the Council chamber are running toward us." Tom says into his communicator keeping his eyes locked on the two humanoid aliens that are running towards them for some reason the closer they get the more Tom has an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"I don't think they are the security we saw at the Council chamber Tom." Neelix says behind him.
Tom turns and looks back at Neelix who has a rather concerned look on his face which only makes Tom's bad gut feeling even stronger as he turns and looks in the direction of the two Paxon's who are getting closer and closer towards them.
"Identify yourselves!" Tom shouts due to everybody that was in the negotiations room from both parties having to identify themselves before the negotiations started and that included the two Paxon security officers that where there with the Paxon High Chancellor.
The two Paxon security officer's respond by raising the weapons they are carrying and pointing them in the direction of Tom and his away team.
"Lower your weapons!" Tom warns them reaching for his phaser.
The two Paxon's open fire however neither blast from their guns are aimed at Tom in point of fact they both go past him.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"
Tom hears both a male and a female voice cry and spins around just in time to see Sam and Neelix fall to the ground.
"Captain the away team has been fired upon permission to return fire?" Tom hears one of the Security guards say as he rushes over to check on both his friends.
"Permission granted." Kathryn says over the com channel.
Tom checks Sam and Neelix's neck for a pulse.
"Transporter room 5 to beam directly to sick bay now!" Tom snaps as he looks back over his shoulder just in time to see the two Paxon's that attacked them fall to the ground from the Security team's phaser fire.
Back on the Bridge
Kathryn upon hearing Tom's last order looks over at Chakotay who has the same worried expression on his face that she has on hers.
"I'm going to Sickbay. You have the Bridge Commander." She says as she gets up and heads for the turbo lift.
"Aye Captain." She hears Chakotay say just as she turns around inside the turbo lift and watches the doors to the lift shut.
Meanwhile in Sickbay
The Doctor watches as the away team materialize on the floor of Sickbay in front of him his focus is immediately drawn to Mr. Paris who is kneeling next to the unmoving bodies of Neelix and Ensign Wildman.
"What happened?" He asks or rather demands to know as he walks over to the two fallen officers.
"We were attacked, two Paxon security officers opened fire on us both Neelix and Sam where hit I've checked for a pulse but I can't find one." Tom tells the Doctor as he watches the EMH use a tricorder to scan both Neelix and Sam the look on his face after he has done this does not fill Tom with confidence.
"Get them on the bio-beds quickly!" The Doctor snaps at the Security officers who move into action one of them helping the Doctor get Neelix onto one bed while Tom and the other Security officer move Sam onto the other one.
The Doctor moves about trying to bring Neelix and Sam back to life.
"Get me two cortical stimulators and two, ten milligrams cordrazine. Now!" The Doctor snaps at Tom who does as he is told and returns with both of the things the Doctor wants.
The Doctor places the cortical stimulator on Neelix's forehead and then injects the ten milligrams of cordrazine into his neck while Tom places the cortical stimulator on Sam's forehead and then injects the ten milligrams of cordrazine into her neck. Tom checks Neelix and Sam's vital signs with the computer.
"Ten millijules." The Doctor said.
Tom pushes the button on the computer. Both Sam and Neelix's bodies left up and then go down.
"No pulse or blood pressure, no electrical activity in the mid brain. No measurable response in the cerebral cortex." Tom reports.
"Again." The Doctor tells Tom.
Tom pushes the button again.
"Still no vital signs or brain activity." Tom says.
"Again!" The Doctor states.
Tom does it again.
"No change!" Tom states.
"Again!" The Doctor says again.
"Doctor-"
"Don't argue with me lieutenant just do it!" The Doctor snaps.
"There's nothing more we can do." Tom says.
The Doctor looks at Tom who looks back at him with a sympathetic but serious expression on his face. The Doctor looks down at his two patients.
"Time of death thirteen hundred hours and sixteen minutes." The Doctor says.
Tom records it in the computers medical files. At that moment Kathryn walks into sickbay and immediately sees's sheets being placed over two bodies on the bio beds. She walks slowly over to Tom and places a hand on his shoulder. Despite a part of Tom wanting to continue not willing to accept the fact that his friends are gone another part of him can't help but accept. Tom hangs his head wanting to cry and yet not allowing himself to due to who is in the room with him. Kathryn watches Tom whose head is now hung which causes her to take her hand off of his shoulder. She knows and can imagine how he is feeling right now however she also knows she has to remain professional and in command so with a deep breath and a gulp she does her best to look as authoritative as possible.
"Tom." She says swallowing hard again at mentioning his name as she tries to get his attention.
"What happened?" She asks needing to know all the details.
Tom slowly lifts his head and looks at his Captain.
He does his best to clear his throat feeling the need to try and act professional.
"Two Paxon's in Paxon security attire where running towards us carrying weapons. I thought they were the two we met at the Paxon Council chamber however for some reason I had a bad gut feeling. Neelix didn't think they were the same two Paxon security officers we saw at the Council chamber either so I told them to identify themselves, due to everybody who was in the negotiations meeting had to identify themselves first including the two Paxon security officers that where there. The two Paxon's that where running towards us responded by opening fire and their weapons fire hit both Neelix and Ensign Wildman. I rushed over to them and felt for a pulse but I couldn't find one for either of them." He says.
"From what I can see Captain whatever type of weapons those two Paxon's used they were either set to kill or the weapons fire was so powerful it caused both Ensign Wildman and Neelix's system's to shutdown." The Doctor says standing the other side of Kathryn.
Kathryn slowly turns her attention from the Doctor who she was looking at while he talked and turns her attention to the two bio beds.
"Why would the Paxon's do this?" She asks not understanding how they can agree and come to a fair deal on trading supplies and then attack them like this.
Tom follows Kathryn's gaze towards the two bio beds with his friend's bodies on them.
"Did you sense anything during the negotiations?" Kathryn asks turning her attention back to Tom wondering if maybe he had a bad gut feeling earlier and simply ignored it.
"No ma'am everybody was very friendly and there were no feelings of dislike or any reason to mistrust anybody in that room." Tom says looking back at Kathryn.
"Still we need answers." Kathryn says as she taps her com badge."Janeway to Bridge."
"Chakotay here."
"Commander, contact the Paxon High Chancellor and tell him I wish to speak with him as soon as possible." Kathryn says.
"Aye Captain." Chakotay says back.
"Janeway out." Kathryn then says ending the communication with the Bridge as she looks back at the two beds.
"I'll have to inform the crew of what has happened. I would like to have all the facts first however the sooner I tell them the better." She says turning her attention to the two Security guards standing behind Tom.
"You are both dismissed I would like your reports on my desk as soon as possible." She says looking at them both.
"Yes ma'am."One says.
"Aye Captain." The other says as they both head for the doors to Sickbay.
Suddenly Tom realizes something.
"Oh no." He says hanging his head and closing his eyes.
Kathryn turns her attention to the man standing next to her.
"What is it Tom?" She asks concerned.
Tom swallows hard as he lifts his head and looks at Kathryn.
"Naomi." He says swallowing hard again.
Kathryn immediately realizes who and what Tom is talking about.
"Where is she?" She asks staring directly into Tom's eyes.
"Computer, locate Naomi Wildman." Tom says turning his attention from Kathryn and looking up at the ceiling.
"Naomi Wildman is in Astrometrics." The computer responds.
Tom smirks despite himself feeling as though he should have known that is where she would be as he turns and looks back at Kathryn the smirk slowly disappearing from his face.
"She's with Seven." He tells her.
Kathryn nods her head in understanding.
"I'll have her bring Naomi to my ready room." Kathryn says as she turns to face the Doctor.
"Doctor, will you make the funeral arrangements please?"
"Of course Captain." The Doctor says.
Kathryn nods her head and heads for the doors to Sickbay.
"Captain!" Tom says quickly as he walks over to her.
Kathryn stops just in between the two doors and turns to look at him.
Tom stops a short distance in front of her.
"I know it is normal for you to inform the next of kin of what has happened." Tom says referring to Naomi and how it is the Captain's job to tell Naomi of her mother and Godfather's deaths.
"However I was wondering if this time..." Tom tries to find the right words for what he wishes to do.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Kathryn asks able to tell from the look on Tom's face that he is having a hard time asking what she knows he wants to ask her.
Tom looks at her and she looks back at him.
"I was in charge of the mission." Tom says doing his best to sound as professional as possible. "They were under my care I feel it is my duty." He adds swallowing hard.
Kathryn smiles a small sad smile at him.
"Alright then Tom." She says and with that she heads out of Sickbay with Tom following close behind as they both enter the turbo lift Kathryn presses her com badge.
"Janeway to Seven." Kathryn says.
"Seven here Captain."
The former Borg drone's voice responds over the com-link.
"Seven is Naomi Wildman with you?" Kathryn asks already knowing the answer however feeling the need to make sure.
"Yes." Seven responds matter of factly.
"Would you mind bringing her to my ready room as soon as possible please?" Kathryn says doing her best to keep her voice as unemotional as possible.
"Yes Captain." Seven says.
"Thank you." Kathryn says."Janeway out." She adds just as the turbo lift reaches its destination and both she and Tom exit the turbo lift.
"Captain on the Bridge." Chakotay says standing up and turning to face both Tom and Kathryn.
"As you where." Kathryn says swallowing hard.
"Captain the Paxon High Chancellor is waiting to talk to you." Chakotay says able to tell despite how well she is trying to hide it that something is wrong.
"Put him through to my ready room."
Kathryn says heading for her ready room with Tom following close behind.
"You have the Bridge Commander." She adds as the doors to her ready room open and she walks through them with Tom.
"Yes ma'am." Chakotay says as he watches the doors to the ready room close and he slowly turns his attention from the ready room doors to Tuvok who looks back at him with an expressionless look on his face. Despite this Chakotay can tell that Tuvok also knows something is wrong.
AN:Well finally it is here. After I said I would re-write this I was approached by a new author on here and he wanted to get some help with writing a Tom and Kathryn story. We talked and I mentioned this story, and he was interested. We brainstormed like no other so this should be going for a while.
He wrote the first 3 chapters and is working on the others. I am too busy with college/university to do some major writing, but I get my say in this and we collaborate a lot.
Looking forward to great reviews.
PS the other story will be going down in 5 days.