Who Am I : I'm not sure there's even a readership out there anymore. Personally I've only just started re-watching the show since we got Netflix. I remember seeing Voyager for the first time as part of the Star Trek club way back in the 90's. In those days the video's were shipped from the US by other fanatics and Australian TV was so far behind the rest of the world, we waited years to see the shows broadcast on free to air. The internet, I hear you ask – in it's infancy. After rewatching I had the idea to read some fanfiction. I've written about 100 works for other genera's but never Star Trek, unless you count the attempts of a 13 year old on paper! Yes, I've been writing along time! Well, here goes my AU of the Caretaker episodes, with, of course, a little twist. I'm not sure if this will be a continuing series or not as I have so many other unfinished works or works in progress. I guess time will tell.
AN: As with everything I write, there will be whole sections of the episodes I assume you're familiar with. If there are long parts missing, please accept they occur just as in the series. My intention is to concentrate on the story only in so far as it changes from the original. Eventually, every scene will be completely new material, leading to my own interpretation or what I would have liked to see.
Finally, the concept is not mine, I've just taken the characters from Paramount/CBC, placed them in particular situations and run with a new version of the story. Those parts are mine. Oh, and no point suing me, I don't have any money!
Stardate 48277.8
Part One : Unchained
In the land of the long white cloud, this immaculate blue day appeared to poke fun at New Zealand's Federation Penal Settlement situated just outside the capital of Auckland. Or, perhaps, it knew a fresh start was about to be offered to one of the inmates. An ankle-tag secured on his right foot, Mr. Paris found himself busy attending to an electrical sub-router on an elevated walkway above one of the sections of reclaimed land. Reclamation Park would soon welcome visitors from across the galaxy as a marvel of modern terraforming. They would have the opportunity to see the wonders of New Zealand's natural flora and fauna, which had disappeared a century or more ago. Standing on the metal span above the prisoners assigned work station, Captain Kathryn Janeway watched Tom Paris use a laser welder, piecing together two electrical sections of lighting for the arial skywalk.
"Tom Paris?" The Captain enquired with a slight lifting of her lips. The son of Admiral Own Paris, this young man's reputation preceded him. Waiting until she gained his attention, the woman added, "I'm Kathryn Janeway. I served with your father on the Al-Batani."
Watching him carefully, Captain Janeway saw the weariness enter his expression. Mention of his parent earned Tom's immediate hesitancy and distrust. She knew of the family situation. Admiral Paris had briefed her personally.
Tom's eyes flicked to the pips on her collar. Mr. Paris could not fail to understand the woman's rank. He'd graduated from the Starfleet academy as one of it's most talented but overconfident pilots. Unfortunately, he also gained a well deserved reputation for being brash and labeled a little too sure of himself, a label that stuck after the incident on Caldik Prime. One the young man seemed determined to keep with the weary insolence in his expression.
"I wonder if we could go somewhere and talk," she offered softly, unsure if he would accept.
Sweeping a hand before her, Kathryn indicated a narrow pathway between the verdant greenery a short distance away. Nodding to the officer-in-charge of the work party, Captain Janeway turned her back on the prisoner and strolled into the thick undergrowth. Unconcerned if he joined her, Kathryn knew she could not leave this Penal Settlement without the young man's help. Too much depended on it.
"About what?" Tom enquired, a little ill at ease when he caught up to the woman. Looking back over his shoulder, he noticed the guard smirk and turn back to the other inmates. It seemed the phaser at Captain Janeway's waist, along with his anklet, would be enough of a deterrent from attempting escape.
Stopping suddenly, Katheryn turned to face the now confused younger man with a wide smile, "about a job we'd like you to do for us."
"I'm already doing a job for the Federation," Tom responded with a trademark smirk that disguised his true emotions. He'd allowed only a few people close enough to call friend, keeping his shell of rogue well and truly in place for the majority. Too much hurt lay behind his all seeing baby blues to trust anyone easily, especially himself or his decisions.
"I've been told the Rehabilitation Commission is very pleased with your work," she offered easily, internally rolling her eyes. Mr. Paris was living up to his reputation, one that seemed well deserved on paper. Yet there were a few at the academy, and within Starfleet, still willing to speak well of the young man. "The board met with Starfleet representatives this morning. They have given me their approval to discuss this matter with you."
Once again glancing over his shoulder, Tom weighed his options. Wondering what Starfleet could possibly want with a washout, he replied with a calculating smirk, "well then, I guess I'm yours."
Unable to show either her relief or reluctance, Katheryn Janeway recommended her stroll through the trees. Looking around, she applauded the work, regenerating the natural environment, and yet protecting it from the thousands of visitors who would come to see this marvel of unique flora and fauna. Carefully, she commenced on her mission, with the same level of dedication and care she'd shown throughout her illustrious career.
"Your father taught me a great deal," she watched for any reaction to her words. The intense feelings between Tom Paris and his father remained, yet they seemed to be of shame and rejection in the young man's case. Not what Owen led me to expect from his son, Kathryn considered. She felt compelled to make a subtle reference to her history with the Admiral, as a test of his character. "I was his science officer during the Orias expedition."
"You must be good," Tom attempted to elevate his disquiet by using an ironic tone. "My father only accepted the best and the brightest while defending the Federation-Cardassian boarder, before he got suck behind a desk in San Fransisco." And I should know, because I always seemed to be a disappointment to him. If he'd only let me try out for the Federation Naval Patrol, and not insisted on Starfleet, things might have turned out differently. He never understood, all I wanted to do was fly and that was all the Maquis wanted from me.
When the Captain didn't respond, Tom smirked. "I remember hearing all about the Admiral's days as the Captain on an Excelsior class starship. But you didn't come here to reminisce with me, Captain, especially about Federation/Cardassian relations. After all, that entire situation is what landed me in my current situation. What is it you want from me?"
Feeling the time was right, Kathryn stated, "I'm leaving on a mission to find a Maquis ship that disappeared in the Badlands a week ago."
"I wouldn't if I were you," Tom responded immediately, intently watching her reaction to his harsh words.
"Really?" The Captain said when the pause became long enough to assume Mr. Paris would say no more.
Not sure what the woman expected from him, Tom offered with a grin, "I've never seen a Federation starship that could manoeuvre through the plasma storms."
Allowing her eyebrows to quirk upwards, Janeway announced, "you've never seen a Federation ship like Voyager. We'd like you to come along."
Now I understand, Tom attempted to hide his reaction. "You'd like me to lead you to my former colleagues?" He appreciated the rational but not the reason for his inclusion. "I was only with the Maquis a few weeks before I was captured, Captain," he explained thoughtfully. "I don't know where most of their hiding places are."
"You know the territory better than anyone we've got," Katheryn sighed, glancing towards the trees.
"What's so important about this particular Maquis ship?" Tom asked, intrigued.
Although both the Federation and Cardassian's labeled the Maquis outlaw's, many were just normal people trying to stop tyranny infecting their home worlds. The stories he'd heard, the atrocities inflicted on innocent populations while training for his first mission, affected Thomas Eugene Paris more than anyone realised. He'd been caught, charged with mutiny and sent to this penal colony on that same mission. The captain of his ship, Chakotay, thought of Tom Paris as a gun for hire, little more than a drunken mercenary. He'd been more accurate than Tom Paris liked to admit, before joining the band of fighters. Yet, as the pilot, Tom managed to allow the rest of the crew to flee undetected, escaping both Starfleet and Cardassian capture. He'd sacrificed himself to save the others onboard.
Watching the expressions rapidly cross the young man's face, Janeway decided on the direct approach. Somehow, she knew Tom Paris would react better to honesty. Something undefinable flickered in his eyes. If only Janeway could understand it, she knew she could bend Mr. Paris to her will without him realising.
"My Chief of Security was on board," Kathryn answered easily, "undercover. He was supposed to report in twice during the last six days. He didn't."
"Maybe," Tom theorised, remembering his own time with the Maquis, "it's just your Chief of Security who's disappeared."
"Maybe," Janeway responded, understanding the reference, and Mr. Paris only to well. Yet she couldn't lose hope that Tuvok remained loyal to the Federation and very much alive. The young man's response told her much he probably didn't want to reveal. "That ship was under the command of another former Starfleet officer." Pausing, Katheryn stated, "I understand you knew him. His name is Chakotay"
Suddenly Tom's face fell as memories assaulted him. He could see the American Indian's face, tribal tattoo above his left eye. In the weeks he'd been with the Maquis, the man never trusted him, especially…I can't think about that time, Tom forced his hand to remain at his side. Whenever he thought about her, his fingers found their way to his cheek.
"That's right," he said in a near whisper, his eyes looking into the distance but seeing another reality.
"The two of you didn't get along too well, I'm told," Janeway offered in a concerned tone. His reaction, indecipherable, Katheryn hoped to get to the bottom of it before embarking on this mission. It seemed more went on while Tom Paris trained with the Maquis than anyone understood.
"Chakotay will tell you he left Starfleet on principle, to defend his home colony from the Cardassians," Tom managed to round up some of his old bravado. "I, on the other hand, was forced to resign. He considered me a mercenary, willing to fight for anyone who'd pay my bar bill. Trouble is, he was right. I have no problem helping you track down my friends in the Maquis, Captain. All I need to know from you is what's in it for me."
"You help us find that ship," Janeway stopped, pausing to watch his reaction, "we help you at your next outmeet review."
"Ah ha," was all he could offer, still thinking about the consequences of a shortened sentence. He'd served twelve months of his five year term. By the time managed to be paroled, but I won't think about that!
"Officially, you'd be a Starfleet observer during the mission," the Captain clarified. She could see the young man's mind whirling and hoped to use his confusion to her advantage.
"Observer?" Tom cried. "Oh hell, I'm the best pilot you could have. You'll need my skills to get through the Badlands, if the Cardassian's allow you to get that far."
"You'll be an observer," she reiterated. "When it's over, Mr. Paris, you will be cut loose."
"That might have been the story of my life," Tom turned to the woman, completely serious in his intent. The grave but urgent glint in his eye stopped Janeway dead in her tracks. Once again that expression, of determination, filled his stance. "But not any more. Don't look at me like that, Captain. I'm not going to say I'm a changed man, because I'm not. And cutting me loose, it's not what I want, at least not what I want the most."
"What," Kathryn Janeway asked, somewhat astonished this young man would decline such an offer, "is it you really want, Mr. Paris."
"Immunity," he stated, "for a young Maquis, if she's ever caught."
"That's a high price for your services," Janeway stated. "What is this woman to you, Mr. Paris?"
"My wife," he answered, before walking away, knowing Starfleet would take the offer, especially if they suspected the identity of his partner in life.
I hope you've enjoyed the subtle differences from cannon. Although you have to search for them, they are important to the story.