Lieutenant B'Ellana Torres was not in a good mood

A/N: I stuck this in after receiving a review from someone who spoke German just a tad better than me. Thank for the advice, I'm only a German Two student and as much as I love the language, it's a mite confusing.

Chapter One

Lieutenant B'Ellana Torres was not in a good mood.

She stalked along the passageways of the Starship Voyager with a decidedly nasty air, glaring at young ensigns as they scurried past.

She was going to kill Lieutenant Thomas Eugene Paris with her own hands.

~

"Captain, an unknown vessel is approaching." Lieutenant Tuvok called to Captain Catherine Janeway. "I am reading one life form aboard. It appears to be unconscious."

"Can you get a lock on it?" Janeway asked crisply, rising from her seat and pacing the small area in front of the viewing screen.

"Yes, but that may be unadvisable." Tuvok cautioned. "The life form may be hostile upon awakening."

"I'll take my chances. Transfer the life form to sickbay and construct a level two containment field. Commander Chakotay, please accompany me to sickbay."

"Of course." Chakotay rose from his chair as well and followed Janeway off of the bridge, beckoning to Ensign Harry Kim and Lieutenant Paris to tag along as well.

The electric doors slid open as motion detectors sensed Janeway's approach to reveal a very angered Lieutenant Torres.

"Excuse me, Captain." Torres grated out as she stepped past Janeway. "Harry." She nodded to the young ensign. "Tom." Torres' eyes hardened.

Paris drew back.

"Something wrong, B'Ellana?" he asked. Torres barked a short laugh, and Paris grimaced. "We'll talk later, okay? I have to follow the Captain." He pointed at Janeway and hurried down the corridor as Torres shot daggers at his retreating back.

~

"Wo… wo bin ich?" In sickbay, a young female awoke from her slumber to the passive face of the Doctor. Her medium-length black hair lay strewn over the white pillow.

"Curious," he said out loud, circling the bed and peering at the girl's eyes. "I've never seen red eyes in a humanoid before. Computer, identify language."

"Language is the equivalent of the Earth countries of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein-" The computer began.

"Yes, yes, what language?" the Doctor interrupted.

"Identified as German, native to several countries on the continent of Europe on Earth." The computer stated.

"Good, very good. I wonder what you're doing all the way out here?" the Doctor mused as he scanned the girl.

"I can speak English." The girl said. "Where am I?" a German accent lingered in her words.

"The Starship Voyager." Announced Janeway as she strode through the sickbay doors, trailed by Chakotay, Kim, and Paris. "When we found you, your ship's Life Support was nearly gone and you were unconscious. May I ask what you're doing all the way out here?"

"I've been living on my ship ever since it was separated from an exploration unit. That was about three months ago." She said, frowning.

"What people do you belong to? Where do you stay? Janeway pressed.

"I am part of the original colony ship the Starship New Horizon. We were sent in an attempt to colonize the Delta Quadrant by the colonies of Pegasus and Helios on the colonized worlds of Gate and Bruecke." The girl said proudly. "My name is Melissa, but please call me Lisse."

"Lisse, is it?" Chakotay stepped forward. "Why is the Horizon wandering around this far out in the Delta Quadrant?"

"Out navigational arrays are down. They were permanently disabled from an attack from the Klingons. Unfortunately, their strike cost us most of our crew, along with the families meant for colonization. We numbered forty when I was last aboard." Lisse said solemnly.

"Forty," Janeway breathed. "And colony ships are massive. Horizon must have taken serious hits."

"We did." Lisse grimaced. "The entire back half of the ship, excluding the main terminals, was completely sealed off. Current operational systems for Horizon include Bridge, Core, Brig, Kitchen, a number of general quarters, a game hall/ bar, holodecks one through four, and transporter rooms three and seven."

"No sickbay?" the doctor asked, horrified. "How did you treat wounds?"

"In an improvised former Commander's quarters. We made do." Lisse shrugged.

"Well, I suppose I should let you rest." Janeway said. "Lieutenant Paris and Ensign Kim will escort you to your quarters. Tomorrow we can begin the search to locate Horizon." She nodded to Chakotay and Lisse. "Dismissed." With that, she left the sickbay and headed back towards the bridge. Chakotay stayed to converse with the doctor, and Kim stepped forward and held out his hand.

"If you'll come with us?" he said, and Lisse smiled shyly, taking his hand.

"Of course." She said and swung her legs off the bed. "Whoa," she said as she staggered, losing her balance. Ensign Kim wrapped an arm around her waist for support and helped her straighten up. She grinned sheepishly at him. "Still not steady, I guess." Harry gave her a brief smile and looked away.

"Come on, I'll help you to your quarters." He said nervously. Paris gave Harry a wolfish grin as he walked past and winked suggestively. Harry shot him a dirty look.

~

"Here you are," Harry said as the door slid upon to Lisse's new quarters. "If you need anything, I'm right across the hall." He pointed at a door a few feet away from them.

"I've got a date with B'Ellana tonight, Harry," Tom said, checking his watch. "So I'll see you later, I guess." The Lieutenant waved a cheery goodbye and walked down the passageway.

"Wow." Lisse breathed, eyeing the room appreciatively. "This wonderful. I've never had so much space." She flung her arms out and twirled around, her black her flying out in a wide arc. When she stopped, her red eyes were glittering happily.

"Are… are your eyes… are they red?" Harry asked cautiously. Lisse laughed.

"Yes, they're red," she told him. "It's an interesting feature, actually. Something of a birth defect in my cornea I'm told, but it's not a defect to me. I love having red eyes."

"That's good." Harry said, smiling. "Well, I'll be right across the hall, knock if you need something, okay?" Lisse nodded, still enraptured by the size of the room. Harry backed out and let the door slide shut in front of him. He stood for a moment, staring at the blank metal in front of him. "Damn it," he sighed as he turned and entered his own quarters. "Damn, damn, damn it."

~

"Where have you been?" B'Ellana nearly shouted. Tom whirled around in the passageway to find B'Ellana standing, her hands on her hips, behind him.

"Harry and I were escorting the new girl to her quarters," He said. "I'm not late, am I? Oh, I've got it-" He smacked himself in the forehead. "I screwed up the times again. Damn it, B'Ellana, I'm sorry. How can I make it up to you?"

B'Ellana fumed for a minute and contemplated how he could be so utterly stupid. "That's not it at all," she snapped. "I want to know what the meaning of this was." She held up a small piece of folded pink paper and opened it. "Dear B'Ellana," she read out loud, "The sight of you makes me smile. I am so glad to have found a woman like you. I have never felt luckier. I would be honored," B'Ellana paused, and held up a gold ring with a diamond set into it, "If you would be my wife."