Author: Christy Anderson
You can contact me at kittyunlimited@go.com.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Paramount minus Ensign Christy Anderson and a few selected insignificant characters
This is now the second part- hope you enjoy this just as much- much more to come…
Void of Night (Lücke der Nacht): Part 2
I have never been so opposed to anything in my life as I was to the Captain's decision of destroying the array. What was five minutes compared to a lifetime? Her decision instantly turned the phrase "long time" into "never". Yet I was unsure if it hit Ensign Wildman or myself harder. I woke up during the night to her hysterical tears. Cautiously I stepped some of the various items cluttering the floor and came over to her bed. "What's wrong?" I asked her softly.
A weak smile spread across her face. "You don't need to worry about it, dear."
I nodded and remained silent. My father had told me once that people always felt more compelled to talk if you remained silent. Slowly my patience produced the desired affect, and Samantha looked up at me slowly. "It's just that… that… the EMH informed me today that I was, um… pregnant. And you know I'll never see my husband again."
I gasped. "I'm so sorry, Samantha."
Samantha weakly continued. "I do not know what I will do. My husband and I, we wanted this child so much. We tried for months, I had no idea of my condition when I left, or I would have never stepped foot on this ship. I… I… don't know how…"
My heart tore in two for her. Quietly I asked, "When will you tell the Captain?"
She shook her head. "I don't know. Perhaps after I figure some things out."
I smiled and offered her the best comfort I could, "Und alles ausarbeitet für gutes, für das gute von jeder, immer er. Egal wie grausame Sachen scheinen, können Sie auf diesem zählen, um zutreffend zu sein."
Samantha stared at me, "It sounds wonderful, but forgive me, I haven't a clue as to what you said…"
I laughed. "It means that everything will be ok, and that no matter how bad things seem to get, you can always count on them to become better, because when things go down, they must come up!"
"Thanks, I feel better, Christy, how have you been holding up?"
"Everything has become so rocky… I can hardly spend another day in here… After awhile this room seems so confining. It is a hard task to keep oneself occupied."
"Well, we just fought off the Kazon, and nothing has happened for a while, I will be sure to mention your name to the Captain again. She should be able to see you soon, and I am confident that she will find you something to do on the ship. However, until then, I can be back here for lunch tomorrow."
My face lit up. "Would you?"
"Of course," Samantha affirmed in her gentle manner. "But we should be getting to sleep. My next duty shift begins in three hours."
I nodded and retired to the other side of the room. When the computer beeped for Samantha to awaken, I decided to just lie there. Hurriedly I heard her enter the sonic shower and dress. As she rose to leave the room, she whispered a goodbye to me. Before the doors swished shut, I audibly replied, "See you at lunch."
When I finally awakened, I got into the sonic shower and dressed in a fresh pair of clothes Samantha had replicated for me. Bored, I roamed through Voyager's database. Files after files, I was rewarded as I finally found my father's. There were pages written on him and his service, but I was interested in his picture. I sat and stared at him. Wie ich wünsche, waren Sie hier... How I wish you were here.
Suddenly the Comm system in the quarters beeped. "EMH to Ensign Anderson."
"Ensign Anderson here."
"Ensign, you are due in sickbay for a physical. And where is your Comm badge?"
"I'm afraid the Captain has confined me to Ensign Wildman's quarters," I responded to him indifferently. I decided to ignore the question about my Comm badge. Admiral Paris had given me a uniform and my identification, but not a Comm badge.
"Ensign Anderson, I have already cleared this with Captain Janeway. Report here immediately."
"On my way."
I sighed, and turned to the task of changing back into that exact same uniform. For the first time, I exited Samantha's quarters. There were so many people in the hallway. Unsure, I followed one person through the corridors. It was to my relief that she took me to the turbo lift. "Engineering," she said.
I turned my head and smiled. "Sick Bay," I commanded matter-of-factly. Another wave of relief washed over me as the computer took my voice command and began to move. After a few moments it lurched to a stop, and the doors opened. I stepped back waiting for her to get out.
"Your stop." My cheeks reddened as I realized her comment was addressed to me. I merely nodded my head and stepped out. Cautiously I turned to the left, and searched for sickbay. Lucky for me, it was close by.
As the doors swished open, I walked in to catch my first glimpse of the Doctor. "There you are, what took you so long?"
I felt my cheeks reddening once again. "I was unsure of where Sick Bay was."
He pointed to a biobed, and then turned his attentions once again to a young girl. He was obviously agitated at my unfamiliarity. "Kes, you are in perfect health, from as much as I know about the Ocampan physiology."
She beamed a smile. "Thank you doctor." The sound of her warm voice was relaxing and calming.
The EMH suddenly interjected, "But I'll need you to stay for some additional scans."
She nodded her head. "Of course."
He turned back to me and proceeded to ask me questions. "Ensign Anderson, how old are you?"
"17," I said. I was uncertain of why this information was not on the database.
"Do you know of any past important medical history?"
"I'm sorry, but I believe I already had this information taken from me before. Is this not in my file?"
The EMH looked more disturbed than ever. "I'm afraid Voyager's files are not that recent. Now, medical history?"
I gave a sigh and proceeded. "My mother suffered acute radiation poisoning when she was pregnant with me, but I was treated for that after birth. Aside from that, there's nothing more."
The questions came in an endless supply as he scanned me with a tricorder. Finally he waved passively to dismiss me. I jumped off the biobed and turned to exit sickbay. "Oh by the way," the EMH called after me, "I would like to give you this."
I looked back at him to see the small object in the palm of his hand. "It's a Comm badge. On a ship this size, you don't need to be without one."
I accepted it and pinned it on my uniform. The EMH continued. "You'll need to report back to Ensign Wildman's quarters immediately. Captain Janeway wishes for you to meet her in her ready room at 18:00 hours. Aside from that, it is impertinent that you report to sickbay next month for another checkup."
I nodded, and said goodbye to the girl named Kes, on my way out. Hesitantly I made my way back to the turbolift, and said, "Deck Four."
I wandered around the corridors, hoping to catch something familiar. Unfortunately the task was not as simple as I had presumed. Tears began to well up, but I forced them back. Dieses ist nicht die Zeit für Risse… this is not the time for tears. I was so caught up in my thoughts, that I plowed straightforward into someone.
He landed back with a thud. I stooped down to help him up. Rubbing his shoulder, he looked quizzically at me. "Lieutenant Paris, nice to meet you… and you are?"
"Ensign Anderson." I replied crestfallen.
A wave of small familiarity spread over his face. "The whole crew is talking about you. Pleasure to meet you finally. Are you lost?"
"Yes," I answered frustratedly, "I cannot locate Ensign Wildman's quarters."
He laughed. "Well, it's simple, watch." The look on his face turned smug.
"Computer, locate Ensign Wildman's quarters."
The computer beeped. "Ensign Wildman's quarters are on Deck Three, Section Eight."
Lieutenant Paris laughed some more. "You are on the wrong deck dear." Instantly he grabbed my hand and took me up a deck in the turbolift. Stepping out of the jolting ride, he pulled me down the corridors in front of Samantha's quarters. "Here you are," he said.
I turned around and thanked him.
He brushed it off and beamed a smile. "Perhaps you'd like to join me for lunch tomorrow."
"No thank you," I replied coolly, "Captain Janeway has me confined to quarters until other notice."
He nodded sympathetically. "Maybe some other time."
"Maybe."
I stepped inside Samantha's quarters gratefully, although, I was unsure of why I had that sensation. I had heard all about Tom Paris from my father; he was an uncertain young man with a knack for ending up in jail. My father and Admiral Paris would chat about him as if there were no end, yet I made a mental note to make sure that I kept an open mind until I witnessed those things for myself. After all, the Captain had seen enough good in him to promote him to Lieutenant.
I slowly slid into one of the easy chairs in middle of the room. Reflecting, I could easily see the unknown Lücke der Nacht, void of night, which stretched out before me endlessly. I was never to see my family again, never to live my old life again. Instead, I had to jump the void that laid between my old life and my new life in order to fit into what fate had seemingly dealt me blindly. I sat back and envisioned my new life… maybe, just maybe, the Captain would fulfill her promise and get us home. Haus ist, wo das Innere liegt, home is where the heart yearns to return.
I became startled at a sudden sound. My thoughts abruptly cut off as I recognized the sound of the room chimes.
To be continued…