Void of Night: Part 4

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

I hope you all enjoy the fourth part. More still to come…

Void of Night (Lücke der Nacht): Part 4

I entered the mess hall at 20:00 hours precisely. I had promised myself on the way down that the first moment I felt uncomfortable I would excuse myself and leave. Glancing around the different surroundings, it occurred to me that the room was certainly larger than I had at first thought. I glanced up as a figure near the back of the line shook his hand. Slowly I made my way over. "Lieutenant Paris," I acknowledged when I reached him.

Tom laughed. "Call me Tom, Christy," he said. Then he pointed to the young man standing beside him. "And Christy, this is Harry Kim."

"Nice to meet you, Christy," he uttered quietly.

I looked up at him, "Nice to meet you to Harry."

Immediately Tom jumped in. "Well, why don't we get something to eat, then we can sit and talk?" He stood back to offer me a place in line in front of him. As I reached the front of the line, I was met by a strange looking alien behind the counter desperately trying to keep up with the dinner crowd. Noticing me he put the pot in his hand down, and approached the front of the counter.

"So what will it be ensign?" he asked me.

I pointed to a stew in front of him. "What is that?"

"Oh, you'll love that. Leola Root Stew- just the best."

I looked back at Tom for guidance. He shrugged aimlessly. "I don't know, I've never tried it." Tom then looked over to the alien, "What would you recommed Neelix?"

The alien, whose name was Neelix looked over to me. "I believe the ensign here made a delightful culinary selection. Leola Root Stew will beat anything, anyday."

I nodded as I noticed that it was the most appetizing looking out of all the unusual dishes. "Leola Root Stew it is then, Neelix." He took a bowl and poured me a large helping. Tom and Harry quickly made the same selection. I stood to the side as I waited for them to finish and choose a table. As we all sat down, I turned to see the nice young girl Kes, enter the Mess Hall and approach Neelix behind the counter. She was turning toleave after kissing Neelix gently on the cheek.

"So, Christy, how did you end up here?"

I turned my attention back to the table as Harry asked me a question. "It's a long story, needless to say, I was lost."

Tom laughed again. "How often do you know where you are? Just yesterday I had to rescue you off of Deck 4."

I intentionally diverted my gaze and stared down at my soup. I picked up my spoon and sipped a mouthful. Immediately my pallate was hit by a bitter flavor, and I quickly swallowed. I looked up just in time to see Tom taking a bite. Instantly he spit it out as he gagged. I burst out in giggles, yet the look on Harry's face became worried. "Tom, are you all right?"

Tom was practically all over the floor wincing from the extremely bitter taste. Slowly he rolled over and coughed several times. "Yeah, I… I guess so. Want to join me at the replicator to get some real food to eat?"

Harry's face emanated a blank expression. "Why? Does it taste that bad?"

A coy smile spread over Tom's face. "Just take a bite."

Harry looked over at me and I shrugged. He cautiously looked down at the soup and tried it. Instantaneously a smaller version of Tom's episode occurred. By now, the occupants of the surrounding tables were staring at us, as well as a few bystanders. Trying to regain self-composure Harry stood up and joined Tom.

Tom glanced over at me, "Are you coming?"

I shook my head, "No, this will be suitable."

Tom did a doubletake. "I've always heard Germans had strong stomachs, but this…" his voice trailed off as he walked away. I looked back at my soup and proceeded to finish eating it. I strongly reminded myself that I didn't have any rations to spend for awhile.

When the two came back with pizza, Tom brought up a different subject. "So, I guess you knew my dad?"

I nodded. "Yes, Admiral Paris gave me the opportunity to advance my studies without joining the academy."

"I wish I could say that my last memories of him were that great. Unfortunately, the last time I saw my father, was the day after I was put in jail. He told me that he wasn't bailing me out now, or ever in the future. Also, if I wanted to remain to be his son, I needed to straighten out my act because he wouldn't accept me at home otherwise. Man, he must have been so proud of you to take such a personal interest."

I shook my head. "I have no idea what your talking about. He gave me the opportunity based on his friend ship with my father. Our fathers were longtime friends. He met me when he would come to the lab to visit Father. You could always find me in the lab, because I lived and breathed there."

"My dad and yours were friends…" Tom raised his eyebrows suspiciously.

"My Father only came over to your house every Thursday for…"

Tom interrupted, "Cards? A game of cards. Mr. Anderson was… I don't believe it. I used to sit there and play a few games of cards with them! He used to speak of his talented daughter…" Tom broke off and looked up at me.

"This is incredulous!" Harry interjected.

Tom turned around and glared. "I wish my father had spoken so fondly of me as your father did with you. Unfortunately, I was the disappointment son in jail constantly."

I looked up an met his gaze. "Not a shred of truth… according to Admiral Paris, you were the brilliant son as from the start, struggling to find your own identity. And how your dad wished you would find it. Whether or not you believe it, your father never gave up on you. That cold exterior he showed you, was an expression of his love. No matter what you had done, he never spoke a negative word about you in front of others."

The expression on Tom's face grew morose. "First the Captain, now you…"

After an uncomfortable silence Harry began to talk. "So, Christy, where did the Commander assign you for your duty shifts?"

"Stellar Cartography, the Science Lab, Astrometrics…" I replied without enthusiasm.

"Talk about the bored house," Tom said. He had begun to recover.

"Astrometrics? Really? I pull that shift once a week. When is yours?" Harry questioned.

"The day after tomorrow…" I was suddenly interrupted.

"03:00 hours," Harry finished with a grin.

I nodded my head to confirm it. "That's right. Unfortunately for the first few weeks, I have an instructor, Lieutenant Gebhart."

Tom laughed. "Lieutenant Gebhart will put you to sleep, poor thing."

"I'll guess then I'll have to keep your shift interesting," Harry said.

"Thanks," I replied detachedly as I stared out the window at the inky blackness of space, Lücke der Nacht, the void of night, suddenly conquered by the brilliance of various hues of colors.

A hush fell over the room as more and more people became aware of the sight.

"Voyager has stopped moving!" someone yelled from the back of the room.

Tom's eyes grew big. "What the hell is that?"

No sooner were the words out of his mouth, that the ship went to yellow alert. Captain Janeway's voice came over the Comm. "Senior officers report to the bridge. Senior officers report to the bridge."

To be continued…