Chapter Six - Nothing Changes
RELATIVE DATES: JUNE 15, 2002/MAY 1,
2375
PLACE OF RECHARGE: PERSONAL ALCOVE, EARTHSHIP JUPITER 2, CURRENTLY IN THE SHUTTLEBAY OF THE FEDERATION SHIP, USS VOYAGER
BEGIN 22-HOUR CYCLE
RECORDING UNIT: ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL UNIT, ROBOT B-9
As I emerged from my alcove, I saw that Tom Paris was still sorting through the many and varied files of The Jupiter 2. He seemed even more interested in the files on Earth's popular culture than our files of exploration.
"Oh, hey, Robot. I found another anomaly in the pop culture base. This show called M*A*S*H*? In our universe, all these people were quite real. A good couple of them changed history. Some of them are even still—ehhh, don't mention that part."
Tom refers to my supposed erasure of private information. In fact, no such erasure is possible. I merely keep all such knowledge in an inaccessible file. I may view it, but never reveal it. This is a precaution, since in theory, true information erasure can never totally be achieved. If I erased these files, I might think them safe when they are not. In case of invasive procedures, I am capable of magno-sealing my innards, and performing a final wipe of all systems.
Taking my leave of Tom Paris, I then proceeded to begin my daily tour of this wonderful starship. In my travels, I passed Be'lanna Torres and Commander Chakotay, speaking in fact about Tom Paris.
"So you two are actually going out on a date? Well, I'll be renouncing my Maquis beliefs, now. I've heard everything!"
Be'lanna Torres seemed a great deal more hesitant about the subject.
"Well, I wouldn't precisely call it a date. But he did rook me. I once bet him that he could never impress me with any of his lines. But he did."
At times, the relationship I have observed between Tom Paris and Be'lanna Torres is in keeping with the normal human mating ritual. At other times, though, it much more resembles the gentle sibling byplay between Will and Penny Robinson.
"So what line did he use?"
"That I reminded him of his sister. Did you know that I bear an eerily striking resemblance to Sadie Paris? I mean, take away the Klingon parts, of course. But he showed me a picture. Now what do you think of that?"
Notably, Commander Chakotay said nothing, at that time. He merely chose to smile politely, and walk off. I can only surmise that he knows of Tom Paris's one-time liaison with his sister, Mercedes 'Sadie' Paris. It is also easily surmised that Be'lanna Torres does not know of this. Given my knowledge of human relations, I must consider her being made aware of this fact an inevitability. Her probable reaction? 92% probability that it will not be pleasant.
I moved on, and observed Harry Kim speaking with Kes. It is unsurprising that Harry Kim has struck up a relationship with Penny Robinson. Humans very often mate with those who remind them of family. Harry Kim shares a great many personality traits with Will Robinson. Likewise, Kes does not seek the limelight, which often goes to others. She is a being of quiet power and intelligence, sharing many personality traits with Penny Robinson.
"Oh, hey Robot! Good to see you. I'm glad Tom is too wrapped up in those files to monopolize your time. Listen, I want to hear all about those wish machines and shopping devices you encountered, ok? That sort of tech could be a real boost to working past our replicator limitations."
"That's good, Harry. But Robot has to first go and see The Doctor. He and Captain Janeway will be waiting for you in about an hour. Just as I'll have someone waiting for me."
At this point, the conversation moved past me, despite my continuing presence. I am not unused to this occurrence.
"Kes, are you and Will Robinson really an item? I mean, the kid is fifteen years old."
"What are you saying, Harry? That I shouldn't date older men?"
"It's not the same thing for Humans. Suppose his parents object?"
"Then I'll try to talk to them. Will has a powerful mind. So does his sister. He intrigues me. The thought of being his first lover intrigues me. When I'm gone--in as little as six years--there will be a young man who will always see me as I was. Besides, there's another level to all this. Tell me you haven't noticed how he and Penny act around each other."
"You don't think they...."
"No. But something happened. Something awkward. Maybe it was as innocent as a shower door opening. Maybe one of them got more lonely than the other and made a proposition. All I do know is that they might leave here, and they see we two as an opportunity to taste an aspect of life that their inborn senses of honor, morality and obedience tell them that they cannot help each other with."
Harry Kim's sweat glands then activated, and my sensors felt his blood pressure rise significantly.
"So. If I don't help Penny out, I could mess up her relationship with Will. Thanks loads, Kes. Pressure to perform is all I needed. Tell me, was this how you chose to break it off with Neelix? Cause it would sure as hell explain the bombing!"
As Harry Kim stormed off, I took the look on Kes's face to mean she was withholding several choice remarks.
Accessing Holodeck 9, I awaited certain instructions from Major West. He and Judy Robinson had apparently had their own discussion, also somewhat heated in nature.
The garage they were working in seemed very untidy.
"Judy, willya let it go? I'm not answering!"
"It's an honest question. You don't need to be afraid of it."
"Like fun I don't! That is the single most dishonest question a woman can ask a man!"
"Would you mind telling me what is so damned dishonest about asking you if you'd like to see other women while we're on Voyager?"
The Major then pointed, despite his prior knowledge of Judy Robinson's dislike of that habit.
"I'll tell you what's so dishonest about it. There is no good answer. There is no answer that doesn't make the man seem like a dog or a liar. If I say yes, I'm scum, and I'll find out you were testing my fidelity. If I say no, you'll say that all men want that, and I'll find out you were testing my honesty. Judy, I love you. But the only thing you're gonna test is my patience. Cause I'm not walking in. Uh-uh. No way."
Perhaps sensing his position, Major West lowered his finger. Judy Robinson raised her voice.
"I'm sorry you think I'm that petty, Don. All I wanted for you and for me was a chance to have what we haven't had for five years--a selection. If Dad and Mom decide we're going to leave here, we'll never know what it would have been like to have choices, unless we look around now."
I have not often observed Judy and The Major fighting. But when I have, the fights are significantly audible, and their overall consequences are not at all quick to be resolved.
"So YOU want to look around? You're pregnant with my kid, we have your morally nutsy parents trying to kill it, but you want to do the singles' scene. Well, go ahead, Broadway Lady. Raise those legs high--or whatever else it is you do with those legs."
"You PIG! I'm trying to help us not be so limited! I'm trying to not have us be stuck with each other. I mean, I've often thought about what it would be like to have other men available. Are you going to stand there and tell me you haven't thought about having other women?"
The Major's face took on a tone of sober seriousness. The last time my files saw this face, it was thought that Doctor John Robinson had died.
"That's right. Since you and I started, the only thing I've thought about was how lucky I was. I was stupid. I thought you felt the same way."
On occasion, I have noted that Humans will say anything to break a silence. This very often leads to the fabled 'words that cannot be taken back.'
"If this is a demonstration of the real you, then I suppose maybe we were both stupid."
She left, then. To clear his mind, the Major gave me my assignment. It was an obvious one.
"Robot, as soon as Tuvok releases Smith from the Brig, you keep an eye on him. Janeway's given us permission to tap the non-living quarters security scans. This time, I wanna catch that miserable worm red-handed."
As The Major continued to endlessly tighten a bolt, I departed to speak with the two Doctors Robinson. At the door to their quarters, I could already tell that the incivility affecting the ship had traveled far and wide.
As I entered, The Doctors Robinson at first took no notice of me, so deep and dark was their conversation.
"Honey, don't turn me into the heavy, here. Now, we both agreed that Judy having that baby is a bad idea. Yes, this solution runs counter to our beliefs. But this isn't some theoretical talk about population control back on Earth. This is real life. Our lives."
Maureen Robinson then revealed something of which I had been unaware.
"John, I said we'd present a united front to Judy and Don. I never said we'd make our suggestion into an order. But by the time you started, that's where it was. I'm not at all comfortable with Judy having an abortion. In fact I'm disgusted by the thought. And the only thought that ever disgusted me more than an abortion at the mother's demand was one made mandatory by some authority figure. Are we the crew of The Jupiter 2 or peasants in Mao's China?"
Doctor John Robinson then made a remark he would soon regret.
"Heh. Kathryn said you were going to get just like this. First time I pull in the reins, and here you are, crying dictatorship."
"Do yourself a favor, John. In my presence, neither quote nor emulate Captain Kathryn Janeway. She strikes me as a brittle, difficult kind of person. And as your wife, I don't like the way you speak about her."
The facial muscles on John Robinson's face indicated disbelief at this accusation.
"I can't believe you're jealous of her. Maureen, she's like one of the boys to me. A fellow Commander, to whom I can relate. Someone with whom I share common interests and a common cause. Someone I could take a few notes from, when it comes to getting a ship home."
"She---is NOT one of the boys. And while you two were chit-chatting about putting up with us peons, I talked with Chakotay. He's a tower of a man. So incredibly patient, and so in tune with the underpinnings of what it's all about. Oh- and one of the things we talked about was partners who forget and act like it's all their show."
"Enough---enough about all that. I am this mission's Commander. I decide certain things. How DARE you cut me off in front of Kathryn? You aren't at all seriously considering staying on a starship from another time and quantum reality?"
"Yes. Because here, my daughter can give me grandchildren without debate. Here, Will and Penny don't have to cry themselves to sleep, knowing there's no one there for them. Here, we have water, food. I've heard tales of this ship being damaged or crippled, and they still sound like great days to me. Plus, don't deny that we two couldn't use the breathing space, John. We both have felt it. The isolation, the sameness."
John Robinson turned to leave.
"I don't know about staying. But right now, that breathing space seems like a pretty good idea."
"Typical. He won't raise his voice except to shout orders. Robot, I have an assignment for you, for later today."
I explained that Major West had already given me an important task.
"Well, I don't care. Despite what Don and John think, I'm second-in-command. So I'm telling you what to do first. If there's time, then you can do Don's little errand."
I complied, of course.
"Good. Now, the very instant Mister Tuvok releases Doctor Smith from The Brig, I want you to keep an eye on him. Captain Janeway gave us permission to tap any security scan except those in living quarters. I intend to have us stay aboard Voyager, but I'd like to find the evidence that does not include Doctor Smith. Knowing him, that shouldn't be too hard. By the way, what was the task Don set out for you?"
As I left, I explained that this task was no longer necessary, and she left it at that.
In the hall, I was soon passed by a furious Be'lanna Torres.
"I'll kill him! I'll KILLLLL Him!"
Chasing after her was a worried Commander Chakotay.
"Be'lanna! I told you that in strictest...Be'lanna!"
I surmised that Chakotay had informed Be'lanna Torres of Tom Paris's family history. But since my next stop was Sickbay, I could only guess at what followed next.
Tom Paris closed another file on the late 20th Century of the Robinsons' native Earth. He saw Be'lanna Torres come through the shuttle deck doors, and thought she had come to remind him of their date.
"Okay, pretty lady! Just give me another hour, and I'll...."
Torres slapped him.
"Hey! What'd I do?"
She affected a look of mock-sympathy.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Tom. Weren't you and Sadie into bondage and discipline? Or were you satisfied just scoring with your own sister, you pathetic PERVERT?!!"
Chakotay rushed in too late, and saw that the damage had been done. Tom's glare told him some of what had happened. Tom spoke out the rest.
"You---traitor."
Chakotay tried to defend himself, as well as he could. But in truth, he knew he hadn't a moral leg to stand on.
"Tom, please. I didn't know she was going to react this way."
Paris merely shrugged.
"How the hell does it matter how she reacted to the news? You still had no right to tell her anything, Commander. No right."
Fighting mad, Torres got back into it.
"What about my rights? First, you snooker me by saying how I look like your sister. But it's only from someone else that I find out the slimy truth. You mangy, scummy pedophilic---"
Chakotay cut her off.
"Be'lanna, Sadie Paris was older than him, and the initiator of what happened between them. Tom turned her and himself in, when she wanted to continue. In court tests, she was determined to have problems--real problems. She never forgave Tom for speaking up."
If his explanation seemed to calm Torres, it did nothing for Paris, who glared at both of them.
"Yeah. People in my family tend not to forgive. Kind of like me with you two. Now I'll ask both of you to leave."
Torres turned, and shook her head.
"How big of the grand deceiver, to forgive the two of us. What about how I remind you of a person you should never have been with?"
Paris shook his head.
"But that's just it, Be'lanna. There is a resemblance. Strong in some parts of your face. More than that, though, is who you are. Since we called a truce, I saw a lot of Sadie in you. The fun Sadie. The stable Sadie. The brilliant Sadie. My best friend growing up. Now, though? You look to me like Sadie did before they took her to Tantalus. Ugly. Shouting accusations that you have no right to make, and acting like you're the wounded party--when you're the one who started in. Broke--the trust. Shattered something special."
With Be'lanna feeling all of a centimeter tall, Tom turned and looked at Chakotay.
"I thought you had honor. I don't know you."
"Tom, please. You should have told Be'lanna this from the start. You shouldn't have kept it from her, especially if she resembles Sadie."
Tom almost exploded, but kept it all in his eyes.
"Chakotay---that part of my life is not first date or sort-of first date material. That's 5th or 10th Anniversary material-maybe. But you had no right. Neither of you did, but you sure talked a blue streak, didn't you? Now leave. Maybe I can't order you to--but I think it's a really good idea. Maybe the very best of all possible ideas. Understood?"
Torres looked repentant.
"Tom--can we talk about all this on tonight's date? I think that's still a good idea."
"Be'lanna--you floor me. You mean you'd go out with a pathetic perverted pedophile? Gee---I don't know if I want to be seen with a woman who'd be seen with me."
She balled her hand into a fist. Paris shrugged.
"Go ahead. How could it hurt any worse than what you just said to me?"
Dropping her head, Be'lanna walked away. Chakotay found that he couldn't meet Tom's gaze.
"Just please let me tell Kathryn myself. Alright?"
Not receiving an answer, Chakotay walked out, as well. Tom closed the ramp and the port windows to the Jupiter 2, and fought back rage and tears in equal amounts. A gentle voice spoke to him.
"He shouldn't have betrayed your trust, and she shouldn't have come at you like that. Is that problem why you tried to help Will and Penny?"
Tom saw that Judy Robinson had been in her quarters the whole time. In her eyes there was not even a hint of judgment.
"Yeah. That--kind of--betrayal can ruin things between--family."
She nodded, and looked beautiful while she did.
"Tom, Don and I broke up. That being the case, I find myself finding you very, very attractive. That you tried to help my sister and brother makes you damned near irres--"
Tom grabbed her, and he kissed her, long, and hard, and he did not stop there. Nor did Judy.
My sensors indicated a chastised Be'lanna Torres and Chakotay headed in the opposite direction whence they came. Commander Chakotay in fact, headed for Sickbay, there to meet with Captain Janeway. Since I was in no hurry, I stopped instead to see Will and Penny, whose welfare concerns me more of late than ever.
I entered, and they stopped talking. I know this is because they regard me as a real being. This is part of why I love these two best of all.
"Can we do something for you, Robot?"
I explained to Penny that I was merely checking in on them. In times past, I would have had to break up an argument or even a fist fight. Now, peace reigns between the two. Oddly, I find that my memory banks wax nostalgic for those earlier times.
"Look, Robot. We like you and all. But Penny and I have some things to discuss. And we'd feel kind of funny talking about them in front of other family members."
To Will Robinson, I am and always have been a family member. I need little else. I asked if there was any task I may perform for them, before I leave. Penny nodded.
"Now that you mention it. Robot, secure permission from Captain Janeway to tap into the security cams--except for the ones in the living quarters. When Mister Tuvok releases Doctor Smith, I'd like you to keep an eye on him."
Will nodded as well.
"Please just keep him out of trouble, Robot. He may be a pain, but I guess he's family, too."
For sake of his peace of mind, I chose not to correct Will in this instance, and merely left. I surmise that they then spoke of social concerns. This has been much on their minds of late.
Penny began.
"When you're doing it with Kes, there may be certain things you'll want to do that she might not."
Will nodded.
"So I back off?"
She shook her head.
"No. We--might never get another chance like this. You push. Don't force her to do anything. But beg. Plead. Make up excuses. Lie about how it has health benefits. In her case, you might even try telling her she'll live longer---but keep that as an absolute last resort. Remember, she sought you out. And if---it---starts to hurt, remember--we'll probably have plenty of time to rest up. So keep going as long as you can."
Will began his portion.
"Guys get distracted. We get pulled away. Now Harry Kim looks like a worrier. He's probably afraid he left his iron on, back on his Earth. You gotta make him see you as his whole world. This way, if the Captain gave him a hard time, if Tom's been razzing him, whatever--it's not your concern. No rain checks. No work he's gotta catch up on. No just remembered a prior commitment. You. You and you alone. If you have to, put his hand on your chest. It's one of those half-tender, half-sexy things. Drove some of the older neighborhood guys nuts back home. Until you're both firmly in the sack, it's all on you to keep him focused."
She half-smiled.
"Thanks. Do you want me to review our common checklist?"
He pointed at the padd.
"Good idea."
"Ok. One--compliment them. Pump them up on words. Two--no holds barred. Anything goes. Three--size does not matter. We are both perfectly adequate."
He shrugged.
"I'll be okay, there. Every other male on board is an adult. But you--promise you'll forget about Judy? I think you're just fine, and apparently so does Harry. But I know you, Sis. Every time I see you and Judy together in your nightgowns, you start arching your back. We're not porn stars, okay? Promise me?"
She closed her eyes, and laughed.
"I never even realized anyone saw me do that. Okay, so I'm not a Cheerleader. At least I obey gravity. But don't think I'm just letting you off. No stopping, Will."
"Huh?"
"Just what I said. When you're at it alone, I keep hearing you stop, like you expect Mom and Dad to walk in on you. Will, they're asleep. A little grunting is not gonna rouse those two. You'll be in Kes's cabin---it'll be locked. No one will know where you are, except in an emergency. Little brother, it's time we started using our pillows to rest our heads, and nothing more."
"Okay. But just make sure he treats you right."
"And you make sure she treats you right. Hopefully---we'll be sore tomorrow."
Suddenly, they hugged each other, and jumped up and down. They spoke as one, smiling and giddy.
"We're gonna score!!!"
Thinking she had found Tom on the holodeck, Be'lanna opened up the garage program.
"Tom, we have to talk. You can't let my big mouth----"
But the only one there was Don West, a few sheets to the wind, courtesy of a bottle he held.
"Heyyy, pretty-lady? You want some?"
Feeling disgusted with herself over possibly wrecking her friendship with Paris, Be'lanna just shook her head and sat down.
"This stuff better be strong."
Feeling disgusted with himself over realizing that he really didn't know Judy as well as he thought, Don put his head on Torres' shoulder.
"You remind me of the girls back in the oooold neighborhood, before I changed my name from Westorellini. All the ones I grew up with. Pretty, tough---an crazy!"
Be'lanna thought of her colony upbringing, and of the rugged, handsome--and stupid boys that were her friends and imaginary marriage partners, when she would dare to think of such things. She took another swig, and then kissed Don, indicating she wanted to start something.
"Just so long as you don't tell me that I remind you of your sister."
The turn that followed did not follow the pattern of a classic sibling relationship between Torres and West. It more resembled Pon Farr.
I entered the Sickbay. Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay were present. My new friend, the Emergency Medical Hologram, was notably not so.
"Hello, Robot. Just sit tight. The Robinsons will be here, soon enough."
I chose not to correct Captain Janeway in her apparent belief that the Doctors Robinson would be arriving together. There was in fact the possibility of their marriage ending entirely.
She turned to Commander Chakotay. As I surmised, the recent troubles between Be'lanna Torres and Tom Paris were having repercussions, to say the very least.
"I put my trust in you."
Those simple words seemed to strike at The Commander hard. But harsher words were on the horizon.
"Kathryn, Tom was not being honest with Be'lanna. He told her about how she resembles his sister, Sadie Paris, without also telling her what had passed between them."
Captain Janeway had perhaps mentally rehearsed these words, and speculated upon his possible responses. In any event, she seemed unimpressed.
"That, then, Chakotay, was solely the concern of Tom and Be'lanna. It wasn't mine. It wasn't yours. And for the record? Tom did not call me. Be'lanna did. She feels like a fool, and she flatly asked me whether or not you had a secret grudge against Mister Paris. I told her that I knew of no such grudge. Should I?"
"No, Captain. Of course not."
Her eyes told of a woman in doubt, and the shaking of her head seemed to confirm this speculation.
"Of course not. Chakotay, you made a huge sacrifice when this mission began. You've made many more since. You've bled alongside us, with us, and for us. I regret none of the choices I've made in regard to you, from the biggest to the most personal. Now understand this: The only reasons I do not here and now strip you of rank and confine you to quarters for the remainder of this voyage are decorum and the respect I have for those who were once your crew. As a group, they have worked too hard for me to publicly humiliate their leader. They've done nothing wrong. So you keep your position as a favor to them. Also, there was a situation, similar to the Jonas matter that I was prepared to inform you of. My present anger may pass. But I have elected to permanently remove you from the loop on this matter. Anything to add?"
"Kathryn, I'm sorry. My instincts are rarely this far wrong. I guess what you told me about Tom's family struck all the wrong chords, pressed all the wrong buttons. You see, before we found out she was a Cardassian, I would have given my life defending Seska's good name. Betrayed by a sister-in-arms, someone I thought I could trust, made me do something I should not have."
Captain Janeway seemed less angered, but no less flustered.
"I suppose you think that makes everything all right? Chakotay, do you recall my magic number?"
Commander Chakotay appeared to puzzle briefly over the reference that was, to me, entirely oblique.
"Yes. You said that actions like mine over pursuing Seska, Tuvok's acquisition of that unworkable warp field, and Neelix's efforts to buy new maps was bringing you to a hard choice concerning discipline. That eventually, you would have to draw the line. Actually--you said you would have to draw it on someone."
The Captain's face indicated well the depths of her feelings on this subject.
"Draw it through them, really. Bisect them cleanly. Well, Commander, it won't be you. But whoever it is, you just raised the stakes, by way of breaking mine and Tom Paris's trust. So, without question or debate, when next a crewmember strays, I'll have to drop an antimatter bomb on them. Imprisonment. Reduction in rank. And a verbal public thrashing so harsh, that were I to do it physically, I myself would face possible arrest under General Order Seven. So when that time comes, you look at the poor fool I've chosen to break. You say nothing, but think hard about how you drew down my magic number from three to zero. You think about how an offense that might have been settled with a reprimand will instead be paid for by a friend in total isolation. They will have earned punishment. But you will have earned them that particular punishment."
The color then seemed to drain from The Commander's face. My sensors detected a rapid rise in his heartbeat.
"I understand. Should I still come by tonight?"
The answer seemed to have much the same effect as the antimatter bomb the Captain spoke of.
"I can't trust your discretion anymore, Chakotay. You and me--we're done."
Their united front was raised again when the Doctors Robinson entered, albeit with great effort and strain. In this, they were not alone. The room had become a place that had I a choice; I would have elected to be away from. Even a Robot can feel a chill wind blowing.
"Doctors--I'm pleased that you could make it. Let me start off by asking you why your accounts of your history and journey contain so very many very blatant half-truths, omissions, and lies?"
Doctor Maureen Robinson had developed a dislike for Captain Kathryn Janeway. This much was evident in her tone of voice.
"How odd. Kathryn--I was going to ask you the very same thing."
The first shots had been fired. Captain Janeway looked askance at Doctor Maureen Robinson. I----was deactivated.
"Care to explain what you mean by that? We've kept absolutely nothing from you."
Maureen opened her mouth to answer, but as it had been many times in their long marriage, John Robinson answered for them both. But this time, it would not go unchallenged.
"What she means, Kathryn, is that you people, whoever you really are, have used the sights, sounds, and words of a television show deeply ingrained in our popular culture in order to entrap us. Now, our family members may chalk it all up to coincidence. But Klingons? Vulcans? I can't let such obvious clues slip past."
Maureen now spoke again.
"No, he couldn't. Common courtesy, though, he's perfectly willing to let slip past."
John shrugged at his wife.
"Were you about to say anything remarkably different?"
Maureen outright glared at John.
"We'll never know now, will we?"
Chakotay intervened, having been in an all too similar argument with Kathryn Janeway, mere moments before.
"The show you call 'Star Trek' does seem to speak of our past--perhaps even of our present, in some cases. But please understand that to us, James Kirk is no fiction, and he is not an actor who grew weary of the role and its fame. He is a very important, quite real, historical figure. Please accept--reality has several levels. This is surely one of them. This is no deception. We are Starfleet, in one way or another, and we are not where we belong. Now, perhaps accusing you of lying was wrong, as well. But may we at least state the reasons why we said such a thing?"
Janeway was ready to kill Chakotay for openly correcting her tactics. But she kept her face from showing it, so as not to break the appearance of a united front.
"Perhaps my words were a bit precipitous. Like yourselves, we've tended to encounter deceptions, such as we're discussing here. Perhaps these were even things you yourselves were unaware of."
Since the tone was now more conciliatory, Maureen tried to echo it, despite how much of this civility was forced and strained.
"If that is the case, I'd certainly like to know of such things, Kathryn."
Janeway puzzled for a moment. She knew for a fact that Maureen wished that the crew of the Jupiter-2 remain on board Voyager, while her husband plainly did not. Yet by that same token, no one was more openly resentful of her authority as Captain than Maureen.
"All right, Maureen. Let's start with Will and Penny. Are the two of you aware that they are not your natural children?"
Whatever the tensions between the Robinsons, they exchanged a look of alliance that instantly bridged those difficulties. That alone told the two Starfleet officers that they had struck a nerve, and a similar look was exchanged. Maureen answered again.
"It's true. But we love them no less for that fact. If anything, they were more of a miracle to us than Judy. They don't know, and we both strongly desire that no one tell them, Captain--Commander."
John followed through, hoping that the appearance of peace would be enough to dispel any further questions.
"Kathryn, I really don't see our adoption of Penny and Will as being germane to our discussions, nor do I frankly see it as any of your business."
Janeway turned a bit on a man whose burdens she sympathized with--and whom she herself did not find unattractive.
"Normally, I would agree, John. But for example you just said 'adoption'--singular. You adopted them both at the same time? Penny would have been three, perhaps, and Will a newborn. But neither remembers not being a part of your family? They've never even suspected?"
Chakotay backed her up, from historical experience.
"Among Native American peoples, some were lighter than others. Some Europeans were darker and ruddier than others. But when an adoption occurred--the child almost always at least asked, even when grabbed from their mothers as newborns."
John bristled at what he perceived as an accusation.
"Commander, we didn't steal our children from anyone. I assure you, they had no living relatives."
Maureen nodded.
"Chakotay, they had no one on Earth but us, when we took them in. We were just fortunate that their IQ's were both so very high and we've already told you about how important they are to our mission."
Janeway moved in for the kill.
"You say they had no but you--on Earth. Well, how about not on Earth? What about the fact that those two are not from the same planet, or even the same star-system, as the rest of you?"
The Robinsons again exchanged a look, this one of defeat. The two officers knew the truth about their younger children.
I suddenly found myself in a state of reactivation--as did another. Internally, I was made aware of a presence.
"Robot? It's me, The Emergency Medical Hologram. I've used your holo-core as means to undo the summary judgment of our CO's. With me?"
I indicated my agreement, but kept my power levels very low, and remained immobile. Doctor Maureen Robinson shrugged in a manner that indicates some contempt and not a little sarcasm.
"Captain, I still don't see how the origins of my two younger children are any of your business."
Captain Janeway appeared to better hold her equilibrium in this matter.
"Their origins are not really my concern. Your reasons for keeping those facts silent are. If they are valid reasons, this matter is dropped--and you have my apologies for the intrusion. But a part of your family--and most of the tech on your ship--are derived from Alpha Centauri--the very system you set out to explore. To me, that's notable."
"Well, Robot. That explains you."
I informed the Doctor he was in error. For this revelation cast light only on the genesis of my parts and materials. It still said nothing of how I achieved a level of sentience equaling that of The EMH or these so-called 'Soongian' androids.
Doctor John Robinson sought to answer some of Captain Janeway's concerns.
"Kathryn, we simply didn't know who we were dealing with, when we first met you. Now, can you reverse the favor? Is there anything you can tell us about our situation that your scanners can reveal? Something perhaps that we ourselves don't know?"
Doctor Robinson had lived with Doctor Smith for five years. He had not been ignorant of the methods used by our reluctant stowaway, and had shown that he could adapt them to his more moral stance, as needed. Captain Janeway's defenses were lowered by this, to several effects.
"Well, John. There are three things. One I have to do--further investigation upon. But two of them I'll state here and now. One--it seems that your Robot has a holographic matrix at his core. His mechanical form is itself a portable holoemitter. We believe it was once used to tell stories to pass the time for travelers to other worlds. It would explain his unbelievable sophistication and capacity."
Doctor Maureen Robinson's guard was still up.
"And just what would two be?"
The EMH speculated on their exchanges.
"Classic clash of four primed and broken alphas. And no one is giving so much as a blasted inch."
The Captain's slightly bitten lip seemed to confirm this hypothesis. Neither woman could now imagine serving with the other in any position of authority.
"Maureen, I find your tone unacceptable. If you entertain notions about living aboard this ship--you'll learn to lose it."
"I can't, Kathryn. I frankly doubt I have your First Officer's quite obvious reserves of nearly superhuman self-restraint."
The Captain stood up, and pointed at the sickbay's door.
"We have a structure here. Be a part of it, and you'll be an officer here as well. Otherwise, you'll always be a mere crewman. Now get out of here."
The tensions reached a boiling point. Chakotay spoke up.
"Captain, in light of the rigors of integrating our two crews together, three years ago, I feel this is an unwise and precipitous move, on your part."
The Captain's head turned slowly.
"That's two. Mister Chakotay--this isn't a game of baseball. Remove yourself from my sight."
Both Chakotay and Doctor Maureen Robinson did just that. John Robinson nodded at the Captain.
"Well you do keep the order. Kathryn, what is two?"
"It involves Doctor Smith."
John Robinson was no more surprised than I myself was. This would change.
"Let's hear it."
"Alright, but John? Keep her in line. I mean it."
"I can tell that you do. A firm decision is an appealing thing. Not allowing over a hundred second-guessers is very appealing."
The Captain appeared to gulp.
"John, Doctor Zachary Smith has what was referred to in your time as Multiple Personality Disorder. Only thing is--the engrams for each of the two personas are too well structured. Meaning--he had this done to him on purpose. Even worse, the Smith you've been dealing with may not even be the core personality. He may be a very, very dangerous man."
Stunned as I was by this thought, what occurred next made both myself and The EMH check our recording circuits for accuracy.
"John--just one more thing?"
"Yes, Kathryn?"
"Please stay."
Using a private transporter routine, the two beamed away. My cybernetic heart sank as the Robinsons' marriage fell away before my eyes.
Outside of Robot's vision, more evidence of this came forward.
A very frustrated Chakotay entered his quarters--and there found a visitor.
"Maureen?"
"Chakotay, a strong person shouldn't have to make themselves feel strong-- by demeaning another."
In the 24th Century, the ten-year difference between their ages meant nothing at all to Chakotay. Whether it was her welcome words or her well-kept body, he was soon kissing her, long and deep.
The crews of the Jupiter 2 and the USS Voyager were having a definite impact on one another.
Penny Robinson sat and gently snuggled with Harry Kim.
"Harry, you are just so understanding."
Wondering exactly what Cupid had against him, Harry shrugged.
"Hey, these things. They happen. You just were way too nervous. Way, way too nervous."
She blushed.
"I didn't even think it was possible for it to happen to a girl. All you did was brush against me, and I just----well, you know."
Harry tried like hell to be philosophical.
"Sometimes, people go too fast, and certain things happen too soon. Like just a few minutes ago--with you. Wait until you're relaxed, and we'll try again."
He gave her a brief, tender kiss on the lips. She gave a familiar shake, and ran off.
"I have to go to the bathroom!"
While she cleansed herself again, Harry looked at the ceiling.
"God--I don't make threats. But if Tom ever finds out about this, you had better hire a reallllly BIG Archangel, cause I'm gonna be looking for answers!"
Marveling at Kes's naked beauty, Will Robinson caressed and kissed every inch of her, a gentle touch missing no spot from head to toe, chin to behind. His efforts were ceaseless, and he at no point showed the anxiety that anticipation surely was making him feel.
Kes then took his hand, and tried to smile.
"Will, generally a woman likes a little foreplay."
The lucky fifteen-year old nodded.
"I know. That's why I'm being so thorough. I don't just want to rush into it."
"Yes, and I appreciate that. But Will, when it comes to foreplay--generally three hours is considered more than enough."
Into an empty galley came two not-deflowered siblings, their first times postponed for another time--again.
With Neelix not around, Will fashioned a meatloaf and Penny a mixed-vegetable medley. When they sat and ate, Penny began to weep uncontrollably. Her brother sat next to her, and the only reason he himself didn't sob was to try and snap her out of it. These efforts all failed, though, when Penny looked up at Will, and said two heart-rending words.
"Nothing changes."