2349 December 1

Thomas Eugene Paris sat quietly on the chair, patiently waiting for either his mother or his father to finish their meeting so that they could go home. Or at least, he tried to. In the excitement of finally being allowed to go onto the shuttle simulators at the academy, for the first time since being reunited with his family, he had left his study padds behind. He had realised almost immediately. But it had been too late to avoid a disciplinary action from his father. The flight simulators were now in use by some cadets for a special project and would be for the next five hours. He was bored. He was hungry. And there would be no reward to look forward to, either.

Mrs Mythris rushed out of his dad's office. "I'm bored and I'm very hungry," Tommy told her.

Mrs Mythris frowned. For such an intelligent child, Tommy could act very immature sometimes. "You know where the replicator is Tommy. Just get yourself something to eat."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Grabbing two lots of padds from her desk, she dumped them in front of Tommy. "Here, Tommy. Why don't you practice your spelling by putting these reports into order for me? You remember how you did it last time, don't you?"

Tommy looked at the pile of pads. It was huge. He wanted to cry but knew better than to do that. "Yes, ma'am." He pointed to the attention line and the subject line on the first report. "New engine designs." He got out the staff manifest and found the engineering department. He tapped on the senior officer's name and opened the officer's communications file. Another two clicks and he had transferred the file from the secretary's in box pad to the correct communications buffer for sending. He looked back to the secretary. She smiled at him.

"Good boy. And remember. Don't send them. I'll double check your work when I get back."

"Yes, ma'am." Tommy looked down so that the secretary couldn't see the tears in his eyes as she left the room. It didn't matter how long his parents' meetings went for now. He wouldn't be leaving until he was finished with the reports and it was all 'correct and accounted for.'

Tommy went over to the replicator needing something yummy to help him feel better about his new job. "One peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a glass of OJ, please,"

The replicator beeped. "please state your ID code and rank."

"ID :37836B3 child 3. Admiral Owen Paris' son. Thomas Eugene Paris."

The replicator beeped twice. "access denied. ID :37836B3 child 3. Admiral Owen's son. Thomas Eugene Paris has access to the fruit and water selection only. Please restate your request."

Despondently, he threw himself onto a sitting position on the floor, arms tightly wrapped around his bent legs. No simulators, and now no yummy food. It just isn't fair. Several tears slid down his face. He hated it here. He wished they had never come back and that he could have been adopted by, and lived with, the Hendrix's forever. Paris men don't cry, he reminded himself. We are Starfleet. Duty First.

He looked at the pile of reports. He wanted to dump them all into the refresher and run away. But that would just make the admiral even madder. Reluctantly, he got back to his feet and walked over to the padds. He no longer felt like eating. And he had a job to do.

2349 December 29

"Mummy, mummy!" the boy screeched with excitement as he ran into the house. He rushed up to the dark haired woman sitting on the antique lounge and threw himself into her arms. Or at least, he attempted to. Firm arms gripped him tightly and lowered him immediately to the floor.

Julia plastered a fake smile on her face, as she looked into the blue eyes. "Now Thomas," she answered firmly. "Is that how we behave in Starfleet?"

The boy took a deep breath. "No, ma'am," he answered.

"Right then. How about we try that again." The boy nodded obediently, before turning around.

"After we've finished reviewing the appropriate procedure first, of course," stated a stern voice from the doorway. Thomas looked up and bit his lip. He was in trouble again. "Yes, daddy," he said in a tiny whisper.

The frown on his father's face deepened. "Is that how you address a superior officer, cadet?" Owen Paris asked sternly.

"No, sir." Thomas said, forcing himself to speak more loudly.

"Better," said Owen before looking at the other guilty party to this infraction. "You too, ensign," he said.

Expressionless blue eyes looked back at him. "Aye, sir," Cole said in a firm voice. Quickly grabbing Tommy's hand and squeezing encouragingly, Cole began to walk back to the front entrance.

"Ensign!" came the stern voice, again.

Cole stiffened his back and turned around. "Yes, sir?"

Owen's face was set in a hard line. "What have I told you about PDA's?" he barked harshly.

Cole stared back at his brother. Owen had never been what one would call overly warm and affectionate. But since his marriage to Julia and Tommy's accident, he barely recognised the cold and heartless stranger standing before him. He wanted to yell at Owen, remind him that Tommy wasn't a cadet. He wasn't nine either. He was really just a five year old little boy. Of course, he couldn't take the risk. Julia would love that. It would be all the excuse she needed. Then, Owen would just throw him out, and Tommy would be left all alone, with them.

He couldn't do it. He'd promised Alicia. "Yes, sir. Sorry, sir." he said instead.

Dropping Tommy's hand, he pivoted and marched smartly to the door, Tom silently keeping in step behind him.

His thoughts briefly flittered to eight year old Kathleen, away at a pony club camp. Kathleen was just like Owen. With her grandmother's dark hair, and the exotic features she had inherited from their great-great grandmother, she even looked like she could have been Julia's daughter as well. Maybe, that's why, of all the step-children, she alone had been fully accepted by the woman.

And in the last year, she had taken to emulating her new stepmother, as well.

Cole gave himself a mental shake before dismissing Kathleen firmly from his mind. She, at least, was happy and thriving in the new household.

As the doors automatically opened, Cole and Tommy marched swiftly through it. Cole came to a stop and let Tommy catch up to him. Catching Tommy's eye, he gave him a discreet wink, to remind him that they were in this together. One day, he thought. One day, we will both be free. Whatever it takes, I'll make sure of it.

2350 January 15

Cole Michael Paris smirked victoriously as he shook the Admiral's hand. "We have a deal, then. I do this 'special assignment' for you. And in return, you organise a more 'suitable' tutor for Tommy's specialized studies. One who'll let him be a kid sometimes and teach him how to have fun."

"Yes, ensign, we do indeed have a deal," Admiral Lianna Necheyev said in response. As the young man left the room, a ruthless smile crossed her face. Two for the price of one. What an excellent bargain. And I have just the perfect 'tutor' for the job.

She thought about Cole's brother Owen. Although Alynna had always pretended otherwise she knew with a mother's intuition. That man had broken her daughter's heart.

Now finally, the perfect revenge had presented itself. Welcome to Section 20, Cole Paris. I look forward to doing business with you … and little Tommy … down the track.

What made it even sweeter was the fact that Cole Paris already had issues with his dear brother, anyway. Enough issues to be blinded to the subtle nuances of his agreement to transfer full time into Section 20. And by the time, he realised? Well, we all learn that one the hard way, she thought. Section 20 is a lifetime commitment.