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Stardate 52162
Father left on an away team mission several days ago. Tom was piloting the Delta Flyer, and Samantha Wildman was with them. They haven't checked in with the bridge for over 48 hours. Per standard procedure, they should have reported to us at least twice during that amount of time. The last time the Flyer checked in, they told us that a series of severe ion storms have been crossing their projected flight path, which will delay their arrival. Shortly after that, we received a static-filled mayday from Father, and now, nothing. The captain is very concerned, and so am I. Father would never allow a lapse this long in reporting their current status unless they were unable to communicate with us. Harry was able to track them to a star system in the area, but we haven't been able to make as detailed a search as we'd like because we've had to deal with those same ion storms. They're in trouble. We just don't know how bad it is.
Dad always stays with Naomi while Sam is off the ship on an away mission. Naomi knows her mother should have been back by now, but Dad has put off telling her about the problems the away team have had. I advised Dad he shouldn't hide what's happened from Naomi.
Captain Janeway called me into her ready room at the end of my shift. I'd asked Mr. Ayala if I could remain on the bridge to do anything necessary to assist in the search and she wanted to know how I was doing. I told her I trust that things will work out well. She told me she urged Dad to tell Naomi about her mother and asked me to do the same. I explained I'd already tried. "He has very strong feelings about losing his family on Rinax, Captain. I think that's why he's hoping everything will turn out okay, and he won't have to disturb Naomi's peace of mind."
The captain sighed. "Your dad is a very strong-willed individual!"
I smiled at that, because he certainly is. "Yes," I replied. "He's had to be, to survive on his own for so long. I'm not sure what might have happened to him if you hadn't accepted him on your ship, Captain. I'm in a very good position to know, thanks to the memories he bequeathed me. He was drifting from place to place, turning his hand to whatever came up - and, as you know, some of it wasn't totally legal. Coming on board this ship saved his life. I'm certain of it."
"I'm happy to have him here. He's earned his place, just as you have since your . . . what do you and your fathers call it? Your 'advent?'"
"Yes. To call it a birth seems inappropriate. I've always been an adult in form, even if I've had to struggle to understand myself and how to act. My fathers have presented me with examples from the way they've lived their lives, but I'm the one who must do that in my own skin."
She smiled at my comment and said, "You're doing fine, Mr. Tuvix. Your Father is an excellent role model. He's been my mentor for many years. Your Dad has become a good friend, but sometimes he needs a . . . well, a kick in the pants, if you know what I mean."
"I do, Captain. He doesn't want to scare Naomi, but it will only upset her more when she finds out her mother has been missing, especially if . . . well, I don't want to think about that. I'll keep trying to convince him to let her know the truth. I just can't promise I'll be successful."
"That's all I can ask, Lieutenant. I'll order Neelix to tell Naomi if I must, but I'd prefer it if he'd listen to reason and tell her before I have to go to that extreme. Now, as to staying on the bridge beyond your shift . . . Mr. Ayala told me about your request. If you wish to remain there for another couple of hours, you may. Don't stay too long. I'm afraid we'll need your expertise tomorrow, too, and you'll need your rest. You could spend a little time with Naomi tonight, too. Sam showed me the lovely book the two of you made while we were in the Void. It's nice to see our two 'children' getting along with each other, especially during times like this."
I thanked the captain and went back to the bridge for two hours before taking her advice about visiting with Naomi and Dad in the Wildman quarters. I only stayed for about an hour before returning to my own quarters and meditated. I needed to center myself, because I am so very worried about Father.
I would carry on without Father if need be. Dad thought I'd be able to deal with losing him when he had his crisis of faith several months ago, but that would have been devastating, because that loss would have been so preventable. This is different. Losing Father this way would be due the risks one accepts when one becomes a member of a Starfleet vessel's crew. I'm an adult, with lots of experience in coming of age - in a sense, I did it twice, although only vicariously, through the memories I inherited from my fathers. I'd find it exceedingly difficult, but I'd cope.
But Naomi's situation is so different. If we can't get them back, Dad, as her godfather, would take physical custody of her. Everyone on this ship would help out - but she's so little. Naomi fools us into thinking she's older than she is much of the time. She's grown out of toddlerhood so quickly; she's articulate and acts very mature for her age. But she needs her mother, the more so because her own father is far away in the Alpha Quadrant. I know the captain hopes no one else on this ship will reproduce. She doesn't believe children belong on a starship, especially not one in the situation ours is in. As charming as it is to have Naomi around, I guess I can see the captain's point.
If we lose Tom, B'Elanna would have a very hard time, too. Commander Chakotay is counseling her after her recent bout of depression, and I'd hate for her to have adjust to living without him now that they've grown so close again. Actually, everyone on Voyager would be devastated to lose Tom. None of the other pilots can compare with his skills as a pilot. During a fight, or whenever we're trying to escape one, everyone wants Tom at the helm.
I went them back. All of them, safe and sound.
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Stardate 52164
Of course, just as the captain and I warned Dad might happen, Naomi found out about her mother accidentally. She came to the bridge unexpectedly during the night shift and heard the crew's desperate efforts to reach the buried Delta Flyer. She understood the ramifications immediately. She's a very intelligent little girl. She was also an extremely upset one. She ran to her Flotter and Trevis holodeck program. Dad found her there and finally was honest with her about the accident. He assured Naomi everyone was doing all they could to rescue her mother and the rest of the team. Then he confessed about how terrible it was for him when he lost his family, and that he only wanted to protect her from being hurt.
(Dad told me later that Flotter and Trevis both chastised him severely for upsetting their Naomi, and he promised them he'd do better in the future. Out of the mouths of holodeck characters . . . He listened to them when he wouldn't listen to the captain or me!)
Fortunately, we were able to rescue Sam, Father, and Tom just before their air gave out. It's a good thing the Delta Flyer is stronger than the shuttle designs brought from the Alpha Quadrant. A Class-2 would have been completely destroyed in the crash. B'Elanna says the Delta Flyer will be up and running again in just a few days.
Samantha will be on medical leave for several shifts, so she'll be able to spend more time with her daughter. Sam suffered serious internal injuries in the accident, and Tom didn't have the medical equipment he needed to do more than give her first aid. She needed an operation. The Doctor performed it as soon as she was transported to Sickbay. Naomi was allowed to visit her mother there, and she refused to leave her until the Doctor was willing to release Samantha to her quarters.
Naomi's doing much better now that her mother is back, but she was so very afraid. I hope Dad has learned his lesson. Trying to deceive a child is dangerous. I'm glad the worst didn't happen; I'm not sure Naomi would have ever forgiven him if it did.
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