Disclaimer: See chapter one for obligatory notice of copyright. The Tuvok quote for Prixin came from The Star Trek Transcripts website.
In memory of Richard Herd – Admiral Owen Paris whom we lost to cancer on May 26 2020
Pied Piper
In Gaffer's office/control room three figures stood ranged before him: S. Copper, Robin Hood and Zach.
"Now you will all have visual/audio feed equipment, with no mikes, to be relayed here to FNN. There is to be no comments or questions asked, just the general visual audio of what is happening at their gathering. No commentary," he added forcibly glaring at Copper pointedly. "Now get kitted up and go to Starfleet Academy Gardens." The three nodded acceptance of his orders and left.
First the two reporters got kitted up with the small visual audio equipment, ably assisted by Zach the veteran cameraman, who made sure that neither had any means to use the audio feeds for their own comments. They could link-up to the control room, but nothing else.
"Right now we can join the party."
=/\=
A large open sided marquee stood in the main grassy area of the Academy grounds as the three reporters made their way from the admin building towards the gathering of the Voyagers Prixin.
"What is Prixin, anyway?" asked Copper puzzled, noting that all of the crew were in casual attire along with other members of their families.
"I'm sure we'll discover what it's all about soon enough," Robin said, noting that the tall dark Vulcan was calling the assembly to attention; or rather Paris was, with glass and spoon, a grin across his features, as if recalling another time, as it seemed so were many others, as Zach scanned the crowd quietly. He softly told Robin to concentrate on the main staff, thus Tuvok's face and voice filled his cameras view finder and audio pick-up.
"Welcome to the first day of Prixin the Talaxian observance of familial allegiance. At this new location it was requested that I commence the celebration with the traditional salutation. 'We do not stand alone. We are in the arms of family. Father, mother, sister, brother. Father's, father, father's mother, father's, brother, mother's brother. Suffice to say the list is extensive. We gather on this day to extol the warmth and joy of those unshakeable bonds. Without them, we could not call ourselves complete. On this day, we are thankful to be together. We do not stand alone.'"
=/\=
Neelix felt tears well up as he listened to Mister Vulcan's voice, recalling that painful time when he'd almost lost his faith in his most cherished beliefs of his people. Brax and Dexa cuddled up to him giving him physical comfort.
"Er! Hmm!" spoke a hesitant voice behind them. "None of us stand alone," said the young male Jaxus, his stance gaining confidence. Neelix smiled and embraced the young male warmly, seeing others ranged behind Jaxus.
"Let's link this set up to the main hall," ordered Council Regent Oxilion. Soon willing hands moved the special com-equipment to the gathering hall, so they could all stand together along with Neelix's Voyager family in the Alpha Quadrant.
=/\=
"We do not stand alone," was echoed by all those of the crew, raising glasses in salute.
"There are two who are missing from our family, but they are not forgotten..."
"Er...I er have a surprise for you all," said Reg Barclay in a hurry and turned on the large TV like screen he'd set up earlier just inside the open sided marquee that housed all their eatables and refreshments for the coming party. A face slowly emerged into the view that of their friend and former morale officer, cook, etc, the be-whiskered spotted face of...
"NEELIX!" went up the chorus of those nearby.
"Greetings my friends from New Talax Colony," he beamed and revealing behind him stood some of the other colonists, all toasting the Voyagers with their own celebration of Prixin. "I'm glad you remembered, Mister Vulcan. I... What?"
Whatever else he might have said was lost under a loud tuneful sound coming from the other side of the Academy gardens. The FNN reporters were searching along with the crew as to where the sound was coming from. Soon they could identify the sound as music and singing, joyful singing.
"That tune!?" said Admiral Paris stunned.
"Starfleet's anthem!? But I don't recall any words and certainly not those," noted Nechayev, who'd been invited to attend along with Hayes and some others from Admiralty's top brass.
"I do," grinned Paris jnr.
"So do I!" said Torres, echoing her husband's tone and grin. Ayala started to sing his voice ringing out confidently joining in the chorus of what was now proving to be children's voices raised in song. All of the former Voyager crew joined in, adding to the growing swell of song.
"Mister Kim?" queried Barclay, puzzled, especially as he knew there were no known words to that anthem.
"Most Academy cadets whatever year they attended classes/semesters made up their own words to the Federation/Starfleet Anthem, Reg," grinning happily.
"And I know of only one person who'd know those particular words," added Paris, joining in.
"CHAKOTAY!" said several voices at once and started to move towards the general area of where the sound was emanating from.
A new voice one touched with patient wisdom spoke. "What do they sometimes say about Starfleet trained officers. 'You can take the officer out of Starfleet, but you can't always take Starfleet out of the officer.'"
"You're saying that this once Maquis rebel captain never left Starfleet even though he resigned his commission. Captain?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying. Admiral," matching her tone on the rank.
"He always believed in Starfleet's guiding principles. He just didn't care for how some were applying them or not, at the time," added Deanna Troi, watching as Riker joined in the rowdy song that grew in ever greater volume, drowning out the children's voices, as more and more adults added their voices and words.
It wasn't long, before the singers and their musician come into view; the tattooed male at the head of the group as he played a small reed flute, the children following behind him, singing happily together.
"The Pied Piper!" called a voice across the scene.
"I don't believe it..."
"Melissa," whispered a voice beside her, halting her full comment. "MELISSA!" Copper ran forward towards the only other adult in the whole group, that of a young tall willowy female with two copper haired children holding her hands.
"Hey Gaffer?" noted Robin urgently.
"Not to worry. I've had his feed turned off. Let me know when he's back in the fold," his voice echoing with his smile of delight, through the link-up audio feeds.
"Will do!" he acknowledged, smiling at the reunion going on between the reporter and his once lost family.
The two Janeways – Mother and elder daughter were rounding up and organising the crew especially those not singing or those that had the right credentials to assist the Doctor, giving the children a preliminary medical, whilst others washed and found suitable replacement clothing for them, and then onto a hot meal, probably the first these bedraggled lost children had had for some time. By now the vocal singing had wound down, yet the tune was being hummed, which in turn helped calm most of the children into trusting these many adults and other children, especially Icheb along with Naomi Wildman. Deanna Troi assisted in giving some disturbed and distraught youngsters a calming word, smile and quiet cuddle. The group consisted of children of all ages, parentage and medical issues. Gradually they were all comfortably fed and watered, tucking into the hot soup and soft rolls or bran meals; they were given by the busy caring crew.
Tom and B'Elanna went to meet and hug their lost friend, whilst FNN Robin Hood watched from a discreet distance along with the top brass. Copper was still with his family and Zach was milling around elsewhere.
Thus the group of three friends and two children walked over to the waiting group of Admirals. Before they were within earshot of the high ranking group Tom Paris said something to the tattooed male, thus he hunkered down and spoke to the young pair who were determined not to leave his side.
"You promised!" wailed the tallest of the young pair. What Chakotay said in reply was not heard, but he hugged them both gently and gave them over to Paris' care, who took them back to the Doctor so they could be checked medically and given the same treatment as the others of their bedraggled group.
Torres whispered something to him and he nodded his reply, thus they continued to walk towards the waiting Admirals and Picard. He waved to Neelix waiting patiently on the screen link, who responded by grinning happily.
"Admirals," he acknowledged formally. "Sir," shaking Owen Paris' hand warmly, his expression revealing more than his words.
"You are welcome, Commander," the older male said with a knowing smile.
"Captain," and held out the flute he'd been playing. "Thank you for the loan of your flute." Picard smiled as he took the precious item.
"Your rendition of Starfleet's anthem was admirable, Cmdr. Chakotay son of Kolopak."
"How did you do it?" Alynna asked astonished, itching to get some answers to what all of Starfleet's security could not do.
"Admiral?"
"The authorities have been trying to locate and round up those children for months and failed time and time again. How did you do it?" Chakotay only smiled, his dimples in full force, dark eyes twinkling in mischief.
Robin Hood's equipment was capturing these moments beautifully without intruding.
"It's his charm – Pied Piper," teased Paris, returning to his wife's side. "Picks up all sorts of waifs and strays."
"You should know, Flyboy!" B'Elanna quipped.
"Yeah along with all our Voyager Family!" responded Harry Kim, grinning wildly, making those in the know smile and laugh, but leaving the top brass suitably mystified.
=/\=
Authors note: Another chapter done, more to come, loose ends to be tied. Watch this space.
