***(previously on "It's Mark is upon us forvever")
He laughed lightly. "Well then, I believe the next time I take you on the holodecks we shall try a Swiss chalet."
Not quite knowing what he was talking about, she replied "I shall like that very much." She continued walking alongside him, wondering what in the name of Chatrana a Swiss chalet might be. She decided she was going to ask him what it was when they turned the corner into a long hallway full of sculptures. She took one look and the question that was lingering on her mind was completely forgotten. "I have never seen so many statues in my entire life..."
***(and now part 6)
Captain Janeway took a sip of the hot chocolate in her mug and grimaced. She had decided that she needed to find a new favorite drink and just now remembered that she was never a big fan of chocolate. She stole a few glances at the PADD in her hand while she walked over to the replicator and tossed the mug of cocoa in.
"Recycle", she commanded the computer. It whirred and the mug disappeared. "Coffee, black." A new mug of fresh steaming coffee appeared. She grabbed it off the platform and took a swig as she sat down at her desk. Aaah, much better...
At that moment Harry's voice filled the room. "Captain, Admiral Paris has hailed us and is requesting to speak with you."
She sat up. "Patch it through to my ready room" she said as she tapped at the computer on her desk. The face of Owen Paris appeared. "Admiral Paris, nice to see you."
Owen smiled. "The same to you Kathryn."
His good nature and use of her first name clued her in that there wasn't anything serious going on. She smiled back at her old mentor and friend. "What can I do for you?"
"I have heard that Trisian negotiations are nearly complete."
"Yes sir. Just a few more things to work out."
"That's good, because we are sending you to Crathan Prime. You are due there in 4 days."
"Why?"
"The Crathan government has elected a new president, and requested that an ambassador of the Federation be present, and since you are in close proximity to the Crathan system..."
"I understand. I'll notify the crew. Is there anything else?"
"Not at the moment. I'm sending you the details of when the event is going to happen and what to expect." He glanced off the screen for a second to confirm that the information was being sent. "By the way, how did that first contact go? I heard that there was a..cultural misunderstanding?"
Kathryn laughed. "More like the Trisian ambassador played a practical joke on us. But we all recovered quite nicely." Her upturned mouth twitched.
The admiral looked a little amused. "I see. I'll look forward to reading about it in your report."
"Yes sir."
"I have a meeting in a few minutes. We'll have to finish our conversation later." Admiral Paris stood up from his chair and straightened his uniform.
"Understood."
"Admiral Paris out" The screen went black.
Kathryn turned the cup of coffee in her hand. Another assignment... I guess the vacation is over. She tapped into her computer, starting a message going out to all members of the crew. She notified them that they were leaving Trisus in 48 hours, and that transports and visits to the planets surface was to be terminated in 24 hours time. She stopped abruptly. She remembered a conversation that she had with B'Elanna yesterday. Supposedly the Doctor had started dating one of the Trisians. When she first heard she was amused, happy to know that the Doctor's mood had improved. She hated to see one of her crewmembers unhappy. But if he was serious with this relationship, it would really hurt him to have it ended so quickly.
She sat there for a few seconds, pondering over this with her index finger hovering over the top the console. She realised that she had been staring at the wall for quite a long time and shook her head to bring herself out of it. She finished the message and sent it out. She set her coffee on the desk and cleared her throat as she tapped her commbadge. "Janeway to the Doctor"
"Doctor here. Yes, Captain?"
"I need to talk to you. Meet me in my ready room."
***
"You wanted to see me, Captain?"
"Yes" She shifted her position in the chair. She was silent.. thinking of what to say.
"What was it you wanted to discuss?"
"I just sent out a message to the crew. You haven't seen it yet because I sent for you. There was something I wanted to talk to you personally about."
The Doctor's forehead crinkled in concern. Over what, he didn't know yet. "Is everything all right, Captain? Any medical problems?"
She shook her head. "No, no. Theres nothing wrong in that area." She walked over and stood next to her window, staring out over the globe of Trisus that was looming there. "I called you here to talk about your..." She paused for a second. "..little situation." She turned and looked at him.
"Captain?"
Janeway sunk onto the couch. "I have been told by B'Elanna that you have been becoming intimate with one of the Trisian women.. what's her name..Imirika?"
The Doctor thought he knew where this situation was going. He became even more concerned. "If we had any restrictions concerning this species, I did know know about it.. but..."
She lightly smiled as she raised her hand to stop his explanation. "There wasn't any restrictions. It's perfectly alright." She lowered her arm. The Doctor breathed a simulated sigh of relief. "I just wanted to warn you ahead of time.."
"Warn me of what?"
She leaned forward. "Let me just cut to the chase. Voyager has been given a new assignment and we leave Trisus in 48 hours for the Crathan system."
His face fell flat.
"Now, I understand what it means to become attatched to someone that you have met on shore leave or on a mission. Goodness knows how many times that has happened to me. But, I have been notified that you have gotten pretty serious ." She stopped and waited for The Doctor to respond.
He inhaled and nodded sharply. "Yes, I suppose that's true." His lips turned up involuntarily.
"Well then," She headed over to him and patted him on the shoulder. "I'll leave it up to you, but if you decide to, I am officially giving permission for you to ask Imirika on board with us." Then she stepped aside and headed out her door onto the bridge.
The Doctor didn't aknowledge her leaving. As the door closed behind her, he was left behind in her ready room.
***
"There's your godfather! Say hello, Miral" Tom took one of Miral's chubby little hands and waved it weakly at the Doctor as he walked into sickbay.
The Doctor looked up from what he was working on and smiled. "Hello there" He reached out his arms and Tom handed the one-year old over to him. He lifted her up to eye level and made a face at her. She giggled whole- heartedly, which made her tiny ridges go up and down. He did so love babies. So inocent, unlike many things in the universe.
She reached forwarrd and grabbed his nose, tugging on it slightly. "Doca" she babbled.
Tom smiled at the two and quickly glanced around the room. The sight of multiple padds and tools out immediately alerted him to a problem. "Um, Doc? Is there something going on?"
The Doctor looked at him quickly and then focused his attention back on the baby. "I was just running some more tests. It's been a slow day"
"No, I've seen this before. Is there something wrong?"
The Doctor sighed and set Miral onto a biobed. She immediately started grabbing for objects so he gave her his hand. She happily started to pull on them, twisting them any way she could. He watched her. "Tom, We are friends, right?"
"Yes"
"Can I ask you for some advice?"
Tom crossed his arms. "You always have before."
The Doctor nodded his head, remembering instances where Tom had given him advice on life, and love.
"What is it that bothers you?"
He took a breath in. "Have you read any of the recent messages?"
"No, not yet. Me and Miral have been on the holodeck for a few hours. Playing on the beach. Why?"
"The Captain informed me that we are leaving Trisus in 48 hours."
Tom grimaced, realizing just how this could affect the Doctor. "I'm sorry Doc." Miral suddenly decided that she was bored with the Doctor's hand and scooted near the edge, arms outstreched for her father. He picked her up and settled her on his waist. "How are you going to handle this?"
The Doctor leaned against the biobed. "That's what I'm asking you. The captain gave me permission to take Imirika with us."
"That's great. It seems your problem is solved. So, why are you upset?"
The Doctor's eyes scanned back and forth along the floor, trying to think how to put it. "I don't..." Tom stayed silent, giving the Doctor a chance to organize his thoughts. "I don't know if I'm ready...for a..serious commitment."
Tom shook his head. He wasn't quite sure how to react to that. He looked the Doctor over and it was obvious that he was feeling very indecisive. He had seen the signs before, when the Doctor was debating how to go about talking to Seven after his "deathbed confession" over a year ago. He took a deep breath. "I wish I could help you Doc, but I can't tell you whether or not you are ready. But I do know that you really like this girl, and you need to consider what you would lose if you leave without her."
The Doctor was quiet for a moment, thinking about what Tom had said. He finally looked up and looked him in the eye. "Thank you Tom."
"Hey, no problem. That's what friends are for, right?"
"Right."
Miral started fidgeting in Tom's arms. She let out a small cry that slowly grew louder. "Aah that's my signal" Tom said. "We've been running around all day, I bet she's starving for lunch. I'll see you later. And think about what I said, alright?"
The Doctor nodded. "I will." He watched as Tom settled the little girl on his shoulder and turn out the door. Miral, looking over her daddy's back, smiled at him. The door closed and the Doctor spun around at looked at his empty sickbay. He had some decisions to make. He also realized that for the second time today, he was left alone.
***
One more hour until they cease transport... is what ran through the Doctor's mind as he materialised on the darkened planet. He quickly made his way through the streets, looking for the right building. He passed through the streets and stands, now empty. He finally came to the courtyard he remembered coming to a couple of weeks ago. In the corner of his eye he caught the light coming from the cantina. He walked toward it. The inside was nearly empty, save for a man behind the counter cleaning glasses and one woman sitting in the corner. He instantly recongnized her and sat down across from her.
She leaned over the table to peck him on the cheek. She sat back down, obviously upset. "I heard that you were..."
"Yes. We leave tommorow."
She bowed her head and her black ringlets fell in front of her face. It was quiet for a few minutes. The Doctor watched her, trying to figure out what she was thinking. After a while he determined that he had better say something before they both went crazy. "Imirika..."
Hearing her name set her off. Her mouth crumpled and her hands went up to cover her face. A muffled sob escaped in between her fingers.
The was not the reaction he expected. His eyes went wide with concern as he stood up and made his way over to her side. He kneeled beside her. He reached up and laid his hand on her back, immediately feeling her shudder as he made contact. She continued to cry softly. "It's okay... everything is going to be alright, Imirika..."
She turned toward him and she lowered her wet hands a bit in order to see him more clearly. Her purple eyes were dark and rimmed with red. "No it's not. You're leaving..and I.. I.." She gulped and used one of her tear- stained hands to push back her hair. "I've never felt more comfortable with anyone. You treat me different than everyone else. You make me feel so..." She stared at him intensely., looking into his eyes, trying to find something. "I love you. And I'm never going to see you again." Her eyes started to well up with tears again.
If the Doctor had any doubts before he certainly didn't have them anymore. He took her little hands in his and looked back up at her. He didn't hesitate. "Come with me."
Her eyes grew round. "What?"
All of his emotions were plainly written across his face. "I have thought about it, and I have decided that you are too important to me to let you go." She smiled and he continued. "I love you too, and I want you to come with me."
Once again she reacted differently to what the Doctor was expecting. She fell into him, knocking him off his center of balance, which caused them both to wind up on the floor. The man behind the counter looked up and stared curiously at the couple in the corner. But the two didn't notice him watching. Imirika planted a kiss full on the Doctor's lips. "Yes, I'll come with you." She smiled, showing all of her white teeth.
He smiled back at her. "Good. Because I'm ready to go right now."
"What?" She pushed herself up to a sitting position.
The Doctor sat up as well. "Transport ceases in..." he checked the time displayed over the doorway. "...half an hour."
"But my things...my statues..."
"We don't have time to get them. But I'm sure that the Captain will provide to you anything you need."
She looked a little nervous. "You sure?"
He smiled reassuringly at her. "Yes. Even all the art supplies your heart desires."
That took her nervousness away. She stood up and pulled him up with her. "That settles it. We leave now."
They both laughed as he tapped on his commbadge. "Doctor to Voyager. Two to beam up." He embraced her in his arms and kissed her deeply as the light of the transporter engulfed them, sending them up to Voyager overhead.
He laughed lightly. "Well then, I believe the next time I take you on the holodecks we shall try a Swiss chalet."
Not quite knowing what he was talking about, she replied "I shall like that very much." She continued walking alongside him, wondering what in the name of Chatrana a Swiss chalet might be. She decided she was going to ask him what it was when they turned the corner into a long hallway full of sculptures. She took one look and the question that was lingering on her mind was completely forgotten. "I have never seen so many statues in my entire life..."
***(and now part 6)
Captain Janeway took a sip of the hot chocolate in her mug and grimaced. She had decided that she needed to find a new favorite drink and just now remembered that she was never a big fan of chocolate. She stole a few glances at the PADD in her hand while she walked over to the replicator and tossed the mug of cocoa in.
"Recycle", she commanded the computer. It whirred and the mug disappeared. "Coffee, black." A new mug of fresh steaming coffee appeared. She grabbed it off the platform and took a swig as she sat down at her desk. Aaah, much better...
At that moment Harry's voice filled the room. "Captain, Admiral Paris has hailed us and is requesting to speak with you."
She sat up. "Patch it through to my ready room" she said as she tapped at the computer on her desk. The face of Owen Paris appeared. "Admiral Paris, nice to see you."
Owen smiled. "The same to you Kathryn."
His good nature and use of her first name clued her in that there wasn't anything serious going on. She smiled back at her old mentor and friend. "What can I do for you?"
"I have heard that Trisian negotiations are nearly complete."
"Yes sir. Just a few more things to work out."
"That's good, because we are sending you to Crathan Prime. You are due there in 4 days."
"Why?"
"The Crathan government has elected a new president, and requested that an ambassador of the Federation be present, and since you are in close proximity to the Crathan system..."
"I understand. I'll notify the crew. Is there anything else?"
"Not at the moment. I'm sending you the details of when the event is going to happen and what to expect." He glanced off the screen for a second to confirm that the information was being sent. "By the way, how did that first contact go? I heard that there was a..cultural misunderstanding?"
Kathryn laughed. "More like the Trisian ambassador played a practical joke on us. But we all recovered quite nicely." Her upturned mouth twitched.
The admiral looked a little amused. "I see. I'll look forward to reading about it in your report."
"Yes sir."
"I have a meeting in a few minutes. We'll have to finish our conversation later." Admiral Paris stood up from his chair and straightened his uniform.
"Understood."
"Admiral Paris out" The screen went black.
Kathryn turned the cup of coffee in her hand. Another assignment... I guess the vacation is over. She tapped into her computer, starting a message going out to all members of the crew. She notified them that they were leaving Trisus in 48 hours, and that transports and visits to the planets surface was to be terminated in 24 hours time. She stopped abruptly. She remembered a conversation that she had with B'Elanna yesterday. Supposedly the Doctor had started dating one of the Trisians. When she first heard she was amused, happy to know that the Doctor's mood had improved. She hated to see one of her crewmembers unhappy. But if he was serious with this relationship, it would really hurt him to have it ended so quickly.
She sat there for a few seconds, pondering over this with her index finger hovering over the top the console. She realised that she had been staring at the wall for quite a long time and shook her head to bring herself out of it. She finished the message and sent it out. She set her coffee on the desk and cleared her throat as she tapped her commbadge. "Janeway to the Doctor"
"Doctor here. Yes, Captain?"
"I need to talk to you. Meet me in my ready room."
***
"You wanted to see me, Captain?"
"Yes" She shifted her position in the chair. She was silent.. thinking of what to say.
"What was it you wanted to discuss?"
"I just sent out a message to the crew. You haven't seen it yet because I sent for you. There was something I wanted to talk to you personally about."
The Doctor's forehead crinkled in concern. Over what, he didn't know yet. "Is everything all right, Captain? Any medical problems?"
She shook her head. "No, no. Theres nothing wrong in that area." She walked over and stood next to her window, staring out over the globe of Trisus that was looming there. "I called you here to talk about your..." She paused for a second. "..little situation." She turned and looked at him.
"Captain?"
Janeway sunk onto the couch. "I have been told by B'Elanna that you have been becoming intimate with one of the Trisian women.. what's her name..Imirika?"
The Doctor thought he knew where this situation was going. He became even more concerned. "If we had any restrictions concerning this species, I did know know about it.. but..."
She lightly smiled as she raised her hand to stop his explanation. "There wasn't any restrictions. It's perfectly alright." She lowered her arm. The Doctor breathed a simulated sigh of relief. "I just wanted to warn you ahead of time.."
"Warn me of what?"
She leaned forward. "Let me just cut to the chase. Voyager has been given a new assignment and we leave Trisus in 48 hours for the Crathan system."
His face fell flat.
"Now, I understand what it means to become attatched to someone that you have met on shore leave or on a mission. Goodness knows how many times that has happened to me. But, I have been notified that you have gotten pretty serious ." She stopped and waited for The Doctor to respond.
He inhaled and nodded sharply. "Yes, I suppose that's true." His lips turned up involuntarily.
"Well then," She headed over to him and patted him on the shoulder. "I'll leave it up to you, but if you decide to, I am officially giving permission for you to ask Imirika on board with us." Then she stepped aside and headed out her door onto the bridge.
The Doctor didn't aknowledge her leaving. As the door closed behind her, he was left behind in her ready room.
***
"There's your godfather! Say hello, Miral" Tom took one of Miral's chubby little hands and waved it weakly at the Doctor as he walked into sickbay.
The Doctor looked up from what he was working on and smiled. "Hello there" He reached out his arms and Tom handed the one-year old over to him. He lifted her up to eye level and made a face at her. She giggled whole- heartedly, which made her tiny ridges go up and down. He did so love babies. So inocent, unlike many things in the universe.
She reached forwarrd and grabbed his nose, tugging on it slightly. "Doca" she babbled.
Tom smiled at the two and quickly glanced around the room. The sight of multiple padds and tools out immediately alerted him to a problem. "Um, Doc? Is there something going on?"
The Doctor looked at him quickly and then focused his attention back on the baby. "I was just running some more tests. It's been a slow day"
"No, I've seen this before. Is there something wrong?"
The Doctor sighed and set Miral onto a biobed. She immediately started grabbing for objects so he gave her his hand. She happily started to pull on them, twisting them any way she could. He watched her. "Tom, We are friends, right?"
"Yes"
"Can I ask you for some advice?"
Tom crossed his arms. "You always have before."
The Doctor nodded his head, remembering instances where Tom had given him advice on life, and love.
"What is it that bothers you?"
He took a breath in. "Have you read any of the recent messages?"
"No, not yet. Me and Miral have been on the holodeck for a few hours. Playing on the beach. Why?"
"The Captain informed me that we are leaving Trisus in 48 hours."
Tom grimaced, realizing just how this could affect the Doctor. "I'm sorry Doc." Miral suddenly decided that she was bored with the Doctor's hand and scooted near the edge, arms outstreched for her father. He picked her up and settled her on his waist. "How are you going to handle this?"
The Doctor leaned against the biobed. "That's what I'm asking you. The captain gave me permission to take Imirika with us."
"That's great. It seems your problem is solved. So, why are you upset?"
The Doctor's eyes scanned back and forth along the floor, trying to think how to put it. "I don't..." Tom stayed silent, giving the Doctor a chance to organize his thoughts. "I don't know if I'm ready...for a..serious commitment."
Tom shook his head. He wasn't quite sure how to react to that. He looked the Doctor over and it was obvious that he was feeling very indecisive. He had seen the signs before, when the Doctor was debating how to go about talking to Seven after his "deathbed confession" over a year ago. He took a deep breath. "I wish I could help you Doc, but I can't tell you whether or not you are ready. But I do know that you really like this girl, and you need to consider what you would lose if you leave without her."
The Doctor was quiet for a moment, thinking about what Tom had said. He finally looked up and looked him in the eye. "Thank you Tom."
"Hey, no problem. That's what friends are for, right?"
"Right."
Miral started fidgeting in Tom's arms. She let out a small cry that slowly grew louder. "Aah that's my signal" Tom said. "We've been running around all day, I bet she's starving for lunch. I'll see you later. And think about what I said, alright?"
The Doctor nodded. "I will." He watched as Tom settled the little girl on his shoulder and turn out the door. Miral, looking over her daddy's back, smiled at him. The door closed and the Doctor spun around at looked at his empty sickbay. He had some decisions to make. He also realized that for the second time today, he was left alone.
***
One more hour until they cease transport... is what ran through the Doctor's mind as he materialised on the darkened planet. He quickly made his way through the streets, looking for the right building. He passed through the streets and stands, now empty. He finally came to the courtyard he remembered coming to a couple of weeks ago. In the corner of his eye he caught the light coming from the cantina. He walked toward it. The inside was nearly empty, save for a man behind the counter cleaning glasses and one woman sitting in the corner. He instantly recongnized her and sat down across from her.
She leaned over the table to peck him on the cheek. She sat back down, obviously upset. "I heard that you were..."
"Yes. We leave tommorow."
She bowed her head and her black ringlets fell in front of her face. It was quiet for a few minutes. The Doctor watched her, trying to figure out what she was thinking. After a while he determined that he had better say something before they both went crazy. "Imirika..."
Hearing her name set her off. Her mouth crumpled and her hands went up to cover her face. A muffled sob escaped in between her fingers.
The was not the reaction he expected. His eyes went wide with concern as he stood up and made his way over to her side. He kneeled beside her. He reached up and laid his hand on her back, immediately feeling her shudder as he made contact. She continued to cry softly. "It's okay... everything is going to be alright, Imirika..."
She turned toward him and she lowered her wet hands a bit in order to see him more clearly. Her purple eyes were dark and rimmed with red. "No it's not. You're leaving..and I.. I.." She gulped and used one of her tear- stained hands to push back her hair. "I've never felt more comfortable with anyone. You treat me different than everyone else. You make me feel so..." She stared at him intensely., looking into his eyes, trying to find something. "I love you. And I'm never going to see you again." Her eyes started to well up with tears again.
If the Doctor had any doubts before he certainly didn't have them anymore. He took her little hands in his and looked back up at her. He didn't hesitate. "Come with me."
Her eyes grew round. "What?"
All of his emotions were plainly written across his face. "I have thought about it, and I have decided that you are too important to me to let you go." She smiled and he continued. "I love you too, and I want you to come with me."
Once again she reacted differently to what the Doctor was expecting. She fell into him, knocking him off his center of balance, which caused them both to wind up on the floor. The man behind the counter looked up and stared curiously at the couple in the corner. But the two didn't notice him watching. Imirika planted a kiss full on the Doctor's lips. "Yes, I'll come with you." She smiled, showing all of her white teeth.
He smiled back at her. "Good. Because I'm ready to go right now."
"What?" She pushed herself up to a sitting position.
The Doctor sat up as well. "Transport ceases in..." he checked the time displayed over the doorway. "...half an hour."
"But my things...my statues..."
"We don't have time to get them. But I'm sure that the Captain will provide to you anything you need."
She looked a little nervous. "You sure?"
He smiled reassuringly at her. "Yes. Even all the art supplies your heart desires."
That took her nervousness away. She stood up and pulled him up with her. "That settles it. We leave now."
They both laughed as he tapped on his commbadge. "Doctor to Voyager. Two to beam up." He embraced her in his arms and kissed her deeply as the light of the transporter engulfed them, sending them up to Voyager overhead.