Title: Into the Arms of Strangers
Author: Zappy Zaps
Category: Drama/Action/Adventure P, P/T
Summary: An officer who had gone MIA six months earlier is found in an alien order serving on their security force but has no memory of anything prior to six months ago. His new life is also plagued with new responsibilities, duties and promises.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: All the Star Trek characters are Paramount's. I don't own them (yet). ;)
Archiving: Please do, but tell me! zappyzaps@hotmail.com
Author's note: I had to try and amnesia/loss of memory story, just for fun! ;-)
July02/Aug02
Into the Arms of Strangers
Her quarters were darkened as she tried to settle down and get a few much-needed hours of sleep. She tossed again in her bed finding it difficult to find a comfortable position, especially with the growing bulge on her front side.
She felt her daughter kick, protesting to the constant motion and B'Elanna affectionately rubbed her swollen stomach. She felt tears sting her eyes as she imagined her husband.
He'd been so excited when he found out he was going to be a father. She remembered his smile when he felt his daughter kick his hand and how he made distant plans to teach her how to walk and show her every wonder of the universe from the smallest plant to the brightest star.
The tears began to trickle down her face. The pain hadn't seemed to lessen at all but then again she hadn't believed he was dead at first. They only found a few pieces of the shuttle and at the time B'Elanna had held on to every ounce of hope she had.
Six months had passed since that fateful day and B'Elanna had gradually been accepting the fact that she would never see her husband, Tom Paris again. Still there was a place in her mind that didn't believe he was really gone.
Tom and B'Elanna had seemed to share a sixth sense regarding each other, one that no amount of scientific exploration could explain. Surely she would have felt it if her love had passed away, surely her heart would have allowed her to move on.
Voyager's bridge was quiet. It was the middle of alpha shift and the officers went about their duties. Captain Janeway was in command of the bridge but she wasn't doing much. Reading a report as her ship warped through the seemingly endless expanse that was the Delta Quadrant.
Boring of the report in her hand, she put it down and listened in on what was happening around her. Almost complete silence met her ears. She looked around and saw Ensign Wildman talking to one of her subordinates but other than that, nobody spoke.
Janeway sighed quietly as not to draw attention to herself. She looked at the helm where one of her favourite officers and one of her friends used to reside during this shift. Six months, had it really been that long? Then why did it still hurt so much?
"Captain," Chakotay called again.
"Pardon," Kathryn responded, now realizing that her second in command had been trying to get her attention for the past minute.
"Are you alright? You look a little tense," Chakotay observed.
"So does everybody," Kathryn said glancing around the bridge again. "What time is it?"
"About 1300."
"I'm going to get something to eat." She said standing. "Care to join me?"
Chakotay nodded and the two officers left Tuvok in command of the bridge. They nodded to the recently promoted Lieutenant Kim as they left.
Harry Kim another person who greatly missed Tom's presence. The best friend who never let him down and older brother he never had was the role Tom had played in Harry's life since the beginning of their journey. Somewhat surprisingly Harry had dealt better with Tom's death better than even he had expected. He had grieved and in a way he still was but Harry had weathered the storm well. He had stayed strong for his other best friend, B'Elanna Torres, knowing that she would need the most support even if she said she didn't want it.
The trip to the Mess Hall was made in silence, as both Chakotay and Kathryn were preoccupied with their own thoughts.
Loosing a member of the crew was never easy but loosing Tom Paris had been one of the most difficult losses the crew had ever suffered. Many had underestimated his role on the ship. To some he was a commanding officer to others he was and colleague but to most, he was a friend and for some even more. Here was a man who had managed to turn his life around only to have it end during a seemingly simple and harmless mission.
A class three shuttle was taken to investigate a stellar nebula. It had been Tom's turn to pilot a mission and he had no qualms about it. At the time he had been on top of the world. His life had seemed to reach a new climax as he anticipated the birth of his daughter.
The mission had gone off without a problem until Tom was ready to leave. In less than three seconds the entire nebulae ignited from some sort of energy discharge resembling weapons fire.
Those on the bridge and in Astrometrics had watched in horror as the small shuttle was engulfed in flames leaving only pieces behind.
The investigation only yielded more questions. An inexplicable surge of neutrinos, energy discharge resembling a weapon but not matching any known weapon in Voyager's database, recovery of only an eight of the shuttle fragments; Nothing seemed to add up.
After over a week of investigation the crew had to admit to themselves that the pilot and sole occupant of the shuttle, likely did not survive. Even with Seven's tirless efforts in Astrometrics, she could not find the answers they so desperately wanted. Tom's death was a harder an acknowledgment than it seemed. Tom Paris, one person who had cheated death too many times to count had finally run out of luck.
He was after all only human and thus as mortal as any other person but Tom had always been able to sneak past death and come out of most situations with a few bumps and bruises, but generally in fine condition. Tom was also a member of the Senior Staff who, to much of the crew, seemed like the indestructible force that held together the crew and forged their way home.
With Tom's death the harsh reality of the delta quadrant bit at them again –reminding them that anyone could go at anytime; nobody was ever truly safe when there was so much unknown to them out there.
"Captain, Commander," Neelix greeted as they entered the galley. The two officers greeted the cook in turn and inquired as to the day's special. "You're in luck. Today's special happens to be a Terran dish," Neelix said, almost bubbling over with good cheer.
He fished out two bowls from behind the counter and proceeded to serve them the dish. The red liquid was poured into the bowl and almost instantly Chakotay and Kathryn recognized it.
"Plain tomato soup," Neelix said with a smile and handed them each a bowl. The two bridge officers were silent for a few moments. "Tom's favourite," Neelix added with a ghost of a smile. "I considered adding a little something to it to liven in up but I decided against it. Sometimes the original is the best."
"I agree," Janeway said with a smile. It was nice to be able think of Lt. Paris and smile; there were certainly quite a few things to smile about. Neelix was rather proud of himself and the crew was enjoying the more ordinary fare.
Kathryn and Chakotay seated themselves at a table each of them with a smile on their face. They sat and enjoyed their meal and reminisced about their lost lieutenant. They recalled the fiascos and more humorous incidents that Tom had caused. Their break was ended a little early as the ship rocked from a volley of weapons fire.
The ship went on red alert and all officers reported to battle-stations.
"Report," Janeway demanded as she stepped onto the bridge.
Tuvok relinquished the command chair and moved back to his station as he explained what little he knew. "We are being engaged by three ships which de-cloaked along our path. They are not responding to hails."
"Return fire," Janeway ordered and Tuvok complied immediately. "Lieutenant Kim, try hailing again."
Voyager pitched again as they sustained a direct hit.
"They aren't responding," Harry announced.
"Helm initiate attack pattern Beta-five," Chakotay ordered. Ensign Pablo Baytart, the new head of the navigational department complied. Tuvok managed to get a few precision shots and disabled one of the attacking vessels.
"Shields at seventy-three percent and falling," Harry stated as sparks rained from conduits overloading above them.
"Captain four ships have just de-cloaked and engaged the enemy," Chakotay announce sounding slightly confused by the turn of events.
Outside Voyager the four newcomers joined the fight. Two took escort positions at Voyager port and stern while the other two fended off the attack from the enemy crafts. The battle was soon over with the victors being Voyager and the four aiding ships.
"Reports of injuries coming in from decks eleven, seven, four and three. Damage to secondary power systems and starboard nacelle pylon. Repair teams are responding," Tuvok reported from his station.
"We're being hailed." Kim announced. "Audio only."
"You have violated the boarder of the Fourth Order. State your purpose," The male voice ordered.
Captain Janeway began her usually introduction. "I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. We are on a mission of peaceful exploration and are only trying to make our way home." The Captain made sure to emphasize 'peaceful' as the other ships still had their weapons charged.
"If you are not a hostile party then you are welcomed in this area," the voice said and those on the bridge were beginning to notice how familiar the voice was. "The Ministry officials would no doubt like to make your acquaintance," the man on the other ship said not sounding all that interested. It seemed the 'Ministry officials' often greet newcomers in their territory. "The Home-world is not that far from here."
"We sustained some damage to our warp nacelles. It'll take a few hours to repair," Janeway informed.
"Understood. We'll remain here with you. This is not the most secure area." The transmission was ended.
Three and a half hours later the major repairs were finished and Captain Janeway had invited their allies to visit Voyager. Janeway, Chakotay and Tuvok were waiting in the transporter room for the commanding officres to beam over and though they wouldn't admit it, they were each curious as to the identity of the people on the ships specifically the man they had spoken to earlier. The more they thought about it the more like Tom the man sounded.
The officer at the controls informed the senior officers that the transport was in progress and they watch as the swirling blue clouds deposited three men on the pads. Somewhat disappointingly none of the men resembled Tom, they didn't even look human.
They had pale skin that contrasted with there dark hair and the eyes were very narrow. Above there eyes was a cranial structure that became more pronounced as it moved outward towards their temples. They were about the same size as humans but had a larger build.
"Welcome to Voyager," Janeway greeted. The Starfleet officers introduced themselves first.
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. We are Saretti officers of the Fourth Order," one man said. He appeared to be the leader of the small group but they could tell by the voice that this was not the man they had spoken to earlier. "I am Fashi, Head of Security," the man introduced himself. "This is Minto, my second in command," he gestured to the man on his right, "and this is Isam, Sub-Commander of the lead vessel."
Isam nodded to each of them before speaking. "Fleet Commander Nate sends his apologies. He could not attend this meeting due to a medical issue. He was the man who spoke with you before."
"We understand." Janeway said cordially and proceeded to give the visitors Voyager's standard tour.
On the lead Saretti ship the medical practitioner regarded his unconscious patient with a sigh. This latest episode had been very severe. He had to use some very powerful drugs to ease the pain only to have the patient slip into unconsciousness. The Doctor sighed and reviewed the last scan.
He shook his head at the results. He was not familiar with this species of humanoid. There was so much he didn't know. He could just be making the problem worse.
The doctor ran and eye over his patient examining the feature. Fair skin, golden hair, blue eyes and no cranial ridges. Where was Nate really from? Unfortunately not even Nate himself could answer that question.
Lientenant Kim manned his station on the bridge. The visitors from the other ship had just toured the bridge and Harry had examined each to one to see if they held any resemblance to Tom. After what happened with Ensign Ballard coming back from the dead, Harry wanted to be ready for anything. But none of them looked like or sounded like Tom.
He continued working at his station for a few minutes but there was a nagging feeling in him that he couldn't ignore so he didn't try to. Stopping what he was doing Harry went to the sensors and ran a sweep of the vessels around Voyager. He didn't know what he expected to find but human life-signs on the lead ship had not been one of them.
He ran the sensor sweep again just to confirm and the same results appeared. Human, adult, male on the lead ship. For a few minutes Harry just stared at the display. Was that Tom? Could his friend still be alive?
Lt. Kim waited impatiently inside the conference room for the Captain to arrive. He had commed her a few minutes earlier and without giving away any information asked to speak with her. She had to see their guests off the ship before she went to see Harry, so the lieutenant was left to wait.
"Harry," Janeway addressed the young man as she walked into the room. He stopped his pacing and faced her. "What is it?"
"I ran sensor sweep of the Saretti ships and I found a human life-sign on the lead one," Harry began.
Janeway knew exactly were he was going with this. Harry had been able to accept Tom's death but would jump at any hope that Tom was still alive.
"They didn't say anything about a human being with them," Janeway said. "If it was Tom then why wouldn't he have contacted us?" In Harry's mind the same doubts were echoed.
Voyager was escorted back to the Saretti home-world by the small fleet of ships. At the end of the two hours journey Captain Janeway and the senior staff was invited to meet the governing council of the Fourth Order.
The Voyager command team transported to the surface to the planet. It was similar to earth with various climates and different species inhabiting the planet but the similarities ended there.
The Voyager crewmembers were soon introduced to the social system on this planet. The Saretti and other more advanced species ruled the planet and the other systems within the bounds of the Fourth Order. They made the rules and enforced them with little regard for those who were less fortunate.
The very bottom of the social levels was comprised mostly of Denerans. The Denarans were generally the workers. There had been a time when the Denerans and other more primitive races were slaves but slavery was abolished when the Second order came into power over a millennia ago. Officially slavery had ended but the Denerans and other like them were not truly free.
They still did most of the hard labour and the less favourable jobs. The wages were poor and the conditions were worse but they had few resources and those with the power to infect change had not desire to do so; they were content where they were.
Some people of the lower class though were lucky. Some day they might know what true freedom feels like. With the wages they earned, the lower class workers could buy their way out of poverty but few managed to do so.
The wages were too low and the bills that came with a better quality of life was too much for even the most dedicated and hard working of people.
The Denerans and other less fortunate peoples comprised most of the armed forces of the Fourth Order, as their lives were not deemed as important as Saretti lives. High-ranking positions were usually given to Saretti and rarely to a Deneran. There were however a few exceptions.
Captain Janeway mingled with the crowd of people at the gathering. They had arrived a few hours ago and the Saretti had invited the Voyager crew to their Annual Independence Celebration. It was very political function and much of the Voyager crew had left early to go experience the night-life of the area.
The Senior Staff, Neelix and Seven however remained at the gathering; they were after all, Starfleet ambassadors but there was also another reason. Curiosity.
"Kathryn," Chakotay called softly as he walked up to the Captain. "Enjoying yourself?"
She smiled trying to hide her boredom. "Not the most lively party I've ever been to," she commented and continued looking around.
"Looking for someone in particular?" Chakotay inquired.
"We've yet to meet the 'Vodierre'," Janeway said.
Vodierre was the title given to the female leader of the Fourth Order (a male leader was called 'Vodier'[vo-dee-yay]). The Vodierre was in essence the dictator of the Order. No elections were ever held and the power was passed down from generation to generation. The only time there was an election was when the Vodier/Vodierre failed to produce and heir before their death and thus a new family line had to be selected. In these rare instances the next 'Order' would begin.
"She's probably busy with her duties," Chakotay said, referring to the Vodierre. "But that's not all your looking for."
Janeway smiled slightly and admitted to him the other person she was searching for. "Fleet Commander Nate."
"He did sound like…. like Tom" Chakotay said after a slight pause. Janeway had informed Chakotay about Lt. Kim's discovery of the human life sign on the Saretti ships and he too was left wondering if the person was Tom and if it was, why he hadn't contacted them.
"You're dismissed. Enjoy the celebration." The Vodierre said to the commanding officers of Fleet Arriah-9, the fleet that had helped the Voyager.
Vodierre Iyin watched the officers file out of the room. She waited until there were only a few left before calling the fleet Commander to stay a moment longer. Nate turned and walked back to Iyin hoping this would be a short meeting. Something about his woman rubbed him the wrong way.
"You did well today," she said with a seductive smile. The officer remained silent. She laughed slightly. "Not talkative?" she asked. She slowly started to circle him. One finger traced a path a across his chest as she went. Her long, platinum white hair flowed behind her giving her an air of angelic grace, but an angel was something she definitely was not.
She was manipulative, possessive, deceitful and arrogant, but only in private. In public she was well mannered, caring and just about perfect. Everybody seemed to know of Iyin's two faces but no one dared challenge her or speak ill of her.
Iyin returned into Nate's field of vision. She tilted her head to the side and visually examined the stone-faced officer in front of her. "Doctor Rawsem tells me you had another episode. I hope you're feeling better now."
"I am," Nate replied simply, hoping to make this meeting as short as possible.
"That's good. I don't want to lose you," she said, bringing a hand to caress his cheek. Nate moved away from her touch angering the Vodierre. She slapped him with all the force she could muster. No one rejected her! "It will do you good to learn your place." She hissed at him.
Nate didn't look at her, instead he continued staring over her at the wall.
"Do not make this difficult Nate," she said more gently. She stood on her toes to whisper in his ear. "I always get what I want."
Iyin walked to the exit of the room ready to join the rest of the party. She plastered on her most charming smile and joined the crowd. Nate relaxed once she had left. He rubbed the side of his face where she had hit him. It wasn't the first time she had done that and certainly, it wouldn't be that last. Nate shook his head wondering why he resisted her so much? Why did her feel like he belonged with someone else, someone who deeply missed him? He fingered the gold band on the ring finger of his left hand.
Dismissing his strange thoughts he left he room and joined the festivity.
Harry, Seven and B'Elanna were talking to some of the Saretti officials about some of Voyager's technology. Harry only had half his mind on the conversation before him. He was preoccupied with the human life-sign he had found.
He looked at B'Elanna who was thoroughly engaged in the conversation she was having with Seven and the Saretti. He smiled slightly. It was good to see her in a more cheerful mood. After Tom's death, B'Elanna had shutdown. She drowned herself in her work and isolated herself from the rest of the ship whenever she could.
It had taken the persistence of Chakotay and Harry to break her out of her depression. B'Elanna was improving, becoming more like her old self but sometimes, when she let the shield protecting her slip for just a moment, you could still see the deadened and haunted look in her eyes.
"Wouldn't you agree Harry?" B'Elanna asked her friend.
"Uh, yeah, sure," Harry said hoping he hadn't missed anything important. B'Elanna and Seven each gave him a sideways look before B'Elanna addressed the Sarretti again. Harry smiled. He had gotten away with it. He hadn't told B'Elanna of how the Fleet Commander's voice sounded like Tom. Nor did he tell her of the human life-sign on the Sarretti lead ship. He couldn't raise her hopes only to find out that he had been mistaken. He'd wait and see what he found.
As he looked around he noticed a door to and adjacent room opening. A group of officers walked out and Harry recognized some of them as the ones who had visited Voyager. Harry watched them come out of the room eagerly, hoping that he would see the Fleet Commander that they had yet to meet.
Of the officers who left the room none of them were Tom and Harry held back a sigh of disappointment. I must be delusional, Kim thought to himself. Tom died six months ago. He thought he had accepted that.
A few minutes later Harry again observed the door to the adjacent room open. This time a woman walked out. He recognized her as the Vodierre that the other officials had described. A second later another man walked out of the room and Harry's heart skipped a beat. Could that be?
Seven and B'Elanna watched in confusion as Harry abruptly left the small group. B'Elanna didn't know where he was going and looked to Seven hoping that she had some insight into Harry's abrupt departure, but she had none to offer. B'Elanna excused herself and tried to follow Harry but that provided to be fairly difficult. There were quite a few people in the room and weaving around them while pregnant was a tricky matter.
"Tom!" Harry called. Turning a few heads, but his friend, or at least the man who resembled him, did not react.
Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay were being introduced to Vodierre Iyin when they heard Harry yell. Hearing the name the two officers glanced at each other before Chakotay excused himself to find the lieutenant. Janeway wanted to join him but she didn't want to risk offending the Vodierre by being rude.
"Tom," Harry said running up the fair skinned man with a smile. Harry didn't understand why Tom didn't respond. He placed a hand on his friend shoulder, grabbing his attention. "Tom, it's me, Harry."
"You must have me mistaken for someone else," Nate said after a momentary pause. This man seemed familiar but he couldn't recall where they had met before. "I'm Fleet Commander Nate."
"No, your not. You're Tom Paris," Harry corrected. What was wrong with him? Harry looked into the familiar blue eyes. This was definitely Tom Paris but there was no recognition in his face. Tom didn't seem to remember him at all.
B'Elanna emerged from the crowd "Harry, why are you–" B'Elanna stopped speaking as soon as she saw who Harry was with. "Tom!" She ran to him and wrapped her arms around him. She didn't want to let go fearing that if she did she'd wake up and find that this was all just a dream.
Reflexively Nate put his arms around the woman. She seemed familiar as well.
A brief flash of a memory returned to him and he saw the same woman that was in his arms telling him she loved him while they were floating around in space. The memory vanished as quickly as it had come.
Nate looked at the man who had introduced himself as Harry. The expression on his face was that of total confusion. Why were these visitors mistaking him for someone else?
"Uh, miss, I'm not….Tom," Nate said as he moved away from her. She looked up at him with tears brimming in her eyes. At the site of her sudden sadness Nate wanted nothing more than to make her smile again. At that moment he realized he would have done anything for her, and he didn't even know who she was.
"You don't remember her?" Harry asked.
Nate shook his head slowly. Did he remember her? "I'm sorry," he said.
"Harry what's going on?" Chakotay asked when he reached the group. He saw Tom and froze.
"I'm not Tom," Nate said before the Commander could say it.
B'Elanna grabbed Nate's left hand and smiled when she saw the wedding band was still there. She showed him her left hand where she wore an identical ring, although slightly smaller. "They're our wedding bands, Tom," B'Elanna told him, desperately hoping he'd remember.
They stared at each other for several seconds. "B'Elanna?" Nate said. He was unsure of how he knew her name but it seemed right. B'Elanna smiled. Hearing her name being spoken by her husband brought back so many good memories. The question now was why didn't Tom seem to remember.
"Commander, what's the meaning of this?" Iyin said when she saw them.
Chakotay thought he was being addressed but Tom responded before he did.
"Vodierre, I think we've met before," Nate said looking at the woman who was still holding his hand.
"Attend to your duties, I'll speak with our guests," Iyin ordered. She didn't like the way B'Elanna was looking at him.
"Vodierre, I think I–"
Iyin interrupted him. "I gave you an order Commander," she said angrily. Reluctantly, Nate let go of B'Elanna's hand. He looked at her as he moved towards the nearest exit. She was a piece of his forgotten past, a very large piece. He'd find her again whether Iyin liked it or not.
Iyin turned to address Captain Janeway. "Perhaps we should have a discussion," she suggested. Janeway nodded. Iyin had noticed the resemblance between the Voyager's and Nate but had dismissed it as a coincidence. Apparently it was more than that.
A few minutes later Harry and B'Elanna materialized in transporter room two. They had left the party a few minutes after Tom had left. The shock of seeing her supposedly dead husband alive again had taken its toll and B'Elanna had been slightly disoriented.
"I know it's him," B'Elanna said as she carefully stepped down from the transporter padd. "But why doesn't he remember us?" she looked at Harry with sad eyes.
"I don't know," Harry said softly. It wasn't fair. Finding Tom after all this time only to discover that he has no memory of them at all.
"But he knew my name…." B'Elanna said as she looked at her wedding band.
Iyin tried to hide her unease as she listened to Captain Janeway recount the events surrounding Lieutenant Paris' death. The time of Mr. Paris' death is close to the time when they found Nate. She couldn't tell that to Janeway though. What if they took him away? She hoped her colleague, Minister Persel, kept quiet.
"I'm sorry for your loss, Captain, but Nate is a member of our society." Iyin's voice sounded fairly icy.
"Could we at least take him to see our doctor? Just to determine if it's the same person," Janeway suggested.
Iyin contemplated her answer for a moment but Minister Persel answered Janeway's question.
"It is commander Nate's decision whether or not to allow your doctor to test him," Persel said. "I'll have him report here immediately." The Minister left the room. Iyin glared at Persel's back as he left.
"If you don't mind me asking, how did you meet Tom, I mean Nate," Chakotay quickly corrected himself.
"He was rescued from a slave trading vessel. The other captives were returned to their homes but Nate was in poor condition. He was brought here so that our Doctors could try to help him. Our Doctor's of course, were not familiar with Nate's physiology. He suffered severe head trauma and as a result, he lost his memory." Iyin explained it all as if she had been reading a boring report. She didn't seem to care about Tom's health at all
"Has he regained any of his memories," Janeway asked.
"The doctor tells me he recovered a few memories but nothing that he can clearly identify."
Janeway looked at her executive officer, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. Perhaps the universe hadn't been able to take this husband, father and friend from them just yet.
Nate arrived a few moments later with Minister Persel. Just by looking at Iyin he could tell she was in one of her moods when he tried to avoid her the most. Something was not going her way and it was everybody's fault but her own.
"Vodierre," Nate greeted the woman first and then the two Starfleet officers.
"The Captain and Commander would like you to go to Voyager with them to take a few tests." Iyin got up and walked to him. "They have mistaken you for a deceased member of their crew." There was a laugh in her voice and she expected Nate to at least return a smile but he looked at the other two human's intensely, trying to recall a memory about them.
"Would you agree to come with us?" Chakotay asked as he stood.
Nate nodded silently as he remembered this man making a similar offer but they were in a tavern or bar of some sort. He was going to be pilot for him but the memory faded leaving little behind.
Janeway tapped her commbadge and walked to Nate. He eyed her petit frame with slight apprehension knowing that her small figure hid a formidable spirit.
"Three to beam up."
They materialized on the transporter padd and the Ensign at the controls nearly fell over when she saw who was with the Captain and commander. It couldn't be…
Before she could formulate a sentence, Captain Janeway was leading Nate out of the room. Chakotay stayed behind to speak with the Ensign.
"Not a word to anyone," he said to the woman who nodded her head vigorously. Chakotay gave her a small smile before leaving.
Iyin paced the room where Nate and the two Voyagers had been last. Minister Persel watched silently. He knew his place and cared little for this spoiled brat and her obsessions. He honestly hoped that Nate would leave with the Voyagers. Nate may be a good officer but Iyin's obsession with him blinded her to the other issues that required her attention. She was like an infatuated teen with a mind for nothing else.
"They can't take him!" She exclaimed suddenly.
"That is not our decision." Iyin glared at Persel. "The commander has not yet proven to be there missing lieutenant and until he is or is not, further speculation is a waste of energy and time."
"How much doubt do you have that Nate is not Paris? I have little and I'll make my plans accordingly." Iyin stormed out of the room and Persel followed after her, as slight grin upturning his lips.
Nate studied the man in circling him carefully. How could someone so lifelike be a hologram? He resisted the urge to reach out and poke just to determine if the photonic projection was solid. The Doctor was not oblivious to Nate's scrutiny but he ignored it, far more concerned with the readings on his tricorder.
"Commander Nate, how did you end up joining the Saretti Security force?" The Doctor asked.
"I was assigned," Nate informed him.
"Assigned?" Chakotay repeated.
"Yes. When I arrived here I already knew how to pilot a Starship and so I was assigned to planetary patrol ship and from there I worked my way up," he explained simply.
"Already knew how to pilot a ship…" Janeway repeated in disbelief.
The Doctor closed his tricorder and instructed Tom to have seat on one of the biobeds.
Janeway and the Doc walked into his office to have a discussion leaving Chakotay and Nate alone for a few minutes. The Doctor had conducted a few tests but had not informed them of the results. Nate assumed that's what he and the Captain were discussing now.
"May I go see B'Elanna now?" Nate asked the Commander.
"You remember her?"
"I remember something about her but I'm not certain what? I'd like to speak with her–" Tom stopped talking suddenly and clutched his head.
"Tom," Chakotay said as he tried to help the other man. Nate was in too much pain to respond. He was having another episode. "Doctor!" Chakotay called to the office.
"What happened?" The Doctor asked as he left his office, Captain Janeway on his heals.
"I don't know. We were talking and suddenly he grabbed his head like he was in pain."
The Doctor scanned Nate with a tricorder and noticed the strange brain patterns. The Doctor loaded a hypospray and pressed it to Nate's neck and he relaxed, his hands falling to his sides. With Chakotay's help, the Doctor positioned Nate on the biobed and raised the diagnostic arch.
Despite his unconscious state, creases of pain and tension still marred his features. Janeway turned to the doctor hoping for some answers but he could give her few at the moment. There was a strange phenomena occurring in Nate's cerebral cortex.
The Doctor had already confirmed with a genetic test that Nate was Tom Paris but there were still many more questions that need to be answered.
The Doctor worked for several minutes while Kathryn and Chakotay aided him as best they could. The expression on The Doc's face wasn't even enough for them to speculate about what was wrong with Tom.
While they were working around Tom's unconscious form the doors to sickbay slid open and B'Elanna walked in not looking happy for being kept out of the loop. She had to get Harry to run a scan of the ship to locate Tom since the officer at the transporter controls didn't offer any information, even after B'Elanna had threatened her.
She saw Tom lying on the biobed unconscious and looked at Chakotay, her eyes pleading for answers. Before he could say anything the doctor spoke.
"I need to speak with the Saretti physicians that treated Mr. Paris," He said with a hint of urgency in his voice.
"Is Tom alright?" Janeway asked.
"He is for now, but it's imperative that I speak with them."
Janeway nodded while B'Elanna made her way to her husband's side. Janeway glanced at Chakotay conveying with her eyes her concern for both Tom and B'Elanna. Chakotay nodded, knowing that Kathyrn didn't want them to be alone right now. He'd stay in sickbay while Kathryn and the Doctor talked with the Saretti.
The Doctor placed the small mobile emitter on his arm and he and the Captain left telling Chakotay to contact them if anything should happen.
Harry was still in the bridge. He still wondered how Tom got here in the first place so he decided to got o astrometrics to see his favourite former borg.
When he arrived Seven was working at the main console. He walked up to her and looked at what she was doing. Seven glanced at him before going back to work. They were both silent for awhile until Seven had to inquire about his presence.
"Can I help you with something Harry?" She asked awkwardly. She had only recently started using his first name. Actually it only started after Tom's death. Seven had only been acquainted with death on a few occasions and only when 'One' died had the person been close to her. She could now admit to herself that Tom was her friend. Her sometimes annoying, childish, impulsive friend but a friend nonetheless.
She had always considered herself strong but she had to admit to herself now that even the strong can be the victims of unfortunate accidents. With the Doctors help Seven has more actively pursued interactions with the rest of the crew especially those she was close to.
"I was hoping you could help me out. Do you still have the information from the shuttle accident?" Harry asked. Sevn knew what he was referring to and after a brief pause she called up the information.
"What in particular are you looking for?"
"Is it possible that Tom survived," Seven was about to interrupt but he quickly continued. "May be there was some sort of wormhole."
Seven looked directly at him and seeing that he was completely serious and not grasping at straws she looked at the sensor data. "The only evidence of a special rift or wormhole was the high concentration of neutrinos. However there is no other evidence that would support such a conclusion." Harry stared at the screen thinking while Seven continued. "Artificial wormholes often do not exude the same characteristics."
"You're thinking it might be a man-made wormhole?"
"It is a possibility…
"Where is Commander Nate?" Iyin asked when the Two Voyager officers had materialized.
"Unconscious in our Sickbay," the Doc replied to the Vodierre's outburst. Janeway was glad to see that Iyin did not intimidate the Doctor. He actually seemed a little angry at Iyin and the other Saretti, but Janeway was not entirely certain why.
"Why is he unconscious? What did you do to him?" Iyin asked in an accusing tone.
"I gave him the treatment he should have receive long ago but it's too late now."
Iyin quieted. What had happened to her prized officer?
The Doctor and the Captain were escorted by Iyin and Minister Persel to the Medical facility where Nate's records were stored. Upon arrival at he facility, Nate's file was accessed and the Doctor found what he had feared. They had made a near fatal mistake when they had first treated Tom.
"Why was this done?" The Doctor asked, pointing to one of the treatments in Nate's file. The nearest physician answered.
"It was necessary to stabilize his cortical functions in order to get his vital systems in working order," she explained to the hologram.
The Doctor felt like yelling or breaking something. Where these people as ignorant as they seemed? Tom, or Nate as they referred to him, is not Saretti and thus this procedure was unnecessary. The Doctor explained this to them.
"His brain functions were erratic." The Saretti Doctor said as she displayed what Tom's EEG had been like when he had first arrived. The Doctor recognized the type of brain waves and it was apparent to him the Tom's brain had simply been trying to heal itself after sustaining an injury. The re-establishing of new neural connections was the cause of the erratic brain waves.
The Doctor was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. They didn't recognize the brain patterns because they were not familiar with Tom's physiology but he was concerned about something else, something that may soon prove fatal.
"Who authorized this procedure?" The Doctor posed the question to the Saretti doctor. She looked at the area of the file the Doctor pointed to but didn't answer. She turned her head away in shame.
"I did," Iyin said taking the blame that was rightfully hers. "He was dying." She tried to justify her past actions.
"He was recovering. Your procedure is killing him."
"Our procedure saved him!"
"Doctor what is it?" Janeway interrupted before Iyin and the hologram got into a screaming match.
"Due to Tom's physiology the procedure they performed did more harm than good. It halted Tom's neurogenesis and thus he lost his memories and the damage is continuing with the degradation of other neurons."
"That's why he suffers from those episodes?" Minister Persel said and the holodoc nodded.
"How serious is his condition?" Janeway asked.
"Deadly," he said meeting her gaze. "Unless I can find some way to reverse the process, Mr. Paris will die during one of his future 'episodes'. It may be next week, next month, or next year but each one does more damage."
Meanwhile on Voyager, Nate/Tom was beginning to regain consciousness. B'Elanna was next to him coaxing him to open his eyes while Chakotay hung back giving them some privacy.
"Come on, Tom. Look at me," B'Elanna told him.
Eventually Tom was able to gather the strength to open his heavy eyelids and focus his gaze on the familiar woman above him. A soft smile upturned his lips a she looked at her. He felt B'Elanna's grip on his hand loosen a little and he tightened his weak grip on her hand fearing that she was going to leave.
"I'm not leaving you Tom," she whispered to him with a smile.
"Is that my name?" he asked looking into her eyes.
Tears began to flood her eyes when she heard her husband ask that question. He couldn't even remember his name how could she expect him to remember the rest of his life?
"B'Elanna don't cry," Nate said as he sat up. He brought a hand up to wipe away a tear that had trailed down her face. His touch was that same and B'Elanna found herself leaning into it.
B'Elanna smiled through the tears and looked at her husband, hope in her heart. "I've missed you."
Somehow, Nate had missed her too.
End Chapter 1
Mwa ha ha ha hah! How did you like that? Huh? I'm waiting. I'll tell you what, you email me or leave a review and tell me what you thought of it, and I'll post the next chapter sooner (blackmail at its finest). There are still three more parts to come, so stay tuned. Same Bat- time, same Bat-channel….excuse me, wrong show.
