Authors Note – I don't own the ship, the characters, or anything at all.
Chapter 12 – Strange LooksB'Elanna was working at a console in the upper section of engineering when Tom and Elizabeth appeared. Elizabeth's arrival had been passed down the gossip chain quickly, and with much excitement. B'Elanna had been shocked at first, but had gotten quite excited about it now.
B'Elanna looked up with a smile, as Tom walked up, Elizabeth was lagging behind peering at consoles over people's shoulders. Her mothers daughter, thought Tom.
"Hey", B'Elanna said.
Tom grinned, "Hey. I guess you've heard."
"Who hasn't? Its good news", she said, smiling. "So do I get to meet her?"
"Oh, yeah, sorry. Elizabeth come here" he called over his shoulder.
B'Elanna gasped, as Elizabeth rounded the warp core, the resemblance was uncanny. "Tom.." she said uncertainly.
"I know, but she doesn't, ok", he whispered quickly.
Elizabeth skipped down the steps, coming face to face with them. "Hi. Its nice to meet you at last", she said, grinning at B'Elanna.
B'Elanna managed a "Nice to meet you too", but she was still in shock. How could she not know, how could she not notice.
Tom noticed B'Elanna was still staring at Elizabeth, he
cleared his throat, and she got the hint.
"Um, Tom said you're very interested in Engineering" she said, walking over to
her.
"Yeah, especially voyagers engineering systems", Elizabeth said, her eyes shining with enthusiasm.
"Right, well shall I show you around?" she asked, wondering if Elizabeth could help correct the ion imbalance in the warp core, which she had been struggling with all morning.
"Please."
Tom's commbadge beeped, "Doctor to Mr Paris."
"Paris here", he said, watching B'Elanna lead Elizabeth off towards the lift to the lower section. Well, he thought, she doesn't appear to be holding a grudge, in fact she's being very understanding about the whole thing.
"The captains awake. I think it would be best if you paid her a visit and explain what's happened."
"Right, well, I'll come alone. Elizabeth's looking around engineering, and its probably best if I talk to her before bringing Liz along", he said, thinking how she might react if she saw Liz walk into sickbay looking as well as ever.
He cut the link, and headed back down to the lower level, after his sister and girlfriend. Once on the lower level he spotted them at a console on the left, "I've got to go to sickbay, I'll be back soon, okay."
Elizabeth smiled, "Sure." She noticed B'Elanna looking at her intently again. Pushing it aside, as just curiosity, after all she had been dead in their eyes for over two weeks.
After half an hour, B'Elanna had her working on the ion discrepancy; it was difficult, as she had said. Then, Elizabeth spotted it, correcting the problem, she smiled, privately proud of her achievement.
"Done", she called to B'Elanna.
"What?" B'Elanna said, as she came over to the console by the core. She had spent all morning working on this; Elizabeth had solved it in 10 minutes. Maybe, she would be allowed to take her on as a trainee, provided Q didn't take her back home.
"Well Done."
"Thanks", Elizabeth smiled.
"Do you think I could go catch up with Tom in sickbay?" she asked.
"Um…. No, I … um could you take a look at this for me?" she said quickly improvising. Tom obviously hadn't finished with the captain yet. It probably wasn't a good idea to let her go down there yet.
"Sure", Elizabeth said, getting the impression B'Elanna wanted to keep her here for some reason.
After another two hours, working on different problems B'Elanna kept supplying her with. She decided she really needed to go get something to eat. B'Elanna was busy, so she asked Lieutenant Carey, who said it was fine.
She worked her way back to the turbolift, ignoring the strange looks she was getting off members of the crew. Once inside the turbolift, she commanded "Sickbay." As soon as the turbolift started moving she began to wonder whether this was such a good idea.
When she stepped out of the turbolift on deck five there was a young girl stood there.
"Hi. I'm Naomi Wildman" she smiled.
"Elizabeth Paris", Elizabeth said quietly.
"Tom asked me to come and see if you wanted to go to the holodeck. I have a beach program", she said, in an attempt to persuade Elizabeth.
"Uh….sure", she smiled, taking the girls outstretched hand, and turning around, heading back into the turbolift.
After spending two hours on the holodeck, discussing every aspect of living in the Alpha Quadrant, Naomi's mom came to pick her up. Seeing the way Naomi flung herself into her mom's arms upset Elizabeth. She sighed, feeling more homesick than ever. She missed her dad and Deanna far more than she wanted to acknowledge. One tear she thought and I'll never stop.
Just then Q appeared, sat on the beach next to her, "What do you want?" she asked, irritated by his sudden appearance.
"I've come to stop you wallowing. Look around you there's people on this ship that love you more than you can imagine", he said grinning smugly.
"Oh yeah, you said, like captain Janeway, who obviously doesn't give a damn because she hasn't shown her face since I arrived. Take me home Q, now", she said anger and hurt, choking her up.
"No", he declared.
"Well, you could at least explain." Angry tears slipping down her cheeks, which she wiped away fiercely.
"Kathy will tell you, after all she should take some of the responsibility. I did save your life. Now its her turn", he said, in his annoying, arrogant way.
"I hate you Q, she wont tell me, she doesn't give a toss about me. You know that. I hate her for this, I hate her", she screamed, standing up and running down the beach from him.
"No, you don't" he said appearing in front of her.
Elizabeth sighed, "Leave me alone or take me home, you choose", she said, tired of the endless debate.
"You are home" he replied, and with that he was gone.
Elizabeth flopped down on the sand with a sigh. She was rapidly giving up on Q taking her home, and thus an easy solution to the problem. She should be grateful, after all he did save her life, but she couldn't help feeling like he'd actually handed her a death sentence – A lifetime in the Delta quadrant. She could see Tom again for which she was grateful, but she missed the rest of her family. The thought of home had kept her sane for the last two weeks, now she might never see it again.
Elizabeth just wished Q would be straight with her; tell her why he'd saved her life for Captain Janeway, why she loved her when she didn't appear to. Why is life so confusing, she thought? Although, Elizabeth had to admit she'd always hoped she'd get to meet Captain Janeway again, the woman and her exploits filled her with awe, and there wasn't a time Elizabeth could remember that she didn't want to grow up to be just like her.
Suddenly the holodeck doors opened, making her jump. It was the ex-borg, Elizabeth had heard a lot about from Reg.
Fear filled her as she sat up on her elbows and stared. The borg were dangerous she knew that, but this was an ex-borg. The woman walked towards her, cocking her eyebrow, she inquired "Elizabeth Paris." Elizabeth hoped she couldn't sense her apprehension, and in an even voice, she said, "Yes."
"Your holodeck time has expired", she stated. Elizabeth noticed that she seemed curious about her; she was gazed intently at her.
"Oh, I'm sorry", Elizabeth excused herself, making her way past the ex-borg and out of the door. Once outside the holodeck she let out a sigh of relief, she may be an ex-borg, but she was far too curious and borg like for Elizabeth. Leaning against the cool wall of the corridor, Elizabeth decided it was time to find Captain Janeway and discuss what Q had said with her.
"Computer locate Captain Janeway."
"Captain Janeway is in sickbay."
Well, that could explain why she hadn't seen her yet, if she was ill. Sighing she decided to go and check it out, perhaps Tom would still be there. Elizabeth walked down the corridor to the turbolift.
"Deck five", she stated quietly.
The turbolift stopped and Elizabeth got out and headed for sickbay. Smiling politely at the few crewmembers she passed.
She stood outside the door for a few minutes, deliberating, before striding in.
-Fin-
Please review. Its nearly over, a couple more chapters, want to know whether Elizabeth gets home or not, what the deal is between Janeway and Elizabeth, and the explanation behind it, etc. Then please review.
