It only took the ship 2 months to arrive at the fringe of the Delta Quadrant. During the 2 months Harry had learned that all the vast knowledge of Voyager's databanks had been added to the ship's library; medical, tactical, xenobiology, everything. He even learned about the Voyager holoprogram that some of the crew had developed from the mission logs.
Harry smiled to himself when he discovered this program, he knew that much of his holodeck time would be here with the people he knew and loved.
He found it amusing that the crew would decide to recreate all the adventures that Voyager had been on. He'd have to send Tom a message about this.
One of the drawbacks to Transwarp/Slipstream was that no messages could be sent or received.
The next few weeks passed quickly for Harry, he was settling into the routine of normal ship life. His introductions to the rest of the crew had been varied, he mainly met them as he worked with them. The first person he met was the Second Officer, Lieutenant Commander Nicholi Jacobson, head of Security. Jacobson was from a Russian-American family from somewhere in Boston. He spoke with a mix of a slight Bostonian and Russian accent. He was a large man, easily weighing 250, and stood a good six feet. As soon as Harry met him he knew they would be friends, he reminded him a lot of Neelix, always happy.
As he worked with his Operations team, he learned that none of them new about the technology that the ship held. She was a mystery to her own crew.
Once they dropped from Slipstream, they began the tedious task of mapping their general area, fortunately the Astrometrics Lab was fully operational.
After a few short months he had met every crewmember on the ship, all 200 of them. Harry had been assigned to train the newly formed 'Astrometrics Department' in the use of the equipment, needless to say this ate a lot of his time. On the plus side he met some nice crewmembers, he hoped he could call some of them friends one day.
He knew that he would never find the same kinship he had with Tom and B'Elanna, but he hoped he could find something close.
Harry got his wish for friends in the most unexpected form, Captain Sharif, and Commander Franklin.
Harry had been running a Martial Arts training program, trying to keep in shape, when the Captain had walked in.
"Oh, Captain, I'm sorry. Did you have this time reserved?" Harry asked as he stood at attention, Sharif looking around the holodeck.
"No, I sometimes pop in to meditate or see what the crew is indulging in. What discipline are you studying?" he asked, gesturing at their surroundings.
"Karate Sir."
"Interesting, I myself have studied a few forms, would you care to spar, Lieutenant?" Sharif asked with a challenging gleam in his eye.
"Yes, Sir." Harry replied as he took a defensive stance. Sharif closed his eyes before opening them and taking a stance of his own.
"Whenever you're ready Lieutenant."
Harry wasted no breath as he rushed him, a punch aimed at his head. Sharif easily blocked it with little effort, spinning Harry away as he did. Harry regained his balance and rushed in again, his leg kicking out in a sweep, trying to knock the Captain over. Sharif merely sidestepped it, delivering his own kick to the side of Harry's leg, knocking him off balance.
They continued to spar for another 20 minutes before Harry finally gave up, having not landed a single blow.
"That was amazing, sir. What discipline was it?" Harry asked as he tried to catch his breath.
"Kung Fu, the Seven circles System of Northern Southern Shaolin Kung Fu Wushu, to be precise. It has been passed through my family for generations, many of my ancestors were teachers of this Discipline."
"Could you teach it to me?" Harry asked as he slowly stood, bowing to show humility to the victor.
"I haven't had a student in years. I would welcome the opportunity. You have the evening shift on Fridays, do you not?"
"Yes sir, I have my mornings open, if that's what you're asking," Harry replied with a grin.
"Very well, meet me here Friday morning at around 1000 hours, dress in a black uniform if you can. The replicator database should be able to replicate a traditional Kung Fu uniform for you."
They bowed in a sign of mutual respect before Sharif left the aching Harry.
==
After that day, he and the Captain met every Friday to train. Occasionally Franklin would join them, but not too often.
"You're getting better Harry," Sharif said after putting Harry through the wringer, they had been training together for the past 6 months. The drills they had been working on were designed to strengthen his center of balance, harness his Chi, and use that to maintain his focus.
"Thank you sir, I have an excellent teacher," Harry replied with a grin as he bowed, their session at and end.
"Now for next time I want you to …" he was cut off as the ship went into Red Alert.
"Red Alert, Captain to the Bridge, All hands to Battle Stations." Franklin's voice came over the Comm. Harry and Sharif wasted no time as they rushed to the Bridge.
"Report," the Captain barked as he entered, Harry relieving the Ensign at Ops.
"Captain, there is an unidentified vessel 40 000 kilometers off our port bow and closing." Harry replied as he scanned the data on his screens.
"Open channels."
Harry nodded, signaling an open channel.
"This is Captain Sharif of the Federation Starship Columbia. Please state your intentions and identity."
"No response Captain," Harry answered at his look.
"Incoming fire," Jacobson reported from his station.
Seconds later the ship was rocked by a barrage of fire.
"Return fire," Sharif yelled as he regained his footing.
"Aye," Jacobson replied even as the torpedoes were streaking towards their target.
Impact!
The torpedoes hit a major system on their opponent, the ship began venting gases and fluids as she began to spin out of control.
"Direct hit, Captain. I don't think they have shields, at least not very good ones."
"Thank you for that observation Mr. Jacobson, Harry I .."
"Incoming volley," Jacobson interrupted.
The crippled vessel had fired the rest of her compliment of torpedoes at the Columbia, the crew had no choice but to brace for the impact.
The torpedoes hit; One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight. The ship rocked with each impact. Consoles began exploding, structural support beams falling from the ceiling. Harry managed to cover his face as his console exploded in an array of sparks, burning his arms.
Shortly after that they saw their opponent explode, whether intentional or not, they didn't know, and didn't care.
"Damage Report," Sharif said as he looked around his damaged Bridge.
"Jacobson is dead sir," Franklin said as he directed the Captain's attention to what remained of the Security Station. Now it was crushed beneath a structural beam, an arm laying limp beneath that.
Sharif sighed as he took that in.
"Reports coming in from all decks sir. Five dead, 50 injured, 10 of those critically. Hull breach on Deck 5 Section 32, it's one of the empty Cargo Bays." Harry said as the reports came in.
"Very good, Lieutenant, dispatch an engineering team to Deck 5 Section 32, seal that breach. Call a medical team for the Commander, Kim, Franklin, meet me in my Ready Room in 20 minutes."
"Ensign Kenis," he said turning to the Bajoran helmsman, "find us a place to hide and repair, I don't want another surprise attack."
At her nod Sharif took one last sweeping look around the Bridge before entering the turbolift and making his way to Sickbay.
=
20 minutes later, Franklin and Harry stood in front of the Captain.
"Gentlemen, I hate to say this but that attack caught us unprepared. The Doctor thinks that at least half of the critically wounded won't make it. We now need to assign a new Chief of Security. Mr. Kim, once we find a new Security Chief, I want you to work with him, you're my new Second Officer. Nicholi was a good man, he served with me for years. Mr. Kim, I want you to put together a simulator, we need to train this crew to expect the unexpected."
"If I may sir," Harry began, "the crew has already developed a similar program. They wrote a holoprogram based off Voyager's mission. I can choose some of the more difficult missions from the logs and use them in the Voyager program. That may be the best way to train them, seeing as how this ship is based off her."
"Very well Lieutenant, let me know once that's done. Commander Franklin, I leave the assigning of the new Security Officer to you."
A chorus of 'Aye Sir' met his ears as he dismissed them to their tasks.
==
Seven awoke to the annoying sound of her alarm clock, 0630.
Too early to be awake, she thought as she struggled to rise. Finally achieving her task she sat up and looked at the clock, 0635. She had time for a shower before class. It had been 8 months since Voyager had returned from the Delta Quadrant, and since then all she had been doing was studying at the Academy and going on an occasional date with Chakotay.
Chakotay was nice, Seven mused irrelevantly, but there was something about him that puzzled her. It's not that she didn't enjoy the time she spent with him, she had to conclude that it was 'fun'. But when he kissed her goodnight, or held her as they danced, her body screamed 'this is wrong, this isn't the man that should be holding you.'
Seven quickly pushed those thoughts aside as she stood up and moved towards the shower, grabbing her uniform on the way.
==
"Remind me again why we're going to see my father?"
"He's the only Admiral that we haven't talked to about Harry yet, he may know something."
With a resigned sigh, Tom admitted that she was right, settling his daughter on his hip, he rang the chime on his father's door.
A moment later, the elder Paris opened the door, shocked to see his son standing there.
"Tom?" he asked quietly.
"Hello Sir," Tom said as he was quickly wrapped in his father's arms. Careful of Miral, Tom returned the hug the best he could, B'Elanna just smiled.
Releasing his son from the hug, Owen Paris quickly ushered them inside.
"Dad, you already know B'Elanna, but this is Miral."
"Nice to see you again B'Elanna," he replied with a genuine smile for his daughter-in-law.
"Hello Miral," he said to the infant.
"Miral," her father began, "this is your grandfather, Admiral Paris."
Miral shyly buried her head in her father's shoulder, hiding her smile. With a laugh B'Elanna took her daughter and sat on the couch.
"Now, I know you didn't come just to see your father Tom, now did you?" Owen asked as he and Tom sat as well. Tom sat next to B'Elanna while Owen sat in the chair across from them, leaning forward Tom answered.
"Well sir," he began, "we were wondering if you could tell us what happened to Harry Kim. We've been to the rest of the Admiralty and they say they have no idea. We were hoping you could tell us. You see, we're worried about him, he disappeared after the welcome home ceremony and no one from Voyager has seen him since."
"Tom, I can understand you're concern for your friend, but I can't tell you anything, it's classified."
Tom heaved a sigh of relief at this statement.
"So he's still alive," B'Elanna breathed.
"Yes," Owen confirmed. "I can't tell you much about his current mission, but what I can tell you I will. Upon his return to Earth, Mr. Kim put in for a deep-space assignment. He was given a position on an experimental deep-space exploration vessel. Its mission length is five years."
At this, both Tom and B'Elanna were stunned silent, her comment in jest to Janeway had been the truth.
"Why?" Tom managed to stutter out after a few moments.
"I'm not sure, I was hoping to find out. Do you have any idea why?"
Tom and B'Elanna exchanged looks before she spoke.
"We have one idea, Seven of Nine."
"The former drone? What about her?" Paris asked confused.
"Harry has been in love with her since she came onboard, every time he made an advance she would shoot him down cold. Just before our return to Earth she began dating Commander Chakotay. Harry's love life had been one disaster after another, you see, and her beginning a 'romantic affiliation' with the Commander was just too much for Harry. After that he began to withdraw into himself, Bea and I were worried, but everything we tried failed. He didn't want to be helped. The funny thing is, after the ceremony, I went to Harry's quarters to see if he was ok. When I entered I found Seven laying on his bed crying. She managed to tell me about how he disappeared from the corridor, how she ran to the Cargo Bay but ended up in his quarters. Harry doesn't know it, but Seven's lost without him." Tom explained.
"I see," Paris said thoughtfully. "And where is Seven now?"
"At the Science Academy," B'Elanna answered as she shifted the now sleeping Miral into a more comfortable position.
"I'm sorry Tom, B'Elanna, but Mr. Kim is already on the mission. He has been for the past 8 months. I wish I could help you more than that, but as I said it's classified."
"We would have come sooner, but we've been busy settling in and all," Tom explained lamely.
"We understand, Sir," B'Elanna added, "and we appreciate the help that you've given us. Is there any way to send a message to them?"
"Not at present, but once they establish contact with us I'll be able to send Mr. Kim any messages you give me."
B'Elanna nodded and looked to her husband.
"Well sir, thank you. We have to leave, we've got to go put Miral to bed." Tom said as he and B'Elanna stood.
"Please stop by anytime, I'd be happy to see you, both of you." Paris replied as he walked them to the door, hugging them as they left.
"We will .. Dad, you can count on it," Tom said as the door closed behind him, cutting off the view of Admiral Paris' smile.
==
Kathryn Janeway took a steadying breath as she rang the buzzer.
"Yes?" A voice called from the other side of the door as it slid open. "Captain Janeway, what brings you here?"
"You're son, may I come in?" the other woman nodded as she lead the Captain to the couch.
"Would you like some coffee?" she asks, Janeway smiles as she accepts, never one to refuse a cup of coffee. "John went out for a few minutes just before you arrived. He should be back shortly." Mary Kim called from the kitchen of their apartment.
"That's fine, but I was hoping to speak with you. I hear that Harry stayed here before he left for his new assignment. Did he say anything?"
"No, he didn't," she replied as she returned with two cups. "He's not hurt is he?" she asked with a start as she sat down.
"No, nothing like that," Janeway said in appeasing tones. "It's just that we, his friends, are all worried about him. He left without so much as a goodbye to any of us. I was hoping you could tell us anything."
"He stayed the night, and then left before we woke up. All he left was this PADD." She explained as she handed the device to the Captain. "That's the best I can do to help. He did mention the name of a woman that came looking for him, I think he said Seven or something like that?"
"Seven of Nine?"
"That's what it was, who is she Captain?"
"She was … is the woman that Harry fell in love with, the only problem is she didn't return the feelings. To make it worse she began dating my XO just before we found our way home. Harry never mentioned it to anyone, but I know that he still loves her, I know that he'd die for her."
Janeway paused to clear her throat, thinking about a love like that still had the power to choke her up. She stopped in mid-clear as all the pieces fell into place.
"My word, I know why he left. Seven, he left so that she could get on with her life. I'm guessing he figured out of sight, out of mind. That explains almost everything, his 3-week leave of duty then his disappearance. He was avoiding anything and everything connected to Voyager, he didn't want to think about the ship because that would make him think about Seven. I have to let Tom and B'Elanna know, may I take this PADD with me?"
"Of course, its message is too cryptic for John and I to figure out."
"Thank you Mary, you've been a great help," Janeway said as she stood and walked to the door.
"No, thank you. You've explained a mystery that John and I have been trying to solve for these past 8 months."
With a smile, Kathryn Janeway walked out of the Kim's apartment armed with new and vital information.
==
Kathryn Janeway sat at the table, sipping her coffee and reading the PADD the Kim's had given her.
"You're late," she said without looking up.
"I know, I'm sorry," he replied as he sat down.
"That's fine, Tom and B'Elanna have gathered some more information about our missing Mr. Kim. I did a little digging of my own, too. I thought you'd like to know why he left." She said taking another sip as she placed the PADD on the table between them.
"I would be interested, yes."
"Well, having talked with Tom and B'Elanna we've developed a reasonable hypothesis as to why he disappeared. But first, I'll tell you where he is. He's on a five year deep-space mission, apparently he requested it once we returned."
"Any idea why?" he asked as he sipped his newly arrived iced tea.
"A few, but they all have to do with you Captain, or more precisely, who you are dating."
She watched as realization dawned on his face.
"Seven? He disappeared to deep space because of Seven and I?"
"That's correct. Chakotay, you above all people must know how Harry feels about her."
He only nodded, words failing him.
"He loves her, as far as I can tell," He answered after a moment's reflection.
"He does, he confided in me once that he would die for her if he needed to. This was of course after he was injured and was slightly incoherent. I'm still not sure who he thought I was at the time." She shared a grin with Chakotay at the memory, his dimples flashing into existence, momentarily taking her breath away.
"So you can see why he disappeared?"
"Yes, he was trying to distance himself from anything that would remind him of Seven, that means Voyager and all her crew."
Janeway nodded as she picked up the PADD.
"This is a note that he left for his parents. I want you to read it, tell me what you think."
Chakotay took the PADD and began to read;
Mom and Dad,
I know that my visit was too short, and I'm sorry for that. But I have to leave, I need time away from anything and everything that I know. I need time to take stock of my life, too much has happened to me in the Delta Quadrant. Someday, when I return, I'll tell you about it.
I know that Voyager has been back for several weeks, but I had to gather my thoughts. Yes I know, that's why I took the deep space mission, but I needed to see what direction I wanted my life to go. At the end I decided I would return to Starfleet and take whatever assignment they gave me, ironic that it was the mission I'm leaving for now.
I want you to do me a favor, if anyone from Voyager comes looking for me, I want you to treat them like family. That's what they are to me, my family. If you ever see Seven of Nine again, please tell her I'm sorry for not being candidate material and even sorrier I was such a lousy friend.
Well, I guess I'll see you in 5 years.
Love always,
Harry.
Chakotay lowered the PADD and met Kathryn's eyes. He struggled for words, finding his tongue after a few tries.
"Well," he began slowly, "I guess that explains a lot."
"Yes it does, but it still leaves a few questions. Mainly what are you going to do about Seven? I can see the strain in your relationship, Chakotay."
He took a deep breath before replying.
"Yes, it is rather obvious isn't it? I knew there was something strange with Seven picking me for a 'romantic affiliation' out of all the crew. What I personally think is that she was running away from her true feelings, building a false reality, denying the fact the she loves Ensign .. I mean Lieutenant Kim."
"So, what are you going to do about Seven? You can't keep stringing her along, that wouldn't be right."
"I know," he replied as he ran his hand through his hair, ending the movement with a sigh. "I guess I'll have to break it off, I know we're better off as friends. The hard part will be telling her its over."
"Isn't that always the hardest part?" Janeway asked with a gentle smile. Having aired the concern for their missing friend, Janeway changed the conversation.
"So, tell me Chakotay, how does it feel to be a lackey for the Admiralty?"
He only smiled as he formulated an answer.
==