A/N: Sorry I haven't updated in a while...I haven't been on, and I forgot how to edit the chapters once they've been uploaded. I am such an idiot! Now for the chapter...

Chapter 3: The Story of Leilani Sapphire Featherflame

"I'm not sure when I was born, neither year nor stardate," Leila began. "All I know is that I was born sometime fourteen years ago. My parents were both humans, with my dad being nicer than my mom."

"Nicer in what way?" Voyager's captain asked.

"Temperament," answered Leila. "My father always kept his temper with me. My mother..." She didn't finish her sentence.

"What did she do to you?" Janeway asked.

"Things...horrible things." It was painful for Leila to revisit these abusive memories. Why did Janeway have to ask about her life?

"What kind of things?" Janeway pressed.

"I can't describe them," said Leila after a moment's silence. "It would be better if I...if I showed you." She grimaced as she lifted her purple shirt just enough to let Janeway see the long, white scar that stretched across her pale, flat belly. She could still feel the sharp pain of the silver sword-like knife as it sliced into her stomach. She heard Janeway gasp, and quickly dropped her shirt.

"When did this happen?" the elder captain asked gently.

"When I was six," Leila replied. "Mother was drunk one night. Father wasn't home. I had angered her for some reason I can't remember, and she..."

"Cut into your stomach," Janeway finished. Leila sadly nodded.

"There's more on my back," she said. "All done by the same weapon, just different occasions. Bruises and scars, and cuts that never healed. She had always made sure nobody else could see what she was doing to me." Janeway looked at her, an unreadable emotion in her eyes.

"What did you do?" she asked.

"Tolerated it," responded Leila. "But one day, when I was eight, I ran away. I couldn't take it anymore. I actually ran to Starfleet Academy and made it my home. Everything started getting better after that. When I was thirteen, I was given Starfalcon and was made captain. I've been on it ever since." She finished her story with a smile, her sad mood vanishing as she thought of her precious Starfleet memories.

"Will you let me see your back?" Janeway requested.

"Sure," said Leila. She turned around, and Janeway lifted her shirt. A few seconds later, the door buzzer rang. "Come in," said Janeway. The door opened, and somebody came in. It was B'Elanna.

"Captain," she said, "Chakotay wants you on the bridge and--oh my God!" She rushed over and looked down, disgusted, at Leila's back.

"What the hell happened?" she asked, horrified.

"You don't want to know," Leila answered, wincing as Janeway put her shirt back down. "Just know I don't want it to be like this."

"You need to get to Sickbay," said B'Elanna.

"No, I don't," Leila objected.

"Yes, you do," said Janeway. "B'Elanna, take her to Sickbay, by force if you have to. That's an order. I'm going to the bridge to see what Chakotay wants." She got to her feet and crossed to the door.

"Have fun, you two," she said, smiling, and departed for the bridge. Just as B'Elanna and Leila were about to leave, a voice floated out into the room from Leila's comm badge.

"Harukaiya to Featherflame," the voice said. Leila tapped her badge.

"Featherflame here," she said. "What is it, Kohana?"

"Captain, we just discovered something shocking from Christie Kasumi," Kohana replied. "Ayame's pregnant!"

"What?" cried Leila. "Our Ayame?"

"Yes, our Ayame," answered Kohana. "Once you and the others come back on Starfalcon, we'll tell you all about it."

"Okay," said Leila. "Look, I have to go now, okay? Featherflame out."

"Excuse my asking, but who are these people?" B'Elanna asked.

"My crew," Leila answered proudly. "Kohana Harukaiya and Ayame Murakami are my two smartest youngling officers."

"Youngling?"

"That's what I call them. I don't know exactly why, though."

B'Elanna nodded. "And who's Christie Kasumi?"

"Our doctor. She's an EMH, and that's what she calls her 'name of the moment.' She changes it every week, for what reason I don't know. Her last name was Hitomi Carlisle." Leila paused and grimaced at the name, then continued. "I like this week's name. I'm going to have to tell her that..."

They arrived in Sickbay. "Doctor!" B'Elanna called out. A man walked over from what he was doing in a little corner.

"Hello, B'Elanna," he greeted. "I see we have a new friend."

"Captain Leila Featherflame of Starfalcon," B'Elanna replied. "I was wondering if you could have a look at her back."

"Of course," said The Doctor. He motioned Leila over to a table, where she laid on her stomach.

"Oh, I can fix this, no problem," he said after a few moments. "I just need to anesthetize her." Leila suddenly felt a sharp pain in her neck, and she drifted into unconsciousness.

Leila blinked her eyes. She was still in Sickbay, and her back felt different. She turned onto her back and sat up.

"That was odd," she remarked. "I didn't feel like I was asleep at all." Suddenly, almost as if he had been summoned, The Doctor came to her side.

"Hello," he said. "How are you feeling?"

"What'd you do to my back?" Leila asked.

"Healed it," he replied. "Now, your back is as clear as it ever will be. No bruises, cuts, or scars."

"Really?" Leila exclaimed. "Oh, thank you, Doctor!"

"Any time," The Doctor answered. He tapped his comm badge.

"Captain Janeway and Lieutenant Torres to Sickbay at once, please," he said. In a few minutes, both women entered the room.

"Hello, Leila," said Janeway. "All fixed up?"

"That I am," Leila replied happily.

"Okay, Doctor, what do you have to tell us?" asked B'Elanna.

"Well," The Doctor replied. "I don't know how you two will take this, especially you, B'Elanna, but..."

"Yes?" asked Janeway. "Go on."

"Well, I don't know quite how to say this, but..." The Doctor paused.

"B'Elanna," he finally said. "I'm afraid Leilani is your sister."

A/N: Next Chapter: Klingon Sisters and Strawberry Ice Cream. Leila's B'Elanna's sister! Yes, she is! Her birth name is revealed in this chapter, and there's a little mishap involving an innocent bowl of strawberry ice cream. Reviews are welcome!