Chapter 4

Janeway gave the announcment that if anyone wanted to notify his or her family they were to write it down and give it to Janeway so she could have Tuvok send them out. Eventually the news was known shipwide even in the brig. When Tom found out about how dangerous the mission was he knew he didn't want his his wife or child on the ship. He knew Be'lana wouldn't want to leave the ship just because of a dangerous mission. But the fact that this mission had a 65 chance of failing would eventually persuade her to take shore leave with they're daughter on a planet that was far away from the place they were heading to. She may be half klingon but the human side of her will remind her that we have a child to protect. His thaughts were interupted by Tuvok coming into the brig. "Mr.Paris.I have come to receive any messages or requests you might wish to send before the mission."

"Well my father is a starfleet admiral so he probably already knows about it. I do have a request though."

"And what might that be?"

"I want you to leave My wife Be'lana and our daughter on the klingon homeworld before we leave."

"May I ask why you wish to leave them behind?"

"I don't want them to be harmed. I know that we're probably going after the Borg. I know I wasn't supposed to know but its not hard to figure out. The fact that the captain sent out an announcment telling us to inform our familys that theres the possability that we might not come back pretty much gave the whole thing off."

"I did not ask how you knew about it."Tuvok stated bluntly.

"Of course you didn't. But that doesn't mean you weren't thinking it."

"Shall I tell Be'lana that she will be laft behind?" Tom sat and thaught about it. "No. Tell her to come here...I'll tell her."

"Very well."And then Tuvok left.

"You want me to WHAT?!" The words came out of her mouth and just seemed to hang in the air around him. Now comes the hard part. Her face was red with anger and surprise. "You heard me.I want you to take our daughter and stay with her on the Klingon homeworld. Is there a problem with that"

"YES theres a problem. I don't like the Klingon homeworld even if I am part Klingon. I don't want to be there if anything happens to you either."

"But what if something happens to YOU? Or our daughter? What will you do then?"

"I..." She trailed off trying to think of a reason. But she came up with nothing and turned away from him. Tom stood up and turned her head around so he could look her in he eyes.

"I love you and our daughter, and I don't want you two to get hurt. But another part of the reason is I don't want her to grow up without knowing who her parents are. Even if your the only parent she knows."

Be'lana looked down tears beginning to swell in her eyes. She wiped them away but it didn't help. Tears were already running down her face. She was silent for a little while longer and then spoke. "Alright.I'll stay with her on the Klingon homeworld. I'm just going to worry my eyes out about you I suppose."

"Is that the reason you wanted to come along?"

"Part of it. The other part is the fact that I'll be surrounded by people who think honor is everything and I'm worried that they'll call me an outcast due to lack of it. Its really not a very comforting thaught."

"Hmmm...Well then good luck."

"Thanks. Good luck to you too." Tom smiled and then embraced her in a long kiss. Perhaps the last one they'd ever share together.