The next Morning
Chapter 3
Kathryn Janeway rubbed the back of her neck to work out the kink that had developed there. It had been a long day already and she still had a full day ahead of her. She decided that now was a good time to take a few minutes to relax and re-energize.
'Be-bop!' The two toned signal on her door announced a change of plans.
"Come in."
Seven of Nine strode purposefully up to the Captain's desk. "I've updated the recommended course projections through the region up to Devore space," she announced in the matter-of-fact tone she used and presented the Captain with yet another PADD. "Ensign Paris was able to make some improvements to the original projections."
"Do you have any more information about the Devore, Seven?"
"No, Captain. The Devore were never assimilated by the Borg. The species that were assimilated from this region had little contact with them. Apparently the Devore keep very much to their established borders. Perhaps that is why they escaped notice by the Borg."
"Perhaps. Thank you, Seven," said the Captain, indicating that Seven could now leave.
"Captain, I am curious."
Kathryn Janeway recognized the line that often opened challenging, and frequently inopportune, discussions with Seven. She bowed to the inevitable. "Curious about what?" she asked.
"Members of this crew appear to be pleased that Ensign Paris is returning to duty."
"That's not so surprising," the Captain explained patiently. "He's an important member of the crew and a friend to many on the ship. Aren't you pleased that he's back?" she asked, leading Seven to examine her own reasons for raising the issue.
"Yes." Seven answered simply. "I was able to complete the course projections more efficiently with his input," she explained. "The work proceeded more quickly than has been the case during his absence. I find it puzzling that his manner appears to be casual, and yet his work is, nevertheless, efficient." Seven seemed to be annoyed by this contradiction. "His approach to work is very different from that of Ensign Kim or Lt. Torres. His manner when fulfilling his duties is … unique."
"Yes, it is!" the Captain agreed. She smiled at Seven's understated summary of Tom Paris and his uniqueness.
"Captain, you seem pleased as well."
"I am pleased, Seven."
"Yet you confined Ensign Paris to the brig for thirty days."
"It was necessary. He disobeyed a direct order and violated Monean laws."
"Monean laws are irrelevant. We are no longer in Monean space. We left before the start of Ensign Paris' confinement."
"Their laws are not irrelevant, Seven. It is one of our rules that we abide by the laws of other species while in their space. We were bound by that obligation."
"That is confusing."
"Sometimes," the Captain agreed.
"It is inefficient." Seven decided.
"Maybe. But, respecting other species, respecting their customs and their differences, is a principle that we strive to uphold every day. Our principles are what help us to become better than we are," the Captain explained.
"Ensign Paris claimed to be following the dictates of his principles when he disobeyed your orders."
"That's right," the Captain said, confirming Seven's account of the facts.
"I do not understand."
"Welcome to the club."
"Captain?"
"I mean that having principles and trying to follow them can be complicated. That doesn't make the effort any less worthwhile."
Seven tilted her head the way she did when she acknowledged the Captain's words, but wasn't necessarily convinced. Then Seven decided that her meeting with Captain Janeway was over and left.
The Captain shook her head. Seven was definitely a high maintenance crewmember. Chakotay had once referred to Tom as her personal reclamation project. But, Tom never asked for the close mentoring that Seven demanded of her. Once Tom received his field commission and the opportunity to redeem himself, he acted as if the rest of the work was all up to him.
In fact, Tom became the one who took on the role of supporting others on the ship. He took care of Harry, especially in the early years. He befriended Neelix and Kes, taught Kes how to fly a shuttle. Some people had questioned his motives there. Kathryn knew that Tom had never betrayed Kes' trust. Tom supported B'Elanna as a friend long before they developed romantic feelings for each other. He was among the first to accept Seven on the ship. Even with their antagonistic relationship, it was Tom that the Doctor often turned to for personal advice. Tom had never let him down.
Tom had gone above and beyond the call of duty to justify the Captain's faith in him. The irony was that Tom had been so busy being the 'Good Starfleet Officer' that any of his unresolved personal issues got pushed aside. It was probably inevitable that they would re-emerge one day and even explode the way they did a month ago.
Down in Holodeck Two, Tom finished his last system check, stood up, and shut down the program. He had gotten as much information as he could here. He would have to wait until this afternoon when he actually sat at the helm to find out more. First, though, he had that meeting with the Captain. He wasn't sure yet whether to look forward to this opportunity to talk to her or to dread it. But Tom was beginning to believe in hope.
Back when many of the crew on Voyager had received messages from home through the Hirogen controlled relay, Tom had tried to keep Harry from pinning too much hope on the possibility that he would get a message from his parents. He thought that Harry was only setting himself up for disappointment if he didn't end up getting a letter. He had advised Harry that no hopes meant no disappointments. Harry's answer had shaken him. "I'm not you."
It was strange. In this whole crazy mess last month, Tom had discovered something inside himself that he never expected to find there, a willingness to trust hope. It might not make sense to anyone else, but as he made his way to the bridge he was beginning to let himself hope for the best.
With that hope he knew that he had set himself up for disappointment if his meeting ended badly.
Author's Notes: no notes for this chapter
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