"One last protocol, Mr. Paris. This time we will aid a Klingon woman."
"A Klingon woman?" Tom asked.
"Yes. This is very rare. Klingon women have the good sense to stay close to home when their time is near but things will happen. There are of course ceremonies and rituals that accompany Klingon birth... I never saw a culture have so many rituals for almost every contingency in life. Anything that happens there is a corresponding ritual."
"Doc, I know," Tom said. He smiled at his mentor.
"Well of course you would. Well, here is the scenario. It is an emergency situation. There has been a shuttle accident. She has survived uninjured but labor has started. Computer, Klingon Medical Scenario One."
Tom was in the middle of smoke and debris. The Klingon woman was sitting curled up in a corner of the broken shuttle glaring at him.
"Are you injured?" he asked. He rummaged around the bits and pieces until he found a med kit.
"I am not," she said firmly, almost spitting out the words. Tom sighed. The woman could have every broken every bone in her body but would say nothing about it.
"How is the…"
"He is fine. I need nothing."
"I think you do," he said firmly as he approached her. She pulled back an arm to hit him. Fortunately he anticipated her move and stopped her in mid swing.
"I am not going to have the members of your family's house coming after me if anything happens to you or your... son."
She relented.
"If anything happens to him I will kill you,"s he hissed. Klingon women could be congenial if the situations called for it, but the friendly eyes could turn hostile without warning. He was reminded of B'Elanna in the early days. Back when he first met her.
"And so you should," Tom answered.
"At any cost save the child," she said great deliberation.
"I'm married to a Klingon. Well, a half-Klingon, but I know all about your people and their ways," Tom said. She visibly relaxed perhaps sensing that here was one who understood.
It went smoother than Tom had expected mainly because the Klingon woman considered it dishonorable to cry out in pain or show discomfort, although she did accept some pain relief, which surprised him. There was still some cursing from both of them but in the end he held a small Klingon boy whose wails were the loudest cries he had ever heard. He held the boy for a moment conscience of the tiny ridges across his forehead. His own children, if he had children, would probably be like that. Loud wails, small forehead ridge like their mother.
"Give me my son P'tak!" the woman said. Tom was aware that he hadn't bothered to ask the woman her name. He handed the infant over and the woman immediately showing signs that she would be even more protective than the other holographic mothers.
She looked up at Tom, disdain still in her glance but it was tempered by a reluctant, small smile.
"Jup," was all she said. Tom smiled. It was Klingon for 'friend.' If this had been real life, Tom would have been included in one of those rituals and would have been declared a friend of her family's house.
The woman and child disappeared. Tom stared after them unsure of what it was he was feeling.
"Most excellent Mr. Paris. This was the last of it. I am fully confident that when you are fully recovered you will have no problems passing the practical exams. The Captain will be pleased to hear it."
"This is something I never thought I would be doing," Tom said.
"I will say that you have managed to... exceed your programming," the Doctor said.
-01-
Lt. Tom Paris Personal Log Supplemental
The Doctor has managed to help the Ketvians upgrade their treatments for injuries sustained from the gaseous war bombs of the Boraration. In return, they were able to guide us through their space and help us knock six months off our journey. I would say that two short weeks in sick bay with the Doctor was worth it.
My time as a hologram is almost at an end. Tomorrow morning the Doctor and Seven of Nine will attempt to reunite my neural functions with my body. My lungs are healed and there is every chance for a full recovery. I am looking forward to being my old self again but I have to take a few minutes to recount what the past few weeks have taught me.
The life of a hologram is full of wonder. By simply speaking a few words I can disappear and reappear in a way is completely different experience from being in a transporter beam. I'm not just being transported by the beams... I'm part of the beam itself. I can face down danger with no fear of lasting damage. I have no need to eat, to sleep, to stop for anything. I am light, I am air. There is a part of me that is sorry to leave all this behind.
If anyone is interested, yes, I was still able to show physical affection toward my wife. I don't presume to speak for her so if you wish to hear about her side of the experience you'll have to ask her but she may or may not share, depending on her mood. I must warn you that her response might well be "That's none of your damn business."
I had many concerns and fears when this process started but Voyager's Doctor was more than willing to help me adjust to my temporary condition.
I have come to a new appreciation for the Doctor. I never knew how it was for him to have us solid organic beings to treat his as a piece of equipment. How irritating it must be for him to be deactivated at a moment's notice simply because we could not be bothered by him or thought we had something better to do. It is a very unique existence and it must be lonely for him to live his life among those different from himself.
I know this experience will not make us friends exactly. We will still argue and push and pull at each other. I know I'll try to get out of my duty shifts and he will always have a hard time trying to understand why I'm the way I am and why I do the things I do but as for me since I have had this experience will always think twice before I casually deactivate him or dismiss his concerns.
I would recommend that if this protocol becomes standard procedure that an EMH be part of the Medical team.
Tomorrow I begin again as a solid. I am not looking forward to waking up in that tube. I hate those things.
-01-
The first thing he felt was the sensation of breathing. His chest rising and falling. He could smell again. He had missed being able to smell. He started to lift his hands; why did they feel so heavy? He was conscious of his wedding ring. Then something forced his eyes opened and he looked into the face of the smiling Doctor.
"It worked, Mr. Paris. You are back together in one piece again. Your respiratory system has fully healed," he said. His voice was calm.
Thankfully he was not in the tube. He hated those tubes. He was in his own quarters, in his own bed. He became aware that there were others in the room. B'Elanna, of course. Harry, Seven and the Captain were gathered around him.
"Well, that was quite the experience," Tom said as he slowly sat up. He felt weak.
"You may stay here in your quarters for at least two days," the Doctor said. "This wasn't simply a long nap. You were dealt a serious injury and you have literally been breathing drugs. It will take a while for your system to get used to things like eating and sleeping again, plus the simple acts of moving about, but I see no reason why you shouldn't be back to your own self after a few days' rest."
"Thank you, Doc. Thank you for everything... and thank you to the rest of you," he said. He went quiet for a few moments.
"Now everyone out. Mr. Paris needs his rest!" The Doctor could be commanding when he needed to be. This was one of those times.
"Well, see you in a few days, Mr. Paris. I've given B'Elanna a few days off to look after you. We've missed you on the Bridge," the Captain said. "It will be good to have you back at the helm again." She reached over and gently squeezed his hand. Tom was moved by the intensity of emotion in her voice. She meant it.
"Thank you, Captain. I look forward to being back."
The Captain never held back when she was happy. She gave him her warmest smile before leaving the room. Tom turned to Seven.
"Thank you, Seven." He found it hard to speak. He didn't know if it was because he was allowing feelings to overwhelm him because of everything his friends had done for him, or if it was from spending so much time asleep and being out of the habit of talking. "Thank you for breaking the codes. The Doctor told me how you worked to keep my program hidden," he said quietly. The former Borg Drone said nothing but gave him the gift of a real smile before she followed the Captain. That alone almost made the ordeal worth it.
"I can't wait until you write 'My Life as a Photonic Being'," Harry said. Tom reached out and took his friend's hand.
"Thanks for hiding me, keeping me safe," he said. He had to keep it brief or his voice would choke up again and Harry would never let him forget it.
"You'd do the same," Harry said. He held onto his hand for a moment.
"Yes, I would." He smiled at his friend released his grip and left the room.
The familiar whirring sound came from the replicator. The smell of hot tomato soup drifted over to him. He not only missed eating, he missed feeling hungry. He watched B'Elanna walk over to place the bowl on a tray. He was reminded of the Klingon mother and infant. He imagined B'Elanna as the mother of his children, children who would look just like her. He liked the idea. They had to have a talk. Very soon. As soon as the Doctor left.
The Doctor was still smiling the way he always did when one of his procedures succeeded.
"Doc, thank you for everything. I know it wasn't easy putting up with me for the past two weeks but I want you to know that I learned a lot...about you. I was serious about those piloting lessons… I'm looking forward to completing the certification process."
"I know you will pass with the proverbial flying colors, and our time spent together wasn't as hard as all that, Mr. Paris. I have to say that I myself found the experience… oddly rewarding. Computer. Transfer EMH to Sickbay."
With a shimmer and a flash he was gone.