*5*

Deep Space Nine,

March 4

"Hey Dad," Raul shouted before the door had even closed behind Michael Ayala. "I got an excellent on my math test!"

Ayala grinned. "That's great." He took the offered PADD and read it. "Wow. This is tough stuff." Raul's smile grew even bigger. He hugged his son. Marit would have been so proud. He looked up when Luis harrumphed with a pained look of disgust at Raul's glee.

"Mr. Paris called," his older boy said.

"He said," Raul interrupted, "that it was up to you if I could learn to fly. Please." Raul dragged that last word out.

"Tom is a very busy man," Ayala said. He looked back at Luis. "Did he leave a message?" He wondered if perhaps B'Elanna might be pregnant. He'd only heard from Tom a few times in the past year.

"Nope," Luis said as he returned to his homework. "Just that you were to call him when you got home."

Ayala made a quick calculation, and then frowned. He could never remember if it was sixteen hours earlier or thirteen where Tom was.

He'd contact Tom in a bit. "How was your day?" he asked Luis.

"Okay." Luis didn't look up from his book. "Mr. Paris did say it was important."

"Important?" Ayala stared at his son, but it was Raul who grabbed his hand.

"He said he had a job for you and that we could come..."

Luis swatted at Raul's head. Raul ducked. "Actually he said that Voyager's mission has been changed and you might be interested. Raul is the one who asked if we can go."

"Well, he didn't say no," Raul said as he stuck out his tongue. "Can we?"

"First let me find out what Tom has to say," Ayala said, with another frown. Voyager's original mission was to return to the Delta Quadrant-which would mean a separation from his children, something he absolutely refused to consider. They were comfortable here on Deep Space Nine - were building a good life for themselves. Being so close to Bajor, especially Kajee Narel, was another plus. Even though the reminders of war and loss were always present, The Prophets knew both his boys - but especially Luis - needed stability more than anything else. Being an absentee father was out of the question.

"But he said lots of families were going to the Delta Quadrant!" Raul burst out. "Why can't we go, too?"

"First we're going to eat dinner," Ayala said firmly. "Then later this evening-or maybe tomorrow morning-I will speak to Tom and find out what this is all about." Privately, he doubted that Tom's 'offer' had to do with Voyager. Raul, in his excitement, had probably gotten Tom's mission on Voyager mixed up with whatever this new posting was. He noticed that Luis was only pretending to read his history book. "If I *did* get a new posting on a ship, one that allowed families, would you be interested?"

"YES!" Raul shouted then started to leap again. Ayala continued to look at Luis.

"Maybe," Luis finally said with another annoyed look at his younger brother.

Ayala knew that was about as enthusiastic response as he could expect from Luis. He clapped his younger boy on the shoulder. "Don't get your hopes up, son. I don't know what this mission entails."

Raul jumped with joy, and landed on Ayala's right foot. "Raul," Luis said, "you're a pest."

"Am not!" the younger boy said as he stuck his tongue out yet again.

Ayala rolled his eyes. The boys usually got along, but every so often..."Raul, you're not a pest, you're just too excited. I...I mean we haven't agreed to anything. I don't even know what it's all about."

"What about Kajee?" Raul asked, with a sudden frown. "Would she be able to come with us, too?"

A quick change of subject was in order, Ayala decided. "Go wash up, boys. Dinner will be ready in a moment." As he punched his commands into the replicator he thought to himself that he'd contact Tom after the boys went to school in the morning.

*6*

Voyager II, Utopia Planitia

March 4

Kathryn Janeway settled into the chair behind her desk, a cup of black coffee in hand. Her ready room still wasn't finished-another coat of paint and the final bits of carpeting were yet to be added-but at least water wasn't dripping on her head any more. Now she wanted to start making the place her own. Though she hadn't had a chance to fill all the drawers yet, let alone add any personal touches, her desk was already littered with nearly a dozen data PADDS containing status reports from various departments and systems throughout the ship. She smiled wryly at the evidence of the work she had to do today. She actually looked forward to it. Much as she'd enjoyed her students, she'd missed the pressures - and joys, of starship life.

She leaned back and raised her cup to her lips, feeling very satisfied, and musing that her new chair was becoming nearly as comfortable as her old one had been, now that she was starting to work it in-

Kathryn's coffee sloshed against her lips as the ready room door slid open unexpectedly and her chief engineer stormed in. She winced a little-the coffee was hot-and noted B'Elanna's disturbed expression as the engineer strode toward her desk.

"I don't recall issuing an invitation," Kathryn said mildly, "but come in anyway."

B'Elanna's stride didn't slow. "Captain, I'm sorry to barge in, but I couldn't wait any longer. I've been thinking about this for days, and I know it may not be my place to say anything, but I have to get this off my chest-"

"B'Elanna." Kathryn interrupted the steady stream of words. "Slow down. Does this have something to do with engineering?"

She'd just started getting fully up-to-date on everything, but from the latest reports, Kathryn had assumed B'Elanna had the engineering department well in hand. B'Elanna confirmed it by shaking her head. "It doesn't have anything to do with the ship. It's about this new mission. I have some serious reservations, and I can't keep silent any longer."

Kathryn raised her hand before B'Elanna could continue. She stood and motioned to the couch. "Let's sit down."

"I don't think-"

"Commander, sit." Kathryn used her firmest tone, which brooked no refusal. She walked to the replicator while B'Elanna reluctantly sat. A few moments later she sat too, and handed B'Elanna a cup of raktajino.

"All right." Kathryn settled her cup of coffee in her lap and allowed a few moments to pass. She'd been expecting this, and she hadn't yet formulated a response, given that she had many of the same doubts B'Elanna probably did. "I expect you to have reservations about this mission. I have a few myself."

"Then why didn't you insist we stick with the original mission, instead of letting Starfleet brass stick their noses into something they don't understand?"

Kathryn ignored the fact that she was to all intents and purposes "Starfleet brass" herself. As a captain she played a part in the decision-making process. Maybe she couldn't resurrect a mission that had already been scrapped, but she could have turned down this new one. And, most likely, received a transfer to command another ship. She sighed. "Believe me, it wasn't a decision I made lightly, B'Elanna."

"Captain, these are the *Vidiians* we're talking about! You should know what they're capable of! Or have you forgotten what they did to me, and to Neelix, and to Pete Durst?"

B'Elanna's tone was accusatory and Kathryn went still. She'd visited Peter Durst's parents not long after Voyager had arrived back in the Alpha Quadrant, to let them know how highly regarded their son had been, and to personally deliver his posthumous Starfleet Medal of Valor. But that couldn't remove the pain from their eyes, or erase their knowledge of the nature of their son's horrible death. She'd been aware of that every second she'd been with them, as she had been with the families of other crewmembers who'd been lost in the Delta Quadrant. Her words couldn't compensate for what had been taken from them under her watch. Nothing could.

"No. I haven't forgotten."

Kathryn's stony tone brought a flush to B'Elanna's cheeks. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply-"

"Maybe not. But you did." Kathryn waved a hand before B'Elanna could apologize again. She thought about those losses and her part in them often enough. There was no point in talking about them, and there was another purpose to B'Elanna's visit. "I know that you went through a horrible experience with the Vidiians, Commander, and I do not in any way belittle it. But the situation has changed. Thanks to the Think Tank, there is a cure for the Phage. The Vidiians don't need to harvest organs to survive."

"Maybe not," B'Elanna agreed. "But just because the situation has changed doesn't mean the people have. Even though they aren't in desperate straits any more, who says they won't still see profit in harvesting organs, or pirating ships, or other illicit activities? If they had no honor, and no regard for other life then, why should they change?"

"What about Denara Pel?" Kathryn asked. Even in their worst days not every Vidiian had been the same, and Denara was a perfect example of that truth. "She had honor. And she's involved in this mission."

B'Elanna shrugged. "She's an exception. But most of the Vidiians weren't like her."

"Maybe or maybe not. We only met a few of them. And with the Phage cured, it's likely the Vidiians who want to cling to their old values are in the minority. In the general population, most may be like Denara Pel, eager to restore their society to its former state. They were once artisans and scientists who lived at peace with surrounding races. That memory is a strong motivator."

"Do you really think they can change overnight, after hundreds of years of compromising their moral integrity?"

It was more like thousands of years, and Kathryn knew it was a lot to expect. It wouldn't be easy for them. "I think they can, with help, and with a good example to follow. Which is the purpose of our mission. Kes believes the same thing."

"Kes..."

Kathryn heard the doubt in B'Elanna's voice. They both knew how Kes had behaved the last time they'd seen her. She'd been a tortured shadow of her former self. "Kes has been in contact with some of the Vidiians, including Denara Pel, and she feels certain that their motives are genuine."

"I know Tuvok has vouched that Kes is...well, herself again, and I'm very glad about that. But even Kes can't control every variable, least of all the actions of others."

"No, she can't," Kathryn agreed. "But I do trust Kes's judgment, and even more, I trust Tuvok's."

B'Elanna leaned forward and set the cup of raktajino she hadn't touched on the table. "If there was just myself, and Tom, to consider, I probably wouldn't even be here. We've taken chances with our lives before, gone into situations far more dangerous than this, sometimes by choice. I've never had a problem putting myself at risk when necessary. But my daughter is another matter. Her welfare is my responsibility."

"The welfare of *everyone* on my ship is also my responsibility," Kathryn reminded her sharply. "I wouldn't allow Miral to come on this mission if I thought her life could be in serious danger."

After a moment B'Elanna nodded. "I know that. I just..." She shook her head. "The thought of what happened to me happening to her-of anything happening to her-"

Kathryn reached over and placed her hand over B'Elanna's. "There are no absolute guarantees in life, B'Elanna. God knows we've learned that lesson well. Even staying put on Earth isn't risk-free. It's been the target of several attacks, most recently from the Borg and the Dominion. I can't give you empty assurances, but I am certain Miral won't come to any harm from the Vidiians. Still, if you and Tom want me to release you from your positions on Voyager, I will."

B'Elanna looked surprised at the offer, and she frowned thoughtfully for a moment. "No. You're right. I probably am overreacting." Her eyes widened, as if she'd just realized something. She let out a short laugh. "Good gods, I'm acting like an over-protective mother, aren't I?"

Kathryn smiled. "You're acting like a mother, period. Miral is your first priority, as she should be."

"She is," B'Elanna agreed. "I still can't say I'm completely comfortable with this mission, but maybe I never will be when it comes to the Vidiians."

"Maybe not, but you don't have to be friends with them, B'Elanna," Kathryn said, though she suspected if the Vidiians proved to be as willing to change as Kes believed, B'Elanna would come to tolerate them, and even like some of them on an individual basis, as she'd come to like Denara Pel. That was the way it usually worked when two species first established relations. It was always easiest to accept and understand the individuals first, then relate them to the whole and gain an understanding of the culture and the people.

"Whatever happened in the past, I do believe the Vidiians deserve a second chance," Kathryn added. That much was true. "And after all my arguments to Starfleet a year ago about second chances, I could hardly deny it to the Vidiians, could I?"

That pointed observation elicited a frustrated sigh from B'Elanna. "No, I don't suppose you could. I guess I just needed a chance to vent, and I've already done it enough to Tom recently."

Kathryn's eyebrows rose. "I suppose I should be flattered to rate right behind Tom."

"Chakotay hasn't been available."

Kathryn laughed, though underneath she too lamented Chakotay's recent busy schedule.

"But I do trust your judgment, Captain. And so does Tom."

"Good," Kathryn said. "You and Tom are too valuable to this ship for me to give you up easily. And I promise you that we will be going into this mission with open eyes. My new first officer has already insisted on the highest level security protocols."

B'Elanna looked relieved, then amused. "I suppose Tuvok won't ever change."

Kathryn's lips quirked. "Vulcans are known to be a little...retentive. But it's one reason he's always been my first choice after Chakotay decided to leave Starfleet."

"He's a good choice, and I know Chakotay is very happy with his life as it is now...all of it." B'Elanna's meaning was clear. She stood. "I should get back to engineering. Thank you for listening to me, Captain."

"You're welcome," Kathryn said, as B'Elanna moved toward the door. "And, Commander...I'm always available to listen-about the Vidiians, or anything else. But next time, use the announcer."

B'Elanna nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

Kathryn sat back as the door closed behind her chief engineer. She took a sip of her coffee, though it was now lukewarm. She hoped B'Elanna's trust in her was justified. Despite her own reservations, she did believe this was the right thing to do. It was easy to judge the Vidiians, but a lot harder to know with certainty what humans-or Vulcans, or Klingons-might have resorted to if they'd had to watch their society crumble and their loved ones suffer and die in agony. It was not a comfortable subject to ponder.

Besides, there was another aspect to this mission, one that had very personal meaning for her. She had sacrificed a quick trip home for her crew, against some of their wishes-had ultimately sacrificed some of their lives-to save the Ocampans. Then she'd left them to muddle through as best they could, no longer doomed, but with no certain future either. To go back now and help the Ocampans rebuild their society, and to see them truly thrive as a species again-that would honor those sacrifices she and her crew had made, in the best way possible.