*12*

Mars Colony,

May 7

Jenny Delaney slid to a stop in front of the nurse's station, not caring that her uniform was terribly rumpled. The way she had rushed out the door when she heard the news, it was a wonder she wasn't half-naked. "My sister was just admitted-where can I find her?"

The nurse looked up from her computer. "Who is your sister?"

"Megan Delaney."

"I'll have to check," the nurse said.

"Jenny!" Jenny looked up and smiled as her brother hurried over. The nurse glanced at him and returned to her work.

"Robbie!" She hugged him quickly. "Where's Megan? Have you seen her? How is she?"

Robbie chuckled. "Relax, she's going to be just fine."

"What happened?"

"She broke her hip. She's in surgery now, but we should be able to see her soon." He propelled her toward a waiting area. "Come on, have a seat."

Jenny relaxed. "Mom was so incoherent. I thought for sure-"

Robbie shook his head. "You know how Mom can get sometimes. I know she's very worried, but Megan's going to be all right. Really."

"Mom told me she's on her way here," Jenny said. "I thought for sure if she's cutting her vacation to Risa short, it must be serious."

"Megan will probably be climbing again before Mom arrives." Robbie said. "Even if she could commandeer the Enterprise, the trip to Mars would still take several days."

Jenny exhaled deeply. "Just a broken hip? Megan had much worse injuries on Voyager."

"I'm sure both of you were hurt a lot worse than this on more than one occasion," Robbie agreed. He squeezed her hand. "Which is why Mom is reacting the way she is now."

Jenny didn't argue. "I have three days leave," she said, changing the subject.

"So the two of you should be able to spend some together. That's good." Robbie glanced at the chronometer on the wall. "They should be coming to tell us that she's out of surgery soon. So, did you receive your new assignment yet?"

Jenny shook her head as she sat down. "I don't graduate from Command School for another two months. I have put in a couple of requests, but I don't expect to hear anything for at least several more weeks. But enough about me. How are your classes going, Professor Delaney?"

"I'm enjoying teaching," he said, ignoring the jibe. "And wait till you hear this-the department head informed me last week that we're going to have our own fully equipped Astrometrics lab, based on your designs from Voyager. We just received permission from Starfleet."

Jenny raised an eyebrow. "That only took a little over twelve months. You must know someone."

He laughed. "The dean is Admiral Nechayev's second cousin twice remove or something like that-but actually I think it was because I wrote an excellent proposal. I can't wait."

She grinned. "Megan will be thrilled too." Jenny jumped when a doctor appeared to be heading their way, but then kept on going past without slowing down. Robbie shook his head.

"They'll let us know. Dr. Jolson said she'd come find me." He took her hand. "Megan was alert and conscious when they brought her in."

"How could you have let her go climbing alone?" Jenny asked accusingly.

He shrugged. "Just because she's staying at my apartment doesn't mean I'm responsible for keeping on an eye on her at all times-besides, she's a big girl now." Jenny had to smile at that. It was a line they'd used in protest against their parents many times when they were children. "And I'm not so sure she was alone."

"Dr. Delaney?" a woman asked as she approached them.

Robbie and Jenny looked up, then stood. "Dr. Jolson, my other sister Lieutenant Commander Jenny Delaney," he said with some pride. Jenny didn't bother to correct him. Technically, her promotion wouldn't go into effect until after she completed Command School. "How is Megan?"

"She's out of surgery and will be awake soon. The damage was not as bad as we feared-she's lucky her fiancé is an intern and knew exactly what to do-"

"Fiancé?" Robbie and Jenny asked in unison.

Jenny looked at Robbie, wondering that he seemed to be as completely in the dark as she was. "What fiancé?" she asked.

"Oh dear." Dr. Jolson blushed. "I seem to have spoken out of turn. Your sister's, ahem, climbing partner stabilized the injury right away so there were minimal complications."

"Right, no complications," Jenny said meaningfully.

Dr. Jolson said quickly, "I'll let you know when you can see her."

Within half an hour they were standing by Megan's bed. "Hello, sister," Jenny said as grabbed Megan's hands. "Don't scare me again like this."

"You should be used to it by now," Megan retorted. She tried to pull back but Jenny held on to her left hand.

"Now, now, what do we have here?" Jenny said as she pointed to a sapphire ring on her sister's finger. "Robbie, you notice anything different about Megan?"

"You mean aside from her hip?" Robbie said as he started laughing.

"A broken hip seems to be the least of your surprises today. Who is this guy? Is he any good?"

Megan was bright red. "Jenny!"

Robbie turned to walk out. "My dear sisters, I don't want to know," he said from the door.

"Shut up, Robbie and get back over here," Jenny said in her best command voice. "We'll skip that last question-for the moment." Jenny's grin turned wicked. "You can give me all those details-later. But I'm sure we'd both like to know who our future brother-in-law is." Robbie nodded obediently.

"His name is Rick. He's a doctor here." Megan blushed. "Why do you think I've visited Robbie on Mars so often these past two months?"

Robbie laughed. "I had hoped it was because you enjoyed my company. I didn't realize you were sneaking off to the med center every chance you got." He paused and furrowed his brow. "Rick? Richard Marley?" Megan nodded.

"Who's this Richard Marley?" Jenny asked.

"My fiancé," Megan said with a satisfied smile. "Don't you have a ship to command?"

"Not yet." Jenny grinned.

"Robbie, how's the new Astrometrics lab?" Megan asked as she finally pulled her hand away.

"Megan," Jenny began, "you are avoiding the issue."

Megan rolled her eyes. "Very well. Rick is an intern here-as soon as he completes his residency, we're getting married."

Jenny shook her head in disbelief and surprise. This was her sister...the one who had sworn to remain single for life.

"He has a twin brother in Starfleet, by the way," Megan added. "He's currently stationed on the Amadeus."

Jenny groaned. "Oh, no you don't, Megan! I know how your mind works. Don't start playing matchmaker...I like being single."

Megan rolled her eyes. "Fine. Now, when do I get to leave this place? Hospitals give a whole new meaning to the word boring."

"Unless your fiancé is here, you mean?" Jenny asked with a knowing look.

"They said something about letting you out in another few hours," Robbie said. "Once all your biosigns are back to normal. But you're supposed to avoid strenuous exercise-" he blushed when both sisters snickered, "-stop that! For at least a week. It's probably a good idea to remain in bed...Oh never mind," he said, raising his voice over their giggling. "You two are hopeless."

"Now that I know you'll live," Jenny said, "I have seventy-two hours for you to show me the sights. Start planning where we're going to go tomorrow."

"There are some lovely mountains to climb," Megan said. "But are you sure you came all this way just to see me?" She pointed toward the ceiling. "I believe Voyager II is up there. Maybe you could stop by and say hello to some old friends."

"Perhaps I will," Jenny said non-committedly. "More importantly, when do I get to meet this Rick?"

"Tomorrow," Megan said with a sigh. "I had invited him to meet Robbie, but he can meet you too." She yawned. "Damn, the drugs are kicking in..." She yawned again.

Jenny leaned over and gave her a kiss on her cheek. "We'll see you later. Get some sleep." She yanked on Robbie's arm.

"Bye, Meg," Robbie said. "Take care..."

"And now," Jenny said to Robbie when they'd cleared the door, "you are going to tell me everything you know about Richard Marley!"

*13*

San Francisco, Starfleet Training Facility, Command School

May 12

Elizabeth Wren, Jenny's roommate, looked up as Jenny entered the room. "How's your sister?"

"She'll live," Jenny said as she tossed her duffel bag on the bed.

"I'm glad to hear that." Elizabeth added casually, "While you were on Mars, did you happen to see Captain Janeway?"

Jenny stared at Elizabeth, then shook her head. "My intention was not to see Captain Janeway."

Elizabeth smiled-almost knowingly. "Well, all right," Jenny said with a sigh. "I did try. But Voyager II was on a test flight. They're not due back till the end of the week."

"That's too bad."

Alerted to the excitement in her roommate's voice, Jenny asked, "Beth, did anything happen while I was away that I should know about?"

"Nothing, really. Just a rumor going around that the assignments are being announced tomorrow."

"That's several weeks early," Jenny said in astonishment. "I wonder what's up?"

"And Captain Smith wants to see you as soon as you come in the door," Elizabeth finished.

"Why didn't you tell me!?" Jenny bolted out of her room.

After a quick jog across the Academy grounds, she arrived at Captain Smith's office. She pulled at her uniform, straightening it as she entered. "Lieutenant Jennifer Delaney. I understand Captain Smith wants to see me," Jenny said to the aide at the desk.

"Let me check to see if he is available," the Vulcan lieutenant said, and spoke into the comm line in a low voice. Jenny wondered again why the Commandant wanted to see her. "You may go in."

"Thank you," she said. Once inside, she snapped to attention. "Lieutenant Delaney reporting, sir."

"At ease," Smith said. "I hope your sister is all right?"

"Yes, sir," Jenny responded.

"Good. Your assignment came through while you were gone." He slid a PADD over toward her. "I'm afraid it's not Voyager."

She bit back the disappointment. She'd known the competition had been fierce for all the positions on the first transwarp vessel, but she'd still hoped...She picked up the PADD and gaped in astonishment.

"Sir, I'm being assigned to the Odyssey?"

Smith nodded. "Voyager's sister ship. Congratulations. My understanding is Captain La Forge asked for you, personally. Of course, you still have several weeks of classes, not to mention final exams, until you can report, Lieutenant." He smiled at her restrained excitement. "I'll see you in class tomorrow, Delaney. Dismissed."

"Yes, sir!"

Jenny did an about face then allowed herself to smile. She was to be in charge of the Astrometrics Department of the Odyssey. She would be returning to the Delta Quadrant in a few months-just not on Voyager.

She was halfway back to her dorm room when she remembered that she still needed to finish her term paper that was due soon. She glanced at the PADD.

Celebrate, then write. She did have two weeks.

But she also had to play catch up for the days she'd missed. "No rest for the wicked," she muttered. "And speaking of wicked, I do need to find an engagement gift for my sister."

*14*

Vienna,

May 18

Ensign Marie Stevens clutched the PADD tightly in her hand, still undecided whether to be elated or depressed. She glanced over toward her mentor and teacher Victoria Samuels.

"I've heard the news. Congratulations." The gray-haired woman sat down at the piano and started playing. It was one of her favorite pieces, a composition by the 23rd century Vulcan harpist that had been adapted for the Terran piano. The sound of the familiar chords was soothing.

"And if I don't want to go?"

"Marie, this is exactly the kind of opportunity any young Starfleet officer wants. And despite your protestations, your science is as important to you as your singing."

"My parents wanted me to have a career in Starfleet," Marie said with a sigh.

"Your family is proud of their heritage. They've served in Starfleet from the beginning."

"But that doesn't mean I have to carry on the tradition," Marie said rebelliously.

"Would you like to reschedule your lesson today, Marie?" Victoria asked, her hands pausing on the keys.

Marie took a deep breath. "No, no, I'm ready. Sorry." She quickly ran through her warming up exercises and then proceeded to the aria she'd been working on most recently. She loved singing-even though to her mother music represented at best a distraction, and at worse a waste of time. It was only through the intervention of her recently departed aunt had Marie even had a chance to have lessons. Her family expected her to give up this *fad* any day and become a respectable Starfleet officer and eventually join the long lines of Admirals in the family.

She didn't give the PADD with her orders another look, just let her mind go blank except for the music, trying to recapture that elusive state where nothing existed but the melody.

Victoria stopped playing after only a few minutes. "There are too many distractions."

"I'm sorry," Marie said in dismay. "I tried to focus, but..."

"It's difficult," Victoria finished. She was silent for a long moment. "Marie, I have known you for many years and have never presumed to give you advice before, except where it pertained to musical matters. But I say to you now, you should go on this mission."

"Are you serious?" Marie asked. "That's not what I expected you to say."

"I think you should go so you have a true taste of what Starfleet is like-the better to make your eventual decision of which you will choose. Do you want to be a Starfleet officer, or an opera singer?"

"But-"

"No buts, my dear. You can either be a great Starfleet officer or a great opera star, but you cannot have both. Not if you wish to truly excel. And I know you, my dear, you will never be content as just a 'dabbler.'" Victoria closed the lid to the piano and stood. "I have some excellent holoprograms you can take with you to study with while you're gone." She picked up the small box on the piano and started to hand it to Marie.

"This isn't a short mission. It's expected to take at least a year. I'll be gone for so long."

Victoria nodded. "That's true. But all good decisions involve time to think." She forced the box into Marie's hands. "Here. I've included a few surprises."

Marie looked at the old-fashioned wood box. "I can't take this, Victoria, you've spent years collecting and developing these programs."

"Yes, you can. I want you to have them. This way a part of me will get to journey to the far reaches of the galaxy with you." Victoria smiled. "When do you report for duty?"

"Another three weeks." Marie didn't add, 'unless I resign my commission.' Her mother was correct, this was a plum assignment. And she'd gotten it on her own merit. She'd told her family that if there was even a *hint* of assistance from them, she would resign on the spot.

"Then I'll say bon voyage now and wish you luck." Victoria wrapped her arms around her favorite pupil. "I'll see you when you get back."