=/\=

When Icheb entered the mess hall that evening, the entire room seemed to be vibrating. The noise level was unusually loud; the accumulated voices of the crew was pitched higher than on most evenings. Everyone was excited by the prospect that direct contact with the Alpha Quadrant would no longer be restricted to once a month. Thanks to Seven, Harry Kim, Reg Barclay, and the rest of the Project Pathfinder team, they'd developed a method allowing daily contact between Voyager and the Alpha Quadrant through the compressed datastream. The daily transmission window would only last for eleven minutes, but that was enough time for quick exchanges of messages and data. Even better, the crew would now be able to have actual conversations with their family members in what amounted to "real time." Each visit would only last for three minutes, and only three crew members could have a turn each day, but to ask a question and have it answered immediately? Priceless.

Icheb looked for Seven when he arrived, even though he didn't expect to see her. She was scheduled to work in Astrometrics tonight. Neelix was deep in conversation with one of the Delaney sisters - Megan, Icheb thought - but Tom, B'Elanna and Harry were nowhere to be seen. He noticed Freddie Bristow in one corner, however. Once Icheb had moved through the line and chosen his dinner from Neelix's menu, which Chell was dishing out, he turned in Freddie's direction. Freddie was waving him over to a seat next to his. With a bit of reluctance, since Icheb had actually hoped he would be able to enjoy a meal conversing with the statuesque Megan, Icheb walked over to him and took a seat.

Fortunately, when Megan's conversation with Neelix ended, she picked up her tray and chose the chair next to Icheb's. She'd barely lowered herself into it before Freddie asked, "What number did you get?"

"I picked 137."

Freddie groaned in sympathy. "I'm sorry, Megan."

"Oh, don't feel sorry for me. My sister drew number 32. We'll have twice the opportunities to chat with our family. We'll just show up at each other's communication window. We always do things together anyway. I'm glad no one thought it would be fair if we only had one chip between us!"

"Congratulations, Ensign," Icheb said, as he took another bite of his dinner. He was getting used to Leola Root-Pleeka Rind Casserole. Finally. It was definitely an acquired taste.

"What number did you get, Freddie?" Megan asked.

"I got 94," he groaned. "It could be worse, though. Sue Nicoletti drew 146! That's the last number of them all!"

"What about you, Icheb?"

"I didn't draw a chip. I don't know anyone in the Alpha Quadrant."

"That doesn't seem fair, Icheb. Even Neelix drew one, and he doesn't know anyone in the Alpha Quadrant, either. And he got a pretty low number, too. I think his chip was number 19."

"Perhaps he's been corresponding with someone in the Alpha Quadrant. I heard he's been working on a cookbook. It would certainly be unique." Icheb looked down at his plate. "He'd need to consult with someone about ingredient substitutions. No one in the Federation ever heard of leola root or pleeka rind before Voyager was lost in the Delta Quadrant."

"Lucky them," Freddie remarked with a grimace. He'd been on Voyager from the very beginning, and he'd never taken to either ingredient - even though, like today, he often had to eat them.

Megan chewed her casserole slowly, apparently lost in thought. Once she'd swallowed her mouthful, she remarked, "Icheb, I think you do have people to speak with in the Alpha Quadrant. You're an Academy cadet. Shouldn't you reach out to some professors for guidance on your studies?"

"Seven and I exchanged letters with Professor Reagan in Stellar Cartography. He requested we examine certain areas of the galaxy for him. He's very interested in what particular star systems look like from this direction. Unmanned probes can only do so much. I never thought about speaking with him over the communication link with the Alpha Quadrant, though."

"If I were you, I'd speak to Commander Tuvok and ask him if he thinks you should consult with Professor Reagan or any of the other Academy professors during your assigned times," Megan advised. "He already has so much to do as the head of Security and Tactical. I wouldn't be surprised if he'd appreciate a little direct support from Academy staff to take some of the pressure off of him."

"Thanks, Ensign. I'll consider doing that. Up to now, all of my genetics research has been considered an independent study project. I work with the Doctor and Seven whenever I need to consult with someone, since the commander told me it's not an area of his expertise," although he wants to know if I come up with anything that could be used as a weapon, particularly against the Borg, Icheb thought, but he wasn't about to mention this to Freddie and Megan.

"There you go! I wouldn't be surprised if Starfleet Medical would be extremely interested in your research, too," Freddie exclaimed.

"There's only one problem. I don't have a chip to speak with anyone in the Alpha Quadrant."

"Are you sure? Neelix said there was one for every member of the crew. Why don't you see if he's got yours put aside?" Megan bobbed her head towards Neelix. Icheb hadn't noticed, but Neelix was approaching their table.

"Icheb! I've been waiting to see you. Here's the last chip, so it's yours. I'm sorry about the number. It's very high."

Icheb read the number as Neelix handed it to him and began to chuckle. "Well, it looks like I'll have plenty of time to send out letters and find someone from the Academy who might want to speak with me." He displayed his isolinear chip. It was marked with number 142.

=/\=

When Icheb spoke with Tuvok the next morning, the commander offered to send out letters in the next day's datastream to professors in several departments. "As your primary instructor and counselor, arranging for appropriate courses is my responsibility. Ensign Megan Delaney's advice is sound. I will certainly include a letter to Starfleet Medical's research departments, emphasizing your considerable accomplishments to date in the field of genetics. As we have time before a direct interview can take place, thanks to your high number, we may also be able to arrange contact with professors in other required courses who can supervise your program through datastream communications."

"Thank you, Commander. I know how busy you are. It must be difficult to fit all of your tasks into your daily schedule when you also must find time to work with me."

"I welcome my work with you, Cadet. As time goes on, I value my years of teaching at the Academy more and more. I was able to share those years with my wife and children, who lived on Earth with me throughout my time at the Academy. By guiding you through the Academy experience - albeit by long distance - I find I am reliving many of the more rewarding aspects of my life there. Having direct contact with their staff will only enhance my memories of that special time. It is most gratifying that I will be able to share your progress with some of the instructors with whom I had the privilege to work during my tenure."

It did not escape Icheb's notice that Commander Tuvok's positive time at the Academy was surely due, at least in part, to the fact that he was able to share it with his family. Tuvok hadn't seen them for over seven years. Thanks to his studies of the people of the Federation, Icheb was well aware that even the most stoic of Vulcans missed their families, even if they would never admit this to anyone other than those family members.

Icheb did not mention this perception when he took his leave from his primary instructor, but he didn't forget it, either.

=/\=