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Stardate 55986.1 Personal Log Entry, Cadet Icheb Hansen
Today was a very big day - or I guess I should say yesterday was, since I'm writing this in the early morning hours, after the events are all over. Miral's first birthday party was held in the afternoon. Mrs. Paris scaled her plans back because of the big First Anniversary party in the evening, but it was still a pretty big deal. It was geared primarily to young children, but Naomi and I were both invited, too. Vedek Rikaar and her family are still here. They came to spend Thanksgiving with Admiral and Mrs. Paris, and she convinced them to spend the Christmas holidays with them, too. "Like old times," the vedek said. When she was at the Academy with Tom, she spent every Christmas break with the Paris family.
Chakotay had begged off because of the big dinner party in the evening, but Seven came to help Naomi and me control the masses of kids who had been invited. Naomi reminded her of her infamous "Fun will now commence" comment when she first brought Mezoti, the twins, and me to play Kadis-kot on Voyager. Seven is able to laugh now at how rigid she'd been then. I'm a little ashamed at the way I behaved that day. Even though I still believe I needed to assert myself at the time, I could have been less belligerent about it. I was glad to see that Seven enjoyed the birthday party. She ran the piñata-breaking activity with great - efficiency.
Miral's party ended at 1600 hours. We all had to rush home to get ready for the dinner that night, which started at 1900. When I entered with Farys and Verit on either arm, we arrived just before Seven walked in with Chakotay. They both sat up at the dais next to Captain Janeway. The rest of the senior staff was up there, too. I noticed Harry and Tom getting a little rowdy. I realize they were drinking some very good wine from the Picard family vineyards, but I think the fact this was likely to be the last grand "return" celebration for quite a while probably had a lot to do with their behavior. Of course, since Libby was sitting at the table with Admiral and Mrs. Paris, not next to Harry, that might have had something to do with their giddy mood, too.
Although Seven and Chakotay were sitting next to one another, whenever I looked at them, he was speaking with Captain Janeway, not Seven. I felt very bad for her. They still haven't announced their split publicly. From the way Captain Janeway was looking at Chakotay, I think she must know of it by now. During the break between the soup and main entrée courses, Seven came down to our table to say hello to all of us. Before she went back up to her seat, she whispered to me, "The heart hasn't grown fonder, but it's all right." I understood. I hope so.
I danced a little with Farys. Verit preferred to spend most of her time speaking with T'Pel, and with Tuvok, too, whenever he came down from the dais to be near his wife. He's looking very well. I asked T'Pel about Asil. They're working together on a new project which she can't tell me about yet. I told her I'm sorry I missed Asil, and asked T'Pel to let her know I was inquiring about her.
It's true. I get along with Vulcans very well. Unfortunately, most Vulcans wed other Vulcans. I guess I'll have to look elsewhere for a future mate.
Naomi was sitting with her parents at another table. I danced with her a couple of times, too. Her adolescent growth spurt, courtesy of her Ktarian heritage, has arrived. She's gotten tall and, I must say, very lovely. She told me she passed her academic examination for entrance to the Academy, but her parents don't want her to take the physical and psychological exams just yet. She won't be entering the Academy before her seventh birthday after all. "It's disappointing, but I know I have time," she told me. Sam is looking great. It's getting very easy to see Naomi's little brother whenever Sam turns her body sideways. She looks very happy. Gres looks even happier. Naomi said the baby will probably be born right around her own birthday. "My own personal birthday present," she said. Her eyes were twinkling, and I think she's very happy now she won't be an only child.
It was quite an honor for me to be placed at the same table as Admiral Paris and T'Pel. Unfortunately, that meant we were at the same table as Libby, too. I wish I could get over my aversion to her, but she did nothing last night to warm me to her presence. I think the admiral asked his wife to dance as frequently as he did to get away from her incessant chatter. Libby barely said two words to T'Pel all night, even though they were sitting next to one another. Verit had taken the seat next to T'Pel, however, and my little group made conversing with T'Pel a priority. From the first time I met T'Pel, I've been very impressed with her pleasant demeanor. She's very appropriately Vulcan at all times, but she exudes warmth in a way I can't really explain. Whenever I see them together, I understand why Tuvok is so devoted to his wife.
The biggest single topic of conversation at the table was whether or not Kathryn Janeway would accept promotion to admiral any time soon. Admiral Paris said, "It's only a matter of time. Whenever she says she wants it, she'll get it at once." Toward the end of the evening, after dessert had been served (no New York-style cheesecake, fortunately), Captain Picard came to our table, in the company of his chief medical officer, Dr. Beverly Crusher. At that point, the dais had emptied. Voyager's entire senior staff drew chairs up to our table and visited with each other. It was very crowded, so Verit and Farys left to speak with Naomi about what it was like to go to the Academy "from our perspective," as Verit put it.
As soon as the subject of Captain Janeway becoming Admiral Janeway was broached, the captain exchanged a quick glance with me. I thought she must be thinking about our visitor from the future. I know I was. Tom asked Captain Picard why he'd never accepted a promotion to admiral. Everyone knows it's been offered to him many times. Captain Picard said that he prefers to sit in the captain's chair. He'd rather be in the thick of the action rather than be the person who second-guessed the captains who had to act quickly, with whatever information they had available - even when it wasn't very much at all. When Admiral Paris said to Captain Janeway that captains had power, as well as admirals, but it was different from the kind admirals possessed, she said that as long as she's still a captain, she can look forward to becoming an admiral. If she's already an admiral, "The only thing I can look forward to is my retirement." Even though most of the people at the table laughed, I noticed Tom didn't look very happy. I didn't laugh. I would prefer she remain a captain for the rest of her life.
As the party was breaking up, Harry asked if anyone wanted to get together for a more private celebration after the New Year. He thought he might be able to get reservations at Sisko's in New Orleans sometime in January. Seven and Chakotay agreed to go, which surprised me. Seven and I are leaving for Sweden tomorrow, and the day after New Year's, we're scheduled to go to Brooklyn to meet more of Seven's mother's family. Seven will stay in Brooklyn for a couple of days, but the Delta Flyer project is finally wrapping up. She'll be needed here for that. This means she'd be available for dinner at Sisko's, though.
I thanked Harry for the invitation, but I want to visit longer with the McGinty side of the family. My semester break doesn't end for more than a week after Seven must return to San Francisco. The family promised to take me to see some of the sights of New York City, since I've never been there before. I want to order cheesecake while I'm there (although I don't plan to tell Seven). I'd like to see how the genuine article compares to the version I tasted in Texas.
I briefly spoke with Seven before I brought Verit and Farys back to campus. I admit, I was worried. I asked her if accepting Harry's plans for dinner meant she was reconsidering their relationship. She said no. "Reality has set in. It's over." She agreed to go to Sisko's because she doubts Chakotay will. "I suspect he wants me to be the one to let our friends know we're no long together. It's time. I'm tired of trying to avoid letting anyone know about his move to his own apartment. That happened weeks ago. I don't understand why he wants to keep it a secret."
In that case, I told her, I hope she'll have a good time at the dinner. After all, she'll have to put up with Libby! She smiled and told me, "Don't worry. I can handle anything Mrs. Byrd can say or do to me." I'm sure she can!
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