Uninspired Voyages
A Star Trek: Voyager fanfiction by Andrew J. Talon
DISCLAIMER: This is a non-profit fan based work of prose. Star Trek: Voyager, Deep Space Nine, The Next Generation et al are the property of CBS Television, Para creation of Gene Roddenberry. Please support the official release.
Shepherd entered Janeway's Ready Room, a few PADDs worth of reports (and some baked pastries as an offering) in his hands. He raised an eyebrow when he saw Janeway on her hands and knees, rummaging around under her desk.
"Captain?"
"Just a moment, Shepherd," she called out, "I'm trying to find-There it is!"
She emerged, holding up a small toy starship. She hummed in bewilderment, turning it over in her hands.
Shepherd blinked.
"I didn't think you were an aficionado," he commented, "isn't that a Doohan MONO-model racer?"
"Yes, it is," Janeway said with a smile, "I got it..." She blinked, and chuckled. "Oh, you wouldn't remember it! But I do."
Shepherd blinked.
"Huh?"
Several years ago...
Lieutenant (JG) Janeway was not exactly thrilled at having to attend a Starfleet Banquet. But Admiral Paris, her mentor, insisted she show up. He was talking with a Chief Petty Officer-Shepherd, if she recalled. He had come from the 21st century, and at this tactical conference he was a guest speaker.
He looked about as bored as she felt, but he was better at hiding it on a floor surrounded by admirals and captains all chattering away. His beautiful wife next to him probably didn't hurt.
Not that Janeway was jealous, no. She wasn't jealous of some tall Amazon with killer curves and a cheerful smile... Hidden in the shadows of her cloak and hood. An odd choice, but hey, she was Starfleet: Odd was part of the job.
Hmm... She'd have to work on that.
Janeway sipped her wine... Then felt someone tugging on her dress. She turned to tell off another horny officer who just wanted to hit her with innuendo... But saw nothing.
"Hey."
She looked down, and a young boy, no older than five, was looking up at her. She knelt down, a compassionate look on her face.
"Hey... Where did you come from?" She asked softly.
"I escaped from the daycare," he said proudly. "Cause I wanna find my spaceship!"
"Your spaceship?" Janeway asked, gently amused, "where did you leave it?"
The little boy shook his head.
"I don't know... Can you help me... Please?"
Janeway chuckled. She took the little boy's hand.
"Certainly! Where were you last?"
It took a bit, as the little boy had apparently been everywhere in the conference center. And he kept getting distracted, talking about things. He also asked a lot of questions.
"What do you do?"
"I'm a science officer."
"You're smart then?" He asked.
"I like to think so," Janeway said with a nod.
"Where do babies come from?" He asked. Janeway choked on her spit.
"Ah-wha-?!"
"Where do they come from?" He asked, his eyes wide and innocent. Janeway stumbled over her words.
"Uhhh... Well... When a man and a woman... Or male and female... Um..."
The little boy giggled.
"I know!" He asked. "My mama told me! She's a science officer too!"
Janeway scowled.
"Why would your mother tell you?"
"Cause I asked," he said, "she said mommies and daddies get together, combine their... Genes, and the baby grows in the mama, and she has a baby. That's how it works for humans!"
He made a face.
"Sounds boring, but it makes people act funny!"
Janeway shook her head and chuckled.
"You're a handful," she commented.
"Your hands are small!" He declared, "you couldn't hold me in them!"
Janeway chuckled again. They turned a corner, and nearly ran into Admiral Paris... And the Shepherds.
"Oh, thank goodness," Mrs. Shepherd cried, picking up her son and hugging him. "I thought I'd lost you!"
"Sorry Mama," the little Shepherd said, "I lost my spaceship but Miss Janeway helped me find it!"
"Lieutenant, actually," Janeway corrected. His father chuckled, and reached into his tiny backpack. He pulled out a pink spaceship model.
"You mean... This spaceship?" He asked. The little boy cheered, and held the model happily. Janeway held back a groan, as Admiral Paris looked amused.
"It was there... The whole time?" She muttered.
"Kids," Admiral Paris said with a smile, "you all right, Kathryn?"
"I'm fine, sir, just... Exasperated," she said. The little boy looked at her, and then held out the model to her.
"Here!" He said. Janeway blinked.
"Ah, I-"
"You helped me find it, you should have it!" He said cheerfully. Janeway looked at his parents, for help or something, but they just wore fond smiles. She sighed, and took the pink spaceship.
"I... Thank you," she said.
The little boy grinned... Then leaned over and hugged her around her neck. It was tight, and he smelled like he'd been eating candy... And she hugged him back.
"Sorry for all the trouble," Mrs. Shepherd said, pulling him back, "he's easily bored. But thank you so much for looking out for him."
Janeway smiled, and held onto the little model.
"It was... No trouble at all," she said.
"Say goodbye to the lieutenant, Junior," Chief Shepherd said. His son waved and smiled.
"Bye bye, Lieutenant!"
The little family began to walk away. Admiral Paris chuckled as he watched them go.
"Reminds me of my own kids," he said.
"The aggravation?" Janeway asked dryly. Paris smiled.
"And the rewards," he said fondly. Janeway looked down at the toy spaceship.
"Maybe," she allowed, "but I think I have different goals."
Paris nodded.
"Your choice," he said.
She turned the toy over in her hands, and held it out to him.
"You could give it back to him-"
"Keep it," Paris stated, raising a fading eyebrow, "as a reminder. Silly moments like this help keep you grounded, and remind you of what we do all this for."
Janeway slowly nodded.
"I will," she promised.
"And then she told me where babies come from! With charts and pictures!"
Janeway looked down the hallway in horror as she heard the little boy shout that. The Shepherds paused, and together looked back at Janeway with dangerous intent. Janeway gulped, the sensation of being a mouse caught by several angry cats washing over her...
Before the little boy laughed.
"Gotcha!" He cried, waving happily back at Janeway.
Exasperated, Janeway just waved back.
The present...
"Huh! I'd forgotten all about that!" Shepherd mused. He picked up the toy and turned it around, smiling.
A smile that turned into a frown as he held it out again.
"It's a bit beat up," he accused.
"It's not exactly a tea cup, is it?" Janeway asked dryly, taking the toy back.
"You could have wrapped it in something!"
"If you were worried about that, you shouldn't have given it to me in the first place," Janeway chuckled.