The Chosen 5: Origins
Voyager’s return to the Alpha Quadrant brought up many emotions. The families of the lost crew were overjoyed to see them live and well, and the families who had truly lost crew members mourned at the news while rejoicing the fact that at least they knew what had come of their friends, family, and colleagues. The celebrations, however, did not last anywhere near as long as the debriefings.
“This is ridiculous,” B’Elanna Torres paced the room in which she and Tom Paris waited for the next set of admirals to arrive. “We have a two month old baby that we’ve barely had any time to spend with. Haven’t we told them enough? You’d think that Voyager’s logs would be good enough.”
Tom simply laughed. “Nothing is ever that simple.”
“But Jamie..."
This only caused Tom to laugh further. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you whine like that before.”
“I want to see my daughter. The longest time I’ve spent with her since we came back to Earth is two days. And that was with everyone wanting to hold her. She kept getting passed back and forth between all your relatives.”
“They’re your relatives now, too, remember?” he leaned back further in his chair. “You just haven’t met most of them.”
Her glare said volumes about a potentially sharp remark on the tip of her tongue, but before she could say anything, the door slid open to reveal an agitated admiral.
“Are you about done interrogating us?” B’Elanna demanded.
“Not interrogating,” the admiral said between clenched teeth. “Debriefing. And believe me; I am as sick of it as you are.”
“Then why the hell are we here?” Her Klingon temper started to show.
“Starfleet Command does not believe that all information has been submitted. Therefore, an extended debriefing has been authorized.”
“Extended torture is more like it,” Tom spoke to the admiral for the first time. “We’re being kept from our two month old daughter. Harry’s been poked and prodded just to make sure he really is Harry Kim. Seven’s been all but dissected, which really doesn’t help her relationship with Chakotay. Speaking of which, he and the rest of the Maquis have been treated like second class citizens even though they’ve been pardoned from all charges considering the fact that they spent the last seven years in the Delta Quadrant. And Starfleet apparently doesn’t care about the well being of Captain Janeway either. I know about all the speeches she’s been asked to give. Last time I saw her she looked ragged.”
“Your concerns are noted.” The admiral organized a few padds in front of him. “All I can offer for that is that we promise this will not take much longer.”
“That’s what you said last month,” B’Elanna scowled. “I want to see my daughter.”
“Well then,” he gave a false smile. “The sooner we begin, the sooner the day will be over with.”
----------
Two years later
As the Doctor walked into the waiting room, he beamed at all the original members of Voyager’s crew who had gathered for this event. It was amazing, even to him, that they were still so much of a family.
“Ahem,” he cleared his holographic throat and everyone directed their attention to him. “May I please present Miss Tatianna Kim.”
Half of the people in the room stood to get a better look at the infant held in his arms. The murmur of voices that had been faint seconds earlier nearly exploded with comments like “So pretty… look at her dark hair” and “I didn’t think she’d be born with Borg implants”. The Doctor had expected this, however explaining it to them was a different matter.
“Lemme see,” a small voice said from the floor, and Tom picked up his daughter so she would have a better view.
“Can you believe you used to be that tiny?” he asked her with a grin.
“Nuh uh!” Jamie giggled, and her hair started to sway as though a light breeze was passing through the room.
Setting her down, Tom leaned toward the Doctor. “Hey, Doc. Did you ever figure out what does that with her?”
“Only speculation, Mr. Paris, and wild speculation at that. I can’t quite figure out why, but Jamie’s brain holds some similarities with that of Vulcans and Betazoids. It’s quite possible that you are the parent of the first telepathic Klingon.”
“Just what Tom needs,” called Admiral Janeway from the back of the room where she held her own four-month old daughter. “It would be consistent that something like this would happen right when he’s decided to get back into active duty with Starfleet.”
