Tumgik
#like i did prefer her original meet dress anyway so ive thought to just get a second hand her in it
dolla-dolla-yeah · 2 years
Text
Is anyone else gonna participate in the American Girl benefit sale? Whats everyone thinking of getting?
26 notes · View notes
nanami-says · 3 years
Text
Part IV (3/5): Chapters 40~44
 Chapter 40
Tumblr media
[Mai to Miwa]
“Maki? She’s worthless”
She actually calls her “just a small fry” here. Which imo is more dismissive than just outright derogatory like in the official release.
Tumblr media
“An iai technique huh? That’s strange. I have the advantage in terms of reach. She’s probably looking to disarm my cursed tool and create an opening.”
⇒”An iai [technique], huh? On top of that there seems to be some trick to it. With our difference in reach… rather than myself, she’s probably looking(...)”
Not mistranslated per se other than the “there seems to be a trick to it” line, which imo shouldn’t have been simplified to just “that’s strange”. But the original showed Maki’s thought process better.
Tumblr media
“She broke it with her leg? Why is she negating her reach advantage.”
⇒ ”She broke it?? With her thigh?? You’re getting rid of your reach advantage here??”
Again, the meaning was all there but some of the characterisation was lost. Miwa sounded so frantic and full of disbelief here, haha.
Tumblr media
[After Mei states that Maki should get promoted at least 2 ranks ASAP]
“I agree but her family seems to be getting in the way”
⇒ “I think so too, but you know, the Zen’ins keep getting in the way. It stinks, right”
More casual speech overall in the original, also Gojou’s more colourful language got a cut again.
Tumblr media
MM:“Heh… I don’t understand connections not based on money” 
G:“And you’ll always be a cheapskate.”
I get why they went with ���cheapskate” here, as the word Gojou originally uses would be accurately translated as “miser”, which’s the kind of word most people would have to check in the dictionary. (I know I had to.) Nevertheless it’s interesting to me how Gojou basically alternates between super casual speech and much less common terms like this one. He seems to like wordplays in general?
Tumblr media
“Anyway, I can’t help but notice the video feed around Yuji seems to be a little inconsistent”
⇒ “Leaving that aside, the video around Yuuji keeps on cutting off for a while now, no?”
Again, meaning is there, the characterisation - sort of I suppose? But he was being more casual/straight to the point in the original.
Tumblr media
[In reply to Gojou’s question whose side she’s on]
“Whose side? I’m on the side with money, of course. There’s no value in something that can’t be bought since you can’t exchange it for money.”
“Which side? I’m an ally of money, of course. Because there’s no value in things that cannot be exchanged for money. For you see, it cannot be exchanged for money."
I know it sounds like she’s repeating herself but that’s because she actually is. She’s literally saying that there’s no value in something that can’t be turned into money PRECISELY BECAUSE it can’t be turned into money lol. Also, imo “on the side with money” kind of muddled the nuance a bit. Other possible translations for "exchange" include "replace", ”turn into”.
Tumblr media
Gojou in reply to above.
“I wonder how much!”
Actually closer to, “[I wonder] how much did you pile up”. The actual phrase is just “just how much did (...) pile up/stock”, so you have to supply the subject by yourself.
Tumblr media
“I’m not sure what you guys have planned but Yuji’s different now”
⇒ “I don’t know what you’re scheming but Yuuji won’t be killed so easily anymore”
Again, the basic meaning is there but a lot of subtler nuance got lost.
Tumblr media
(jp)
[Explanation on how the school can tell which side exorcised which curses during the competition]
“Talismans are placed on curses released in the area. When a curse is exorcised, the corresponding talisman also disappears. Using cursed energy, we’ve made arrangements for the following -- exorcisms made by the Tokyo school will be indicated with a red flame, while Kyoto’s will be blue. Maki is also participating, so we’ve made sure her exorcisms are marked red as well.”
When I read this for the first time in English, I found this explanation rather unclear. No wonder I did, as it omits vital details such as the original mentioning "recording cursed energy in advance" which imo seems to be pointing to them registering samples of all students' energy.
And then the Maki line adds that since Maki is there too, exorcisms performed by UNRECORDED forces will be marked red as well. And that's why later on the teachers weren't able to immediately discern whether the sudden destruction of curses was done by an outsider or not.
Tumblr media
“All those one-on-ones. Did they forget the main objective?”
⇒“(...) Everyone’s waaay too disinterested in the game.”
“Main objective” sounds kinda formal and imo that wasn’t the nuance for the line.
Tumblr media
[Nobara to Nishimiya]
“Got down here, you stupid witch!!”
Actually “you shitty witch”. Nanami would be proud ;;
Tumblr media
“How dare you hit my sacred face.”
I like their take on this but it’s hilarious in the original because the word she uses literally means “your countenance”, as in you’d normally use it to respectfully refer to someone else’s face, definitely not about your own. And then she adds a “go-” prefix, which further ups the level of reverence haha. 
Tumblr media
“A scar on the face can be a good thing for guys. But not for girls.”
Not really a mistranslation, but I love the original wording with its juxtaposition of a scar on the face being likened to an "order" for a man and a "blemish"/"defect" for a woman. It adds so much more depth to the line.
Tumblr media
[Nishimiya after she points out how unfair the jujutsu world is towards women compared to men]
“And Mai has to deal with even more discrimination than that”
Actually something closer to ”irrationality”, “unreasonableness”, “unfairness”, “derision”. Discrimination was the translators’ interpretation of that, I suppose.
Chapter 41
Tumblr media
[About Inumaki’s technique]
“Cursed speech is words with spirit. Essentially, it’s infusing sound with cursed energy”
...They translated it the other way around (“the spirit of words”) in ch. 33… Needless to say, this is still the same technique and still the very same term being used. I’d be leaning towards the more commonly used translation of “the spirit of language”.
Tumblr media
“However if you’re not sure it’s coming… you’ll be in a constant state of unease. Protecting your head is difficult as it is”
⇒ “On the other hand, if you don’t know if it’s coming or not, you’re constantly distracted. Even though protecting the inside of my head is already something I’m not used to doing”
Not really mistranslated but I wanted to propose an alternate translation, especially for the second part.
Tumblr media
“Inheriting the Zen’in family cursed technique is reserved for the privileged. Every other jujutsu sorcerer starts at a level much further below. And even within their family, some women aren’t treated equally.”
⇒ “Unless you inherit the Zen'in family's cursed technique, you start out as a sorcerer from a losing position. And for women, some of them are not even allowed to stand on that starting line"
Just an overall different meaning for the whole fragment. After all, it’s not like you can control who will inherit what technique, even if you’re from one of the three big families. Also it was about women being discriminated on a more fundamental level.
Tumblr media
“Can someone who thinks that curse Yuji is an ally really understand?”
⇒ “How about you try thinking hard with that head of yours that can even mistake [that] curse for a comrade?”
Written with “Itadori-kun”, read as “[the] curse” - there’s no reason for Nishimiya to call him “Yuji”. Also she actually says 仲間/nakama here, which, as I stated before, I personally prefer to translate as “comrade” in the context of jjk. The official release seems to alternate between “ally” and “friend”, which are rather distant terms imo. I’m not sure either what’s their basis for when they go with “ally” because they also used it when Gojou was talking about raising a future generation of strong and bright comrades in ch. 11 (refer to part II).
Tumblr media
[Nobara in response to above]
“Does that mean we have to forgive the unfortunate no matter the circumstances? And if someone is blessed with a fortunate life, do they deserve to be ridiculed?”
⇒ ”So if someone’s unfortunate, they’re free to do whatever they want? Then what? If in turn a person is [more] fortunate, you’re not gonna be satisfied unless you can talk behind their back?”
In the original Nobara speaks in shorter sentences and uses rather simple language, which imo really conveys how angry she is about Nishimiya’s words. It wasn’t really a philosophical conversation. 
Tumblr media
“Have any of you ever stopped to consider the person behind the curse you’ve condemned?”
⇒ “And have you people even thought what kind of a person the idiot that you’re trying to curse [from now] is?”
Not “condemn as a curse” but “that you people are cursing”! Huge distinction imo.
Tumblr media
“What do I care about whether someone’s perfect or if something’s fair? Is your life just a job?”
⇒ “Are you obliged to stand up to [things like] ‘perfection’ or ‘unfairness’? (...)”
Lit. “where’s the obligation to live up to”. Emphasis mine! Nobara wasn’t saying she doesn’t care whether someone is perfect or not, imo the nuance was more that there’s no need to force yourself to try and meet people’s expectations/standards. 
Tumblr media
“Boys versus girls? Give me a break! Just shut the hell up! I love dressing up and being beautiful! I love being strong!”
⇒ “Boys this, girls that? I don’t give a damn! Just do it all by yourselves if you wish! I love myself who dresses up beautifully! I love myself who [always] strives to be strong!”
I know fandom loves the “I love being beautiful! I love being strong” line - it definitely is short and impactful! But I actually really like the nuance that “strive to be/remain strong” has because it implies Nobara’s constantly putting in effort to improve herself and get stronger. Also the nuance of “I love myself who’s all those things [and more]” (emphasis mine) rather than simply “I love being those things”/“I love the act of”, even though to an English speaker the former may sound a bit awkward. 
Tumblr media
[Mai saying she can’t contact Mechamaru after his fight]
“It’s not a good sign if he was forced to use his finishing move and this is the end result.”
⇒ “If it’s like that [that we can’t contact him] despite him being forced into a corner to the point of having to use his finishing move, then he’s probably lost”
This was Mai speculating Mechamaru has most likely lost if they can’t contact him despite him having used his special move.
“I need you”
⇒ “If you’re not here, we’re in trouble”
Rather than Mai needing her personally, this was her reiterating Nishimiya’s importance to the team. (Same phrasing as in ch. 35.)
Chapter 42
Tumblr media
[About Maki and her family]
Y:“But why wouldn’t they want someone so strong?”
N:“They don’t wanna accept someone they’ve already rejected. They’re stupid that way”
⇒Y: “Wouldn’t a jujutsu family welcome a strong sorcerer with open arms?”
N:“(...) Because they’re stupid/idiots.”
Slightly more informative for Yuuji’s line in the original imo. Let’s not forget that Yuuji’s still super new to the jujutsu world, so he’s not really familiar with its inner workings. Imo this line had such a nuance.
Tumblr media
“So we have to win this event. You better put your life on the line!”
Not incorrect as much as it's just so much funnier in the original because she tells him to put enough effort to die one more time lol (emphasis mine).
Tumblr media
[Maki to Tokyo team, telling them to focus on the competition rather trying to make her look good]
“Don't’ worry about me”
⇒ “Don’t think about unnecessary stuff”
Imo this showed Maki’s personality better.
Tumblr media
[Mai to Maki, in her head]
“You thought you could get the jump on me? While keeping your distance as well?”
⇒ “So what if you’re in my blind spot. Aren’t you dumb to put distance between us”
This was more about it being advantageous for Mai, a gun being her weapon, if Maki gets farther away from her.
Tumblr media
“I knew it! Maki has something I don’t”
⇒ “I knew it… Maki has a talent I don’t have”
How a single exclamation mark can completely change the meaning of a whole line. Yes, it is “I knew it” but as in “I understood it”, “I felt it”. It’s not some revelation about the fight itself, it’s the beginning to Mai’s retrospection about herself and Maki and their approaches to life that follows after. Also, it literally says “talent” there, not to mention the line gets repeated word for word at the end of the same chapter for emphasis before the conclusion is given to Mai’s musings. (Gege seems to like this particular trick a lot, huh?)
Tumblr media
”Did you hear about the daughter of the Ougi?"
Hmm, I tried googling the phrase with “Ougi” in it just to check if it can have some hidden meaning but found out even Japanese fans weren’t sure about the exact meaning of the word. Probably a name, either of a person or of a place.
Tumblr media
[Mai thinking about Maki]
“You were always so carefree. I hated it. You just kept moving fearlessly forward into the future”
⇒ “I hated how you were always boldly pushing your way towards the future as if you had no worries/unease”
Imo a slightly different nuance for this line (which’s just a single sentence). “I hated how” could also be “I hated you for” and other translations for “pushing your way to” include “plunging forward”, “pushing on”. 
Tumblr media
(jp)
[About Mai’s cursed technique]
“Unlike creating an object inside a domain, objects created with cursed technique: construction will not disappear after the spell is finished. However, an immense amount of cursed energy is used, which has a harsh effect on the body”
⇒ “Unlike materialisation of an innate domain within the barrier that occurs in ‘domain expansion’, objects once created with Construction Technique will not disappear even after the technique has finished. That’s why(...)”
Ever wondered why domain and domain expansion related stuff is impossible to understand? Well, here’s why. They only left “inside a domain” out of the whole explanation... “Materialisation” was actually “realisation” but I thought the former would be easier to understand. Also it literally says only “realisation of an innate domain” but imo it could be also interpreted as “inner domain and things within in”.
Tumblr media
(jp)
“Maki has something I don’t. Kinda like Mechamaru’s Heavenly Restriction but the opposite. You were supposed to be born with a cursed technique but you traded that in for superhuman physical abilities. This skill was shunned by the Zen’in family. And it’s an ability I don’t have.”
⇒ “Maki has a talent I don’t have. (...) A talent which didn’t get appreciated in the Zen’in family and which I didn’t possess”
Like I pointed out earlier, this is the conclusion to Mai’s retrospection about herself and Maki and some of its effect was, in the original, achieved by repeating the line about Maki’s talent that Mai didn’t have, and by further expanding on it here.
Chapter 43
Tumblr media
[About Kamo’s attack]
“A trace of blood on the arrow fletching. Like I thought, Kamo’s technique defies physics”
⇒  "The physics defying trajectory [of the arrow] was because of Kamo-san's cursed technique after all"
More informative in the original, I’d say. The arrows themselves are (and look) normal, hence double the wham i suppose?
Tumblr media
[Megumi about Kamo’s Blood Manipulation Technique]
“The ability to control whatever touches his blood”
⇒ "The ability to control his own blood and whatever is stained with it" 
Why would they skip the "the blood itself" bit…
Tumblr media
[Kamo about Megumi’s Ten Shadows Technique”
“A cursed technique passed down in the Zen’in family”
Just to be clear, it’s actually specified here that it’s “one of the techniques”.
Tumblr media
[Kamo about his technique]
“I can manipulate blood beyond its form or motion”
Once again sounds a bit like a more general explanation. “To manipulate blood means (...)”.
Tumblr media
[After Megumi calls him out on doping]
“Very good. Although I don’t appreciate the negative connotation”
⇒ “But I’d prefer if you stopped with the vulgar phrasing”
Simpler, more direct language here.
Tumblr media
[After Maki’s taken off with Miwa’s sword in tow]
“Mai’s sister is gone. Well, that makes sense. I’m useless without my sword”
⇒ “Mai’s older sister has gone somewhere. Well, it was a correct call as I can’t fight without my sword”
The phrase used here that got translated as “I’m useless” while can indeed mean something similar has the nuance of “to not be useful [in battle]” . So although it’s not incorrect per se, I’m not sure if I’d go with “useless” myself, especially because it comes with tandem with “correct call”/”good decision” wording.  She DOES literally say she’s useless later on though.
Tumblr media
“We’re a little disorganized after all”
Not incorrect per se but imo the original line might’ve had the nuance of “we’re not monolithic [as an organisation]”.
“Use this scent and whistle to control it. If you can, make it kill Itadori”
⇒ “This scent and whistle were used to train him [this cursed spirit]. If a chance arises, use it well and kill Itadori”
I’m not sure if this can be interpreted as it being JUST the curse itself that’ll do all the work.
Chapter 44
Tumblr media
“- Why does everyone torment mother?
 - Because she’s a broken mistress”
Closer to “dissolute”, I think. Also the word used for “mistress” can also mean “concubine” and “kept woman” but it’s apparently also an old expression for “close female servant”. It’s hard to say which it could have been without more context but it’d actually make a lot of sense if it was the last one, especially given the fact how Kamo is one of the olden jujutsu families, and very traditional at that. 
Tumblr media
“Then why do you favour me? Why did you deceive me into becoming a heir”
⇒ “(...)Then why did you take me in and lie about me being a heir”
I may be wrong but it doesn’t sound like they deceived Kamo himself but rather, everyone else. The word used also means “falsify”. “Favour” here is the same word as for “patronage”, btw.
Tumblr media
“Then as the heir to the head of the Kamo family(...)”
It’s just “the next head” here, possibly an allusion to his plans for /after/ he becomes the clan head.
Tumblr media
[After Kamo praises his growth as a sorcerer]
“Why are you acting all familiar with me?’
⇒ “What’s with this sense of comradeship you keep on showing?”
Not incorrect per se but I found the phrase he used interesting. Also means “fellowship”.
Tumblr media
“I intend to kill Yuji Itadori”
“By principal Gakuganji’s order?”
“No, this is my decision.”
⇒ (...) “No, this is my personal/individual judgement.”
Emphasis Gege’s. The word does mean “decision” as well but imo “judgement” (as in “call”) fits better here.
Tumblr media
“As a member of the Kamo and the big three families, I believe it is the right decision. You should also understand it. (I must play the part of the heir to the Kamo family)”
⇒ “(...) I consider it a correct call. It’s something you should be able to understand as well. (I must conduct myself as is appropriate for the heir of the Kamo family)
Lit. “think it’s(...)” for the first bit. Imo “you should also understand” could imply that Kamo’s trying to convince Megumi here but in the original it’s more him appealing to the common understanding he feels must already exist between them because of their similar positions within their respective families. Also, wording his inner thoughts as “must play the part” was imo giving off a wrong impression. 
Tumblr media
Cont. from above
“You and I are the same”
Not wrong but the original has the connotation of “the same kind”.
“He’s saying some scary stuff”
Skipped “all of sudden" here.
Tumblr media Tumblr media
(jp)
“(I’ve never thought of myself as doing the right thing.) Actually, I’m sorry. I don’t care if I’m right or wrong. I only believe in my conscience. I will follow my conscience and save people. If you disagree with that then, let’s agree to curse each other.”
⇒ ”(...) No, I’m sorry, that is incorrect. It’s just that I believe/have faith in my own conscience. I will help/save people the way my conscience tells me. So if you’ve denied that, then there’s nothing left but to curse each other.”
Again, like in ch. 9 (refer to part I), the nuance here was actually that Megumi will save people BASED on his conscience. Here it’s literally “I will save people according to my conscience” (emphasis mine), which imo heavily implies that he will choose which people to save, as had already been indicated in ch. 9 as well. This is a huge distinction from the way he’s been (mis)portrayed in the official release as just wanting to save people because that’s what his conscience says or because he thinks that’s the right thing to do. (That’s Yuuji). Also, the way they phrased it as basically “let’s agree to disagree” was imo way too mild.  And it wasn’t just “if you disagree” but “if you contradict/negate/renounce”.
Tumblr media
“A shikigami! It was still around?!”
Not sure but given the context it might’ve meant “so he still had some left” instead.
Cont. on next page
Tumblr media
“He used a wounded shikigami as a decoy!”
⇒ “He used a shikigami at the verge of being called off as a decoy!” 
“This uses too much cursed energy, so I can only summon it once”
⇒ “This eats a lot of cursed energy so I can only summon it solo”
Lit. “a shikigami before the release/dissolution” for the first one. Coupled with Megumi’s reply, which was “as a stand alone” instead of “only once”, imo the whole thing meant that Megumi called the frog off intentionally.
Tumblr media
[Megumi about the elephant shikigami]
“It only recently surrendered to me.”
⇒ “I’ve only exorcised it very recently”
Seems like they confused “to exorcise” (調伏)  for “to surrender” (降伏)...The word he uses here is the former, it also means “to unwish”!
Btw, “surrender” is actually used later in the manga when Getou’s curse manipulation is discussed in the Gojou’s Past arc (ch. 73).. So to me there definitely seems to be a distinction between those two terms and which techniques they apply to.
[to part iv (4/5)]
37 notes · View notes
greekowl87 · 7 years
Text
Fic: Runaway Christmas Pt 10
Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII | Part VIII | Part VIIII
A/N: It feels rushed and not my best work but I hope you enjoy. 
Disclaimer: Still don’t own anything. Just borrowing.
Mulder leaned back into his basement office chair and rubbed his chin in thought. He had gotten to their x-files office early by himself. Scully had to go to Quantico for the morning to follow up one of their cases but she promised to be back in time for them to go to lunch and finish up at the office early so they could head to Bed, Bath, and Beyond before going home. Although they both had been avoiding the topic, preferring to fantasize the joy of having their son again, but if Will was going to live with them, things would change dramatically.
Like their caseload.
Skinner had been more than understanding so far (which surprised Mulder to no end). They could technically argue age for both of them (it wasn’t 1999 anymore) and could start loaning out their talents to their respective fields with more regularity. For Mulder, that meant profiling again, and for Scully, that meant forensic science, both merely for consultation. Their old boss demonstrated his cleverness further by justifying the x-files too by making their talents used primarily to look at those abnormal cases that others could not. Both Mulder and Scully had to give it Skinner. The assistant director had effectively taken the need of field work out of the x-files so that they could stay around Will more while justifying the existence of their department.
Mulder played the idea of him resigning from the FBI and Scully going back to medicine again like it had been before. True they had been happy, but the darkness came and invaded their life again, ultimately leading to their brief break up. If it was not for rejoining the FBI and regaining their work, he did not really know if they would have found each other again.
He shook his head and took off his suit jacket, loosened his tie, and rolled up his shirt sleeves. There were two profiling cases waiting on his desk to be looked at but all his attention was focused on his son. Drumming his fingers, he dialed Scully’s number.
She answered on the first ring. “Scully.”
“Scully, it’s me,” he said softly.
Her tone softened instantly. “Mulder, I thought we agreed we wouldn’t see each other until lunch. It is only...9:43. Don’t tell me you miss me that much?”
He smiled into his phone. “Always, you know that.” She chuckled indulgently on the other end. “What’s wrong?”
“You know me that well?”
“Almost 25 years, Mulder.”
“Fine. I will do well to remember that later tonight.”
“Mulder!”
“What do the kids say? Sorry, not sorry. Anyways, I was thinking…”
“Why am I not surprised,” she mumbled.
“Just hear me out. What harm could it be, if we, use the main resources available to us as federal employees to look up a certain someone…” his voice trailed off. He really wanted to take advantage of his role as an FBI agent and pull up any records on Will’s foster parents or anything that might give them an edge in court.
But Scully had been the cooler head. “Mulder. No. We both agreed. We can’t risk it. What if you get caught? That bodes bad for us and our case.”
Scully, his conscience and voice of rationalism. God, he loved that woman. “Fine. But are we still going to Ikea…”
“Bed, Bath, and Beyond,” she corrected. “And yes. We have to figure out what we are going to do for the spare bedroom at the apartment. I haven’t even thought of the house.”
“This is really going to happen, isn’t it?” he whispered. He dare not think otherwise.
“We’re going to do it, Mulder,” she whispered back. Ever since Scully had her conversation with Will, she had grown more confident and optimistic. “How did it go with Skinner this morning? Any more field work?”
“Unless absolutely necessary. We still have the x-files, now consulting on all things weird in profiling and forensic science,” he answered proudly. “See, told you?”
“You told me nothing. Look, Mulder, I have to finish this autopsy. I’ll be back at 12:30. Lunch at that little coffee shop down the street?”
“It’s a date.”
“Oh, and call the lawyer and set up the appointment for the judge for Friday,” she reminded him. “Will has his meeting with him today.”
“Yes, dear.”
“Shut up, Mulder.”
Scully hung up and he chuckled to himself. Things were going to be all right. He just had to keep telling himself that.
. . . .
Will did his best to ignore Mrs. Styron’s glare as she reviewed his case file. She had pulled him from school early so they could make it to their meeting with the judge in the early afternoon. He sat, playing on his phone, his feet resting on his skateboard, rolling it back and forth. “I wish you had dressed a bit more professional, William,” she reminded primly.
“Well, I had no idea that you were coming to pick me up from school,” he retorted.
“I told you a week ago!”
Will did not bother to reply. He slumped against the wall and smiled when he saw a new text message from ‘DS’. He had put a little doctor emoji next to the initials to indicate who it was. He opened the message and saw a picture of various medical instruments.
He texted back. ‘What are you doing?’
The reply was instant. It was a selfie of Scully wearing a medical mask in what looked to be a medical lab with the text ‘Making my patients laugh to death.’
Will put a hand to his mouth to keep from chuckling out loud. Mrs. Styron looked at him pointedly and he smiled half heartedly. “Funny cat video.”
“Put away your phone, Will,” she sighed, shifting her gaze back the folder.
Will ignored her and texted back. ‘Bet you’re killing them.’
The reply came quickly. ‘Haha. You have a good day. Good luck with the judge.’
Will smiled, his heart caught in his chest. As he was about reply back to Scully, a new text popped up with ‘FM’ and a little alien emoji next to the initials. He opened the new text. ‘Scully reminded me. Good luck today bud.’
He was at a loss for words. These two strangers had somehow made him feel like he belonged like he was a part of their family. And while everyone else doubted, he knew deep down, they were his birth parents. He just knew. He hesitated before starting a new text, typing ‘DS’ and ‘FM’ into the bar. He typed, ‘Thanks mom & dad’. He stopped and let the text sit. He actually wrote that. Mom and dad. His real parents. He thought about deleting it but it felt right. He sent the text before he could second guess himself.
“Will,” Mrs. Styron called. “It’s our turn.”
Will slid his phone into his bag and picked up his backpack and skateboard under his arm. Mrs. Styron guided him into the judge’s chambers. Judge Hartwell rose from behind his desk and nodded towards them. “Just come from school, Mr. Van de Kamp?”
“Um, yes, sir,” he humbly answered.
“Well, I appreciate you coming in this afternoon,” he motioned towards two chairs that sat in front of his desk.
Mrs. Styron guided Will to the chair and sat opposite of him. Judge Hartwell tented his fingers in the front of his face. “So, it’s been almost a month William since that commotion in my courtroom. We’ve discovered your birth parents, and to my surprise, you managed to stay out of trouble. Congratulations is due.”
“Thank you?” Will replied uncertainly.
“But,” the judge sighed, opening two files, “we have a new quandary. Not everyday is a child in the system lucky enough to have to sets of people who want to adopt him, especially the original birth parents. But you have two sets of people who want the very best for you. I assume you know about the Gardners’ petition?”
Will nodded reluctantly. Since he had learned of the news, things had grown tense at the foster home. He was avoiding his foster parents like the plague. He stayed out later, wandering around Washington D.C. or just skating, not going home until he had too. “I do.”
“And Mrs. Styron has told you about the DNA tests with Agents Mulder and Scully? There is no doubt they are your biological parents.” Will nodded eagerly. The judge paused and drummed his fingers on the table. “What do you want, Will? Has your decision changed at all?”
He shook his head instantly. “I want to live with my birth parents.”
“Will,” Mrs. Styron chastised, “you can’t rush this decision.”
“I’m not rushing it,” he retorted. “I know it’s right in my heart. I want to live with them. No offense to the Gardeners or anything but I know where I belong.”
The judge nodded slightly, writing something in one of the files. “Keep in mind, William, that this does not guarantee your placement with the FBI agents. There are still things to consider.”
“Like what?”
“Living situation for one,” the judge shrugged. “The courts and CPS will be following up within the month on that. But in light of the background checks coming clean, I will allow visitation between you and them, William. No strings attached. Your case worker doesn’t have to be there, nor your foster parents. You can come and go as you please. Just don’t abuse the privilege.”
Will grinned. “For real, sir? That is so awesome!”
“Judge Hartwell, are you sure that is in the best thing for Will,” Mrs. Styron argued, “besides being very unorthodox.”
“If the boy is serious about living with these people, Mrs. Styron,” the judge patronized, “he deserves to get to know his birth parents at least. I have not been a judge sitting on the bench in family court for nothing. I do know a thing or two. Have a little faith. Everyone deserves their own miracle. Now, William, now that I have your answer, I will be talking to both parties during the next month while CPS conducts their business, okay? During that time, you are allowed to visit your birth parents as you please. Don’t abuse the privilege. And continue to stay out of trouble. You hear me, son?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Mrs. Styron, I expect you and the Gardeners to abide by this arrangement and not interfere with this.”
“It won’t be a problem, Judge Hartwell,” Mrs. Styron said tightly.
“Good. I’ll be in touch, William, stay out of trouble.”
Will and Mrs. Styron got up to leave the judge’s chambers. He could not stop smiling.
. . . .
Scully got back to their basement office a little before noon, having finished her autopsy early. Mulder rose and greeted her with a kiss before they headed down to a local deli for lunch. He ordered their food as Scully secured a table them. She dug through her bag, searching for her phone when she noticed that she had an unread text message from Will. She had rushed back from Quantico that things like checking her phone had slipped her mind. She noticed the text was addressed to both her and Mulder.
“Mulder,” she called, as he came bearing their lunch. “Did you text Will this morning?”
“Just to wish him luck with the judge,” he shrugged. “Why?”
“He sent us both a text.”
Mulder drew out his own phone and frowned. He would have heard if he got a new text message but noticed he had left it on silent again. “For the record, Scully,” he said, holding up his phone. “I miss the old days when phones were bricks and all you could do was use them to call people.”
“Do you know how old you sound?” she asked. She bypassed the text message and opened the selfie she had sent Will earlier. “I even tried sending him a selfie.”
“A selfie,” Mulder chuckled examining the picture. “How current you sound with today’s lingo.”
She pushed him gently. “Shut up, Mulder. I just texted him because I could. I sent a picture of me working. He has a horrible sense of humor, just like his father. I don’t know, there is something just so normal about it. I know we missed a lot, but I don’t know. It just feels right.”
Mulder smiled and deposited her cobb salad and sprite in front of her and settled for his reuben, fries, and iced tea. She picked a couple of fries off his plate as she opened the message will had sent earlier. He took a bite of her salad in retaliation. He was distracted hearing her sharp intake of breath. “Oh my God.”
“What? Was it something he texted?” Scully had tears in her eyes as she showed Mulder the message. “He called us mom and dad, Mulder. Our son called us mom and dad.”
Mulder gently claimed her hand, squeezing it. “He’s going to come home, Scully. I promise.”
She nodded and attempted to eat some of her salad. Her heart was drumming in her chest and it did not feel like it could slow down. He kept a hold of her hand as he began to eat his own lunch. She nodded towards his phone. “Mulder, your phone is ringing.”
“So it is. Mulder,” he answered. “Mr. Brickman, what a surprise to hear your voice?”
Scully sat up straighter at the mention of their lawyer. She watched Mulder’s face during the brief exchange. “Really? Are you sure? Like this is legit? That’s wonderful news. Better than wonderful, it is amazing. I’ll tell Agent Scully.  Thank you, Mr. Brickman. Yes. Have a good afternoon.” He hung up the phone and gently caressed Scully’s cheek. She arched an eyebrow at the rare public display of affection. “Will met with the judge today, made his intentions known. We have a month before the next hearing and child services will be checking out our living situation. But the judge said he could visit us, without that she devil he calls his case worker or the foster parents, whenever he wants.”
“So, we don’t have to hide it?”
“No,” he smiled.
She reached up and took his hand, giving it a squeeze. “What do you say we bring him with us to Bed, Bath, and Beyond tonight and grab dinner too?” she suggested softly.
“I think that is a brilliant idea, Agent Scully,” he chuckled.
32 notes · View notes
voyagerafod · 7 years
Text
Star Trek Voyager: A Fire of Devotion: Part 2 of 4: Louder Than Bells: Chapters Two & Three
[Chapters 2 & 3 are being posted together because of how short Chapter 2 is in the original document]
Chapter Two:
    “Hey Seven,” B’Elanna Torres said.     “May I ask why you invited me to your quarters?” Seven said, hands behind her back and standing at attention.     “At ease Seven, this isn’t a formal meeting. I actually had an idea last night. Care to sit down?”     Seven looked at the chair B’Elanna motioned to, then quietly sat down.     “I’ll cut to the chase Seven. Except for Sam and Harry you’ve hardly been talking to anyone since Edwin died. I understand, I pretty much isolated myself for awhile after I heard about what happened to my Maquis friends back home.”     “I remember,” Seven said. “While I appreciate the attempt at empathy, Lieutenant, I do not believe our situations are the same.”     “No, they’re not. And I wouldn’t insult you by suggesting they are. We’ve both suffered loss, but comparing the types of loss is a pointless exercise. I’m just offering you a chance for some cathartic release.”     “If you are proposing what I believe you are, I should inform you that Samantha has been already been helping me in that regard, and I-”   
    “Oh, no!” B’Elanna said, shaking her head “God no, I’m not, oh why did you have to put that mental image in my head? No, I was just going to ask you to join me in one of my combat simulations on the holodeck.”
    “Ah,” Seven said, her cheeks reddening slightly. “In hindsight perhaps I should’ve realized that is what you meant, as you have never shown any signs of a physical attraction to me. I apologize for my error.”
    Apologize to the dreams I’m gonna have tonight, B’Elanna thought.
    “Well, that little bit of awkward out of the way, the invitation still stands. I already have the interior of a Borg cube as a setting. We could-”     “Actually, Lieutenant,” Seven said. “I believe seeing Borg drones again so soon might cause the very discomfort you are hoping to alleviate. I believe we have some data on the Jem'Hadar, the race responsible for the deaths of your friends?”     “One of them, along with the Cardassians. We don’t really have much data beyond the tiny bit Commander Sisko was able to get about them. Starfleet only had one encounter with them before Voyager got yanked into the Delta Quadrant.”     “It will have to do then. I will meet you on holodeck one at the appropriate time. Thank you for your offer.”     “Okay. See ya then,” B’Elanna said.
---
    On her way to the holodeck, Seven almost literally bumped into Naomi Wildman as she walked down the hall, by herself.     “Hi Seven,” Naomi said.     “Hello, Naomi. Might I ask why you are wandering the corridors by yourself again?” Seven said, kneeling down so she could look the child in the eye while they talked.     “No reason. Just out for a walk. Mom’s on the bridge today, and I already finished my lessons for the day.”     Seven knew that Naomi was exceptionally bright, but that she also would often procrastinate when it came to her schoolwork. The lack of an actual school on board probably didn’t help, since it meant that Naomi had to do her lessons in her quarters, where all her toys and books were.
    “Are you sure,” Seven said, mimicking the tone that Samantha would take when she would ask that question. Naomi frowned.     “Yes, I’m sure,” she said.
    Seven wasn’t entirely sure she believed her, but smiled anyway. “Okay, good. I’m going to be on the holodeck with Lieutenant Torres for awhile, but when I’m done, how about we meet up in astrometrics and I can show you how some of the stellar phenomena we’ve passed lately?”
    Naomi smiled at that. Much like a Borg she constantly showed a desire to learn to new things, but unlike a Borg she approached it with an enthusiasm that Seven admired.
    “That’s sound awesome. Thanks, Seven,” Naomi said, throwing herself into a hug. Seven hugged back, and tousled Naomi’s hair, again copying Sam.     “Very good. Meet me in the lab at 1230 hours. Have fun.”
---
    “Ready?” B’Elanna said as Seven entered the holodeck. Seven looked around, taking in her surroundings.
“This looks like a standard deep space Federation colony,” she said.     “This is Soltok IV. It’s the colony Chakotay and I took off from our last mission before getting caught in the Badlands and taken by the Caretaker. Given its location, it was probably one of the first places to get hit when the Dominion attacked.”
Seven nodded, then said, “What types of weapons shall we be using?”     “Well,” B’Elanna said, pointing to a nearby wall where two weapons were leaned against it. “I didn’t know how much hand-to-hand training you’ve had, if any, so I’ve got a standard issue Starfleet phaser rifle for you, and a Bat'leth for myself. I’ve left the safety protocols on, so I figure between us we can handle about ten or twelve Jem'Hadar.”     Seven picked up the phaser rifle, looked at it, then looked up.     “Computer, increase safety protocols, then increase the number of enemy combatants by 500%.”     B’Elanna’s face must’ve betrayed her shock, because when Seven looked back at her she shrugged, and said “You said this was about catharsis, not about combat training. Wouldn’t an overwhelming victory serve better in that regard than a realistic one?”     “I guess, though if you ask me it’s not much fun if you can’t get hurt.”     “That is a matter of personal preference,” Seven said.     She’s got me there, B’Elanna thought. “Fair enough. Computer, start program.”
---
On the one hand, Sam was glad that Seven and B’Elanna were getting along better. They hadn’t really been metaphorically at each other’s throats since around the time Sam and Seven started dating, and had even been literally so once, but the two seemed to be forming a bond that Samantha didn’t want to discourage, anymore than she wanted to discourage her daughter’s recent interest in medicine.
On the other, it bothered her somewhat that what time Seven and B’Elanna spent together, with the exception of the time spent building the new Delta Flyer, was spent engaging in various battles on the holodeck; some created, some historical. Sam knew full well that it was all holograms, and that if anything Seven’s temperament when she left the holodeck was actually more mellow than when she went in. She just wished that her Borg girlfriend could’ve found a way to deal with the loss of her “son” Edwin and built a rapport with B'Elanna Torres without resorting to violence, even fake violence.
Finally, after several days of internal debate, Sam decided to finally discuss her concerns with Seven, which they did as they sat on the edge of Sam’s bed.     “Very well,” Seven said in a neutral tone. “I will discontinue the combat simulations with Lieutenant Torres.”
“Well,” Sam said, “I don’t want you to feel pressure-”     “To be honest Sam,” Seven said, cutting Sam off by putting a hand on her thigh. “while early on the simulations were a helpful cathartic aide in dealing with my grief, lately it has become more simply just something I do with the Lieutenant every week, much like my games of velocity with the Captain, or the Flotter holonovels with Naomi. Discontinuing the war games would not be a hardship, and I have no desire to make you uncomfortable.” Seven smiled, and Sam sighed.     “Someday,” Sam said. “I’ll remember that I don’t have to sugarcoat things with you. I was worried you’d be upset.”     Seven frowned. “Why would you think that?”     “Humans sometimes, not always but sometimes, can get a little defensive when you challenge their hobbies.”
“I see. Well, I am not wholly human. A fact I am certain you are reminded of everytime you get a hair caught in one of my remaining Borg implants.”     “You don’t need to keep apologizing for that Annie, it happens. Besides, at least it was just my head hair. It would’ve hurt way worse if-”     “Paris to Seven of Nine,” Tom’s voice said, coming out of Seven’s comm badge. “We need you in the shuttle bay. We’re about to do a test run on the Delta Flyer and I want you there for the weapons test since you helped design them.”
“On my way,” Seven said. “Would you like join us, Sam?”     “Thanks, but no,” Sam said. “Maybe some other time.”    
Chapter Three:
    Samantha Wildman looked over her shoulder as she heard the turbolift doors open. As she’d suspected might be the case, both Tom Paris and Harry Kim exited still dressed in the outfits they wore when taking part in Tom’s holodeck program, Captain Proton, based on early 20th century science fiction stories.     “Sorry Captain, we didn’t have time to change,” Tom said.     “Understood,” Janeway said. “Long range sensors have picked up something interesting.”     “Concentrated mass of oxygen and hydrogen,” Samantha said. “Lots of animal and plant life.”     “So, a planet?” Tom said sarcastically.     “No,” Janeway said, smiling. “That’s the interesting part. We’re almost in visual range, let’s fire up the viewscreen.”     Everyone on the bridge not already looking in the direction of the main viewscreen did so. A planet-sized globe made entirely of water, no visible land at all.     “Wow,” Tom said. “What’s holding all that water together?”     “I’m detecting a force field,” Harry said from his console. “That’s what’s keeping it from dissipating.”     “Get us in closer,” Janeway said. “I want a good look at this thing.”
    As Tom did so, the viewscreen showed three ships coming out of the water, passing through the containment field, and heading towards Voyager.     “Are those starships or submarines?” Tom said.     “I’m going to say, yes,” Samantha said.
    “Open a channel Tuvok,” Janeway said. Tuvok nodded, and Janeway began her standard greeting. “This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the starship Voyager. Please identify yourselves.”
“They are powering weapons,” Tuvok said.     “Shields up, red alert,” Janeway said. The ship shuddered slightly as the first volley hit, but Voyager had been shaken up worse by random nebulas.
“Shields holding, no damage,” Tuvok said.     Samantha actually felt some degree of concern, but not about the battle, but rather about the fact that she didn’t have any concerns about the battle.     Am I getting numb to this stuff? she thought. Normally I’d be nervous as hell right now.
“Should we return fire?” Tuvok said.     “Not yet. Janeway to approaching vessels, we have no hostile intentions.”     There was no response. Janeway shook her head.     “Target the lead ship’s weapons systems,” she said. After a few seconds…     “Direct hit,” Tuvok said.     “And now they’re hailing us,” Harry said. “What a shock.”
    “On-screen,” Janeway said.
    On the viewscreen appeared an alien wearing a jacket and a hooded undercoat.
    “I’m Deputy Consul Burkus of the Monean Maritime Sovereignty. You have violated our space. Withdraw or we’ll resume firing.”     “Consul,” Janeway said “we could’ve destroyed your ship but didn’t. We have no interest in a fight.”     “Then why are you here?”     “My people are explorers. Your ocean planet is frankly one of the most interesting things we’ve come across in some time.”     That hasn’t tried to kill us, Samantha mentally addended to Janeway’s statement.
    “We’d like to learn more about it. And your people as well, if you’d be willing.”     “And if we are not?”     “Then we’ll have to leave you alone, as disappointing as that would be.” Janeway was smiling now. She was sure that this was going to go her way and there wouldn’t be a fight. Samantha had a good feeling she was right, but hoped that Tuvok was ready with the phasers just in case.
    The Consul looked apprehensive, assuming his facial expressions were as readable as a human’s.     “Your ship is certainly impressive, Captain,” he said.     “We’d be happy to give you a tour,” Janeway said.
“I think that would be most interesting, I’ll give the other ships the order to power down. Please accept my apologies for the misunderstanding.”     Janeway chuckled.     “Consul,” she said “you’ll be shocked to learn that we’ve actually had worse greetings in our travels.”
---
    Seven of Nine stood by Sam’s console on the bridge, going over the readings from the ocean planet.     “The Captain and Tuvok went to greet our guests,” Samantha said. “They should be reaching the bridge fairly soon.”     “I imagine the Moneans will have very interesting data on this phenomenon,” Seven said. “I look forward to the chance to observe it more closely.”     “Get in line,” Tom Paris said, still looking at the globe of water on the main viewscreen with some degree of awe. Seven couldn’t entirely blame him. It was certainly as aesthetically pleasing to look at it as it was scientifically fascinating. Had she still been a Borg drone when she’d encountered this, she wouldn’t have been able to truly appreciate it.     “So you never saw anything like this when you were still in the collective?” Sam said.     “No,” Seven said. She thought for a moment then turned to lean against the console so she could look Sam in the face without having to turn her neck at an odd angle. “Would you care to join us if the Captain approves a survey mission.”     Sam shrugged.     “I don’t know. Maybe. There must be some very unique aquatic life down there.”     “And you haven’t taken a ride in the Delta Flyer yet,” Tom said, still eavesdropping on the conversation.     “Mister Paris’ rude interruption aside, he is correct,” Seven said. “Given how likely it is that the Flyer will be used for a variety of missions, it would be ideal for as many crew members to be familiarized with it as possible.”     “Well,” Sam said, “you did help build it. I wouldn’t be a very supportive girlfriend if I didn’t give it a little spin.”     “I am flattered,” Seven said. “but the majority of my contribution was to the weapons systems, which you are unlikely to use.”     Sam opened her mouth to reply to that statement, but the sound of the turbolift doors distracted her. Captain Janeway, followed by one of the Moneans, Tuvok, Neelix, and two other Moneans, one apparently female, exited onto the bridge,     “And this is Voyager’s command center,” she said. “Feel free to have a look around.”     “I’m curious, Consul,” Neelix said, “have your people always lived here?”     “Our ancestors were nomadic,” one of the aliens said, denoting him as the Consul who Neelix was speaking to. “They discovered the waters roughly 300 years ago.”
    “I bet they were as stunned as we were,” Tom said.
    “Yes,” the Consul said, nodding and smiling. “Mister…?”     “Paris. Tom Paris. I’m the ship’s pilot.”     Janeway began introducing the Consul to the rest of the bridge crew, including Seven and Samantha. Once introductions were out of the way, Consul Burkus, as he’d introduced himself, continued speaking about his ancestors who’d discovered the ocean planet.     “My ancestors realized they could farm sea vegetation, extract oxygen from the ocean for their ships, make a permanent home.”     “What’s your population?” Tom said. Seven raised an eyebrow as that was the exact question she was about to ask.     “More than eighty thousand.”     “And you all live underwater? That’s amazing,” Tom said. Seven was sure this was the most excited she’d seen him since the Delta Flyer had been completed.     “Mister Paris,” Tuvok said. “We do have other business to attend to.”
    “Tuvok, escort our guests to the briefing room,” Captain Janeway said. “Care to join us Lieutenant?” she added, having turned to face Tom.     “How could you tell?” Tom said, smiling as headed for the briefing room door behind ahead of the captain who merely chuckled as she shook her head.     “You know,” Sam said in a deadpan tone, “I get the feeling Tom might be intrigued by the water planet.” Seven had learned enough about human humor that she felt she knew how to reply.     “Are you sure?” Seven said, equally deadpan.
---
    “Do you still live aboard your ships?” Neelix asked the Consul once the group was in the briefing room. Paris was curious himself, so he listened closely to the answer as he took a seat.     “We’ve built an industrial infrastructure and undersea dwellings but yes,” the Consul said. “Most of our people still choose to live as our ancestors did.”     “Any idea how the ocean came into existence?” Captain Janeway said, leaning against the table as opposed to sitting down. “In my experience, it’s a unique phenomenon.”
    The Consul motioned to the other male Monean, this one wearing a red hood as opposed to Burkus’ blue.     “Riga?” Consul Burkus said.     “There are several theories,” the one called Riga said. “Our clerics teach that the ocean was a divine gift from the creators to protect and sustain us. But in my opinion, the most plausible explanation is that the ocean formed naturally, much the same way that a gas giant does.”     Tom noticed that Riga was starting to look slightly nervous, and kept looking at Burkus, as if afraid of what the Consul would think about what he said next.     “Unfortunately, our limited knowledge of the phenomenon has created a few problems.”     “What do you mean?” Janeway asked.     “I’m not sure this is an appropriate topic,” Burkus said. The way he said it raised a red flag for Tom, though what it meant he wasn’t sure yet.     “But, they might be able to help us,” Riga said.     “We’d be willing to help in any way we can,” Janeway said.
    “The ocean’s losing containment,” Riga continued. “Hydro-volume has decreased more than seven percent in the last year alone.”     “Any idea what’s causing it?” Tom asked.     “No,” Riga said. ”To make a thorough study we would need to explore the ocean’s center where I believe the gravitational currents are fluctuating.”
    “That’s more than six-hundred kilometers deep,” Tom said.
    Riga nodded. “Our best research vessel can only go one hundred kilometers deep. beyond that the pressure is just too great.”
“Well we could take you there,” Tom said. He saw the captain giving him a look. “I mean, if the captain gives a go-ahead that is.”
---
    Once the Moneans had left, Janeway brought Tom with her to her ready room to discuss the matter.     “I never had you pegged for a sailor Tom,” she said, smirking.     “Well, in a way aren’t we all? What is space but an ocean of stars?” Tom said.     Janeway rolled her eyes.     “Save the poetics for your girlfriend, Tom,” she said, though not with any real annoyance. She did think Tom had a point, even if he presented it in a pretentious fashion.     “When I saw that ocean today, Captain,” Tom said. “I was reminded of the first time I read Jules Verne as a kid.”     “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea?” Janeway said.     “You’ve read it?”     “Once, but it left an impression. Shame nobody really writes stories like that anymore. I guess once humanity actually was traveling the stars, meeting aliens, walking on distant worlds, that kind of tale lost its luster.”     “Not for me, though you probably already knew that since I’m sure you’ve heard of my Captain Proton program.”     “Indeed,” Janeway said. “Coffee?” she added, now standing by the replicator.     “No thanks,” Tom said. He sat down on the long couch up against the viewports. “I was obsessed with stories about the ocean for a while,” he continued. “read all sorts of stories about it.”     “Moby Dick?” Janeway said, now sipping her own cup of coffee.     “Well, yes, though I found that one a little boring to be honest.”     Janeway nodded, but said nothing.     Tom took a deep breath.
    And here comes the mission pitch, Janeway thought.     “Captain, I believe that with a few simple thruster modifications to the Delta Flyer, I could make her seaworthy in no time.”
    “Good,” Janeway said, sitting down behind her desk. “Because it would take a week to make the necessary modifications to Voyager.”     “So it’s my mission?” Tom said, looking excited.
    “Bon voyage,” Janeway said with a nod.
---
    “I don’t need you per se,” Tom Paris said to Samantha Wildman as he sat across the table from her and Seven of Nine on the mess hall. “I just thought you might like to come down and see all the new sea life no human has ever seen before.”
    “Tempting, Tom, very tempting,” Sam admitted. “But this mission has a specific purpose that’s not really my field. If you were just going down there to look at the sea life, you’d have to have Tuvok drag me out of the Flyer, I haven’t really had the chance to ply my trade since Naomi was born. But I would love to have a look at whatever you pick up on your sensor logs on your way to the core.”     “Okay,” Tom said, “but I think you’re missing out. How about you boatswain?” he added, looking at Seven.     “What?” Seven said.     “Are we ready to shove off?”     “It’s sailor talk sweetie,” Sam said, guiltily feeling amused at Seven’s look of confusion at Tom’s outdated Earth slang. “You’ll probably get used to it.”     “I imagine not,” Seven said. Tom just laughed.     “Well, anyway Seven, meet me, Harry, and the Monean named Riga down in the shuttle bay in an hour. Enjoy your lunch in the meantime. And remember to call me Skipper once we’re seaborne.”
    Sam rolled her eyes. “Tom, If I promise to go along on the next Delta Flyer mission will you stop with the nautical lingo?”     “I’ll consider it,” Tom said as he got up and left.     “Should I research this nautical lingo you speak of before I go?” Seven said. “Or can I safely ignore him during the mission?”     “Just have Harry translate it for you,” Sam said. “At least he’s not going to make you dress like a cabin boy.“
    Seven frowned slightly.     “I’m not even going to bother asking you to explain that one, as I’m fairly sure I do not wish to know.”
    Sam thought about it for a moment.     “Hmm, probably not,” she said. “Though I can certainly think of some period appropriate garb I wouldn’t mind seeing you in.”     Seven smiled. “We can discuss that when I get back from the mission,” she said.
---
    Seven of Nine didn’t allow it to show on her face, but she completely empathized with Tom Paris’s awe at the site of the underwater structures the Moneans had built as the Delta Flyer made its way towards the core of the ocean planet.     Sadly they had not seen much in the way of marine life, at least not yet, but Riga had promised that there were species of fish that had been here when their people first arrived centuries ago. Seven kept a lookout, hoping to gather some data for Sam.
    “What are those structures?” Tom said to Riga.     “It’s our main oxygen refinery,” Riga said. “and desalination plant.”     Seven ran a quick scan.     “Corrosion resistant alloys, variable-density ballast, an efficient design,” she said, openly impressed.     “We’re very proud of what we’ve built here,” Riga said.     “I can see why,” Tom said.
    The Delta Flyer continued deeper and deeper, eventually passing all the Monean structures, but still a ways to go to the core.     “Excuse me, Seven is it?” Riga said.     “That is correct,” Seven said.     “I wonder why it is you’re so interested in sea life. Is that your field of study, or is it more of a hobby? If you don’t mind my asking, that is.”     “I do not,” Seven said, not looking up from her scans. “And the answer is neither. While I am well versed in many branches of science my expertise does not lie in marine biology or xenobiology.”     “Oh. So why the interest in fish?” Riga said, sounding genuinely curious.     “I am in a relationship with Voyager’s chief xenobiologist,” Seven said. “I am hoping to collect data for her, as she prefers not to leave the ship unless absolutely necessary. I convinced her to join me on an away mission once, and I was injured. It was minor, but the last time she was off ship prior to that incident her daughter became gravely ill.”
    “Oh dear,” Riga said. “I hope the child survived.”     “She did,” Seven said.
    “Good to hear. And I guess I can see where your mate is coming from. I imagine I’d feel the same way. It’s also interesting to learn that humans apparently can procreate with a person of either gender. We’ve never encountered that before.”     “It doesn’t exactly work like that,” Tom said. “But let’s not get into that here. Human sexuality is complicated, to put it mildly.”     “An understandable error,” Seven of Nine said to Riga. It wasn’t an appropriate conversation to have, as Tom said, but she felt no need to make him feel guilty about bringing it up. He was merely curious, as any scientist would be.
    “We’re at a depth of five hundred and sixty kilometers,” Tom said. A few seconds later, the hull made a squeaking noise.     “What was that?” Riga said.     “The hull contracting,” Seven said.     “Rerouting additional power to structural integrity,” Harry said. “We’re good.”     “I am detecting multi-phasic energy discharges,” Seven said. “bearing zero-two-one Mark 6 and a range of twelve kilometers. It’s a structure of some sort.”     “At this depth?” Riga said.     “Adjusting course,” Tom said. “Increase forward illumination.”
    Seven turned to look. The structure in front of them was old, she could tell that much even without an additional scan. Hexagonal patterns covered it, whatever it was, as did many aquatic plants. Whoever had built this either did not have any automated cleaning systems installed, or they had failed long ago.
    “What is it?” Riga said, moving from his seat to stand next to Tom.     “It’s generating massive amounts of artificial gravity,” Harry said. “Looks like it’s some kind of field reactor.”
    “If it’s malfunctioning that could explain the loss in hydro-volume,” Riga said.     “Perhaps it can be repaired,” Seven suggested.     “It looks ancient,” Tom said, moving the Delta Flyer closer to the structure.
    “If these readings are right,” Harry said, “it’s over a hundred-thousand years old.”     “We’ve no records of any previous inhabitants,” Riga said. “Who were they? Where did they go? Why did they build this?”     “Looks like the reactor is controlled by a core computer,” Harry said. “I’ll try to upload the database, see if that gives us any answers.”     “Do so carefully Mister Kim,” Seven said. “A computer that old, its hardware may not hold up well under the strain of a large scale upload.”     “Initiating the interface,” Tom said, “upload in progress.”     The Flyer suddenly began shaking.     “What’s happening?” Riga said.     “We’ve got a visitor,” Tom said, as the shadow of a massive, black, eel-like creature passed in front of the main viewport.     “What was that?” Riga yelled.     “You live here, you tell us,” Harry said.
    “My people have never been this far down before. Whatever this is doesn’t get up to where our structures are, thank goodness.”     Seven turned and saw out the side viewport the creature heading straight towards them, its maw wide open, showing rows of large sharp teeth.     “It would be advisable for us to leave,” Seven said.     “I believe that’s Borg for ‘get us the hell out of here,’” Tom said, “and I couldn’t agree more.” Tom began to turn the ship, in time to avoid going straight into the creature’s mouth, but not enough to avoid getting sideswiped by it. The shuttle shuddered violently.     “The creature is emitting biothermic discharges,” Seven said. The ship shook again, and a console near the rear exploded. “That last charge exceed five hundred thousand volts.”
    “Shields are fried,” Harry said.     “I’ve got us turned around, let’s get back to-”     Another impact shook the Delta Flyer, as bad as the last one, but no panels exploded this time.     “Dammit!” Tom yelled. “Thrusters are off-line. Targeting forward phasers.”
    “Wait, you can’t kill it!” Riga said.     “I don’t intend to if I can avoid it,” Tom said. “I’m lowering the power. Hopefully we’ll just stun it.”     Another impact.
    “How is that upload coming Harry?” Tom said.     “Just a few minutes,” Harry said.     We may not have a few minutes, Seven thought.
“Firing phasers. Just a warning shot,” Tom said. The ship took another hit, and for a moment Seven was concerned that Tom’s actions had only angered the creature, but a glance at her sensors showed that that was not the case.     “The creature is retreating” she said. Tom and Harry breathed a sigh of relief, but before anyone could say anything, an alarm sounded.     “We’ve got a breach!” Harry yelled. The sound of running water soon confirmed that, and it was getting louder.     “I’m on it,” Tom said, heading to the back of the shuttle. Seven could now see the water leaking in through a panel in the Flyer’s ceiling.     Well, Seven thought. This is unfortunate.
“Hand me a laser welder,” Tom said. Seven looked under her console, but couldn’t find one. Harry apparently had the same thought as he handed one to her to pass to Tom, who quickly got to work sealing the leaks. He managed to do so, but not before his uniform got soaked through.     “Nothing like a cold shower to wake up the senses,” Tom said.     “You should warm yourself quickly, Lieutenant,” Seven said. “before hypothermia has a chance to set in.”     “Yeah, thanks Mom,” Tom said dismissively as he returned to the pilot’s seat.     “Structural integrity is weakening,” Harry said. “We’ve lost communications, shields, and the pièce de résistance, propulsion.”     “We can decrease our density by venting plasma,” Seven said. “and by transporting all non-essential equipment off the ship. It will take time, but we will eventually rise to the surface.”     “Not a bad idea Seven, but I think we should stay,” Tom said.     “Stay?” Riga said.     “I’m not about to be scared off by a few damaged systems,” Tom said.     “Were you perhaps struck on the head while repairing the leak, Mister Paris?” Seven said.     “Look,” Tom said, “it’s a pretty good bet that the reactor’s malfunctioning. We’re only gonna get one shot at fixing it. You wanna leave, fine. Give me an environmental suit and you can pick me up after you’ve repaired the Flyer.”     “That is such an idiotic thing to say I really have no comeback sarcastic enough to counter it,” Harry said.
“You have a better idea?” Tom said. Seven shook her head and went to work on her console. Hopefully she could find a solution to the situation while the two supposed friends bickered.
“Well, we’ve managed to interface with the reactor’s computer core,” Harry said. “Maybe we can make the repairs, maybe not. But I’m not leaving you down here alone.”     “I’m scared,” Riga said. “But I’m willing to stay.”
    “Seven?” Tom said.     “It would seem I am already outvoted,” she said. “We may as well stay then.”
    “Okay, let’s get to work th-”     The ship shuddered one more time.     “Oh come on!” Harry yelled.     “Is that creature back?” Riga said.
    “It was a gravimetric discharge,” Seven said. “The reactor’s core is unstable.”     “You’d be unstable too if you were as old this thing,” Tom said.     “Age has nothing to do with it,” Harry said. “The reactor's diverting massive amounts of power to its structural integrity field. Power normally reserved for oceanic containment. This could explain why the containment has been weakening.”     “Makes sense,” Tom said.     “Looks like the density of the water’s been increasing over the past few years,” Harry continued. “It seems the reactor is just trying to keep itself from being crushed.”     “A logical conclusion,” Seven said.     “Can we initiate a power transfer?” Tom said. “That might stabilize the core.”     “It would only be a temporary solution,” Seven said. “But it can be done.”     “Do it,” Tom said. “Then vent the plasma, jettison what we don’t need, and we can go home.”
---
    “Have you found something?” Riga said, entering the lab on Voyager where Tom Paris was going over the data obtained on the mission to the ocean planet’s core.     “Yep,” Tom said. “I’ve been studying the generator’s database and you’re not gonna believe this, but apparently your ocean used to be part of a land mass.”     “Astonishing,” Riga said.     “I know right? As far as I can tell it used to be part of a planetary eco-system. One inhabited by a very advanced civilization.”     “What happened to them?” Riga said.     “Good question. All I’ve been able to find out is they launched this reactor,” he touched a button on a console and began playing a simulation for Riga. “into orbit, and used some kind of elaborate kinetic transfer system to draw the water and everything in it up to the reactor.”     Riga stared in wonder at the simulation as it showed a sped up version of what the process most likely looked like.     “Extraordinary,” Riga said. “Why would anyone want to move an entire ocean?”     Tom shrugged. “Some kind of disaster on their planet maybe? Or maybe it was just an experiment.”
    “That must’ve been a massive undertaking,” Riga said.     “Took them almost two hundred years by my calculations,” Tom said.
    “I wonder what they’d think if they knew we settled here and built another civilization,” Riga said.     “Actually,” Tom said, “I think they’d be pretty concerned. This field reactor they designed, it’s a pretty amazing and durable piece of technology. I don’t think it’s responsible for the loss of containment.” Tom walked over to a desk in the lab and picked up a PADD to hand to Riga.     “But, as soon as we made the recalibration the water stabilized,” Riga said. “I don’t see what else it could be.”     “Riga,” Tom said. “your people’s mining operations are destroying the ocean.”
    “Oh,” Riga said, sounding more saddened than shocked, like deep down he’d always suspected this might be the case, but just didn’t want to admit it.     “There’s more you should know,” Tom said. “When I got back, the Captain filled me in on what we missed while we were down there. The rate of water loss is worse than we thought. We’re looking at total dissipation in in less than five years. You may have to consider evacuating if we can’t stop the hydro-volume loss.”
    “Oh,” Riga said. It seemed like an underreaction, but he didn’t say anything, figuring that Riga was just in shock, and that the news he’d been given just hadn’t sunk in yet. After a few quiet moments, Riga spoke up again.     “We need to bring this information to Consul Burkus,” he said.     “Agreed,” Tom said. “I haven’t met a lot of them, but I know that good politicians do exist in this galaxy. If he isn’t one, maybe one of your other leaders will be willing to listen.”
---
    Captain Janeway sat at the head of the table in the briefing room. She wanted to make it clear to Burkus that this was not the same casual type of meeting that they’d had when he first came aboard. Tom Paris and B’Elanna Torres were with her, while Burkus and Riga and a third Monean sat opposite them.
    “The council is very grateful for your help Captain,” Burkus said, after Tom filled him in on the situation. “They’ve asked me to request the shield and thruster schematics for your Delta Flyer. We’re hoping to design a probe that will allow us to monitor the containment generator.”     If I wrote a holonovel with a politician this stereotypical, Janeway thought, he’d be dismissed as too cliched.
    She put on a smile that she hope looked genuine.     “Lieutenant Torres will give you everything you need,” she said. She didn’t like Burkus all that much, but there was no point in screwing over his entire race over it.     “I’ve also drawn up some designs for an oxygen replication system,” B’Elanna said, reaching over the table to hand Burkus a PADD. “It’ll allow you to create free oxygen without extricating it from the water. It won’t solve your problems overnight, but it’s a start.” B’Elanna sat back down and smiled. She was proud of how quickly she came up with a solution to the Monean’s problem, and as far as Janeway was concerned B’Elanna had earned that pride. It was a good solution.     “I’m sure it’ll be very helpful,” Burkus said in a tone that made the hairs on the back of Janeway’s neck stand up.     There’s a ‘but’ coming, she thought, I can feel it.     “Our oxygen extraction levels are still dangerously high,” Riga said. If Janeway had been right about that ‘but,’ she would never know because the conversation took a different turn. “I’m going to recommend shutting down refineries four, five, and six.” Riga continued.
    “We’ll take it under advisement,” Burkus said quickly, looking very uncomfortable. He stood up. “Well, Captain, I wish you a safe journey.”     “We have a few more suggestions if you’d like to hear them,” Janeway said, resisting the urge to add the word “asshole” at the end of the sentence.     “Please,” Burkus said. “Pass them along to Mister Riga, and he’ll include them in his report.” Riga looked concerned. Janeway glanced to her right and saw Tom Paris with a similar look on his face.     “I’m curious,” Tom said. “who’s going to read that report?”     “It will be given to the subcommittees on life support and agriculture,” Burkus said.     “Forgive me for my bluntness, Consul,” Riga said, “but I don’t think you understand the magnitude of the crisis. What you’re suggesting could take months.”
    “Thank you, Mister Riga,” Burkus said, in a tone that suggested he was anything but thankful.     “You should listen to him,” Tom said, standing up. “If you don’t make some serious changes, and soon, that ocean won’t be here much longer.”     Janeway hoped that Burkus would listen, but also hoped that Tom would calm down. The last thing she needed on her hands was an interspecies incident.
    “As I said, we understand his concerns,” Burkus said, trying to sound diplomatic.     “Do you?” Tom said.     “Tom?” Janeway said quietly, trying to get her navigator's attention, hoping to calm him down.     “It seems to me like you’re trying to sidestep the issue and just send us on our way,” Tom continued. Janeway took some small relief in the fact that Tom at least wasn’t raising his voice.
    “With all due respect,” Burkus said, letting his agitation show now. “who are you to tell us what to do with our ocean?”     “With all due respect, it’s not your ocean,” Tom said forcefully, moving around the table to stand face to face with Burkus, just what Janeway had hoped he wouldn’t do.     “Lieutenant?” she said forcefully, trying to get Tom to back off.     “It’s all right Captain,” Burkus said. “I’d like to respond. But not as a diplomat, as a Monean. You came here claiming you wanted to learn about our way of life, and now having spent three days here you’re suggesting we abandon it. My people have an expression. ‘Brine in the veins.’ Riga, tell him what that means.”     Riga sighed.     “It’s used to describe someone who has special connection to the waters,” he said.     “My family has lived her for ten generations,” Burkus continued. “We protected this ocean. Cultivated it. Lived in harmony with the animals that inhabit it. Can you say the same?”     Damn, he’s good, Janeway thought. If I didn’t already know he was full of shit, I could be convinced to vote for him.
    Tom didn’t respond.     “I didn’t think so,” Burkus said. Good day, Captain.” Burkus turned and left, Riga and the other Monean following behind him, leaving Tom standing there. Janeway couldn’t see the look on his face since his back was turned to her, but she could guess.     “We can’t just let this go,” Tom said, turning around.     “What do you want me to do, Tom?” she said. “Just violate the Prime Directive because of one idiot?”
    “Well, frankly yes,” Tom said. “I’ve been thinking a lot about the PD lately and it seems to me that what started as a good law has become intractable dogma. It’s not that I want us to just throw it out, that would be wrong and against everything the Federation stands for. But sometimes I think we use it as an excuse to avoid making a hard decision.”     “We?” Janeway said.     “The royal ‘we,’” Tom said. “As in Starfleet as a whole.”
    Janeway stood up.     “I know you’re upset Lieutenant, but when you’re in a room with me you check that attitude at the door, understood?”     “Captain, I’m sorry, but-”     “We can’t expect an entire society to change because we think they should. Between you me and B’Elanna I’ve had my doubts about how the Prime Directive has been applied too. Hell, I wonder about how I’ve applied it myself in the past, though I will deny it if you tell anyone I said that.”     Tom looked down, seeming embarrassed.     “I didn’t mean to antagonize you, Captain,” he said.     “You didn’t,” Janeway said. “I’m just being honest with you in ways a Captain normally shouldn’t in the hope that it’ll keep you from doing something stupid.”
“We did what we could, Tom. We gave them the help they asked for. We told them what we know. Now it’s up to them to do what they think is appropriate.”     “You heard that Consul,” Tom said. “they aren’t going to a damn thing.”     “Maybe but that’s their prerogative, Tom. End of discussion. At 1400 hours we will resume a course for the Alpha Quadrant. Is that clear?”     “As a bell,” Tom said. B’Elanna got up from her seat and moved to Tom’s side, putting a hand on his shoulder.     “Come on, Tom,” she said. “I’ll join you on the holodeck for a Captain Proton adventure. Maybe that’ll help take your mind off of this.”     Tom looked sadly out the viewport, where the edge of the ocean planet was visible. Janeway felt sorry for him, but the fact was that unlike some instances she’d run into since taking command of Voyager, the Prime Directive here was clear cut. The Monean leadership had made it clear they did not want any further help from her or her crew.
As Tom and B’Elanna exited the briefing room together, she hoped that the Monean that had gone to the core with Tom, Riga, would find the courage to stand up to his superiors.
---
    It was almost 1400 hours, but Seven of Nine had decided to arrive on the bridge early. Normally she did her duties from the astrometrics lab, but Commander Chakotay had decided to add her to the bridge crew for this particular shift. She found his reasons for doing so inadequate, especially the claim of it ‘breaking the monotony’ on the grounds that she was quite comfortable having a fixed routine. In fact, except when she was spending time with Sam during the periods when their off-duty hours coincided, spontaneity held no appeal for her.
    She sat down at the station that was normally Sam’s during her bridge rotations, and adjusted the settings on the console to her liking. While she was doing so, an alert noise from Tuvok’s console got her attention. Tuvok summoned Captain Janeway to the bridge. She arrived quickly, the front of her uniform jacket only partially zipped up.     “Captain, there has been an unauthorized launch from the shuttle bay,” Tuvok said.     Tom Paris, Seven thought ruefully.     “The Delta Flyer,” Tuvok continued. “Sensors show another lifeform aboard with Mister Paris. The lifesigns are Monean.”     “Hail them,” Janeway said,     “No response,” Tuvok said.     Seven looked at her console. She felt like she should be doing something during this situation, but wasn’t sure what, and that lack of certainty frustrated her.     “Try a tractor beam,” Chakotay said.     “We’re out of range,” Tuvok said.     We’re being hailed, Captain,” Harry Kim said. “It’s Consul Burkus.”
    “Of course it is,” Janeway said as she took her seat. “On screen.”     “Your shuttlecraft has violated our borders. I demand an explanation,” Burkus said.     “Mister Paris is acting without authorization,” Janeway said with frustration punctuating every syllable.     “To what end?” Burkus said.     “Our scanners show that Mister Riga is with him,” Janeway said. “I’m assuming they intend to take some sort of radical action to protect the ocean.”     “Hmm,” Burkus said. “I’m certainly angry, Captain, but I must admit a part of me respects Riga for this. He’s always come across as a coward to me before. But they still must be stopped.”     Seven found Burkus’ description of his subordinate rather hypocritical in light of his own actions after Riga and Lieutenant Paris had presented him with the information regarded to side effects of their oxygen mining.     “I assume you plan to take radical action to stop them, Captain?” Burkus said.     “I do,” Janeway said. She silently signaled for the communication with Burkus to be ended. Once his face was off the screen, she began pushing buttons on the console by the captain's chair.     “Janeway to Paris, return to Voyager immediately,” she said.     “I’m sorry, Captain,” Tom’s voice replied. “I can’t do that.”     “Lieutenant, you are disobeying a direct order. This goes beyond violating the Prime Directive, you and Riga are about to commit an act of terrorism.”     “I know,” Tom said, sounding sad. his short statement was followed by the noise of a com channel being closed.     “He cut us off,” Chakotay said.     “I noticed,” Janeway said. “What the hell are they up to?”     “They appear to be headed for somewhere underneath the industrial complex,” Seven said.     “Can we reach them with phasers?”     “Unadvisable,” Seven said.     “Seven is correct,” Tuvok said. “It would create a hydro-dynamic shockwave.”     “What about an old-fashioned depth charge?” Chakotay said.
    “It should be possible to modify a photon torpedo,” Tuvok said.     “Do it,” Janeway said. “Quickly.”
    It only took a few moments for Tuvok to complete the task, faster than Seven had anticipated.     “The torpedo is ready,” he said. “However, the Delta Flyer has submerged below our targeting range.”     “Consul Burkus is hailing us again,” Harry said.     Janeway sighed. “On screen,” she said.
    “Our refinery workers have been given five minutes to clear the structure. Was this the kind of evacuation you had in mind, Captain?” Burkus said with an accusatory tone. Seven of Nine began to understand why neither the Captain nor Lieutenant Paris liked the man.
    “Can you get them out in time? Janeway said.     “Yes, but-”     “Do it. I’ll find a way to protect your refinery. End transmission.”     “Captain, I-” the viewscreen returned to the view of the ocean planet.
    “Mister Paris descended to avoid attack,” Tuvok said. “If my calculations are correct he will have to come back up to a depth of two thousand meters to strike his target.”     “Giving us a window of opportunity,” Janeway said.     “Captain,” Harry said. “This is Tom we’re talking about. We’re not going to open fire are we?”
    Seven agreed. While she conceded that Mister Paris’ attack had to be stopped, destroying the Delta Flyer seemed like an extreme measure, in addition to being a waste of resources for Voyager as Tom was also the ship’s lone nurse in addition to its pilot.     “As far as I’m concerned,” Janeway said, now directing some of her anger at Lieutenant Kim. “he forfeited his status as a protected member of this crew the second he launched that shuttle.”
    “He’s started his ascent,” Chakotay said. “He’ll reach the target in thirty-six seconds.”
    “Hail him,” Janeway said. Seven could pick up from the tone of the Captain’s voice that this was the last time she was planning to do this.     “Go ahead,” Harry said.     “Lieutenant Paris, this is your final warning,” Janeway said.     No response.     “Arm the torpedo,” Janeway said.     “Twenty seconds to weapon’s range,” Harry said.     “Stand down Mister Paris. Or I will open fire.”     Should I do something? Seven thought. This doesn’t seem right. Tom Paris is an individual, not a defective drone. She bit her lower lip to keep from speaking up. She wondered if Sam would’ve said something at this point, or would she have just followed orders.     Tuvok began counting down. When he reached “One,” Janeway gave the order to fire.     “The Flyer has been disabled,” Tuvok said a few moments later.     “Their missile?” Janeway said. In all the tension, somehow Seven of Nine had missed the detail that the Delta Flyer had fired a missile at the refinery. That was unacceptable to her. She made a note to speak with the Doctor about it later.
    “Deflected,” Tuvok said.     Janeway didn’t say anything. Seven of Nine returned her focus to the console in front of her.
---
    Captain Janeway stood facing Tom Paris, with her hands behind her back, her stern glare masking the seething anger she truly felt at what her navigator had done. Two armed guards stood behind him. If they had any feelings about what was happening, they didn’t show it.
    “You are guilty of insubordination, unauthorized use of a spacecraft, reckless endangerment, and conduct unbecoming an officer. Do you have anything to say for yourself?”     “Riga needed my help,” Tom said.
    “In doing so you disobeyed my direct orders.”     “Yes, Captain,” Tom said.     “You violated the protocols that govern this crew.”     “Yes, Captain.”
    “You nearly caused an armed conflict with the Moneans.”Janeway heard her own voice getting louder with each sentence, but she didn’t care. Her anger was justified as far as she was concerned.
    “Yes, Captain,” Tom said.     “Frankly, you’re lucky to be standing here right now. I would’ve destroyed your shuttle if necessary.”
    If Tom was flustered by that, he didn’t show it. He kept as stoic as he had been throughout the proceedings leading up to this moment. In a twisted, ironic way Janeway was as proud of him right now as she was tempted to keep him in the brig for the rest of the journey home, all sixty-plus years of it.
    “Yes, Captain. Permission to speak freely?”     “Granted.”     “Riga’s people weren’t going to listen. They were going to ignore our warnings.”     “You don’t know that.”     “Riga knew, and I was the only one who could help them.”     “I understand your passion,” Janeway said, and she hoped he knew she meant it. “But passion alone doesn’t give you the right to take matters into your own hands. Four years ago, I released you from prison and gave you a fresh start. Until now you’ve been a fine officer. Your service on this ship has been exemplary. I really believed you were past this kind of conduct.”
    “Serving under your command has changed me, for the better. But at least this time I broke the rules for a reason, for something I believed in, instead of just trying to piss off my father, or because I was looking for a fight.”     “I admire your principles Tom, but I can’t ignore what you’ve done. Lieutenant Thomas Eugene Paris, I hereby reduce you to the rank of ensign. And I sentence you to thirty days solitary confinement.” Janeway stepped closer to Tom, and removed one of the pips on his collar. “Take Ensign Paris to the brig,” she said to one of the security guards, both of them moved to stand on each side of Tom.     “I know the way,” Tom said, turning and walking out of the captain's ready room, the guards following behind him.
Once the door closed, she let out a long, sad sigh.
---
    Seven of Nine wondered briefly why she’d allowed Harry Kim and B’Elanna Torres to talk her into doing what she was about to do, but after taking a calming breath, she walked up to the door to the captain’s ready room, and waited for permission to enter.     “Come in,” the captain said.
    “Captain,” Seven said, standing at attention.     “So, how can I help you Seven?”
    “I’m here in regards to Mister Paris’ incarceration,” Seven said, deciding it best to get this over with quickly, since she was more than ninety percent certain of this conversation’s outcome. Janeway sighed and put down her coffee and the PADD she was reading.     “Like I’ve already told Harry and B’Elanna I’m not letting him out of the brig. Not until his thirty days are up. So-”     “I am not asking you to do so Captain,” Seven said. Her reluctance to interrupt people was a fairly new trait, one she’d picked up from dating Samantha, but she also knew that if she didn’t get her point across quickly the captain would dismiss her before she even had a chance to start.
    “Oh? Then why are you here?”     “I understand that what Lieu- sorry, Ensign Paris did requires some form of consequence. However, I question the value of a month of solitary confinement. Having him in the brig, the demotion, these are all reasonable given this ship’s circumstances. But I feel I should remind you that using solitary confinement as a form of punishment is listed as torture under the Articles of the Federation, and was banned on Earth even before said articles were signed. In fact most member races of the Federation-”     “You’ve made your point Ensign,” Janeway said harshly, her expression flat. It occurred to Seven just then how, even though she’d been given a rank and a uniform months ago, how rarely anyone ever called her by her rank. “I don’t think you understand the severity of what Tom did, Seven. This goes beyond disobeying orders. You’ve done that. Even Tuvok went behind my back once.”     Seven didn’t know what she was referring to, but refrained from asking. She had a feeling she had already pushed the captain’s patience too far already, despite having only been speaking to her for a minute at most.   
    “He had come so far these past three years,” Janeway continued. “He was acting like a real Starfleet officer. He had stable friendships, he did his job well, often exceeding expectations. Looking at him today you would never know that at one point he was an academy wash-out and a convict with a chip on his shoulder the size of Europa.
    “And he risked it all on some foolish crusade that ultimately accomplished nothing. You could stand there and argue that he was just following his conscience. Harry and B’Elanna said the same thing, but it doesn’t matter. He accepted responsibility for his actions, and now he’s paying the price for them.”     “A point which I have never disputed, Captain,” Seven said.     Janeway sighed, and rubbed her face.     “Yeah, you haven’t. I’m arguing with you over a point you didn’t even try to make. Maybe I’m just trying to justify it to myself. Alright, I’ll start allowing some limited visitations on a schedule. Thank youm Seven.”     Seven was more than a little confused. Somehow, she’d gone from failing to make her case to the captain changing her mind without even getting the chance to expand her case. She nearly just flat out asked what had happened to make the captain change her mind so quickly, when Janeway said, “Dismissed.” Seven simply nodded, and left.   
    Heading towards the turbolift, Lieutenant Kim stopped her and asked how it went.
    “It would appear I succeeded,” she told him.
    “What does that mean?” Harry asked.
    “It means that I convinced her to end the solitary confinement, but I am uncertain how.”
    “That doesn’t make much sense.”
    “No argument here. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must return to astrometrics.”
0 notes