The Fates Series 04 Innocence Unveiled

by Alys Landale

  “B’Elanna sit down. Let the doctor go on.”

  She agreed although reluctantly and retook the position in her chair. Doc then continued.

  “After that reaction I believe it would be easier to show you.” He presented an image of Tom’s internal anatomy from one year ago on the screen. “This is an image of what Mr. Paris’s body looked like one year ago.”

  “What does this have to do with anything?!” B’Elanna asked.

  Janeway turned to the doctor as well. “Get to your point Doctor.”

  Doc cast Seven a look indicating that he would need her to jump in soon. He then changed the image on the screen to one that presented Tom’s current physiology.

  There were collective gasps as he said. “And this is what it looks like now.”

  Janeway was the first to speak. “It looks like he’s been assimilated.”

  Doc nodded. “Yes, but the elements in his body don’t match anything that the Borg are capable of making. We don’t know how, but it wasn’t the Borg that did this to him.”

  Seven was the next to speak. “The Borg replace the biological components with technological to create their drones.

  However, in Ensign Paris’s case, the blend of biology and technology is extremely subtle. It is almost impossible to distinguish between the two.”

  Chakotay stared at the screen. The anatomy was so strange to him that he would have never said that it was a human’s had he not been told by the doctor. “Just what could have done that to him?’

  Seven answered his question. “We are not certain as to how he acquired these features. We shall be forced to wait until he awakens to question him on the matter.”

  “Then he’s alright?” B’Elanna asked. She was still stunned by what she had just been told, but she put that aside. This was

  Tom despite what anyone else had done to him.

  “He’s recovering quickly.” the EMH told her. “It seems he has also acquired an advanced healing feature. As to when he’ll wake up, I don’t know. From what Seven discovered, it looks as if he was linked to a console before it blew.”

  “Linked to a console?!” Harry asked. He still couldn’t believe what he was hearing about his best friend.

  “Yes, he has also acquired a Borg’s ability to interface with a computer. I would assume that this was how he was able to retake the Jihaid.” Seven told them.

  *So that’s what Xara was talking about when she commented on us having a Borg on the ship.* Neelix thought.

  “Is there anything you can do for him?” Janeway asked.

  The doctor shook his head. “I wouldn’t attempt anything at the moment. It looks as if his body has been this way for the past year. In his condition now, I don’t want to risk anything. We’ll just have to wait until he wakes up.”

  Once the meeting was over, the doctor allowed Janeway and Chakotay to come to sickbay. After Torres’s insistence, he allowed her to come as well.

  Samantha met them at the door.

  “It’s alright Sam,” he told her. “Just don’t let anyone else in for the time being.”

  She nodded and led them over to Paris’s bed. His face had a pale look to it, but his vital signs were good. “He seems to be recovering quickly.” Sam told them and then backed away so that they could have a little more privacy. Once she was gone, their eyes trailed down to Paris’s hands.

  B’Elanna walked over to Tom and placed a hand on his forehead. She just had to touch him. She had to make sure that this wasn’t just some dream.

  Doc then ushered the Captain and Commander back to his office. Torres was left alone with Paris.

  She sat down next to him. Taking his hand in hers, she tentatively traced the silver vines that wrapped around his wrists.

  Her eyes began to water over with tears. She hated to think about all that he had been through over the past year. All the pain he had undoubtedly been faced with. All the times that she wasn’t there to help him.

  She sat there with her head drooping over his body. A few silent tears dropped onto their hands from where she had been crying. She closed her eyes and tried to block out the pain.

  The first thing Paris was aware of was the feeling of extreme sorrow and remorse flowing over him in waves. The next thing he could sense was a slight pressure on his left hand. Then pain settled over him again.

  *If this is the After Life, it’s not at all what I had expected.* he thought.

  His body felt so weak. He could have just laid there forever in the solitude of the darkness which surrounded him. But he had to know where he was. He struggled to open his eyes. It was an act that took more strength than he wanted to admit. But slowly the world around him swam into focus. He was in a lab, no a sickbay. The Jihaid had been destroyed so what ship was he on? He slowly turned his head.

  Above him was a woman. She held his hand in hers. Her eyes were shut tightly with tears brimming over the edges. He searched his mind for who she was. His thoughts were so jumbled. There were so many things racing through them at once. But finally her image took an identity. He remembered her as one of the crewman of Voyager, the Chief Engineer. He also remembered her from the dreams she had taken shape in as well.

  He squeezed her hand slightly.

  B’Elanna’s eyes flew open as she felt a slight pressure on her hand. She looked down to see Tom’s blue eyes staring up at her. She was so elated to see that he was alright that she didn’t even move. She just stared into those cerulean orbs.

  Tom took his hand out of her grasp and wiped away the tears from her eyes. Then he spoke. His voice was only a small rasp but to B’Elanna it was the most wonderful thing she had ever heard. “Can someone tell me what’s going on here?”

  She finally found her voice. “You’re on Voyager now. We beamed you over before the Jihaid exploded.”

  He nodded. He was slowly getting his strength back.

  Sam noticed that Tom was up and contacted the doctor. He, Janeway, and Chakotay came out of his office immediately.

  “Well, Mr. Paris, you appear to be looking better.” Doc said and ran the tricorder over him. “Once you’re feeling better there are a few questions I have to ask you.”

  “I’m fine.” he told the EMH and attempted to prove it by getting up.

  Both Doc and Chakotay were there to push him back down. “You need to rest now.” Doc told him. “Not even your healing factor can work this quickly.”

  Tom complied but said. “You’d be surprised.”

  Janeway was the next to speak. “Xara’s here.” she told him.

  He looked a bit surprised but then smiled slightly. “I suppose I should have made sure that she left myself. Could you bring her down here. I’d like to see her.”

  Janeway nodded but the EMH protested. “Mr. Paris you need to rest. Perhaps you don’t realize just how serious you were wounded. You...”

  Tom cut him off. “I know what I can take. I’ve been through worse. Either you can let her come down here or I’ll go.

  It’s that simple.”

  Doc relented and allowed Janeway to contact Xara.

  Neelix had just returned to Naomi’s quarters. Xara was about to ask him what the news of Rune was but his comm badge beeped to life.

  “Janeway to Neelix.”

  “Neelix here.” he said.

  Janeway’s voice had a relieved air to it as she said. “Neelix could you bring Xara down to sickbay. I think there’s someone

  here she’d like to see.”

  Xara’s face lit up as did Naomi’s. “We’re leaving right now,” said Xara as she grabbed the Talaxian’s hand and pulled her to the door.

  Naomi took his other hand and they continued to pull him to the door. “We’ll be there in just a few seconds,” he told the captain.

  A few moments later the doors to sickbay swung open and Xara ran inside. The captain, commander, and doctor met her as she walked in. Neelix and Naomi entered behind her.

  “Can I see him?” Xara asked. The excitement
on her face was contagious.

  Janeway’s expression grew into a smile. “Of course. He’s right over there, but you need to be quiet around him. He still needs his rest.”

  She nodded and ran over to the biobed where Paris lay. B’Elanna was the only one still near him. Xara stood a little away from Tom as if she thought he might break if she got any closer.

  Tom patted the side of his bed. “Come on up here. I can’t talk to you all the way over there.”

  Her face broke into an even bigger smile. She climbed up onto the bed and sat down on Tom’s lap.

  He let out a small laugh. “Hey now, don’t try and crush me.” he said in false protests.

  She shook a finger at him. “You have got to stop being so careless Rune Landis. I don’t want to see you in sickbay for a long time.”

  He let one of his famous Paris-smiles cover his face. “Since when did you become my official advisor?”

  She smiled as well. “I’m just taking over for Satira. Someone has to lecture you on how to take care of yourself.”

  He laughed a little. For this brief time his mind was taken out of the depression of reality. Now all that existed was the happy little girl before him. “Well, you’re a great replacement for the job.” His eyes began to grow heavier.

  These signs of fatigue didn’t go unnoticed by the EMH. “Mr. Paris I am going to have to insist that you get some rest now.

  If everyone will leave sickbay...”

  Chakotay and Janeway began their departure. They hung around the door however. Their gaze still rested on Tom and Xara.

  It was so great to see the two so happy. The pair just seemed so perfectly fit to one another.

  B’Elanna reluctantly headed to the door as well. Xara gave Tom one last hug and then crawled down from his bed.

  “Get some rest,” she told him.

  He nodded. “Yes ma’am.”

  Naomi and Neelix then escorted the little girl out of sickbay. “I’ll take her back to your quarters,” he told Sam.

  She nodded. “She’s welcome to spend the night there. I’m sure Naomi will welcome a guest.”

  All of sickbay’s occupants then departed. Doc, Sam, and Paris were the only ones left. Doc walked over to check on his patient. He found Paris already asleep on the biobed.

  He shook his head. “Yes, you’re just fine.” he told his sleeping patient.

  By the next day almost everyone on Voyager had heard of what had happened to Tom Paris. Some of the stories had been so greatly exaggerated that only his name was the only truth that remained in them.

  Sam was at her quarters with Naomi and the doctor was in his office when Tom awoke. A night worth of sleep had worked wonders on replenishing his energy and now he was getting the uncontrollable urge to leave sickbay.

  He was able to get out of bed without alerting the doctor. Walking over to one of the replicators, he linked himself to the machine and replicated himself a new set of clothing. Taking his clothes, he walked into a back room.

  Doc finished the last of his medical reports and left his office. He was about to check on his patient when he realized that the biobed was empty.

  After a few glances around the room, he addressed the computer. “Computer, find the location of Mr. Paris.”

  “Ensign Paris is in sickbay.”

  He was about to begin to argue with the computer when Tom walked out of the room he had been in. He was wearing his usual long, dark coat. In his hands were two gloves.

  Samantha entered at that time as well.

  “Mr. Paris I must insist that you return to bed this instant.” Doc told him.

  “I’m fine. Tell the captain that I’ll meet her in her ready room.” Paris put the gloves on his hands nonchalantly. He then created four hole in each glove when he made his tentacles pierce through the gloves’ lining. Tom then made his was to the sickbay door.

  “Computer erect a level four force field around sickbay.” the doctor said.

  Tom stopped at the door. He turned around to look at the doctor.

  “Now go back to bed Mr. Paris. You can speak with the captain later,” the EMH said confidently.

  Tom just rolled his eyes. This seemed all too much like deja-vu to him. “Just tell the captain I’ll meet her in her ready room.”

  Tom said. He then turned and walked through the force field without so much as noticing it.

  Both Sam and Doc stared at Tom’s retreating figure. Sam didn’t know what to say but as usual Doc took care of the conversation.

  “I suppose I’ll have to begin working on better measures to keep him in sickbay from now on.”

  Janeway and Chakotay were just finishing their breakfasts in the mess hall when Janeway’s comm badge went off.

  “Doctor to Captain.”

  “Yes Doctor,” she said. “Is something wrong.”

  His voice was tinted with its usual sarcasm. “Nothing if you don’t count your patient running away.”

  “What?” Janeway asked.

  “Mr. Paris has left sickbay. He’s waiting for you in your ready room.”

  Chakotay looked puzzled. “Are you sure you should have let him leave so soon.”

  “Believe me it wasn’t because I ‘let’ him leave. I even put a force field around sickbay to keep him from going, but he just walked through it like it was nothing.”

  Captain and Commander exchanged glances. It would take a while to get used to this new aspect of Tom.

  “I’ll be in my ready room. Janeway out.” she then got up and began her journey to her ready room.

  She found Tom where he had said he would meet her. His hands were folded behind his back and he was staring out the viewport at the passing stars. She stared at the back of the usually so animated man she had grown to know over the course of the past five years. His now passive demeanor seemed to contrast with the image she remembered him as from a year ago.

  He was the first to speak. His back was still to her as he said. “I see we made it through the worm hole. How far are we from the Empire?”

  She remained where she stood at the front of the room. “Ten years away.”

  He nodded to himself but didn’t turn around. His pensive mood began to upset the captain.

  “You know that you and Xara are welcome here. Even if you don’t remember, you were once a member of this crew. You’re Ensign Tom Paris of this ship. You can reclaim your position here if you like.”

  His gaze remained staring out the window. He gave out a slight laugh. “From Captain to Ensign in one day. That has to be some kind of record.”

  “I could promote you if you like I’m sure Starfleet would understand considering the situation,” she wanted to give him anything if that would make him act more like the old Tom she remembered so well.

  “No,” he said. “I’m grateful that you’re giving Xara and I room aboard your ship.” He then turned the topic. “You’re trying to make your way back home aren’t you?”

  “Yes, we have fifteen years left on our journey back to the Alpha Quadrant.”

  “I’ve had some experience with sub-spacial travel. I could help you get home if you agreed to let myself and Xara use whatever we create to get back to the Empire.”

  Janeway sucked in a breath. She didn’t want to face the possibility of Tom leaving again. “Of course,” she said. “But you know you have family in the Alpha Quadrant. You have a life there as well.”

  He finally turned around. Janeway felt her soul break in two when she saw Tom’s eyes. They were partially glazed over in tears. She noticed something besides sorrow present in them as well. Vengeance.

  His voice was calm as he spoke his next words. “I believe you when you say that, but I’ve got unfinished business left in the Empire. I let someone down, now I have to make it up to her.”

  “You’re talking about Aria,” she said softly.

  He didn’t say anything but turned back to the window. Finally, he spoke again. “She’d still be alive if it wasn’t for me. Bu
t

  I swear I won’t let her cause die. She fought to overthrow the Empire. I intend to make that happen. By whatever means necessary.”

  Janeway felt tears of her own well up in her eyes. “You loved her.”

  He lowered his eyes. Pent-up tears ran down his face as he turned his gaze to the floor. Janeway wanted to go over to comfort him. She wanted to assure him that he had a home here and that he had someone else who loved him. But she didn’t know how to do this so she just stood back. If Tom loved Aria this much then what were his feelings regarding B’Elanna?

  His next words tore her soul out even more. His voice was barely above a whisper as he spoke. “I loved her more than anything in the universe. Despite anything I did, she was always there for me.”

  Janeway just stood silent as he spoke his thoughts. He paused for a few moments as he took control of his voice again.

  He didn’t know why he was saying this but it seemed like he could trust her. His next words were the one universal truth that he had known throughout all the chaos his life had become. Those words were spoken with such a blend of admiration, sorrow, and love that it was indescribable.

  “She was my savior. She gave me a life.”

  THE END....Of Part Four.

  Part five will be up within the time of probably about two, maybe three weeks. I need a couple of days to rest my hands from the keyboard though.

  Remember that I love email. Once I read one I jump back at the computer and start typing out the next story. That’s one reason I’ve been able to work so fast. So write me and tell me what you think. If you want to know the first second that part five is ready then email me as well and I’ll tell you.

  Alys Landale