Chapter 39: Elogium: Part Two.
Chapter 40: Elogium: Part Two.
(40 minutes later)
Chakotay's POV
-----
"No change, Captain. We're still being pulled along with the swarm." I said as the Captain reentered the bridge with a distressed expression, that she quickly hid behind her Captain's mask.
"Heading one twenty one mark seven. Speed now six thousand kilometres per second." Tom reported.
"All systems are functioning within normal parameters." Harry added. The Captain crossed the bridge and stood in the middle of the bridge with her hands on her hips, briefly watching the swarm.
"How is Torres coming with the modifications to the main deflector?" She asked sharply.
"Her last report estimated they'd be finished in another half hour." I replied.
"Let me know as soon as she's ready. Join me, Commander?"
---Ten minutes later.---
"Kes is terribly frightened. She's had no time to prepare for this. And the decision has to be made in the next forty or fifty hours. She's going to discuss it with Neelix, but there are so many unknowns. There might be risks in procreating this early. And of course, there's no guarantee they're genetically compatible, or that Neelix has any interest in becoming a father. It seems your concerns about fraternisation were prophetic." Janeway explained to me as she handed me a spiced tea and sat down next to me on her ready room sofa.
"I wasn't even thinking about procreation, but I suppose it's the inevitable outcome. We should consider the fact that it might be necessary for the crew to start having children." I concluded.
"It might take us a long time to get home." The Captain replied.
"If it does take seventy five years, we're going to need a replacement crew in about half that time." I replied and took a sip from the cooling tea.
"Who'd have thought we'd be considering a generational ship when we were ordered on a three-week mission."
"I know, but it's a problem we have to face now."
"What would that mean for the children? What kind of life would we be giving them aboard a starship, travelling through a potentially hostile part of space? And are we equipped to provide for their needs? Child care, educational facilities. We'd be building an entire community on board this ship. That's a massive commitment. My children where brought apon this mission with any knowledge that...this would be the outcome. If I had known that we would end up across the universe tha I wouldn't have brought them along." She insisted.
"Are you prepared to tell them they can't have children?" I asked softly.
"I can't do that, it would be unjust to allow them to see my own and not allow them the same liberty. And I've made it clear to Kes that it's her choice whether to have a child or not, but. There aren't any easy answers here. For any of us."
-----
Kes's POV
I sat quietly on my bed as Neelix paced back and forth, trying to process my words. He came to an abrupt halt and he narrowed his eyes at me. His eyes were filled with confusion.
"Are you saying that unless you conceive now, you'll never be able to?" He replied with disbelief.
"Yes. And I need you to help me decide, because I would want you to mate with me." I bluntly replied.
"Oh. I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm honoured, but are you entirely certain it would be safe?" He stammered in nervousness.
"Safe?" I repeated. I hadn't considered that. I don't know anyone who had a child at my age.
"Well, you're so young. Is it dangerous for you to conceive a child at your age?" Neelix replied.
"I don't know." I admitted and shrugged. "I've never known anyone as young as I am who had a baby."
"If you never had a child, would you be terribly unhappy?"
"Yes! I mean, I think so. I don't know. I always assumed I'd be a mother someday. Just not so soon. What about you? Didn't you think you'd be a father someday?" I pressed.
"Well, to be honest, I've never given it much thought. Until now, my life has been so itinerant. There's no way I could have provided the stability a child would need." Neelix admitted.
"But now it's different, isn't it?"
"Well, yes. but raising a child on a starship? That's hardly what I would call the ideal environment."
"Micheal and Sarah are just fine and love Voyager!" Wait, was he making excuses. I slumped as it dawned to me. He doesn't want kids. "You don't want a child, do you?"
"No, that's not it at all. I'm just trying to look at all sides of the issue. Bringing a child into the world. It's a huge responsibility. I know you'd want to be sure we're both up to the task. I mean, somebody would have to keep their eye on the little guy all the time or he'd be off sticking his finger into an EM conduit or playing with the plasma injectors. Micheal and Sarah are at an age that they are smart enough to know that already. We can't compare a new child born on Voyager against the Captain's children!" He argued. Trying to soften the blow and help me understand his point of view on the situation.
"That's right. That's called being a parent." I snapped.
"What about your medical studies? You wouldn't be able to continue them if you had a child." He protested. I was getting angrier.
"Of course I would. You're just making excuses. All you're thinking about is yourself, how much trouble a child would be for you. Look!" I yelled and held up my hands, showing him the sticky yellow residue on them. Neelix recoiled in surprise and a flash of disgust raced across his face.
"What's that?"
"The ipasaphor. It makes the mating bond possible." I explained.
"It does?"
"If we begin, we must stay bonded for six days."
"Six days?" Neelix repeated softly.
"In order to ensure conception. And after the ipasaphor appears, we only have fifty hours to begin the process. So I need to know your answer."
"Well, er, fifty hours? That's good. That's good. We can sleep on it. I'll get back to you."
-----
Bini Filters's POV
I tried to hold back my coughs as I stumbled back to the counter, where Neelix was cooking.
"Neelix? *Cough*" I called out sharply. Neelix spun around in surprise and shock.
"Ensign Filters? Are you alright?" He asked and moved to stand across from me at the counter. I plopped the tray down and pointed towards it.
"I said no *cough* pepper! No pepper! *Cough,cough* Am I being clear right now or not?!" I choked out between coughs of distress from the pepper going down my throat. Neelix took my plate and quickly grabbed me a new one that he had just prepared.
"Sorry. I swear I heard you say lots of pepper sauce." He apologized in his own funny way as Tuvok entered the Messhall and stood beside me waiting for his own meal.
"What is the lunch special today?" He cut in before I could respond to Neelix and inform him that he needs his ears checked so that I don't get killed during dinner for now on!
"Well, actually, I didn't get around to making a lunch special." He replied in embarrassment. "But we have some lovely gabosti stew left over from last night."
"Very well. It will do." Tuvok replied.
"I've had quite a run on it, as a matter of fact. It seems very popular."
"If it is all you are serving, that would stand to reason." Tuvok replied without even having to use logic to reason his way out of that one.
"You can have it with or without pepper sauce." Neelix said, pointing towards the pot of sauce. I leaned over to Tuvok.
"If you try it, it might kill you." I whispered, but clearly not quiet enough because Neelix shot me a glare before turning his attention back to Neelix.
"Without." Tuvok smartly replied. Neelix moved to one of his pots and started filling a new plate for him as we started to discuss my "future" in security.
"Look, all I am saying is that I think I deserve to be at a bit higher of a position than what I am at right now." I started to argue once Tuvok denied my request as usual.
"Ensign, you are a human child. It would not be appropriate or logical for me to place you-"
"I was second in command of security! I think that makes me have a good enough experience to at least have a chance of being able to get higher. Who cares about my age anyway?"
"Captain Janeway, the personnel higher than you, myself, commander Chakotay,-"
"You weren't supposed to answer that."
Neelix finished up the plate and placed it in front of Tuvok.
"Mister Tuvok," Neelix quickly cut in before we could move to leave. "I was wondering. You have children, don't you?"
"I have four."
"Four! My, that's certainly quite a family. Tell me, what's it like, being a father?" Neelix asked. Huh? Why would Neelix want to know?
"The question is so broad, it is difficult to respond."
"Well, I mean, it's a lot of responsibility, isn't it? Watching them, caring for them, keeping them safe, giving them an education."
"That is certainly true."
"Sounds like it's a lot more trouble than it's worth."
"Mister Neelix, I am aware of your situation. It appears you are in some doubt as to the wisdom of becoming a parent."
"It's just all happening so fast. I don't know what to think."
"I can only tell you that if you have considerable doubts about fatherhood, it would not be wise to enter into the process. It is so much more overwhelming than one expects, that I believe only the most committed should become parents." Tuvok calmly replied, but now I can't stop being nosy and wondering what the "situation" is.
"Ah. that's what I thought."
"However, I must point out that, as illogical as it seems, being a father can have infinite rewards. Far more than would seem possible. My children occupy a significant portion of my thoughts. Now more than ever." Tuvok added. Wow, for once he is being illogical.
"I-I-I've heard it said that children can bring a lot of joy into one's life." Neelix stammered nervously.
"I experienced neither joy nor sorrow, but I do believe it is possible."
Yeah, asking a Vulcan about this was not a smart decision.
"Now that I think about it, it might be fun to have a little guy around. We could do a lot together. I've got quite a bit I could teach a boy, you know. Survival methods, piloting skills, romantic techniques."
"If you say so. But I must point out that there is an equal chance that you would have a daughter."
"A daughter?" Neelix repeated. "I don't have anything to teach a daughter.
"Why would it be any different from what you would teach a son?"
"It just would. She'd learn more from her mother."
"I have three sons and one daughter. I can assure you she benefits as much from my presence and guidance as my sons do. It is unfortunate that I must be so far removed from all of them now."
"I understand. We'll get there, Mister Vulcan. I'm sure of it. Thank you. You've given me a lot to think about." Neelix said. Tuvok nodded and left to his usual spot, I leaned against the counter again and grinned at a frown Neelix.
"When are you and Kes getting married then?"
"Married?!"
Oh boy...
I quickly left the messhall before Neelix had a break down in the messhall. I was disappointed at my inability to, once again, get a better job.
"Tuvok to Filters."
I sighed, ready to get blamed for whatever happened now.
"Filters here. What can I do for you Tuvok?"
"I will allow you to work in the bridge for the remainder of your shift today."
"Really?" I blurted out, but quickly corrected myself before he took away my new shift change. "I mean-yes, sir! Filters out!
—-(20 minutes later)——
"We're ready to generate the inverted magnetic pulse, Captain." B'Elanna reported from the engineering section of the bridge as I walked towards the security station to start my shift.
On the viewscreen, there was a lot of tiny slug-like creatures swimming around the ship, the bridge's main lights were off so it was pretty noticeable.
"Initiating the field. It's working."
"Are the creatures all right, Commander?" The Captain asked.
"Yes, Captain. They seem to be fine."
"Let's try to keep it that way. Thrusters at two hundred kph, Mister Paris. Ease us out of here." Janeway ordered.
"Aye, Captain." Tom said.
"What are they doing?" Harry asked in alarm as the creatures started to move around faster and more erratically.
"Hard to know what's prompting that behaviour. Maybe they think we're making a hostile move." Chakotay suggested and suddenly the ship launched forward and everyone lost their footing.
"Report." The Captain barked as everyone scrambled back to their stations.
"I'm reading a massive energy drain in all ship's systems." Harry reported.
"Impulse engines are losing power." Tom added in.
"Captain, some of the life forms have attached themselves to the warp nacelles."
"Guidance, navigational and tactical systems are failing." I pitched in as the ship continued to rumble.
"How soon will we clear the swarm, Lieutenant?" Janeway asked.
"In a few seconds." Tom muttered. "We're almost out."
"Captain, I am detecting a substantial magnetic mass moving rapidly toward the port bow." I reported and the viewscreen showed a much, much larger version of the creatures swimming towards us. Some of the bridge crew couldn't hold back gasps of surprise.
"It's physiologically similar to the smaller creatures, just a lot bigger." Sam commented from the science station.
"Perhaps it is the parent." I nervously called out.
"Or it could be a difference in gender. It's hard to say without further observation."
"With all due respect, Captain, haven't we done enough observing?" B'Elanna barked out in annoyance. "These creatures have attacked the ship's key systems. For all we know, they were setting us up for an attack."
"It's possible. Mister Paris, let's keep moving. If we can put some distance between us and the swarm, maybe the ones on our nacelles will drop off and rejoin their friends."
"Aye, Captain. Two hundred kph."
"The larger creature is moving with us." I snapped in alarm as the creature sudden speed up and slammed into Voyager, sending everyone down to the ground, sparks to fly and consoles to short circuit.
"Now what?" Tom snapped as we got back to our stations. Electricity cracked across the viewscreen, causing the ship to vibrate.
"The creature has emitted an electrically charged plasma stream." Harry called out as the ship shook again.
"All stop. Damage report."
"No significant damage, Captain. Shields are holding."
"A plasma blast is a hostile move. Shouldn't we be thinking about responding?" B'Elanna asked, clearly trying to resist taking over security and killing the larger creature.
"If the creature threatens serious damage to the ship, I'll consider it an enemy. Until then, they're all to be treated as indigenous life forms behaving normally in their natural habitat. We're the intruders here." The Captain replied/
"Captain, look at this," Chakotay called out and showed her a diagram of Voyager and how many lifeforms were attached to the hull from the middle console. "They're attaching themselves to the large creature the same way they did to us."
"And I think I know why." Harry pitched in excitement. "That plasma stream it ejected has almost the same subspace signature as our warp nacelles."
"Then the smaller creatures are attracted to our subspace emissions."
"Perhaps in the same way some species are attracted to pheromones."
Oh no...Here it comes.
"Pheromones? You think it's a sexual attraction?"
Yep. I feel sick.
"Colour change and provocative movement are frequently associated with mating rituals."
Disgusting.
"Then these guys think we're one of them?"
And it is getting worse. How?
"Well, their behaviour toward us and the large creature is similar. It's possible they've mistaken us for a potential mate."
Ugh. I visibly almost puked right there at the thought of this. The Captain and Chakotay looked towards me in concern.
"Are you alright, Ensign?" The Captain asked.
"Just fine." I mumbled as my stomach heaved.
"How long have you been working?" Chakotay asked.
"Ah. Since breakfast. So about...12 hours? Not including my break at lunch." I admitted.
"Go to bed, Ensign. That's an order."
"But Captain-"
"Nope. Bed." She ordered as she was my mother or something, gave me a death glare and pointed towards the turbo lift. I slumped in defeat and embarrassment as I marched myself off the bridge and back to my quarters, hopefully, I will wake up and this entire...incident will be over.
But it is about 9 pm. The chances of this being over anytime soon are small.
-----
Captain Kathryn Janeway's POV
I briefly watched Bini leave the bridge in defeat and mumbling to herself as she went. I turned back to the viewscreen. watching the creatures swarm my ship. I quickly called Tuvok on the comm for him to take over his station as the rest of the senior staff suggested ways of handling the situation.
"If the smaller creatures are sexually attracted to our subspace emissions, then the large one may perceive us as a rival. That plasma burst it sent out might have been aggressive posturing."
"Then you'd think it would be happy to see us leave. Lieutenant, is there any way we could generate a short burst at impulse, enough to get us away from this swarm?"
"I could try releasing power from the impulse capacitance cells straight into the driver coils." B'Elanna suggested.
"Do it." I ordered.
"All right. I've accessed the capacitance cells. I think I can give you enough for a short burst at impulse. We've got one shot, Captain." B'Elanna advised me.
"You heard her, Mister Paris. Make the best of it."
"Aye, Captain. Initiating impulse burst, now." Tom repeated.
"Captain, the creature is reacting. It is approaching rapidly on a collision course." Tuvok stated once he took over his station.
"Evasive manoeuvres, Lieutenant." I barked as the creature started towards us again.
"We don't have the power for that." B'Elanna insisted once Tom attempted to move the ship.
"The creature is accelerating." Tuvok called out.
"I'm losing power. Can't shake him."
I tapped my combadge as the creature picked up speed again towards us. This was going to be worse than the last.
"Janeway to crew. All hands brace for impact."
The creature slammed into us at full force, sending everyone down to the ground again.
"Structural integrity down to eight six percent." Harry cried out among the chaos.
"I'm beginning to share Lieutenant Torres' views, Captain. Retaliation may become necessary." Tuvok reported, he must have checked the ships dialogue files to catch up.
"It's not my intention to harm the creature." I snapped. Insistent that the creature should not be harmed.
"The feeling definitely isn't mutual." Tom muttered.
"Mister Tuvok, launch a Class Four probe. Maybe that will distract the creature long enough for us to get away." I suggested.
"Aye, Captain. Probe launched."
The ship was hit with another electricity bolt as the probe was sent away.
"Another plasma burst. Shields are down to sixty four percent. Looks like the probe just made him angry."
"This is an aggressive life form, Captain. He's only going to respond to an aggressive stance from us." B'Elanna insisted again.
"Treating the creature as it is treating us might be an appropriate response." Tuvok agreed.
"We ram him." I concluded.
"Precisely." Tuvok agreed.
"It's probably the response he expects." Ensign Wildman chimed in.
"Captain, shields are at forty seven percent. Any more of this and the hull will start to buckle."
"Mister Paris, use manoeuvring thrusters. Set a course toward the creature. Give him a bump to get his attention." I ordered and braced myself against at my command chair.
"Aye, Captain. Engaging thrusters."
"The creature is not retreating, Captain."
Then we were slammed into again, harder. Causing serious damage.
-----
Bini Filters POV
I was thrown out of my sleep, literally when I found myself getting tossed across the room from my bed and my body slammed into my wall headfirst. I groaned as the ship continued to shake and I held onto my end table, still sitting on the floor, dazed and confused.
I heard my bedroom door open and Micheal, Sarah and Mollie all barreled in, falling over each other as they grabbed the nearest thing to make sure they stopped tumbling and flying all over the place.
"Bini! Help!"Micheal yelled as my stuff was knocked all over the place and my quarters were destroyed. Geez, I was just cleaning my quarters this morning.
"How am I supposed to help!? I am just as screwed right now!" I yelled back.
-----
Harry Kim's POV
"He's just hitting us back harder!" Tom yelled as the sparks sprinkled across the bridge and people held on as the ship continued to shake.
"Let's try this. Detonate a field of photon charges between Voyager and the creature. Maybe the shock wave will let him know we mean business."
"Captain, if I may. Maybe we're going about this backwards." Chakotay suggested.
"Yes, Commander?" Janeway replied and gave Chakotay her full attention.
"Every aggressive move we make results in a more aggressive move by the creature. If we're not prepared to use extreme force to destroy him, we need to rethink our actions."
"I'm listening."
"If we're right that the creature is responding to us as a sexual rival, we might try behaving in a submissive way. That may appease him. We'd be acknowledging that he's dominant and that we're no match for him."
"How do we do that? We tried to move away slowly. He wouldn't let us leave." Tom pointed out.
"Maybe we need to mimic the behaviour of the smaller creatures. We saw them rolling over and changing colour." Chakotay continued.
"If we vent plasma residue, that might make us look blue." I blurted out in excitement.
"Mister Paris, do we have enough power to take Voyager into a roll?"
"I think so."
"All right. Let's give this a try. Mister Kim, start venting plasma residue. Mister Paris, roll the ship."
"Full power to inertial dampers." Tom said and the viewscreen started to turn in a full circle and the ship shook again as the warp plasma was vented.
"He's not responding at all. It's not working." B'Elanna snapped from the engineering station. But, I saw something else. It was working!
"Wait a minute, Captain." I blurted out before anyone made any harsh decisions. "One of the small creatures is detaching from the starboard nacelle. And another one. They're all letting go."
"It appears we have lost our sex appeal, Captain." Tuvok pointed out.
"Good piloting, Lieutenant. Now let's see if we can move away without any interference." Janeway said.
"I can give you enough thruster power to sustain a speed of one hundred kph." B'Elanna reported.
"Acknowledged."
"Good work, Commander. In the future, if I have any questions about mating behaviour, I'll know where to go."
B'Elanna and a few others on the bridge snorted at the out of context moments as Tuvok raised an eyebrow towards the Captain and Chakotay looked at her in his own amusement.
"That's what she said..." Tom muttered and started to chuckle to himself. The Captain glared at Tom.
"What was that, Lieutenant?"
Tom turned back to her, slightly embarrassed.
"Ah, nothing, Captain." Tom replied trying to act all innocent as a result.
-----
Kes's POV
(Time: 9:50 pm. Around 30 minutes after the event.)
"How you thought that giving my children caffeine at 9: 25 is ridiculous." Janeway ranted to Bini as Chakotay, the Captain and I stood in front of the table where Bini was sitting. I looked over to my left were Micheal and Sarah were chugging pop and dancing around a sleeping Mollie, and Neelix as he tried to calm them down. Which was not working very well.
"Well, what was I supposed to do? Just give them water!?" Bini shot back.
"Yes! Yes, that is exactly what you were supposed to do? What were you thinking?!" Chakotay demanded. Bini slowly stood up, slumping slightly from being exhausted but had enough energy to face us without passing out.
"Look at this from my pint of view. I was ordered off the bridge, went to sleep, only to wake up and get thrown and face planted across the wall and then onto of all this, Micheal and Sarah, with Mollie come running in like crazed maniacs expecting me to do something because you two are on the bridge all the time." Bini ranted.
"Bini." The Captain said carefully, not wanting to lose her temper from lack of sleep. "We were dealing with a situation on the bridge. A serious situation. You know this."
"Do you know who you two remind me of?" She said, clearly losing focus on reality as she pointed towards the Captain and Chakotay lazily and her eyes half-open. Chakotay and the Captain shared a confused look. "My parents."
"W-What?" Chakotay stammered out.
"Let me explain." She said and slumped against the table and then slumped back to her chair. Draining the rest of her Hot Chocolate. "My father was in Starfleet and was overall a pretty quiet guy. From the memories that I remember of him, he was pretty Catholic as well but was barely home. Chakotay is like my dad. Religious and barely around to help Micheal and Sarah. My mother was pretty stubborn and also not really around either due to the fact that she worked at a Starfleet hospital as a civilian until of course, my father died. Do you see the connection I am making here?"
"No, Ensign. We don't." The Captain replied and crossed her arms over her chest with impatience.
"Then let me dum it down for you." Bini said, she let out a big yawn and rested her head on the table, still managing to still look up at us as Neelix managed to finally make some progress in calming the children down. "You two work so much that Micheal and Sarah can't spend quality time with you two, but mostly the Captain. And to be honest Chakotay, you are kinda like their dad now. If you guys don't change soon then I am afraid they will turn out like me. A grumpy worthless kid that is stuck in the middle of nowhere, knowing that when I get back to the Alpha Quadrant, I am dead. I can't return to...normal society."
The Captain and Chakotay's jaws dropped in surprise for a moment but they quickly recovered. I slowly backed up as The Captain shared some sort of silent communication with Chakotay and left Chakotay to try and console Bini as she went and picked up sleeping Sarah, and held Micheal's hand as he yawned and hugged her. She smiled at Micheal and thanked Neelix, apologizing to Neelix for the events of today and guided her children out. Followed by Mollie.
I followed Neelix as he reentered the kitchen as Chakotay helped Bini up, who could barely walk and informed her that she had tomorrow off but that she had to talk with Tuvok, which she replied with a simple nod as they left.
Neelix started to put away the kitchen supplies.
"Can I help?" I asked quietly. I had informed Neelix earlier that I had decided not to have a child. Luckily my...effects were only caused by the creatures so later on my life I will be able to still have one. But by the time I made my decision, Neelix had grown to want a little one and it hurt me to tell him that I decided not too.
"No. Thanks." He muttered.
"Is something wrong?" I asked, slightly annoyed with him and his behaviour but I can't really blame him.
"No. No, nothing." He insisted.
"You've been very quiet ever since I decided not to conceive."
"It was your choice. I respect that."
"Neelix, I think you're disappointed."
"I think, once I decided to become a father, I was looking forward to it. But I'll get over it." he snapped.
"Maybe you won't have to get over it. Just wait a little longer." I insisted. He looked up at me in shock and stopped what he was doing.
"But I thought this was the only time."
"The Doctor believes the elogium was false, brought on by the electrophoretic field that those life forms created. So there's a possibility that I might be able to go through it again at the right age." I explained.
"You mean, we might still be able to have a daughter?" He said with hope coming back into his eyes.
"Or a son."
"No. I've thought about it. A daughter, definitely. One who looks just like you."
((Captain's log, stardate 48921.3. I continue to wonder about the issue of procreation aboard the ship. Certainly, it's wrong to interfere with the private lives and decisions of the crew, yet I remain concerned about the environment we could provide for any child born here.))
-----
(Next Day.)
Ensign Samantha Wildman's POV
I pressed the door chime of the ready room and couldn't help but second guess my decision. Why should I? The Captain is a reasonable person. She has children of her own, she wouldn't ask me to-
Well, then again she didn't expect to be lost in the Delta Quadrant with her children.
Now I am freaking out. Well, she can't stop me from having my child. Can she? Of course not! That is stupid.
"Come in."
The ready room door slid open to reveal, the Captain working at her desk, with Mollie sleeping next to her on the ground as she worked on her computer.
"Yes, Ensign. What can I do for you?"
"I'm sorry to disturb you, Captain, but I thought. I thought I should inform you of my physical condition." I said bluntly. I am making a big mistake. I should have waited. Wait? Why would I wait? This is kind of a big deal!
"Your physical condition?" The Captain repeated.
"We'd been trying for months. I wasn't even sure until a few days ago. My husband is still at Deep Space Nine. He doesn't even know. We were only supposed to be out for two or three weeks."
"Wildman, are you pregnant?" She asked.
"I know this isn't the best place to have a baby, but it's all I have left of my husband." I said desperately trying to fight my case. The Captain gave me a bright smile and stood up.
"Well, congratulations, Ensign."
Why was I worried?
---End of Chapter 40. Next: ???---
AN: Go read Davina's story: Beat the odds (Star Trek the original series.). It is on Quotev so if you are reading this on Wattpad or AO3 (Archive of Our Own.) go to Quotev. It is very good!
Also, sidenotes, just me complaining here but for some reason, this chapter was pretty hard to write. It feels like it took me a year to write this. Geez...
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