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Earth, 2003 - Central
Minnesota
Danielle hoisted her book bag back up onto her
shoulder and got off the bus.
Walking slowly down the street she
closed her eyes. The
bright May sunshine felt good on her face.
The fresh clean smell that the air had at this
time
of the year. Nothing
could beat it. At
this time of the year, Danielle loved the half-mile wake
she had after she got
off the bus. It
was so pleasant just to walk slowly home in the
beautiful countryside. It
was a nice change from the
horrible time she had during the winter, through
drifts of snow, and minus 20-degree temperatures, with
even colder
wind chill.
That
particular May day, there wasn’t even a cloud in the
sky. So
Danielle was very surprised when a shadow fell
over her face. Opening
her eyes she looked up. About
15 feet above her was a vaguely saucer shaped object.
A
ship was the only way to describe it.
Suddenly,
someone made a slight grunting noise in front of her.
Startled Danielle looked down, away from the
ship.
Standing about ten feet in front of her
were three men. At
least she thought they were men.
They had a purple color
to their skin, and their hair was a livid green
color. They all wore some type of body armor.
“Hello,
child,” one of them said stepping forward.
He had a deep voice, a voice that was almost a
caress.
“What
are you?” Danielle asked taking a wary step back as
all three of the men took a couple steps in her
direction.
“I?”
he asked. “I
am called Larien. But
you child, will call me Master.”
With
that the three lunged at Danielle who stumbled
backwards. She
was quickly caught by the much quicker and
more maneuverable beings.
Last she knew a bright light enveloped her and
the beings. As it
faded, Danielle
vanished forever from the Planet Earth.
****
24th
Century
, USS
Voyager
“Captain, I am detecting a ship on intercept
course. It is
approximately three hours away at present speed and
course,” Tuvok announced,
interrupting the normal activity of the day.
Janeway
arched an eyebrow.
“Really?”
This could be a great opportunity so long
as this ship wasn’t interested in fighting her.
“Let me know when they are within
hailing range,” she told Tuvok.
“I’ll be in my ready room, until then.”
Getting
up, Janeway went into her ready room. Getting a cup of
coffee she began going over daily reports when
a
chime at the door interrupted her.
“Come,” she called.
The door
opened to reveal five-year-old Naomi Wildman.
“Hello, Captain,” she said
politely as she came in.
The
captain smiled.
“Hello, Naomi.
You got here just in time.
We’re going to be meeting or rather speaking
with an alien species
when we get within hailing range.
I’d like you to be on the bridge to watch what
happens.”
Naomi’s
eyes grew wide with excitement.
“Really?” she asked.
Janeway smiled at the child’s excitement.
“Yes, really.
I want you to stand up by Ensign Kim, and watch
what he does, okay?”
Naomi nodded excitedly, “Okay.
I promise I’ll pay very close attention to what
he does. Unless
he’s watching you
or the screen, ‘cause then I’m gonna
pay attention to that too.”
Janeway
smiled, “That is as it should be Naomi.”
Suddenly,
they were interrupted with a call through the comm line.
“Captain,” Chakotay’s voice
came over, “we’re being hailed.
Apparently by the ship Tuvok detected.”
“Already?”
Janeway asked in surprise.
“It
appears so, Captain.”
“On
my way then,” Janeway said cutting off the comm.
“Come on Naomi.”
Exiting the ready room, the two
entered the bridge.
“All right, up next to Mr. Kim.”
“Aye,
aye, Captain,” Naomi cried excitedly and hurried to
stand next to Harry Kim.
Smiling
Janeway nodded to Harry, “On screen,” she ordered.
She turned around and the starfield
was replaced by a being with purple skin and green hair.
“Hello,” Janeway
started in on her normal speech.
“I am Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation
starship
Voyager.”
“Hello,
Captain,” the other being spoke.
“I am Telan Larien.” He made ‘Telan’
sound like a title.
“I am in the hopes
that our two ships might meet and
trade perhaps.”
Janeway
smiled. “Why
Telan,” she stared, but was interrupted.
“Please,
call me Larien, Captain.”
Janeway
nodded. “Larien,
then.” She smiled once more. “That
sounds like a wonderful idea."
Naomi dashed through the hallway.
They were going to get to receive the
representatives from the Telan’s ship in
about an hour when rendezvous with them.
Naomi smiled excitedly.
The captain said that she would get to be one
of the people to meet them in the transporter
room.
“Mom! Guess what?” Naomi cried as she dashed into their living
quarters and spotted her mother on the couch.
“What
is it, dear?” Samantha Wildman asked looking up at her
daughter.
“We’re
going to meet with a new species, and they’re purple
with green hair, and I get to meet them when they
first transport aboard,”
Naomi spilled out to her mother excitedly.
“What am I going to wear?”
“We’ll
find something Naomi, calm down.
How about that new jumpsuit I replicated last
week for you?” Samantha
suggested.
“Okay!”
Naomi cried happily then turned and ran into her room,
to get dressed.
As
Samantha got up to follow, there was a chime at the
door.
“Come in,” she
called.
The door opened to reveal Icheb.
“Hello, Icheb.
What can I do for you?” Samantha asked the
young man.
“The captain asked me
to escort Naomi to the transporter room when she was
ready. Is
she ready?” Icheb asked.
“Not yet.
She should be in a minute or two.”
Samantha paused.
“Icheb,” she started slowly, “do you get to
greet
the people from this other ship that
we’ll be meeting?”
Icheb nodded. “That
is why I am to collect Naomi.
It is to be her, Captain Janeway, Lt. Commander
Tuvok and
myself.”
“Ah,”
Samantha said with a smile.
“That explains it.
If you’ll wait here I’ll help Naomi finish
getting ready.”
Icheb nodded.
Going into her daughter's bedroom
she saw that Naomi was already half dressed and needed
no help other than a
zipper and a couple of buttons on the back of the
jump suit she couldn’t get.
“Has
Captain Janeway told you what these aliens look like?”
Samantha asked her daughter as she buttoned the
jumpsuit.
“No,
because I was there on the bridge when we got hailed by
them. They’re
purple with green hair,” Naomi told
her mother again.
“Well,
we better hurry. Icheb is waiting.
He’s to accompany you to the transporter
room,” Samantha told the girl.
“Ooo.
Are you almost done, Mom?” Naomi asked.
“Yes,”
Samantha said, then gave Naomi a little shove.
“There you go.
All done.”
Naomi
smiled, racing out into the main room.
“Come on, Icheb!”
she cried grabbing the older boy’s hand.
“Let’s go!”
Samantha
just chuckled as she watched her daughter leave the
room.
****
Naomi stood
next to captain Janeway and Icheb.
She twitched excitedly.
The Telan Larien was about to beam
aboard with his companions.
This was the first time she’d been allowed to
meet the arriving guests in the
transporter room.
“Captain,
I’m receiving the signal,” the transporter chief
announced.
“Proceed
then,” Janeway ordered.
The
chief nodded, and several seconds later three beings
shimmered into existence before them.
Naomi
recognized the Telan Larien and with him was
another man, and someone behind him.
Naomi smiled brightly
hoping to give a good impression.
“Captain!”
Larien cried stepping forward.
As he stepped forward he revealed the person
behind him.
It was all Naomi could do not to
gasp in shock. Behind
Larien was a girl.
A human girl.
She had
on dull gray pants, and a shirt the same color that went
to her mid-thigh. She appeared to be about
twelve or thirteen human years old.
She wasn’t looking around, she had her head
bowed and her dark brown hair
was pulled back tight, into what Naomi’s mother
called a ‘French Braid.’
“This
is Tel Faren,” Larien said introducing the other man
who he had beamed aboard with.
Janeway
nodded and then motioned towards the girl.
“What about her?” she asked.
Larien
looked a little shocked that Janeway had asked.
“That?” he asked.
“It is only Danielle.”
“’Only
Danielle?’” Janeway quoted.
Larien
just gave Janeway one of those ‘looks’.
Naomi, tried not to giggle, it was the same type
of look that she
and Mezoti used to give Seven.
To see it from an adult was funny.
The one called Faren smiled down at her.
“Danielle
is nothing more than my slave,” Larien stated
mater-of-factly.
“Oh,”
Janeway said. Then
shook her head slightly as though to clear it.
“Well, would you like the tour?”
“I’d
love it.” Larien said with a smile.
Naomi
struggled to keep her smile, for a couple of reasons.
First off, the captain had forgotten to introduce
her,
Icheb and Tuvok. That,
and because of what Naomi had read of slavery all said
that it wasn’t good.
Now to
see this girl who was most likely human and a slave to
these men, or this man, it made her mad.
Naomi
nudged the captain gently, surprised Janeway looked
down.
“Oh!” Janeway cried.
“I’ve forgotten my manners.
Will you allow me to introduce you to the rest of
my party?”
“But
of course Captain!” Larien said smiling.
“This
is Lt. Commander Tuvok, our Chief of Security and third
in command,” Janeway said indicating towards
Tuvok.
“A
pleasure, Lt. Commander, I’m sure,” Larien said.
“Tuvok,
please, and likewise Mr. Larien,” Tuvok replied
“And
this is Icheb, and Naomi Wildman,” Janeway continued.
“Larien
smiled, “I am pleased to meet the both of you.”
As they
started the tour Icheb excused himself saying he had a
lesson with Seven; leaving Naomi on her own.
Larien attached himself to Janeway, and
Faren to Tuvok.
Naomi
trailed slightly behind them.
She kept glancing back at ‘Danielle,’ who
trailed even further behind then
Naomi did.
Finally,
they got to the mess hall.
“Would you like something to
eat?” Janeway offered Larien and Faren.
Both
nodded, “Please,” Larien said.
“Allow
me to introduce our chef.
This is Mr. Neelix.
Neelix, this is Telan Larien, and Tel Faren,”
Janeway said
introducing them to the Talaxian.
“Nice
to meet you all. Today’s
special is an Earth delicacy, a Bacon, Lettuce and
Tomato Sandwich,” Neelix said
brightly.
“I’d
love to try one,” Larien said.
“I
would as well,” Faren added.
“Oh,”
Naomi cried, “I want a BLT, too!”
“Captain? Mr. Vulcan what about you?” Neelix said asking the two.
“Please,
Neelix,” Janeway said.
“Very,
well,” Tuvok replied.
“And
for you my dear?”
Neelix asked turning to Danielle.
Janeway winced when Neelix asked.
“She’s
fine,” Larien told Neelix harshly.
Neelix
looked at Larien then nodded slowly.
“Naomi would you like to
help me bring some plates out?” Neelix asked the girl.
Nodding
Naomi went into the kitchen with Neelix.
“Neelix, I know the
definition of a slave, but what does it really mean?”
Naomi asked.
Neelix
almost dropped a plate, “Why do you want to know about
that?” he demanded.
“Because
Telan Larien said that Danielle...”
Naomi paused at Neelix’s confused look.
“Danielle is the girl,”
she told him after realizing he didn’t know who
Danielle was.
Once he nodded in understanding
Naomi continued.
“Anyway, Larien said that
Danielle was, ‘Nothing more’ than his slave.”
“Well,
Naomi, I can’t tell you for sure because I’ve never
been one before, but I do have a pretty good idea.
First
off, you can’t do anything you
want,” Neelix started.
“But
I don’t get to do anything I want,” protested Naomi.
Neelix
smiled painfully, “Let me finish,” he told Naomi,
who nodded.
“Besides not being able to
do anything, you have a master, or a mistress if your
owner is female. This
person
can do anything to you.
“Most
of the time, they just order you to do things,” Neelix
continued. “And
then if you don’t do something right,
they can beat you.
They can beat you with their hands or a club.
They can whip you,” Neelix shrugged.
“A lot
of other really bad things too.
Slavery is something I wouldn’t wish on
anyone.”
“Oh,”
Naomi said quietly.
“Neelix?”
“Yes?”
he asked as he put the rest of the BLT sandwiches
together.
“Is
it just me or does Danielle look human?” Naomi asked
quietly.
“No,
Naomi, it isn’t just you.” Neelix said quietly.
He handed her two plates.
“You can come back for yours
when you’ve delivered these,” he told her picking up
a couple of plates himself.
As the
two of them came near, Naomi heard something mentioned
by Janeway. A question actually.
“I heard you mention earlier, that
only certain members of your society are allowed to have
slaves. I was
hoping
you’d explain that to me.”
“Why
certainly,” Larien said smiling.
“First off, all Royalty above the age of 16 are
allowed to have slaves.
The
Royals are the only ones who are
allowed an unlimited amount of slaves, and they can only
have person slaves
and they rarely have more than one or
two. Once
you get out of the Royals, you must be in the military,
and
have a rank of Telan or above.”
“And
how is that decided?” Tuvok asked.
“Well,
prior to achieving the rank of Telan you spend two or
three years prior as a Tel observing different Telan’s.
When it is decided you may try
for the rank of Telan, one is taken out given a time
shuttle and one or two
crewmembers.
You are told how many turns to go back and which
sector to go back to. It is there you must
acquire a slave from.
Once you have the slave you are given the rank
Telan, your own vessel and told to train your
slave.”
“So,
is it the higher the rank the more slaves?” Tuvok
asked.
“Yes. To acquire more slaves one must first acquire a higher rank.
A Fel is allowed to have two slaves and a
Felan is allowed three.
Felan is our highest rank,” Larien carefully
explained. “Do
you understand?”
Janeway
nodded. “Yes,
thank you. If I may ask how long have you been a Telan?”
“Six
months.”
“Really? What planet did you get Danielle from?”
The
Telan shrugged. “Danielle!” he barked out.
As Naomi watched the girl jumped,
then with head still bowed scurried quickly over to
Telan Larien.
“Good girl,” the
Telan said patting her on the head.
“Tell Captain Janeway the name of the planet
you came from
or at least what it was
called.”
Danielle
turned so she faced Captain Janeway, “I came from the
planet Earth,” she said quietly.
“What
century, child?” Janeway asked.
“Early
21st,” Danielle replied.
Naomi gasped.
Janeway, Larien and Danielle looked at her.
Almost immediately Danielle looked back down.
Then, right after Danielle looked down,
Larien looked over at her, and for some reason patted
her.
“Naomi
are you okay?” Captain Janeway asked.
Naomi
nodded her head. “Yes, I just stubbed my toe,” she
lied thinking quickly.
“Oh, here are your sandwiches,”
she told Larien and Janeway handing
them each a plate.
“Thank
you child,” Larien said accepting the plate from
Naomi.
Naomi
nodded and then turned around went back to the kitchen
and got her plate.
Eating quickly Naomi left for
her lesson with the Doctor.
Three
days later Naomi was heading to her lesson with the
Doctor thinking for once about nothing, when she
rounded the corner and found herself face-to-face
with Lt. Commander Tuvok.
“Hello, Tuvok,” Naomi said
brightly.
“The
captain requires your presence. You will come with
me,” Tuvok stated.
Naomi
shrugged, “Okay,” she said smiling as they walked
down the hallway.
Naomi frowned.
“Tuvok, why didn’t Captain Janeway just call
me over the comm?”
“She
did not wish the Telan Larien to know that she was
sending for you,” Tuvok said flatly.
“Oh.”
Then another thought, “Why doesn’t she want Telan
Larien to know she was getting me?” Naomi asked.
“I
do not know.”
“Why
does the captain want me?”
“That
is up to her to explain to you.”
“But
Tuvok-“ Naomi started.
“Miss
Wildman,” Tuvok said with an eyebrow raised. “Be
patient. It
will be explained shortly.”
Naomi
sighed as they stepped onto the turbolift.
It was going to be one long ride up the bridge.
However, Tuvok
surprised her by ordering the lift to sickbay
instead of to the bridge, where she had been heading in
the first place.
Following
Tuvok off the lift, they entered sickbay. Quite a sight
met her eyes. Chakotay
and Faren glaring at each
other about to come to blows, the same with the
doctor and Larien.
The captain was standing next to a bio-bed
which was occupied by Danielle who looked like
something between scared and frantic.
They
went over to the captain who smiled in relief when she
saw them.
“Naomi, I need you to do
something for me. Larien
said that he would sell, or trade, rather, Danielle.
However,
his one stipulation was that she say
that she wanted to go with us.
I need you to convince her.
Do you think
you can do that?”
Naomi
frowned; it was up to her. Could she do this?
After several moments f thought Naomi nodded,
“I’ll try my
hardest captain.”
“That
is all I ever ask form any of my officers,” Janeway
said with a smile.
Then she stood up.
“ENOUGH!” she yelled.
“Now, Larien, Faren, Chakotay, Doctor and Mr.
Tuvok, come with me.
I want Naomi to
have a quiet minute with Danielle. Alone.”
That said she ushered everyone out leaving
Naomi alone with Danielle.
“Hello. My name is Naomi. In case you didn’t know,” Naomi said slowly
introducing herself.
Danielle didn’t say anything.
Only got off the bio-bed and started looking
around.
“Can I get you anything? Answer any questions you have?”
“What
species are you?” Danielle asked, still not looking at
Naomi.
“Me? I’m half-K'tarian and half-Human. Most of the crew on Voyager is Human, like you,” Naomi told
the girl.
Danielle
turned to Naomi, tears glistening in her eyes.
“And you don’t think I
realized that? I’m
not stupid. Though,
you’re human, or most of this ship is, and yet they
want to make me a slave.
Or, rather, keep me as a slave?
No, thank you. I’d rather have the shame with a
species that’s never heard of mine,
or at least, doesn’t know where I’m from.”
Naomi
was shocked. Danielle
thought that they were going to keep her as a slave?
That went against everything
the Federation stood for.
After all, didn’t Star Fleet try to stop the
Orion slave trade business?
Or at least that’s
what she had read.
“But you don’t
understand!” she blurted out.
“Oh,
really?” Danielle asked.
“Care to explain it to me than?”
“Sure,”
Naomi said heatedly.
“First off, slavery goes against everything
that Star Fleet stands for, and you won’t
be a slave here.
Star Fleet tries to stop slavery when they can.
Second off, nobody on this ship would stand
for
it, if you were to be kept a slave. You’ll be given your freedom back, if you come with us.”
Danielle
looked at Naomi, her eyes full of tears.
This time, Naomi realized of joy.
“Truthfully?” she asked.
Naomi
nodded. “So
are you going to talk with Larien?”
Danielle
didn’t answer, but this time, turned and walked right
over into the other room, head up, for the first
time
Naomi had ever seen, and walked strait over to
Larien. Naomi
followed closely behind.
“I’m not going to go with
you. I’m
staying here,” she stated firmly.
Larien looked startled and Faren shocked.
Finally Larien nodded.
“The agreement was she say it to my
face,” he said turning to Janeway. “And she did.
Now, in exchange for that
replicator technology, she’s
yours.”
Janeway
smiled, “Does she have anything on your ship?”
Larien
shook his head, “The only thing she came to us in were
clothes, and they were destroyed almost
immediately.”
“Very
well then,” Janeway said.
“Naomi, take her to your quarters and tell you
mother I’ll be there soon.”
Nodding,
Naomi grabbed Danielle’s hand, and walked quickly from
sickbay. Danielle
came with her and never
glanced back again.
****
Eleven Months Later
“Danielle!
Wait up!” Naomi called running after the friend
when she caught sight of her.
In front of her the older girl slowed.
“Where are you going?”
Naomi asked once she had caught up.
“The
mess hall,” Danielle told Naomi.
“It’s lunch time and I’m hungry.”
Naomi
smiled, “Me to…on both.”
The two girls laughed.
“Hey, did you hear the
rumor? I
know we met and are trading with a ship.
Rumor is they’re human or at least
descendants of humans.”
“Really?”
Danielle asked with lack of enthusiasm.
“That’s cool,” she said her thoughts
obviously elsewhere.
Naomi
didn’t’ press her.
Instead they continued to the mess hall where
they got lunch, a ‘grilled cheese’
sandwich with fries, fruit and milk.
Janeway sighed.
This group disturbed her.
There was just something about them.
They all wore swords for one.
They were human and they swore they wouldn’t
draw the swords, but they still bothered her. The
one who was their
leader appeared to be at most Harry’s age and
all she would say was that they were older than they
looked. They
all had an almost…ageless quality to them.
“This
is the mess hall,” Janeway said.
The group nodded.
“This is our chef, Mr. Neelix,” Janeway said
introducing the Talaxian as he came around the counter.
“Neelix this
is Aldria,” she said indicating the
young leader. “And this Duncan, Leo and Orion,” she
said pointing out the
others.
“Wonderful
to meet you!” Neelix
said smiling.
Aldria
smiled and shook his hand, “Likewise,” she said
diplomatically.
Turning from Neelix she looked around.
Suddenly she gasped, “Danni?” she
half-whispered, half-croaked out.
Danielle
who had just about been ready to leave with Naomi froze.
Slowly she turned around.
As she did Aldria’s
hand flew to her mouth.
Danielle took a couple of hesitant steps forward.
Aldria dropped her hand. “My God, it is
you!” she cried and raced forward.
Danielle met Aldria about halfway both were
hugging and sobbing.
“Captain?
What’s happening?” Naomi asked coming up to Janeway.
“That’s
what I’d like to know, Naomi,” Janeway said turning
towards the three men.
“In
the early 21st century, year 2003 to be
specific,” Duncan started slowly, never taking his
eyes from Danielle
and Aldria.
“There was the perfect family, or as close to
perfect as possible, husband, wife and two kids.
The
oldest child was Al, and the
youngest, Danni. One
day in mid-May Danni disappeared.
For six months the
police, FBI and PI’s as well as
volunteers searched. The only suspect they had for Danni’s bus driver, who was
cleared almost immediately, because
Danni was one of the first off, not the last.”
“After
six months, with no leads, no evidence and no luck they
called off the search,” Leo continued.
“Al’s mother
when downhill form there.
To the day one year after they called of the
search, Al’s mother was dead.
Al and Al’s
father moved after that, to
many memories. Six months after Al’s mother died, Al’s father committed
suicide.
Al at that time had just turned
18. Al went
off to college, and just after Al graduated, World War
Three started,
and all disappeared.”
“That’s
all well and good, but what does it have to do with
that?” Janeway asked interrupting and indicating in
the
direction of Aldria and Danielle.
Duncan
sighed, “Most assumed that Al died.
That was not the case.
Al was born with a rare human gene, which
is now completely bred out of humanity.
It is the same gene I, Leo and Orion have.
I was born in 1492, Leo in
1933 and Orion in 1945.”
“But
that’s not possible! Janeway
cried, interrupting again.
Orion
smiled, “Aah, but it is.
That gene allows humans immortality.
Aldria is the ‘Al’ in the story and Danni, is
Danielle.
Those two,” he pointed towards Danielle and
Aldria, “are sisters.”
Suddenly Orion frowned.
“Danielle doesn’t have the gene though,” he
turned to Janeway. “How is it she is here in
the 24th century?”
“She
was kidnapped by the Orathy,” Aldria said coming up.
“The
Orathy?” Janeway and Duncan asked at the same time.
Aldria
chuckled, “Yes, the Orathy.
The species Telan Larien belongs to,” she said
to Janeway. “Felan
Lasè
species,” she said turning to Duncan, Leo
and Orion, who nodded.
“Danielle,
I am pleased to meet you, and glad you are not dead,”
Duncan said stepping forward to shake
Danielle’s hand.
“Thanks…I
think,” Danielle said.
“Danielle,
this is Duncan, my husband,” Aldria said softly.
“Your
husband?!” Danielle cried.
“But you’re not old enough!”
“Danielle,
I am almost 400 years old.
I haven’t aged physically, much but I am old
enough to have a husband,”
Aldria said. Then she chuckled, “No children yet though.”
“Well,”
Janeway said interrupting, “we have a lot to talk
about.”
“Yeah!”
Naomi said fists planted on her hips, still looking back
and forth between Danielle and Aldria.
Aldria
smiled, “That we do."
Naomi
watched sadly as her mother hugged Danielle.
She bit her lip to keep from crying.
“We’ll
miss you Danielle.
You’ve been with us almost a year.
I love you like I love Naomi,” Samantha Wildman
was saying. “But you deserve to be
with your own family.”
“Thank
you,” Danielle whispered so Naomi could hardly hear
her. “Thank
you so much. You
did so much for me,
I can never thank you
enough.”
“Just
be happy, Danielle, be happy,” Samantha whispered
back.
As the
two parted, Naomi saw that both had been crying.
She bit her lip harder.
Danielle moved over to her.
“Naomi,
Thank you. You
gave me the courage to leave Larien and you are my
friend. Probably
the only true
friend I ever had.
My sister sad you should be home within ten
years. We
have some people we need to talk
with then we’re going back to
Earth,” Danielle smiled through her tears.
“This
isn’t good bye forever then?” Naomi asked.
Danielle
shook her head. “Ten
maybe fifteen years and we’ll see each other again.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
“Okay
then,” with that the two friends hugged.
“Never forget,” Naomi whispered.
“I
won’t, I promise,” Danielle replied softly.
“Danielle,
we need to go now,” Aldria interrupted gently.
Danielle
nodded, gave Naomi one more squeeze, “Soon,” she
promised then stepped back.
Aldria
nodded to Janeway, Samantha and Naomi.
She then tapped a hand held communicator.
“We’re ready.”
And with that the transporter gripped them
and Danielle and Aldria disappeared from sight.
Sixteen Years Later
Risa
Twenty-one
year old Lt. Naomi Wildman lay on the beach sunbathing.
In three weeks after her leave of absence
she would get a promotion and would be assigned
to the newly out fitted Voyager to return to the Delta
Quadrant.
“Naomi
Wildman?” a voice asked from behind her.
Naomi
shifted position and turned so she could see whom it was
that had called her name.
It was a young woman
who looked like she was maybe a couple years
older than she was.
The young woman had brown hair, and brown
eyes. The
hair was pulled back into a French braid.
Something about this woman was very familiar.
“Yes, I’m Naomi Wildman,”
she said carefully.
The
other woman smiled, “Well, I suppose you don’t
remember me, or if you do, you certainly don’t
recognize
me, but we used to be friends, back
about sixteen years ago.”
Naomi
shook her head, “I’m sorry, we couldn’t have been.
Sixteen years ago I was in the Delta Quadrant.”
The
young woman sighed but nodded her head, “I know you
were, and so was I, even though, I didn’t, don’t
belong
in this time, let alone that quadrant.
Naomi please, you must remember me.
It’s me, Danielle.”
Naomi
shook her head, “I’m sorry, I don’t know any
Dan-“ suddenly Naomi cut herself off. The memory came
flooding back to her of a young human girl, who
had been a slave, but wasn’t anymore.
“Danielle!” Naomi cried
jumping up to give her friend a hug.
Danielle
smiled through tears.
“I promised I wouldn’t forget you, and that
we’d see each other again.
I promised
and here I am.
I would have come and found you sooner but we had
some things we needed to do, once we got
back to the Alpha Quadrant.”
“Like
what?” Naomi asked as stepped out of the hug and sat
down motioning for her friend to join her on the
beach.
“We
went to Earth,” Danielle said sitting down.
“But I didn’t go down.
I don’t want to see the changes that have
been made in over 400 years.
If I ever live planet side again, it won’t be
on Earth.”
“Ah,
well, you’ll never guess what all has happened for me
in the last sixteen years,” Naomi said.
“Oh,
do tell!” Danielle said a smile on her face.
And with
that, the two friends began to relate what has occurred
in their lives in the last sixteen years.
They knew
that they would never be out of touch again.
Danielle made contact with the new captain of Voyager
who turned out
to be Harry Kim.
Captain Kim was more than willing to let an old
friend join them on their new mission.
So,
Danielle did.
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