[posted 12/16/98] Here's a story! :) I actually wrote this stroy about 6 months ago, but my computer hid it from me for a while. (Remember this story, Lauren?) I haven't seen Voyager in soooo long, so please forgive me if there are any mistakes. I want feedback. It's kinda long, so I'm sorry if it takes a while to download. ~Amy The Other Side of the Mirror By: Amy Michelle ©1998 Disclaimer: ‘Star Trek: Voyager’ and all its characters are owned by Paramount Pictures. All lyrics are owned by the individual who composed them. No infringements on any copyrights is intended. Dedication: To my favorite cousin, Lauren Taylor! You are the best! Notes: Hold on to your hats boys and girls, it’s an alternate universe story! Yeah, it can be confusing at times, but try to keep up. :-) This story is told from Tom’s point-of-view. It takes place between seasons four and five. Rating: PG-13 ***************************** “I know who I am, but who are you? You’re not looking like you used to You’re on the other side of the mirror So nothing’s looking quiet as clear....” -No Doubt, ‘Sunday Morning’ ***************************** I let my eyes slowly wander over the bridge. Days like this are a pilot’s worst nightmare. I’m not sure which is worse, working in sickbay or being at a dead stop. At least in sickbay I feel needed. Harry picked up some anomaly on long- range sensors, and of course Captain Janeway wanted to investigate. I’d rather be warping through space then at a dead stop. Even Neelix’s cooking is better than just hanging in space. My shift seemed to last forever. I found myself looking forward to dinner with B’Elanna even more. “Illogical,” I heard Tuvok’s ever-steady voice say. I noted that was the seventh time he had said ‘illogical’ since my shift began. I never realized how much Vulcans used that word. “Captain,” Tuvok continued, “these sensor readings are similar to that of a wormhole, however, it does not appear to have an ending.” “No ending?” Captain Janeway asked. “Every wormhole leads somewhere.” “Apparently this one does not,” the Vulcan security chief said. “Harry,” Janeway said, positioning herself in her chair to face his station, “go down to astrometrics and see if you can find out anything more about this wormhole. It has to end somewhere and I want to know where.” “Yes, ma’am,” Harry said and headed towards the turbolift. I envied him. At least he had something to do. I, on the other hand, had resorted to playing a mental game of connect the dots with the stars scattered on the viewscreen. I searched the mass of tiny white dots looking for pictures, much like ancient sailors had did with the constellations. Behind me, I could heard Captain Janeway and Chakotay talking softly. “This could be it, Chakotay,” I heard the captain say. “A way home. Or at least a shortcut.” “Don’t set yourself up for disappointment again, Kathryn,” Chakotay warned. “You know how let down the crew was when the relay station was destroyed by the Hirogen.” “I know,” Janeway said. “But, now that Starfleet knows we’re alive, it just makes me want to get home even more.” Speak for yourself, Captain. Home is where the heart is, the old saying goes. And, my heart is certainly on Voyager...and with B’Elanna. ***************************** I sat at my usual table with Harry listening to him go on about the wormhole and waiting for B’Elanna. She entered the room and headed straight for Harry and me. I stood to greet her. Wrapping my arms around her, I kissed her softly on the lips. “Ahem,” Harry nosily cleared his throat after a few moments of our display of affection. “Didn’t the captain warn you two about that?” Harry asked teasingly. I laughed, but I don’t think B’Elanna thought it was too funny. She was still getting used to us being together in public. I think the crew was still getting used to seeing us together as well. I know that a lot of people always speculated that B’Elanna and I were together, but no one knew for sure. “Well, my day was boring as hell,” I said trying to make conversation. “Mine was quiet interesting,” Harry offered. “Let me guess, the wormhole?” B’Elanna said. Harry nodded. “Don’t get your hopes up again, Harry,” I warned. I know how much Harry misses Earth. The poor guy was so disappointed when Starfleet’s message said they couldn’t get us home just yet. “What?” Harry asked defensively. “I...well, ever since I got that letter from my parents, all I can think about is home.” I was almost jealous of Harry. He had a great life. If I were as lucky as he were, I suppose I would want to go back, too. But, I wasn’t that lucky and as far as I was concerned, I could stay in the Delta Quadrant forever. “Tom’s right,” B’Elanna chimed in “You shouldn’t set yourself up for disappointment. From what I heard, the don’t even know where this wormhole leads.” “We don’t, yet,” Harry said, placing emphasis on the word ‘yet.’ “But, Seven and I are working on it. I have a good feeling about this.” ***************************** B’Elanna and I walked down the corridor in the direction of my quarters. B’Elanna made casual conversation on the way, telling me about her day. We reached my door, and I pulled B’Elanna close for a kiss. “Come in?” I asked her. “I can’t,” She insisted. “Please?” I asked. “Tom, I’m tired,” She said defiantly crossing her arms across her chest. “I don’t want to be alone tonight,” I said, surprising even myself with the admission. B’Elanna’s look softened and she followed me into my quarters. We started out sitting on my couch, but after a few moments we were lying there, holding each other. I tired to make casual conversation, but failed. I hoped that B’Elanna wouldn’t notice. “Tom?” She asked. “What’s wrong?” I tried to think of something to say, or to try to make a joke, but it was no use. B’Elanna knew me too well. “I don’t know,” I finally said. It was the truth, I really didn’t know. “I just...” I trailed off. “It’s okay,” B’Elanna whispered as she moved her hands to cup my face. Her brown eyes meet mine. I shivered. It was almost as if she could see right through me, to my soul. “When everyone starts talking about home, it makes me realize how lucky I am here. I love you, B’Elanna,” I said softly. “I love you, too,” B’Elanna smiled. “But, I have to go.” She stood and turned to walk towards the door. “Oh, come on, B’Elanna,” I said pulling her back down to the couch. She tripped and landed on top of me. “Tom,” She said sternly. “I’m tired. I need to go get some sleep.” Her voice conveyed that she wanted to leave, however, her body didn’t move. “You can sleep here,” I offered with a smile. She gave me exasperated look. “We both know you don’t want to sleep,” She said as if reading my mind. “Okay, okay, go,” I said pretending to be hurt. B’Elanna laughed and pushed herself off of me. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning at the staff meeting,” She said as she headed towards the door. I must have given her a confused look because she stopped and said, “Don't tell me you forgot.” “No, of course not,” I said nonchalantly. “Staff meeting, tomorrow morning.” “0700,” She said. “Right,” I agreed. “0700.” “Tom, you did forget!” B’Elanna said. “The meeting is at 0800.” Busted. “I knew that!” I said. “I was just...testing you.” “Sure,” B’Elanna said. “See you at 0800, helmboy.” She blew me a kiss and then exited the room. ***************************** I arrived at the staff meeting at exactly 0800 the next morning. I took my usual seat, next to Harry, and across from B’Elanna. Harry looked as if he hadn’t slept. He probably stayed up all night studying the wormhole, I guessed. “Harry and Seven have found enough information about this wormhole that I’m willing to let a shuttle go through,” Janeway said in her usual manner of getting right down to business. “Captain,” Tuvok interrupted. “That would not be advisable. There is no way of determining where the shuttle would end up.” “We would maintain an open comm link the entire time, and would be able to transport the away team back at the first sign of trouble,” Janeway said. “I volunteer to go on the away mission,” Harry spoke up. I hoped that Captain Janeway would allow me to go along as well. I feel as thought I’ll go crazy if I don’t get to do some real piloting soon. “Request denied, Ensign,” Janeway said. “But,” Harry began to argue. “You’ve been up for almost 36 hours. We need someone fully awake in that shuttle. You need sleep, Harry,” Janeway said firmly. “And, that’s an order,” She added. I knew Harry was disappointed, but he didn’t let it show. I think he was too tired. “Tom and B’Elanna, you will take the shuttle through the wormhole,” Captain Janeway told us. I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn’t often that B’Elanna and I were teamed up for away missions. It may have been my imagination, but I think that captain was a little uneasy about letting us take a shuttle out all by ourselves -- especially after what happened the last time. “You’ll leave as soon as possible,” Janeway said. “Dismissed.” ***************************** “I’ve never piloted through a wormhole before,” I admitted to B’Elanna as we entered the shuttle. “I’m sure you’ll do fine,” She encouraged me. “Paris to the bridge,” I said as I tapped my commbadge. “We’re ready.” “Understood,” Janeway said. “We’ll maintain an open comm link the entire time. Good luck.” The shuttle bay doors opened and soon we were surrounded by the blackness of space. I laid in a course away from Voyager towards the coordinates of the wormhole. We reached the coordinates, an electric blue burst of light splashed across the blackness. The mouth of the wormhole swirled open. It was the most breathtaking sight that I had ever seen. “It’s beautiful,” B’Elanna whispered, more to herself than to me. The shuttle entered the wormhole and proceeded on course. Suddenly, the entire shuttle rocked violently. “What was that?!” I asked B’Elanna. “I’m not sure,” She answered as her fingers danced across the controls on her console. “It looks like some random ion turbulence.” “Paris to Voyager,” I said. “We’ve run into some random ion turbulence. It’s making it difficult to pilot.” The only response was the faint sound of static. “Paris to Voyager,” I said again. “Voyager, do you read?” “We’ve lost communications. Ion interference,” She explained. The small shuttle bucked once more. B’Elanna was thrown forward, cracking her head against her console, and knocking herself unconscious. “B’Elanna!” I shouted. I wanted to see if she was okay, but I had to get the shuttle under control first. Finally, the end of the wormhole opened up. I was shocked by the sight that met my eyes. Dead ahead of me, orbiting, was Voyager. “Paris to Voyager,” I tried hailing them, but to no avail. The shuttle was enclosed by a tractor beam that began pulling us towards the ship. I found myself engulfed in tiny blue sparkles; someone was trying to beam me somewhere. I glance over at B’Elanna, and she, too was surrounded by a transporter beam. The inside of the shuttle disappeared from around us, and I found myself in new surroundings. It looked exactly like a holding cell. I was on Voyager! But, why was I in the brig? B’Elanna was lying on the floor of the holding cell. I moved next to her to check on her. She had a bloody gash on her brow ridges. “B’Elanna?” I said softly. There was no answer. She was still unconscious. I wrapped my arms around her and gathered her close to me. That’s when I noticed we weren’t alone. There was a woman standing outside the holding cell, watching my every move, her hand on her phaser. She looked oddly familiar. Where had I seen that face before? It was Seven of Nine, yet she looked so different. Instead of her metallic gray catsuit, she was wearing loose-fitting civilian clothes. Her blonde hair was let down and flowed a little past her shoulders. She didn’t have a Borg implant above her left eye. She must have noticed I was starring. “What are you looking at?!” She demanded. Her voice wasn’t the controlled monotonous tone that I was used to hearing from Seven. Instead, it was forceful and filled with emotion. I shook my head. “Uh...nothing,” I stammered. “Look, she’s hurt,” I motioned to B’Elanna. “She needs to see a doctor.” “I’ll talk to the captain about it,” the woman said. I heard the doors swoosh open, and looked to see who had entered. My mouth dropped in amazement. It was me. Or at least someone who looked exactly like me. “The captain told me to take over,” my look-alike told the blonde woman. “Fine,” the woman answered and handed him her phaser. She started to walk away, but he grabbed her arm. “Leaving so soon, Annika?” He asked. “Where are you going?” “Away from you, Paris,” Annika answered. She jerked her arm trying to loosen his grip, but he just held tighter and pulled her closer to him so that they were only inches apart. “Still playing hard to get, I see,” He said, “As far as you’re concerned, I’m impossible to get. Now let me go!” She ordered. He let go of her arm, and she left the room. He then turned and looked at me. Neither of us said a word for what seemed like an eternity, until he spoke. “So, you’re him...uh, me?” He asked. I held B’Elanna closer to me as we sat on the floor of the holding cell. “Yeah, I guess I am,” I answered. I was worried about B’Elanna. She was bleeding profusely from the gash on her head and she looked pale. “She needs to see the doctor,” I said. “Can you ask Captain Janeway if she’ll allow B’Elanna to see the doctor?” “Captain Janeway?” The other Tom asked me. He began to laugh. “I haven’t heard that name in a long time.” “She’s not captain here?” I asked. “Are you kidding?” He said. “We’d never make it home if we had to follow Starfleet regulations. Chakotay’s captain of Voyager.” “What happened to Captain Janeway?” I inquired. “She’s dead. Chakotay killed her,” Tom stated matter-of- factly. “And, as much as I can’t stand that guy, killing her was the best thing he’s ever done.” I was shocked. Chakotay was a lot of things, but a murderer was not of them. This Voyager was very different than the one I was used to. “You know, it’s weird,” My look-alike said to me. “Seeing myself in that uniform. Torres, too.” So, there is another B’Elanna on the Voyager. I wonder who else is here -- and who isn’t. Annika entered the room again. “Back so soon, Annika?” Tom asked her. “Did you miss me?” “You wish, Paris,” Annika retorted. “The captain says she can see the doctor.” Annika pushed a few buttons on the control panel on the wall. The forcefeild lowered. “Wake her,” she ordered me. “No,” I answered. “Let me take her to sickbay.” “Chakotay won’t like this,” She warned. “Then he can take it up with me!” I yelled at her. “But, I’m not letting B’Elanna out of my sight.” “Fine,” Annika replied. “But, I’ll not take responsibility for this. Paris, you can escort them to sickbay.” “All right,” Tom said. “Let’s go.” I scooped B’Elanna up in my arms and followed my look-alike out of the brig down the corridors. I saw several more crewmembers whom I recognized -- Henley, Nicoletti, Ayala. They were all wearing civilian clothing. I felt as if everyone was staring at me the whole way to sickbay. “What are they all looking at?” I asked the other Tom. “Let’s see, you look just like me, and you’re wearing a Starfleet uniform, carrying an unconscious Torres who is also wearing a Starfleet uniform. I’d stare, too,” He told me sarcastically. I really did not like this guy. I suppose that was a bad thing, considering that he was me. No, he wasn’t me anymore than I was him. We entered sickbay and I gently placed B’Elanna on the nearest biobed. The EMH came wandering out of his office. I felt relieved to see another Starfleet uniform, even if it was on a hologram. He looked from me to the other Tom, and then down at B’Elanna. A question formed on his lips, but before he could ask, we both said, “It’s a long story.” “She hit her head on he console,” I explained tot he Doctor. “She’s been unconscious ever since.” The doctor scanned B’Elanna with a medical tricorder. “The wound is mostly superficial, it will be easy to heal,” He announced, much to my relief. He picked up a dermal regenerator from a nearby table and began using in on B’Elanna’s brow. The wound disappeared, leaving her ridges once again unflawed. He pressed a hypospray to her neck. Her eyes began to blink open. I rushed to her side and took her hand in mine. “Tom,” She said softly. She reached her head to her forehead to feel for a wound. Then, she tried to sit up. “Careful,” I warned her as I helped her into a sitting position. “What happened?” She asked. “Why are we back on Voyager? Where did the wormhole lead?” All her questions seemed to blend together, and she wanted them all answered. “We’re not exactly on Voyager,” I tried to explain. She looked at me with a confused expression. I nodded my head over her shoulder. She turned to see the other Tom standing there, with a grin on his face. “Surprise, ‘Lanna!” He smirked. She turned back to me for an answer. “I haven’t figured it out yet, either,” The Doctor interrupted. He was scanning both of us with his tricorder. “Their genetic make-up is completely identical. And, you’re genetic make-up is identical to that of Lieutenant Torres.” “I am Lieutenant Torres,” B’Elanna insisted. “Not exactly,” He said. “At least here you’re not.” “Tom,” She said to me on the verge of tears. “What is going on here?!” Her voice was begging for answers, but I had none to give her. “I’m not sure,” I said. “I think the wormhole somehow took us to an alternate universe.” “I have to take you back to the brig now,” the other Tom said before B’Elanna and I could continue our conversation. I helped B’Elanna ease herself off the biobed. I took her hand and we walked out of sickbay, my look-alike following close behind us. “So, maybe things aren’t as different in your universe as I thought,” Tom said. I turned around to ask him what he meant. He merely motioned to mine and B’Elanna’s hands. B’Elanna gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. I wondered what my look-alike meant by his comment, but I didn’t have time to ask. B’Elanna and I were forced back into a holding cell. I sat on the floor, my arms wrapped around B’Elanna. She rested her head against my chest. I knew she was tired. I was, too. But, I couldn’t sleep even if I tried. I wanted to tell B’Elanna what I had learned about this Voyager so far, but I didn’t want my double to hear us. I heard the familiar sound of the doors opening. We had another visitor. It was Chakotay. “Leave,” Chakotay said forcefully to Tom. Tom looked like he wanted to protest, but before he could talk, Chakotay added, “Now!” My look-alike stomped away, like a child being sent to his room. Chakotay looked at B’Elanna and me as if scrutinizing us. B’Elanna shifted uncomfortably under his gaze and sat herself into an upright position. “You’re probably hungry,” Chakotay finally spoke. I hadn’t realized how hungry I actually was until he mentioned it. “I’ll let you out of the brig,” He continued. “I’ll assign you some quarters. But, don’t even try anything funny.” “What are you going to do with us?” I demanded. “Just what I need!” Chakotay said sarcastically. “Another loud-mouthed Tom Paris.” I tried not to let it show, but I was scared. This Chakotay was a killer. He had killed Captain Janeway, and he could kill B’Elanna and me. “I haven’t really thought about it yet,” Chakotay said. He moved to the wall and lowered the forcefield. I stood and helped B’Elanna to her feet. “Just remember what I said,” Chakotay told us and he turned to leave the room. “Don’t try anything funny. Or I promise, you’ll never get back to your Voyager.” The door closed behind Chakotay and B’Elanna turned to me. “Where’s Captain Janeway?” She asked. “Dead,” I answered. “The other Tom told me that Chakotay killed her.” B’Elanna stared at me blankly. I tried to find some idea of what she was thinking on her face, but I couldn’t. “We’ve got to get out of here, Tom,” She said softly. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her into an embrace. “We will,” I promised. “But, we need to eat now, let’s go to the mess hall.” ***************************** B’Elanna and I entered the mess hall. It was crowded, as our mess hall usually was. I recognized most of the faces, but the truth was, I didn’t really *know* any of these people. Everyone was in civilian clothing. I’m not sure if Voyager was a Mauqis ship, but it wasn’t Starfleet. I noticed that Neelix wasn’t behind the counter cooking up some odd concoction. People were instead ordering food from the replicators. I wonder how that was possible, seeing as how were had to use rations on our Voyager. I told B’Elanna to sit at a table and that I would get us both something to eat. I walked to the replicator and ordered us both hot, plain, tomato soup. B’Elanna and I sat in silence for a few moments eating our soup. “Have you seen her?” B’Elanna asked me. “Who?” I wondered. “My double,” She said. “Have you seen her?” “No, not yet,” I informed her. “What about Tuvok, or Harry?” She asked. “Or any of the other senior officers?” “No,” I answered. “Only my look-alike, Chakotay, and some woman who looks like Seven.” At that moment, Harry Kim entered the mess hall. Or at least someone who looked just like him. “I’m going to go try and talk to him,” I told B’Elanna. “Be careful,” She warned. “Careful?” I shrugged her off. “Come on, it’s Harry!” I walked over to the table where Harry was sitting all by himself. He didn’t seem to notice me. Either that, or he was trying to ignore me. I cleared my throat to get his attention. “What?” He asked looking up at me. “Can I join you?” I asked motioning to the empty chair across from him. “Yeah, whatever,” Harry responded. He was different than the Harry I was used to. He seemed angry. I pulled out the chair and sat down. “So,” I said trying to start a conversation. “What do you want from me?” Harry asked bluntly. “Want from you?” I asked, confusion evident in my tone. “We’re friends, Harry,” I said. “Or at least where I come from we are.” “Friends?” Harry asked. “I have no friends.” That didn’t seem right. Harry was the nicest person I knew. It was hard to imagine him without any friends. “Hi, Harry,” I heard a voice behind me say. I turned to see the woman they called Annika standing there. Harry nodded in response, but said nothing. “What are doing later?” She asked. Harry rolled his eyes at her. “Whatever it is, I’ll be alone,” He said coldly. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.” With that, he stood and brushed past Annika and left the room. I turned towards the woman. “Is he always like that?” I asked. “Most of the time,” She said. I stood and walked back towards the table where B’Elanna was sitting, Annika walking next to me. “About earlier,” Annika said uncomfortably. “I think I misjudged you. I thought anyone with the name Tom Paris had to be a jerk.” “No problem,” I said casually. We continued walking until we reached the table that B’Elanna was sitting at. B’Elanna looked up from her soup. “Seven?” She asked. “Uh, no,” I said. “This is Annika.” Annika looked at us strangely. “Would you like to join us?” I asked. “Sure,” She said. I sat back down in my chair across from B’Elanna. Annika took the seat next to B’Elanna. “How did it go?” B’Elanna asked referring to my conversation with Harry. “Not to well,” I admitted. “Good luck trying to get through to him,” Annika said sarcastically. “Why is he so angry with everyone?” I asked. “He wasn’t always like that,” She said. “When our two crews first joined together, he was so nice and outgoing. He tried hard to make friends with everyone and make everyone feel welcomed. Then, Chakotay and a few of the others started talking about a mutiny. They didn’t like the way that Janeway was handling things.” “What happened?” B’Elanna urged Annika to continue with her story. “Harry was one of the few people who supported Captain Janeway,” Annika continued. “He got a lot of trouble from people for that. Especially Tom and Chakotay. After Janeway was killed, they told Harry, ‘Either our way or you’ll end up just like your Captain.’” “That’s horrible,” B’Elanna said. “Yeah,” Annika agreed. “It is. Harry changed a lot because of that. He doesn’t trust anyone. He’s always so withdrawn.” The more time I spent on this Voyager, the more I hated it. “I try to get him to be more social,” Annika said referring to Harry. “I try to stick up for him when the others give a hard time. He just tells me he doesn’t need anyone to stick up for him. Plus, the others usually give me a hard time for sticking up for him.” “If everyone is so unhappy,” I said. “Why don’t you form another mutiny?” “Because unhappiness is a small price to pay to get home,” Annika answered. It didn’t look to me like they were any closer to getting home than we were. Chakotay must have filled their heads with false promises and lies of getting home. I didn’t want to disappoint Annika, so I kept quiet. “Am I on your Voyager?” Annika asked. “In a way,” B’Elanna said. Annika looked at her bewildered. “I don’t understand.” “You’re a Borg,” I said. “Or at least you were until we severed you from the collective.” “A Borg?” Annika asked in a tone of disgust. I don’t think she liked the idea of being a drone. “Yes,” I confirmed. “Seven of Nine.” “You two are so different from the people you are here,” Annika said. Then, she looked at B’Elanna and I holding hands across the table. “OK, maybe you’re not *that* different,” She said motioning to our hands. That was the second time that someone had mentioned that. I was curious. “What’s that supposed to mean?” B’Elanna asked before I could. “Well,” Annika hesitated. “You two are obviously...close.” Annika really didn’t answer B’Elanna’s question. But, before we could inquire further of her, she had to leave. “I’m due in engineering soon,” She said. “But, if you need anything, ask me.” With that, she left. “You know,” B’Elanna said. “I like her so much better than Seven.” I nodded my agreement. Annika was obviously easier to get along with then Seven. However, I still think that Seven is that way because of no fault of her own. She was assimilated at such a young age that she has to work to rebuild her social skills. “She’s so...” B’Elanna searched for the right word. “Not rude.” “B’Elanna,” I said softly and motioned to a woman standing in the corner. The woman was gazing out the window as if lost in thought. From the back, she looked exactly like B’Elanna. B’Elanna turned to look at the woman. “Do you think it’s her...er, me...uh, you know what I mean,” She said. “It could be,” I said. “I can’t see her face.” I craned my neck in an effort to see the woman’s face. Finally, she turned around. “It’s her,” I said. “But...” “But, what?” B’Elanna asked turning to see her look-alike. “Oh,” B’Elanna said in surprise. The woman was identical to B’Elanna. The only difference was that this B’Elanna was obviously very pregnant. I’d guess about eight months. I met eyes with the other B’Elanna, but she turned away. “Think I should go talk to her?” B’Elanna asked. “I wouldn’t suggest it,” I warned. “You saw what happened with Harry.” “I’m going to anyway,” B’Elanna said. She stood to walk over to her double, but the other B’Elanna had already left the mess hall. ***************************** B’Elanna and I were lying in bed that night. We had been assigned separate quarters, but B’Elanna didn’t want to be alone. I didn’t blame her. I had my arms wrapped around her waist, holding her close. I had assumed she was asleep until she spoke. “I wonder who the father is,” B’Elanna said. “Huh?” I asked. “The father of the other B’Elanna’s baby,” She reminded me. “I wonder who it is.” “Oh,” I said. “I don’t know.” I had been wondering the same thing. B’Elanna sat up and threw back the covers. “Where are you going?” I asked. “To talk to Annika,” She replied. “B’Elanna, it’s the middle of the night,” I told her. “I know,” She said as she began changing back into her uniform. “Can’t this wait?” I asked. “No,” B’Elanna said. “I’m sick of doing nothing. I want answers. I want to know how we got here, and how we can get back.” “And you think Annika will help you?” I asked. I wasn’t so sure. Annika may not be happy under Chakotay’s command, but I don’t think she’d be willing to disobey him to help us. “I don’t know,” B’Elanna answered. “That’s why I’m going to find out.” B’Elanna had finished putting her uniform back on and was just about to walk out the door. “Wait!” I called after her. She turned to face me. “I’m coming with you.” ***************************** B’Elanna and I were standing outside of Annika’s quarters. B’Elanna pressed the doorchime, but no one answered. She tried again. “Annika?” She asked. A barely awake Annika finally answered the door. She rubbed her eyes to adjust to the light. “B’Elanna, Tom?” She asked as if surprised to see us. “Sorry we woke you,” B’Elanna apologized. “We can come back in the morning,” I offered trying to be polite. “No,” She answered. “Come in.” We entered Annika’s quarters, which were surprisingly messy. I guess I was still expecting her to be as meticulous as Seven. “Excuse the mess,” Annika said as she threw some clothes off the couch to clear a place for us to sit. “I’m guessing that you saw her,” Annika assumed. “The other B’Elanna.” B’Elanna and I nodded. “Who’s the father of her baby?” B’Elanna asked. Annika took a deep breath. Then, finally, she said it. “Tom is.” B’Elanna and I exchanged glances. So that’s why everyone commented on how things weren’t so different. I still didn’t understand. If the Tom here was the father of B’Elanna’s baby why was he hitting on Annika? That guy really was a jerk. “But...” I began. “It’s a long, complicated story,” Annika interrupted. “I’ve heard mostly rumors.” Annika was starting to look a little more awake. She walked to the replicator and ordered herself a cup of coffee offering B’Elanna and I one as well. We both declined. She sat back down in her chair and sipped her coffee before she continued on with the story. “I guess I should tell you that I don’t think too highly of Tom,” Annika said. “That’s why I was so rude to you when I first saw you,” She said to me. “I thought if you looked like this Tom, you must act like him, too.” “Oh, I used to be just like him,” I admitted. “But, someone changed me,” I said and smiled at B’Elanna. She smiled back. “Like I said, I’ve heard mostly rumors,” Annika said. “But, supposedly, for sometime before the two crews joined together, B’Elanna and Chakotay were involved. I don’t hold Chakotay in the highest regard either,” She paused and took another sip of her coffee before continuing. “Chakotay treated B’Elanna pretty bad. He was very controlling, much like he is with the crew. Then, when the crews joined together, Tom began flirting with B’Elanna. I think he did it just to make Chakotay mad. They knew each other from the Maquis and from what I hear, they didn’t get along too well.” “That’s an understatement!” I interrupted her. She gave me a quizzical look. “Nevermind,” I said. “Anyway,” Annika continued. “One day B’Elanna and Chakotay got into a fight. I’m not even exactly sure what the fight was about. I was working in engineering at the time -- with B’Elanna. Chakotay came in and they started yelling at each other. Then, he hit her.” I raised my eyebrows in surprise. I never would have imagined Chakotay to be such a violent man, even in an alternate universe. And, I never would have expected B’Elanna to take that kind of treatment from anyone. “Tom saw this and jumped in,” Annika said. “He stuck up for B’Elanna. After that, the two of them became pretty close. Chakotay didn’t like this very much. But, I’m sure that just pushed them closer together. I actually thought that Tom had changed for a while. Then, B’Elanna found out she was pregnant.” “And?” B’Elanna asked. “And, Tom called off their relationship,” Annika said. “That was almost 7 months ago. B’Elanna is due any day now.” Annika finished her coffee and set the cup down on the table. She looked over at the two of us. “That’s not the only reason you came here, is it?” She asked. “No,” I admitted. “We were wondering, do you know how we got here and how we can get back?” “We experienced some random ion turbulence when we first entered the wormhole,” B’Elanna added. “That could have forced you into our universe,” Annika mused. “I won’t know for sure until I go to engineering and run some scans.” I was glad that we finally had someone willing to help us. Most of the people here were so filled with anger for one another that they didn’t want to have anything to do with us. “We could probably go to engineering now,” Annika suggested. “Joe Carey has this watch, but he usually sneaks off to see Samantha Wildman and leaves some unsuspecting crewmember in charge.” B’Elanna and I once again exchanged surprised looks. “Let me go change,” Annika said and excused herself. “How about that,” I said to B’Elanna. “Carey and Wildman.” “It doesn’t surprise me,” B’Elanna said. “You should hear the way he talks about her in engineering. Last I heard, Sue Nicoletti was trying to set them up.” That would be good for Joe and Sam. Both of them miss their spouses in the Alpha Quadrant. A little romance could help them get over it. Annika emerged from her bedroom a few minutes later, fully dressed. ***************************** Engineering was quiet, just like Annika said it would be. There were only two other people there, but they were on the upper level, and I doubt that they even noticed us. Annika and B’Elanna walked over to a console and began enter equations to figure out what had gotten us here. “It was definitely the ion turbulence,” Annika confirmed. “Once we went to warp, it must have pushed us to this universe,” B’Elanna finished for her. “Exactly,” Annika agreed. “That’s great,” I said. “But, how do we get back?” “If we reconfigure the power couplings of the shuttle to emit random ion burst, that should produce enough turbulence to get us back,” B’Elanna said. “We’ll never be able to do that,” Annika said. “Chakotay has someone guarding your shuttle at all times.” I pointed at a jefferies tube opening. “We can take this to the shuttle bay. We’ll have the element of surprise and can sneak up on the guards.” “It’s worth a try,” Annika agreed. We walked to the jefferies tube opening, and I pulled back the hatch. I gasped when I saw who was there. “B’Elanna?” I asked. She was sitting in the tube holding her stomach. I could tell that she had been crying. “What’s wrong?” Annika asked her. “We fought again,” B’Elanna sobbed. “Tom hates this baby.” I was disgusted. I felt contempt for the other Tom. If he loved this B’Elanna even half as much as I loved the one from my universe, he wouldn’t have done this. “Tom’s a jerk,” Annika said as she reached in to help B’Elanna from the jefferies tube. “Oh, damn!” The pregnant B’Elanna yelled. “What?” I asked. “What’s wrong.” “I think my water just broke,” She replied. “We’d better get you to sickbay,” I said. “You two take B’Elanna to sickbay,” Annika said. “I’ll go to the shuttlebay.” B’Elanna and I both wrapped one arm around the pregnant woman to allow her to support her weight on us while we walked her to sickbay. ***************************** “Yes, she’s in labor,” The doctor confirmed after scanning her with his tricorder. B’Elanna was holding her look-alike’s hand to help her through the pain. I stood nearby. From where I was, I could hear them talking. “I wish things could have been different,” the woman in labor said. “How so?” B’Elanna asked. “With Tom and I,” She said. “I still love him. I know he doesn’t want this baby, but for a while, I thought he had really changed.” She turned her head to look at me, and then turned back to my B’Elanna. “He’s not like that, is he?” “Like your Tom?” She asked. “No. At first, I thought he was a pig,” B’Elanna said smiling at me. “But, I know he would never do anything to hurt me. I trust him with my life.” My B’Elanna looked over and me and I mouthed the words ‘I love you’ to her. She just smiled. “Ahhh!” the B’Elanna in labor yelled as she squeezed her own look-alike’s hand. “I can’t believe Tom won’t even come she his own son be born!” She yelled through the pain of the contraction. I couldn’t take it anymore. Something had to be done. “I’ll be right back,” I told the two women. “Where are you going?” B’Elanna asked. “I need to take care of something,” I said. ***************************** I pressed the doorchime and impatiently waited for an answer. Finally, the door opened and I was greeted by my look-alike who had obviously been sleeping. “What do you want?” He asked me. I pulled back my fist and punched him directly in the mouth. He fell to the floor rubbing his jaw. “What the hell was that for?!” He asked staring at me in amazement. “I am ashamed to have the same name as you!” I shouted at him. “You disgust me. B’Elanna is in sickbay giving birth to your child and you aren’t there. You don’t even care!” “I don’t need a lecture from you,” He said pushing himself up. He wiped the blood away from his now swollen lip. “I know B’Elanna,” I said. “Or at least I know *my* B’Elanna. And, if you are anything like me, she is the best thing that ever happened to you!” “I guess we’re not very much alike then,” He said. I reached my fist back once more and he cowered away from me. Instead, I dropped my hand. “You’re not worth it,” I spat at him. ***************************** When I entered sickbay, I was greeted by the sound of a baby’s cry. B’Elanna was laying on the biobed, holding her son. My B’Elanna standing next to her. “Where’d you go?” B’Elanna asked. “I had to take of something,” I said. I looked down at the baby. I couldn’t help but noticed that he had my blue eyes. “Isn’t he beautiful?” B’Elanna looked over at me. I nodded my agreement. “His name is Lorenzo Thomas Paris,” the B’Elanna on the biobed told me. “Lorenzo?” I asked. “My father’s name,” Both woman said in unison. “I have something to ask you,” She said looking up at the two of us. “When you go back to your universe, I want you to take Lorenzo with you.” “What?!’ I asked, surprised. “I know this is kind of sudden,” She said. “But, this Voyager has nothing to offer a baby. His father doesn’t want him and I don’t want to raise my son on a ship where the captain is a killer.” I looked over at my B’Elanna. She said nothing, she didn’t have to. We both knew what we had to do. “You two love each other,” B’Elanna continued. “And, even though, I gave birth to him, he technically is your son. That is, he has both of your DNA.” B’Elanna and I looked at each other. She didn’t have to say anything, I knew what she was thinking. “We’ll do it,” I agreed. “Thank you,” B’Elanna said as she handed her look-alike the baby. “You can’t know how much this means to me.” She gave Lorenzo a kiss on his faint brow ridges. “Mommy loves you,” She said as tears welled in her eyes. ***************************** B’Elanna and I walked down the corridor towards the shuttle bay. Hopefully Annika had finished her work on the our shuttle and we could leave. “Hey, B’Elanna,” I said as we entered the shuttle bay. “When I pictured myself asking you this question, it was never like this. But, seeing as how we’re already parents, would you like to get married?” “I thought you’d never ask,” She smiled and leaned over to kiss me. “Hear that?” She asked the sleeping baby. “You’re dad and I are getting married.” Dad? I had never pictured myself as a father. I knew one thing, I loved this baby. He was part of me and part of B’Elanna. I saw a guard laying face down on the floor of the shuttlebay. Annika must have knocked him out from behind. It didn’t look like much of a struggle seeing as how the guard didn’t even have a phaser. Annika was just finishing up the modifications to the shuttle. “You should be able to get home,” She said as she put a panel back on the shuttle’s wall. She turned and saw B’Elanna holding the baby. She moved as if going to ask a question, but didn’t. “You’d better hurry before someone notices you’re missing,” Annika said. “Thank you for you help,” B’Elanna said. “Won’t you get in trouble for this?” I asked Annika. “I’ve been in trouble before,” Annika replied. “Now, go.” B’Elanna and I turned to enter the shuttle. “Not so fast,” A voice from behind us said. We turned to see who it was. “Harry?” I asked. “Chakotay sent me to see what was going on after the guard didn’t check in,” Harry explained. “Just where do you think you’re going?” “We just want to get home,” I said. “We don’t belong here.” Harry pointed his phaser at me. I think he almost expected me to fight him for it. “Harry,” Annika said placing her hand in his shoulder. “Let them go.” Harry’s look softened and he dropped his phaser to the floor. “Thanks!” I smiled to him. B’Elanna and I turned once again to enter the shuttle. “Tom?” Harry called after me. I turned to face him. “Are we really friends? On your Voyager, I mean.” “Yeah,” I answered him. “Best friends.” For the first time since I arrived on this Voyager, Harry smiled at me. I think that’s all he really needed...a friend. It’s all anybody really needs, a good friend. B’Elanna was standing near the shuttle holding Lorenzo. “Hurry, Tom,” She said to me. I waved once more to Annika and Harry and turned to go join B’Elanna. I heard the familiar sound of the shuttle bay doors hiss open once more. I figured it was just Harry and Annika leaving, so I didn’t turn around to see. “No!” I heard Annika yell from behind me. Once again, I turned to see what was happening. “Stop right there!” Chakotay shouted to B’Elanna and I as hepicked up the phaser that Harry had dropped and pointed it at us. “I thought you’d try to leave,” Chakotay said. “Especially after B’Elanna had her baby and you punched out Tom.” B’Elanna looked at me. I just shrugged. I don’t think she really blamed me for hitting him. She couldn’t stand the jerk, either. “Let them go, Chakotay!” Harry yelled. “They don’t belong here.” “I had every intention of letting them go,” Chakotay said. “That is, after I use them as bargaining chips to get supplies from their Voyager.” So, that’s why he wanted us. This Voyager was getting no where fast. They were short on crew, power, and supplies. They need our ship to get home. “Now, step away from the shuttle,” Chakotay instructed us. I walked carefully away from the shuttle, making sure that B’Elanna and the baby were behind me incase Chakotay decided to make good on his threats. Quickly, Harry ran up behind Chakotay and grabbed his arm, trying to take his phaser. The two fell to the ground, wrestling for the weapon. Chakotay finally got hold of the weapon and pointed it at Harry. “Stop it, Chakotay!” I yelled. He turned and pointed the phaser at me instead. “I’m sick of your mouth, Paris!” He said to me. He aimed the phaser and I flinched at the thought of being shot. Just then, Harry jumped to his feet, pushing me out of the way and taking the brunt of the phaser blast. “No, Harry!” I yelled. Annika and B’Elanna rushed to his side. The baby was awaken by the noise and had began to cry. B’Elanna was holding him close, trying to keep him quiet. I quickly ran over to where they were and bent down to check on Harry. "Go home, Tom," Harry whispered. I shook my head. "Not until we make sure you're all right,” I answered. Annika was observing the wound in his chest, not paying any attention to what we were saying. "I'm going to die, Tom. This is the best thing that could happen to me. Go home. You've got a good life there," Harry said through the pain. I felt tears start to sting my eyes. “Thank you,” I said. “For everything.” "I'm glad to have had a friend like you, Tom. I hope my double knows that." Harry struggled to say. I looked over to Annika, she was crying. “Take care of him,” I said softly before rising to feet. I saw Chakotay standing there, watching me. “You bastard!” I shouted as I lunged for him. He was caught off guard, so he didn’t have time to reach for his phaser. I tackled him to the ground. His phaser was flung in the opposite direction. Annika hurried to pick it up. “How does it feel it be on the receiving end?” I asked him. “Go ahead,” Chakotay said. “Kill me!” “No,” I said. “I’m not a murderer like you.” I pushed him once more and then walked over to check on Harry. “He’s dead,” Annika said as she looked up at me. “No!” B’Elanna said and began sobbing along with the baby and Annika. “Tom,” Annika said softly. “You maybe not be a murderer, but something has to be done!” She pushed herself to her feet and aimed the phaser at Chakotay. “This is for Harry, Captain Janeway, and everyone else you’ve killed!” She said bitterly as she fired the phaser. The blast hit Chakotay directly in the chest, knocking him to the floor. “You better hurry before the send someone to check on him,” Annika warned. “Thank you, Annika,” I said. I took the baby from B’Elanna and wrapped an arm around her. She leaned on me, as we entered the shuttle. We were soon surrounded by the blackness of space. I laid in a course for the wormhole. The mouth swirled open and we entered. “Let’s hope this works,” I said to B’Elanna. The shuttle began to rock violently as it had the first time. Lorenzo began crying once again and B’Elanna held him tighter. Finally, the end of the wormhole opened. There was Voyager. But, was it our Voyager? “Janeway to Paris,” I heard the comm sound. “Tom, can you hear me?” I looked over at B’Elanna and smiled. “Yes, Captain,” I said happily. “I can hear you! It’s great to hear your voice!” “The feeling’s mutual,” She said. “Welcome home.” ************************** The End! Send all comments to me, amyb@i1.net