--============_-1296669852==_============ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" --============_-1296669852==_============ Content-Type: text/plain; name="THOUSAND.txt"; charset="us-ascii" Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="THOUSAND.txt"The Thousandth Manby Agamemnon.A short addition to the "Threshold" episode where Tom, B'Elanna and  Harry break the warp 10 threshold and Tom dies as a result of the flight.  In the show you don't see how Harry takes the news of his friend's death...  even if it was only a temporary demise. This is my take on how he may have  spent the few hours between Tom's death and his resurrection as a lizard. Disclaimer: Paramount owns all things startrek, the characters and the ship  but the story is mine. Sue me if you must but I can assure you it wont be  worth the effort. This is dedicated to Fiona a one in ten thousand friend.<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>Harry Kim rushed down the corridor, he hated being late. He was  supposed to have met Tom and B'Elanna 20 minutes ago in the mess  hall to discuss the results of the warp ten flight. Unfortunately there  had been a huge problem in operations during his shift and he hadn't  been able to get away. He knew neither Tom or B'Elanna would mind  that he was late, in fact they would probably be so involved in the  discussion by now that they probably hadn't even noticed he wasn't  there. Harry slowed his pace as he reached the double door entry, the  last thing he wanted to do, was to go rushing in all flustered. Tom  doesn't need any more ammunition to torment me with, he mused to  himself. He strolled through the doors trying to look as though he  hadn't just run half the length of the ship. Harry looked around at the  crew seated around the tables, he couldn't see either Tom or B'Elanna  anywhere. He was just about to leave when he saw Neelix heading toward him carrying  a coffee pot. Harry had run into Ensign Nichol in the turbo lift who had  warned him about Neelix's latest 'better than coffee' substitute. According  to her it tasted something like a cross between grapefruit and liver."Its okay Neelix, I'm not here for coffee", Harry said in a consolatory  tone hoping he could avoid the noxious smelling brew without offending  the Taliaxian."No? Ah... Well actually, I was just wondering how Tom was?", Neelix  asked concerned."What do you mean? What's happened to Tom?" Harry asked  confused and more than a little worried. Harry knew of no one who  could attract trouble like Tom could."I... I'm not sure exactly", stammered the short alien, "Tom was inhere a little while ago, with Lt Torres, then he got sick and they tookhim to sickbay"Harry was already out the door heading for the turbolift before Neelix  had finished his explanation."Sickbay." Harry called out tensely as he entered the lift. The doors cycled closed and the lift had began to descend when the Captain's  voice interrupted from the communications panel. "Attention all hands. I regret to announce that Lt Paris has suffered  unexpected side effects of his warp ten flight, despite the best  efforts of the doctor, Tom Paris has died. I realise this is a shock to  you all. At present we have no explanation for his loss, we will make  that information available as soon as we have it".Harry slumped against the wall of the lift numb with shock. He  couldn't believe it, how could Tom be dead?  Harry had seen him not  more than an hour ago and he'd been fine, exhilarated by the flights  success. The lift doors opened and Harry, moving on auto-pilot, walked  into sickbay. He didn't notice the doctor's presence as he approached and began to speak  to him. From the doorway he could plainly see the main surgical bed and  the body it held. The blood vessels on Tom's face stood out darkly against  his too pale, lifeless face. It was obvious that his friend really was dead.   Harry stood stunned for a long moment before he realised that the doctor  was still speaking to him."I'm sorry doctor, what did you say?" Harry asked the hologram  beside him."I said, that you should get some rest Mr Kim, you've had a nasty  shock." "I'll try doctor" Harry mumbled quietly backing out of the doors then  hurrying away. He strode quickly down the corridor needing to put some distance between  himself and the terrible reality he'd just witnessed in sickbay. Before  he realised it, he was standing outside the door to his own cabin. Keying  open the door he escaped into the sanctuary of the familiar room. He  crossed to his desk and sat heavily in his chair. Closed his eyes against  the tears that threatened to fall, and fought to stop the grief from  totally consuming him. Opening his eyes, he noticed the message indicator  on his terminal was blinking, indicating he had a message waiting. He  leaned forward and activated the monitor. The message was from Tom, it was  his LRM. Last Recorded Messages were a standard starfleet practise, Harry had  recorded several for his friends himself, but this was the first time  he'd ever received one. Tom was the first close starfleet friend he  had lost, in fact Tom was the first real friend of Harry's had been  killed in his life. He tapped the play icon on the screen, to activate the  message and was rewarded with Tom's smiling face displayed on the  screen. "Hiya Harry. Well, I guess I'm dead. I hope it was something heroic and  spectacular. You know, a real old fashion blaze of glory." Tom began in  a jovial voice, then smiled self depreciatively and began again in a  more serious tone. "Sorry Harry, I hate recording these things, Its kind of hard to imagineyourself dead. Anyway, there are a few things I'd like to tell you and since  I guess I'm not going to get any more chances, I'd better just do it now."  On the small screen Harry watched the image of his friend paused for a moment,  gathering his thoughts before continuing. "Harry your the best friend a guy could have but I've got to admit I've never  really understood you. I mean you are the model starfleet officer dedicated,  conscientious, competent and yet you hang around with a guy like me. Lets face  it, I'm not exactly the poster boy for the starfleet recruitment service. I  guess there is just no accounting for tastes, but whatever the reason youdecided to take a chance with me, I want you to know I am grateful. You know,  my father used to tell me over and over how special starfleet people were.  That there was only one in a thousand that really had what it takes. Of course  he used to tell me a lot of things but this time he might have been right.  There's an old poem I really like, it kind of reminds me of you... the best  bit goes.One man in a thousand, Solomon says, Will stick more close than a brother. And it's worth while seeking him half your days If you find him before the other. Nine hundred and ninety-nine depend On what the world sees in you, But the Thousandth man will stand your friend With the whole round world against you.Have a drink in Sandrines for me Harry. I'll miss you my friend, take  care."The screen went blank and Harry sat staring at it for a long time  thinking of his friend lost forever. Gradually, he became aware of his  surroundings, he was a little surprised to discover it was late night  ship's time. Slowly he stood and made his way to holodeck 2 where  Sandrine's was playing. Now was as good a time for that drink as any. "Attention all hands.", the Captain's voice came from the comm  panel. "The doctor has just informed me of a very unusual  development concerning Mr Paris ...."Finita.