Archivist's Challenge story (What was in Admiral Paris' letter?)-- daverogers@geocities.comrational romantic mystic cynical idealist--------------------Set as a missing scene from the episode "Hunters", this is a story for the fourth Archivist's Challenge: What was in Admiral Owen Paris' letter to Tom? B'Elanna's curiosity leads her to a dark secret. Rated PG.Disclaimer: Tom, B'Elanna and Admiral Paris are from Paramount and Viacom. The letter is from me.Takeover Bid"I'll let you know when I get the whole letter", she promised. Already she could feel the tension between them easing. This might be the hardest test their newly found love had faced, but now she could believe they would get through it. Together.As Tom left, B'Elanna returned to the console and watched the message gradually scrolling on to the PADD - this one seemed to be coming through more or less whole. Tom was so worried about this, perhaps she'd better read through it so she'd knowwhat sort of reaction to expect when he got it. Nothing to do with satisfying her own curiosity. Nothing at all. Message to: Lieutenant Thomas Eugene Paris, USS Voyager. Message from: Admiral Owen Paris, Starfleet Command. PRIVATE AND PERSONAL: FOR YOUR EYES ONLYB'Elanna almost stopped reading there. *But then, why shouldn't these be his eyes? After all, the rest of me is his.* Her mind drifted for a moment, savouring some of the more delicious implications of that thought. The PADD called her back to reality by scrolling a few more lines. Dear Thomas,*Bad start. Everybody, but everybody, calls him Tom. What is this, a business letter?* While I must confess that my feelings when you were reported missing were not unmixed, I was pleased to hear that you had not only survived, but won the confidence of Captain Janeway. In my experience, your captain is an efficient and capable officer, and your field appointment to the rank of lieutenant suggests that she has detected qualities in you that have not been apparent to me for many years.B'Elanna snorted derisively. Was there a compliment in there somewhere? Never mind, at least he wasn't disowning Tom, at least he was trying to make some kind of contact. She so hoped that this might be the start of some kind of reconciliation, some kind of healing for the emotional scars that Tom hid so well from everyone but her. Besides, if he felt good about it, she had some... interesting ideas on how to celebrate. What is most hopeful about this situation, however, is that you are now once again wearing a Starfleet uniform. You are no doubt by now aware that the Federation is at war, and our needs for good officers are so great that I believe Starfleet may be prepared to confirm even you*Even you? This is his son! The poisonous, small minded...* She broke off the thought as more came through. substantively in the post you occupy when you return. It is therefore not impossible that you may ultimately still be able to fulfill my lifelong ambition for you to rise to command rank within Starfleet. However, in order to achieve this, there are certain steps you must take.Curiosity was starting to give way to anger now. Didn't this man realise thathis son had his own ambitions? Couldn't he have his own life, even here, tens of thousands of light years from his father? Firstly, you must change the direction of your career. Piloting is, as I have told you more times than I care to recall, no foundation for a command career. It goes without saying that the medical branch is even less so.Despite her anger, B'Elanna managed a slight smile. *That's the first thing theold tyrant's said that Tom might agree with!* But she was finding herself understanding, more and more, why Tom had fallen so low before coming to the Delta Quadrant. This man had built a life for him and imprisoned him within it, and Tom had had to raze all of it to the ground to escape. And now, just as hewas building a new life, a life of his own choosing, his father was trying to take over. *Maybe Tom won't see this letter. Maybe it'll get.. lost.* I would recommend an immediate career move to Science, Security, or ideally Tactical. Despite your mechanical abilities, you must avoid Engineering, which has been a graveyard for many a promising officer's career. I would even go so far as to discourage too close a contact with your ship's own engineering department; their priorities are too narrowly defined to allow the freedom of action that command requires.Damn him! He was trying to split them up without even knowing about them. Could she really keep this from Tom and retain her honour? Suddenly her plan to protect Tom started to look more selfish, more like an attempt to hold on to him at the expense of his career. Admiral Paris seemed to have the ability, almost effortlessly, to manipulate people he hadn't even met.Feeling the anger rising within her, she started looking for something to hit or throw. But more text came through, and her anger faded to be replaced by... Having transferred to a more suitable department, your next priority must be to advance your interests. This is difficult on a small ship, but it can be done. While Starfleet stresses the importance of teamwork, there are ways to demonstrate who are the more valuable members of the team. Lieutenant-Commander Tuvok is an able but unimaginative officer; while the ensign currently occupying the Tactical station is unknown to me, I am aware that he is young and inexperienced. Both have weaknesses. Compete for a place in the captain's esteem. While I have seen you at times bound by misguided ideals of friendship, you must understand that in these difficult times it is imperative for the best officers in Starfleet to be recognised....fear? Could he really mean that? Harry, Tom's closest friend; Tuvok, whom he admired, who still had his gratitude for saving his life - this Admiral wanted Tom to stab them in the back? This man thought like a Romulan. And yet, some day,if - *WHEN, B'Elanna, WHEN* - they finally made it back to the Alpha Quadrant, he would be wielding considerable power over all of them, might even be their commanding officer. How could she serve a man who thought this way? How could Janeway have missed this side of his character? Then she remembered the famous mask of the Parises, the way they hid their feelings and tried to be all thingsto all men. It irritated her in Tom, but at least he only used it for defence.*This... man... is... dangerous*. Ultimately, while a promotion to lieutenant-commander should be within your reach, it might seem that your situation precludes higher rank. Stay open to possibilities, though. Commander Chakotay was an able officer, but went on to disgrace his uniform far more completely than you ever managed to, and his loyalty must be considered suspect. As for the Captain, your mission logs make it clear that the Delta Quadrant is a dangerous place. Accidents occur. Be prepared to benefit from them. While I would not of course advocate any of the more disreputable practices of our Klingon allies, remember that even captains are not immortal.Curiosity, anger, fear - all were gone now, replaced by a dull sense of horror. B'Elanna felt her hands shaking as she read. This went far further than simply protecting Tom; news that a Starfleet admiral could write such a letter might tear apart the Federation. Or could it? She looked back over the text, and realised that everything Admiral Paris had said, even that last chilling remark, could simply be interpreted as a loving father giving advice to his son. But she knew, oh, so well, that his true meaning was darker. Maybe it was the war, the stress, the mixed emotions over his son's loss and unexpected survival, but she began to wonder whether the Admiral had gone insane. I must keep my remarks brief, as many others no doubt have their own messages to send. Reflect on my advice, Thomas. If you are able to return as a lieutenant-commander, I feel sure I will once again be able to consider you a true Paris, and accept you as my son. You have one last opportunity to restore this family's honour. Do not fail me again.That was all. B'Elanna was shaking all over now, whether with fear or rage she didn't really know. This... this was dishonourable. He'd taken his Starfleet ideals and turned them inside out, and preached treachery in the name of honour.And then, as the reward for deceit and dishonour, promised Tom the one thing that might, just, persuade him - a father's love.Delivering the letter, hiding the letter, destroying the letter - none of these could she even contemplate. And, of course, the most insidious part was that she couldn't even ask anyone else. Harry or Chakotay mustn't see this, they'd end up watching their backs whenever Tom was on the bridge. Tuvok might even take counter-measures. And the captain - a man Janeway admired and respected had damnednearly ordered her assassination! Then, as B'Elanna looked back at that "disreputable practices of our Klingon allies" line, the rage finally took over.B'Elanna didn't remember much about the next few minutes. When she finally regained a fragile measure of self-control, she realised she'd taken out most of her anger on the walls. Her hands were grazed and bleeding, and fragments of the PADD containing Admiral Paris' message were scattered everywhere, but the main console was, mercifully, undamaged. She'd have had a hell of a job explaining that away.It was no good, she had to tell Tom. Their relationship was too new, too fragile, to cope with this, maybe. She'd finally begun to hope that life held some joy forher, for both of them, but this could destroy Tom. Or worse, change him, turn him into the revised and improved copy that the Admiral clearly wanted - what interest could such a man have in her? But she owed it to him to be honest, not to keep this dark secret from him - that could just as easily tear them apart. She took a moment - maybe the last moment - to reflect on the last few weeks, the happiest she'd ever known, maybe would ever know. Then, feeling like she was signing her own death warrant, she spoke."Computer, retrieve message from Admiral Owen Paris to Lieutenant Thomas Eugene Paris and display on screen." She'd better not go anywhere for a while. Apart from the blood on her hands, her voice was too shaky. Still, by the time she'd downloaded it to a new PADD, she'd be OK. At least till she had to tell Tom.The calm, dispassionate voice of the computer came back, "No such message is on record.""WHAT? Computer, give me the location of the latest message downloaded.""Most recent message was downloaded directly to a mobile storage device. All caching and backup procedures were inactive."She couldn't believe it - the only copy of Tom's letter, and she'd destroyed it. For a moment, the chief engineer took over from the frightened woman: "Computer, enable backups for all future messages from the array. File under privacy codes for recipients." At least she wouldn't lose any more.Then she laughed, with a mixture of bitterness and relief. No more decision;no more letter; no more problem. She could just about bring herself to "forget"the message; already the exact words were fading in her mind. Tom could keep his own life, and she could keep Tom; the admiral's takeover bid had failed. Until next time.********There was Tom. *Deep breath, look natural, don't let him suspect.* "I'm sorry, Tom, I wasn't able to download yours in time." *Well, I wasn't able to download it a second time, anyway. Nearly true.*"Just when I was getting eager to read it."*Damn you, Admiral Paris. You don't deserve a son this good. You'd trample on his hopes, destroy his friends and imprison him in your dreams, and he'd still find a way to love you.* "You could assume that he said he loves you, and that he's proud of you." *And maybe, when the war's over and he realises what he's become, he might learn to feel that way.*Tom's answer seemed to take an age to come. "I think I will." There was even a suggestion of a smile on his face.So maybe it would be all right.My first attempt at fanfic, so any and all comments would be extremely welcome.Dave Rogers daverogers@geocities.com