DISCLAIMER: Paramount owns Voyager and its characters. I'veonly borrowed the characters to satisfy my own creativeurges.  Archiving is okay, just e-mail me. Please keepdisclaimer and my name attached.   RECOGNITION OF APPRECIATION:  A very special thanks goes outto my beta readers:  Phyllis J. Sutherland and MarleenaMooneyham.Triple Trouble - Sequel to Tacna's Turn10/98(P/T)Rated RChapter 1"It's got to be here somewhere," B'Elanna grumbled crawlingalong the Jeffries tube, her dark hair falling down in frontof her face.  The seemingly endless tube lay before her as ifmocking her efforts.  "I'm so stupid!  How could I have lostit?  If he ever finds out..."About two hours ago, B'Elanna had returned to her office inEngineering to review maintenance reports.  For twelve hours,Voyager had been dealing with temperatures and humiditiesreminiscent of a tropical rain forest.   So the half-Klingonhad spent the entire day supervising a major system-widesensor recalibration which was the last stage in bringing theenvironmental controls back up to 100% efficiency.  The Chief Engineer had been sitting in her office reading thecurrent reports, still clad in her grey, sweat-stained tanktop. Her thoughts turned to a certain blue-eyed pilot andremembered waking up beside him that morning in her quarters. She loved the way he held her close to him and the feel ofhis flesh against her own.  B'Elanna smiled and her handtrailed up to her neck to finger the beautiful necklace thatTom had given her in the country fair program.  But herfingers only encountered her bare skin, the chain wasmissing.  Quickly she got up and danced around the desk,pulling the top away from her body, hoping that the chainwould fall from somewhere inside the material.  But ofcourse, nothing on Voyager was ever that easy.  And nowB'Elanna was crawling through the bowels of the ship tryingfrantically to locate the necklace while at the same timetrying to remember all the different Jeffries tubes andmaintenance consoles she had been in that morning.  The half-Klingon had come to one conclusion though.  Therewas no way she was going to let Tom Paris know that she hadlost it.  It wasn't like she had left the ship, it had to besomewhere after all, she mused.  Voyager had what seemed likea multitude of rooms and kilometers of Jeffries tubes, so,she figured, it should only take her half her adult life ifshe looked everywhere.  B'Elanna's commbadge beeped.  "'Lanna, we still on for theResort tonight?" Tom asked.She blew the hair away from her grease-smeared face infrustration.  <Oh damn that's right,> she thought <If I turnhim down after I've been talking to him about going there fortwo days, he'll wonder what's up.  I'll have to think ofsomething.  Maybe I can . . .""B'Elanna?  You still there?""Ah--yes.  Can you pick me up in--oh--twenty minutes?""I'll be there, love."B'Elanna scrambled out of the Jeffries tube and headedquickly to her cabin.  Talking to herself the entire way, shereceived many curious looks from her fellow crewmates."I know, I'll tell him that I'm having it cleaned? No, that'sstupid, I haven't had it long enough for it to be dirty." B'Elanna stormed blindly out of the turbolift almost knockingover an ensign.  "Maybe I could say that someone wanted toborrow it?  Nope, then he'd just ask who and ask why I wouldlet someone borrow it to begin with."  She strode down thehall to her cabin ignoring a wave from Harry Kim.  Pausing infront of her door to her cabin she exclaimed.   "Damn!  Iknow, I'll tell him that I didn't want to lose it if we wentswimming so I put it in a safe place.  Well that's kind oftrue," she rationalized. "I didn't want to lose it."  That decided, B'Elanna entered her cabin, quickly sonicshowered, and changed into a new bathing suit that she hadreplicated the night before.  She had been saving replicatorrations for a month until she could afford the new swimsuit. It was a one-piece suit in lovely a shimmery bronze colorwith a gold colored trim.   To say it was a one-piece was amere technicality as there was a large area in the front mid-section that was cut out and the neck line dipped very low toreveal enough cleavage to make a Vulcan blush.  All in all,it showed off B'Elanna's trim, petite figure in all itsglory.  She grabbed her towel and put on a cover up, to makesure that Tom wouldn't see the suit until they were at theResort.  She was curious as to what his reaction would bewith other people around.  Tom had greeted her at the door with a bouquet of yellowroses from hydroponics, which she felt that she didn'tdeserve.  She still could not get over how thoughtful andcaring this man was, or how lucky she was that they had foundeach other.  Before Tom could ask about the necklace, she told him thatshe didn't want to lose the chain while swimming.  He simplynodded his head, kissed her, and they left he cabin.B'Elanna and Tom walked into the Resort arm in arm and wereobviously very happy.  Other people though that saw thecouple, were not so pleased to see them.  Back at a sidetable near the bar, three friends sat drinking synthenol. Polen Carag, a Bajoran who worked in Maintenance; engineerRichard Nensen; and Lars Henniken who worked along side HarryKim in communications had all noticed Voyager's latest lovematch when they made their entrance.  Each of the threeduring the last year had tried to get Voyager's beautifulChief Engineer to go on a date and she had turned down allthree."What is it she sees in him?" Carag asked the other two whileTom and B'Elanna strolled down by the water, stopping tospread out their towels on the golden sand."Blond, blue-eyes, pilot," Lars said ticking off eachattribute on his fingers.  "And," Rich chimed in, "if he were back home he'd be verywealthy."  The engineer downed the rest of the amber liquidin his glass and slammed the mug back down on the table.  "Let's face it, gentlemen, none of us are ever going to haveTorres, not while Paris is still around.""Don't look now Lars, but the pilot's blue eyes just gotbigger," Rich said looking at the couple as B'Elanna finallytook off her coverup to reveal her new suit, which in turnrevealed quite a bit of her.  Lars groaned."Lieutenant, you look absolutely stunning," Tom said after hefound his voice.  The sight of B'Elanna in her new suit hadleft the normally talkative pilot momentarily speechless."What this old thing?" she replied flippantly turning aroundso he could see the suit from every seductive angle."What *old* thing, B'Elanna Torres?  That is brand new andyou look absolutely gorgeous in it.""Are you just going to talk, or are you going to show me howyou really feel about it?" she purred, bringing her hands upto his chest to play with his chest hair.Not needing to be prompted again, Tom pulled B'Elanna towardhim and wrapped his arms around her lithe body.  Hepassionately kissed her, their tongues explored each othersmouth and for a moment they were the only people that existedon the holodeck.  Finally, they broke breathlessly away fromeach other.  "Would you like me to show you how much I like it again, Ms.Torres?" Tom quipped.B'Elanna smiled broadly and licked her lips.  "Yes, Tom.  Inyour cabin later."  With the necklace still missing shecouldn't risk him coming back to her cabin.  Laughing, sheturned on her heels and walked toward the water.  She stoppedmomentarily and turned around.  "By the way, Lieutenant.  Doyou like breakfast in bed?"  Tom took two steps toward her but before he could reach her,B'Elanna was running toward the water.  Picking up the chase,laughing all the way, Tom followed.  He finally caught her,waist deep in the lagoon.  Grabbing her from behind, heembraced here and his hands explored the cut-out opening onthe front of the suit.  "Have I ever told you, I love you,B'Elanna Torres?" He kissed and nibbled his way from hershoulder, up her neck, to her delicate earlobe.B'Elanna moaned in delight as the warm waves of the lagoonbroke against their bodies.  "Once or twice, flyboy." "Only once or twice?  I guess I've been neglecting you, but Ipromise I won't tonight.  Especially with the offer ofbreakfast in bed.  Tell me can I have . . ." he asked andwhispered his idea of the perfect breakfast in her ear.  B'Elanna's eyes widened with his suggestion and thennarrowed.  The thought of his version of breakfast excitedher.  "Only if you are very, very good tonight," she growled.<I guess this swimsuit was well worth all those replicatorrations.>"Have either one of you ever seen anything more beautiful?"Lars asked sarcastically, upper lip curled in a grimace."It's sickening.""Nope never have, and she's all his," Carag grumbled, takinga long draw on the ale in his glass. Putting the glass down,he wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his shirt.  "How shecan be attracted to that good-for-nothing murderer andtraitor is beyond me.  I thought Klingons were suppose tovalue honor above all else.""And on top of all that, now Paris is Chief Pilot, on theSenior Staff no less, and cementing his position by goingwith the Chief Engineer.  It's real tidy.""You said it, Carag.  I was there on Caldik Prime when he hadhis *accident*, and he should be behind bars not on thebridge," Rich spat and ordered another round of real beerthis time for him and his friends.  "And it's an injusticethat Chet Tacna's rotting away in the brig."  "As far as I can see it, Chet's only crime was his way ofgoing about it," Lars added.  "Not enough thought, all flashbut not enough planning.  If someone wanted to get rid ofblue-eyes they'd have to do something that would stick.  Thatwouldn't be questioned, not even by the Captain.  Now if Iwanted to get rid of Paris . . . ."  The other two listenedintently, eager to hear what the communications had to say.Chapter 2It was 0213, B'Elanna continued to crawl through JT36 with aflashlight strapped to her wrist.  She intently looked allaround trying to pick up a reflection of light from thenecklace, but she saw nothing of the kind.  Over the past fewdays, she had been able to keep her secret to herself,searching for it in the wee hours of the morning.  During theday, she wore her uniform, of course, when she was on duty sothe necklace wouldn't have shown anyway; and off duty shemade sure to were something at her neckline that would alsocover her bare throat.  But in a couple of days, she and Tomwere both scheduled for a day off.  If she hadn't found thenecklace by then, it would take some real ingenuity not to befound out.  Tom had a lovely habit of nibbling her neck thatsent hot chills down her spine.  He'd surely noticed if thenecklace was missing while doing that.Reaching the end of the JT, she opened the hatch and steppedout onto Deck Two.  Her stomach growled and with the messhall right around the corner, she decided to see what Neelixhad laid out for the gamma shift.  She stepped into the darkened dining area and the motionsensors automatically illuminated the room.  Over on thesideboard, the Talaxian chef/morale officer had laid outsandwiches and fruit.  Grabbing the Delta Quadrant version ofan apple, B'Elanna took a large bite.  The juice from thefruit escaped her mouth and started to dribble down her chinbefore she located a napkin to capture the sweet liquid.  She sat down to finish it, trying to recall for what musthave been the hundredth time, where she had been that day shelost the necklace.  Suddenly an idea struck and, swallowingthe last of the 'apple,' the half-Klingon dropped to herknees and started looking around the floor.  After all, shemused, she had breakfast and lunch that day, so maybe it hadbeen here the whole time. After half an hour, B'Elanna still hadn't found what she waslooking for but she had come to the conclusion that the gammashift crewmembers were a bunch of slobs.  Bits and pieces offood were scattered all over the floor.   It looked like theyhad participated in some type of food fight.  Just before she was ready to admit defeat though she spottedsomething shiny underneath the serving counter.  She crawledover and laying on her stomach reached her slender arm underthe counter until finally her fingers encountered the object. Smiling, feeling victory, she pulled it out only to discoverthat it was part of one of Naomi Wildman's toys that Neelixhad given her.  Her face fell."quH petaQ!" she roared."Hey watch what you're calling me, Maquis, I might resentit."B'Elanna swung her head around and found that she was nose-to-nose with Harry Kim still dressed in his pajamas.  "Whatdo *you* want, Starfleet?" she asked indignantly."Nothing, nothing at all," he replied with a yawn.  "What areyou looking for this early in the morning?  Maybe I canhelp?""Who said that I was looking for something?" B'Elannagrowled."Well if you haven't been looking for something, you've spentthe last ten minutes crawling around the floor for nothing,"he observed as he helped her up off the floor.  "So spill it,B'Elanna, what have you lost?""I suppose you wouldn't believe me if I told you I wasperforming an inspection on the cleanliness of the diningarea?  Kim crossed his arms in front of his chest to show that hewas not leaving until he got his answer.  Whether he wasfoolish or brave he couldn't decide.  "Hardly.  B'Elanna,tell me.  Maybe I can help."Admitting defeat she relented.  "All right I'll tell you, butyou have to swear that it stays between the two of us.  Doyou understand?"  Harry nodded.  "I lost the necklace thatTom gave me," she blurted."You lost it?  Where?"B'Elanna pushed him roughly aside and stomped into thekitchen area hoping that Neelix had spotted it and put in upon one of the kitchen counters.  "If I knew *where* I lostit, then it wouldn't be *lost* would it!" she spat.  "Well then, when did you lose it?" he asked and joined her inher search."Three days ago.""Well have you reviewed your activities on that day.""I have and unfortunately that was the day of the heat waveand I was running the system-wide recalibration."  B'Elannaknelt down and peered under the edge of the cabinet.  "I wasall over the ship that day.  I can't even begin to tell youhow many Jeffries tubes I was in, not to mention how manymaintenance cabinets or cabins.  If Tom ever finds out I wasthis careless with his gift . . . well let's just say thathe's not going to find out.""How about replicating another necklace," Harry suggested."You've got to be kidding, that would be highly dishonestbesides . . . I don't have enough replicator credits," sheadmitted.  "So you did think about replicating one?""Well only as a last resort, but platinum and yellow golddon't come cheap.  Tom had to have saved for months for thatchain.""Or played a lot of pool and won," Harry added."True.  You know he had me believing that it was made ofsilver and gold, but I just knew better.  When I tested it,right after he gave it to me, I found out just how manycredits he would have had to save to afford it."Harry let out a low whistle, trying to imagine how long hisbuddy would have had to save and how many of Neelix's mealshe would have had to consume to save for the gift. <He reallymust love her.> "Wow!""Yeah, wow!  And now I've gone and lost it.  I've been socareful wearing it, Harry," she said in as close of a whineas the half-Klingon ever came."I know you have, B'Elanna," Harry agreed, he knew very wellthat she was very fond of that necklace. "How about running ascan for its mineral composition?""I thought of that and already done that, but the componentsof the commbadges are so similar that it is useless.  Sounless you come up with any other ideas, I'm afraid we willjust have to keep looking.""*We* will?"***Alpha shift came on duty, the next morning, and relievedtheir gamma shift counterparts.  Harry relieved LarsHenniken, who upon leaving the bridge almost collided withTom Paris coming off the turbolift.  Tom reached out tosteady himself against the tall, fair-haired Swede. Henniken's only reaction was to sneer and storm past theChief Pilot on his way to the turbolift.  Tom shook his head at Lars' behavior and smiled to Harry."Don't forget, mess hall, two days at 1800 sharp," hereminded his friend."Wouldn't forget it for the world," Kim replied with a grin.Tom nodded and then went to relieve the ensign who sat at thehelm.  He sat down, reviewed the activity since his lastshift, took note of the course coordinates, and started toperform the routine morning diagnostic.The Captain and Chakotay entered the bridge from Janeway'sready room and took their customary seats.  "Looks like aquiet morning," the Captain quipped to her First Officer.  "Hopefully," he replied.  "You all set for the get-togetherin the mess on Wednesday?""I still need to take care of a couple of things, but Iwouldn't miss it for the world.  Though I don't know if I'dwant to be in Mr. Paris' shoes that night," she said softlynot wanting her Chief Pilot to overhear.Chakotay nodded in agreement and laughed.The morning did proceed quietly until just before the alphashift were to be relieved for lunch. "Captain, there is a broad-span message coming in from amessage buoy about four light-years from our presentlocation," Harry informed."Proceed," Janeway ordered.Harry nodded and channeled the message to the main viewscreen.  A strange alien appeared.  He had vivid blue eyesand his skin color was almost a pale yellow.  Instead of hairon his head, shiny fish-like scales covered his scalp.  Hisblue eyes peered out from underneath thin slits, and he wasdressed in a nondescript grey tunic.  "Warning.  You have entered the Lynic/Croydos war zone,proceed at your own risk.  If you enter into the war zone, itwill be assumed that you enter as a neutral party and thatany assistance you provide to either side will be consideredguilty of a war crime--punishable by imprisonment or death. The Lynicans have warned you. - - - "Warning.  You haveentered . . ."And the message repeated."How long would it take for us to avoid this area of space?"Janeway asked her security officer."According to the interstellar map that the message alsotransmitted approximately five months, three days, and threepoint five hours," Tuvok stated.Janeway took a deep breath.  "Mr. Paris, plot us a coursethrough this war zone that will minimize contact with eitherthe Lynicans or the Croydosians," she ordered.  "I'm notgoing to add another five months to our journey.  As long aswe stay out of their hair--or scales as the case may be--thenwe should be all right.""Aye, Captain."Tuvok nodded his concurrence.  "Very logical," he replied.Voyager flew a path that, while not that direct, seemed toallow them the opportunity to avoid any confrontations ofeither race.  The second day into the war zone, a strangespace ship hailed them.  "Captain," Tom spoke up from the helm," there is what Iassume to be either a Lynican or Croydosian warshipapproaching from our port side,  I can't provide you any morespecific information."  "Alien ship, this is Zotan of the Croydos fleet, please stateyour intentions.""On screen, Mr. Henniken," Janeway ordered while still seatedin her Captain's chair.An alien, looking much different than the Lynican they hadseen depicted by the warning buoy, appeared on the viewscreen.  Whereas the Lynican was dressed rather plainly, theCroydosian that was pictured before them was quite different. He was dressed in heavily gold and silver embroidered flowingrobes with a heavy pendant bearing a large red stone aroundhis neck.  The Croydosian also possessed an almost humanappearance except for the vivid purple head of hair thatlooked like it was caught in a permanent wind storm."Mr. Zotan, I am Captain Kathryn Janeway of the U.S.S.Federation starship Voyager.  We are just passing through onour way home.  We are a neutral vessel, we have no hostileintent.""Your home must be very far from here, I have never seen aship like yours before.  Truly magnificent.""Thank you," Janeway smiled proudly, "and yes, we are a longway from home.""Just remember to stay out of out conflict and you'll have noproblem.""Thank you Mr. Zotan, Voyager out."Tom turned around.  "Wow, did you see that bauble around hisneck looks like he could afford just about whatever he'dlike," Tom said."Maybe so, B'Elanna responded from her post at bridgeengineering station, "but their ship certainly isn't much tolook at.""No, not much of a vessel. Voyager and her technology iscertainly no match for it, our ship is much more powerful. With no effort at all, we could leave that ship in the dust,"Tom observed looking at the beautiful engineer who happenedto be on the bridge that day.  "Personally, despite all theirobvious wealth, it looks like their engineer could use alittle of your help, B'Elanna."B'Elanna smiled. "Thanks, but I'll stay on Voyager.""You can't tell me that you wouldn't be interested in beamingover and seeing what that ship's engines look like?" Tomasked."Well maybe, but I think I'll survive."Tom laughed as did the Captain and First Officer, they knewhow much B'Elanna liked to learn about alien technology, evenif it was vastly inferior to the Federation's.From the communications station, Lars smiled slightly.  Hehad a lot to talk to his friends about after the shift wasover with.At the end of alpha shift, Paris relinquished the helm toEnsign Baytart and joined Henniken in the turbolift.  "That was some gem around the Croydosian's neck, Paris," Larscommented dryly.Paris was a bit surprised that the Swede was talking to himas he usually maintained an icy silence.  "Ah . . . yes itwas.  I'm sure it would be worth quite a few pieces oflatinum back home.""But nothing that *your* family couldn't afford," Lars tossedover his shoulder as he left the turbolift.<Even in the Delta Quadrant, people just can't leave my pastbehind>," Paris thought as he headed to his cabin.  Chapter 3Lars comment having been forgotten, Tom cleaned himself up abit in his quarters, grabbed a package that had beencarefully wrapped in blue paper and white bows that wassitting on his table, and hurried down the hall whistling allthe way. The pilot was counting on the fact that B'Elanna wasalways late, and if that didn't prove to be the case today,Sue Nicoletti was going to make sure that she was.  To makesure she was late, Sue had sent a message to the bridgerequesting the Chief's presence in engineering just beforeAlpha shift had been relieved for the day.The pilot strode into the mess hall and noting thateverything seemed to be in order, sought out the chef. Neelix was just putting the finishing touches on B'Elanna'sfavorite, a chocolate raspberry tart, when Tom found him andHarry.  "It looks great Neelix," the tall man beamed."It is," Harry said licking his lips.On queue, the pilot stuck his finger in the chocolate coatingfor a taste.With a cry of pain, Tom pulled his hand quickly away from thecake. "What was that for?" the pilot asked rubbing the backof his hand.  Neelix had just slapped his fingers with hisever-ready spoon."Everybody out. Out! That's for later."Still rubbing the back of his hand, the pilot laughed andleft for the dining room with Harry, it was 1550.  Tom's commbadge beeped.  "Tom, Nicoletti here, I couldn'tkeep her busy any longer, she's on her way.""Thanks, Sue.  I appreciate it.  We'll save you a piece ofcake.""Everyone," Tom said loudly.  "She's on her way, so ifeveryone will . . Oh, Captain, Commander, I'm glad you madeit, he said when the two senior officer, packages in hand,came through the mess hall doors.  "As I was saying she'salmost here.  If everyone will take their place?"All the people in the mess quickly found something to kneeldown behind to hide.  "I hope B'Elanna likes surprises," Janeway whispered to herFirst Officer.  "For heaven help Tom if she doesn't."Chakotay chuckled in agreement."Computer, lights out," Tom said softly and the illuminationin the mess hall dropped to zero.Listening intently, the sound of B'Elanna's shoes against thedeck could be heard and they were getting louder all the timeuntil finally they stopped all of a sudden just before shewas about to enter the mess hall.B'Elanna noted the darkness and it puzzled her.  Normally themess hall was always full of activity at this time of night."What the? . . . Computer, lights," she ordered.The computer immediately responded and the lights came on andat the same instant, the thirty people in the mess hallyelled, "Surprise!"****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****Back in Lars' cabin, Rich and Carag joined him.  "I've got itall figured out," Lars told his friends.  "By manipulatingthe conversation on the bridge today, I can make a recordingthat will convince the Captain that our pilot is still atraitor, who would sell information to anyone for the rightprice.""You're sure you can do it?" Carag asked skeptically. "No problem at all, even Harry Kim won't be able to detectthe spliced message after I'm done with it.  I just need alittle bit of help from you two to pull it off.""Just tell us what you need," Rich said.  Carag nodded."Well, I believe that Paris is working the beta shifttomorrow night and we happen to be all working the gammashift, so this is what we'll do. . ."****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****B'Elanna stood with her mouth agape.  "Surprise?" shewhispered.  She was startled at all the people standingbefore her applauding.Tom came up to her side and gave the bewildered half-Klingona hug.  "What's this all about, Tom?""It's a party just for you," he told her.  "Didn't you evenremember that today's your birthday?""But Klingon's don't celebrate birthdays," she arguedblushing a bit, she hated to be the center of attention.  "Then consider this your half-human birthday.  Come on andsit down B'Elanna," Tom steered her toward the chair ofhonor.  The engineer sat down and looked around, a lot ofpeople were here -- even the Captain and Chakotay.  All werewishing her a very happy birthday. It was a bit overwhelmingshe decided.  No one had ever cared enough to throw her aparty before. She smiled slightly and blushed again."Tom?" she whispered and pulled at his sleeve.The pilot knelt down beside her so she could speak to himprivately. "Thank you.""You deserve it.""You don't understand, I've never--never had a birthday partybefore," she explained her voice choked with emotion and alone tear escaped and rolled down her bronze cheek. "Never?  Not once?" he asked and wiped the tear away with histhumb.B'Elanna shook her head.  "Well perhaps when my father wasaround, but I don't remember.  This means so much, thankyou.""You're not mad?""Mad?  No.  At one time, what seems like a very long time agonow, I might have been, but not anymore," she reassured himand kissed him lightly on his cheek."So what do you want to do first, cake or presents?"B'Elanna smiled and scrunched up her nose.  "Presents, it is," Tom declared.B'Elanna unwrapped what seemed like a mountain of assortedgifts.  She received a number of replicator credits, bathoils, and perfumes.  Chakotay's package contained a carvedworry stone which, when she was told what it was, made herlaugh.  The present that Janeway brought was a lovely comband brush set that B'Elanna knew Tom would used when hecombed her hair. Lastly, Tom's gift was opened. B'Elanna carefully untied thewhite bows and unwrapped the blue paper.  Inside, she found asilver box that was a little larger than the span of herhand, engraved into the silver were flowers and leaves, itwas simply exquisite.  The engineer looked up to the pilotand smiled.  "Open it, B'Elanna," Tom suggested.Gripping the box in both hands, she opened it to reveal ablack velvet lined interior with a card inside which read: "May my love for you be reflected in the jewelry what willfill this box over the years.  Love, T."<Oh Kahless,> she thought, <a jewelry box and I can't findthe necklace to put in it.>B'Elanna was speechless for a moment before she replied. "It's beautiful, Tom.  Thank you," she said with a smile onher face. <I've *got* to find that necklace, now more thanever.>Tom bent down and kissed his love.  He was prevented fromcontinuing the embrace when Neelix brought out hismagnificent creation from the kitchen and placed it on thenow bare table in front of the Chief Engineer.  The chocolatecake was now adorned with rosettes and candles.  Two ensignspassed around trays containing synthenol champagne. Once everyone had a glass, someone in the back chanted,"Speech!! Speech!!" which was soon joined by all the guests.  Tom raised his glass, "To the most wonderful, vivacious womanI know. May she have the happiest of birthdays."  He took asip and everyone happily joined him.B'Elanna stood up from where she had sat and raised her ownglass "I'd like to say a couple of words," she said.  Shethen brought the glass down in front of her and held withboth her hands.  "When we where first thrown into the DeltaQuadrant it felt like I was lost.  But now looking back I seethat I was wrong.  I'm no longer lost, I found more here inthe Delta Quadrant than I ever could have back home.  I founda new family here and I've made new friends," she saidlooking around the room.  Many of those that met her eyenodded in understanding.  "and I have found a wonderful man,whom I love."  B'Elanna looked into the blue eyes of the manwho stood by her side and tipped her head up and was rewardedwith a kiss.  "I love you Tom Paris," she whispered.Chapter 4Tom worked the next day on beta shift, and during that shiftas planned, Lars and his friends set their sinister plan inmotion.Tom slept that night dreaming of his B'Elanna and their plansfor the following day when they both had the day off.  Whilehe was sleeping, the plan was initiated.The next morning Harry reported to the bridge and relieved aneven younger ensign from the comm station.  As per routine,Kim reviewed all activity that had taken place from the lasttime he was at his station and performed the morningdiagnostic.  Everything was going fine until he noticed amessage that had been sent from the ship to the Croydosiansduring the early morning.  When he saw the location of themessage, Harry swallowed hard, his face paled.  To discountany fowl play, he reviewed the message several times butfound no abnormalities with the message, even the voice printchecked out. <Doing your duty,> Harry concluded, <is not aneasy thing.>"Captain?" The Captain who had been sitting in her chair casuallytalking to her First Officer looked up at the ensign.  "Yes,Mr. Kim?""Could I speak with you in your ready room, Captain?"Janeway looked quizzically at Chakotay and back to Kim.  "Ofcourse.  Commander, you have the bridge."Kim followed Janeway into her ready room.  "Please take aseat Mr. Kim.""Thank you," Harry replied clearly nervous."Harry, it looks like you lost your best friend," the Captainremarked.  "What's wrong?"Harry, to maintain his composure, slipped into his fullStarfleet cadet mode.  "Captain, I performed a diagnostic ofthe communication system this morning and found anunsanctioned message that was sent from Voyager to theCroydosians.""That's serious, ensign.  Can you play the message for me?""Yes, ma'am," Harry replied grimly and punched the codes intothe table-top computer.  "This--this is it."   "Croydosian vessel, have personal information on    Voyager technology that could help your war effort,    and it looks like you can afford it.  Interested?"Even though she recognized the voice she asked. "Where didthis message originate from, Mr. Kim."  "It was sent at 0305 this morning from Lt. Paris' quarters,"he replied sadly.Janeway sighed and nodded her head.  There were times likethis that she hated her job.****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****Tom woke late, called B'Elanna and met her in the mess hallfor a late breakfast.  They had just sat down with theircoffee and their meal when Janeway, Tuvok, and two ensignsfrom security entered the dining area and approached thelieutenants' table.  In the rear of the room, Henniken,Nensen, and Polen watched with great interest."Mr. Paris," Tuvok said to the blue-eyed pilot.  "It is myduty to inform you that you are being arrested for charges oftreason.  You will come with me.""What are you talking about?" Tom asked.  "What is this? Some sort of joke?""There is no mistake about it, Mr. Paris," Janeway explainedstepping forward.  "We came across a message that was sentfrom your cabin early this morning to the Croydosians.  Thevoice print matches yours precisely.  Tuvok, take him to thebrig."A bewildered Tom Paris looked at Janeway and then toB'Elanna.  "Captain, I don't know what to say, but I didn'tsend any message.""Well, you can tell your side of the story at the trial," shesaid grimly and stormed out of the mess hall.  Tom was ledfrom the room by the security guards leaving an irateB'Elanna behind.Janeway brooded in her ready room sipping her now cold coffeewith her First Officer. "Chakotay, I just don't understand it.  He had everythinggoing for him.  He was back at the helm and he had B'Elanna. Why would he throw it all away.""I wish I knew, Kathryn.  I don't understand it myself, I toothought he had changed.""So what do I do now, I have to have a trial, and if he isfound guilty--or should I say when he is found guilty--whatdo I do with him?  I can't just confine him to his quarters,not for treason.  The only option available to me is toimprison him in the brig for the next twenty-five years.""Captain, incoming message from the Lynicans," Harryannounced blandly.The Captain and the Commander immediately got to their feetand headed toward the bridge.  "Put the message through, Mr. Kim," Janeway ordered as shesat down in her chair."Alien vessel, this is the Lynican vessel, the Emos, pleasecome in.""Emos, this is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federationstarship Voyager.  What can we do for you?"A man looking much like the Lycian who they had seen on themessage buoy greeted her.  "Captain, my name is Dur Kalat, Itis my duty to inform you that we intercepted a message sentfrom someone on your ship to Croydos.  From the contents ofthe message, that member of your crew is guilty of war crimesagainst Lynic."Janeway sighed, she had hoped that she could deal with Parisherself and not involve any of the aliens.  "I am aware of that message, and we are taking measures onthis ship to see that the guilty party is punishedappropriately.""Then once that person is found guilty, you'll release thatperson to us?" the Kalat questioned."To you?""According to our laws, by attempting to abet the other side,a war crime has been committed.  This is punishable by thelaws of the aggrieved side.  In order words, we have come totake this person back with us to serve their sentence.""Which would be what?""Ten years hard labor in one of our mines on the colony worldof Lynic IV.  Which is fortunate, for if the message hadgotten through to Croydos, the sentence would be twentyyears," the alien replied."Dur Kalat, I respect your position but I need time though toconfer with my senior staff.  Can I contact you in say, twoof our hours?" Dur Kalat nodded, his scales on his head shimmered under thelights on his bridge.  "That would be acceptable, but nolonger if you want to leave this region of space withoutconflict.  For let me warn you, Captain, though my ship ismuch smaller than your Voyager, fifty Lynican ships couldinflect serious damage to your vessel."Janeway discussed the situation with Tuvok and Chakotay inher ready room.  Just before the agreed upon time, a grimfaced Captain emerged with her First Officer and Chief ofSecurity following."Mr. Kim, hail Kalat.""Aye, Captain," Harry responded.  Soon Kalat's face was backon their view screen.  "Captain Janeway, you were true to your word," complimentedthe alien captain.  "You have come to a decision?""Yes, I have. I have spoken with my senior officers and wehave agreed to turn the guilty person over to you."  Acollective gasp could be heard from the other crew members onthe bridge.  "That is, if we can determine his guilt.""But Captain Janeway, I'm warning . . .""I heard your warning, sir," Janeway said holding up herhand. "But please I ask that you be patient just a little bitlonger.  It is not my attention to ignore your justice. According to our own laws though, we need to conduct a trialhere on the ship.  You, of course, will be welcome toattend."Dur Kalat relaxed a bit, he did like this alien captain.  Sheseemed to be an honest sort and very direct.  "Very well,when do you plan on conducting this trial?""Tomorrow morning.  We'll contact you in time for you to bebeamed over to our ship.  Of course, you are welcome to bringa couple members of your own staff with you.""You are very kind," Kalat replied.  "I'll see you tomorrow."Janeway merely nodded and ended the transmission.Chapter 5"Mr. Paris," Tuvok intoned standing in front of the pilot whostood at attention.  "It is the decision of this panel thatyou are guilty of attempted treason.""Noooo!!!! Noooo!!!!" B'Elanna stood up and screamed from theback of the room.  Harry pulled her back to her seat and shesobbed openly upon his shoulder while he patted her back.Tom stood tall and proud, and his gaze never left theVulcan's.  Surely, Tom thought, this had to be some type ofnightmare.  He had never sent a message like that, he neverwould send a message like that.  Yet when they played thetransmission, he himself had to agree that it sounded likehim.  When Harry testified, the somber ensign was forced toadmit that according to his review of the audio files, thatthe message matched his friend's voice pattern exactly. But the worst thing of all for Tom was to see a strangelyquiet B'Elanna sitting in the back of the room in a dazeduring everyone's testimony.  Then the time came for Tom totestify.  The pilot swore his innocence and looked at hislove trying desperately to send a silent message to her thathe was guiltless of the charge.  Their eyes locked for amoment, deep brown eyes seeking the sky blue eyes of the manon the stand.  She knew at that moment, what she had expectedall along, Tom was telling the truth. Janeway approached her former Chief Pilot after Tuvokproclaim the judgement, her face betraying no emotion as shehad been trained in Starfleet.  She reached up to Paris'collar and removed his rank and detached his commbadge fromhis uniform.  "Tuvok, please return Mr. Paris to the brig,while I take care of some business with Dur Kalat."Tom sat on the edge of his bunk in the brig and across fromhim in another cell, Chet Tacna gloated.  "So, Paris, you don't look so happy," he taunted.  "What'sthe matter, you have to go to bed early without any cookies?" Chet laughed at the scowl that formed on Paris' face.  "No, Chet," the guard said, gladly relating Tom's miseries tothe other prisoner.  "Our *Mr.* Paris here has been foundguilty of attempted treason and has been sentenced to tenyears hard labor on an alien planet.""Ten years?" Chet questioned.  "Is that all?"The guard nodded."Hmmmm.  Ten years doesn't sound too bad when you're facedwith life imprisonment."  Chet thought for a while and cameto a quick decision.  "Smansek," he said calling to theguard. "Can you tell Tuvok that I'd like to speak with him?"****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****"So you're telling me that Chet Tacna wants the option toserve time in an alien prison rather than staying onVoyager?" she asked her Chief of Security."That's what he told me, Captain."  Tuvok walked around thetable in the Captain's ready room to join Janeway near thewindows.  "He was adamant.  I don't have to tell you thatwith him off Voyager it solves a couple of problems.  Wedon't have a permanent prisoner on board and with Tacna goneit eliminates any remote chance of him using his mentalpowers against anyone again on the ship."Janeway nodded.  "So it is your opinion that if the Lynicanswill have him to let him go?"  "It is only logical.  It is what he wants and it benefitsVoyager.""Very well then, if the Lynicans want him, he's theirs. Please talk to Kalat and see if it's possible.""Aye, Captain."After his meeting with Dur Kalat, Tuvok received permissionto let Tacna accompany Paris to the prison.  And after that,the unlikely pair paid a trip to Sickbay and were implantedwith the part of the commbadge that contained the universaltranslator behind their ears.  Paris and Tacna, manacled, nowstood, accompanied by a security contingent, just inside thetransporter room.  They were just about to step up on the transporters platform,when a bedraggled B'Elanna Torres burst into the room.  Twoof the security guards quickly grabbed her by her arms. "Captain, please let me speak to Tom before he leaves. Please." B'Elanna pleaded.A grim faced Captain nodded and replied. "Let her go."B'Elanna pulled her arms away from the men who had held her."Five minutes, B'Elanna.  The Lynicans are waiting," Janewayexplained."That's all the time I need." B'Elanna walked over to Tom andpulled him over to the side of the room."B'Elanna, I wish you wouldn't have come.  I don't want youto see me like this," Tom told her holding up his wrists toshow her the manacles.B'Elanna reached up and caressed Paris' cheek with the palmof her hand.  She didn't care who was looking, she had cometo see Tom and no matter how large the audience it wasn'tgoing to stop her.  "I would have come sooner Tom, but I wasgoing over that message.  I wanted to prove your innocencebefore you were beamed off the ship," the half-Klingonexplained.  "I know you're innocent.""Then you and I are the only ones," he replied sadly.  "It looks like whoever did it knew what they were doing," hereplied sadly.  "Trust me, I'll prove that your not guilty.  It's just goingto take me longer than I had hoped it would."Tom shook his head.  "I don't know if anyone can do that,'Lanna.  Whoever framed me did a good job--they seemed tohave thought of everything.""Ssssh.  Trust me.  I'll be back for you.  You're my love. Kiss me, Tom, before you leave?"Tom bent his head and tasted her sweet lips for what might bethe last time. B'Elanna kissed him back with a passion thateven surprised the pilot.  Her tongue sought out his own,until finally she broke away and kissed him up along his jawline until she reached his ear."Tom?""Yes?""Do you love me?" B'Elanna asked her lips and warm breathtickling his ear."Of course I love you.  I'll never stop loving you.  I'llcarry you in my heart forever.  No one could ever take yourplace."  "I love you too, Tom.  Forever." She kissed him on his ear. "Trust me, Tom, I've been waiting a long time to do this."With a quick, decisive movement, she bit him on his cheek.  The people in the transporter room were startled byB'Elanna's actions, but none more so that the one who wasbit.  "B'Elanna?  Why?"  B'Elanna turned her eyes towards the familiar blue eyes ofher lover.  She lovingly and tenderly stroked his cheek thatshe had just bitten wiping away the blood.  "I've marked youTom.  You're mine forever.  Nothing, not even death will keepus apart.  You're my tIqwIj, my beloved.""It's time to go," Tuvok reluctantly announced.  Even theVulcan was loathe to part the two lovers.  The guards cameforward and grabbed Tom and escorted him to the transporterpad.  "Trust me, Tom, I'll find you innocent.  We'll be back."Tom nodded and just before the transporter beam enveloped himhe said.  "I love you, 'Lanna.  Forever."Chapter 6 Paris and Tacna were beamed to the alien ship and placed intheir brig.  After a few days, the ship had reached it'sdestination--Lycian IV.  The pair were shuttled down to theplanet and processed, before being shown to the prisonitself.  To call it a prison would bring up images of orderly rows ofcells in a stark building, but what greeted the formercrewmembers of Voyager was nothing more than a deep, dirtyhole in the ground, only accessible by two steep well-guardedstairways to the main level.  The guards brought Paris andTacna down one of the stairways and to their assigned bunks. The other prisoners, never having seen humans before, werevery curious about the new residents.  The other prisonerswere mostly men, but there were a few women who occupied theprison as well, almost all of them where Croydosians.  "Welcome to the prison of Lynic IV," the guard statedgrandiosely.  "There is no escape from here.  Here you willwork and live, and if you are fortunate and survive you willbe released at the end of your sentence."  The other guardslaughed.  The one that had been speaking merely smiled at theapparent inside joke.  "If you disobey, you will be punished. You and you," he said pointing at two of the guards,"demonstrate."  The other guards who hadn't been selected grabbed the newprisoners by their arms and held them firm. The two selectedguards grabbed what looked to be a rod or pole that had beensecured to their waists.  Pushing a glowing button in themiddle of the rod, both of the ends extended.  They raisedthe rods over their heads and brought them down across Paris'and Tacna's backs.  If the sensation of the force of the blow wasn't enough, assoon as contact was made, an electric-type charge surgedthrough Tom and Chet's bodies.  The pair screamed in pain and their knees buckled.  If it wasn't for the guards holdingthem they would have collapsed to the ground."As you can see the correction rods are quite affective," theguard boasted.The laughing guards threw Tom and Chet to the ground and wentback to their duties.  The following day, a loud alarm woke the prisoners.  Each ofwhom received a block of food to eat and a container ofwater.  Then they were brought to the area of the mine thatthey were assigned to work for the day.  The first day Chetand Tom worked apart each assigned to a different area of themine.  It was hard work, carrying the heavy ore from where amachine removed it from the walls to large containers.  Attheir break time in the middle of the day, Tom sat downwearily next to some of the other prisoners.  The pilot'sface and hands where dirty, sweat ran in rivulets from hisforehead through the dirt on his face to land on the clothesthat were already drenched with perspiration."First day, huh?" an old man with light purple hairinterspersed with white asked."Yep," Tom replied, taking a large swig of water from hiscontainer.  "My name's Tom Paris, what's yours?""It's good to meet you Tom Paris.  My name is Hayten, buteveryone calls me just 'old man.'  You see I've been here thelongest.  I've been here eight years."Tom almost stopped breathing, "Only eight years? My sentenceis for ten.""Well you're strong, you might make it," Hayten didn't havethe heart to tell the newcomer that in eight years he'd neversaw anyone leave the prison.  "Just watch out for the fumes.""Fumes?" Tom choked."Yep, if you see any yellow fumes coming from the ore, trynot to breathe them in. They'll make you sick, in fact theycan be quite deadly.  We call it the 'yellow death.'  Itdoesn't bother the Lynicans, just everybody else it seems.""So is that why I'm feeling strange?""What are your symptoms?" "I feel like I've got a fever and my stomach is upset.""Could be, but usually the symptoms don't show up for acouple of weeks, but with you being a . . .""Human." Tom supplied.". . . being a human it might affect you sooner thanCroydosians.""Thanks for the advice.  I'll try to avoid those fumes.""Good.  Here come the guards," the old man slapped himlightly on the shoulder.  "It's back to work my friend."That evening when they had been returned to the 'hole' andhad been given a meager meal, Tom related his conversationwith Hayten to Tacna.  "Why are you bothering to tell me?" Tacna snapped."I just thought that you should know," Tom replied.  "Look Iknow that you don't like me and I don't like you either afterwhat you pulled, but . . .""Just leave me alone, Paris.  The less I have to do with youwhile I'm here, the better off I'll be."  Tacna then turnedhis back on his former crewmate and finished his meal.Tom was about to get up to find Hayten to talk to when henoticed a pair of innocent green eyes looking at him frombehind one of the bunks.  They looked like they belonged to achild.  He smiled at the green eyes and left to go find theold man.Tom soon found the old man leaning up beside the wall of thehole, still clutching his container of water.  "I told the other human, what you told me about the fumes. Thanks," Tom said. <For what good it did.>The old man nodded."Tell me, Hayten, how come you're here in this place?"The old man took a swig of the water.  He described how theLynicans stormed into his village and abducted most of theresidents.  "Including the children?" Tom asked.  As if on cue, the pairof green eyes peered out from behind a large rock in thehuman's direction.  Tom caught the movement in the corner ofhis eye and turned and winked at the green eyes.  Green eyesducked down so they wouldn't be seen.  "Like that one?" Tomasked nodding in the direction of the large rock."Oh, that's Tiri," the old man explained with a laugh.  "Shewas captured along with the rest of us.  Fortunately, theother children where able to escape, but Tiri was always toocurious for her own good.  We all try and watch out for her." Hearing her name, the little girl peered out again frombehind the rock.  "Tiri, come here and sit with me."The little girl shook her head."He won't bite little one.  Come here and sit with me."Cautiously, the green-eyed girl came out from behind the rockand crept up to the old man and sat on his right side awayfrom the human.  The old man ruffled the purple hair on the child's head. "This is Tiri, Tom Paris," he explained.  It seemed like theCroydosians never said just 'Tom' it was always 'Tom Paris.'To Tom, she looked somewhere between six and seven in humanyears.  She was very thin and was dressed in a yellow staineddress."Tiri, say hello to Tom Paris."The little girl tucked herself under the old man's arm forprotection and shook her head never taking her eyes off thehuman."What's wrong, Tiri?" Hayten asked.Tiri looked up at the old man and said just one word. "Eyes.""Eyes? . . . Oh, eyes."  He turned his attention to Tom. "Tiri is afraid of you because of your eyes," he explained."My eyes?"The Lynicans have blue eyes," he said simply."Oh, well I'm not a Lynican, Tiri--look," the human saidruffling his fair hair.  "no scales."The little girl couldn't help herself and grinned.Tom frowned at Tiri.  "I'm not used to this type of reaction,Tiri.  Usually the ladies love a man with blue eyes where Icome from. In fact there's one lady. . ." he took a deepbreath, paused, fingered the crescent shaped bite mark, andshut his eyes as tears began to fall. B'Elanna loved his blueeyes, he remembered, she said that she could never get tiredof looking at them. <Gods, I miss her.>  He was startled when a small hand touched his wet face.  Heopened his eyes.  Little Tiri stood before him her facesolemnly reflecting his pain.  Her sad face made the pilotsmile a little.  "Sad?" Tiri asked.Tom nodded.  Tiri tilted her head waiting for the explanation."Yes, Tiri, I'm sad.  I love a lady that I may never seeagain. She always said that she loved looking at my eyes.""I know how you feel, I'm sad too.  I'll never see my Mommyor Daddy again. They're dead," the little girl explained in asmall, sad voice.Hayten, looked lovingly at the girl and pulled her into hisarms for a comforting hug.  "Tiri, isn't it time for you togo to bed?"   Tiri nodded her head, bade both men goodnight, and left.  "Lovely little girl, Hayten.  It's too bad she's in here.""We've asked the guards to send her back to Croydos but theywon't, so she spends the day here in the hole.  She does herbest to help the injured and keep out of the way of theguards.  They hate children."Chapter 7The Captain sat in her ready room, the senior staffsurrounded her, ready for the morning briefing.  One thingwas missing--B'Elanna.Finally, ten minutes late for the meeting, B'Elanna came intothe room. All eyes focused on her.  She looked around andthen noticed that she was late."Sorry, Captain," she said and found her seat next to Harryand sat down."B'Elanna, this is becoming a habit as of late.  I wouldappreciate it--in fact we all would--if you could show up tothese meetings on time," the Captain replied icily.  Janewayhated meetings as much as anyone and like to get them out ofthe way in the morning."I'm sorry Captain, it's just that I was up late last night<and early this morning>."Janeway then noticed that B'Elanna wasn't looking her usualhealthy self.  Her cheeks were sunken somewhat and her faceappeared pale.  "Are you *still* investigating Paris'transmission to Croydos?"The Chief Engineer looked at her without flinching, hermother would have been proud.  "Yes, Captain.  And I'llcontinue to investigate that sham of a message until I findout the truth," she answered boldly."B'Elanna. . ." she warned."Captain, I *know* Tom's innocent." Harry nodded his headexpressing his belief that his friend wasn't guilty.  "Hecouldn't and wouldn't have done that.  He valued his lifeonboard Voyager.  He told me many times that he had come tothink of Voyager as his home and all of you as his family. He wouldn't jeopardize that, Captain.  Not for anything. Andbesides. . .""And besides what?" Janeway questioned."Well--ah--it's a Klingon thing Captain.""Explain.""My mother told me once that a Klingon can always tell if hermate is lying.  I never believed her until now.  But now Iknow.  Tom wasn't lying.  I'd stake my life on that."The Captain rose to her feet and began to pace the readyroom, one hand on her hip and the fingertips of her otherhand on her chin, obviously in deep thought.  "B'Elanna, whatis the status of the warp core and Engineering?"The Chief Engineer was surprised at the change in topic. "Um, the warp core is operating at peak efficiency andEngineering is running flawlessly."Janeway turned to face her.  "Then there is no apparentnecessity for you to report to Engineering until furthernotice?"<Oh Kahless, what have I done now?  The blasted Klingontemper always did get me into trouble.>"No, Captain.  With the current status of the ship, I'm sureJoe Carey could handle things with no problem.""Then I see no need for you to be in Engineering when youshould really be concentrating on stellar communications.  Doyou?"B'Elanna, smiled at the implication. "No, Captain, not atall.""In fact, I'm sure Mr. Hansen could handle things at the oppsstation for a while.  Don't you Mr. Kim?""Yes, Captain," Harry replied promptly."Well then I guess you two have a lot to accomplish. Commander please bring ship's speed down to impulse untilfurther notice.  If any of the Lynicans or Croydosiansquestion the drop of speed, be creative, make up something.Also this is to be kept confidential only the people in thisroom will know what B'Elanna and Harry are doing."The rest of the people presented nodded in understanding."As far as anyone knows...they will be working on . . .""Improvements to the interstellar communications grid?"Chakotay suggested.Janeway smiled at her First Officer.  "Very good. Dismissed."Chapter 8The next several days, Tom worked the mines, trying to avoidthe fumes, though he was not always successful.  Some days heeven worked along side Tacna, but that was worse than workingwith the aliens.  Tacna never spoke to him, just glared.  At night, Tiri would seek Tom out, crawl up on his lap, andhe would tell her stories.  Hayten had also taken tolistening to the tales.  Tom told of earth and how beautifulit was from space.  How at a distance it looked like a bluestar and up closer you could see its blue water and greenland masses.  He explained how different the land looked onthe planet itself with its deserts and jungles to its coldarctic areas to tropical climates.  Tiri asked about his life back on earth, and he told her,making sure only to tell her the positive things that hadhappened in his life.  He told of all the races that livedthere in harmony and how no one suffered from hunger.  Thelittle girl asked about his parents and Tom told her of hisfather and that he was an important man back home.  And heeven told her how his own mother had died when he was notmuch older than her.  To Tiri it made Tom sound like aromantic prince from a fairy tale.  She enjoyed hearing thehuman's stories every night.  It was the one thing that shelooked forward to all day.****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****B'Elanna grumbled and Harry sighed.  They examined themessage for the two hundred and thirty-second time since theyhad started and were still no closer to proving Tom innocent. Both knew that if they didn't come up with an answer soon, itwould be too late. ****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****Janeway walked past the security station, nodded to Tuvok,and walked around the railing and finally sat down in hercommand chair next to the First Officer.  She hated travelingat impulse, it always made her feel that she was goingnowhere.  "Morning, Captain." Chakotay greeted the Captain.  "Anyprogress in Stellar Communications?" he added quietly so hewouldn't be overheard."I haven't heard, I haven't even seen B'Elanna or Harry. Have you?" she whispered. Chakotay pondered the question.  "You know, now that I thinkof it, I don't recall seeing either B'Elanna or Harry sincethey were assigned to Stellar Communications.""Please see that the Doctor checks on them, Chakotay.  Idon't want them working themselves so hard that they becomeill."He nodded.Chapter 9The Doctor opened the door to Stellar Communications andimmediately wished that he hadn't.  B'Elanna was pacing andswearing in Klingon and Harry sat before the computer screenwith his head in his hands.  "Hello!" the EMH called out cheerfully.B'Elanna growled at the greeting and Harry just sighed.  "Well hello to you too," the Doctor replied sarcastically."The Captain asked me to come down and check on you, and Ican see why." He began to wave his medical wand over thepair.  He started to Harry and then scanned B'Elanna.  "Uhhuh. . .uh huh . . . ummmm."  B'Elanna pivoted to face him.  "What do you mean 'uh huh'?"she asked belligerently. The EMH ignored her. "When is the last time either one ofyour ate or slept?" he asked.B'Elanna quickly avoided the EMH's eyes and resumed herpacing.  "Ah . . . I."Harry looked up at the EMH guiltily. "Well, maybe . . .um ..""That's what I thought.  You two haven't.  Now I'm going torelieve you from duty and order you to go to your cabins andget some rest *and* some food," he said quite satisfied withthe solution."No, Doctor, you can't!" both B'Elanna and Harry replied inunison. "What?"B'Elanna looked at Harry and crossed her arms in defiance infront of her chest.  "I said that we are not going to go backto our cabins.  If you want to, you can give us a stimulantso we can stay awake and we'll even eat, but we are NOTleaving Stellar Communications.""I know you are trying to exonerate Mr. Paris. The Captaintold me, but. . .""But nothing, Doctor."The Doctor grumbled and resigned himself that they weren'tgoing to follow his sage advice.  He put away the medicaldiagnostic wand. "At least tell me, have you made anyprogress?"B'Elanna sighed, sat down next to Harry, and pivoted thecomputer screen to the Doctor's direction. The screendisplayed a colorful graphic representation of the suspectrecording.  "No progress at all.  The message seems to be genuine.  If amessage were faked, then normally we would see some type ofdiscrepancy between the words.  Like here, here, and maybehere," she pointed at a couple of areas on the screen.  "Butthere's nothing."  She threw her hands up in defeat andleaned back in her chair.  It was looking more and more likeshe'd never see Tom Paris again."I beg to differ, Lieutenant," the EMH replied seriously. "There is a slight fluctuation between some of the words. Like after the word 'personal.' "Where?" Harry said suddenly sitting up straighter in hischair.  "We didn't see anything.""Well, they are right here and here," the EMH reiteratedpointing at the areas on the screen.  Harry and B'Elanna looked at the Doctor in disbelief.  Theystill didn't see a thing."Computer, increase the modulating frequency of the testparameters to 0.35 megatrems," the Doctor ordered.The screen flickered, and there before them the computerdisplayed the proof that they had been looking for and hadtried for days to uncover--several areas where there wereindeed disruptions in the flow of words. "Doctor, you're a genius!!! Thank you!!" B'Elanna squealed.She hugged the surprised EMH and soudnly kissed him on thecheek.  "Your welcome," the EMH replied blushing fluorescently asonly a hologram could."Come on Harry, let's go tell the Captain."B'Elanna and Harry transferred the information to the ReadyRoom computer and left Stellar Communications, smiling forthe first time in days.  ****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****The guards moved Tom and Tacna into another section of themine that the prisoners referred to as the Death Chamber, afew days later.  Even the guards were aware of the reasonbehind the title for this area of the mine, and limited theamount of time the prisoners worked there before theytransferred them back to one of the less dangerous areas.When Tom entered the Chamber that day for the first time, hecould see how it came by the name.  The yellow fumes from theore just couldn't be avoided, they hung thickly in the staleair.  With every breath, you couldn't help but inhale thenoxious odor of the gas.  The first day after working there, he and Chet came back tothe 'hole' pale and shaky.  Both where sick to theirstomachs, they couldn't even keep down the food that had beengiven to them.  Hayten and Tiri looked after the two whenthey returned to the 'hole.'  Neither had ever seen the gasaffect anyone else as strongly or as quickly as it did thehumans. Tiri hovered near Tom all night, wiping his brow, holding thepail for him to vomit in, and later telling him to sleep withwhispered promises that he would feel better in the morning. It was a lot for a little girl to do.  For the first night ina week, there were no stories--no tales of the distant planetof the blue water that she had grown to love.Chapter 10Feeling somewhat better the next morning the humans wereagain led from the 'hole' and back to the accursed Chamber. Being sick the night before made working the next day verydifficult for the humans.  It was hard to keep up with thepace that the guards demanded.  Several times the correctionrod had found its mark on their backs.  So by the time thepair was returned back to the 'hole' that evening, not onlywere they pale and sick from the fumes, they had sores andlacerations along their backs that needed to be treated aswell.  Tiri carefully attended her friend and Tom was grateful forher help.  She told him that they wouldn't be in the DeathChamber much longer before the guards would move them toanother area.  For that he was grateful, and hoped that hecould last that long.As Tiri cleaned his wounds, he rewarded her with tales of theanimals of earth, of the giraffe with its ridiculously longneck to the elephant with its equally ridiculously long nose.The little girl laughed trying to imagine the animals whileshe wrapped his back in her supply of bandages.  She woulddream of these animals during the night and wish that shelived on this earth.It was Tiri's laughter that he thought of that night as hehimself drifted off to sleep. Soon though, in his dreams,Tiri's laughter changed, deepened, and became more familiar. He could see B'Elanna before him laughing at one of hisjokes.  He loved it when she laughed.  Her brown eyes hadglimmered with delight and reflected the happiness that shehad not known for a long time.Chapter 11Neelix sat as straight and tall as he could on a chair in theCaptain's cabin.  The Captain paced back and forth in frontof him, every once in a while pausing, before again resumingher pacing.  No one, not even Mr. Vulcan, made him feel like he was stilla spotless boy like the Captain did.  All she had to do wasto look at him in that commanding way she did and he felt hewas back on Talaxia, a little boy caught doing something heshouldn't. <So what did I do now?  I know, maybe it was the spretaquiche I made last week, seven people had to go to theinfirmary to be treated for gastrointestinal complications. Or maybe, it was the time yesterday that I hugged Mr.Vulcan.>  Finally the Captain stopped pacing and took a seat acrossfrom her Morale Officer.  "Mr. Neelix, I have something I need to ask you to do that isof the utmost importance."The nerves that the Talaxian was feeling were now replacedwith a flustered feeling of importance.  "Anything I can do you for you, Captain.  All you have to dois ask.  You can count on me."Janeway smiled.  "I was hoping you'd say that.  Now I knowthat you are aware of the circumstances that led to Mr. Parisbeing accused of treason and removed from this ship.""Yes, Captain--an unfortunate thing." "New information has come to light that establishes Mr.Paris' innocence." Neelix's eyes lit with joy.  "But the onlyproblem is, is that we don't know who the guilty person orpersons might be.  This is where you come in.""I'm listening, Captain," Neelix promised, leaning forward inthe chair to make sure that he caught every word."Lt. Torres and Ensign Kim have been investigating themessage that was sent from Mr. Paris' cabin to theCroydosians.  They have uncovered evidence that proves Mr.Paris' innocence.""Oh, Captain!  This is wonderful news!" Neelix exclaimed."Yes, Neelix it is, except for the fact that if Mr. Parisdidn't send the message, someone else did with the viciousintent to incriminate the Lieutenant.  So, we have to findout who that person or persons are.  This is were you comein.""I'm at you service!""What we would like you to do is just let the word be knownduring the next meal that you found out that B'Elanna andHarry aren't working on improvements to the interstellarcommunications grid, but are in fact examining the messagethat was sent from Voyager to the Croydosians.  Tell themthat you found out that by the end of the day they shouldknow who really sent the message to the aliens.  Do you thinkyou could do that?""Of course, Captain.  It would be an honor.  Now let's see,I'll make sure to tell Chell, he never can keep a secret, andthen there's . . . .""That's the idea, Mr. Neelix. Spread the word to people youknow who will talk, but be subtle.  I can't stress thatenough." <Gods, I can't believe that I am asking Neelix to besubtle.> "No one can suspect that we are out to set a trap. Iknew I could count on you." "Always at your service, Captain!"****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****"But Doctor, Harry and I would have taken a breakeventually," B'Elanna growled, making sure that she could beheard, as she and Harry were pushed into the mess hall by theEMH."You two have hardly had a bite to eat in two days, and Idon't even want to know when it was the last time you slept,"the Doctor chided the pair.Harry looked at the people in the dining area that werepaying attention to them, which were in fact everyone there,and then back to the Doctor.  "If we eat a meal and thencatch a little sleep, then can we go back to what we weredoing?"  "We'll see, we'll see." <Forget opera, I think I'll try myhand at acting next,> the Doctor mused.Harry and B'Elanna each got a meal from Neelix, who smiledbroadly at them.  Found a table in the middle of the diningarea and sat down with the EMH, still grumbling at theirpredicament.  Harry whispered to B'Elanna, but not so low that he couldn'tbe heard by a nearby table.  "B'Elanna, I tell you, just onemore tweak and I'll know who it is.  If we could just get ridof our *chaperone* then I'm sure that we'd ...""Sssssh!!  Do you want everyone to know?" B'Elanna snarled asquietly, but not too quietly, and went back to nibbling ather meal half-heartedly like they had planned.  They had tostretch out their meal and then reluctantly go back to theircabins to rest so Tuvok and Chakotay could *hopefully* catchthe culprit or culprits.Tuvok sat with the First Officer in the Jeffries tube thatexited in Stellar Communications and they waited.  Thirtyminutes went by and then an hour.  Still they waited.  "Do you think they'll take the bait?" the Indian asked theChief of Security."It is only logical that as long as they heard the 'gossip'that was spread that . . ."The sound of metal on metal could be heard as well as muffledvoices. Tuvok and Chakotay looked at each other, both readyto act.They could hear the sound of the door locking mechanism beingtampered with and the sound of footsteps entering the room.  "Hurry, Lars," Rich said quietly.  "Get that information outof the computer and . . . .""Stop.  Hold your positions!" Tuvok yelled opening the hatchto the Jeffries tube.  Lars, Rich, and Carag reacted quicklyand fled the room and sped down the corridor.  "Computer lock onto Henniken, Nensen, and Polen's commbadgesand beam them directly to the brig," Chakotay yelled as theyfollowed the trio out the door and down the hall.<<Acknowledged.>>"Brig to Commander Tuvok."Tuvok slapped his commbadge as he ran.  "Tuvok here.""Sir, three commbadges beamed into the brig, but that wasall.""They obviously planned the whole thing," Chakotay observedas they turned the corridor and found that the turbolift wasalready moving.  "Computer, terminate progress of turbolift 13C and return itto Deck Five," Tuvok ordered.<<Acknowledged>> the female voice of the computer stated.  Almost immediately the turbolift doors opened but there wasno one inside.  Entering the lift, they ordered the lift totake them as its previous stop.  In a moment the doors openedon Deck Eleven.  "They must be heading to the shuttlebay," Chakotay exclaimed.Tuvok nodded.  "Computer, place a security lock-down on allshuttlebays."<<Unable to comply. The security measures have beenbypassed.>>"Damn, let's hurry, Tuvok, perhaps we can still catch them."Just as they entered Shuttlebay One, the familiar sound ofthe vacuum protection grid activated and the Lindberghlaunched into space carrying with it Henniken, Nensen, andPolen."Captain, they got away," Tuvok informed Janeway.Janeway nodded, the ball was now in her court.  "Harry, canyou get a tractor beam on them?""I'll try, Captain," Harry's nimble fingers played across hisscreen, but was not successful.  "Someone has disabled theall tractor beams," he informed her.  "Probably Rich Nensen,he works in Engineering.""And the weapons?" Harry checked his console again.  "Also off-line, Captain.""B'Elanna?" the Captain hailed."Aye, Captain," her Chief of Engineering answered."We need to bring the tractor beams and weapons array on lineimmediately.""I'm already working on it, but it looks like whoever didthis really knew that they were doing.  It'll take hours tobring them back up and running.""Options?" the Captain asked just as her First Officer andher Chief of Security entered the bridge.  "Captain, there is a Lynican vessel approaching, it ishailing the shuttle," Harry piped up."Lynican vessel, this is Captain Kathryn Janeway.""Captain Janeway, I see we meet again," Dur Kalat quipped. "Why have you launched a vessel?" "I gave no permission to launch a vessel," the people onboard that shuttle are the ones who are actually responsiblefor the message that was sent from Voyager to Croydos and notTom Paris.  We were . . ."The communication line between the two ships went dead.  Fromthe viewscreen the bridge could see the Lynican ship close onthe small shuttle.  "I'm patching through their audio signal, Captain." Harryinformed.  Janeway nodded."Alien vessel, surrender, or you will face direconsequences," Dur Kalat warned the trio on the shuttle.Tuvok looked up briefly from his instrument panel.  "Captain,the Lindbergh is powering up their weapons.  I believe thatthey intend to fire upon the Lynican vessel.""Open up a frequency to the Lindbergh, Harry.""Aye, Captain.""Lindbergh, this is Captain Janeway.  Power down your weaponsimmediately. . .""Not on your life!" Lars spat back, and severedcommunications.The Lindbergh fired its phasers at the Lynican vessel andimmediately the alien ship answered back with a powerfulvolley of energy projectiles. A blinding flash lit the viewscreen and after the brightnessfaded all that could be seen of what was the Lindbergh weretiny pieces of debris.  "Life signs?" Janeway queried solemnly.Harry spoke.  "None."Chapter 12The prison alarm awoke Tom the next morning.  He groaned andgingerly got up off the pallet he had slept on fitfullyduring the night.  He ate his meager breakfast, hoping thatit would stay down, and joined Tacna along with a group ofmen who were scheduled to work the Chamber again.  All weresoon taken by the guards to their work assignments."It's all your fault you know!" Tacna spat as they trudgedalong toward the Chamber."How do you figure that?" Tom snapped back."If you hadn't sent the Croydosians that message, then noneof this would be happening," he hissed."I didn't send a message to anyone, I was framed," Tomsnarled. "And besides it was your idea to leave the brig."The guard pushed Tacna ahead of Tom.  Entering the Chamber,Tacna was assigned an area on the far side of the entrancewhere the ceiling was low.  Tom being taller than Chet wasassigned an area where his height would be an advantage.Just before their mid-day meal break, the trembling began. Bits and pieces from the caverns walls and ceiling cametumbling down.  Growing up in the San Francisco area, Tomknew in an instant what it meant--earthquake!   Tom crouched next to the wall his arms over his head, tryingto protect himself from the falling rubble.  When the shakingstopped and the dust cleared from the stale air, many of theprisoners lay injured.  Tom himself lay unconscious half-buried beneath a pile of debris.****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****The Captain turned toward the communication station.  "Harry,what is our ETA to Lycian IV?""At our present speed, Captain, four days," the happy ensignreplied.Janeway nodded and turned back to face her First Officer. "I'm glad that we were able to convince the Lynicangovernment to return Tom to us.""They seemed fairly reasonable once you explained thesituation.  But they might have agreed sooner if they hadknown the rage of an  half-Klingon." Chakotay explained witha grin."That sounds rather mild." "Well, I'd was going to say something else but after all, weare on the bridge."Janeway laughed.  Chakotay thought that it had been a longtime since he heard that delightful sound.****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****Tom was eventually dug out of the rubble and, by the grace ofGod, only received bruises and abrasions from the rocks thathad fallen on him.  The guards had brought him back to the'hole' and the old man and Tiri, tended the human once again.When he finally awoke it was in the middle of the night, hewas stricken by a severe bout of nausea brought on byinhaling the 'yellow death' in the Chamber.  Tumbling fromthe bed in search of the ever present bucket, he woke Tiriwho lay beside his bunk on the ground."Tom Paris, I'll get the bucket you get back to bed," thelittle girl threatened.  "Too late," he gasped.  His fingers found the edge of thebucket in the dimly lit prison and brought it up underneathhis chin.  He threw up until nothing came out, then he dryheaved until he collapsed shakily to the ground.  Tiri wet arag and wiped his face.  "Better?"Tom barely nodded.  "Wha--what happened?"The old man awoke hearing his friends speak and joined them. "You don't remember?" Hayten asked."Um, I don't know," Tom thought.  He seemed to recall tremorsand rocks falling. "Wait a minute.  I remember the groundshaking."  He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled to tryand clear his mind.  "I remember thinking that it might be anearthquake.""It was," Hayten informed him.  "There was a terrible quake. You were trapped under some rocks that had fallen from thewalls and ceiling of the Chamber.""I remember.  Tacna?" Tom asked."He and several other prisoners were caught when the part ofthe Chamber they were working in collapsed.  He's dead."Tom nodded, remembered the ceiling falling down upon Tacnaand the group he was working with.  So now he was the onlyhuman in this prison of hell.  "You need to sleep, Tom Paris.  You inhaled a lot of theyellow death before they pulled you out," Tiri admonished hergreen eyes, even in the dim light, reflected her worry forher friend.  "They will be coming in the morning to take youto work."And as Tiri had predicted, the guards did come in themorning.  Being short handed with so many of the prisonerskilled in the quake, they took not only Tom and Hayten, theyeven took little Tiri to work the mines.Chapter 13"B'Elanna!" Harry called, her name echoed throughout thelabyrinth of Jeffries tubes and maintenance shafts.  The half-Klingon stopped her search momentarily.  "Did youfind something, Starfleet?""No.  B'Elanna, look this is hopeless.  We're never going tofind it."The engineer snarled.  "We have to find it.  I can't face Tomwithout the necklace.  He loved me enough to give it to meand then he gave me that jewelry box.  Do you know what is inthe box?  Nothing!!!" she roared "So keep on looking, I'mgoing down to JT46 and look there.""But you've looked in that tube twice already." Harryreminded her."Then this will be the *third* time.  Do you have a problemwith that?"Harry knew when to back down.  "Nope, not at all I'll keeplooking. <Not that I'm going to find anything,> he mused,<but at least I'm in one piece.>****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****The mine was cold and darker then usual when Tom and Haytenreturned from their labors that night.  And they waited forwhat seemed like hours before Tiri returned.  As soon as thelittle girl saw her friends, she ran to them and launchedherself into Tom's welcoming arms.  "We were worried about you, little one," Tom said as hesmoothed back her hair away from her cherubic face.  "Haytenand I were afraid that you got lost in the mine."Tiri didn't respond but just hugged the human tighter.  Tomresponded and embraced her.  "Ouch!" she cried as Tom tightened his hold.  Tom looked at the old man and then back to the girl.  "Ouch,Tiri?  Did they hurt you?"She shook her head yes and tears tumbled down her cheeks.  Tom laid the girl down on his bed and unfastened the back ofher dress to reveal angry, red marks on her back.  Hemotioned to Hayten to bring the medical rags.  "I tried...to be...go-good, Tom Paris." Tiri said in betweenher sobs.Tom took the rags from the old man and did his best to cleanher up.  "I know, sweetie," Tom said soothingly. His heartbroke to see the results of the guards anger.  "She'll learn to hurry next time," the on-duty guard sneeredas he made his rounds and passed by the trio.  Tom threw down the rag and turned to confront him, but Haytenheld him back.  "Don't, Tom Paris.  It will only make itworse for you and her.  She can't afford to be hit again, andshe'd be crushed if anything happened to you.""But they hit her, Hayten.  Those...beasts hit a littlegirl...a third of their size," Tom said, his throat tightenedtrying to keep the angry tears at bay.  "I know but it doesn't pay to fight with them, you only endup dead.  Believe me I know, I've seen plenty of mycountrymen perish.  Take care of Tiri.  Tell her a story. You know how she loves your stories of earth. You must have awonderful imagination to come up with all the things you'vetold her.  She believes all of them you know.""I've never lied to her, Hayten.  All I've told her was thetruth."  Tom was surprised that after all the stories thatthe old man had listened to, that he believed them to befiction.The old man shook his head in disbelief.  "Tom Paris, how canwhat you told her be true.  Animals with extra long necks andnoses, a place where people don't want for food, and where somany different races get along.  It just isn't possible." "It is true," Tiri exclaimed vehemently from the bunk behindthem.  "Tell him it's true, Tom Paris.""It is true, Tiri.  Everything I told you was true.  Iswear."Hayten listened to this exchange between the human and thegirl, but his eyes never left the man's.  Tom could sense theold man's gaze upon him and turned to face his Croydosianfriend.  "It's true, Hayten.  Everything I said is true.  I just wishthat both of you could see it.  I just wish that someday I'mable to return.  Return to Earth, to my family, friends, andmost of all to B'Elanna."The old man nodded.  "I believe you, Tom Paris.  I can seethe truth in your eyes.  I'm sorry I ever doubted you. Forgive me.""There is nothing to forgive.  You have been a true friend. But I wish you and Tiri could see Earth, it is beautiful.""Tom Paris, tell me more," Tiri pleaded almost asleep.  Tom's mind drifted back in time, back to when he was just ayoung cadet in Starfleet and he had three days off from theAcademy.  He was seeing a lovely a girl with flaming red hairfrom the former Canadian Maritimes.  "Tiri, have I ever toldyou about a place on earth called Prince Edward Island?"Tiri shook her head and her eyes widened slightly.  Haytenwho had left briefly to bring back their food and waterrations distributed their meager meal to his friends and satdown beside the bunk to listen to another story from theyoung man.  "It is one of the most beautiful places on earth, Tiri. "Actually, it is a simple, quiet place.  The ocean thatcaresses its shore is deceptively warm in the summer months. The land is green and the cows that graze in the pastures aresome of the happiest animals I have ever seen.  And thepeople who live there are friendly and welcoming.  I wish youcould see . . ."The story continued and soon Tiri fell asleep but the old manremained spellbound listening until the tale was finished.  Chapter 14"Captain, I can hail the Lynicans now," Harry informedJaneway from his station.She stood proudly, glanced to her right, and faced theviewscreen, she spoke clearly and strongly. "Lycian IV thisis Captain Janeway of the U.S.S. Federation Ship, Voyager.""Captain Janeway this is Lycian IV, how can we be ofassistance.""I have come to pick up one of your prisoners--Lt. TomParis."The person on the viewscreen stuttered.  "But...but I have noauthorization to release a prisoner." He had never even heardof a prisoner being released."Durat Mir is it?"  Dur Kalat asked as he stepped out besideJaneway to be seen by the unfortunate officer on Lycian IV.  "Yes, sir!" "I would suggest that you do as this lady asked.  We will bebeaming down in three cycles to the mine.  Please have anescort available to take us to this Tom Paris.""Yes, sir!  Of course, sir!"Harry severed the communication with a grin.  Janeway turned to her alien counterpart and smiled.  "Thankyou Dur.  I can't tell you how much I and the crew appreciateyour assistance.""It is only fair.  Lycian justice can be swift and I'm afraidcruel, but a terrible wrong has been committed that is notyour fault or Tom Paris'.  We will correct the error.""Thank you.""I will accompany your landing party to the surface.  I mustwarn you ahead of time that prison of Lynic IV is notpleasant.  I didn't want to tell you before because you wouldhave only worried needlessly."Janeway nodded her head indicated that she understood andtapped her commbadge.  "B'Elanna, please join me inTransporter Room Two in at 0800 tomorrow morning.  We'regoing to get Tom.""Aye, Captain."  The half-Klingon replied excitedly from herpost in engineering."Tuvok, I would appreciate your company and two of yoursecurity guards.""Yes, Captain."****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****^^^^****Early the next morning the three was herded off again to workbut this time fortune smiled and Tom, Hayten, and Tiri weresent to work the same area that day.  They worked hard for a few hours.  Tom and Hayten kept aclose eye on Tiri, trying to keep her out of sight of theguards.  After a small break that morning, Tom shared hisfood ration with the starving child.  He couldn't understandhow the guards could expect this a child to keep up the pacethat the guards demanded.  She hadn't worked long and hecould already see that she was starting to tire greatly. After the break, she rose from her sitting position butimmediately fell back to the ground from exhaustion."Up!!!" the guard with a wart on his nose bellowed.Tom threw down his armful of ore and rushed to the girl'sdefense despite Hayten's warnings.  "Why don't you pick onsomeone your own size!"  He bellowed and bent down to comfortTiri, who was shaking from fear on the floor of the mine.The guard grabbed the pilot by the shoulder and threw himaway from the girl, Tom landed heavily against the wall ofthe mine.  He could feel that at least one but probably moreof his ribs had been broken when his body impacted with thestone.  "You DON'T give me orders, human!  And you," hesnarled pointing at the girl.  "No time for sleeping, get upand get to work NOW!!!"Tiri pulled herself up on her elbows but she didn't have thestrength and collapsed back down to the floor.  Hayten triedto go to her but was stopped by another guard."Up!!!" the guard roared again.  "Up, now!!!!"She tried again but again fell.The guard was shaking in anger and drew his correction rodand brought it down hard on the girl's back...once...twice...three times.Tom clutching his bruised ribs crawled over to Tiri.  Hescreamed for the guard to stop hitting the child."STOP THIS, THIS INSTANT!!!"The surprised guard turned around to see the source of thevoice.  The prison warden angrily marched towards him alongwith what looked like five humans.Tom oblivious of the visitors reached Tiri and pulled herbody up onto his lap and held her lovingly in his arms.  Hisonly thought was to get to the girl and protect her.  The warden growled at the guard and took the correction rodfrom him, ordering him to leave the mine and never return.  Janeway, Tuvok, B'Elanna and his security guards watched asTom, his back to them, comforted the child.  B'Elannaswallowed hard.  He looked much worse than she had imagined,all of the prisoners looked just terrible, they were allmalnourished, sickly, and dirty.  She could tell that henever would have survived the ten-year sentence.As B'Elanna approached, she could hear the girl's feeblevoice and Tom's.  "To..Tom Paris.""I'm here Tiri, I'm not...going to...let you go."Tiri gazed up at the pilot with her beautiful green eyes."I...I...love...you," she stammered.  Tom gently kissed heron the forehead.  The green eyes blinked once and then twice,the girl smile ever so slightly, and then the green eyesclosed forever."No...no....no!!" Tom cried out over and over clutching thenow dead girl to his chest.  "Don't die, Tiri.  Don't leaveme!!!!"  Tom wept, his heart broke.  A familiar pair of arms encircled him from behind.  "Ssssh,Tom.  Ssssh."It felt like B'Elanna, but it couldn't be B'Elanna, hethought.  The gas had to be playing tricks on his mind.  Hecontinued to sob and buried his head against the small bodyhe held in his arms.  B'Elanna released him and moved to kneel in front of him. She reached down and lifted his head up so he could see her. So he'd know she was real.  "Tom, it's me," she said softly.  She looked into the blueeyes dripping with tears that she thought she would never seeagain.  "Tom, it's B'Elanna, it's time to go back toVoyager."He looked at her in disbelief. "B'Elanna?""Yes, Tom.  It is me," she lifted his dirty hand and placedit on her face and moved it up to her forehead where he couldfeel her ridges.  "It's B'Elanna, tIqwIj.  I told you I'dcome back for you.""B'Elanna."Hayten pushed his way past the guard.  "Tom Paris, I'll takecare of Tiri."  The old man picked the child up in his arms. Hayten looked down at Tiri.  "Don't cry for her, my friend,her soul now walks in peace.  She is with her family onceagain."  With great emotion, he looked at the human.  "Youmade her last days very happy.  For that I am very grateful,we all are."Chapter 15Tom, along with B'Elanna, was immediately transporteddirectly to Voyager's sickbay.  They placed Tom on one of thebiobeds and erected a privacy screen around him.  The EMHwaved his medical wand and began his diagnostic examination. B'Elanna held Tom's hand with her own as if she were afraidto let him go and his eyes never left her face. "While you're doing that, can I clean Tom up?" B'Elanna askedthe Doctor.The EMH looked up from his medical tricorder.  "Yes, goahead, that's a good idea."  Tom's grip on her hand increased. "I'm coming right back Tom, I'm just going to get you cleanedup."  Tom released his grip and B'Elanna retrieved themedical scissors and a wet sponge. B'Elanna gently cut away his clothing and sponged away thedirt, grime, and leftover caked on blood.  All the while,Tom's eyes never left her face.  He seemed to be carefullyexamining her face taking careful note of every feature fromher Klingon ridges and her pert nose to the curl of her hair. "I'll try and be gentle," B'Elanna explained as she cleanedhis chest.  Her heart broke to see how much weight he hadlost while away from Voyager.Tom nodded but he didn't care.  He was home and B'Elanna waswith him.The door to Sickbay slid open and Kathryn Janeway and herFirst Officer entered.  The EMH, upon hearing them, finishedhis examination and joined them on the other side of thescreen.  He explained to him the extent of the Lieutenant'sphysical injuries including the malnutrition.  The seniorofficers listened and were saddened by what the Doctor toldthem.  He assured them that with his expert medical care andwith time that Tom would recover and soon be back at thehelm.  During the next few days, with the help of B'Elanna and theDoctor, Tom started to regain his health.  Harry visited,along with Tuvok and Chakotay.  Even some crewmembers that hehad assumed disliked him stopped by and surprised him bywishing him a speedy recovery.  Then one afternoon a somber Captain Kathryn Janeway stoppedby.  Tom was sitting up in bed reading from a datapadd thatHarry had left him, trying to catch up on all that hadhappened during his time away from the ship."Tom, do you mind if I have a seat?" she asked motioning tothe empty chair that was beside his bed.  Paris looked up and was somewhat surprised to see theCaptain.  "Of course not, Captain, please have a seat.""How are you feeling, Lieutenant?""Better, much better," he held the datapadd up for her tolook at.  "I'm trying to catch up on all the 'gossip' thathappened while I was away. B'Elanna and Harry were verybusy."  He smiled at the thought that they had worked so hardon his behalf."They worked almost three days straight, and barely stoppedto sleep or eat.  Harry's a fine friend, you couldn't ask forbetter."  Tom nodded in concurrence. "And B'Elanna loves youa great deal, Tom.""I know, Captain, and I love her too."  Tom swallowed hard. "When I was back in that prison and thought that I'd neversee her again, I just wanted to die.  It would have been easyto, but I couldn't.  Tiri needed me.""You miss her."  It was a statement not a question.Tom brought his hands up and wiped away at the dampness inhis eyes.  "I miss her very much, I loved that little girl.""I'm so sorry that she died Tom.  I'm also very sorry that Ididn't believe your testimony."Bright blue eyes locked with the pair of gray.  "Youshouldn't be sorry, Captain.  Don't be so hard on yourself. All the evidence pointed to me.  Henniken, Nensen, and Polenwere very clever--especially Lars.  I'm just grateful thatthe truth did come out and you were able to come back forme."Kathryn grasped his right hand in her own.  "You are verykind, Tom.""No, Captain, just honest."Chapter 16Two very happy people strode along the red sand beach, handin hand.  Each was dressed in denim shorts and wore spotlesswhite t-shirts. B'Elanna wore a red bandana around her neck. They stopped every once in a while to take note of theformations of the red rock cliffs that had been eroded by thewind and the water, and to run through the warm salt water. Finally as the sun began to set, Tom pulled the half-Klingonalong with him up a set of worn wooden steps to the top ofone of the cliffs.  There laid out in the green grass, with alovely view of the ocean and beach below, was a whitetablecloth and a picnic basket.  Tom helped her sit down onthe cloth and opened the basket.  He handed two wine glassesto B'Elanna and took out a bottle of fine champagne, poppedthe cork and filled the glasses.  Placing the bottle back inthe basket, he took his glass from B'Elanna and sat down nextto her so they both could enjoy the view and each other."This is really beautiful, Tom.  So this is what you did tokeep yourself busy while you were healing in Sickbay.""Thanks, B'Elanna.  I'm glad you like it."  Tom stared offinto the distance, seemingly at the ocean, but in reality hismind was focused light years away."Tom, are you okay?  What are you thinking about?""I'm that transparent?"B'Elanna placed her glass down on the ground and took his outof his hands and put it down beside hers.  She embraced him,pulling him into her strong arms.  "Only because I love you,Tom.  So tell me.  What are you thinking about?""Tiri."B'Elanna tightened her arms around the pilot.  "I'm sorrythat she died, Tom.""Me too.  Shortly before she died I told her about thisplace, about a time I visited Prince Edward Island when I wasstill a cadet.  To be honest, 'Lanna, I went there with agirl I was seeing at the time." Tom sighed and kissedB'Elanna on her forehead.  "I don't even remember her nameother than she had red hair.  Anyway, Tiri loved my storiesand really seemed to love this place when I described it tooher.  I wish she were here with us now.  I'd love to see herplaying in the sand and chasing the waves.""She's here Tom," B'Elanna said and placed her hand againsthis chest.  "She's in your heart and will be there always.""Thanks."  Tom smiled.  "I'm sorry.  I meant this to be ahappy time for us, not to be so depressing.""You need to talk about it, Tom.  I understand.  Besides youare my tIqwIj."  She traced her fingertip along the almostinvisible crescent scar on his cheek.  "I meant it when I bityou, Tom.  You're mine forever."Tom pulled her close to him and kissed her deeply on thelips. Their tongues explored each other's mouths.  Tom pulledslightly away from her.  "You're mine forever too, B'Elanna." B'Elanna's dark eyes met his blue ones, each silently andsincerely avowing their love, their trust.  Tom kissed herforehead, her eyelids, her luscious lips, and quickly anddecisively bit her cheek.  "Forever, B'Elanna."B'Elanna though wasn't surprised by the bite, she had knownby looking into his eyes what he had intended.  Tom kissedher again below the bite and then took a detour, nibbling herear lobe before working his way down the side of her neck. He untied the bandana and  pulled it away from her throat. He nuzzled her neck with a nibble and a kiss.  She groaned with excitement.  She loved the way he . . . Herhand flew up to her bare throat.  "Tom, I'm . . . I can't . ..""Still haven't found the necklace?" he asked innocently andproceeded to kiss her throat again.B'Elanna pushed him away with her hands.  "What?  What didyou say?""I asked if you had found the necklace yet?""How did you know.  When did you know?""I had a pretty good idea you misplaced it when you didn'twear it to the beach that day.  You had always worn it therebefore.  That's what gave me the idea of the jewelry box foryour birthday.  So you'd have some place safe to put it.  I'mjust surprised that you haven't found it yet.""Well we tried, we searched everywhere.""We?""Yeah, Harry and I.  We searched all the Jeffries tubes andthe mess hall, as well as just about every public and privatecabin on the ship.""And you can't find it?"  Tom laughed."I'm sorry, Tom.  You don't know how sorry.  I wanted to findit before you got back."Tom looked at her trying not to laugh but he couldn't help itand starting laughing all over again."Tom Paris, will you tell me what's so funny?" B'Elannademanded."Maybe it would be better if I showed you.  Computer saveprogram and display arch."  Tom led B'Elanna out of the holodeck and to the turbolift. Called for her floor, and stopped in front of her cabin.  Hewaited for her to request admittance and followed her inside. "So what is this about, Tom.  I've already searched my cabinat least six times.  I didn't find it.""Then you didn't look in the right place.  Did you check thecloset?""Of course.""I bet I can find it," Tom boasted.B'Elanna crossed her arms in front of her chest in a definitepose.  "Go ahead, flyboy, find it."Tom stuck his head in the closet and within five minutesbrought out the missing necklace.  "You...you found it?" Tom walked behind her and fastened thechain around her neck. B'Elanna touched it to confirm that itwas real.  "I don't believe it.  How?""I saw what you did with it.  I watched you put it rightwhere I found it.  Piece of cake.""Which was where?"Tom looked at her with a well-practice expression of wide-eyed innocence. "What?""I SAID WHERE WAS IT!!!!" she growled."Oh...well it was in your pocket.""My pocket?""When you stepped out of the shower that morning--you knowthat last night I spent in your cabin--you were in a hurrybecause we um....""I get the picture.""And you placed it in your pocket so you could put it on later."  B'Elanna grim look faded gradually.  First her lips drew up alittle bit on each end, then lips opened in a smile and herteeth showed, and finally she erupted in a full Klingonlaugh.  Taking advantage of Tom's position next to her bed,she pushed him roughly down on the bed.  "Tom Paris, I love you.  So let me prove it.""You want to bite me again?""Maybe.  Maybe I'll bite you on the cheek, on the neck, andmaybe I'll bite you . . . " she whispered a few otherlocations in his ear and he laughed."I love you too, B'Elanna.  Forever.The End.The author, of course, would appreciate hearing from you.   Please e-mail her at kelhapam@lr.net