“And she’s definitely coming with us when we go tomorrow?”
Kim nodded. “Yeah. I’m, she’s…” he began. It was hard to say, but he was going to have to start getting used to it, so he added, “I’m going to be a single parent.”
“I heard.”
“Great,” Kim said miserably.
“Nobody’s happy about it,” Gwyn said quickly.
“I just don’t like the thought of people discussing my personal life.”
“Come on. It’s not like you have the weirdest personal story to tell these days. Your relationship didn’t work out. My best friend was transformed by a bunch of black goo into a temporary universal translator a few weeks ago. Just, you know, keeping things in perspective.”
Kim chuckled involuntarily. It had been a while since he’d done that. “My best friend once broke the warp-ten threshold and evolved into a salamander.”
“Tom Paris?”
“Yep. He kidnapped Admiral Janeway, turned her into a salamander as well, and by the time we caught up with them, she had given birth to a little pack of salamander babies.”
“Does Chakotay know?”
“He was there, Gwyn.”
“Is that why it’s impossible to push the drive past warp nine point nine? Is that the reason the fail-safe was installed?”
“Yep.”
“But we travel at speeds well beyond maximum warp when we use the slipstream drive.”
Kim shrugged. “Something about the geometry allows for that in a slipstream corridor. The problem with warp ten is that it is an impossible speed. It bends space to the point that you end up occupying all points in the universe at the same time.”
Gwyn considered this. “Okay, but were you there when Paris hyperevolved? Did you watch it happen? Because if you didn’t, I’ve still got you beat.”
“It’s not a contest, Gwyn.”
“Right, but if it was, I might still win.”
Kim didn’t really understand how he had suddenly found himself in this bizarre conversation, but he wasn’t exactly hating it. Still, it made little sense.
“Why are you so concerned about the baby?” he asked. “I remember you saw her when she was on the Galen, but, and this isn’t a judgment, you don’t seem like the type of person who would care about any child, let alone this one.”
“I know. I didn’t used to be. But she’s…”
“What?”
Gwyn shook her head. “Never mind. Enjoy the wedding. And for what it’s worth, I think you’re going to make a great dad.”
It almost broke something in Kim to hear her say that. He hadn’t realized until that moment how much he needed to hear someone say it.
“I don’t know about that. I just know that ever since she was born, she became the most important person in the universe for me. I’d do anything for her. I don’t know how not to. She saved my life already.”
“Yeah, mine too,” Gwyn said.
Kim found that understandably confusing. “Huh?”
Gwyn seemed to immediately regret that admission.
“I mean, you know…”
“No, I don’t know. How did she save your life?”
Gwyn shook her head, appeared to consider fleeing, then consciously chose to stand her ground.
“It’s a long story. But someday, when you have some time, I’d like to tell you about it.”
Gwyn was not someone he considered a friend. She was a gifted and clearly complicated young woman. But on at least one recent occasion, she had been a source of unexpected wisdom. He had no idea how she had come to believe what she obviously sincerely did. But something in her eyes, a combination of hope and defiance he had never seen before, roused his curiosity.
“Let’s talk when your duty shift ends,” he suggested.
Gwyn nodded and smiled ruefully. “We can do that.”
Once she had gone, Kim thought about completing the log entry, but thought better of it. Instead, he ordered the computer to delete all of the logs he had recorded for the baby thus far.
The past was the past. Someday, when he had a little more distance from it and perspective on it, he would figure out how to tell his daughter everything she needed to know about how she came into the universe.
For now, it was enough that she had. The rest, Harry Kim would figure out as he went along.
Despite the fact that several versions of the event had been considered in the last few days, it was finally decided that this should be a relatively intimate affair.
Voyager’s mess hall had been rearranged, a few tables lining the rear wall and two dozen chairs lined up on either side of a small aisle. The bride carried a small bouquet of lilies of the valley, her flower girl a nosegay of purple dahlias.
The bride and groom wore full dress uniforms. Each was attended by two of those dearest to them, Seven and B’Elanna Torres for the bride, Tom Paris and Harry Kim for the groom.
The Doctor was the event’s official holographer. Captain Regina Farkas served as its officiant. The witnesses included Captains Glenn and O’Donnell, Lieutenant Commander Fife, Lieutenants Patel, Lasren, Aubrey, Bryce, Barclay, and Elkins, as well as Ensign Icheb. Counselor Cambridge along with Doctors Sharak and Sal rounded out the small group. Lieutenant Conlon was the only officer invited who sent her regrets along with her best wishes for the bride and groom.
The ceremony was brief, the vows somewhat traditional. Admiral Kathryn Janeway and Captain Chakotay promised before the assembly to love and honor each other, to remember that each day contained the promise of new wisdom, that every challenge was a doorway to deeper understanding, and that the promise they had made would be remade again and again and fulfilled through every moment of the rest of their lives.
Their commitment was accompanied by the exchange of simple white-gold wedding bands and sealed with a gentle kiss.
After a brief reception, during which heartfelt congratulations were offered by all present and several toasts were made to the couple’s continued health and happiness, the admiral and captain departed to spend the rest of the day alone. The guests returned to their regular duties.
Come alpha shift the following morning, a new journey would begin.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Well,
