The BLTS Archive - Lift The Veil 4 Truth Unveiled by DarkDancer (Dawnsalome@aol.com) --- "Captain I have good news." Captain Janeway leaned forward eagerly, "The wormhole leads to the Alpha Quadrant?" "Right outside Federation space." "Plot a course Lieutenant Paris. For the Alpha Quadrant. And Home." "Yes Ma"am." Smiling, Tom punched away at the conn. He was looking forward to introducing Chak to his sisters and meeting Chak's family. He also couldn't wait to see the look on his father's face when he realized Tom was a Lieutenant and Chief Pilot aboard Voyager. Spirit's were high on Voyager. Finally after 6 years in the Delta Quadrant, they were going home. Only one person couldn't let himself join the celebration. As First Officer Chakotay was worried about the morale of those who found out that those they'd left behind had moved on or died. And as the devoted husband of Tom Paris he worried about how Tom's father would treat his love. And most of all, he feared what would happen to Tom if his sisters weren't alright. We've built a family of our own here. Chakotay thought to himself. Everyone's paired off, Harry and B'Elanna are engaged, Tuvok and Seven are mated and expecting their first child. Everyone has come to trust and depend on each other. What's going to happen to us once we've reached the Alpha Quadrant? --- Tom straightened his straight uniform and smoothed his perfect hair. Strong arms wrapped around his waist. "Relax," Chakotay murmured in his ear, they'll love you." "But they're your family, they're important to you. I want to make a good impression." "They'll love you." Chakotay repeated, "If only because I love you." Tom turned to snuggle in Chakotay's embrace, "Thanks. I guess I still just need to hear you say that." Chakotay smiled as he stroked Tom's golden hair. "Are your sisters coming to meet us?" "Nah, too public. We're going to meet them in a nice, private get together in the family home for lunch. I can't wait till you meet them, I know you'll get along." Tactfully, he restrained from mentioning his father. Both knew that they couldn't avoid the topic forever. It was the cause of most of their arguments. Chakotay didn't appreciate Tom's unswerving loyalty to his father, considering all the older man had done to him. And Tom wouldn't hear criticism of his father. Chakotay sighed, now was not the time to rehash this old argument. To be honest he was a little nervous at seeing his family again after so many years. Not that he would ever let Tom know that. He had his pride after all. "Why don't we join Harry and B'Elanna for a game of pool while we wait." Sometimes Chakotay wondered how much he was fooling Tom. --- Holding Tom close to him Chakotay waited for the Captain. When she came up he reluctantly released his love to stand to her right. Tom moved to her left. Tuvok and his security team flanked them. Fluid, sure, as if they'd been practicing for months. Chakotay desperately wanted to get this tiresome formality out of the way so he and the rest of the crew could see their families. Thankfully the admiral sent to greet them seemed to understand. She suggested that the crew be considered on shore leave so they could reunite with their families but still have the familiarity of Voyager and shore leave protocols. Starfleet wanted to assimilate the lost crewmembers back in with the least amount of hassle. The senior staff of Voyager would meet with Starfleet brass for a welcome back banquet to discuss the positions of the members of Voyager in Starfleet. All the field ranks would have to be affirmed, the Maquis and Tom would have to be pardoned. But first Chakotay had a husband to introduce to his family and two sister-in-laws to meet. If he was lucky his father-in-law would be called away for some reason. He slipped his arm around Tom and began scanning the crowd for his family, heedless of the startled expression of the Admiral, who had lingered beyond her official capacity to talk to Captain Janeway. He saw his brothers, Bey, as usual towered over the heads of the rest of the crowd. Captain Janeway hid a smile. By now everyone aboard Voyager had grown accustomed to the blatant, casual displays of affection of evinced by the First Officer and Chief Pilot whenever they were off duty. She occasionally forgot people might not know they were a couple. --- "Admiral, There's a message for you." "On screen." -Admiral Paris- Leave your children alone. We"ll be watching -The "former" Maquis- Scowling, Owen Paris tapped his fingers on the desk. The message disappeared. He didn't bother trying to track it; he knew he wouldn't be able to. Life had taught him to be tough, and to cling to all the power he was given. He wouldn't give in to these terrorists. He had ways of revenge they couldn't dream of. That 'husband' of his son's would pay for his arrogance. For Owen had no doubt who was behind that note. He would pay. --- "Have you decided what you"re going to do?" Harry asked his best friend. "Chakotay's retiring from Starfleet; he's been accepted on a scientific archeology expedition thing. I'm to be pilot and First Officer aboard the Starfleet ship escorting them." "First Officer?" Harry was surprised. "Yeah, apparently Starfleet was really impressed by my actions in the DQ so I'm going to be XO aboard the Indefatigable. You?" "B'Elanna and I have put in a request to be stationed aboard the same vessel. And Admiral Lanspeak says it's likely I'll be promoted to Lieutenant shortly." "Good, you deserve it. Seven's baby should be coming soon." "2 weeks, I wonder what they'll name him." "Something logical and efficient, I'm sure." --- "What?!" "We've found a group of rebels, remnants of the Cardassian Dominion. Starfleet wants to attack them now before they get a chance to flee. We know they're secreted in an asteroid base near here. The Indefatigable is the nearest Starfleet ship. I'll only be gone a couple of weeks." "Yes, into a WAR ZONE!" Tom snorted. "Chakotay, a base with maybe two or three decrepit old fighters does not constitute as a War Zone. Intelligence says they're very badly armed. But we have to get them now before they rectify that situation. Think of it as a simple spring cleaning." "Tom-" Tom kissed him, softly, slowly. Chakotay sighed, putting his arms around Tom. "I just don't like the thought of you going into danger without me around to watch your back. Maybe I shouldn't've resigned my commission." "Don't say that. This is your dream. I wouldn't want you to sacrifice it. I'll be *fine*. Remember, this is me, the one that 'must be a cat, considering the number of times he should've died." "Yeah, well you're running out of those nine lives, love. It's going to catch up to you eventually." "No, it's not. Now," He batted his eyes teasingly at Chakotay. "I think you'd better see to it that I get a proper farewell." Chakotay knew he wasn't going to get anywhere with Tom. "Hmm. I hope you took the night off. If this is going to take *quite* a while." Tom leaned forward seductively, pressing his hips to Chakotay's. "Feels like you're *up* to it to me." --- "Indefatigable to Starfleet. Approaching Asteroid field. Intending to wait for - Gods! What is that?!" [Screams, crashing and static] Frantic cry. "It's a trap!" [static] "Starfleet to Indefatigable, please clarify." [silence] "Starfleet to Indefatigable, please respond." The Ensign looked up at his superior. "They're not responding, sir, I can't raise them on any channel." "What's the nearest Starfleet vessel to Indefatigable's last coordinates?" "The U.S.S. Justiciar is 3 light years away." "Send them to check on the Indefatigable. Tell them to stay at battle alert at all times." "Yes sir." --- "Justiciar to Starfleet." "Starfleet here, did you find the Indefatigable?" "What's left of her. She's been destroyed. But the debris matches her signature." [pause] "Thank you, Justiciar. Bring in as much of the debris as you can. I'll inform Admiral Niska." --- "Are you certain?" "There's no doubt about it,sir. The evidence is irrefutable. I caught him in the act of destroying the documents." "Thank you, Commander." Bowing, the special Ops commander left. "Admiral Lanspeak to Admirals Niska and Missal. Please come to my office. We've found the traitor." --- He'd known. He'd known letting Tom go with the Indefatigable was a bad idea. And now his Tommy-boy was gone from him forever. Crumbling, he collapsed, sobbing into his mother's skirt. Murmuring soothingly. Melania caressed her eldest's hair. A tear fell unbidden from her eyes. She'd grown fond of her irrepressible son-in-law over the few short weeks. They all had. --- "Admiral Paris, you are here by under arrest for treason against the Federation, conspiring with remnants of the Cardassian Dominion, breaking the Prime Directive, and the deaths of the crew of the Indefatigable." Admiral Paris was silent. Lanspeak shook his head, baffled. "How could you, Owen? Your own son!" "That disgusting pervert was no relation to me." Admiral Lanspeak sighed. "Take him away." He turned to the special Ops commander who'd unearthed the evidence against Admiral Paris, "I'm sorry about this, my dear. It must be very difficult for you, especially considering the tragic death of your brother." Lillian Paris responded. "I was only doing my duty, sir." She cleared her throat. "If you'll excuse me sir, Vanessa and I are going to meet with Tom's husband and discuss the funeral details." "Of course" --- "There's a dust cloud that's clouding our sensors." "I could take a shuttle out to take a closer look," Tom offered. Captain Ornbluer nodded. --- Tom frowned, the dust was interfering with his engines, but he hadn't detected anything unusual. He commed the Indefatigable to tell them when the engine puttered out, then came back online, but he doubted it would survive the trip back to the Indefatigable. "There's an M class planet in the system, land there and make repairs. We'll meet you at coordinates 1463. Right outside the Asteroid field." "Acknowledged Indefatigable. I'll see you there." --- Tom frowned, that was odd. He checked his coordinates; he was in the right place. But where was the Indefatigable? "Shuttle B to Indefatigable; Indefatigable come in." No response. "Shuttle B to nearest Starfleet vessel. Is anyone out there?" "This is the Starship Enterprise, what's your problem?" "Umm.... This is going to sound stupid.... But I can't find my ship." "What's the name of your missing ship?" "U.S.S. Indefatigable." [pause] "Enterprise? Enterprise come in." "Shuttle B, what's your name?" Faintly puzzled Tom responded, "Commander Tom Paris." "Commander Paris, I have some disturbing news for you." --- "Wait a minute, I'm DEAD?!" "I'm afraid so." "Damn." "Commander-" "There's more I suppose?" "Yes, the Indefatigable was not destroyed by chance. She was betrayed." "Do you know by whom?" "Yes, it was.... your father." Tom nodded, face shuttered, carefully bland, "Captain, I don't suppose you could contact my husband?" "Of course," Captain Picard replied, slightly surprised; he'd expected more of a reaction over his father's betrayal. But then, these Parises had always been good at hiding their emotions --- "Chakotay." "Yes, Nayib?" "There's a call for you, from Starfleet." "Probably about Owen Paris's betrayal," Chakotay thought. "I don't want to talk to them." "I really think you should, Chakotay." "Why?" "Just trust me." Chakotay sighed. "Alright." "Chakotay here." "Chak? Are you alright?" Chakotay's heart skipped a beat. "Tom?" His voice was wondering. "It's me, baby. I'm fine." "But your ship blew up." "I wasn't on it. See, I told you I had plenty of lives left." Chakotay was vaguely aware of tears running down his face. Tom wasn't dead. Everything was ok. --- The End