tp24


	Thanks to my twin for helping with the technical stuff. Also thanks to my beta reader for pointing out that Tom didn't need two physical exams in one day. ************************************************* Part 24 Tom woke early the next morning, well before the alarm sounded. He lay in bed for awhile, just enjoying the peace and quiet. "Computer, cancel alarm," he said, as he finally got out of bed and went into the bathroom to take a long and leisurely shower. Twenty minutes later, he stepped out of the shower stall, grabbed a towel and dried himself off, before wrapping it around his waist and brushing his teeth. Then he went back into the bedroom to get dressed. When he was in uniform, Tom went into the living room and walked over to the replicator, where he placed an order for 'Tom Paris Pregnancy1'. A moment later, his peanut butter and marshmallow crème sandwich on primento loaf bread materialized, and he carried it over to the desk and sat down. Switching on the terminal, Tom checked the ship's status while he ate his sandwich. He sighed when he saw that there had been a problem in Engineering. He didn't investigate it in any detail, knowing that Joe Carey would have a report ready at the staff meeting later. Tom rose and went over to the recycler with his plate, calling for the time. "The time is 0700 hours." Tom smiled slightly and left his quarters, heading for sickbay and his daily examination. *** Fifty minutes later, Tom entered the Captain's Ready Room and saw that the rest of his senior officers had already arrived. He smiled and wished them good morning as he sat down in his usual chair. For a moment, Tom looked around at the people sitting at the table, considering where to start. Then he sighed quietly and turned to Joe Carey, deciding to get the possible bad news over with first. "Joe, I noticed that there was a problem in Engineering," he started. "What was it, and have you been able to fix it?" Carey caught himself before he grimaced, then answered, "There's a problem with the matter/antimatter mix, which means that the ship can't go to warp. We haven't been able to fix it yet, but we're working on it. Of course, that means that the other repairs will have to wait." Tom nodded, silently cursing the Kazon. The Kazon had been very active since a week into Voyager's current disaster, attacking the ship constantly, never giving the crew time to make complete repairs. Everyone had done their best, but with only sixty healthy crewmembers and the frequent attacks, it was difficult. "All right, Carey. Do your best. I have an idea of how we can get out of the Kazon's line of fire. I'll get back to that in a moment," Tom said, then turned to the EMH, hoping that he had better news. "Doctor, did you get the results on the serum for the virus you were working on?" The doctor heaved the holographic equivalent of a sigh before he answered. "Yes, Captain, I did." He hesitated, really not wanting to tell Tom the news. "Unfortunately, it doesn't work," he informed the others in the room. Tom sighed deeply, but he wasn't really surprised. He'd had a gut feeling that the serum wouldn't work, and his instincts were usually right on target. "So we're back at square one?" he asked quietly. The doctor nodded. "Yes, Captain." Tom studied his senior staff as they digested this information. He could see that they were as disappointed as he was himself. After a moment's of silence, Tom turned to Harry. "Harry, if you also have bad news, I'm going to assign you latrine duty," he joked lightly, trying to ease the tension in the room. He was rewarded with slight chuckles from everyone. When the amusement died down, Harry smiled at Tom. "Then it's a good thing that I have good news, huh?" Seeing the hopeful look in Tom's eyes, Harry's smile widened. "The sensors verified that the planet does have everything we require, both food and minerals. Sensors also show that there's nothing harmful down there. No intelligent life, no dangerous life forms and no pesky viruses. The weather is calm, there are no signs of any storms, and the atmosphere is stable. In short, it's a virtual paradise down there," Harry finished. When Harry stopped speaking, Tom was practically beaming with delight. "Harry, you just made my day!" he exclaimed. He turned to B'Elanna, who was seated to his right. "B'Elanna, give your husband a big, juicy kiss from me." Everyone chuckled when B'Elanna smiled and obeyed Tom, leaning over to kiss Harry, who sat on her other side. A moment later, she leaned back in her chair and gave Tom a quizzical look. "Good enough?" Tom's smile turned devilish. "Not exactly what I had in mind, but seeing as we're on duty, it'll have to do." He waited till the resulting laughter died down, then turned serious. "I've been thinking, and considering our situation, the ship's condition and the constant attacks by the Kazon, I've decided that our best option is to land Voyager until repairs are finished and we've found a cure for the virus." He ran a hand through his hair, gathering his thoughts before continuing. "That way, we don't have to over work the crew and ourselves. Opinions?" He looked around the table. B'Elanna nodded. "It's a good idea. That way repairs are in no hurry." "I agree," Harry said. "And I'm sure the rest of the crew will appreciate it." It was Tom's turn to nod. "That's what I thought." He turned to the EMH. "Doctor? What do you think?" "It is a good idea," the doctor answered. "The crew could use the rest." He looked around at the assembled people. "That also applies to everyone present." The rest of Tom's senior staff agreed with his plan. "All right. Then we'll land Voyager on the planet surface later this morning," he said, and turned to his Third in Command. "Harry, scan for a place with enough space." Harry nodded. "Yes, Sir." Tom glanced around. "Anything else?" The doctor spoke up. "Captain, I want to see Lieutenant Torres in sickbay for her examination as soon as this meeting is over." Tom looked at B'Elanna. Then he turned to the EMH. "Of course, Doctor," he said. He looked around again. Seeing that no one had anything else, he ended the meeting. "Dismissed. C'mon, B'Ela, accompany the doctor to sickbay. The sooner you get there, the sooner you can get back to the bridge." B'Elanna nodded in agreement and she rose to her feet, as did the doctor. Then the two of them went to sickbay while Tom went to his desk to take a look at the sensor report. ***** An hour later, just as Tom left the Ready Room, B'Elanna arrived on the bridge, having received a clean bill of health from the doctor. They both moved to sit in their respective chairs. When he was seated, Tom looked over at Ops. "Harry, you find anything yet?" "Yes, actually I have," Harry answered. "There's a nice big place where we can land. I have sent the coordinates to the helm, and your console as well." Tom switched on his console and took a look at the coordinates, but before he could say anything, Baytart spoke up. "Captain?" Tom glanced over at the Helm. "Yes, Lieutenant?" The pilot turned to look at Tom. "Maybe you should do this," he suggested. When Tom lifted a quizzical eyebrow, he explained. "I've never landed a starship. You have." Tom considered it for a moment. "You have a point." He rose from the Captain's Chair and moved to the Helm, relieving Baytart. Once he was seated in his usual chair, Tom addressed the computer. "Computer, initiate Blue Alert," he ordered. "All hands. Blue Alert. Prepare for landing." A few moments later, B'Elanna looked over at Tom. "All departments are ready," she reported. Tom nodded and smiled slightly. He was thrilled to have an excuse to be flying again; even if was only for as long as it took to land the ship. He lightly touched his console, preparing to enter the planet's atmosphere. "All right, here we go," he said as Voyager started to descent. ***** Fifteen minutes later, Voyager landed on the ground gently. Tom shut the engines down, then had the computer open a ship wide comm link. "All hands, commence shut down procedures." When B'Elanna reported that shut down procedures were complete, Tom addressed the computer again. "Computer, cancel Blue Alert." Then he rose and turned to his First Officer. "C'mon, B'Elanna. Let's leave the bridge to Harry while we have lunch, and decide who does what." B'Elanna smiled as she rose from her chair and followed Tom into the Captain's Ready Room. "Yes, Captain." Next