Caretaker - L. A. Graf [85]
Janeway was looking forward to knowing him once he got there.
"Ah, Captain..." Neelix's voice warbled through the still-open doors just ahead of his and Kes's arrival. "We were just coming to see you."
Janeway stood again, smiling as the alien couple gaped around the empty ready room as though it were filled with endless wonders.
Perhaps the sight of such clean, well-built technology was much the same thing to them. "We've supplied your ship with water, Neelix," she told him. "It's ready to go." It had seemed the least they could do after his and Kes's help in recovering their crew.
Neelix bobbed his bald head nervously, clinging to Kes's hand.
"Well, you see... that's what we wanted to discuss. ..." He took a deep breath and plowed ahead. "We'd like to go with you."
Janeway blinked at him. And here she thought the little alien had exhausted his ability to startle her. "I'm sorry--this isn't a passenger ship--" "Of course not!" Kes jumped in. "We won't be passengers--" "--we'll be valuable colleagues," Neelix added.
"Colleagues?" She probably shouldn't have spoken--the encouragement just seemed to fill him with more energy.
"Whatever you need,"Neelix announced with Faginesque charm, "is what I have to offer. You need a guide? I'm your guide. You need supplies?
I know where to procure them--I have friends among races you don't even know exist. You need a cook? You haven't lived until you've tasted my angla'bosque." Janeway wasn't sure if it would even be possible to add something so exotic to the replicators, but decided not to mention that. "It will be my job to anticipate your needs before you know you have them," Neelix persisted. A puckish twinkle lit in his eye.
"And I anticipate your first need will be--me!"
He was good. Janeway had to give him that.
"And where I go--" Neelix pulled Kes into a possessive embrace.
"--she goes."
"In my own way," Kes said, as though wanting to make sure Janeway understood that this was her decision, too, "I'm an explorer, Captain.
On my world, exploration meant defying the Caretaker just to walk on the surface. I took that chance because I had to. My father taught me that the greatest thing an Ocampa can do is to open her mind to all the experiences and challenges that life has to offer." She looked around the room that Janeway found so familiar and unromantic, and the look of naked wonder on the Ocampa's face was heartbreaking. "I can't begin to imagine where this ship might take us! I know I'll never see my homeworld again. But I want very much to be part of your journey."
Janeway studied her in gentle amazement. How could anyone say no to someone who instinctively understood the heart of Starfleet so well?
She nodded acceptance, and knew right away it was the right thing to do.
Sighing, Neelix hugged Kes to him ever tighter and smiled up at Janeway in sincerest bliss. "Isn't she remarkable?"
Yes, Janeway thought in wonder. Aren't we all?
The bridge was still crowded, but in a calmer, less claustrophobic way.
Most of the debris had been removed since the Kazon battle, and at least half the panels were functioning again. The rest were patched closed. Janeway hadn't even begun to think about where they would get replacement parts, or even enough repair crews, and being faced with the hint that it would all have to be dealt with soon made her head hurt.
What have I gotten us into?
Chakotay waited at the first officer's station, wearing his new Starfleet uniform as though he'd never taken it off. At engineering, Torres only looked a little uncomfortable in her corresponding gold-and-black, but Janeway still thought it best to encourage crew unity in every way possible, especially at the beginning. If that meant squeezing Maquis into uniforms they didn't wear easily, then it was just one of many adjustments they were all going to have to make.
She stepped down to her command chair, and tried to touch each expectant look with a reassuring nod.