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The anger felt good-very good. It wasn't hard to keep it simmering as Neelix regarded the Romulan. It was even easier to hear a mocking tone of voice as Telek spoke, to imagine that the Romulan didn't believe him or, worse, was belittling him.

"I'm sure you're hungry," Neelix said, the cordial words uttered in an angry tone. 'This is the mess hall-my domain."

The door hissed open and Neelix and Telek stepped into a room buzzing with low conversation. After Telek's revelation, Janeway had ordered the primary shift on duty, and people were eager for coffee and something to break their fasts. Neelix had

earlier set out an array of cold foodstuffs to which people could help themselves. Now, with his unpleasant task of escorting the arrogant Romulan out of the way, he moved quickly to don his chef's hat and apron and prepare something hot and satisfying to the real, deserving members of the crew.

He felt Telek's gaze on him, but ignored it. The Romulan stood for a while, looking about hesitantly. Good, thought Neelix, breaking some Skelonian spotted eggs into a bowl and whisking them into a green froth with unnecessary fervor. / hope he feels as out of place as he really is-out of place, out of time... !

He'd planned to instruct Telek on the use of the replicator. He'd planned to inquire about native Romulan foods and prepare them as carefully and accurately as possible. Now, he almost hoped Telek would choke on the coffee.

Finally, Telek made his way to a seat. He folded his hands in front of him and looked lost.

"Who's that?" It was the clear, high voice of Naomi Wildman, Voyager's youngest crew member. Neelix glanced down. His spirits lifted a little at the sight of his goddaughter.

"Well, good morning!" he enthused. "You're up early."

"My mom got called to duty and I got bored trying to sleep." She stood on her tiptoes and reached for a deep blue thai fruit. "You didn't answer my question." Her large eyes fastened on him, she crunched down on the fruit.

"Oh. He's a Romulan," said Neelix, the anger surging to the fore again. 'It's a long story."

Naomi swallowed, wiped at her mouth, took another bite, and regarded the Romulan with a serious gaze suited to one much older.

"He looks lonely. Maybe he'd like to play with Plotter and me in the holodeck this afternoon. I'll go ask him."

"Naomi, I don't think-" Neelix called, but the little girl, her long red-blond hair swinging down her back, had already clambered into the chair opposite Telek R'Mor.

"Hi, I'm Naomi Wildman," said the child, offering a sticky, juice-stained hand.

Cautiously, Telek accepted her hand and shook it politely. "Greetings, Naomi Wildman. I did not expect to see a child aboard a Federation Starship."

"My mom was pregnant with me when we got pulled into the Delta Quadrant," Naomi explained. "She didn't expect to be gone so long."

"I see," Telek replied. He hesitated, then said softly, "It must be a great comfort to your mother to have you here with her so far away from home."

"I guess so. Sometimes Mom says she really misses my dad."

"But you," said Telek, sorrow creeping into his voice, "you have never seen your father, and thus cannot miss him."

"I'm a little nervous about meeting him," Naomi confided. "But Mom says I'll like him a lot"

"I am sure you will, child," Telek said.

Naomi studied him, legs swinging as she continued to chew the fruit. "Are you a daddy?"

Telek stood abruptly. "I think perhaps your captain and I should talk again. I must go. It was pleasant meeting you, Naomi Wildman."

Her face fell. "But... aren't you hungry? I can tell you what the best things to eat are, if you're not used to eating our food. The replicator can make chocolate cake, and ice cream, and ba-ti-kaa', and-"

"That is thoughtful of you. Perhaps another time." He nodded, rose, and exited quickly.

Neelix watched him leave, then glanced back at Naomi. The little girl followed Telek with her gaze, and when the door had closed