Unworthy - Kirsten Beyer [20]
Neelix had murmured affirmatives and nodded as her story progressed, but once she was done his eyes seemed to betray misgivings.
After a brief pause B’Elanna filled by draining the dregs of the “coffee” Dexa had served after dinner, she demanded, “What?”
“What? Nothing,” Neelix replied too quickly.
With an abrupt sigh, B’Elanna got up, and said, “I should really go check on Miral. I’m sure Dexa’s worn out by now.”
“Of course,” Neelix agreed. “There’s just one thing, though.”
B’Elanna froze for a moment before resigning herself and sitting back down.
“What?”
“I just don’t remember B’Elanna Torres ever accepting defeat like this. She was always so determined to make the universe do as she wished no matter what. And she certainly never used to run away from a fight,” Neelix said in the seemingly innocent manner that left little room for offense or argument.
B’Elanna felt her ire beginning to rise and replied, “The B’Elanna Torres you used to know didn’t have a child’s welfare to put ahead of her own.”
“Of course,” Neelix said, nodding. “But still …”
“Out with it, Neelix,” B’Elanna said more harshly.
Thankfully, Neelix rarely paid attention to tone.
“You and Tom have obviously gone to great lengths in the interests of protecting Miral; but at some point, there are other valuable lessons you are going to have to teach her, especially if there’s any chance that her purpose as the Kuvah’magh is to be fulfilled.”
“Neelix, she’s three and a half. We’re still working on colors, letters, and numbers.”
“Children absorb everything, B’Elanna,” Neelix said with more conviction. In this at least, both of them knew he was standing on solid ground. “The only things that have ever really hurt the children in my life, little Naomi and now Brax, were the things I tried to hide from them. Ultimately it didn’t serve any of us well. And while I don’t doubt that you and Tom might be all Miral could possibly need for now, what happens in a few more years? The day is going to come when her universe will have to get a little bigger. And I’m sorry, but the idea of the three of you constantly on the run in your shuttle or settled on some deserted planet eking out an existence doesn’t really sound like something that’s going to serve Miral very well. You and Tom found a path together on Voyager— a road that led both of you to the best you had to offer. I don’t understand why you wouldn’t want to share that with Miral. When I think of how Naomi grew and thrived aboard Voyager, and how the challenges we face here on New Talax are turning Brax into such a responsible and intellectually curious young man, I couldn’t be more proud. Can you honestly tell me that the thought of spending the rest of your lives alone on some uninhabited planet could compare with the other options you should be considering?”
“We’ve made our decision,” B’Elanna said, surprised by the uncertainty she heard in her own voice.
“Well, that’s the nice thing about decisions.” Neelix smiled. “Every day you have the chance to make a better one.”
“I can’t ask Voyager’s crew to take responsibility for Miral’s life. Apart from Tom and Harry, most of those people are strangers to me.”
“A stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet,” Neelix said, and shrugged.
“I’d be putting them in harm’s way.”
“Isn’t that what they signed up for when they joined Starfleet?”
“This is different. This is my personal problem.”
“Since when? For the people who love you, and I count myself among them, your problems are theirs. You are one of the strongest people I’ve ever known, B’Elanna. But going it alone led you to some pretty dark places in the past. Your family on Voyager never let that go on for long. And honestly, I think if you could step outside yourself for a minute and look at this from where I’m sitting, you’d agree with me. At the very least, I’d like you and Tom to consider making your new home here with us.”
B’Elanna was incredibly moved by his offer.
“Neelix, if the Warriors