The Other Torres | A Star Trek Fanfiction *Book 1*

The Cloud-Chapter 17

There was a celebration in the Mess Hall about Amanda's promotion when she managed to sneak off to her quarters, Tom was the only one who noticed, he left the Mess Hall to follow her but she was gone "Computer, locate Commander Torres" he said "Commander Torres is in her quarters" replied the Computer "which deck?" asked Tom "Deck 4 section 3-A" said the Computer.

Tom frowned how had he never noticed, his quarters were on Deck four too except in were in section 3-C, he walked to Amanda's room and pressed the doorbell "come in" she said, she was lying on her bed. "You left your own party" said Tom causing Amanda to look up "I didn't see the point, I'd been promoted big deal" said Amanda shrugging. Tom raised an eyebrow, "sure not a big deal" he said sarcastically.

Amanda laughs and sits up "well the party's almost over and then it's back to work so come back and then head to the Bridge" said Tom shrugging, Amanda nods and Tom offers Amanda his hand to help her up.

Amanda accepted his hand and the two walked to the Mess Hall neither realising they hadn't let go of each others hands, Tom'd let go of Amanda's hand to open the door to the Mess Hall, not long after they got back to the Mess Hall did the team head to their jobs, Amanda took her place at the right of Janeway's seat, she was off wandering the ship, Harry and Tom's shifts still hadn't started yet, Amanda was restless and decided to go to the Mess Hall.

"Personal log, Stardate 48546.2. Our journey home is several weeks old now, and I have begun to notice in my crew and in myself, a subtle change as the reality of our situation settles in. Here in the Delta Quadrant, we are virtually the entire family of man. We are more than a crew and I must find a way to be more than a captain to these people, but it's not clear to me exactly how to begin." said Janeway in her log.

Janeway comes out of the turbolift and walks past a crewman gazing out of an observation window in the corridor, then into Engineering. "At the Academy, we are taught that a captain is expected to maintain a certain distance. Until now, I've always been comfortable with that distance." she continued in her log, B'Elanna spots her from the upper catwalk. "Captain, I didn't realise there was an inspection scheduled." she said. "Not an inspection, Lieutenant. A stroll." said Janeway. "We should have the warp drive up and running by 0900 hours. Recalibrating the reactant injectors is the only thing we have left to do." said B'Elanna. "Carry on." said Janeway. "Maybe this is just the way it works. Maybe the distance is necessary. Maybe more than ever now, they need me to be larger than life, I only wish I felt larger than life. Computer, delete last sentence.." said Janeway adding to her log.

In the Mess Hall, Janeway walks in, Harry, Amanda and Tom are picking at their food "nope, can't do it, I'm going to use my replicator rations" said Amanda frowning in disgust and walking to her quarters, Janeway chuckles, Tom and Harry hear her and start standing up "as you were. So, has Neelix concocted anything interesting this morning? I see Amanda couldn't palate it" said Janeway. "There's an ancient Chinese curse, Captain. May you live in interesting times. Mealtime is always interesting now that Neelix is in the kitchen, I don't think her Klingon taste buds are as resilient as our human ones and not to mention Tom and I are struggling to eat it too." said Harry. "We shouldn't judge him too harshly. He is helping us conserve replicator energy." said Janeway. "And I'm sure the gastrointestinal problems will go away as soon as our systems get used to his, er, gourmet touch." said Tom still poking his meal "I think it moved" he said pushing it away. "Well, I'll see you at duty call." said Janeway, she headed off. "We should've asked her to join us." said Harry. "Ensigns don't invite Captains to sit down." said Tom. "Why not?" asked Harry. "Because they don't." answered Tom. "Well, what's wrong with showing a little courtesy?" asked Harry. "Captains don't want courtesy, they want respect. That's why they don't get chummy with the lower ranks." said Tom. "Well, who else is she supposed to get chummy with out here? There aren't many other Captains and Admirals for her to talk to." said Harry. "If she wants to sit with us, she'll ask us to join her. That's the way it's done." said Tom. "I think you're working from an old rule book, Paris." commented Harry.