Star Trek: Voyager: Endgame

that smile reached her eyes.
    “I will require a change of uniform,” she said.
    * * *
    Kim materialized in an enormous hall. Flags representing every Federation member planet hung from the high, arched ceiling. Windows opened to the San Francisco sky, and the muted hues of twilight vied with artificial lighting for the right to illuminate this vast chamber. Soft music played in the background, and more tables than Kim had ever seen in one place stretched the length of this great hall. Kim gaped openly for a moment. He had never seen this room before; it was reserved for high ceremony. He supposed that Starfleet had, after the cursory briefings, come to the realization that
Voyager
rated such kudos. Quickly, though, he forgot about the opulence of the room and began scanning the crowd, looking for those whose faces he had kept in his mind for seven years.
    So many people! Out of the corner of his eye, he saw big, jolly Chell squeal happily as he rushed to embrace two blue Bolians. Little Naomi, standing close beside a beaming Samatha Wildman, formally stuck her hand out to a towering Ktarian male who gently accepted it. Vorik stood politely conversing with three Vulcans. They appeared to be strangers, but, knowing Vulcans, Kim was willing to bet they were his family.
    Captain Janeway was hugging two women at the same time. One was an older woman who looked a lot like her, and the other was a little younger than she. They had to be her mother and sister.
    Over there was Chakotay, his expression a mixture of joy and sorrow, as he embraced men and women who Kim assumed were fellow Maquis members. And there was the Paris family. Kim didn't recognize the older, attractive woman, but guessed she was Tom's mother. Standing next to them was a tall, handsome man with black hair and a dark complexion.
    Harry stared. Was this B'Elanna's father, after all these years? B'Elanna looked as if she were trying to decide whether to punch the man or throw herself in his arms.
    He never saw which she did because at that moment, a beloved voice cried, “Harry! Oh, Harry!”
    Harry whirled and saw an elderly Asian couple threading their way through the crowd. When their eyes met, the woman lifted a long, rectangular box over her head. He knew what it was, and tears sprang to his eyes. She had brought his clarinet.
    “Mom! Dad!” he cried, and rushed to embrace them fiercely. And even as he hugged them, he saw another person he had never forgotten, despite the intervening years, the resignation at never seeing her again, and the things he had shared with other women who had entered his life. He saw a lovely face framed by curly dark hair, and large eyes filled with tears even as her mouth curved wide in a smile of joy.
    Libby.
    Voyager
's crew had all finally come home.



CHAPTER 4

    T UVOK MATERIALIZED IN THE FRONT HALL OF HIS OWN HOME . T HE colors were slightly different. He took a moment to note the changes his wife had made in his absence. Instead of the muted, dark purple, there were now shades of blue and green. The ancient urn that had stood in the hallway alcove had been moved to the top of the stairs. It had been replaced by a landscape painting of the Voroth Sea. Looking closer, he saw that it bore the name of his youngest child. He raised an eyebrow. T'Pel had always had an eye for fine art, and it was good to see that the child had not squandered her talents.
    “They told us that you did not wish us to travel to Earth to greet you, once Sek had completed the
fal-tor-voh,”
a soft, female voice said.
    Despite himself, despite his years of discipline, Tuvok could not suppress a quickening of his pulse. He did not permit himself to turn around immediately.
    “That is correct,” he said, keeping his voice modulated. “There was no logic in disrupting the present status of your lives for an excessive and unnecessary human-inspired celebration. Once I was cured, I would then be debriefed and able to return to Vulcan shortly thereafter.”
    “I agree, husband,” said T'Pel, stepping into the light as he turned around. “There was no reason to rush this reunion. I have waited seven years for your safe return. A few days more is insignificant. I trust that the
fal-tor-voh
was successful?”
    “Entirely. Sek is a worthy son and performed the mind-meld admirably.”
    He moved toward her. They were only inches apart, now. Her shining brown eyes, tranquil as a pool on temple grounds, met his evenly. Slowly, Tuvok lifted