Chapter Five: And the Rest, As They Say, Is History

Reg Barclay clinked his champagne glass. “May I have everyone’s attention, please! It’s been seven years since Voyager was lost in the Delta Quadrant. Seven years spent on the longest away mission in Starfleet’s history.”

There was a collective chuckle.

“Seven years together made you a family, one I’m proud to have been adopted by, so let’s raise our glasses…to the journey.”

Everyone lifted their various drinks. “To the journey!” they chorused.

Lisa and Data had, by now, met everyone who had been on Voyager. Harry Kim looked a little star struck and Seven of Nine was intrigued, for she knew of them from her time with the Borg.

She was currently speaking to Tom Paris and B’Elanna Torres. Tom was holding baby Miral. The baby was gurgling, staring intently at Lisa’s wings and squirming.

“Wow, she hasn’t wiggled that much since I was carrying her,” said B’Elanna.

Tom adjusted the baby in his arms. “Okay,” he said to her, “stop squirming.”

Lisa laughed. “She likes the glow of my wings.”

“How do you know that?” B’Elanna asked.

“I’m telepathic and babies project louder than normal humanoids.”

“What do babies think?” asked Tom.

“Not in words. Not really. They think in images and emotions. Here, watch.” She flared her wings and lightly brushed the feathers along the baby’s face, causing her to giggle happily. “Here,” she said, plucking a feather from her right wing. “Have one.”

“Thanks,” said Tom. “So, you’ve been chatting with the Doc.”

“And you’re the hologram he talks to when he can’t handle things,” added B’Elanna.

The EMH in question had moved on to speak to Ben, who Lisa was avoiding as much as she could. Data was with them. The din of conversation blocked any attempts for Lisa to eavesdrop.

“Like my hologram told him, Voyager’s computer was smart to make me. With Data and his emotion chip and his ups and downs, I’m very much an expert in emotional artificial life forms. Part of me kind of wishes it really was me.”

The party went on for a good four hours. It was revealed that Voyager, after being analyzed and repaired and studied and after the crew’s thirty days of leave, would continue on its duties with all of the crew who cared to return present.

Lisa got herself invited back to the ship for its first mission after the maintenance. She wound up becoming friends with most of the crew, especially the Doctor.

Periodically, she – with and without Data – would return to Voyager and spend time with her new friends. The Doctor no longer needed a hologram of Lisa to aid in his emotional growth, and Lisa had someone to turn to when tragedy struck years later.

But that’s another story.

The End

Back *~*~* Chapter Four *~*~* Trivia and In-Jokes