Chapter Text
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Epilogue
"Hey, Doc! You here?"
The Doctor glanced up from his console and saw Lieutenant Paris headed his way, looking pretty pleased with himself. He returned his attention to his console.
"Ah, here you are."
"Yes, who would have thought?" the Doctor asked sardonically, as Paris entered his office.
Tom's complacent smile didn't diminish. "The captain sent me to brief you on the status of Sickbay while you were gone."
As far as the Doctor could tell, everything looked exactly the same as it had when he'd left. "Was there an emergency?"
"Nope. Not even one patient. The crew is disgustingly healthy."
"I suppose that's not surprising, considering their doctor."
Tom grinned again. "Nice to know you came back with your usual humility intact, Doc. How was your trip, anyway?"
"I successfully negotiated a trade for a large quantity of fresh foodstuffs--"
"Yeah, I think Neelix is going to build a fruit centerpiece in your image."
The Doctor ignored that. "And I spent the rest of my time learning more about the Shaal'ra. They are an engaging race. They allowed me to do medical scans on several of the crew." He motioned to his console monitor, his voice rising with enthusiasm. "Their metabolism is amazing, and the rate of their cell regeneration is beyond that of any species I've ever encountered. I now understand why their bodies require no sleep. I also have scans of their brain structure. When one identity is active, the others are completely quiescent. That part of the brain 'rests' as it were. It's like nothing I've ever seen. It could lead to some very valuable research."
"I bet," Tom said. He shook his head. "I still can't imagine sharing my body with three or four other people. Or how weird it would be if Miral had several other fathers."
"If you were Shaal'ra, Miral would only be one identity. You'd be her father, and the other identities would have their fathers." The Doctor had observed Deliin and Tineel with their respective children. He still didn't completely understand what alerted their bodies to switch identities in exact synchronization with each other, but it seemed to work that way, within family groups anyway. It was something he looked forward to researching.
"I guess so," Tom replied. "But who gets to see her walk first? Or talk first?" He waved his hand as the Doctor opened his mouth to explain again. "Never mind. To be honest, Doc, I wouldn't want to have the use of my body for only a few hours a day, or share B'Elanna and Miral--mind or body--with anyone else. Maybe it's selfish of me, but I'm glad it's just the three of us."
"Not at all, Mister Paris. It's human." The Doctor had no desire to share his holomatrix with other identities, despite his admiration for the Shaal'ra. "By the way, how was your talk with your family?"
Tom looked surprised at the question. He shrugged. "Fine."
"I take it 'fine' means successful," the Doctor said.
"My parents were very happy to meet B'Elanna and Icheb. And they adored Miral."
Why wouldn't they? She was a bright, lively, happy child. "What about you and your father?" the Doctor asked.
"We talked." Tom paused for a moment, and then he smiled. "It went...well. Very well."
"That's really no surprise, Lieutenant. Whatever happened between you before, you're family. I believe you once explained to me what that means--to share a history, to endure hardships and come through on the other side, still together."
Tom nodded. "I remember. I guess I was more right than I thought."
"I suppose the law of averages had to fall in your favor at some point, Lieutenant."
Tom grinned, not rising to the bait. "Hey, Doc, about your holonovel--"
"I've decided to delete it."
"What?! Doc, you can't do that!"
The Doctor stared at Tom, startled by his fervor. "Why not? You didn't like it. And aren't you the one who told me the characters were too similar to the Voyager crew?"
"That was constructive criticism. And I never said I didn't like it, exactly. I also told you it had the makings of a bestseller."
"Not if it isn't published," the Doctor said dryly. "In any case, I'm starting a new holonovel, a serious work based on an issue of unprecedented importance."
Tom frowned. "What issue?"
"The repression of holograms. I plan to show the public just how unjustly photonic beings have been treated by the Federation. I'm thinking of calling it 'Up from Bondage.'"
"Sounds, uh, provocative. But that doesn't mean you have to abandon 'Hero for the Times' in the process."
"I have something more important to do, something less frivolous- -"
"Frivolous?" Tom shook his head. "Light-hearted, maybe. But you said yourself there is an underlying message about holograms. Why pass up this opportunity to get public sentiment on your side?"
"Perhaps you've forgotten again that I can't get it published, Lieutenant."
"You can't sign a contract, but I can sign one."
The Doctor stared at Tom with disbelief. "Are you suggesting I publish the holonovel under your name?"
"No. It would still be published under the pseudonym Emerson Holmes. I'll just sign the contract as...the co-writer."
"Co-writer?!"
"Okay, editor."
"Mister Paris, I don't think--" the Doctor stopped as Tom held out a PADD. He took it and read the words on the screen. It was a petition supporting the publication of his holonovel. He scrolled though the names, starting with Neelix and Tom Paris, and saw Chakotay's name, B'Elanna Torres, Tuvok, Harry Kim, both Delaney sisters, and probably three-quarters of the crew. The final name was Captain Kathryn Janeway.
"The crew wants you to have this opportunity, Doctor."
"They do?" The Doctor felt a tug in his emotional subroutines. He was genuinely touched. Then he looked up at Tom. "And you said the crew wouldn't like my holonovel."
Tom cleared his throat. "Right. Anyway, what do you say, Doc?"
"I suppose if you're willing to sign as editor only..."
"Great!" Tom grinned. "Since it's quiet in Sickbay, maybe we should take a quick look at your holonovel, and see where it could use a little editing."
"Very little editing," the Doctor warned as he rose. He wondered what he was getting into as he walked through Sickbay with Tom Paris. "Just remember, the final decisions are mine."
"Of course. I do have a few ideas for one of the characters."
"Don't tell me. Don London."
"Every great hero needs a brave and dependable sidekick."
The Doctor rolled his eyes.
"Every great ship also needs a quick, maneuverable shuttlecraft to divert the enemy when necessary, and to help form a two-flank attack, not to mention for the occasional romantic rendezvous. Maybe something like the Delta Flyer?"
The Doctor pursed his lips. That idea did have some merit. "I suppose you expect Don London to fly it."
"Only when the EPH is busy saving the Valorous."
"I'll have to think about that," the Doctor said. He didn't intend to let Mister Paris have his way too often.
"Just think, this could become a whole series of holoadventures, Doc! The amazing EH and his intrepid crew..."
The Doctor considered that as they entered the turbolift. He supposed he could be a popular holonovelist and still write his serious opus, along with being a doctor, musician, political activist, and whatever else he wanted. He was a hologram after all.
"How about the Proton Flyer," Tom suggested as the turbolift doors started to close.
The Doctor snorted. "Perhaps the Photon Flyer--"
End