Letters II

Compiled and Edited by: CyberMum
Written by the Voyager Season 7.5 Writing Staff

Spoiler: Letters from loved ones mean so much, especially when just maybe Voyager might be home sooner than later.

Stardate: 54685.9

"So, Harry?" Tom Paris turned and grinned at his friend as they made their way towards the mess hall. Their shift had finished five minutes earlier, and B'Elanna had promised to meet them there as soon as she was able to leave engineering.

"What?" Harry Kim feigned innocence. He knew exactly what Tom was asking, but he was going to give his friend the satisfaction of a quick or easy response.

"Come on, Harry. You know what."

"I do? Oh yes - you want to know if I reprogrammed the Captain Proton simulation so that B'Elanna can play the part of Saber Tooth Sal instead of your trusty secretary Constance Goodheart. I think she'll be much happier now that she'll be saving your butt rather than handing you your pistol and telling you to be careful."

"Come on Harry..."

"Oh. Yeah. I fixed your Olympics simulation too. You really had some of those measurements wrong. Even a Nausicaan couldn't have managed your long jump. And you would have needed two Orcans to cover the water polo net."

"Har..."

"And I had coffee with Marla last night. We had a nice time. She's very nice."

"And...?"

"And that's all I'm going to say, Tom. Hi B'Elanna." Harry greeted his friend with a smile. "How was your shift?"

"Not too bad actually. I managed to figure out where the short in the coil scanner was and reroute the field coils around it without compromising the magnetic seals.

The three of them threaded their way through the mess hall and found a table towards the back.

"Mr. Kim!" Neelix bustled his way over just as they had settled themselves into their seats. "Lieutenants Paris." Torres raised an eyebrow at the Talaxian's greeting, but decided to ignore it.

"Hi Neelix, what's for lunch?" Harry asked quickly.

"Mr. Kim the newest datastream transmissions are starting to come in. Megan Delaney just hailed me. We've got to go pick them up."

"Isn't it a bit early?" Tom asked.

"No, it isn't Tom." B'Elanna replied. "I think we've had such a lot going on recently that the time slipped away faster than we realized. They're on time."

Harry stood up. "I'll see you later guys - maybe I'll have something for you. Let's go Neelix."

But Neelix was already on his way out of the mess hall.

They arrived in Astrometrics together.

"We're here Megan, what have you got for us this month?" Neelix' enthusiasm was evident. Both he and Harry relished this particular duty. Delivering the letters from home to Voyager's crew had fallen under their jurisdiction over the past year. Neelix' participation in this activity was natural - after all, he was the ship's morale officer, and what could be more of a morale boost than communication from friends and family in the Alpha Quadrant. As for Harry, he wasn't quite sure how his involvement in the monthly ritual had evolved, but there was no way he would ever give the job up at this point.

"I'm still decrypting." Megan's fingers flew over her console. "The stream seems to be fluctuating at an increasing variance. I'm going to have to compensate."

Harry and Neelix watched as the young woman carefully adjusted her calculations to account for the inconsistencies in the carrier wave. She paused, took a PADD from a tall pile of them by her side, inserted it into a slot in her console and activated the download procedure.

"Here's the first one." Megan withdrew the PADD from the slot and examined it quickly. "It's for you sir." She said, and handed it to Harry.

Harry looked at it in surprise. "It's from my Mom. I'll... um...I'll read it later." He slipped the PADD into one of the pouches that he and Neelix had picked on their way to Astrometrics and slung the pouch over his shoulder. His mailbag, Tom called it.

Megan inserted a second PADD into the console and began the download procedure again. There was a moment of silence.

"I'm afraid there has been an interruption in the datastream. I believe the interference and the fluctuations are being caused..." She turned and pointed to the large display screen that took up one entire side of the Astrometrics lab "By that gaseous nebula. It seems to be emitting electrical charges that disrupt the smooth flow of data. I believe we will be clear of the nebula..." Megan turned again, this time to a smaller display screen on the wall behind him "In about fourteen minutes."

Neelix looked at Harry and grinned. "Go ahead Lieutenant," He said. "Read your letter. There's no reason not to, especially since we're now waiting!"

Harry reached into the pouch that he had slung over his shoulder and fingered the PADD that he had dropped into it a few moments earlier. "I... okay." He said, "Why not."

To: Harry Kim, Lieutenant/USS Voyager
Via: Project Pathfinder
From: Mrs. John Kim/Section 001/Earth/San Francisco
Stardate: 54645.2

Harry Dear,

Or should I address you as Lieutenant? It has such a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Lieutenant Harry Kim. Your father and I are so proud of you, Harry. We know how hard you work on Voyager, and how important your work is. I'm glad that your captain has recognized and rewarded you for your contributions. Do you know she wrote us a letter of congratulations on your promotion? She mentioned that you have been on several away missions recently and have performed 'admirably'. She sounds like such a nice woman.

Last night your Father and I listened again to the recording you sent of your latest musical composition. It is very good son. A bit slow in places, perhaps, but very enjoyable nonetheless. I have made a copy of it and sent it to Professor Traibut at Julliard. He asked after you at the last meeting of the Alumni Association and I told him you were still playing your clarinet. He was pleased to hear it, and sent his regards to you. Did you know that he is now conducting the Youth Symphony? Perhaps he can use your piece in a concert. You never know...

We are all fine here. Last weekend we had a surprise visit from your Aunties Pearl and Opal. Do you remember them Harry? Your Grandmother Kim's twin baby sisters? They are eighty-three years old and still dress alike. Apparently they have been traveling quite frequently recently - revisiting their childhood homes, and staying with relatives along the way. They didn't give us much warning - called on Thursday, arrived on Saturday morning. Luckily your Auntie Soni had warned me they were coming and I was able to prepare an appropriate dinner for them. They are sticklers for the old ways.

Your cousin Mila has been accepted into Star Fleet Academy. As you can imagine, your Aunt and Uncle are extremely proud of her - just as we were of you when you received your acceptance. Mila has been here several times recently, asking about you and your experiences at the Academy. I showed her a copy of the article you wrote for the school newspaper - the one about the Maquis. I had it laminated several years ago and hung it over the desk in your room. I didn't think you'd mind. Just think - you were so worried about the Maquis problem then, and now you are working with some of them.

In your last letter you mentioned someone named Marla. I haven't heard this name before. Do you work with her? Where is she from? Is she married or attached in some way? I ask these questions so that I can know more about what you do, how you live and spend your time on Voyager.

How are your friends Tom and B'Elanna? She must be nearing her time. Wish her luck from me. I look forward to meeting them and all your Voyager friends when you arrive home. This Pathfinder Project has raised our hopes enormously, Harry, and we feel in our hearts that we will see you soon.

I must close now as your Auntie Liisa and I have a date with your cousin Tanya for tea at the Green Dragon Café. We have to decide who is going to host this year's New Year's celebration. It's actually your Auntie's turn, but with Uncle Phil away on an extended deep space mission, and Auntie Clare being out of sorts, it might just fall to me. I don't know how I'm going to tell your father... well, never mind Harry, I'll just work it out myself.

My love to you son. Be well, and be very careful on those away missions.

Mom