Disclaimer - Paramount and Viacom own the characters from Voyager, although they didn’t often treat them right. The story line belongs to me. 
 

Chapter 3
 

Tom entered the mess hall and noticed Harry sitting alone at a small table in the corner of the room. He went down the serving line and took a double helping of Neelix’s Dinner Surprise. It was bright orange and looked like some sort of stew. ‘I hope this is edible. I’m starving since I didn’t have time for lunch today.’ he thought as he went to join Harry,.
 

"Hey, Tom. I thought you were working on conn reports."
 

"I’m sort of out of replicator rations so I thought I’d join you. I’ll get to the reports tonight." Tom answered with a distracted look on his face.
 

"So, are you really coming to Sandrine’s tonight? You haven’t been there for the past week."
 

"Like I said, Harry. I could use the rations." Tom began to pick at his food. "This stuff is pretty spicy."
 

Tom looked like his thoughts were light years away. ‘Something is going on with Tom.’ Harry was worried about his friend. He still thought that the Captain had been rather harsh with Tom, especially after he had gotten permission to see him in the brig. Tom did not handle solitary confinement well and had been having nightmares. 
 

"Tom, is everything OK? You’ve been too quiet and no one’s seen you after your duty shifts lately."
 

"Oh, I’m fine, Har. Just catching up on reports. Chakotay’s having me run diagnostics on the helm and the shuttles. I suspect he thinks that I’ve forgotten how to fly after 30 days off the conn. I’m also overseeing the final repairs to the Delta Flyer."
 

"Before you know it, you’ll be Lieutenant Paris again."
 

"Harry, do you really think I care all that much about rank? I disobeyed a direct order from the Captain herself. I got what I deserved. Now, eat up and let’s hit that pool table."
 

They finished their meal in relative silence and headed for Holodeck two. They didn’t notice that their conversation, as well as their exit from the mess hall, were closely observed.
 

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Tom and Harry entered Sandrine’s and went to a table near the bar. Several crewmembers were engaged in an impromptu pool tournament. 
 

"Well, I guess we’ll have to wait for the table to be free. I’ll get us a couple of drinks while we’re waiting." Tom walked off to the bar and spoke softly to Sandrine. He returned with two glasses and a bottle of scotch. "Drink up, Harry." he declared as he poured two drinks.
 

"Tom, scotch?" Harry looked at the bottle in astonishment.
 

Tom quickly downed his glass and poured another. "Sure, Har, scotch. It’s a man’s drink."
 

"Tom, I’m not sure about this. We both have the Alpha shift tomorrow."
 

"So, we leave early and get a good night’s sleep. No problem." Tom answered as he glanced at the pool table. "Looks like we’re up next." he grabbed his glass and the bottle of scotch and wandered over to the cue rack. Harry followed slowly but left his glass on the table.
 

Tom racked up the balls, grabbed the chalk, and started to put it on the end of his cue. Harry selected a cue from the rack and walked over to the table. Suddenly Chakotay’s voice came over his com badge. "Ensign Kim, this is Commander Chakotay. Could you please report to Astrometrics. The Captain wants you to begin working on the sensor arrays."
 

"Yes, Sir. I’m on my way." Harry answered and put his cue back in the rack.
 

"Damn! We finally get the table and Chakotay assigns you to an extra shift in Astrometrics!" Tom griped.
 

"Sorry, Tom. We’ll do this tomorrow night, OK?" Harry turned and left Sandrine’s.
 

"Sure, Har, tomorrow." Tom mumbled at Harry’s back. He went to the bar bringing the scotch with him.
 

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When Harry entered Astrometrics, he found Seven and Captain Janeway working at the main console. "Ensign Kim, please assist me with adjusting this scanner array." Seven motioned Harry over to the panel on the side of the console.
 

"Ensign, thank you for arriving so promptly. I know you’re off duty now but I want our scanners modified as soon as possible." The Captain smiled at Harry.
 

"No problem, Captain. I’m sure that Seven and I can get the scanners boosted to find any evidence of Kazon activity." Harry replied to the Captain and went to work.
 

"Please let me know as soon as the scanners are up and running." The Captain said as she left Astrometrics.
 

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Commander Chakotay entered Holodeck 2 and spotted Tom sitting at the bar, quietly talking with Sandrine. ‘Maybe now, I can find out what’s up with Paris.’ Chakotay thought as he crossed the room and sat down next to Tom. "Ensign, drinking alone?"
 

"Well Commander, I was drinking with Ensign Kim until you called him to Astrometrics. The scanners couldn’t wait until Alpha shift?"
 

"No, Paris. The Captain was working with Seven and she wants those new scanner arrays up and running now. She wants to return to where we ran into the Kazon ship and look for any signs of further activity." Chakotay glared at the glass in Tom’s hand. "Don’t you think you’ve had enough for one night?"
 

"I’m off duty, Commander. You can’t tell me what or how much to drink. As long as I report for my duty shift on time, my life is my own." Tom snapped at Chakotay.
 

"Paris, you don’t want me to report you for insubordination. I think it’s time you retire for the night." Chakotay took the bottle from Tom’s hand and set it on the bar.
 

"No, Commander, the last thing I need is to be brought up on charges of insubordination. Have a good night." Tom responded, his words slightly slurred. He finished off what was still in his glass, turned and drifted unsteadily out of Sandrine’s.
 

‘I haven’t seen Tom drink to excess in quite awhile.’ Chakotay thought as he remembered meeting up with the brash young pilot back in France, over six years ago.............
 

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Captain Chakotay, of the Liberty ship, strode into the dusky bar on the back street of Marseille, France. He’d been told an extremely talented pilot could be found there. The captain, a tall man, with dark hair, and a distinctive tattoo over his left eye, scanned the room. There were several tables filled with Frenchmen and their female companions, several Bolians, and a group of Bajorans surrounding the pool table. 
 

Chakotay wandered over, at the sound of the crowd loudly encouraging one of the players. He saw a rather large Klingon watching in amazement as a young man with dirty blond hair, hanging in his eyes, appeared to be running the table. The young man, gracefully sank the last of the solid balls, announced that he would sink the 8 ball in the far corner pocket, and proceeded to do just that. The crowd applauded while the Klingon grudgingly handed over five silver credits.
 

"Sandrine, my love. Here’s enough to pay last night’s tab and buy a bottle of scotch for tonight." The blond haired man handed over the credits to the bartender. He was given a bottle of house brand scotch and a glass. He sank into a chair at the closest table and poured himself a drink.
 

Chakotay approached the table and pulled out a chair. "I hate to see a pool shark drink alone."
 

"I rather prefer my own company." The young man looked up with bloodshot eyes. "What are you looking for?" 
 

"I understand that you have some large tabs in half the bars in France. I might be able to help you out."
 

"And what would it cost me." was the reply. "I’m afraid you’re not exactly my type."
 

"I’m not looking for sex but I do have a proposition for you. I hear you’re an outstanding pilot."
 

Surprised blue eyes looked at Chakotay. "Where did you hear that?"
 

"I have my sources. ........ Well, can you fly an Orion-class ship?" he noted, with a small grin, that he had his companion’s full attention.
 

"I can fly anything you put me in." the voice confident, not at all boastful.
 

"What do you know about the Maquis?" Chakotay asked as he motioned to the bartender to send over another bottle. "I’ll give you the chance to pilot my ship but you’ll have to report sober to the transport site."
 

"You offer me a seat at the helm of your ship and I’ll be as sober as a judge." Tom flashed a grin while he put out his hand. "Tom Paris at your service......Captain?"
 

"Chakotay. Pleased to meet you Tom Paris." Chakotay poured two more glasses of scotch and shook Tom’s hand. He noted how thin the pilot was and how anxious he appeared under the bravado he put forth. ‘Spirits, he’s just a kid! But if he’s as good as I’ve heard, we need him.’
 

TBC