Arianna was a three year old demon. Or at least that’s how it felt to Tom right now. He was certain there was no way he could have ever been this rambunctious. Certainly he had never climbed on conduits. “Arianna, come down from there!” He ordered her. He was answered by a childish giggle. “Arianna!” with a sigh he began climbing after her. Still giggling she easily evaded her unfortunate father. Hanging between conduits Tom was surprised when he became aware of girlish amusement, obviously coming from Arianna. Startled, his hold on the conduits slipped and he plunged to the floor. “Ow.”

            Arianna’s eyes widened, “Daddy!” Unfurling her wings she glided to the floor. Daddy had fallen, go boom! “Daddy, you alright?” Her grammar needed some work, but what three year old’s doesn’t?

            “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.” Shaking his head he muttered, “What happened?”

            The question was rhetorical but Arianna, naturally, answered it. “We were playin’ and then I could feel you in my head and you fell down went boom.”

            Tom chuckled, “True, but the question is, how did you feel me in your head? That’s never happened before.”

            “Dunno, but there’s a pretty line between us, and when I touch it you’re in my head, see?’ To prove her point she touched the line, and Tom was able to see it, as well as feel her innocent appreciation of the swirling colors.

            “Huh,” he said, as she broke the connection, “I think we’d best have a talk with the Captain.” Someone would have to look into this new development, and she’d decide who.

            “Yay!” Arianna clapped her hands, “We’re gonna see Aunt Kathy!”

****

            “You felt each other’s emotions?” Janeway questioned. Arianna lay on the floor of her ready room, happily coloring and ignoring the adults.

            “Yes Ma’am, Arianna initiated it, she saw a ‘pretty line between us’ and decided to touch it. That seems to have opened the — link.”

            “Amazing. Janeway to Chakotay and Tuvok, report to my ready room as soon as possible. Don’t worry Mr. Paris,” She assured him, “We’ll soon figure out this phenomena.”

            He nodded wordlessly.

            Arianna looked up from her coloring, curious at the change in her Daddy’s emotions when Aunt Kathy called Uncle Chak and Uncle Tuvok.

****

            “Daddy can we watch cartoons?”

            Tom smiled fondly as he playfully tugged one of her black pigtails, like father like daughter. “Of course sweetie, but only for a little while, we have a meeting with Uncle Tuvok at 0500.”

****

            Arianna was having fun. Uncle Tuvok had lotsa new games for her and Daddy to play with the link. First he took her around the ship to see how far her range was. But no matter where she was she could feel her Daddy. And now she was seeing through Daddy’s eyes and telling Uncle Tuvok what was on some cards. But she was getting sleepy. Her father told her it was time for little girls to go to sleep, and she curled up in his arms.

            Tom chuckled as he carried Arianna to their quarters. His beautiful little star, in her rainbow tie-die coveralls and white T-shirt had obliviously befuddled every standard for mental communication known in the Alpha Quadrant. Laying her gently in her bed he decided to go to Sandrine’s and shoot some pool with Harry.

****

            Tom fouled a shot as he saw Chakotay enter the bar.

            “Paris,” the large commander greeted, “haven’t seen you here in a while.”

            “Been busy.”

            Chakotay chuckled, “I’m not surprised, she’s a wild one your Aria.”

            “Yeah,” Tom mused, “somewhere back in the Alpha Quadrant my mom’s laughing her head off.”

            Politely, Chakotay left so Tom and Harry could continue their game. They played in silence for a while, then Harry spoke, “Tom?”

            “Hmm?”

            “How did you manage to keep the egg all this time? I mean, what about prison?”

            “Well, when I got kicked out of Starfleet I left the egg with my mom. When she heard the Captain was getting me out she decided I should have the egg on the trip.”

            “Why?”

            “Dunno, just glad she did.”

**Unbeknownst to our nostalgic hero**

            In a shadowy room a group of cloaked figures gathered together.

            “The Connection happened sooner than expected.”

            “The One Who Will Become Many is very strong.”

            “The Sight will come in a couple of years.”

            “I find myself feeling sorry for the Guardian.”