“So let me get this straight, you’re half god half mortal, and your father Ares, Greek god of war wants you to become a god, but you don’t want to.”

“Yes ma’am, that’s the gist of it.”

“You’re also apparently romantically involved with my First Officer.”

Tom blushed deeply. “Uh-yes, that’s a rather recent development.”

“So I assumed.” Captain Janeway got up, “I also take it that you would rather the truth about your father be kept quiet.”

“Yes ma’am. I mean to tell Harry, and maybe B’Elanna, but the fewer people who know the better.”

Janeway nodded. “I’d suggest also telling the Doctor, and I’m putting the information in your file under classified.”

“Thank you ma’am” Tom turned to leave.

“And Tom.”

“Yes ma’am?” “Congratulations, I always thought you and Chakotay would be a good couple.”

Tom smiled brilliantly. “Thank you ma’am.”

Tom walked along the empty corridor with his father, talking about his recent interview with the captain.

“She seemed to take it rather well” Ares commented.

“She’s learned to accept strange things in the Delta Quadrant.”

“Things do seem to be going well.”

Tom rounded on his father, blue eyes open wide in horror. “Father!”

“What?”

“Every time someone says things are going well they always take a turn for the worse.”

“Oh don’t be silly.”

“I’m not being silly, It’s the truth, you’ve just cursed us all.”

“Well now you’re just being paranoid.”

Tom shook his head, “You’ll see, something bad will happen.”

“You’re already lost in the Delta Quadrant. Other than dying how could it get worse?”

“Lotsa ways, torture, complete loss of replicators, starvation, we could get taken over by aliens, or worse, Neelix could sing.”

Ares laughed.

But Tom was right, because not everyone agreed with the Captain about Tom as a couple.

[evil crackle] Chapter 7