CHANGE OF COMMAND
Chapter Two: Memories
By: Lauren Taylor

        B'Elanna sat in her ready room, alone, for the first time since
the big promotion. She'd already promoted Harry to lieutenant, and first
officer, which seemed to brighten him up a bit. He then sat in the room
with her for almost an hour, talking, and convincing her that she would
be a great captain. It was hard to believe that. She was an engineer, not
a captain. She stood up from her chair at the desk, and walked around,
looking at the memories of Captain Janeway that had been left behind.
There was a painting sitting by the couch, unfinished. B'Elanna didn't
even know that she painted. Then, something on the table by the couch
attracted her attention. There was a picture, of the captain and
Chakotay, at that luau one year ago. It almost brought her to tears to
see their smiling faces, looking right at her. She picked up the picture,
and placed it on the desk, to face her when she was working. She then
realized that she had some work to do. Pick new people for the senior
staff. She sat down at her desk, and turned on the monitor. By now,
everyone knew of what had happened, and the computer was programmed with
B'Elanna as the captain, and Harry as first officer. One choice would be
easy to make. Carey would be chief engineer. There was no doubt about
that. 
<ding, dong>
*Ugh, a visitor* she thought.
"Come in!" 
Tom walked through the doors, and saw her staring at the monitor, already
looking like a captain. She looked up, and smiled when she saw that the
visitor was him.
"Captain, I was wondering when you were going to move into your new
quarters." he told her, with a grin on his face. Everyone had been
calling her captain every chance they got.
"How about now? I can do this work there. Will you be helping me?" she
asked him.
"Of course. Harry's in command on the bridge, and dismissed me to help
you move in."
"You're too kind, lieutenant." she grinned at him.
"I try."
**************************************************
B'Elanna stood in her old quarters, which were now empty. So many
memories of the past four years on Voyager were gone. 
"Paris to Torres!" his voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Torres here."
"Everything's here, captain. We've cleared out most of Janeway's
belongings, but there are a few things I think she would want you to
have."
"I'm on my way." she told him as she took one more look around her
quarters. 
*These aren't your quarters anymore. These are Lieutenant Torres'
quarters. You're Captain Torres.* she told herself.
She walked out of the room, with out a glance behind.
*********************************************
"I thought you should be the one to have this." Tom told B'Elanna as he
handed her a PADD from Janeway's desk drawer, "I'll leave you alone to
read this."
She didn't say a word in response to him. She only stared at the words
that Janeway had written one year ago. She looked at the stardate, and
realized that it was written just after the incident with her
hallucination and her father. B'Elanna carried it over to the window
seat, and sat down to read.
*If you are reading this, I have been killed. After what I saw recently,
I didn't want to leave without saying goodbye to any of you, the people I
consider family.*
She went on to give personal messages to every senior staff member.
B'Elanna decided not to read what she said about each person, except
herself.
*B'Elanna Torres. You are one of the finest officers I have ever had. I
know you will go on to be something great someday, and I am sorry that I
won't be there to see it. There is something about you, something
amazing. I can see a big future ahead for you.*
On the last line, B'Elanna could actually see the captain smiling as she
wrote it.
*I can see that big future involving you and Tom Paris. Thank you for
everything you have done over these past years. Goodbye, B'Elanna*
*****************************************************
TO BE CONTINUED

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