11:59
Episode 117
Part C

Events in the year 2000 involving Shannon O'Donnel appear in this style.

 

On the evening of 29th December, 2000, in the bookshop, Henry and Shannon get out the ingredients of their supper - bread, apples and wine.

Henry produces a book open showing pictures of Paris: "Where shall we dine tonight? Ah, how does Paris sound?" Shannon: "It's Friday night. Can we get a reservation?" Henry: "Well, I think I can arrange it. I know the maitre d'." Shannon: "Too bad I don't speak French." Henry: "Well, we'll keep it to ourselves." He pours the wine. "There." He proposes a toast: "To new friends." Shannon: "And a gracious host." They drink the toast. Henry: "Bon appetit." They tuck into their repast. Shannon: "I wouldn't mind visiting Paris one day." Henry: "Yes, it'd be nice." Shannon: "You haven't been?" Henry: "I haven't been outside Indiana. These are my travelling companions. They take me anywhere, any time." Shannon: "Not such a bad idea to experience the real thing every now and then." Henry: "I prefer my books." Shannon: "Maybe you just never had the right guide." Henry: "Is that an offer? I could make a similar argument. Not such a bad idea to er settle down now and then." Shannon: "Is that an offer? You're a peculiar man, Mr Janeway. Closeted away with all your books, shutting out the world." Henry: "Any more peculiar than exploring the mid-West in an ailing station wagon?" Shannon laughs. "Only slightly. Any word on my car?" Henry: "It's got a brand new oil pan." Shannon: "You forgot to tell me that." Henry: "Well, we were busy today. It's parked behind the garage, whenever you're ready." Shannon: "First thing in the morning." Henry: "Not so fast. Jason told me you've promised to show him a few tricks on the computer." Shannon: "I could use another day of rest." Henry: "Great. Jason'll be pleased. And when you're done with him, perhaps we'll take a stroll along the Boulevard of St Germain." Shannon: "You're making it difficult to say goodbye." Henry: "Maybe that's the idea."

In USS Voyager's Astrometrics Lab, Janeway is at the control console looking up data on the Millennium Gate. Seven enters. standard doors Seven: "You wish to see me, Captain?" Janeway: "I need your help with this: the Millennium Gate." Seven: "Impressive." Janeway: "It was built by one of my ancestors over three hundred years ago. I've been digging through the historical database. A lot of information from that era's been lost or damaged. I thought you might be able to help me reconstruct some of it."

Seven: "Is this relevant to our present mission?"
Janeway: "It's relevant to me."
Seven: "This ancestor of yours is 15 generations removed. You only possess a small fraction of her genetic material, insignificant."
Janeway: "This isn't about chromosomes, Seven. It's about character."
Seven: "Explain."

Janeway: "Shannon O'Donnel inspired me when I was a girl. She had an influence on my imagination, on my goals." Seven: "I never realised genealogy could have such an impact." Janeway: "I wouldn't have become a Starfleet captain if it wasn't for her."

Paris and Neelix enter the Messhall. Neelix is trying to cite from memory the Seven Wonders of the (Ancient) World. Neelix: "Temple of Artemis at Ephesus-" Paris: "That's four." Neelix: "The Colossus of Rhodes-" Paris: "No, in chronological order." Neelix: "Right, er, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes-" Paris: "Leaves just one more." Neelix: "The seventh Wonder of the ancient world is-" He tries to get the name out. Paris: "Can't remember?" Neelix: "No, it's right on the tip of my tongue. It's- Forget it, I give up." Paris: "Ah, I gotcha! It's the er-" Seven, who is at a table with a portable computer and PADDs, has overheard them. She states: "The Lighthouse of Alexandria built by Ptolemy the Second in 280 BC." Paris: "Behold the wonder of the modern world - Borg photographic memory. We'll call this one a draw." Paris leaves. Neelix looks at what Seven is doing. Neelix: "Brushing up on Earth's history?" Seven: "Captain Janeway requested that I research one of her ancestors." Neelix: "Shannon O'Donnel." Seven: "You've heard of her." Neelix: "Who hasn't? Mind if I lend a hand?" Seven: "If you wish." Neelix: "Sven 'Buttercup' Hansen." Seven: "He was one of my progenitors, a 22nd century prize fighter. The Captain encouraged me to investigate my genealogy as well." Neelix: "Well, your ancestors can tell you a lot about yourself." Seven: "I doubt 'Buttercup' has much relevance to me." Neelix: "The connection could be much deeper than you think. Sven - Seven." Seven: "A coincidence." Neelix: "The point is there's some of him in you just as there'll be some of you in your descendants." Seven: "If I choose to procreate." Neelix: "Well, I wouldn't dismiss it so lightly. Some day you might enjoy a little Seven of Nine Point Five running around-" he catches her stern unamused gaze, "-or not, or not." Seven: "My research has failed. I have found no references to this individual." Neelix: "Well, genealogy's a lot like fishing. You've got to cast a wide net. Er computer, expand record search for subject Shannon O'Donnel to include non-Federation databases, personal archives and photographic indexes as well." Computer: "Reference found." Neelix: "Take a look at this: Shannon Janeway."

In her quarters, Janeway is very pleased. Janeway: "Where in the world did you find this?" Neelix: "A Ferengi database." Janeway: "Ferengi?" Neelix: "Eleven years ago one of their historians collected massive amounts of data about the origin of space travel in the Federation. He wanted to market it as a nostalgic gift item." Janeway: "I would've been his first customer." Neelix: "It's a handsome family, Captain."

Janeway: "These must be her sons and daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren." Seven: "I've also discovered journalistic accounts in the historical archives, mostly articles concerning resistance to the Millennium Gate." Janeway: "The whole town was against her. Download this for me, would you, Neelix. I'm going to frame it." Neelix: "Yes, Captain."

Shannon is sitting at a table in the local bar with a map of the United States spread out in front of her. She watches the News being broadcast live on the television at the bar.

Collins reports: "The citizens of Canton, Ohio, greeted Millennium Gate representatives with a small parade today. Canton is one of three alternate sites now being considered by Gate officials. Vowing not to bow to pressure, Henry Janeway, owner of Portage Creek's Alexandria Books, says he has no intention of closing down. Marci Collins, Channel 3 News." The anchor tells her: "Thank you, Marci."

Moss approaches Shannon. "'Next stop, Mars'. I used to be in media relations with NASA. As I recall, your class came up with that slogan. Do you mind?" She indicates that she does not, and he sits down.

Moss: "It's a shame you didn't make the cut." Shannon: "Not good enough, I guess." Moss: "Do you still keep in touch with any of the others? I do, and in fact I made a few calls last night. Remember Lieutenant McMillan?" Shannon: "How's she doing?" Moss: "The co-pilot of a joint mission with Europeans scheduled for '03. Four months on the space station." Shannon: "Not bad for a girl with claustrophobia."

Moss: "She got over it. Sorry to hear about your last job. All this downsizing in aerospace. Engineers aren't given the respect they deserve." Shannon: "Who told you I lost my job?" Moss: "I made a few calls. You don't have to live like this, borrowing money, sleeping in your car." Shannon: "You've got no business checking up on me." Moss: "Actually, I do. We run a history on all our candidates."

Shannon: "Are you trying to make me some kind of an offer?" Moss: "We know you've been working closely with Henry Janeway. He'll listen to you." Shannon: "Oh. You want me to talk to him, get him to change his mind." Moss: "If you can." Shannon: "And in return?" Moss: "We'd give you a job, make you a consulting engineer on the project. You certainly have the credentials. Well?" Shannon: "I'll think about it." Moss: "Think quickly. We can't wait another thousand years." He leaves.

At night Shannon dreams about the first moon landing in 1969 and the historic words of Neil Armstrong as he descended onto the moon's surface. "Roger that, and go ahead." "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for Mankind."