by Mel Blue
---

Disclaimer: These characters are the property of Paramount-Viacom. I just borrowed them and am not writing for profit.

---

Lieutenant Tom Paris woke with a start, abruptly leapt out of bed, tripped over a blanket and fell flat on his face.

Then he lay there for a long while, wondering what had woken him so suddenly. He lifted his head, and peered suspiciously around the room. Nothing seemed unusual, so he slowly sat up and asked the computer for lights.

He blinked in the sudden onslaught of brightness and once more glanced around, still finding nothing strange in his quarters. Tom frowned in abstraction. Something had definitely woken him, something strangely familiar, and it wasn't a dream or a nightmare. Shaking his head in frustration, he rose to his feet. He was obviously sorely in need of some shore leave and he smiled to himself in delight as he remembered that the much-awaited stardate had arrived, and he was about to get some.

Voyager was still traveling through an empty, and he thought privately, very boring area of space. Indeed, the only entertainment the ship had enjoyed recently was the strange beginning of a relationship between Commander Chakotay and Lieutenant Tuvok.

Tom smirked to himself as he remembered how the Commander hadn't been too thrilled at the amount of interest the crew had shown; but it had brought about a very positive outcome. In a move that Tom suspected was motivated by a need for privacy, Chakotay had convinced the Captain to allow the scheduling of the holodecks for shore leave while they were in this quiet area of space, and then had been one of the first to take the opportunity, inviting Tuvok to join him. Of course, that meant that other crewmembers were scheduled for holodeck shore leave as well, including the senior staff. It wasn't as good as the real thing but Tom wasn't complaining. Recently, he'd been feeling the need for a break from his ongoing romantic liaisons and today, he and Harry would enter the holodeck to begin a four-day camping holiday, and they would only be contacted if there was an absolute emergency. And that wasn't likely to happen.

Tom asked for the time. It was still early, but he felt too excited and awake to go back to sleep. Dismissing whatever had woken him as part of that excitement, he went to his bathroom and turned on the sonic shower.

It was while he was in the shower that the Captain commed him.

"Yes, Captain?" Tom answered promptly, turning off the sonics.

"Lieutenant, I know that you are due to start shore leave today, but something has come up. I've already commed Ensign Kim, and I'd like you to join us in the conference room in ten minutes."

"Yes, Captain," Tom replied, struggling to keep the disappointment out of his voice.

The Captain made no effort to keep the amusement out of hers. "Don't worry, Lieutenant. I have a mission for you that may turn out better than your planned shore leave."

Tom smiled as she cut the com-line, and then went to find his uniform. As he left his quarters, he glanced regretfully at the backpack he'd packed the night before.

---

"Gentlemen," the Captain began, waving Harry and Tom into chairs and taking a seat herself. "During the gamma shift we came upon a class M planet and made contact."

"That's strange," Harry interjected. Long range sensors showed no sign of any planets when I finished my shift."

"Yes, apparently it appeared on sensors just after you left, Ensign," explained the Captain. "The planet is called Klexis and the leader of their government initiated contact with us. I spoke to him, explained what we're doing here and he offered their help in anyway they could. It turns out that they have large sources of galacite and I was able to come to an agreement with them to make an exchange of some data-files for the galacite. Unfortunately, they seem to have some sort of strict prohibition on using transporters, so I need someone to take a shuttle down there and make the exchange."

"And that would be me, Captain?" Tom asked.

"Yes," agreed the Captain. "There's really no one else available. B'Elanna has a lot to do in engineering; Commander Chakotay and Lieutenant Tuvok are still on shore leave in Holodeck 1. I'm. . . ah. . . reluctant to cut that short. The other thing is that this should be a pleasant trip. A real shore leave. Klexis appears to be a lovely planet and the people seem friendly. I'm prepared for you to spend the four days down there that was scheduled for your shore leave here."

Tom glanced at Harry and he could see his own excitement reflected in the other's dark eyes.

"When do we leave?" asked Tom, grinning at the Captain.

"Immediately," she replied. "A shuttle is waiting for you in shuttle bay two. There's just one more thing. Klexis has three large moons. One of them is inhabited, and we are asked to avoid this moon. You'll have to plot a detour around it."

"Why is that, Captain?" asked Harry.

"Apparently the people there hold some unusual beliefs and practice some social customs that the people on the main planet do not agree with. It seems the structure of their society includes some kind of ritual slavery. Because of these differences these people created their own colony on the moon, and relations between the moon and the planet seem quite cordial. However, the Klexian leader recommended that we keep away from the moon, and I could see no reason to disagree. Are there any more questions?"

"No, Captain," replied Tom after glancing at Harry.

"Then, dismissed," the Captain smiled, "and have a good time."

---

"Harry, I can't believe our luck," said Tom as he piloted their shuttle out of the shuttle bay and away from Voyager.

Klexis hung in the sky before them, a huge green-blue jewel in the blackness around her. They could see only one of her moons, gleaming with the same green glow as the main planet and a quarter of her size. This was the moon they had been told to avoid, and Tom began to plot a course away from it. He frowned as it became increasingly difficult to do so.

"Harry, I can't believe our luck," he repeated, but this time his voice was filled with frustration and sarcasm.

"What is it?" asked Harry quickly, checking his own panel.

"Navigation is off line," Tom answered grimly, and hit the com panel. "Cochrane to Voyager."

His answer was a burst of garbled static.

"Harry?"

"Communications are blocked somehow. I'm trying to bypass it. Give me a second."

"What the hell is going on?" Tom's voice was again filled with frustration and a lot of confusion. "I don't know how many seconds we have here, Harry. We're getting closer and closer to that moon."

"There. . ." Harry burst out. "Cochrane to Voyager."

This time there was complete silence.

"Cochrane to Voyager," Tom tried. Again there was silence. "Well, this trip is looking better and better."

The shuttle shuddered.

"Warp and impulse engines are now off line. We only have thrusters," announced Harry.

"See!?," answered Tom. "I'll certainly have some questions for B'Elanna about how the hell this shuttle was cleared for service when we get back." He was still working frantically at the helm, his hands moving rapidly while his face remained calm. "We're caught in the gravitational pull of the moon. Better hang on, it's gonna be a bumpy ride."

"Tom, we were supposed to avoid that moon," said Harry.

"I know, but we don't have much choice. I'm sure the locals will understand." Tom grinned at him.

---

"Well, that wasn't too bumpy, was it?"

Harry laughed at Tom as they both struggled around the debris and out of the rear hatch. "Not too bad actually. I think we may even be able to salvage some of the shuttle."

"Ha! Ha!" Tom smirked at him, and then glanced around their surroundings curiously. "Not bad, if you like green."

From the corner of his eye Tom caught Harry's nod of agreement. They were standing in a small clearing in what could have passed for a tropical jungle on Earth. The foliage was thick and lush, and so brightly verdant that Tom's eyes watered slightly. Even the trunks of the trees were green and, when Tom looked up, what he could see of the sky through the trees appeared to also be a soft shade of green. It was certainly very green, and it was also very. . .

"Hot," said Harry. "Pheww!"

Tom nodded and they both stripped off their uniform jackets. Then Harry snapped open his tricorder and began to scan.

"Looks like we're about to meet those locals you mentioned. Six lifesigns heading our way. They appear to be all male."

"Ok," nodded Tom. "Let's hope this is peaceful. Don't draw your phaser unless I give you a sign, all right?"

Harry nodded at him and they both stood side-by-side, waiting.

They did not have to wait long. After a minute, six humanoids cautiously entered the clearing and stood before them. Tom thought they were the most human like species they had met in the Delta Quadrant so far. They were all about his own height, or even taller, and they were slender with aquiline features. Their skin was pale, so white as to be almost translucent. They all had the same hair color, a sort of deep purple and their eye color seemed to vary from brown to pale yellow. The whole effect, while unusual, was very striking.

Three of them were wearing loose robes of some sort of light, flowing material with a pearly, almost metallic sheen to it. The robes were short sleeved with a deep v-neck, and Tom thought enviously that they were definitely more appropriate for the climate than Starfleet uniforms. The other three males were clothed in the same material, but only in loose pants, slung low on their hips.

For a moment there was silence as the aliens and Harry and Tom studied each other, and then one of the aliens spoke in a high, clear voice.

"We are the Be'lal. Which one of you is the leader?"

Tom stepped forward. "I'm Lieutenant Tom Paris from the Federation vessel Voyager. We were on our way to the planet Klexis when we crashed on your moon. We deeply apologize for this intrusion and would be grateful for any assistance you could give us in reaching Klexis."

The alien who had spoken to him blinked. "Are you the leader?" he finally asked.

"Ah, I'm the ranking officer here, yes," answered Tom.

The alien suddenly broke into a radiant smile. "I am Gelvar a leader of the Be'lal. You and your possessed are welcome here."

"Ah. . . my possessed?" Tom asked with a frown. "I'm not sure. . ."

"Is he not your possessed?" Gelvar asked, pointing at Harry.

Tom glanced at Harry in confusion. "He's with me, yes. This is Ensign Harry Kim."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," said Harry with a warm smile.

The reaction he received was not equally warm. Gelvar frowned and stepped back, and whispered to the other two wearing robes. The other three aliens stared at Harry in shock. Eventually, the conversation finished and Gelvar glanced coldly at Harry and then stepped closer to Tom.

"You allow him to speak in public?" he asked Tom incredulously.

"What?!" gasped Harry, and Tom shot him a quick warning look. The leader, Gelvar was frowning again and Tom definitely didn't want to get off to a bad start. He knew his track record wasn't great on away missions but he was always willing to improve it.

"I apologize for the offence," he said smoothly, ignoring Harry's astonished stare. "I was not entirely sure of your customs here. I appreciate the welcome and I hope we will not intrude on your generosity for too long. Our communication systems are malfunctioning and I wonder if you would be able to help us contact the planet, or our ship?"

Gelvar stared at him for a moment and then, to Tom's great relief, he smiled. "Come. You will visit with us."

He turned and swiftly walked away, the other Be'lal falling into step behind him. Tom reached over, grabbed Harry's arm, and pulled him with him as he quickly followed the procession through the trees.

"Tom," Harry hissed. "What the hell is going on, and what do you think you're doing?"

"Look," Tom whispered back. "These guys can probably help us contact Voyager, so let's not rub them up the wrong way, ok? For some reason they don't seem to want you to talk, so just keep your mouth shut."

"Tom, I have a bad feeling about this. . ." whispered Harry, pulling his arm out of Tom's grip.

"Harry, you know the rules of first contact, not to mention common sense. Try to honor their customs, particularly when paying an unannounced and unasked for visit. It's only for a little while."

Harry sighed, "Fine."

Tom patted his friend's shoulder and optimistically hoped for the best.

---

The town they eventually reached had to be one of the most beautiful that Tom had ever seen, and he couldn't help feeling admiring amazement as he and Harry followed their hosts through its wide avenues. Gleaming, white towers and spires arched gracefully above the treetops, like pearls set amongst emeralds. There were no roads, simply avenues of lush grass winding around each tower, and, strangely, the passage of feet seemed to have no impact on that grass. It was an astounding mixture of nature and civilization.

Eventually, they reached one of the tallest towers. It soared upwards, and Tom arched his neck to follow its height, wondering at its shining magnificence, and saw Harry do the same. Eventually, his watering eyes became accustomed to the overwhelming, brilliant white and he could make out the windows set in the sides, and balconies winding around the tower at different levels.

A few, wide steps were before them, leading to a large archway into the tower. Tom saw, with surprise, that there was no door. Then he noticed that the aliens had stopped and were turning to face them again.

Gelvar stepped forward and bowed slightly. "We are honored by your presence, and wish to offer you our hospitality. Will you accept our Veptek?"

Tom blinked, and then glanced over at Harry for a second. The words had a slightly formal tone and the fact that 'Veptek' hadn't been translated was a big concern. Harry returned his look for a moment, and then gave a barely noticeable shrug.

"Um. . . Leader Gelvar. . . could you explain what 'Veptek' is?" Tom asked cautiously.

Gelvar blinked in surprise. "It is the hospitality of the Be'lal."

Gelvar was staring at him expectantly and Tom fervently hoped he was making the right decision as he stepped forward and returned Gelvar's half bow. "We would be honored, Leader Gelvar."

Gelvar broke into a wide, beaming smile and then turned and entered the tower. Tom and Harry followed him in and then looked around curiously.

Expecting sterile white, they were overwhelmed by a riot of colors. True, the walls, what they could see of them, did appear to be white, but draperies of different colors covered them. The material was like fine gauze, and as it fluttered in the breeze from the many windows, it almost seemed transparent. There was very little furniture, simply a few low tables of polished dark wood, and some bright cushions scattered around the floor. The whole effect, after the glare and heat outside was cool and refreshing.

There were more Be'lal seated on those cushions, and all of them looked up and fell silent, staring impassively at Harry and Tom as they entered the room.

Then Gelvar stepped forward and spoke. "This is Leader Tom, and his Possessed. They join us for Veptek."

Immediately, the Be'lal broke into those wide, beaming grins that were beginning to make Tom feel a little nervous, and then they bustled around the room, talking in quiet voices. Tom felt a slight tug on his sleeve, and turned to Harry, who was glancing around the room carefully.

"What's up?" Tom whispered.

"Haven't you noticed?" Harry returned the whisper, his lips barely moving.

"You mean the lack of women?" Tom smirked slightly.

"Should've known," whispered Harry, and rolled his eyes in resignation. "What do you think it means?"

"No idea, I guess we'll find out," Tom turned away swiftly as Gelvar approached him and offered him a glass goblet, filled with a deep red liquid.

"Uh. . . thanks," he said, and peered at the liquid nervously.

"It is juice from the Veptek tree," Gelvar explained with a smile. "Very refreshing and healthy." He raised his own goblet and drank, and then handed it to the Be'lal beside him, who also drank.

For you maybe, Tom thought, let's hope it's healthy for us. He raised the goblet to his lips and sipped carefully. His eyes widened in amazement as the cool liquid ran down his throat. He'd never tasted anything like it, sweet but not too syrupy, tangy but not too tart, and he could feel it cooling down his whole body, which was still uncomfortably hot in his uniform. He smiled, and then, guessing the next move, he handed the goblet to Harry. Gelvar looked approving and Tom knew that he'd made the correct guess.

"Now, we must provide you with some more comfortable clothing," Gelvar said with a smile.

"That would be very generous of you," answered Tom, quickly. "However, I wonder if first, if it's not too much trouble, we could use a communicator. Ours were damaged in the accident, and we really need to inform our ship of where we are. We were supposed to be going to Klexis, and they'll be wondering what's happened to us. Hopefully, someone can collect us and we won't intrude on you any more than we already have."

His speech was met with a long, tense silence, and Tom's heart sank. He really, really, hoped he hadn't offended them, but his track record at interacting with new species in the Delta Quadrant wasn't exactly reassuring.

Just don't put us in prison, he thought with a hint of desperation. Then Gelvar beamed that wide smile at him again, and he relaxed slightly.

"Of course, we must make allowances," the Be'lal leader replied generously. "You are, after all, strangers. However, the communication device that we use will only allow you to contact our liaison on Klexis. They will have to inform your ship that you have accepted Veptek."

"Uh. . . ok, sure," Tom replied, his heart sinking again. He didn't like the sound of this.

"If you will follow me, I will take you to the communication room."

Gelvar strode across to the far side of the room, the Be'lal who had always been beside him walking slightly behind. Tom directed a frowning glance at Harry, and then followed quickly. He felt Harry moving behind him, and knew he'd gotten the warning.

They entered what appeared to be an elevator of some kind, and Tom was surprised when instead of going up, it went down.

Gelvar must have seen his surprise because he turned to Tom and began to explain. "A lot of our city is actually underground. The towers above are for rest and leisure. We farm above ground also, obviously, but our technology is underground. There it is protected, and our city remains beautiful."

"Good idea," replied Tom, and then the lift halted and the doors opened. They emerged into a rocky corridor. The floor was worn smooth, but the sides still bore the evidence of machine tunneling. A short way up the corridor, Gelvar pressed his palm to a panel, and a door set into the rock face slid open, revealing a small room, with a round console standing in the centre. Gelvar pressed a few buttons on the console, and then turned to Tom.

"The line is open. You will want privacy, we will wait outside." He and the other Be'lal left the room, the door sliding shut behind them.

Harry was already at the console. "There's a line open to the planet. All the other lines are security coded. Given time, I could probably break the lockout." He looked over at Tom.

Tom shook his head. "Good to know, but let's find out what Klexis can tell us about these people. They seem friendly enough so far."

"Hmmphh," snorted Harry. "Yeah, to you. You're allowed to speak. You're not the Possessed."

Tom ignored him and pressed the button to activate the com line. The view screen set in the panel flickered, and then an image appeared. It was a man and he looked similar to the Be'lal, except his hair wasn't the same deep purple. Instead it was black.

Immediately the man frowned. "I am Councillor Amtek. Who are you?"

"I'm Lieutenant Tom Paris from the USS Voyager. Captain Janeway sent us on a mission to collect galacite from your planet, but we've crashed here. Can you get a message to Voyager?"

The man had stopped frowning, but when Tom heard the groan the man made, it didn't make him feel any better.

"You crashed there. Wonderful," he replied finally. "I will give your message to Voyager, Lieutenant."

"Uh. . . fine," said Tom. "So, would someone be able to get us from here. Our shuttle is severely damaged."

There was a moment of silence, in which Tom's heart rate rose. Then the man finally spoke. "Did you accept Veptek?" he asked.

"Yes," replied Tom. "It seemed the right thing to do. There isn't anything poisonous to us in it, I hope?"

"What?" The Councillor frowned in puzzlement.

"The Veptek juice," replied Tom.

"Oh, the juice," Councillor Amtek's brow cleared. "No, we have that here as well. We ran it through the biological scans your ship requested. None of the Be'lal's food or drink will poison you. But the Veptek is more than just the juice. It's a highly ceremonious form of hospitality, in which the guest honors the host. If you have accepted Veptek from the Be'lal, than you have no choice, you must stay until the ceremony is complete."

"But Voyager. . ." Tom got no further, he was halted by Amtek's raised hand.

"I will inform Captain Janeway of what has happened, and we will make other arrangements for the galacite."

"Fine," sighed Tom. "But how long does this ceremony last? And what do we have to do?"

"Traditionally, it lasts for three days," Amtek answered. "As to what you have to do, not much really. You simply enjoy yourselves and honor the customs of your hosts. That's where things might become difficult."

"Difficult?" asked Tom, his heart rate speeding up again.

"The Be'lal have an unusual social system. You may have noticed the lack of women?" At Tom's nod he continued. "They do not procreate with females. They procreate genetically, similar to cloning, and they only create males. The Be'lal live as pairs, Leaders and their Possessed. The Leaders lead the society, and the Possessed are basically what their name entails. They are a possession, to serve their Leaders, and are passed around like currency. It's a form of slavery that we on Klexis can barely tolerate, and so the Be'lal created a colony on the moon, and they stay there."

"I really think we should just leave," Tom jumped slightly as Harry spoke up behind him. "Can you send a ship for us?"

After a moment Amtek shook his head. "It would be better for everyone if you stayed. The Be'lal would be highly offended and angered if you did not complete the Veptek. They choose to separate themselves from us, but they are still part of us. We are symbiotic; Klexis and the Be'lal need harmony to exist together. At the moment we have harmony, and we are reluctant to risk that balance."

"In what way are you symbiotic?" Harry asked, curiously.

"Genetically," Amtek replied. "We on Klexis procreate in the same way as your species, however there is an imbalance in our DNA codes which regularly needs modification. Ironically, it is the Be'lal who have the genetic patterns we require. Klexis and the Be'lal regularly trade DNA. The benefit for the Be'lal is that they can continue to restrict their society to the creation of the male gender. So, you see, we each cannot exist without the other."

Tom heard Harry's resigned sigh behind him and felt its echo within himself. There was just no way they could leave now. Even if they could contact the Captain, they knew she would order them to stay. There was no danger to their lives, and the Captain would not risk destroying a diplomatic relationship between two symbiotic species, particularly one who had offered to help them, unless they were in grave peril.

"All right," Tom told Amtek. "Please inform our Captain hat we are taking our shore leave with the Be'lal."

Amtek actually smiled at them. "Thank you. I will do so. One more thing, remember that you must honor their customs. If you do not, you break the spirit of the Veptek. It would be almost as bad as leaving."

He broke the connection, and the screen went black. Tom turned to Harry and found him nervously chewing his bottom lip.

"Well, this sounds like fun," he said.

"That's all right for you to say," Harry was practically snarling. "You're not playing the part of the 'Possessed.'"

Tom gave his most reassuring smile and patted Harry's cheek. "Don't worry, Harry. I'll make sure nothing bad happens to you."

"Don't look at me like that," Tom could tell Harry was struggling not to return the smile. "You know I don't trust you when you look like that."

Then he sighed. "Tom, I have a bad feeling about this."

Tom found himself in complete agreement.

---

Cool, calm logic surrounded Tuvok's mind, in direct contrast to the dry heat that surrounded his body, reflecting the continual paradox that was a Vulcan's life. This was the first level of meditation for a Vulcan, both the beginning and the end, as well as the balance for which they strived. As he opened his eyes, and saw again the view before him, Tuvok marveled, not for the first time, that he was able to achieve such a successful meditative state on of all places, Risa.

Of course, it was not really Risa, it was merely a holographic projection of the place, but it was still an amazing fact that he and Commander Chakotay had chosen to vacation in a place that they both held in contempt. Two days of arguing about the best vacation program to use had forced them to it, and deleting all the holographic characters in the program had lifted the place from barely tolerable to actually enjoyable.

This was their final day. Tomorrow morning they would leave the holodeck and return to the ship and the level of privacy they had been enjoying would drop alarmingly.

Neither of them was looking forward to it.

Tuvok dropped his gaze from the endless blue sea before him, to the bronze figure sprawled on the sand beside him. Of course, they still had a day and a night to make the best of.

The figure beside him stretched luxuriously and Tuvok found himself hypnotized by the play of muscles in Chakotay's tight abdomen. His eyes followed Chakotay's hand as it brushed over those muscles and continued up over his chest. A soft snort reached his ears, and he glanced at Chakotay's face to find his brown eyes open and twinkling mischievously.

"It was a good idea," Chakotay said to him.

Tuvok raised an eyebrow at this cryptic statement.

"The sand," Chakotay continued with a smirk. "I like this non-stick stuff."

"Ah," replied Tuvok. "I did not realize you had noticed."

Chakotay rolled onto his side and reached over to grip Tuvok's arm, tugging him down onto the sand. "Oh, I definitely noticed. Good thinking. Nothing worse than sand in your. . ."

Tuvok didn't let him finish, but leaned over and took his mate's lips in a punishing kiss. Chakotay, judging by his eager response, didn't seem to mind being interrupted. When Tuvok drew back, Chakotay blinked at him dazedly for a moment, and then sighed.

". . . hair," he finished, with another smirk. Then he sighed again. "Last day."

"Yes," Tuvok agreed, a wealth of meaning expressed in the one word.

"With luck, they've forgotten about us, by now," said Chakotay hopefully, but then he frowned. "However, I still have to decide what to do about them. I really should report the whole incident to the Captain, they did almost kill us, you know."

"I do indeed," Tuvok's voice was almost as dry as the air around them, and Chakotay gave a soft snort of laughter, which was followed by a serious look.

"What do you think?"

"I think that you should consider a course of action tomorrow, when you are back on duty," Tuvok advised, running one hand down Chakotay's side in a slow caress.

Chakotay closed his eyes for a brief moment. "That sounds logical."

Tuvok continued his slow caress and watched as his mate closed his eyes once more. He looked supremely relaxed, but as Tuvok gazed at his face, he saw a slight frown appear between Chakotay's eyes. It was not the first time he had seen this in the last couple of days and it was always accompanied by a slight sense of discomfort emanating from his mate.

"What is it?" Tuvok asked softly, and Chakotay's eyes flew open.

"What's what?"

Tuvok could now sense nervous evasion in Chakotay, and he raised one eyebrow in surprise. His surprise was not just at Chakotay's reaction, but also at the ease with which he had discerned it. Their bond was already much stronger than Tuvok had ever intended, and he knew he should make some attempt to rein it in, particularly as Chakotay was not yet aware of it. Even more of a concern, was his own reluctance to take any action in either area. When they left the holodeck he would have to meditate and examine the bond, but for now, he had other, perhaps convenient, issues to deal with.

"There is something bothering you," he finally stated, firmly.

Chakotay's response was a very obviously feigned look of surprise. Tuvok returned his gaze steadily.

"Well. . ." Chakotay stammered reluctantly. "Maybe I have been thinking. . .about. . .well thinking, you know. . ."

"I know?" Tuvok questioned. "No, I don't, that's why I'm asking you."

Chakotay frowned at him. "Don't be so clever," he snapped. "Ok, I've just been thinking about something Neelix said."

"Ah, this would be his observations regarding your temperament?"

"No," Chakotay snapped again. "This would be his observations regarding Vulcans' attitudes towards their mates."

Tuvok eyed his mate carefully and took a moment to think carefully about his response. Chakotay was already losing his temper, and Tuvok had no wish to aggravate him further, now that he had finally admitted what was bothering him.

"Ah," he finally replied. When Chakotay looked at him like he'd lost his mind, he quickly added a question. "Which observations were those exactly?"

Chakotay lowered his eyes. "The ones about Vulcans being possessive about their mates." His eyes met Tuvok's again and the confusion and worry in them was obvious. "Is that true?"

"Yes," Tuvok answered simply. "When we form a bond, particularly one with a mate, we. . . " he searched for an appropriate word, ". . .protect. . . it. Does it bother you?"

Chakotay didn't answer immediately and Tuvok watched him carefully. Again he'd lowered his eyes and he was chewing his bottom lip. Tuvok had already learnt that this meant he was thinking furiously. As well as this, Tuvok could sense a strange mixture of excitement and fear flooding Chakotay and without thought he responded to it. He reached out and gripped Chakotay's arm tightly.

"Does it bother you?" he asked again.

Chakotay jumped at the contact and the terrified excitement that Tuvok had sensed flared wildly, followed by embarrassment, which was reflected in Chakotay's burning face.

"I don't know," Chakotay said breathlessly, and he yanked his arm out of Tuvok's grasp.

The bond was now almost singing with Chakotay's emotions and Tuvok found himself faced with a moral dilemma. He'd realized a while ago, what Chakotay wanted from him, but it was obvious that his mate was struggling with those needs, not only not yet ready to acknowledge them, but also afraid and ashamed. Tuvok found this strange, if this was part of Chakotay's personality, why did he not just accept it and enjoy it? Particularly when Tuvok was more than willing to. . . help. However, the problem was that he hadn't yet told Chakotay how strong their bond was, Tuvok himself hadn't yet examined it thoroughly, and wasn't ready to talk about it until he had. Should he take advantage of what the bond was telling him to do?

Chakotay shifted uncomfortably beside him, and he could see the decision to fly dawning on his mate's face, and made an instant decision himself. Whatever the bond was, it was there, and it was only logical to use it. He reached out and once more gripping Chakotay's arm, dragged him back down onto the sand. When he saw the desire in Chakotay's dilating pupils, he knew he'd made the right decision.

"It doesn't matter," he said calmly. "That's the way it is. You'll just have to get used to it."

Chakotay stared at him for a moment in shock, and then pushed him away angrily, but Tuvok could see the excitement shining in his eyes and used his superior strength to pin Chakotay onto the sand. Then he straddled his mate's waist and watched calmly as Chakotay continued to struggle ineffectually.

He leaned forward and Chakotay's dark eyes watched him warily.

"Enough," he whispered into Chakotay's ear and then took the lobe between his teeth, nibbling it gently. He felt his mate shudder, and bit down even more firmly. A breathless moan rewarded him, and he instantly sat up and stared down at his captive.

Chakotay had closed his eyes, but after a moment they opened and he returned Tuvok's calm stare with one of confusion. Tuvok lifted himself up slightly, giving Chakotay room to move.

"Turn over," he said, and waited.

Chakotay's eyes widened, his face flushed, and once again the bond resonated with a wild blend of emotion. Anger, fear and hot desire bombarded Tuvok and he found himself struggling to remain calm and wait. The decision had to be his mate's.

It was only when Chakotay slowly rolled over that Tuvok realized the decision had been made; the bond gave him no clue. Instead the emotions assaulting him grew even more wild and uncontrolled, and he could hear Chakotay struggling so much for breath that he was almost hyperventilating.

Tuvok frowned, and brushed a hand reassuringly across Chakotay's back. His mate stiffened, then relaxed, and his breathing calmed slightly. Looking around, Tuvok spotted the sun oil bottle lying on the sand and reached over for it. Then he moved back off Chakotay's legs.

"Kneel up," he ordered, and this time there was no hesitation. Chakotay rose instantly to kneel on his hands and knees.

Chakotay tensed slightly when the first splash of oil hit his buttocks, but Tuvok smoothed and massaged his lower back and by the time he reached the cleft of his buttocks, Chakotay was pushing back against his hand.

Tuvok pushed one finger inside his mate and watched the muscles ripple across Chakotay's back. He'd never imagined that a human's body could be so beautiful, but Chakotay's was one of the most perfect he'd ever seen. Bronzed skin, stretched over straining muscles and Tuvok couldn't resist. . . he had to taste. Leaning over he licked and nibbled Chakotay's buttock, and oil and salt exploded across his tongue. The bond was now thrumming with Chakotay's desire and excitement, with an added tinge of impatience.

Tuvok removed his fingers, quickly oiled himself and knelt behind Chakotay, holding his straining erection in place. With his other hand he gripped Chakotay's hip, holding him still, and after a long moment, he felt his mate's frustration growing. Chakotay pushed against his hand, but could not move.

"Do it," Chakotay hissed, trying to look back over his shoulder.

Tuvok tightened his grip and knew that there would be bruises to show for it later. "When I'm ready," he answered calmly.

Chakotay gasped and tried to move back again.

"Perhaps I'll change my mind," Tuvok continued. "You can stay here, like this, waiting for me."

Chakotay tensed under his hand, and Tuvok could see the flush rising all over his body. His breathing was rough, and Tuvok didn't need the bond to tell that he was furiously angry.

"You wish," he spat out, but when he tried to move again, it was backwards, not forwards.

Tuvok leaned forward slightly, pressing closer against Chakotay and his mate shuddered.

"There will come a day," he said softly, "when you'll do it, and more."

With one forceful push of his hips, he entered Chakotay in a long, slow stroke. He heard Chakotay suck in a hissing breath.

"Don't. . . don't be so. . . sure of that," his mate ground out between gasping breaths.

It was a struggle not to drown in Chakotay's excitement assaulting him through the bond, and his struggle was made all the more difficult by his own desire to move forcefully into the delicious heat and friction that surrounded his cock. But he wanted to see how far Chakotay would go with the game.

Quickly, Tuvok pushed Chakotay's thighs further apart and then pulled him back so that he was sitting on Tuvok's lap. They both gasped and stilled for a moment as Tuvok's cock pushed even deeper into Chakotay. Then Tuvok wound his arms around Chakotay's waist and grabbed both his wrists, holding him firmly in place. Chakotay wriggled as he realized, too late, that he could not move.

"Let go."

Tuvok buried his face in Chakotay's neck and began to lick and nibble his throat. His hips moved in small circles, always pushing his cock deeper.

"Let me go," his mate's voice was now a breathless whisper.

"No," Tuvok finally replied. He began to thrust strongly and Chakotay trembled in his arms. "You are my mate. Mine."

"Oh Gods," Chakotay breathed and his head lolled back onto Tuvok's shoulder. Tuvok instantly took advantage of this increased access to Chakotay's throat, biting his way up to Chakotay's jaw.

"I need. . . don't. . . Tuvok don't. . . "

Tuvok immediately sensed the panic filtering through to the bond, and he slowed his thrusts.

"I won't hurt you," he whispered into Chakotay's ear. Then he released one of Chakotay's hands. "Touch yourself. . . show me."

The fear receded and Chakotay reached down and took his own erection into his hand, pumping its length slowly. Tuvok couldn't take his eyes from the sight and matched his own thrusts to Chakotay's strokes. He knew he was losing himself in the moment, but he'd never thought it would be like this. Calmly, almost serenely, he was sinking into the bond, mesmerized by the emotions coming from his mate. He could feel Chakotay reaching the same point and instinctively reached for him, strengthening the bond even further. Pleasure blanketed his body, and ecstasy sang through his veins, fuelled by Chakotay's own pleasure and desire moving through the bond. The thought crossed his mind that this had to be the reason so many Vulcans bonded with humans, to be surrounded by emotion, but able to maintain their own control. It was. . . intoxicating. . . addictive.

Then he could contain it no longer, and he erupted into orgasm, pushing up into Chakotay and biting down on his shoulder, but still never taking his eyes from Chakotay's moving hand.

"Uh. . . fuck!" His mate ground out, and Tuvok watched the white fluid spurting from Chakotay's cock as his mate's head rolled from side to side in obvious ecstasy.

After a moment, they slowly slumped forward onto the ground.

"That was. . . that was. . . intense," Chakotay panted.

"Indeed," was all Tuvok could say, and Chakotay snorted softly, dislodging Tuvok's exhausted cock.

Tuvok rolled over onto his back and flung out his arms. The whole experience had been rather. . . overwhelming. He knew he would have to meditate on it as soon as possible. Their bond was taking on a life of its own.

He glanced over at Chakotay, who was lying on his side facing away from Tuvok. If Tuvok had been overwhelmed, than it was only logical that Chakotay was feeling even more so. Tentatively he opened his mind to the bond.

Lingering excitement and fear. Growing embarrassment. . . and then absolute confusion.

After a tense moment of silence, Chakotay finally turned and gave Tuvok a wary look.

"I have a feeling," he said slowly, "that perhaps it was more intense then either of us expected."

Tuvok raised one eyebrow in what he could only describe to himself as surprise. Was it possible that Chakotay was sensing his own confusion about the bond?

"What do you mean?" he asked carefully.

The flush of passion had been fading from Chakotay's face but now it reddened again with what Tuvok instinctively knew was a mixture of anger and embarrassment.

"This is the second time that we've made love and you've somehow known. . . " Chakotay's face was now a fiery red, and his eyes were focused somewhere in the distance over Tuvok's right shoulder. After taking a deep breath he continued in almost a whisper, ". . . you've known what I wanted."
< BR> Tuvok now found himself experiencing one of the rare occasions when he had no idea what to say. It seemed impossible that Chakotay could have sensed anything through the bond; he did not come from a telepathic race. The silence lengthened as Tuvok tried to decide whether to tell Chakotay what was happening, something he was oddly reluctant to do, particularly when he had not yet had the chance to examine it himself.

He glanced at Chakotay and found that he was being watched with narrowed, irritated eyes. Tuvok instantly decided on provocative evasion.

"I have always found it interesting that Humans assume Vulcans are not very experienced sexually. In fact, Vulcans are usually experienced in many different forms of pleasure, encompassing techniques from many different cultures. In our case, I have over 80 years of sexual history compared to you. It is only logical that I would utilize my previous experience."

There was another long moment of silence. During this silence the flush faded from Chakotay's face until he was almost white. Tuvok began to feel a slight doubt that he had made the wisest choice of reply.

"I see." Chakotay finally replied flatly. "I imagine that I'm supposed to feel flattered that you've deigned to give this boring, almost virginal, simpleton the benefit of your vast experience, but unfortunately for you I'm not as stupid as you seem to think. I don't know how it happened, but I felt you, and not just physically. You weren't just drawing on experience; you knew what to do because you could sense what I. . . needed. Well, here's some news for you, it works both ways. . . you needed something from me, and without thought, I gave it to you. Now, I'm going back to the hotel, where I'm going to reinstall some holocharacters that I can be extremely rude to. Hopefully, when I've done with that, you'll have come to your senses and decided, in your infinite wisdom, to tell me exactly what's going on!"

Chakotay rose swiftly to his feet, gave Tuvok one last look of withering contempt, and then sauntered off up the beach.

---

On the Be'lal moon, the day was nearing its end, and Tom Paris was extremely thankful. While it had been morning when they left Voyager, it had been late afternoon for the Be'lal when he and Harry had gatecrashed their moon. A couple of hours earlier, Gelvar had shown them to the large, comfortable room they were now in, presented them with some clothes and then announced that a chime would tell them when to come down for the last feast of the day. Tom was looking forward to this feast; he'd skipped breakfast, and he really wanted to eat soon.

The sun could no longer be seen through the dense green foliage of the jungle, and the light had the sort of dim, green glow that Tom always associated with being under water. He found it very relaxing, but it was still very hot and it was with great thankfulness, that Tom settled the folds of his cool, loose, robe and lay back on the large bed that dominated the room. It was a very large bed. It was, in fact, the largest bed he'd ever seen, and after the rather confining beds of Voyager, he was very much looking forward to sleeping in it.

It was also the only bed in the room, and as Tom watched his closest friend, Harry Kim, pacing the balcony outside, he could tell that Harry was still recovering from that fact. His recovery was obviously hampered by the loose, low-slung pants he was wearing.

Tom pursed his lips and eyed Harry thoughtfully. He hadn't expected Harry to look quite so. . . good. . . in those pants. Yeah, he'd seen Harry in a swimsuit before, but somehow those pants made him look different. The way they sat low on his hips was incredibly sexy and when he walked they flowed around his body and then clung to him in the most strategic and distracting places. All in all, the effect made naïve Harry Kim look like some sort of sex god with the type of body that begged to be touched, licked, bitten and played with. All golden skin and flowing muscle, he moved with a natural grace and flexibility that Tom just knew promised extraordinary delight for whoever was lucky enough to touch, lick, bite. . .

Tom shook his head slightly in amazement. How on earth had he overlooked Harry? Had their friendship blinded him to Harry's appeal? Well, whether it had or not, they were friends and he'd better be damn careful not to mess that up, particularly as Harry appeared to be working himself up into that state of anger, which he rarely exhibited but was truly awful when he did. Time to intervene.

"Harry, get your butt back in here. It's almost time for that feast Gelvar promised."

Harry swept into the room and glared balefully at Tom. "As long as I'm not the feast," he snarled.

Tom privately thought that if Harry went down looking like he did at that moment, all flashing eyes and pouting lips, he just might be feasted on, but he wisely kept that idea to himself.

"Harry, Harry," he replied gently. "Calm down. We can't offend these people, remember?"

"That's easy for you to say," Harry's voice was less snarling and more resentful. Tom considered this a hopeful sign.

"Look, I told you, I won't let anything bad happen to you. Promise." Tom was as reassuring as he possibly could be.

Harry sighed fretfully, but Tom knew the worst was over.

"It'll be fine. Just keep your eye on the other Possesseds and try to copy what they do. I'm sure the Be'lal will make allowances if you're a bit different. Just don't talk and they'll be happy."

Harry's eyes flashed at him again and for a moment Tom thought he'd blown it, but Harry finally shrugged and then sat down on the bed beside him.

"At least it's a big, comfortable bed," he muttered.

"Yeah," Tom agreed, and then smirked at Harry. "Room enough for three, if one of us gets lucky." Harry blushed, just as Tom had expected, but he also laughed and Tom was intensely relieved that Harry wasn't going to take his anger about the situation out on him. This whole Veptek thing was going to be hard enough to deal with as it was, without Harry viewing him as Public Enemy No.1.

Feeling restless Tom stood, just as a delicate chime rang from somewhere in the room. He glanced around, wondering where it had come from.

Still seated on the bed, Harry sighed softly. "It's time."

"Yeah," Tom cleared his throat, surprised at the coils of anxiety that began winding around in his stomach. He walked over to the door and behind him Harry stood and followed.

"I have a bad feeling about this," said Harry in a low voice.

"I wish you'd stop saying that," Tom replied.

---

A few hours later and Tom was feeling his usual confident self. So far, things had gone very smoothly. Harry, a master of observation, had studied the other Possesseds and then proceeded to behave so similarly that Tom thought their hosts would never realize that Harry hadn't been a Possessed all his life. Only Tom could tell that Harry was still simmering with resentment and humiliation.

The Leaders had sprawled on the comfortable cushions and their Possesseds had knelt beside them and served them a meal that was one of the most delicious Tom had ever experienced. Delicate flavorings and subtle spices enhanced every mouthful and as the Leaders seemed to be responsible for the amount their Possessed could eat, Tom made damn sure that Harry shared every dish.

Now the feast appeared to be drawing to a close, the platters of food were removed, and when Harry returned to kneel beside him, he was holding a goblet brimming with Veptek juice. He offered it to Tom with a slight smirk, and Tom sighed slightly with relief that Harry had finally recovered from his ill humor. He took a sip and experienced again that instant, cool, refreshing buzz. Suddenly he felt amazingly alive and he handed the goblet to Harry with a beaming smile. Harry blinked at him in surprise.

Throughout the meal there had been much talking, and Tom had fascinated Gelvar and the other Leaders with tales of Voyager's travels in the Delta Quadrant, but now, as they drank the Veptek juice, the room fell silent. When Tom glanced around the room, he realized why, and the anxiety that had receded during the meal, quickly returned.

All of the Leaders were now completely focused on their Possesseds, drawing them closer, caressing them slowly, in some cases kissing them hungrily. Only one Leader was not distracted, and Tom swallowed nervously as he realized that Gelvar was now watching Harry with an expression that could only be described as lustful. Finally Gelvar finished his examination of Harry and met Tom's eyes.

"Leader Tom, I have never seen a Possessed like yours, he is extraordinary. Would you consider a trade," he indicated the pretty, young man kneeling beside him, "if even for one night?"

Out of the corner of his eye, Tom saw Harry's body jerk, almost as if he'd been struck, and he swiftly reached out and grasped his arm, holding him in place. For one furious moment, he'd almost gone for Gelvar himself, but now he took a couple of deep breaths and willed himself to reply politely.

"You will forgive me, Leader Gelvar, but he is extremely valuable to me," he said shortly.

"Oh," Gelvar looked puzzled. "I had thought he did not please you. Are you punishing him, that you starve him of your affection?"

At this point, Tom realized his mistake. While Harry had performed the role of a Possessed so successfully, Tom's performance as a Leader had been a complete failure. All through the meal he had noticed that the other Leaders constantly petted and caressed their partners but he'd never laid a finger on Harry. His concern for Harry's feelings had placed them both in danger and there was no excuse for that on a Starfleet mission. He'd have to salvage the situation quickly.

"Yes," he replied. "He spoke in public when he should not have."

"Ah," Gelvar nodded. "You honor us, but you are a strict master. Soon is the time of the Veptek, when all should be forgiven."

Tom gave his most brilliant smile. "Of course, Leader Gelvar. Thank you for reminding me."

Gelvar nodded and returned Tom's smile, and then was instantly distracted by his Possessed. Tom blinked in surprise, and then risked looking at his own Possessed.

Harry was still furious, Tom could see that straight away, but even further down in his eyes, Tom saw something he'd never seen in Harry before. Complete panic. Seeking to reassure, Tom sat up and gently pulled Harry closer into a loose hug.

Harry was like a block of wood in his arms and Tom felt slightly annoyed. It wasn't like he was hideous or anything, and this would be a whole lot easier if Harry co-operated. He put a firm hand under Harry's chin and tilted his face up. Harry's eyes met his briefly and then skittered away.

"Tom," it was not even a whisper, merely a breath, but Tom heard it perfectly. "Don't you dare."

Again Tom was annoyed; he'd already failed once tonight. He wasn't going to again, whether Harry liked it or not.

"Would you prefer Gelvar?" he asked softly and, he had to admit, rather snidely.

He felt rather than heard Harry's sharp intake of breath, and when Harry's dark eyes met his again, he could clearly see the mixture of anger and terror in them. Tom just managed to hold back his gasp of surprise, but that look shook him badly. What on earth could Harry be so afraid of? They were best friends after all; surely Harry couldn't be afraid of him? Instantly feeling the need to reassure and protect, Tom brushed his hands lightly down Harry's smooth back.

"It's alright," he whispered. "I won't hurt you. Trust me?"

For a long moment Harry just stared at him, still with that stricken expression, but then he gave a minute nod, and closed his eyes. Tom couldn't help smiling slightly, Harry looked liked he was going to his execution. Then he lowered his head and pressed his lips to Harry's.

It was like kissing a brick.

Harry's lips were a tightly pressed, rigid line against his, and even after a few moments of determined pressure they showed no signs of softening. Tom drew back slightly and frowned. Harry's eyes were still closed, and he looked as determined and stubborn as Tom had ever seen him. This was obviously going to be hard work, but Tom found himself eager to meet the challenge.

Again he placed his lips on Harry's, and again Harry showed absolutely no reaction. Frustration slowly started to replace the protectiveness Tom had been feeling. Could the reason Harry seemed so naïve be because he was completely passionless?

For the third time in as many moments Tom was annoyed, and deep down he had to acknowledge that his emotions were careening wildly around Harry. It didn't matter though, whatever happened, he wasn't going to fail again. Harry wasn't going to win. He wasn't sure when this had become a battle, he didn't care; he'd make sure that Harry gave in and responded or he'd swear to celibacy for the rest of his life, and a celibate lifestyle just didn't suit him at all.

Tom used every skill in kissing he possessed. He nibbled and licked, coaxed and seduced. His hands drew slow soft circles on Harry's back and finally he felt Harry trembling in his arms. He doubled his efforts and Harry's trembling increased.

Then, with a shudder and a gasp, Harry kissed him back, and Tom's whole world suddenly changed.

Instant heat surged through his veins, as Harry's tongue tentatively licked his bottom lip, and Tom immediately went for it. Met Harry halfway and then pushed even further, deep into Harry's mouth, sliding slow and sensuous along his tongue. Harry shuddered again, opened wider to the kiss. . . and then just sort of melted against Tom.

Briefly the thought crossed Tom's mind that he'd been a fool to think Harry passionless.

That was the last thought to cross his mind for some time.

He became a creature of sensation and reaction, losing himself into the kiss in a way that he hadn't experienced for quite a while. He'd suspected he was becoming jaded, after a long series of romantic encounters, but when Harry wound his arms tightly around Tom's neck and climbed up onto Tom's lap, he knew he wasn't jaded any more. He couldn't stop himself from groaning into Harry's mouth.

He needed to breathe. He didn't want to breathe if it meant leaving the delicious intoxication of Harry's lips, but if he didn't breathe soon he was going to faint. So he nibbled his way across Harry's cheek and licked his throat, and when Harry tilted his head back in welcome, Tom felt well compensated.

Then Harry tensed and tried to pull away. Tom wasn't having that; he tugged Harry closer, his hands closing around Harry's hips, and nipped his earlobe.

"You're not going anywhere," he whispered in Harry's ear, and before Harry could answer, Tom took his lips again.

Tom's head was spinning. Harry was now responding to his kiss with an urgency that was delightful and very flattering, his tongue pushing into Tom's mouth, more and more demanding. In turn, Tom himself wanted more, he just couldn't get enough of Harry's hot mouth and his smooth, warm skin sliding under Tom's fingertips. When he pushed his fingers under the waistband of Harry's pants to get at even more of his skin, Harry rocked against him slightly and let out a soft moan.

Suddenly Harry jerked in his arms and broke the kiss. Tom opened his eyes and found Harry looking at him, his eyes darker even than normal, smoky with passion. His lips were swollen and wet, and Tom desperately wanted to taste them again, but as he leaned forward Harry quickly glanced away.

"Shit," he heard Harry whisper.

Tom followed the direction of Harry's gaze and got quite a shock himself. He'd totally forgotten where they were. The room was now half empty and as he watched, another couple rose to leave. The couples that remained were very busy; they certainly weren't noticing Tom and Harry watching them. Tom glanced at Harry and smiled in amusement when he saw the flush of embarrassment staining Harry's cheeks.

Then he followed Harry's eyes again and found that one of the Be'lal had noticed them watching. It was Gelvar, and the look on his face said quite clearly that he wanted to be in Tom's position.

Obviously it was time to leave. Besides they had that large, comfortable bed in their room to take advantage of, and no way was Tom letting a third person in it.

"Let's go back to our room," he said softly, and wasn't surprised when Harry swiftly stood.

It was difficult to walk to the lift normally. Tom was glad that Harry was behind him and that his long robe was so loose, hiding how aroused he'd become just from a couple of kisses. He wondered how Harry was coping and when he turned to face him and saw the bulge in Harry's pants, he almost laughed in triumph.

His mind was still buzzing with surprise at how powerful and hot it had been to kiss his best friend. In a short time, he'd gone from appreciation of Harry's body to absolute lust for Harry's body, and he wanted more, badly. As soon as the lift doors closed he stepped closer to Harry, crowding him against the wall.

He met Harry's eyes and his heart sank as he saw that Harry's fear had returned. Well, he'd overcome it once; he'd bet anyone he could overcome it again.

"What's up?" Tom purred in what he knew was his sexiest voice. "Or shouldn't I ask?" Tom slid his hand between Harry's legs and wrapped it around the erection he found there. Very nice, he thought.

Harry jumped. "Jeez, Tom," he squeaked indignantly.

Tom couldn't help smiling at the shocked expression on Harry's face. "Been a while, has it?" And he tightened his grip.

Immediately Tom knew he'd made a terrible mistake. Harry's eyes flashed furious fire and he pushed Tom away forcefully. Tom staggered back, regained his balance and held up his hands in his most pacifying manner.

"Hey, sorry," he said with his most appealing smile. "I just didn't expect it to be like this. Went to my head a bit, I guess." Ain't that the truth, he added mentally.

The lift doors opened, and Harry strode out of the elevator and slammed into their room, and Tom trailed behind him, hoping no one was around to see it. As soon as the door was closed Harry swung around and pushed him again.

"Well, just don't expect anything else," he practically snarled at Tom.

"Look, calm down will ya! Ok, I went too far. I said I was sorry. What more do you want?"

Jeez, Tom thought, how did things go this wrong so quickly? He edged closer to Harry, hoping that he'd get over his anger and they could get back to what they'd started downstairs.

Instead, Harry took a quick step backwards and raised his hands. "I want you to leave me alone."

Tom froze. "You do?"

"Look it was just an act, right?"

It was like a slap in the face, or a bucketful of cold water thrown at him, or hearing the words 'court martial' in the hospital after Caldik Prime, or the word 'prison' at his trial. . . Tom shook himself mentally and saw that Harry was now watching him nervously.

"It was?" His throat had closed up, making it difficult to talk.

"Yeah," Harry said softly.

There was a long moment of silence, in which Tom marveled at how painful it was to know that Harry had 'acted' all that passion downstairs. And just as successfully as some of his own past performances. Really, it deserved a round of applause, so Tom gave him one and Harry almost jumped out of his skin.

"Well, I have to say, Harry, you're one helluva an actor. With more practice, you could even rival me," as he spoke Tom quickly crossed the room. "Think I'll take a bath now," and he slammed the door behind him.

Once inside the bathroom, Tom glared at himself in the large mirror.

"That's what you get for thinking with your dick," he said quietly. "Again."

---

Sunsets on Risa, even a fake Risa, were famous for their beauty, but Tuvok had always found them rather insipid, and this one was no exception. Hazy pinks and yellows could only bore someone who had seen the dramatic flare of brilliant scarlet, vibrant orange and virulent green that was a sunset on Vulcan. And the temperature on Risa dropped too dramatically after the sun went down, for a Vulcan who remembered nights of velvet heat and burning stars. Still, Tuvok patiently sat through the whole ordeal of twilight on the sands of Risa, and one thing only kept him there.

A few simple words . . . you needed something from me, and without thought, I gave it to you. . . and with those words came the memory of other words, from long ago, spoken in the dim light of flickering candles in an ancient stone temple.

. . . I refuse to deny myself passion.

It was difficult to recall why he had uttered those words so vehemently; he could not even remember the face that had inspired them. The memory of them had not been suppressed but in all his long life since that time, there had been no logical reason to think of them. The fact that they now rose, unbidden, to his mind at this moment, made Tuvok. . . uncomfortable.

Everything seemed to come back to this bond, and it was beginning to worry him, as much as a Vulcan could be worried. It had grown and strengthened moment by moment, and he'd allowed it do so, without control.

'. . . Emotions can be a powerful tool. To deny their existence is illogical. But you must learn to control them. . . ' A calm voice, and a wise face.

Tuvok shook his head in an effort to clear the memory. It was now imperative that he meditate and examine the bond, but first he would have to explain it, as much as he could, to Chakotay. Not for the first time, his mate's insight had surprised him, and he suspected it would not be the last. In the future, he would have to be careful not to underestimate Chakotay again.

When he got to the bar area of the hotel Tuvok paused for a moment on the threshold. After two days of emptiness it was unusual to see so many other people, although they did not have the usual air of happy holidaymakers. The atmosphere was heavy with tension, and several of the holocharacters appeared to be mumbling to themselves sulkily. On the other side of the room Tuvok could see Chakotay poking a large Andorian in the chest.

Tuvok strode across the room, but just as he approached Chakotay, a Ferengi blocked his path.

"I wouldn't if I were you," the Ferengi confided in a whisper. "I shouldn't really tell you this, but I'd rather lose fifty bars of Latinum then talk to that. . . human. . . again!"

"I can arrange for you to lose more than that if you don't get out of my way."

The Ferengi jumped, spun swiftly, and then squeaked in terror at the grim look on Chakotay's face. He scuttled off as Chakotay gazed after him in satisfaction.

"I think I'll keep this subroutine," Chakotay commented, and then he glared demandingly at Tuvok. "Well?"

"I am sorry."

Surprise flickered over Chakotay's face and echoed faintly in Tuvok. He hadn't planned what he was going to say to Chakotay, but he certainly hadn't expected to hear himself make an immediate apology. Still, seeing the warmth creeping into Chakotay's eyes he had to admit the wisdom of his instinctive choice.

"What exactly are you apologizing for?" Chakotay asked, and Tuvok realized that he wasn't out of trouble yet. "For deliberately trying to mislead me? Patronizing me? Or using this mysterious bond to take advantage of me?"

Tuvok thought about this for a moment. "I see what you mean," he finally conceded. "However, I gather from what you said before, that you have also used the bond."

"I did not use it consciously," Chakotay immediately retorted.

Well, Tuvok had to admit his mate had him there, and it was another warning that he should never underestimate Chakotay. Still, something about the words concerned him, in a way he did not like. "How did you know that?" he asked, with a frown. "How could you sense it?"

And just like that the argument was over. Chakotay's shock showed clearly on his face. "You're confused as well." The statement was almost an accusation.

"To a certain extent," Tuvok finally admitted.

"I don't understand. Isn't this normal? You've had bonds before, haven't you?"

"Only with Vulcans, never with someone. . . "

". . . with emotions." Chakotay completed the sentence and Tuvok nodded. "But other Vulcans have had bonds with humans. Why is this so different?"

"I am not sure," he replied, slowly.

. . . you needed something from me, and without thought, I gave it to you. . . There was something important in those words if Tuvok could just grasp what it was, but before he could fully focus on the nebulous idea taking shape in his mind, Chakotay's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Do the emotions make such a difference?"

'. . . My emotions free me. . . '

This time it was his own voice, saying long forgotten words in his head. A voice that was unwavering in its misguided certainty, and vehement with youthful arrogance.

"Tuvok!"

Chakotay's voice was frustrated, impatient, and Tuvok cleared his mind quickly.

"I cannot answer these questions at this time, Chakotay," he said. "I must meditate and examine the bond."

"How long will that take?" Tuvok opened his mouth to answer, but Chakotay forestalled him. "No, don't say it. . . you're not sure. Tell me this, can we get rid of it?"

"Is that what you want to do?" Tuvok asked quickly. . . too quickly.

Chakotay's eyes narrowed. "Just answer the question." This time it was the First Officer of Voyager speaking.

Tuvok was already regretting his hasty words. It had been an illogical response to Chakotay's question, and this showed him, as nothing else previously had, how potentially serious the situation could become, if left unchecked. He nodded, almost to himself.

"A bond can always be broken," he replied, thoughtfully.

"Well, there you are then," Chakotay said, rather lamely. He flushed, almost as if he realized this himself. "I suggest you investigate the bond as soon as possible. And this time, you make damn sure you tell me what's going on. If you take advantage of me like that again. . . " he broke off, reddening even further. "How much can you actually sense?" he asked abruptly.

Tuvok remained silent, thinking fast. For the first time in a very long time he was experiencing a loss of confidence. Uncertainty about the bond, and his own interpretation of its use, made him unsure of how to answer Chakotay. In the end, he didn't have to.

"You've given me what I wanted," Chakotay said slowly. "In a way I'd never imagined. If you sensed enough to do that, then. . . " he broke off and shook his head. "You know how I feel."

"Yes," Tuvok admitted. "Though I do not understand why you cannot accept your feelings."

Chakotay's face was now a burning flame of red, and Tuvok wondered what he would do next. His admiration for his mate increased even further when Chakotay lifted his chin, and met Tuvok's eyes directly.

"It is not easy for me to lose control," said Chakotay, "and even less easy to admit that I need to."

They stared at each other for a long, quiet moment.

"Well, what do we do now?" Chakotay finally asked.

"Oh for god's sake, I'd think that was obvious," an impatient female voice rang out through the room, and a Risan pleasure-worker flounced between them.

"Get a room," she continued, and then punched Tuvok on the arm. "And next time, teach him some manners. What we've had to put up with, really, it's just too much. . . "

"Computer, delete holocharacters!" Tuvok announced firmly.

Chakotay smirked at him.

---

Trails of steam rose gracefully through the air in elegant tendrils, and Tom Paris watched them lazily as the sinfully hot and delicately scented water swirled around his body, reducing his muscles and his mind into relaxed mush.

The bath had been a good idea; even if it had been the only way he could amuse himself in the bathroom, with a snarling Harry Kim prowling around in the next room. He'd heard the muffled thumps and muttered curses. Tom didn't know what Harry was up to out there, and he didn't want to.

Besides, he had a lot to think about. In fact almost too much, and the persistent erection constantly distracting him wasn't helping. He hadn't lost that, even when Harry had rejected him so. . . painfully. . . and didn't that just make him feel like a bigger loser than he already knew he was? It was infuriating that just the thought of kissing Harry again made him harder then ever. What on earth was he going to do if they had to go through this 'act' after every meal?

And after all the trouble he'd gone through to seduce Harry out of his hesitancy and fear as well! 'Fear,' Tom frowned at the thought. 'Why fear? And of what?'

He knew that Harry was often naïve, but he hadn't thought he was that naïve. Quite a few times in his illustrious career Tom had found himself in a sexual situation with someone who was afraid of intimacy and had prided himself on his ability to help them. So he knew that wasn't Harry's problem. Besides, he also knew that Harry had made love to that Libby girl, Harry had told Tom so himself.

The thought that Harry could be afraid of Tom almost made Tom laugh out loud. As it was he gasped in a lungful of steaming air that choked him and caused a coughing fit of short, but painful, duration. Once he'd wiped his streaming eyes he gave the idea a moment of serious thought. They were, quite simply, best friends. He knew that Harry had confided in him stuff that he'd never told to anyone else, and Tom himself had opened up to Harry as much as he was probably ever going to open up to anyone. There was more in that to be afraid of than two friends pleasuring each other sexually, and if they'd already jumped that hurdle, what on earth was Harry afraid of?

At this point, an astonishing thought crossed Tom's mind and then stopped and took a firm hold of it. Was it possible that Harry was afraid of sex with men? The idea was incomprehensible to Tom, but he knew from his fascination with the 20th century, that at one time homosexuality had been such a taboo, that men who had felt those leanings had suppressed them to such an extent that they were mentally disturbed. For well over 150 years, bisexuality had been the normal practice on earth, but Tom knew that there were many who still showed a decided preference for one particular sex. Tom frowned. Still, that was nothing to be afraid of. . . unless Harry had had some unpleasant experience in the past?

The surge of hot anger that Tom felt at this thought rather surprised him. It was a strange mixture of fury that someone could hurt Harry, and disappointment that Harry was obviously not going to give Tom the chance to show him how good it could be. 'Oh well,' he thought bitterly, 'he's probably still hung up on that Libby girl, anyway.'

Harry hadn't talked about her for a while, but Tom suspected that he still thought about her a lot. It had been a bit over a year now since their arrival in the Delta Quadrant, rather too long in Tom's opinion to hold onto a lost promise, but if anyone were going to do that, it would be Harry Kim. He wondered if that Libby girl had done the same?

And now he supposed he owed Harry an apology. He could have made the whole 'act' easier, instead he'd pushed for a response that Harry obviously did not want to give. After his initial anger at Harry's assertion that he'd acted his response, Tom had realized that Harry had been lying. Probably the first lie that he'd ever told Tom, and Tom wholeheartedly accepted the blame for putting Harry in a situation where he'd had to. One day the kid would learn that a purely physical response didn't mean that he'd betrayed his long lost love, but Tom wasn't going to wreck Harry's dreams for anything. Or cause him to feel fear.

Shaking his head ruefully, Tom climbed out of the bath and reached for a towel. Ever since Caldik Prime he'd made the decision never to delay a confession or an apology, and as everything was now quiet in the other room, he figured that Harry had either calmed down or fallen asleep. He dropped the towel on the floor and pulled the silky robe he'd been wearing over his head.

Then he opened the door and blinked in surprise at the mess Harry had made.

---

"What on earth?" Tom gazed at Harry in amazement, and then noticing the absurdly guilty expression on his friend's face, struggled to hold back his laughter.

Harry had been busy. There wasn't much furniture in the room, only the large bed, and some rather narrow, slightly sloping, padded benches with strange rings protruding from the legs, which Tom had eyed speculatively. It hadn't taken him long to find the small set of keys hanging on the wall, and he'd wondered if Harry had noticed them as well. Now, two of the narrow sofa's had been pushed together at one end of the room, and a third one added to the end apparently to add length to an improvised bed. Harry had also collected every cushion he could find and some pillows from the bed, and added them to the pile.

"And who's supposed to sleep on that?" Tom asked sarcastically.

Harry flushed. "Oh, don't worry," he snapped. "I'd never expect a 'Leader' to do so."

"Harry, Harry, Harry," Tom shook his head and sat down on the end of the real bed. "You know we can't do this. If the Be'lal realized we were sleeping separately we'd be risking the mission."

"How do we know that they don't?"

Harry's bottom lip was pouting again and Tom felt the heat in his blood rising. He shook his head again, to clear it.

"There's only one bed in the room, Harry," he pointed out. "And I hardly think they let their Possesseds sleep on the floor."

"I wouldn't be surprised," Harry muttered.

"Wouldn't you?" Tom asked, thoughtfully. "Whatever else we may think of their customs, I do think that they value their Possesseds. I don't think they'd ever harm them, or treat them badly."

"Hmphh," Harry snorted, ran a hand distractedly through his hair and then gazed wistfully at his improvised bed. "I realized as soon as I'd finished that it was a stupid idea."

"I'll help you put it all back," Tom offered. "But first I owe you an apology."

Harry looked at him in surprise and Tom, to his annoyance, flushed slightly with embarrassment.

"I got carried away," he admitted. "I shouldn't have pushed, but I'd forgotten how you feel about Libby."

"Libby?!" The squeak of surprise in Harry's voice was unmistakable and Tom frowned as he watched Harry hastily pull himself together. "Of course, Libby. Yes."

So, that theory was down the drain and Tom's rising hope was quickly squashed by the realization that this must mean that Harry didn't like men. Well, if they had to continue the 'act', he had to know what he was dealing with. He tried again.

"You seemed. . . afraid, and I wanted to reassure you, but I went too far." He smiled ruefully at Harry. "It's a failing of mine. But you know, if you don't like men, that's just the way it is. No need to be afraid."

"I was not afraid," Harry stated firmly and indignantly.

Tom blinked. Another lie from Harry. Was he in another dimension or something?

"Yes, you were," he replied, just as firmly.

"Just how innocent and naïve do you think I am?" Harry almost hissed. "Oh, I know I could never match your experience, but how dare you accuse me of being afraid of something I've never even. . . " he took a quick breath, and his eye's narrowed as he continued to glare balefully at Tom. "Well, that's none of your business, but I can't believe you'd think me so. . . so. . . narrow-minded!"

"I don't," Tom assured him quickly. "But, why were you afraid?"

Harry stared at him for a moment, a strange, almost shy expression in his dark eyes. "Look," he finally said. "I'm putting this stuff away, and then I'm going to bed. I'm tired."

"Harry." Tom knew he was pushing again, but if it wasn't Libby, and it wasn't men, what was it? He couldn't rest until he knew.

"It was just the situation, all right," Harry said in a weary voice. "I mean, how would you like to be someone's sex slave?"

Tom couldn't resist smiling mischievously. "Actually, I. . . "

Harry picked up a cushion and threw it at him.

---

Tom woke to a room flooded with relaxing green sunlight. 'Green sunlight,' he thought, 'that sure takes getting used to.' The temperature had risen again, but as the night hadn't exactly been cool, it hadn't risen by much. The heat wasn't as disturbing as he'd thought it would be; it seemed to create an atmosphere of delicious lethargy and a heavy feeling of constant, simmering. . . arousal.

He stretched luxuriously and wondered if the climate was the reason the B'elal culture so heavily emphasized sex. In a way, it was their economy, and their Possesseds were their version of Latinum.

He rolled his head to the side, but he already knew that Harry wasn't there; he could hear him splashing around in the bathroom.

Tom smiled to himself as he remembered how reluctantly Harry had crawled into the bed, and how he'd perched himself perilously on the far side. As if the bed wasn't big enough! Tom hadn't been able to resist, he'd made a point of stretching himself out, taking up as much space as possible and then he'd lazily said goodnight to Harry.

The response had been sullen silence.

'Still,' Tom thought as he hauled himself out of the bed, 'Harry's never been this upset about a mission before. I guess I'd better lay off on the teasing.' He pulled off the robe he was still wearing and dropped it on the floor. They hadn't been provided with nightwear, for obvious reasons, and Tom hadn't thought that Harry would cope with sleeping together naked, so he'd kept the robe on. His eyes lighted with relief as he saw the fresh robe folded neatly on the nearest bench.

The bathroom door opened behind him, and Tom grinned to himself, as he heard the strangled gasp from Harry. Casually he stepped forward and picked up the robe, turning with it draped casually in front of him.

"Bathroom free?"

Harry looked slightly pink, the color obviously fading from the deeper red he'd been moments before. He nodded and stood aside as Tom strode forward, and entered the bathroom. Before he could close the door, Harry spoke.

"You were right," Harry's voice was slightly breathless. "Someone brought in new clothes while we were asleep. If we hadn't been. . . " his eyes glanced at the bed, "there could have been trouble."

Tom watched Harry for a moment, before closing the door. The signs were unmistakable, Harry had been flushed, breathless and he'd steadfastly not looked at Tom. 'He's definitely attracted to me,' Tom thought. 'So, what was all that crap about yesterday?'

He washed and dressed quickly, wondering all the time if he should try to talk to Harry again, but just when he'd decided he would, the meal chime rang through their quarters again. He wrenched open the door, grabbed Harry's arm in passing and hauled him into the corridor.

"C'mon, we don't want to be late," he explained. "Gelvar told me the Veptek officially begins before the first meal of the day. And remember, no talking."

"Ok, ok," Harry muttered, wrenching his arm from Tom's grasp and following him into the elevator. "There's no need to drag me about like a personal belonging."

Tom couldn't resist raising a sardonic eyebrow, Tuvok fashion, and he was immensely relieved when Harry, after glaring at him for a moment, slowly smiled and then gave a soft snort of laughter.

Gelvar met them at the elevator. Tom could see over Gelvar's shoulder that the room was more full than he'd ever seen it, with the Leaders and their Possesseds all standing side by side in neat rows.

"All are here," Gelvar told him. "But a word first, if I may?"

Tom nodded and followed Gelvar over to one side, Harry trailing in his wake.

"Once the Veptek officially begins, there can be no more trades," Gelvar told him softly, and his eyes shifted briefly to rest on Harry. "I wonder, Leader Tom, if you would once more consider my request for a trade. My Possessed is of great value, although not as unusual as yours."

Tom could feel Harry's outrage behind him and he reached behind, taking his hand in a firm clasp. Gelvar smiled at him faintly.

"I think I have your answer," he said, a note of sad regret in his quiet voice.

"I hope you are not offended, Leader Gelvar," Tom returned the smile. "I am honored by your request, but you see, my Possessed and I have not been together for very long and. . . "

Gelvar held up a hand to stop his words. "Say no more, Leader Tom. I understand. Come, the Veptek begins now."

Tom, still holding Harry's hand, followed Gelvar and stood beside him, facing the large group of B'elal. Gelvar handed him a goblet of what he knew must be the Veptek juice, and then raised one of his own.

"The time of Veptek begins," announced Gelvar. "When all are honored in pleasure. To that pleasure we devote ourselves, rejoicing that we are joined by our visitor, Leader Tom." He raised his goblet and drank and then handed it to his Possessed, who also drank. Tom followed his example, and then everyone else did the same.

'So that's that,' he thought. 'What the hell happens next?'

As he sat on a cushion next to Gelvar, what happened next became immediately apparent and his eyes widened in surprise at the ease with which the B'elal immediately. . . devoted themselves to their pleasure. He glanced over at Harry, who was kneeling beside him, and saw that he was looking slightly sick. For the first time in his life, Tom doubted his ability to cope with this type of situation. Harry had been right to be frightened. He was rather frightened himself. So much so, that he was frozen in horror, he could not move a muscle, could not drag his eyes from the sights around him.

Eventually he glanced at Gelvar, and found him staring back. Then Tom really began to worry about his state of mind when Gelvar almost seemed to. . . waver. . . and then re-solidify. Tom gulped as Gelvar smiled at him.

"Leader Tom," he said, in that soft voice. "We realize that you are a stranger to us, that your customs may be slightly different. While you honor us in joining the Veptek we know that you may require more privacy than we of the B'elal. Therefore," he smiled again. "No one will object if you follow the normal code of courtesy."

Tom blinked in confusion. 'Normal code of. . . ' There was a clue there, some sort of way out of this outrageous situation if he could just find it. He couldn't ask Gelvar; the B'elal leader had obviously expected him to understand and besides, he was already distracted with his own devotion to pleasure.

He pushed down a slight sense of panic and closed his eyes, mentally assessing everything that had happened to them since they'd arrived. Relief almost made him faint as he finally figured out what to do.

He opened his eyes and turned to Harry who, he saw, was white and trembling. 'God if he faints, we're done for,' Tom thought frantically. Damn it, why hadn't he expected it to be like this, but the idea of these types of orgies, where slaves who had no choice or rights were used like currency, was just so laughable in this day and age, that he'd never for a moment. . . He snapped out of it and gave Harry's shoulder a small shake.

"Food," he hissed. "Quick, get some food."

Harry stared at him dumbly for a moment and then quickly looked around. He grabbed the nearest plate and shoved it at Tom, and then gathered a couple more.

Tom never ate a meal so fast in his life. He barely chewed what he swallowed, and he practically crammed food into Harry's mouth until the poor kid almost choked. Tom could see the confusion and despair in Harry's eyes and he wanted to get him out of there immediately, but there was still one more thing they had to do.

Finally he judged they'd eaten enough, probably more than they should have at the speed they'd eaten it. He took a long drink of juice and then watched as Harry did the same.

'Well, here goes,' he thought. He reached out, firmly grasped Harry's arms, pushed him down onto the cushions and quickly pressed himself down onto Harry's suddenly struggling body.

"Shh," he whispered as comfortingly as he could. "We don't have to. . . After a few moments we can leave. Gelvar told me."

Harry froze, and then relaxed slightly and Tom could see the dawning relief in his eyes. The hard compressed line of Harry's lips softened and a sigh escaped them.

"Get on with it then," he whispered. "So, we can get the hell out of here."

Tom smiled and then leaned down to take those soft lips in a gentle kiss. Harry instantly surged up to meet him, almost taking Tom by surprise. He hoped that the eagerness was for him, but he had an unflattering feeling that Harry just wanted to escape as quickly as possible. He wanted to escape himself, but he wasn't going to let this opportunity slip by. He tightened his hold on Harry and pushed his tongue through his lips and into the hot haven of his mouth.

The sound that he'd wanted to hear again rewarded him. Harry moaned, almost whimpering, and then wound his arms around Tom's shoulders, pulling him closer. Tom was in a state bordering on ecstasy, there was no hint of fear in Harry's response to him. Perhaps his fear had just been at the situation, after all. Tom could now certainly relate to that.

He pushed a knee forward between Harry's legs and waited to see what would happen. They both shifted slightly as the kiss deepened and Tom almost groaned in triumph when Harry's legs parted allowing him to rest between them. Finally he could feel Harry's arousal meeting his own and he pushed against it slightly. Harry gave that ragged moan again.

It was getting harder and harder to stay calm. Harry's mouth was intoxicating and addictive, wet and hot and slick. The body under him was hard, but every moment it was yielding more and more, molding itself to his, and encouraging him to new heights of abandonment. He knew if they didn't stop this soon, they were going to be joining the orgy around them, and Harry would never forgive him. He'd never forgive himself.

Reluctantly he dragged himself away and couldn't help grinning when Harry's mouth followed him, latching onto his neck with delicious suction.

"Harry," he said, firmly.

Harry let go and lay back on the cushions, gazing up at Tom with smoky, dark eyes.

Tom took a deep breath. "Upstairs."

For a moment Harry actually looked adorably confused. Then he almost blanched, as he quickly looked around the room. It wasn't just the sights now that were disturbing, thought Tom, it was the sounds as well. While they'd been lost in their own world, he hadn't really noticed them, but now they rose and swelled all around him, making him feel more aroused than ever. While it was just the sounds he responded to, it was easy to forget that half of the participants in this orgy were slaves.

He scrambled to his feet, dragging Harry up with him. As they entered the elevator, he gave a quick glance back into the room. No one had even noticed their departure.

It was only when they entered their room that Tom noticed he was still holding Harry's hand. He didn't let go. They both stood for a moment, breathing deeply, and then Tom turned to face Harry.

"Do you still want me to leave you alone?" Tom asked quietly, determined to give Harry every chance to back out if he wanted or needed to. For himself, he knew that he wanted Harry with growing desperation, and every moment they stayed in this place was going to make it more difficult not to take him. Especially if Harry kept bursting into flames every time they kissed, he thought ruefully.

"Oh God," Harry blurted, abruptly pulling his hand out of Tom's. "What am I doing?"

'This is not a good sign', thought Tom, his heart sinking down to his feet.

Then Harry looked up at him, a speculating, measuring look, and Tom found himself feeling. . . flustered. His mouth dropped open in surprise, not only at the way he felt, but also at the fact that Harry Kim had looked at him like that.

"I don't know," Harry finally said thoughtfully. "I need to think about it."

Tom nodded, still speechless.

"I think I'll take a bath," Harry said brightly, and strode off into the bathroom, closing the door firmly behind him.

For a full minute, Tom stood and stared at the opposite wall. He felt rather like the world had shifted a few inches to the left and he was still standing in the same spot, out of phase with everything. It was a very disturbing feeling.

He frowned in puzzlement as his eyes finally got through to his brain that there was also something disturbing about the wall he was staring at. It was predominately white, as were all the walls in the tower, and it was also hung with the gauzy, colorful draperies that seemed to be the standard for B'elal interior design. However, a small patch of the wall seemed to be pitch black, and there were some bright yellow lines, like a grid pattern, running through the patch. Funny that he'd never noticed it before.

He stepped closer, his frown deepening, and it was with yet another profound shock that he realized he recognized the pattern.

---

Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres, Chief Engineer of the Starship Voyager, slammed her fist down onto the computer panel, knocking two pads and three cups of Neelix' special coffee onto the floor of sickbay. She ignored the mess, which Neelix instantly started to clean, and continued to glare menacingly at the Doctor.

"For the last time. Shut. Up. I can fix this."

"If you'd listened to me in the first place, you wouldn't have to," the Doctor replied in his snippiest voice.

"Doctor," Kes' soft voice interceded. "Perhaps if we just let B'Elanna get on with it?"

The Doctor waved a hand airily in B'Elanna's direction. "By all means, let the Holo-expert who created this program, if I can call it that, continue to astound us with her technical genius."

"Look, it's not my fault they keep going against the program. If they'd just get on with it. . . " B'Elanna snarled impatiently, avidly watching the numbers scrolling across the screen in front of her. "But if you think you can do better, go ahead."

"I might remind you that I am a holoprogam."

"That doesn't mean you can program one, you idiot. Remember what happened last time you tried to, Mr. Squirrel."

Neelix, having cleared away the debris on the floor, took advantage of the Doctor's speechless indignation to make a helpful suggestion.

"Couldn't we just shut it down and reload it while they're asleep?"

"Yes, but they're not asleep now."

"Well, can't you make them go to sleep?"

B'Elanna directed a look of scathing contempt at him. "They're not part of the program. I can't just tell them what to do. That's part of the problem. The longer the program runs, the more variables there are. I must have missed something," she admitted through clenched teeth.

"Ha!" snorted the Doctor.

"Well, can't you just release some gas into the air and make them go to sleep?" Neelix looked hopefully from the Doctor to B'Elanna.

"No," said Kes, gently but firmly. "No more drugging people."

"Well, as we've already kidnapped them. . . " the Doctor said thoughtfully.

B'Elanna looked at him in surprise. "Don't you have an ethics subroutine? Or have you been tinkering with that as well? Anyway, we haven't kidnapped them. They're still in the holodeck, exactly where they're supposed to be."

"Paris to Torres."

Everyone jumped as the voice of Tom Paris echoed from B'Elanna's combadge.

"Fuck," said B'Elanna, fiercely.

"B'Elanna!" Neelix gasped.

"Sorry. What do I do?"

No one answered her.

"Paris to Torres. Answer me B'Elanna. I know you're out there and if you'd prefer me to com the Captain I'll be happy. . . "

B'Elanna hit her combadge. "Hello Tom," she said, cheerfully. "Nice to hear from you. How's it going down on that lovely moon? Having a nice time? Well, we have so much work to do here, what with the. . . "

"Cut the crap, B'Elanna," Tom's voice interrupted. "What I want to know is why I'm on the holodeck, in this hell of a program of yours."

"It's not that bad, is it?" B'Elanna asked, anxiously. "I wanted to know what you and Harry thought of it, that's all."

"What we thought. . . Does Harry know about this?" Everyone could hear the suspicion in his voice.

"Not exactly."

"I didn't think so. And just when did you put us in the holodeck, that's what I want to know. Or should I ask, when did you lock us in the holodeck? I can't even get at the arch. For God's sake, what about the galacite?"

"Oh no, Tom," Kes broke in, reassuringly. "There's no galacite. That was all part of the program."

"Kes? Oh my God. Please don't tell me that the Doctor and Neelix are there as well."

"Hello, Tom," Neelix cheerfully greeted him.

"Have you all gone completely mad?" Tom's voice almost exploded out of B'Elanna's combadge. "It's only that they've been on shore leave that the Commander and Tuvok haven't already reported what you did to the Captain. What do you think she'll do when she hears about this, on top of that? B'Elanna, I can't believe you'd go along with something like this!"

"Well, I had my doubts," B'Elanna replied resentfully. "I still think Harry's too good for you. And all we've done is helped you out with your shore leave. You are off-duty, remember."

"And I think the Commander and Mr.Vulcan are grateful that we helped them," added Neelix.

For a moment a strange sort of spluttering came from B'Elanna's combadge and then finally Tom spoke again. "Terminate this program, now."

"Mr. Paris," the Doctor interrupted. "I don't like to interfere, but are you sure you wish to waste such an opportunity. You do seem to have been making progress, after all. If you just give it a little more time. . . "

"You've been watching us?!"

B'Elanna frowned warningly at the Doctor. "Good gracious, no, Tom," she said soothingly. "Well, only enough to keep track of the program, of course. You may have noticed a few little glitches. I had to keep adjusting things when you deviated from the expected course of the program."

"You make it sound like my fault," came the incredulous reply.

"Well, you know if you just got on. . . " B'Elanna noticed Kes' frantic hand signals and changed track. "Well. There's no reason why you can't just finish the program. Just a little harmless fun. I don't know that I'd tell Harry though. He might not get the joke, right now, but if you stay in the program, get things sorted out, he'd be happy by the end. You both would be. And you could always pretend you didn't know about it."

"B'Elanna your precious program is crashing as we speak. It's only a matter of time before Harry notices as well."

"Well, tell me how to fix it, and then you'll never have a reason to tell Harry that you knew about it. It's just two more days."

There was a very, very long silence, in which B'Elanna anxiously watched the computer screen, made a few adjustments, and ignored the other three gazing at her in amazement.

"Tom?" she eventually asked. "Are you there? We're running out of time."

"Ok," Tom replied. "I'll tell you what to do. But I gotta say, you went way too far with the Veptek thing, and we're gonna tone it down. What the hell were you thinking?"

"I told you so," the Doctor hissed triumphantly.

"I thought a pig like you could cope with it, Paris."

"Oh is that right? Well, Harry almost threw up. I almost threw up."

B'Elanna sniffed. "You humans have such weak stomachs."

Twenty minutes later, the program was under control and Tom had signed off. The four in the sickbay heaved a collective sigh of relief, and smiled at each other.

"You know, it's really annoying how good he is at that," B'Elanna directed a wistful look at the computer panel.

"I can't believe that you talked him into going along with it," Kes exclaimed.

"Well, I guess he does really love Harry, after all. The main thing is that the Captain won't find out."

The sickbay doors hissed open, and they all jumped as Captain Janeway strode into the sickbay.

"Why is there a privacy lock on this door?" she demanded. "There are not supposed to be privacy locks on sickbay. It's against regulations, unless there is the threat of a security breach."

She came to a halt and eyed them suspiciously. "Is there a threat of a security breach?"

"Not at all, Captain," the Doctor replied smoothly. "Lieutenant Torres has just been helping me with a slight adjustment to my program, and we thought it best not to be interrupted, but we're quite finished now."

"Is that so? Well, in future, place no more locks on the sickbay doors unless authorized to do so. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Captain."

The Captain nodded and returned to the exit. As she reached the threshold, she hesitated, and then glanced over her shoulder.

"This isn't anything to do with. . . squirrels. . . is it?

"No, Captain," the Doctor assured her firmly.

---

Tuvok and Chakotay parted in the corridor outside the holodeck doors, with a strangely distant formality. The night before they had made love again, but the pleasure of the act had been touched with a measure of restraint. Tuvok had not needed the bond to sense this in Chakotay, and he'd been well aware of the same reaction in himself. Afterwards they had sought refuge in sleep, and woken so late that their departure from the holodeck was somewhat rushed.

Now they stood in the hallway, gazing at each other with a slight sense of bewilderment.

"Well." It was Chakotay who finally broke the silence. "I had a very good time, Tuvok. Thanks."

Tuvok realized that Chakotay was gazing at him expectantly, clearly waiting for some sort of response.

"I also had an enjoyable experience."

Briefly he glimpsed a twinkle in Chakotay's eye, but it was gone so quickly he could not be certain it had really been there.

"So then, you'll let me know about that . . . ah. . . little problem we have?" Chakotay asked, sounding like he was inquiring into the status of a slight fluctuation in a sensor reading.

"Of course," Tuvok replied and found himself unable to resist adding, "Commander."

The twinkle was definitely there this time.

"When will I receive your report?"

"I will investigate the matter this evening. I should be able to report to you tomorrow at the completion of our shifts."

"Very well, Lieutenant. I'll see you in my quarters at 2030 hours."

And with that, they went their separate ways. Tuvok reported to the bridge, took his station, and started catching up on the backlog of reports from his security team. Except for a brief moment on the bridge, Tuvok did not see Chakotay. The First Officer disappeared into the Captain's Ready Room for the rest of the shift, where, Tuvok guessed, he was preparing for the handover of command, which would occur on the return of Lieutenant Paris and Ensign Kim, when the Captain would actually take her own shoreleave.

After his shift, Tuvok ate in the Mess Hall, where he politely tolerated Neelix's cooking as well as his smug expression. It was obvious that Neelix was still priding himself on his involvement in Tuvok's relationship with Chakotay. For a while Tuvok contemplated various methods of making certain that Neelix never involved himself in anyone's relationship ever again, but as all the methods seemed to breach StarFleet regulations it seemed illogical to continue.

It was at this point that he realized he was avoiding returning to his quarters, and the meditation session he knew he needed to perform there.

The knowledge rather disturbed him.

Was it because of the unacknowledged suspicion that the meditation would reveal something that he'd rather not know?

Of course, that suspicion was now acknowledged, and that meant that the next most logical course of action was to meditate on the problem. Feeling slightly trapped, Tuvok left the Mess Hall and returned to his quarters.

Surrounded by flickering candles, and the temperature of his quarters raised by 20%, Tuvok easily reached the first level of meditation. After that he drifted for a while, sifting through various memories of the last few weeks. Finally he turned his focus to the bond, and almost immediately he was dragged into that deeper state where memory and unconscious thought merge.

He was in a cage. Beyond the bars of the cage there was nothing but complete, impenetrable darkness. It was neither cold nor hot, but the air was heavy and still. Patiently, he waited for something to happen.

"Why do you cage yourself?" The voice was serene and calm, and strangely familiar. He could not tell what direction it came from.

"I don't know," he replied.

"Are you a prisoner?"

He thought for a moment. "I am a StarFleet Officer, I am not a prisoner."

"Only of your emotions."

He frowned in puzzlement.

"Your reply is illogical." He finally answered. "I am a Vulcan. I control my emotions."

He waited patiently for a reply, but the voice was silent. Something about the conversation was niggling at him. It was. . . familiar, almost as if he'd been here before, and he knew he had not.

"Why am I here?" he finally asked. "Where are you?"

"I am here."

Certainly a logical answer. It was at times like this, he reflected, that he briefly glimpsed why other species sometimes found Vulcans irritating.

Then, suddenly, there was light, flickering from braziers and candles, and before him stood a large stone altar. The bars of the cage seem to melt and he stepped through them easily. With a strong sense of foreboding, he recognized the temple he was in. He had been here before.

. . . I refuse to deny myself passion.

The words, in his own voice, echoed so loudly in his mind, that for a moment he thought he'd actually said them.

"Why am I here?" He asked.

"Why are you here?" The voice asked, and out of the shadows stepped a figure that he instantly recognized, although it was many, many years since he had last seen it.

"The bond. . . " he began.

He was interrupted. "The bond is simply a manifestation of the question. . . or the answer."

Not for the first time he wondered why Vulcan Priests often spoke in riddles. At times it seemed illogical. Of course, it wasn't illogical if they didn't actually know the answers.

For a long time he was silent, while the Vulcan Priest watched him.

"I came here before because I had lost control," he finally said, slowly.

"The girl." The Priest nodded at him slightly.

"You told me then, that grief, anger, fear and love would never threaten me again." He tried not to make it sound like an accusation.

"Are you threatened?"

"I am. . . uncertain."

"You may lose control."

The words were a quiet statement, but they tolled like a great bell in his mind.

The Priest spoke again. "Infinite diversity. . . "

". . . in infinite combinations." He responded automatically.

"You're training is not complete."

The Priests voice was still echoing in his ears, as the scene around him faded to complete darkness.

Tuvok opened his eyes.

---

The rest of the evening was an uncomfortable one for Tuvok. He wondered about the success of his meditation, his mind now seemed flooded with more questions than it had been before. For a moment, he was tempted to try another session but deep down he knew that it was too soon.

"You may lose control."

In that time, that he had just revisited, he must have felt fear. But even though he could not remember it, he had recognized the emotion in Chakotay, through the bond. What would happen if he were really to feel it himself? Along with anger, jealousy. . . and love?

If he lost control again, out here in the Delta Quadrant, there would be no Vulcan Temple or Vulcan Priest to help him.

Of course, there was the possibility that he would not lose control, but the bond had already influenced his actions without his knowledge at the time, and could he really take such a risk? The outcome could be complete disaster, for himself, Chakotay, and even the rest of the crew.

There was only one logical conclusion to the problem as it stood at the moment, but Tuvok found it an extraordinarily difficult decision to make. And he really didn't like to imagine how Chakotay would react.

When he got to the bridge for his duty shift he still wasn't sure what to do. Chakotay arrived shortly afterwards and he gave Tuvok a quick, warm smile before he took his seat next to the Captain. With the appearance of his mate, the bond seemed to double in strength, almost physically pulling at him. It was still growing steadily stronger, which only made what had to be done even more difficult.

Because Tuvok now knew what he had to do. It was illogical to take the risk of losing his control. It was also illogical to risk harming his mate, or the rest of Voyager's crew. So he spent the next hour rehearsing in his mind what he would say to Chakotay.

Then a large star ship came out of nowhere and fired at them, completely distracting him.

---

(to be continued. . . )

---

End