The BLTS Archive- The Logic of Emotional Encounters
by Riss (usc_mam@yahoo.com)

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Disclaimers - Paramount owns Star Trek. What, you didn't know that?
I'm just a humble fan borrowing the characters for fun. While
Paramount owns the characters, the ideas are mine, so please ask
permission before using them, and always keep my name attached to
copies of this story.

Thanks to my beta readers Janet and Jan. The world would not go round
without beta readers!

I've made a few minor changes to the story, mostly to flesh it out
just a bit more.  I'm reposting it as a favor to a friend who is very
interested in seeing a story about Tuvok.

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Logic dictates complete attention to the task at hand.  However, even
I sometimes stray when passing through an extremely calm area of
space.  Usually I reflect on Vulcan laws of logic or lately, it has
been Surak's Dictates of Poetics.  Despite Mr. Paris' insistance on
impulsiveness, our collaberative holodeck adventures have proceded
well.

Now, I seem unable to focus on either of these ponderings.  Another
problem, idea, has invaded my thoughts. Something which defies logic
commands my attention.  The emotions of the crew have begun to
permeate my consciousness. Emotions have no place in the logical mind,
yet the analysis of emotions has taken over my thought processes.

While living around emotional beings has never been a simple task,
normally I retain my ability to separate their emotions from my own
logical thoughts.  Even when the most potent of these emotions has
invaded the bridge, I was successful.

Despite my outward calm and disregard for their actions, I was not
unaware of the emotions passing between the two most senior members of
the crew.  While the Captain and the Commander do not possess my level
of control over emotions, the situation dictated greater discression.
I was, concerned, of the effects of either a relationship or a
severing of their closeness.  When they experienced difficult times
during the encounter with the Borg, my unease was proven correct.

The second relationship to be fostered among the senior Starfleet
personnel of Voyager has been less uneasy.  While Mr. Paris and
Lieutenant Torres have shown a lack of decorum and impulsive behavior,
their relationship has proven to be enduring and strong.  Despite
Vorik's previous claim that he was in fact the logical choice of a
mate for Lieutenant Torres, I believe that Mr. Paris actually fulfills
that function adaquately.  Both have moderated the extreme behavior of
the other and actually improved their attention to the job during
crisis situations.

Therefore, the present situation is extremely puzzling.  If I had not
observed the actions on multiple occasions, I would have assumed a
flaw in my logical assumptions.  Why would the Captain do anything to
jeopardize this relationship? Especially since she has shown public
approval of their actions ever since her blow up during the alien
experiments.  She never did take up my offer of flogging them.  Yet, I
have seen her initiate actions which express her desire to break them
up.  Most noticably, I have observed her with an almost wistful
expression on her face as she observes him at the con.  Nothing which
would arouse the suspicions of any other crew member since only my
position on the bridge allows a clear view of their actions, but
enough to form a pattern.

At first, due to the reputation of Mr. Paris, I believed he was
encouraging these actions.  However, my first impression as
dictated in the mutiny scenario of his complete faith in the Captain
was again proven correct.  While his actions dictate a sharing of
these emotions, he has been completely faithful.

Instead, I now believe that neither party will do anything to
encourage a resolution to these emotions.  The looks which pass
between them and the hand which she places on his shoulder represent
the limit of their expression. Unless their is a drastic occurrence,
life will proceed as it had before I came to this conclusion.

The question which has been distracting me, however, defies this
logic.  Why, if all indications and logical conclusions dictate a
favorable outcome, do I feel something is wrong?  If Vulcan's
possessed intuition, I would believe that mine was telling me that
somehow, even though the correct outcome is occurring, there is
something missing.

Therefore, my attention is distracted slightly from the long range
sensor scans as I observe the figures at the front of the bridge I am
left attempting to find a logical reason to explain why I should feel
anything at all, especially the nonappearance of such an illogical
action.

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The End