The BLTS Archive - Submission ninth in the Of Love & Logic series by Yvette (yvette@ecn.net.au) --- Harry Kim sighed and rubbed the area between his eyes. He'd been at this for several hours now, and his aching back was beginning to feel the strain. It would be worth it, though. The computer screen in front of him showed more than eighty separate paths - the tortuous route through the historical archives having taken nearly four hours so far. Tuvok was on the bridge and it was Harry's day off. For once Harry hadn't made plans with Tom Paris, preferring instead to follow this very personal project. It was just over a week since Tom Paris had walked in on a very embarrassing scene involving Harry and Seven of Nine, and nearly a fortnight since Harry and Tuvok had discussed sexual fantasies. They had decided to try Harry's fantasy first, as Harry was the marginally more experienced of the two in this particular area. Just thinking of that night made Harry shift slightly in his seat. The wave of arousal he felt was expected every time he thought back to the incredible sex of that night on the holodeck, but he fought the feeling. It wasn't fair to Tuvok for Harry to allow his sexual arousal to disturb his lover through their link. Tuvok had half a day to go on the bridge before he could come home, after all, and act on the desires Harry was feeling now. Harry blinked his eyes a couple of times in an effort to rid himself of the 'computer vision' he was experiencing. After Tuvok had somewhat hesitantly outlined his fantasy to Harry, the Vulcan had allowed Harry access to his personal files - an enormous library of Vulcan myth, folklore and legend. Harry was amazed at the depth and originality of the information stored on the wafer Tuvok had given him. He had never expected Vulcans to have much of an imagination - and certainly not this display of exotic history. Tuvok's fantasy was, unsurprisingly, very detailed and very exact in its nature. Harry just needed to understand the customs behind the fantasy to ensure that he would give Tuvok a night to remember. Tuvok wanted to experience the kahs-wan. Not the ritual as it was now - a watered down version of the original. Tuvok wanted to do experience the kahs-wan as it was several thousand years ago. It had taken Harry the better part of four hours of researching to find out what he needed to know. But after a further hour the Ensign felt ready enough to begin work on the holodeck program that would encapsulate Tuvok's fantasy. He felt a frisson of fear - and desire - at the thought of submitting himself to Tuvok in this fashion. The knowledge that Tuvok trusted him to this incredible extent gave Harry the impetus he needed to work the necessary hours on the holodeck program. He knew enough to know that he would need help with something this detailed. What he needed was an expert. --- "And so Neelix walks through the door, and there's Lt. Cremorne and Seven of Nine sitting at the table, eating dinner. Jeff apparently decided to go the whole romance route first, which pissed him off later - because he said that Seven was just as happy to go straight to the sex, and if he hadn't wasted time with dinner, they would have had sex before Neelix arrived." Tom paused for breath as Harry waited expectantly. "So what *happened*?!?" Tom grinned, glancing around the mess hall quickly to make sure that neither Neelix or Seven of Nine were in hearing distance. "Neelix announces to Seven that she's with completely the wrong partner, and he's decided that *he* wants her instead!" Harry's eyes widened in surprise. "Neelix? And Seven?" "Yeah. So anyway, Jeff gets up from the table and tells Neelix that if he doesn't leave straight away, he's going to end up in sickbay. Neelix tells him to go for it, *if he thinks he can* - and then Seven decides to speak up." Tom took a sip of coffee. Harry was still hanging on his every word. "Instead of telling Neelix to back off, she tells Cremorne that she's decided he's not the partner for her after all, and she'll accept Neelix's offer. Jeff is totally blown away, and basically accuses Seven of being the ship's slut, which is when Neelix thumped him." Harry grinned. "I wondered how he got that black eye!" Tom laughed. "That's not the worst of it. Apparently Seven had considered Neelix at the top of the list from way back - above *you* even - but hadn't done anything about it because she didn't think Neelix was sexually attracted to her." Harry blushed despite himself. Seven's 'criteria' for a suitable mate had included the requirement that her partner had to be sexually attracted to her. Harry was still young enough to silently swear at his body every time it responded automatically to Seven's allure. The fact that she had used his attraction as a reason to proposition him still rankled. Fortunately, Tuvok had been very understanding about the whole thing. Tom continued. "Anyway, Jeff's on the floor, a little dazed, thinking that the night couldn't possibly get worse. What he doesn't realise is that Talaxian sexual ritual requires physical bonding to take place immediately following a verbal declaration. So he looks up to find Neelix and Seven going at it like a pair of rabbits - in *his* quarters, and on *his* bed!" Harry burst out laughing. "That explains it! I wondered why he was so keen to swap quarters - I hear he's offered to move into a smaller place if he has to, anything to get out of his own!" The friends laughed together at the Lieutenant's misfortune, but both kept a wary eye out for the new lovers, Seven and Neelix. Rumour also had it that both were extremely touchy about the subject, and any suggestion of crew members finding the subject amusing could lead to a trip to sickbay. And that was just from Seven. The subject moved on from Seven and Neelix's new relationship, and eventually Harry remembered to ask Tom for the favour he needed. "Tom - I need your help with something." "Sure, buddy. What do you need?" Tom smiled at his best friend. There wasn't much he wouldn't do for Harry Kim. "I need your help on a holodeck program. It's …….. kind of a gift for Tuvok. Anyway, I've done what I can, but it still needs a lot of work, and I really want to have it ready by next week. Tuvok and I both have two days off, and I've booked holodeck one from 10pm right through to 9.00am the next day. You wouldn't believe what I had to trade to get those hours - and if I don't get the program up and running in time they'll be wasted." Tom's eyes lit up with interest. "So what's the program, Har?" Harry gave a slightly embarrassed smile. "Well, it's actually a sexual fantasy. And don't ask any more because I'm not going to tell you. But I want it to be good - I want it to be *really*, really good. So, will you help me?" "Sure, Harry - tell me where and when." Tom was looking forward to discovering just what kind of sexual fantasy Tuvok would be involved in. The two set aside several hours in the forthcoming week, and then left the mess hall, still planning. There was a lot to do before next week. --- "There are some basic guidelines one should follow in any romantic interlude. A seduction is not just about sexual intercourse, after all, Seven, it is about seducing the senses. Consider them all - first sight, sound, smell, taste, and finally touch. Remember always that you are setting the scene for someone else, and their tastes in food and music in particular should be paramount above your own. I have some notes on the subject you may read if you choose." Seven of Nine looked impressed at the wealth of knowledge offered. "You appear to have considerable insight on the subject, Lieutenant. I did not realise it was one Vulcans devoted so much time to." For the first time in their conversation, Tuvok looked discomfited. "My 'insight' as you call it, Seven, came from a rather more unlikely source than my Vulcan education. It was Lieutenant Paris who coached me on the subject when I was in need of assistance." Seven looked skeptical. "I have often wondered if Lieutenant Paris suffers from some form of schizophrenia. His behaviour when off duty is frequently outside what I consider to be the norms of human conduct." Tuvok nodded thoughtfully, making a mental note to repeat that particular comment to his lover. Harry would find it amusing. "Nonetheless, Mr. Paris has considerable experience in the area of romance and seduction. There was an occasion some time before you arrived onboard Voyager where I required help and I appreciated his somewhat extensive knowledge." Seven looked at Tuvok for a long moment. "I apprehend that you used his help in your relationship with Mr. Kim." "Yes." Tuvok continued to enter information into the panel in front of him. Astrometrics was, as usual, deserted - but for himself and Seven of Nine. Seven also continued to work, but it was clear that she wished to pursue this subject. "Having begun a romantic relationship of my own, I have come to realise that the bond you share with Mr. Kim goes considerably beyond the shallow relationships that abound on the ship. I apologise for attempting to take him from you, Lieutenant." "While I never considered you a threat to my relationship, Seven, the gesture is appreciated." There was a long pause. "I will implement your suggestions with Neelix this evening, Lieutenant. The evening is important to me." At that point, Tuvok left his panel and turned to face Seven. "I believe you will be successful, Seven. The most important thing is the time and the thought put into the gift, not the actual gift itself. And you have an advantage over myself - at the time I most required Mr. Paris' expertise, I was attempting to repair my relationship with Mr. Kim. I believe Mr. Neelix will be pleased with the final result." As Tuvok left Astrometrics some time later for the bridge, he could not help but recall the time he had been to Tom Paris for advice on seduction. The lessons he had taught Seven this day were valuable ones - all too easy to forget in the day to day routine. By the time the turbo-lift had reached the bridge, Tuvok had already mentally outlined a mini seduction scene of his own for this evening. There really was no time like the present to remind Harry of how cherished he was. --- It was an exhausted Harry Kim who approached his quarters wearily that same evening. He and Tom had poured through the Vulcan database for the information they needed for the program, and had just spent several hours working on it. Harry marveled anew at the enthusiasm Tom had for holodeck programming. The pilot wasn't just good at it, he was brilliant. Every nuance of the atmosphere was included, and Tom spent ages on the little details - the proper floor covering, the correct scent from the burning candles, the exact fabric for Harry's outfit. Tom had an incredible imagination which made him ideally suited to the task of holographic programming. Harry was more adept at writing the detailed subroutines - the grunt work, basically. But the program was looking good, really good. They had the building and surrounding areas down pat, plus all the components for the ritual claiming. There was more to do, but the bulk of it was done. Harry keyed in the entrance code to his quarters absently, thinking of how to thank Tom for all the time he'd put into the program. He looked around in surprise as he entered the quarters and the doors swished shut behind him. Instead of the normal lighting there were candles on the table, and beside the couch. Soft music was playing in the background. Harry smiled at the sight, recognising Tuvok's seduction routine instantly. The object of his thoughts entered the room at that moment, wearing nothing more than a towel. Tuvok was clearly fresh from the shower, summoned to the main room as he had felt Harry's entrance through their link. Harry's smile widened as Tuvok approached him, and he stepped into Tuvok's arms naturally, head tilted already waiting for the kiss. The feel of Tuvok's warm, naked body in his arms was enough to make his cock begin to harden, and then Harry forgot all about his day, and thanking Tom and anything else in fact as Tuvok claimed his mouth. Instantly, Harry opened his own to allow Tuvok entrance, and as their tongues mated, Harry's hands roamed the uncovered skin of Tuvok's back. As his hands moved naturally lower, they encountered the barrier of Tuvok's towel, which was instantly removed and tossed across the room, all without breaking the kiss. Now Harry had Tuvok's very fine, very firm, muscled ass to play with and his hands automatically palmed one ass-cheek each as he caressed and kneaded the flesh. Tuvok finally broke the kiss off, and the two men stood caught their breath for a moment. "Hello Harry. I trust you had a productive day?" Tuvok's question was deliberately bland, but Harry had no trouble discerning the lazy flippancy in the mental tone. "Mmmmmm. I spent most of the day thinking about you. Does that count?" Even after all this time it was still a major turn-on to *see* Tuvok's expressionless facade but *feel* the humour and arousal through their bond. "I, too, spent a good deal of my day thinking about you, Harry. It has been some time since we explored the mating ritual of extensive pseudo-sexual oral interaction. Perhaps this evening would be a good time to re-visit that rite." Harry laughed, as Tuvok had meant him to. "You mean a make-out session? I think I could cope with that, Tuvok." Tuvok reached for the fastenings on Harry's clothes, only to have his hands batted away. "If you undress me you *know* we'll never make it to the couch, Tuvok. Now behave yourself and go and get ready for me." Harry ignored Tuvok's raised eyebrow at his commanding tone, instead concentrating on removing his own clothes as Tuvok obeyed his request. The sight of Tuvok's incredibly fit, lean body stretched out on the couch, naked, hard and waiting for him was enough almost to make Harry come there and then. For a second his hands stilled as he was hit with several conflicting desires at once. First, he had to taste Tuvok's mouth again - but then there was the inconceivably tempting cock, just waiting for his tongue and lips to bring it pleasure. The sight of Tuvok's hand reaching for his own cock to stimulate it further broke Harry's daze and he practically ripped off the remainder of his clothes before heading for the couch to join Tuvok on it. Some time ago they had discovered the standard couches were too narrow for a truly enjoyable session on the couch, so after much deliberation, they had pooled their rations for the couch they lay on now. Wide enough for both men to lie side by side, the couch was at once firm but amazingly comfortable. Best yet, in Harry's opinion, was the colour. A deep ivory, it was the perfect background for his dark-skinned lover. As he lay down beside the feast that was Tuvok, Harry caught sight of the nipples that hardened so perfectly beneath his gaze, and his choice was made. He dipped his head to lick and then suck on one of the tempting nubs and his left hand swept Tuvok's entire body before covering the hard black cock that always bought him so much pleasure. Tuvok moaned very softly as Harry's mouth and hand continued their ministrations on his body. After a short time, though, he shifted under Harry's mouth in an effort to dislodge the mouth that had taken possession of his right nipple. "Harry - you are breaking the rules of this particular rite. I believe you once explained to me that the purpose of the make-out session was not sex, but extended foreplay." Harry looked up from Tuvok's chest and smiled ruefully. "Sorry - couldn't help it. You have the sexiest chest I've ever seen, Tuvok." Tuvok did not answer, instead just reaching out to card his fingers through Harry's hair and draw the younger man's head down to meet his own. Then they were kissing again and Harry was lost in the addictive taste of his lover's mouth. The feel of Tuvok's body along the length of his own seemed so right, and yet it was so different from his own. The more aroused Tuvok got, the hotter his body got - and it was burning up now. Harry's cock was hard and leaking slightly, pressed as it was against Tuvok's thigh, Harry's hand still curled around Tuvok's cock as he gave it the occasional gentle pull, concentrating instead on the pleasure of kissing that amazing mouth. In typical fashion, Tuvok poured all of his own concentration into the kiss, both hands curled around Harry's head to keep him at the angle Tuvok wanted. It was Harry who was the explorer when they kissed, often absently mapping every inch of his lover as their tongues mated erotically. For Harry it was hard to think rational thoughts when Tuvok was touching him, but for the Vulcan it was a natural step to combine the physical with the mental and the images he was bringing to their link just made the foreplay more intense. They kissed until their desire could no longer be delayed, and Harry moved down Tuvok's body to take his cock in his mouth, only to be stopped with a mental image from Tuvok. He looked back at his lover with mild surprise, but didn't delay one moment changing his position on the couch so that his cock was within reach of Tuvok's mouth while Tuvok's cock was inches away from his own. The 69 position wasn't something they did often, but the couch was perfect for it. Wide enough and long enough so that when Tuvok moved down they were both comfortable and accessible, it provided an ideal support for the entwined lovers. "Chakotay to Tuvok." The lovers froze, unwilling to believe that this most intimate of moments could be interrupted. "Tuvok here." Harry swung his legs off the couch, allowing Tuvok to sit up as he answered the First Officer's comm. "Report to the bridge. Chakotay out." Harry raised an eyebrow in surprise at Chakotay's brusque tone. What the hell was bothering *him* lately? As he glanced at Tuvok, Harry could feel his frustration through their link. Tuvok said nothing, simply rose from the couch and headed for the bedroom to get dressed into his uniform. His face was expressionless, and his movements as economically efficient as ever - and it was unlikely that anyone else onboard Voyager would think for a moment that anything was wrong. But for Harry, Tuvok's swift, silent movements were as telling as an explosion of rage. Tuvok was furious. The Vulcan kissed Harry quickly before leaving for the bridge. Harry headed for the shower himself, pondering the problem of Chakotay. There was clearly something bothering the First Officer of late, but now that Harry thought about it, it seemed that Tuvok bore the brunt of Chakotay's anger more than most. Frowning to himself, Harry considered talking to Tom about it. But that was something else that was strange - Tom was happier than ever lately. Chakotay was apparently insatiable in bed and romantic out of it. Not having come to a solution during his shower, Harry turned his thoughts to the holodeck program. It would be very welcome, given the frustrations of the last couple of weeks for Tuvok. He'd been working hard, but it was mainly administrative duties, and Harry knew full well that Tuvok had been interrupted several times during his workout. Then there was the accident with McLean to cope with. Tuvok needed a serious physical and psychological outlet, and Harry was glad of the days off they had planned. They could enjoy the program to it's fullest, and hopefully Tuvok could vent some of his frustrations in the controlled atmosphere. Vulcan or not, being under a constant strain with no physical or mental outlet was not healthy for anyone. Having no idea how long Tuvok would be, Harry got dressed in casual clothes and headed for Tom's quarters. With Chakotay on the bridge, Tom would probably be happy to spend a couple of hours working on the holodeck program. --- "I'm sure I don't need to tell you, Tuvok, that sometimes the *logical* thing to do isn't the *right* thing to do. I think McLean's accident is proof of that." It appeared that Chakotay's summons to the bridge was for the sole purpose of dressing Tuvok down - once again. The First Officer had kept Tuvok waiting in the Captain's Ready Room for more than an hour whilst he attended to 'other matters' on the bridge before returning to the Ready Room to continue his lecture. Tuvok continued to stand at attention, his controls 100% in place. It would have appeared to a casual onlooker that the more frustrated and annoyed Chakotay got, the less expression showed on Tuvok's features. "Crewman McLean's accident was solely due to her inattention during the performance of a standard training maneuver. I do not believe it can be blamed on the cultural beliefs of the Vulcan race, Commander." Chakotay looked up at Tuvok in annoyance. The Vulcan continued to stand at attention before him, his eyes fixed on the wall behind Chakotay's head. "I didn't say the blame was due to the use of logic, Tuvok - what I'm saying is that being a leader is more than logic. The entire ship knew about McLean and Sunil's breakup. Perhaps if you'd thought a little more about what your subordinates needed and a little less about what logic dictated their requirements should be, she wouldn't have ended up in sickbay. I don't know what you were thinking putting her through a full training scenario in the first place." Tuvok's voice was very even, displaying no emotion whatsoever. "Commander, I am well aware that Crewman McLean had been involved in the breakup of a relationship nine days prior to the incident. She was placed on light duties for a week, and on several occasions during that week requested and was given extra time off in order to deal with personal issues. She was returned to full duty at her own request, and the reason she was undertaking the extra training was so that I could be sure she was capable of carrying out her duties. Her accident, though regrettable, would have been far greater cause for concern had it occurred in different circumstances. On an away team mission, for example, when the lives of other crew members were her responsibility." Chakotay did everything but snort with contempt. Of late, he had been extremely short-tempered, and Tuvok was aware - through Harry who had gotten it from Tom - that the Commander was going through a difficult period. This kind of dressing down was beginning to be a regular event as Chakotay seemed to take his bad temper out on everyone around him - except Tom Paris. "I can see I'm not going to get through to you, Tuvok. Hardly any point having this conversation, really. The Captain's not going to approve any disciplinary action and you're clearly ignoring anything I have to say. You may as well leave." Tuvok paused for a fraction of a second, and then did just that. He had attempted in recent weeks to argue his point of view with Chakotay, but it had been a fruitless exercise each time. Hopefully, Mr. Paris would come up with a solution very soon as to what was ailing the First Officer. The entire bridge crew could certainly do with a break from this soon. Tuvok left the Bridge and made his way straight back to the quarters he shared with Harry. His quarters were empty when he came home, however, so Tuvok requested the information he needed from the ship's computer. When he was told Harry was in the First Officer's quarters, Tuvok paused for a moment, but then made his mind up to seek Harry out. No doubt Harry was with Tom Paris, and usually Tuvok would have waited until he returned home. Not this day, though. He needed his mate. Tom had left the door to his quarters free of any security code, so it opened when Tuvok came to stand in front of it. The Vulcan looked into the quarters to see Tom and Harry both hunched over computer screens, looking like they'd been hard at work. Harry looked up at Tuvok's entrance, feeling him through their link, but it was a few moments before Tom noticed that they were no longer alone. Tom was surprised to see Tuvok here. Usually Voyager's Chief of Security waited for Harry in their quarters, and it was strange to see him seeking Harry out. Harry did not hesitate a moment, however, shutting off his screen with an apologetic smile at Tom before rising from his chair to greet his lover. They did not kiss, or speak, just looked at each other for a long moment before Harry turned back to Tom. "Gotta go, Tom - we'll pick this up tomorrow afternoon, okay?" Tom nodded. "It'll be ready to try out on the holodeck, Harry. If we spend a couple of hours on it there we should be able to finish it completely." Harry smiled at his best friend before turning to follow Tuvok from Tom's quarters. Tom Paris watched after him, even as the doors closed behind the pair, smiling to himself. At times he was almost envious of that silent communication the two of them had, but envy was something that didn't really fit in with his friendship with Harry. All Tom really wanted was for his best friend to be happy, and Tuvok made Harry happy. He shook his head slightly and turned back to the computer screen in front of him. There were a couple of subroutines to finish, and the program would be almost done…. Tuvok and Harry rode the turbo-lift to their deck in silence, but Harry could already sense the disquiet emanating from Tuvok. As they entered their quarters and the doors closed behind them, Harry kissed Tuvok gently, then concentrated on the images he wanted Tuvok to share. The Vulcan waited patiently for Harry to sort out what he wanted to say. It would be a simple thing to reach out and take over the mental communication, but Harry loved to communicate in this manner and he needed the practice. As the images became clear, Tuvok communicated his own sense of understanding, and then headed off towards the bedroom. When he emerged attired in a pair of boxer shorts, Harry had dinner ready for them both. They didn't linger over the meal, and after they had cleared up from their dinner, Harry took Tuvok's hand and led him towards the couch. He sat down on it, and waited until Tuvok lay down full length, with his head in Harry's lap, before giving the commands to the computer to dim the lights further and begin playing the soft melodic strings of the Vulcan lute. The lovers stayed a long time on the couch, Harry casually stroking Tuvok's head, while Tuvok slipped into an almost meditative state. His meditation rituals had suffered slightly from the stress of the last couple of weeks on the bridge, but here was where he felt the best, and here was the most comforting support for him to ease into the state of mind he needed. Tuvok sorted out his thoughts and Harry stroked his head and the two were, for several hours, perfectly content with their lot in life. --- Three days later, the holodeck program was ready to go. Tom had gotten as enthused as Harry by the time they had reached the final stages, and Harry had to be firm with him, or he would surely end up with Tom Paris as a fascinated spectator as Harry and Tuvok tried out the program for the first time. "Aw, c'mon Harry! We won't even tell Tuvok - I'll just hang around in the background. I'll wear one of the chanters robes and Tuvok won't know I'm here," Tom coaxed. "No." Harry stood his ground. "Believe me, Tom - this is *not* the sort of occasion I want to share with my best friend. But thank you for all the work you put into this, Tom - it's perfect." He looked around, awed at the detail and the feel of the program. Tuvok would love it. Tom sighed. "Okay - but I get to try it out when you two are done, okay?" Harry grinned at his friend. "Sure, Tom. *After* we're done." The two pottered around the program for a while, testing it several times to ensure they'd covered every possible contingency. The following day was the first of two days Tuvok and Harry had off, and Harry had plans for the entire day. The holodeck was booked for overnight and that would be when they would try out the program. He couldn't wait. --- The beat of the drums was a constant, hypnotic sound as Tuvok entered the challenge chamber. Immediately he was assaulted with the strong scent of burning herbs and the smoke from the fire lanterns which lit the giant dome, cut as it was into the rocky mountainside to form an underground cavern that was the site for the ritual this evening. In accordance with the custom, Tuvok wore the very basic uniform of a challenger. It was something akin to a loin cloth, providing cover and protection for his genitals, but leaving everything else bare. His lean, muscled torso was naked except for the copper bands which encircled his upper left arm. This was his night to prove his worth as a warrior and to take his place in his family's war tribe. Several thousand years from now, a Vulcan named Surak would change the very nature of Vulcans, and this ritual would eventually be worn down and altered through time until it became a children's rite of passage. But in this primitive era, the kahs-wan was what separated the leaders from the followers, the Masters from the slaves. Tuvok would fight this night, and if he won, he could choose and claim his prize. His claim would be a public mating, and the slave honoured with Tuvok's choice would become his property henceforth. The cavern was huge. A giant dome, the cavern was made entirely of rock, and had a number of large funnels through the roof to allow for the escape of the smoke from the fire lanterns and the burning herbs. There were several hundred people in the cavern, each attired and situated in accordance with his or her purpose this evening. Tuvok joined the other challengers. There were seven males in all - each of them attired in the basic loin cloth. The main difference between them was the colour and size of the bands they wore around their upper arms. The brighter and thicker the band, the more powerful the family it represented. There were only two brighter and thicker than Tuvok's. The man he stood next to, tall and lean, had the unusual blonde hair that denoted a Vulcan of Royal blood. His band was at least two inches wide, and was pure gold. On the other side of him was a shorter man who wore a band thicker than Tuvok's, of a burnished copper colour. His family were very powerful, and he had taken his place beside the blonde as his right. Tuvok stood on the other side of the Royal heir and ignored all the others. They wore thinner bands, made of darker metals, and were of a lesser social standing. The seven stood silent and watched the preparations around them. Over against the wall were the drummers. Their glazed eyes showed evidence of several hours spent inhaling the intoxicating scent of the burning incense. They were dripping sweat and swaying in a semi-trance as they pounded the intricate beats that signalled a Vulcan bloodletting. In front of them were the R'Torras. They were clothed in short blood-green garments and fulfilled the duties of umpire. The Ruling Council for this Dominion were mainly garbed in the traditional long white robes and hoods. They were there to witness. That only left the guards who surrounded the cavern, and who attended to the slaves. Tuvok looked around the cavern, already deeply into his fantasy, but as always, retaining a very sharp awareness in one corner of his mind. Inwardly he was impressed at the wealth of detail Harry and Tom had compiled for the program. In the centre of the cavern was a circle, evenly marked with the black dye of the Shstrati tree, one of the few examples of indigenous plant life found on Vulcan. In the centre of the circle was a stone table with rounded edges. There was nothing else in the circle, no weapons and no people. The circle was for the fight. Around the edge of the black line were a thousand tiny candles, the bases of which had been nailed into the dirt floor. It was permissible to use the candles as a weapon, but to step outside the circle meant death. The four guards who stood north, south, east and west of the circle each held a long staff with a curved blade on the end. They were there to kill anyone who stepped or was forced outside the circle after combat had begun. The Ruling Council surrounded more than a third of the circle, seated comfortably in groups of two and three on the stone benches provided. The slaves were penned directly opposite the Ruling Council, and it was from these that the champions would choose their prizes. Tuvok's gaze wandered over the group, immediately picking his prize from amongst them. He was standing at the far side of the group, looking nervous - as he should be. The short black hair fell in disarray over his forehead, and the young features did nothing to stem the tide of arousal Tuvok felt when viewing the incredible body that was barely clothed in the uniform of the slaves. The uniform was a very short, white sheath that clung to every muscled inch of the young slave, leaving nothing to the imagination. There were several very beautiful women in the group, but Tuvok didn't spare them a glance. He would have the young man whose bronzed perfection made his blood surge. The Ruling Council had taken their places and now watched avidly as the drums began to herald the beginning of the competition. Each of the seven competitors was given a staff similar to the one the guards were holding, only shorter, and with a smaller blade. As one, they stepped into the circle, spreading out in order to get the best vantage point possible, and by the time the drums reached the fever point and the high pitched scream of the caller rent the air Tuvok had forgotten his prize and was concentrating on nothing at all but the fight ahead of him. It seemed vicious and brutal and it was. Seven competitors, each fighting to be the last standing, no rules but the main one - stay inside the circle. Tuvok fought his first two competitors calmly, barely raising a sweat as he dispatched the two challengers. They lay unconscious on the ground as he turned to meet another warrior - the shorter man whose birth was better than his own. The fight was brutal and Tuvok could feel the adrenaline surging through his veins. He was covered in a thin sheen of sweat as he hit out hard and danced around the arc of the bladed staff as the shorter man strove to kill him, or at least put him out of the competition. The drums were louder now, they would get louder as each competitor was disabled from the competition or killed. The heady scent of the burning herbs and the smoke from the fire lanterns surrounded Tuvok as he lunged again, and felt the swipe of a blade across his back and the streak of pain that accompanied it. He swung around, ducking low, jabbing his staff into the stomach of one of the remaining competitors who had attacked him whilst his attention was taken up with the shorter man. There was a roar from the spectators as another of the competitors was forced from the circle and immediately executed and the pounding grew louder. His original opponent wasted no time in attacking when Tuvok was vulnerable, but the years of Starfleet training were too much for either competitor, as Tuvok rolled twice and leapt to his feet in one smooth move, his staff swinging around to sweep the legs of the shorter man from under him. His momentum made the man stumble into the other competitor whose blade pierced the shorter man's stomach seconds before his weight pushed them both outside the circle. Tuvok did not wait to see the guards do their job. There were only three competitors now, the blonde and another man were fighting ferociously at the other side of the ring, and Tuvok waited for the end of the fight when he could take on the victor. Unsurprisingly it was the blonde who vanquished his opponent, and then turned to face Tuvok. This time the opponents were very evenly matched and the fight lasted a lot longer. They lunged and swung, batted and jabbed, punched and sliced and the two men were panting, bleeding and sweating before the match was done. A swipe of the blade with just a fraction too much weight behind it put the blonde off balance and Tuvok swung his staff around to club his opponent neatly on the back of the head. He fell to his knees then, panting with the exertion as the drums reached their frenzy and the high pitched chanting echoed throughout the chamber. There were four dead from the challenge, the other two having been rendered unconscious or otherwise disabled. Even now the blonde was groaning as he came back to consciousness, but it was too late. The entire cavern seemed to tremble from cheering and stomping of the watching crowd. Tuvok was the victor. As one of the assistants toweled down his sweating form and Tuvok's cuts were treated, he allowed the surge of sexual anticipation to build. Now there was the claiming. Some of the slaves looked up nervously as Tuvok approached, others simpered and tried to attract his attention. He was a warrior and to belong to him was an honour far greater than most slaves would be given. They were not Vulcan, of course. There were several species available for his choice, but Tuvok knew who he wanted. The young man met his eyes defiantly as Tuvok pointed him out, struggling slightly as the guards pulled him from the pen to stand in front of the warrior. Tuvok immediately ripped the lightweight covering from the slave's body and left him to stand, completely naked, as the warrior took his time walking around him to survey his prize. The Ruling Council were preparing to enjoy this part of the evening as well, it seemed, from the raucous yells of lewd encouragement. The drums were picking up the beat now, preparing for the public mating, and Tuvok could feel the tightening in his muscles as his cock hardened with anticipation. The slave had avoided looking at the man who claimed him - probably through fear. Tuvok enjoyed the feeling of ownership, the drums easily matching the roaring of blood through his veins as he took a handful of silken hair and led his prize to the stone table in the centre of the ring. There the slave was bought to his knees, his back to the spectators as the warrior faced the crowd, but looked down at his prize possessively. Slowly he removed the loin cloth, watching with amusement as the slave's eyes grew large at the sight of the very aroused black cock that bobbed in front of his face. The slave knew enough to know that his submission was necessary if he expected to live that evening, and so he reached out to grasp the cock gently in one hand, and guide it into his mouth. Tuvok stood, eyes closed and mouth slightly open as he gasped with pleasure at the feel of the tongue against his cock as he slowly fucked the mouth that encompassed it. It would not be true to say that he forgot his surroundings, if anything he felt twice as aware of everything this night. The pounding of the drums, the heady scent of the burning herbs, and flicker of the lanterns, the roar of approval from the spectators as they witnessed the ritual claiming and submission. The blood continued to roar through his veins as he lived the need that even thousands of years could not quench - the burning desire to fight, to conquer, to claim. As his orgasm approached, he pulled his cock out of the slave's mouth, and motioned him to stand. The younger man did so on unsteady legs, clearly nervous of what was to follow. Tuvok turned him around and bent him over the stone bench, knowing Harry would be prepared for him and wanting this - needing this so badly he could not wait. He placed his cock at Harry's entrance and pushed in slowly, almost shuddering with the pure pleasure of fucking and of owning. There were yells and catcalls from the crowds as the spectators noted with amusement that the slave was also highly aroused. Tuvok was in a world of ecstasy, though, as he pounded inside his lover's body, feeling Harry's arousal through their link even as he heard Harry moaning with pleasure. He picked up the pace automatically and the drums followed him and his world was his cock inside Harry's body and as he came his entire form stiffened as Tuvok cried out his pleasure and spilled his seed into his slave. Gradually, Tuvok came to himself, noting the absence of the drums and the refreshing feel of a cool cloth as he was washed down by one of the attendants. The remainder of the slaves were now being distributed amongst the witnesses if the noise level was anything to go by. They would be shared around for the next few hours, and already Tuvok could see the giant platters of food and wine being bought into the cavern. What would follow would be an orgy of sex and violence, but having slaked his immediate need, he had no desire to participate. Tuvok remained naked, watching as his new possession was cleaned down and forced once again to his knees in front of his new Master. Tuvok frowned, unsure of what happened next in the ritual, until the attendant beside him opened the carved wooden box in his hands and showed Tuvok the contents. The Vulcan stared for a long moment at the single earring that lay inside the box. It was an exquisitely carved black onyx jewel in the shape of a tiny "T", and Tuvok knew instantly that this was not a holographic simulation. He turned back to look at Harry, not even trying to hide his shock at Harry's gift. Ignoring ritual, ignoring the fantasy and the spectators, Tuvok took Harry's face in his hands and spoke to his lover. "Harry - this will be permanent. You cannot remove a bonding ring. Not ever." Harry smiled gently at the man he loved more than life. "I know, Tuvok. I read all about the rings. I requested permission from the Captain under Starfleet regulations citing religious privilege and after she read about the ritual, she granted me permission to wear it. Once you put it in me, I'll belong to you. Which is all I've ever wanted." Tuvok looked at Harry for a long moment before straightening, and taking the earring from the box. With one long finger, he turned Harry's head to one side and placed the spike of the earring in the middle of Harry's left lobe. With a quick movement he pushed the sharp spike through the sensitive skin, hearing Harry hiss with the quick pain, before flicking the spike tip so that the one sharp prong split down the middle into two tiny slithers of metal which embedded themselves into the lobe. He looked at the earring then, sitting so perfectly against the lightly bronzed skin of his lover, and raised the finger which was smeared with blood from Harry's earlobe to his mouth to lick it clean. Harry watched him do so, dazedly wondering how such a simple gesture could be so incredibly erotic. He had just been fucked to within an inch of his life but already he wanted Tuvok again. Harry stood then and Tuvok was able to kiss him fully. When he was finally done with Harry's mouth, he lead the younger man out of the circle before looking around in query. Tuvok knew they had the holodeck booked for the entire night, but wasn't sure if Harry had meant them to stay in this particular fantasy all night long, which would mean sleeping on the cold, hard floor. Harry smiled up at him, linking their hands, and speaking softly to the computer. "Computer, program T.U. slash K two." The cavern and the spectators vanished, to be replaced by a simulation that looked suspiciously like Harry's old quarters before he and Tuvok had moved in together. Harry grinned at Tuvok's raised eyebrows and pulled him towards the bedroom. "I figured if it we were going to pretend it was our first time, we could do the real thing again as well!" It wasn't quite the same. This time Harry took Tuvok, and later on they had some incredible sex in the Jacuzzi that had certainly never been in Harry's old quarters. But it was wonderful, nonetheless. --- There was something different about Harry Kim this morning, but Tom couldn't put his finger on it. Obviously the holodeck thing went well, Harry hadn't stopped grinning since. But there was something else. "Tom - will you stop staring at me like that? People are starting to wonder what's wrong with me!" As Harry shot a quick glance around the mess hall to see if anyone noticed Tom's weird behaviour, Tom caught the glint of the earring and the difference he'd noted in Harry clicked into place. "What the hell is that?!" Harry looked back at Tom innocently. He fingered the earring with a reminiscent smile and said, "What does it look like, Tom?" Tom reached over to touch the tiny jewel himself, his memory for detail having no trouble at all recalling the symbolism of this particular piece of jewelry. "A bonding ring? Whoa, Harry - this is pretty serious, you know. I mean, it doesn't *just* symbolize a bond, Harry - this basically means that you belong to Tuvok. That you're a part of his warrior tribe. Are you sure you're okay with that?" Tom's blue eyes looked concerned. Harry looked at his best friend in surprise. "Tom - what a thing to ask! You know how much I love Tuvok, why would you even worry about it?" Now it was Harry's turn to look troubled. Tom had always seemed so supportive of his relationship with Tuvok. "It's not that, Harry - it's just ... I just want to make sure that things are equal between you two, that's all. This is an incredibly symbolic thing you're doing here - you're basically telling the entire universe that you belong to Tuvok. That he owns you, body and soul. Most married couples don't even wear them. . .," here Tom broke off mid-sentence as Tuvok came to stand beside their table. It wasn't the presence of Tuvok that had rendered Tom speechless, but something else entirely. "Ensign Kim, your presence is required in Engineering." In his left ear, Tuvok wore a tiny but perfectly carved mother of pearl earring that stood out clearly against his black skin. Despite its size, Tom was seated close enough to clearly see that the earring was in the shape of a "K". He sat there, open mouthed, as his best friend gulped down the rest of his coffee and left the mess hall. In somewhat of a daze, he wondered if Tuvok would ever cease to surprise him. It was unlikely. Harry had headed for the turbo lift, but before following him Tuvok turned to look back at Tom Paris who was still sitting open mouthed at the table. The Vulcan reached over, placed one long finger under Tom's chin, and closed his open mouth. As Tom stared at Tuvok in amazement, he swore there was a small smile on the Vulcan's face as Tuvok turned and followed his lover. --- End -- Of Love and Logic series