The PKSP Archive - Fallen {e.a.v.}
by envoy

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Disclaimer: Still not mine!

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I enter engineering silently and hunt for B'Elanna.
Finally, I see her- talking to Carey and gesticulating at a
PADD. For a moment or two I hang back, waiting for them to
finish and watching; watching how relaxed and in control
she is.

She turns to point Carey's attention to something and
catches sight of me; she smiles and indicates she'll be
free shortly.

I linger, waiting and walking around the arena.

"Harry. What's up?"

Her voice pounces on me and I whip round.

The corners of her mouth twitch- she is probably aware
that she startled me.

"I need to talk to you about something. A something personal,"

Her eyes flicker downward- to the PADD she grips with
a fist- then swiftly upward.

"Can it wait?" she asks, fingers twitching as she
grips the PADD tighter.

I have two hours left.

"Not really,".

She sighs.

"Come on then, Starfleet,".

I laugh at the name; all this time and she still
treats me like a rookie. All this time- all this- and
still that false distinction. She leads me to her office;
or rather the area she likes to call that.

She waits for me to speak.

How do I begin this?

"Did you meet Tom last night?"

"Yes," she responds, slowly with a bemused shake of her head.

"Was he late?"

"Yesss,".

"It was because he was with me,".

"And?" she queries blankly.

"He was *with* me,".

Her eyebrows rise up her forehead and a smirk plays
at her lips.

"Care to clarify that statement?"

I snort out a laugh:

"We kissed. Well, he kissed me and I kissed him,"
suddenly the amusement drains away "He wants us to...well,
you know, and I promised him an answer today. When shift
ends,".

"Cutting it fine, Harry. Unless you know what you're
going to tell him?"

I put a thumb in my mouth and quickly pull it outnow is
not the time to resort to childish things.

"I think I know what I'm going to say. No. I don't. I
mean... I know how I feel about him, but not how I feel
about the situation," I look desperately to her "What do you
think?"

"No way, Harry!" she spurns "I am not telling you
what I think. Tell me what you think,".

What do I think? That Tom is my best friend and that
I would miss that friendship- irrespective of the past.
That when he kissed me, it was just the kiss of someone who
found me attractive, of someone who cared. Someone whom I
found attractive and whom I cared for. A person I love.

But having a relationship with him? There are some
friendships which are meant to lead to that and others which
are destroyed by it.

And I think, possibly- probably- that in our situation
only the latter course would be available.

I become aware of B'Elanna's eyes waiting patiently as
I became aware of my decision.
               A shock;
                    a hail of sirens;
                         a wail of sparks;
                                   a scream.


B'Elanna is in the fray before I turn around, plugging
at the console, listening to Carey, ignoring the burn of
sparks.

"Harry!" she point to the adjacent console "Make
yourself useful,".

I acquiesce.

Have to get this                   "B'Elanna,Beta-K-2 is
under control.                     responding from this
We can do this.                    console,".
Calm.                              She nods.
Think.                             I return to the
Step over inert body.              console
"Carey, vent the plasma,".         Shouts and orders
He assents to deaf ears            more errors;
Check system- core                 more damage.
going crazy.                       I push the hair from
"Harry, are you ready?"            my face; still too hot
                                   "Ready,".
"Do it!"
                  A scream: "Plasma Leak!"

Dull thud,                         Fierce steam and
     breathless                    pain
          gasp           moltenmolecules
Hissing        aware of                 savaging
  crackling    flesh                    coldskin  melting
          and                 against metal  and
   scents                          floating past pain&
          sense          overhead sighs and overheard
                              whispering words& fading into
screeching screams
          molten cracks
     away                          and  and       and

                                   heart beat too loud in
                              mine ears   slow.
                                      slow heart
                                      faltering
                                   at the rush and
                                        fainting
                                        feinting into
                                        is        this

               'Lieutenant?'            'Mr. Kim?'
'Ensign?'
'Lieutenant?'                 'Harry?'
'Ensign?'   'Chief?'               'Chief?'

'Lieutenant?'
          'Please!'                      'Lieutenant?'
'B'Elanna?'                             'No No No
'Lieutenant?'                         NO NO NO'

          'Harry?'












     As a Captain I must perform many duties, some of
which.....
     This is what you believe it to be. Whilst attempting to
rectify technical problems Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres and
Ensign Harry Kim received mortal injuries. Both died
instantly.
     They were both important members of the crew and to the
crew. They will be missed.
     I am as shocked as all of you at this.
             shocked
             shocked                  shocked.
     All the senior staff.... we will be available should
any of you want to talk to us.

     As a crew we have survived many thing; and as a crew we
will survive this.






          The channel opened.
          Tentatively, watched by viscous eyes, alloyed
metal capsules passed into the dark, point filled spectrum.
          Under viscous eyes they slipped and melted into
the arena.
          The vacuum was closed out.
          And went on.












Harry
Yes

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The End