The BLTS Archive - Infinity
#1: Eternity in an Hour
by Jesse (chartreux@hotmail.com)

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Archive: Yes, but tell me where

Disclaimer: Paramount owns it. I don't. And that's why I do what I do.

Comments: Mail me and tell me how cool I am.

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The Doctor stood at the front of the audience, blindly musing about
photography and the capturing of the atom's essence. Seven looked at
the people around her. Across the room, Harry had gone into space,
his eyes wide saucers filled with a glassy dullness. Captain
Janeway's head was falling a few millimetres every second. Sitting
beside the Captain, Commander Chakotay stared intently at the Doctor,
burrowing into his soul with laser brown eyes. Seven turned right,
and watched as Neelix fiddled with his hands and stared at his shoes.
Tom Paris fidgeted in his seat, attracting glowering stares from a
cross-armed B'Elanna. Tuvok sat at the back, regarding the Doctor
with a heavy indifference. Seven sat forward again, and looked at the
Doctor. She was quite amused.

The slides flashed on the viewscreen in front of her. A blue nitrogen
pocket. Hirogen cell casings. Mud electrons. She pursed her lips
slowly and let out a deep breath. By her count, they had been in the
Mess Hall for over 2 hours, vaguely listening to the Doctor's
lectures and stories about the Delta Quadrant and how the transparent
photographs were an important part in documenting the art of medicine
and physiology.

Seven cocked her head as she heard a groan stifled behind her. Tom
began tapping his feet in time with an old 21st Century Earth tune. A
few muffled sounds and a grunt later, Ensign Paris stopped his
noisemaking. Seven suspected that Lieutenant Torres has silenced him.

Seven watched the Doctor curiously. His dark eyes glittered with an
excitement she had never experienced so intensely. They danced and
darted around the room, contacting each face, but not quite seeing
what was really there. His full mouth kept a smile the entire time he
talked. His large hands swayed around him, motioning and begging for
a following glance. He was animated. Seven smiled inwardly.

Kathryn Janeway was sliding further and further down her chair.
Noticing her discomfort, Neelix promptly made his way through the
small aisle, and very silently went to the kitchen. Relishing the
activity, he took his time pouring a large cup of dark black coffee.
He quietly took it over to the Captain, trying not to draw attention
to himself, and most certainly trying not to interrupt the Doctor.

Sensing an unamused eye from the EMH, Neelix scurried back to his
seat. The Captain took a large gulp of coffee, and handed the cup to
her First Officer. Chakotay, not usually a coffee drinker, accepted
the liquid readily. Seven smirked.

After several more minutes of explanation, the Doctor clasped his
hands and turned up the lights. He shut down the reel, and proudly
awaited any encouraging remarks from the crew. Tom Paris was the
first one up. He yelled his congrats from the back of the room, and
then yanked B'Elanna out of her seat. Neelix, looking more than
half-asleep, moved very slowly out of his chair and left without a
word. Chakotay and Janeway walked to the kitchen to put away the
now-empty cup, and expressed their thanks to the Doctor as they left
together. The Doctor smiled broadly. Harry, having being shook out of
his trance by Tom's yelling, patted the Hologram on the shoulder and
relayed his encouragement. Tuvok had just disappeared.

Seven watched the exchanges. She knew the crew was being kind to him.
If he had any idea that his friends weren't being completely honest
with him, he showed no sign. He was luminous. Bright and cheerful.
Seven stood up, and walked over to the Doctor. They were alone in the
room.

"A very interesting lecture, Doctor," said Seven dutifully.

The Doctor beamed with pride. "Thank you, Seven. I'm glad you liked
it."

"Perhaps you could teach me how to master such an art?" she asked,
with genuine seriousness.

The Doctor was stunned. "You want to learn photography?"

Seven nodded, "If you will teach me."

He smiled. "I would love to teach you," he said. Extending his elbow,
he offered her his arm. She entwined hers around his. Walking out of
the Mess Hall, he began explaining the delicate process of the arts.
Seven held his arm tight, and watched passionately as complete joy
came over the Doctor's face, brightening both her world, and his.

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The End