The BLTS Archive - The Food series #10: Cornucopia by Kiff (Kiff47@yahoo.com) --- Disclaimer: They belong to Paramount. I let 'em have a little fun. Feedback: Constructive comments accepted/ Archiving: Permission granted to Sileya to archive at TSU. All others, please ask first. Warning: This story contains intimate and sexual scenes between two adult males of different species. If that disturbs you, stop right here. Tenth and last in the series. Sequel to "Food for Thought," "Ruminations," "Ingredients," "Simmer," "The Purge," "Just Desserts," "The Spice of Life," "Smorgasbord," and "Aftertaste." Dedication: This story and series are dedicated to Amirin, Cathy, Karen, Cindy, and Bridget, for all of their inspiration and encouragement. --- Tom Paris closed up his backpack and swung it around his shoulders. It was a bit heavy, but he was sure he could cope with the weight. He had debated with himself about whether the holocamera should come along or not, then finally decided that he would probably regret it later if he left it behind. One could never have too many vacation pictures. Well, except for the Doctor, perhaps. He looked around his quarters once more. Everything seemed to be in place. Neelix was meeting him in the transporter room in ten minutes, and the two of them would set off on their expedition. They had agreed that Tom would choose where to beam down the first day, and Neelix would pick a site for the second day. After that, they would see how they felt about doing a third trip. Tom was just pulling his boots on when the door chime rang. "Come in." He was surprised to see Commander Chakotay step through. "Hello, Tom. I thought I might catch you here." "I'm leaving in a few minutes." "I can see that. This won't take long." Chakotay took a seat. "B'Elanna came to see me a little while ago." Tom stared down at his hands. "Did she tell you what happened?" "With you and Neelix? I already knew about that, Tom. And I have no problem with it, just in case you're wondering. In fact, I think it's a very good thing." Tom looked up and returned the Commander's smile with a weak one of his own. "Thanks, Chakotay. It's good to hear you say that. I've been worrying about how everyone is going to react to this. And after seeing B'Elanna go off on me, I'm kind of shook up." He sighed. "I told her to call you. She's really depressed, and I think she needs some serious counseling. You're the only person I can think of, since she's still pissed at the Captain and she's never been confident in the Doc's psychiatric abilities. Do you think you can help her?" "I'm willing to try. And I think you're right about her being depressed. I thought she was getting over it for a while there, but obviously there are still a lot of things bothering her." "And I didn't help matters any." "Don't blame yourself, Tom. You were honest with her about your relationship with Neelix. Believe me, it would have hurt her a lot more to hear about it from someone else." Tom nodded. "That's what Harry said, too. I'll just have to stop feeling guilty about it." "You do that." Chakotay stood up. "You and Neelix go off and have a good time. Just stay away from the dart-throwing plants." He extended his hand to Tom, who shook it warmly. "I will, Chakotay, and thanks for everything." The Commander nodded, and, with a friendly pat on the pilot's arm, made his exit. Tom looked after him for a few moments, grateful for the easing of his burden and slightly amazed that he could actually have a mature and civil conversation with Chakotay. //Must be Lixi's effect on me//, he thought affectionately as he readjusted his backpack and went to meet his partner. --- Neelix paced inside Transporter Room Two, anxiously anticipating Tom's arrival. The Terran had said little about where they were going but had only instructed his lover to wear light clothing and comfortable shoes. Lieutenant Rollins, in charge of the transporter, watched the Talaxian with an amused eye. "Got a hot date?" Neelix flushed. "Uh....you might say that." He was pretty sure that his relationship with Tom would be public knowledge soon. There was no way to hide the fact that only he and the pilot would be beaming to these particular coordinates. Rollins did have a reputation as one of the biggest gossips on the ship. The door slid open, and Tom stepped through. "All set, Lixi?" Rollins's eyebrows shot up. "*Lixi*?" Tom stepped purposefully to the transporter pad and gestured for Neelix to pick up his backpack and do the same. "Brian -- I mean *Lieutenant, sir* -- please beam Mr. Neelix and me to these coordinates." He tossed Rollins a padd. "And try not to run your mouth too much while we're gone, *sir*," he added, deliberately stressing the new difference in their ranks, and having a hell of a good time doing so. Rollins entered the coordinates into the transporter, trying to suppress a smile. "Okay, *Ensign.* Ready when you are." "Energize, please." Rollins worked the controls with an expert hand, and Tom and Neelix dematerialized. The lieutenant looked after them, expelling a chuckle. This was the most unusual piece of scuttle he'd picked up in quite a while..... --- "Oh, Tommy," breathed Neelix when he could finally speak. "This is absolutely beautiful." They were standing on a grassy hill overlooking a large body of water that stretched all the way to the horizon. About fifty meters below, waves crashed against a white sandy beach. The planet's sun was just coming up, and the sky was colored with deep oranges and pinks. The air was warm and slightly humid, with just a hint of a breeze. "Hope you're up for a swim," Tom said, taking a step toward the Talaxian. "Maybe." Neelix looked doubtfully at the surging waters. Tom touched his shoulder. "Don't worry about it. I know you haven't seen breakers like this before in the resort holoprogram, but I'll be with you the whole time." Neelix looked up into the pilot's blue eyes. "You know I trust you." Tom took the Talaxian into his arms. "I won't let anything hurt you, love." He stroked the smaller man's shoulders. "Besides, I thought we might take a walk first." "I'd like that." Neelix pulled back and planted a kiss on Tom's cheek. "Among other things." "All in good time, mister. Save some of your energy for the climb down." Neelix laughed and released his lover. "Lead on." They started down the hill, carefully picking their way past stray boulders and prickly-looking weeds. Tom paused about halfway, took out his tricorder, and performed a wide scan. "Just trying to avoid the dart-throwers. They don't seem to like this terrain anyway," he observed. "I think we're safe for now." Neelix followed him the rest of the way down without incident. He looked back up the hill. "That really was a spectacular view, Tom." "That's why I had us beamed down there to start with," smiled his partner. "As far as I can tell, this beach and this bluff both go on for many kilometers. We can climb back up again at any time and enjoy the scenery." Neelix stared out at the water. "Spectacular," he said again. "Is it an ocean or a freshwater lake?" "It's an ocean. We're on the larger of the southern continents, in the tropical region. I took a good look at the weather forecast before we came down. We'll have sunny and warm conditions all day. I hope you brought the sunscreen." "I did." Neelix took off his pack and searched through it. "Let's put some on now, before we forget. Your skin would burn frightfully otherwise." He pulled out a tube and squeezed some of the lotion into his hand. "Come here, Tommy." The pilot obediently moved in closer, and Neelix spread a generous layer of sunscreen over his face, neck, and arms. Just being this near to Tom brought a twinge to his groin, and he had to hold himself back from kissing the beautiful pale skin. Tom stood still, enjoying Neelix's gentle touch and trying to keep his own hormones at bay. "Don't forget my legs, Lixi," he whispered. "Indeed." Neelix chuckled softly in his throat, knelt next to Tom, and applied the sunscreen to every inch of exposed flesh. His fingers wandered up Tom's thigh, and his partner shivered. "Ummmm...." "Like that, Tommy?" "Oh, *hell.*" As much as he was trying, the Terran could not control his hardening cock. Neelix saw the growing bulge and grinned wickedly. He reached for the drawstring on the pilot's shorts. Tom groaned as his partner pulled them down to the ground, then cupped his balls in a spotted hand. "Hold on, Tommy. I'd rather taste you than the sunscreen." Neelix reached into his pack for a cloth and wiped his hands, then scrubbed them in the sand and wiped them again. "That's better." He removed Tom's underwear and stroked his testicles again. Tom looked down at his lover, who returned his gaze with undeniable lust, then stuck his tongue out and began to lick the tip of Tom's cock. Tom shivered again. Neelix ran his tongue very slowly along the glans, then up and down the hard shaft. "Damn, Lixi, oh, *damn*, that feels good....." The Talaxian continued to tease Tom with his tongue until the pilot moaned. "Suck me, please. Please, love, take me....." Neelix opened his mouth and took Tom deeply inside. His lover gasped with surprise as his entire length was engulfed in the Talaxian's moist warmth. Tom was barely able to keep his feet as the whole universe gave way beneath him, and he came hard and fast. Neelix grunted as Tom's essence shot into his throat. He swallowed greedily, finding that he enjoyed the taste. Tom finally quieted after a few moments, still unsteady on his feet. "*God.* Damn, you never told me you could deep throat." Neelix released his lover and sat back on his heels, smacking his lips. "And you never told me that your semen was so delicious." The pilot laughed weakly. "It figures that *you* would like it. Most humans don't care for swallowing." "You swallowed *mine*, Tommy." "So I did." Tom pulled his clothes back into place. "And you know something? You taste okay to me, too." "I'm glad." Neelix picked up the sunscreen and rose to his feet. "Now put some of this on my head and let's be on our way." Tom kissed the spotted ridges. "Love you." He began applying the cream. "Love you, too." --- They walked up the shore for the better part of an hour, listening to the waves crash beside them, saying little but feeling much. Tom looked up occasionally, half expecting to spot a seagull soaring through the air, though scans had shown there were no birds on the planet. To the Terran, who had grown up on the beaches of northern California, it seemed sadly strange not to hear the shrill calls of the little scavengers. It amazed him that there appeared to be no animal life on this planet at all, not even insects or fish. And for the first time in quite a while, he recognized that he was still homesick for Earth and all its noises. "Tommy, what's wrong?" Neelix was looking into his face. Tom hadn't even realized that he had stopped dead in his tracks and was staring out at the ocean. "Just thinking. Thinking about a few things." "I'd like to take a break right now, if you don't mind." "Good idea." Tom took his pack off and wiped the sweat off his forehead. "Let's have a snack and something to drink." Neelix sat on the sand and opened his canteen, taking a long drink of water. "How about some dried fruit to start?" "Okay." Tom settled down next to his lover and accepted a small package. Neelix opened his own bag, still looking at the Terran with some concern. "So tell me, Tommy." Tom sighed. "I miss home, Lixi. I miss Earth. In some ways, this beach is a lot like where I grew up, but there's no birds, no fish. It's too quiet." "Did you pick this location because it seemed more familiar to you?" "I suppose I did. But no planet is ever exactly like any other." Tom wrapped his arms around his knees and stared at the water. Neelix chewed his food for a few moments. "For what it's worth, I like this place, and I like being here with you." Tom smiled at him. "Any place with you is home to me, *milaxi*." Tom shook his head in wonder. "What did I do to deserve you?" "Let's see now." Neelix tapped his chin. "You were born. You grew up. You went to Starfleet Academy. You got in trouble. You joined the Maquis. You were captured and sent to prison. You agreed to help the Captain find Chakotay. You were caught by the Caretaker and pulled to my end of the galaxy. You found my ship. You helped me rescue Kes from the Kazon. Shall I go on?" Tom laughed, but his eyes shone with pure love for the Talaxian. "I get the picture." He reached for one of Neelix's hands and kissed it. "Timing again." "More than that, Tom. We *wanted* it. We were ready for each other, and when the time was right, we acted. Choice figures into the equation as well." Tom stroked his lover's hand. "I don't think I've ever made a better choice in my life." They stared into each other's eyes for a long time, saying nothing, feeling everything. Finally Tom kissed Neelix's hand once more and released it. He picked up his food and began to eat. The two men finished their brief meal in silence. Tom took one last swallow from his canteen. "Ready to go on?" "As far as you'll take me," replied Neelix with a chuckle as he rose to his feet. Tom shouldered his pack, then paused. "Someday, I'll take you all the way to Earth, Lixi. I want you to see it. I want you to see the Pacific with its seals and dolphins and whales and gulls and starfish and everything else." "We'll do that, *milaxi*. I promise." --- An hour later, Tom called another halt. "I don't know about you, but I'm getting hot." He took off his shirt. "I'm going in for a swim." "Wait a minute." Neelix took out his tricorder, stepped to the water's edge, and scanned the waves. "I know you said there's no animal life, but I'm not taking any chances." He looked closely at the readings before shutting off the instrument. "It looks safe enough, but be careful." "Hey, I *grew up* in the ocean," said Tom lightly. He tossed his boots aside and waded in. "Ahh...very refreshing." He jumped as a wave approached. "This is *great.* Come on in, Lixi." "In a moment." Neelix was still a little nervous about diving into such tumultuous waters. He was a good enough swimmer in his own right, but the seas on Talax were much calmer than this as a rule. He took off his boots and pants, then unfastened his shirt. As he stowed his clothing away, he noticed Tom's pack lying nearby. The edge of the holocamera peeked out. Neelix glanced at Tom, who was now floating on top of the waves, and smiled. The perfect photo opportunity. He picked up the camera and aimed it at his lover. "Tom! Over here!" The pilot stood up, saw Neelix with his camera, and laughed. He clenched his fists and attempted to show off his biceps. Neelix pressed the switch to preserve the image, then joined Tom's laughter. "Perfect!" Tom struck another pose, and the Talaxian captured this one as well. "Beautiful! One more!" The Terran hunched his shoulders, apelike, and tensed his triceps. Neelix, trying very hard to keep his composure, took the shot. "These are all going in my personal collection." Tom stepped out of the waves for a moment to hear better. "You mean *our* personal collection." Neelix returned the camera to Tom's pack and covered it. He looked up at the pilot thoughtfully. "Are you suggesting that we move in together?" "Would you like to?" "I'd love to." "Then it's settled. Should be no problem. I'll mention it to Chakotay when we get back." "I love you, Tommy." "I love you, too." Tom took Neelix's hand. "Now come on in with me for a swim." --- "Here comes a good one, Lixi! Go!" Neelix looked behind him as a huge surge approached. He jumped forward as the wave caught him and lifted him, then pushed him roughly toward the shore. It was exhilarating, this "body-surfing," as Tom called it. The wave deposited him near the shore, and he got to his feet quickly and looked at the pilot, who applauded. "That was terrific! The pros at Maui would be proud." The Talaxian made an exaggerated bow. "I wish to thank my instructor, Tom Paris, and all the crew of Voyager for their support." Tom clapped him on the shoulder. "I think this calls for lunch." "My thoughts exactly." At Tom's suggestion, they took off their wet shorts and laid them out to dry. Neelix spread out a large beach towel while Tom fished sandwiches and drinks from their packs. They sat together, naked to the sun, and ate with gusto, for the exercise had given them quite an appetite. Tom finished his last bite and lay back with a yawn. "That was just great." "Sleepy, Tommy?" "Kind of. We've covered a lot of ground today." "Maybe we should take a little rest." "Mmmmm." Tom reached out a hand and stroked the Talaxian's back. "You done?" "Just finishing." Neelix drank the last of his juice, then lowered himself next to his lover. Tom put his arms around him and kissed his forehead. Neelix burrowed into Tom's chest and listened to the Terran's slow and steady heartbeat. The heat of the sun, the rhythm of the waves, the fullness of their stomachs, and the comfort of each other's body eventually sent them into a gentle sleep. --- They awoke forty minutes later, still in each other's arms. Tom ran a finger along Neelix's head ridges. "How are you feeling, love? Are you up for one more walk?" "I think so." Neelix grabbed Tom's finger, kissed it, then stretched. "Were you planning on us spending the night here?" "I thought we might climb back up on the bluff, have a fire, and enjoy the view." "That sounds good." "Are you having fun, Lixi?" "I am. I only hope you enjoy my selection as much as I'm enjoying yours." "I'm sure I will." Tom leaned in for a kiss. "As long as you're with me." Neelix put a hand behind Tom's head and allowed the pilot to explore his mouth. They broke off gently, before things got too out of hand. There would be plenty of time later. They got dressed, repacked their bags, and resumed their course. As they walked, they noticed that the bluff was beginning to taper off. Far in the distance, probably six or seven kilometers, it seemed to disappear completely. "Maybe another hour or so, then let's stop," suggested Tom. Neelix nodded in agreement, and they continued on their way. --- "Okay, that's it. We've got about thirty meters to climb." Tom stood at the bottom of the hill and took out his tricorder. "No dart-throwers here," he reported. Neelix followed the pilot in a slow ascent. The sound of the waves began to recede. Tom reached the top and stretched a hand up to help the Talaxian over the last few steps. "You okay?" "Fine." Neelix was panting just a little from the exertion, but waved Tom off. "Just give me a few seconds." Tom's medical tricorder flashed in his hand. "You forget, Lixi. You only have one lung, and you've been sick." He scanned his lover completely. "Well, this thing says you're okay, just a little oxygen depleted. In any case, this is where we stop for the day. Take your pack off and rest. I'm going to set up the tent and get a fire started." Neelix complied, though it was hard for the usually busy Talaxian to leave all of the work to someone else. He sat down on the grass and watched as Tom bustled about, raising their small tent, rolling out their sleeping bags, and coaxing a small flame to life. The sun was beginning to go down behind them. Days were short on this quickly rotating planet. Neelix contented himself with looking out over the ocean as Tom worked. He blinked. Something was different there, just over the edge of the horizon. Something was rising, the thinnest of silver discs. A moon, big and beautiful. He caught Tom's eye and gestured. Tom followed his gaze and whistled. "Wow. Let me get dinner started, then I'll be right back." Neelix stared, completely entranced by the view. He could hear Tom throwing wood on the fire and rustling in his pack for the food supplies. "What are you cooking?" "I'm going to bake some potatoes with melted cheese and some of that green vegetable that Ensign Roberts found. It tastes a little like broccoli. And there's some fresh bread that Sam baked yesterday, and about a dozen of Naomi's cookies." "Sounds delectable." Tom wrapped six medium potatoes in foil and set them on the edge of the fire. He poured two mugs of juice for himself and Neelix and sat down next to the Talaxian. Neelix accepted the drink with a smile. "Look at the reflection on the water, Tom. That's beautiful." Tom had to agree. Night was falling fast, and the air was definitely cooler, though still comfortable -- probably about 25 degrees Celsius. Again, the Terran had a flash of homesickness. Back on Earth, they should be hearing crickets and frogs and all sorts of other night animal sounds. But here there were only the crashes of the waves and the whisper of the wind moving through the weeds. He was just about to check on the potatoes when Neelix grabbed at his arm. "Look! Over to the left!" Tom shifted his eyes and inhaled sharply. Another pale moon was rising out of the ocean -- a smaller body with a hint of beige, whereas the larger moon shone silver. "We sure picked the right night to come here," he breathed. "They both look almost full to me. I'll bet this sight doesn't happen all that often." "I hope the rest of the crew can see it," said Neelix. "It would be a shame if they missed this." Tom stood up and went to his pack. "I'm going to take a picture. If I use the widest angle, I should be able to get both moons." He initialized the holocamera and lined up the shot carefully. "There." He depressed the switch. "Good thinking, Tommy." "You never know when you'll ever see a double moonrise again." "How's our food coming?" "Good question." Tom put the camera away and checked the potatoes. He decided that they were far along enough that he could put the cheese on. He pulled a plastic bag of shredded cheese out of his pack and sprinkled it over the spuds as they cooked. "Want to start with some bread, Lixi?" "Please." Tom cut off a thick piece, spread some butter (courtesy of his replicator rations) on it, and handed it to the Talaxian, who took a huge bite. The pilot fixed a slice for himself and resumed his moonwatching position. "Earth has only one moon, right, Tommy?" "Yep, but it's a gorgeous one. Wouldn't trade it for any other moon I've been to." "There's something to be said for this, though," said Neelix, pointing at the sky. "How about you? You lived on a moon, right? What was that like?" "Rinax was no ordinary moon. It was really a small planetoid. I always thought of Rinax as more of a sister planet to Talax -- though, because it revolved around Talax, technically it *was* a moon." Tom noticed that Neelix was consistently referring to his home system in the past tense. Not wanting to bring up painful memories, he made an effort to change the subject. "Samantha bakes great bread, doesn't she?" "Samantha is a wonderful person. She has been so strong for Naomi. I know it's hard for her, though. Before too long, Naomi will start discovering her Ktarian side, and I know Sam's dreading that day. When Ktarian children reach a certain age, their fathers start taking more of a hand in rearing and socializing them. Sam feels terrible that there's no Ktarian on board to help when that happens." "But Naomi has *you*, Lixi." "I do what I can, Tommy, but I'm not her blood father and there's some things I just can't teach her." "Only the important stuff." Neelix said nothing, but touched his forehead to Tom's in a gesture of love and thanks. They sat like that for a few gentle moments, then Tom kissed his lover and went back to the fire. --- Thirty minutes, three stuffed potatoes, two more slices of bread, and four cookies later, Tom finally pushed himself away from the fire. "Be back in a second." Neelix nodded in complete understanding, feeling the call of nature himself. "I'll just visit the bushes over here," he yelled to Tom, hearing an amused chuckle in return. The Talaxian relieved himself, then took another glance at the sky. His mouth dropped open. "Tom!" "What!" Tom dashed back into view, but relaxed as he saw that Neelix was fine. Then he saw what had startled his lover. His mouth fell open. A *third* moon was rising between the first two. "You can't tell me you didn't know this planet had three moons, Tommy." "Well, actually, I think it has five or six, but we weren't exactly paying much attention to them, love. We were here to get food, not admire the view." "I think you'd better get that camera out again." "I think you're right." --- "Are you going to be warm enough, Lixi? I can move us closer to the fire." "You're warm enough for me, *milaxi*. I'll be fine." Tom opened his arms as Neelix lay down beside him. "God, you feel great. I'm so glad you're here with me." The Talaxian snuggled against his lover. "Me, too, Tommy. This has been a wonderful day. I've learned how to 'body-surf' and we've both seen some beautiful sights." He gestured at the moons shining above them. "I can think of only one way to make the day complete." "Oh, and what would *that* be?" Tom rolled over on top of Neelix. "Making you come." The Talaxian's eyes glowed in the moonlight. "I love you so much." Tom planted a series of small kisses on his lover's face. "I love you, too." Gentle hands removed clothing, caressed bare skin. Lips met, tongues entwined. Soft sighs gave way to moans of desire. Bodies rubbed together in ecstasy. Two men cried out to the three moons in an alien sky, then surrendered to the rhythm of the waves below. Tom and Neelix slept as one man. --- He rolled over, reaching for the warmth that should have been beside him, but it wasn't there. Tom Paris started awake. "Lixi?" he whispered cautiously. There was no answer. The pilot felt a surge of fear run through him. He pulled his pants on and crawled out of the tent, hoping that the Talaxian had just stepped out to visit nature's lavatory. Dawn was beginning to break over the ocean. He was about to call again when his eyes fell upon a humanoid figure about ten meters away from him. It was Neelix, standing at the edge of the hill, staring out at the water and at the advancing sun. An eerie purple light was spreading through the sky, signaling the beginning of what would be a spectacular sunrise. Tom stood just outside the tent, watching as the light bathed Neelix in an ethereal glow. Neelix remained absolutely still, his gaze fixated on the horizon, his hair and whiskers gently waving in the morning breeze. Tom drew in his breath at the beauty of what he was seeing, hesitant to move or to say anything that would disturb his lover's reverie. //I wish I could get a picture of him right now,// he thought. //Just to show all those clueless bastards on Voyager that he's so much more than they think he is. God, I love him. Can't imagine life without him anymore.// The light changed, became a dark red shot through with orange. Neelix gave an audible sigh, turned, and saw Tom. Without a word, the pilot walked to his side. Neelix put an arm around the Terran's waist and leaned his head against the larger man's shoulder. Tom returned the embrace. They watched quietly as the colors changed once more, and the sliver of the sun began to appear. Tom swallowed. "I'm never going to forget this." "Me either, Tom. Me either." --- They ate sliced bread with butter and drank the last of their juice for breakfast. Neelix insisted on helping Tom break camp. "Scan me if you must, Tommy. I'm fine. I'm getting stronger every day." The Terran finally gave in, surrendering to the truth of the tricorder readings. "Well, Lixi, where to next?" "Back to Voyager. You'll need to change into some warmer clothes. And I have a surprise to pick up in the kitchen." "I'm intrigued. Not even a hint?" "No." Neelix smiled. "I'm not even sure of it myself." "The plot thickens." The Talaxian only shrugged. "That's all you're getting out of me." "O-kaaay. I guess I'll have to trust you on this one. Got everything?" "All set, Tommy." The pilot tapped his commbadge. "Paris to Voyager." "Voyager here, Tom." It was Chakotay's voice. "How are you two doing?" "We're having a great time, Commander. Could you have us beamed back to the ship? We need to get resupplied." "Stand by." There was a delay of about thirty seconds. "Prepare to beam up, Ensign." "Acknowledged." They dematerialized and reappeared on Voyager without incident. "Welcome back, gentlemen." "Captain! What are *you* doing here?" Janeway grinned at them. "We are a little -- shorthanded at the moment, Mr. Paris. It appears that most of the transporter operators are indulging themselves on the planet. *Someone* has to mind the store." The morale officer frowned. "So neither you nor Commander Chakotay have had any leave yet." The Captain waved this aside. "Not your concern, Mr. Neelix. Actually, I'm grateful for the opportunity to stay current on my knowledge of the transporter." "But...." The Talaxian started to sputter, but Janeway cut him off. "Get out of here. That's an order." "Yes, ma'am," they said in unison. "We'll be back in about twenty minutes," added Tom. --- Neelix raced to the kitchen. Once inside, he tapped his commbadge. "Neelix to Ensign Roberts." "Go ahead." "How are my plants?" "Improving. My best guess is that we should be back to our normal hydroponic operations within a week." "And that 'special project' I asked you to do?" "It's complete. You'll find the results in your spice cabinet." "You're a genius, Ensign, and a real friend to boot." "Any time, pal. Say hello to Paris for me." "I'll do that. Neelix out." The Talaxian opened the cold storage locker and took out several sandwiches. He added more of the dried fruit, some cheese slices, and several fresh corn muffins. Satisfied that it was enough, he stowed the food away in his pack. He opened the spice cabinet and smiled. Two bottles, filled with a bright purple liquid, stood on the top shelf. He picked them up carefully, wrapped them in dishtowels, and buried them deep within his pack. "I see you found Roberts' surprise." Neelix looked up to see Ensign Priscilla Smith entering the kitchen. "He was very mysterious about the whole thing," she continued. "Ensign Roberts and I are doing a little -- experiment," the Talaxian said hastily. "If it turns out well, we'll share it with everyone." "Please do." She winked at him. "I wish you good luck with all of your -- experiments." Neelix flushed at the ensign's insinuations, though her voice tone was friendly enough. He excused himself quickly and went to his quarters to change clothes. --- Tom stared at his wardrobe and finally selected blue denims and a black sweatshirt. He threw an extra sweater into his pack, just in case, and closed it up. He sat down for a few moments and looked around his room. He had asked Neelix to move in. He hadn't really planned on doing it -- it had just happened. But he was happy about it, and delirious about the thought of having Neelix share his bed every night. //Next time I come back here, I won't be alone.// He couldn't believe he deserved to feel this good about anything. With a joyful laugh, he picked up his pack and went to meet his partner. --- The Captain entered Neelix's coordinates into the transporter. "I hope the two of you are taking plenty of pictures." "Oh, we are, Captain." Tom deliberately avoided looking at Neelix, thinking of his beach poses and trying very hard not to laugh. "Have fun," Janeway said crisply. "Ready?" "Energize, please," said Neelix. The transporter hummed, and the two men dissolved. --- "Wow." That was all Tom could say. They were in a forest, next to a rapidly flowing river. The air was cool and dry, almost fall-like, although the trees were still green and full. Neelix breathed deeply, his eyes closed. He could almost believe that he was home on Rinax. Almost. Like Tom, he, too, missed the insect and bird sounds that permeated his native world. "Nice choice, Lixi." The Talaxian opened his eyes and smiled. "Thank you, Tommy." "I'm glad you told me to dress warmly. Pretty brisk weather we're having. Invigorating." "Let's take a walk." "After you." Neelix picked his way through the woods with the ease and confidence of one who had grown up among the trees. Tom followed, impressed at how quietly the Talaxian walked, at his surefootedness and his impeccable sense of direction. The river flowed to their left, splashing up against large boulders and fallen tree limbs. "Any particular place we're headed?" Tom asked after a while. "You'll see." "More mysteries." The Terran chuckled. "I like to keep you guessing, Tommy." "Drive me crazy, you mean." "Oh, *indeed.*" Tom could practically hear the Talaxian's eyebrows go up. "I'm discovering very quickly that you have quite an appreciation for my talents in that area." Tom groaned. "Dirty talk, and right here in the middle of the woods. If you don't cut that out, I'm going to jump your bones any minute now." "Save your energy for later, pretty one. You'll need it." Tom stopped short, shaking his head. "Oh, *shit*," he muttered to himself. "What am I getting myself into now?" Neelix was still walking, and about to disappear into the trees ahead. Tom roused himself and hastened to follow. --- "Let's take a break, Tommy. We're about halfway there." Neelix stopped in the middle of a small clearing and pulled off his backpack. The pilot threw himself on the ground, more tired than he wanted to admit. "I brought some hot tea along. Want a cup?" "Yes, that would be splendid." Neelix brought out the corn muffins, and the two men shared a mid-morning snack. Afterwards, Tom stretched out on his stomach and picked at the grass. "Can I ask you something?" "Anything, Tommy." "Actually, I feel kind of stupid saying this, but what the hell....Before you and I got together, had you ever been with a man before?" Neelix shook his head. "No. You're the first." "Because, well, you know, I've been around...." Tom felt his face getting red. "It doesn't matter to me, sweet man. You did what you had to do to ease your loneliness. And whether it was with a man or a woman makes no difference." Tom pulled a few strands of grass out of the ground and twisted them between his fingers. "I guess I've known ever since I was a kid that I was attracted to both men and women. I'm just curious about how it was with you. If you don't mind telling me." Neelix swallowed the last of his tea before speaking. "Actually, Tommy, I'd be considered rather unusual in Talaxian society. To be attracted to one's own gender is not common among our people. To be attracted to both males and females is even rarer. But it is respected as just another diverse characteristic, like the number of spots we develop, or the length of our hair." "But there was Kes....Sorry, Lixi, don't mean to embarrass you, I just want to understand a few things." "I loved Kes very much, Tommy. But I think a large part of that love was my need to protect her. She was very young and vulnerable when I first met her. She was so sweet and so giving. But she grew up, and things changed between us. I'm glad that we were able to stay friends even after we stopped being lovers." "I miss her sometimes, Neelix. I wonder where she is right now, and what she's doing." The Talaxian sighed. "I just hope she's happy." Tom reached over and stroked his partner's back. "As happy as I am right now." Neelix leaned into him. "Kes wasn't the first woman I loved, Tommy. Let me tell you a little bit about Vaxi. Her family lived right next to mine, just outside the forest...." --- The sun was reaching its zenith just as Tom and Neelix approached their destination. For about the last twenty minutes, Tom had been noticing a roaring sound in the distance, which became louder and louder as they went along. He was pretty sure he knew what the sound was, but he said nothing to his partner, enjoying the comfortable silence between them. They climbed over one last rise, and then he saw it; his suspicions were confirmed. The river which had been running on their left suddenly dropped away, and beneath the two men was a spectacular waterfall. Tom could feel the cool mist on his face even from this distance. "Beautiful. Just beautiful." The waterfall ran into a small lake about half a kilometer in diameter. From this vantage point, Tom could not see if there were any outlets for the water on the other side of the lake. The trees grew right up to the water's edge. "I thought we might try to climb down and camp over there," said Neelix, pointing to the far side. "Hold on." Tom took off his pack and opened it. "Picture time. Captain's orders, remember?" He took the holocamera out and captured several images of the waterfall before replacing the instrument in his pack, while the Talaxian waited patiently. "Thanks, Lixi. All set." It was slow going down the hill. The trees were very thick, and the underbrush almost tripped Tom up at one point. He slowed his pace, and Neelix graciously accommodated him. By the time they reached the bottom, Tom was sweating heavily and had several scratches on his hands from stray tree limbs. Neelix looked at his partner with some concern. "Take a break, Tommy. Let me regenerate those for you." Tom sat down gratefully, panting a little. The Talaxian took out his medkit and ran the dermal regenerator over the Terran's hands. The wounds closed up quickly, and Tom sighed. "Sorry I'm such a klutz, love." "No, *I'm* sorry. I should have told you to bring some gloves along. You know, we could just set up camp right here." "The view's better from over there. I'm fine." Tom wiped his face. "In a minute. There's no rush. I don't want you getting sick or hurt from overexerting yourself." "I should be giving *you* that speech." "I'm tougher than I look." "I suppose you are." Tom looked seriously at his lover. "The Doc told me something very interesting about that toxin you got shot with." "What was it?" "It would have killed Chakotay or Roberts almost instantly. You saved their lives." "Pure coincidence, Tom. I had no way of knowing that." "I'm aware of that. I'm also aware that you would have taken the shot even if you *had* known." "Oh, Tommy...." Neelix looked away, embarrassed. "You're one of the bravest and strongest people I know. You're also the kindest and most loving person I've ever been with. I am *so* lucky." The Talaxian knelt down. "Not as lucky as I am." He put his arms around Tom, and they held each other for a long moment. Tom sighed again. "I'm okay now. Let's move on." "All right." Neelix shouldered his pack, and the two men continued their walk. --- "This is just about perfect," said Tom, pulling out the holocamera once more. Neelix was gathering firewood nearby. They had chosen a spot almost exactly opposite the waterfall. The Talaxian had insisted on helping with the tent this time. Tom took several shots of the waterfall, each from a slightly different angle. Then he turned the camera on his companion, who obliged him with a smile. The Terran captured the image, then had an idea. "I want to get both of us together, Lixi." He set the camera on a nearby rock, then pulled Neelix to his side. The machine whirred softly. "That ought to do it." "I can hardly wait to see them when we get back." "Well, the machine will play them back for us if we tell it to." "It's not the same as a full-sized projection on the holodeck." "Yep, you're right. Well, I think I've gotten enough shots for a while. Let's get that fire started." They had a good blaze going in a few minutes. Neelix brought out the sandwiches and they ate greedily. "Got anything good to drink, Lixi?" "Well, now...." The Talaxian dug deep into his pack and produced the two towel-wrapped bottles. "Whatcha got there?" Neelix unwrapped them slowly. "There's a story behind these. As you may recall, on our first visit to this planet, Commander Chakotay and I encountered a rather unusual berry bush...." "Guarded by a mean-ass plant that tried to kill you...." Neelix raised his hand to silence his partner. "One had to wonder what that plant was protecting, eh, Tommy? At least Ensign Roberts wondered. Our clever ship's botanist devised a way to harvest some of the bushes without arousing the wrath of the cruel dart-throwers. Don't ask me how he did it. In any event, he managed to gather enough berries to concoct about twenty-five bottles of this purple brew. You and I have the honor of trying it out first." "Knowing Roberts, he sneaked a taste in his lab." "He gave me his solemn promise that you and I would be the first. By the way, he sends his regards." "Good old Chad. He's always been a decent kind of guy. He was one of the few Starfleet crew that didn't hate my guts from the minute I got on board." Neelix pulled two mugs from his pack. "Ready to try it, Tommy?" "Ready if you are." Tom watched as his lover carefully uncorked the first bottle and poured small amounts of the bright purple juice into each mug. He handed one to Tom, then picked up his own. "To you, *milaxi," the light and heart of my life." Tom choked, eyes misting. "To you, love," was all he could reply. They clinked their mugs together. The pilot swirled the liquid around and sniffed it as if he were a professional wine taster. His nose caught a delicate and very enticing aroma. He raised the mug to his lips and took a very small taste, letting it run along his tongue and against the roof of his mouth. It was exquisite, almost like strawberries but sweeter, yet not overwhelmingly so. He swallowed, then took another sip. It was just as good as the first. Neelix lowered his mug with a sigh. "Wonderful." "This is *great* stuff. And you said Roberts only made twenty-five bottles?" "He told me it took him hours just to get enough berries. He's going to try to grow a bush in the hydroponics bay, but he's not overly optimistic that it will survive." Tom took another drink. "Well, we can't use up both of these bottles, Lixi, or there won't be enough for everyone on Voyager to have at least a little sip." "That's a nice idea, Tom." Neelix re-wrapped the unopened bottle and returned it to his pack. "I know exactly who should have this one." "The Captain." "And the Commander." Tom's eyebrows went up. "You think they....?" "If they would stop letting their jobs get in the way of their feelings for each other, yes." "You're way ahead of me here." "It's obvious to anyone who really looks. They just won't indulge themselves. That's why they're back on Voyager while the rest of us are having fun." Tom tapped his fingers against his mug. "You may have something there, my friend." --- The sun was beginning to go down. Tom squatted by the remains of their fire. "Going to be a chilly night." "I brought along a portable space heater, just in case." Neelix sat down next to the Terran. "We may need it." Tom stirred the embers and looked up at the sky. "Wonder if we'll see those moons again." "We're on the wrong side of the planet. I'm afraid I don't have a spectacular moonrise in store for you tonight." "What *do* you have in store for me?" "Something memorable, I hope." "Mr. Neelix, are you trying to seduce me?" "Am I succeeding?" The Talaxian was practically purring. "Yes." Tom tossed his stick aside and pulled his lover into his arms. They kissed for a good long time. Neelix broke it. "Let's go in the tent." They scrambled inside and lay down, face to face. Neelix reached over to turn on the space heater, then turned and stared into Tom's eyes. "I want you, Tommy." Tom stroked his whiskers. "I'm all yours." The Talaxian leaned in and captured his mouth. Tom felt himself being turned slowly onto his back. "Love me," he whispered. "I do." Neelix reached under his clothing to touch the pale skin. His hands were warm and gentle. His eyes never left Tom's. The Terran shivered with desire. Neelix tugged at his sweatshirt, and Tom raised himself up just enough so that the Talaxian could get it over his head and toss it aside. Tom lay down again, and Neelix hovered over him. "My beautiful one." He kissed Tom's neck, running his hands down the human's chest. Tom caressed Neelix's back. The Talaxian found Tom's right nipple and ran his tongue over it. Tom gasped at the sensation. Neelix did the same to the left one, biting and sucking it into hardness. "Like that, Tommy?" "Lixi....oh, God, please....I want you inside me....please fuck me...." "Patience, sweet man. I want to enjoy you first." Neelix swept his tongue along Tom's belly and into his navel. Tom writhed and moaned underneath him. "You are a sensitive one, *milaxi.* I like that." Neelix sat back and began to remove his own clothing. Tom watched him, thinking how amazing it was that he had gone clear across the galaxy to meet this man, this wonderful giving person who loved him with all of his generous heart and soul. Spots, head ridges, whiskers, blond topknot and all, he thought Neelix was beautiful. The Talaxian, completely naked now, bent over and bathed Tom's belly again with his warm moist tongue. Tom's erection strained against his remaining clothing. His hands tugged at his waistband, only to be gently set aside by his lover. "Allow me." Neelix opened the fastenings on Tom's jeans and smiled at the bulge he saw underneath. He kissed it through the fabric, which elicited another groan from Tom. The Talaxian gently pulled Tom's pants and underwear off and took hold of his cock. "Slowly now, Tommy," he hissed, reaching under his pillow and pulling out a small tube. Tom whimpered as the Talaxian stroked him. "Oh, please....Fuck me....please, love, please, got to have you...." Neelix squeezed some of the lubricant into his right hand. He bent over and sucked Tom into his mouth while his fingers explored the tight opening into his lover's body. Tom was beyond coherent thought at this point. He pulled at the fabric of his sleeping bag, grunting and moaning. His partner hesitated, allowing Tom's cock to slide out of his mouth. "I'm not hurting you, am I, Tommy? I've never done this before." "No, oh, God, don't stop...." Neelix slowly inserted his finger inside Tom. He felt the Terran's muscle tighten around him, then loosen slightly. He added a second finger, then a third, stretching the narrow entrance. Tom gave a cry as Neelix brushed up against his prostate gland. "Oh, *God*!" The Talaxian withdrew his fingers, then coated his cock with the lubricant. "I love you, *milaxi*," he whispered. He pulled Tom's legs up to his shoulders and caressed the smooth thighs. His eyes fixed on Tom's as he brought the head of his cock to Tom's entrance and pushed. Tom gasped; his whole body tensed. Neelix stopped, allowing Tom to adjust to the sensation, then moved forward, little by little, until he was all the way in. "You okay?" "I'm *great,*" Tom panted. "Fuck me, *now.*" Neelix thrusted, slowly at first. Tom was so hot and tight, and it was almost impossible to hold back. He grabbed the Terran's cock and stroked it in rhythm with his thrusts. "....Oh, God...oh, *shit*....harder...." The Talaxian complied. He rocked against Tom, stroking in and out, feeling a tremendous sensation building in his cock and in his head. "Love you, Tommy," he managed to gasp out before the wave caught him. He screamed, emptying himself into Tom, feeling the Terran shake and moan beneath him. Hot semen shot into his hand. Neelix reeled. The world spun around him and he heard a giant roar in his ears, louder even than the nearby waterfall. He collapsed on top of Tom, who managed to catch him even though his own consciousness was on the brink as well. //Breathe, breathe,// a part of the pilot's mind told him, and his lungs pulled in great gulps of air. At last his heart rate began to slow down, and he became more or less aware of his surroundings. "Lixi?" His lover lay on top of him, did not answer. Tom felt for the pulse in his neck and found it strong and steady. Tom smiled weakly. Not many of his previous partners had actually passed out during lovemaking. He stroked the Talaxian's back. "Wake up, love." Neelix stirred. "T-Tommy?" "The one and only." Tom kissed his cheek. "That was unbelievable." "I didn't hurt you, did I?" "Stings a little right now, but I'll be fine. Don't worry." Neelix had started to roll off him, but Tom grabbed him and held him close. "You might be bleeding, Tommy." "I have the toughest ass in the Delta Quadrant. I'll survive." Neelix kissed him. "*Milaxi,* sweet one. I love you. Thank you." "I love you, and you're welcome." --- As it turned out, Tom *was* bleeding slightly. Neelix fussed over him, insisting on regenerating the torn tissues even though Tom argued in favor of letting them heal on their own. "It's like a badge of honor, Lixi," but the Talaxian would have none of it. "You could get an infection out here, and I'd never forgive myself." Finally Tom gave in, even allowing his partner to operate the instrument. "So sorry, Tommy," Neelix murmured as he stroked the delicate skin. "I'll be more careful next time." "I *like* it hard." "It shouldn't hurt, though. Maybe I should take you from behind." "Take me any way you want, any time." Neelix turned off the regenerator and put it away. "My incorrigible one." He bent over Tom and kissed him deeply. They broke it with a mutual sigh. "Want to finish off that bottle?" "My thoughts exactly." Tom reached for his clothes and began to get dressed. "I also brought along a special treat. Marshmallows." "Marsh - what?" "Marshmallows. Hard to describe. Puffy, gooey, sugary things. The tradition is to put them on sticks and roast them over a fire." "Intriguing." Neelix pulled his clothes on quickly. "Thought you'd like the idea." Tom turned off the space heater and reached into his pack, pulling out a small bag. "Let me stir the fire up a little." Neelix finished dressing and followed the Terran out of the tent. He found the sweet berry juice and poured each of them a generous amount, draining the bottle. Tom scrambled around the fire and came up with two slender sticks. "Here." He offered one to Neelix, and the Talaxian took it. Tom opened his bag and put a marshmallow on the end. "Now hold it over the fire. Not too close, though, or it'll burn." Neelix complied. Tom stuck one of the white blobs on his own stick, and both men stood silently for a few moments. "Rotate it a little so it's evenly heated," suggested Tom at one point. Again the Talaxian did as instructed. After another minute, Tom declared that they should be done. He brought his stick directly to his mouth and pulled the gooey mess off with his teeth. His partner followed suit. "Mmmmm," Neelix said after a moment. "Quite tasty. I'd like another." "Got you hooked, Lixi." Tom chuckled. --- They sat together for some time, eating, drinking, just enjoying each other's company. At last Tom yawned and got to his feet. "I think it's time to turn in, love." "In a minute, Tommy. We should talk about what we're doing tomorrow." They looked at each other in the dying firelight. "You know," Tom said after a pause, "I have a feeling I should go see what Culhane has done to my helm in the last week or so. He may have messed up my instrument settings beyond all hope of redemption." Neelix nodded in complete understanding. "And I've just received orders to evacuate my quarters. It'll take me a better part of a day to gather all of my belongings." "That's too bad, Lixi. Let me at the guy who ordered you to do that." His partner chuckled softly. "All right. That's settled. Now, about convincing the Captain and Commander to vacate their posts...." "I'll leave that in your capable hands. They won't be able to say 'no' to you." "Are you sure about that?" "Positive. I speak from personal experience." Tom took Neelix's hand, pulled him to his feet, and kissed him solidly on the mouth. "It would be, shall we say, a *futile* endeavor." Neelix laughed and embraced his alien lover, feeling Tom's warmth and affection flow through him. Tom wrapped the Talaxian in his arms and stared up at the star-filled sky, where their ship waited for them. They would sleep well tonight, content and secure, and wake up ready to face tomorrow's challenges. Voyager was halfway home. Tom and Neelix were already there. --- The End (Series written between December 16, 1998 and February 4, 1999. Could there be more in this saga? Possibly.......)