DISCLAIMER: Well, Gene Roddenberry
created Star Trek and left it to those blokes at Paramount. But we, the
fans, are the real entrustees. But we make no money. So what are they complaining
about anyway?
SUMMARY: It is ten years into
the journey through the Delta quadrant. Vorik, the Vulcan ensign, is content
until he meets one who changes his life for all time. Vorik discovers what
it means to alter his views on his Vulcan heritage.
DEDICATION: I wished to express
my gratitude and devotion to T'Aitlu and Selek who taught me the meaning
of T'hy'la. Selek, thank you for delurking, for all your encouragement
and your fun. You smile a lot, for a Vulcan. T'Aitlu, my best friend, what
a summer we had! And the good times have only just begun. Being Romulan
I can say this..I love you guys!!
For my faithful muse, Vorik.
Part One of Fourteen
Po' Asal: The Morning After
Vorik?s eyes slowly opened
as the dawning lights in his quarters gently roused him from his slumber.
The young Vulcan man awoke this morning, peaceful and without the burning
hunger. He drew in a deep breath through his nose and slowly expelled
it through his lips. Relieved, he looked up at the lights and thought,
<< Finally, it is over >> .
He turned his gaze from the
lights above him to the woman at his side. With a single shapely
leg exposed, the sheets still entangled about her small voluptuous form,
she slightly shifted in her sleep. Her long dark hair fanned out
over their pillows and partially obscured her face, revealing only her
long-lashed eyes. He had experienced twelve glorious days of intensive
and exhaustive love making with this woman, Lt. Raven Zans.
<> Vorik still could not sense her mind, her being.
<> he thought, then sighed, feeling
the disappointment.
He held himself responsible
for this. His limited telepathic abilities combined with her humanity
continually thwarted their attempts. Their failure to bond was certainly
not due to lack of trying. The connection would just not fuse solid.
During the fever they could touch each other's minds and share the passions.
But it took that frenzy to connect them. He knew with great certainty
that he, a Vulcan, could not sanely live in that perpetual state.
To Vorik, the lack of the connection
caused him grief. They were not bonded. He knew that proper
Vulcan couples shared a bond, a permanent and ever present mental touching.
Without that connection, there will always be something lacking.
This caused him to despair for he really wished Raven to be his cherished
one, his Aduna.
<>
As he reached out to
tenderly brush aside her tresses from her face, she opened her sleepy eyes
and gave him a smile. Startled, he flinched his hand back.
"And how are we this morning?"
She scooted closer to him to snuggle.
At her encroaching body, Vorik
suddenly realized they were both naked. His modesty reasserted itself
and he impulsively rolled out of bed. With his back to her, he quickly
pulled on his robe. Once covered, he turned back to face her.
He adopted his most serious face and declared in an even tone, "The Pon
Farr has past."
A slight grin played upon her
face as she became amused by his seriousness. "OK? so now what
happens?" she asked while in a catlike stretch. The covers slipped
from her body revealing her full breasts.
Vorik felt a stirring
by the sight of her nakedness. Ashamed at his lack of control, he
headed to the bathroom, sighing softly.
"What's the matter?"
He heard her calling to him from the bed.
He didn't answer. The
young Vulcan man simply closed the door then slumped against it.
Without the bond to sustain their relationship, he regretted what they
now must do. But he believed that he must follow his family?s tradition.
His mouth was drawn into a
tight grim line and his dull eyes gazed into the mirror, as he recalled
what he needed to say to her: Po?Asal: The traditional 'Morning After Speech'.
Vorik had been taught that
at the resolution of Pon Farr, Vulcan couples were to immediately initiate
the Dahshaya or Celibacy Ritual. A formal leave-taking and expression
of gratitude to their mate. Taking on many degrees, the Ritual Celibacy
meant refraining from further physical intimacies or emotional exchanges
with your mate. For some couples, this meant until the next Pon Farr.
It was a custom his parents gratefully and stringently observed within
their marriage. Vorik was brought up to believe that this custom
was a crucial necessity, if one was to successfully adhere to the Vulcan
practice of arie'mnu, emotional mastery.
This particular speech his
father had him and his twin brother memorize, to be shared with their mates
at the conclusions of their own Pon Farrs. He closed his eyes tightly
and softly incanted these terse phrases.
"The Pon Farr has past.
We can now resume our lives as logical beings. We willfully distance
ourselves physically and emotionally in order to pursue c'thia to the best
of our abilities. I will be forever grateful for the part you played
in my relief, in my time of need."
Somehow, to Vorik it did not
seem a suitable custom to observe with someone you have a strong regard
for. But he was certain that he must follow tradition and resume
a normal semblance of life as soon as possible. He took in few breathes
and searched for his center of calm. It was something that had eluded
him since the onset of the Pon Farr.
He smoothed down his short
dark hair and arranged it in its usual impeccable fashion. Cool water
invigorated him as he splashed it on his slightly green face. He
wished to procrastinate his duty and took his time attending to his toiletries.
While patting his face dry
with his hand towel, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror.
He set aside his towel and took a moment to examine his reflection in the
mirror. He noticed that he required a hair trim. His bangs
began to cover the tips of his arched brows. As he ran his tongue
over his teeth, he noted their stickiness. He took a moment to clean
them with his sonic toothbrush. Once satisfied with their degree
of cleanliness, he cupped his hand beneath the running water and drank
a mouthful. He wiped the last drops of trickling water from his lips
and took a last look in the mirror.
<> he thought to himself. For the first time, he noticed
features that resembled his father?s. <>
He felt his training begin
to fall back into place. That sense of inner calm which he was accustomed
to after a lifetime of habit and practice. He took satisfaction in
that fact.
The bathroom door slid open
and he returned to the bedroom. After those few moments of solitude,
he was confident in his ability to follow through with his intention, despite
his inner reluctance.
He saw that she was still in
bed. This time she had the sheets pulled back up over her naked body,
her face filled with questioning concern.
"Vorikam, what is it?" she
asked as she patted his side of the bed inviting him to return to her.
He was certain that he
would lose his determination if he even touched her. Instead he drew
himself up and uttered the words that he had rehearsed in the mirror .
At his words, her jaw
dropped opened and a ribbon of anxiety rippled through her stomach.
"What did you say?" She uttered
quietly.
Having to repeat these hateful
words, Vorik felt everything begin to unravel within himself. He
took in a breath to steady himself and his resolve.
In his hesitation, she continued.
Her voice tightened and raised in volume. "We NEVER discussed this!"
Gathering his calm, Vorik haltingly
elaborated: "Being human....I did not want you to be?confused and mistakenly
think that our physical relationship would continue now that the Pon Farr
has past." He paused again to gather his thoughts. "If
you were a Vulcan women, you too, would accept this distance as being?necessary."
At this statement, she
started to tremble in growing anger. "If I were a Vulcan woman! Are
you blaming me?"
By her reaction, it was becoming
evident that she was not fully understanding him or accepting the reality
of the situation. He desperately wanted her to. And though
he said the words dispassionately, his heart was filled with regret and
frustration. He could not even bear to look at her as he continued.
"It is most unfortunate
that our bonding was unsuccessful. If we had been able to solidify
the bond, this turn of events would be more understandable, acceptable,
even welcome, to you."
He didn't even see her coming.
He only felt a sudden, stinging slap across his face, jarring him into
silence. He looked up in shock and saw her face filled with fury.
"Don't give me any of
that BONDING CRAP, Vorik cha Doshik!" She stood naked before him, shaking
in rage.
Feeling the hot welt
creep onto his face, he stood shock still, unwilling to say anything further.
The only other person in his life to invoke his full name was his Mother,
and only then when he had committed a serious offense.
"I cannot believe you are doing
this to me, to us." She stormed away from him and into the living room.
She furiously collected her clothing from off the floor, having been strewn
all over during
the rush of passion the night
before.
She continued to rant at him
as she pulled on her undergarments and boots. "After everything we
have been through, that's it? Thanks for the memories. See you around?"
His feet were still frozen
to that same spot on the floor, when she returned into the bedroom.
She pulled her gown down over
her head, stepped up to him and glared in his face. He wavered a
moment, expecting another slap
The next words she said very
quietly as if trying to hold back her own tears. "How can you treat
me....so coldly? Like nothing ever mattered. Did it, Vorik?"
He was overwhelmed by her onslaught
of emotion. Plus he was torn between his own desires: to follow Vulcan
custom or to follow his heart. He decided to let his mastery rule.
He looked at her stoically and said nothing more.
"I thought so. You made
it quite clear time and time again that the only thing that ever really
mattered to you was The Bond!" Her breathing became ragged as she choked
out those last words.
She took his silence as agreement
to her assertions. Unable to read his heart or gauge his reactions,
she assumed that her words were not touching him. Unable to bear
to look into his unemotional face, she looked at her hands and continued.
"I came into this not expecting anything more than these few days together.
But you really convinced me into committing to ....us." Sobs began to escape
from her lips as she spoke these last words. She braved a glance
upward to take note of his expression. She grew furious at his lack
of compassion and shouted the only thing her frustrated mind could think
of, " Well, then fine, have it your way!"
Then she was desperate to escape.
Escape this humiliation. She turned on her heel and rushed out of
the room. He heard her feet stomp across the floor, the swoosh of
the doors first opening then closing, then silence.
<> he thought. He closed his eyes and breathed slowly in,
trying to calm the turmoil within.
As she stormed down the
corridor, she whipped her jacket over her head and stabbed her arms through
the sleeves. With a flourish, she yanked her long hair out from beneath
the jacket. Her mocha-colored face was dark and contorted in anger
and despair. Each ragged breath she drew threatened to release her
tears. She bumped into walls and people, uncaring if she knocked
anyone down in her desperation to return to her own quarters.
Once inside, she stripped
furiously, flinging her garments at the walls in rage. Her flying
boots crashed into her bureau smashing the delicate contents on top.
<> She tried to convince herself.
Her lips were quivering and
her body ached in the effort to hold back the tears. Her hands shook
as she punched in the shower controls, manic to wash herself of the humiliation.
As she reached in with one hand to test the water, the other settled on
her stomach. Then the memories of last night flooded through her.
The water continued to pelt against the shower walls as her body and mind
recalled their passion.
With his hair in disarray,
Vorik's green-flushed face hovered over hers. Both of them were gasping
and shuddering as the overwhelming arousal consumed them. She pulled
him to her and his weight settled on her body, pinning her to the mattress.
Raven took in a deeper breath as his body squeezed the air from her lungs.
He readjusted himself to accommodate her.
In his soft baritone, he asked
permission to initiate the meld. She silently nodded her assent and
kissed him quickly and eagerly knowing what was in store for them both.
She closed her eyes and felt his fingertips on her face. She sensed
his familiar presence enter her mind. Then in a sudden rush, the
flame flashed through her body and mind, scorching her nerves in its wake.
In unison they let out a small cry. She arched her neck and he threw
his head back. As they began to recover from the initial searing,
the underlying pulse of the urge could be heard and felt. It drove
them both to the instinctual drive of the rhythmic thrust.
In her mind, she sensed his
request. Not expressed in standard, or Vulcan, or her dialect, just
a sentiment shared between two melded minds.
She never wanted to wash again.
She wanted to have the memory of him linger for as long as possible.
Her humiliation was nothing in comparison to the loss she felt. The
loss of everything that had come to matter to her, her Vulcan, Vorik.
She slid down the bathroom
wall, hot tears streamed from her eyes and sobs wracked her body as she
finally succumbed to the overwhelming anguish consuming her. Her
heart broke as she wept in agony and despair.
End Part One
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Morning After
Part Two of Forteen
**Kun-ut So'lik: Marriage
Proposal**
A week after the conclusion
of his Pon Farr and the disturbing incident with Raven, Vorik still experienced
discomfort. Again his meditations eluded him. With a hint of
frustration, he blew out his meditation candle. He could not find
his center. Instead, this sense of dread persisted. It pervaded
him, interfered with his peaceful calm. During the challenge with
Torres in his first Pon Farr, he had experienced relief and release from
the rage of the fire. Afterwards, his inner calm had returned swiftly
and automatically. Logically, he should be experiencing that same
sense of peace, but it would not come. He sat up and absently stared
at the wafting smoke from the extinguished candle. Vorik wondered,<>
Lt. Raven Zans. That
what was different. He sighed and steepled his fingers beneath his
chin. This mating time had been more than a physical relief for him.
He knew that she had touched him, changed him. He had not wanted
to admit this possibility, but it seemed he could not longer deny it.
He missed her.
As he walked into his bedroom,
he drew his robe from around his shoulders. With a wistful nostalgia,
he draped it on the form in it usual place. His fingers lingered
along the folds, appreciating the soft silkiness of the fabric. This
robe was a gift, hand-fashioned by his mother . She presented it
to him on his last visit home, before he reported for duty on board Voyager.
She made a private but significant comment to him: "A mate should be the
one to assemble your traditional garb. Not your Mother."
He mused about what his family's
possible response to Raven Zans would be. Not on the fact she was
human, since many Vulcans on his home colony world of Nisus had spouses
who were not Vulcan. That was a fact of life living on a multicultural,
multi-species colony world. No, his family would be surprised by
the fact that he had an interest in a mate.
Raven was the only woman, ever
in his life he had a consideration for. Starting in childhood, his
entire life had been dedicated to the pursuit of duty, knowledge, and logic.
If a Vulcan boy could have a hero, Spock would have been Vorik's.
Vorik had intended his life to follow the path of Spock's: science, Starfleet,
logic, and the adventure beyond the stars, seeking out new life and civilizations,
relying on your wits and your crewmates. He had no intention of living
an ordinary life on his homeworld, the Nisus Colony.
His twin brother, Taurik, who
presently had the dubious honor of serving on board the Enterprise, shared
in his dreams. Together, as boys, they would wander off into the
wilderness to test their strength and resolve against the unknown and the
elements. They talked and dreamed of exploring the stars. They
were inspired by the stories Starfleet visitors would share with the colonists.
The brothers found each other
indispensable. They relied on one another for companionship, and
safety. Being twins, they shared a special and intimate bond.
A bond closer than the others in their family did. Vorik had let
this bond be the core of his life, never speculating that one day
any other could be more prominent in his life. They were also the babies
of the family. Their older sisters would indulge them frequently.
Their parents were overly dedicated
to their duties on the colony. Their father's responsibilities required
him to frequently travel around the planet. He was a leader in baked
goods. Their mother was home more often. She was the chief
engineer for the water consumption projects immediately surrounding their
town. Thus many of the household duties fell to the older sisters.
This included monitoring the behavior of "the boys".
Life seemed normal by Vulcan
standards, rituals, customs, mediations, duties, studies, personal times
shared in an open but, hierarchical fashion. The children of
Doshik and T'Prake experienced life from a satisfactory standpoint, never
wanting or needing for much, on this affluent colony world. The parents'
expectations were always to be fulfilled and in turn the children were
encouraged to be independent thinkers and do-ers.
Nothing made Vorik's belief
in his own independence and self-reliance more apparent than a significant
event that took place when he was thirteen years old. It occurred
the day after the children had returned from an unexpected 12-day visit
with their grandparents.
Their father had an announcement
for the brothers. He called them into his office. As their
father closed the door the boys stole a looked around this haven their
father had built for himself. It was only on rare occasions that
any of the children entered this inner sanctum. Family treasures,
holopics and traditional Vulcan family heirlooms lined the walls and the
shelves of this office. Vorik noted with approval the orchid he had presented
to his father last month. He was not aware that his father revered the
living plant enough to keep it on his desk.
As was usual in most rooms
of the house, a small fire blazed in the fireplace, an attempt to keep
the temperature level comfortable in this chilly autumnal season. Their
father was comfortably seated behind his desk, his easy calm evident in
his relaxed sitting posture.
"I have neglected this duty
for far too long. My sons, you are well past the ages for this.
Fortunately, I have found families who will agree to you. I have
selected your bondmates." Their father, Doshik, let that information hang
in the air for a moment before he continued.
"You are familiar with your
classmate, T'Chal?"
Both boys nodded in silent
assent.
"Taurik, her family and I have
agreed that the two of you are suitable. We will be arranging a betrothal
ceremony for you after their crops are harvested next month. Vorik,"
and his father turned his attention to him.
Vorik stared hard at the floor,
gathering his strength and courage.
"No!" Vorik blurted out, before
his father could continue.
"No?" his father quietly repeated.
"Vorik, you are refusing to be bonded?" The elder Vulcan's handsome face
was unreadable.
"I am refusing." Vorik finally
stole a look into his father's face.
"It is not logical to refuse
to be bonded. I am looking to your future and to your life."
The only indication of his father's reaction to Vorik's refusal was the
steepling of fingers beneath his chin. "When it comes your time,
you will need a mate. The choices I have made are most suitable...."
"No!" Vorik interrupted in
a firm voice, surprising for his age. He took a slight step towards
his father's desk. "I do not wish to marry. Ever. I do
not need a bond mate. I do not wish to live on the colony for the
rest of my life. A mate from this world will tie me here. I
will be traveling the stars and there will not be room in my life for family
considerations." Finished with his explanation, a nervous Vorik slowed
his breathing and attempted to slow his heartbeat.
"I see...... You seem
to have thought this out thoroughly." Their father stood up from his desk,
clasped his hands behind his back and made way over to his sons.
"I am your father. I
do believe that I know what is best for you. It is best that you
make your own decisions. Informed decisions," he emphasized, "and
live with the consequences. You are aware of the consequences an
unbonded male faces throughout his life? This time of the Vulcan is unpredictable.
You will be first affected between your thirtieth and fortieth year."
Again Vorik interrupted his
father. "Yes, I am father. When it is my time, I will do what is
necessary, the situation permitting. If need be, I will return to
Vulcan and apply for a temporary mate in the interplanetary list.
I have knowledge that many Vulcan Starfleet officers recourse to this method."
Vorik had overheard this information
from his human friends. He hoped it was true.
Despite their entrance into
adolescence, their father still towered over the boys. He peered
down at the twin brothers as he seemed to consider his words. His face
and voice were, as usual, unreadable. "I am satisfied that you seem
to have worked out a logical solution. In deference to your logic
and personal desires, I will respect your wishes and not compel you to
be bonded."
<> Vorik barely held back a look of astonishment on his
face.
He took in a breath to steady
his voice. Still astonished, he bowed slightly. Now gratitude
and relief were added to his growing emotional repertoire. He hastily
used a phrase his human friends reverted to, " Thank you father."
"One does not thank logic,
Vorik." Their father clasped his hands behind his back and continued in
his patronly tone. "You have proved to me and yourself, that you
are willing and able to take the events of your life into your own hands.
The two of you have been treated like children for far too long."
Then their father turned to Taurik. "Do you share your brother's
reluctance to accept our bonding custom, Taurik?"
Vorik's twin brother stole
a glance at him. He proudly stood tall and formally pronounced,
"Father, I am honored to have
been chosen as bondmate to T'Chal."
Their father gave him a slight
nod of acceptance. "Very well, then. You and I have many details
to discuss. Vorik, you may leave us now, "and with a slight nod,
Vorik was dismissed.
Just as Vorik had gotten himself
under control, his astonishment was again provoked. He was being
dismissed! He was curious about what the ceremony entailed. Also,
he wished to be involved with everything that concerned his brother.
But he had made his desires clear. There was no logical reason for
him to remain in the room while his father and brother discussed the bonding
ceremony details.
While waiting in the front
hall, Vorik examined his sister T'Ves' fish tank. The soothing gurgle
of the rising bubbles calmed the youth's anxious anticipation. After
what seemed a long while, Taurik emerged from their father's office.
<> Vorik accused his brother .
<< You know why, Vorik.
Unlike you, I wish to have a mate. We can not be together forever,
brother. Besides, I find T'Chal most.... agreeable.>>
Vorik transmitted a sensation
of surprise and curiosity. Taurik shared through their bond his perception
of their classmate.
T'Chal. A small girl,
emerging into womanhood, with large expressive dark eyes, and long gleaming
black hair. A strong intelligence and a halo of joy seemed to radiate
from within her. For a moment, Taurik transmitted to his brother
a pleasant sensation the thought of her provoked in him.
After the moment had passed,
Vorik admitted that he had never thought of her that way. He thought
of none of the females in his class in that manner. They headed to
the front door to go outside and meet their Klingon neighbor, Rolag for
chess.
The memories trailed off as
the adult Vorik considered his present predicament. He was fortunate
to have experienced a bond for much of his life. He had taken the
intimacy and ease of his childhood bond for granted. Their sudden
thrust into the Delta quadrant had changed all that for
him. It snapped the bond
he had with his twin brother. For the first time in his life, he
was truly alone, bereft of the telepathic sense of his brother. During
much of the first year of their exodus through the Delta quadrant, Vorik
spent alone and in a mild depression. Unable to cope, he had finally
sought out Tuvok, who performed a healing meld in order to seal the wound.
Even now, he still was not a very capable telepath nor extremely adept
in the Vulcan mind disciplines.
He walked over to the tall
glass table by the view port. The tabletop surface contained his
family's momentos: holopics, ritual objects and such. The arrangement
also included the personal items Raven had left behind. Everyday,
he found more of her belongings in his quarters. He had no intention
of returning them to her, unless she came to fetch them herself.
He picked up the pin she had
worn in her hair the day of their bonding. As he caressed the cool,
smooth, precious aqua metal, he admired the delicate, ornate, freeflowing
design she had smithed herself. The design remind him too much of
his own mental impressions of her.
He drew in a deep breath as
his anguish threatened to consume him. He wondered if he would be
able to survive this loss too. During the times in between lovemaking,
they talked. They had even gotten in half a game of chess before
the passions overtook them. He admitted to her that he wanted a bond
with her more than anything. Not just the fact of sharing a bond,
or having a wife, but experiencing her. He could tell that she was
quite pleased with those sentiments. And it just gave them further
incentive to continue attempting to fuse their mental bond. But it
never fused.
As he gently set the pin down
on the glass, it gave a delicate "ting" . He hung his head in profound
disappointed. During both their physical and mental touches, he found
her very strong, sensuous, loving, beautiful and more. Her essence
infused him with hope and.... dare he think it......love. He
had looked forward to a life of experiencing her. If only they had
bonded, they could always know each other's thoughts and feelings.
And never be alone again. He sighed softly leaving the table of family
momentoes and got ready for duty.
On his way to the day's duty,
Vorik fondly recalled how Raven had proposed to him. She had no idea
what a social faux pas she had committed. What had transpired between
them in the mess hall leading up to her proposal was equally remarkable.
She had affected him like no other being had ever in his life.
***********************************************
Vorik sat in his customary
seat in the mess hall. He sipped at his bowl of Turil soup, while
engrossed with the engineering report displayed on his Padd. An unfamiliar
feminine voice interrupted his study. "Mr. Vorik, may I join you?"
He momentarily looked up from
his Padd and absently gestured to the remaining seat at the table across
from him. "As you wish."
She placed her drink and plate
on the table, then sat down. The unfamiliar officer gave Vorik a
nervous look. He had already returned his attention to the Padd.
"We don't know each other. I'm Lt. Raven Zans," she offered in embarrassment.
He curiously peered into her
face. "Yes Lieutenant. I do know your name." Vorik replied
matter of factly.
"I wasn't sure if you did."
The junior officer fell silent, then took a quick sip of her drink.
Vorik's curiosity was piqued.
There were very few times he could recall that he and this particular officer
had occasion to work together. In fact, there had been no occasions
at all for the past two
years, by Vorik's reckoning.
They had engaged in conversation only once during the entire time in the
Delta quadrant. They worked on opposite shifts and moved in different
social circles. Their quarters were not even situated near each other.
There were no factors on the ship which
would allow these two individuals
to meet accidentally. "There is something I can help you with, Lieutenant?"
he inquired. Vorik assumed she was here about something duty related.
"No," she quickly answered.
"Well, maybe....yes" She hesitated, seeming to collect her thoughts.
She looked down at the table
and hurried her words, anxious to get them out. "You see, I don't
believe that we have ever spoken to each other."
He regarded her curiously as
he stated, " We have spoken. Once. During the first week the
Maquis came onboard. I was the officer who escorted you to your quarters."
She raised her face to his
and arched her eyebrows in amazement. "That was almost ten years
ago. Are you certain? How could you remember that?"
"Vulcans remember nearly everything,"
he replied nonchalantly.
"That is very interesting."
Her nervousness seemed to be dissipating with each statement they exchanged.
"Well, on a ship this size, and for a voyage this long, I have taken it
as a personal mission to be familiar with everyone." She rested her elbows
on the table, clasped her hands together, steepled her fingers and gestured
them in his direction. "So, I thought it was time we became aquainted."
She finally gained enough confidence to meet his face with her eyes.
He nodded his head in silent
agreement at what seemed a logical endeavor.
Feeling easier about her course,
she further ventured into conversation. "Is that Plomeek soup? It
looks good."
"No. It is Turil
soup with groot and beans." Vorik stirred his now-cold soup with his spoon.
"Does Neelix have anymore?"
The young human woman turned in her seat to look in the direction of the
food counter.
"I replicated this," he replied.
"It's a family recipe."
"Oh," she didn't hide the disappointment
in her voice. "Well, I might as well get started on my tuna fish
sandwich. I only have an hour for lunch." A little smile tugged at
the right corner of her mouth.
As she picked up her napkin,
Vorik returned his attention to his now-cold soup. She held her napkin
out, let it fall open and with a flourish, she snapped it in the air.
That small sound drew Vorik's attention.
Then he felt something hit
him. It was like his insides were shot cold with a phaser.
For the moment, his mind, body and breath were paralyzed by her presence.
Only his eyes seemed capable of movement. They were riveted to her
hand which held the napkin. He watched as the tiny hand darted beneath
the table to lay her napkin on her lap. He waited for its return.
His eye caught her hand as it returned to view. This brought his
attention to her chest. His eyes traveled up her form, amazed in
the contrast where her grey turtleneck met her mocha toned skin.
His eyes continued their upwards journey taking in the smallness of her
chin, the fullness of her smooth, brown lips, the symmetry of her aquiline
nose. His gaze finally reached her dark, sparkling, elfin eyes framed
beneath slightly arched brows. Inside of him, this was all a momentary
shock. Outwardly, he only gave an extra blink in his usual blinking
rhythm. His lifetime of training caused him to automatically master
this sensation and reference it for later reflection and categorization.
After this moment, just in
the blink of an eye, her low voice brought him back to reality. "If
my readings were accurate, Mr. Vorik, your people are vegetarians?"
"Yes," he answered easily.
He welcomed her subsequent inquiries, as well. Vorik usually allowed
himself friendly interactions with others and was always eager to make
new acquaintances.
After they finished their respective
meals, they left the mess hall together. They continued to make small
talk as they strolled along the corridor. He was careful to keep
his expression neutral while she animatedly related a humorous tale about
her recent Captain Proton holovisit with Lieutenants Kim and Paris.
Vorik activated the turbolift
door and allowed Raven to enter first. He was beginning to regard
her with questioning interest and was not yet willing to leave her company.
Though he was sociable with many of the crew, he was not well disposed
to personal interaction with the females. He noticed that many avoided
making genial contact with him as well. He believed that it was due
to his dreadful behavior surrounding the disastrous events of his Pon Farr
six years ago.
While in the turbolift, he
was silently formulating a phrase to request her presence in the hydroponics
bay. It was time for him to monitor the progress of his orchids.
They stood facing each other
on opposite sides of the lift when she broke the momentary lapse in conversation.
"Mr. Vorik, you seem like a straightforward person," she paused for a response.
"Vulcans do not usually dissemble,"
he replied routinely. During her pause, he wondered slightly at what
she would say next.
She took in a deep brave breath.
"Well, in that case, let me be candid and direct with you."
She raised her chin, straightened her posture and clasped her hands behind
her back. With evident pride in her face and voice, she formally
declared, " I would like share in the resolution of your Pon Farr."
He was in shock!! He blinked
twice and composed himself.
Then she softened. Her
hands came together in front of her as she took a gliding step towards
him. In a quiet, deep, throaty voice she carefully added, " Your
next time does not have to end in a death match with Lieutenant Torres."
From beneath long dark lashes, her eyes shyly peered at his face.
At that moment, the doors opened
and mercifully no one was there. He turned from her gaze, took a
step to leave, then stopped. He evenly stated without even turning
to look at her, "That is a private matter." He stepped across
the threshold and strode down the corridor. He heard the swoosh of
the doors closing, leaving a very confused and dishearten Lt. Zans in the
turbolift.
He was confused and disheartened
himself. As he attended to his orchids in the hydroponics bay, they
did not hold his interest or instill the usual enthusiasm. The events
surrounding his time with Lt. Zans were demanding to be reviewed.
With a last misting spray and a final pruning, he cut his orchid visit
short.
He proceeded to his quarters,
despite the early hour. He was aware of the social events he would
be missing. There was the chess game going on in Ensign Chobrysl's
quarters. Neelix sent an open invitation to all for drinks and conversation
in the mess hall to commemorate a human holiday: Christmas.
Despite the temptation for socializing, he was determined now not to be
further distracted from his course. Too much had happened in the
past hour for him and he must meditate.
He had been propositioned before
during his academy days. Stockholm Syndrome. One little dark
Tellerite male had said practically the same thing to him during his first
week at the academy. Back then, he was much younger, more naive and
had not yet reached his sexual maturity. Vorik had never entertained
thoughts or experienced sensations associated with "that" matter.
He especially had not been intrigued about that Tellerite male. He
had been totally unaffected by that conversation 13 years ago.
The doors to his quarters automatically
parted at his arrival. He dropped his Padd on the sofa and quickly
lit his meditation candle. The tiny flicker of flame lent a gentle
warm glow to the darkness. He fell to his knees, pressed his fingertips
together and began the deep relaxing breathing exercises to initiate tal
t'li, his meditations. He expelled this disquieting sense through
each exhale. It only took five breaths until he felt at peace.
He let his mind drift past
the events in the turbolift. He focused instead on the unique moment
of the snap of her napkin. He replayed the events in his mind and
the fascinating abrupt jolting sensation returned. First, the cold
shock in his stomach, then the irresistible urge of gazing upon her.
He recalled her form perfectly, the memory of which provoked a most pleasurable
sensation, akin to a warm bath.
Somehow it seemed familiar.
But how can that be? He knew that he had never thought of a women in this
manner. Then it suddenly occurred to him: T'Chal. This was
the same sensation his brother, Taurik had shared with him that day.
He had never before appreciated the sensation Taurik experienced surrounding
the thought and being of T'Chal. Now he believed he knew what had
happened. Relieved to have an explanation, he absently admitted it
to himself: shon'ha-lok, the engulfment.
As this realization hit him,
he rolled off his knees and sat on the floor. A parade of familiar
emotions marched across him. He was absolutely astonished that this
could happen to him,
Then dread crept in and he
thought,<> He also wondered what
would happen now. As he let the euphoria of the engulfment
wash over him, the barest hint of a tiny smile lifted at his lips.
His eyes glittered in the light of the candle.
End Part Three
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Morning After
Part Four of Fourteen
The next morning, when he awoke,
he seemed back to his usual self again. Nothing unusual happened
during the course of the day or during the next week. He began to
forget about Lt. Raven Zans and the unexpected pleasurable sensation she
seemed to have provoked in him. Vorik began to believe that it had
been nothing more than a momentary lapse in mastery. He refused to
give it more thought.
Until....
He saw her for the first time
in two weeks. Vorik walked into engineering and heard laughter and
the whir of the mini-lift by the warp core. As it descended, he noticed
Lt. Kim was speaking with someone on his far side. Not interested
in the personal affairs of Lt. Kim, Vorik proceeded to his station.
"Hi, Vorik," he heard Kim call
to him. Vorik turned to acknowledge his greeting and he saw her!
She was walking very close to Lt. Kim. Raven averted her eyes
as she walked by him. As he recognized her, a cold jolt rippled through
his entire body. Then a swirl of quivering hardness beat inside of
him, as he realized that hers had been the laughter and it had been for
Kim.
For the duration of his duty,
he had some difficulty with his equations. His replies to his crewmates
were a little clipped. His behavior was not overt enough for anyone
to notice. But he noticed. By the end of his shift, the discomfort
had subsided. But he still skipped dinner in favor of meditation
in his quarters.
After the initial breathing
exercises and attempts at centering, he once again replayed the day's events
in his memory. A less intense version of the discomforting physical
sensations returned. He had no idea why her presence next to Kim
provoked such a visceral response in him. But he knew what the look
on her face was: shame.
But for what? Being with Kim
or for having initiated "that" conversation in the turbolift. Shame
was something he was familiar with. It displeased him that she would
be experiencing it because of him.
He needed to cease speculation
on this, he decided. <> This, whatever this was, had occupied
his thought process for far too long. By the conclusion of his meditation,
he had once again found his center. He felt the peaceful calm his
mastery usually produced within him.
Later that night, in
the middle of his sleep, he bolted up in bed. Her face lingered on
the fringes on his subconscious. Then her image and the feelings
began to slowly dissolve into the place where dreams go. It was rare
for Vulcans to dream. Especially to be awakened in the night by
them. The last time dreams
disturbed his slumber was during....he whipped back the sheets.
Remembering the remedy
that othe males utilized in this situation, he left his bed in a rush.
He was hit with a jolting shock
and his body spasmed as the stinging freezing water hit him full force.
Vorik was once again at the
end of his duty shift. Having passed on socialization with his crewmates,
he sat in his quarters, alone gazing into the flickers of his meditation
candle. He was amazed at how she had affected him. How she
still affected him. He was in turmoil. He had no idea on how
to proceed in this matter. He wanted nothing more than to be with
her. But he was uncertain if the customs of his people would permit
the type of interaction he believed she would require from him.
He dropped his head into his
hands. His father's words suddenly played in his head, << You
are aware of the consequences an unbonded male faces throughout his life?>>
<> He practically
shrieked inside himself. He felt everything inside of him begin to
unravel. <>
As he continued to consider
their mutual loss of each other, the despair rolled over him in waves.
He drew himself up, took in a cleansing breath, attempting to banish the
grief which threatened to break through. "This must stop!" He commanded
to himself alone in the faint light of his quarters.
He tapped his badge to page
Commander Tuvok
End part four
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Morning After
Part Five of Fourteen
**Wuh'Shok:First Kiss**
This morning, Raven worked
on repairs to the space suits in the airlock. It had been a week,
since that morning after. Raven was still grieving over her loss.
She didn't tell anyone what had transpired between Vorik and her, but many
of her friends guessed. The crew must have known what they had been
doing in his quarters for those twelve days of The Seclusion.
Perhaps, they had expected a formal announcement once they had emerged.
Mercifully, no one asked her what had happened. They were clever
enough to figure it out and polite enough not to ask.
The last time she had to see
to repairs on these suits, was almost seven weeks ago, when she and Vorik
first touched. But that day had first begun with Tabor assisting
her, actually harassing her about the Vulcan Ensign.
"So, did you talk to him?"
Tabor asked Raven off handedly while working his tricorder.
They both knew whom he meant.
"Yea, about that ....
I have a bone to pick with you!" Raven ceased her reading and turned
to a now chuckling Tabor. "Don't you laugh, you little......" and
Raven couldn't help but chuckle herself.
"I've been doing a little research
about Vulcan customs. You know, damn right well, that I should not
have talk to him about that. He's your friend, Tabor. Why would
you set him up like that? Set me up like that?" She was staring directly
at him. Waiting for him to stifle his last laugh. The chief
reason she had approached the subject of Vorik with Tabor was because Bethany
and Sal had been joking about approaching Vorik themselves. Raven
Zans had wanted to beat them to the punch.
Tabor turned to the small dark-haired,
female officer. They had just begun their acquaintance and he found
her interest in Vorik fascinating. He had taken it upon himself to
help this situation in anyway he could. "So what did you do? Hand
him your wooden name tag and request his presence in the hydroponics bay?"
He snickered at her.
She groaned inwardly and grimaced
to herself and thought, <>. She put a delicate
finger to her brown lips to stifle her growing laughter. "I am beginning
to regret having mentioned my people's mating customs to you."
"Well, " Tabor's was holding
back barely controlled guffaws. "I do have to say that your customs
are interesting and most...... logical." A snicker escaped from him
at that word.
She was shaking her head in
feigned irritation, " Well, if you lived in an isolated, remote, mountain
village with only women around you, you might get a little excited about
the Kreshek."
At the mention of that word,
Tabor could no longer control himself. He broke out in loud laughter.
"I'm sorry......I'm just imagining a bunch of painted, half-naked men dancing
crazily around a huge bonfire. And ?" Tabor was now doubled over
in laughter. His sides hurt in the effort."?and then you women passing
out these sticks."
"T'dakoos, " Raven shook her
head at the laughing Bajoran.
"?to . to your 'husband'
of the night." Tabor's earring rang in the airlock as he threw his
head back in laughter.
Through gasps of breath he
continued, " What must the wildlife think of all these people coupling
in the woods in the night."
Raven hide her bemused expression.
"Well, when you only see the opposite sex for a short period of time, the
sight of them is highly erotic and you are very motivated, "and she grinned.
Tabor's laughter began to slow
down and his breathing was labored as he apologized. "I'm sorry."
He had finally stopped laughing. "So, what did he say?" A smiled
still played at his lips and little laughs still escaped from him.
"Out of respect for Ensign
Vorik, I'm not saying whether I talked to him or not, " Raven stated quite
self satisfactorily.
"Ah, c'mon. Just tell
me. How did he react?"
"All I will say is this.
I would not blame him if he never spoke to me again. Not like we
communicate much now anyway." She spoke that last line with a tinge of
regret.
"Well, if you did say something
to him, that would explain a lot." Tabor slyly offered.
"What do you mean?" Raven replied
hopeful, taking the bait.
"I mean, " Tabor teased," he
has been acting a little distracted these past few weeks."
"You're just saying that
to get me to admit to you whether we had a conversation or not," Raven
shot back.
"Well, we'll just never know
now will we?" Tabor gave a grin and turned back to his tricorder.
Raven began to wonder to herself
as she pursed her lips, then let out a sigh. Her attention
returned to her task when Tabor asked her a questions about the suit specs.
Later, after Tabor had left,
towards the end of her duty shift, Vorik arrived, to relieve her of duty.
When the doors to the airlock room parted and he walked through, Raven's
stomach had butterflies. She caught her breath and thought to herself,
<> She could not keep the smile from
spreading across her face.
"Good afternoon. I'm
here to relieve you of duty," Vorik said in his usual perfunctory tone
seemingly unaware of her knowing smile.
She made out as if she was
ready to leave. She was almost at the doors when she turned around.
"Ensign, I wanted to apologize for making you feel uncomfortable last month
in the turbolift. I was unaware that discussions of that nature are
a strict cultural taboo for your people. No offense was meant."
"I accept your apology, " was
all he replied then set about to his work. He stepped toward the
last space suit slated for repairs.
Motivated by Tabor's words
she decide to press further and take the chance. What did she have
to lose? She sauntered back towards him. "But," she started quietly,
"my offer was genuine." She let that phrase hang between them. She
waited for a reaction from him. When it seemed none was forthcoming,
she turned away from him and began to head back to the doors
In his soft baritone, she heard
from his position a quick and quiet, " I accept."
She whirled around to him in
surprised astonishment. She could hardly believe her ears! He said
it so quietly that she asked him to repeat himself. He put his tricorder
down, turned and slowly approached her. This time he spoke with confidence.
"I accept your proposal."
A smile broke across her face
and the words tumbled out. "That is welcome news. I was certain
that you were offended or not interested in me or just didn?t want to talk
about it." She looked boldly and expectantly into his eyes.
Then she teased, " Well then, how does this proceed?"
She thought his eyes looked
so beautiful and luminous as he looked meaningfully into hers. Then
he lifted his fingers and gently, almost fearfully reached out to touch
her fingers. She stopped all smiling and teasing. She knew
that this was a very meaningful gesture. For him as well as her.
She raised her fingers and
permitted him to touch her. She slightly jumped when she felt a surge
of electrical current pass through his fingertips to hers. Neither
had expected such a sensation.
He began to caress her fingers
slowly, lovingly. She didn?t move, grounded to the spot by his touch.
His touch which promised tenderness and passion. Raven's breath quickened
in excited pleasure. Goosebumps raised on her forearms and pleasure
shivered up and down her spine.
A heavy longing came over her
and she leaned her head forward, coming closer to his. He looked
surprised, but pleased by her intrusion into his personal space.
Her soft lips lightly brushed his. The jolt was as intensive as their
finger touch. They both let out a breathy moan. He put his
hands on either side of her face and drew her closer, not letting her escape
him. She discovered that she loved having him hold her face
while they kissed.
It was a gentle kiss, but they
both felt the growing force of promised passion. They kissed harder
and more fervently. She watched his face express a range of previously
unwitnessed emotions. His hooded eyes would meet hers, then reverentially
close, then open again, glazed over in passion. Her little warm wet tongue
pushed past his lips. She grinned against his mouth as he opened
his eyes wide, startled by this new sensation. He allowed her tongue
to enter his mouth. She flicked his tongue with hers exploring his
mouth and encouraging him to do as well.
Her mouth now covered his entirely.
Her eyes closed in the passionate ecstasy that a first kiss usually created.
She just wanted to push him down to the floor and do this to him for hours.
Kiss his lips, his ears, and his neck. But then he pulled away.
When she opened her eyes, she
gazed into the burning intensity of his. This was so unlike the quiet,
remote man she had admired for ten years.
"Let us mind touch," he breathlessly
pleaded.
A lovely grin broke out across
her face. She bit her bottom lip in anticipation. And eagerly
nodded in silent agreement.
With an intensity not since
his first Pon Farr, he attempted the meld. She shivered as he laid
his fingertip on the neural points on her face.
<< If his fingertips
can do this much to me, just imagine,>> Her thoughts trailed off as she
heard him speak.
"My mind to your mind.
My thoughts to your thoughts," he invoked with a breathy whisper.
By this intimate touch she felt a warm flow enter her mind .
"Is this YOU?!!" she asked
excitedly.
In her mind, she heard his
gentle voice <>
She let out a long breath and
relaxed her body. As he descended into her mind, he ignited her nerves
in his wake. She sucked in her breath as the rapid sparks wracked
her brain and body. He
tightened his mental grip on
her, unwilling to let her slip away from him. Then he revealed himself
to her.
She instantly sensed all he
was, what he felt, who he was. She saw him as the essence of mirthful
serenity. It was pure joy to know him. She wanted to share
all of herself with him too, but she didn't know how.
<>
His gentle voice reassured her. And he probed deeper.
<>
She gasped and waves of pleasure spasmed through both of them.
<> and he backed off.
<>
Raven reached towards him, trying to draw him back.
<> and she felt him smile.
Just a small one. He feather-brushed her pleasure spot one more time
as he moved away.
He brushed past a closed door
in her mind and felt an unpleasant quivering current. She assured him that
now was not the time for that discovery. She would rather speak to
him about it. It was too strong an experience for the present moment.
<< A time for joyful
discovery,>> she reminded him.
For a half an hour they remained
locked in the meld. Rejoicing in the discovery of each other.
Their bodies and minds became accustomed to the other's presence.
Something deep inside Vorik synchronized with Raven. The young Vulcan's
hunger for the intimacy of the mind caused him to form a fledgling betrothal
bond. Not one which would allow him to sense her, but strong and
intense enough to reset his own biological clock to hers. This was
unknown to them both being an autonomic biological process. But it
manifested itself as a total blending of their individualities. For a few
delicious moments, they breathed as one, felt as one, thought as one, lived
as one.
He now knew of her attraction
to him. How it always existed, since the beginning of the voyage.
But he always seemed so unobtainable to her. And that just fueled
the mystery and desire, which surrounded him for her.
<>
He apologized that he had never
before regarded her in that fashion. But since her proposal in the
turbo lift, he had thought of little else, despite his repeated attempts
at putting aside the
thoughts. Then he revealed
to her his moment of realization of his love for her. And how by
accepting her proposal, his hopes for their future.
<>
Well, that did it for her.
Any fears or concerns she may have had about the Pon Farr were washed away
in this revelation. She gave herself up, entrusted her essence to
this lovely being. Burning desire began to well up within them.
It enveloped them. Once the heat grew in intensity, he broke the
meld.
For a brief moment Raven felt
disorientated, as if she were unsure of her own body, her surroundings.
The meld had been a deep, all-encompassing experience, a reality of its
own. Now she was thrust back into the world of Voyager and of her
own self. Alone. The mirthful serenity of
Vorik's' essence no longer
touched her and began to fade from a tangible soul to a memory.
They fell from each other panting.
She was soaked in perspiration He drew in deep lungfulls of air attempting
to cool himself. She wiped her face with her uniform sleeve.
Looking down, she noticed that her uniform between her breasts was soaked.
"You do realize that I have to walk through the halls like this?"
With that comment, he glanced
her way and nodded approvingly in between breaths.
"You are the biggest tease,
Vorik!" she said as she crawled closer to him.
"Wait!" he commanded and put
up a hand. "We cannot do this again, "and he continued breathing
hard.
"The hell we can't!" The small
human woman was becoming visibly frustrated. She was just gearing
up and he had broken their connection. And now he wouldn't continue.
What kind of a man was he anyway?
Then it dawned on her.
He was Vulcan. From her few recent readings about his people she
was gaining a beginning understanding of their customs and sensibilities.
For him to suffer the slings and arrows of love would be to court danger
to his psyche. She remembered how ruthless he had been in his pursuit
of B'Elanna. Nothing had mattered except his need. She would
not make him tear down the walls of his emotional discipline to satisfy
her human needs. She already loved him too much. She would
not make him suffer that.
"Forgive me. I'm just
a little frustrated. That's all. You are so overwhelming and
delicious, "and she felt herself inexplicably being drawn again to him.
Hungry for him, despite her resolve to let him alone to his Vulcan discipline.
He got up from the floor and
backed away. "I believe it would be wise if we remained apart until
the Pon Farr. Being in each other's presence could be detrimental
to our self control. I know that I have been having ......um ....difficulty,"
he admitted to her with an intense look.
"And when will that be?" She
returned his intense gaze, rather pleased with his admissions.
With a long cleansing breath,
he slowly began to regain his composure. "By my calculations, within Forteen
months."
She was feeling confident that
she had him. Now, she was certain that she need not worry about another
woman stepping into her place. She pursed her lips, clasped her hands
behind her back and began to back away towards the door.
"All right then, until the
Pon Farr," she countered with a mischievous smile. She knew what
was in store for them both. "I've been patient. Granted, I
haven't had any in 10 years, so a week solid of......will do just fine
for me."
"Try two weeks," he corrected
her and allowed a little smile to play across his lips.
Her breath caught in her throat
at his admission. Then she remembered to breathe and offered, " Perhaps,
we could exchange letters. I believe there is much you need to explain
about all this. And I have some explaining to do myself." The
memory of his brush against that closed door in her mind released a shiver.
"Agreed. An exchange
of letters would be most ....satisfactory. But please, no personal
contact until?the appointed time?" Vorik was attempting to reassert
his calm and control.
She quickly bit her bottom
lip to keep from giggling. "Yes," she agreed, then raised her hand in the
Vulcan salute. "Live long and prosper, master of my heart."
Her answer amused and excited
him. He was astonished and aroused at this highly erotic Vulcan term
of endearment. Despite his attempts, his control failed momentarily
and his eyes glittered in amusement.
To answer his unspoken question,
" Yes, I have been doing research." She arched her eyebrows in a Vulcan
imitation.
Then his combadge chirped.
"Saved by the bell," she quipped.
He took a moment to re-compose
himself. He slapped his badge, " Vorik here."
While he was momentarily distracted,
she rushed up to him and planted a quick kiss on his cheek. His head
turned to her and she noticed the return of his earnest expression.
Surprised at his sudden mood
change, she decided it would be best to leave him alone, before they did
something they shouldn?t be doing. She silently mouthed the words,
" I'll go now, "and backed away from him.
With the memories of that first
touch, she now wondered was it just the Pon Farr or did they feel more
for each other.
<>
Raven collapsed into the work
chair, then tossed her padd across the console. Her head sank into
her hands. Her body shook with her sobs as she succumbed to her despair
once more.
End Part Five
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Morning After
Part Six of Fourteen
**Koot-ut Kali Fee: Marriage
or Challenge**
At the end of his shift, Vorik
was on his way to meet with Tuvok. The
last time he had spoken with
Tuvok, had been the day of
This morning, Vorik had asked
his best friend, Lt. Tabor Fasiel to witness their bonding ceremony.
Over the past few years, Vorik had found an amiable companion in this man.
Tabor always seemed to know where the amusement was and Vorik appreciated
how the Bajoran security officer always kept him in mind for those times.
The two men had played a morning
distraction game of Parreses Squares in the holodeck. Vorik won two
out of three, as usual. After they had cleaned themselves up in Tabors'
quarters, the formally-attired men were now striding to Vorik's quarters
where Tuvok, B'Elanna and his betrothed awaited them.
Tabor was chatting away at
him, trying to relieve the tension and stress Vorik had been displaying
since the onset of his Pon Farr early last evening. He had never
seen his friend so agitated and lovelorn. Tabor was very amused by
all of Vorik's Vulcan vulnerabilities brought out at this time of the mating.
"What if she will not come?
What if she changed her mind? What if she....has chosen another?"
This possibility filled Vorik with dread and fear.
"Don't worry, " Tabor easily
said, stifling a snicker. He almost put his hand on Vorik's shoulder
to comfort him, but thought better of it and drew back. "I saw Raven
this morning. Your girl is just as nervous as you are, "and Tabor
laughed. "After I gave her a hug, she seemed to feel much better."
At these words, Vorik stopped
and glared at Tabor. "You did what?" his voice was low and menacing.
Tabor didn't notice the change
and continued. "Yeah, a hug is all she seemed to...."
Then Tabor realized Vorik had
stopped. He looked at his friend and saw incredible hate in Vorik's
face. Even Vorik's fists were clenched tight.
"What?" Tabor was astonished
at this sudden and violent transformation.
"It was not appropriate
to touch my bond mate!" Vorik seethed as he got into the Bajoran's face.
"No!....now whoa, just calm
down." Tabor slowly backed away from this creature that now only slightly
resembled his usually calm friend. "It wasn't anything more than
a friendly gesture. That is all it was." Tabor gave an understanding
and reassuring look as his friend visibly relaxed.
Vorik drew in a breath and
shook his head. "I am having difficulty thinking straight.
Forgive me."
Tabor looked to his friend
with understanding, " As you are fond of saying: the cause was sufficient.
C'mon, " Tabor motioned to his friend, " We have a bonding to get you to."
Vorik now thought to himself
as he approached Tuvok's doors, had their bonding been only less than three
weeks ago? It seemed like only yesterday and a lifetime ago.
<>
Vorik admonished himself then he chimed Tuvok's quarters.
Through the doors, Vorik heard
Tuvok reply, " Enter."
The doors swooshed open and
Vorik stepped across the threshold. As the doors closed behind him,
he noticed Tuvok at the replicator.
"Ha'meth tea?" Tuvok asked.
"That is acceptable, " Vorik
replied solemnly.
"Be seated, " Tuvok requested
as he gestured to the sofa.
Vorik heard the replicator
assembling their drinks, as he attempted to settle himself in the sofa.
He was beginning to think that this was a mistake. Perhaps he should
just solve this on his own. He didn't want to burden Tuvok with his
problems, but he was at a loss. His human friends could not possibly
understand his predicament. This was a matter of Vulcan tradition.
Thus logically, only a fellow Vulcan could advise him.
Tuvok placed the tray on the
table between them and began to pour. He offered a cup to Vorik.
He took it, but could barely keep the revulsion from his lips as he caught
its scent. Like all food this week, the very smell made him sick
to his stomach. He quickly put it aside.
Tuvok peered up over his own
cup and took notice of Vorik's actions. Tuvok let the quiet between
them fall for a few moments. Then his baritone voice sliced the silence.
"May I inquire as to the health of your bondmate?"
Inside, Vorik seethed.
That was the third time today someone has asked about her! On the way to
Tuvok's, Lt. Paris had come up from behind, clasped him on the shoulder
and asked grandly, " So, how's married life treating ya?"
No. He told himself.
This is not the same thing. Tuvok is not prodding into his privacy
just to satisfy curiosity. Tuvok's inquiry was merely a genuine point
of Vulcan manners. For him not to have asked would have been a social
oversight. Perhaps Tuvok is unaware of his present predicament.
Tuvok was not one to concern himself with others' personal business.
Everyone else seemed to be unaware that he and Raven had not spoken since
that dreadful morning after.
"I am currently unaware of
Lt. Zans' present state of health." Vorik replied reluctantly.
"I see, " Tuvok replied, noting
the use of Vorik's bondmate's rank and surname.
Tuvok reclined in his easy
chair. Vorik was perched on the edge of the sofa cushion. In
shared silence, Tuvok sipped at his tea again while Vorik looked down to
his clasped hands.
"You requested a meeting? Might
I ask the nature of the inquiry?" Tuvok formally requested
"Tuvok, " Vorik, still staring
down at his hands, breathed in deeply to steady himself. "I request
that you act as pyllora, my counselor."
Tuvok had been expecting this
request. Crewmembers had begun to notice that the newly bonded couple
were not speaking to one another. He had waited for Vorik to approach
him about this, thus leaving Vorik his dignity and the chance to handle
this on his own. He held out long than Tuvok had expected him to,
by two days.
"I will act as pyllora.
What do you ask of me?" Tuvok announced formally.
Vorik was still not able to
meet Tuvok's inquiring stare. "I would like to speak to you concerning
a personal matter. May I ask your advice on how best to proceed......
with Lt. Zans." Vorik wistfully whispered her name.
Tuvok raised an eyebrow at
Vorik referring to her by this name again. "Your aduna (wife)?"
He decided to just come out
and say it, speak the truth. "She is not my Aduna . We are not bonded."
He admitted it and had to hold back the anguish in his voice.
Tuvok stiffened slightly at
Vorik's words. "You resolved your Pon Far with her. By Vulcan
tradition, you are bonded. You are her Adun (husband). She is your
aduna."
Vorik leapt off the sofa and
began to pace the room. His frustration threatened to push through
his tentative control. "I don't feel bonded."
Tuvok carefully placed his
tea down on the tray, " What did you expect?"
As he gazed out the window,
Vorik wrapped his arms around himself . He lowered his voice and
attempted to stem the tide of anguish, which this speech was provoking
within him.
"I expected to have a bondmate.
To feel at peace after the rage of the Pon Farr, but instead, I am still
in turmoil."
Tuvok rose to meet Vorik at
the window. The men's stoic Vulcan features deepened in the dim streaking
starlight twinkling through the glass.
Now that he had opened the
door to the truth and Tuvok was willing to listen, Vorik decided to proceed.
"The bond would not fuse and now...." Though his voice and visage were
steady and calm, his heart grew heavy with emotion. He fell silent.
"That is most unfortunate,
" offered Tuvok matter-of-factly.
He waited for the younger man
to continue. When he didn't, he prodded, "and now?"
"And now I believe she is very
angry with me." Vorik quickly continued, eager to have this out in the
open, the revelation over and done with. "We have not spoken since I offered
her my gratitude."
"You invoked Dahshayu (the
Separation)?" Tuvok replied solemnly but inside he was hiding his astonishment.
"Yes. It seemed
the logical course to take following the conclusion of the Pon Farr." Vorik
remembered how quickly and firmly his control snapped back into place once
the fire of mating had passed.
"It may have been the traditional
course to take, but not the prudent or logical one." Tuvok firmly corrected.
Vorik covered his surprise
at Tuvok's unexpected statement.
"Mr. Vorik, did you take Lt.
Zans' human needs into consideration before you discussed the tradition
of The Separation with her.
"I did not discuss it with
her. I merely began the Po' Asal ritual with the traditional Starun
t' Itaren (speech of gratitude). She did not remain in order for us to
come to an agreement."
Vorik remembered the stinging
slap to his face. But he was more hurt by her angry and crushed look.
"Mr. Vorik, " Tuvok began in
his usual calm voice, " it is customary for Vulcan couples to observe times
of ritual celibacy, during their life long bond. The degree and frequency
of the observance depends on the couple's mutual regard and their own personal
inclinations of passion's mastery."
Tuvok looked at Vorik to notice
if there was any understanding. Tuvok realized that he may have to
be more straightforward. "It may not be possible for you and your
chosen to live in the Vulcan traditions that you expect yourselves to."
A silent Vorik looked down
at his hands hiding his profound disappointment.
In the ensuing silence, Tuvok
continued, " You have asked me to be your pyllora. What is it you
are asking of me?"
Vorik looked into Tuvok's face
and calmly stated, " I wish to know how to end this turmoil." Again outwardly
he was the picture of calm and control, but inwardly he was pleading.
Tuvok offered, " If you wish
to relieve your turmoil, then I suggest that you resolve this matter with
your chosen."
Vorik drew in a deep breath.
He was about to reveal his feelings to Tuvok. Something a Vulcan
avoids at all costs. "I regret invoking dashaya. I never wished to
cause her harm. If we had only bonded, none of this would be happening.
She would be secure in the knowledge of my regard for her without physical
reassurance."
Tuvok was slightly discomforted
at this emotional revelation. But he had agreed to be the younger
officer's pyllora and, by tradition, he had to listen to and do all Vorik
asked of him.
"Mr. Vorik, I would assume
that you have not spoken to Lt. Zans about further bonding attempts?"
Tuvok asked flatly.
Vorik weakly shook his head
no.
"Then I suggest that the logical
course of action would be to either assert total control over your emotional
condition or to attempt another bonding with Lt. Zans."
Vorik looked up into Tuvok's
face with barely contained astonishment.
Tuvok continued, " Speak to
her of this matter until the two of you can reach an amicable solution.
Voyager can not afford to have two officers emotionally crippled."
Tuvok punctuated this admonishment
with an arching eyebrow.
Suddenly seized, first with
hope, then fear, Vorik blurted out, " What if she will not ever speak to
me? What if we are never able to fuse our bond? What if she wishes to engage
in a human style relationship where I am required...."
Vorik inwardly shuddered at
the thought of having to put aside his remoteness and emotional control
while exchanging physical intimacies on a regular basis. A touch
of anxiety began to well inside him. He was torn between his desire
to fulfill his obligation to her, to them, and his duty to
uphold Vulcan tradition.
Tuvok interrupted Vorik's anxious
tirade. "You must do what is necessary to resolve this conflict between
the two of you. It is my belief that if the bond between you never
fuses, it should not be due to lack of continued attempts. You may
have to be more flexible in your adherence of our traditions in order to
accommodate her humanity."
Vorik began to truly absorb
Tuvok's words. A sense of hope and resolution welled within the young
man. It suddenly occurred to him that he had been seeking a partnership
based on a model he had been taught to uphold. If what Tuvok was
saying was indeed true and there are other degrees of the bond, then perhaps
he and Raven could find their own bond.
Assuming a formal stance, with
his hands folded and his fingers steepled beneath his chin, Tuvok intoned
his last bit of advice, "These are not topics for usual discussion.
One would not know of this fact unless one were exposed to the truth.
You were not made aware, and as such, acted upon the information you did
have at your disposal. Your logic was not flawed, Mr. Vorik.
Just formed upon incomplete facts. I would offer my assistance in
fusing the bond between you, if the need arises."
Vorik took in a deep breath
to calm himself. He thought how all this shame and rampant emotionalism
had been experienced needlessly. Or was it? Again Raven Zans had
affected him like no other. He wondered if perhaps this trial had
only strengthened his resolve, made him more worthy for her.
Tuvok's baritone broke Vorik's
silent reverie, "and, it would be most unfortunate, if you pass up this
opportunity, Mr. Vorik." Tuvok gave him a knowing glance.
Suddenly, Vorik could think
clearly. The solution now seemed so simple. Outwardly he suppressed
the smile that was threatening to break through.
"I understand fully." Vorik
sensed as if Tuvok was giving him permission to break with the traditions
his father and mother had tried so earnestly to instill into him.
Since they had not shared a strong regard for each other, they had believed
their children would never be consumed with passion for their mates either.
Their family tradition had been one of total lack of contact. Vorik
grew up believing that all Vulcan couples distanced themselves so.
But Tuvok's encouragement revealed to Vorik that the facts were otherwise.
Vorik slightly inclined his
head and recited the Pyllora's formal concluding and releasing statement
with firm control. "I express my extreme gratitude for your assistance
in this matter."
"I am honored to have served,
" Tuvok replied with equal formality.
Vorik purposefully strode over
to the table. He picked up his tea, now ice cold and drank it back
quickly. As he replaced the delicate cup on the tray, he nodded to
Tuvok and strode to the door. He was now certain of his course and
he would not take no for an answer.
<> Vorik inwardly sighed with relief.
Vorik was infused with motivation.
He was on his way to his beloved. He would meld with her and she
would know all that was in his heart. Pride had interfered with what
should be. The c'thia of the situation was that he cherished her
and was incomplete without her. He would let nothing stand in his
way.
End Part Six
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Morning After
Part Seven of Fourteen
Presently, she was on duty,
the computer informed him. He purposefully closed his eyes to contain
his growing anticipation. His hands slightly gripped the edge of
the console as he absorbed this information. Now he would have to
wait. He wanted to see her now. But he did not wish to cause
a scene while she was on duty.
<> Vorik told
himself. <>
Those words rang through
his mind and brought him back to their bonding. The most joyous day
of his life. The day they gave themselves into each other's keeping.
**********************
Vorik and Tabor arrived at
his quarters. As the doors slid open, strong musky incense overwhelmed
their senses and the men were welcomed to a most pleasant sight.
Vorik had personally arranged all the details: the orange dawning lights,
at the far corner of the room was the multi-angled gong, in each corner
the traditional burning firepots. Even the temperature was reminiscent
of Vulcan. He was only doing this once. He wanted it to be
right. Right for himself and for Raven.
They wanted the ceremony to
be in private. Raven did not wish the crew to see him in this shaky
condition in a public ceremony on the holodeck. His appearance was
unnerving to say the least. They had also wanted to keep everything
quiet. No one knew of their intentions to each other. It was
only last night, that they had asked Tuvok to officiate at the ceremony
and requested that these friends witness their declarations.
Captain Janeway was not asked
to conduct a Federation marriage ceremony. But there were legalities
to observe, nevertheless. Tuvok had assembled and brought to their
ceremony the required "paperwork" to insure the legitimacy of their union,
both in the Vulcan and Federation courts. He stood at the table,
PADD in hand, awaiting them both to affix their marks to the legal documents,
documents which would bind them together in the eyes of the law.
Since he was performing an official ship's duty, Tuvok was attired in his
formal dress uniform: his long tunic over his best trousers.
Vorik's gaze panned around
the room, he finally landed at the sight of his intended. Once he
spied her, he halted his approach. His pale green robe fluttered
around him as he stopped in his tracks. Visibly relieved, he whispered
to Tabor," she's here."
"I told you, " Tabor returned.
The Bajoran security officer
watched with amusement as his normally reserved Vulcan friend stared at
the silhouette of a small, full form at the lighted window. Tabor
had to hold back a snicker as he watched Vorik's eyes roam up and down
her features.
B'Elanna came up to her and
whispered," he's here."
Raven gave a slight nod and
a heavy sigh of relief. Through the throb of pulsing blood in his
ears, Vorik still heard the rest of B'Elanna's whispered offering.
"You don't have to do this, you know. It is going to be so difficult
for you. I could barely handle it."
Raven turned to B'Elanna.
"You don't understand. I want to do this. I ...."
"All right, "The lovely Klingon
gave a half smile. "Just remember those moves I showed you this morning,
if he gets too carried away." They both shared a sisterly grin.
Tuvok announced formally, "
Let us proceed." He stood beside the traditional summoning gong and
awaited the marriage party.
Raven seemed to glide over
to where Vorik awaited her. Tabor and B'Elanna took up their positions
on either side of the couple.
Vorik stared at her intently.
He drank her in, memorizing the way she looked. She had swept her
long hair up with an elaborate pin and let a few tendrils droop at the
nape of her neck. Her sheer purple gown was layered over a form-fitting
black suit. His pulse quickened as he caught the scent of patchouli,
a pungent but intoxicating fragrance.
She looked approvingly at him
as well. She tugged on his robe, as if complimenting him on his choice.
At her touch, he blurted out,
" I am here at the appointed time." Vorik suddenly grasped her hand
and seethed through his teeth, " My blood burns for thee, my heart
is a flame, my eyes are flame."
His gaze sought hers for acceptance.
She smiled, " Yes and 10 months early as well. I wonder why." Her
gaze shot down to their joined hands, her voice quivered in
pained whisper, " Vorik, that is too tight ."
With a shocked look on his
face he released her hand and began to murmur his apologizes.
He barely heard Tuvok's words,
the incantations, which had remained unchanged over millennia."From the
time of the beginning. This is the Vulcan heart, the Vulcan soul...."
Tuvok handed the quivering
man the mallet. This was the moment of truth.
Vorik recited, " As it was
in the dawn of our days." He approached the gong on its stand and wondered,
would she allow him to strike? As he stood before the gong, he continued,
" As it will be for all our tomorrows." He raised the mallet, then
looked to her. Would she block his approach and choose a challenger?
By the warm light of the candles, her face was radiant with pride and joy.
She smiled, then with a brief nod she urged him to conclude. Infused with
confidence, he intoned, " This is our way." The deep rumble of the gong
reverberated through each chest.
Vorik quickly returned to her
side, claiming her hands once again within his own. Her hands felt
cooler than his own. He admired her calm. It would serve them
well. They would need her icy cool to stem his searing heat.
In this fashion they would resolve the Pon Farr together.
"Apart but never parted." Vorik
vowed as he brought her hand to his lips and sensuously kissed each short
finger.
Tuvok experienced discomfort
at the overt emotional display and knew that the ceremony must proceed
before matters came to a point beyond Vulcan propriety.
In their fine raiment, the
betrothed pair faced each other. The crackle and sputtering of the
flicking flames filled the quiet of the warm dim room. With determination,
Vorik lifted his other hand and reached for her face. The excited
young woman understood the invitation and raised her shaky hand mirroring
his gestures.
His warm soft fingertips brushed
along her face. Again Vorik was jolted at touching her flesh.
It had been four weeks, since they had first and last touched. Besides
increasingly fervent love letters, they had no contact at all since their
agreement to bond. He saw the startled look in her eyes as she felt
this shock too. His fingertips then settled along the points on her
skull, which contained essential nerves, bringing him to her mind.
With her gaze locked onto his
intense stare, her fingers pressed to his face. Tuvok readjusted
her placement. Certain that their contact was firm, Vorik initiated
the meld. Using skills learned through direct melds from his own
father, the young Vulcan began the most basic of all touch telepathy skills:
the ability of the nerves to speak to an outside nervous system.
He intoned in a throaty whisper, " My mind to your mind...... my
thoughts to your thoughts."
Vorik did not say anymore.
The room disappeared as their eyes closed at the joining. His mind
was hit with a wave of her, in all her love for him. He was overjoyed
at his good fortune. They shared these discoveries. Then she
attempted to come closer to him, but faltered. Vorik waited patiently
and calmly for her. When she didn't return, he sought her out.
Suddenly they were back in
Vorik's quarters. Their minds were no longer touching. The
couple looked to each other in concern then sought a possible explanation
from Tuvok. In a concerned voice, Raven asked both men, " I don't
understand. We had no difficulty touching minds last month."
Tuvok explained, " Mr. Vorik
informed me of your successful melding. But the bonding is different,
more complex, and much deeper. You are attempting to fuse your minds.
Creating a telepathic connection which is ever present and cannot be broken,
except by death."
Raven was surprised by this
differentiation. "Oh, I see." For a moment her resolve wavered.
The extent of the commitment she was making with this man before her was
becoming clear to her. Then in a flash she made her decision.
Yes, she would agree and welcome this. She placed her other hand
over Vorik's which was still clinging to hers and gave it a gentle squeeze.
Tuvok noticed her gesture
and encouraged, " Try again."
As the couple once again faced
each other and pressed their fingertips to each other's meld points, Tuvok
intoned, " Clear your minds and relax. Your minds are merging, becoming
one."
This time Vorik eagerly sought
her out and found her. As he grasped her, he felt her mental gasp.
He held onto her tightly, resolving not to let her slip away. He
attempted to fuse their minds together. Raven mentally smirked.
< she quipped,<> Her thoughts trailed off as
she felt Vorik caress her mind. He found that pleasure spot again.
<< Now is the time for
this.>> Vorik invoked and her body let out a sigh.
For nearly ten minutes, the
pair remained telepathically linked. Vorik utilized all his skills
to form and complete the connection with her mind, as well as enjoying
the pleasures that only linked minds are able to.
Tuvok noticed that the pair
were not going to end the physical joining on their own. Neither his training
not his station had prepared Tuvok for this experience. Priestesses and
Matriarchs were ones who attended to these sacred duties. This was no place
for a male. But these were unusual circumstances. Taking care not
to touch the young Vulcan man in Pon Farr, Tuvok instructed Tabor to remove
Vorik's hand from Raven's face, thereby breaking their link.
As if in pain and unfullfillment,
the couple moaned in unison, " No, not yet."
They were suddenly conscious
of their physical surroundings. In unison, they looked at Tuvok,
sorely disappointed.
He furrowed his eyebrows in
confusion, " You should be feeling a fleeting connection of some sort.
Concentrate on it."
In anguish, Vorik asserted,
"There is nothing."
Tuvok took in their disappointment.
"At this time, there is nothing I can do for you. I believe you should
continue to meld frequently. Perhaps together you can build some
sort of bridge. A frequent merging of your minds might result in
a bond."
Raven looked up into Vorik's
face and gently touched his cheek. "We will keep trying."
Reassured by her touch, he
turned from his anguish and disappointment at the failure to bond.
Instead, he concentrated on what they would share this day and for subsequent
nights.
Now Vorik realized how foolish
he had been to solely concentrate on the bond to sustain them. Now,
it did not matter if they would never truly be bonded as most of his people
were to their mates. His parents were bonded, but did not possess
this?shan ha'lok.
He just wanted to be with her,
to share their lives together. If that meant he had to engage in
physical intimacies with her at a frequency level comfortable for humans,
so be it. To quote
his human friends: That which
does not kill us, makes us stronger. He will just have to learn to
endure.
End Part Seven
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Morning After
Part Eight of Fourteen
**Pon Farr: Mating Time**
Earlier in the day, Raven was
in her quarters preparing for her shift. While searching for her
inventory list, she happened upon a Padd with Vorik's name. Before
their bonding, she had been trying to find out how to form the letters
of his name for a gift.
<> She let out
a sigh. <> Her fingers traced the letters of
his name on the display.
<>
She tossed the Padd back down
on the table, reluctantly tearing her eyes from his name.
Her hands ran over her face
in budding frustration She was growing weary of having these constant feelings
of dread. Her stomach was constantly in knots and she felt as if
she would break out in the shakes any minute. <>
Her hands trailed to her mouth,
her fingertips tapped at her lips. His name caught her eye again.
As she picked up the Padd, the elegantly formed letters of his Vulcan name
reminded her of when she gave him his gift, the bonding gift.
Vorik had carefully prepared
everything in his quarters: A comfortably warm temperature, dim lights,
and a firepot in the corner. He even had a gift for her. He
walked over to the table to show her. It was her own robe.
Bashfully he offered an explanation,
" I selected it for you when we visited the Grinor Hasters' Space Station
two weeks ago."
She was very touched and thought,<>
"Thank you. May I?" She
reached for it.
Instead he opened it up and
held it out for her to slip into. In the flickering candlelight,
the azure material shimmered. It was so light, she barely felt it
on her shoulders.
"This is for you." She picked
up the package she had brought along with her this morning. "I made
it for you."
She handed him a white fabric
wrap, secured with a green cord. He unraveled the cord and unfolded
the fabric. Within was a hand-sized wooden rod. The highly
polished, honey-colored piece of stock was deftly carved with the elegant
recognizable Vulcan letters of his name. He turned it in his hand
to admire how the letters were intertwined with a bold swirling pattern.
"It's called a t'dakoo, a name
totem. Back on Queblanis, we would exchange them to indicate our
intentions."
At the mention of her home,
he looked at her. During their betrothal separation, she had written
to him detailing the events of her home's destruction. He had expressed
his regret.
She acknowledged his silent
looks of concern and continued."Usually, while the elders gathered around
the fire to tell stories, I'd carve pictures or name symbols into any natural
wood I could find. I just wanted you to know that I have been thinking
of you too." She took it from his hands and replaced it in the fabric wrap.
"I hope you will not mind,
but it is too warm in here for this."
She began to pull her new robe
of her shoulders. He reached over to assist her and lovingly folded
it and placed it on the table next to his gift.
Little beads of perspiration
clung to her upper lips. She wiped them away with her finger, not
certain if the room temperature was too warm or it was the fire within
her.
His gaze returned to her and
their eyes locked. He extended his paired fingers and she brushed
hers to his. They took turns slowly caressing each other. They
wanted to take this slowly, but this mutual flame was rekindling their
passion propelling them along.
Inside, the newly joined pair
reddened with the warmth of glowing embers.
***********************************************
Now as Raven stood in her lonely
quarters surrounded by the memories and momentos of their bonding, a feeling
of anger and humiliation consumed her.
<>
With fleeting despondency,
she tossed the Padd with his name on it back onto the table. The
clatter was like note of finality on her decision. She let out a
heavy sigh. << Well, I just have to face that fact and let
him become nothing to me.>>
With that resolution planted
in her head, she left her quarters, aggravated and late for duty.
End Part Ten
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Morning After
Part Eleven of Fourteen
**Plak Tow: Blood Fever**
In the mess hall, Raven was
sitting at a table with Chell. The blue-skinned Bolian missed his
two wives and children. He was chattering on about how it was his
secondary wife's birthday today, and how they always went to the lake alone.
Raven heard the doors swoosh open and out of habit she turned to see if
it was him. Every time she entered a room, she dreaded seeing him
there, but then was crestfallen if he wasn't. This time it was Paris
who walked in. She returned her attention to Chell and his story.
He was actually relating a funny encounter, which involved him, his wife's
nudity and the authorities.
She was totally engrossed,
when she heard Vorik whisper in her ear, " May I speak to you?"
"Well, hello Mr. Vorik, " Chell
announced grandly. "I'll just excuse myself. Good day, Raven."
The friendly Bolian patted her hand and left the table.
She was suddenly consumed with
panic. Her instinct was to get of there and away from him.
Raven jumped up and blurted out the lie everyone used." I have to go.
I'm late for duty. Excuse me."
Vorik stood there watching
her hurry out the door, not knowing what to do. He was flabbergasted
at her. <> he thought to himself.
His friend Tabor, who had witnessed
the entire exchange, left his seat and came to his friend's side.
Quietly, under his breath he suggested, " Go get her Vorik."
She rushed out the doors, down
the corridor, but the closed turbolift doors stalled her escape.
She waited anxiously.
Vorik came up behind her.
"Please, I would like to speak with you."
She felt trapped and vulnerable.
She didn't want to hear his voice or see his face. It just hurt too
much. She was fearful that if she stayed another moment her resolve
would melt. She didn't want her feelings to be rekindled. It
was just easier to be angry and avoid him all together.
"Leave me alone!" she firmly
uttered through clenched teeth. She was barely holding her emotions
in.
Mercifully, the doors parted
and she stepped through. She was hoping that her outburst would prevent
him from pursuing her further. She glanced at him slightly as the
doors closed on her.
As the doors closed, he could
not keep the anguish off his face. << She hates me!,>>
As he walked away from the
turbolift doors, he thought to himself. <>
With a brave face and his hands
clenched behind his back, Vorik walked to his quarters. He now believed
that all was beyond hope. He believed that he deserved her hate,
her contempt.
Once inside his quarters, he
sat down in his favorite chair. Just a few minutes ago, he had been
hopeful, but now, he was desolate. He spied her bonding gift on the
low table in front of him. He felt the ridges of his name and imagined
her whittling them into the wood. She had given him so much joy and
all he gave her in return was pain. He felt shame. Shame particularly
for inflicting his blood fever on her.
It came over him without warning.
He awoke in his quarters, sheets annoyingly tangled around his body.
Alone! He panicked,<>
Red-hot fire raged through
his body and mind. The throbbing pulse of his blood pounded through
his head. The details were foggy as the periphery of his mind blurred.
Fear grasped at the fringes of his being. <> Consuming urgency propelled him in his search.
He remembered someone trying
to help. In the corridor, a curious Neelix stopped the confused Vulcan.
"Mr. Vorik? what are you doing
here?" Neelix took in the sight of a hot, raging, confused man, barefooted,
clad only in his robe. He wondered why Lt. Zans would let Ensign
Vorik run amok through the ship."I thought that you and Lt. Zans??" and
Neelix trailed off remembering the Vulcan need for privacy in these matters."
Vorik just stared at him blankly,
as if he did not understand a word he just said.
"Mr. Vorik, are you all right?"
"My mate!" Vorik hoarsely declared,
as if that utterance would mean something to this creature before him.
He was not capable of uttering anything else. He had a vague feeling
that he knew this being before him. But it was not important.
The only thing of relevance was to find her. His mate.
Neelix was confused.
"Yes, Lt. Zans. I thought she was with you?"
Vorik turned and walked away.
He had to find her. <>
Neelix hurried to catch up
with Vorik's determined strides. Slightly out of breath, Neelix continued
as they strode through the corridor. "You're looking for her, I see.
Well, why don't we page her."
Vorik halted at this.
He had a glimmer of comprehension. <>
Eagerly, Neelix licked his
lips then requested, " Computer, where is Lt. Raven Zans?"
The computer perfunctory answered,
" Lt. Raven Zans is in sickbay."
"There. See? Let's go
get her, "and Neelix gestured for the confused man to accompany him.
Vorik did.
The doors to sickbay swooshed
open to admit them. "Ahh Lt. Zans" Neelix said with a smile.
"I found someone wandering the halls, looking for you."
Vorik moved from behind Neelix
and spied her. She was sitting on the bio-bed, while the doctor ministered
to her. She looked up at him and smiled, " Vorik what are you doing
out of our quarters?"
Something within him snapped
and he could no longer control his body. His face contorted into
a beastly rage and he rushed at her. "MY mate!!" he screamed and
leapt on top of her.
Everyone was momentarily paralyzed
in shock at his sudden and brutal behavior. Raven somewhere beneath
him screamed. "GET him off me!!"
He was tearing at her clothes.
His strength was hurting her. His sudden and violent attack provoked
a fear in her so strong that it drove away any desire she may have had
to respond to him.
The doctor, brought to his
senses by her screams for help responded. He grabbed the raging man,
pulled him off his victim and threw him against the wall.
Raven jumped up off the bio-bed,
held her arms out to ward off any further attacks and yelled, " Kroy'kah!!"
He seemed to understand that
word, and froze his attack. He clasped his hands together and tried
to call upon his training. <> But the rage,
the fire, the fever was growing quickly and gathering strength, especially
in her presence. He supported his body against the wall. His
intense gaze locked upon her form, never daring to take his eyes off of
her, lest she disappear again.
"Hurry up and finish, Doctor.
Seems the Plak Tow is here." The slightly rattled woman kept her eyes on
Vorik, ready to run or strike him, if he made a move towards her.
The doctor was astonished.
"I do not think you should continue with this course of action Lt. Zans.
Only an hour ago, you suffered some minor lacerations and bruising.
You need time to heal. And from the looks of things," he glanced
over at Vorik, " that will not be happening any time soon."
"We will finish this," she
firmly asserted.
At the sound of her voice,
Vorik thought she was calling for him and he stepped forward.
"Sit down Vorik! Over there!"
she commanded and pointed to the far wall, as far away from her as possible.
He backed up still holding her in his gaze. "I can do this.
We can do this," she reassured the doctor and herself softly. "Next
time Doctor, I'll summon you to our quarters. I should not have left
him."
Vorik saw her looking upon
him. He knew that she was the one who held the key to his relief.
He looked to her to release him from this madness. Something told
him that this is not what he wanted. Everyone to see him like this
again. His Pon Farrs must be the most witnessed events
in Vulcan history.
While watching her exchange
with the doctor, he wondered why she was here? <>
he vaguely remembered. <> She
stood up and motioned to him. <> He
strode quickly to her side. But she commanded him to not touch her.
They left sickbay together.
As they walked side by side down the corridor, he was compelled to touch
her. But she kept pointing for him to stay on his side of the corridor.
"Over there, Vorik! ....Not yet!....Wait!" She repeated over and over.
Luckily, their quarters were on the same level as sickbay. She was
grateful to be able to avoid being alone with him in the turbolift.
They were on the final leg of their journey, a few paces to the doors of
their quarters, when she began to weep.
His need was beginning to surge
through him. The hot steady pulse consumed his being, his mind and
body. The beat would push him and direct him through his next actions.
He could no longer control it or himself, but somehow, she could command
him. He held to her demands and heard her voice despite the deafening
pulse that filled his ears. He understood her words and responded
accordingly. As he heard her soft sobs, he wondered for a moment
why she was crying. <>
When they finally arrived at
the doors, with trembling hands, she wiped the tears from her face.
She could barely activate the opening mechanism and the doors parted.
She was trying to delay this as long as possible. She walked in first
and held her hand out to signal wait, stop. "Wait," she muttered
through sobs. She backed into the dark quarters, tears sliding down
her hot swollen face. Anxious to get to her, he stared hard at her,
his breathing ragged, like a racehorse at the starting gate, champing at
the bit. He was waiting for her signal to summon him to her side.
"OK," she sniffed and whispered
through her sobs, " Go."
He rushed at her and the doors
closed behind them. If anyone had been listening in the corridor,
they would have heard her muffled cries of pain and terror.
Vorik couldn't believe
the pain and horror he inflicted upon her. He would have taken his
own life rather than dishonor her so. She had sacrificed her body
for his need. No wonder she hated him now. If he was capable,
he would hate himself too.
Now he wondered what he would
do. He was only thinking of his own turmoil all these days.
He had not even thought about what she was thinking or feeling. <> The young Vulcan told himself, still motivated
by Tuvok's encouragement.
Then a novel though hit him.
With a sentiment of irony, Vorik realized that if he had accepted his father's
marriage arrangement, he would not be facing this issue now. He would have
died in the throes of his first Pon Farr. Incapable of even choosing
another for himself, he and his far away mate would have been locked
into a death fall. It was the Vulcan way.
Vorik wondered if his
father could have foreseen this and that was the reason for his quick acceptance
of the thirteen year old Vorik's logic. Illogical he told himself,
It would have been impossible for his father to have foreseen these circumstances.
The youngest son of Doshik,
half -way across the galaxy, his first time upon him and no unbonded Vulcan
females in sight. His father was not usually so flexible on matters of
Vulcan custom. Vorik found himself once again grateful for his father's
acquiescence.
As the turbolift doors closed,
Raven glanced up and swore she saw a look of hurt wash across his face.
Could he have really been wanting to talk to her about them? No.
That was not possible. Besides, she couldn't even look at him right
now. She had firmly promised herself no more hope. She had
not even thought of him while at work. At least, not since the beginning
of her shift, when she found her Padd.
<< Good! I hope he was
hurt. Serves him right after the way he hurt me that last morning.>>
Now she was getting hateful.
<> she sneered to herself.
<< How could he have grown up around humans and still be so clueless
about their emotions. I hope he suffers. I want him to suffer.
This has been too easy for him. He just hides from his feelings.
Locks them away, banishing them from his heart and mind. It's too
easy, that Vulcan way of his.>> The turbo-lift doors opened and she
found herself on her deck. She stormed to her quarters, totally motivated
to eliminate all traces of him and their association.
<> she tried to convince herself.
Everything seemed so real,
so right. She even believed that for a time, they did connect.
But no, they were not bonded and that is all that mattered to him.
They were not bond mates, so he believed that he could simply walk away
from her. Well, she could do the same. She came to her doors
and they parted at her arrival. Hot and angry, she flew to the table
and snatched up her PADD. With fury, she activated the program with
his name and prepared to delete, when a wave of nausea washed over her.
She clutched her middle and tried to breathe through it. She felt
it pass and she stood up straight. <> Then the wave hit again and this time
it would not relent. She dropped the PADD and rushed to the bathroom
before it was too late.
Thoroughly, drained and pained
with a sore throat, she looked at her face in the mirror. She noticed
her eyes first. She had wretched so violently that the whites were
now pink with broken blood vessels. Her face too was dotted with
broken blood vessels. She turned on the water, let it fill her cupped
hands and drank in a deep mouthful. Then she splashed water all over
her hot face. <>
Her anger momentarily subsided.
She was too exhausted and desolate to be angry. No other person had
ever affected her like this before. This pain, this physical pain
she felt because of their separation was so great. But this was different.
This was an ache in her heart, her mind, her body, her being, an agonizing
ache that throbbed. As if something were missing and now she had
no idea what to do with the rest of her life.
She had experienced pain, excruciating
pain before. Not only at Vorik's hands, but at the Others' as well.
She wasn't angry about that. Vorik experienced that agony too.
She remembered how she found him. How they comforted each other,
during the fury of the Plak Tow.
He had rushed onto her as soon
as she gave the word. In a gasp, her anguish gave way to the waves
to terror which flooded through her. This was an all too familiar experience
she was being forced to relive. Her head hit the floor hard, when he jumped
on her. He was like a wild beast! He didn't even speak, just uttered
guttural animalistic sounds. With his superior Vulcan strength, he
held her down to the floor and scratched her skin bloody, as he tore her
clothes off. Her feeble human strength was no match for his and she
yelped in pain. But he was consumed with the instinct, unable to control
it in the least.
Her eyes were wide in panic,
but she hardly saw him. This beautiful man who just a few short hours
ago, had gotten her aroused her to the point of practically passing out,
was only arousing terror and panic in her now. He barely resembled
that considerate and attentive lover she had enjoyed for the past six days.
He was now a raging Vulcan, flushed fury-green in the rut of the ancient
Plak Tow.
In desperation, she tried to
initiate a meld. With a shaky hand, she reached up to touch his katra
points on his face. <>
Keeping her wits about
her, again she grabbed his hand and tried to get him to touch her face.
For a moment he understood and did so.
What she touched, felt, saw,
heard, and lived within her Vulcan was terrifying. A raging firestorm
whirled inside of him. The loudest roar human ears had ever heard
raged within their joined minds. The winds buffeted her essence,
attempting to sweep her away on its course. She opened herself up,
hoping her exposure to the storm would ignite her mind. But he couldn't,
she couldn't. He was too far into the Plak Tow. All that existed
was his driving need to mate with her. It seemed that he was going
to do it with or without her help or enjoyment.
She sadly realized that if
they had bonded, she would be feeling this right now with him. Her
own body and mind might have created it's own fire storm and blood fever
in response to and in harmony with his. But instead, she was fated
to endure this.
She felt excruciating pain
as her rib cracked. He was holding her too tightly. Her human
frame may not be strong enough to endure this, his strongest passion.
The urge to retreat overwhelmed
her. To that safe place she had been once before when this would
happened to her with the Others, the Cobra-headed Others. But first,
she wanted to try and reach Vorik just once more.
There was practically nothing
here of Vorik's calm essence. The firestorm was too loud and raging.
Was he here? Was this rage him? She went through the fury as if she were
trying to navigate a sandstorm. The fire pelted and burned her like
stinging sand. She called his name. But she couldn't even hear
her own voice over the huge wail of the firestorm.
<> She felt her skin scraping
against the carpet and willed herself to ignore further pain. <> She summoned all her courage and strength.
Her being shook as she called out, <>
No response.
Almost discouraged. But
she called his name even louder. As loud as the wail of the winds
in his mind.
<> >
Then she heard it.
Barely. A soft, faint
sobbing and a shadow, just a darker outline in the darkness of the storm.
She plodded toward it. The seething winds buffeted her but she pushed
on. Then she found him, amidst the storm. He was huddled up,
trying to protect himself from the firestorm. He was paralyzed with
fear. It was all he knew and was not even aware of her presence in
his mind. She bent down and touched him.
<>
He felt her touch and heard
her voice and he clung to her.
<> he
cried in relief.
<> She
was glad to have found him. This was her Vorikam
<>
he sobbed.
<> She cradled to comfort him, as waves of anguish rolled off
of him.
<> and he was consumed with sadness. All his pent up emotions
came out in a gush, overwhelming him shaking his core.
<> And they clung
tightly to each other's minds.
<> He spoke her
name with such longing, that she now knew all of his feelings for her.
She surrendered to this lifetime
bond with a single word. >
Joy filled their hearts.
For a moment, the raging beast did not exist, just this connection between
them.
Vorik's essence enveloped hers,
<>
Raven's being melted into his,<>
They clung to each other.
Waiting. It was nearly an hour, but they did it together. They
survived.
Their consciousness drifted
apart as they physically disconnected from each other.
He had rolled off of her and
fell into exhausted unconsciousness. When she reentered her body,
she was greeted with searing pain. There wasn't a single inch of
her inside or out which was not in excruciating agony She knew she need
medical attention and fast. She crawled away from him. She
tried her voice, but was what came out was a hoarse whisper. Her
neck hurt too. She riffled through the ragged remnants of her clothing.
Once she found her communicator, she activated it to summon the Doctor.
In Vorik's bedroom, the doctor
mended her broken bones, stemmed her internal bleeding and regenerated
her lacerated tissues. Doctor and patient sat together in silence.
He was barely able to hold his tongue. She knew he was outraged at
her condition. But she did not need to be reminded, just to be mended
and quickly too before he awoke. She did not want her beloved to
see this. She knew it would pain him enough to know what he had done
to her.
The doctor finally broke the
silence, unable to hold back his anger. "I don't believe your body
can take much more of this kind of abuse, Lt. Zans. I'm going to
insist that Ensign Vorik take a sedative and leave you alone."
"I believe the worst is over,
Doctor, " Raven replied just as hopeful to herself as to him.
Vorik entered the bedroom.
Her heart leapt up in fear at the site of him. But he mumbled, "
Pardon me, "and entered the bathroom. Visible relief washed over
her.
"Well, my work here is done."
The doctor began in a voice loud enough to be heard by the occupant in
the bathroom. "I trust I will not be needed again. I am getting
tired of repairing your bones and?"
Raven suddenly stood up and
cut him off, " We appreciate your attention in this matter, Doctor.
But I am certain we will no longer be requiring your medical services."
She grew irritated with his attempt to shame her Vorik. He had enough
shame to handle.
"Good day," the Lieutenant
said to him by way of dismissing him.
The Doctor, still harboring
anger and the certainty of his rightness, reluctantly acquiesced to her
wishes. He gathered up his instruments, packed them into his case,
closed it and straightened up to leave.
"I do certainly hope
it is over. For both your sakes." He glanced at the bathroom door,
from which Vorik had just appeared. Then the holographic Doctor stalked
out.
Vorik waited to be certain
of the Doctor's departure before he spoke. "Are you all right?" he
gently asked and took a tentative step towards her. He was unable
to look her in the eye; instead, he looked down at her hands.
She felt a twinge of trepidation
in his presence, her body remembering the physical assault and pain.
But now, standing before her was her Vorikam and not the beast. "I'm
fine." She took a step closer to him too. She grasped his hands in
hers.
He acted a little uncomfortable
and embarrassed. He seemed to need to be comforted just as much after
this ordeal as she did. She was eager to comfort him, to reassure
him that all was
right between them. She
touched his shoulder and he finally looked into her face. It was
healed, but a faint trace of puffiness still lingered from the severe swelling.
"Forgive me, had I known
the result, "The wounded man gently squeezed her hands as he continued,
" stau'mahau-tor (suicide) would have been preferred, " his fingers
lovingly touched her cheek, " to the sight of thee. . .as such..."
"You could not have know this
would happen. Nor did I. But we got through it, together.
This means something, Vorik. We may not have a telepathic bond, but
we have something. I feel it. Don't you?"
He closed his eyes and said
very quietly. "How can you stand my presence after all I did to you.
And now, here you are saying...." He had to stop before he sobbed the rest
of his words.
"What we learned about each
other and shared together in the face of the storm is our bond. I
meant everything I revealed to you. You know that to be true."
"Then, believe everything I
said too." His deep voice barely a whisper, his dark intense eyes brimmed
with moisture, " You have my heart, Raven Zans, always." He took her chin
gently in his fingers and he kissed her. A very soft heartfelt kiss.
After their tender kiss, she
smiled up at him. She was hopeful with this new development.
She saw this as a big step for them. All this time, they were focused
on attaining a Vulcan bond. Its acquisition and development had been
the purpose of all their efforts. Perhaps now they had reached an
understanding and would be content to merely be together.
"How about some tea?" she asked,
infused with this good feeling.
"Be seated, I will prepare
it for us," he replied solicitously.
She entered the living room
and took up a seat on the sofa. It seemed, that while the Doctor
had been tending to her wounds, Vorik had gathered their garments, erasing
all traces of the rage. That was acceptable, because she had no desire
to be reminded. She admired him as he walked towards her carrying
the tray. He placed it on the table in front of the sofa and sat
next to her.
As he poured her a cup, she
suggestively offered, " I could really get used to this." She meant more
than the tea, more than him attending her, even more than his person next
to her.
Then he spoiled the mood.
"I still do not sense the bond between us. I had expected that the
survival of the?" he implied the unmentionable, ashamed to speak of it.
"I had hoped it would have bonded our minds together. Our frequent
attempts should have produced some results by now, "and he trailed off.
She was sorely disappointed
and reminded of her own failings. <> she thought forlornly to
herself. Hiding her dejection, all she could say was, " Well, we'll
just keep trying, "and she sipped at her tea in silence.
Now in her quarters, she wondered
what that had been. Had they, for just a moment, met in between?
But that bond which was suppose to bring them together always seemed to
push them apart. It was like his own feelings for her could not exist,
without the Pon Farr. All that they had learned and shared meant
nothing without that damn Vulcan bond. <>
Suddenly, she wondered what
he wanted to speak to her about and why he looked pained at her rebuff.
<> She remembered being so angry at the
time. Could she even dare to hope?
To let her own pride get in
the way of what could be the potential solution of the situation was....illogical.
Did she just think that? Now the best course of action was the direct
one. She would have it out with him. She would tell him that
she loved him and that she wanted to be with him. And if he did not
love her anymore or ever loved her, then she could live with that, right?
<> She hung her head. She
was vacillating between standing up to him and hiding from him forever
when she heard the door chime.
End Part Twelve
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Morning After
Part Thirteen of Fourteen
**Va~kaunsh'es: Reunion**
Raven heard the chirping of
the door. As she activated the door, it slid aside to reveal his
face. Her heart almost leapt at the sight of him. Her Vulcan's
upswept brows and dark eyes gazed into her face and she knew she could
not resist anything he had to say to her. She just hoped he had come
to tell her what she had been hoping he would tell her.
She swallowed hard and forced
herself to keep still, " Good afternoon." She took in a breath, " Please
come in."
The young woman allowed
him entrance. With a single step he swept into her quarters.
His gaze remained on her face, holding her eyes. "Raven, I need to
speak to you," he plainly stated in his soft voice.
Raven took in a sudden breath
that she realized she had been holding, Her heart was hammering away inside
her chest, and she could barely keep her hands from shaking.
He waited for her to offer
him a seat. As he glanced at the sofa, a quick flickering of remembrance
blazed through his mind, for one night they had shared in her quarters.
She took his glance as a request
for a seat. "Please sit down." She gestured to the sofa. "Would you like
anything to drink?" she asked trying to keep her voice steady.
The brooding man perched on
the sofa's edge. "No, I do not require anything." He fell silent
and look down at his hands, tightly clasping them together.
Raven in all her humanness
felt the cold sweats begin to creep into her hands. Fearful and excited,
her mind was a jumble of unspoken utterances.<> With a great deal of concentration,
she kept her mind on the present and what he obviously needed to say to
her. She parted her lips attempting speech. She found her mouth
to be cotton dry due to the anxiety.
Vorik perched gently on the
edge of the sofa; she sat in the seat across from him. Her hands
were fully clasped in front of her on her lap. She could barely control
her shaking or her smile. She noticed that he looked a little green
himself and seemed hesitant about speaking. She wanted to put out
her hand to him....to ease him....but instead she waited to find out what
he intended to say. If he came here to settle things once and for
all between them....or to reunite with her. She hoped for the latter....but
feared the former. Either way she braced herself for his words.
But none were forthcoming.
She remembered how difficult it was for him to begin at times. As
he felt her light hand on his hands, he closed his eyes, visibly relieved
at her touch. His hands engulfed hers in his warm, Vulcan caress.
His palms held her fingers, taking a moment to cherish them. He gingerly
brought them to his lips, kissing each of her knuckles. Her breath
quickened and her heart raced at the feather brush of his lips on her skin.
For so long this is what she
craved. She had not realized it until this moment. Vorik seems
to draw strength from her hands and with a final pressing of his lips to
her thumb, he gathered his courage and looked up to her face.
Relief flooded through him.
The anxiety quelled after a week's worth of building frustration.
Now there was peace in her presence. Tuvok had been right.
They would have to reach their own compromise, encompassing her human needs
and his Vulcan customs.
As he gazed into her eyes,
he saw them shine with wetness, the start of her tears. He was moved
by her emotions quivering through their light touch. He held her
hand tighter, licked his lips and parted them lips to speak, " I need thee,
" was his only utterance.
That was all she needed to
hear. Her face rushed at his and her mouth quickly covered his in
a sudden and hard kiss. Vorik began to relax, letting go of the tension
of the past week. As he reunited with his chosen, Vorik wondered,
perhaps this had been the reason his father had agreed to his alternative
plans so very long ago. Rather than limiting his son to the possibility
of a less than satisfactory life arrangement, as he had with his own mate,
Doshik had wisely allowed his youngest son the opportunity to discover
a path of his own. For the second time this day, Vorik was mentally thanking
his father for his logic and the freedom to choose.
"Permit me?" Vorik raised a
shaking hand to her face requesting her agreement to a meld.
Raven brushed back her tear-moistened
hair and nodded silently. Her sweet breath blew across his face and
the remembrance of shared intimacies provoked a bittersweetness within
him.
His fingers touched at
her neural points. Their breathing slowed and steadied. Raven's
tension washed away from her muscles as the Vulcan meld drew their consciousness
together.
He heard her, faintly, almost
at a distance, as she continued to stifle back her tears. The soft
strokes along his face were an exciting distraction as he attempted to
initiate a deep bond. This is what he desired, her, to touch her
inside and out.
"Don't try so hard, beloved,"
he heard her whisper to him. "Just let it flow."
Vorik heeded her advice and
moved slowly. Then he sensed her familiar, reassuring essence.
He swept through her mind, igniting her nerves in his wake, he sought her
center. The hurricane of her mind grew tumultuous. It battered
at him as Vorik swept through her swirling emotions.
Then he sensed her faint voice,
<> The young man was a conflict. Deep within he
was telling himself to cease this activity. To flee from this emotional
release within her. But something even deeper propelled him along.
He drew to that trembling voice and it continued, <>
Vorik drew closer to this part
of her mind, this vulnerable child that was hidden so deep inside of Raven
Zans. As the young Vulcan man's essence empathized with her sentiments,
he projected a feeling of comfort around her to help restore her balance
and to reassure her. Her fears continued to tumble from deep within
her. All that she had submerged and relived within herself was now
surfacing caused by this loss of him. <>
Without hesitation, Vorik immediately
reacted,<
As their meld dissolved and
the world around them resurfaced to their consciousness, the reunited lovers
began to rely on the physical aspects of their sharing and discarded the
attempt to bond, for the time being.
As Raven's mouth moved over
his full lips, she almost cried in relief. She sniffled back her
tears and smiled in joy; an overwhelming joy that flooded though her mind
and body at finally reuniting with him.
"Vorik," she shivered
in between kisses. She licked her lips, savoring his taste, then
pecked at his lips in between her soft words, " Are you going to stay here?"
She was answered with a long
kiss and a long hard embrace. He almost shook as he held her in his
arms.
"What is it?" She asked concerned
that he might be reacting to this reunion in a way other than was healthy
for a Vulcan. "Vorik are you OK....Vorik....are?" and her voice raised
in concern as his body hugged her tightly and he shook slightly.
She tried to look into
his face. But he would not let her. Instead she wrapped her
arms tighter around his body and let him quake in silence. She felt
his release of emotion flow though her body. Not telepathically,
but as his body shook. She knew that this was a release of some sort
for his overwrought nerves. Perhaps due to too much control.
When he finally ceased his
quaking, his lips quickly captured her in a most passionate kiss.
Her fingers drew across his
cheeks, her fingertips then rested beneath his chin. With certainty,
she raised him to his feet to stand before her. Balanced upon her
fingertip, he slightly smiled and kept his gaze locked upon hers.
With dark, intense eyes, Vorik the Vulcan from the Nisus Colony world looked
down at his lovely chosen one, Raven Zans, the human from Queblanis.
Her face tilted upwards to meet his gaze, then very slowly her lips brushed
against his very softly.
Raven said, " Yes, I'm content
too, very content, my Husband." Her hands eagerly reacquainting themselves
with the feel of his strong back.
Vorik's ceased his kissing
and he gazed at her, " I didn't say anything, Raven."
Raven looked at him, " But
I heard you." Then her hand drew across her beloved's dark face.
"I thought it, but never vocalized
it." Vorik turned to kiss her palm.
They both gazed at each other
enjoying this familiar, lingering meld. It was almost an echoey shadow
of their intense joining during their throes of passion. And together
they would mourn as the link would fade then disappear every time.
"I missed this, knowing you,
"Raven let loose her tears again. Tears of relief, joy, and letting
go of all that she had pent up for more than this long week; more than
the ten years.... but a loss of her life as she crossed over into this
new life with her Vulcan, Vorik.
"Think something else," she
quietly requested. A favorite game of theirs to the pass the time
in between the fires. Vorik thought about her dark, long hair. Raven
vocalized his thoughts.
Her lips remained still but
her heart spoke her sentiments, <>
<> Vorik's
telepathic sentiments joined in her mind's voice.
"Will the Bond ever be fused
between us?" she asked with a joyful smile. Her small fingers caressed
his.
"Well, perhaps we should continue
attempting to fuse this delicate tethering." He leaned down and kissed
her heartily, re-igniting their passions to begin another round of intense
lovemaking.
After two weeks of constant
lovemaking and mind melding....
Everyone on the ship was aware
that Vorik had moved into her quarters. It was only logical, her
quarters were more spacious and she enjoyed a nicer view of the stars.
He had brought all of his possessions and they set up house. The
two were inseparable. They shared meals together, a bed, and a shower.
The intimacy was more than the two of them had ever imagined. They
constantly touched and practiced their mental bonding.
Vorik was in the Delta Flyer,
alone, making modifications on the warp drive. He heard the whirring
of the large shuttle bay doors as they opened. He ceased his work
to see who had entered the shuttle bay. As he looked up from his
console her head peek in.
"My beloved, " Vorik cheerfully
greeted her with a slight lilt of his brows, a Vulcan smile reserved only
for her.
Raven sauntered toward him,
a grin slowly creeping across her face. Her lips trembled as her
eyes began to shine with tears. Concern filled his voice, " Raven?"
He slowly stood up to close the gap between them. Then he stopped
because he heard her. Her lips did not move nor were they touching.
But he was certain that he heard her mind . He wondered for a moment
if they had finally bonded? Then he felt joy emanating from her.
He telepathically asked her to project to him again.
Raven thought a simple phrase
to him and the joy she associated with this phrase, <>
Vorik's brows raised in astonishment
at this pleasant discovery of their bond. He could barely keep his
smile from turning up at the corner of his lips. By the subtle change
in his face she read his joy at this. Telepathically, he shared with
her his joy at this bonding. It meant that they were finally joined,
now and forever. Then a another sense crept into him. One of
shock. His brows furrowed as he asked out loud, " You are what?"
"I am with child!" Her smile
winning, finally breaking out across her pretty face.
Vorik took a hurried step forward,
quickly gathered her into his arms then kissed her passionately.
The End...
Thank You so much for reading
my muse's tale. It was a labor of love.
Feed back hungrily received
at salatrel1@aol.com
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