CHOSENBy: R. MackenzieDate: May 10, 1999Setting:  While on shore leave, things don't go as planned for          Paris and his friends.Disclaimer:  Paramount owns them, I'm just borrowing them.Walking through the crowded street market, Tom Paris watched as hisbest friend, Harry Kim, and his girlfriend, B'Elanna Torres, cameto a stop at a booth across the way, both completely engrossed intheir discussion of engineering this or that.Sighing, he wondered if he and B'Elanna were ever going to havetime to themselves.  Not that he didn't enjoy spending time withhis friend, but they hadn't had any type of shore leave for monthsand spending the day talking about work was not his idea of fun. Besides, they were all off duty, shop talk was suppose to takeplace while on duty.Deciding it was time to remind the other two of this, Tom took astep toward them only to find a tall, eloquently dressed, redhaired woman standing in his way."You're one of the Voyager's aren't you?"Tom took a step back and met the woman's appraising gaze, "Yes,ma'am," he responded politely, "I'm Tom Paris, Voyager's ChiefHelmsman.""Chief helmsman, huh," the woman repeated her gaze steady as shechecked him out from head to toe.Feeling uneasy with the scrutiny, Tom looked towards the boothB'Elanna and Harry were at, hoping he could get their attention. Both were too engrossed in their shopping to even notice him."Are you with someone?""Uh, yeah, I'm with my friends.  They're right over there," Tompointed and then made to move around the native woman, "And they'reprobably wondering where I'm at.  If you'll excuse me."Placing her hand on his arm, the woman shook her head, "That's notwhat I meant," she moved so that she was again directly in front ofhim, blocking his way, "Are you attached?""Attached?" Tom questioned uncertainly."Yeah, are you bonded?""Bonded?" he asked just as uncertainly.Rolling her eyes, the young woman asked, "Are you attached tosomeone romantically?""I guess you could say that," he responded, finally catching on towhat the woman wanted to know.  If you considered the fact that hewas practically living with B'Elanna, yeah, one could say he wasattached.  After all, B'Elanna was half-Klingon, they didn'texactly take their relationships lightly.  He had suffered the bitemarks and broken bones to prove that."You guess?" the woman asked skeptically, "What does that mean,exactly?""Well, I'm involved with someone, romantically," Tom explained."Involved, but not bonded?""No I guess not," the pilot admitted, "but then I'm not sure whatbonded means exactly."A smile crept across the woman's face.  "If you're not sure what itmeans than you are not bonded," she stated.  She then turned tocall to a man standing not more than four or five feet away, "He'lldo."Tom watched as the armed man stepped toward him and taking Tom'sarm in his hand tried to lead him away."Hey, wait a minute," Tom exclaimed, "What's going on here?""My lady has claimed you as hers," the man explained, "you will nowjoin her for the ceremony."His blue eyes growing wide in realization, Tom tried to pull hisarm free."Look, there's been some misunderstanding," he stated whileglancing around frantically for his friends, "I'm with someonealready."Releasing his arm, the man stepped back and looked toward thewoman."He is not bonded, therefore he can be claimed," the woman statedwith confidence, "Bring him along.""Something wrong here?"With a sigh of relief, Tom moved closer to his friends, putting asmuch distance as he could between himself and his would be claimer."Nothing that concerns you," the red haired woman stated withannoyance, "Gell, bring him."As Gell stepped toward Tom and attempted to take his arm again,B'Elanna intercepted him and easily pushed the man away."Anything that concerns Tom concerns me," B'Elanna stated, "Now,who are you and what do you want with him?""I am Vessa, daughter of chancellor Dem.  I have chosen this man tobe my bonded.  He will come with us now," Vessa stated whilemotioning Gell to fulfill his task.No one could say what happened next or who in fact started thefight that brought security from both the local militia andVoyager, but once all the bodies had been pried off each other,everyone knew that they were in trouble as they were marched intoa large room to await the local magistrate.As the five parties involved stood and stewed, trying not to lettheir discomfort get the better of them, the door opened to admitChancellor Dem, the local Magistrate, Captain Kathryn Janeway andCommander Chakotay. Tom wasn't sure, but he could have sworn he heard someonesnickering as their superior officers made their way over to them. Not that he could blame them, after all, they were covered inbruises, cuts and food from head to toe.  But even he had to admitthat this was not the time for humor.Chancellor Dem and Captain Janeway stepped forward to address theirrespective parties."Would someone be so kind as to explain what happened?" theChancellor asked, giving his daughter a disapproving stare.Vessa shifted somewhat nervously before raising her head andaddressing her father, "You did tell me that if I found a suitablereplacement for bonding, that I could make my own choice.  I havedone so.""Really," the Chancellor stated while casting a glance at the threeVoyager crew members, "And which one have you decided would besuitable."Raising a hand, she pointed to the trio of friends, "Him," shestated."Him?" her father's voice questioned as he followed his daughter'soutstretch arm, "My dear, there are two hims over there.  Would youcare to be more specific.""The fair haired one," she clarified, "He is the one I havechosen.""I see," the Chancellor responded, taking a moment to look over hiswould be son-in-law before returning his attention back to hisdaughter, "And he had no problem with your choice?"Vessa's gaze faltered and her eyes focused on the front of herfather's robe, "Well...""Yes, daughter," the man prompted.If Tom didn't know better, he could have sworn the man was mockinghis own daughter and for some reason he found that completely rude. As he opened his mouth to tell the man exactly what he thought ofthe way he was treating his own daughter, a stern glance fromCaptain Janeway silenced him."Not exactly.""Not exactly, what?"Heaving a sigh, Vessa brought her dark eyes to once again met herfather's, "He didn't exactly agree to my choice.""And you had a problem with his rejection?"Her anger returning, Vessa folded her arms and glared at herfather, "I have made my choice, and as your daughter, I have theright to choose whomever I wish.  I have chosen, now you must followthrough with your end of the bargain.""You may have chosen, daughter of mine, but that doesn't mean hehas chosen or accepted you," the Chancellor reprimanded his onlychild, "I have spoken with Janeway, your chosen's commandingofficer, and she has stated that he is taken.""He had stated that he was involved with someone, but he is notbonded, therefore he is available," Vessa argued."By our customs he is available," the Chancellor clarified, "Butby their's he is not.""They are on our world.""They are our guests.""I have made my decision.""You have chosen unwisely.""You just don't want me to find someone else.""You cannot force someone to your side.""I won't be bonded to that oversized slob.""He is a perfect match for you.""Never.""I have decided.""I disagree.""Excuse me," Janeway finally interrupted, "I don't mean to be rude,but could someone please explain to the rest of us what exactly ishappening here?"The Chancellor reigned in his growing anger and turned to addresshis guests.  "I apologize, Captain, we have been extremely rude,"he bowed politely to demonstrate his sincerity, "My daughter is tobe bonded on the next full moon to a man that I have chosen forher.  Unfortunately she is head strong and in my haste to make herhappy I agreed to allow her the opportunity to choose a bonded ofher own.""Which I have now done," Vessa added.  She wanted this day overwith and for everyone to just accept her decision and get over it.Silencing his daughter with a look, he returned to his explanation,"She also seems to have forgotten that the law states that herbonded must be of our people, not someone simply visiting ourworld.""Nowhere does it state that my bonded must be of our people. You're making excuses, father..."The rest of her argument was cut off as the magistrate held up thebook he had brought in with him, making sure the Chancellor'sdaughter could read the page he had marked.As she read, Vessa's anger continued to grow.  She didn't want tomarry a man she didn't know, not that she knew the one she hadchosen either, but she figured that once they were bonded, he couldgo his way and she could go hers.  No muss no fuss.  But now,thanks to her father and the annoying pest of a magistrate, itlooked like she would have to come up with someone else.Slamming the book shut, she ignored the yelp of pain from themagistrate as she caught his fingers between the pages and turnedto address her father, "Very well, your point has been made." Vessa then turned on her heel and marched toward the door."Daughter," the Chancellor called after his retreating child,"Where exactly do you think you're going?"Turning with all the dignity she could muster, she explained, "Iwish a bath and then I will continue with my search.  I have but afew sun cycles left."Shaking his head, Dem allowed his daughter to leave and then turnedback to his guests, "Captain Janeway, I apologize for the way inwhich your crew members have been treated.  I hope this mostunfortunate incident has in no way deterred our negotiations."Smiling diplomatically, Janeway returned the Chancellor's bow andthen said, "Your daughter seems quite determined, Mr. Chancellor."Casting his eyes downward, Dem nodded his head in agreement, "I'mafraid I gave her too many liberties as a youth.  She is my onlychild and I wanted to make sure that she could take care ofherself, that she could be her own ruler," looking toward the nowclosed door, he admitted, "I'm afraid I have created a monster.""I'm sure everything will work out for the best," Janeway comfortedthe stressed father, "As for our dealings, I see nothing that willin anyway keep us from proceeding as scheduled.""Excellent," Chancellor Dem exclaimed, the fact that his daughterhadn't completely sabotaged the situation making the man more thanhappy, "Then if you will please excuse me, I will make sureeverything is ready."Bowing, he motioned for the magistrate to follow him as he made hisway out of the room.  So much to get done and not much time to doit in, especially if he wanted to make sure all transactions withJaneway and her crew were completed before his daughter didsomething else.  Considering that her usual bathing time rananywhere from two to three hours, Chancellor Dem figured he wouldhave just enough time to get everything done before anymoreproblems could arise.As the door swung shut, Janeway put on her firmest command face andturned to address her three junior officers, "Would someone pleaseexplain how this started?""I thought we'd already covered that," Tom stated, somewhatsurprised that the Captain was apparently holding them responsiblefrom some part of this whole mess."We covered the why, Mr. Paris, what I'd like to know is the how."The trio looked back and forth between themselves trying to figureout just what exactly it was that their Commanding officer wantedto know."How what, Captain?" Harry finally asked."How about how exactly you three allowed yourselves to becomeembroiled in a fight, a food fight no less, in the middle of thecity's main shopping center?" Janeway asked, her hands coming torest on her hips, her eyes slanted in annoyance.  What better wayto get one's point across then to make one's junior officers thinkyou're mad at them.  Not that she really was, but she saw no reasonto let them know that, not yet anyway,  "You are Starfleet officersand yet you allowed yourselves to be drawn into an all out brawl bya spoilt little girl.""She wasn't actually little.."Tom let the statement go unfinished as Janeway leveled her glare athim."I expect better of all my officers, especially members of mysenior staff," she reprimanded them.As Tom moved to confront Janeway, Harry grabbed one arm andB'Elanna the other.  Neither had any desire for their sarcasticfriend to get them into anymore trouble then they already were in."Consider yourselves confined to Voyager for the remainder of ourstay," Janeway continued, "None of you, whether together orseparate are to set foot on this planet again.  Do I make myselfclear?"B'Elanna quickly clamped her hand over Tom's mouth before he couldsay anything.  As far as she was concerned, they'd gotten off easy,no need to make it worse.Janeway waited for the trio to acknowledge her orders beforeordering them to return to Voyager before they actually did startan intergalactic incident."Not a word Tom," Chakotay and Janeway heard B'Elanna statethreateningly as the transporter beam coalesced around them.No longer able to hide her amusement, Janeway burst out laughing,followed closely by her first officer doing the same.  Leave it toTom Paris to get propositioned and then get out of it by startinga food fight.She wondered if the trouble-magnet pilot's bad luck would ever runout.*****Stepping off the transporter pad, the trio ignored the stunned lookfrom the transporter operator and made their way into the corridor."All I want to do right now is get out of these clothes and getinto a nice, warm shower," Harry stated disgustedly, "You know,Paris, this is all your fault.""How do you figure that?" Tom asked, somewhat offended that hisfriend, his best friend could hold him responsible for theircurrent predicament."Simple," B'Elanna explained for the young Asian, "If while onshore leave, there's trouble to be had, you're the one to find itand drag the rest of us into it.""That's not fair," Tom exclaimed in his own defense, "I didn't askyou two to wander off, leaving me all by my little lonesome to beattacked by that red headed spit fire."Harry shook his head, ignoring the pieces of food that fell to theground and the crew members that were trying to become part of thewall in hopes that nothing falling would fall on them, "Tom, nooffense, but if there's trouble to be had, you're going to find it. We know this.  We accept this.  We were just hoping...""...Wishing, praying..." B'Elanna added for emphasis."...that for once nothing would happen," Harry concluded,"Obviously, we were wrong.""Geez, don't I feel loved," Tom gripped, taking great offense atthe accusations his supposed friends were making."Oh, you are most definitely loved, Mister," B'Elanna statedemphatically, "Just you remember that."Coming to a stop in front of her quarters, B'Elanna keyed in hercode and as the door opened, wrapped her arms around the man sheloved, dragging him into her domain."See ya later, Harry," Tom managed to say as the door slide shutbehind him.Shaking his head yet again, having caught a glimpse of B'Elannatrying her best to remove Tom's shirt, Harry made his way to hisown quarters, knowing that his friends were going to have a wholelot more fun cleaning up then he was.The End.