Second story in the trilogy: WHAT'S IN THE CAVE? Since some of you wanted to know what they saw as they stood on the ledge peering inside. Part of The Eiger Sanction. Veronica Jane Williams xkhoi@iafrica.com DISCLAIMER: The characters belong to Paramount, so does Sandrine's, and Romulan Ale. Rating: G WHAT'S IN THE CAVE? The cave entrance was low, low enough that they had to bend slightly to walk in. It was very dark inside. Standing on the ledge, breathing hard, expelling hot air that mingled with the cold Alpine air, they waited a minute or two. "Tom," B'Elanna said, gasping between words, "this had better be good." "Did you want to know what's there?" Tom asked as he removed the crampons from her boots, leaving it outside. Then he proceeded to remove his own. "You know I'm curious," she said as she bent slightly to enter the cave. He followed her inside. "Mind your head. Some of the sections are quite low. And keep the helmet on." "Okay. But Tom, it's very dark in here." He was standing behind her, and cupped his hands in front of his mouth. Then he shouted her name loudly. The sound reverberated throughout the cave, echoing B'Elanna's name. "Tom! You rat! That wasn't funny." "Why, don't you like my yodeling?" "That was yodeling? What the heck is that?" "Something they do this side of the Bajoran Wormhole." By this time their eyes had become accustomed to the darkness, and they were standing now about twenty metres inside the cave. In front of them, there was a large, flat rock, with two seats on either side of it. Much like almost sitting on the floor. There was something on this table, barely discernable in the darkness. "Tom," B'Elanna whispered, "I'm still tied to you." "That's right. I wouldn't want to lose you now, would I?" "Fine, then you can hold my hand too." "I thought you'd never ask," he said succinctly as he held her hand in his and realised how cold she is. Trust B'Elanna, too proud to really complain about getting cold. She was shivering slightly, too. He drew her closer, and she didn't resist. He almost swooned at her nearness. He very nearly had the wild desire to make love to her right there, but... he sighed. When she's ready. Right now, all he wanted was to let her experience something she can enjoy. Like what's on that rock table. "Tom, " B'Elanna said, a note warning in her voice. It sounded very euphonic in the cave, warm and mellow. "If that is what I think it is, and it's real, not holographic, you had better put the safeties on." "Oh no, B'Elanna. You think right, and the safeties remain OFF!" "Fine. We'll see who survives this," she said, a note of triumph in her voice as they reached the table. On the table was a large rectangular tray, sprinkled with the petals of the edelweiss. It was beautiful. There stood in the centre a bowl with two smaller wooden chalices on either side of it. The bowl contained a dark, transparent liquid. "You know Tom, I've always wanted to do this, way back when I was living on Kessick IV. But then, I was still too much in denying my heritage." "I take it sweet B'Elanna, you want to take up the challenge of sharing poisoned tea with me?" "You bet!" "Fine. Let's sit down, shall we?" It was easier said than done, what with them still with their harnesses, clinking carabiners and unwieldy ice-climbing boots on. Tom poured the tea into the cups, and handed one to her. He raised his cup in salute. "Who goes first?" he asked. Just knowing what she's going to say. "You." He brought thecup slowly to his lips. Tom took the first sip, the tepid liquid coursing almost like fire down his throat. He coughed. B'Elanna smiled. He raised his cup, said: "To our mortality." B'Elanna drank from her cup, and repeated: "To our mortality." She looked at him, her eyes warm. "Thank you, Tom. I wouldn't have wanted to share this with anyone but you." "B'Elanna," he said, "the safeties really are off. This is the real thing." "I know Tom. I also know I can withstand the poison, and you can't," she said, as they continued drinking. "I don't want to accuse you of not not playing fair, but I know you're up to your neck in dirty tricks. Come on, give. Where's the hypospray?" "B'Elanna, however did you know?" he asked innocently. "Tom, it's okay. It's the gesture that matters. We've been through this before, once. I thought that if we died, I'd have wanted us to be together, like now. Like sharing this tea." "Thank you, B'Elanna." He looked into her eyes, his very serious, suddenly. She reached over to take his hand. "Tom," she asked, "did you notice something?" "What?" he asked, again with an air of innocence. "I can see you, even in this dark, with our eyes accustomed to the darkness. It's more than that." She looked around her, suddenly aware of another cavern leading off the cave they were in. And there was a sporadic glimmer of light. Green, yellow, sometimes orangy. "I'll explain, sweetheart, as soon as you inject me with the hypospray." He was slurring, his tongue becoming thick. He almost keeled over but she jumped up and caught hold of him. In the small back pack he had been carrying, she took out the hypospray and held to his neck. He found her nearness intoxicating, as she held him and applied the antidote. "I've enjoyed this, Tom. That you wanted to do this with me. But no more, okay?" "Then promise me one thing, sweetheart." "What?" "When you hurt, don't shut me out...please." She was standing so close to him, yet she hugged him convulsively as he said that. In a fevered voice she said: "Don't let me go. Ever. Believe in me, Tom." He kissed her gently, then held his lips to her hair. At length he said: "Come, there's something I wanted to show you." Holding his hand, they followed the lights through the long secondary cavern, until they reached an opening. It was dark outside. Tom had probably programmed the settings too. It was supposed to be daylight. Well, holodeck daylight. But B'Elanna looked at the clear sky, and saw what it was that penetrated even into the cave. Dancing lights, in a profusion of colour. There were greens, blues, reds, orange colours, but mostly green. They moved across the dark sky, a kaleidoscope of moving colour. "I've never seen anything like it, Tom." "Nahh...now you sound like Harry when he was still green." His arm was around her shoulder, and he was holding her close as she looked at the sky. "Okay, I know it's not a nebula, or a gaseous anomaly. It's just... light." "Yes, Aurora Borealis. The Northern Lights. Seen only on Earth, in the Northern Hemisphere." "It's beautiful." "Yes, it is, isn't it?" "You can stare at it forever." B'Elanna kept staring at the dancing colours. She didn't notice Tom fishing something out of his pocket. "B'Elanna, before we make our descent, I want you to have this. I made it myself." B'Elanna looked at the object Tom placed in her hand. She held it closer to get a better look at it. When she eventually looked at him again, there was understanding in her eyes. "I love you, Thomas Eugene Paris." THE END Veronica Jane Williams xkhoi@iafrica.com Some feedback would be appreciated. Please.