TITLE: LOVER MAN - PART I AUTHOR: RFK SERIES: VOY CODE: Paris, Torres, P/f, and (P/T) RATING: [NC-17] For scenes of a sexual nature and adult language. SUMMARY: A curious B'Elanna Torres stumbles upon an illicit love affair that involves Voyager's Chief Helmsman. Set during mid-Season 1. A bit dark and angsty. FEEDBACK: june_daley@rocketmail.com - Be my guest. But please, be kind. DISCLAIMER: Tom, B'Elanna and all other characters related to Star Trek Voyager belong to Paramount, Viacom and the usual Trek Powers to Be. AUTHOR'S NOTE: A lot of fan fiction have portrayed Tom's womanizing as something not to be taken seriously. More reputation than fact. In this story, the rumors of his rampant womanizing prove to be true. ANOTHER NOTE: Although TPTB never gave Hogan a first name, I decided to name him Simon - after the actor who portrayed him in the series, Simon Billig. "LOVER MAN - PART I" by RFK An eager Tom Paris strolled along Deck Nine's corridor, mindful of the curious stares from passing crewmen. He was on his way to the quarters of one Ensign Telac Mara, a delectable Bajoran officer who worked in Exobiology. Tom planned to spend several hours in her quarters, entertaining her the best way he knew how - food, talk and plenty of sex. If he was lucky. His anticipation must show on his face. How else could he explain the smirks and expressions of disgust on the others' faces. Nearly two months had passed since Voyager found itself catapulted into the Delta Quadrant. Nine weeks since Captain Kathryn Janeway gave a former Starfleet brat, turned convict a second chance to make something of his life. And although Tom felt obliged to show his gratitude by becoming an exemplary officer, he realized that he also had a private life to maintain. For Thomas Eugene Paris, that meant the pursuit of the opposite sex. As Tom round a corner, he nearly collided with two members of the Engineering staff - Joe Carey and Simon Hogan. Starfleet and Maquis. It seemed that Captain Janeway's desire to assimilate the two factions into one crew might come into fruition after all. Tom flashed a smile at the two men. "Hey Joe! Simon! What are you two doing here?" Carey, forever the proper Starfleeter, gave Tom a muted smile. "Paris. We're here on business. Why?" "Yeah, why?" Hogan added sneeringly. "What business is it of yours?" Being Maquis, Simon Hogan was less subtle in expressing his dislike of the Chief Conn Officer. "You plan to run back to Janeway and send a report?" Tom took a deep breath and mentally began to count to ten. "Look, Hogan, I was merely curious, that's all. Especially since neither of you have quarters on this deck." Suspicion glimmered in the former Maquis's eyes. "How do you know that?" For a long moment, the former colleagues stared at each other. Tom eventually realized that Hogan's suspicions were ridiculous. "For crying out . . . Jesus! Never mind!" He shook his head in disgust and continued along the corridor, ignoring the other man's dark mumblings. Pushing the encounter with the two engineers to the back of his mind, Tom continued to scan the cabin numbers for Mara's quarters. Nine-f, nine-g, nine-h, nine . . . A slender hand shot out of an opened doorway and grabbed Tom's wrist. "What the hell?" he began. Then he found himself being dragged into an empty cabin before he could protest any further. That same hand, along with another, slammed him against the wall. Tom stared into a pair of familiar eyes. "What the hell are you doing?" he demanded in an annoyed voice. She purred, "I saw you talking with Hogan and Carey in the corridor. And I thought I would surprise you." She pressed her body against Tom's. "You know, renew old times." A pink tongue darted from her mouth and flickered across the edge of Tom's jaw. "I'm not interested in renewing old times," Tom retorted. His mind desperately tried to ignore the wet tongue on his jaw. "And I have plans to spend my evening with someone else. Someone I actually like." "You mean Telac Mara?" She sniffed. "I thought you had better taste than that." Her tongue reached the edge of his mouth and began to make circular motions. Tom managed to hold back a groan through sheer effort. Breathlessly, the pilot responded, "Look, why don't you go seduce someone else? I'm not in the mood and we barely like each other. We never have." "That didn't stop you from spending a little time with me, before." Her tongue flickered back and forth across Tom's upper lip. "I was drunk, . . . oh Gods . . . desperate for sex and didn't know any better." Tom paused to control his breathing. "Besides, you're only doing this . . . because your old lover . . . is no longer interested in you." The tongue disappeared from Tom's mouth. Much to his surprise - and disappointment. Eyes slitted dangerously. "Did anyone ever tell you that you have a big mouth, Paris?" "A lot of people," he replied in a weary voice. "Including you." She unzipped her Starfleet-issued jacket and removed it. "Well, maybe you should . . ." A gray turtleneck blouse followed, along with an undershirt of the same color. ". . . use your mouth for something more substantial." In a swift motion, she removed her bra. "Like these." Tom's eyes riveted upon a pair of pale, round breasts. "Huh," he grunted. His mouth grew dry. "I must say. The offer is tempting." One of her eyebrows formed an arch. "Tempting?" She smiled, took Tom's hands and placed them on her breasts. "As I recall, you were never been able to resist them." Her breath fanned his cheeks. 'Goddamit!' Tom thought. He hated this. She never failed to get him into this state. Breathless. And hard. In an attempt to resist her, he immediately withdrew his hands. "And if my memory serves me right," she continued, "you really enjoyed this." Before Tom knew what happened, he felt her slender hands unfasten his trousers. "Let's see." She slipped one hand inside and firmly grasped the flesh between his legs. "Ah yes!" His member immediately swelled from her touch. "Now I remember." Tom gasped out loud. She pulled and stroked every inch of his flesh, while she pressed her body against his, and her tongue continued to form wet traces near the edge of his mouth. Any resistance that may have lingered within him, immediately shattered. "Oh Gods! The hell with this!" Tom grabbed her shoulders and shoved her against the wall. "You want to relive old times, huh?" he growled in a husky voice. "Okay, I'll show you old times!" He covered one plump breast with his mouth and began to suckle upon the hardened tip. She threw her head back, and emitted a deep, low moan, as the couple began to relive old times. * * * * Inside the Chief Engineer's quarters, B'Elanna Torres began to remove the last vestiges of her uniform. She would have moved a lot faster, but her aching body made it impossible. B'Elanna and her Engineering staff had just spent the entire day trying to reconfigure the Warp Plasma conduit, which had suddenly drained at least 35% of the ship's energy source. The latter had been an ongoing problem for Voyager ever since its encounter with that event horizon, nearly a month ago. Just before B'Elanna had been given the position of Chief Engineer. Some of the ship's energy source managed to be preserved, thanks to Neelix's conversion of the Captain's dining room into a galley. And the use of the replicator had been rationed, using credit chips. Yet, despite all these precautions, Voyager's energy drain continued. If the crew did not find any dilithium soon, the ship might end up dead in space. Or Janeway might be forced to consider colonization. To find a solution to Voyager's problem, B'Elanna had gathered her top engineers for a brainstorming session in her quarters. After three hours or so, they managed to come up with a minor solution. Use the impulse engines, unless the situation made it necessary for Voyager to go to warp. Carey had also suggested sending both the holodecks and replicators off-line, as well. After so many hours of working on the warp conduits, crawling through Jeffries tubes and meetings, B'Elanna felt exhausted. In fact, she had to struggle into her red pajamas. Once her head rested on her pillow, her eyes closed and B'Elanna slipped into a deep sleep. * * * * THUMP!! The noise roused B'Elanna out of her sleep. Her eyes blinked open. CRASH! What the . . .? A loud moan followed. The noise made B'Elanna spring into a sitting position. She glanced at the chronometer on the table, next to her bed. It read 22:07 hours. Kahless! She had only been asleep for twelve minutes! Who in the hell was making so much noise? "Wha . . . Oh gods!" a male voice cried out. One that struck a familiar chord. "Gods! Don't . . . don't stop!" More thumps followed. It seemed as if someone was banging his or her fist on the wall. Another crash. A few more thumps and then, a long, loud groan. One that came, B'Elanna surmised, from a female. "Oh . . . oh! Don't stop!" the woman continued. "Don't . . . ye-ee-ess-ss! Yes!" The woman's cries mingled with more thumps. B'Elanna found herself growing uncomfortably aroused. She had witnessed her share of erotic vids in her time, but never had she been this close to the action. Aside from a few sexual encounters of her own. Then it came. One final cry that emitted from both parties. "Yes! Yes! Ooooh! Spirits! Ye-ee-esss-ss!" Silence followed. To B'Elanna's embarrassment, she felt a warm rush between her legs. She pressed them together and sighed. Well, she no longer felt exhausted. Just tense and aroused. Which meant that she definitely will have trouble sleeping tonight. * * * * Barely able to keep her eyes opened, B'Elanna reached for her cup of coffee. And grabbed only air, instead. She muttered a curse under her breath. "Here you go." Someone placed the cup in her hand. B'Elanna recognized his voice. Harry. "Hey Maquis, you really look tired. Rough night?" Sympathy shone in his black eyes, as he sat in the chair opposite her. B'Elanna heaved a long, dry sigh. "Rough day, period. Between those damn warp plasma conduits, meetings with my staff and a loud neighbor, I've barely had a chance to sleep." "A noisy neighbor?" Harry's face expressed interest. "And who might that be?" "I haven't the foggiest idea." Harry frowned. "After two months in the Delta Quadrant, you don't know your own neighbors?" B'Elanna groaned and took a sip of coffee. "Look Starfleet, I'm not exactly the most sociable person. And I've been spending the last month trying this ship together after our encounter with that event horizon." "And the noisy neighbor?" Harry asked. "Has he or she been giving you trouble all this time?" "Just last night. When it comes to sex, he or she is pretty damn noisy." A red flush crept up Harry's face. "Oh. One of those." B'Elanna stared at her friend's embarrassed expression and giggled. "Oh, Harry! If only you could see your face at this moment." "I see it and think it looks quite delicious," a third voice added. It belonged to Seska, a Bajoran ex-Maquis, who worked under B'Elanna in Engineering. She and another former Maquis, stood next to the table, holding their trays. "Good morning, B'Elanna." She smiled at Harry. "Ensign Kim." Poor Harry now looked even more embarrassed. He mumbled, "Morning, Ensign uh, Seska." His face, now resembling the color of a beet, Harry immediately began to dig into his food. Seska's smile stretched wider and she sat in an empty chair next to him. The other ex-Maquis sat next to B'Elanna. Her name was Mariah Henley and the red-and-black uniform she wore indicated that she served in the Conn Division as a pilot. She glanced at the food in her tray and sighed. "How lovely," she commented in her usual sardonic manner, "another one of Neelix's 'delectable' meals." Her eyes shifted to Seska, who was busily eating. "How can you eat this stuff?" "This 'stuff' is the only thing that keeps us on our feet," Seska retorted. "At least until the replicators return on-line. So I suggest you eat up." Henley mumbled an insult. But that did not stop her from following Seska's advice. The four companions continued eating their breakfast - only raktijino and a roll for B'Elanna. They chatted about the ship's ongoing energy crisis, and the planet recently detected by the long-range sensors. The Mess Hall's doors slid open. B'Elanna glanced in that direction and frowned at the two newcomers - Ensign Telac and Lieutenant Paris. Another sneer crept into Henley's expression. "Look who's here! Voyager's own little playboy with his latest bed warmer at his side." B'Elanna noticed that the pilot spoke with intense vehemence. She was well aware of Tom Paris's unpopularity aboard ship. The Starfleet faction condemned him for killing three other 'Fleet officers in a shuttle accident on Caldik Prime and lying about it. Voyager's former Maquis detested him for betraying their cause when he had agreed to help Janeway hunt them down in the Badlands. Only a handful of people genuinely liked Paris. B'Elanna did not count herself among the latter. Harry quietly added, "That's Telac Mara with Tom. He's been dating her for over a week, now." "I bet Megan Delaney must be thrilled." Henley's voice dripped with sarcasm. "I wonder when she found out about those two. Before or after Paris dumped?" Annoyance darkened Harry's countenance. "Don't you have anything better to do than complain about Tom? Why are you always so hard on him? What did he ever do to you?" Henley's mouth formed a hard line. "Nothing," she hissed. "I'm in a bad mood. And I need someone to bitch about. Paris fits the bill." "Bad mood? Sounds more like green-eye jealousy," Seska teased. "Are you jealous, Mariah?" Three pairs of eyes riveted upon Henley. The pilot's face turned red with embarrassment. "What are you talking about, Seska? What do I have to be jealous about?" The ire in her voice, somehow, did not ring true. "I don't know. Because Ensign Telac is enjoying breakfast with Tom Paris and you're not?" A spiteful smile curved Seska's lips. "I remember how you used to stare at him adoringly back in the Maquis. And how you were the only one to come to his defense. Until we all ended up in the Delta Quadrant." B'Elanna stared at her former comrade in disbelief. "Kahless, Mariah! Don't tell me that you were once attracted to Tom Paris?" "Of course not!" Henley retorted. "Seska's just exaggerating! Why would you believe such . . ." She broke off when the subject in question approached their table. The Chief Helmsman flashed his usual megawatt smile, irking B'Elanna to no end. She disliked people who used such shallow methods to get by in life. "Hey everyone!" Paris greeted, before turning to his best friend. "Say Harry, I need your help with those new navigation specs we had talked about. Will you be available later, today?" Harry nodded. "Sure. How about this evening? Around 2100?" A gust of breath escaped Paris's mouth. "A little too late for me. I have . . ." He glanced at Telac, who smiled at him. "I have other plans, tonight. How about 1730? After our shift ends?" Harry glanced uneasily at B'Elanna. She knew the reason for his unease. They had planned to go over ideas, regarding the warp conduits. "Sorry Tom. B'Elanna and I . . ." "We have other plans after the Alpha shift," B'Elanna bluntly finished for her friend. "Make some other plans." Cool blue eyes fixed upon B'Elanna's face. "Other plans, huh? Hmmm. Lucky Harry." A knowing smirk touched the pilot's lips. It took all of B'Elanna's control not to wipe that smirk off Paris's face. Violently. Bridling with anger, she retorted, "It's not what you think, moron! Get your mind out of the gutter! If you can." "Take it easy, Torres! I'm just kidding! Even Harry knows about my sense of humor. Right buddy?" Harry nodded wearily. "Don't mind Tom, B'Elanna. He can't help it if he has a peculiar sense of humor. " Tom chuckled at his joke. "Well he better learn to curb it!" B'Elanna growled. "Before he uses it on the wrong person." Paris rolled his eyes and looked away. B'Elanna, to her annoyance, realized he had just dismissed her. The pilot focused on his subordinate. "By the way, Henley. Don't forget that you'll be taking Culhane's place during Beta shift, tonight. I suggest you get some rest this afternoon." Henley did not look pleased by the news. "Again?" she whined. "This is the second time I've had to cover for Culhane. Assign someone else!" "You need the flight time!" Paris snapped back. "And the last time you had covered Culhane, happened a month ago." "What if I don't bother to show up?" Silence surrounded the table. B'Elanna, along with her companions, stared at Paris, wondering how he would deal with this challenge to his authority. To her reluctant admiration - the Chief Pilot handled it well. "It's quite simple," Paris continued with a cold smile. "I'll either have you assigned to Beta shift for the next three months. Or you can spend those same months in the brig. Take your choice." His eyes penetrated Henley's. Whose face grew even redder. Paris turned to Harry with a more genuine smile. "Look Harry, we can get together over those specs another time. I'll see you later." And he returned to Ensign Telac. Seska faced Henley, her eyes wide open with feign compassion. "Still have that crush on Paris, Mariah?" The latter growled, "Shut up, Seska!" And she focused once more on her breakfast. * * * * Later that night, B'Elanna laid in bed, wide awake. Her eyes were fully alert, anticipating and dreading a repeat performance of last night's disturbances. Five minutes passed. Only silence greeted B'Elanna's ears. Another fifteen minutes later, more silence. By the time ten more minutes went by, B'Elanna felt herself growing sleepy. She also realized that whatever she had witnessed last night, was not bound to occur again. Secure that she would finally get some rest, the half-Klingon closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep. She would have been happy to learn that no sexual activity of any kind occurred in the cabin next door. * * * * TWO WEEKS LATER . . . B'Elanna and Harry strode along the corridor of Deck Six, on their way to Jeffries Tube 69. There, they planned to work on a set of ESP conduits for repair. "Poor Neelix," Harry bemoaned. "It must have been hell getting his lungs ripped away like that." He referred to a recent incident, in which the Talaxian had his lungs stolen by a pair of aliens, during an Away mission. B'Elanna grunted. "If you ask me, I think Janeway let those monsters off too easily. Stealing other people's organs, for Kahless's sakes!" Harry added, "I guess that what happens when a species has been crippled by a deadly disease. It takes away their compassion. Their morality. And it makes them dangerously desperate." "That's no excuse!" B'Elanna angrily shot back. "No, it isn't. But understandable." B'Elanna bit back an exasperated sigh, as she tried not to feel irritated by Harry's compassion. She had great affection for the young ensign, but sometimes his Federation ideals really got on her nerves. For once, she wished he could be a little more . . . ruthless. The two friends finally reached Jeffries Tube 69. B'Elanna grabbed hold of the handle for the tube's door, when Harry glanced down at his hand and let out an oath. "Dammit!" he cried. "What's wrong?" B'Elanna demanded. "My PADD. It has the schematics we need on it. I must have dropped it on my way here. I'll be right back." Harry turned on his heels and quickly retraced their path from the turbolift. Meanwhile, B'Elanna attempted to open the tube's door. Only, it refused to budge. Someone had either jammed or locked the door. Muttering an oath, B'Elanna punched a few codes into the console nearby. The door finally opened on her second attempt. She grabbed her toolkit and proceeded to crawl inside the tube. The sight that greeted her inside, stopped her in her tracks. Low moans filled the interior. Discarded uniforms were scattered about the floor. And just several yards ahead laid a completely nude Tom Paris, on his back. Straddling his waist was a female crewman - also nude - whom B'Elanna noticed was not Ensign Telac. Her breasts swung tantalizingly over Paris's face. Her body bucked up and down above the pilot's, like a rider on an unbroken horse. B'Elanna immediately recognized her. Crewman Mallory Aiwa from Security. "Ooohh! Oh yes! Harder! Harder!" Aiwa cried. Both hers and Paris's bodies continued to move in rhythm, as they made love. Aiwa leaned closer to Paris, situating the tips of her breasts above his face. He took the bait, leaned upward and covered one breast with his mouth. His hands maintained a firm grip on her hips. Feeling hot and embarrassed at the same time, B'Elanna immediately crawled out of the tube. She shut the door and took a deep breath. "Something wrong, Maquis?" Harry had returned with his PADD. Breathing heavily, B'Elanna shook her head. "No! I, uh . . . It's nothing, Harry. Look, why don't we do this later? Someone else is inside, right now." "Well, I'm sure he or she won't mind if it gets a little crowded inside." Harry knelt down on the deck and opened the door. "Starfleet, no!" Too late. Harry did not hear. He crawled inside the tube. B'Elanna heard a gasp. Along with Aiwa, screaming Paris's name. Seconds later, the Ops officer re-emerged from the tube and closed the door. "Oh Gods!" he murmured. "I didn't need to see that." Anger toward the pilot overwhelmed B'Elanna. She wondered aloud if they should report Paris and Aiwa to Chakotay. "Why?" Harry demanded. "I doubt that sex inside a Jeffries tube would constitute as an offense. Or a danger to the ship." "Isn't fraternalization between Starfleet personnel, prohibited?" B'Elanna demanded. Harry quickly replied, "No, it isn't. Not as long as they are discreet." "I wouldn't call sex in a Jeffries tube, discreet." A sigh left her friend's mouth. "B'Elanna, let it go. They're in a Jeffries tube, not in the corridor or anywhere else for the entire ship to see. Just let it go." B'Elanna remained silent. She and Harry could barely meet each other's gaze. Sounds of giggling and someone opening the tube's door filled their ears. Embarrassment immediately became anxiety. B'Elanna said to Harry, "I think we better get out of here." The younger man quickly agreed and the two friends quickly scrambled away. * * * * Once again, Tom found himself strolling along Deck Nine. He had just left Telac Mara's quarters, following a slightly difficult conversation. After two weeks of fun and great sex, the Bajoran woman had decided to end their romance. Tom had foreseen the breakup. In fact, he helped set it in motion. Mara began expressing more than a passing interest in him. She wanted to know everything about Tom - his fears, his desires and most inner thoughts. Tom immediately realized that she wanted to move their relationship to a serious level. Only, he had no desire for such a relationship. Rejection from a girlfriend at the Academy, a distant father and plenty of insincere friends had taught Tom to be wary of love and romance. He did not want or trust it any longer. Aside from Harry Kim as a close friend, he preferred mere acquaintances, brief sexual partners and nothing more. To stave off the danger of Mara's increasing interest, Tom began to hold her at arms' length. Treat her in a cool manner when they were not engaged in sex. After a week of such treatment, it worked. Not only did Mara backed off, she began showing interest in other men. Just this morning, Tom had found her in the Mess Hall, sitting with Crewman Jarvin. Both seemed intensely interested in each other. Tom got the hint. Not that he really minded. He no longer had Mara in his hair. And compensation awaited him in a Jeffries tube on Deck Six. Mallory Aiwa. Tom allowed himself a smile. A pleasant way to spend a few minutes. Now that Mara has officially ended their relationship, he was on his way to Aiwa's quar . . . The door to one of the cabins slid open. Tom gasped at the figure standing in the doorway - completely nude. "What the hell are you doing?" he growled, shoving her back inside the cabin. "Someone could have seen you!" The doors slid shut. A satisfied smile curled her lips. "That was the point," she said. "For you to see me. After I found out you were on this deck, I came here and ordered the computer to track you all the way from Telac's quarters." "If you're expecting a repeat performance of two weeks ago, don't waste your time," Tom retorted. "I have other plans." Her smile grew wider. "Certainly not with Ensign Telac, I assume. You were only in her quarters for ten minutes or less. Break up?" Tom's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "How did you find out? I haven't told anyone, yet." "I saw the good ensign with Jarvin during breakfast, this morning. It wasn't hard to guess what was going on." She reached out and stroked Tom's cheek. "I thought you needed a little consolation." "I already have my own ideas about that. And it involves someone else." Slowly, she wrapped her arms around Tom's neck. "I bet she can't console you the way I can." Her mouth hovered inches away from his. Tom inhaled deeply. He could already feel his body reacting to her nearness. And the last thing he wanted was a repeat of their last time together. Seconds later, his hopes dissipated. As she leaned forward to plant a light kiss on the side of his mouth, the tips of her breasts brushed against Tom's chest. His member automatically began to twitch. Much to his embarrassment. "That's enough!" he roared and pushed her away. Laughter greeted his ears. "If you want to get laid so badly, find someone else." Tom marched to the door, opened it and heard voiced in the corridor. He immediately slid the door shut. Her voice, smooth and taunting, said, "I thought you were leaving." "I will," Tom coolly replied. "Just as soon as the hallway is cleared." A soft body pressed against his back. Tom struggled to ignore it. "In that case, why don't you stay here, a little longer? Pass the time, until the corridor is cleared." "I doubt that mere seconds is enough time to do what you really want." Slender hands gently forced Tom to turn around. He found himself staring into a pair of eyes that brimmed with desire. "Maybe you want what I want. Can't you stay longer than mere seconds?" Tom blinked. He felt no love for this woman. Hell, he hardly felt any kind of affection toward her, whatsoever. Desire, however, was another matter. He had to admit that she was one of the most sexually satisfying women he had ever met. And unlike other partners, she demanded nothing more than sex. At least from him. Tom did not mind. Aside from his friendship with Harry, love and affection rarely played a part in Thomas Eugene Paris's life. She planted a kiss on his mouth. And another. And another. "Just stay a little longer," she whispered between kisses. "Just a little . . ." Unable to ignore his desire any longer, Tom drew her into his arms and crushed his mouth against hers. * * * * The couple was inside the Jeffries tube, just as she had remembered. He lay stretched out on the floor. She straddled his waist. Neither wore a stitch of clothing. She allowed her fingers to run through the red-gold hair on his chest. A pleasure-filled sigh escaped her mouth. So thick and luxuriant. She could do this all day. Then his member twitched against the crack of her backside. Then again, why bother? There were other parts of his anatomy she could also enjoy. Sliding down his body, she raised her slightly and sat down, once more. His member impaled the wet folds of her flesh. A deep moan rose from her throat. His hands gripped her hips, forcing her to match the rhythm of his body. Up and down, they moved. Faster and faster. She could feel him stab deeper and deeper inside her. One of his hands traveled up past her waist, until it cupped one tender breast. His thumb pressed against a taunt nipple and again, she moaned. Then it moved to another breast. Her moans grew louder. Their bodies moved faster. His thrusts became harder. Deeper. Until his entire length filled her walls. Unable to hold back any longer, she climaxed and the muscles within her folds ruthlessly constricted his member. He called out her name and exploded inside her. As she finally fell over the edge, she threw back her head and called out his name. "Tom!" * * * * B'Elanna gasped out loud, as her eyes opened. Her body snapped into a sitting position. Had she just . . .? Once the fog cleared her brain, she realized that she was inside her quarters and not in a Jeffries tube. With Tom Paris. B'Elanna also realized that she had thrust her hand inside her pajama bottoms and they now rested on the damp mound between her legs. Embarrassed, she immediately withdrew it. Then it came back to her. Every detail of her dream. It had been a replay of what she had witnessed inside Jeffries tube 69, this afternoon. Only, the woman having sex with Tom Paris had not been Mallory Aiwa, but her - B'Elanna Torres. B'Elana's cheeks grew hot. Erotic dreams were not new to her. She had them before. Only, they had usually consisted of her with a young man she once worshipped from afar, back on Kessik. And later, of her and a certain Maquis captain, turned first officer. B'Elanna never thought she would have dreams about a womanizing pig like Paris. Slowly, she crawled out of bed and headed for the wash basin. B'Elanna washed her hands and splashed water on her face. The chronometer in her cabin read 01:37 hours. Duty awaited her in less than seven hours. B'Elanna groaned. She hoped it would not be difficult for her to return to sleep. A heavy thump dashed any hopes of continued sleep. The thump came from next door. A loud moan followed. B'Elanna sighed. The phantom couple had returned. "Oh yes! Oh . . . oh . . . ah! Faster! Faster . . . oh gods! Fas . . . aaaah!" The cries and moans, accompanied by more thumps followed. B'Elanna took a deep breath. She tried to ignore the sounds from next door. Yet, it seemed very difficult, especially with them becoming increasingly loud. And her growing more aroused. At last the noise subsided, but not before the female next door shouted a name that took B'Elanna aback. "Oh yes! Oh . . . oh yes! Oh . . . aaah! Oh Gods! To-ooo-omm!" Tom? B'Elanna sat on her bed in deep shock. Did she just hear some woman cry out Tom Paris's name? * * * * Harry stared at B'Elanna in disbelief. "Are you sure that was Tom's name you heard?" he demanded. "Of course I'm sure!" B'Elanna snapped back. The two friends shared a small breakfast table, in the Mess Hall, the following morning. "How many Toms do you think are on this ship?" "Tom happens to be a common name," Harry explained. "It could be someone else." B'Elanna rolled her eyes. "Starfleet, I checked the list of personnel on this ship. There is only one Tom aboard Voyager. And his name is Thomas Eugene Paris." She scoffed with derision. "Eugene. What were his parents thinking with a name like that?" Eventually, Harry conceded that B'Elanna was right. "Okay, so it was Tom in that cabin, next door to yours. So what? Maybe whomever he's dating, lives there. What's her name? Crewman Aiwa." "Crewman Aiwa's quarters are located on Deck Seven," B'Elanna coolly retorted. "I checked. And no one occupies the cabin next door to mine." Harry paused. "Oh. Well, even so . . ." Exasperated, B'Elanna cried out, "Dammit, Starfleet! Don't you get it? Paris and Aiwa weren't supposed to be there. I'm going to report this to Chakotay." "Oh come on, Maquis! You've got to be kidding!" B'Elanna gave her friend a pointed stare. "Do I look like I'm kidding? Paris has overstepped the line, this time." "Overstepped the . . ." Harry heaved an exasperated sigh. "Gods, B'Elanna! Listen to yourself! You sound like some by-the-book Starfleet officer! Not even the Captain or myself are that bad!" "Paris is using an empty . . ." B'Elanna lowered her voice, after she noticed several pairs of eyes, staring at her. "Paris is fraternizing in an unauthorized area. No one is supposed to be in that cabin. And both he and Aiwa are keeping me awake with all that noise. I intend to make sure that doesn't happen again." Harry's face became hard. B'Elanna had never seen such an expression on his face, before. "I'm telling you, Maquis. You're making a big mistake. Granted, Tom might find himself in trouble. But sooner or later, word will circulate that you were the one who snitched on him." "So what! Aside from you, Janeway and Kes, there isn't a soul on this ship who wouldn't like to see Paris get his comeuppance!" "Maybe at first," Harry replied. "But they'll also remember that you snitched on someone. Sooner or later, they'll become wary of you and eventually, you'll become ostracized on this ship. Like Tom." B'Elanna opened her mouth to protest, but Harry seemed to be on a roll. "Tom may not be popular right now. But if word gets around that your reported him for having sex in some empty cabin, he'll be a hero in compare to you. No one likes a snitch, B'Elanna. Isn't that why the Maquis dislike him in the first place? Because you all believe he ratted on you to the Captain?" In one of those rare moments in her life, B'Elanna found herself speechless. She could not believe the words coming out of Harry's mouth. After several long seconds, her voice finally returned. "Tell me Harry, are you saying that you would tell Paris that I snitched on him?" B'Elanna tried to sound menacing, quiet. Unfortunately, wavering insecurity came out, instead. "C'mon B'Elanna! I'm not a snitch!" Harry expressed outrage. "Besides, I wouldn't have to. Tom is a pretty smart guy. He would have found out, eventually. And knowing him, he would have found some way to get even." He leaned forward, his face radiating intensity. "Please, Maquis. Don't do it!" B'Elanna, most reluctantly, realized that it would be wise to heed Harry's warning. She did not fear reprisal from Tom Paris. Yet, she had no desire to become an even bigger pariah on the ship. Her anger toward the pilot's sexual escapades, however, remained. A new obsession sprung within her. An obsession to discover the identity of Paris's paramour. Whom she suspected was Mallory Aiwa. And when she finally confirms Aiwa as Paris's partner-in-crime, B'Elanna promised herself that she would get even with both. * * * * Dark eyes seemed to follow Tom Paris nearly everywhere. They scrutinized him whenever "she" was on the Bridge, at her station. Those same eyes observed him in the Mess Hall, during breakfast, lunch and dinner. And whenever he appeared in Engineering to deliver a report or work on the navigational array. Closely. Tom could also recall seeing those same eyes along Voyager's corridors, on occasion. After nearly two weeks of such scrutiny, Tom came to the conclusion that he was being stalked. He had heard about Klingon women who stalked potential mates. Yet, the deep suspicion and dislike in B'Elanna Torres' eyes led Tom to believe that she did not view him as a potential mate. Which led him to speculate on her sudden interest in him. "Quite frankly, I don't know what the hell is her problem," Tom complained to his best friend. The two officers sat inside the shuttlecraft, Cochrane, as it sped toward the Banean homeworld. Voyager had came across the M-class planet two days ago. After learning that its inhabitants possessed warp technology and promised to help Voyager with its damaged collimator. Captain Janeway ordered Harry to work with one of the Banean scientists. And ordered Tom to fly Harry to the planet's surface. It seemed that Banea was at war with another race who occupied the planet, called the Numeri. Who had established a blockade around Banea. Tom spared the younger man a quick glance. "Torres is your friend, Harry. Do you know why she's suddenly so interested in me?" Harry sighed. Which told Tom that he knew something. And was reluctant to reveal. "What? C'mon Har. Spill it." "Okay." Another gust of breath followed. Then, "Tom, have you been seeing anyone on Deck Nine, lately? Other than Telac Mara?" It took all of Tom's skills in dissembling to maintain his usual mask. How did Harry know about his trips to Deck Nine? Better yet, what did it have to do with Torres? "I don't know what you're talking about," Tom mumbled. "Cabin Nine-I?" Harry continued. "It seems you've been using it for a little private down time with a certain someone, this past month. Only you haven't been that private." Tom sighed in defeat. "Okay. I surrender. How did you find out?" "I didn't. B'Elanna did. She could hear you two." A hot flush crept up Tom's neck. "How did she . . .?" Harry added, "B'Elanna's quarters are next door - Cabin Nine-H. She heard everything." "Great!" Tom pursed his lips in irritation. The younger man continued, "She knows it's you in there, but she doesn't know who your friend is." "She isn't exactly my friend," Tom retorted. Confusion filled Harry's dark eyes. "Huh? What are you talking . . .?" "So B'Elanna knows," Tom said, interrupting the other man. "I suppose she plans to go running to Chakotay." According to Harry, the Chief Engineer almost did. Until he talked her out of it. "And it wasn't the first time, Tom. We caught you and Mallory Aiwa inside Jeffries tube 69, around the same time B'Elanna found out Cabin Nine-I." Tom sighed. "You two seem very familiar with my love life, lately. Anything else?" "Well, you haven't exactly been discreet," Harry retorted. "Who has? Do you think Mallory and I were the only ones using the Jeffries tubes? Hell, I'll bet that half the crew are doing the same. I've caught at least four couples screwing, since we blew up the Caretaker's array." The disturbed expression on Harry's face told Tom the extent of his friend's innocence. Poor Harry. His mind jumped to the half-Klingon. Poor me. Tom realized that he had a hostile senior officer on his hands, just itching to get him into trouble. He would have to be more careful in the future. "What I don't understand," Harry continued, "is why you and Aiwa would even bother using an empty cabin on Deck Nine in the first place." Might as well be truthful. Somewhat. "I've never been with Mallory on Deck Nine," Tom explained. "I was with someone else." "Does Aiwa know?" A curt laugh escaped Tom's mouth. "Of course not, Harry. I doubt that she would really care, these days." He paused. "We broke up just four days ago. Mallory began having delusions that she alone, could finally get to know the real Tom Paris. Naturally, I had to disappoint her." Harry shot Tom a sharp glance. The latter ignored it as he continued to guide the shuttle toward the Banean homeworld. * * * * "Hey!" Tom's cry startled the woman, bent over one of the consoles inside a junction that connected two of the Jeffries tubes on Deck Five. She glared at him. "Dammit Paris! What the hell is your problem?" "I've been looking for you." Tom jumped off the ladder and landed next to her. She gave him a sniff and returned to her work. "You've found me. Now what do you want?" Tom grabbed hold of her shoulder and forced her in an upward position. "I want to talk to you, not your ass." "That's funny. You seemed to be in backsides, lately. Including one that belong to a certain Banean woman." Laughter bubbled up inside Tom at the absurdity of her jealousy. "What is this? Don't tell me you're jealous?" "What do you want?" she shot back in an acid voice. Tom became sober. "Just to let you know. The next time you get any ideas about a quick roll in the hay, find someone else. It seems that a certain friend of yours has found out about our little activities in Cabin 9-I. And considering her volatile nature, I have no desire to find myself facing the Captain. Or Chakotay." "Are you saying that Torres is a snitch? B'Elanna?" Disbelief shone in her eyes. Tom shrugged. "Normally, I'd say no. But this is me, we're talking about. Just about ninety-eight percent of the crew would love to see me in trouble with the Captain. And guess what? I won't be alone, this time." She sniffed. "Fine. If it makes you feel any better. Of course . . ." Oh Gods, Tom thought. Trouble. "I'm getting out of here. See you around." "Wait!" She grabbed Tom's arm. "Does B'Elanna know about me, as well?" Tom stared at her uneasily. "No, just me. Why?" A seductive smile appeared on her lips. "Well, since I don't want to get into trouble, any more than you do, I promise I won't ambush you on Deck Nine anymore. That is . . . if you don't mind meeting me at my favorite cabin, later this evening. Say around 1630 hours? Torres usually likes to hang around Engineering a little longer than the usual eight-hour shift." Tom wandered if she had lost her mind. Why was she so interested in him? Was she that desperate for sex? "Are you crazy?" he exclaimed. "No! Didn't you hear what I said?" "Yes. But you obviously didn't hear me. What's wrong with a little afternoon sex? Trust me, B'Elanna won't be there. Meet me at Cabin 9-I at 1630 hours. Unless," a sneer crossed her face, "you've developed a taste for Delta Quadrant women." Coolly, Tom responded, "Maybe I have." "Oh." She paused. "Well." She reached up and brushed a finger across his lower lip. "Too bad. I had hoped to work up an appetite before dinner." Tom's body immediately stiffened. He grabbed her hand and drew her against him. Damn that woman! She always had a talent for breaking his defenses. Or maybe a year in prison had rekindled his sex drive. "I'll see you in Cabin 9-I. Sixteen thirty hours." "I'll be there." She forced her mouth upon his for a brief, passionate kiss, ending it with a bite on his lip. "Just a reminder of our appointment. I'll see you later." Then she turned her back on him and resumed her work. Tom took a deep breath and started up the ladder toward Deck Four. * * * * The Bridge's turbolift doors slid open. Tom Paris emerged from the lift and strode toward the Conn Station to relieve Mariah Henley. From the Engineering Station, B'Elanna watched the entire exchange from the corners of her eyes. She noticed that Mariah's shoulders stiffened under contact from Paris's hand. And the smirk that appeared on the Chief Helmsman's lips. A red flush tinged Mariah's face, as she walked toward the turbolift. B'Elanna's console beeped. She glanced down and found a message flashed across her screen. *Keep your eyes on the job, Maquis. Tuvok is watching.* B'Elanna's eyes widened at Harry's message. Then she looked up and found a pair of dark eyes that belonged to the Vulcan Tactical Chief. Observing her. The engineer coughed slightly and returned her attention to her work. However, not before she returned Harry's message with, *Thanks Starfleet.* Since the day Harry had convinced her not to report Tom's indiscretions to Chakotay, B'Elanna has found herself growing increasingly obsessed with the pilot. She tried to curb this obsession and convince herself that she was wasting her time. After all, she has failed to come across any signs of sexual activity in Cabin Nine-I since that second time. Unfortunately, B'Elanna also continued to be plagued with dreams of her and Paris. Much to her mortification. There seemed to be one bright light in the horizon. Ever since Paris's troubles on Banea, his circle of female admirers seem to have shrunken to almost non-existent. Like B'Elanna and other crewmen, they had heard about his affair with the wife of a murdered Banean scientist. And his conviction for murder, by the Banean government. Paris ended up reliving the entire killing from the victim's viewpoint, thanks to some implanted memory engrams. However, his punishment ended up short-lived. Lieutenant Tuvok managed to exonerate Paris after discovering a murder-and-espionage conspiracy that allegedly framed the pilot. Many believed that Tuvok had conjured up evidence to exonerate Paris at Captain Janeway's behest. B'Elanna found that particular theory ludicrous. Tuvok may have been a traitorous spy, but not even he would go that far. She had to admit - most reluctantly - that Paris was innocent. There still remained another matter regarding the blond helmsman. The identity of his secret lover from Cabin Nine-I. It was a mystery that B'Elanna felt determined to uncover. Who else, besides Paris, had kept her awake with sounds of passion on two separate occasions, during the past several weeks? While B'Elanna contemplated the question, Paris's combadge chirped, breaking the silence on the Bridge. "Janeway to Paris," the Captain's voice announced. "Have you forgotten about our appointment in my Ready Room?" This time, B'Elanna openly stared at the pilot. Like everyone else on the Bridge. A crewman in Command Red relieved Paris at the Helm. And the latter made his way to the Captain's Ready Room. The moment he disappeared inside, B'Elanna sent a second message to Harry's station. 'What was that about?' Seconds later, Harry's response flashed across her console. *Have no idea, Maquis. Will ask Tom later.* B'Elanna eventually found herself forced to contemplate upon the meeting inside the Ready Room, between the pilot and the starship captain. She admitted to herself that the meeting could be innocent. But when Paris failed to reappear on the Bridge after ten minutes, B'Elanna became suspicious. Another five minutes passed and yet, Janeway and Paris remained inside the Ready Room. B'Elanna glanced at Harry, who shrugged. Then her eyes rested upon the First Officer. Who casted uneasy glances at the Ready Room's door. After twenty more minutes passed, those doors finally opened. Tom Paris strode onto the Bridge, wearing a satisfied smile. He tugged at his jacket and relieved the pilot at the Helm. The Captain emerged two minutes later, looking quite happy and unusually bright. One look at the pair and B'Elanna immediately rejected any idea of an innocent meeting. Something had just occurred between Paris and Janeway. Something that had nothing to do with the ship's business or Starfleet protocols. * * * * "What?" Harry stared at B'Elanna with disbelief. So did Seska, Henley and Ensign Lang. The five crewman had gathered at a table inside the Mess Hall for dinner, that evening. The Chief Engineer repeated her speculations about Janeway and Paris. That the two might be involved in an affair. "C'mon Harry! You saw what happened on the Bridge, today! Why would Paris remain in the Captain's Ready Room together for over a half hour? Thirty-five minutes, Harry! And don't tell me that it had something to do with what happened on Banea. That was nearly two weeks ago!" "The real question should be," Seska added, "why would you care." B'Elanna stared at the Bajoran. "What?" Seska continued, "I can understand why Henley would be upset." The pilot responded with a glare. "But why are you upset, B'Elanna? You don't like Paris. You've barely given him a thought since we arrived in the Delta Quadrant. Why do you care whether or not he's having an affair with Janeway?" All eyes focused on the half-Klingon. B'Elanna squirmed under their scrutiny. What could she say? That the lovemaking in Cabin Nine-I was keeping her awake? Or that she was having erotic dreams about her and the chief pilot? "I don't like the idea of us suffering, due to some illicit affair between those two," she finally answered. A brittle laugh escaped the Bajoran's mouth. "Oh B'Elanna! You are so naïve!" The Chief Engineer winced under the latter's derision. "I doubt that 150 crewmen are going to suffer over some tawdry affair Janeway might be having with Paris! Unless she becomes pregnant or something. I may not like the woman very much, but I can't blame her for wanting a little comfort to ease her loneliness." "Seska's right," Henley added. "After all, Chakotay's romance with her didn't hurt us." She remained stoic under the Bajoran's dark glare. "Of course in the Captain's case, I cannot see why she would even have . . ." Her voice dimmed to a whisper. B'Elanna noticed the slight jealousy in her voice. Obviously, Mariah also became aware of it. Seska smiled. "What were you about to say, Mariah?" Fortunately for the ex-Maquis pilot, Harry and Deborah Lang seemed more interested in defending Janeway's honor than in any jealousy on Henley's part. Lang stoutly declared that Captain Janeway would never break Starfleet protocols by fraternizing with someone under her command. "It's against regulations," she added. "Actually, it's not," Harry corrected. "But it's not encouraged. An intimate relationship between a starship commander and a subordinate might lead to . . . well, certain problems. Problems that might have a bearing on the conduct of any starship." Seska snorted. "And knowing Janeway, she'd rather die with her ideals intact than enjoy a little pleasure. So much for your theory, B'Elanna." "Oh yeah?" the Chief Engineer shot back. "Then can someone explain why the Captain and Paris were in the Ready Room for at least a half hour? And why they were smiling, when they left?" * * * * "We had tea," Tom explained to his lover, the following afternoon. They laid stretched on the bed, inside Cabin Nine-I, with their naked bodies pressed against each other's. "The Captain had invited me for tea." He leaned toward her and nipped the side of her long neck. She managed to scoff and moan at the same time, while Tom continued to nuzzle her neck. "You've got to be kidding! Why would . . . ah!" He bit into that sensitive junction where the shoulder and neck met. "I think the Captain considers me her little reclamation project. We were suppose to have tea after the shift, but the Captain had another matter to deal with. So," Tom's hot tongue flickered across the hollow of her neck, "she rescheduled it for a little earlier." He sat up and lavisciously eyed the stunning body beside him. "If you think something is going on between us, you're mistaken. Captain Janeway is not the type to make out with a subordinate, just several feet away from the Bridge. That's just plain idiocy." Slender hands trailed up Tom's chest. Her fingers slide through the chest hair. "You seem very defensive about her." A malicious smile touched Tom's lips. "What's the matter? Jealous?" Her hands grabbed a handful of chest hair and pulled, causing Tom to wince. "Don't insult me, Paris. I don't take kindly to any disrespect." Tom jerked her hand away and gave it a hard squeeze. This time, it was her turn to wince. "Let's get something straight," he murmured. "Unless I'm on duty, I am not in the habit of jumping through hoops for anyone. At least of all, you. I've had enough of that in my life." "Then why are you here?" "For a good, fuck. What did you think? Because I'm madly in love with you?" Tom retorted. She threw back her head and laughed. Out loud. Her laugh immediately died as Tom covered the mound between her legs. He inserted two fingers into her hot flesh. She let out a gasp, as her body jerked automatically. "Gods! I hope you're not in love," she said breathlessly. "What would be the fun in that?" Smiling, Tom removed his fingers and gently forced her legs apart. Then he took her by surprise by ramming his member into her. She let out a cry and her body arched upward. Tom's thrusts became deeper. Harder. He leaned forward and covered one tantalizing breast with his mouth and began to suckle. And her cries grew louder. * * * * Unbeknownst to the occupants inside Cabin Nine-I, a certain chief engineer slowly made her way to her quarters, two hours earlier than usual. She would have remained in Engineering a bit longer, but a shortage in one of the EPS relay circuits led to a slight electrocution and minor burns. One of B'Elanna's engineers had beamed her into Sick Bay. There, the Doctor treated her injuries and gave her an anaglesiac for the pain. He also ordered her to return to her quarters for a long rest. B'Elanna's first instinct was to ignore the EMH's order. Unfortunately, he threatened to inform both the Captain and Chakotay if she did not obey. Feeling slightly dazed from the medication in her bloodstream, B'Elanna eventually stumbled into her quarters. She peeled off her uniform and headed for the bedroom. Just as she was about to sink onto her bed, voices drifted from next door. "Oh! Oh yes! Oh spirits! Don't . . . don't stop! Don't . . . oooh! Oh yes! Aaa . . . aaah! Yes! Don't . . . oh! Oh To-ooo-omm!" The orgasmic cry snapped B'Elanna out of her fog. She had not heard such a cry in over two weeks. Before Paris's murder conviction on the Banean homeworld. Her eyes closed and she sighed. Muted laughter reached B'Elanna's ears. Apparently, Paris and his . . . "mate" had finished. She had hoped that news of Paris's affair with that Banean woman would end the illicit trysts in Cabin Nine-I. Harry must have informed Paris about her knowledge of the affair, leading the pilot to use the cabin a few hours earlier. No matter. B'Elanna had finally figured out a way to kill two birds with one stone - learn the identity of Paris's lover and get even with both for keeping her up at nights. Just before Paris and Harry's mission to Banea, she had installed a holovideo monitor in Cabin 9-I. B'Elanna had forgotten about the monitor - until now. She planned to upload a recording of this afternoon's activity into the ship's computer. Or better yet, transform it into a holoprogram. And finally allow the crew an intimate look of Lover Boy Paris in action. It should be the talk of the ship for months to come. * * * * Like many of her plans in life, the one to expose Tom Paris and his lover did not proceed as B'Elanna had expected. The following morning saw more problems in Engineering. More malfunctions with the EPS conduits led to repairs that lasted nearly an entire day. By the time B'Elanna and her staff finished the repairs, she was too exhausted to even think about the video recording. The following day, Voyager came across an M-class planet that provided the crew an opportunity to stock up on foodstuffs and other supplies. Also, both Chakotay and Seska had a near-fatal encounter with a group of Kazons. The latter continued to weigh on the crew's mind, when Voyager responded to a distress signal from one of their ships. B'Elanna made up part of the Away team that discovered not only a ship filled with dead Kazons, but also Federation technology that was not properly integrated into their system. Someone aboard Voyager had given Federation technology to the Kazon without Janeway's knowledge. No one had been more surprised than B'Elanna when Tuvok and Chakotay revealed the culprit, the following day. Like many of the other former Maquis, B'Elanna assumed Joe Carey to be guilty. They believed he wanted revenge for being passed over for the position of Chief Engineer. Instead, Seska - one of her closest friends - turned out to be guilty. Even worse, the latter was revealed to be a Cardassian, surgically altered as a Bajoran, in order to infiltrate Chakotay's Maquis cell. B'Elanna felt humiliated and betrayed. Chakotay might feel even worse, but that knowledge did not lessen her feelings. She tried to alleviate her mood with an evening trip to Sandrine's. But the idea of listening to smug 'Fleeters berate the Maquis for allowing a Cardassian spy in their midst did not appeal to her. She needed something else to relieve her anger. Then she remembered. Tom and Cabin 9-I. At first, B'Elanna wondered if she wanted to watch a vid of Paris having sex with a crewmember. Witnessing his little bout with Mallory Aiwa had been bad enough. But, dammit! She had to do something! Brooding over Seska's betrayal did not help her mood. So, B'Elanna switched on her computer console, entered a few codes and uploaded the recorded images from the monitor next door. Satisfied that she had completed her task, she played back the images. What she saw nearly sent her into a state of shock. How could Tom Paris end up in an affair with her? The plans to reveal the recording to the crew became null and void. B'Elanna did not kill her plans out of any feelings toward the lovers on the screen. She simply did not want to embarrass and hurt a friend. And revealing this to the crew would do just that. * * * * Tom bent over the pool table and sunk his last ball into a pocket with ease. His opponent groaned. "Your game is really improving, Tommy," Gaunt Gary commented with a sigh. "Maybe just a little too much. When did you learn that maneuver?" "From watching you," Tom replied. "I only learn from the best." The hologram grimaced. With the exception of a handful, only holographic characters like Gaunt Gary and Sandrine filled the Marsaille tavern that evening. Although Tom had left the program opened to the entire crew, three crewmen other than himself, had bothered to show up. Ensigns Lang and Ashmore only hung around for an hour, before leaving. Crewman Henley sat in a corner table with a few of the program's characters. It seemed the ex-Maquis preferred their company to his. Henley and the other Maquis must still be in a state of shock over the revelations about Seska. Tom did not blame them. He felt the same. That she would hand over Federation technology behind Janeway's back did not really surprise him. The shock came from news that Seska had been a Cardassian in disguise. A Cardassian with the Obsidian Order. That meant . . . The tavern doors opened. B'Elanna Torres strode inside, causing Tom to groan inwardly. She waved at Henley, glanced at Tom and headed toward the pool table. Much to the pilot's dismay. "We-ell!" Gary proclaimed. "Look who's here! Wanna game with me, honey?" He oogled at the Chief Engineer, who fixed him with a deadly stare. If looks could kill, B'Elanna's glare would have destabilized Gary's matrix by now. "On second thought," the pool player added in a shaky voice, "maybe I had enough for this evening. See you, Tommy." He gave a quick wave and headed for Henley's table. Torres stared coolly at Tom. "Up for another game, Paris?" Tom frowned. "You want to play? Against me?" he asked. "Why not? It's not like you've been beaten before." A tart smile curled Tom's lips. "Yeah, bu t I don't see the Captain around, anywhere. And you're not exactly in her league." "Rack 'em, Flyboy!" Torres snapped back. "And be prepared to have your ass kicked!" Again, Tom smiled as he set up the balls for another game. Granted, he was not particularly fond of the half-Klingon. However, he had to admit that he found her to be a fascinating personality. And a very beautiful woman. His eyes roamed appreciatively over her slim body. But even better, she was, at best, a mediocre pool player. Sure enough, the pilot proved to be more than a match for the engineer. The latter managed to sink in a ball or two during the game. But in the end, Tom emerged victorious. "Another game," Torres imperiously demanded. "Look Torres, why don't we end this evening on a good note? If we play another game, it will only end embarrassingly for you. Trust me." Dark eyes challenged Tom. "Don't count on it, Paris. I plan to make this next game unpleasant for you. C'mon, rack 'em up!" Tom gave the engineer a long, cool look. "What's going on, Torres? You usually try to avoid my company. And now you want to shoot pool with me?" He paused, as an idea came to him. An unpleasant one, at that. "Has this something to do with Cabin 9-I?" he asked. Anger replaced the challenging look in Torres's eyes. "Cabin 9-I?" "Come off it, Torres! You know what I'm talking about!" Tom retorted. "Harry told me everything. Look, I had no idea that your cabin was next door. Nor did I realize you would hear everything . . ." Neither Tom nor Torres heard the tavern doors creak open. Or see the tall figure that entered, since they were facing the opposite direction. "Believe me, Paris," Torres shot back, "I heard everything. Just tell me this. When you fucked Seska, did you ever realize that she was a Cardassian?" A gust of breath left Tom's mouth. He stared at the half-Klingon in total shock. "Gods! How did . . .?" Tom finally recovered his voice. "How did you find out about Seska and me?" He tried his best to sound calm. "What did I do? Scream her name out loud?" "No, she screamed your name," Torres responded. Tom almost blushed. "However, I didn't find out about Seska until I saw this." She removed a data chip from her pocket. "I had placed a video monitor in the cabin, nearly two weeks ago. And captured both of you in action." Tom stared at the data chip. He wondered it the Chief Engineer planned to use it for some blackmail scheme. "By the way, I'm not in the business of blackmail," she added, as if reading his mind. "I don't stoop that low." "Really? And what do you call placing that monitor in the cabin?" Tom shot back. "Why did you do it?" Torres's stare became accusing. "Why did you sleep with Seska? Why her, Paris? It's bad enough she turned out to be a Cardassian. But you fucked her, even though she was suppose . . ." "Suppose to what? Be Chakotay's lady love? As I recall, they broke up not long after he became First Officer. Something tells me that Seska didn't take the change in their relationship very well." Disgust tinged Torres's voice. "And you just decided to screw her, so you could add one more notch on your belt. Is that it? Or was this your way of getting back at Chakotay?" Tom smiled. He might as tell her everything. It would be interesting to see how she would react. "Actually, Seska caught me off guard, one night. When I was on Deck Nine. After that, she wanted to meet there, because it was convenient and she didn't have to worry about someone spotting me enter her quarters. Can't have a former Maquis be seen with Tom Paris. Granted, both of us could barely stand each other, but . . . I must say, she was great in bed. Something I had recalled from our time together in the Maquis." A gasp left Torres's mouth, much to Tom's amusement. Bullseye. Her dark eyes grew wide with disbelief. "You mean to say that you and Seska were . . ." "That's right, Lieutenant. Lovers. Only, I wasn't the only one. Both here on Voyager and back in the Maquis," Tom added softly. "Seska had her little circle of lovers available, whenever she and Chakotay . . ." Suddenly aware of a third figure standing nearby, Tom glanced to his left and the words died on his lips. Trembling in rage, stood Voyager's First Officer. Torres's eyes followed Tom's and she gasped for the second time. Chakotay stepped forward, rage reflecting his his black eyes. For a few seconds, Tom experienced genuine fear. Would he find himself in Sick Bay, covered in bruises and blood? He hoped not. Then again, he had endured beatings before. "What others?" the older man demanded softly. "Who were the others, Paris?" Torres stepped forward. "Chakotay . . ." Tom took a deep breath. Squelched the fear within him. "I don't know," he curtly replied. "Why do you care anyway, Chakotay? You were never in love with Seska. Hell, you proved that when you dumped . . ." A bronze fist cut him off and sank into his gut. Another clipped him on the jaw and Tom fell back onto the floor. Blood trickled from the corner of the pilot's mouth, as he remained sprawled on the floor. He could see the other figures, including Henley, drifting toward the pool table. Tom struggled to his feet and wiped the blood from his mouth. "Thomas, are you hurt?" a concerned Sandrine asked. Laughter, soft and bitter, rose from Tom's throat. "I'm fine, Sandrine. Just caught off guard, that's all." He faced the First Officer. "Good punch, Chakotay. I see that you haven't lost your touch." "That was nothing, Paris," Chakotay growled. "I'm not through with you, yet." Tom smirked, despite the pain from his bruised jaw. "If I were you, Commander, I'd drop the whole matter. Or else the Captain is going to start wondering why I have extra duty assignments. Or why I have to show up at Sick Bay for unexplained bruises. I am curious as to how you're going to explain this." Chakotay retorted, "Explain all you want, Paris. It will be your word against mine. And I don't think B'Elanna or Mariah will be willing to testify on your behalf." "Oh, I don't I'll need them. Don't forget the video monitors inside the holodeck. I'm sure they've recorded the whole thing. Unless you plan to tamper with them. Then again," another painful smirk touched Tom's lips, "knowing your penchant for truth and justice, you just might march up to the Captain's quarters and tell her everything." Tom paused. "Do you really want to do that?" A long silence followed. Tom met Chakotay's stare with his own cool one. Finally, the First Officer let out something like a cross between a grunt and a snort. "You're not worth the effort," he said with disgust. Then he turned on his heels and stalked out of the holodeck. * * * * B'Elanna cried after the older man. "Chakotay!" But he did not hear. She whirled upon Paris and found him staring at her, coldly. "What? What is it?" "Congratulations, Torres," he said softly. "Looks like you got what you wanted, after all. My humiliation. Only you got a friend humiliated as well. Tell me, why did you put that monitor in that cabin? Because we interrupted your sleep for a few nights? Why in the hell didn't you just let it go?" He walked out of Sandrine's, rubbing his jaw. Henley walked up to B'Elanna. Her gray-blue eyes expressed concern. Curiosity. B'Elanna, are you okay?" "Yeah," the other woman murmured. "What was that about?" Revenge gone wrong, B'Elanna silently replied. She kept the response to herself. Along with the memory of Chakotay's humiliation . . . and Paris's contempt. Then she took a deep breath. "Nothing. Nothing at all." THE END