Summary:
In answer to Isa's challenge on Jupiter Station. Less
than 36 hours
after Voyager's return to the Alpha quadrant, Tom
vanishes.
Why? Was he alone? Does anybody know anything about
it?
Most importantly, what will Chakotay do about it? Let's see.
Tom.
Chakotay smiled.
His eyes weren't even open yet and he was thinking
of him.
He rolled over, the bed linens sticking to his stomach and
slid his hand
out searching for the pilot, his eyes still closed.
When he felt
only crumpled sheets, he opened them.
He wasn't there.
The smile faded. Chakotay lifted his head from his
pillow and
listened for sounds of his lover, lover oh spirits Tom was
his lover,
in the bathroom. Nothing.
"Tom?"
He called hoping the younger man was a quiet riser, and still
nothing.
Well if he
wasn't in the bathroom or hiding under the bed, he was
gone.
The accommodations Starfleet had provided him only consisted
of the two
rooms and they were sparsely furnished at that.
Chakotay flipped
onto his back, propped himself up on his elbows and
looked about
his rented quarters. It looked almost dismal without
the pilot.
There was the bed, the night table, a hard backed chair,
the simple
desk and the computer terminal with a blinking red light.
A blinking
red light?
Peeling the
stiff sheets from his body, he scrambled out of bed, fell
to his knees
on the rug, shook out his tangled feet and crawled to
the chair
in front of the desk. He was almost glad now that Tom
wasn't here
to see this puerile performance and pulled himself up off
the floor
and sat at the computer.
It was, as
he hoped a message from Tom. Chakotay read it quickly,
pausing at
the end to read the sign off twice, before going through
the short
note again so he could read the `yours always' part once
more.
With what he was sure was a silly grin, he sat buck-naked with
freshly abraded
kneecaps staring at the two words.
Yours always
Tom had written, not see you later, or thanks for
memories or
even see you at breakfast, but yours always. It was so
blatantly
romantic and so totally lacking of the typical Paris
sarcasm, it
made his chest tight.
Oh spirits
Chakotay thought wryly, the man had just found a whole new
set of buttons
to push in him. He touched his tender mouth with fond
remembrance
and would have smiled if he weren't already. Tom Paris
was getting
to him and incredibly he liked it.
Chakotay sat
a little while longer thinking, his mind wandering back
to the night
before until he could no longer ignore his full bladder
or the blood
dripping down his shins. Turning off the computer, but
not before
saving the note, he lifted his nagging body from the chair
and headed
for the shower.
He had a breakfast
date with his lover, his very `male' lover to get
ready for.
********
"Who are you and what did you do with Starfleet headquarters?"
The ebony skinned
man in the outfit straight out of "A Hundred and
One Arabian
Nights" sat looking at him blankly. The alien hadn't
said a thing
to him since he woke lying in this berth and it was
starting to
really piss him off. He was only mildly frightened at
being kidnapped.
Tom propped himself up on his elbows.
"Okay let's
start with an easier question shall we?" Mr tall, dark
and silent
continued to stare at him mutely from the opposite
bunk.
"Where the fuck are my clothes!"
The alien looked
to his groin and pointed. Then, his face an
impassive
mask, the dark man rose, his turbaned head almost touching
the roof of
the cabin and walked out to the front of the shuttle.
"I meant my
uniform you bastard!" Tom yelled after him cricking his
neck.
He tried to get up but the force blanket kept him firmly in
place.
"Not a fucking gold lame' loincloth!"
Tom fell back
on the bunk and laughed with frustration. Oh man was
he screwed.
He was lost
in space with the village idiot and if that wasn't bad
enough, he
was doing it while looking like Tarzan at the Ritz.
********
"I'm sure you're
over reacting Chakotay. So he missed a breakfast
appointment
with you big deal. It `was' his first full night home.
Tom probably
spent it with a friend and lost track of time."
"A lover you mean."
"What else?
Tom's a player Chakotay, and he's been cooped up on
Voyager for
the last seven years with the same old, same old. He
probably found
someone new and got carried away. That's all."
The captain's
explanation sounded so plausible even he was getting
jealous despite
that fact `he' was the afore mentioned lover. It
was just another
irrational symptom of being stood up by Tom Paris.
"He didn't
show up for his parole hearing this afternoon Kathryn.
How do you
explain that?" And now he was becoming angry with his
former captain
as if Tom's disappearance was her fault. Here was yet
another distressing
symptom of `Tom'-itis. Oh spirits he had it bad.
"He didn't? Well maybe.-"
"No and he also missed lunch with Harry."
"With Harry? Then there must be something wrong."
His jealously
flew at him again from left field. Kathryn hadn't
cared when
Tom skipped out him or even the parole board but Harry
Kim, oh well
that was different wasn't it. Chakotay started to
wonder if
Harry had touched Tom like he had last night before getting
a hold of
himself.
He was being
a moron. One night in bed with Tom Paris and he was
acting like
a possessive boyfriend. Spirits Chakotay, Harry was
Tom's good
friend and that was all. He knew that and Kathryn knew
that.
That's why she'd become concerned. Get a grip old man and get
to the point.
"Kathryn I'd
like to enlist a few people from Voyager to discreetly
look for Tom.
I don't think we should include Starfleet security in
our investigations
just yet."
"Because we'll
have to tell them what we find out, is that it? If
he's gotten
himself in trouble, you want to get him out before the
authorities
know about it."
"Something like that."
"Damn Chakotay
two days in the Alpha quadrant and you're already
bucking the
brass."
"Is that a yes?"
"For now.
I'll get Kim to check the hotel computer records and
Seven to check
flight departures but Chakotay,"
"Yes Kathryn."
"If it's something
serious, I'll have to take it to Owen.
Understood?"
"I understand Kathryn."
"Damn.
I hope Tom knows how very lucky he is to have you for a
commanding
officer Chakotay. You're putting your career on the line
for him here
and Tom sure as hell better be grateful when he gets
back."
Chakotay shrugged.
He didn't much care about his career, he was
resigning
anyway but he wouldn't mind a little grateful if it came
his way.
But mostly
he would be happy just having him back.
********
He must have dozed off.
Tom stretched
his length out on the bunk and then hissed as his bare
butt cheeks
stuck to the vinyl padding. When he reached around to
rub his stinging
ass, he noticed his host was back.
"Are you damaged?" The alien asked.
Well surprise, surprise it could talk.
"I'll live. No reason to call the next of kin just yet."
"That's is not what I asked." No sense of humour but it could talk.
"I'm fine.
Who are you?" Tom asked taking advantage of the alien's
chatty mood.
It was possible he could talk himself out of this
bizarre situation
yet.
"Lutan, your First One."
"My first one,
eh? Well I hate to disappoint you Lutan but it's
been awhile
since my first anything, if you get my drift."
"You are to be my Second."
Okay so the
guy wasn't a virgin, whatever. Tom already had one of
those waiting
for him at home, a big hunky one with impossibly
gorgeous eyes
to be exact. He didn't need or even want this guy.
"Look Lutan,
I'm flattered really but I'm sort of taken. So if
you'll turn
the ship around and take me back to Earth, we can chalk
this up to
an unfortunate misunderstanding. And hey if you want a
first one,"
Tom said using the alien's vernacular. "I've got a
friend who's
between lovers right now and who knows, he might be
interested.
God knows the guy needs a change and maybe you're it."
"No.
The bonding ceremony is set. You will become mine once we
arrive home."
He said evenly as if announcing tomorrow was Saturday.
Bonding?
First and Second, a pair, oh fuck, this guy was playing for
keeps.
If he wasn't nervous before, he was now. Tom Paris was not
the marrying
type.
"Forgive me
but I don't remember you proposing or me accepting for
that matter."
"Proposing?" For the first time Lutan's stony façade cracked.
"Yeah, you
know, you date me, romance me and then get down on one
knee and ask
for my hand."
"Ah," Lutan
smiled and chuckled deep and low in his throat. "Do you
think yourself
a woman Tom Paris?"
Okay that was
a new fact. The alien knew who he was which probably
meant he'd
been specifically targeted for snatching. Tom filed that
tiny piece
of the puzzle away and searched for more.
"Not especially
Lutan. Do you think of me as one?" And plan to use
me as one?
Tom didn't verbalize the second question. He didn't
want to give
the big man any ideas.
"Of course
not. You are a man and as my second you will accept my
dominance.
Only Yareena has the power to choose."
"Yareena, and she is?"
"The reason
for my selecting you. With you as my mate, she will
dispose of
Hagon and reinstate me as her First One."
"So I'm what? A lure? An extra added bonus prize?"
"You are exotic
and of stature on your world. Your golden hair and
pale skin
will entice her and be testament to my prowess, my
princeling."
"And what about
you? Do I `entice' you?" Tom gave in and asked.
His mind had
been skirting around the issue but now there was no
avoiding it.
He needed to know what was expected of him.
"Yes.
Like all of my people, I too am attracted to your colouring.
It will be
an honour and a pleasure to bed one such as you." Lutan's
smile widened.
"Computer deactivate safety mantle, bunk two. "
Lutan reached
a large meaty hand across the aisle and stroked his
bare thigh,
his dark fingers playing with the blond hairs. "A
pleasure indeed."
He purred.
Now Tom was scared.
********
"He didn't go home at all last night Captain."
"You sure Ensign?"
"Yes ma'am.
The records on his room show he left yesterday at 19:00
or at least
his comm badge did, it showed his signature." Harry
looked up
from the PADD in his hand. "I suppose he could have
returned without
it, but it's not likely."
No, Chakotay
thought from his end of the table in the restaurant.
The only time
Tom had his communicator off was while he was naked
in `his' room
kissing him, moving against him, crying out in
orgasm.
He slipped his hand under the table and discreetly shifted
his package.
It was becoming a little tight.
"Do you have
the access logs for the rest of the hotel Harry? Have
you checked
those?" Chakotay asked both his hands back in plain view.
"Yes sir but
I only ran Tom's. I thought checking the other rooms
might be a
little too invasive and harder to explain if I was caught."
"Let me then."
He took the
PADD from Harry and did a search for Tom's signature.
The record
showed his comm badge entering the quarters of one
Commander
Chakotay at 20:44 and leaving again at 04:15. There were
no other listings
thank the spirits.
Tom had slept
at his side a little more than four hours before
getting up
and writing the note that said he was going straight
home.
That hadn't happened but what also hadn't happened was that he
went from
his bed to another's.
Chakotay felt
a stab of guilt at his relief. He knew it would have
been better
to find Tom shacked up with a woman or worse another man,
instead of
still missing but something inside of him remained pleased.
"Anything Chakotay?" Kathryn asked from her side of the table.
"Nothing that
helps." The investigation anyway he thought, although
his heart
was pumping a little easier. "What about the port
authority,
anything anomalous there Seven?"
"Possibly Commander.
There were several unauthorized departures in
the last twenty-four
hours, all smaller vessels. With the current
influx of
ships in orbit due to Voyager's arrival in the Alpha
quadrant,
Starfleet has had difficulty handling the traffic. I would
need a time
frame to more accurately pinpoint the ship Mr Paris may
have been
on."
"Between 04:30
and 08:00. Does that help?" Chakotay was tipping
his a hand
a bit but didn't care.
Kathryn gave him a look but Harry Kim gave him more than that.
"We can't know
that for sure Commander. 08:00 maybe because that's
when he was
supposed to meet you but 04:30? You couldn't know since
you left already
but Tom left the party shortly after you did and
that must
have been around 20:30. That's six hours unaccounted for."
"I know where Tom was Ensign during those six hours."
"Where?"
"That's not
important but I know he was safe." He replied firmly
hoping the
ensign would let it go. "Seven?"
"I have one
ship departing without authorization during the time
period you
provided. If Mr Paris did not leave the compound for
another location
planet side, that would be the ship he's on."
Chakotay agreed.
"None of us can leave headquarters until after our
debriefing
so he would be unable to access public transportation to
anywhere without
it setting an alarm off with Fleet Security."
"What if he walked?"
Harry was really becoming a pain in the ass.
"Then he's
taking an awfully long stroll, Ensign. Tom's on that
ship and I'm
guessing he didn't go voluntarily."
He got another look from Kathryn.
"Okay Commander,"
Harry replied finally relenting. "Seven and I'll
check it out
some more and report back."
"Thank you and please know I appreciate your help on this."
Harry shrugged
and Seven merely nodded before leaving the table.
That left
him alone with Kathryn who by her silence during the last
part of the
exchange told him he had some explaining to do.
*********
"Can't we wait until the wedding night?"
Tom squished
his back against the bulkhead trying to avoid Lutan's
fawning touches.
The thick fingers were traveling from his thigh
dangerously
close to an area recently reserved for his commanding
officer only.
"I'm not marrying you young princeling, I'm acquiring you."
And checking
out the goods, oh fuck. Lutan's hand disappeared under
his gold loincloth
and Tom's balls shrank back with revulsion.
"What if I
fight you?" He ventured. Lutan was one and half times
his bulk and
had arms the size of Chakotay's thighs. He wouldn't
win.
It would be futile to fight this monster.
"Then I will sedate you and take what I want anyway."
Tom considered
that. Would rape be any less traumatic if you
weren't awake
to feel it? Would he feel any less dirty or used?
Probably not.
He would still feel like a shit afterwards and if he
chose unconsciousness,
a coward too. A cowardly piece of shit or
bloodied one,
not much of a choice.
"Can't we talk
about this?" Tom asked hopefully half ass deciding to
be brave.
It would be easier to look Chakotay in the eye that way.
Not that he
had any plans about telling him about this, no fucking
way but that
didn't matter. Tom would know. He wouldn't let
Chakotay fuck
a coward even it was him. The commander was too good
for that,
if that made any sense.
"No." His abuser said firmly.
Lutan's palm
was holding his sac now and his fingers were caressing
the tender
space behind. Tom tried to press his thighs together to
impede his
progress but the bigger man simply grabbed his knee and
opened him
wider. Tom pushed back against the large hand but there
was no give,
none at all.
"Okay then
tell me something." He said through gritted
teeth.
"Who's flying the ship while you're fucking me?" Tom would
have said
`raping' but couldn't verbalize it. He could think the
word but if
he said out loud it would make it more real and he'd
panic.
And acting like a raving lunatic was only going to get him
knocked out.
"Auto pilot.
We will not enter Ligon II space for two hours yet.
My attention
will not be required until that time."
Oh terrific
two whole fucking hours of torture. Even in a blind
rage Tom knew
he couldn't fight that long. Not that it would be
much of a
fight, Lutan was strong enough to just flip him over and
ream his ass
no matter hard Tom fought. He was physically
outmatched.
So what else could he do? Take it? Turn it around?
So here we are at another moral crossroad.
It didn't have
to be rape. The only thing that made this an assault
was his refusal
of it. If he gave his permission, it would be just
sex.
Ah but then again there was Chakotay.
Last night,
he thought it was last night, he was losing track of
time, he'd
been with a man he'd wanted for years. A man who
acceptance
of a physical relationship was still very delicate and
needed to
be handled with care if Tom wanted to keep it.
They had made
no promises of monogamy to each other but somehow it
didn't seem
right to Tom that the body that touched Chakotay's should
be tainted
with another's. It was sort of like sexual sacrilege.
If you were
touching Chakotay, you touched no one else. Simple.
And Tom did
intend to get back some how and do some serious
touching.
He had after all made Chakotay one promise. He promised
him a next
time.
"Oh fuck!"
Tom screamed as a blunt finger invaded his anus. It was
happening.
And it was time to decide.
********
"So what did you do for six hours with my helmsman Chakotay?"
Kathryn Janeway
was a smart woman. Although the clues had been
fairly obvious,
she'd seen what Harry Kim's small brain couldn't
grasp and
probably didn't want to. There was no point in denying
it.
"Sleep mostly." There was also no point in giving details.
"Sleep? Uh-huh and how long have you been `sleeping' with Tom?"
"Just the once."
"Once? My god Chakotay, only once?"
"Yes.
Do you think I should have started sooner?" He said
deliberately
misunderstanding her outrage. She scowled at him.
"I don't believe
it. One night with Tom and you're willing to give
up everything
for him. The boy must be one hell of a fuck."
"I haven't
given anything up Kathryn." He chose to ignore her last
comment.
"Oh no just
your career. Do you know what Owen will do to you if he
finds about
you screwing his son?"
"My career's already over. I'm going back to Dorvan V."
"Not with Tom.
Daddy Paris won't give up on him that easily.
Especially
now that he has him back under his thumb."
"I hadn't planned on taking Tom with me."
"Oh no?"
She didn't
believe him and he really couldn't blame her. Although
it was true,
he hadn't planned on taking Tom to Dorvan V, he also
hadn't planned
on not taking him either. He hadn't spent a lot of
time thinking
about going home. All his thoughts had been on Tom.
How the younger
man made him feel, what it had been like to have his
hard cock
in his mouth, his warn come on his belly, his sweet kiss on
his lips.
With all those wonderful new delights, there hadn't been
any room left
over for Dorvan V.
"Whatever I
planned, its sort of a mute point if we can't find him,
isn't it?"
"True."
Kathryn sat back in her chair. "You're right of course.
I'm sorry
if I let my concern for both of you get in the way. I
don't mean
to be antagonistic but dammit you, Tom and everybody else
from Voyager
are my family, not like but are, do you hear me?" She
stuck her
hand out.
"Yes ma'am."
Chakotay replied with a smile as he placed his hand in
hers and squeezed.
"Okay then,
now back to Tom." She took her hand back and retrieved
the data PADD
Harry had left, plucking it deftly from his other
hand.
"If he's on that ship, we'll need one to go after him." She
began tapping
the slim instrument, making it work for her. "A big
one."
"Big ship,
bigger guns. I like it." He also liked the fact that
Kathryn had
seemingly forgotten her threat to contact Admiral Paris
if things
got serious.
She looked
up from the PADD a moment. "I thought you would.
It'll
impress the
hell out of your new boyfriend."
"And also scare the shit out of whoever has him."
They were also
the less romantic advantages of a faster warp drive
and more tracking
resources both of which they'd need to find a
smaller vessel
with half a days lead on them.
"Voyager's
out. We'd never get her out of the clutches of the
engineers
at Utopia Planetia. They're peeing their pants over all
that Borg
technology. You've got any friends in high places
Chakotay?"
Chakotay did
but he wasn't the captain, only first officer and
although he
could be quite persuasive when he wanted to be,
commandeering
a new Sovereign class ship was a little out of his
league.
"Got it!"
Kathryn exclaimed. "Her captain has been bugging the
hell out of
me since we got back to trade stories with him. I think
I can convince
him to do it while on the road."
With a big
self-satisfied smile she handed him the PADD with
schematic
of the ship in question. Chakotay read the name and smiled
back.
Maybe his friend would be a help after all.
It was the Enterprise E.
TBC