| Title - "The Vote" Author - T'Thrill Paring TOS- S/C Rating - R Archive - COCO and ASCEML only. All others please ask. This story can be located on my web page; "T'Thrill's Den of Trek Delights" - http://www.oocities.org/tthrill1612/ This story involves m/m sexual encounters. If you are under the age of 18, or this subject does not interest you, please move on. Disclaimer - Copyright 2002 T'Thrill This is an original work of fiction based on Star Trek. The story is my own, and not used for making any profit. It is not intended to infringe on the intellectual property rights of Paramount, Viacom, or any other of their assignees or licensees. The characters are the property of Paramount and I have made fair, transformative use of them. Tomorrow being Election Day in the US, I wrote this quickly, just a few hours, and didn’t take time to have it betaed. Therefore, any mistakes are my own. I do have to thank Kira who inspired me with her post to the COCO newsgroup. Summary - Spock and Chekov are having a discussion regarding the history of the democratic right to cast your vote. It’s considered important in their time, and we know it is important now. Everyone here in the US, get out and VOTE! Chapter 1/1 "I know all about voting!” Chekov insisted as he followed the Vulcan first officer to the back of the dining hall and sat his dinner tray down at the position across from him. “The Russians invented the notion of the republic. Really, sair! They invented it after experimenting with other not-so-successful government organizations like communism and the parliamentary system.” “Ensign, Russia only experienced the parliamentary system within the late twentieth century and beyond. And being a republic does not necessarily denote a system where the people have a say. For the majority of the twentieth century, Russia was a centralized republic, one in which there was a lack of democracy. It was only after years of struggle that it became a federal republic, one in which the powers of the central government are limited and the component parts of the nation, the states, exercise some measure of home rule. The voting process, the basic principle to a democratic society where the populace participates directly in governmental affairs, has a much longer history than the late twentieth century.” “Yes, but I’m not talking about the time that Russia was controlled by absolutist dictatorships, as it was under the tsars and then the communists. I’m talking about ancient history. Long before Stalin, Lenin, Bolsheviks, and the Romanov’s, Russia was a democracy.” “Ensign Chekov, prior to your control under the tsar’s, most who ruled in your country did so with imperial power. The Orthodox Church was the ruling power, preceded by the Mongols, the Huns and presumably the Vikings. The first attempt to institute a democratic society was under Lenin, but when he was voted out in the first free election, he took over the congress and declared himself as dictator.” “Oh, well...the Huns! If you are going to bring them into this! Of course they ruled only by savagery and terror. But before, before the Huns, Russia was the first democratic society.” "Ensign your incessant desire to attribute all basic human concepts to the Russians is most illogical. Although certainly not the first recorded example in the known universe, the earliest record of a republic based government on Earth is from that time period known as the Period of the Kings, that time period from 753 to 509 BCE, which was documented in the works of Plato, circa 360 BCE. It was during this period that a Senate was formed and lasted until the fall of the Roman Empire. Therefore, were your facts regarding the history of your home planet not faulty, you would be aware that the known Terran history of a republic system extends much further than the history of your country of origin." "Aye, sair! The first recognized Russian was a little old lady that migrated from Rome to what was later know as Leningrad!" “Mr. Chekov, your knowledge of history is questionable, at best. You should be aware that the earliest reference to those who inhabited the region known in modern history as Russia was the Cimmerians, a warring people who have no recorded history of political organization. Later, from 700 to 200 BCE, the Scythians, another warring race, who incidentally were known for their practice of scalping their enemies, occupied the region. It was only when the Sarmatians, whose sociological links were closer to their Greek ancestors, occupied that region is there a possibility that a form of government free from both hereditary or monarchical rule, and had popular control of the state and a conception of public welfare as its basis, existed. Therefore, since the earliest recorded use of a ballot for voting has been established as the fifth century BCE, in Athens, the claim that it was in any way a Russian who conceptualized the ideals of a federal republic are without merit.” “Scalping?” Pavel asked, scrunching up his nose and seeming to ignore the rest of Spock’s lesson. “Indeed. It seems you come from a most violent, passionate race of people, Ensign.” Spock stared at him and raised his eyebrows in a look of victory. “You two look like you are having an in-depth discussion over something,” Kirk stated, placing his tray down on the table before sliding into the chair next to Spock and across from the navigator. “Indeed, Captain. It seems that Ensign Chekov is under the mistaken impression that the idea of voting was originated in his country of origin. “Let me guess, a little old lady from Leningrad?” “Unfortunately, that is correct.” “Yeah, I’ve heard that before. I think we owe a lot to her.” Jim flashed a quick wink in the younger man’s direction. “Voting is a noble concept and every citizen has a duty to voice his or her opinion when given the opportunity to do so. It’s a basic concept that makes democracy work. Samuel Adams put it best when he said, ‘Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual--or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.” “Other than the reference to the origin of this practice originating in Mr. Chekov’s home country, you are correct that the practice is a right that should never be taken lightly. Your Mr. Adams was most wise, Captain. Even though in his time, there were still significant segments of the population on your planet who were excluded from the electoral process.” Spock added. “Well, Spock, it’s true that it did take time for all sectors of the population to be recognized. But you have to admit that Earth finally found its way to a peaceful, organized method for electing its leaders.” “Indeed, Captain. It only took eight centuries from your first recorded history, and a perceived threat from the first alien encounter for your species to set aside their differences and work together amicably.” “Well, sure, it took us a while to find our way. But we didn’t have the advantage of examples from other species. We had to find our path to democracy on our own, and even when the first contact came about, the majority of our planet had already assimilated a democratic philosophy in matters of self-government. And eight centuries, that’s not so bad. Why even on Vulcan there were centuries of infighting and wars that almost destroyed the planet before...” “Captain, I am quite aware of the history of my planet. That is not what we are discussing at this time.” Pavel looked between the two powerful men. Even though his talents were best put to use in frustrating the Vulcan to no end, the captain could always find a way to win his arguments. Pavel hoped to be like that, someday. Captain Kirk grinned, knowing that he had hit a nerve with his Vulcan first officer. “But, I’m curious. There are no elections coming up soon. Why the discussion on the process of casting a vote at this time?” “I was just asking Mr. Spock...” Chekov spoke up, only to be cut off by the Vulcan. “I was attempting to expand the Ensign’s knowledge of history, a subject that he seems most deficient in,” Spock interrupted Pavel. “Well, Mr. Spock, according to the transcripts I saw from the Academy, our Mr. Chekov has an impressive command of the facts, it’s simply a matter of denial that he seems to be unwilling to overcome.” Spock looked at Pavel, who responded with nothing other than a broad grin. “Fascinating, Captain.” “Well, gentlemen, I have things I must attend to,” Jim said, rising from his seat. “I might be able to break away for a workout in the gym later on. Would either of you care to join me?” “I am going to be detained this evening, Captain. I will be working with the Ensign on certain scientific experiments.” “A duty shift, politics and now scientific experiments? Mr. Spock, don’t wear out my best navigator!” Jim grinned. “Mr. Chekov, if you’re still on your feet once Mr. Spock has released you, you’re welcome to join me,” he said as he left shaking his head. “Thank you, sair!” Pavel called after his Captain. Turning back to the table, Pavel saw that Spock, too, was standing. Obviously, dinner was over and it was time to leave. Picking up his tray, Pavel walked to the large unit against the wall and slid it through the slot. Together they walked in silence to the lift and waited for it to arrive. Stepping inside, Spock commanded the Officer’s Deck. The lift doors closed and Pavel suddenly found himself pressed against the wall and firmly held there by a very warm, determined Vulcan. “Scientific experiments, Mr. Spock?” Pavel asked. “Biology, Mr. Chekov,” Spock answered in a tone very nearly a purr. “And just what were you going to tell the captain, Ensign Chekov?” He asked, his voice becoming more demanding. “I was just going to say that we were trying to decide...” Having the man pressed against Pavel from thigh to chest, making him immobile aroused him. He felt hot breath against the side of his head when, in a voice becoming deep and rough, Spock asked, “Trying to decide...what, Ensign?” Pavel began to breathe in short, irregular breaths. The feel of this warm body pressed against him was about to undo him. “...To...decide...decide...I don’t remember...” Pavel panted. His body was betraying him and his mind suddenly couldn’t form a coherent thought. He pressed his bulging groin against the Vulcan and felt a wonderful sensation of pressure in return. Hot lips assailed his neck and then his lips. Hands slid up and down his body, as if exploring him for the first time. Thumbs slid underneath his duty shirt and grazed across his tight nipples, causing Pavel to emit a small moan against the heated mouth that had captured his. A hand cupped his scrotum and slid up the length of his shaft from root to engorged tip, causing a feeling of dampness as his trapped cock began to seep pre-cum against his abdomen. Grabbing the Vulcan’s hips, Pavel ground his erection against his lover. They felt the lift as it began to slow. Spock straightened, stepped back, and clasped his hands behind his back, looking every bit the reserved Vulcan. Pavel, on the other hand, had to quickly run his fingers through his hair to smooth it and straighten his uniform, pulling hard at the front of his tunic in an attempt to conceal his condition. Taking a deep breath, he turned to the Vulcan. “Why didn’t you want me to say anything to the captain? He knows about us.” “Indeed, I had to get his permission before approaching you. However, I do not wish to discuss those things between us with anyone, including the captain.” Pavel nodded. He knew how private his lover was about their relationship, especially considering how new this was for both of them. “Wait!” Chekov exclaimed, “I remember what we were trying to decide. You vanted us to go back to your cabin this evening and I voted for us to go to mine.” “The decision is made, Ensign. I do not wish to be observed leaving your cabin for the third consecutive morning. We will spend tonight in my cabin. There will be no more discussion regarding this matter.” “Dictator!” Chekov mumbled beneath the grin. <finis> |