Zapping the Vulcan

By Coral

Disclaimer: Paramount + Star Trek = Trouble!

In answer to the 'Z' Challenge and the 'interrupting' challenge!

Coral's Stories ~ Mail Coral ~ JCUKjnr

For the sweet little thing called Romance to take its course, we must often lightly ‘interfere’ with nature. Nothing serious, you understand. Just a little nudge in the right direction for that extra special couple, you know what I mean? We try to minimise our interference and maximise our effect. You could call us Cupids. Kind of. Well, actually, maybe not. But that’s not the point…

Kathryn Janeway was staring out of her Ready Room window with a faraway look in her eyes when the chime on her door sounded, signalling that someone was waiting for admission.
"Who is it?" she called lightly, reluctantly tearing her gaze from the stars that were sweeping past as Voyager continued on its course towards the Alpha Quadrant, and Earth. Today, for Janeway, that goal seemed more elusive than ever; today was the 10^th anniversary of the day that they’d all been pulled into this godforsaken quadrant and made to work together, live together and exist together… a band o former rebels and a Starfleet crew.
"Commander Chakotay, Captain. May I come in?"
Her pensive mood lifted a little as she gave him permission to come in. The two, enemies at first, were now staunch friends and colleagues, although many believed that they could have been… could be… so much more.
"Penny for your thoughts?" he asked in a light tone of voice and with a slight smile on his face. He knew exactly what she was thinking about, exactly what all of them were thinking about.
"Do you think we’ll ever make it?" she asked slowly, a frown marring her pretty features.
"I’m sure we will one day. We’ve already covered half the distance in just ten years, Kathryn," he pointed out. "That’s far more than we expected when we first set out."
She sighed. "Is it? I expected to be home in a year or so at most. I never really believed that we would be stuck out here for so long." She gestured to the stars. "They’re so much more oppressive today. Normally, they’re a challenge. Not today. They’re mocking me today." She looked at Chakotay with a small smile. "Does that sound stupid?"
"My people believe that everything has a spirit. Stars, planets, stones, animals… But that they’re mocking you? That’s your own fears reflected."
"Maybe it is. But I can’t shake the feeling that I’m fighting a losing battle with them." She shook her head to try to clear it of such morbid thoughts. "We’re so isolated out here, with only each other for company."
"Ten years is a long time," Chakotay agreed quietly, "But it’s been put to good use. Naomi Wildman came to see me today. Tuvok wants to start training her on a mock-Academy course."
"She’s only nine, Chakotay."
"She’s half-Ktaran. Most Ktarans join the academy at eight years old. Mentally, she’s old enough," he pointed out. "By the way," he added in a conspirical whisper, leaning closer, "You’d better be careful. Rumour has it she’s after your job…"
Janeway actually laughed for the first time in days. "We need the extra pair of hands around here," she smiled. "Tell Tuvok to go ahead, if Sam and Naomi are alright with it."
"She’ll be pleased," Chakotay informed her, turning on the dimples full force.
For a moment, the two sat in companionable silence, unwilling to shatter the moment with pointless conversation. The stars continued to sweep past, casting a dim light into the Ready Room.
"Kathryn," Chakotay finally asked to break the silence. "Are you alright?"
"What?" she asked, pulling herself slowly out of the daydream she’d fallen into in the silence.
"Are you feeling alright? You seem more preoccupied than I expected."
"I was just thinking. About the past ten years. About where I could have made different decisions…" She looked at him with sadness in her voice. "I’m sorry that I never let you love me," she admitted, "I’m sorry that I drew back."
"I’m still here for you, whenever you’re ready," Chakotay reminded her. The atmosphere in the room seemed to grow heavy with suppressed tension. Tears started to well up in Kathryn’s eyes.
"Chakotay, I can’t imagine having spent this trip without you. You’ve always been here for me… you’ve been my support…"
Chakotay gathered her into his arms and her tears began to flow freely. "It’s alright, Kathryn, it’s alright…" he murmured helplessly, feeling awkward as the normally strong woman displayed her more vulnerable side for once. The tears started to dry up, and Chakotay smiled with relief. "Feel better?" he asked, and she smiled weakly.
Chakotay took his life into his hands.
He kissed her.

Down in Engineering, Vorik was on duty. A studious young Vulcan, who once had a crush on B’Elanna, Vorik was, like Harry Kim, practically the model of a perfect Starfleet officer. He always followed the regs, he always followed protocol, and he tried not to hit other officers. In fact, Vorik was so perfect, that he was still an Ensign.
"Oh dear," he muttered emotionlessly as the warp core started to have some problems, problems that he did not know how to deal with. "Oh, bother." Lieutenant Torres was not on board the ship – she and Tom had gone ahead to find some more acocoline for the secondary warp coils, which had burned themselves out two days ago in a spectacular explosion that had resulted in Seven of Nine being confined to sickbay for two weeks. So, he could call on neither Seven nor B’Elanna for help. Who else on the ship was a better engineer than he was?
Ah, the Captain.
"Vorik to Janeway."

Janeway didn’t even have time to gasp in shock as she suddenly felt Chakotay’s lips on hers. She tried to gather her fleeing thoughts and come up with a reason to stop, but she was enjoying herself, so she didn’t try too hard.
"Vorik to Janeway."
I screamed in pure frustration. Sessel was supposed to be making sure that they weren’t interrupted, for heaven’s sake! What had happened to her? Why was there a well-meaning Vulcan interrupting the Captain and Commander when we’d planned every detail of this mission perfectly? And why the heck wasn’t I doing something about it?
Pulling out my Zapper, I transferred myself to Vorik’s position with a single thought, and prepared to Zap him out of the way.
"What do you want, Vorik?" Janeway asked, frustratedly. It was obviously not her day.
I heard a noise in the corner. "Sessel?" I whispered, although no one except her could her me. "What are you doing?"
She pointed at Vorik. "He freaks me out," she explained. "He’s so… so… perfect."
"Is that all?" I asked, fed up to the teeth with Sessel. Why couldn’t I have had Raokana for this mission? "You, Sessel, are an idiot. I am going to have to report –"
A noise from Vorik reminded me of the purpose of our mission. Whirling, I Zapped him into unconsciousness with a single shot.
"Vorik?" Janeway asked. "Vorik, what are you playing at?"
"Uh, my mistake Captain," I said, imitating Vorik’s voice. "It would appear that there is nothing wrong after all. Vorik out."
"Vulcans," Janeway muttered as she closed the connection.
I thought transferred Sessel and myself to the Ready Room to see how things were progressing.
They were going… better than I expected.
End