Spock's daughter

II 20

"Explain, Lieutenant."

[In Vorik's quarters]

Vorik was trying very hard to meditate when the doorbell chimed.

"Go away", he hissed angrily, eyes opening.

But the doors still opened.

"I said, go away!" he yelled, standing up but stopping when he saw Tuvok, "I'm sorry, sir."

"No, I must apologise for the intrusion, particularly at this time", Tuvok said, coming in with the doors closing behind him.

"Then you know."

"Yes. I regret that I must ask you some uncomfortable questions regarding miss Lil."

"Yes, sir."

"It is important for me to know specifically what happened between the two of you. Was there any physical contact?"

"Yes", Vorik confirmed.

"Please describe your actions."

"It's hard to remember. I was acting irrationally. I believe I approached her. I, I touched her face. I meant to be gentle, but she tried to move away, and then I was holding her more tightly, both hands on her face like this. It felt very important not to let go. I'm, I'm not certain why."

"I believe you were initiating a telepathic mating bond."

"I didn't know it could happen that way. I wanted to bond with her, that much I remember clearly."

"Apparently you've succeeded. She has been displaying unusual behaviour, very much like the early stages of Pon farr."

"How is that possible? She's not Vulcan."

"We're not sure about that. And there also have been instances of Vulcans mating with members of other races."

"But she rejected me forcefully."

"Even a brief moment of bonding may have been enough to disrupt her self-control, as the Pon farr does in us. In a half-human and unknown half, the effects may be even more extreme."

"I have to go to her", Vorik said and made his way into the doors' direction.

"You cannot. Lil is out of contact on the planet."

"I'll find her. Lil needs me and I need her."

"It is a far more sensible strategy to get her safely back to Voyager, and then decide on the proper resolution."

"The resolution must be that we become mates. It is only logical."

"Lil never seemed to be a great follower of logic."

"You think she'll reject me again?"

"It might be wise to continue your meditative efforts."

"I'll do my best, sir", Vorik promised.

[In the Astrometrics lab]

Seven was there with Icheb, Mezoti, Azan and Rebi.

The doors opened and Chakotay came in.

"Seven, I hope you don't mind to release Icheb for a few hours."

"We are in the middle of a lesson..."

"It is important that we get down there fast. I don't know how soon her condition will become life threatening", Tuvok, who had entered a few seconds after Chakotay, interrupted.

Chakotay turned to Tuvok with raised eyebrows.

"What? What do you mean?" Icheb asked panicked, "Why life threatening?"

"We will tell you on our way there."

[In the Underground]

Chakotay was putting Neelix in a harness.

"So she is suffering the Pon farr?"

"Yes. It is difficult to estimate how soon her condition will become life threatening."

"Life threatening? She could die from this?" Paris asked.

"Yes."

"And you've gone through it every seven years of your adult life?"

"You only need to be concerned with miss Lil's situation."

"Right. Well, it looks like finding her won't be easy. Scanning range is limited to about twenty metres, and even that's not too reliable", Tom said.

"You said she was going after the gallicite, so we could do the same and hope it leads us to her", Icheb suggested.

"I'm ready to go, Commander", Neelix said to Chakotay.

Neelix then was hauled up the cliff.

"Let's go", Chakotay said.