Summary:  C/P,  KT's CPSG "Halloween" challenge.  Part Eight:  Games and diversions.
Copyright October 2001 Cassatt

Tom ran the tricorder again, this time doing a scan of Greg's brain. It was within normal parameters, but Tom saved the data for the Doctor to study when they returned to Voyager.

"Am I okay?" Greg asked.

"I think so. The Doc'll have to be the final say, but things look normal."

Chakotay, sitting on his bed, studied the man being examined, surprised to see and hear the fear behind his words. "Greg, do you want to talk about what happened?"

"No, Chakotay, I'm fine. Let's just make sure Harry is..." Greg stood taller and moved away from Tom and the instrument he held.

The commander didn't buy it, but allowed his friend space. He'd wait until later to try and encourage the man to talk, if not to him, then to someone. He knew in his heart that Greg needed it. There was no question in his mind that what the usually very strong and steady man had experienced had shaken him. He'd heard Greg's voice in the nothingness.  Only briefly experiencing it himself had been frightening enough.

Harry stood stock still as Tom passed the medical tricorder around his head. Tom kept the data, then scanned a second time, not saying a word. Again the data was saved.

"Well?" Greg said with more than a touch of impatience. Harry's eyes flew to his face and their glances locked.

Tom closed the tricorder with a snap. "Same answer. Harry, I think everything is normal, but without further information, I can't say. I'm sorry, I don't know what happened to you. The Doc will know what to do with this when we get home." He put the tricorder back in the medkit and the kit back into the dresser drawer.

"It's okay, Tom, you already saved me down there," Harry said with a smile. Tom just patted him on the shoulder in reply.

"Mr. Neelix," Tuvok said.

"Yes, Mr. Tuvok?" Neelix smiled sincerely.

"Perhaps you should continue with that shelf, there," he said, pointing to an area of the library four or five meters away.

Neelix looked at where he was pointing. It seemed a bit far away for his comfort. "I think staying right here would be a more productive use of my time," he replied as calmly as he could.

"Very well." Tuvok thought it would be most unproductive, but could see that the man had the urge to stick close by. He returned his attention to the volumes in front of him, pulling the next one out and opening it.

Tuvok had discovered the room during his reconnaissance of this part of the building earlier and had communicated his find to the commander. They'd agreed that figuring out the building's purpose could be a crucial piece of the puzzle they were now immersed in. By the sheer number of very old books, it was clearly a library of some sort. Also, clearly, this culture, or at least the former inhabitants of the building, did not use any form of sophisticated technology to keep their information. There were a few ancient computers but they had no power source and thus were inaccessible.

Tuvok noticed, again, that Neelix was fidgeting, pulling out a book, opening it quickly and closing it just as quickly, then shoving it brusquely back on the shelf. "Mr. Neelix," he said.

"Yes, Mr. Tuvok?"

"Do you require some assistance? May I suggest that you discuss what it is that's disrupting your concentration?"

"It's that obvious? Oh, dear. My apologies, Lieutenant. I suppose I am feeling a bit, well, apprehensive in here. It's just that it is rather dark ..." Neelix knew he sounded slightly ridiculous, considering everything he'd been through in his lifetime. But after the past twenty four hours, and particularly the past two or three, he was dearly missing the bright lights and clean lines of his beloved kitchen. Not to mention the rest of the crew, the laughter, the bantering that surrounded him during mealtimes.

"You handled yourself with remarkable composure when you went after Lieutenant Ayala earlier. You ignored your reluctance to enter the total darkness, to assist the commander. Yet at this time, you do not wish to be in a part of the room that has approximately sixteen percent less illumination?" Tuvok's eyebrow raised significantly. Neelix nodded reluctantly. "Indeed. You may continue where you are then. But, if you would, spend more time with each volume than you are at present."

"Yes, Mr. Tuvok." Neelix pulled out the next book and attempted to comprehend it's message from the pictures alone. He knew Tuvok well enough to pick up on his displeasure, subtly expressed or not.

Medrich motioned Stygian to sit across from him. After his pupil settled himself, he opened the grimoire. "That was almost a critical mistake on our part, was it not?"

"But teacher, we couldn't have known the Guide would follow, that he would leave the Link's side." Stygian said. He felt uncomfortable to see his superior demean his own skills.

"We clearly missed an important fact in our assessment of them - another way they are different from us. A destined mate is not the only close relationship they form. He and the Holder of Information seem to be connected as well. This reinforces the first lesson I gave you. Do you remember?" Medrich turned a page of the spell book.

Stygian studied the surface of the table. He did not want to speak of the wrong rule. He raised his eyes. "No spell is cast that can be un-cast."

"Correct. A spell shall only be cast with the absolute certainty of its result."

"However, teacher, both of them are free again."

"That is something to ponder. How the Protector walks is understandable, after all, it was the Link who arrived. And we know he is above the others. Perhaps we have been incorrect in our assessment of the Guide's status - he is the Link's mate, his role here is crucial." Medrich turned a few more pages of the grimoire.

Stygian watched the man searching the spell book. He hoped that meant what it appeared to. More lessons would be taught that day. For that night was the time. The Moment. He silently recited a chant to the holy ones that all would pass as it should.

Chakotay made a command decision. The four of them would do no more investigating for the next few hours at least. Harry and Greg clearly needed the break, and, selfishly, he wanted one with Tom. When he mentioned this to the other three, he was gratified to see their entire countenances relax. Tuvok and Neelix could continue with their task as they were enjoying themselves, or at least he assumed they were. Tuvok's response was, really, anyone's guess.

"Well, I have a suggestion," Greg said with a little grin.

"Transport up to the ship to play on the holodecks?" Tom teased.

"No, but almost as good. Poker."

Chakotay laughed softly. "Leave it to you, Ayala, to have brought a deck of cards." He grinned broadly.

His friend grinned back. "You know it. So, what do you guys say, huh? Go down to the lounge, sit back, play some cards..."

"Eat something..." Tom patted his stomach.

"We've got nothing to bet with," Harry said.

"Okay, here's an order," Chakotay answered. "You and Greg go downstairs and see if there's anything in the kitchen that we can use. We'll be down in a little bit." Tom's eyes locked with his.

"Got it, Chakotay," Greg said. He made to leave, motioning Harry along. "See you in an hour or two?"

Chakotay laughed again. "No, fifteen minutes."

"Yes, sir." Greg mock saluted and left, his hand firmly on Harry's back.

The door closed. Tom turned to him. "I think we've got a budding romance happening right under our noses."

He grabbed Tom's hand and pulled him toward the bed. "I think you're right." He spun Tom around and gently pushed him down on the quilt. Tom smiled, arranged himself on a pillow and reached out. Chakotay returned the smile. "They make a cute couple," he said, letting Tom pull him down, rolling into the open arms and falling onto Tom's parted lips, his heart surging as their kiss immediately deepened. Almost too rapidly. His brain kicked in and he pulled back.

"They'll be good for each other," Tom said, panting, against his mouth. His hand found it's way under Chakotay's tunic and began to travel up his back. He wrapped one leg behind his thigh, pulling them more closely together.

Chakotay began to waver, the longing overtaking him again. "Spirits, Tom, I love you..." He found the path to skin as well and ran his hand up and down Tom's side.

Tom pulled back enough to make eye contact. "I love you, too. And I have the feeling that something happened." He stroked Chakotay's jaw line with his thumb.

"Yes, it did. We need to talk."

Twenty minutes later Tom descended the stairway, his hand firmly in Chakotay's, his mind still spinning just a bit, his heart overflowing. Poker and going to bed were about the only two things he'd be good for, and poker he wasn't that sure of. They'd probably play for rations like they usually did. He hoped he'd lose his to Chakotay. Spending the time in bed with his lover, however, he could cope with. Very well, in fact. He was already counting the hours. And after that? At the thought of it, his mind set off again on it's journey. He felt a small wave of anxiety, but when he looked at Chakotay's profile, he was certain he'd never seen anything so wonderful in his entire life.

They turned to the right at the foot of the stairs and entered what they'd all dubbed the lounge. No stars streaked by the windows here, in fact, behind the lace curtains it was almost total darkness. But to their surprise and pleasure, Greg and Harry had lit a fire in the large, stone fireplace. A few extra lamps had been brought in, and the ambiance of the room was actually warm and a little cheerful. Tom's stomach made noises in response to what he saw on the low table in front of his friends. Food.

"I didn't hear the bell, did you?" he asked Chakotay, who shook his head.

"It was already laid out when we passed through the eating room," Greg said. "It's good, too."

They also saw that the two men had successfully completed their mission. Four piles of dried beans were arranged around the table. At that moment, Tom felt an incredible sense of peace. Sometimes life in the Delta Quadrant was actually pretty damned good.

"Interesting," Tuvok said, turning another page.

"What did you find?" Neelix put his book back on the shelf. It had been nothing but indecipherable words.

"I believe I may have discovered what this building was...," he trailed off as another page was turned.

Neelix stood and looked over his shoulder. This volume was well illustrated. He was about to comment on what he saw when he was interrupted by the commander entering the library.

"Time for a break. Food's been set out behind our backs," Chakotay called to them as he approached.

"Commander. I have an answer for us," Tuvok intoned. He held out the open book. "This was a school. Much like the one I attended as a youth. The children lived here year round."

Neelix watched the commander and the lieutenant. He hadn't missed the veiled animosity between the two men, assuming it had something to do with the change in Tom's status. The commander studied the book in question intently.

"Year round, Tuvok? What about their parents? These children look young..."

"Undoubtedly it was seen as necessary that they be removed from their families at a young age to further their education."

The commander turned a few more pages. "It seems slightly barbaric to me. However, I agree with you that this looks like it was a school. Which doesn't explain why it's closed, and why the children are still around in non-corporeal form." He looked at both of them. "Good work. Take a break and eat something."

Neelix didn't need a second reminder. He was hungry. He followed the commander out of the room, deciding to take the opportunity to give him his best wishes. No time like the present. Even if Tuvok was following them.

"Teacher, I'm afraid I do not understand." Still loathe to question too deeply, Stygian kept his eyes averted.

"It is possible that I do not have an answer for you. The Holder of Logic has uncharted depths. It is not only in appearance that he differs from the others. I cannot access his area of weakness. He will be difficult to maneuver." Medrich put the cube down and turned to the cabinet behind them both. Searching through bottles and boxes, he finally pulled something out. A small glass box of orange powder. "Stygian. You may address me directly. At this point in our work, we can no longer stand on societal proprieties. So raise your head when you voice your questions."

Stygian's heart began to beat faster. He looked up and met his superior's eyes directly. "Yes, sir."

"Now. It is time for us to rely on the creativity that the holy ones endowed. I think it may be necessary to use what we have learned of this group. Use it to our fullest advantage if we must."

Stygian thought carefully about that. Reviewed what they had learned. And realized what it was his teacher was saying. He smiled at the pure beauty of it.

Medrich smiled back. "I see you understand. Yes. What is his area of weakness? Let us look..."

Within an hour and a half after eating Tom had lost all of his beans. Chakotay'd been suspicious, watching him playing out that last hand, seeing Tom betting with abandon and seeming overconfidence. Sure enough, he'd put down two pair, sixes high. Greg had beaten it easily. Tom merely shrugged and curled himself up on the couch closer to Chakotay. Not that he minded in the least, having the man he loved draped across his shoulder.

He studied his hand and tried to concentrate. Looking at Harry and Greg, he was certain he detected a gleam in Harry's eye. The man really shouldn't play poker, he thought. He turned to his left. "Tom, what do you think I should do?"

Greg snorted. "You're asking the man who's already lost?" he teased.

Chakotay ignored him, but looked into those sparkling blue eyes instead. Tom cupped his ear and whispered, "I think you should kiss me." Chakotay's heart skipped.

"I see," he answered aloud. "And why do you think that's the right move?"

"Because I need it, and so do you."

"Well, I'd have to agree with you on that one."

"So kiss me..."

Chakotay looked at the table and picked up five beans. "I see you and raise you two." He dropped the beans into the kitty and turned to his left again. Tom was giving him a small grin, his hand was trailing down to the vee in Chakotay's black tunic. Chakotay placed his right hand behind Tom's head, running his fingers into the soft, blond hair and looked deeply into his eyes. Yes, Father, I'm not in control with him. He's had my heart since I met him, my body is now his, and my soul... he's capturing my soul, too... He pulled and brought Tom's mouth to his, taking it, kissing him as they both wanted, a slow, open mouthed kiss that was as intense in it's gentleness as it would have been had he devoured the man's mouth. He was aware of nothing but Tom's lips on his, Tom's tongue teasing his, the current of arousal stealing slowly through his body, and Tom's. He wanted nothing but to be alone with the man so he could deepen it, plunge his tongue into the warm, sweet mouth that he knew so well, lie with him, roll around the bed with him, take him.

Someone across the table coughed deliberately. Chakotay broke the kiss reluctantly and let his brain register the game of poker once more. He felt the cards in one hand, the skin of Tom's neck under the other. They both focused, and saw everything. Soon, they told each other. Soon.

Chakotay turned back to the game. Tom again draped himself on Chakotay's shoulders, letting his head fall on one, watching Harry and Greg from there. Chakotay met their eyes as well, seeing only understanding and maybe a little wistfulness, nevertheless he apologized. It was accepted without reservation and he was told the bet was his to make - he'd been raised one by Harry. He smiled to himself and raised one in return. Greg met both and so did Harry. They all put their cards down. Chakotay won with a flush and he added the beans from the kitty to his pile.

"I told you," Tom said quietly.

"Yes, you did. And you were right," he answered, squeezing Tom's thigh.

Neelix opened a rather large book with an ornate cover. He studied the pattern of swirls and geometric designs, wondering why they looked familiar. "Mr. Vulcan, take a look at this." Carrying the book to Tuvok, he pointed to one pattern in particular. "Does this remind you of anything?"

"It is reminiscent of the commander's tattoo."

Neelix thought about that. "I don't think that's what I'm trying to remember, though now that you mention it, I can see the similarities. That's not it..." It was just out of his mind's reach. Something from another part of the quadrant? Another planet he'd visited? Before Voyager? Since then? No, before...

"What is the subject of that book?" Tuvok, again, sounded impatient.

Neelix sighed to himself. For a Vulcan, his friend certainly let his feelings of displeasure show. He just never let himself have any fun, not to mention smile. He opened the book with Tuvok looking over his shoulder. Thankfully, there were a number of illustrations. Maps, pictures of cities, rural life, people in various businesses. Buildings.

"One moment, Mr. Neelix, turn back a few pages," Tuvok said quietly. He complied, and suddenly noticed what Tuvok had. The maps were changing, the cities they depicted growing and expanding. Tuvok met his eyes. "I see that you also understand what you have found. This is a history of Umbra, or at least the hemisphere we find ourselves in."

"Yes, Mr. Tuvok, I agree. This may be the thing we've been looking for..."

Harry refilled his glass with whatever the bright green juice was. Slightly grateful for the first time that a Talaxian had been their chef, for he was able to completely ignore the color. It was sort of like apple juice and he liked it. He was more grateful that Greg was staying close by. Even if he left the poker game just to give their friends some privacy he didn't care. His presence reassured Harry in ways he'd let himself think about later.

"Have you noticed that some of this food has been restocked?" Greg said quietly.

"I keep wondering whether it's really Medrich and his cohort doing the work around here."

"He doesn't seem the type to do menial labor, does he? And this spread has been out for hours now. I suspect we may not be served dinner today." Greg loaded a plate with more fruit. "Although, we'd likely be eating alone anyway..."

Harry saw the smile playing on the corners of his mouth. "What do you mean?"

Greg let loose and laughed. "Well, when I left our poker partners, they were about to start necking again. Since Tom lost, he hasn't let go once."

"He's just in love, Greg, give him a break," Harry said somewhat sharply.

Greg touched his shoulder. "Hey, I'm not criticizing him, or Chakotay."

Harry felt his face begin to get as hot as his shoulder was. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay. Maybe I'm feeling a bit more jealousy that I thought. That little display we saw bothered me, I admit...," Greg said, suddenly looking away.

Harry studied him, his heart quickening. "Bothered you, how?"

He turned and locked eyes with Harry's. "No -- God, I'm an idiot sometimes. I still don't want either one of them. Bothered me, like, well, like I was being a voyeur. Their heat. You know."

Harry did. He'd been turned on, too, to see two men he'd thought about for a number of years, wondering how they would actually be if they ever got together. In this lifetime. "Yeah, I know," he said with a small smile.

Greg touched Harry's shoulder again, and this time, his heart quickened for another reason. This touch was different. He knew it, because his mind had immediately jumped to later that evening, when they'd be going to bed. He'd planned on talking to Greg, getting him to open up about what had happened to him. Now, he had to admit, he wanted more.

Tom leaned forward, following Chakotay as he rested against the back of the couch. He kissed him gently, moving his lips across Chakotay's, feeling the contact intensely, as a live wire running through his body. He kissed the corner of those full lips, then his cheek and up to his tattoo, over to the slight bump in his nose and back down to his mouth, which opened invitingly. He ran his tongue along the edge of Chakotay's teeth and felt the hitch in his lover's breathing, which made his own heart skip a beat or two. Then he plunged, they groaned together, and both of them were pushing and pulling, devouring and being devoured. Within five seconds, however, Chakotay stopped it, breathing hard, and touching his chest, Tom could feel the man's heart pounding in tandem with his own. His eyes locked with deep dark brown ones. Now, they said to each other. He got up off the couch and held out his hand.

Neelix turned another page and studied the illustration he found. He had the uncomfortable feeling, again, that something he was seeing was familiar. And not in a pleasant way. He chided himself, he was usually very adept at remembering his experiences, good and bad. He looked at the picture of Umbrans, a lot of them, standing in front of what could be an altar of some sort. "Mr. Tuvok, what do you make of this?"

"It appears to be a religious ceremony of some sort, although we cannot be certain of that. If you notice, those Umbrans at the front of the room have robes that are quite different than the others'. There is, possibly, a candelabra meant for rituals there as well."

"One of them has a medallion on his robe, too," Neelix added. He turned the page. His heart skipped. There were the three full moons in the same alignment as the night before. On the page facing there was quite a different sort of ceremony depicted. Now his heart began to hammer in his chest. "Mr. Tuvok, is that what I think it is?"

"Yes, Mr. Neelix, I do believe it is..." Tuvok answered quietly. Six Umbrans stood holding hands in a circular formation, around a raised platform. On the platform was the body of a child, sliced open, blood pooled around the feet of the six. Neelix's mind refused to register what he was seeing, instead it immediately jumped back in time and he remembered where he'd seen the symbol from the front of the book.

Memories came flooding back to him. Where he was. What he'd learned about some of the races in the Delta Quadrant. The darkness he'd found. Almost worse than what had been done to Talax. Neelix should have remembered earlier, and told Captain Janeway. There was no excuse for his oversight. If he'd remembered, they'd never be on this planet, they'd have passed it by and not been stuck here..... Harry wouldn't have been injured, Greg wouldn't have been almost killed..... it was all his fault.... and Tuvok, Mr. Tuvok wouldn't be looking down his nose at him.... he probably knew Neelix had kept this to himself....

Tuvok looked from the disturbing illustration to Neelix, standing by his side. "Mr. Neelix." The Talaxian did not respond for a minute or two. Then he dropped the book and began to pace.

"I'll have to pack my things up fairly quickly... I wonder if I'll be able to take my pots and pans with me..." Neelix walked rapidly back and forth in front of the bookcases, wringing his hands. "I won't know how to live by myself, not after all this time... what am I going to do?" he cried. His hands moved faster and faster.

"Mr. Neelix, what are you saying?"

"Look, Mr. Tuvok, I know what you think of me... I know you think what I did was terrible and inexcusable..."

"What is it that you did?"

"But really, I just didn't remember things in the right order! That's all I had to do... Kes would've helped me. She's gone, too. I don't want to be alone... don't want to go.... what am I going to do... who'll watch out for Naomi... my sweet Naomi... I'm sorry Sam... I'm so sorry..." Neelix moaned, stopped his pacing and fell to his knees where he stood.

"Mr. Neelix."

The man didn't answer. He was now curled up in a tight ball on the floor, muttering softly to himself, the anguish clearly heard though the words were no longer intelligible.

Harry and Greg were about to enter the foyer when a noise brought their attention to the stairs. They watched their commanding officer ascend the final three with their good friend in tow, turn left and walk rapidly down the hallway.

"Well, that's the end of the poker game," Greg said with a small chuckle. He looked at Harry and saw something move across his features that he wasn't certain he understood. "I guess it's just you and me for a while, Harry. You don't mind, do you?"

"No. I don't mind at all."

Greg breathed a silent sigh of relief. "Good. Wanna learn a new card game? Just for two. It's called sixty-six, my grandmother taught it to me. I warn you, she was ruthless..."

"And so let me guess - that's the way she showed you to play?" Harry teased. "What do we play for? Beans?"

Greg smiled to himself. His heart started to thud in his chest. "I was thinking of something a little more valuable."

"Valuable?"

"Yeah. Let me show you the rules first..."

Chakotay let go of Tom's hand to close the door behind them. He locked it - for the first time feeling strongly he wanted it locked while they were inside the room, and not just gone from it. He turned around, wondering why he felt that way when he was gently pushed back against the heavy wooden door by two strong, supple hands. The man he loved looked deeply into his eyes the nanosecond before he captured Chakotay's mouth in a searing, penetrating kiss. He wrapped his arms around Tom, pulling them tightly together, reveling in Tom's expert tongue plundering his mouth. Spirits, he thought, he tastes so good. Their pelvises began to rock as their erections grew, quickly, evidence of their passion finally given free reign. Chakotay ran his hands down Tom's back, sliding them easily into his silky pants, past the waistband of his briefs, caressing the soft skin of his ass, eliciting moans from them both. He pulled. Their moans came from a deeper place. He tried to untangle his tongue and speak. "Bed," was all he managed. It was enough. Tom moved back a centimeter or two and Chakotay pushed until, still kissing, they found the bed.

Neelix was lying on the floor of his cabin, looking at the storage containers, packed with all of his meager, worldly possessions. The room was bare aside from them. Nobody had come to help him, nobody had wished him well, nobody had said anything to him since he'd returned to Voyager. Particularly not the captain. She'd ignored him completely, other than to order him off the ship, to be deposited at the very next planet. He didn't even have a ship of his own any more, having given it up freely when his friends needed the parts to repair damaged shuttles. His friends. His family. No longer. The pain in his heart burned anew and despair threatened to overtake him.

He felt someone grab him by the shoulders and pull him to a sitting position. He tried to focus but was unable to make out much. He started to panic. Then fingers pressed against his temples and cheekbones.

"...my mind to your mind... my thoughts to your thoughts..." was all he heard until total darkness and silence became his reality.
 
 
 

On to Part Nine

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