Disclaimer: I don't owe Star Trek: Voyager. Synbou borrowed the characters for fun and doesn't make any money at of this story.
A/N: I wrote the first chapter in 2005, and then my Master thesis (and another fandom) got in the way. I came back to it last year, and RL scared my muse away again. For the last week, I've been visiting in New-Brunswick. Meeting up with Louise B, gave Synbou some inspiration. So, thanks Lou for helping me with this story! – Isabelle S.
His Idea
Synbou
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Chapter 1/9: Attacked
The sharp pain took him by surprise. The velocity of the projectile that suddenly hit him sent him flying to the forest floor. He let go of the tricorder and the hypospray of anti-psychotic drugs that he had been carrying for the last few hours.
In its heightened state, his mind quickly blocked the piercing and burning pain radiating from his midsection as his survival instincts fully kicked in. Lying prone, Tom looked up to see Chakotay rise from the bushes ahead. He was holding what appeared to be a makeshift bow.
Tom quickly reached for his phaser. "Stop!" he ordered in a strong but strained voice.
He tried to lift himself up but the pain, caused by the arrow protruding from his abdomen, pinned him down. He gasped. He could hear his racing heartbeat. He was scared. He forced himself to remain calm as he saw Chakotay move towards him.
"Commander, stop or I'll shoot!" he warned, hoping that addressing his superior officer by title would light up some neurons in his drugged clouded mind.
If Tom had been afraid of the former Maquis captain earlier that day, when the older man had first attacked him, he was now terrified.
Ignoring Tom's frantic warning, Chakotay kept on coming towards the Lieutenant.
With an overwhelming sense of dread, Tom fired.
The shot hit the Commander dead on, however the phaser's low setting was not strong enough to bring the man down. Chakotay swayed, but remained standing. Overcoming the shock, he looked down at the pilot.
"Don't come any closer," Tom said shakily.
"Paris?" Chakotay mumbled, confused.
Tom barely registered the sound of his name as he focused on the Commander and his weapon. As Chakotay took another step, Tom did not hesitate and fire again.
This time, the commander fell to the ground unconscious.
Tom dropped his weapon and let his head fall backward. His body was in shock. He was trembling with pain, fear, and anger. Tears, that no one would ever see, came down from red-rimmed blue eyes.
As Tom laid there assessing his situation. He wondered what was worse: the fact that they were both stranded on an uninhabited planet once again; that he was now seriously injured (again…); or the fact that he had just shot his superior officer… twice!
No, the worse part was that this attempt-to-make-Chakotay-look-at-him-in-a-better-light mission had been his idea.
Tom groaned at himself in frustration.
How could Janeway have agreed with him when he proposed this mission? She had to know this would only give the two men an opportunity to kill each other. Tom sighed, embracing the pain. Like him, Janeway had high hopes for reconciliations.
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End of part 1
October 2005