Chapter 20 "This Is The Moment"
Tuvok
While Malakye spoke to Captain Janeway in an adjoining room, I used my time to forage for more information on his people, the Qhigroll. Expeditiously, I strode to a control panel across the room, which appeared to be the computer system, but it was password protected.
I contemplated the combinations for three seconds before inputting "10-2-1986," Aurora's date of birth.
The computer allowed me access to its databases, and I perused the information quickly. I found out that a Kazon warship had traveled towards the Rumara planet. Also, I inquired about the relationship between the Qhigroll and the Kazon. The answer came as mutually beneficial. Voyager's exchanges with the Kazon were limited but not consistently favorable.
Malakye stole their transportation technology after the Borg destroyed his home planet, where all of his people had resided. The pyramid that he currently inhabited on a small class M planet was his hiding place when the Kazon came back for their revenge, and it was the last relic of the Qhigroll people.
"Most curious," I murmured, switching off the control panel and returning to my seat. I realized that there wasn't a way Captain Janeway would assist Malakye when he was in the wrong, but I decided to keep that information to myself right now.
Striding into the room, he made me aware that I had less than two hours to bring Aurora to the twenty-fourth century. Then Malakye began inputting data into the console.
"How do I know where Aurora is?" I pondered, shrugging my shoulders.
"In desperation, she bought an airplane ticket when she realized you vanished. I have been monitoring Aurora now that I know where she was," Malakye informed, and I gradually felt my patience level decline.
Malakye commenced a screen nearby that showed Aurora glumly standing in line to go through what looked like inadequate twenty-first-century security. Consequently, my breathing quickened, and my heart pounded in my chest. I could not fail in my mission to bring Aurora back, and her forlorn expression produced a sharp aching in my chest. A shiny piece of metal attached to the silver chain around her slender neck. It was my Starfleet comm device on a gold chain, to my surprise. Aurora's long fingers rubbed it affectionately, and I longed to caress her skin and her wavy brown hair.
"She thought that I abandoned her," I surmised, wishing that I could hold her soft hand to bring her reassurance.
"Where is Aurora going?" I questioned Malakye.
"Pensacola, Florida," the elderly man announced, not peering up from his computer. I deduced that he was preparing me for transport by his laser-like intent on his work.
"Aurora mentioned she had a distant relative there," I mused silently. Anxiety filled my body while I thought about retrieving her, and also a sense of urgency. I could not live without her.
While Malakye programmed the transporter for a few moments, I apprehensively waited.
"I do not want any misunderstandings. Here's how the sequence of events will proceed: first, I retrieve Aurora, and you will transport us back here. Second, You will extract the DNA that you need. Lastly, we will safely return to Captain Janeway," I ordered the untrustworthy man carefully. I inflected a tone of authority in my voice to show the gravity of the situation.
The older man's blue eyes narrowed into slits as he balled his hands into little fists.
"From where I stand, you don't have room for negotiation," he spat out.
"You have forgotten, sir, I can refuse to retrieve Aurora," I reported gravely. I was hoping that Malakye would not call my bluff.
"Well, the Kazon are on the way to destroy the planet, and your Captain agreed to help protect us," he defensively argued.
I again reflected that Captain Janeway would never agree to assist Malakye without having a secret plan otherwise.
"Very well," I conceded, " Are the terms satisfactory?"
"Yes," Malakye agreed with a nod and brought me the piece of technology to attach to the side of my head to transport me to the twenty-first century. Next, he handed me the second piece to connect to Aurora and showed me how to attach it to her.
"Tuvok, push the green button when you are ready to be transported, then hold still. After fifteen seconds, the process will begin. You will be at gate C24 but in an abandoned corner or nearby construction zone. Good luck," Malakye stated.
Curtly, I lowered my head, indicating I was ready and prayed for the mission's success.
When I materialized in a small dark room with a powerful cleaning product smell, my eyes watered, and I had to wipe them with my sleeves.
"Beep, beep, beep!"
The digital watch that Aurora gave me sounded, and I checked the time. It was now "12:45," and I had only a short time to persuade her not to go on the ill-fated flight. After I strode into the central part of the gate, I stood stunned for ten point two seconds. I had never been to an airport, and my surroundings were entirely new. The number of signs, a multitude of people, and sounds baffled me. Visually, I scanned the area for "C24". It was about twenty-five meters ahead of me, so I briskly walked to it, where I saw a line of people waiting to board the plane.
"C24," I muttered, striding to the line, searching for Aurora and Oreo.
"Aurora," I called out when I saw my soulmate, wearing a lovely olive sundress with white trim. I knew that it was one of her favorites, and a grin formed on my face. She looked terrific as always.
Instinctively, Aurora turned around as I called her name again and began an easy jog. The look of surprise on her beautiful face made her only more enchanting to me, and then our eyes locked on the others. With tears in her eyes, she put Oreo's cat carrier down on the floor as I ran toward her.
"Tuvok?"
Finally, I stood in front of Aurora Simmons, the lovely human woman with whom I wanted to spend the rest of my life. I reached my arms to pull her close to me. We kissed fervidly and enthusiastically, Aurora slowly stretched her arms around my neck. Everything seemed to fall into place.
Our lips boisterously smacked after we pulled apart, but I could have kissed her forever.
" I was on a mission," I reminded myself as I adoringly stared into her eyes.
"You can't get on that plane, Aurora," I spat out while catching my breath.
"Why? " she asked.
"Do you remember when I said that I may be able to return to the twenty-fourth century and inquired if you would join me," I pondered?
A gasp escaped Aurora's lips as her eyes widened, indicating she understood my meaning, "Yes."
"This is the moment," I huskily murmured, leaning towards her to rest my forehead against hers for a short time. I allowed myself the pleasure of her proximity for exactly five seconds.
Suspiring loudly, I inched away from her even though I didn't want to.
"We don't have much time, Aurora. I promise to tell you every detail of the story when we are safe. Will you join me," I apprehensively inquired, holding her hand?
"Oh, Tuvok, I don't care when or where we are as long as we are together!" She joyfully exclaimed, blissfully grinning.
"I thought you left me alone," Aurora admitted, a tear flowing from her right eye.
"Never. I love you," I whispered, then kissed her briefly. Oreo meowed from her carrier, and we both chuckled a little after breaking off the kiss. Squatting, I put a couple of my fingers inside it to touch her soft fur. Oreo licked my fingers with her rough tongue five seconds later, and I responded, "I missed you too."
Aurora beamed happiness at me, and I urgently suggested that we go after my watch commenced beeping. I picked up Oreo's cat carrier, and we hurried to an abandoned construction area in a corner across the gate.
"You are wearing my comm device," I pointed out, and Aurora fingered it fondly for a moment, then unsnapped it from her chain. She handed it to me while revealing, shyly,
"Silly me, I tried to get it to work. Not that I knew what I was doing, all I got was static. I had to have a piece of you with me even if you were gone."
"I am extraordinarily honored," I remarked, touching her cheek with my thumb, and she giggled as I did so.
Afterward, I pushed down on the device, and ten seconds later, Captain Janeway's voice appeared, " Just in time, Lieutenant. The Kazon are about to fire on Rumara in 2 minutes."
"Captain, may I have permission to beam me, Ms. Aurora Simmons, and her cat Oreo to Voyager," I questioned?
"Granted, Tuvok. Please stand by; there will be the thirty-second delay. Ms. Simmons, please remain as still as you can during this process. The experience will be immensely peculiar for you, but promise me you will stay calm although you may feel sick to your stomach and severely disoriented. " Janeway warned.
"Yes, ma'am," Aurora sheepishly replied.
"As soon as you arrive, Voyager will go to warp 7 to avoid the mass destruction, Tuvok," Janeway responded.
"Understood," I said, eying Aurora, " Captain, will you give me forty-five seconds alone with Ms. Simmons before we proceed?"
Janeway concurred, and I turned off the comm for a moment. Without hesitation, I asked my soulmate if she realized her decision would be permanent.
Pressing her luscious lips against mine, Aurora gave me a wordless answer. I was pretty pleased with her response.
"Yes, I want to live my life with you and raise a family," she excitedly added.
"T'hy'la, I am most eager to start that life with you. We are already partially bonded," I truthfully remarked, feeling a little giddy at her comments, and gave her a half-smile. Aurora noticed and gave me a knowing smile.
"I thought that Vulcans didn't exhibit excitement," she joked.
Rolling my eyes, I inquired about her readiness.
"Most definitely," She firmly answered, and I bent down to kiss her cheek.
"Tuvok to Janeway, " I informed, grabbing her hand after reestablishing the link to Voyager.
"Janeway here. We will have the doctor on standby to examine Ms. Simmons' health after her first transporter experience. See you soon, Lieutenant," my Captain said.
"Aye, sir."
I prayed for our safety silently.
Later
As soon as we emerged on Voyager, Aurora collapsed next to me like a house of cards. I put Oreo's car carrier down as she wailed in pain for a second so I could inspect my lover.
"Doctor, Lieutenant Tuvok is immediately bringing his guest to the Sick Bay. She fainted," Janeway announced as I bent down to revive Aurora by shaking her arm. She seemed so lifeless, and I wondered if she was dead.
Panic swept my body as I began to sweat.
"No, no, this isn't supposed to happen." I cried softly, picking up her limp body in my arms.
"Tuvok, take her to sickbay," Janeway commanded, putting her hand on my shoulder to reassure me. My legs felt like two heavyweights, and I couldn't move. Instead, I peered down at Aurora and felt a tear fall down my left cheek.
"Go, Tuvok," Janeway urged, picking up the cat carrier and nudging me forcefully.
The Doctor examined Aurora at once and determined she was only in shock.
I felt relief, and I trekked to his office to speak to Captain Janeway.
"Thank you, sir. I am in your debt forever," I gratefully promised.
"Welcome aboard, Tuvok. I can remember a few times that you saved my tail. I look forward to meeting Ms. Simmons," Janeway smirked a half-smile.
"Thank you, Captain. It is good to be back", I replied, and I opened the cat carrier to remove Oreo. I stroked her fur gently as I picked her up. Oreo meowed as I did so, and I nuzzled her soft coat against my nose.
"Oh, hello, what's your name;" Janeway cheerfully inquired, petting Oreo on her head.
"Oreo," I answered, allowing myself to feel a bit of joy as I pet the feline.
"After the cookie," Janeway's voice questioned in an unnaturally high voice, indicating her uncertainty.
"Yes," I replied, raising an eyebrow, and she gave me a slight grin.
At that time, the doctor waved me over to speak to him.
"May I?" Captain Janeway asked as I reluctantly started to put Oreo in the cat carrier.
"Of course, Captain. Thank you."
Stay tuned for the epilogue. Please leave a comment on the story so I know how you liked it.
Constructive comments only, please.