Chapter 7~ Matchmaker
It was Val who first came up with the idea. Her evil little mind hard at work for a possible romance scenario. Her victims, Tempest and Proxima. Anyone with eyes could see the two liked each other. But Tempest was too shy, and Proxima too mannered to be the first to admit it. The Tos era federation battleship cruised a little to herself, curious about Tempest but also worried about what would happen to her when they got back to federation space. They didn't want her when she was cutting edge. And they likely wouldn't want her now either. Tempest himself was worried. He was an old cruiser, outdated beyond his years. He'd only managed to avoid the scrapyard because of Hathaway. Now with her dead, he was scheduled to be decommissioned. Then this whole mess occurred and he didn't know what would happen.
After a bit. Voyager asked Proxima if she could go scout the nearby star system for any sort of resources that they could use, and his Aeroshuttle detached from his saucer to join her. "Tempest is in position. Proxima's sensors will lead her right to the planet and him."Voyager looked down at Val. "What are you up to Maquis?" He asked in a teasing manner. "Oh just a little romantic encouragement." Val snickered. "And what if they don't want to?" "Oh they want to. Anyone with two eyes and a brain can see that." Val grinned. "If you say so." he chuckled. She stuck her tongue out at him, nudging him playfully. "What?" He asked in surprise to her nudging. Val merely grinned.
In the meantime, Proxima had gotten to her destination and slowed to begin her scans. Tempest detected her, curious as to what she was doing here. The planet below him was M-class but unihabited. Only exotic local flora existed. She spotted him a few minutes later. "Oh so you are the source of the Dilithium I detected." She chuckled. He raised a brow. "Did Val send you out here?" He asked, beggining to sense just what the little Maquis ship was up to. "Well Voyager actually. But she did suggest I come here first in my search. I didn't know why." "I think we've been set up." Tempest groaned. "What do you mean?" "Well..." He began but sighed. What did he have to lose? "She knows I like you but I don't know if you like me so I can't say I like you..." When he was nervous, Tempest had a habit of rambling. Proxmia tipped herself a little bit to one side. She found his reaction to be cute, and she made a little giggle. "Why wouldn't I like you. We are fleetmates after all, although I didn't know you before these last few months." Tempest hid his sigh of relief. "What is wrong Tempest?" "Nothing, just I didn't think you would." "What do you mean. You are acting strange." Tempest blushed. "Proxima, I..." Words failed him as Val came up from behind and nudged him forward just enough for his lips to brush Proxima's. Proxima's eyes widened in surprise as he did come in contact with her. Val smirked, nodding in satisfaction before returning to Voyager. Tempest backed off almost immediately, fumbling over himself in his attempts to apologize. She gave a blush as he attempted to cover for himself. "Tempest. I." she sighed. Unsure of what to do he ducked his head.
It turned out that Proxmia and Tempest didn't go and do anything intimate, at least they wouldn't just yet. But the fleet soon entered an area of space that seemed to be pitch black. No stars or planets, but there was high levels of Theta Radiation. They had been crossing it for several weeks already, and they had to go another two years. "Gah I can't take this any more. Its like I have my eyes closed all the time." Voyager growled. "It is unsettling" Proxima groaned. Her busard collectors constantly spinning and casting yellow light onto the back of her Saucer. Alone with Navigation and identification lights around the ships names and registry numbers. The Nacelles were one of the only sources of light. Val could hardly stand it. "Ugh, this is cruel and unusual punishment!" She groaned. "Can't we go any faster?" "Not without burning more fuel then we have." Crusader replied. Val grumbled a few choice words that made even Challenger raise a brow. Proxima sighed as she cruised behind Voyager. Her bussard collectors spinning and casting yellow light on the other ships around. "I can't detect any way out of here." "This is ridiculous!" Val growled. "What if we went to warp? It would decrease the amount of time in this place." "In this mess?" Tempest growled. "Warping in a cloud like this would really screw us over. Enterprise tried it once and it nearly killed her." "We'd run out of fuel in side of a few months." Voyager said. "We should be looking for a wormhole or something." "Aye we should but who's to say that it will take us in the right direction?" Tempest asked. "That's always a risk isn't it?" "Aye, but one we might have to take." Val said. "I for one am tired of this slow pace!" "I am detecting large quanties of Theta Radiation, about two light years from here." Crusader spoke up. "What is theta radiation doing out here. Its a byproduct of antimatter waste." "It can be naturally occurring can't it?" Val asked. "Not likely." Voyager said as he began to scan the surrounding space. "Found the cause. It's a Malon freighter. That would explain the Theta radiation." "Dangerous?" Val asked. "You've seen them before Val. Before we met up with Tempest." "I'd still rather not approach other ships if I can help it." Val grumbled. "It wouldn't hurt to approach them and see how they got in here too." "Eh, well majority rules I suppose." The Maquis sighed. "Worst comes to worst. there are six of us and just one malon freighter." Crusader commented. "Yes, but that one freighter has enough theta radiation in its tanks to destroy every ship in a light year" Proxima replied. "She has a point there." Val said. "I vote not to approach." "Says the girl who was taking on a Galor class cruiser before the caretaker got a hold of us." Voyager smirked. Val grumbled. "I still say no! No!"
