Dark Matters
vanhunks
a totally irreverent black comedy.
Nebula Orion
short, short fic written for the
VAMB Secret Drabble/Short Fic Exchange and for the
unsuspecting recipient.
whom I have since discovered, is Delta S.
J/C PG-13
May the gods have mercy upon the soul of Paramount…
The opening line:
It was a dark and stormy nebula
Yes, I was the one who got this one.
DARK MATTERS
It was a dark and stormy nebula. The spectacular mass of interstellar dust seemed to breathe like an angry dragon ready to spew flames at those who dared to infiltrate its hallowed depths. Starkly beautiful against the black expanse it lured the unsuspecting and challenged the bold.
On the bridge of Voyager silent expectation hung in the air as the senior officers watched the shuttle Orion approach the nebula with its gases running in chaotic currents through it, creating a cosmic swell of light.
"Can't understand why they'd want to do it," Harry Kim said. "We don't need – "
"Oh, they should be safe…for about ten seconds," Paris cut in sharply.
Chakotay remained motionless behind Paris. Hands on his hips he looked pensive, unreadable. It incensed Torres even more. She jumped up from her science station to the right of Paris and lunged at Chakotay.
"They're doing it for you!" she spat. "You rat!"
"They'll be back," Chakotay said dully, ignoring Torres's ranting.
"It is not wise," began Tuvok, "that the captain and Seven of Nine be in the same space…"
"They'll kill each other."
"And for what?" it came from Paris.
"For one man. At least in that they're in agreement. They want the same thing."
"Thing?" Chakotay responded. "I'm no thing!"
"That's what you get for making them choose. I make no apology for that statement," Torres growled. "Yes, you…thing!"
"Now they're going to fight it out, and in a busy nebula of all places," Harry piped up.
"Spirits! They're only going to investigate the presence of dichotomatic anomalies!" Chakotay corrected them. "We're in need of – "
"Insecurities? That is so…Chakotay…" offered Tuvok sagely.
"There's no doubt who the one is who completes you."
"There!" Harry interrupted them inelegantly. "There! Just off the port bow. The…Orion!"
Once again all eyes were on the shuttle that reappeared from the depths of the nebula. Like a ghost ship it emerged silently, limping away from the cloud towards Voyager.
"Chakotay, you're a dead man," Paris promised.
"Life signs?" Chakotay asked, choking up and stuttering suddenly.
"One," replied Harry in a thready voice, as if teardrops were soaked in the sound of it.
The face of the only life sign appeared on the main viewscreen - a familiar face with a familiar smile. The corner of her mouth lifted in mocking humour. A face that glowed with the victorious gleam of a battle fought and won. A face radiating confident assurance, of absolute certainty that what she wanted, she was going to take.
"There are no more dichotomatic anomalies," said Tuvok dryly.
"That means – " began Harry.
" – no more uncertainties," Torres finished.
"It is gone. Ding dong…" Tuvok added.
"Damn…right," whispered Paris.
The Captain of Voyager looked liked a cat in stealth mode, ready to pounce, ready to claim its prize.
Chakotay was it. Chakotay looked stunned.
When Kathryn Janeway opened her mouth to speak, her voice dripped sweet honey, her gaze fixed on the First Officer.
"She's dead, Chakotay."
**
end
note: story sans title = 500 words.