Honor:(n) Integrity, a code of beliefs
Hope:(n) One that gives promise for the future
"Being thus passed the vast ocean, and a sea of troubles before in their preparation..., they had now no friends to wellcome them, nor inns to entertaine or refresh their weatherbeaten bodys, nor houses or much less towns to repaire to, to seeke for succore."
-William Bradford "Of Plymouth Plantation" (yes, the spelling is right...)
Thomas Paris, a former convict, was brought aboard Voyager by Janeway to assist in a "special mission" which required navigating the Badlands. While attempting to capture the Maquis ship captained by Chakotay, both ships were pulled into the Delta Quadrant by the Caretaker's array. The Maquis chief engineer, B'Elanna Torres, and Tom met when the two crews were combined and it was obvious from the start that there was no love lost between the two. Later episodes establish B'Elanna's opinion of Tom as a "pig".
"We're alone, in an uncharted part of the galaxy. We've already made some friends here, and some enemies. We have no idea of the dangers we are going to face. But one thing is clear, both crews are going to have to work together if we are to survive. That's why Commander Chakotay and I have agreed that this should be one crew; a Starfleet crew. And as the only Starfleet vessel assigned to the Delta Quadrant, we'll continue to follow our directive: to seek out new worlds, and explore space. But our primary goal is clear; even at maximum speeds, it would take 75 years to reach the Federation... But I'm not willing to settle for that. There is another entity out there, like the Caretaker, out there somewhere, who has the ability to get us there a lot faster. We'll be looking for her. And we'll be looking for wormholes, spacial rifts, or new technologies to help us. Somewhere, along this journey, we'll find a way back. Mister Paris, set a course...for home."
- Janeway to combined crew
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to manifest the glory of God within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
-Nelson Mandela, president, Republic of South Africa from his 1994 inaugural speech
This is the first episode where we see the emergence of a friendship/possible relationship between B'Elanna and Tom. B'Elanna, Tom, and Durst are taken hostage by the Viidians, who split B'Elanna into her Klingon and human halves. While the Klingon B'Elanna is off kicking some Viidian butt, Tom helps to comfort the weak human B'Elanna, and the two bond. By the end of the episode, B'Elanna learns that her Klingon side is an important part of her, too, a fact that Tom continues remind her of in subsequent episodes.
"Courage isn't about not having fear. It's knowing that you've learned to overcome it." -Paris "There's a lot in her to admire. I just have to accept that I'll spend the rest of my life fighting her." —Human Torres about the Klingon Torres
This picture courtesy of Heather's Paris/Torres Page
"What matter? for I know
That out of rock,
Out of a desolate source,
Love leaps upon its course."
--?(Keats?), "His Confidence"
Tom, while teasing B'Elanna, asks her out on a date and is promptly shot down :)...
"Oh I'm just curious how someone with Klingon blood seems to live the life of a Tabran monk."--Paris
"Lieutenant, that is none of your business."-Torres
"If you have a free evening I have a holodeck program you might enjoy--sailing on lake Komo?" -Paris
"I'd rather take my chances with Freddie Bristo."- Torres
While a virus runs rampant (and disgustingly so) throughout Voyager, our two lieutenants keep each other company in the mess hall...
"You need me, I'm touched."-Torres
During the luau, Tom Paris keeps turning up the heat under our Klingon ice-queen, with charming compliments on her outfit, giving her drinks, staying by her side, and trying to save her life, and she seems to be melting. However, it looks like Vorik has his eye on her, too...
"Lieutenant, you look--"-- Paris
"I know, tropical."-Torres
"More along the lines of smashing." –Paris
"Thanks" -- Torres
Vorik goes into Ponn Farr and decides he wants our beloved Chief Engineer as his mate-- and mind melds with her temporarily before she slugs the living daylights out of him (Remember, no means no...). But she's too late to prevent being "infected" with his Blood Fever (Thus the title...). While on a routine galacticite recovery mission with Tom and Neelix, the blood fever kicks in full force and B'Elanna spends the entire time in the caves throwing herself at Tom, starting with a bite on the cheek and moving on from there. Tom, being the gentleman that he is (Golly, he grew up from the rogue he was before, or maybe he just cares too much about making this a lasting relationship to ruin it with a "one night stand"), refuses her advances, and is only willing to "help" B'Elanna out when there seems to be no other cure in sight...
That is, until Vorik shows up (figures) and threatens to beat Tom up-- but B'Elanna takes the challenge instead and beats him to a mass of quivering Vulcan (YAY!), and then collapses in Tom's arms.
The episode ends with Tom telling B'Elanna that he wouldn't mind seeing that "not so scary Klingon" side of her again. B'Elanna smiles and tells him to "Be careful what you wish for, Lieutenant", leaving every P/Ter out there nearly swooning from happiness...
We (and Kes) get to see a possible future for Tom and B'Elanna as Kes jumps forward in time to the "year of hell", where it looks like Tom and B'Elanna are very close... perhaps even engaged...
"B'Elanna was someone who was very special to me. When she died, I felt like I wanted to die, too." -Paris
In trying to help the doctor find out about "real life" by changing his family to a rather dysfunctional one, both Tom and B'Elanna seem to show a similar acceptance to the dysfunctionalness in both of their family lives. And Tom's speech to the Doctor shows us only more of the compassion and heart that has been emerging in him since first season. Also, ther is a cute scene in the mess hall concerning B'Elanna's romance novel...
"Maybe it'll give me some ideas on how to make your heart quicken." -Paris
"It's not a technical manual, Tom." -Torres
"That depends on what you mean by 'technical'." -Paris
"To an engineer it means specializing in certain areas." -Torres
"I think that definition works."-Paris
--on the Klingon romance novel 'Women Warriors by the River of Blood'
"When two people are on a journey, there will be miles when they'll fall silent, but that doesn't mean that they shouldn't be travelling together."
-Tess,Touched By An Angel "An Unexpected Snow"
Tom and B'Elanna have their first BIG fight, because of Tom's attempts at trying to get B'Elanna to accept her Klingon side. This fight affects them throughout the entire episode, and, as the Doctor so kindly pointed out, it acts as a part of their defense mechanisms against intimacy. Then they get trapped inside of an ice cave and things really start to warm up-- I mean, cool down, as hypothermia begins to hit B'Elanna and the two have to stick together for her to survive...
B'Elanna discovers a holodeck mutiny program and while taking part in it, Tom walks in on her. Though she doesn't want to share, she allows Tom to use the program, and soon, everybody finds out about it. Later, as Tuvok and Tom attempt to finish the program, B'Elanna suggests adding some passion to the storyline and Tom seems to enjoy this idea...
"You know, I think you're on to something. We could add a steamy love scene between the Maquis engineer and the Starfleet conn officer." -Paris
"Oh, that's realistic." -Torres
"A soulmate is someone who has locks that fit our keys, and keys to fit our locks. When we feel safe enough to open the locks, our truest selves step out and we can be completely and honestly who we are; we can be loved for who we are and not for who we're pretending to be. Each unveils the best part of the other. No matter what else goes wrong around us, with that one person we're safe in our own paradise. Our soulmate is someone who shares our deepest longings, our sense of direction. When we're two balloons, and together our direction is up, chances are we've found the right person. Our soulmate is the one who makes life come to life."
Leslie Parrish in The Bridge Across Forever: a Love Story by Richard Bach-- Special thanks to my roommate, Sheryll for this one...
"The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be."
Socrates
Day of Honor:(n)A Klingon holiday in which people of Klingon descent celebrate the honor in themselves and their enemies
B'Elanna's Day of Honor is going badly-- as usual. Her alarm doesn't go off, her sonic shower breaks down, Engineering is short a few of its staff, The ceremony itself is meaningless to her, and Tom is mad at her for giving up on the holodeck program they wrote together for her Day of Honor. And then the day gets worse... The warp core has to be dumped, and then Tom and B'Elanna's shuttle explodes, leaving them drifting out in space with a dwindling oxygen supply. Facing possible death, the two come closer together...
"I have to tell you the truth,"- Torres
"The truth about what?"- Tom
"I... I love you."- Torres
"Well, say something"-Torres
"You picked a great time to tell me," -Tom
Tom and B'Elanna confront each other about the events in Day of Honor... and this is their first, official kiss-- forget hormone tampering, alternate timelines, etc...
"About what you said… I mean…the part about being in love with me. I realize you were suffering from oxygen deprivation and we were literally seconds away from death, so I know you probably didn’t…mean it…." -Paris
"No, no….I meant it. But I don’t expect you to reciprocate. Really. You can just pretend that I didn’t say. In fact, let’s just forget that I even…" -Torres
"Shut up."-Paris (and kisses her)
"Does this mean you’re too tired to meet later...in my quarters?" --Torres
"Are you sure your heart can take it?" -Tom
"I’m detecting elevated hormonal levels. If you two don’t take it easy, I’ll have to declare a medical emergency." --Doc
"This life is yours. Take the power to choose what you want to do and do it well. Take the power to love what you want in life and love it honestly. Take the power to walk in the forest and be a part of nature. Take the power to control your own life. No one else can do it for you. Take the power to make your life happy."
--Susan Polis Schutz
Aliens scientists come on board Voyager and begin a series of covert experiments on the crew's bodies and observing the effects. They (apparently) increase Tom and B'Elanna's hormone levels and the two go... uhm... out of control-- in the Jefferies tubes, in Engineering on top of a console... Due to their "public displays", Paris and Torres are reprimanded by Janeway for their lack of judgement. Soon, however, the aliens and their tampering are discovered and everything goes back to normal. We also get to see Tom and B'Elanna's first on-screen "date"... And get a bit of a scare...
"I don’t think that it’s anybody else’s business how we feel about each other." -Torres
"Neither do I." -Paris
A few lines… then…
"If we’re just a little more careful in public, and we don’t say anything to anybody." -Torres
"At least for now." -Paris
"Now? Sounds like you see a future in this." -Torres
"I would never be so presumptuous."-Paris
"Smooth recovery, Lieutenant."-Torres
"I thought so. Computer, resume."-Paris
"Try the salad, chief." -Paris
"This is really delicious!" -Torres
"Well, thanks. I replicated it myself." -Paris
"Mmm. You’re too good for me." -Torres
Here's the frightening part...
"You know, I’ve been thinking… about what the captain said. We have been a little out of control lately." -Torres
"Do you think we really were?" -Paris
"What?" -Torres
"Out of control. Those aliens could have just been messing around with our hormones just to see what would happen." -Paris
"You’re right. They could have. And we don’t know how long they were on board. They could have been tampering with us for months." -Torres
"Well, when you think about it, you did have a pretty abrupt change of heart a couple of weeks ago. What made you realize that you love me all of a sudden?" -Paris
"Just a feeling. So… our whole relationship might be based on some…alien experiment?" -Torres
"You never know." -Paris
"Well, I think that explains it."-Torres
"I guess we should just… call it off, then." -Paris
"I think so." -Torres
"Thank God we found out in time" -Paris
"Thank God"-Torres
"I don’t know about you, but…I’m curious to see how this experiment turns out."-Paris
Obstacles cannot crush me. Every obstacle yields to stern resolve. He who is fixed to a star does not change his mind.
--Leonardo DaVinci, Notebooks (c. 1500)
Welcome to Hell on Voyager. Pitted against the time-weapon bearing Krenim, our ship and its inhabitants get tossed around like rag dolls. The ship falls apart, everyone gets pushed over the edge, Paris and Chakotay get kidnapped, and we get a sweet scene between Paris and Torres in the triage area when B'Elanna gets injured... Not to mention that we get to see Janeway comfort B'Elanna when the crew is attempting to get their two missing crew members...
"I want to hit something!"
"So what else is new?"
--Kitty and Piotr, Uncanny X-Men #171
A present which we never see, B'Elanna getting arrested because of bad thoughts (I thought this was Voyager, not Peter Pan, Tom getting worried and confronting the Captain, Chakotay, etc, and TPTB leaving us hanging...
"Don't be afraid to dream, for out of such fragile things come miracles."
-Random Greeting card
Because of alien nightmares, Tom oversleeps and stands B'Elanna up for their breakfast date... And when B'Elanna stops by, they plan Friday night's entertainment after the tinest of arguments... "Cold skiing... or warm doing nothing...?"
"I've learned from observing Lieutenants Torres and Paris that humans sometimes require a pretext for being intimate with one another." -Seven
One day at a time- this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past, for it is gone; and do
not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering.
--Ida Scott Taylor
The crew reaches yet another alien array, contacts Starfleet, and begins to recieve a data packet containing messages from home. Upon hearing of this, Tom begins to outwardly revert to his old "devil-may-care" attitude. B'Elanna, hurting also(from finding out that all of her old Maquis friends are dead) sees past his facade to the hurting Tom underneath. There is a beautiful scene where the two comfort each other in Astrometrics-- their hug is, IMHO, the best expression of love ever shown on the show-- even above any of the scenes where they kiss or whatnot. (For that I'm adding a second non-Voyager quote to the bottom of this entry!) Tom never does manage to get the letter from his father-- whether B'Elanna was telling the truth or destroyed the message on purpose, we may never know...
Immature love says, "I love you because I need you." Mature love says, "I need you because I
love you."
--Erich Fromm
Don't be dismayed at good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends.
--Richard Bach
Welcome to Nazi-occupied France! Thanks to the Hirogen, Janeway & Co. are inside of the holodecks, believing that they are characters in various holo-programs. The majority of the senior crew is within the villiage of St. Claire simulation, where Janeway is the leader of the underground resistance and B'Elanna is a member of her group as well as the very pregnant (ala Roxann Dawson's pregnancy-- kudos to the writers for writing that in so well!) lover of the Nazi second-in-command. It does help us P/Ters that her true love, "Bobby" (aka Tom), an American Lieutenant, is soon reunited with her as they prepare to storm the "secret German bunker"...
"Tally-Ho!"-- The Doc, as Klingons attack the Nazi troops... Disclaimer: Paramount owns this, paramount owns that... well, except for the respective quotes-- they belong to either me or the people who said them. ANYWAY, I've just disclaimed, so please don't bug me, Paramount...
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