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"Good-by Mister Ambassador. May you have
a long and happy life," the Captain said as Neelix was leaving the mess hall.
She smiled and added, "...and may she be all that you hope she is."
|
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Neelix turned and looked back at her. She'd realized she'd let her Captain's
mask slip. It was in his face as he gave her that last look before stepping through the door.
He saw her, the inside her, but then he always had. She was wishing for him what she would
deny herself and she knew that he saw that too. She was strong and would manage, but right
now she felt small and alone and this very, very dear man, her almost confidant, was leaving.
|
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He walked back and sat opposite her. "Captain, may I give you a parting gift?"
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"That is not necessary, Neelix. I couldn't...."
|
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"Please allow me, Captain. I've wanted to give you this for some time, but it's never been...well...
appropriate before."
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She looked at him in puzzlement. "Neelix, I don't usually..."
|
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"I know. You don't usually accept gifts from the crew...but..I will never..never see you again and..."
He stopped, took a deep breathe and gently reached to enfold her hands in his own, and looked into her
now glistening eyes. "Let me do this. Among my people, this is much valued and rarely shared...and then
only with one held in the greatest affection and esteem."
|
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She lowered her gaze, blinking rapidly, then looked up at him again, "Valued? Neelix, I really appreciate the thought
but.." |
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He smiled, "It doesn't have 'value' in that way. Allow me, please. I'll just keep wheedling
and go on and on with some meandering pointless story that doesn't seem to have anything to do
with this at all. In fact, that reminds me of a time...."
|
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She tried to stifle a laugh at his acute self knowledge, "Neelix..."
|
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He held firm and gave her that serious look she knew he had when he was being simply honest
with her.
|
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"Please, Captain."
|
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She smiled shyly, "All right, if it's that important to you."
|
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"It is, Captain! You won't regret this, I promise. Now, close your eyes."
He laughed as she tilted her head and gave him a dubious stare. "Oh go ahead, I won't bite...
much," he said as he snapped his little, pointed teeth at her.
|
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She laughed in return and dutifully shut her eyes.
|
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Still clasping her hands, he leaned in and kissed her. She started to pull back in surprised
disgust when he began to hum. Startled, she held still. He continued the gentle kiss and increased
the humming. It tickled the inside of her mouth and tantalized somehow. She held still, waiting,
wondering. The tickle became a tingling. The warm tingling spread from her mouth, to
her ears, her throat, her breasts, down her belly. Gently, he teased the inside of her lips with his tongue.
It was so gentle and a little furry, a little prickly and rather enticing. The mild electric warmth spread throughout
her body. Softly, so softly, his mouth caressed her. She floated with it, lost in a glow of well being,
feeling cherished and protected and a few other things she never imagined she could feel with
Neelix. Gently, he disengaged. She leaned forward, loath to break their connection, almost falling
into his arms.
|
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Neelix caught her and held her steady as she tried to speak coherently. "Wha...how? You?"
She finally said, "What was that?"
|
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"It was the first movement in the Lix Cycle."
|
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"Licks Cycle? That kiss was just the beginning of...of?" She broke off
in embarrassment, not quite sure where to go with her questions. Tingling or not, this was still
Neelix and she couldn't quite fit the kiss to the man. "This is how Talaxians kiss?"
|
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He seemed unaware of her discomfort. "No, no, not at all...most Talaxians find it a
difficult technique. Only the Nees can really make it work. That is why we are given the
title in the first place."
|
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"Knees? Title?" She was lost again, but then she usually got lost somewhere in her conversations
with Neelix.
|
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"Neelix is my title, Captain, not my name. My name is Mort. I am a Nee Lix...a Lix Master.
We never use our names, once we have the title." He preened a little. "It
makes us very, very desired as mates."
|
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"Yes, I imagine it would." She gave him another shy smile, "Is it like that every time you
kiss someone?"
|
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"For the recipient, yes. Not always for the Neelix, though. The strongest feedback loop is,
of course, with another Talaxian. The Ocampans...well, Kes anyway, was very pleasant to kiss.
The Kazon...well let's just say one kiss is more than enough
for the average Neelix." He looked at her speculatively. "Judging from this, Terrans
are definitely on the repeat kiss list."
|
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She felt the hot flush of embarassment and knew she must have turned the shade
of a Talaxian tomato.
|
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"No offense meant, Captain!" he said quickly.
|
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"None taken," she replied, trying to unobtrusively loosen her suddenly too hot uniform.
|
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Neelix sat up straight and took a deep breathe, "I'm supposed to report to the shuttle shortly. I'd
better go. Captain, it has been an honor. I do have one request before I leave."
|
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She indicated he should ask.
|
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"Please try to be kinder to yourself."
|
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She felt her eyes misting over again. He was such a dear, caring little man. "Neelix.
I'd like to give you a present. It doesn't
have any particular value and it certainly hasn't been shared much lately. I would share it now with
one I that I hold in the greatest affection and esteem."
|
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He seemed surprised that she would offer and appeared touched by it. "Captain, you don't have to..."
|
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"I want to Neelix. You have been a steady source of comfort to me and a good friend." She smiled,
"Trust me. I won't bit...much."
|
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He laughed and dutifully closed his eyes. She leaned forward and softly brushed her lips against his.
He responded with his gentle humming. She relaxed into the kiss as the feeling of being cherished
rushed over her again. He added a kind of gargling noise to the humming and slid a hand to caress her
head just at the point where her spinal column met her skull. Her limbs turned buttery in relaxation and joy."
|
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They ended the kiss, looking long at each other, exchanging a lifetime of friendship in the look.
|
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"Good-by.....Mort, my friend."
|
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"Good-by..." He hesitated, suddenly shy.
|
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"Go on...say it."
|
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"Good-bye...Kathryn... my friend."
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