Loved this! People tend to gloss over the Maquis life, but you got the tone just right. Well done.

Interesting!

I'm not sure anyone could comprehend the degree of Tom's love of flying but obviously Chakotay doesn't even understand it on a basic level. Not that it really matters as Tom's streak of terrible luck just hit a very bad day. (Yes, I'm still awake. This is why I sometimes have to take a break from fanfiction. Eventually you just need sleep.)

Lovely

Fantastic! I really loved this "missing piece". It is so...right! Thank you so much!

This was brilliant on multiple levels.

First, I love that you addressed whether Paris and Torres met aboard Chakotay's Maquis ship. I always assumed they must have; but with seven years of developing the Tom/B'Elanna romance, the writers never brought up their time in the Maquis.

Second, the delicious hints of Paris/Chakotay. You managed to keep it about as ambiguous as the real show does, but it's definitely there. (To be fair, the writers were probably trying to go for a big-brother-little-brother relationship, but that's sure as hell not how it comes across on screen.)

The cursing was also used well. No one does much cursing on the show; but it's made clear that they swear in their heads (such as in "Scorpion," when Tuvok sees the pile of dead drones and says "Curious" and Chakotay replies, "That's not the word I had in mind.") And of course the Maquis would be more likely to swear out loud than Starfleet officers.

Finally, I love the Han Solo reference, of Tom dumping the Maqius cargo before getting caught. I'd love if they'd put that in the real show. It's a wonderful reference for "Star Wars" fans AND it's in character for Tom, and would make for some great arguments with Chakotay.

Well now this is a different take. Pretty freakin' cool.

Great chapter/story. Looking forward to more in this universe

You know I don't read much Tom Paris, but I always enjoy yours! You have such an effortless way with words that's so perfectly suited to him, it always pulls me right in. It's light-hearted and dark, and oh so dangerous, all at the same time. A great way to show the history between Paris and Chakotay which was only hinted at much too briefly on the show.
Oh, and I had to chuckle at the nod to P/T - "definitely no interest in blonds", hehe...

I loved this from start to finish. Really awesome work. Perfect TP, a few lines in part 2 that made me laugh, Seska doing her thing, and an overall gritty atmosphere that really seems believable for life on board that ship at that time. Now, I might have to read it again : )

Coiled and tense with so much potential energy packed into it. Damn, this is a Chakotay that would have made things interesting!
An intense, deeply satisfying addition to the AF Tom Paris back story - and now I get to go back and read the complete arc with this latest piece slotted in its place :)

Compelling. Your Tom Paris is so desperately believable, as is your depiction of life in the Maquis. Love Tom's hobbit quip and Chakotay's 'I will hunt you down' - because he so would have... Great job.

I love the feel of the story. Raw, ragged and dangerous.
There is so much energy generated between them, energy that could have been harnessed but instead careened wildly and clashed in a shower of sparks.