NOTE: The concept of this story was initially somewhat different, but since it was
WRITTEN FOR 'VENTURA 33 NEURODIVERSITY CHALLENGE'
it turned out the way it did. Hope you'll enjoy.
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'Aspies for Freedom' has designated June 18th, 2005, as the first annual Autistic Pride Day.
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SUMMARY: 'Voyager' must get through a dangerous region of space, relying on Tom Paris' remarkable piloting skills.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any Star Trek contents.
TIMELINE: Somewhere in season one… or two…
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WHAT MAKES THE BEST PILOT
Chapter ONE
by Yannik
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Tom Paris turned around abruptly, as the door to the sickbay swooshed open. He certainly didn't expect anyone here at 0300 hours!
Lt. Torres strode in, clutching her bleeding hand. At the sight of the pilot, she stopped mid-step, anger and distrust immediately dominating her features.
"Paris" she snapped, as if the word tasted of shit.
"Lieutenant" Tom struggled to remain calm. Argument with fierce half-Klingon was the last thing he needed right now.
Her eyes assessed the environment – Doctor was nowhere in sight. Tom stepped towards her, eyeing her injury and judging it not very serious.
"May I help you with anything?"
She actually seemed to consider the answer, but it came out as could be predicted.
"No." Her eyes hard as stone. "Computer, activate Emergency Medical Holoprogram."
Tom snorted lightly.
"Name the nature of medical emergency?" Doctor asked politely. His first question was about the only thing he was ever saying in nice manner. "Oh, Lt. Torres. I see you hurt your hand. That's just a cutaneous abrasion, Lieutenant. And since Lt. Paris is here, I do not understand why was I activated. It's nothing you, given your medical training at the Academy, couldn't handle, Mr. Paris. My programming allows me to deal with much more complex cases, and yet you keep calling me to all the minor cuts and bruises. Try to keep in your mind that I was created to be an Emergency Medical Hologram, with the emphasis on EMERGENCY. So if there is anyone capable of dealing with a problem around, there is no need to activate ME. I would appreciate if my needs were respected, even if I am not a living being, as you all see me. Now, if there is nothing else my skills would be considered necessary for, I'd appreciate if someone deactivated me, please. I'm leaving you in competent hands of Mr. Paris here, Ms. Torres." Doctor glanced at B'Elanna forcefully.
Half-Klingon gripped her teeth and snapped:
"Computer, deactivate Emergency Medical Holoprogram."
Doctor disappeared with satisfied smirk.
"I offered" Tom couldn't help not to remind her, getting the tricoder, and dermal regenerator. She didn't answer.
After diagnosing her injury as minor, he started regenerating it.
"May I ask what happened?"
"Repairs at the Engineering."
Small talk was the maximum, that could be considered acceptable conversation between them. Tom sighed, and squinted his eyes for a second to relieve some of the pain. She would leave in a second, he could find what he was searching for. Just a few more regenerator moves.
"Still a lot to do after the fight?" he asked matter-of-factly.
She noticed his discomfort of course, but allowing her concern to show, was too much to ask.
"If you didn't rock that ship like a rattle-box, and perhaps didn't founder the engines like wasted horse, it would be less work!"
"I'm sorry for saving your life again" Tom answered wearily.
"Oh, you think it's all your doing, don't you? I can't believe you're so arrogant! If I didn't put up those engines to the tip-top standard, you would have nothing to fly with." she stopped suddenly, seeing his appearance transforming into contemptuous smirk. She gripped her teeth, and decided to just shut up.
"It's done" he notified her. "Like brand new. You're free to go."
Oh, he wanted her to go, she could say that! No way this time.
"And what were you doing here at three a.m.?" she asked, and recognized his distress with satisfaction. But he could escape any situation, couldn't he?
"I was checking up if the Doctor wasn't left activated. You know how he hates that, don't you?"
"Right." She scorned.
They eyed each other for a long while, but she was none to give up easily. And he was tired. He shook his head, and sighed once again.
"I was searching for analgesic. I have headache."
"Oh, alright. Now I trust you" mockery was not gone from her voice. "Let's see you taking it. Or better not!" He hated that self- contented, sly look on her face. "Computer, activate Emergency Medical Holoprogram."
"No, you don't want to do it."
"I already did it. Are you allowed to take analgesic without prescription?" she asked over –
"Name the nature of medical emergency. It's still you Lieutenants?" Doctor asked impatiently, and then registered with what was said. "Analgesic? Without prescription?"
"Lieutenant Paris complains of headache" Torres reported, her eyes narrowed with evil satisfaction.
"Again?" Doctor asked and simply turned to get a tricoder. Tom had to admit, that B'Elanna's look of obvious surprise, was strangely enjoyable. "Hmm" Doctor hummed. "Why didn't you call me Lieutenant?"
"I thought it wasn't emergency enough, and I didn't want to bother you with unimportant stuff."
"I thought I specifically told you to inform me of any more headache you'd get!"
B'Elanna's eyebrows rose even higher. Doctor continued.
"You weren't reporting any over the last month. Am I to suspect you were taking medications without my supervision?" he slammed shut the tricoder.
"The ones you prescribed lately worked well, so I figured it wasn't necessary to trouble you every time…"
"And how many times it was exactly, over the last month?"
Tom eyed B'Elanna, and Doctor's bedside manner surprisingly kicked in.
"Lt. Torres, if you do not require medical assistance, would you please leave us alone? This is the mater between a patient and a doctor, so…" he gently, but sternly motioned towards the door. Chief Engineer looked Paris over, then the Doctor, and then she turned around and stormed out without another word.
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To be continued
.Y