BLOOD FEVER
Episode 58
Part G

 

Bemused, Torres and Paris sit up. Torres: "What are you doing here?"

Vorik tells her: "I've come to claim you, to fulfil our bond, and if necessary, to face my rival." He bellows: "Lieutenant Tuvok!"

Hastily Torres and Paris get up to face the enraged Vulcan.

Tuvok comes hurrying up, closely followed by Chakotay. Tuvok: "Ensign?" Vorik: "Sir, I declare koon-ut-kal-if-fee."

Tuvok explains to the others: "The ritual challenge. He intends to fight to win his mate."

Paris responds aggressively, protectively: "You want a fight? You've got one."

As Paris advances on Vorik, Chakotay holds him back. Chakotay: "Hold on, Tom! There's not going to be any challenge." To Vorik: "Are you responsible for the ship being out of contact?"

Vorik: "It was necessary to disable the communications, transporters and shuttles. No one will keep me from my mate."

Torres, just as worked up as Vorik: "I am not your mate!" Vorik to her: "We will soon decide that!"

Torres: "If anyone is going to smash your arrogant little face, then I will! I take your challenge myself!" Tuvok: "She has the right to choose her own defender, even herself." Chakotay: "Just hold on! Neither of you are thinking straight right now."

Tuvok to Chakotay: "They are following their instincts, and I suggest we allow them to do so." Chakotay: "You mean let them fight." Tuvok: "It is logical. Both must resolve their Pon farr before it kills them. We cannot wait to hear from Voyager." Paris: "They'll tear each other to pieces!" He has to hold Torres physically back from attacking Vorik. Tuvok: "The risk of injury seems preferable to the certainty of dying from a chemical imbalance. Commander, I see no alternative but to follow Vulcan tradition." Chakotay considers, looking first at Vorik, then at Torres who is also spoiling for a fight. He decides. "Alright."

Tuvok: "Begin."

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Vorik aims a blow but Torres ducks. He aims another but she escapes, ending up a few feet away. She turns to face him. They grapple and she manages to throw him. While he climbs to his feet, she scurries away and picks up a large stick off the ground. She aims a swipe at him but he ducks, then seizes her hands and manages to wrestle the weapon away from her. As they spin round, both clutching it, Tuvok has to move a step to his right to avoid the combatants. Vorik wins the stick and hits Torres in the stomach, making her stagger backward, then immediately he brings it up under her chin, hurling her backwards to the ground. Vorik leaps to land on her but she rolls to her right and he lands heavily beside her. She elbows him while he is down then tries to reach for his neck, but he grapples her and they roll, interlocked, down the stone steps, each fighting for an advantage over the other. Staggering to their feet, with Tuvok, Chakotay and particularly Paris looking on intently, Torres punches Vorik twice. The second punch to his face almost turns him to face the other way. But she is weakening, unsteady on her feet and not holding up her guard. Vorik manages to seize her by the throat. She puts each hand under each of his upper arms, trying to push his arms up and away to free herself, then finally manages it and hits him. She manages to block his blow and gets one in which floors him. He looks round at her and manages to raise himself a little, then, his strength gone, collapses. Torres has won!

She turns and, hardly aware of anything any more, her own strength gone, she sinks into Paris' arms. Paris: "It's over, isn't it?" Tuvok: "The blood fever has been purged. They will both recover."

 

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