TOM AND B'ELANNA'S COURTSHIP, page 1

On stardate 50537 Vorik experienced pon farr and asked Torres to be his mate: "In human terms I am proposing marriage." When Torres rejected Vorik's proposal he seized hold of her. Although she eventually broke free, neither realised at the time that he had inadvertently initiated a telepathic mating bond. Later Torres began experiencing the pon farr herself. This occurred while she was on a planet subject to seismic activity and inhabited by a species called the Sakari: she became trapped behind a rockfall in subterranean caves with Tom Paris. The pon farr caused a neurochemical imbalance in Torres, driving her to irrational and violent behaviour. The increasing neurochemical imbalance threatened to kill her unless the pon farr was resolved. Torres tried to get Paris to mate with her but he refused to take advantage of her while her mind was unbalanced. He agreed only when Tuvok told him that unless he did so she would die. As Torres and Paris began the mating ritual, Vorik arrived and invoked the ancient traditional right of Vulcan ritual combat for his mate (koon-ut kal-if-fee). Torres herself took up the challenge. Torres defeated Vorik, and the end of the combat ended the pon farr for both of them.

Paris reports that Torres is acting strangely and bit him. The wound is visible on his left cheek. Hearing this Tuvok has his suspicions and elicits details from Vorik details of his encounter with Torres. Tuvok realises that Vorik had initiated a telepathic mating bond and that Torres is exhibiting the irrational and violent behaviour of the pon farr. In Klingon courtship ritual it is usual for the female to bite the male's face, therefore it is significant that it is Tom Paris whom Torres bites.

Paris and Torres are trapped in a small space by a rockfall. Torres begs Paris to mate with her. Paris: "I'm your friend, and I have to watch out for you when your judgement's been impaired. If you let these instincts take over now, you'll hate yourself, and me too for taking advantage of you. I won't do that." [This is the first scene where we see Torres and Paris becoming intimate beyond ordinary friendship.]

Paris: "You've made it clear you're not interested, and I have to accept that's the way you feel even now." Torres: "No, no, it isn't. I was, I was just afraid to admit it. You see, I've wanted this for so long. Just let it happen." Paris: "I hope that some day you'll say that to me and mean it."

Paris: "So, this is the part where you throw heavy objects at me?" Torres: "Maybe later."

Paris: "I'm not sure exactly what to do." Torres: "Well, what are you doing?" Paris: "Enjoying myself?" Torres: "Then show it!" They are interrupted by Vorik's arrival.

After the ritual combat, Torres rests exhausted in the arms of Paris rather than, say, Chakotay.

Turbolift. Paris: "So, looks like you're feeling better. You're back on duty?" Torres: "Yes, yes, I'm fine, thanks. The refit is going well. We should have new warp coils by the end of the week." Paris: "Oh good, glad to hear it. Computer, halt turbolift. Look, this is ridiculous. We're going to be together on this ship for a long time." Torres: "You're right. We have to pretend that the whole mission didn't happen." Paris: "But something did happen, B'Elanna." Torres: "Look, Tom, I really appreciate what you did, what you were willing to do for me, but as far as I'm concerned I was under the influence of some weird Vulcan chemical imbalance and, and whatever I did, whatever I said, it wasn't me." Paris: "Yeah, I know, you're afraid that your big, scary Klingon side might have been showing. Well, I saw it up close and, you know, it wasn't so terrible. In fact I wouldn't mind seeing it again someday. Computer, resume." As Torres leaves the lift: "Careful what you wish for, Lieutenant."

#63 BEFORE AND AFTER In an alternate timeline Torres was killed during a Krenim attack on Voyager in the period the crew later called the "Year of Hell". Kes comforted Paris on his loss and they eventually married and had a family.

#65 DISTANT ORIGIN

Unbeknown to Torres and Paris their courting behaviour is observed by two saurians of the Voth culture. The saurians are called Gegen and Veer, and they are concealed by personal cloaking devices.

Gegen: "Male and female interacting. Let's observe."
Paris to Torres: "Tonight you pay up. Holodeck 2. Klingon martial arts program. No getting out of it this time."
Veer to Gegen: "Courting behaviour?"
Gegen to Veer: "Note how the female through her faint antagonism encourages the male in his attempt to mate."
.....
Paris: "BYOB. ... Bring Your Own Bat'leth."