Disclaimer: Paramount owns Star Trek.  The title, and some passages are
from the book, "The Silence of the Lambs." by Thomas Harris.

Dedication: To all Star Trek fans out there, may you live long and
prosper. :)


"Teach Us To Be Still"
By Krystal Banzon


**Teach us to care and not to care.
Teach us to be still.**
                  -The Silence of the Lambs
                    by Thomas Harris

               ***************
     "I say we take any shore leave we can get!" Tom Paris said over
enthusiastically.      "Hold on, Mr. Paris.  We don't know what this
planet is like yet.  I know this crew needs leave, but I don't want us
walking into some kind of Tourist trap." Janeway repiled.
     "Well, Tuvok?" Chakotay asked.
     "The planet itself, Tarcon IV," Tuvok started, "Is a large M class
planet, a little larger than Earth.  It is densely filled with luch
greenery.  Rainforests and jungles filled with vicous animals make up
most of the planet.  The planet is rich in minerals, ad the soil is
fertile almost everywhere.  The soil..."
     "The people, Tuvok." Janeway interrupted.
     "Yes, Captain.  There are roughly about three and a half billion
people on this planet.  Their technology is about the same level as
ours, and they wish to barter with us.  But, their cilvilization is
equal to about the late twenty-first century.  They have prisons, and
mental institutions for their criminals. Most Tarkonians are peaceful,
but there are a few troublemakers here and there.  They are not exactly
the most peaceful race among themselves, but are welcome to outsiders.
Especially ones that are willing to trade." Tuvok finished.
     "See, Captain?  Pretty peaceful.  I mean, what planet doesn't have
a few troublemakers here and there?" Tom said, desperate for some shore
leave.
     "Well, I'm not so sure.  The late twenty-first century wasn't
exactly safe." Janeway answered.
     "I don't think it'll be that bad.  Besides, if they want to trade,
we'll finally get those dilithium crystals, and extra parts we've been
so desperately needing." B'Elanna chimed in.
     Janeway thought for a moment, then she said, "All right.  But if
anything happens, it's all called off.  Sign-ups for transporter times
can start now.  Dismissed."
     B'Elanna and Tom signed up for the first transport time.
                  
               ><   ><   ><   ><

     As Tom and B'Elanna materialized on the transporter pad on the
planet, they were stunned by the intense beauty of the jungle planet,
and just as much by the welcome they recieved.
     Around them, were tall bulidings like a city.  Much like New
Chicago on Mars.  Lights, buildings, and restaurants made up their
surroundings.  The only difference was what surrounded the large city.
Jungle, vast jungle as far as the eye could see.  A place of millions of
people, a large metropolis, with an area of 50 square miles,
civilization, surrounded by the wild untamed Jungle.  A place made by
technology, surrounded by a place untouched by the future.  It gave the
place an odd beauty, a serene look at this world.  The past balanced by
the present, a place  where time moves fast, surrounded by a place where
times does not exist.
     Tom looked at B'Elanna's face, touched by the sun.  *She is so
beautiful he thought.  Especially when the sun shines on her.*  The
sunshine, an added treat that comes with shore leave, was something the
crew of Voyager missed.
     B'Elanna and Tom were reveling the beauty of this exotic planet,
when some man came up to B'Elanna.
     He was a Tarkonian.  He had only holes for ears.  And his left eye
was purple, while his right gold.  He looked shy, Tom noticed, and
blushed a bright pink (if tarkonians blush) when B'Elanna said Hello to
him.
     "What's your name?" B'Elanna asked, smiling politely at the shy
Tarkonian.
     "R-Rylus." he said nervously.  *She's so pretty* Rylus thought.
"I'm the tour pilot.  If you want to go anywhere, just ask me.  I'll fly
you around."
     "Thanks Rylus.  Can you take us to where we're going to stay?  The
Vine Hotel?" Tom asked.
     "Yeah, I can take you there.  But first, I...I want to welcome you
to Tarcon Four. He said shyly, looking at B'Elanna from under his
eyelids, and holding out a purple flower to her.
     B'Elanna took the beautiful flower.  It smelled like sweet like
honey.  Not strong, but a light sweet fragrance that floats to your
senses.  It was purple with five soft, large petals.  B'Elanna looked at
the beautiful flower, and said "Thank you, Rylus."
     "Y...Your Welcome." Rylus replied while taking their starfleet
issue duffel bags, and putting them into his tiny shuttlecraft, parked
behind them in an empty field.  
     Tom and B'Elanna followed Rylus to the shuttlecraft.  Rylus noticed
that Toms hand was around B'Elanna's waist.  *No prettyboy!  No
prettyboy!  No prettyboy!* he thought to himself.
     Tom and B'Elanna climed into the shuttlecraft while Rylus shut the
doors, them climbed in and started the engine.  As Rylus drove them to
the Vine Hotel, his thoughts were on B'Elanna. 
     *She's so pretty,* Rylus thought.




Copyright Krystal Banzon
4/4/98 "Teach Us To Be Still" 
End of Part One