Part 3 They stopped in front of the fourth door from the left. The same large alien clapped his hand three times and the door sprung open. On the other side of the door was a very large, easily three meters by twelve meters, raised platform with a pad on the top. A soft looking white blanket covered the pad and reached to the floor. In other words, it was the aliens' representation of a bed. Tom turned back to their hosts. "Don't tell me, even out here in the Delta Quadrant you guys are getting into the Bed and Breakfast business? Look, B'Elanna, all the comforts of home." B'Elanna growled. "Well I know, dear, it isn't your idea of interior decorating, he motioned to the stark white interior, but they did provide for plenty of room for...ah...exercise." "But, I'm not in the mood," she complained, glaring at their audience. The last thing she wanted to be was on display for a group of aliens. The aliens with the spears lowered them to the pair and pressing a button on the handle an electric shock was discharged from the end, striking both Tom and B'Elanna. The blast knocked them to the floor and they cried out in pain. "You do as we say or it will be worse for you next time," one of the aliens said stepping forward. He, unlike the others, wore a red band around his bald head. He pushed himself up to a sitting position. "What are we supposet to do?" Tom queried being deliberately obtuse. "Well, do what you where doing before." Tom winked at the half-Klingon "What were we doing before, 'Lanna?" "You know you were, um together," the leader tried to explain. "Together? Oh, you mean *together*? The leader nodded, finally he was being understood. "We can't." Tom said bluntly. "You will," he ordered and the guard pointed the spears at the pair again. "Why do you want us to be...together?" B'Elanna asked seating herself beside the pilot. "It doesn't matter. Just do it." Tom laughed. "We just can't do *it*." He turned to B'Elanna and whispered, "we have to stall them for as long as possible." She nodded her head indicating that she understood. "We gave you back your clothes. So just take them off and get together," the leader explained simply. "We just can't do it that suddenly, we have to work our way up to that moment. It's a very delicate process. For instance, we have to eat. Can't do anything until we eat." "Eat?" Tom turned to B'Elanna. "What do you feel like B'Elanna? Maybe a little seafood, some vegetables?" "Ummmm, and don't forget the candlelight. Can't do it right without the atmosphere." B'Elanna played along hoping that Tom knew what he was doing. "Of course. So you get the food and the candlelight. You know, a little table for two maybe would be nice?" "For two?" "Yeah, two as in her and me," he pointed to B'Elanna and then himself. "You didn't think you were invited did you?" The leader looked bewildered at the conversation and motioned for the guards to push them into the room. Tom and B'Elanna took the hint and not wanting to get zapped again entered the room. The only piece of furniture in the room was the gigantic bed. "You want to sit down?" Tom motioned to the bed. "Not on your life!" B'Elanna wrapped her arms around her body and walked around the room, looking over every square centimeter of the place. Tom went to her and place his hands gently on her shoulders. "I can't do this Tom, especially not if we are going to be watched like some lab rat!" she spat. "I know, love, but we have to stall them until Voyager can find us." The door to the room opened again and a small table, two chairs, and candles were brought in, assembled, and the candles lit. Then two plates of food and two long-stemmed glasses filled with a purple liquid were placed on the table. The leader stuck his head in, "I hope that you'll enjoy the food." Tom walked over to the table and stuck his little finger in a mound of a blue marshmallow-like substance and stuck it in his mouth and grimmaced. "Well, it isn't pizza, but it's not leola root either. Can't make any promises, Jack. I can call you 'Jack' can't I?" Tom asked with a look of complete well-practiced innocence. 'Jack' mumbled something under his breath that sounded something like "What did I get myself into?" and he left the pair alone. B'Elanna approached the table, her arms still crossed over his chest. "I'm not going to eat that 'food'." Tom pulled out a chair and motioned for her to have a seat. "Come on B'Elanna, we have to eat to maintain out strength. Just sit down and have something to eat. Just remember to take it slow. Do what your mother always used to say chew your food very well before you shallow it." "My mother never said that, she always said to eat it quick before the gagh stopped moving!" Tom laughed and B'Elanna grinned and sat down. He joined her sitting in the other chair. They ate for a while each picking at their food. Suddenly a soft humming sound could be heard. Tom stopped in mid-chew and swallowed, B'Elanna did the same. "Did you hear that?" B'Elanna asked. He nodded. "Sounds like it is coming over by the wall." The humming became louder until finally the outer wall dissolved leaving behind shining metal bars. "Oh look, dear, company for dinner," Tom quipped seeing the throng of aliens peering in at them from the other side of where the wall had been. Looking beyond the crowd, Tom and B'Elanna could see other such enclosures and inside seemed to be a variety of other aliens or animals. "We're in a damn zoo!" B'Elanna roared. She got to her feet and strode over to the wall. Tom followed her. As she approached the bars, the aliens on the other side cowered a bit, afraid of her anger. "Get away from us!" Grabbing the bars with her hands. she screamed as the bars discharged an energy pulse and collapsed into Tom's arms. Tom hugged her. "I hate this place." "I know, so do I." He pulled her closer to his body. The aliens were back pressed up against the outer bars. All seemed to be very interested in the pair and smiled and laughed at them. All except for... Who didn't laugh? A child, female, man, and why didn't they? Can they help Tom and B'Elanna escape? Please send in an opinion. You have until next Saturday morning, November 21, to send me your ideas. I will then take a tally of the vote and proceed to write the next piece of the story during that weekend. Note the decision of the judge (namely me) is final. I would like to thank the 10 people that took the time to vote in round two, hopefully there will be most people choosing to participate this time around or I might serious consider quickly ending this piece. And again, a special thanks to Marleena for agreeing to post this story as it develops. Her site addy is http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Rampart/6467/ She helps to make this endeavor possible.