STAR TREK: VOYAGER
What Comes After…
Part I
An Original J/7 Voyager Story
Ó2007 by Patricia L. Givens
September 2007
Disclaimer
#1: This story is an original work of
fiction set in the pre-existing universe of Star Trek: Voyager. As such,
many of the characters and references used within belong solely to Paramount
Pictures. I have borrowed them for the purpose of creating this scenario
and promise to return them unscathed, and smiling, as soon as I am done.
No gain, monetary or otherwise, is expected from their use and no copyright
infringement is intended or should be inferred.
Disclaimer
#2: All original characters and
storylines contained herein belong to the author. (Like anyone else would claim
them! J ) This story may be archived
upon request with the stipulation that it must be posted exactly as it was
written, with all disclaimers intact.
Disclaimer
#3: This story depicts a romantic
relationship between two women. It may be graphic, but it is lovingly
so. If this kind of thing bothers you then wow, you are really visiting
the wrong websites. If you are under 18, then please finish your homework
before you read this, I would hate for your grades to suffer. If this is
illegal where you live than please write me and let me know what the weather is
like in your little redneck corner of the world.
Who To
Blame:
Thanks must go out to
Ky, who continues on her tireless campaign to make me recognize that this – is
more than a minus sign. Thanks also to Andrea and Shawn for keeping
my beta heart beating. Thanks to The Janeway/Seven Faction, The Voyager
Conspiracy, Ralst, Sazzy and the multitudes of mailing lists I have found
myself on. Thanks to Traevlr for showing me where the cool kids hang out.
And thanks to GL Dartt… Just Because…
This story
is dedicated to Kristen, as always.
This is my
first Post Endgame endeavor and it takes place about three months after Voyager
has returned to Earth. If you are a fan of Chuckles, then this probably
isn’t the story for you. A tip of the pen must go to WoW, for supplying a
name when I couldn’t think of one.
No Borg
implants were mangled during the writing of this story however I will have to
give Seven a complete physical to ensure that she is in good health.
To all that
makes us unique!
DAx =/\=
.
So huge, so hopeless to conceive,
As these that twice befell.
Parting is all we know of heaven,
And all we need of hell.
-Emily Dickinson
Chapter
One: Trading Thoughts
Admiral
Kathryn Janeway sat down at her desk, one hand holding a cup of steaming hot
coffee and the other filled with a multitude of PADDs. She sighed heavily
as she laid them out before her. Reports. It seemed her life lately
was nothing more than an endless stream of reports, both to read and to be
submitted.
She flexed
her shoulders, trying to get the new uniform to sit correctly upon them.
It seemed thicker, more restrictive than the one she had spent seven long years
sliding into every morning. The colors were nice though. She ran a
finger under her collar, accidentally brushing across her new insignia in the
process. Admiral. It had only been three months since Voyager’s
return and they had already made her an Admiral. Daddy would have been
proud.
Her desk
PADD chirped and she looked down, smiling when she realized who the message was
from. Eagerly she keyed the control and her smile widened at the
beautiful image that filled the screen
“Captain.”
Seven of Nine
looked up at her, the corners of her mouth upturned in the barest of smiles.
“Or should I say, Admiral. Congratulations on your promotion. I
regret not having been at the ceremony. Chakotay sends his regards and
his regrets as well. Our ‘settling in’ here on his home world has taken
much of our attention over the past three months.”
Janeway
frowned to herself. She didn’t want to hear about Chakotay.
“It has
been… interesting. His family is very welcoming, although I do find that
they watch me closely, especially when they think that I am unaware of their
scrutiny. I am unsure as to their motives. Chakotay says that they
are merely interested in my uniqueness. Personally I find it vaguely
unsettling but as I do not wish to make him uncomfortable, I do not address the
situation.”
“The
house is acceptable. Starfleet was kind enough to allow us the use of one
of my alcoves. It has been successfully installed in one of the back
bedrooms. Occasionally, when my regeneration cycle ends, I open my eyes
expecting to find myself still in
Janeway grimaced,
not wanting to think about how she was occupying her nights. Or who she
was occupying them with.
“But
after the extensive debriefings and long winded meetings I was forced to endure
upon our arrival from the Delta Quadrant, I find the peacefulness of it at
least slightly enjoyable. How long that enjoyment will continue, I
do not know. I do know that you are busy and I will not make this missive
a long one. I merely wished to tell you that I am well and that I was
thinking of you. Please respond and inform me as to your own status and
current situation. I look forward to hearing from you.”
The screen
went dark and the Admiral sat silently, contemplating the former Borg’s
words. After severing her from the Collective several years earlier and
making her a member of her crew, Seven had continued to blossom into the human
she was always meant to be. It was a small consolation. She had
always assumed it would be her that would continue to guide the former drone
through her existence on Earth. When she had chosen to return with
Chakotay to his home world, the blow had struck hard.
Did you ever ask her to
stay? Her
little voice asked snidely. Was
she just supposed to guess that you wanted her around?
She
considered Seven’s choice of words. That her situation was merely
‘interesting’ and her continued use of Chakotay’s title, even though he had
resigned from Starfleet almost as soon as his feet hit the ground. While
there was nothing negative in the message as a whole, the use of those words
set off alarm klaxons in her brain.
Wishful thinking again,
Katie.
She
straightened her jacket again and ran her fingers through her hair, pushing a
few errant strands back into place before hitting the reply command.
“Seven!
I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to get your message. I have
thought of you often over the last three months and I have been wondering how
you are fairing. Starfleet Command has been keeping me busy. They
have me working on categorizing all of the data we collected during what they
term, my Delta Quadrant vacation. Personally, I think they are just
trying to keep me focused while Voyager undergoes her retrofit. I think
they assume that I will grow into my desk position and leave the actual
exploration to the young people they have running around with quad pips these
days. They are sorely mistaken. I fully intend to retake command of
my vessel when she is again space worthy; even if I have to step down to do
so. Truth be told, I never really wanted the promotion in the first
place, so it is probably better that you did miss the ceremony. You would
have only brought that fact to the attention of everyone present at the least
opportune time.”
She smiled
broadly, enjoying the teasing she had missed so much since Seven had been
gone. “My house in
She toyed
briefly with the idea of deleting that last sentence and decided to leave
it. Maybe Seven would read between the lines and understand what she was
trying to say without her having to say it. Wasn’t that the way they had
always communicated in the past?
Yeah, and where did
that get you? Alone and missing her desperately!
“Starfleet
has undergone major changes since we were gone. They’re still trying to
rebuild after the war and I find myself surrounded by children playing
soldier. They are earnest and they mean well, but what I wouldn’t give to
have my own crew around me again. Certain members of that crew in
particular. I do have to admit though, the coffee has gotten
better.” She
smiled and took a long drink. “I was wondering if you were ever going
to be able to find time to come for a visit. There are still so many
places I would like to show you, and I haven’t forgotten my promise to take you
home to
“They’re
going to be upgrading Voyager’s propulsion and weapons. They’re also
studying the ablative armor that the ‘other’ admiral was so kind to lend
us. You cannot even imagine the amount of tap dancing I had to do when
the debriefings took a turn in that direction. I think if they had had a
way to hold me responsible for it they just might have done so. Three
cheers for the Federation still being behind in that regard.”
“The
only really hard part of the debriefings came in regards to the Equinox.
Explaining myself for the actions I took at that time was not the easiest thing
to do. Most of the crew’s testimonies about the circumstances were very
helpful to my cause, but I know the board was still uneasy about how quickly
that situation went out of control.” She did not mention that the most damning testimony
came from her own First Officer. That was one position she would not put
Seven in. Besides, he had merely told the truth, as he saw it
anyway. “In the end they categorized it as an anomaly in my service
record. They simply do not have enough seasoned Fleet personnel to throw
me away due to one circumstance, even if they did not agree wholly with how I
handled it. They recognized that they were not there and speculating
about how they would have handled it differently does not provide what could be
considered a viable alternative.”
“Anyway,
enough about all that. I want to hear more about you and your new
life.” She
swallowed, hard. “Oh, and by the way. I’m not your Captain
anymore and hearing the word ‘Admiral’ coming from you seems in some way
unfitting. How about you just call me Kathryn? I think, with
everything we have been through together, we’ve both earned it. I look
forward to sharing further correspondence with you. I will talk with you
soon.”
Janeway sat
back and smiled as she sent the letter on its way before turning back to the
reports scattered about her desk. They didn’t seem so bad anymore.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
* *
The Admiral
woke slowly, stretching languidly in her bed as sleep slowly receded. She
wasn’t used to having days off from work, but it was a turn of events that she
was beginning to enjoy.
She
stumbled out of bed and headed for her kitchen, bypassing the refrigerator and
throwing a disdainful look at the stove as she walked straight to the
replicator to order a whole pot of coffee to begin her day. Taking the
pot and a cup over to her desk she was thrilled to see another message from
Seven. They had been sending letters back and forth almost daily for
three weeks now but she was still delighted whenever she found one waiting for her.
She poured herself a cup of joe and activated the screen.
“Kathryn.” Seven’s voice felt like a
caress when she said her name. “I trust that this missive finds you
well. I am currently at a hotel in the main city. I decided that I
would explore this world while the Commander is away with several family
members on a spiritual retreat. Unfortunately, it appears that there is
little to see. I have expressed a desire to travel off world, to come and
visit you, but Chakotay has stated that he is not comfortable with me going
alone. I am unsure what he believes will happen to me, but I will respect
his request to refrain from such activity for the time being. Instead I
find myself utilizing this time for reflection about the events that occurred
in the Delta Quadrant. Do you recall the conversations we engaged in
regarding exploration?”
Janeway
smiled. She didn’t remember conversations. She remembered
arguments.
“I have
decided that I was in error. I find that I miss your desire to examine
the unknown. While I still maintain that such behavior was not
conducive to returning Voyager more quickly to Earth, I now also recognize that
it is necessary for the mind to continue to grow and flourish.” She paused, as if deciding whether
or not to say something. “I find that I miss many things about our
journey on Voyager. I miss our collective, our family. I miss
knowing that I was surrounded by people who may not understand me, but who
accepted me... eventually.”
Janeway
laughed.
“Mostly
I find… that I miss you.” She took a deep breath. “I am unsure how
to put into words how it feels when I see a message waiting for me and it is
from you. It makes me think about how much I would rather be saying these
things to you in person, sitting on the couch in your quarters or standing
before your desk in your ready room. Being in your presence was always a
very… exhilarating experience. As Borg, little nuances meant
nothing. There was nothing that need be said as everything was already known
and the smaller aspects of conversation were deemed irrelevant. Now I
find myself wondering if you still wear the same perfume. I can still
recall the exact fragrance of it.”
She choked
on a mouthful of coffee. Was Seven… flirting with her?
“I can
close my eyes and my eidetic memory will show me exactly how you looked the
last time I saw you, with the wind slightly ruffling your hair and the smile on
your face when we first set foot in Starfleet Headquarters. But even
though the recollection is perfect in every detail, it does not compare with
standing next to you. It does not convey the warmth and the strength you
gave me when you took my arm to alleviate my tension. When you whispered
‘I’m here with you. I won’t let go.’, I knew that you would not and that
made me feel… safe. In truth, most of my pleasant memories of feeling
anything center around you. You never made me feel different,
alien. You made me feel as though I was home. That is something I
have also missed in your absence.”
Janeway reached
out and touched the screen, allowing her fingers to trail along the proud jaw
line as she had wanted to do so often in the past.
“I have
always wanted to tell you these things, but I did not know how to put them into
words. I find it much easier to do so in this letter, although why that
would be is something I cannot seem to fathom. I wonder if you think of
me as often as I think of you and, if you do, exactly what your thoughts
are. When I was a member of your crew, it was inappropriate to inquire
about such things. But I am no longer a member of your crew.” This last was said with such a
seductive tone that the Admiral found herself breathing erratically. “Will
you tell me now? Will you share with me all the things you might have
said during our journey but did not because protocol disallowed it? Would
you allow me to truly know you now?”
The Borg
blinked and seemed slightly embarrassed. “I wanted to say something
else as well… I think that you look very handsome in your new uniform.
Red will always be your color.”
The screen
went dark and she resisted the urge to pick up the PADD and shake it, as though
to try and dislodge some part of the missive that had not been provided.
Taking a long drink of her coffee, she shook her hair into place and, feeling
slightly foolish, loosened her robe, allowing it to fall open, showing the
nightgown beneath.
“Seven,”
She began her reply.
“I want you to know how much I have missed you as well. Our conversations
were always something I truly treasured and I can say, in all honesty, that not
being able to continue them has left a profoundly empty spot in my life.
You always knew just the right buttons to push at just the right times to make
me be honest. I am thrilled to see you haven’t lost your touch.”
“As for
what I might have said, you are going to need to narrow that field down quite a
bit if you expect a cohesive answer. There are so many thoughts that I
kept to myself, so many observations about both of us that I refused to say
that to try and share them all now would be a huge undertaking. How about
you ask whatever questions you might have and I promise to answer them
honestly? This isn’t an offer I have ever made to anyone else, but I
trust that you will keep my answers in confidence. I have many questions
of my own. Would it make you uncomfortable for me to ask them now?
And I understand how it could be easier to have this conversation through our
correspondence. I am sure some of my questions will be the sort that I would
never ask out loud.” She rested her chin in her hand. “I have come to the
realization that you had as great an impact on me as I did on you during our
time together. I get the feeling that isn’t about to change now that
we’re back home. I only wish you were not so far away. I also do
not understand Chakotay’s request for you not to travel off world. If it will
make him feel better I am sure I can arrange an escort for you. I believe
I know an Admiral that has a bit of pull at Fleet Headquarters.” She
smiled. “Nothing would make me happier than having you here, if you
would be so inclined. Let me know what you think. I’ll talk to you
soon. Oh and, Seven? My first question: What was the
fragrance?”
A part of her
regretted that the recordings did not allow her to include a closing
endearment. But then, maybe that was a good thing. Downing
the rest of her coffee, she went to get dressed.
*
*
* *
*
*
*
*
* *
Janeway
spent the day happily strolling through the wharf, checking out places that she
would take Seven when she finally arrived for a visit. There were several
restaurants that she thought the younger woman would enjoy, as well as the
museums and parks that
When she
got back home, she turned on the lights and sighed. The house still
seemed so empty, even after her being there for several months. She
spread her meal out on the dining room table and opened a bottle of wine.
She had just started eating when the computer on her desk chirped.
She jumped
up quickly, amusing herself with her own eagerness and was happy to see she was
not going to be disappointed. It was from Seven. She laid the PADD
next to her plate and activated it, taking a bite of her fettuccine as she
waited for it to load.
When it
finally did, she choked, almost spitting the food out across the screen.
Seven
looked at her with azure blue eyes, her hair flowing loosely about her shoulders,
which were barely covered with a nightgown of her own. It dipped low in
the front, demurely showing just a hint of the soft swells beneath it.
“Kathryn.
I know we usually only correspond once a day, but I found your invitation too
enticing to ignore until tomorrow. I find the idea of your answering any
question I might have honestly to be very appealing. My only quandary is
where to start.”
She smirked slightly. “I believe my first question will have to be:
have I ever disappointed you? I know that seems like an odd inquiry, but
it is one that often troubled my thoughts when I was still on Voyager. It
disturbs me greatly to think that I might have. After that, my questions
become more personal in nature. When we were in the Delta Quadrant, I
noticed that you had a propensity to touch me, much more so than the rest of
the crew. I would like to know if that was something I imagined or if it
was truly the case. And if it was, why? I would also like to know
why you endangered yourself and Voyager by coming to rescue me from the
Queen. I know what you said at the time. That you would never leave
a member of your crew behind, but I found that explanation… lacking
somehow. I wish to know the full reasons behind why you did what you
did. Also, you shared so many things with me back then, things that you
did not readily share with other members of the crew. Your Da Vinci
holoprogram for example. You allowed me more than entrance into your
personal retreat; you let me know that I was welcome there. Why?”
Seven
paused, taking several breaths before she continued. “What was I to
you, Kathryn? I overheard many members of the crew speaking of me as
though I was a ‘project’ for you, something to occupy your time, and for some
reason, that thought disturbs me greatly. Your attention was always
something I appreciated. Now I would like to know the reasons behind
it. Were they simply, as you stated at the time, the desire to help me
embrace my humanity? Or were there other factors involved that you could
not share with me? There were so many moments when it seemed as though there
was something else you wanted to say but you refrained. What was it you
were keeping from me? I await your response with what I can only deem as
anticipation. Until then.” Seven reached out to end the
recording and then stopped, holding her hand still as her eyes took on such a
smoldering look that she thought she would implode. “Oh, and
Kathryn? Lavender.”
Janeway was
stunned. She supposed on some level she shouldn’t be. The Borg’s
honesty was something she had always known and relied on. But to have
those questions thrown out on the table all at the same time… well… it was a
little overwhelming. She decided that she would need a lot more wine
before she could even begin to answer them.
Two hours
later, she sat in her nightgown, staring at her data PADD. Do I really have the courage to do this? There
won’t be any way to go back… Then she realized that there already wasn’t any way to go
back. If Seven was asking these questions then she had noticed all the
things that she had thought she hid so well. Steeling herself with a
quick draught of whiskey, she activated the recording.
“Seven,
I find all of your questions rather unsettling for many reasons. But none
so much as your very first. I want you to know that you have never, NEVER
disappointed me. If anything, you have always delighted and surprised me
with your behavior and your candor. I know at times we disagreed about
things, but that is to be expected in a close relationship. The very fact
that you were not afraid to voice your objections to my actions was something
that I always found very attractive about you, on many different levels.
Please know and believe that.”
She took another drink.
“Now about your other questions… In regards to touching you, I want to
apologize if I ever made you feel uncomfortable by my actions. To answer
your question honestly, there were times that I was unaware that I was even
behaving in that manner. But then, there were also times when I wanted to
touch you. Very much. Times when I wanted to soothe away the hurt
you were feeling or share in the joy. Then there were times when I simply
wanted contact with you. I think I was unsure as to my own reasons for
doing it. But over the years I came to realize that you were always more
to me than just a member of my crew or simply a friend and I began to hope that
I was more to you than just a Captain and a mentor.”
“When
you were taken by the Borg Queen… I was very angry. I didn’t believe for
a moment that you truly wished to stay with the Borg. I knew that your
actions were motivated by a desire to keep Voyager safe. While I
respected that immeasurably, I was not about to let her have you. Can you
understand that? The idea of her changing you back to what you had been,
the thought that I would never again know the wonderful creature that you are…
it was unacceptable. Even the short time you were gone left an emptiness
inside of me that I couldn’t rationalize away. All I knew was that I had
to get you back. I didn’t allow myself to scrutinize my reasons much
beyond that.”
“About
allowing you into my personal spaces… all I can say is, I wanted you
there. I still do.”
“What
were you to me? You were, and still are, the most fascinating woman I
have ever known. In you I see a purity of spirit that I have always found
irresistible. I feel drawn to you. I feel as though, with you, I
could always truly be myself and you would never judge me or think badly of
me. I wanted to share everything with you, and that has not diminished in
the time we have been apart. And you are right. All those times I
walked away, all those times I left our conversations unfinished… there was
something more I wanted to say. I still want to say it now. But not
like this. Not through a vid message. Come and visit me. Come
and stay with me here in
She ended the
recording and paused, her finger over the send button. Finally, she took
a deep breath and hit send.
*
*
*
* *
*
*
* *
The next
morning, Kathryn rose and showered. She made herself get dressed and
straighten up before she went to check her data PADD. It was there.
Swallowing
back her panic, she sat down, trying to will herself to breathe. Finally,
she reached out and activated the control, losing her breath again the moment
she did so. Seven appeared, her eyes were bright and there was an actual
smile on her lips. Not the little smiles she was used to, but a full out
grin that showed her perfect white teeth.
“Kathryn.” Seven practically purred.
“I wanted to let you know that I accept your invitation. I have begun to
make travel arrangements and will inform the Commander of my impending absence
when he returns this morning. I have found your answers very gratifying
and… pleasing… in a way I did not wholly expect. I look forward to the
conversations we will have when I arrive. I expect to be there by the day
after tomorrow. Will that give you enough time to…” Seven
looked off screen as though something had startled her. “I am sorry,
Kathryn. I have to go. I will send you another missive shortly.”
Janeway was
surprised by the interruption and she waited by the PADD for over an hour but
nothing further arrived. She recorded a brief message, asking if
everything was ok and sent it, but that didn’t receive a response either.
Agitated,
she decided to go out for a walk to try and calm herself down. When she
returned several hours later, she was dismayed to find there were still no
messages for her.
She drafted
one last message, stating that she was concerned and for Seven to contact her
as soon as possible.
Having done
everything she could think of to do, she sat back and began to wait.
*
*
* *
*
*
* *
*
“I don’t
care, Eva!” Janeway snapped at her assistant. “He can call until
he’s blue in the face. I don’t have any desire to talk to the man!”
Eva looked
at her in surprise, her face cringing at the unexpected ferocity.
Janeway
relented when she saw she had scared the poor girl. “I’m sorry,
Eva. It isn’t you. I just have a lot of things on my mind and the
last thing I want to do is talk to Mark Johnson.”
It had been
a full week since she had heard from Seven. Her arrival date had come and
gone without so much as a peep from the woman. Instead, she had to deal
with numerous calls from her ex fiancé wanting to talk over old times or god
only knew what and she just wasn’t interested in the slightest.
“If he
calls again just tell him that I will be busy for the foreseeable future but
that you’ll make sure I get the messages, ok? Then throw them out.”
Eva nodded
and backed out of the room. She didn’t know what had her boss in a bear
of a mood but she was certainly not going to ask her about it. In all the
time she had worked for the Admiral, she had always been pleasant and
courteous. So whatever it was, it must be huge.
Janeway sat
back in her chair and brooded. Could Seven have changed her mind?
Decided that she didn’t really care to know the answer to her question?
Chastising
herself for allowing her personal issues to affect her at work, she picked up
several PADDs and began to go over them, making corrections and adding
information as was needed.
It was a
great shock to her when the door to her office was thrown forcibly open a few hours
later.
Even more
of a shock was who came through it.
Chakotay
stood before her, a look of rage on his face.
“I’m sorry,
Admiral. He just barged in.” Eva explained from behind the man.
“It’s all
right. I’ll deal with it.”
The young
woman gave Chakotay one last look and then closed the door behind her.
“Where is
she?” he growled.
“I beg your
pardon?”
“Don’t play
games with me, Kathryn, I know she’s here. Where is she?”
“I’m going
to assume your talking about Seven, but I can assure you she isn’t here.
While I can see that you’re upset, that does not explain why you felt the need
to burst in here unannounced and disrupt my staff.” Janeway felt her
temper rising. “Do you want to explain yourself?”
“I don’t
answer to you anymore.”
“No, you
don’t.” She countered. “But you are in my office uninvited so I
think that entitles me to an answer.”
He laughed
bitterly. “What don’t you think you’re entitled to?” He
towered over her desk menacingly. “I watched your message vids. I
know she was coming here. I want to see her, NOW.”
The Admiral
stood and came around the desk, raising herself to her full height as she stood
toe to toe with him. “You watched our vids?” Her voice was at its
lowest register and her glare would have melted a seasoned Starfleet officer
into a puddle on the spot. She was gratified to notice that it still
worked.
Chakotay
backed down a little. “Yes I did. It was my right. She’s my
girlfriend.”
“She isn’t
your property, Chakotay. And you had no right to go through our personal
messages. What the hell is wrong with you?”
“I need to
see her. I need to explain…”
“Explain
what?”
He blanched
somewhat. “That’s between me and her. Tell me where she is.”
“You’ve
obviously not been listening. She isn’t here. I haven’t heard from
her in over a week.”
Chakotay
slumped into a chair. “I was sure she would come here. She was
talking about coming here…”
“She was
supposed to.” Janeway clamped down on her anger and sat on the edge of
her desk. “She was supposed to arrive for a visit several days ago.
Are you telling me she hasn’t been with you?”
“No.
She left a week ago. We had an argument and she left.”
The Admiral
felt a tendril of fear travel up her spine.
“I’m sorry,
Kathryn. I thought she would be here. This is why I told her I
didn’t want her traveling alone. God only knows what could have happened
to her. We need to find her!”
“Agreed.”
She went back to her desk and accessed her vidphone.
“What are
you doing?”
“Calling a
friend.” She waited as the call was put through, relieved when Tuvok’s
face appeared on the screen.
“Admiral.”
His tone conveyed as much pleasure as it ever had. “This is a surprise.”
“Hello, old
friend. I’m sorry to call you at home. I know you wanted to take a
few years off to spend with your family. But I find myself in desperate
need of your help.”
“My help is
always yours for the asking. What troubles you?”
Janeway
explained the situation to him and he assured her that he would begin an
investigation immediately. As he was only officially on leave, not
actually resigned from Starfleet, he could utilize many of his vast
intelligence connections to further his inquiries.
“I will
contact you shortly.”
Chakotay
looked at her expectantly. “Now what?”
“Now you go
and contact B’Elanna and Harry. See if they’ve heard from her. I’ll
contact the Doctor. He’s over at Starfleet medical and should be easy
enough for me to get a hold of.”
“I’ll get
started.” He paused, dropping his gaze. “I’m sorry for the way I
acted.”
She put up
her hand. “You were concerned about Seven. I do understand.
But I recommend that if you wish to see me in the future you use a little more
restraint in your methods.”
“Understood.”
After he
left Janeway went and stood at her window overlooking the grounds of Starfleet
Headquarters.
“Where are
you, Seven?” She whispered, feeling a dark fear start to take hold of her
heart.
Chapter
Two: An Unexpected
Admiral Janeway
entered Starfleet Medical quietly, waving away the offers of an escort as she
made her way to the Experimental Wing. As she walked, she was aware of
the people who stopped and openly stared at her or called others over to watch
her pass by. It was something she still hadn’t gotten used to, the
fawning adoration for her newly promoted and well decorated persona, but she
was able to ignore it, mostly.
As she
neared her destination, she could hear a rather heated argument that was going
on between the Doctor and another individual. Her arrival stopped it cold
as the ensign in his company dropped his jaw momentarily before standing
stiffly at attention.
“At
ease.” She tried hard not to roll her eyes. “This isn’t an
inspection, just a friendly visit. Doctor!” She went to him and
wrapped him up in warm hug, knowing that it would raise his worth to all those
watching.
“Admiral.”
He said with genuine affection. “How are you?”
“I’ve been
better. I’m sorry I haven’t made it over here to see you before now, but
Starfleet has really been keeping me busy.” She threw a level three glare
at the ensign and the poor boy fell all over himself as he quickly left the
room. “I need your help.”
“Of
course.” He led her to his office. “What’s going on?”
“Seven is
missing.”
A myriad of
emotions crossed over his features, finally settling on one of deep
concern. “When did this happen?”
“About a
week ago. According to Chakotay she was on her way here to see me, but
she never arrived. I was hoping that you had heard from her.”
“I
haven’t.” He sat down heavily, and interesting feat for a hologram.
“This could be very bad.”
“My
thought’s exactly. How long can she go without regenerating before the
damage would be severe?”
“Optimally,
she should regenerate eight hours out of every seventy two. If she
regenerated right before she disappeared and if she eats properly and sleeps,
she can go eight days…maybe nine before the damage becomes extensive.
After that time, I don’t know that I would be able to help her. Her Borg
components might become too badly degraded.”
“That’s
what I was afraid of.” She felt the fear twist in her stomach. “I
have Tuvok using his connections to try and find some trace of her. I
can’t do much more until I hear back from him,”
“How is it
no one knew she was missing for an entire week?”
“I thought
she was with Chakotay. Chakotay thought she was with me. It’s a
long story, Doctor. I’ll fill you in later, ok?”
“Very
well.” He grabbed her lightly by the arm as she stood to go. “When
you do find out where she is, I want to go with you. If anyone could help
Seven, it would be me.”
Janeway
smiled at him and squeezed his hand. “I’ll let you know.”
When she
got back to her office, there was a message waiting for her from Tuvok.
It was short and to the point.
“Admiral, I
have gathered some information that will lead us to a location to begin our
search. I know I am not being presumptuous in assuming that you will be
accompanying me. I will meet you at Flight Base Ten at 1800 hours.
I would recommend arranging leave for yourself. I have already procured a
ship.”
Janeway
didn’t hesitate. She contacted Admiral Necheyev and informed her that she
would be gone for at least a week, possibly longer, and then headed for home to
pack.
*
*
* *
*
*
* *
*
At 1800
hours Janeway was waiting impatiently at Flight Base Ten, a Starfleet travel
bag over her shoulder, dressed in black cargo pants and a black turtleneck
sweater. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but she wasn’t going into
anything flying her Starfleet colors, not at this point.
“Admiral.”
Tuvok greeted her as he walked up behind her. “I trust you are ready to
go?”
“I’m
ready. Where are we going?”
“I would
prefer to wait until we’re aboard, that way I can fill everyone in at once.”
“Everyone?”
He didn’t
answer her so she followed him out onto the tarmac, past several different vessels
until he came to a sleek, mid sized transport with the name Venture painted
proudly on the side. Right next to what she could only surmise was the
image of a pin up girl from the late 1950’s. She looked at Tuvok
curiously but he merely led her aboard.
When they
reached the bridge, all her questions were answered.
“Admiral!”
Tom Paris sprang up from the pilot’s chair and greeted her with a hug.
“Long time no see.”
“Tom!”
She said in surprise. “What are you doing here?”
“You didn’t
think I would let you go on this little adventure without your best pilot did
you?”
“And
B’Elanna doesn’t have a problem with this?”
“Why would
she?” A voice asked from behind her. She turned to see her former Chief
Engineer smiling up at her from the floor, where she had a compartment open to
tinker on the sensor relays.
“B’Elanna!”
Janeway was overwhelmed. “Where’s Miral?”
“Staying
with her Grandfather.” Tom grinned. “He said he wanted more time
with her. We’ll see if he still feels the same way when we get back.”
“How did
you arrange all this? And where did you get this boat?”
“This
little baby was a wedding gift from my father. Warp six capable, state of
the art hyper beam laser banks, full complement of photon torpedoes with a
class A launch bay, standard transporter capabilities and four crew cabins
complete with replicators.”
“What’s all
this for? Family trips to the demilitarized zone?”
Tom
laughed. “Dad likes to travel in style. He also arranged leave for
me and B’Elanna...”
“Once we
told him we’d be going whether he liked it or not.” The Klingon finished.
“I don’t
mean to sound ungrateful, but why would you do all this?”
B’Elanna
climbed to her feet and placed a hand on her arm. “Seven is family,
Admiral. Just because we don’t always get along doesn’t mean we don’t
take care of our own.”
Janeway
only nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
“The Doc is
finishing up his calibration of Seven’s alcove. It’s installed in the
largest cabin, all the way in the back of the ship. You might want to lay
claim to it fast. Chakotay should be here in a few minutes.”
“I’ll do
that. But there is one other thing.”
They all
looked at her expectantly.
“This isn’t
a Starfleet mission. We’re all here, on our own time, risking our own skins
for our own reasons. That being said, Admiral seems a bit more formal
than I’m comfortable with. So I’ll give you a choice, you can either call
me Captain, or you can call me Kathryn.”
“Aye,
Captain.” Tom grinned. “I’ve really missed saying that to you.”
Janeway
smiled at him fondly before leaving the bridge. The Venture wasn’t small,
but it wasn’t exactly a luxury liner either. The cabin that was to be
hers was only half the size of her quarters on Voyager, with a quaint outer
room and a tiny bedroom. She was surprised to find the alcove being
installed in the latter.
“Doctor?”
He stood up
from his work and smiled at her. “There you are. I figured you
would be the one to take this room. I hope you don’t mind that I
installed the alcove in the bedchamber. I thought it would… simplify
things.”
“I
see.” She didn’t ask exactly what he was trying to simplify, deciding
that she didn’t really want to know. “It looks downright cozy.”
She let him
get back to the alcove as she went about unpacking her bag. She was
almost finished when she heard loud voices in the outer room.
“She wants
this cabin, Chakotay. She is the senior officer.”
“I don’t
give a damn.” She heard his voice rising. “This isn’t
Voyager. Her word isn’t law anymore.”
“It is on
my boat.” Tom growled.
“Is there a
problem, gentlemen?” She stood in the doorway, her hands on her hips and
a frown on her face.
Chakotay
glowered at her. “There won’t be once you pack your things and move to a
different cabin.”
“Well,” She
walked towards him slowly, her lips pursed. “You can pretty much rest
assured that that is not going to happen. These are my quarters
and I believe we’ve already had a conversation about you barging in without
announcing yourself.”
“I should
have the room with Seven’s alcove.” He persisted.
“Your
opinion has been duly noted. Now… get out.”
He stood
his ground for a few moments more then threw an angry look at her before
shoving Tom aside to walk out the door.
“What the
hell was that about?” The helmsman looked at her in confusion.
“Pissing
contest.” Janeway said quietly. “I don’t expect it to get much
better.”
“Well, if
it doesn’t, I can always have B’Elanna encrypt his door locks. That would
keep him out of your hair.”
“That won’t
be necessary.” She laughed. “However, if you could have your wife
come down here and encrypt mine, I know I would feel a whole lot better about
it.”
“Consider
it done.”
When he had
gone, she sighed, deeply troubled by the actions of her former First
Officer. Replicating herself a cup of coffee, she sipped at it quietly
until Tuvok’s voice came over the conn.
“We are
ready to launch, Captain. Would you and the doctor please come to the
bridge.”
Janeway set
her mug down on the counter and went to join her crew, the Doctor following
behind her.
When they
were all assembled, Tuvok shared what little information he had.
“Seven was
last seen on Mars. She stopped at the civilian spaceport to refuel before
continuing on her journey to Earth. I believe that our search must start
there. I have a contact in the Mars Civilian Security Force who will
allow us to review the footage from their security cameras. Mr. Paris,
what is our ETA?”
“It’s a
short trip.” He set their course into the computer. “Shouldn’t take
more than an hour and a half.”
“Very
well. I highly recommend that we all take the Captain’s example and
change out of our uniforms. If we are to be successful in our attempts to
gather intel, I can only assume that it would be more advantageous if we were
perceived to be civilians.”
“Agreed.”
Janeway nodded. “This is one time that being recognizable is not going to
help.”
“That
should make it pretty difficult for you, Captain.” B’Elanna pointed out.
“Your face has been plastered on every news vid for the last four months.
I hate to say it, but I think it might be better if you stayed on the ship, at
least at first.”
Reluctantly,
she agreed. After they reviewed the footage, she would return to the ship
while Tuvok and B’Elanna followed up any initial leads. She knew it was
the wisest course of action, but that didn’t mean she had to like it.
*
*
*
* *
*
*
* *
Seven of
Nine opened her eyes slowly. The light was very bright and she had to
blink several times before she could see her surroundings clearly. She
was in some kind of medical bay, being held to an examination table by metal
restraints on her wrists and ankles. She pulled at them quietly, trying
to test their strength. The slight movement made her head swim and she
looked down, seeing a six inch gash between the first and second bands of her
abdominal implant. An injury she had sustained when they had tried to
remove her from her cell. Her nanoprobes were already working to repair
the damage, but they were operating sluggishly and the pain was intense.
“How is my
patient today?” A chipper voice asked as a large, dark form blocked out
much of the light.
“I am not
your patient.” She growled. “I am your hostage.”
“Now, now,”
The voice admonished her. “Hostage is such an ugly word. One that
isn’t accurate in any case. Hostage implies that you are being held in
anticipation of a beneficial trade with another party. We are not
interested in trading you for anything. No one is coming for you.
It is in your best interest to do as you are told.”
“What
exactly is it that you want? I have been here for days and I have yet to
learn what you expect from me.”
“Well,
that’s why I’m here, to tell you.” He stepped back slightly and she was finally
able to make out his features. He was a large biped, massing 300 kilos
easily. His body was covered in armor plating with three red crescents
over his left breast. His face was hairless and he had two large tusks
protruding from his lower jaw. “My name is Kiir. I am the chief
medic of The Mark of the Kil’Jaeden. You are here because you possess
many traits that we admire. Traits that we wish to possess ourselves.”
“What
traits?”
“Your
strength for one, in addition to your ability to fight and to regenerate from
damage.” He prodded at her wound, making her flinch. “Already the
laceration is closing. Fascinating.”
“Those are
not traits. If you had any intelligence you would know that they are the
remnants of my having been Borg.”
“Oh we’re
well aware of your history. We’ve been following your activities quite
closely since you returned from the Delta Quadrant.”
“Then you
know that I cannot share these things with you. They are not something
that can be taught.”
“No, they
can’t be taught. But they can be shared.” He took an instrument and
prodded at her hand implant, causing her assimilation tubules to extend.
“All you have to do is use these.”
Seven’s
face contorted. “You are insane! You will become Borg!”
“There are
many things about the Borg that we admire. We are well aware that you can
create a mini collective, linking us only to each other, and not to the main
hive mind. That is what we wish.”
“Why?”
“Imagine an
army that could think as one, move as one, strike as one, without argument,
without confusion. It would be perfect.”
“I do not
have to imagine it. I was a part of it. And I refuse to do as you
ask.”
“I would
think carefully before you refuse us.” He brushed her face softly, almost
lovingly with his fingertips. “If you refuse, then our only remaining
course of action will be to dissect you. To take you apart piece by piece
and see what information we can glean from what is left.” He stepped
back. “We are warriors, Seven of Nine. The most deadly you will
ever encounter. We require your help to perfect us. You will either
give that help willingly… or we will take it. You have twelve hours to decide.
Think carefully.”
He left her
to her thoughts, turning out the lights as he went.
Seven lay
in the darkness, feeling the sharp edges of panic creeping up on her. Was
it just a week ago that she had been trading messages with Kathryn? That
she had felt hope for a future that she had never before dreamed possible?
“Kathryn…”
She whispered softly. “I need you.”
*
*
* *
*
*
* *
*
Janeway felt
the hairs on the back of her neck stand up, startling her. She leaned
forward in her chair, a frown on her face.
“Captain?”
Tuvok was looking at her from his place at the aft defense console. “Are
you all right?”
Slowly she
nodded. “Yes. I’m fine. I think someone just walked over my
grave. How long until we arrive?”
“Twenty
minutes.” Tom’s glanced back at her. “I’ve already got docking
clearance.”
“Good.”
She stared silently out the front viewport, trying to control the feeling of
panic that had come over her. She was not used to feeling that emotion
and it unsettled her greatly.
When they
finally docked, Tom and the Doctor remained on board while the four of them
headed to the MCSF office. Tuvok’s friend met them at the outer doors,
leading them to a small room set up with multiple monitors. They spent
several hours watching the surveillance videos until Janeway finally spotted
the familiar blue-gray jumpsuit.
“There she
is.” They centered in on that one camera, watching as Seven was accosted
outside of a mercantile. She was surrounded by more than ten individuals
and seemed to give up without a fight, being led away to a docking port that
was off camera.
“Go
home.” The security officer said quietly. “Your friend is
lost. Go home before you end up dead too.”
“You want
to explain that?” Janeway looked at him sharply.
The officer
reversed the video, zooming in the view until they were looking at one of
Seven’s attackers up close. “You see that emblem?” He paused the
video and pointed at his chest. There were three red crescents there,
forming a triangle. “They are The Mark.”
“The Mark?”
“The Mark
of the Kil’Jaeden. Warriors… mercenaries. They do not take
hostages. If they have her, you will not see her again. The best you
can do is to go home now, before you share her fate.”
“We can’t
do that.” Janeway growled.
“Then you
have my sympathies. I am sorry, Tuvok. The MCSF cannot help you
with this.”
“I
understand.” He nodded at the man and rose to leave. “Thank you for
the assistance you were able to provide.”
Once
outside, Janeway threw her hands up in anger. “I can’t believe he expects
us to just walk away.”
“I have
heard of The Mark, Captain.” Tuvok led them through the winding
passageways. “They are not to be trifled with. They are deadly.”
“So what
are you saying, Tuvok?” B’Elanna grabbed him by the arm. “That
that’s it?”
“Of course
not. I was merely explaining why the MCSF will not get involved. I
believe our most logical course of action is our original one. We will
escort the Captain back to the ship and then return to the entertainment
sector. We may be able to find someone there who is willing to talk.”
“Tuvok.”
Janeway motioned for them all to move up against the wall as she pointed
towards one of the brothels. Coming down the stairs was a member of The
Mark. He was swaying slightly as he headed into a back alley to relieve
himself.
“My
god!” B’Elanna breathed. “They’re huge!”
“This could
be our best chance.” The Captain motioned for B’Elanna to stand look out
as the three of them crept up slowly behind him. When they reached him,
Tuvok reached out and pinched the nerves in his neck. They were not an
ordinary species, so the pinch did not cause the customary unconsciousness, but it
did cause him to fall limply to the ground, where he stared up at them
belligerently. Leaning in close, Tuvok splayed his fingers and placed
them on his face.
“My mind to
your mind, my thoughts to your thoughts.” He repeated the chant several
times before finally closing his eyes and going silent. They could see
the strain in his face from the contact. After several minutes, Tuvok
opened his eyes again. He stared at the creature for several long seconds
before flexing his fingers slightly. The huge figure slumped to the
ground, a thick trail of white foam leaking from between his jaws.
“Tuvok?”
Janeway looked at him in horror.
“There is
no time. We must return to the ship.”
They
gathered up B’Elanna and rushed back to the Venture. As soon as they were
all on board, Tuvok barked at Tom, “Get us in the air. Now.”
Janeway
grabbed his arm and spun him around. “What did you do?”
He looked
at her impassively. “What I had to.” He looked at each of the crew
in turn. “These are not people that can be bargained with. There is
no amount of money that will buy Seven back. They have no interest in
negotiations. If we are going to get her back, we are going to have to
cut our way in, and fight our way out. It will get very dirty, very
quickly and you had all better be prepared to face that fact, now.”
“What did
you see?” The fear was back, tying her stomach up in knots.
“They want
Seven to assimilate them into a small collective, much as she did with the
other three Borg survivors when her sphere crashed in the Delta Quadrant.”
“What?”
B’Elanna looked at him in shock. “Why?”
“They are
mercenaries. They live only to fight for the highest bidder. Wars
have been won and lost simply based on which side they fought for. Their
only goal is to create the perfect war machine. They believe Seven can do
that by creating their collective. If she refuses, they plan to take her
apart and use her Borg technology as a template to try and perfect themselves.
They will not listen to reason and they will not release her.”
“At this
point it doesn’t matter whether she would agree with them or not.” The
Doctor spoke up. “Seven hasn’t regenerated in over a week. She
won’t have the strength to create the nanoprobes necessary to do what they
ask. When they discover that…”
“It will
leave them with only the alternative.” Tuvok pulled up a star
chart. “They have her here, on this moon, Lirnis Two. It is their
base of operations. If we travel at maximum warp, we will reach the moon
in six hours. I suggest you all return to your cabins and rest.
This will not be an easy task.” Without another word, he left the bridge.
Janeway
looked at Tom. “You heard him, Mr. Paris. Maximum warp. Get
us there fast. I’ll be in my quarters.”
“Aye,
Captain.”
When she
reached her cabin, she sealed the doors and ordered a straight whiskey from the
replicator. Falling heavily onto her couch, she pulled out a PADD that
she had brought with her, activating it as she downed the amber liquid.
“Kathryn.” Seven practically purred.
“I wanted to let you know that I accept your invitation. I have begun to
make travel arrangements and will inform the Commander of my impending absence
when he returns this morning. I have found your answers very gratifying
and… pleasing… in a way I did not wholly expect. I look forward to the
conversations we will have when I arrive. I expect to be there by the day
after tomorrow. Will that give you enough time to…” Seven
looked off screen as though something had startled her. “I am sorry,
Kathryn. I have to go. I will send you another missive shortly.”
Janeway
cried out in frustration and threw the PADD against the wall, watching as it
shattered into pieces from the impact. Dropping her head into her hands,
she began to weep.
Why now? After
everything we went through in the Delta Quadrant, to make it home safely, just
to lose her now?
“NO!”
She straightened her back and brushed her hand furiously across her eyes.
“No. Not today. And not like this. I won’t allow it.”
Curling up
with her legs beneath her, she willed herself to sleep.
Chapter
Three: Hell Hath No Fury
“
The Captain
blinked and looked around. She was still curled up on the couch.
Groaning, she stretched her sore leg muscles. “Go ahead, Tom.”
“We’re
fifteen minutes out.”
“Understood.
On my way.”
They all
converged on the bridge, watching as the moon came into view.
“Can you
get a transporter lock on her, Tom?”
“Sorry,
Captain. The security grid they have over the compound is throwing up too
much interference. You’re going to have to go in and set up an
enhancement field.”
“All right,
what’s our best plan of attack?” She asked.
Tuvok
dialed in the sensors, bringing the compound into view. “She’s being held
here, in the main building. We can transport down here, in this small
crater off to the left. If we plant remote charges by each of the four
outer lying buildings, we should be able to draw a good portion of their security
forces away. After that, it is just a matter of fighting our way in.”
“Tom, I
need you here. Keep the ship out of sight and have an escape route ready
to go as soon as we’re back on board. Chakotay, you’re on tactical.
Doctor, get your med station set up, she’s going to need it. Tuvok,
B’Elanna, you’re with me. Let’s do it.”
Chakotay
stepped away from his station and looked at her grimly. “I’m going with
you.”
Janeway
froze. Slowly, she turned to look him in the eyes. “You’re staying
here. I need you on tactical.”
“I don’t
give a damn what you need. You don’t give me orders anymore and I
am telling you, I’m going down to that base whether you like it or not.”
She walked
towards him, stopping a foot from where he stood. Her voice was low,
deadly. “This is not about your ego, Chakotay. This is not about
assuaging your guilt over whatever happened between you and Seven. This
is about getting her back. Those… whatever they are, down there are
planning to dissect her, to take her apart and use her like some kind of a
blueprint for a war machine. I am not going to let that happen and I am
certainly not going to waste whatever precious time we have left to save her by
standing here and arguing with you. You WILL stay at tactical, or
you WILL be confined to your quarters for the rest of this mission and
if you think I can’t do it, then you go ahead and try me…. Please.”
Chakotay
stared into her eyes for a few moments longer before he blinked and dropped
them to the floor. “You just want to be the one riding in on the white
horse.”
Janeway
eyed him with disdain. “And you’re the one making yourself look like a
part of that horse’s anatomy.” She turned to Tuvok and B’Elanna.
“Let’s go.”
The three
of them went to the storage lockers, pulling out short phaser rifles and combat
daggers, as well as hand phasers and explosive charges, all of which they
attached to the harnesses they had strapped across their chests. B’Elanna
grabbed the long, thin case which held the transport enhancers and they returned
to the bridge.
“Three to
beam down, Mr. Paris. Energize.”
They
rematerialized on the surface, taking several moments to assess their
surroundings before running towards the nearest building. Tuvok held his
hand out flat and all three of them hit the ground as a lone Mark guard came
around the corner, walking slowly across outer perimeter. He signaled to
them to remain still as he crept up behind him, staying low to the ground and
hidden by the shadows. Quietly, he jumped to his feet and wrapped his hands
around the guard’s head, grabbing him by the tusks. Tuvok jerked forcibly to
the right. A distinct crack and a low grunt was the only sound as the
body slumped lifelessly from his grasp.
Tuvok held
his hand out in a fist and they scrambled to his side. Janeway set a
charge at the base of the building and they moved on. In the alleyway
between them and the next building, two guards stood, talking quietly to each
other. B’Elanna grabbed up her phaser rifle but the Captain put her hand
on it pushing it down and shaking her head. The Klingon understood.
It would make too much noise. Instead, she looked around at the
ground. Finding a large rock she picked it up as Tuvok and Janeway pulled
the daggers from their vests. She threw it away from them, across the
alleyway where it thudded loudly. The guards ran around the corner, their
weapons drawn and the three of them moved forward silently. Catching them
by surprised, the cold steel of their weapons sliced cleaning through thick,
muscled necks, sending twin sprays of blood up against the wall. They
caught the bodies and lowered them gently to the ground. B’Elanna set her
charge quickly and they kept moving.
The third
building was unguarded, but there was the distinct sound of many voices
emanating from inside. It was either a meeting hall or a mess
hall. Not wasting time, they set the third charge and headed
for the last building between themselves and their target. As they moved
around the corner, they came face to face with one of the creatures. It
grunted in surprise and Janeway pressed the muzzle of her rifle into its
midsection, using its own body to muffle the sound of the blast.
B’Elanna
raised her eyebrows and gave her a look of respect. They set the last
charge and moved further up the wall. Peering around the corner, Janeway
counted no less than twenty guards milling about the courtyard. She
pulled the remote detonator from her vest and held it up. The other two
nodded and she pressed the button.
They heard
the charges begin to detonate behind them and a restrained chaos ensued as the
security details left their posts, running for the damaged buildings as they
spun in circles, watching all sides for signs of the invading force.
The Captain
led the three of them up to the main doors. Pushing it open, she was
rushed by two huge guards who had been waiting just inside. B’Elanna was
knocked to the floor as one of them grabbed Janeway around the throat, lifting
her up off the ground as he began to squeeze the life out of her. She felt
her bones begin to crack and quickly grabbed her dagger, slicing it through the
tendons in his wrist until he dropped her. The creature cried out in pain
and she silenced him by sinking the blade into the soft flesh below its
jaw. Glancing back, she saw the other creature had Tuvok in a bear hug,
trying to break his back with the strong arms wrapped around his waist.
B’Elanna scrambled up and slid her blade in between the plates of his
armor. Stepping back, she kicked out with all her strength, burying the
blade completely into the creature’s chest. It gurgled quietly as blood
filled its lungs and let go of the Vulcan, thudding backwards heavily onto the
floor.
Tuvok took
in large gulps of air as B’Elanna pulled out a tricorder and scanned the area
for Seven’s bio signature.
“That way.”
She pointed up the hall to the left.
They crept
slowly towards the source of the signal, watching for any sign of movement from
the hallways that branched off. Bursting through the medbay doors in
unison, all three of them brought their rifles up, intending to cut down Kiir,
who was standing over Seven’s unconscious body with a scalpel in his
hand. The large creature was more agile than its body size would seem to
permit however and it rolled quickly to the side, jumping to its feet to rush
towards them. It raised its arm and brought the scalpel slashing down
across the Klingon’s chest. B’Elanna bent her torso backwards, escaping
the full force of the blow but sustaining a long, wicked looking gash from her
shoulder to the bottom of her ribcage as the sharp implement sliced through her
vest like it was tissue paper.
Tuvok
grabbed its wrist and pulled the creature away, only to grunt in pain as a
large, meaty hand closed on one of his ears. The creature pulled hard and
the top of his ear tore away to hang limply to one side. The green blood was
slick and Kiir’s hand lost its grip. Using the opening, Tuvok pulled a
grenade from his vest. He tapped the top of it quickly, setting it to
auto detonate and shoved it beneath the creatures armor, using one power kick
to propel the larger mass away from him. The charge went off, spraying
them all with small bits of matter and bone.
“So much
for being quiet.” B’Elanna remarked. “Help me with
this.” All three of them grabbed hold of a large shelving unit and slid
it in front of the med bay doors.
Janeway
slung her rifle across her back and ran to Seven’s side, feeling her neck for a
pulse while B’Elanna picked up the case that had fallen to the floor during the
skirmish. Flipping it open, she quickly pulled out the signal enhancers,
handing one to Tuvok and placing the other two into position herself.
“Captain?”
“She’s
alive… barely.”
“Glad to
hear it. Now we gotta get out of here!” She grabbed the
communicator from her belt. “NOW TOM!”
They turned
as the shelving unit came crashing down and the doors flew open, admitting a
multitude of The Mark, all of them armed to the teeth. Janeway closed her
eyes as they began to fire, feeling a warmth spread through her side as the
familiar tingle of the transporter scrambled her atoms, and then she felt
nothing.
*
*
* *
*
*
* *
*
“Captain!”
She slowly
opened her eyes, aware that she was lying on the floor next to Seven.
There was a horrendous pain in her abdomen.
“Do we have
them?” Tom shouted.
“All here
and accounted for. Get us out of here, Tom!” B’Elanna called back
before she rushed for the bridge.
“I’m on
it!”
Janeway
tried to stand, only to be pushed back down by the Doctor. “Lie
still.” He hissed. “You have a damaged larynx and you took a phaser
shot to your side.”
“Don’t
worry about me. Take care of Seven!” She rasped.
“I intend
to take care of you both.” He injected her with a hypospray and then used
a deep tissue regenerator to repair the damage to her throat and organs, then a
bone knitter to reconnect the ribs that had separated on impact. Finally
he shot her full of antibiotics and pain suppressors. “Now, you can get
up. I need you and Tuvok to help me get Seven to her alcove.”
The three
of them lifted the still unconscious Borg and carried her bodily to Janeway’s
cabin. Once there, they leaned her up until her nodes connected and the
alcove began to hum. The Captain looked at her longingly, taking in the
overly pale complexion, feeling it like a blow to her midsection.
“Doctor?” She whispered.
“Get up to
the bridge.” He said, not unkindly. “You can’t do anything here and
from what I understand, your going to be needed there to make sure we still get
out of this in one piece.”
She glanced
at Seven one last time and then sprinted for the bridge. “Report!”
She snapped as soon as she arrived.
“We’ve got
three Mark warships hot on our tail.” Tom’s hands were flying across the
controls, maneuvering the transport wildly to avoid the phaser shots that were
arcing all around them. “Tuvok, get on tactical! Target their
weapon arrays and fire!”
Their
phasers cut through the space between them and their pursuers, slamming into
their shields with no affect.
“Their
shields are holding, Captain!”
“I’ve got
an idea.” Tom called out. “I recommend you hang onto something!”
He pulled
the ship’s nose upwards and hit the thrusters, sending the Venture into a tall
loop. When they came down on the other side they were in between the two
rear ships. One of the ships fired on them and he reversed thrusters
quickly. The Venture shuddered as it came to a stop momentarily, shaking
its occupants like rag dolls. The phaser beam missed them, cutting
through the shields of their own ship easily. The damaged Mark vessel
listed slowly to the side, on fire and disabled.
“Arm photon
torpedoes! Full spread! Fire!”
She watched
as two of the torpedoes hit their mark, tearing the hull of the aft ship
efficiently.
“Target the
opening and fire!” Janeway barked.
The phaser
beam tore into the hull breach and the Mark vessel was sent spinning away from
them, tumbling end over end.
That left
only the vessel directly ahead of them. It was trying to come about but
its size made its movements slow and unwieldy.
“Torpedoes,
phasers! Hit them with everything we’ve got, now!”
The full force
of three photon torpedoes was more than the ship could handle. The side
of the vessel split open and Tuvok blasted into the opening causing their
engine core to overload. Janeway watched with grim satisfaction as the
warship exploded, spewing wreckage out into space.
“Get us out
of here, Tom!” She held on to the rail, trying to keep herself
erect.
“Warp
engines are offline!” He engaged the thrusters and moved them away as
fast as he could.
She took a
deep breath. “Report.”
“The other
two ships are disabled and are not pursuing.” Tuvok said calmly.
“However, I do not believe that will be the last we will see of them. It
is imperative that we find a safe harbor to repair our warp engines before they
return.”
“Agreed.
Any suggestions?”
“There’s an
asteroid field a hundred thousand kilometers to port.” Chakotay finally spoke
up. “Several of the asteroids are porous, with openings large enough to
hide the ship. There are faint traces of thoron radiation. If we
power down all non-essential systems, it should mask our signature long enough
to make repairs.”
“Do
it.” She lowered herself into her seat, holding her side and breathing
heavily. “Nice move, Tom. We’re going to have to put that one in
the manual.”
Tom grinned
at her as he flew them into the asteroid belt, finding a large chunk of rock
with an opening hidden in the bottom. He settled the Venture carefully
before cutting the power. “We’re down.”
Janeway
nodded. “B’Elanna, get busy on those engines. Tuvok, check our
shields and put out a repeating distress signal to any Federation ships in the
area. Chakotay, do a thorough once over on our weapon systems. If
we have to fight our way out of this asteroid field I don’t want to run into
any surprises. What’s the time frame on repairs?”
“The damage
is extensive.” Tuvok replied. “Twelve hours minimum.”
Janeway
nodded. “Tom…” She started to sway slightly as the pain began to
over power the medication the Doctor had given her.
“Captain!”
Tom jumped to her side and steadied her. “Why don’t you go and
rest. We’ve got this.”
She started
to argue but another wave of pain hit her, leaving her feeling nauseous.
“We’ve got
this.” Tom repeated. “Go. Seven needs you.”
Janeway
looked at him sharply before nodding. “I recommend that you do not play
that card too often, Mr. Paris.”
“Wouldn’t
dream of it ma’am.” He grinned at her look of surprise. “I believe
this would qualify as ‘crunch time’.”
Janeway
laughed softly as she headed off the bridge, aware of the angry gaze that was
leveled at her from Chakotay’s station. She did not look back.
*
*
* *
*
*
* *
*
The Captain
limped into her quarters, not stopping until she entered the bedroom where she
found the Doctor sitting quietly on her bed, staring up at Seven.
“Doctor?”
She tried to keep the fear from her voice but knew she had failed.
He turned
to face her. “I’ve stabilized her vital signs and repaired the damage
done to her body. She needs to regenerate for at least eight hours and
then take it easy for a few days, but she’s going to be all right.”
Janeway
felt the tension leave her body and with it, most of her strength. The
Doctor grabbed her arm and helped her to the bed. He went to her closet
and pulled out a nightgown, laying it across her lap. “I recommend that
you also regenerate for at least eight hours.” He smiled. “Can I
get you anything before I go check on the rest of our merry band of pirates?”
“Whiskey.”
“I don’t
think so.” He went to replicator and came back with a pitcher of water
and a glass. “Drink as much of this as you can. Your body needs
it. I’ll leave a hypospray for the pain if it gets bad. Sleep well,
Captain.”
“Doctor?”
He turned
back to look at her.
“Call me
Kathryn.” She smiled weakly.
“Sleep
well…Kathryn.”
When he had
gone, she set the security seal on her door and changed into her nightgown
before passing out.
She awoke several
hours later feeling as though she had swallowed broken glass. Grabbing
the hypospray from the table next to the bed, she pressed it to her neck and
grimaced as the medicine hissed into her bloodstream. The pain subsided
almost immediately. Sighing, she leaned back against the headboard and
gazed over at Seven.
The Borg
still looked pale, her body seemed much thinner than it should be and her hands
trembled slightly, but she was alive. Alive and so very, very
beautiful. Smiling, Janeway propped a pillow behind her back and engaged
in her most secret and pleasurable vice.
Watching
Seven regenerate.
*
*
* *
*
*
* *
*
“Regeneration
cycle complete.”
Seven
opened her eyes, a small smile curling the edges of her mouth when she saw the
Captain watching her from a reclined position on the bed. “Kathryn.
You came for me. They said you would not. But you are here…
watching me.”
Janeway
flushed. “Yes I am. I’m sorry. Quarters are limited on The
Venture. It was either install your alcove here, or in Chakotay’s cabin.”
“Do not be
sorry.” Seven stepped down from the dais slowly, lowering herself
carefully onto the edge of the mattress. “One of the things I missed the
most about being on Voyager was you watching over me while I regenerated.”
The
Captain’s eyes went wide in shock. “You knew?”
“Yes, I
always knew.”
“I’m so
sorry, Seven. I didn’t mean to invade your privacy.”
“You did
not invade my privacy.” The Borg assured her. “I found that having
you watch over me was… comforting.”
Nonplussed,
Janeway nodded slowly, trying to find some way to categorize this new piece of
information and failing miserably. “How do you feel?”
Seven leaned
her head to one side and thought about the question. “I am functioning
reasonably well considering what has transpired. I feel weary, but that
will pass.”
Reaching
out to touch Seven’s arm, Janeway asked. “Will you tell me what
happened?”
Seven took
in her tousled appearance, the adorable way her hair stuck up slightly in the
back then she glanced around at the unmade bed and the small hand on her
arm. A slight blush crept into her cheeks. “Yes. But not
here.”
The older
woman nodded. Standing, she pulled a robe over her nightgown and took
Seven by the hand, leading her to the couch. She then went to the
replicator. “Whiskey and soda.” She ordered. “Can I get you
anything?”
The Borg
thought about it for a moment. “Yes please, something with alcohol in it,
to help me relax.”
Janeway’s
eyebrows rose at the request but she ordered her a glass of white wine and then
joined her on the couch. “Tell me what happened. Why did you leave
Chakotay?”
Seven
sighed softly, sipping her wine. “Our relationship was agreeable at
first. His attention was very comfortable. His concern for my well
being was sincere and his tentative touches pleasant. But as time passed,
I found myself no more willing to give in to his advances than I had been upon
our initial involvement. I thought that my feelings would grow over time,
that they would mature in a way that would allow me to accept him as a sexual
partner. But that did not happen. After a while, his touch began to
irritate me. His unceasing pursuit of me for copulation and marriage
began to try my patience.”
“Why?”
The young
woman looked at her, slightly embarrassed. “It was his hands.”
“His
hands?”
Seven
nodded. “They are too large, too rough. Before Chakotay the
only other person that had ever touched me… was you. His touch was so
unlike yours. It made me feel as though I was being restrained…
trapped. His fingers would wander across my body uninvited and my
irritation turned to revulsion. He saw it too, recognized when my
feelings changed, and he became angry. We fought all the time, throwing
words back and forth at each other for no other reason than to cause pain, our
comments becoming more acrimonious and heated until finally, he said something
so callous that I could not allow it to pass unchallenged.”
“What did
he say?” Janeway pressed, her voice dangerously low, feeling her ire rise
at the way Seven had been treated.
“He said
that he knew why I would not allow him to make love to me. He said he was
aware of the unnatural hold you had over me. That it was unhealthy
and obsessive.”
The Captain
swallowed back the bile in her throat.
“He said
that I was being foolish, romanticizing you like some lovesick cadet.
That I was just a project to keep you busy while we were lost in the
Delta Quadrant. That you had never loved me and you never would.
That I was just some trophy you wanted on your arm… and that I would never be
more to you than the ‘Captain’s whore.’” She took a large drink from her
glass, flushing slightly. “I told him that I would rather be your whore
than his wife. That was when he struck me.”
Janeway
jumped to her feet, her temper flashing beyond her control. “HE DID
WHAT?”
“Sit down,
Kathryn.” She said softly, waiting as she slowly complied before
continuing. “He struck me with the flat of his palm against my
cheek. As soon as he realized what he had done, his tone changed.
He became apologetic, he said that he was horrified that he had done such a thing.
But as I stood there, feeling the sting his hand had left on my skin, I knew
that any fondness I had felt for him was lost. I told him I needed some
time alone and he acquiesced. Once I knew that he had gone, I gathered my
things. I went to the closest space port and bought a small
shuttle. I knew it was not large enough to get me all the way back to
Earth in one trip, but I thought that I could stop at Mars along the way to
refuel. That was where members of The Mark were waiting for me.
They must have been following my movements for a very long time. They
took me outside of a shop on the main bazaar. There were too many of them
to fight, I knew that I would sustain too much damage if I tried. So I
went with them, assuming that I could bide my time and find a way to
escape. They took me to Lirnis Two, where I remained until you came for
me.”
“I’m so
sorry, Seven.” She moved closer to the Borg and wrapped her arms around
her in a tight, protective embrace. “I wish you had contacted me. I
would have sent an escort for you.”
“There is
nothing for you to be sorry for. I made a rash decision. My only
thought was to be gone before he returned. I meant to contact you once I
had arrived on Mars, but I was taken before I could send you a message.”
Pulling back
to look at her closely, Janeway asked, “Why didn’t you tell me things had
gotten so bad for you with Chakotay?”
Seven
looked at her for a long time before speaking. “I wanted to know that you
truly wanted me with you. I did not want to feel as though you were only
trying to protect me. When I told you of my decision to return with him
to his home world, you appeared happy. I thought it was what you wanted
for me.”
“Oh, Seven,
for that I am truly, deeply sorry. I wanted to tell you not to go… to ask
you to come with me but I thought you had made your choice and I didn’t want to
make it any harder on you.”
“So we are
back to discussing the things that you never said?”
Janeway
blinked, startled by the quick change of topic. “I guess we are.”
Seven
gazed
directly into the Captain’s eyes, pinning her with a look of such
longing that her chest constricted painfully. “Tell me what
else you never said.”
Janeway
laughed nervously and looked around the
small cramped quarters. “This isn’t exactly the place I had
in mind to have this conversation.”
“Perhaps
not, but I think we have both waited long enough to hear it.” She placed
her hand against Janeway’s cheek. “What am I to you, Kathryn?”
The older
woman leaned into her touch. “Everything.” She breathed.
Seven
closed the space between them, bringing her lips to Janeway’s in a slow, gentle
kiss that made the hair on her arms stand up. It was tentative at first,
light featherlike touches that deepened as she opened her mouth, allowing the
Captain’s tongue to slide inside and play gently with her own. When she
pulled away, they both sat silently for several moments, looking at each other
with mildly stunned expressions on their faces,
“Oh
my.” Was all Janeway could say.
“I
concur.” Seven said softly, leaning in for another kiss.
“
The Captain
groaned. She placed her fingers against Seven’s mouth, holding her
still. “Go ahead.”
“I think
you’d better come up here.”
Janeway
sighed heavily. “On my way.” She leaned forward and gave Seven a
brief kiss. “To be continued.”
The Borg
smiled at her. It was a gloriously sensual smile that made the older
woman want to climb onto her lap and finish what they had started, everything
else be damned. Grumbling to herself, she changed her clothes and rushed
for the door. “Stay here. You need to rest. Try to eat
something if you can.”
“Yes,
Kathryn.”
With a
growl of frustration, she ran out the door.
Chapter
Four: A Good Day To Die
“Report!”
She barked as she walked onto the bridge.
Tuvok
turned to her. “We have six Mark warships on long range sensors.”
“Time to
intercept?”
“Two
hours.”
She cursed
quietly under her breath. “B’Elanna. How are we doing on repairs?”
“I’m working
on it, Captain.”
“You have
ninety minutes.” She bit the inside of her cheek as she heard the Klingon
say something vaguely obscene. “What was that?”
“Uh,
nothing, Captain. Ninety minutes, gotcha.”
“Tom,”
Janeway went to stand beside him. “Any ideas on a way out of this?”
“Without
warp?” He scanned the area. “No class M planets, no inhabitable
moons except Lirnis Two and I don’t think anyone wants to go back there.
It’s no wonder they picked this area for their base. There’s no place for
anyone else to hide.”
The Captain
nodded. “Tuvok. How many torpedoes do we have left?”
“Five,
Captain.”
She
frowned. “That’s not going to get us very far. Any way to
strengthen the phasers? Any ideas on how to cut through their shields?”
“We can try
setting the phaser banks on a rotating modulation until we hit on one that
actually works.” The Vulcan suggested.
“Do
it.” She looked over at Chakotay who had remained silent. “How
about you? Any thoughts?”
“It’s your
show, Captain.” He said sullenly. “I’m just waiting for orders.”
She didn’t
roll her eyes, but it was a very close thing.
“Hey!”
B’Elanna called from down below. “I could use a phase spanner and a
little help.”
“On my
way.” Janeway headed to the aft of the ship to grab the spanner, aware
instantly that Chakotay had fallen into step behind her.
“I want to
see her.”
She did not
stop walking. “No.”
He reached
out and grabbed her arm, spinning her around. “You can’t keep her locked
up in your cabin! I have the right to see her!”
Janeway
moved towards him, the anger in her features such a palpable force that he took
an involuntary step back, colliding with the bulkhead behind him. She
stared at him with eyes full of fury. “I don’t give a damn what you think
your rights are. You forfeited any you might have had when you laid your
hands on her in anger.”
Chakotay
paled visibly. “I need to explain to her…”
“Explain
what?” She gave her anger free reign. “That the man who was
supposed to love her, protect her, and cherish her could allow himself to cause
her harm? That a little anger and frustration is all it takes to make you
lose control? I don’t know what happened to you Chakotay. Something
inside you changed the last year we were out there. I once thought of you
as a friend… my best friend, my trusted advisor. But somewhere along the
way you turned into something else, someone else. You disobeyed orders,
you spread dissension; you went against the chain of command that you had sworn
to uphold. And now this. Where is the gentle, spiritual man I used
to know? Did he die out there in the Delta Quadrant? Because he
certainly isn’t here now.”
Turning her
back on him, Janeway grabbed up the spanner and headed to the engine
room. When she got there, she crawled down on the floor next to B’Elanna
and helped her remove a fused relay.
“Do you
think that did any good?” The Klingon whispered.
“Damn small
ship.”
“I didn’t
mean to listen in. But you have the kind of voice that carries, Captain,
even in a whisper.” She turned her head to look at her commanding
officer. “For what it’s worth, I agree with you. He stopped being
someone I recognized a long time ago.”
They worked
in silence, both of them doing their best, but as the minutes ticked away, she
knew they would never finish in time.
“C’mon.”
She patted the Klingon on the arm.
They both
returned to the bridge. Janeway shook her head at Tuvok’s questioning
glance. “We’re going to have to do this the hard way. Power us up,
Tom. Shields to maximum.”
The
helmsman guided the transport out of the asteroid field and back into open
space. All of them stood and watched as the six warships appeared on
screen.
“Evasive
pattern delta, Mr. Paris. All hands to battle stations.” They each
took up their positions and waited.
The doors
to the bridge slid open and Janeway turned in surprise to see Seven walk
in. She was dressed in her blue biosuit. “You should be
resting.” She growled.
“I am
needed here, Captain.” Not waiting for her to answer, the Borg took her
station at the sensor console.
The Captain
shook her head but there was no more time for debate as the lead warship began
to fire, one of the phaser beams striking them hard across the nose.
“Shields
down to eighty two percent.” Tuvok commented.
“Target
their weapons. Return fire!”
Their
phasers shot out short, controlled bursts, flipping through various
configurations before one sliced through the enemies shields, causing an
explosion along their outer hull.
“That’s the
one!” Janeway leaned forward.
They traded
fire back and forth as the Venture dodged between the ships. Tom tried
every evasive pattern he knew, keeping just seconds ahead of the Mark’s
targeting computers. Finally, his luck ran out as another beam intersected
with their port nacelle.
“Direct
hit.” Tuvok’s hands glided over his controls. “Shields down to
fifty one percent.”
“Tom, get
us in between the two ships to port. Tuvok, can you slice a hole big
enough for us to get two torpedoes through it?”
“I will
try.”
As the
warship closed in on them, he released a long phaser pulse. Their hull
ruptured and he launched twin torpedoes directly into the opening.
“Get us out
from between them, Tom!”
The helmsman
gunned the thrusters, pushing the transport through the opening as the side of
the warship blew outwards. It lurched violently, directly into the path
of the second ship. They both crumpled, exploding brilliantly across the
space behind them.
“Two down,
three to go.” Janeway gritted her teeth as Tom spun the ship
around. The other warships had already come about and one of them hit
them head on with a torpedo. The Venture swayed sluggishly to one side.
“Shields
are down, Captain!” Tuvok jumped away from his console as it blew
outward, showering the back wall with hunks of metal and sparks.
“Impulse
engines and thrusters are offline.” Tom shouted over the noise.
“Sensors
are down as well, Captain.” Seven looked up, watching as the three remaining
warships fanned out to circle them. “They are hailing.”
“Onscreen.”
Janeway said quietly.
One of the
Mark appeared. “You’re weapons and shields have been destroyed. You
will prepare to be boarded.” He cut communication.
Seven
stepped down from her station and came to stand behind Kathryn. Silently
she took her hand.
Janeway
linked her fingers with Seven’s and looked over at Tom. She nodded once.
He looked
back at his wife, giving her a tender smile before turning his attention back
to his console. “Initiating self destruct sequence.”
“Well,”
B’Elanna said quietly. “Looks like today-“
Janeway cut
her off. “Don’t say it, Lieutenant.”
Suddenly, a
spread of six photon torpedoes sped past them; they connected with the lead
Mark ship and it exploded, rocking them violently to one side. Twin
phaser beams cut through the air, connecting with the remaining two
ships. The strength of the lasers cut easily through the hulls,
depressurizing them, causing them to implode.
Janeway blinked
in confusion. “What the hell?”
She felt a
huge presence pass over them, the sound of the engines loud in the
silence. A moment later, a large saucer shape appeared on the view screen
and she read the call numbers emblazoned on its side as her shoulders slumped
in relief. NCC-1701-D.
The USS
Enterprise hung in front of them like some beautiful jewel.
“They are
hailing.” Tuvok said quietly.
“On
screen.”
Janeway
smiled crookedly as the bridge of the
“Admiral.”
Picard nodded. “You’re a long way from Starfleet Headquarters. Last
I heard you took a desk job.”
She
smiled. “This isn’t exactly a Starfleet Mission, Jean Luc. A member
of our family ended up lost out here. We just came to collect her.”
He glanced
at Seven, who was still standing behind her holding her hand and smiled.
“It seems you have.”
“With a
little help from you. I don’t know how to thank you. You have
impeccable timing.”
“From the
condition of your ship I would say my timing could have been a little
better.” The enigmatic man grinned. “As for how to thank me, I am
fairly certain a bottle of Hennessey Ellipse would do the trick.”
The Captain
swallowed, thinking of the prized bottle her father had left her which she kept
hidden in her
“Good.”
Picard sat back. “We can crack it open and you can tell me all about your
little adventure. I’m also looking forward to hearing all the stories of
your trip through the Delta Quadrant. All those fascinating details that
Starfleet likes to keep to themselves.”
“Of
course.”
“Very well then,
as your ship is too large to tractor aboard, I will assume you would like us to
maintain position here while you handle repairs. Let us know when you’re
ready and we’ll escort you back to Earth.”
“Sounds
good to me. Janeway out.”
The screen
went dark and she slid into her chair, smiling at the people around her.
“You have
more luck than any single person should be entitled to.” B’Elanna
mumbled.
“I
concur.” Seven squeezed her hand one last time and went to check the
sensor array.
Janeway
went to stand beside Tom. “How bad is it?”
“Pretty
bad. Dad’s gonna have a fit.”
She
laughed, but it was cut short by the heated words behind her. She turned
to see the Chakotay had taken Seven by the arms and was trying to talk to her.
“Remove
your hands from me.” Seven said calmly.
She stepped
forward to intercede but Tom grabbed her arm and held her still. “They
have to settle it.” He said quietly.
Chakotay
tightened his grip, keeping her from moving away.
“I said
remove your hands from me. I will not tell you again.”
“Seven, you
have to let me explain. You owe me that much.”
The Borg’s
eyes went even colder, turning into hard bits of blue glass as she stared at
him in distaste. “There is only one thing that I ‘owe’ you.”
Janeway
realized her intent a moment too late. She could only watch as Seven
pulled back her Borg enhanced left arm and swung on him. It was a powerful
roundhouse punch that connected solidly with Chakotay’s cheek. The force
of it propelled him backwards where he slammed into the tactical display before
sliding slowly to the ground.
The Doctor
rushed to his side. Pulling out a medical tricorder, he passed it over
the prone man’s body. “Crushed cheekbone, dislocated jaw, medium
concussion.” He sighed and closed the instrument. “Tuvok, Tom,
could you help me carry Mr. Chakotay to his cabin?”
They went
to help him as Janeway approached Seven, who was standing gracefully, shaking
her hand to loosen the stiffness. She took the hand in her own; checking
to make sure nothing was broken. “Seven,” She said quietly. “I
don’t think that was very helpful.”
The Borg
looked at her, one eyebrow raised. “Perhaps not, but it was enjoyable.”
The Captain
sighed. “Go back to my quarters and wait for me there. Try and
rest. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Seven
nodded and left the bridge as Janeway followed the others to Chakotay’s
cabin. They had him laid out on the bed as the Doctor worked on him.
“Is he
going to be all right?”
“Hmm?
Oh yes, he’ll be fine.” He repaired the broken cheekbone and reset the
jaw before working on the bruise to the back of his head. “He’ll have a
headache for a few hours, but he should count himself lucky. Seven has
quite a left hook!” He pressed a hypospray to Chakotay’s neck and the man
woke, looking around groggily.
“What
happened?”
“I
believe,” The Captain grabbed his arm and pulled him into a sitting
position. “That Seven has heard your position on this subject and
informed you of her own.”
His eyes
grew hard. “I want to bring her up on charges.”
“With
who?” She gave him a crooked smile. “This isn’t a Starfleet mission
and neither you nor Seven are members of my crew.”
“Then I’ll
file charges with the civilian police!” He blustered.
“For
what?” The Doctor smiled at him. “You’re as healthy as a horse’s
ass. Can’t find a single thing wrong with you.” He patted the man
on the back and then moved away, humming under his breath.
“I think it
would be best if you remained in your cabin for the rest of the trip,
Chakotay. Get some rest.”
She nodded
to the other two and they left. Outside, Tuvok encrypted his door lock,
preventing him from leaving.
Back on the
bridge, she was informed that it would take at least four hours of repairs
before they were again flight ready. But with the large starship watching
over them, it didn’t concern her all that much.
“I’ll be in
my Quarters. Inform me when we’re good to go.” She stopped and
smiled at her crew. “Thank you all.”
She headed
down the corridor, wondering what she was going to say to Seven about her
behavior, but as she keyed the door and entered, all her thoughts of
chastisement fled.
Seven of
Nine was stretched out on the couch, her neck and shoulders propped up on a
pillow, her white gold mane hanging gently around her face. She was
wearing a white silk pajama top and nothing else, her long golden legs
stretched out before her.
Janeway
felt her mouth go dry and her palms get moist as Seven raised one eyebrow and
smiled at her, sliding her legs apart slightly. She pulled her sweater
and bra over her head before kicking off her boots and sliding off her trousers
and briefs. Naked, she joined Seven on the couch, sliding one knee
between her legs and moving it up until it was nestled between the Borg’s
thighs. She then placed her hands on either side of Seven’s abdomen as
she leaned in and kissed her, hard.
The Borg’s
hands tangled into her auburn locks, pulling her head down, matching Janeway’s
passion with her own. The kiss went on for several minutes as tongues
tangled and teeth nipped playfully.
The Captain
moaned slightly when she realized that Seven’s hips had begun to move, sliding
her sex up and down her thigh. At first it was a smooth, soft friction,
then she felt a warm, wet trail being left in its wake and she growled,
pressing into her firmly.
Seven
groaned into her lips, her breath coming in short pants. She closed her
eyes and whispered, “Put your hands on me, Kathryn.”
Janeway sat
back slightly. Starting at the bottom, she slowly opened the shirt one
button at a time, watching as the Borg shivered in anticipation. She
finally opened the shirt fully, pushing it to the side as she laid her hands
on the younger woman’s smooth, flat stomach.
Seven shook
at the touch, the feeling of those long elegant fingers stroking at her skin.
The older
woman smiled, allowing her fingers to gently crawl up her lover’s abdomen,
feeling the soft metal of her implant under her fingers until her hands rose
high enough to cup the full, heaving breasts.
Seven
arched her back, pushing up into her as Kathryn sucked on her neck, biting it
gently, her fingers finding their way to rosy nipples that were already swollen
and hard.
“Oh,
Kathryn, yes!” Seven moaned. “Touch me…”
The Captain
smiled, replacing one of her hands with her mouth, drawing the nipple in to
roll her tongue around it, biting down on it gently as the Borg whimpered
uncontrollably. Her free hand caressed Seven’s side until the younger
woman reached out and grabbed it, guiding it down across her body to bury it
between her legs.
Now it was
Janeway’s turn to groan as her fingers were coated with warm wetness. She
played in the moisture, flicking her fingers across the engorged nub of flesh
at the top of her cleft before sliding her fingers inside.
Seven
went rigid for a moment, and then she began to move, undulating her hips to
keep time with the older woman’s thrusts, pushing down hard to draw the fingers
further within herself.
The scent
of Seven’s arousal reached her and Janeway felt her mouth begin to water.
Releasing the nipple between her lips, she kissed her way down the glorious
body beneath her to bury her nose in the soft downy curls. The taste of
Seven was incredible, an intoxicating musk that filled her senses and drove all
rational thoughts from her head. She sucked on the engorged nub with
abandon, grazing it lightly with her teeth as the younger woman whimpered and cooed
above her.
“Don’t stop
touching me… please.” Seven whispered and Janeway brought her free hand
back to the Borg’s aching nipples, moving from one to the other while running
her fingers across the skin in between them.
The young
woman began to buck beneath her, incoherent sounds escaping from her throat as
her pleasure intensified, becoming a jagged electric spike that shot out from
between her legs and crashed hard along her spine. “KATHRYN!” She
called out loudly as the wave of pleasure broke and she collapsed back against
the couch breathing heavily.
Janeway was
too far gone to allow her time to recover. She slid up the firm body
beneath her to straddle her waist, rubbing herself against the bands of metal
wrapped around the Borg’s midsection. The feel of the hard metal
alternating with soft flesh drove her crazy and she began to push harder,
riding Seven with abandon. When the young woman’s hands came up to first
cup her breasts and then close on her nipples with firm fingers she began to
moan, loudly. As her body began to spasm, Seven slid her arms down to cup
the older woman’s buttocks, using them to pull the smaller woman more firmly
against herself. Janeway shuddered as her orgasm broke and liquid fire
coursed along her nerve endings. “Oh my god, SEVEN!” She screamed,
her voice breaking.
Finally she
fell forward, spent and limp into the welcoming arms of her lover.
She lay
quietly, noting the slowing movements of the soft breasts beneath her as Seven
got her breathing under control.
The Borg
reached down and took one of her hands, tracing the fingers with her own before
linking them together, even as she continued to rub the center of Janeway’s
palm with her thumb.
The Captain
laughed softly.
“Something
amuses you?” Seven asked.
Janeway
looked up at her adoringly. “I think you have a hand fetish.”
“Fetish?”
The Borg raised one eyebrow.
“A sexual
fascination with hands.”
“You are
mistaken, Kathryn,” She smiled. “Not with hands. With your
hands. I can recall every time you touched me with these hands. The
way the feel of them would burn through my biosuit. The way I longed to
have them travel across my chest, to tangle in my hair… So soft, so
delicate, your long elegant fingers brushing lightly over my skin… I
would sit at the other end of the table during staff meetings and imagine how
it would feel to slide them into my mouth, to suck on them, to run my tongue
over them…”
“Oh my,”
Janeway swallowed, feeling desire stir within her again.
“I wanted
to feel you touch me every where.” Seven grinned at her wickedly.
“I still do.”
“Really?”
She returned the smile with one of her own. Rising to her knees she
looked down at the Borg. “Lay on your stomach.”
Seven’s
eyes widened but she crawled to her knees to comply. When she turned
away, Janeway pushed her forward until she was on all fours, her arms and chest
resting against the arm of the couch. Kneeling behind her, she leaned
heavily against her and began to scratch her nails down the Borg’s back in
long, smooth strokes. She did it softly at first, and then with
increasing pressure until she was leaving long red marks against the smooth
alabaster skin. Seven wiggled slightly in response and the feel of her
firm buttocks against Janeway’s groin proved more than she could stand.
Drawing her right hand back, she entered the Borg from behind, closing her eyes
at the feel of satin closing around her fingers, at the sound of startled
pleasure that escaped Seven’s lips. She closed her left hand on the
younger woman’s shoulder, pulling her backwards more forcefully to match her
thrusts. She let her thumb stray upward, to play at the puckered opening
of the woman’s other orifice and when the tip of it entered slightly she heard
a loud keening wail erupt from her lovers mouth. It rose in volume as she
increased her tempo until the Borg shook violently and then lay still.
Janeway
removed her fingers gently, laying her body across Seven’s back. They
rested that way for a few moments until the younger woman abruptly slid out
from beneath her and stood. In one, smooth motion she picked the Captain
up and carried her to the bedroom.
Seven laid
her out on the bed, crawling over her to hold herself up in all fours as she
kissed her passionately. She left her lips to trail down the Captain’s
neck, sucking at her pulse point hard enough to leave a red welt before moving
down to her breasts. She took one fat, hardened nipple into her mouth,
flicking it with her tongue, biting it gently. Then she moved to the
other and gave it the same loving attention. She left her lover’s breasts
with both reluctance and anticipation, sliding her lips down over the slightly
rounded tummy to nuzzle into the dark reddish curls between her legs.
Janeway’s
thighs fell open and she used her nose to part her folds, breathing in the
scent of her eagerly. When she touched the tip of her tongue to the
Captain’s clit, the older woman bucked slightly and Seven wrapped her arms
around her thighs, holding them firmly as she lowered her body onto the bed.
She closed
her eyes and suckled the small nub with rapt fascination, feeling Kathryn’s
fingers tighten almost painfully in her hair. She began to lap at her sex
with long strokes until she found a particularly sensitive spot. Then she
focused her attention there as her hand came up and she slid two fingers deep
inside, moaning slightly as wet velvet closed around them and tightened
convulsively. She thrust slowly at first, pulling her hand back until she
almost pulled out before gliding it back in. Each thrust was met by the
Captain’s hips which were undulating wildly under her touch. Speeding up
her movements, she heard the older woman begin to grunt softly at each downward
thrust and she sped up the tempo of her lips to match, a low vibration pulsing
through her vocal cords as she continued her ministrations.
Janeway
closed her eyes, losing herself in the passion boiling up within her.
Each movement of Seven’s fingers and tongue pushed her closer to the edge until
she was hanging on to the Borg’s head and shoulder as though her life depended
on it. When the young woman raised her other hand and closed her fingers
around a swollen, aching nipple, she cried out loudly, singing her passion to
the room around her as the pleasure washed over her. “SEVEN… SEVEN…OH
DEAR GOD…SEVEN!” Her body went rigid, her hands released their hold as
they began to tremble and for one brief moment she felt as though she were
floating in an ocean of sensation. Then the wave slowly passed and she
collapsed, tears flowing down her cheeks as Seven crawled up beside her and
wrapped her up in her arms.
“Shh…Kathryn.”
The Borg’s tongue caught the tears on her face and licked them away. “I
am here. I love you.”
“Oh,
Seven.” Janeway hugged the woman to her in a tight embrace. “I love
you so much.” Then she laughed.
The Borg
raised her head to look at her curiously.
“You hum
when you eat...”
“I most
certainly do not.” Seven protested.
“I’ll
record you sometime. You’ll see.”
They both
lay quietly after that, their desire spent, as Janeway trailed her fingers
lovingly across Seven’s back and shoulders.
“When did
you know?” The Borg asked quietly.
She didn’t
need to ask what she meant, but she did need to think for a moment. “I
believe it was right after the situation with the Omega molecule, when I found
you in the maestro’s chamber, staring up at his flying machine. I called
out to you and you turned to look down at me and I felt my heart swell. I
felt an emotion that was neither protective nor maternal course through me and
settle into my chest. I knew then that I loved you, more than anyone
else… ever.” She looked up at her beloved’s face. “When did you
know?”
Seven
didn’t hesitate. “On Arturis’ ship. When we were in the brig and
you were adjusting my ocular implant. You said ‘You belong with us.’ But
what I knew in that moment… was that I belonged with you.”
They
embraced tightly and stayed that way for the next several hours, trading
stories back and forth about all the times they almost said or did something to
show the other how they felt. Through it all, Janeway ran her hands
ceaselessly across Seven’s body, memorizing every angle and every curve of the
woman she loved so dearly.
“Tuvok
to Janeway.”
The Captain
sighed. “Go ahead.”
“Repairs
have been completed and we are ready to depart.”
“Very
well. Hail the
She took
Seven’s face between her palms and kissed her gently.
Together
they rose and showered, spending several breathless minutes playing joyfully in
the soap and water before drying off and getting dressed.
They walked
onto the bridge together. Seven moved to take the now unoccupied tactical
station as Janeway settled into the command chair.
“Report,
Mr. Paris?”
“All
systems are go, Captain.” His voice sounded somewhat strangled and she
noticed that his shoulders were shaking. She glanced back at Tuvok but
the Vulcan only raised one eyebrow in response and then shifted his attention
to the display before him. Finally she turned and looked at B’Elanna.
The Klingon
threw her a cheeky grin and laughed. “Damn small ship.”
Admiral
Kathryn Janeway blushed to the roots of her hair. Closing her eyes and
shaking her head slightly she turned back to the view screen. “Warp six,
Mr. Paris. Take us home.”
The End (Sorta)
