STAR TREK: VOYAGER

 

An Original J/7 Voyager Story

Ó2008 by Patricia L. Givens

Jadzia7627@msn.com

A Dirty Pair Valentines 2008

 

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. 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 #2:            This story does depict romantic relationships between members of the same sex.  Some of them are sweet, some are silly, and some will leave you wondering what kind of mushrooms I had in my salad last night.  Only the ones with a certain Captain and her Borg will be graphic (probably…  Mrs. Devlin is hanging out here somewhere and you know how she likes to mess about without her pants on.)  If this bothers you then… well, I really don’t give a fuck.  I’m trying to care, honestly I am, but it just isn’t happening.  Sorry.  If you are under 18, then please be aware that inter-species sex is really a concept ahead of its time at this point.  Please do not take a goat home for dinner and try to explain to your parents how much you love Billy, m’kay?  If this is illegal where you live then please utilize your local Lesbian U-Haul service and fucking move!

 

Disclaimer #3:            Following in the footsteps of my original fanfic obsession, Xena: Warrior Princess, I have taken MANY liberties with the Cupid/Eros myth.  I am well aware that one was Roman; one was Greek and both were male and that I am stirring them together into a blatantly erroneous historically cringe-worthy hodpodge.  So sue me.  (You show me any actual Greek myth in which Aphrodite mutters the word ‘Bitchin’!’ and I will apologize!)

 

Who To Blame:          Thanks must go out to Ky, for forcing me to make her a toon and then bitching about how I did it.  You better take care of Talas!  Thanks also to Andrea and Anne for beta-ing (Is that really a word?) this mess.  Thanks ALWAYS to AW61 (my Personal Kei) who makes being dirty so much more fun as my partner in crime!  Thanks also to ZoeAmory for the fabulous cover manip and vid (I am sure you will all love us all when you can’t get the song out of your head!) And thanks to all of the people who donated their time and creativity to another Dirty Pair Holidaze Celebration!

 

This one is dedicated to the Duck, for cheerfully nodding when my explanations make no sense whatsoever and still being able to come up with something brilliant regardless! (Put it on my bill…er…your bill…uhm…whatever.  The sliding scale still applies!)

Love Long and Orgasm!

(My sister says “Hello Lesbian Type People!)

DAx =/\=

 

 

 

This Vid is Required Watching for the Story!

(Besides, it is fucking brilliant!)

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

“I don't understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine's Day.

When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind

is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

The small winged form stopped abruptly, hanging motionless in mid air as she quickly surveyed the stars around her.  Her eyebrows furrowed and her mouth drew down in a small frown as she realized that nothing looked familiar.

 

“Goddess damn it all to Hades!”  She sighed in frustration and shifted the golden bow and arrows slung across her back to a more comfortable position as she pulled a folded piece of parchment from her inside wing pocket.  Mumbling to herself, she read off the directions.  “Turn left at the dark matter nebula, right at the black hole and then forward for twelve thousand light years and you’re there.”  She looked around again.

 

“And where exactly is there?”  She shouted to no one in particular.  “The dark sphincter of URANUS?!?  Damn it, I knew I shouldn’t have let Bacchus write out the directions.  Crazy drunk’s probably laughing his ass off right now.”  She had just reached for her Goddess Positioning System when she heard a low humming noise.  Glancing back over her shoulder, she did a quick double take at the odd ship that was moving up behind her.

 

It was a box.

 

One of her eyebrows rose and her mouth quirked in confusion as she studied the vessel, her head cocked slightly to one side.  Who the hell would want to fly around the galaxy in a box, for Pete’s sake?

 

“We are the Borg.  Your biological and technological distinctiveness will be added to our own.”

 

“Uh…yeah.”  She frowned.  “That sounds like fun and all but I’m in a bit of a hurry and more than a little lost.  You think you could help a sister out?  I’m trying to get to Tanaris III, any clue what direction it might be in?”

 

“We are the Borg.  Resistance is futile.  You will be assimilated.”

 

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I heard that before.  But I don’t have time to play right now.  I have too much work to do today.”

 

“We are the Borg-“

 

“All right already!”  She snapped.  “You’re the Borg in the Box, I get it.  Nice ship design by the way.  Bet you put a lot of thought into that one.”

 

The remark had barely left her mouth when a beam of green light shot out from the vessel, impacting her directly in the abdomen.

 

Wrapping her arms tightly around her belly, the winged creature doubled over in laughter as her small frame shook uncontrollably. “Stop it!  Stop it!”  She wheezed.  “That tickles!!”  When the beam did not disengage, she flicked at it with her hand, knocking it away.  “You better be careful!  Artie’s the only one who’s really allowed to do that, and she has quite the jealous streak.”

 

“We are the Borg.  Resistance is futile-“

 

“Is that some kind of advertising campaign, the way you keep repeating that?  Or are you just insecure?   Anyway, I know who you are I think the real question is, do you know who I am?” She flexed her back muscles, causing her snow white wings to fan out majestically.  “I am Eros!”  There was no response.  “Daughter of Aphrodite, the Goddess of love, sex and other things we won’t mention?”  There was still no response.  “Granddaughter to the big, bad voodoo daddy himself?  Zeus?  Any of this ringing a bell?” She shook her head and sighed in frustration.  “Ok, so you apparently skipped the week in school when they went over Greek Mythology.  I am a GOD, people!  You don’t wanna fuck around with a god!”

 

“Your biological and technological distinctiveness will be added to our own.  Resistance is futile.”

 

For a long moment, Eros merely stared at her aggressors.  Then, a slow, mischievous smile graced her full, bowlike lips and her eyes twinkled brightly.  “All right.  You win.”  She tucked the parchment back into her wing pocket and pulled the golden bow from her back.  “You wanna play?  I’ll show you exactly what the word ‘futile’ really means…”

 

As she flew towards the cube, a hatch opened to allow her entry, making her giggle.  “Well, aren’t you accommodating?”  The powerful wings on her back propelled her forward and she glided effortlessly through the green, murky atmosphere, pausing every now and then to stare at something when her curiosity got the better of her. 

 

When she finally dropped down to land in an open bay, she shook her head in mock amazement.  “Wow… you guys have some serious issues!” 

 

Smiling nonchalantly she notched an arrow onto her bow when the drones in the area began to move towards her.  She let the projectile fly, laughing to herself when it struck its mark and the drone stopped dead in its tracks.  A moment later, it moved over to a nearby console and began to stroke it gently.  “Well… I guess we all have our own ‘thing’…”  Eros was so busy watching the spectacle that she stopped paying attention to the fight.

 

A second drone took advantage of her distraction and grabbed her, lifting her off the ground. 

 

“Whoa there tiger!”  She patted his arm gently.  “Can the rough stuff!  You know its all fun and games until someone loses an eye…”  Her voice trailed off as she studied the device protruding from one of the drone’s ocular cavities.  “Well… I guess you already know that.”  She leaned in and kissed the pale lips, satisfied when the arm went slack and the drone seemed to sway back and forth. “You give that thought a good hour or two…  Then we’ll see about finding you another…” 

 

Eros watched as the rest of the drones stopped and began to back away.

 

“That’s it?”  She called out.  “Two lousy playmates and you give up? Come on!  Anyone with balls enough to fly around in a friggin’ box spouting out ‘Resistance Is Futile’ has to have something better than that up their sleeve!”  There was no response, causing her to pout.  “I see how it is…  You’re all bark and no bite… all lip and no fight?  Normally the lip part is ok, but I do like a little slap and tickle to go along with it.   We probably shouldn’t talk about that though, what with Artie’s temper and all-“   The room began to sparkle around her.  She blinked in surprise, laughing out loud when she was whisked away and rematerialized in a different chamber altogether. 

 

This room was circular, the walls completely covered with computer interfaces and view screens.  Six drones also lined the bulkhead at various points.  Eros smiled to see that two of them were female.  She had begun to think this was a very dreary race.

 

In the center of the room there was a glass walled chamber and as she watched, it filled with green light.  Looking up, her breath caught as she once again re-evaluated her opinions about the dreariness of the Borg.

 

Descending from an aperture in the ceiling was a small platform.  Suspended above it by two black conduit hoses were the head and shoulders of a beautiful, if somewhat startling, creature. 

 

Eros watched in wonder as the platform reached the ground and robotic arms proceeded to build a body from various, black rubber coated parts.  When the curvaceous form was complete, the head and shoulders dropped gracefully into it, securing itself with four hooks that emerged from the body suit to bury themselves in the skin of her chest. 

 

Two mercury colored eyes opened and pale red lips curved into a sinister smile as the female stepped down from the dais.  “Hello… little god.”

 

Eros ignored her, going over to stare at the chamber she had just stepped out of.  “That was amazing!”  She enthused.  “My closet doesn’t do that!  Damn that would make deciding on an outfit so much easier…”  She turned back to the newcomer.  “So… I guess you get to come out of the closet every day hmm?”  She giggled quietly to herself.

 

“Enough!” The female stepped closer, moving well into her space as she stared into the gods gorgeous green eyes.  “You asked for bite?  I am the Borg Queen.  You will comply.”

 

 “Hit me with your best shot.”

 

The Queen brought her hand up quickly and stabbed Eros in the neck with her assimilation tubules, her lips quirking in satisfaction when she saw the goddess’ eyes widen and small implants begin to spring out across her naked form. 

 

A moment later, the smile faltered as she felt something traveling towards her through her own tubules.  “Impossible!”  She growled, trying to still her shaking limbs as her system was flooded with images and information.

 

Very specific information.

 

The tubules went slack and fell away as she stared at the small winged creature with a look of horror on her face that quickly faded to shock… and then to something else altogether.

 

“We’ll call that a Borgasm…”  Eros winked at the wildly shaking Queen.  “Shove that in your tubules and assimilate it!”  She was still grinning a few moments later when all of the drones around her began to shudder, their eyes closing in unison as a low collective moan began to reverberate throughout the Cube.  The small god stared at them, one eyebrow raised in amusement.  “Damn, talk about group sex…”

 

As she watched them, an idea began to form in her devious little mind.  Going over to a computer console, she laid her hand on its surface, her smile growing at the information she received.

 

“So that’s what you meant by assimilate, huh?  Sounds wicked… but not what I’m looking for right now.  I am, however, very interested in these nanoprobe thingies…  Did you know if I tweak them just a little bit, I can use them to send Valentine Coding to everyone on a planet all at once??”  She rubbed her hands together.  “I simply cannot pass this up!  You just made my day!”  She looked at the Borg Queen thoughtfully.  “That Borgasm won’t last forever though and I can’t have you running around trying to thwart my good deeds.  I need something to keep you under control.  Hmmm…. What should it be…”  A huge grin split her face. “I know just the thing… and it will so match that outfit!”

 

Eros snapped her fingers and a wide leather collar appeared in her hand, complete with silver studs and a hoop, from which dangled a long tether.  She quickly buckled it around the Borg Queen’s neck and grabbed up the leash.  “Come along now, Queenie.  We have worlds to do.”

 

 

 

Meanwhile, on the other side of the quadrant:

 

 

B’Elanna Torres sighed heavily as she slid into the mess hall booth, dropping a plateful of whatever atrocity Neelix was passing off as breakfast and a mug of coffee onto the table before her.  She stared at the food for a moment, before deciding she was just too hungry to care what was in it.

 

This was the second time she had tried to have breakfast.  The first having been interrupted before she even managed to make it through the mess hall doors.

 

Right as she had arrived, the Red Alert klaxons had gone off and the doors had slid open to release a torrent of officers heading quickly to their stations.  After being pushed against the bulkhead, she delivered a few well placed ‘accidental’ nudges and headed back to engineering herself.

 

The attacking aliens hadn’t been that dangerous, but they were very persistent and the alert had dragged on for three and a half hours.  Now that it was over, she was tired, cranky and hungry enough to eat a targ.

 

She had just taken her first bite when she noticed a PADD lying on the seat next to her.  Picking it up, she looked around quickly, but Neelix was the only other person present and he was busy trying to wrestle something back into his frying pan.  Shrugging, she thumbed the control and read the words that appeared.

 

How do I love thee?

Let me count the ways…

 

I love you for

The wildness hidden

Deep within your eyes,

For all the glances

You have given

And all each one implies.

 

I love you for

 

 

 

A love letter?   A startled smile appeared on the Klingon’s normally serious face.  Well, well ,well… the love bug has bitten someone and from the looks of it, the wound is serious!

 

B’Elanna frowned at the abrupt ending.  Whoever had been waxing poetical had apparently been dragged away by the red alert and left the PADD behind in their hurry to get back to their station.

 

But who the hell was it?

 

She tried several different algorhythms in an attempt to unlock the privacy seal placed over the log in code but had no luck.  She knew she could probably get Seven to break it easily enough, but then she would have to explain why she was snooping around a PADD that wasn’t hers.

 

And if there was one thing she had learned about Seven of Nine it was this:  Never, ever leave her room to ask questions.  For someone completely uninterested in gossip, the former Borg drone had an uncanny knack for dragging information out of unwary participants in her conversations.

 

She still flushed every time she thought about Seven’s blunt request for definitions of certain phrases she had heard while passing by B’Elanna’s quarters late one night. 

 

No, that was a road best left untraveled. 

 

B’Elanna glanced at the chronometer tucked into one corner of the screen and frowned.  She had wiled away most of her lunch trying to break through the PADD’s encryption. 

 

She shoveled a few more spoonfuls of food into her mouth, drained her coffee cup and picked up the PADD as she stood to go.  On impulse she stopped by the kitchen counter on her way out.  “Neelix?”

 

“Yes!  Hello B’Elanna!  Did you enjoy your breakfast?” The furry face smiled at her warmly.

 

“Uhm…yeah.”  She grinned to hide the belch that was threatening to erupt.  “Hey, I was wondering if you remember who might have been sitting over in that corner earlier today?”

 

Neelix scratched his chin.  “No… But I’ve been busy trying out this new recipe.  It’s called Earwig Eel delight.  I’m very excited!  Once I get the thing to lie down and boil quietly it should be quite tasty!  Here, try some of the broth!” 

 

He held a large wooden spoon in front of her face and B’Elanna had to call on all of her Klingon strength to keep from gagging.  “No…no..”  She waved the spoon away.  “I couldn’t eat another bite… really.”  Turning on her heel, she left the mess hall quickly.

 

Engineering was quiet when she arrived, so she nodded to a few of her crew and proceeded to her office where she sat down at her desk and read the lines of the poem yet again.  Feeling only slightly guilty, she added a few lines of her own.

 

 

How do I love thee?

Let me count the ways…

 

I love you for

The wildness hidden

Deep within your eyes,

For all the glances

You have given

And all each one implies.

 

I love you for

The strength you give

And the strength you take from me

For all I am

That you accept

And make me want to be.

 

She smiled at her efforts.

 

I love you for

 

She was about to add more when a loud explosion sounded outside her office.

 

“What the hell’s going on out there?”  She tossed the PADD onto her desk and sprinted out to the door to find that an EPS conduit had ruptured and was spewing gas all over the place.  “God damn it!  Henderson, didn’t I tell you to secure this section?”

 

The Ensign cowered before her and B’Elanna took a deep breath.  “Never mind, I’ll handle it.  Get to the main shunt and get it clamped down so I don’t get my face burnt off!”

 

Fifteen minutes later, the Klingon was under the console, up to her elbows in fractured conduit hose when felt a soft tap on her ankle.  With a growl of frustration, she pulled herself up and scowled at the Crewman who was looking at her nervously.  “What do you want, Tal?  Can’t you see I’m busy here??”

 

The Bajoran flinched noticeably.  “I apologize, Lieutenant, but you asked me to come get the energy usage surveys you wanted the Doctor to complete.”

 

B’Elanna swallowed her anger, counting to ten as she dismally remembered the last scolding she had received from the Captain for making Crewman Tal cry.  She patted the young woman on the arm amicably.  “No, I’m sorry, Tal.  It’s just this conduit.  It really has me pulling my hair out.  I appreciate you remembering. The PADDs are on my desk.  Go ahead and grab them, ok?”  She smiled at her one last time before crawling back under the console.

 

Tal Celes, bemused but much relieved, practically skipped into the Chief Engineer’s office.  Gathering up the PADDs strewn about the desk, she headed to Deck Five.

 

            *           *           *           *           *           *           *           *           *           *          

 

The Doctor looked up from his experiments as Tal Celes entered Sick Bay, his forced smile of patience turning into a frown as the Crewman dumped a stack of PADDs onto the computer console between them.  “What’s all this?”

 

“Lieutenant Torres is requesting a full energy usage survey for all of your systems.  She’s trying to improve power efficiency ship wide.”

 

He stared at her in disbelief.  “There are at least twelve different requests here!  When am I supposed to get this done?”

 

“I believe she wanted them back by 18:00 hours.”

 

The Doctor scowled at her, mildly placated when his glare caused Tal to stumble slightly as she headed out the door.  With a heavy, put-upon sigh, he began to go through the PADDs one by one.  When he reached the last one his eyes widened.  “Well, what do we have here…?” 

 

He read the lines to the poem with a small smirk on his face.  Taking the PADD into his office he sat down and put his legs up on his desk, the power usage surveys long forgotten.

 

“Not bad.”  He waggled he head back and forth.  “But it could use a little…oomph!  A little something…”

 

He thought about Seven for a moment and then began to write.  When he was done, he read the whole thing over again.

 

How do I love thee?

Let me count the ways…

 

I love you for

The wildness hidden

Deep within your eyes,

For all the glances

You have given

And all each one implies.

 

I love you for

The strength you give

And the strength you take from me

For all I am

That you accept

And make me want to be

 

I love you for

The way you are,

Your  curiosity

For how you look

Beyond the limits

That bind what others see

 

“What are you smiling at?”

 

He started violently, the PADD falling from his fingers as he looked up at Tom Paris.  “Do not sneak up on me like that!”

 

Tom rolled his eyes.  “Doc, you’re the EMH… Aren’t you supposed to sense it when someone comes into Sick Bay?”

 

The Doctor flushed bright red.  It was a new personality quirk he had just programmed himself and one he was quite proud of.  “I was… involved in these power usage surveys Lieutenant Torres demanded.”

 

“Ahh.”  Tom knew the Doctor was acting oddly but, honestly, when didn’t he?  “Well, I’m yours for the next four hours.  Want me to work on those?”  He picked up the PADD the EMH had dropped.

 

“Oh, yes…  well… that one is done.  The others are out here.”  He led Tom to the stack of reports still waiting to be completed. 

 

“Ok,” The Ensign slipped the one he was holding to the bottom of the stack.  “I’ll finish them up and then take them all back to Engineering when I’m done.”

 

The Doctor looked at him oddly for a moment and then nodded, unable to come up with an excuse to get the PADD back.  For the next four hours he hovered around Tom, casting covert glances in his direction but never found the opening he needed.  When the Ensign finally stacked all the PADD’s together and waved goodbye to him he forced a grin onto his face before returning to his own work.

 

Paris whistled as he strode through the corridors of the ship, taking his time as he made his way to Engineering.  His day was over in less than thirty minutes and the last thing he needed was for B’Elanna to come up with something else for him to do.

 

B’Elanna…

 

He thought about the fiery brunette for a moment, a wicked gleam flashing in his eyes.  I wonder if I can get her into her office for a minute…

 

When he entered Engineering, however, the sight of her shapely legs sticking out from under an EPS conduit killed any thoughts of engaging in some conduct unbecoming.  She had an engineering problem, which meant he didn’t exist.

 

Still, it was worth a try.

 

He leaned down and peered into the opening.  “Hey, Lanna.”  He threw her his most charming grin.  “I’ve got those energy usage surveys you wanted from the Doc.  Wanna come into your office and… go over them?”

 

The Klingon shot him an exasperated look.  “I’m busy, Tom!  Just put them on the desk.  Make sure they’re all marked ‘completed’ and I’ll check them out later!”

 

Having been quite effectively dismissed, Tom pouted slightly and carried the PADDs into her office.  He picked up each one and confirmed that status of the information before laying them out on her desk.  When he reached the last one, his jaw dropped open.

 

“What the hell…”  He read through the lines once and then again.  With a small grin he tucked the PADD under his tunic and headed for his quarters.

 

Once there, he ordered himself a scotch and soda from the replicator and sat down at his dining room table.

 

It was quite a poem.  But it could use a few more verses…  After thinking for a few moments, he added his own lines.

 

How do I love thee?

Let me count the ways…

 

I love you for

The wildness hidden

Deep within your eyes,

For all the glances

You have given

And all each one implies.

 

I love you for

The strength you give

And the strength you take from me

For all I am

That you accept

And make me want to be

 

I love you for

The way you are,

Your  curiosity

For how you look

Beyond the limits

That bind what others see

 

I love you for

Your endless passion

So hidden at the start

Then so apparent

When you open up

And share what’s in your heart

 

Tom smiled to himself. Not a bad start. 

 

CHIRP!

 

“Kim to Paris!”

 

He slapped his commbadge.  “Yeah, Harry what’s up?”

 

“I’ve been waiting for you on Holodeck Two for the last twenty minutes.  Are we doing Captain Proton and the Lethal Ladies of Lunar Lapis or not?”

 

“Damn, I’m sorry, Harry I totally forgot.  Give me five minutes and I’ll be there.”  He grabbed up his Captain Proton outfit, a towel and the PADD, tossing them all into his Starfleet duffel as he ran for the Holodeck.

 

            *           *           *           *           *           *           *           *           *           *           *

 

“That was great!”  Harry was grinning from ear to ear, his face covered in lipstick.

 

“I told you you’d like it.”  Tom smirked.  “Of course, if you would just ask Megan out you wouldn’t need the Lethal Ladies of Lunar Lapis!”

 

Harry sighed.  “I told you, I’m not interested.”

 

“Not brave enough is more like it.”

 

“Whatever!”  He dug around in his bag.  “Damn I forgot my towel.  Do you have one I can borrow?”

 

“Here.”  Tom pulled the one from his bag and handed it to him.  “I have to hit the sack.  I have the early shift.  Talk to you later.”

 

“Later!”  Harry wiped the lipstick from his face quickly with the towel, picking up the PADD that fell from it as he did so and exited the Holodeck.  Feeling peckish, he headed to the mess hall.  Grabbing a cup of coffee and a plate of stew, he slid onto a chair and began to eat.  When he was done, he looked at the PADD curiously.  There was no lock on it so he thumbed it open and read the contents.

 

A huge smile broke out on his face.  He knew Tom had a thing for B’Elanna, but he didn’t know it was that bad!  Man, your writing sucks.  He thought to himself.  He thought for a few moments and then added some words of his own to the PADD.

 

How do I love thee?

Let me count the ways…

 

I love you for

The wildness hidden

Deep within your eyes,

For all the glances

You have given

And all each one implies.

 

I love you for

The strength you give

And the strength you take from me

For all I am

That you accept

And make me want to be

 

I love you for

The way you are,

Your  curiosity

For how you look

Beyond the limits

That bind what others see

 

I love you for

Your endless passion

So hidden at the start

Then so apparent

When you open up

And share what’s in your heart

 

I love you for

Your gentle smile

So rare and far between

Transforming beauty

To a radiance

The likes I’ve never seen.

 

“You’re up late.”

 

Harry looked up to see Chakotay standing next to him holding a tray of food.  “Yeah, Tom and I just finished a Captain Proton session.  Have a seat.”

 

“Ahh.”  The First Officer winked at him knowingly as he sat down across from him.  “What was it this time?  The Gallivanting Gals of Galaptinus Prime?”

 

Harry flushed.  “The Lethal Ladies of Lunar Lapis.  How did you know?”

 

“You missed some lipstick.  “Chakotay reach over with his own napkin and wiped a smudge from the Ensign’s chin.  “There.”

 

“Thanks.  That would have been embarrassing.”

 

“Anytime.”  Chakotay smiled at the young man with honest affection.  “We wouldn’t want Megan to see you running around like that.”

 

Harry had just opened his mouth to retort when the Captain’s voice came over the Conn.

 

“All senior officers will report to the conference room immediately.”

 

“So much for my late dinner.”  The First Officer sighed.  “Come on, we better hurry.”

 

The two of them exited the mess hall quickly, leaving Neelix to pick up their trays.  As he did so, the Talaxian noticed the PADD that was lying on the floor beneath the table.  It was still activated and he read the lines curiously.

 

“Oh how sweet.” He smiled to himself.  Sitting down at the table he allowed himself to think of his secret crush before adding some lines of his own.

 

How do I love thee?

Let me count the ways…

 

I love you for

The wildness hidden

Deep within your eyes,

For all the glances

You have given

And all each one implies.

 

I love you for

The strength you give

And the strength you take from me

For all I am

That you accept

And make me want to be

 

I love you for

The way you are,

Your  curiosity

For how you look

Beyond the limits

That bind what others see

 

I love you for

Your endless passion

So hidden at the start

Then so apparent

When you open up

And share what’s in your heart

 

I love you for

Your gentle smile

So rare and far between

Transforming beauty

To a radiance

The likes I’ve never seen

 

I love you for

Your sense of honor

The oaths to which you’re true

And though I know

You’ll never break them

I can’t help what I feel for you…

 

Sighing wistfully, he looked at the verse he had added and nodded to himself.  Well, it is Valentine’s Day.  No reason not to show how I feel, even if we both know nothing will ever come of it.

 

He finished cleaning the mess hall and shut off the lights. 

 

As he meandered through the corridors on his way to the turbo-lift, he ran into Tuvok, who was striding down the hallway towards him.

 

“Commander!”  Neelix said warmly.  “How are you this evening?”

 

“I am hungry.  The debriefing on the last attack went long.  Is your presence in this hallway to mean that the mess hall is closed at this time?”

 

“Well, it is, but I would be happy to open up the kitchen for you if you like.”

 

Tuvok considered for a moment.  “Thank you, but that won’t be necessary.  I will get something from the replicator in my quarters.”

 

“It’s no trouble I assure you!”  Neelix smiled.  “You know how I love getting you to try my new dishes!”

 

“Indeed.”  Tuvok blanched slightly.  “Your commitment to my culinary expansion is admirable, but I am sure I will be able to find something sufficient in the replicator databanks.”

 

“All right,” Neelix cocked his head to one side.  “So long as you know I am always available should you need anything from me.”

 

“Rest assured that I am quite knowledgeable of that fact.  Have a good evening, Neelix.”

 

“And you as well, Commander.”

 

Ten minutes later, Neelix entered the Wildman’s quarters.  He sat the PADD carefully on the living room table, where he was sure Samantha would see it in the morning and then proceeded to Naomi’s bedroom.  The young girl was already tucked in, sleeping peacefully and he sighed a little sadly, remember when she had needed him to be present for her slumber to come so easily.

 

Kissing her lightly on the cheek, he pulled the covers up a little higher and quietly left.

 

            *           *           *           *           *           *           *           *           *           *           *

 

The Borg Queen glowered at the small form that lounged on the makeshift couch before her.  Eros had commandeered her cube, forcing them to fly to planet after planet as she released her ‘Love Bugs’ as she had grotesquely named them, on the unknowing populace.  It was bad enough that she and the entire collective were being held against their will, but to use her technology for something so…puerile… that was just more than her sensibilities could handle.

 

When she felt a slight tug on the collar at her neck she rolled her eyes and bit her tongue to keep from saying something obscene.  The last time she had launched a tirade at the small god she had found herself, and her entire collection of drones, incapacitated for over an hour.

 

“What is it you require?”  She growled.

 

“Oh I think you know.”  Eros grinned at her cheekily.

 

Her face stony, the Borg Queen plucked another grape from the plate next to the god and held it before her lips.

 

“Now, now…you know better than that.”

 

With her anger causing her limbs to jerk, she pealed the skin from the grape before once again holding it out, shaking when the small pink tongue lapped quickly at her fingertip, sending a shockwave of emotion though her.

 

“How much longer will you be holding us against our will?”  She asked, her voice like ice.

 

“That depends on how well you behave…”  Eros’ voice trailed off as her eyes became distant.  A look of intense concentration covered her features.

 

“What is it?”

 

“Shhh!”  The small god held her hand up.  “My gaydar just went off in a BIG way.”  She stood and began to pace.  “Yes… there’s a letter… a love letter.”  She squinted.  “An anonymous love letter to boot!  I love those!”  She cackled before her eyes went wide.  “And several secret infatuations all floating around a MAJOR unrequited love.”  She walked over to the computer console and began to pull up data.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

“The love wave is coming from a ship.  One I think I saw in your database earlier.”  She grinned in triumph. “Yes!  There it is!”

 

The Borg Queen walked over to stand beside her, her teeth grinding loudly when she saw the image on the screen.  “No.”

 

“What's the matter?”  Eros teased.  She looked back at the ship.  “Since this Voyager doesn’t seem to be spouting any box like qualities I am going to assume your encounters with her did not go exactly as you planned.  Seems to be a theme with you huh?”  She scrolled through some more data.  “The minor crushes the drones can deal with.  But the two major ones I sensed…they’re going to need some personal involvement.  Come on…who are you…?  THERE!  THOSE TWO!”

 

This time the Queen did not hold in her rage.  “IMPOSSIBLE!”

 

“What?  Why?”  She looked at the images more closely.  One was of a rather small, but regal looking female with red hair and gray-blue eyes.  The other… “OH!”  Eros fell and began to roll around on the deck in her laughter.  “I see a striking resemblance Queenie!  Was she one of yours?”  Her laughing intensified.  “The one that got away maybe?”

 

The Queen said nothing.

 

“Well, you’re going to get to see her soon enough.  Take me to them.  Take me to Captain Janeway and Seven of Nine.”

 

            *           *           *           *           *           *           *           *           *           *

 

“Naomi!  Your breakfast is getting cold!”

 

“Coming Mom!”  The small half Katarian child picked up her knapsack and headed into the living room.  Sitting down on the sofa, she smiled up at her mother when she was presented with a plate of pancakes and a mug of cocoa.

 

“So what lessons do you have today?”  Samantha Wildman asked.

 

“Particle physics with the Doctor and subspace communications with Ensign Kim.”

 

“That sounds fun.”  Sam smiled as her daughter rolled her eyes.  She noticed a PADD on the table and picked it up, holding it out to her.  “Here, don’t forget this one.  I’ve told you to keep all of your lesson plans together.”

 

Naomi glanced at it, her forehead furrowing around her horns in confusion.&n