Among Stars; Chapter 8:4, Sarassa's Sanctuary

Among Stars

Part 8

Sarassa’s Sanctuary

Chapter 4.

The hospital administrator had watched as the entourage had made its way through the crowd of people that had lined up outside the hospital. Two security men had pushed opened the front door. She immediately recognised the man walking in the front of the group with his arm around a slightly built woman.

"Mr President," she said quickly. "I am Dr. Sari, chief administrator of this hospital. Welcome."

"Thank you doctor, my wife and I are here to see our daughter."

"Of course. She is on the third floor, if you’ll follow me."

The group proceeded to a lift and soon arrived on the third floor.

"I’m sorry that we couldn’t provide a more fitting room for your daughter, Mr President, but we had little time to prepare …"

President Romir nodded.

"I understand," he said. "May we see her?"

"This way", the administrator said as she led the way down a long pristine corridor.

Romir and his wife walked down the corridor, security and several of his personal staff following behind them.

There were medical staff and security officers located throughout the area.

Two security personnel stood watch at the third door on the left. No one went in or out without the two security personnel stopping and checking identification. Stopping outside the doorway the administrator stated, "This is your daughter’s room."

The President paused and gazed down at the woman beside him.

"Are you ready my dear?" he asked softly.

Earlier, on their trip to the hospital, the two had spoken about this moment. His wife was torn with emotions that mirrored his own and guilt.

"It’s been so long. I can’t help but think that we’ve let her down. That she had to endure that place for so long … away from us … from her family."

"What are you afraid of?"

"That she’ll hate us, hold us responsible."

"She won’t."

"You don’t know that!" The President’s wife exclaimed. "She was brainwashed, drugged into compliance. What’s our excuse? We failed her. We sent her back …"

"To save her life. She’ll understand."

"Will she? How? Can you look me in the eyes and tell me that you don’t blame yourself for this? I know I hold myself in contempt." His wife raised her hand and quickly wiped a tear from her eye. "The Atahlia we knew was an open-minded, fun loving young woman whose laughter made everyone else smile. What will we find when we’re finally reunited? What have they done to her?"

Romir sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"We just have to try and take it one step at a time."

The remaining trip to the hospital had been in silence.

Now they stood in front of their daughter’s door.

His wife looked up into his eyes and held his gaze for a moment.

"Come on; our daughter needs us," his wife replied.

He smiled and nodded, opened the door and watched his wife go in. Following her he inhaled sharply at the sight of the young woman in the bed. He had received continuous information, including pictures, about Atahlia during her absence yet nothing had prepared him to see his only child like this. She was pale and receiving intravenous medication in her left arm. His beautiful daughter looked small and helpless in the hospital bed.

"What did they do to my child?" his wife managed as she stood in shock at her daughter’s gaunt appearance.

The sound of her voice made the girl stir in her bed and slowly open her eyes. She blinked and turned her head towards them. Her eyes widened at the sight of her parents standing by her bed.

Romir choked as he watched Atahlia struggle to get up on her elbow. Taking two rapid steps forward he pulled her into his strong arms.

"Oh, darling," he whispered. "It feels so good to finally hold you, child."

Atahlia trembled in his arms.

"Father?"

"Yes, I’m here. Your mother is here. We came as soon as we heard that you’d been rescued." He let go of her a little so she could see her mother. "Look, there she is."

His wife remained frozen where she stood, tears welling down her cheeks. She stared at her daughter while holding her breath.

Atahlia clung to her father. The President knew that this would be a moment that he would never forget. This was his child, his daughter, not the zombie that he had kidnapped back and been forced to return a couple of years ago.

Atahlia let go of his neck with one arm. Turning in his embrace she reached out for the older woman.

"Mother?" she croaked. "Mama?"

With a muted cry, the President’s wife threw herself down onto the bed, pulling her daughter into her arms.

"Atahlia," she cried. "Oh, my baby, my sweet darling, I’ve missed you so much. Can you ever forgive me … us?"

Romir felt his own eyes sting of unshed tears as he cradled the two most important people in his life. He vowed silently that he would sooner sacrifice himself than allow harm to come to any of them ever again.

Atahlia stirred in their embrace, meeting her mother’s eyes.

"Forgive you for what?" she asked.

"For letting you down … for not being able to protect you …" her mother sobbed.

The young girl shivered.

"It wasn’t your fault. It was mine. I let you down," she said, her voice husky. "I … I betrayed you both. I let myself be a pawn and put us all in danger,"

The President held hi daughter closely.

"Darling, this was not your fault. These people used you. If anyone failed it was me. You were targeted because of me and my position, not because of something you did. Please, don’t blame yourself. We have you back now. They can’t harm you any more."

"But you’re wrong, Father," Atahlia cried.

"How darling?" Her mother asked in a soothing voice as she gently stroked her daughter’s hair.

"They know everything there is to know about our family."

"They can’t possibly know everything." Romir stated.

Atahlia flung her arms around her father.

"But they do and it’s because of me," she wept. "Oh, father, they know everything because I told them."

*****

Janeway wondered how many times she had leaned over a biobed like this, anxiously gazing down on Seven’s narrow features.

How often had she, fully aware of the risks, sent this young woman into harms way?

How many times had Seven been hurt?

"Too many times," whispered the Captain to herself.

"What have I done to you, my darling? We’ve always managed to tempt fate in the past and get away with it. Have we tempted it one to many times?"

Janeway raised a hand and carefully stroked back an errant blonde tress of hair from Seven’s forehead.

"Please, darling, you have to be all right. I … I need you. I need you beside me. Don’t leave me," Janeway pleaded softly to Seven the as the monitors and equipment that were keeping ex-Borg alive beeped faintly in the darkened sickbay. "I’ve always told myself that I could do this job alone; that I didn’t need anyone but I was lying to myself. I can’t do this on my own, not without you."

Just then the doctor walked in and began to review the readouts.

"What is her prognosis, Doctor?" Janeway asked her voice husky, her eyes full of tears that she refused to shed.

He doctor approached the biobed and stood next to the Captain.

"It’s too early to tell. In Seven’s case the antidote was almost as dangerous to her systems as the original toxin," the EMH explained.

"Her cortical implant fought the effects of it to the degree that it shut down her organs one by one. When we found her she was blind, almost deaf and some of her internal organs such as the liver, kidneys and pancreas were barely functioning."

"What happened when we administered the antidote?"

"Let’s say it wasn’t what I had expected."

"What do you mean?" Janeway asked, afraid of the answer.

"There were no negative outcomes when we administered the antidote to the Voyager crewmembers. The efficacy of the antidote was dramatic. It reversed the effects of the toxin quite well with little or no side effects but when it was administered to the personnel planet side it was disconcerting. Although the antidote reversed the effects of the toxin, the side effects were numerous, some life threatening."

"I’m aware of that; I saw it happen. Was it because of differences in their physiology?"

"No, it appears that it had to do with a prolonged exposure to the toxin. The longer an individual was exposed, the greater the severities of the side effects. As you know all of the so called Servants have been hospitalised. All are stable, but some continue to remain listed in serious condition."

"Seven wasn’t exposed to it that long. Why is her action different then the other crew members?"

The look on the Doctors face was solemn.

"Seven’s reaction mirrored what we witnessed in Servants that had been under the influence of the toxin for an extended period of time. I have two possible explanations why she reacted this way. One reason is when Seven’s cortical implant could no longer regulate her body the toxin levels soared."

"Are you telling me they injected more of that stuff into her?" the captain asked, her voice deep with anger.

"No, I think this was a natural phenomenon. Seven’s system suppressed the toxin over and over. As a result, the levels increased to counter act her defences. When those defences fell there was a rebound effect. The results were devastating."

"My god!"

Janeway rested her palms on Seven’s bare upper arm, as if trying to transfer energy to fight into the young woman.

"Captain, there’s more," the EMH cautioned. "Seven’s cybernetic implants fought the toxin but in the end were consumed by it. Her condition was already unstable when we found her. When we injected her with the antidote, her cortical implant launched the last of her nano probes in a final futile attack, perceiving it as another threat. She went into cardiac arrest as we rematerialised in sickbay."

"Oh no, Seven …" Janeway’s own heart seemed to stop beating for a moment.

"We were able resuscitate her and immediately connect her to life support. Right now, her condition is stable but guarded. She’s not out of danger yet. Captain, I … I don’t know how to tell you this, but her chances of survival are not good," the Doctor said, his voice desolate.

"Are the nano probes still fighting the antidote?" the captain asked.

"No, it didn’t take her system long to accept the impact of the cure. As soon as they stopped attacking it, it began to neutralise the foreign transmitter substance in her brain."

"Then it’s only a matter of time then before she begins to regain her strength. Is that why she hasn’t gained consciousness?"

"No, I am keeping her sedated. Captain, if Seven were to regain consciousness at the moment she would be in considerable pain. I have injected her with replicated nano probes that will keep her sustained until she can regenerate, which she will need to do as soon as possible if I can get her cortical implant to begin her healing process."

"When will she be able to regenerate?"

"I don’t know but it needs to be soon. I’m considering hooking her up to one of her mobile regeneration units here in sickbay until I can clear her system of toxin. Once she is stable and I can revive her I will beam her to cargo bay two. She’ll need to regenerate for several days in her unit. Captain, until that time I will not be able to determine if her systems are permanently damaged."

Janeway lifted her gaze to his.

"I want to be here when you awake her," she said.

"Of course," the Doctor replied.

The auburn haired woman leaned over the still form on the biobed. Softly pressing her lips against Seven’s pale forehead, she lingered there. Seven was naked under the life support system that enclosed the centre of the biobed. Janeway was grateful that the Doctor had removed the robe they had provided her with at the Sanctuary. It was of course not logical but she felt the less around Seven that reminded her of the Sanctuary, the better.

"Rest, darling," the captain murmured. "You helped save so many people. You have to heal and get better. You’re strong. You’ll be fine. I’ll be right here when you wake up" She paused. "I love you, Seven. My Annika."

To her amazement the blonde moved and opened her eyes to narrow slits.

"Seven? Doctor, I thought you sedated her? Seven, are you in pain?" Janeway asked. "Doctor, do something!"

"The nano probes are probably fighting anything her immune system doesn’t recognise. They are neutralising the sedative," the Doctor stated as he scanned the young woman on the biobed.

"Kathryn?" Seven murmured, her voice husky and barely audible.

"I’m here, Seven." Janeway framed her lover’s pale face. "Just relax. You’ll be fine once you have regenerated. I’ll be right there when you wake up, I promise."

"Do not let that person … get away," Seven murmured. "You have to … stop them … they are evil …"

"You mean Speaker Dajana? She’s been apprehended," the captain assured her.

"No. Not her. The other one … they are all evil. There never was …" Seven tried again, feverishly, "… any such thing … as perfection …"

Janeway did not understand.

"Don’t speak, Seven. Please, conserve your strength," she begged but then Seven’s head lulled to her left and the technology monitoring her vital signs began to beep.

"I have sedated her again, Captain," the Doctor said after pressing a hypo spray against the ex-Borg’s neck. He punched in new commands at his workstation. "She’s on a ventilator and all her organs are run by the computer. She’s out of immediate danger for now."

Janeway bit her lower lip hard, feeling Seven’s anguish as if it had been her own. Softly stroking Seven’s hair back, the older woman stood up and squared her shoulders.

"I will be in my ready room," she informed the Doctor. "Hail me if there is any change Do I make myself clear? Anything."

"Yes, Captain."

Stroking Seven’s hair one last time, Janeway pivoted and hurried out of sickbay. She was relieved to see the corridor empty.

She did not want anyone to witness her tears.

*****

President Romir sat on a chair next to his daughter’s bed. His wife had fallen asleep in an armchair by the window, exhausted from the emotional outburst earlier.

Dagar’s elected leader had tried to convince his daughter that she was not responsible for what had occurred and that what ever it was that she was so adamant to tell him and his wife, could wait until she was stronger.

Atahlia had refused to listen to him. His fragile but ever stubborn daughter had insisted on giving him a report concerning the Sanctuary right then and there without regard for her own condition.

Romir had had to give in to her, summoning one of his agents to record her statement.

He now inserted an ear piece into his left ear and listened to a copy of Atahlia’s testimony. Her voice was husky and sometimes betrayed her condition but her intellect seemed unchanged. She appeared to be the same brave, strong girl as before the Sanctuary.

"I remember everything," his heard his daughter say. "I remember one day feeling happy and content being your daughter and the next day … wanting nothing else but to belong to Sarassa’s Sanctuary. Nothing you could have said or done would have changed anything. I was their Servant, body and soul."

A muted sob from his wife interrupted the young voice.

"Their training was hard. Some of it went against everything I’ve believed to be right up till then. Now it all made sense in the strangest way. They spoke to me about courage, taking a stand, making a difference … You know, Father, all the things that always meant so much to me. They pinpointed my fear of always remaining in your shadow, of losing myself and not being able to find my own path in life. I bought into it. I thought I had found my niche, my corner in this world where I could do great work. When they wanted me to disclose everything I knew about our family, our property and about your work, I did. I thought it was part of a plan bigger than I, that I had yet to comprehend but trusted completely."

"What did you tell them, exactly?" Romir’s agent asked.

"Everything I knew. I still can’t quite believe that I was under the influence of some drug but it tore down any protection, any wall I might have had against breaking the confidence of my family. They know everything about us that I know, Father. Everything from family secrets to the security codes to enter the Residence."

Romir could hear Atahlia begin to sob and knew this was when he had moved in closer and wrapped her up in his arms.

"And … and when you came for me …" she managed between her tears, "I didn’t know what was happening to me. I don’t remember much about it, just that I was very cold and only wanted to return."

"We had to send you back," his wife said. "You almost died and we didn’t know how to save you. I’m so sorry, Atahlia. We had no idea, no way of knowing that a drug was being used. Every test our doctors ran came back negative., We suspected brainwashing but we had no proof."

"Anything else you can tell us about the leaders you’ve encountered?" the special agent asked.

There were a rustling of sheets and rapid breathing coming from the young girl.

"She’s … she’s a demon!" Atahlia exclaimed and Romir remembered just how frightened his daughter had looked as the words forced their way over her lips. "Promise me that I don’t have to meet her ever again. You have to keep her away from me!

"Who are you talking about, darling? Third Speaker Dajana?" Romir heard himself ask. He clenched his fists as he listened for the words that brought out such an overwhelming hatred in him.

"No, no! Sarassa! Sarassa!"

Atahlia had almost gone into shock from utter fear. They had had to ring for the medical staff that had to sedate the fragile girl. The doctor immediately forbade any further questioning until his daughter was stronger.

President Romir rose from the chair and quietly walked out into the hospital corridor.

He wanted to stay by his daughter’s side but knew that he had duties to attend to.

He had already addressed the planet during a press conference and explained what had occurred. Then the Minister of Justice had taken over and reviewed the events that had led to the raid and rescue mission and had discussed the ongoing investigation.

It was the ongoing investigation that now weighed heavily on his mind.

Pulling out his communication device he hailed Agent Ebir and proceeded to brief him on his daughter’s statement.

"Any news?" he then inquired.

"We’ve been busy interrogating the leadership and going through this place room by room but so far we still don’t have a clue who or what Sarassa is Mr President . Your daughter’s statement has provided us with some clues."

"You mean the fact that she refers to Sarassa as a woman."

"Yes, and that she is obviously someone to be feared."

Romir rubbed his forehead. He had been up for forty-eight hours straight.

"Meet me at the hospital. Let’s review everything we’ve got so far and contact Voyager. There must be something that we’re missing."

*****

For the hospital staff it had been an uneventful day until government teams arrived on the scene and quickly set up security perimeters around the hospital.

A hasty briefing on what had occurred and what they could expect was given to the staff just as the first ambulances were arriving at the emergency entrance.

The first of the casualties had arrived moments after that. Most of the patients were disoriented and suffering from withdrawal symptoms. Others required intensive care as their bodies went into convulsions as the toxin from was purged from their bodies

Eighty-two members affected by the toxin had been brought to the hospital that housed the President’s daughter. Within two hours every bed within the facility was occupied.

Outside the hospital the streets had filled with people as news about the raid and the rescue had reached the public.

News reporters swarmed the facility and others like it where the victims had been taken.

A press conference had been hastily called. President Romir addressed the citizens of the planet and briefly described the events that had led to the raid and the subsequent recovery of the victims.

Entire families arrived and impatiently waited trying to find out news about if their loved ones were among those rescued. A reception area was established for them away from prying eyes. Hours passed as officials briefed them on what had taken place and began the painstaking process of locating missing family members. For some there were joyful reunions but for others, their loved one remained missing.

Agent Noro was one of the first agents to arrive at the hospital. He had quickly coordinated activities with several agencies after realising that all of the ex-Servants were going to need medical examinations to clear them and some were going to need several days if not weeks of hospitalisation.

They had not alerted the hospitals sooner because they did not want to tip anyone off about the raid and the rescue. When they realised that the antidote was having terrible side effects on some of the victims they had called for more back up and had alerted hospitals within the city to expect casualties. Fortunately, none of the ex-Servants had died. After several hours all, even the most serious cases, had stabilised.

Security at the hospital was tight. No one was getting in or out without being cleared.

Agents and police were posted on every floor.

There had been a big debate on whether it was prudent to let family members see loved ones before they were interviewed. President Romir had ended that debate with a compromise. The closest kin would be able to link up with their loved one once it was validated that they were indeed who they said they were and the number would be limited to no more than two. He understood the agents concern that a Servant not caught in the dragnet might attempt to reintroduce the toxin into one of the victims.

After doctors gave the approval, he and several of his colleagues began the process of interviewing the ex-Servants. Whether any of them would be charged remained to be seen.

The Dagarian special agent was tired. He had worked around the clock ever since Voyager had contacted the President several days ago. Only taking short naps in his chair at the office, he had pushed himself hard, driven by the desire to bring this entire episode to an end. He had interviewed a number of the newest recruits who had not been so adversely affected by the antidote but had come up empty handed. They were too new to the organisation and had very limited knowledge. What he needed was to interview someone like the President’s daughter who had been in the organisation for several years. Unfortunately it was that population group that had suffered the severest reactions to the antidote.

Walking down the corridor he spotted one of his colleagues at the nurse’s station.

"Noro, you look terrible," she greeted him as he approached. "Don’t you believe in sleep?"

"I’ll get some soon enough. What’s the situation up here?"

"Not bad, none of the victims have died but several remain on the critical list."

"Have you had an opportunity to interview any of them?"

"Not this bunch. These are the most serious cases on this floor. However, one of the patients is making a great deal of progress. He gained consciousness about an hour ago. His parents are in there with him. The doctors are monitoring him pretty closely. I haven’t got the go ahead to interview him yet. He’s still pretty fragile."

"Where’s his room?"

"Fourth one on the left. The kid’s name is Zerimo."

"Think it would be all right if I just stuck my head in and checked on him?"

"Let’s ask the doctor but I see no harm."

After consulting with the doctor the agents got the go ahead but were cautioned not to question the patient at length because of the young man’s condition.

Noro and the other agent walked sown the corridor together and entered the patients room.

The room was small. Several monitors and devices were attached to the young man who rested very quietly in a bed. On either side of the bed were a man and a woman. Noro assumed that these two individuals were the young man’s parents. The mother sat in a chair next to the bed and was in tears, stroking the boy’s legs on top of the blankets over and over. His father was standing on the other side of the bed as if he were in guard, protecting his son from any further harm.

"Are you a doctor?" the father asked.

"No sir, I’m Agent Noro. I believe you have already met Agent Farah?"

"Yes, of course. Come in. The boy’s asleep. It’s been a terrible ordeal."

"Yes, sir. I know."

Just then the young man opened his eyes and turned towards the agents.

"You … you’re agents?"

"Yes, Zerimo, I was one of the agents present at the Sanctuary when it was raided."

"Oh, Mr Noro," the mother said, rising from her chair. "I can’t thank you enough for getting Zerimo out of there. He has been gone for more than three years and we … "

Her voice betrayed him and tears ran down her round cheeks. Reaching out for the tall agent, she pulled him into an embrace which he reciprocated. Noro was not married and had no children of his own, but the mother’s apparent relief and gratitude was something he knew he would never forget.

"No need for thanks, ma’am, I was just doing my job," he offered, smiling down towards the family, helping the woman to the chair again.

"Agent Noro … sir … I need to … I must know …" the young man in the bed said in a weak tone of voice.

"What, Zerimo?"

"Have you …" he managed, sounding out of breath. "Have you apprehended her?"

Noro frowned.

"Who are you talking about, Zerimo?" he asked cautiously.

"Her! Sarassa. You have to make sure you get her … she …" The young man swallowed hard. "She is … she’s the devil. Don’t let her escape or she will come for us again. Please …" Zerimo begged, his voice cracking.

Noro stepped closer to the bed.

"Zerimo, I promise, no harm will come to you here. We have security everywhere," the agent reassured the young man. "I need to ask you something. This is very important. Can you describe Sarassa to me?"

"She’s old and not very tall. Long, white hair. She has black eyes … cold, black eyes …" Now Zerimo trembled visibly and began to hyperventilate. "Do you have her?" he managed.

"No, but we will."

"Get her. If you don’t, none of us … none of us are safe. Don’t you see? You must find Sarassa!

"I think my son needs to rest now," his father said, stroking the hair from the young man’s forehead. "He’s been through enough. Who ever this Sarassa is - find her. Arrest her. "

Noro looked at the young man and saw that the mere though of the Sanctuary’s leader had him trembling and sweating profusely.

"We will. I promise. Take good care of him," the agent said. "He’s been a great help."

He nodded towards the parents and left the room with Farah.

"I want to increase security immediately, especially on this floor and any other floor where the victims who were part of the sanctuary the longest are on."

"You’re worried that she’ll come after them?"

"This is the population that is the greatest threat to this so called Sarassa individual. They know who she is. They can describe her. They know how she operates and they fear her. Don’t underestimate this villain. You saw how scared that boy was. So was the President’s daughter. This woman, who ever she is, is dangerous."

"I’ll get right on it."

Noro then activated his communication device and hailed Ebir.

He briefed his colleague of Zerimo’s statement which collaborated Atahlia’s similar reaction.

"So we have to keep looking for an old lady," Noro sighed.

"Wait a minute," Ebir said. "There is something … Damn! Janeway and her crew found an old woman together with Seven of Nine in the bunker. Still, that’s not right. This person was affected by the agent."

Noro rubbed the back of his neck.

"What did she look like?"

"I don’t know; I never saw her," Ebir confessed. "Torres handed her over to the medics immediately. Wait, here she is."

Noro heard Ebir confer with someone in the background and then a female voice was heard.

"Lt Torres here. The woman we came across was old, had long white hair, dark eyes and a ruby red dress and some jewellery. She tested positive for the agent."

"A red dress and jewellery?" Noro asked. "That doesn’t sound like a Servant. And old? I think Sarassa slipped through our hands! My god, she here at one of the hospitals!"

"Sarassa!" Torres exclaimed. "But how can that be? She was under the influence of the drug!"

"I don’t know how she managed that but we have to find out what hospital she was brought to."

"I’m on it," Ebir said. "Why don’t you start where you are, most Servants and Initiates were taken there."

"All right, I need personnel. Beam ten special agents to meet me at the main entrance immediately. I’ve already have Farah working on increasing security with local officials"

"Will do. Ebir out."

"Farah! We’ve got a situation. Sarassa may already be in this facility."

"What?"

"I want everyone on a heightened state of security now. No on, and I mean no one leaves or enters this facility until we do a thorough sweep of this facility."

Within minutes the entire hospital was locked down.

Ten minutes later ten agents and Lt B’Elanna Torres materialised just inside the main entrance. Noro introduced himself to the alien woman who had proud cranial ridges adorning her forehead.

"Nice to meet you," she said, "Let’s go find this woman. I can’t wait to get my hands on her after what she did to your people, my crewmates and Seven."

Agent Noro looked surprised at the vehemence but realised that this was deeply personal to the dark haired woman, just as it had become to him.

"Let’s move out."

Torres glanced around the reception area where a large crowd awaited news.

"God, all these people," she breathed. "They’re all looking for their kids, aren’t they?"

Agent Noro nodded. "Yes, and that’s another part of the problem. Either we failed to round up all of the Servants so they are still out their, still under Sarassa’s influenced and ready to do anything for their leader or….

"Or what?"

"They’re dead."

*****

A quick search of the hospital’s admission’s data produced the information they were searching for. A woman matching the description had indeed been admitted to the same hospital as the President’s daughter.

Agents on the floor where she was admitted were contacted immediately and told to secure the area and await backup.

Noro and Torres made their way quickly to the floor. When they went to the patient’s room the old woman was missing.

B’Elanna Torres regarded the tall Dagarian to her left. Agent Noro seemed to be a collected and together man but now his face was furrowed with fatigue and carefully contained fury.

"Get the head nurse for this ward now! Who’s in charge of security for this floor?"

"I am, sir," a young agent replied.

"Where is the patient who was in this room?" Agent Noro demanded.

"Sir, she was here just minutes ago."

"Agent Noro? This is the Chief Nurse," another agent said, motioning toward an older Dagarian woman.

"What can I do to help?" she said calmly.

"Tell me about the patient who was admitted to this room, I believe her name was Merina."

"She’s an elderly woman, very frail and having difficulty adjusting to her surroundings. She was rather disoriented at first; in fact she had trouble remembering who she was and how she came to be here."

"Has she been taken any where for test or treatment?"

The head nurse walked back to her station and punched some commands into the computer. "No, not at the moment, although I see that she is scheduled for a scan but that is not until later today."

"Is it possible that one of the technicians could have taken her for that procedure already?"

"I don’t believe so but I’ll have my staff check on it immediately."

"When was the last time you or you staff saw this patient."

"Just a few minutes ago, I would guess ten, no more than fifteen minutes. Her daughter and son-in-law were with her."

"What? She had family members with her?"

"Yes, they arrived not long after she was admitted to the ward. They seemed genuinely concerned about her."

"Is it possible that they could have taken her?"

"The patient is very frail Agent Noro, I don’t know how they would have done it without my staff or someone on the ward observing them doing so."

"Please have your staff check to see if the patient was taken off the ward for test."

"I’ll get right on it."

Noro turned to the security personnel. "I want to talk to all security members who are stationed on the floor now! The rest of you, I want you to assume their post temporarily and secure the floor and I do mean secure the floor. No one in - no on out. Do I make myself clear?"

Quickly agents moved out as other began to report in. Torres went up to Noro.

"Did she say family members?"

Noro had snatched his communication device and hailed Ebir.

"We’ve got a situation." Noro said through gritted teeth.

"Go ahead. "

"It seems we are missing an elderly patient and her alleged family members."

"What?"

"The nurse in charge of this ward saw this woman less than fifteen minutes ago," Noro said. "She would have been apprehended and questioned if she tried to enter any other ward or office within the facility so we’ll work from the starting point that she’s hiding close by. I’m about to initiate a search of the entire facility but I need you to check with the family reception station. All family members has to be cleared before entering the facility. I need to know who these people were and how their identities were verified."

"I’ll get right on it. Is it possible that we’re searching for the wrong person?"

"My hunch is that we have the right one and failed to round up all the speakers."

There was silence on the other end of the connection. Then, Ebir spoke slowly. "If that’s true then all of the Servants are in danger and so is the President."

"My thoughts exactly."

"Keep me informed. I’ll start working things from this end. Ebir out."

Torres has listened in on the entire conversation. Inside a rage began to rise. "I can’t believe that I actually had my hands on this woman and let her get away!" she exclaimed. "She did not fit the Servant profile at all … but she tested positive for the agent. I guess it was easy enough for her to inject herself when she realised that an immediate escape was impossible."

"Yes, and then act as if she was as affected and brainwashed as everybody else," Noro agreed. "She really didn’t risk anything. She must have guessed that she’d be inoculated quickly."

The security personnel on duty on the ward arrived at the nurse’s station. Agent Noro questioned them gruffly. All assured him that they had not witnessed the suspect leaving her room. However, he was able to get a complete description of the alleged family members.

"Torres, you better contact Voyager. It’s possible this little entourage could have transported out of here."

"Torres to Janeway."

"Go ahead, B’Elanna."

"Have there been any transporter activity in or around my current location in the past hour?"

"I’ll check … No, according to Harry there had been no activity within your vicinity. What’s going on?"

"It’s possible that Sarassa has slipped through our grasp."

*****

Janeway immediately contacted Tuvok and asked him to report to her ready room. When he arrived after quickly beaming off Dagar, she informed him of the recent developments.

"I want this woman found. Do what ever it takes."

"I assume the woman in question was the one found with Seven when she was rescued?" Tuvok asked as he watched Janeway pace back and forth.

"So it seems. Any ideas who these so called family members are?"

"It would be logical to assume they are Speakers who have eluded capture. Has the President been notified?"

"I don’t know. I would think his agents would have contacted him immediately. Why do you ask?"

"I believe that he and his family may be in particular danger from this woman."

"Tuvok, I want you down there immediately. We’ll be standing by to assist."

"Since our crew members are all out of danger would it not be prudent to step back and leave this for the local authorities to handle?"

"It may be illogical, Tuvok, but this became our concern when they attacked this ship’s crew. It became personal when they attempted to kill Seven."

"Very well, I would suggest that we assist the local officials in their search of the hospital and maintain a surveillance of the immediate vicinity and the Sanctuary as well. There is the possibility that Sarassa and her followers have transporter technology."

"I agree. Contact B’Elanna and begin from there. You have your orders Tuvok. Find Sarassa."

*****

B’Elanna and Agent Noro began to walk down the corridor, carefully scanning the rooms as they passed them.

B’Elanna had quickly tapped into the memory buffer of her tricorder and managed to find a reading of the old woman’s bio signature.

She had transferred it to Noro’s scanning device and now they would know the difference between Sarassa and the rest of the Dagarians in the hospital.

B’Elanna reached a double door at the end of the corridor. She scanned it and was rewarded with the tricorder giving a muted beep.

"Hey, Noro," she hissed over her shoulder. "I’m getting a strange reading from this door. What’s behind it?"

The tall man scanned the door too.

"It leads to the stairs," he said. "I’m getting the same reading. She’s close, no doubt trying to leave the hospital."

More agents joined them. Noro motioned for two of them to join him and B’Elanna at the door.

"I trust there are guards at all these exits now?" the Klingon asked.

"There better be. If she’s trying to get out of here via the stairs, she won’t get far."

B’Elanna fought the urge to roll her eyes.

"Don’t underestimate this woman," she said her voice intense. "She waltzed right by us all at the Sanctuary with that little act of helplessness of hers. Don’t think for one minute that she won’t be able to pull that off again."

Noro nodded in agreement.

"We’re going to search the stairwell," he said. "Post guards at every door on every floor. From the top floor I want two agents to begin working their way down, from the bottom floor I want two more working their way up. Lt Torres, you are with me."

"And where are we headed?"

"Towards that bio sign. Let’s go."

B’Elanna pulled out her phaser, making sure it was set on heavy stun while keeping her tricorder ready in her left hand. She watched Agent Noro grab his sidearm from the holster as they approached the door again.

B’Elanna scanned it and nodded. It was safe. Tentatively the Dagarian agent opened the door and they slipped through it together.

Noro and the Klingon began to descend the stairs. They made it down two floors without any trace of the old woman. The doors leading from the staircase to the wards were guarded by hospital security officers.

B’Elanna was about to start on the next flight of stairs when the tricorder beeped again.

She quickly turned to Noro who had noticed the alarm.

"I think we’re closing in on her," B’Elanna hissed. "According to the readings she’s not far away."

They quickly down the stairs and were heading for the door to the ward on the next floor when a heartbreaking scream was heard from the other side.

"What the hell …" B’Elanna exclaimed and grabbed for the door opener when Noro yanked her back.

Wild sobs from behind the door made them both flinch.

"It’s her." Noro’s voice was emotionless. "She has a hostage."

B’Elanna had quickly reached the same conclusion given the circumstances. Sarassa had managed to get onto this floor and now she was threatening someone.

"No, no!" the young voice behind the door called out in utter panic. "I can’t go back there. I can’t!"

The Klingon watched Noro talk intensely into his communication device, arranging for agents to transport to all exits of the ward in question.

B’Elanna scanned the door and the immediate area behind it.

"It’s her," she confirmed in a low tone of voice. "I’m getting her readings as well as of a female Dagarian and two others. Their signatures are all close together."

Noro nodded then moved into position.

"It seems that Sarassa and her so called family has armed themselves and taken a hostage. Security has them cornered but they dare not make a move or they have threatened to kill the girl."

"We just can’t stand her. We have to do something." B’Elanna growled the thirst for revenge overwhelming.

Suddenly her comm badge chirped.

"Tuvok to Torres."

"Go ahead."

"What is your current location?"

"In the staircase with Agent Noro. We have Sarassa and her people cornered on one of the floors of the hospital but they’ve taken a hostage."

"Can you transmit her bio signature to me?"

"Yes, of course. Transmitting the data now."

"Very good. Tell Agent Noro to stand by and Lt Torres … do not do anything rash."

"What?"

"Stand by."

"What the hell?" Torres looked at Noro who had a confused look on his face as well.

"Don’t look at me; I have no idea what he’s up to."

*****

"Captain, I believe Lt Torres has found the individual you are looking for. Unfortunately she and her companions have taken a hostage and are holding security at bay."

"Any ideas?"

"Since Sarassa seemed so intent on having our crew stay at the Sanctuary perhaps we should offer her our hospitality on board Voyager. Lt Torres has provided me with the individual’s bio signs as well as her current location."

"Harry, have you got them?"

"Yes, Captain."

Janeway turned to Chakotay.

"Get a security team to transport room one immediately."

"Aye, Captain."

"Tuvok, let me know as soon as security in place."

"They’ve just arrived, Captain."

"Good, I want you to prepare a welcoming committee for our guest."

"We are ready, Captain"

"On my mark Harry. Energise."

*****

"If you move any closer we will kill this girl. Now, I suggest you back away, contact your superiors, and do what ever you need to do to meet our demands," the old woman said in a cold tone of voice.

"We are in contact with them now."

Three people, an elderly woman, and a young couple, held weapons in their hands. A terrified girl stood between them all being held like a shield by the man.

"Who’s in the stairwell?" demanded the old woman.

The door slowly opened revealing Agent Noro.

"There’s no need for violence," the agent said as he slowly entered the area.

"Call them off. Now!’

"Just don’t hurt the girl," Noro said as he slowly lifted the communication device to his mouth. "This is Noro, I want everyone to stand down, is that understood. Stand down now!"

Just then the three suspects dematerialised.

"Where the hell are they!" Noro exclaimed.

B’Elanna entered through the door from the stairwell with the strangest look on her face. It was almost like a smile.

"Take it easy Noro. Your suspects are currently ‘guests’ of Voyager. I’m sure they are receiving a warm welcome from our crew even as we speak."

*****

Tuvok gripped the phaser rifle firmly as three forms rematerialised on the transporter dais. On either side of him he was flanked by two security officers from the alpha shift armed in a similar manner.

His eyes never left the three people they had beamed off the planet. He immediately recognised the elderly woman. She was indeed the individual they had found in Seven’s cell in the bunker.

"I would advise you not to move or you will force me to fire."

"Sounds like a good idea to me," Voyager’s captain sarcastically remarked as she and her next in command entered the room.

"Drop your weapons."

At that moment one of the two younger Dagarians fired their weapon only to have it ricochet off the force field that had erected around the dais.

"Fool! Do as they demand before we are killed."

All three individuals dropped their weapons.

"We meet again, Sarassa," Janeway said, her voice cold.

"What do you intend to do with us?"

"Do? An interesting question. Perhaps you might like a dose of your own medicine so to speak. Not interested? Pity. Then I guess we’ll just have to turn you over to the local authorities. Tuvok, secure them in the brig and notify your friends in security that we have something that belongs to them; their garbage."

*****

All members of Voyager’s senior staff except Seven of Nine were gathered in the conference room.

Tuvok and B’Elanna had returned from the planet late the day before. After turning Sarassa over to the local authorities they had spent several days on Dagar assisting Ebir and Noro in their continued work.

Janeway had closely followed their progress. She had stayed away from her and Seven’s quarters since the blonde had begun her weeklong regeneration cycle, feeling utterly lonely in their bed. Focusing on the task at hand helped her not count the minutes until the week was over.

"First I want to commend you two on a job well done," the captain now said to Tuvok and B’Elanna. "President Romir and the local authorities are impressed by the way you have handled the situation."

"They were as cordial and pleasant to deal with in this matter as in any other circumstance," Tuvok stated.

"Since the Doctor couldn’t go planet side because of Seven, they settled for my expertise when it came to the drug and how it worked. My job mostly consisted of ensuring they had correctly calibrated tricorders and hypo sprays," B’Elanna said with uncharacteristic modesty.

"I know you did a little more than that," Janeway smirked. "According to Agents Ebir and Noro, you were instrumental in apprehending some of Third Speaker Dajana’s superior officers."

B’Elanna had the good taste to blush faintly. Janeway knew that the Klingon’s thirst for blood on Seven’s behalf had resulted in her volunteering in some tactical operations.

"Well, Tuvok needed assistance …"

Tuvok gave B’Elanna a look that Janeway correctly interpreted as surprise.

"Go on," the captain forestalled the argument about to take place. "I think there are a few things that we are all interested in knowing more about; for instance, who is Sarassa and what was the prime objective of the Sanctuary?"

Everyone directed their attention to Tuvok who had sat in on the interrogation of the Sanctuary’s leader.

"It did not take the local authorities long to establish that the woman we found in Seven’s cell and later apprehended was indeed the power as well as the spiritual leader behind the Sanctuary," Tuvok began. "She started the movement twenty-five years ago and quickly recruited a handful of people that were interested in her goals."

"Ruthless, power-hungry people," B’Elanna added. "They started out by making the Sanctuary very appealing to young people who was looking for a place to belong, to serve a purpose more important than themselves."

"Continue, please," Janeway nodded, leaning back in her chair.

"They operated covertly for years but about six years ago, a new technology fell into their position," the Vulcan reported. "An alien had found his way to the Sanctuary while visiting Dagar and he possessed the embryo of the technology that later was developed into the method and the drug that the Sanctuary used to target the exact people they wanted as their Servants."

B’Elanna glanced down at her feet.

"They would send the Servants out with specific kinds of people in mind. The Servant would hand the person they targeted a pamphlet on a bus tour, a beverage at a restaurant or a coin in a store - all prepped and ready to infect the person it was intended for."

"What type of people did they target?" Tom Paris asked.

"They wanted young, healthy people, preferably women it seems, who came from families of wealth and power in some instance. In other cases they thought the person possessed a skill or a talent that they could exploit."

"As young as Naomi?" Janeway questioned sceptically.

"No," Tuvok answered. "Naomi was accidentally induced by the drug, probably by touching her mother’s brochure before the injection into Ensign Wildman was completed. The Doctor interviewed Ensign Wildman when she had recovered from the antidote’s effects and it seemed the most plausible explanation. The Doctor was right in his estimate that the drug can enter a child’s circulatory system but does not affect it until the child has matured."

The Doctor smiled.

"I have examined all our crewmembers who were victimised by these scoundrels today and they exhibit no physiological affected from the toxin.

"What about psychological effects?"

"There are some, I’m afraid. Healing will take time."

"What about Seven?" Neelix asked.

"Seven will regenerate another day and then I expect her to fully recover," the Doctor said.

Janeway glanced at the Doctor, grateful that he did not mention anything about their fear regarding the emotional repercussions from Seven’s ordeal. They had not been able to talk to the young woman before she was beamed to her alcove in cargo bay two to regenerate but they both realised that the trauma had not only been of a physical nature.

"I miss her and so does Naomi," Neelix said. "It will be nice when things get back to normal around here."

"When is it ever normal around here?" Harry sighed. The young ops ensign had pulled several double shifts, working the bridge as well as engineering while B’Elanna was planet side and Seven indisposed.

"You’re right, Harry," Tom said, rubbing his forehead. "It’s never normal!"

Janeway regarded her senior staff fondly. They had worked hard. Chakotay had kept the information between Voyager and Dagar flowing. He had worked closely with the Minster of Justice, keeping him up to date on Voyager’s continued research about the toxin and its makeup.

Neelix had performed nothing short of a miracle, tending to the affected crewmembers and encouraging them to participate in meals in the mess hall. All of them had experienced a certain degree of shame even if they understood that they were not responsible for their action or wishes while under the influence of the chemical agent.

"I want to know more about the ultimate purpose of this sanctuary," Chakotay said and leaned forward on his elbows.

B’Elanna took her seat, suddenly looking tired.

"When the Servants had proven their loyalty without a doubt, they were sent where they could obtain as much information as possible, all to benefit the Sanctuary, to render its leaders political power as well as a considerable wealth. The President’s daughter was one of their best catches. She provided them with a great deal of information regarding her family, the Residence, what she knew about her father’s work. We found documentation that proves they intended to send her home soon, to act as if she had changed her mind and left the Sanctuary. She’s having a terrible time of it, full of doubts and guilt. I had to scan the girl over and over before she would allow her parents to see her again after that first night. She didn’t trust herself."

"Poor girl," Tom said. "How’s she doing now?"

"Atahlia is back at the President’s Residence and she is recuperating under the surveillance of their family doctor. She still receives booster doses of the antidote since it appears that they overdosed her quite frequently to keep her docile and on track."

"What they failed to realise," the Doctor added, "was that such large repeated doses of the drug caused side effects, a wide range of disorders. Atahlia suffered from severe irritability, anorexia and insomnia. I would say that we got to them in the nick of time. Another month or so with increased doses and she would have snapped or even died."

Janeway shook her head. "Is that what they think happened to the young people who are still missing?"

"I am afraid this is possible," Tuvok replied in a solemn voice. "The officials are still investigating this aspect of the case."

"The callousness of these people. They just took people, someone’s child, someone’s friend …" Janeway quieted and cleared her throat. "So, update us on the currently situation. What do they plan to do with Sarassa?"

Tuvok remained standing, his brow deeply furrowed.

"The Minister of Justice assured me that she will be prosecuted and the likely outcome of the upcoming trial is their most severe punishment - exile."

The captain looked up, surprised.

"Exile?"

"As you may remember, Captain, Dagar governs a newly colonised planet only four light-years from here. It was barren and deemed impossible to sustain life. The terra formation process began two decades ago and has made it possible for work crews to mine the rich minerals there. The planet also hosts a facility that provides shelter for convicted criminals."

"Is it safe?" Janeway inquired.

"Nobody has ever managed to escape."

"Good," Janeway muttered. "Let’s hope it stays that way."

"The Minister of Justice expected the same punishment for all the speakers. They are all accused of espionage, infiltration, fraud, kidnapping in multiple cases, and perhaps murder."

They all mulled the last statement over. The captain knew the experiences made on Dagar would haunt them for a long time.

"Thank you. You’ve done an outstanding job this last week. I know you all deserve some R&R and we will instigate a new round of shore leave rotations, just not yet, not on this planet."

"We understand and I think I speak for the whole crew when I say that we also agree," Neelix said. "How about some uninhabited little paradise like the one Seven discovered in astrometrics before we arrived at Dagar, about fifty light-years from here?"

"I think that sounds wonderful," Janeway managed to smile. "When I’ve talked to the President of Dagar and tied up some loose ends I’ll give the order to set a course for that planet." She rose from her chair. "We’re all tired. I suggest we continue the briefing tomorrow. Resume your duties. No more overtime. Dismissed."

They all left, except Chakotay who remained in his chair.

"You want to grab dinner in the mess hall?" he asked.

"No, thank you, Chakotay. I’ve … I’ve got work to do."

"You said it yourself. No more overtime."

"I … "

He rose from his chair and walked up to her, putting a warm hand on her shoulder.

"I know, Kathryn," he said quietly. "You’ll work an hour or two in your ready room and then you’ll head down to cargo bay two to stay with her, won’t you?"

Janeway lowered her head and swallowed hard.

"One more day," she murmured. "You’d think I could manage one more day?"

"I think you can. She’ll be out of regeneration tomorrow and then you’ll have her home where she belongs. She is a strong young woman, Kathryn."

"Yes, she is, isn’t she? I have to believe that she’ll be fine."

"You know what? The ready room be damned. Just go to her. I know you have a chair there. Go sit with her."

Janeway turned around and flung her arms around his neck, surprising her next in command with a firm hug.

"Thank you," she said and then let go. She smiled crookedly and then left the conference room.

"You’re welcome," she heard Chakotay say quietly.

*****

He had sat in on the interrogations, hidden in a remote, dark corner the last two days but now President Romir stood facing the diminutive woman that had hurt him and his family more than he had ever thought possible.

She had not known that he was there but now it was time to face his daughter’s Nemesis.

She had risked his daughter’s life, her sanity and broken up his family for several years and still she had the audacity to face him with a faint smile on her thin lips. The President however had new information that would no doubt wipe that grin off her face.

"Sarassa," he began, forcing himself with every ounce of his strength to remain calm. "It is my duty to inform you that your plans to infiltrate the Residence, the Government and the Military have failed. You will be tried on multiple counts of espionage, infiltration, fraud, kidnapping and murder."

The irritating little smile faded somewhat.

"What are you talking about? Murder?" Sarassa huffed.

"The fifth floor in your bunker underneath the Sanctuary is also a tomb," the President said, pressing his lips tight together, "or should I say catacomb? "We opened up every little hatch on that floor and my agents report finding at least forty-six mummified bodies down there. They are the bodies of the young men and women that you lured into your trap. You poisoned them. You convinced them that they would reach their life’s goals by doing your dirty work for you."

Not pleased that his voice betrayed his rage, the President inhaled and held his breath for a moment. When he looked at the woman standing in front of him he was pleased to see that the malicious look on her face had begun to crumble.

"Dead?" she said wonderingly, her deep voice contrasting to her petite form.

"Don’t pretend you didn’t know about the deaths that your drug caused. The forensic department informs me that some of these young people have been dead for years and that you and your thugs injected them with massive amounts of the agent. What was it? An experiment that went wrong?"

"No … no …" She sank down on a chair in the small interrogation room.

"Your days of successful deception are over," Romir spat.

Sarassa lifted her gaze at Dagar’s elected leader and he was shocked to watch the open rage in the almost demented look she gave him.

"You fool," she growled, her lips pulled back over her teeth making her face look like a death mask. "You pathetic fool! Of course I knew. I just didn’t know that the bodies weren’t destroyed. Those damn idiots!"

Romir watched as Sarassa’s mask of patient indifference crumbled before his eyes. When he first saw her he had found it hard to believe that this elegant little woman was the mastermind of the despicable organisation that had not only a countless number of kidnappings on its conscience but also several deaths.

"You realise that you’re finished, don’t you?" he now asked as he prepared to leave the room.

"Others will continue the work," Sarassa hissed.

"We’re in the process of tracking down any sub units to the Sanctuary and I give you my word that I will not rest until every last Servant is rescued and restored to health and any speaker in your organisation taken into custody."

"You will never succeed!"

Romir regarded the small woman with open contempt.

"You made two major mistakes," he said as he opened the door. "First you took my daughter." He paused. "That was bad enough but the next mistake was even worse from your point of view."

"What do you mean?"

"You crossed Captain Janeway. You went after the starship Voyager’s crew."

Pleased with the helpless rage his words brought to her eyes, the President closed the door behind him.

*****

"Regeneration cycle complete."

The computer’s static voice ended the weeklong replenishing that had restored Seven’s systems. Opening her eyes the ex-Borg took a second to find her bearings, taking one step forward on the dais of her alcove, disengaging the tubes behind her.

"Seven," she heard the beloved voice say. She raised her eyes and saw Kathryn standing before her.

"Kathryn," she said. "How long was my regeneration?"

"A week, as we said."

"My eyesight has returned," Seven commented.

"Yes, the Doctor assured me that all your senses and internal organs are restored to health."

The captain held out a hand. Seven took it lingeringly, not sure why she experienced such hesitation. Kathryn pulled her close into a tight embrace. Emotions she had not anticipated welled up and made her tremble.

"Seven, are you all right?" Kathryn asked. "Doctor?"

The doctor stepped forward and did some quick scans. "Good as new. Perhaps you would like to return to sickbay for a …"

"No," Seven managed. "No, I am functional …"

She broke off as the memories of the Sanctuary, the erratic emotions and fears surged through her.

"I want to go home," she murmured.

"And so we shall, darling," Kathryn said and raised her voice. "I’ll take it from here Doctor. Computer; initiate site to site transport, two to beam to the captain’s quarters."

The transporter system swiftly moved them to their quarters, delivering them in the living room area.

Seven broke free from the embrace. She regarded the woman she loved, not knowing what to say. Her thoughts were fragmented, her emotions contradicting. The young woman wanted desperately to hide in Kathryn’s comforting arms but a feeling of having forfeited that possibility made her regress to old behaviours. Clasping her hands behind her back she set her jaw.

"I understand that you must have been successful in solving the problem with the Sanctuary," she said, fighting to keep her alto voice neutral.

Kathryn regarded her closely. Seemingly not phased in the least, the captain raised her hand and touched Seven’s cheek.

"Yes, Seven," she said, her voice soft, "together with the local authorities we managed to incarcerate the leaders, including Sarassa herself. They are still tracking down Servants that are out operating on the field and administering the antidote. I guess that work will continue for some time until they find them all."

The name of the leader sent shivers down Seven’s spine. She suddenly saw the scornful woman for her inner eye.

"She … that woman," she stuttered.

Kathryn stepped closer.

"Seven, it’s all right," she hushed and hugged the young woman. "Come with me and see what I’ve prepared for us. I think this may help you … and me … to relax. Come," she said taking Seven by the hand.

Seven wordlessly followed the captain into the bathroom. The large bathtub was filled with scented hot water, candles crowded the rim and large towels awaited them when the bath was over.

"Here, let me help you undress," Kathryn said. She did not wait for permission. Unfastening the hidden clasp at Seven’s neck she peeled off the bio suit.

Seven shivered. Kathryn was correct. She felt lost. She tried to find strength in the love she felt for the older woman but it was as if her concentration was forever destroyed, her thoughts fluttered erratically in her mind.

"Come on, sweetheart, get into the tub. I’ll be right there," the captain said. She assisted Seven into the water and helped her sit down.

The hot water surrounded her like a protective shield. She huddled, submerging her self up to her shoulders.

"That’s it," Kathryn said as she began to undress. "Now, make room for me."

Seven regarded the auburn haired woman as she unceremoniously undressed before her. Kathryn’s compact form was just as beautiful as ever, still she did not experience the usual fluttering in her midsection at the sight.

Seven scooted over to provide room for Kathryn as she stepped into the tub, holding on to Seven’s shoulder. Slowly sitting down behind the blonde she pulled her close while reaching for a sponge.

"Now, just relax," she said. "You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to. I’ll just hold you and give you a bath, okay?"

Seven swallowed hard and leaned back against Kathryn. After a while the familiar, loving touch when the older woman washed her with a soapy sponge slowly began to relax her.

"Kathryn?"

"Yes."

"They are … evil."

"I agree."

The blonde drew a trembling breath.

"They destroy everything, people’s dreams and hopes. They leave you with nothing." Seven turned her head to look at Kathryn, her tears welling up. "They tap into your mind, make you behave … like I did. I am very sorry. I know you have forgiven me or I would not be her with you in this way but still …" She turned her head back, not able to face her lover.

"Wait, Seven, what are you talking about?" the captain asked.

"That night on the beach."

Kathryn was quiet behind her. Apparently the older woman was still upset about it as well.

"I … I used you, Kathryn. I know it is no excuse, but I was not myself. I acted out of sheer selfishness and … used you." Silent tears began to run down her cheeks.

"That night was also the most romantic night we’ve had in a long time," Kathryn reminded Seven. "I confess that the way we made love was puzzling but only because you seemed uninterested in any reciprocation. I know now it was the toxin that made you feel uninhibited. Do you realise what that means?

"No," Seven said in a whisper.

"It means that sometimes you have the urge to just ravage me and be in charge and there’s nothing wrong with that. The toxin does not plant thoughts in your head; it strengthens your desires and makes you go for it, no matter the consequences."

Seven held her breath for a moment.

"So you mean that I have desires to dominate you?" she asked cautiously.

"I think so. I have the same desires sometimes. I also think we both have the urge to be submissive at times."

Seven considered this.

"But I forced you," she then confessed, shame surging through her.

"No, you didn’t. Is that what you fear, darling? That it was an act of violence? It wasn’t. You could never be violent towards me, drug or no drug."

"You are very forgiving, Kathryn."

The captain’s loving arms tightened around her. Seven leaned back on Kathryn’s shoulder, turning her head and hiding at the soft skin of the other woman’s neck.

"I failed," she confessed. The warm water was comforting and so were Kathryn’s arms but the sense of futility ran deep within her. "I gave in to it in the end and I failed."

"Seven, how on earth did you fail? Tell me what’s bothering you."

"I ...I feel … shame. I feel that I was weak, that I let you down. That I gave in to the toxin."

"Darling, there is no reason for you to feel this way. If it’s any consolation, there were similar reactions among most of the Servants when the drug left their system and our own crew members."

Hugging Seven to her body Janeway whispered. "You have never failed me, Seven. Never. If it wasn’t for you all of those victims, our crew members, would have been lost. You are the bravest person I know and I love you very, very much. Please, Seven, talk to me."

"I thought they could provide the answer," Seven said, her voice barely audible. "I was sure they had the answers that would validate … make it clear to me, why I was severed and saved from the Collective."

Janeway held the young woman in her arms, making sure they were submerged up to their necks in the hot scented water. She patiently waited for Seven to continue. She kissed her head, stroked her hair and waited.

The blonde shivered in her arms.

"I thought they would provide me with the knowledge of how to obtain my goal. I came so close … or I thought I did …"

"To what, darling?" Janeway asked.

"Everything they said and did pointed to it," Seven continued, gasping from the emotions stirring inside her. "I was only there for a very brief time, but it made sense. It was relevant. I thought … Oh, Kathryn; I thought I would find perfection."

Perfection - the ultimate goal for a Borg. Kathryn felt her blood run cold. Of course, it was Seven’s deepest desire, so firmly planted in her mind by the Collective. The admiration and strive for perfection was always present.

"Darling, it is what the toxin was designed to do. It flooded your brain, acted like a transmitter substance and reinforced your strongest personal desires, in your case, the wish for perfection. It kept the Servants in check. The leaders of the Sanctuary dangled the Servant’s most desired goals just before them, making them think they could reach them as long as they obeyed and followed orders."

Janeway watched as Seven seemed to consider this.

"I gave in so quickly," the blonde whispered. "I let the substance command me and yet I had the best opportunity among the affected individuals there to countermand it through my nano probes."

"In a way I think your Borg enhanced systems and the way your body suffered during their struggle for your survival, made it very hard on you. You had to fight both the urges to submit to what the toxin did to you as well as your own systems reactions to it."

"I failed …"

"You did not fail! You beamed the sample and evidence we needed to the Doctor and that opened up for all the successful rescue operations that followed. If it had not been for your courage to go undercover despite the threat of the toxin overcoming you, we may not have come up with an antidote in time."

"You do not understand," Seven said and sat up, water streaming down her chest. "I may have succeeded in my mission up to the point when I sent the brochure to the Doctor, but I willingly succumbed to this desire … this wish to reach perfection. It was selfish and I had no thought of you … of our home on Voyager. All I could think about was how I would be able to convince Third Speaker Dajana that I was ready … "

Janeway put a finger over her distraught Borg’s lips and shook her head.

"It was the drug talking, darling," she said. "Just the drug. Come, let’s get out of the tub and go to bed. I’ve not been sleeping very well this last week without you."

Seven nodded and stood up, helping Janeway out of the bathtub. They wrapped themselves in the large towels, blew out the candles and walked into the bedroom. Janeway folded back the covers and climbed into bed, discarding the towel, leaving it on the floor.

"Come," she said again.

She watched the young woman hesitate and then drop her towel. Seven climbed into bed and Janeway reached for her.

"Oh, I have missed this," the older woman breathed against the soft skin over her beloved. "I have missed sleeping with you, holding you, talking to you … everything."

The blonde wrapped her arms around Janeway and the captain enjoyed the feeling of the tall, voluptuous body against hers. She knew Seven was still upset but realised that she was finally getting through to her.

"Let me ask you something," she said, snuggling closer. "What if I had been the one affected by the drug? What if I had renounced you, Voyager and everything we’ve ever had together? What if I had tried to sacrifice everything?"

The blonde cradled Janeway closed into her arms.

"I would not have let you," she answered readily. "I would have known that this was not what was in your heart. I know about your devotion to the crew, this ship … and to me …"

Janeway smiled against the silky skin of Seven’s shoulder.

"Yes, you do."

"I would have done anything to rescue you. I would have … Oh, Kathryn!"

Seven leaned over the auburn haired woman and kissed her over and over. Janeway happily opened her mouth, letting the young woman decide when to deepen the kiss. Seven seemed hungry for her; perhaps it sprang out of need for comfort as well as physical desire. The blonde pulled Janeway underneath her, devouring her mouth.

"Seven," the captain breathed. "Oh my God, you feel so good." She rolled them over, ending up on top of the younger woman. She planted several scorching kisses down the other woman’s collarbones, making Seven arch underneath her.

"That’s it," Janeway murmured feverishly, feeling herself become aroused beyond words as the relief that Seven was back in her arms and in her bed, safe and sound. "Just let me love you. Let me show you just how much I’ve missed you."

"I love you," Seven said, her eyes glazed over, probably because of both overwhelming emotions and arousal. "My Kathryn."

"Yours," Janeway replied with certainty.

She let her mouth travel down the younger woman’s chest, eager to reach her full breasts, wanting more than anything to taste the delicious plump nipples. She cupped the left one and raised it to her mouth, the surface pebbling instantly as soon as her lips closed around it. She suckled it deep into her mouth, allowing her teeth to grace the sensitive skin.

Seven writhed underneath her, lacing her finger into Janeway’s hair. Pulling the captain closer she arched again.

Janeway suckled and chewed the nipple until it was bright red and sore from the attention. She raised her head and regarded her lover, softly blowing on the overheated skin.

"You know I’m a fair-minded person?" she asked innocently.

"Yes, Kathryn," Seven answered.

"Then you realise that I need to do the honourable thing here?"

Before Seven had a chance to reply to the cryptic question she leaned down and captured the right nipple between her teeth, making Seven gasp.

"Mm," Janeway murmured against the breast, the sound apparently reverberating through the skin and making the blonde shiver. Relentlessly she caressed the nipple with her teeth and her tongue, not letting go until Seven parted her legs, wrapping them around her lover.

Janeway let go of the younger woman’s breast and raised her head. She could feel Seven’s moisture against herself as her hip pressed against the soft blonde patch of hair at the apex of Seven’s thighs.

"You’re so wonderful in every way," the captain whispered. "Don’t you realise that? Do you know that you mean everything to me, darling? I can’t imagine my life without you and I pray I will never have to."

She pulled Seven’s right leg up and put it over her shoulder. Pressing her hip into the wetness betraying the blonde’s arousal, she began to rock slowly. Seven moaned and followed in the dance, rocking against Janeway.

"Good girl," the captain moaned quietly. She was very turned on but wanted this to be just right for Seven. She knew the young woman loved when they rocked together, face to face, like this. She ground herself against the swollen ridge of nerves that quickly grew even bigger.

"Tell me what you want," Janeway said. "Tell me."

Seven went rigid for a second, obviously remembering saying the exact words that night on the beach on Dagar. Janeway held her breath, hoping that she had read the younger woman right.

Slowly Seven relaxed.

"Go inside," she said, her voice soft. "I need you to re-claim me, Kathryn."

Understanding better than the young woman probably realised, Janeway moved to the side, adjusting Seven’s other leg, spreading her wide. Sliding her fingertips through the moisture, she watched the blonde bite her lower lip.

"Like this, darling?" Janeway asked.

"Please …"

The captain probed Seven’s entrance with tender fingers and then positioned two of them.

"Look at me," she commanded, her voice soft. "I want to watch you when I do this."

Swallowing hard, Seven gazed up at Janeway.

Without hesitation, the auburn haired woman tenderly entered her lover’s body, pressing two digits inside the tight opening.

"Oh!" Seven gasped and involuntarily closed her eyes.

"No," Janeway insisted. "Look at me."

Seven immediately opened her eyes, locking her gaze with Janeway’s.

"That’s it," the captain purred and began moving her fingers in and out, she too needing to re-claim her lover, make the young woman her own all over again. She curled her fingers, finding the spot inside her beloved that drove Seven crazy with pleasure. Wanting to give the blonde everything, she let her thumb find the hard nubbin and circle it in the same rhythm.

"Oh, Kathryn," Seven whimpered. "Oh … yes …"

"You’re mine, you know that, don’t you?"

"Yes."

"You’re home safe and all mine." Janeway picked up the pace, pushing Seven closer and closer to the precipice that beckoned them both. She could feel her own moisture pool between her legs and knew that Seven’s orgasm would probably send her over the edge too.

"Kathryn, I love you," Seven moaned, her hips undulating against the fingers working relentlessly inside her.

"I love you too," Janeway assured her, carefully adding a digit to the two already inside the young woman.

This became too much for the ex-Borg. She arched underneath Janeway and closed her eyes, whimpering her lover’s name over and over. Her inner muscles squeezed the captain’s fingers tight when the orgasm hit. Feeling the rush of moisture and hearing the beloved alto voice become incoherent for those precious seconds the unbearable pleasure surged through the tall blonde set Janeway off.

She too closed her eyes, slumping down on the woman underneath her as her own pleasure began between her legs and spreading through her loins and her stomach. She convulsed against Seven, feeling the young woman’s arms wrap around her shivering body.

"Annika," the captain murmured. "Oh, God, Annika … I love you."

"My Kathryn," Seven said, out of breath but sounding very pleased.

"Yours."

They remained as they were for a while until Janeway’s arm began to get numb and they had to disentangle from each other and find a more restful position. Seven ended up wrapped up in Janeway’s embrace, her head on the captain’s shoulder.

"Comfortable?" Janeway asked sleepily.

"Yes."

"Feeling better?"

"Yes."

Janeway chuckled.

"Happy?"

Seven raised her head and looked at her lover.

"I am happy to be back on Voyager with you. I am also still afraid of future repercussions of the toxin. I suppose only the passing of time will be able to eliminate that fear."

"I think you’re right. President Romir wanted to host a reception to celebrate the Voyager crew for aiding in the solution to exposing the Sanctuary. I explained that what this crew needed was to resume their shore leave. We will say goodbye to Dagar via the comm link tomorrow and then set course for the uninhabited M-class planet you suggested not long ago."

"I look forward to that."

Janeway smiled and pulled the other woman down onto her shoulder again.

"So do I."

"Kathryn?"

"Yes."

"If we had never found out that a drug was involved, would you have let me remain behind then?"

Janeway closed her eyes at the uncertainty in Seven’s voice.

"I would never abandon you, darling," she emphasised as she kissed the blonde hair. "I trust in your love. If you all of a sudden said you wanted to leave me, live with a sect to find perfection … I would assume you were being coerced, drugged or that you were protecting someone. We’ve been through similar situations before." She hugged Seven closer. "Rest now, love. I know you’ve regenerated for a week but you need proper sleep."

"I need you."

"I know. I need you just as much. I haven’t been able to sleep here without you."

Seven turned her head to plant a kiss on Janeway’s cheek.

"Then we shall sleep," she whispered. "I am here now."

(END) ... but not really ...

*****

To be continued in Among Stars 9