"Captain,
we're picking up a distress call."
"I'm
on my way." Janeway called into her combadge.
Strolling
onto the bridge from her Ready room, she noticed a vessel onscreen.
It was clearly damaged as she made her way to the lower section of the
bridge.
"Status?"
"Unknown,"
Chakotay replied. "We're still too far away to pick up their
their transmission."
"Any
interference from an outside source?" She asked glancing at him.
"None,"
Ensign Kim replied. "and we're hailing them on all subspace
frequencies."
"Try
the narrowing the band width. Tom, Warp six." She ordered taking
a seat in her command chair.
"Aye
Captain."
Within
a few minutes Voyager was close enough to the vessel to initiate a
communications link, but it was audio only.
"…Need
assistance… Warp core is offline… life support is failing.
Require immediate evac…" A male humanoid voice crackled through
the hazy connection.
"This
is Captain Kathryn Janeway, we acknowledge your situation and are
prepared to help."
There
was no response.
"Did
it get through?" she asked.
"The
communiqué is faint at best." Kim responded.
"Can
you get a lock?"
"Yes,
Captain."
"Transporter
room one, Ensign. Tuvok," she nodded to him and he followed her
to the turbolift.
Janeway,
Tuvok and a small security team entered the transporter room as the
alien was materializing on the dais pad.
He
was handsome for an alien, almost human looking. He had long
blonde hair and what looked like pointy ears, with a straight nose and
the deepest blue eyes, which reminded her of a certain astrometrics
officer.
He
had a brown leather type material for a uniform, with bands of silver
crisscrossing the chest area of the jacket. The outfit clung to his
figure making him quite attractive to gaze upon and very appealing,
even to her. She raised an eyebrow.
He
sported polished boots as he stepped down to greet his rescuer.
"You
are… Captain Jane…"
"Janeway,"
she finished.
"Thank
you, my ship's life support was almost non-existent."
"What
happened?"
"I
ran into some unruly neighbors, who didn't appreciate my passing
through their system. I'm afraid, I'm going to have to ask for
further assistance in repairing my ship."
"Of
course, follow me and we can discuss your needs."
Conference
Room:
Janeway
sat down in the chair at the lead of the table, while listening to
Phalon's story.
"So,
I just ran as fast as my ship could go. My weapons are limited and not
very powerful, but I can go up to Warp 9.5, which is fast for such a
small ship, so they couldn't keep up, but they did get a few shots
that singed my engines. I escaped, but I couldn't maintain such a
speed for long. I had to shut down my engines or they would have
overloaded."
"Do
you remember, who your attackers were?"
"No,
they never hailed me, just started firing, but my people have seen
their ships before. I believe their called the A'nari. An
exobiological phobic species. They don't like dealing with outsiders
and they make that very clear when they attack. It's really all I
know. My government tells us to avoid their space at all costs, but I
was running low on fuel, so I took a detour knowing it was a risk, but
I thought I could get through undetected if I was fast enough."
"Where
exactly were you heading?"
"My
home planet, Inegria. It's only 30 light years from here."
"Why
were you out here all alone? If you don't mind my asking."
"Not
at all. I am an explorer, Captain. Immensely curious about
what's around us, I've taken it upon myself to find out what's out
there. However, our government believes it is a waste of time,
therefore, getting larger ships and more experienced scientists is
impossible. I myself come from a wealthy family, so I joined a small
group and we built our own ships, small in nature, but very fast. This
allows us to explore our region with a reasonable amount of
safety."
"That's
very interesting and quite an undertaking. I commend your
courage."
"Thank
you, I only wish our government would pay more attention to the
wonders and dangers of our nearby space. I simply hope we are prepared
if the A'nari ever decided to attack our planet. I hope our ignorance
isn't our destruction."
Janeway
considered that somberly. She couldn't interfere. It wasn't her
place.
"I
regret I can't be of assistance with that, but I can get my engineers
to take a look at your ship and perhaps get it back into working order
so you can go home." She said lightly.
"That
would be very kind of you, Captain. I would be willing to pay you for
any parts or labor."
Janeway
raised her hand. "That won't be necessary. We don't have much use
for currency and it wouldn't do us much good out here in the Delta
Quadrant anyways."
Mystified,
he stared at her. "You don't use money?"
"Not
exactly, but it’s a long story. In the meantime, if you will assist
my Chief Engineer with your repairs."
"Yes,
of course... but I would be most curious to hear about this
non-currency system your society has developed."
Janeway
grinned at him nodding before leading him out of the room.
Seven
of Nine was working in Engineering when Phalon and the Captain
entered. Seven was pleased to see her Captain. She felt better
when the strong woman was in the vicinity. Seven did not
however, know who the stranger was and went back to her task, since
the Captain was obviously performing her diplomatic duties.
Phalon
appeared impressed with Voyager. "This is a wonderful feat of
engineering, Captain. You must have a very generous government."
"We're
part of an organization called Starfleet. Like you we're explorers
ourselves and this ship is a means to that end."
"Amazing…
" He said as they stopped before a deeply tanned woman with thick
ridges on her forehead and dark brown cropped hair.
The
Captain started talking with her subordinate and Phalon took the time
to survey the area. The air was crisp, clear and their engine room was
very clean, almost spotless considering the amount of equipment and
activity. They were a very disciplined crew and efficient.
There
were computer access points on both sides of the entrance and further
in standalone terminals stationed evenly apart before a cylinder
shaped warp core appeared in the center.
His
eyes followed the long structure until he saw the second level as
well. He scanned the room checking Janeway's crew as they worked.
They were a handsome species, he decided before his eyes froze as they
fell upon her. His intense orbs doing a slow descent of her
figure. She was oddly clad in a tight plum shaded lycra form
fitting suit of sorts and it hugged every part of her body, the
contours of her fine shape screaming to the male parts of him.
"Who
is she… " he breathed out mesmerized and caught the attention
of both officers. Each officer reacted differently inside.
Torres
raised an eye in disdain. Why does everyone have to look at her
like she's the most exquisite thing in the universe?! Is it the blonde
hair? The tight outfit? What? The cold bitchy attitude?!
Janeway
felt her heart palpitating against the insides of her chest. She
suddenly felt she should dislike Phalon, but squashed it aside
concentrating on diplomacy.
"I'm
sorry?"
"The
blonde woman?"
"That's
Seven of Nine, our astrometrics officer."
"Can
I meet her?"
Janeway
couldn't help but smirk. She did have that effect on people.
"Follow me."
Seven
wasn't paying attention when they approached as she was lost in
thought regarding a certain redhead, so she was startled when she
heard the familiar husky voice behind her.
"Seven?"
The
young woman turned around swiftly, "Captain." She greeted
almost nervously, before slamming her normally resigned posture down.
"This
is Phalon," she introduced. "We rescued him recently
and his vessel is in dire need of repair. I thought I should I
introduce you two, since you'll most likely be working together.
Seven
was momentarily caught off guard.
Janeway
clarified. "I would like you to assist B'Elanna in assessing the
extent of the damage."
"Yes,
I will comply." Seven seemed unsettled to Janeway. Did she
like this Phalon?
Phalon
was quite taken with Seven and studied her intently, if a bit
presumptuous. What bothered the Captain was Seven's gazing upon
Phalon's physique. His uniform, though not as form fitting or thin as
hers, clearly showed his endowments. Even Janeway had to admit
he was almost the exact opposite of her, being nicely muscled, but not
overly big, both had blonde hair, tall statures and he was certainly
as handsome as she was beautiful.
She
had raised her implanted eyebrow to his obvious scan of her body and
although she didn't mind it, she followed suit copying his actions,
considering it socially acceptable, appraising him until she noticed it.
She had not seen so much visible before on a male and it peeked her
curiosity.
Propriety
was not always Seven's strong point, but Janeway thought the young
woman could recognize when she was being ogled. This time she didn't
seem to mind and was ogling him back, much to Janeway's dismay.
Seven
and Phalon weren't exactly discreet about it and the silence was
getting to the Captain.
She
cleared her throat. "Well, I'll let you three get to your
repairs." She turned to B'Elanna. "You have my
authorization to use anyone you need."
"Yes,
Captain." B'Elanna said, making eye contact with her Captain. The
half-Klingon thought she saw a flash of emotion before it was gone,
but she couldn't identify it.
Seven
was disappointed the Captain was leaving, but she was intrigued by
this Phalon individual as Lt. Torres came over to get them started on
the repairs.
"The
Warp propulsion system seems intact." B'Elanna remarked as she
looked at the small warp core.
It
was about the size of the Delta Flyer and was quite a little ship. It
had three warp nacelles, which Starfleet stayed away from due to
problems creating a stable warp field bubble.
"This
is an exceptional design. I'm impressed." B'Elanna said
delighted.
"Yes,
it took us years to build. There were only twelve of us."
"I
can imagine." She said shaking her head.
"But
now we have four fully functioning ships." He added with pride.
"The
reactor injectors are functioning optimally," Seven announced,
disregarding their small talk as she scanned a section of the core.
"However, the plasma injectors are empty. I believe there
could be a rupture or blockage in the power transfer conduits."
"The
computer kept warning me about a plasma leak, but I didn't have time
to look for it." Phalon offered.
B'Elanna
thought about it. "Could you take a look at it for me?"
Torres asked Seven.
"Yes,
Lt." She complied, turning to Phalon. "Where can I access
those?"
"Let
me show you," he motioned for her to follow. He started climbing
a ladder on a nearby wall. "Unfortunately, due to expense and
limited materials, we couldn't really build proper access ports."
He explained reaching the top and removing the hatch to get to a small
crawl space.
"I'm
afraid, it's kind of tight in here. I hope you don't mind?"
"No
more so than Voyager's own jeffries tubes." She commented.
He
shrugged giving her a smile and she attempted a slight smile, which
was being watched by a third party.
He
climbed into the crawl space and assisted Seven inside. They crawled
for about five meters before he pointed to an array of wires and
conduits. Some were heavily damaged and others completely burned away.
"The
damage is extensive here. This will take days to repair." Seven
noted as she scanned it, but a simple visual told her that as well.
"I'm
sorry, I didn't mean to be such a burden."
She
eyed him. "It was not your fault. You were attacked."
"You're
right, but what are the odds that I would meet such a kind and
generous people out here?"
Seven
started to remove the damaged wires carefully. "It is… unlikely
that you would, but Captain Janeway is a compassionate leader.
It is her duty to assist those in need."
"Yes,
she is that. She's also caring, considerate, intelligent and she
is a very beautiful woman. That's a precious combination
anywhere. " He said watching Seven work.
Seven
halted in her extrications, for only the briefest of seconds, but
enough to be noticed by the young Phalon. Her ears turned slightly red
and her face expressed affection before sadness crept in and both were
gone.
"Did
I say something wrong?" Phalon asked, curiously.
"Not
all all."
He
looked at her quizzically. "Does it involve Captain Janeway?"
"Does
what involve Captain Janeway?"
"That
emotion that crossed your face." He said lightly.
Seven
was becoming tense with this conversation. "You are
mistaken." She said evenly.
"Perhaps,
but I have met my share of species and I know the signs." He
gently put his hand on her face, the lower cheek and chin and turned
it towards him.
"I
think you are attracted to her. Does she know?"
"What?"
She said stunned both at the question and the delicate touch. Usually
only Captain Janeway touched her and even she hadn't been lately.
"She
seems quite fond of you." He remarked quietly.
Seven
swallowed. For some reason she was aroused and her breathing had
increased. Their faces were only a half-foot apart because of the
tight confines of the tube.
Her
breath caught in her throat. She glanced a look at his lips caught
completely off guard by her feelings towards Janeway, but this
individual had an allure that was enticing.
"Are
you all right?"
"I…
do not know the answer to your question." She said, her voice
quivering.
"I
understand, but remember that you are beautiful. If she cannot or will
not see that… then it is her loss. I can't imagine anyone on this
crew not wanting to acquaint themselves with you."
More
sadness crossed her face. "You would be surprised."
She said regaining her composure.
He
let go of her chin. "Well, if you ever want to talk about it, I'm
stuck on Voyager for a few days. I have nothing better to do and it
might make you feel better talking to a neutral party."
"Thank
you, that is very generous of you."
"Ah,
think nothing of it. Who wouldn't be delighted to listen to the
problems of such a beautiful woman?"
Seven
felt the heat in her face rise at his comments, but went back to work
to finish quickly. For some odd reason she didn't trust herself
around him in such an enclosed space.
But
his words made her think. She is fond of me? How could he see that
after being onboard for only a few hours? Does she know what I feel?
Do I know what I feel? Could she reciprocate? How will I ever find out
if I stand a chance, if I do not ask?
It
was 19:00 hours that evening.
Seven
was nervous, but she needed to know. Her body felt conflicting
sensations, which led to an array of emotions. She felt a deep need to
clarify those and that brought her to the Captain's door.
"Hello
Seven, what brings you to my door?" Janeway was in a good mood in
Seven's opinion. She was very personable and always welcomed Seven's
discussions. She was in her blue tunic resting on the sofa sipping a
coffee when Seven had arrived. Seven felt that sensation again upon
seeing Janeway even in the subdued lighting. Seven's peripheral
vision easily saw the slight swells to the chest and the way the blue
shirt hugged her torso leading down to tuck into her uniform pants.
"There
is something I would like to ask you Captain. Something has come to my
attention and I need clarification."
Janeway
waved her hand, "I'll do my best."
She
linked her hands behind her back and sturdied her resolve. She would
be direct and to the point.
"Are
you in love with me Captain?" Seven said standing stoically only
two meters in front of her commanding officer.
Seven
heard some choking, then throat clearing and a sigh followed by a
sharp intake of breath.
Janeway
was grateful her quarters were dark at the moment, so she didn't have
to worry about her face betraying her aroused response to the inquiry.
"I'm
sorry Seven." Captain Janeway said succinctly, after she
recovered from the shock of the question.
Seven
took that as a definite 'No,' and surprisingly Seven felt a
tightness in her chest and a heavy weight bear down upon her
shoulders. This was discouragement, she thought. No,
it was more than that. It was deeper, threatening her completeness.
She suddenly needed to be alone to consider it.
"I
am…. sorry too." Seven said evenly, holding onto her borg
inflections at least until she left the older woman's presence.
"Why
did you ask?"
Seven
gave a nice pat answer. "I was curious, nothing more. I hope I
did not offend you Captain. It is sometimes difficult to know
what I should and shouldn't ask when I become fascinated about a
topic. I am sorry to have bothered you with something so
trivial. Good evening, Captain."
Stunned
at Seven's complete reversal in mood, Janeway went to speak, but
nothing came out and she watched with more than regret at the
retreating lithe form leaving her quarters.
Phalon
caught Seven strolling quickly down a corridor on deck 3. "Seven,
would you care to join me on your holodeck? It is a recreation of an
actual place on your home-world called Sandrine's."
"I
have been there before. It is unremarkable." Seven said coldly.
She had been heading for Cargo bay two, her sanctuary of sorts.
She had just left the Captain's quarters and wasn't in the mood for
company.
He
was taken aback. "What about companionship? Don't you have a need
for socializing, friendship?"
"To
what purpose?" Seven said letting her emotions dictate her
response.
He
interpreted her tension and became intentionally mellow. "Well,
I'm sorry to have bothered you. If you change your mind I will be
there for some time." He smiled brightly at her and she felt
momentarily guilty for treating him so rudely. It was not his fault.
She was angry at Janeway.
She
tilted her head and left him heading for her cargo bay.
She
entered the cargo bay and went right to the alcove. She stared
at it for a moment. Considering what it meant to be borg. She
reminisced on what it would have been like to be fully human and never
assimilated. It was futile to speculate. She was borg and
it could not be changed, even if she thought naively that being
completely human would have given her a greater opportunity to be
closer to the one she thought she loved. She was only kidding
herself. She was borg and humans did not love borg. They were
tolerated.
She
stepped into the alcove to let the regeneration sequence take her from
reality and away from her misery.
However,
thirty minutes into the sequence, her subconscious had a mind of its
own and the dream began. Her thoughts turned to a sensual redhead,
standing before her in a state of undress. The visual burning
into Seven caused her mouth to gape open unladylike at Kathryn's
physical beauty.
She
was still in the prime of her life if not considered young anymore.
Yet Seven considered her absolutely stunning. She harbored small
shapely breasts that led to a firm, but rounded stomach and thin
shapely thighs. She started walking towards Seven with a predatory
look in her eyes. Seven looked down, she was nude also!
Seven
could barely breath, she was so transfixed on the image before her.
Finally, Kathryn was before her, putting her index finger on Seven's
still parted mouth. She moved her finger along the young woman's
bottom lip, eliciting a sharp intake of breath.
Seven
was mesmerized, staring dumbfounded, her heart pounding to get out.
Kathryn's
face came closer, a mere inch from hers! Seven stared at the parted
mouth. Fine wine shaded lips breathed into her fuller lips. The breath
was hot as Janeway teased her, sucking on her lower lip. Seven eyes
became heavy lidded and closed.
Then
electrical fires engulfed all around her as a soft wet protrusion
entered her mouth to swirl around her own tongue.
Seven's
body responded rather involuntarily, her hand snaked out to curl
around Janeway's back to pull her closer. Seven pressed into the kiss
with lips moving intently to one another.
Janeway's
hands slid up her torso, rising along her stomach, moving up to grasp
her breasts. She squeezed rubbing the nipples and Seven broke the kiss
to gasp at the overwhelming sensations that coursed through her.
She felt! She wanted! Needed more!
Moving
her second arm around Janeway, she picked up the smaller woman and
leaned in against the blonde's larger taller frame as she struggled
with footing to get them to the nearby bedroom.
Janeway
was kissing her face, stroking her cheek and running her hands through
the blonde hair when they flopped backwards lopsided onto the bed.
Janeway giggled as she fell on top of Seven, their legs hanging off
the sides.
Their
position didn't stop the Captain from indulging. Groaning, she latched
onto a pink nipple and suckled the stiff areola into her mouth,
causing Seven to writhe in ecstasy.
A
hand slinked its way down Seven's chest, passed her stomach to caress
a thigh with an open palm before teasing the wet folds before her sex.
The
young woman trembled in expectation as Janeway entered her. Her senses
were on fire and her body was being assaulted by so much sensation
from Janeway's administrations. Concentration left her and
suddenly, she felt another protrusion added to the one already
thrusting luxuriously inside.
Seven
could not lie still, moaning out her pleasure as Janeway ravaged her
lower extremities in a controlled but eager way. The hand
oscillated inside Seven's moist tunnel. Involuntarily, she thrusted
her hip up to Janeway's plunging fingers.
There
was so much sensation and heat was everywhere, her heart thundered
deeply in her chest, her loins became engorged with blood. She
couldn't keep her eyes open, then explosions seemed to occur behind
her eyes encompassing her very being causing her to convulse oddly.
A feeling of euphoria overcame her as fluids spilled from down below
generously and she screamed.
REGENERATION
CYCLE INCOMPLETE!
Seven
stepped off the dais breathing hard with a decided ache going through
her loins.
What
happened? She had never had such a… a… sensual dream before
with… with her Captain?!
Why
would I dream of her now, like this after the Captain declared that
she did not love me!? What purpose would such a dream serve, except to
tease me with what I can never have? The dream seemed so real. I could
almost feel her and what was that sensation at the end?
Seven
put a weary hand to her head. Of all the times to dream of the
woman she loved, why now, when she needed to forget her!!
She
forced her mind to quiet down, gathering her composure and getting her
breathing and heart rate under control, she decided to join Phalon on
the holodeck. Maybe he would be a nice distraction, since
regenerating wasn't any better than being awake.
Holodeck
One, Sandrine's:
Seven
entered holodeck one and found him at the bar chatting with Chez
Sandrine herself, the female owner of the bistro in Marseilles,
France, except here she was only a holographic presentation of the
real individual.
Seven
strolled over to him, noticing Tom playing a table game known as pool
with Harry. Lt. Torres was there seated at a nearby table. She
had a hand supporting her head watching.
She
stopped behind him. "I apologize for my earlier
behavior." She said to get his attention.
Phalon
turned to greet the melodic voice he'd come to know so well.
"Nonsense,
you did nothing wrong. Besides I sensed you were upset by something,
but I will not intrude upon your privacy this time unless you wished
it."
His
joviality and non-threatening charm was endearing to Seven and put her
at ease, but a cautious glance at her fellow crewmates, suggested she
was uneasy talking about what was bothering her here.
"Have
a seat, Seven."
She
complied readily, but as she sat, she felt the seat move in a circular
way and she put a hand on the bar to steady herself. She wondered why
the seat functioned that way, but quickly disregarded it as trivial.
"I
am glad you changed your mind."
Seven
said nothing, just sat there considering why she had changed her mind.
She decided to study his face and features.
"I
hope I did not offend you when I called both you and your Captain
beautiful."
"No,
you did not." Seven said stiffly. Here was this topic again.
Phalon
saw the trepidation again. "If you wish to discuss what's on your
mind, I don't think they will be able to hear you from over
there."
"It
is difficult for me to discuss such things."
"May
I asked why?"
"It
has to do with my past."
"Your
past?" he questioned, considering. "That has to do
with those metal implants you wear, doesn't it?" he asked
compassionately. He had noticed how oddly functional they appeared to
be and wondered to their purpose. It was obviously not jewelry.
"Yes,"
Seven allowed, but she was agitated.
Phalon
gently put his hand over hers on the bar countertop to convey his
understanding. She did not flinch or removed her hand.
"You
don’t have to tell me if you don't want to, but I think it will help
you feel better and give you a certain amount of clarity if you tell
someone who is impartial." He gave her a gentle smile,
"Besides, I will not judge you or criticize you for anything you
have done in the past. There are things I am not proud of as
well."
Something
about him made Seven open up. Whether it was truly him or the fact
that he would be gone in a few days and no one would be none the
wiser, gave her a sense of security she needed in order to vent her
pent up emotions.
"I
was borg, before I became a member of Voyager's crew. I existed
as a part of billions of voices that spoke in harmony all sharing the
same purpose and goals."
He
listened carefully as she explained her time with the borg. It
was obvious to him that it bothered her lately to be an ex-drone and
she fought an internal battle with it.
"So
you see, something can be said for an emotionless drone with no
independent thoughts of any kind. It prevents complications and
it is… painless." She dropped her head. "What I would give
now to be thoughtless." She said painfully.
"You
don't mean that, Seven." He said firmly. "That's just a
defense mechanism designed to protect you because you're in so much
pain over--"
Seven
raised up her head to glare at him. "What were you going to
say?" She asked adamantly.
"I
shouldn't, it's not my place."
"I
wish to know." Seven said seriously.
"All
right, I'll say this. If your Captain cannot see how beautiful you are
both inside and outside, then she does not deserve you."
Seven
felt tears threaten to overwhelm her. Phalon reached over and hugged
her. She was in such turmoil she didn't really notice. Her
thoughts were of Janeway, but his cheeks were on her ear, warm and
inviting. She felt oddly protected and comforted, just like her
Captain used to do with the occasional touch.
The
erotic dream evaded her mind and the images came back, so when Phalon
moved back away from her, she gripped his face and directed it towards
her almost pulling him off his seat and onto her lap as she kissed him
hard.
His
body was pressed against hers, as she tasted him. He barely kept his
balance with the one-foot he had managed to get to the floor when she
grabbed him. He was more than shocked, but he melted into it
readily and wasn't going to miss such an opportunity that presented
itself so freely.
She
was still aroused from the dream and she sank into the kiss opening
her mouth to his to circle her tongue around seeking his. That's
how Janeway had done it in the dream. She pressed her mouth to his
avidly taking and receiving in the heated kiss totally forgetting
where she was.
"Oh
my god!" Tom exclaimed from across the bar. Harry and B'Elanna
looked and jaws dropped. Harry turned white, B'Elanna was more
composed, but beside herself and Tom looked away pretending to
concentrate on his pool shot. He kept glancing up, not being able to
help himself.
Seven
suddenly opened her eyes. This was not Janeway she was kissing.
The texture was all wrong. The skin was courser, almost roughly
bristled, the lips not as tender. Stop! Her mind shouted! She
pushed him away so suddenly that he fell back onto his stool and
almost toppled off it as it turned on him.
"This
is… inappropriate. I am in error!" She apologized running
from the holodeck.
"Well,
well, well," B'Elanna said amused. Now she had something to tease
the arrogant borg with. "Looks like Seven's attracted to
someone and doesn't know how to handle it."
Harry
frowned and Tom just looked at his wife dazed.
Phalon
was abashed because he was only trying to help, but he couldn't help
the grin that grew on his face. She was marvelous, he gave her
that. He had images of his own floating inside his mind of what he
could do to such a beautiful woman.
Rumors
spread quickly throughout the USS Voyager being such a small ship with
only a capacity of 150. So it was of no wonder that information good
or bad traveled so fast and to all ears, welcome or not.
Janeway
was sitting on the bridge going through the motions because nothing
was happening when it finally reached her ears.
Chakotay
came onto the bridge with a smirk on his face and took his seat,
checking sensors all the while chuckling to himself.
Janeway
stared at him. "Mind telling me what's so amusing
Commander?"
"You
wouldn't believe me."
"Try
me," she said with a grin, leaning towards him.
"Well,
apparently Tom, Harry and Torres witnessed your protégé kissing
Phalon in the holodeck while they were playing pool."
"My
protégé?"
"Seven!"
Chakotay reminded her enthusiastically.
Janeway's
gaze darkened. She became immediately serious. "What kind of
kiss?"
"I
don’t know, but I was told it was… involved."
Janeway
frowned. Jealousy reared its ugly head in her heart.
"Something
wrong?" Chakotay sensed his Captain was not pleased with this
news.
"I'm
concerned about Seven. She's not familiar with certain
overtures."
"Perhaps,
but I think she understands the nature of… you know… that."
Not
pleased, Janeway turned to him sharply, giving him the Look.
"She's still naïve and I want to make sure he's not taking
advantage of that. If you don’t mind, I'm going to check on
her. You have the bridge."
"Uh,
not all at, Captain." Chakotay stammered but she had already
left. He wondered what he said to upset her so much. He
knew they had a close bond, but she seemed to overreact, it was just a
kiss, well maybe an intense one, but didn't Seven deserve to loosen up
a bit.
He
shrugged it off as overprotective nonsense.
Janeway
entered Sandrine's and located Tom and company quickly.
"Can
I speak to you for a minute, Tom?"
"Uh,
sure." He excused himself from Harry and B'Elanna, but he
couldn't help but notice the stiff tone of his Captain and the lines
of tightness on her face.
After
they moved away to a more secluded section of the bar, Janeway started
plowing questions his way.
"What
exactly happened between Seven and Mr. Phalon?"
Tom
wasn't sure he should answer.
"Maybe
you should ask Seven."
"I
will, but now I'm asking you."
She
had her arms crossed and her brows were curled. "I just
want to make sure Seven's all right and that his… intentions are
honest ones."
"No
offense, Captain, but she kissed him, maybe you should ask her what
her intentions are. She seemed to know what she was doing."
Janeway's
gaze hardened and he immediately regretted what he said. "Still,
she may not understand the repercussions of such an act, Mr.
Paris."
"Yes,
ma'am," He agreed. "You should probably talk to Phalon
too." He suggested hoping to get away from that hard stare.
"I'll
do that, thank you." She said, but it was icy and sent a chill
down Tom's spine as he watched his Captain leave with a puzzled
expression on his face. He went to tell his friends waiting for
him at the pool table.
Janeway
entered the Cargo bay trying to get her nerves to calm down. She saw
Seven working at her console and taking a deep breath joined her.
"Hello
Seven."
"Captain,"
Seven stopped whatever it was she was doing.
Ok,
now that I have her attention what do I say?
"I
was wondering if you're all right." Janeway asked while
pretending interest in Seven's console readings.
"I
am fine, Captain."
"Are
you sure?"
"Yes,"
Seven's brow curled. "Is there some reason I wouldn't be?"
Janeway
could feel the tension in her shoulders, but she had come here to
check up on the young woman so she had to be honest.
"I…
heard what happened and I was just wondering if you were ok?"
Seven
still did not know what Janeway was referring to. "I don't
understand?"
"The
holodeck, weren't you at Sandrine's?"
A
slight shade of pink engulfed Seven's features, but her expression
remained stoic and almost hardened by Janeway's perceptions.
"I'm
fine."
"Well,
you let me know if he bothers you, ok?"
"He
is not bothering me." She said somewhat defensively, You are
bother me?! Seven's mind screamed inside her.
Janeway
peered into Seven's eyes at the reply.
"I'm
glad." Janeway said. The air inside the cargo bay got stuffy.
The auburn haired officer didn't know what else to say so she took a
chance hoping to hell she was wrong.
"Do
you have…. feelings for him, Seven?"
Seven
put her hands behind her back and stiffened. "I do not believe
that is any of your concern."
Janeway
looked away and studied some cargo containers. She didn't want the
younger woman to see the disheartened gaze in her eyes. It is
my fault. I pushed her away and made her believe a lie to hide the
truth. I didn't think she was ready. God! What if I'm wrong?!
"You're
right. I didn't mean to put you on the spot or make you angry."
"You
did not," The tone was still stiff.
"Well
I'm sure you would tell me if you were."
"Yes."
Came the clipped response.
"Carry
on." The Captain said and left swiftly for letting that go so
badly. She could've kicked herself for a fool.
Seven
was livid as she watched her Captain exit. Did Phalon talk to Captain
Janeway about her? She seemed unsettled and edgy. Of
course, there were other crewmen in Sandrine's when it happened, but
she did not think they would so readily go and tell their Captain
about a kiss on the holodeck. Even if it was socially impolite in a
public area, B'Elanna and Tom had been guilty of that on dozens of
occasions.
Satisfied
that it had to be Phalon, she inquired as to his whereabouts.
"Phalon
is located in the VIP quarters."
She
headed there immediately to demand an explanation.
"What
have you told Captain Janeway?" She demanded upon receiving the
ok to enter the guest quarters.
"What?!"
Phalon said astonished at the question before he even had a chance to
greet her.
"You
talked to the Captain about me, did you not?"
"No,
I didn't. Why would you think that I did?"
Seven
tilted her head. "She came to me and asked me if I was all right
and then asked if I had feelings for you."
"Really?"
He hadn't expected that kind of directness from Janeway, but it would
prove his suspicions accurately. "So are you all right? Do you
have… feelings for me?"
"Yes
and no."
"I
see."
"So…
you did not tell her?"
"I
did not talk to her at all, but what I don't understand is why you
didn't take the chance to tell her how you feel."
"I
could not." Seven said her anger at him dissipating.
"I'm
sorry about what happened, but it wasn't my fault. I have the distinct
feeling you don't kiss people very often. Your Captain probably
just overheard someone talking about it."
"Perhaps,"
Seven replied not happy about that idea.
"Do
you mind if I have a drink?
"No."
He
was about to make one when she had stormed in so vehemently. He
came back from the replicator with a glass full of pure synthehol.
Seven
was still standing there, her expression serious.
"Would
you like to sit down?"
She
studied him, he was very unassuming and not threatening. She decided
that perhaps she could learn from this experience. She sat down next
to him a few feet between them so she would not be tempted to kiss him
and rested her hands in her lap.
"I
wish to ask you a personal question."
"Go
ahead." He leaned back in the sofa.
"Did
you enjoy it?"
He
chuckled, "Was that your… first?"
"Not
exactly, I kissed a hologram once."
"Well,"
He smirked. "It was very nice, but if you don't mind my asking.
If you have no… feelings for me, why did you kiss me?"
She
looked down at her hands, "I am not entirely certain, but I
believe I was thinking of someone else at the time."
"I'm
sure you were." He said, holding his mirth inside and drinking
his beverage. "but don't worry, I'll take those worries
away."
She
looked at him quizzically, his tone holding a suggestive quality to
the words. She heard a hiss and began to get drowsy before she
flopped over unconscious onto his lap. He stroked her beautiful
hair, marveling at how lovely a creature she was, yet so naïve. He
would never have had a chance with her otherwise, he reasoned, her
heart belonged to Janeway, even if she couldn't acknowledge it to the
older woman.
Seven
opened her eyes to gaze upon a white ceiling above her. She
tried to move, but couldn't. She felt panic rise inside her, but
still could do nothing. Straining her eyes, she saw sheets and pillows
to the side. Seven was on a bed. How did she get there?! She
remembered visiting Phalon, but… had she left?
She
did not recall leaving. She tried to see if he was around, but
couldn't look very far. She was unable to move or speak. Fear
rose in her throat as she glimpsed her arms and hands. Where was her
biosuit? Was she undressed?! Normally that state would not bother her,
but with the inability to move she felt strangely vulnerable and
uneasy.
Then
he appeared in the doorway. Seven's hope was crushed as she saw the
look in his eyes. It was similar to Janeway's look from the
dream, lustful, predatory and hungry. Only from him it wasn't welcome.
"How
are you feeling?"
She
couldn't answer.
"Oh,
I forgot I blocked your speech centers. One moment." He moved
next to her and pressed a hypospray to her neck. Obviously her being
incapacitated was intentional. Whatever drug he had used, it did its
job effectively, just like he had planned. He must have removed
her clothing earlier and deposited her on the bed. Seven had a
sinking feeling that she knew exactly what the humanoid had planned
for her to her horror.
"Ok,
the muscles to your face and your vocal cords should work now."
She
tried to remain calm. Perhaps she could reason with him.
"Why
have you done this?"
"Isn't
it obvious? You need it. Your so repressed, Seven. You've had such a
pleasureless existence."
"You
expect me to believe this is for my benefit." She spat at him
angrily.
"Well,
partly, but I… I just have never seen such a wondrous creature
before." She watched his gaze linger down her body. Then
his cool hand touched her right arm and slid down to her human hand.
She
gasped. Apparently her body had sensation, just not mobility.
"You
can feel that. Good. I wouldn't want this to be pleasureless."
"What
are your intentions?!" She asked fearful.
He
moved on top of her, but she saw he was still fully clothed. He
threw one leg over her torso and rested gingerly on her stomach
straddling her.
"What
do you think?" He said leaning over to kiss her without her
consent. His lips met hers and he probed for entrance with his tongue,
but she bit his lip.
"No!"
"Damn!"
he slapped her across the face. "I'll numb your muscles again for
that!"
He
got off of her and headed for the ensuite to check his wound. She
considered screaming, but who would hear her before he gagged her
again with his drugs.
He
came back out and his cut was gone. He apparently had access to a
dermal regenerator.
He
folded his arms staring at her in disdain before a wide smile creased
his face. He removed his outer jacket to reveal a looser fitting
cotton type shirt. He started to remove his pants, which made Seven
very angry.
"I'll
kill you if you touch me."
He
froze and looked into her eyes discerning the validity of the threat
but fully realizing she couldn't make good on it at the moment.
Then
a chime occurred.
His
face changed into panic and he moved quickly pressing a hypospray to
Seven's neck before she could react. Not that anyone would've heard
her through the walls or the door, but he didn't want to risk it.
"Nooo!"
She started to say, but her voice trailed off into nothing and she was
completely helpless again.
"I'll
be right back." He kissed her on the cheek and fixed his pants
before heading into the main room.
Seven
heard the Captain's voice, but the fast acting drug prevented her from
forming any sounds or even moving her lips.
She
couldn't do anything. She couldn't pound on the bed with her hands or
bang her head against the wall. She could only lie there and wait
while listening.
"Phalon."
"Captain,"
he said politely. "What brings you here, I was just about to lie
down and get some rest."
"My
Chief Engineer says the damage to your vessel isn't as extreme as we
first thought and it should be ready by tomorrow morning."
Janeway was probably being a bit over protective in telling this to
him at 21:30, but since Seven had an interest in him, the sooner he
left the better.
"Thank
you, Captain. Your crew is extremely efficient. I'm sure it would've
taken me days to repair it myself."
"We
help whenever we can." Janeway said, but her tone turned pensive.
"There's something else I wanted to ask you and I hope you're not
offended, but I need to ask anyways."
"By
all means."
"I
heard what happened in the holodeck between you and Seven of
Nine." She said not asking a question yet, but letting him
explain if he chose to before she asked his intentions.
"That
was a misunderstanding I'm afraid. I was simply trying to console her
when she kissed me. She later apologized for it and left the bar.
I don't know why she felt the need to apologize, although unexpected,
I found it quiet enjoyable."
Janeway
tried hard to keep her face diplomatic, concentrating on his words not
the jealousy. "You consoled her? Was she upset about
something?"
"I
believe so, but she wouldn't elaborate on the specifics, but she told
me about her time with the borg and how she came onboard Voyager.
The resentment towards her from the crew and so forth."
"Resentment?
I didn't think she would still feel that way after all this time.
Did she mention any names?"
He
shook his head.
"I
would have liked to know if anyone was making things difficult for
her. They don't understand what she's been through and can be careless
with their words. I know it hasn't been easy for her… and I've
tried to help… "
Janeway
felt sorrowful at Seven's hardships.
"You
care for her very much, don't you?"
"Yes,
I care for all of my crew."
"But
it's different with her, isn't it. You're very protective of
her."
Janeway
crossed her arms. "I suppose I am, but she's been through a lot.
It's not easy adjusting to becoming human after 18 years in the
collective."
Phalon
said nothing and grabbed his unfinished synthehol glass, gulping the
rest of it.
"I'm
also her friend." And wish I was her lover despite my
Captaincy, she thought before shaking the sinful idea from her
head, but it did not go unnoticed.
"That
must be very difficult being her friend and her Captain. It's a good
thing you're not lovers." He said lightly as if in a joking
manner, but Janeway's whitish face suggested he had hit on something.
The sharp intake of breath from her told Phalon his hunch was right.
"I…
suppose you could… look at it that way."
"I
didn't mean to put you on the spot Captain, I was making a…
joke."
She
managed a smile then, "Of course. I suppose you are tired. Good
night, Phalon."
Seven
shouted in her mind what she could not verbalize. CAPTAIN!!
"Good
night Captain."
She
couldn't hear anymore. The conversation must have ended. No!
KATHRYN!! Please… Do not leave me….
But
the Captain couldn't hear and the swoosh of the door was heard before
Phalon appeared.
The
conversation took all but fifteen minutes.
"Well
good news!" he said standing in the doorway leaning on the frame.
"Apparently, my ship will be ready by tomorrow morning. All
I have to do is keep you sedated until them and I'll be long gone
before anybody suspects anything." He studied her long lithe form
marveling at its symmetry. "But I don't think you really meant
it, Seven. I don't think you really want to kill me." He reasoned
with himself.
"You're
just sexually repressed and you need to strike out. I understand that.
It's not like you can shout at your Captain, she'll just toss you in
the brig. So, I guess I can let it slide depending on how well you
satisfy me tonight."
The
idea was revolting to her to say the least and she felt ashamed, not
understanding why she would feel such an emotion.
This
act of intimacy was reserved for another… with another, if Seven
ever got the courage to try to speak with her again. This encounter
was all wrong and should not be happening.
This
was all she had left of her innocence, in her opinion. The borg had
taken everything else from her identity. Now this man wanted to take
her virginity. It was unacceptable.
"You're
so beautiful," he said five minutes later after he had loosened
his clothes up and jumped back on top of her. He ran his hands down
her arms.
Seven
considered that the oddest and most crazed thing she had ever heard
someone say to her. She did NOT feel beautiful at that moment.
She felt violated!
"If
I am so beautiful to you why are you doing this to me?"
He
looked at her then, gazing into her lovely face. "That is why I
am doing it! I am overcome by your beauty, your innocence. I promise I
will not hurt you. I will only give you pleasure."
"I
do NOT require your pleasure."
He
frowned, "Really? You seemed to enjoy it earlier… before you
backed out with that ridiculous excuse." He grimaced. "You
know you want it, why not give in and simply enjoy the
experience."
"I
do not want this experience with you."
He
smirked, "Oh, but you will want it, in awhile. You'll even beg me
for it and you'll enjoy it very much."
"You
will be punished for this. Captain Janeway will find out and she will
be very upset... to say the least."
"I'm
sure she would be, if only you knew… but it doesn't matter because
she's not going to find out and you know why? …Because you're not
going to say anything. You see, the entire crew thinks we're an
item. A couple of crew members saw us kissing in the holodeck I
believe."
"I
did not mean to do that."
"Ah,
but you instigated it and didn't break away immediately did you? That
was some kiss." He questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"I
was not myself!"
"It
doesn't matter, the crew saw it and the drug in your system will be
inert and undetectable in a matter of hours. What exactly will
you tell your Captain? That I, raped a strong healthy ex-borg? She'll
simply think you regretted the repercussions of the act you
participated in willingly and that you're confused…" And
Janeway's own emotions will prevent her from even considering the
truth, Phalon thought.
"I'll
kill you!" She threatened again.
"Go
ahead and try! You know how your Captain will react to this, don't
you. Even for an act such as this, she won't kill me. So
do you think Captain Janeway would let you? I have no doubt you
can kill me if you got the chance. But hypothetically, if you were
successful, you would spend the rest of your life in the brig and it
wouldn't change that I'll always be your first. You'll never be
able to change that and you'll never know what it would have been like
to touch her for yourself. After that, she wouldn't even
consider you…"
Seven's
eyes would have burned holes into the alien's face if the intensity
factor could be counted. Then it turned into sadness and fear
that this was indeed going to happen. No one would rescue her. Tears
came down her cheek.
"Yes,
I'm aware of your intense infatuation with the Captain. It's
hard to miss. You can pretend I'm her if you wish. Either way, lie
back and enjoy the ride."
He
reached for her breasts caressing the sides slowly before he teased
her nipples with a finger tip.
"NO!"
Seven shouted. Why is my body behaving this way!? I am not
attracted to him. I am revolted by him!
"You
will enjoy this… " He said.
Seven
hissed out her frustration. Turning her head to the side, she clenched
her teeth together, praying for some kind of intervention. Her face
hardened into a mask of fury that she couldn't act on.
Captain
Janeway, took off her outer command red jacket leaving on only her
tunic as she started to relax after a long day on duty. Something was
bothering her though and she was restless over it. Should I
talk to Seven?
She
figured Seven would probably be regenerating and if she wasn't would
she really want to speak with her overprotective jealous Captain.
Oh
hell!
"Computer
location of Seven of Nine."
"Seven
of Nine's combadge is currently non-functional."
That
was odd.
"Computer,
location of borg bio-lifesigns."
"The
only Borg bio-signature located on Voyager is on Deck 3, VIP
Quarters."
Janeway's
head sharply came about to stare at the wall. On the other side of
that wall was the VIP quarters. They were adjacent to her and almost
exact in design. Phalon had been assigned recently to those
quarters.
Asking
the computer Seven's whereabouts had started as an innocent diversion
from her unease and it made her feel better when she knew where the
borg was. Then the Captain could picture the lovely young woman at her
post or know when she was regenerating, so she could visit
unannounced. Just now, she had simply considered talking to the
young woman.
She
had not meant to intrude on the young woman's privacy, but now that
she did it was too late to undo as the green-eyed monster reared its
ugly head in Janeway's heart.
A
darkness transcended over her gaze. The wall would have burst into
flames it if could.
Her
eyes narrowed viciously.
What
would Seven being doing in Phalon's quarters at
22:00?! And why would she disable her combadge unless…
Janeway
swallowed hard.
Unless
she didn’t want to be detected or disturbed!?
Janeway
paced her quarters frantically, unruly thoughts cascading over her.
At
first, she was shocked. She hadn't realized Seven was that far along
in her emotional development.
What
if I had said 'yes', would I be the lucky one right now? Oh God! I
can't believe I just thought that. So, what!? Look at what your
dealing with now because you refuse to admit it!
Shit!
Then came anger. At Seven for doing this, herself for allowing
it, her duty for preventing her. Fuck!
Jealousy!?
I'm jealous.
I
made her believe I didn't love her because I thought she wasn't ready.
Janeway put her hand on her hip. Well, if she's having sex, she's
certainly ready!!
Janeway
paced the room, like a caged lioness.
Images
and visuals cascaded over her mind tormenting her. She clenched
her fists together tightly. His hands on her skin, trailing down
to her thighs. She clenched her teeth as her breathing became erratic.
His lips on hers, his… Son of a…
The
thought of him touching her there was too much to bear. I
have to find her!
With
a growl emanating from deep within her throat, She threw on her
command jacket and stalked down the hallway.
There
was only one way out of this mess. Seven would have to lie.
She
would say that she killed him in the heat of the moment during a
rather hectic sexual encounter. That she lost control of her borg hand
and choked him to death. That was illogical to say the least, but she
had no other defense.
The
Captain was not in love with Seven so it would not hurt her too badly.
She would be disappointed in Seven and be forced to punished her, but
that would be it. Seven's future would be isolation and utter
loneliness. What other excuse could I use? Or should I say nothing
and refuse to cooperate?
Once
she had regained full use of her muscles, she had removed her body
from under Phalon's and dressed. She threw a sheet over his
body, not able to look at his semi-nude state without the feelings of
guilt and shame overcoming her.
She
affixed her re-enabled combadge to her biosuit, but she could not
bring herself to contact Tuvok or security or even sickbay. She
knew he was dead, but something inside her was terrified and would not
let her call anyone.
So
Seven sat on the bed completely confused and contemplating what she
should do.
Janeway
chimed for admittance to the VIP quarters, while fidgeting with her
hands. Just before she chimed she asked the computer again. Seven was
still there.
Upon
receiving no reply, Janeway smacked the chimer again. Seconds passed,
when her impatience got the best of her, she overrode the codes and
entered the room.
She
stormed into the main room and looked around. Finding no one, she
headed for the bedroom and stopped in her tracks as she walked through
the doorway.
Seven
of Nine was sitting on the bed staring at Phalon who looked very dead.
The
young woman did not acknowledge her presence, but she must have heard
the Captain enter.
"Seven?"
Janeway demanded. "What the hell happened here?!"
Seven
slowly stood up and looked at Janeway with as much composure as she
could. She would not cry for him, but the astonishment on her
Captain's face almost made her.
Seven
realized in horror what this truly looked liked. Phalon was on
his side in a state of half dress, his shirt untucked, his pants were
down at his knees and his underwear half off. Seven managed to cover
his member with a sheet as she couldn't stand to see it. It disgusted
her. The sheets were muffed up as well making it look like something
passionate happened earlier.
Janeway,
red faced and all, stalked up to the younger woman. "Answer me!
What happened here!?"
Seven
moved her jaw as if to speak then decided against it, giving her
Captain an indifferent glare.
"I
have to call security, Seven. This is your chance to tell me
what happened before Tuvok questions you."
"I
believe your duty is clear, Captain."
Janeway
did what she had to do. Her heart was breaking every step of the way.
After
Seven was deposited in the brig, the body transported to sickbay, the
Doctor ordered to autopsy it and give Seven a complete physical,
Janeway sat down with Tuvok and Chakotay.
"I
don’t understand, why would Seven do something like that?"
Chakotay asked truly shocked.
"Perhaps,
she lost control of her borg strength." Tuvok offered.
"You've
got to be kidding me!" Janeway said loudly. "What? During
sex?! Do you honestly think, she would be that careless."
Tuvok
only raised a brow, "I am merely stating the possible outcomes of
such an event."
Janeway
sighed. "Well, there's nothing we can do now without any
evidence. We have to wait on the Doctor's examination of Seven's
mental and physical condition and the autopsy. In the meantime,
Commander, I want you to take a team and have that room checked for
any speck of evidence. I want to know what happened in
there."
She
turned to Tuvok. "Tuvok, I want you to check the alien's shuttle
craft for anything unusual. Try and find the location of his home
planet."
She
paused her face grave. "I'll be in the brig."
Janeway
stood before the brig, watching Seven. She dismissed the young Ensign
guarding as soon as she arrived. This discussion was going to be
very personal. They needed to be alone.
The
young woman didn't look up when the Captain had entered. She was lying
down on the bed provided and staring at the ceiling.
"Hello
Seven."
"Captain."
The voice was passive.
"Has
the doctor seen you yet?"
"No,"
Seven replied. "Why?"
"He
needs to examine you. For any signs of abnormal mental or
physical trauma."
Seven
shot up to a sitting position clearly and met her superior officer's
gaze.
"Do
I look damaged to you?"
&qu