Voyager entered a new region of space after flying through a starless void for two months, and the crew had been going stir crazy with nothing but each other to occupy their time. It was The Doctor’s advice that they stop at the first opportunity for some much needed and long overdue shore leave. That was yesterday. Today they were the newest guests of the Jalso home world, the last habitable planet before the void and right on the doorstep to the hidden vortex that led them here. The Jalso welcomed them with open arms and relayed that they were welcome to go anywhere on the planet they wished, for a modest upfront docking fee at the transport and currency exchange site. After a full day negotiating and setting up permits for leave, Janeway ordered Chakotay to compose a duty rotation schedule for the minute crew forced to remain on board each shift to operate the primary systems.
While most of the crew had decided to take the shore leave on the surface, Commander Tuvok and Ensign Vorik left for an away mission to a neighboring system that was more to their liking. It was away from all distractions, and during this time of Kal Rekk, the Vulcan holiday of atonement, solitude, and silence, there seemed no better place for controlling one’s emotions for a couple of days than a planet comparable to the Vulcan home world.
Now, Janeway was the only senior officer on board, left with twelve ensigns and three crewmen to run the ship until the next rotation of officers replaced them. Most of the crew practically ran to the transporter room, hoping to get off the ship as soon as possible, while others, like Seven, were ordered by Janeway to explore the planet for their own good. She would go down herself and relax as soon as someone from the bridge crew senior staff returned. Having volunteered herself to remain behind while the crew enjoyed themselves on the surface, she allowed them to unwind and gave herself some time to catch up on some much-needed work. She glanced over at the chronometer on the wall: ten minutes until the next shift, and yet not a single person in sight. Sipping her coffee again, she pushed aside her reports and examined the “places to see” list the Jalso official offered her: mountain resorts, coastal hideaways, trading centers, athletic events, festivals, and even a botanical show. She was deep in thought when the messhall doors opened and three ensigns, two males and one female, walked in, laughing and looking very relaxed since the last time she saw them.
“Hello, Captain!” the older of the two males shouted across the room while waving and widely smiling.
Janeway nodded her head and returned the smile. She watched inconspicuously as they replicated some food and sat down to talk about their day.
“...And did you see Seven of Nine? She was amazing!” the female asked jubilantly. “I had no idea she was so athletic!”
“Yeah!” the younger male added, “Who knew under all that icy exterior was a beach bunny.”
Seven? Athletic? Beach bunny? ...What is she doing down there? Janeway wondered with uncontrollable curiosity. She decided she was definitely going down to the surface on the next transport. Eager to get down there, she placed her mug in the replicator and decided to wait in her quarters and search for some casual attire to change into while waiting for Chakotay to come back.
Rummaging through her closet, she looked for something informal yet appropriate for public wear, finally deciding on a pair of khaki slacks, a soft white blouse, and comfortable sandals she replicated. Not exactly Starfleet, but hey, I’m on vacation.
“Chakotay to Janeway.”
She tapped her comm. badge nonchalantly. “Janeway here.”
“Captain, I’m back on board. Any problems I should know about?”
“It’s been a smooth shift, Chakotay. You might want to bring a book to the bridge if you don’t want to get bored.”
“Thanks. I’ll take that into consideration. I’d like to grab a quick meal before I head to the bridge, but feel free to head down if you like.”
“I will. The ship is yours. Janeway out.” She glanced at herself one last time in the mirror before heading to the transport. The feeling of freedom, if only until her next duty shift tomorrow morning, was aching in the most pleasant way and it reminded her of anticipating her childhood vacations when her father would get leave during the summer. For one week she would accompany her father to one of the Great Lakes for camping, fishing, and hiking. Of course, her sister Phoebe and mother would come too, but they never enjoyed playing in the dirt the way she did, getting back to nature.
Janeway decided to transport to the beach setting first. She could have beamed down directly from Voyager but she wanted to experience this culture as much as possible. She was shuttled into a small carrier from the main transport location along with six other humanoids, all going to the ocean drop-off site. There was plenty of time to visit the mountains and other remote sites of interest, but for now the curiosity of Seven’s activities was more than she could tolerate. Seven was, if anything, cool headed and respectable, a little too serious at times, and willing to try new things as part of regaining her individuality, but she had no idea what Seven could be doing that classified as being a “beach bunny.” She had to get to the bottom of this.
She exited the carrier along with the small group of aliens and made room for the next group of people heading back to the transport station to explore other areas of the planet. The beaches were visible in the distance and the streets were crowded with tourists and merchants trying to offload their souvenirs on anyone who walked by. In her immediate view along the small strip of stores were three taverns, two restaurants, six clothing shops, and a badly out of place temple, all of which were flooded with tourists. If not for the beautiful wildflowers lining every available space she would have thought she was in the middle of some major city back on Earth.
She began the small walk to the beach, taking in the aroma of the flowers, the salt air of the nearby ocean, and the overall relaxing feeling vacations gave her. Halfway down the street she passed Ensign Mulchahey who was laughing hysterically with two alien women and behaving strangely. Is he drunk? She always knew the young man to be quiet and well mannered and wondered if during their time in the void and her isolation from the crew they had changed so much that she hadn’t realized it until now. She continued walking, not giving it too much thought, and glanced in passing into a few shops at the unique trinkets they offered. Further down the road she was bumped into from behind and nearly knocked off her feet.
“Oops. I’m sorry...Captain?”
Janeway turned around, stunned, to see her sandy helmsman, bare-chested and wearing only a pair of swim trunks, looking much more relaxed than when he left only a few short hours ago. “Tom...your chest is hairy.” She was too stunned to say anything else.
“Uh…yeah, so it is,” he replied, thrown off by her bizarre comment. “Sorry, Captain, can’t stay and talk. I’m late for the game.”
Before she could say anything else, he was off again, running down the street and dodging people left and right on his way to the beach. Your chest is hairy? I run into a member of my crew on vacation and all I can say is his chest is hairy? She shook off the unpleasant thought and resumed her walk, picking up her pace and tried to avoid running into anyone else she knew if this is how her crew handled shore leave after two months of nothingness.
When she arrived at the beach, the first thing she noticed were the gigantic bleachers set up for viewing the next event. A sign at the entrance listed “Volleyball, Voyager” as the next event to take place and she took a seat at the top to get the best view. Sitting down among the other spectators, she turned to face the net, hoping to see who would be representing Voyager, and watched as Tom made his entrance onto the playing area along with Harry, who also donned a brightly colored pair of swim trunks. On the opposite site was B’Elanna, sipping water before the match and also wearing a swimsuit and some shorts. She was talking to a taller woman whose back was facing Janeway and she had to squint to make out the woman. Tall...long blond hair...OH MY GOD! Her eyes bulged out and her mouth dropped open as the woman turned and she realized she was watching Seven.
Seven turned away from the sun and faced the crowd, unaware of Janeway’s presence, and began applying sunscreen to her body as B’Elanna had shown her earlier. “Better to be safe than sorry,” B’Elanna explained. She slathered it onto her arms and exposed chest area her newly replicated biosuit didn’t cover, which was similar in appearance to her Velocity suit in that it’s sleeves were cut off and neckline lowered, but this one was also cropped off at mid thigh, revealing much more of Seven’s legs than anyone had ever seen before.
Janeway watched in awe as Seven applied the lotion. It was so erotic the way she rubbed the creamy substance on her body, taking her time, moving with slow strokes up and down the entire length of her arms and legs, and if not for Seven’s usually reserved demeanor, Janeway would have sworn the young woman was doing this purposely for show. She also noted to herself that she would offer to help Seven the next time she needed lotion applied. A beverage server working the bleachers offering drinks broke her from her concentration. Suddenly feeling flushed after watching Seven, she purchased a fruity concoction from the man.
The game played out quickly and everyone in the crowd cheered on as the women of Voyager annihilated the men, shutting them out of three straight games. The sign at the entrance changed, alerting the crowd to the next event, “Tala, Niros,” and since Janeway had no idea what this sport was or who the Niros were, she made her way down to the sand to congratulate B’Elanna and Seven and offer her condolences to Harry and Tom.
“Nice work, all of you,” she offered to the group. “I especially love the flopped dive and mouthful of sand you got in the second game, Harry, when Seven spiked the ball,” she said with a giggle.
The group continued making small talk for a few minutes longer before B’Elanna suggested they go for drinks to celebrate at a hotspot called The Parlor. “So who’s up? Let’s party all night!”
“Count me in. First round’s on me,” Harry offered.
“How about you, Fly Boy,” B’Elanna asked humorously, looking directly at Tom.
“Anything for you, Belle,” he replied with a smirk, returning the affectionate tone she offered.
Seven looked at both lieutenants oddly. Fly Boy? Belle? Was she the only person who noticed anything strange happening here? Her observation of everyone’s abnormal behavior since arriving on this planet caused her to keep a close eye on her friends. B’Elanna and Tom always flirted on Voyager, but never so openly. After watching their friendly, teasing interaction, she discounted it as the crew’s way of relaxing for the first time in months: excited and carefree.
“How about you two?” Harry asked Janeway and Seven, who stood by quietly watching the interaction.
Seven mainly wanted to spend time with the captain, perhaps to talk about what was considered normal shore leave behavior, and she noticed Janeway had been eyeing her too since approaching the group a short while ago. “Alcohol impairs my implants. I must decline.” The twinkle in Janeway’s eyes and slight grin gone unnoticed by everyone else when she declined told her the feeling was reciprocated.
“I’d like to check things out down here…see what goodies I can find,” Janeway claimed. “Don’t get into too much trouble,” she added to the group before asking Seven to accompany her on a short walk along the beach. As they left, Tom, Harry, and B’Elanna stood by scrutinizing the oddness of it all.
“Something tells me the only ‘goodies’ she’s going to be checking out are on that six foot blonde walking next to her,” Tom smirked. Off in the distance he could have sworn he saw Janeway slip her arm around Seven’s waist.
“Well it wouldn’t be the first time,” B’Elanna snorted. “So, who’s up for that drink now?”
The beach was long and uninterrupted by jetties, sparsely occupied, and carried a soft warm breeze. The sound of ocean waves crashing and birds flying overhead certainly brought back a flood of memories for Janeway. She had slipped her sandals off earlier and the soft white sand beneath her was like powder against her feet. The smell of salt water was in the air, but the scent that overwhelmed her senses belonged to the woman beside her.
As they walked the beach, greeting a few of the crew in passing, Janeway talked about how much this planet reminded her of Earth. She soon put Seven’s concern to rest as she reassured her that the crew was just happy to be on land again, on vacation, and free of Delta Quadrant worries for the time being. She can’t say she was surprised by Seven’s concern though, as the young woman had spent nearly her entire life in space and never once spent any time casually walking a beach with the setting sun in the distance. She had no idea what the crew missed but could experience it now for herself firsthand.
Janeway stopped, took Seven’s hand in her own, and pulled her down to sit beside her as they watched the sun set. Neither woman spoke a word or even muttered so much as a sigh as the sky turned from orange to various shades of reds, purples, and blues before the soft glow of two moons would emerge from the sky and glisten on the ocean.
Janeway looked at Seven and smiled. This is so perfect. She studied Seven’s expression, memorizing her features as if they would never see each other again. God, she’s so beautiful. Seven’s eyes were so big and blue, her expression so curious and...childlike. I’m losing myself in her. She hadn’t felt like this since...Mark.
“Seven, what are you thinking about?”
Without turning her head, Seven continued looking out onto the water and answered, “I am pondering the irony of this scenario. The sun is merely a star, one out of thousands we have observed in this quadrant, yet I have never noticed beauty quite like this. It is…inspiring.” She looked at Janeway and added with a confused tone, “I feel as though I want to deepen this experience with you, Captain, to...kiss you. Is that a common reaction to witnessing a sunset?”
That’s all the encouragement Kathryn needed. She turned to face Seven, boldly rose up on her knees, and cupped Seven’s chin while gazing intently into her eyes. There was nothing bluer, nothing richer, Kathryn realized, than Seven’s eyes. The space between them quickly vanished and she breathed in Seven’s fragrance, the sweet scents from her hair and faint traces of sweat on her skin and clothes from the game. The silence between them spoke volumes. Acutely aware of Seven’s breasts pressed into hers, Kathryn gently lowered her mouth to Seven’s, covering Seven’s lips with her own. Waves of pleasure streamed through her veins as she expressed in a way no words could how she felt for the young woman. The kiss lingered, starting slow and tender before fervency kicked in, yet Kathryn’s hands never left Seven’s face. Her mind was screaming with pleasure as lips parted and met again with intense frequency, then soft and gentle again. She had no idea where this courage came from but she had been dreaming of this moment for over a year. All of Seven’s transgressions, her disobedience, her stubborn challenging manner, and quest for perfection were all forgotten. Now, it was two women who felt a mutual desire giving each other the assurances they needed to carry this further... If I die tonight I’ll die happy...
“Chakotay to Seven.”
The hail was like a siren in the still night but neither woman gave in.
“Chakotay to Seven. Respond.”
“Get rid of him,” Janeway muttered through pecks as she prolonged the kiss, baffled, but not complaining, at how Seven knew just the right way to kiss her back.
“Yes, Commander,” Seven mumbled between pecks.
“I’ll be back on the surface soon and I’ve found a cozy little out-of-the-way restaurant. How about you meet me for some dinner?”
Janeway froze for a second to study Seven’s reaction, wondering if she had interfered in a budding relationship between the two.
“Thank you for the offer, but I do not require nutrition at this time,” Seven blankly stated, reassuring Janeway in the process that she had no personal interest in the man. For a long moment they stared into each other’s eyes, silently pleading for another kiss.
He could tell by the silence her mind was focused on something, or someone, else. He also knew the relationship between Seven and Janeway was a strong one, that they had been spending a lot of time together off duty playing Velocity and sculpting in the DaVinci simulation, and it never occurred to him that the captain might be spending time with Seven now as well. “Is the Captain around?”
Janeway’s quick, silent shake of the head told Seven she had no desire to speak with the man. “She is...occupied at the moment. Do you need to speak to her?”
“No, I was just thinking that if you’re looking for a good time, you and I could get together and have some fun.”
Janeway smirked when she caught Seven roll her eyes at his suggestion. It was almost humorous watching Seven blow off those who were attracted to her in only a physical way, having no desire to really get to know the young woman. No one spent personal time with Seven besides her, whether it be from intimidation or otherwise, and she felt a certain affinity with Seven because no one spent personal time with her either. They had more in common than they realized. Fighting off the alarms ringing in her head, she lowered her lips to Seven’s again and kissed her with the tenderness she was feeling for the woman right now. Her mind was spinning wildly and she wondered why it had taken her so long to make her move.
“Seven? Are you still there?”
“I do not…require fun…at this time...either,” Seven mumbled again.
“Are you sure? I’ve been known to make many women scream.”
“So have mice,” Seven quipped nonchalantly, continuing to give Janeway’s lips her full attention. All her research on human dating rituals and procreation never indicated her feelings would be as intense as what she felt right now.
“Come on, Seven. Once you have Chak, you never go back.” He meant it as a joke, that a romantic relationship with him would be far superior to the solitude way of living she adapted to on Voyager.
Annoyed with his ramblings, Seven cut off the communication and tossed her comm. badge across the sand, leaving him to find someone else to occupy his time while she occupied herself with the captain. She rose up to her knees, mimicking Janeway’s stance and towered over her. She slipped her arms around the captain’s back and felt the combined strength and tenderness radiating from Janeway. Their bodies fit well together, curves welcoming curves, and as the kiss lingered, Seven felt for the first time what it truly meant to be human.
“Doctor to the captain.”
Is there no God in heaven tonight? “What is it, Doctor,” Janeway mumbled.
“I hate to disturb you, but we have a medical situation on board. It’s not an emergency, but I need to see you as soon as possible.”
“Thank you, Doctor. Janeway out.” Her tone was almost condescending. She hesitantly pulled away from Seven’s face and had an even harder time breaking away from Seven’s gaze. She wanted nothing more than to bury her face into Seven’s shoulder and protectively wrap her arms around Seven. As they held onto each other on the sand she began to realize it seemed so natural to be with Seven this way, almost as if this was how it was supposed to be.
“I should get back to Voyager.”
Seven watched Janeway for a few seconds but was in awe of the whole experience. She had suspected for a while that Janeway harbored feelings for her but never came close to admitting them. Until now. “I will accompany you to the ship. I must regenerate now,” was all she could say as she contemplated the peculiarity of this situation, kissing Captain Janeway. Regardless of how peculiar it seemed, however, it was nothing short of a perfect ending to a relaxing day. Perhaps shore leave is not a useless human endeavor after all.
Both women walked back to Voyager in silence, holding hands and thinking about what they just shared. There was no telling what would have happened if The Doctor hadn’t interrupted them, how far this would have gone, or where it would have ended, but one thing was certain. This wasn’t a moment shared between a captain and a subordinate. It was much, much deeper.
“Doctor, report.”
“Ah, Captain, it’s good to see you,” The Doctor called out as she entered sickbay. He rose from his desk and cautiously walked over to meet her, unsure of what kind of mood she would be in. The last time he disturbed her on shore leave was little over a year ago, and she threatened to deactivate him if he so much as bothered her again with something as trivial as reminding her about her monthly birth control injection, not that she would need it, but it was a routine procedure.
Janeway glanced around sickbay and found nothing out of the ordinary. No bodies occupying the beds, no instruments out of place, and The Doctor appeared to be casually tinkering around in his office. This is what he bothered me for? “What’s the big emergency?” Her tone was neutral despite her annoyance.
“The crew is behaving strangely.” He went into detail about how he found Neelix and Naomi hiking in the woods and carrying on like juveniles. He could understand the unusual behavior coming from Naomi, but from a grown man like Neelix it seemed unlikely. He was out snapping holo images when the two stumbled down a hill before him and laughed hysterically as they almost fell flat on their faces. “I thought it was odd they would be spending time together hiking, given how Neelix dislikes rigorous exercise, but I saw them laughing and having a good time, even throwing ‘mud pies.’ I immediately scanned them because their behavior was so unusual but nothing strange turned up. Neelix assured me he was fine and was just enjoying the fresh air. I didn’t think much else of it at the time, and we only chatted for a couple of minutes before I continued on my way, snapping holo images of the scenery. Oh wait,” he ran back to his desk to retrieve an item and returned with a holo image he snapped earlier. “Look at this. Naomi took this image for me. Notice the “bunny ears” behind my head.” The image was taken of The Doctor draping and arm around Neelix while Neelix posed two fingers behind The Doctor’s head unaware, as if he were emulating a rabbit.
“This is interesting. I ran into a similar scenario with Chakotay. He was behaving rather strangely himself. He...” She almost admitted he made sexual advances toward Seven but didn’t want to violate Seven’s privacy or explain how she had managed to overhear something like that. “...Well let’s just say I need to have a talk with him.”
He cocked a brow at her, unconvinced she wanted to leave it at that but respected her just the same. “Let me show you something.” He ushered her to a monitor and brought up Neelix’s medical file.
“When I got back to the ship, I ran a further analysis on Neelix’s scans. His dopamine levels are elevated. Naturally, I ran an analysis on Naomi’s scans and her dopamine levels are elevated as well. At first I thought it was just the people in the mountain area who were affected, but I ran some scans on Ensign Hickman when he came in and his were elevated too, and he was in the cultural center located on the opposite side of the planet.”
“Has anyone reported feeling ill?” she asked warily, remembering all too well the aliens impervious to their scanners who conducted secret medical experiments on the crew.
“No, that’s the thing. Everyone who went to the surface says they feel normal, yet no one is behaving normally. Mr. Tuvok and Vorik returned an hour ago. When I scanned them their dopamine levels were fine, so this problem seems to be confined to the Jalso surface.”
“Doctor, I’m sure it’s nothing. We ran scans for abnormal readings and pathogens in the atmosphere before we docked. You can even scan me if you like, but I’m telling you I feel fine.”
He picked up his tricorder and ran the instrument briefly over her head. “Your levels are elevated as well.”
“Doctor,” Janeway placed her arm around his shoulder, “Why don’t you contact the Jalso medics if you’re so concerned and question them about this. I’m sure there’s a perfectly good explanation and you’ll realize there’s no need to worry. In the meantime, I have a lot on my mind so I’m going to turn in for the night.”
She quickly patted his shoulder and left without waiting for his approval. Feeling energized right now, she considered inviting Seven back to the surface as she passed Cargo Bay 2 on her daily rounds through the ship before turning in but decided against it for now. She still had the rest of the week to spend with Seven, and if today was any indication, it would be a week of pure bliss.
Hours later and unable to sleep, Captain Janeway mysteriously found herself where she had every night she had this problem. Cargo Bay 2 was dark and unusually eerie tonight, conceivably so because many of the crew were gone, yet being here with Seven, watching her regenerate was somehow comforting. She stood in the dimly lit room, watching like she always did, studying the features of the woman who drove her fancy wild. Tonight was different though. She felt bolder, more daring, and she stepped into alcove, closer than she ever had before, coming face to face with the regenerating woman. Seven looked relaxed, her eyes closed, but her mind was still sharp and Janeway had to be careful not to disturb her. To...wake her. The silence in the room was tranquil, yet there was something about it that screamed. Perhaps it was her mind that screamed. She wasn’t sure.
Curious, she reached out her hand, careful not to touch Seven’s flesh, and outlined the soft, supple curves of her face. The touch was so close she could feel heat emanating from Seven’s body and soft tiny hairs beneath tickled her fingers. She traced the ocular implant softly, feeling the coolness of the metal contrasting Seven’s warmth before she wound her way down Seven’s cheek, crossing her lips with the slightest stroke, so eager to touch them and feeling Seven’s breath warm her fingers as she moved up Seven’s right side to circle the starburst implant. She desperately wanted to nuzzle Seven’s lobe, it looked so inviting, and the battle within her waged out of control when the call saved her from herself.
“Bridge to Captain Janeway.”
Embarrassed, she quickly pulled her hand away and stepped down, careful to keep her voice lowered as to not wake Seven, and answered the hail. “Go ahead, Tuvok,” she whispered.
“Captain, the Jalso Regulation Commissioner requests to speak with you immediately.”
“I’m on my way.” She looked up at Seven one last time, committing to memory how beautiful she looks when she regenerates, before she darted out of the cargo bay in a hurry.
“Warning, regeneration cycle incomplete.”
Seven stepped away from the alcove in time to see the doors to the cargo bay closing and a shadowy figure dashing through the corridor. She sensed Captain Janeway was nearby, feeling her presence as she did on so many nights during regeneration, but tonight it felt different. She couldn’t explain it. She just knew that it felt more personal than it had in the past, and she liked the way it felt tonight. Stepping back into her alcove, Seven continued her cycle and tried to imagine the feeling of Kathryn’s fingers tracing her lips.
Janeway sat at a conference table in the Commissioner’s office with Tuvok reviewing a list of damages caused by a brawl started by several Starfleet personnel. There was no disputing the fact Voyager was at fault, several witnesses at The Parlor claimed to have first hand recollection of the fight and even the officers in question admitted to starting it. The only question that remained in Janeway’s mind now was why.
“I assure you, sir, I am very sorry for my crew’s behavior and you will be compensated for any damages.” She wasn’t sure what made her more furious, the fact that her crew had caused so much damage, or that four of her senior officers were involved in such an embarrassing event.
“We are not familiar with such hostile beings on our world. This planet is used for recreation. Our scientists have worked for years to create the pheromones here and...”
“Pheromones?” Tuvok asked.
“In the flora. They must have told you when you stopped at the outpost.”
“Outpost?” Janeway was starting to piece together what happened here with The Doctor’s concerns as well as how she suddenly found herself involved in a romantic nature with Seven. “We haven’t stopped at any outpost, Commissioner.”
The Commissioner became skeptical. “How is it that you came to this system and bypassed all security? There are over twenty stations within five light years of this planet to administer the residual inoculation for departure as well as patrolling security guards to escort those who stray off course.”
“We came by way of the spatial vortex just beyond this system. We had no idea there was a...”
“There is no such vortex,” the Commissioner snapped.
“Not any longer. We destroyed it.” She wanted to tell him about the Malon freighter who used it to dump their waste, but given his current disposition toward her crew he might not find the news favorable.
“Are you telling us that your crew was never inoculated against the pheromone residuals before coming to the surface?”
“That’s correct. We scanned for pathogens but concluded it was safe. We had no idea there were pheromones involved, and we were certainly not told about this at the transport sites.”
The Commissioner and two other men huddled together briefly before slowly standing up, each placing a protective hand over a harnessed weapon. “I’m sorry, Captain, but I must insist that you leave out system immediately,” he ordered.
Their challenging stance and sudden increased defensiveness left Janeway feeling suspicious. Given how badly the brawl destroyed The Parlor as well as the neighboring establishments, it was no secret he was expressing caution at their volatile nature, but his reaction when he heard they weren’t inoculated was what concerned her now.
“Is there a problem?”
“Please, do not let this escalate. Depart immediately.”
Janeway watched him as he fiddled his fingers over the harnessed weapon as if preparing to release it quickly and decided this was not the time to get into a heated discussion about pheromones and ethics. “Our doctor is meeting with your medics now but we’ll recall the rest of our crew immediately.”
No further words were exchanged, but the security escort back to the transport site Janeway and Tuvok received was a little overwhelming. She leaned in and whispered low enough for only Tuvok to hear, “Are we so dangerous that we need armed guards to usher us?”
“Given the armed detachment surrounding us…apparently,” Tuvok replied with a touch of Vulcan sarcasm.
Rumors about diseases spread rampant throughout the crew, even stirring fear in some, as the away teams were recalled back to the ship. Those arrested during the brawl were released and Voyager was waiting for The Doctor to return from his meeting with the Jalso medics before getting underway. Meanwhile, the entire senior staff was gathered in the briefing room, some having looked better in days passed. Tom brushed the remaining particles of sand out of his hair as he sat down while B’Elanna was recovering from a hangover due to spending the night drinking, fighting, and passed out in jail. Harry and Chakotay studied data padds in front of them, unaware that anything suspicious other than the brawl incident was going on before Janeway scolded the group earlier while Seven merely sat back and watched the entire display in bewilderment.
As if on cue, just when the silence in the room couldn’t be tolerated a minute longer, The Doctor burst through the door with his report. His swift manner of talking as well as his analytical and medical expressions lost everyone over the course of his explanation, and tempers began to flare.
“In a nutshell, Doctor,” Chakotay snapped.
“In a nutshell, we’ve got trouble.”
“Doctor, can you spare us the dramatics and get to the crux of it. What’s going on?” Janeway demanded.
“Captain, the pheromones on the surface lower your resistance and help you relax. Think of it this way. If you feel something up here you would normally suppress, down there you would act on it. The harder you suppress emotions and feelings the more the pheromones influence your behavior, and it doesn’t stop when you come back to the ship. Once it’s in your system, the effects stay with you for days. We were supposed to get inoculations for departure at these…outposts, so when we leave the system we don’t feel the effects of withdrawal. It’s like a drug addict quitting cold turkey, only worse. I’ve been told it’s common for people to become violent once they become separated from the pheromones without the inoculation to ease them off.”
“So everyone’s been affected?” Janeway asked.
“Well, almost everyone. I, of course, am immune to the pheromones, as well as Lt. Tuvok and Mr. Vorik since they never went to the surface. Aside from that, I’ll have to runs scans to detect the severity of influence in the rest of the crew.”
Everyone in the room looked at him with varying expressions that fluctuated between confusion in Chakotay to anger from B’Elanna and hurt from Seven. He then explained that was the most likely reason for the brawl that forced them to depart the planet.
“Is there anything we can do to relieve the effects of the withdrawal symptoms, Doctor?” Janeway asked.
“I’m glad you brought that up. The Jalso medics gave me a treatment they use for worst-case patients, but I scanned it and ran some scenarios using our database and declare it not an option. I would have to dilute it severely and administer the injections in several doses, but the potential side effects are too risky. Aside from the actual physical pain you would feel, there’s a risk of irreparable neural paralysis.”
“So what does that leave?” Harry asked.
“Sedation. I recommend everyone affected be confined to quarters and sedated until the effects wear off, which could be several days.”
“You’ve got to be kidding!” B’Elanna barked out.
“Lieutenant, given your outburst as well as your behavior last night, I think it’s safe to assume sedation is best. Of course, I won’t force it on you, but I highly recommend it,” The Doctor told her. “The good news is you won’t remember a thing about this planet once we leave orbit.”
Silence filled the room again as everyone considered their options and The Doctor watched the struggle within them. “If you think sedation and confinement in your quarters is too severe for your personal condition, I can run some scans in sickbay to determine how badly you were affected, but I can tell you that everyone who was on the surface longer than four hours shouldn’t bother stopping by.”
“How many people are we talking about, Doctor?” Janeway asked, afraid to find out just how short staffed the ship would be for the next few days.
“My estimate is that most of the crew, perhaps as many as 130 people.”
“And when would this have to take place?” Chakotay added.
“Not until after we leave orbit. My guess is everyone should start feeling the withdrawal effects by the end of the day, some more severe than others, but everyone should be confined to quarters within a couple of hours and sedated shortly after that.”
“So I guess that’s it. Thank you Doctor.” Feeling defeated, Janeway regretted reprimanding the crew after she read the arrest report. It wasn’t their fault they were out of control. She looked around the table at the group now and saw furrowed brows among most of their faces, no doubt trying to suppress the effects of the pheromones and act normal. Though no one spoke, she knew everyone, including herself, was feeling at least a little guilty about their actions over the last twenty-four hours.
“I’ll make a ship wide announcement before we begin,” she told them. “In the meantime, tell your departments about the procedure and have them report to sickbay immediately if they start feeling the effects.”
Voyager was now set to leave orbit, but a plan would have to be drafted if Tuvok was the only senior member not to be sedated for the next few days. Janeway mulled over her options as she watched the group begin to shuffle out and return to their stations. Her attention was immediately drawn to Seven; the young woman looked somewhat bothered, perhaps because she would have to be sedated along with the others and the thought of giving up control bothered her, she wasn’t sure. She did know that she had to clear things up with Seven, that she wasn’t in control of her actions when they kissed, and that this type of incident shouldn’t, and couldn’t, happen between them. Still, despite the overwhelming feelings of guilt she felt for making advances on Seven, a part of her was relieved Seven was acting upon the same influence she was, otherwise she had a bigger problem on her hands.
“Seven, can I speak with you a minute?” Janeway called out as Seven was about to exit the room.
Seven paused and turned, standing aside while the others toddled out ahead of her. When they were finally alone in the room she walked closer to Janeway and waited.
“I guess this is a relief, huh?” Janeway forced a smile, acknowledging the awkwardness of the situation, but Seven’s confused expression only added to the awkwardness instead of alleviating it. “I mean, it was the pheromones making us...you know...behave like that. I’m somewhat relieved because I thought I was losing my mind. There is no way I would ever do something like that!”
“Of course,” Seven offered weakly, having felt as if her heart had been ripped from her chest.
“So, as long as we both understand it was the atmosphere influencing our behavior, I guess there’s no need to discuss this further, right?”
“Indeed.” Seven felt a range of emotions flood through her. Mostly it was anger. She was angry at Janeway for making her go down to that planet in the first place, but a part of her was hurt too. Hurt that Janeway didn’t feel the same way she did. Hurt that Janeway dismissed the kiss they shared as nothing than an atmospheric effect. She wanted to hit something. She wanted to tell Janeway exactly how she felt right now, how that kiss was the first time she experienced true happiness since childhood. But mostly she wanted to cry. I am Borg she reminded herself when she felt the emotions trying to take over her senses. She decided that perhaps she would ask The Doctor to scan her to see how badly she was affected since she never experienced a flood of emotions quite this intense before.
“Ok, then. I’ll see you when The Doctor begins the sedations.”
Seven nodded and quickly left. The sooner The Doctor examined her, the sooner she would feel better about her condition and this uneasy feeling in her stomach would go away. She stepped into the turbolift, ignoring her duties in Astrometrics temporarily, and went straight to sickbay.
Janeway spent the afternoon securing key systems and discussing tactical plans with Tuvok as they left the Jalso system while the crew began requesting one by one to be excused. The plan was that he would command the ship while most of the crew remained sedated in their quarters as the effects of the pheromones wore off. The ship was running in grey mode now so that all key systems wouldn’t have to be monitored as frequently and thus made commanding the vessel a bit more manageable for him and whoever else was able to remain on duty.
Meanwhile, The Doctor ran scans of various crewmembers who were convinced they were immune to the effects, but of the nearly 30 people who came in and were tested, only one proved unaffected. He was preparing an official report for the captain when she entered sickbay and requested an update on the medical procedure.
“Report.”
“Ah, Captain. I’m glad you’re here. I’ve enlisted Seven of Nine’s help to administer the sedatives. Several people have already been down here complaining of severe headaches so I’ve begun with them, but we can start the mass sedations within the hour if you like. I imagine it’s only a short time before we have an outbreak.”
Janeway rubbed her temple to ease the migraine pain she started feeling a half hour ago. “How many people are we talking about, Doctor?” She asked, concerned. She was under the assumption about 20 or 30 people would be left on duty while the others were sedated, but she never received his report stating who was immune, and the way he was talking now made the situation sound worse than previously expected.
“It doesn’t look good. Aside from me, there are only three other people unaffected.”
“What?” She barked. “You’re telling me the entire crew will be out of commission? You said at the briefing the situation wasn’t that dire.” She glanced across the room and watched Seven prepare the sedatives. Seven’s motion was quick and rigid, self-absorbed in her work as if she was angry, and hadn’t even acknowledged Janeway’s presence since entering.
“That was before I ran scans. Everyone was down there, so naturally everyone was affected. Lt. Tuvok never made it past the transport site, and Vorik hasn’t left the ship since he returned from the neighboring system, so they’re both unaffected. And then there’s Seven. That’s it. I’m sorry I don’t have better news.”
“What about Seven?” Fear tore through Janeway as she waited for The Doctor’s prognosis. She hadn’t even considered how an ex-Borg would handle the pheromones. Her poor implants must be going nuts.
“She’s fine.”
“Wait.” Fear shot through Janeway’s veins again, this time for a personal reason, and she grabbed The Doctor’s arm and pulled him within earshot. “Seven wasn’t affected?”
“No. Her nanoprobes regulate her systems so the pheromones never had a chance to kick in. Her behavior down there was her own.”
Janeway didn’t know whether to feel relieved or frightened about Seven’s good fortune. She was happy that the young woman wouldn’t have to go through the same pain the rest of the crew would, but at the same time she was just beginning to realize that Seven’s behavior on the beach was something that came from inside her with no outside influences. She looked over at Seven again and tried to imagine how difficult it must have been to hear her excuse earlier. “I guess this is a relief.” God, she must think I’m a monster. She kissed me because she wanted to. She looked down at the floor, feeling ashamed for dismissing not only her own reactions brought on by the pheromones but Seven’s as well. Kathryn Janeway, you are so dense sometimes... Before they had a chance to speak again, Seven left sickbay carrying another tray of sedatives and still refused to look in Janeway’s direction.
“How is she feeling? She seems not quite herself.”
He went about his work, not really paying much attention to anything he was saying as he prepared another tray of sedatives for Seven. “Well, I’m not sure what happened down there. She didn’t tell me, but whatever it was upset her. She hasn’t said two words to me since I gave her a clean bill of health.”
“Thank you, Doctor. Begin administrating the sedatives immediately and keep me informed. I’ll be on the bridge.” Janeway left and headed straight for her ready room. She had a lot of thinking to do and not much time to do it.
It was nearly evening now. Janeway had secluded herself in the ready room while she thought about the situation. The entire crew minus three people would be sedated for days, but that’s not what bothered her now. Tuvok would have to command the bridge as well as the rest of the ship alone, but that’s not what bothered her now either. It was Seven, or more specifically her feelings for Seven and vice versa. There was no way she could continue her relationship with Seven without crossing some boundaries. God, Kathryn. You’ve really made a mess now.
“Captain?”
Tuvok’s sudden presence before her startled her and caused her to jump and shriek. “Don’t you ever knock?” she snapped.
“My apologies, Captain, but I remained at the door for several seconds. You did not answer, so I took it upon myself as your chief of security to investigate. There was no way to be sure you were even conscience if the rest of the crew is any indication. They are, as Mr. Paris would say, ‘dropping like flies’.”
Janeway smirked. She was glad to see that even the most rigid Vulcan could show a sense of humor from time to time. “What can I do for you?”
“I have completed locking down all primary systems with voice command authorizations only in the event of an attack.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary, Tuvok. We’ve seen no indication of hostile forces in this region.”
“Regardless, Starfleet Protocol number...”
She cut him off before he could finish. “Fine,” she barked, waving her hand in the air as if shooing an insect away. She really didn’t have time for a debate on Starfleet protocol.
“Captain, is there something you wish to discuss?” He knew this woman very well, having served with her a number of years before their mission on Voyager, was aware of her quirky mannerisms, and always knew when she had something on her mind, even before her short temper made it obvious.
Janeway looked him over, unsure if she should bother him with her newest dilemma or not. She knew he could be trusted. He counseled her many times in the past, and now, when she needed his advice the most, she was hesitant about asking for it. Maybe because this wasn’t a command issue; it was a personal issue. Finally, she decided her own method of figuring this out wasn’t working and suggested they move to the sofa for a more personal as well as comfortable interaction.
“Tuvok, I’ve got myself into a situation that I’m not quite sure how to handle.” She wanted to tell him all about what happened on the beach, how she hurt Seven when she blew off the kiss as nothing more than pheromones interfering with hormones, and most importantly how she felt since learning Seven was acting of her own free will. None of it seemed to matter now. What she wanted most was to have someone, anyone, tell her the right thing to do. Deep down she wanted to be with Seven. She knew it in her heart, but her head continued advising against it.
Finally, after explaining everything she thought he needed to know about her predicament, excluding any specific details, she threw herself against the back of the sofa and waited for his scolding, for she knew as well as he did that she stepped over the line this time.
“Captain, may I speak off the record?”
“Of course.”
“You are an admirable captain, one that I am honored to serve with. However, I feel you still have much to learn when it comes to affairs of the heart. One of the things about humans that still baffles me is your willingness to deny your feelings of love when it does not suit you. You cannot choose who you fall in love with, Captain. It is evident in your interactions on this ship that you care a great deal for Seven of Nine, and she cares a great deal about you as well, but why you continue to close yourself off from her is still a mystery.”
Well that put her in her place. Of all the things she was expecting to hear, that wasn’t even close. “Tuvok, I can’t have a relationship with her.”
“Is it because she was once Borg?”
“It’s not about her being a former drone. It’s about me being her captain. It wouldn’t be right.”
He paused a minute to look for the best way to explain his thoughts. “Captain, many Starfleet officers, including admirals and captains, have engaged in sexual relationships with people under their command. I have no doubt Seven is aware of these facts, so if you claim protocol as your only reason for denying a romantic relationship, then you will not only hurt yourself but her as well.”
That was the last thing she wanted to do: hurt Seven further. “I just don’t know what to do.” Janeway was saddened, almost desperate.
“It is obvious, Captain. There is only one way. You have to talk to her. That is the only way you will find out what you both need from each other.” When he was sure she would be alright once that sunk in, he calmly rose and left the room, turning only to remind her that time was running out and she would have to make a decision one way or another as soon as possible since the pheromones would be out of her system in a few days and all would have been forgotten by then.
“Doctor, I want the injections.”
“Captain?” The Doctor turned from his console to see Captain Janeway bursting through the doors only an hour after she last left.
“I want the injections,” she repeated as she hopped onto the closest biobed, anxious to get this underway. Talking with Tuvok gave her a lot to think about in return with regards to her relationship with Seven as well as the status of the ship over the next few days. She underwent a tremendous change not only in her outlook on the seriousness of the situation within the ship but with Seven as well. She couldn’t believe her feelings for Seven were so transparent, obvious to everyone who looked hard enough but her. Now her only fear was not in acknowledging her feelings but relaying them to Seven without hurting her all over again.
He stopped his work and walked over to ease her fears. “Well, I hardly find this surprising since you’re known for being a difficult patient, but are you really so stubborn as to take these injections rather than give up control of your ship for a few days?” When she didn’t say anything, he continued. “Perhaps you weren’t listening when I said the injections could cause neural paralysis.”
“You said there was a small chance. I’m willing to risk it.”
“Well I’m not,” he snapped. “This ship needs a captain and I’m not going to partake in a risky medical procedure because you don’t want to go to take a nap.”
“I’m only going to say this one more time. I want the injections.”
Her voice was stern and he knew from past experience not to question her motives when she got in this mood. “Is it because you’re afraid of losing control?”
“Doctor, for once this isn’t about me.”
“Well then can you tell me what it is about?”
“It’s a personal matter.”
He looked her over, unsure if the pheromones where having a more deleterious effect than he was previously warned about. Her facial expression was blank, no doubt due to her ability to hide her emotions, but as Seven entered sickbay to retrieve another supply of sedatives, Janeway’s face filled with emotion again. He watched as her eyes followed Seven around the room and her expression softened. As he stood watching, he tried imaging what she might be thinking. The only other person he ever knew to have such a change in expression when Seven entered a room was himself, or so Lt. Paris told him, and he knew how he felt about Seven. When she left, Janeway’s expression returned to its hardened state and a light bulb went on in his head. Is she... in love with Seven? I can’t believe I didn’t see this before. All the clues, all these years...it all makes sense now. It’s no wonder Seven doesn’t acknowledge my feelings...she has them for...
“Very well,” he said glumly. “You can have the injections, but you’ll have to be constantly monitored after the second one.”
Janeway nodded without speaking. She had no idea the pain she was about to endure from the shot but was almost certain it was nothing compared to the pain of watching Seven continue thinking their mutual attraction was caused by the pheromones.
“Will this make my headache go away too?”
The Doctor snorted. “Hardly. If you take this inoculation, your headache will be the least of your pain. Are you sure you still want it?”
“Yes.” Janeway didn’t hesitate and there was nothing to think about. She tilted her head aside and let him inject the medicine. As it filled her veins it felt like poison pouring through her. She could internally trace the liquid moving through her system and it left a painted residual stain where he injected her.
“Captain, I know what this is about.”
“You do? Please, Doctor, enlighten me,” Janeway added, using her sarcastic tone while suspecting her denial was as transparent as a force field by now.
“I don’t know what happened down there between you two, but whatever it was I’m sure it was something you both wanted to happen. The pheromones work as a catalyst, Captain, but they only make you act on your suppressed feelings. You wouldn’t have done something unless you absolutely wanted to.” He watched as she thought about his words. “You have to be honest with her, Captain. And yourself. Tell her how you feel.”
“Doctor, if this is a lecture...”
“It’s not a lecture, though Lord know you could use one,” his tone was becoming angry. “How long are you going to deny yourself the truth?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about...”
He cut her off again in mid sentence. “You know exactly what I’m talking about!”
Janeway sat silent, too stunned to say anything. Her fear of intimacy with anyone was the only thing that stood between her and Seven, but seeing the young woman so hurt by her actions forced her to face the fear and make a decision. She rolled her eyes at him and hopped off the bed. “Am I free to leave now?”
Sounding defeated, he sighed loudly. Blowing me off, are you? Treated like a piece of technology instead of an equal...again. Why should today be any different? “Yes. I’ll stop by your quarters with the next injection. Let me know if you change your mind. I can still sedate you up to the second injection. After that, you’re in for the long haul.”
Janeway nodded and walked slowly toward the door, carefully braced the wall for support. She could feel herself becoming more sluggish and the pain becoming more intense. Her head was still pounding, but that was nothing compared to the new pains in her body.
Janeway sat in the chair by the window, looking out at the passing stars as Voyager traveled out of the region. She faced many problems both in her career and her personal life, but none as troubling as this one. There’s only one way, Tuvok said. Then The Doctor’s voice was in her head, You have to be honest with her…and yourself. She had never been so...in love before and it scared the hell out of her. She shifted in her chair, still feeling the remnants of the first injection The Doctor administered and became nervous when she heard the door chime.
“Come in.”
Seven entered and walked straight over to Janeway’s chair, clasping her hands behind her back, and stood defensively, saying nothing. It was obvious the woman was still hurt by what she considered a major deception on Janeway’s part. As Kathryn stood up to meet her gaze, she grimaced then quickly suggested they move to the couch for more comfort.
Seven offered her arm in assistance after witnessing Janeway wince in pain after taking the first step.
“I’m ok. My bones are just rusty. It comes with age,” she joked, ignoring the pain jetting through her body.
They sat together on the couch, Seven well within arms reach, and Janeway wanted nothing more than to hug her and reassure her that her intentions were exactly as they appeared, regardless of the effects the pheromones had on her and what she said earlier in the briefing room.
“Seven, I’ve asked you to come here because I would like to explain something to you.”
“There is no need to explain, Captain. I understand the pheromones manipulated your actions and that they do not coincide with your feelings regarding our relationship.” Seven looked down, feeling ashamed and humiliated for allowing her heart to be hurt this way by someone she cared for very deeply. She could live with the knowledge that she worshiped the ground Captain Janeway walked on, but what she had trouble with now was the fact that she loved Kathryn Janeway more than anything, and that those feelings were not reciprocated without the influence of an outside force. “In a few days when you wake up you will have forgotten about this and life will return to normal.”
“No, Seven,” Janeway cut her off. “That’s why I’ve asked you to come here. I’m not going to be sedated with the others. I’ve begun taking the injections.”
Seven looked up, concerned. The sedation was dangerous enough, but to forgo the sedation for the injections was too risky, regardless of the circumstances. “But Captain, you are risking irreversible neural paralysis. It’s not worth the risk.”
Janeway placed her hand on Seven’s. “It’s too late. I’ve already taken the first injection.”
“You are allowing your fear of losing control to overcome your sense of well-being. You should be sedated while the pheromones wear off.”
“Seven, this isn’t about my fear. This about doing what’s right.”
“I’m not sure I understand.”
Janeway took a minute to think about how she wanted to phrase what she wanted to say. “When The Doctor explained the situation, he said the pheromones only enhance the feeling the person suppresses.” She paused a few seconds to let a wave of pain curb itself before continuing. “What I didn’t realize was that I felt everything I expressed on the beach before we even docked here. I’ve been pushing myself into denial because I didn’t want to get hurt. I thought there wasn’t a chance you could even look at me the same way I looked at you, and it wasn’t until I heard that you weren’t affected that I realized you felt the same way.”
“Captain, this is the medicine talking. You made your intentions clear in the briefing room.”
“No. I’m making my intentions clear now.” Janeway winced again, this time followed by a spasm.
Seven covered Janeway’s hand with her own in show of support. “Do you need The Doctor?”
“He’ll be by any minute with the second injection. But before I get it, I just want to tell you that my feelings were...are...genuine.”
“Captain, why did you opt for the inoculation rather than be sedated? We could have discussed this when you felt better.”
“Because I couldn’t rest knowing that you were upset.”
Those words touched Seven’s heart as they sunk in and everything she felt after the briefing was long forgotten now. Janeway was risking her comfort…her life so that Seven would feel at ease about what they shared. She couldn’t rest knowing I was upset. It was the most wonderful thing she heard. She began leaning in to kiss Janeway again when the door chimed.
Realizing The Doctor had interrupted their private moment again, both women locked eyes and smiled in unison at his intrusion before yielding to rest their foreheads together as they noted the irony of the situation.
Seven walked over and let him in to administer the second injection. She asked Janeway if there was anything she needed before returning to duty, but there wasn’t. She did, however, make a mental note to check on the woman in a few hours; Janeway would no doubt be in a great deal of pain and in need of distraction.
Over the course of the week Tuvok had no problems with the ship. Seven suspected he was feeling a bit lonely on the bridge for so many hours without the constant distractions of Tom and Harry, though he would never admit to such. One by one the crew started waking from their sleep and checked in with The Doctor, getting passing health checks in return. Janeway had to be moved to sickbay for constant supervision by The Doctor on the first day of her treatment and was given nonstop painkillers to suppress the most intense pain she felt in her life. Seven stopped by every opportunity she had and even skipped a regeneration cycle or two just to sit with the captain, making sure with absolute certainty she would pull out of this.
Now, midway through the night with most of the crew back on their feet, Janeway sat straight up on the bio bed, energized and ready to seize the day. “Doctor,” she called out, causing him to rush over with more painkillers. “I’m bored.”
“You’re bored?” he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Yes. I’ve been staring at that ceiling for an hour now. I’m bored.”
He picked up his tricorder and scanned her thoroughly, revealing great news. “It looks like you’ve made an excellent recovery. No sign of neural damage.”
“So I’m fit to return to duty.” She wasn’t asking his permission.
“Well, I guess so. I would like you to stop by tomorrow morning just to make sure there aren’t any residual affects.”
“Fine. I’ll see you bright and early.” She hopped down and headed toward the door, smirking and adding, “Well...maybe not that early.”
The rumbling in her stomach told her she should have sought out food first, and she suspected that many of the crew not on duty at the moment would no doubt be gathered in the messhall socializing, so that’s where she headed.
Once she entered the messhall, rather than get a plate of food from the buffet Neelix prepared, she scanned the room to note who was there and who wasn’t.
“Ah, Captain,” Neelix called, “Come. Have a snack. We’re all having a little trouble sleeping tonight,” he added when she took in exactly how many people were in there. “Standing room only. Not a common occurrence, huh?”
“Hmm? Oh no,” She offered half-heartedly, clearly distracted while continuing to scan the room. Nope. Her stomach rumbled some more, this time more loudly, but there was a more pressing need she wanted to take care of. Turning to leave in search of Seven, she knew there was only one other place the woman would be at this late hour.
She briskly walked through the corridor as if there was a red alert. In a sense, though, there was. There was some unfinished business to take care of.
Finally, she reached the cargo bay and entered, awestruck at the vision of Seven regenerating. She approached the alcove and quietly ordered the computer to seal the doors and put a privacy lockout on both their comm. badges. This moment was theirs, and there would be no interruptions this time.
For a long minute Janeway simply stood and watched Seven. She was so innocent there in the alcove: her expression so child-like. She wondered what Seven thought about when she regenerated. Did she have dreams like everyone else, or did she think about work? What were Seven’s fantasies? Did she even have fantasies? There was still so much to learn about Seven, so much left to discover, and she was eager to begin that journey. Tonight.
She considered using the control panel to wake Seven but fought off the urge for a few more minutes. Rather, she stepped up onto the platform and dangerously approached. With only the barest of space between them, their clothing rubbed whenever she moved, yet Seven remained oblivious to her presence. For three days, all Janeway thought about was seeing Seven again and being able to express how sorry she was, how selfish she had been, and how much she truly did want to be with Seven. She carefully brought her face closer to Seven’s, close enough to smell Seven’s unique scent. A flash of heat rushed through her as she felt Seven’s warmth before her own body. Unconsciously, she tenderly placed her hand on Seven’s hip and looked up to fluttering eyelids. Having been in this room, dreaming of this and much more for so long, she had to fight the impulse to kiss Seven right here. She knew this was more about connecting with Seven rather than satisfying her own needs, but the more she teased herself by just being so close to the woman she loved, the harder the struggle became. Suddenly, the icy blue eyes opened and looked directly into her own.
Seven always had an ability to sense when Janeway was nearby. To her, it was like a sixth sense. During their time in the void, Janeway had shut herself away from the crew and her nightly visits to the cargo bay ceased, but since visiting the Jalso home world, those visits began again and Seven felt a renewed hope about their relationship. Now, Janeway was nearby again, she could feel it. She forced herself out of her regeneration cycle and surprisingly came face to face with the smaller woman standing only centimeters away.
It was if they were frozen in time as they met each other’s gaze. Not a word was spoken, and Janeway’s heart raced now. The element of surprise for both women made this moment more special than either could have imagined.
Unable to withhold any longer, Janeway gave in to her desires. She reached behind Seven’s head, pulling the young woman’s face down to meet hers, and locked their lips together. The seconds drew on unmercifully and she was unsure about Seven’s feelings still, whether or not she was still angry, until she felt Seven’s hands reach around her waist and pull their bodies together, and then she knew everything was as it should have been from that first day on the beach. This kiss was honest: no pheromones interfered, and no excuses followed.
Janeway let the tip of her tongue touched Seven’s lips in between soft kisses, light and weightless until their lips pressed together hard. Soft, slow, lingering tongues met, pulses quickened, and breathing becoming harder. It was the feeling of being kissed by a goddess. Seven’s breasts pressed into Kathryn’s chest as it intensified and the rest of the world vanished in that one moment as time stood still again.
They remained in the alcove for what seemed an eternity, speaking their minds with their lips until Janeway’s momentum pulled them down the step and tumbling onto the cargo bay floor.
“Are you sure this is what you want, Captain?” Seven asked, pinning the older woman beneath her.
“I’m more sure of this than anything I’ve been sure of in my life.” Janeway leaned up and playfully nuzzled Seven’s earlobe before mumbling, “Oh, and Seven? Please call me Kathryn. I think you’ve earned it.”
The End