They were walking through the city of Amalgata, the sun low on their backs. Captain Janeway looked over at her security officer, Lieutenant Commander Tuvok. His face was as unreadable as ever, but Janeway worried about him. He hadn't talked to her in three days. If he spoke to her, it was imperative for some reason. She knew this was not unusual for a Vulcan, as he had once said himself, 'Vulcans do not make small talk', and she indeed had never known him to. These last three days though he had said even less than usual, no advice, no tactical or security suggestions, nothing. He even looked at her as little as possible, and he seemed to be actively ignoring her.
The fact that they were on this reconnaissance together, that she was on it at all and without additional crewmembers from security, engineering or even hydroponics was proof of Janeway's observations. Normally he would have protested her decision and advised a different composition of the away team. But as she had swept of the Bridge saying: 'Tuvok you're with me, Commander you have the Bridge.' He had just fallen into step behind her and not said a word in the turbo lift, as they had gone to change their uniforms for more inconspicuous attire.
Of course she'd asked him if anything was wrong. His rhetorical 'no Captain, what would be wrong?' hadn't reassured her one bit, but she had let it go. She couldn't think of an incident that could have caused this change in attitude either. She was going to try and find out however, because the situation was beginning to irritate her. If he was mad at her, or if something was wrong with him, well, it was her duty to help. Besides, she considered him her friend.
As the setting sun reached the horizon, Janeway and Tuvok finally reached the beam-out coordinates just outside the ancient Amalgata city walls. They took their positions in between three old, large trees with heavy trunks and thick foliage to help hide them from view, within seconds they were gone.
Two heavily armed guards in tight black clothes, whom had been hiding behind a couple of bushes in a nearby field, were left behind looking bewildered at the spot their guests had last been. They had spotted them on one of the markets and had been following the strangers ever since. Diligently they searched every last inch of the area between the three trees, they even climbed up through the branches hoping to find a clue. In the end, they were left empty handed.
In her quarters, Kathryn sat down on the bed and took off her boots. She flopped backwards with a sigh and wiggled her tortured toes. What would Seven be doing? Having dinner with Chakotay? Would she finally have worked up the courage to ask him?
A few minutes later, she tore her mind away from contemplating her Astrometrics officer, sat up, checked the time and pulled her boots back on. She hated these high heels, but she was just too damned short. Or the men too damned big. Why Seven wore heels was beyond her. Surely, the circuitry that was supposed to be in her heels could be relocated. Damn tall people.
She heaved a final sigh, for now, and stood up, time for dinner.
The Mess Hall was even busier than usual. Everyone not on duty seemed to stop by, even if they were not actually having dinner. What they wanted, hungered for, was information. Because the Captain and Tuvok had arrived back long after alpha shift had finished, official news on the reconnaissance wouldn't be released until tomorrow. There was no immediate emergency. However, everyone knew they were almost out of dilithium and for some unknown reason only the Captain and Tuvok had gone on the away mission. This was very unusual and the ship was buzzing with speculation.
As Janeway walked in several people fell silent and although the Captain noticed, she didn't let it show. Instead, she walked straight up to Neelix, the Talaxian cook they'd picked up on their way home through the Delta quadrant, and asked him what was on the menu.
Served with today's special she turned around looking for an empty seat in the crowded dining area. All 27 places were taken; even the couches were occupied. Janeway turned back to Neelix with one of her crooked grins. 'Looks like I'll need it to go.' And maybe that wasn't such a bad thing, she considered. A nice quiet dinner in her quarters. Everybody and his sister seemed to be present here, no doubt on the hunt for news.
'Don't worry Captain,' the ever-helpful cook assured, 'I'll have you a seat in no time. Most are just socializing here.'
'No Neelix, I don't mind-'
'Hello Captain,' the smooth tones of Tom's voice broke in. 'Looking for a place to sit?'
'Well, it does seem a bit crowded here.'
'B'Elanna and I were just leaving. Why don't you take our table?'
'That's very kind Tom.'
Tom walked her over just as B'Elanna was trying to get up. Her pregnant body more tired than it used to be after a day working in engineering.
'B'Elanna, how are you?' the Captain asked.
'Fine, especially now I have some food in me.'
'Neelix is giving her double portions, still she steals from my plate,' Tom confided.
'Good,' the Captain said with a smile, 'a healthy mother, a healthy baby. Besides, you need to keep your strength up with the hours you're working.
So, is it edible today?' Janeway glanced pointedly at her plate
'It's rather good,' B'Elanna said with obvious approval.
They both chose to ignore Tom's disgusted snort.
'How was the away mission?' B'Elanna asked as Janeway sat down with her plate.
'Everything went smoothly,' she answered with a smile. 'You'll hear all about it, first thing tomorrow morning.'
'And Tuvok, he talking to you again?' Tom wanted to know.
He'd noticed it too. Hmm. 'Tom,' Janeway said with a light warning edge to her voice.
'Well, I couldn't help but notice-'
Janeway turned her attention to her food. 'Have a nice evening Tom, B'Elanna.'
She could feel Tom hesitating for a moment. 'You too Captain,' B'Elanna said as they both walked out.
For Seven the next morning came with a bit of nervous tension as she made her way to Deck 1, for the senior staff briefing with the Commander and the Captain. Which wasn't unusual of course but they had both been acting differently around her lately and she wasn't sure why. She especially minded the Captain's increasingly distant behavior. The Commander seemed to make an effort to be nicer to her, more communicative, although he also seemed a little more uncomfortable. She couldn't decide if the changes in the Commander were signs of progress or signs of renewed distrust.
She had on a few occasions recently failed to perform her duties; however, she had tried to make up for her lapse. Wondering whether they'd found out the real reason she had spent so much time in the Holodeck, she stepped out of the turbo lift and headed for the Briefing Room. She had deleted the program, but someone could have accessed it before that. If he or she were suspicious enough. This in turn could mean the Captain knew she had lied.
The doors swooshed open before her. Four people already seated around the table glanced in her direction: Harry Kim, Tom Paris, the Commander and the Captain. What Seven noticed most was Chakotay's half smile and nod as opposed to Janeway's reaction: she immediately looked back at the padd in front of her.
'Good morning Seven,' Harry said.
Seven acknowledged the greeting with a small nod and took a seat next to Tom, opposite Commander Chakotay. He was still smiling at her, but seemed to shift uncomfortably in his chair at the same time, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.
'Good morning Seven,' he finally managed.
'Good morning Commander,' Seven replied, her eyebrow raised a little in puzzlement at his odd behavior.
Janeway sighed.
Deciding she didn't have much to lose, Seven added, 'Good morning Captain.'
'Good morning Seven,' Janeway curtly replied without looking up from her reading.
'Good morning Seven,' Tom said, obviously in jest, making fun of the awkwardly exchanged greetings.
Janeway's head shot up, with a quick look decided the helmsman was harmless and went back to the padd again.
Harry frowned, Chakotay smiled self-consciously and Seven gave Tom a cursory glance before answering. 'Good morning Lieutenant Paris.'
Tuvok entered, took his seat next to the Captain and promptly turned to face away from her as much as the position allowed.
'Well, hello Tuvok, having a pleasant morning?' Tom said with teasing pleasure.
'My morning is as usual Lieutenant Paris.'
Neelix came in, closely followed by B'Elanna. Before anybody could say anything, the Captain put aside her padd and looked up. 'Let's start this briefing,' she looked over at Tuvok, 'why don't you begin.'
He inclined his head in acceptance and walked over to the wall monitor display to call up the information they'd collected.
'The Boratan city of Amalgata appears to be the capital of this region. It has a population of nearly 40,000 with an economy largely based on farming, mining and trade. This is an overview of Amalgata and surrounding area,' Tuvok pointed to the map and explained what could be seen. 'The city is enclosed by a large wall with four towers where one can enter the city. Within this wall lies the only populated area in a 100-kilometer radius. Just outside the walls lay the fields that are used for farming. A ring of mountains surrounds this entire region and a number of them are heavily mined for several different kinds of ore. They however seem not to be aware of the concentrated pockets of dilithium within the rocks.'
'We must remember people,' Janeway interrupted, 'that this is a first contact situation. They're not space-faring species. We can't just walk up and ask for a bag of the stuff.'
Tuvok ignored the interruption, didn't even look up at his Captain and just went on. The Captain frowned. 'Two possible courses of action,' Tuvok stated. 'One: we try to blend in with the people, claim we come from the other side of the mountains and try to barter for the dilithium.'
'How, if they do not know of its existence? Why would they take our word? Or mine it for us?' Seven interjected.
Janeway tried to suppress a sigh, Seven's superior hearing picked up the aborted exhalation. 'Captain?'
'Patience is a virtue Seven,' Janeway replied tersely.
Chakotay smiled apologetically at Seven. Tom, amused by the interaction, grinned. B'Elanna glared at her husband. Tuvok politely answered Seven.
'That is exactly the weak spot of this option. The other option would be a covert mission on the other side of the mountains. However, this could also lead to complications. Conditions on the outside of the ring are considerably more difficult. Weather is unpleasant, hardly any shelter or plateaus on which to set up camp and many of the dilithium pockets are located near Boratan excavations. Although the Boratan work from the other side, mines now run almost the full depth of the mountain and sounds of our work could easily travel,' Tuvok finished.
Silence was temporarily heavy, and then Seven spoke up again almost defiantly directing her comment to the Captain. 'Working with the aliens has more unpredictable factors, which would increase the chances of failure.'
'True,' Janeway replied, 'but it may be the only feasible option.' She had hardly looked at Seven as she turned her full attention to Neelix. 'I want you to make an inventory of supplies you need in case we go with the trading option. Lieutenant Torres start working on ways we can work without being noticed, use Seven. Commander you will work with Tuvok on how we can make the trading option work. Dismissed.'
Everybody rose, Ensign Kim and Neelix immediately leaving the tension filled atmosphere of the Briefing Room. Riled, Seven hung behind to talk to the Captain. The Commander hovered around the chair he'd just vacated, looking at Seven, hoping to draw her attention. Tuvok looked expectantly at Chakotay, wanting to get started with the planning and covertly observing the man's strange behavior. B'Elanna carefully watched Tom, who was stalling his departure from the room, enjoying the potential for drama.
Janeway decided the matter. 'Tuvok, my Ready Room.' She stalked out of the room with Tuvok right behind.
Her chance gone for now and seeing who was left with her, Seven instantly turned to the Chief Engineer. 'Where shall we start?'
B'Elanna nodded in acknowledgment, relieved this scene was finally coming to an end even if it meant working with Seven of Nine. 'Follow me.' Together they left the room, closely followed by Chakotay and a slightly disappointed Tom Paris.
Janeway was not happy. Images of the dream she had last night kept returning. Dancing in Seven's arms, sitting close on the couch in her quarters her hand resting on Seven's thigh. She'd tried to blame the dream on the food lying heavily on her stomach when she went to bed, but it really didn't matter. Although the images were innocent enough, the feelings they produced were a lot more disturbing then she wanted to admit and they wouldn't leave her, not even now that she was fully awake.
On top of that, Tuvok continued with his silent treatment and now it was bordering on insubordination. His pointed turning away from her as he'd taken his seat, not looking at her when she was talking… It was time to find out what was going on and stopping it.
She took her seat behind her desk in her Ready Room and gestured for Tuvok to take a seat as well.
'Captain.'
'Tuvok,' she let the silence stretch as she observed him. Not that he was sensitive to that kind of treatment, but she was going to do this her way. 'Tell me what's wrong,' she ordered, steeling her voice. 'And I think you know me well enough to know, that pretending innocence is not going to get you out of this again.'
Tuvok didn't answer immediately and Janeway let him simmer. She leaned back and crossed her arms, signaling that she had all the time in the world to wait for a believable answer.
'You know about Seven of Nine's recent Holodeck use-' Tuvok began, but Janeway interrupted him.
'Of course, you reported your findings to me and the Commander,' a slightly disapproving tone crept into the Captain's words as she remembered the emerging gleam in Chakotay's eyes as he'd read it. 'What does that have to do with this?'
'I don't think you considered all the possible implications, but jumped to conclusions. As I had tried to explain at the time. I have since tried to warn you about your course of action, ignoring Seven will exacerbate the problem, you refuse to listen, the Commander is…,' here Tuvok hesitated a moment. He needed to choose his words carefully, the Captain's eyes were trying to burn holes in him and it would not benefit the conversation if she lost her temper. 'The Commander is trying a different tactic, which could escalate the situation. You have obviously lost a clear perspective on this, yet you still do not wish to listen to me. It seems pointless to say anything.'
Janeway leaned forward over her desk, contained anger clearly written on her face. 'You are out of line Lieutenant,' she growled.
'Your recent decisions, such as the away mission to Amalgata, have shown circumstances are already affecting your ability to assess a situation clearly,' Tuvok continued undeterred.
'No lieutenant, your arrogance is affecting your ability to do your job. I can't use a senior officer who's slacking because his pride is hurt,' she held up a hand to silence Tuvok's protest. 'You can tell me as often as you like that Vulcans do not have pride and are not arrogant, but that is the only logical explanation I can think of for your completely unprofessional behavior.' She glared at him. 'I expect better from you Tuvok. And I expect to see better immediately, before you endanger the crew or this ship. Dismissed.'
As her security officer walked out Janeway realized he was at least partially right. She should have realized this was what was bothering him. She knew that she hadn't been listening to him, but hadn't thought it would cause such behavior. It never had before. Of course she usually did let him speak his mind; she just didn't always take him up on his advice. Maybe she should have at least listened, she pondered, but she had a good idea what he was going to say and she really didn't want to hear it.
Dear Seven,
Seven of Nine
Hi Seven, it's me Chakotay laughed.
Seven,
How I've been No, bluntness, or
'directness' as she would call it, will be best, he thought Would you like
be interested in meeting having a drink No
Seven,
I'd like to meet you after our duty shift today at Sandrine's. I could teach you how to play pool and we could have a drink. Please let me know if you'll be there.
Chakotay
Reasonably happy with the message, he read it over three times to be sure, before sending it. He hoped she would read it before she returned from her lunch break. She was working with B'Elanna at the moment, and although Seven hardly ever took a break, B'Elanna usually did. He was pretty sure the engineer wouldn't leave her alone in her engine room.
Ever since Tuvok's report on Seven's activities on the Holodeck, Chakotay had been more aware of the ex-Borg. He realized she had grown. She'd proven to be very loyal and trustworthy, recent transgression not withstanding and she had grown as a human being. Obviously, she had developed an interest in romance, and apparently in him…
'It seems our oiled machine is coming to a grinding halt,' the helmsman grinned. He was walking with Harry from the Mess Hall back to the Bridge after lunch. They'd been discussing that morning's briefing.
'More like falling apart,' Kim retorted dismally. 'How you can find this amusing I'll never understand.'
'Oh c'mon Harry, just a little tension. There is nothing like real life entertainment. Besides it'll help keep everybody fresh and awake.'
Harry didn't look convinced. 'Or it could distract them completely and then where would we be?'
'You are such a pessimist, they're all sensible people. Have a little faith, enjoy the gossip and start a pool with me: what is at the heart of this matter that has four of the great pillars of our little community so occupied? A risky plan to get us home or,' Tom lowered his voice enticingly, trying to draw Harry into his game, 'love…'
'Tom,' Harry rolled his eyes in disgust.
'Hey, who knows? Janeway just left her heart behind on a planet surface, but she's always been very protective of our resident Borg. Rumor has it that that particular lady has recently shown a real interest in Romance,' he drew out the word to emphasize it. 'Chakotay has been pining after the Lady of the Ship for what seems like forever, something is bound to happen sometime.'
'ALL rumors,' Harry said, 'and what has Tuvok got to do with any of this?'
'Who knows, maybe all the emotion is getting to him?'
'You're incorrigible,' Harry muttered as they walked onto the Bridge and took their stations.
Seven had her answer in the clumsily phrased invitation to Sandrine's she had accessed on her station in Astrometrics. The Commander's behavior could be classified as progress, but it was a bit too much progress for her. The fact that there was an invitation from him made it more likely that the Commander was aware of her activities on the Holodeck, which was inconvenient to say the least. Unfortunately, it also made it more probable that the Captain knew of her experiments with the Chakotay-hologram, which Seven considered more than simply inconvenient. She let out a tightly controlled breath. They had breached her privacy, and if her assumptions were correct, then Captain Janeway was angry with her, or disappointed, or hurt by what she had found. Or maybe not by what she had found but by Seven's lie. However, it was very likely that both the Commander and the Captain had jumped to the wrong conclusion as far as the simulation was concerned. Seven felt her chest tighten in almost angry frustration.
First, she had to set the Commander straight, his invitation still glaring up at her. It would probably be wise to do that as politely as possible… but how?
END OF PART I