CHAPTER FIVE

Seven of Nine entered the holodeck and smiled when she saw that Kathryn had already arrived. Kathryn was sitting on a long bench that ran the length of one wall. The captain looked up from her exercise bag and tried not to stare at the Seven. The Borg’s skintight black Velocity outfit showed every curve on the six foot blonde’s body. Janeway took a deep breath and released it slowly as Seven approached

"Kathryn," Seven said. "I am pleased to see that you could arrive early. It will be to our advantage to practice before Mr. Paris and B’Elanna arrive."

"All business?" Kathryn thought. She handed Seven her Velocity phaser. "I’m sure we’ll work well together."

"I have no doubt," Seven said. "Kathryn, before the others arrive, may I ask you something?"

"Certainly," Janeway said as she programmed the Velocity field into a padd she had picked up off the bench. The yellow and black grids used for regular Velocity shifted as part of the floor lifted up at forty-five degree angle; the angled floor was only one of the differences between regular and doubles.

Seven set her phaser on the bench. "You and I are both off duty tomorrow. I was wondering, would you like to join me for lunch?" Seven smiled at the captain. She was pleased that her voice had not betrayed her overwhelming nervousness.

"I’d like that. What did you have in mind?" Kathryn was eager to find out what a Borg would do on a date. She laid the padd back on the bench and regarded the woman in front of her.

"I have reserved Holodeck Two from 11:00 hours through 14:00 hours." Seven replied mysteriously.

"Three hours?" Kathryn asked. She stood and moved toward the exBorg. "I’m intrigued. What program are you going to run?"

Seven tilted her head to one side. The effect was quite seductive. Seven then lower her voice to a smoldering tone Janeway hadn’t heard before. "It is a new program. But I believe you will enjoy it."

"Do I at least get a hint?" Kathryn asked. "This woman makes me crazy... but in a very good way."

Seven considered the request. "I created the program myself… after our dinner conversation last night."

"Now I’m really intrigued," Kathryn said. She walked over to Seven and stood as close to Seven as she could without actually touching her. She could feel the heat radiating between them. "Can you at least tell me what to wear?" Kathryn was drawn to the young Borg, despite her own fears and her Starfleet training that was ordering her to back off.

Seven put her hands on Kathryn’s shoulders. "I do not know. You are very intelligent, if I give you too much information, you may figure out my surprise." It seemed the young Borg had picked up something about flirting along the way, which delighted the Starfleet captain.

Janeway pushed herself to the brink of madness and wrapped her hands around Seven’s waist and pressed her body into the lean young woman. "What am I supposed to do . . . show up naked?"

Seven pushed the boundary even farther and slid her hands down to Janeway’s back, noticing how her muscles rippled beneath her fingers. "You are the Captain. I could not object to your choice of attire." Seven smiled and glanced down. She looked up through her dark lashes at the captain. "Perhaps you should model that ‘outfit’ for me, then I could make a sound decision." Seven decided that she was quite good at this ‘flirting’ that B’Elanna had explained to her.

Kathryn choked and restrained her response to a crooked grin. Seven had a natural seductiveness that was not lost on Voyager’s Captain. "What can I do to convince you to get me a hint?" Janeway asked. The Starfleet Captain threw caution aside and leaned forward to kiss Seven’s collarbone through the material of her outfit. Seven shuddered at the captain’s nearness. The uniform was silky soft, and the heat from Kathryn’s lips transferred directly through to Seven’s skin. Apparently the captain was also quite good at this ‘flirting.’

Seven leaned her head to the side as Kathryn kissed up along her throat. Seven sighed and released a tiny moan. She glanced down at the shorter woman. "This is very convincing," Seven said. "Please continue."

"Do I get my hint?" Kathryn asked as she gently bit Seven’s ear.

"Yes… but all I will tell you is that you should wear… blue jeans and a warm top… Now, continue your convincing." Seven said. It occurred to Seven that the five date rule might prove to be exceedingly challenging to execute.

"Jeans? What do you have up your sleeve?" Janeway had come to the same conclusion concerning the five date rule.

"This outfit is too restrictive to allow anything to be concealed." Seven pointed out.

"We really should practice our game," Kathryn said as she ran her tongue around the swooning blonde’s ear.

"I believe I prefer this game," Seven said honestly.

"So do I, but I don’t think I want any of the crew to walk in while we’re playing this particular sport." Janeway said. She pulled away and walked over to activate the game.

"Very well," Seven said. "But I do not find Velocity nearly as stimulating."

Janeway smiled and began going over the previous night’s conversation to figure out what program Seven could come up with that would require blue jeans… and how she was ever going to wait for five dates.

Tom Paris grabbed B’Elanna Torres by the arm and yanked her to a stop in the middle of the corridor. "Are you sure?" he asked.

"I’m telling you. The captain and Seven are going out." B’Elanna said.

"I’m not buyin’ it, B’Elanna," he stated.

"Believe it. Yesterday Seven grilled me for every bit of information I had about ‘dating and courtship rituals.’ Then I had to explain exactly what the expected sexual progression in a relationship was," Torres paused to roll her eyes. "Then I had to give our resident Borg fashion advice and suggest appropriate dating locations."

The easygoing helmsman’s actually giggled, "Fashion? How did you ever survive it?"

B’Elanna swatted him with the back of her hand. "Yeah, well that was a piece of cake. After that, it got a little more personal."

"Really?" Tom looked like he might drool.

B’Elanna waited for a passing crewman to leave before she began. "Little miss prim and proper Borg looks me square in the eyes and informs me that she found the information on ‘recreational coupling’ between women to be lacking. She wanted to know if I had any relevant information."

Tom pressed B’Elanna against the wall and leaned into her. He was getting a very hot picture in his mind about that conversation. "So," he said in a deep murmur, "What did you tell her?"

B’Elanna blushed. "Tom," she looked up and down the corridor to make sure they were still alone. "You know I’ve had women lovers."

"Yeah," he said as he kissed her neck. "You’ve told me. So, what did you tell Seven?"

B’Elanna sighed and covered her face with her hand and shook her head. "Unfortunately, I told her yes."

"And?" Tom prompted.

B’Elanna continued to shake her head and then rolled her eyes. "She got this very intense, rather scientific look on her face, like I was the latest spatial anomaly waiting to be examined, and then..." B’Elanna looked down the corridor again and then turned back to Tom and stared him directly in the eyes. "Then, she tells me that she can imagine what most of the experience would be like, but would I mind explaining what it feels like to be inside another woman." B’Elanna folded arms across her chest.

Tom let his weight fall onto the wall beside B’Elanna. His eyes widened as he considered the erotic quality of the scene he was envisioning. B’Elanna, the sensual Klingon Human hybrid describing an intimate sexual act to the six-foot tall blonde Borg who oozed sex appeal… suddenly he realized his velocity outfit was becoming a bit tight in one specific region. "Stop," he said as he shifted uncomfortably. "As much as I’m dying to know what you told her, I’m having a little problem." He glanced down.

B’Elanna followed his gaze and smiled. "You are such a dirty dog. I’m pourin’ my heart out to you, and you start loading a torpedo for launch."

"It’s not my fault. Help me out here."

"Okay," B’Elanna said as she leaned in close to whisper in his ear. "Do what I always do when I get a little too ‘caught up.’ Close you’re eyes, and picture... Nelix..."

"Eeew," Tom said with eyes closed.

B’Elanna continued, "...Naked... and he’s running... towards you..."

"Okay," Tom said snapping his eyes open. "Problem solved."

"Always works for me," B’Elanna said.

"So," Tom said. "What did you tell her?"

"I told her that was something she’d just have to figure out on her own. Now, let’s get to the holodeck."

Tom started to go off into his own little happy-land picturing Seven of Nine figuring that out her own, then he realized they were also talking about the captain. "B’Elanna, you have to be wrong. The captain would never date a crewmember… and Seven? Come on."

"Really?" B’Elanna said as she crossed her arms in her most stubborn stance. "Is that why last night I had the ‘thrill’ of having the captain put me through a first class interrogation about what I told Seven? The Cardassians could learn a few things from our captain about questioning prisoners."

"You know she’s protective of Seven," Paris tried.

"You weren’t there. She’s got the hots for our little Borg," Torres said.

"B’Elanna," he whispered. "Do you know how much trouble you’ll get into if you get caught spreading a rumor like that? Janeway would never date a member of the crew."

"It’s not a rumor... and, they had a date last night," Torres said smugly. She walked down the corridor toward the holodeck leaving Paris jogging to catch up.

"How do you know?" he asked.

"It sorta’ came out during my conversation with Janeway," she said.

"Oh?"

"Yeah, well, she didn’t appreciate some of the terminology I used with Seven."

"B’Elanna, what else did you tell Seven?" Paris asked.

"Janeway wasn’t too thrilled with my use of the term ‘put out’ when I told Seven the five date rule," Torres said.

Paris smiled. "We didn’t follow that rule."

"Yeah, well, Seven is new to this. She needs to be careful."

"Watch out, B’Elanna… it almost sounds like you’re starting to like Seven," Paris said.

"Well, she’s not the sub-zero prude I thought she was," B’Elanna said as she reached up to the door controls for the holodeck. The doors opened and Torres and Paris walked in. Kathryn was sitting on the bench and Seven was kneeling between her legs. Seven was massaging the captain’s upper thigh, so high on her thigh that her hands were barely visible. Janeway’s head was arched back and her hands were entwined behind Seven’s neck.

"I guess not," Paris said staring openly at the two women.

"Are we early?" B’Elanna said with a grin that showed all of her razor sharp teeth.

Seven shot Torres a glare that almost made the Engineer take a step back. "The captain has injured herself."

"It’s nothing," Janeway said as she tried to casually push Seven out from between her legs.

"What happened?" Paris asked as he crossed to the captain and knelt next to her.

Janeway crossed her arms and let out an embarrassed sigh. "I was on the second level ramp and pulled a muscle. It’s nothing to get excited about."

Paris prodded the injury and Janeway winced. Seven leaned forward protectively.

"You are causing her pain. We should take her to sickbay," Seven said as she yanked Paris out of the way. He landed solidly on his backside.

"Seven," he said from his position on the decking, "I am the Doctor’s assistant."

Before anyone could comment, Seven had the captain in her arms and stood. "She is the captain. The Chief Medical Officer should tend to her," Seven said as she headed toward the door.

"Seven," Janeway said in protest. "Tom is perfectly qualified. Put me down."

Seven eyed the woman in her arms and then slowly returned to the bench and placed her back down. Paris went to the edge of the holodeck and removed an emergency medical kit and took out a scanner and carefully checked Janeway’s leg. Seven stood ominously over him as he examined the captain.

"You tore a ligament in your groin," he finally said. "I can mend it for you here…" he looked at the imposing Borg leaning over him with a menacing stare. "Or Seven can cart you down to sickbay and let the doctor do it."

Janeway put her hand on Paris’ arm. "I’m sure you’ll do fine, Tom."

"At least someone appreciates me," Paris said as he ran the deep tissue regenerator over the injury. "We’ll have to postpone our game. You need to take it easy for the next day or so. Just keep most of your weight off it."

Seven bypassed the captain and addressed Paris directly, "Should I carry her to her quarters?"

Paris’ boyish features lit up and he gave the captain a huge grin. The captain however was not amused, so Paris sighed. "I think she can walk," he finally said.

"Seven," Janeway said. "I’ll be fine. You can walk with me if you like," Kathryn offered. She smiled up at the Borg expectantly and then realized that she had an audience. She quickly regained her captain’s composure and cleared her throat.

"Acceptable," Seven answered. She stepped closer to the captain and brushed her fingers across Janeway’s cheek causing Janeway to shiver. "But if I notice that you are in any distress… I will carry you."

"Well," Torres said. "I guess we’ll see you two another time." She turned to Paris. "Tom, there’s no reason to waste the holodeck. Let’s get in a practice game."

"Okay," he said as he carefully watched Seven. The Borg’s eyes were glued to the captain as she stood. Seven moved next to Janeway and never let her get out of arm’s reach, probably so she could grab her if she looked like she might stumble.

"Thanks again, Tom." Janeway said as she exited. The door closed and Paris spun toward Torres, his eyebrows raised almost to his hairline.

"I told you," B’Elanna gloated.

"Well," Paris said. "I guess the captain’s got a girlfriend."

CHAPTER SIX

Janeway and Seven of Nine arrived at the captain’s quarters. Kathryn had slowed down once to stretch her leg. It had taken all of Janeway’s diplomatic skills to convince Seven to let her walk the rest of the way. Finally, the captain told Seven that if she let her walk back, Kathryn would allow Seven to fix her dinner. That way, Kathryn had argued, Janeway wouldn’t have to walk all the way to the mess hall. … and if it gave Janeway another night with the beautiful Astrometrics officer… well, that was just a bonus, and out in the Delta Quadrant, you had to take your bonus’ whenever they came along.

Kathryn keyed in her code and the door opened. Seven followed her in, carefully observing the weight distribution on her injured leg as Janeway went to the replicator.

"You said I would be making dinner," Seven protested.

"I’m just getting a drink," Kathryn said. "Can I get you something?"

Seven crossed to the captain and swept her up in her arms and took Janeway to the couch and set her down. "I will get your beverage. What is it you require?"

Kathryn eyed the young woman and wondered if she should tell her exactly what it was her captain required. "Probably not," she decided. "Seven, I am not an invalid. But, I’ll have a Saryian brandy, then come sit next to me." She patted the cushion beside her.

Seven raised her eyebrow. "I know you are not an invalid, Kathryn, but I enjoy taking care of you." Seven addressed the replicator, "Saryian brandy…two." Seven took the drinks when they materialized and sat next to Kathryn.

"Thank you," Kathryn said as she took the drink. She sipped it and watched as Seven cautiously tasted hers. "Seven, I don’t need anyone to take care of me. I am the captain."

Seven tasted her brandy. She found it to be palatable and took a small drink. It tingled pleasantly as it went down. She set in on the coffee table and turned to Janeway. "Kathryn, being a Starfleet captain does not make you invincible… it merely compels you to act as if you are."

Kathryn smiled and took another drink of her brandy. Seven had just summed up the position of captain in one sentence. She wasn’t sure she liked being that transparent. "Is that so?" she asked.

"Yes," Seven said.

"So, you like taking care of me, huh?" Kathryn asked. It was easy for Kathryn to just be with the young Borg.

Seven blushed and picked up her brandy. She took a small drink and glanced demurely at her captain. "Yes. I do. It gives me great pleasure."

Kathryn raised her eyebrows and her mind went directly to the gutter. She tried to still the lurid thoughts that were quickening her pulse. "Far be it from me to deny you pleasure." As soon as the words left her mouth she was kicking herself internally. She took a long drink of her brandy.

"Kathryn, are you attempting to entice me with sexual innuendo?" Seven asked as she sipped her brandy.

Janeway choked on her own beverage. "I... well, I, well, damn." the captain suddenly wished she would get an emergency call from someone on board, anyone on board. "I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable, Annika. I’m sorry."

Seven smiled when Kathryn used her Human designation. "I like it when you call me Annika," she said quietly, then looked into Kathryn’s eyes. "You did not make me uncomfortable, Kathryn. I merely wished to clarify your intention. I do not want to misinterpret your interest in me."

"My interest in you?" Janeway asked hoping to shift the focus of the conversation.

"Yes," the former Borg said. Seven set her glass down on the table next to Kathryn’s and turned to the nervous commanding officer. "I would not want to do anything that was not invited."

"And just what invitation are you referring to?" Kathryn asked breathlessly.

"This one," Seven said. She leaned over and turned Kathryn’s face and kissed her gently. Kathryn inhaled deeply as soon as the former Borg moved away.

"I should have extended that invitation ages ago," the older woman said with a hungry leer.

Seven smiled, "I do not believe you would have been prepared for such an action prior to this occasion."

"Annika," Janeway said with a patient smile. "You’re over analyzing." She reached out and guided Seven back to her lips.

Seven pulled back after several heated moments. "I believe you are correct." Seven moved with the fluid swiftness that stunned Janeway. Suddenly the lanky blonde was draped across Janeway’s lap. She kissed Kathryn with a thorough passion that amazed her. "And I thought she’d need to adjust to passion," Kathryn said to herself.

Seven’s oral skills were making the captain quite dizzy. Kathryn pulled Seven closer until the Borg was straddling her date and she dug her hands into Kathryn’s hair and pulled the more experienced woman into her, absorbing Janeway’s tongue. Kathryn decided she was tired of letting the formidable Borg take the lead and she shifted Seven’s weight and swung the surprised exdrone onto the couch beside her. Seven landed with a muted thump and was immediately pounced on by her captain. Janeway’s leg found its way between Seven’s and the inexperienced young woman had her first taste of scorching desire.

"Oh, Kathryn..." Seven said as Janeway moved away from Seven’s lips to kiss her neck.

"I’m not going anywhere," Kathryn promised. Her voice crackled with intensity and she found her lips on the softest ivory skin she had ever tasted. Before she realized what she was doing, she was sucking mercilessly on Annika’s flesh. Seven’s breathing was coming in gasps. Seven moved Janeway’s mouth back to hers and let her head fall back into the couch pillow. The young Borg was amazed at the magnitude of the sensations flooding her body. She lifted her hips up against the captain’s leg and was stunned at the shock that ricocheted through her nerve endings. Seven yanked the captain down to her and captured Kathryn’s tender neck between her teeth and proceeded to draw the supple flesh into her.

"Oh, god, yes," Kathryn said as she pressed onto her Astrometrics officer. They exchanged the impassioned bites and devoured each other. Kathryn found Seven’s neck to be a delicious appetizer and decide she wanted, no needed, to taste Annika’s breast so she moved her hand down and caressed the firm mound through the fabric of her velocity suit. Seven drew a breath and released a strangled cry. Kathryn smiled, moving her mouth down to replace her hand and even through the fabric, Kathryn felt Annika’s nipple hardened at her touch.

"Umm," Seven managed as she guided Kathryn slightly away from her. She kissed Kathryn quickly and then stilled the captain’s roaming lips with her hand. "Kathryn, I believe if we continue this, we will circumvent our dinner." Seven wanted nothing more than to forego dinner completely and make love to the captain, but this was only her second date with Kathryn. She didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize her relationship with Kathryn or lose the captain’s respect.

Kathryn stared down at her flushed companion. Seven’s hair had come lose from its bun and was spread across the pillow beneath her. The last thing on Kathryn Janeway’s mind was eating... Well, eating dinner anyway. Still, Kathryn didn’t want to pressure Seven.

"Okay," Kathryn said. "Perhaps you’re right." Janeway’s words didn’t match her actions. She didn’t move an inch.

"It would be easier to prepare your dinner if you were not pinning me to the couch." Now the Borg’s words didn’t match her actions. She firmly held the captain against her chest and her hands began to caress the woman on top of her. The captain shivered when Seven’s fingers grazed across her spine.

Kathryn smiled. "It would be easier to get up if someone wasn’t pinning me to her chest." In her mind she realized, "It feels so natural with her. I’ve never been this comfortable with anyone in such a short amount of time. Yes… but we’ve been flirting since the first day we met."

Seven smiled and for a moment Kathryn thought the Borg was about to kiss her again. Instead, Seven released the captain and eased her away. "This is an intriguing position, but I must get up," Seven said as she shifted under the captain and Kathryn climbed awkwardly off of Seven and sat at the end of the couch. Seven stood and went to the replicator, leaving her hair down, which pleased the captain immensely.

"So?" Kathryn asked once her breathing slowed. "What are we having for dinner?" She stared at Seven’s back as the young woman contemplated the replicator. It was a good thing Seven had put a stop to things, the captain decided. She had let her passion for the young Borg carry her away and had been letting her heart, and a lower, baser part of her anatomy, take the lead with Seven, and that was probably not the best choice the Starfleet captain could make.

"What would you like, Kathryn?"

"I’ve got an idea, Seven." Kathryn said.

"Yes?" Seven turned. She hoped Kathryn’s plan involved another visit to the couch. It seemed that every time she and the captain sat there, they ended up in a very pleasant, passionate embrace. Even if Seven didn’t ‘put out,’ for another three dates, she believed that kissing was allowable.

Kathryn smiled at her date. "I’ll call Nelix and ask him to bring something down for us, a little room service. Would you like that?"

Seven considered that. Many of Nelix’s creations caused her to have involuntary stomach contractions. It was all Seven could do to not regurgitate the offensive nutrition onto her plate. Once, when she had tasted Nelix’s Talaxian gumbo, Harry Kim had been quite concerned. He informed Tom Paris to avoid the meal and told him that, "Seven almost yakked." Seven didn’t quite understand using a verb form of the word that Seven knew meant a large mammal native to the region on Earth known as Tibet. It took a great deal of research on slang to discover that ‘to yak’ was a common or vulgar term referring to the act of vomiting, though Seven had no idea how it related to the large mammal. Perhaps the beasts were prone to regurgitation. "Curious, my cranial discomfort seems to have returned." Seven realized, though it was only a minor discomfort when compared to the other ‘headaches’ she had been having over the past several days.

"Seven?" Kathryn asked again.

"Oh," Seven realized her captain was waiting for an answer. "That will be acceptable... but, would you pick something..."

Kathryn smiled. "I’ll be very deliberate in my ordering. I know he gets a little too adventurous with some of his recipes."

Seven pivoted and returned to where Kathryn was sitting. She debated where to sit, and finally decided on the chair off to one end of the couch. B’Elanna had advised Seven to ‘let the captain chase you.’ As of yet, Kathryn hadn’t actually physical pursued the exBorg. Seven wondered if she was missing some part of the interaction. Perhaps she was supposed to attempt to outrun the captain. She would ask B’Elanna for more information the next time she saw the Chief Engineer.

Seven considered the diner choice. "I will trust your judgment," Seven said with a half smile.

Janeway noticed that Seven chose to sit away from her. Her captain’s analytical mind chastised her, "You were pushing her too fast." Kathryn’s softer side eyed the former drone siting cross from her. "I’ll just have to give her some more space."

"Good, I think we could both use a nice relaxing night," Janeway finally said.

They shared a bland but enjoyable meal of tossed green salad with grilled... bird, at least Kathryn thought it was a bird, she hoped it wasn’t a reptile. Even though it was replicated meat, she didn’t relish the idea eating even a simulated reptile. She led Seven back into the living room and was careful to sit in one of the chairs so that Seven didn’t feel pressured to join her on the couch. Kathryn couldn’t seem to keep her hands off of her beautiful date when they were on the damn couch, so Kathryn avoided it. They talked until late in the evening, and Kathryn was surprised when Seven asked if she wanted to listen to some music. Kathryn didn’t think Seven enjoyed that particular pastime, but she eagerly went into her bedroom to retrieve one of her musical data chips. She looked through her closet and wanted to ask Seven if she was familiar with any of the six operas Kathryn had to choose from.

"Seven?" Kathryn called out.

There was no response.

"Seven?" Kathryn called out again. When she didn’t receive an immediate answer, she went to the other room. She found Seven sitting on the floor holding her hands on either side of her head. Jane ran to her and knelt next to her. "Are you okay? Seven?"

Seven looked up and pried her eyes open. "I am fine. I merely lost my balance."

"Is this another headache?" Kathryn demanded.

"Yes… but they are not usually this severe," Seven answered.

Janeway’s voice cut with the razor edge of command. "Usually? You’ve had others? Why didn’t you tell anyone about this?"

Seven attempted to stand but immediately fell back to the floor. "I require assistance. Would you help me stand?"

Janeway’s voice was cold and harsh. "I should beam you directly to sickbay." She put her arm around Seven and helped her to the couch. She knelt in front of her and took Seven’s face in her hands and looked into her eyes trying to assess her condition. "I’m gonna’ help you up and then we’re going to sickbay… Do you think you’ll be okay while I get my com badge from the other room?"

Seven closed her eyes and put her elbows on her knees. She placed her head carefully on her hands. "I will be fine. Perhaps you should change into your uniform."

Janeway nodded. It was a good idea. She didn’t need the entire crew knowing she was spending her off time with Seven. The captain hurried to change and prayed she didn’t look as scared as she felt when she jogged into the other room. She grabbed her uniform off a chair in the corner of the bedroom and quickly changed. When she came back to the living room, Seven was leaning back on the couch.

"I am feeling better," Seven said. "I believe I will be fine if I return to my alcove and regenerate," the blonde said as she stood unsteadily.

"You’re going to sickbay," Kathryn stated.

"I will comply."

The Borg’s lack of protest intensified Janeway’s concern. Kathryn stuck her com badge onto her chest and went to Seven. She looked at her... girlfriend? ...date?... and then pulled her into a bone-crushing embrace. "Why didn’t you tell me about this?"

"Up until now, I have been able to endure the discomfort," Seven said into Kathryn’s hair.

Janeway pulled back. "You shouldn’t have to endure pain. You have to tell someone when you’re ill."

Seven hugged Kathryn back to her. "I shall."

They quickly headed to sickbay. Once in the turbolift, Janeway eyed her... girlfriend. Seven’s hair was still down on her shoulders and she watched as the exBorg quickly put her hair up in its usual tight bun. Kathryn noticed that Seven was sporting at least four world-class hickeys. In her haste to get Seven to sickbay, she hadn’t even seen them. She moved to the young Borg.

"Seven… I left several marks on your neck…"

"Yes, I believe those are what B’Elanna referred to as ‘hickeys.’ You have several as well," Seven casually replied.

Kathryn sighed and wished she had a dermal regenerator. She smiled at the ludicrous image of the captain bringing her Astrometrics officer to sickbay… both covered with marks of passionate necking on the captain’s couch. Her musing ended abruptly.

"Kathryn..." Seven turned to Janeway, and the then captain watched in horror as the exBorg’s eyes rolled back in her head and she collapsed. Janeway caught most of her weight and guided her to the floor.

Janeway slapped her com badge. "Janeway to sickbay, medical emergency. Two to beam directly to sickbay…" She cradled Seven in her arms as they dematerialized and quickly appeared in sickbay. Janeway gathered her bearings as she sparkled back together.

The Doctor rushed over to her. "Captain," he said, "She’s having another headache? Help me get her on that bed." They lifted her to the bio bed.

"You were aware of her ongoing headaches?" Janeway demanded.

"Ongoing? No… look around you. I’ve got four other patients here with the same symptoms. Though none of the others lost consciousness." He grabbed a scanner and ran it over the deathly immobile Seven of Nine. Janeway looked around the room noting her various crewmen on the other bio beds. She turned back to Seven and took the pale blonde’s hand. Janeway watched as the Doctor frowned at his results.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice betraying her. Her calm captain’s demeanor was gone.

"This doesn’t make sense. There isn’t any physical cause for any of these headaches," he said.

Janeway instantly remembered that she had other crewmembers in sickbay. She glanced around at them but her heart was anchored to the limp hand she clutched in her own. She felt her Starfleet training kicking in as she began to slowly untangle from Seven’s hand. She watched her digits uncurl and felt her heart tearing into tiny pieces, but she had a ship to take care of. She couldn’t stay at Seven’s side while other members of her crew needed her too. Seven’s hand squeezed hers and Kathryn turned her full attention back to her beloved Borg.

"Seven…" Kathryn said with a relieved smile.

"I am in sickbay," Seven noted.

"Well," the Doctor said, "Her eyes are working. I need you to lie back and remain perfectly still while I get my readings… and no talking."

"Hold still, Annika. Let the Doctor take care of you," Kathryn said with a gentleness that made the hologram turn away, feeling like an intruder.

The doors hissed open and Tom Paris came in helping Lieutenant Carver. She was leaning against him and he quickly lifted her to the only remaining bio bed.

"Another headache," Paris said.

Janeway took the Doctor’s arm. "What’s going on here? Since when are headaches disabling?"

The Doctor regarded the captain. "I honestly don’t know what’s going on. The only correlation I’ve found is that all of the effected crewmen are at least partially telepathic. Ensign Kai is one quarter Betazoid, Vorik is Vulcan, we’ve got two partial Vulcans and Lieutenant Carver there is Denbari."

Janeway nodded toward Seven. "She’s not a telepath."

The Doctor gave the captain a disgusted glare. "I am aware that Seven is Human. Perhaps her link to the Collective gives her some ability."

The doors hissed open and Tuvok came in. He saw Janeway and went to her, only then seeing Seven. He raised an eyebrow, an emotional display for him. "Captain, I was unaware Seven had been affected."

"It hit tonight," she said. "I’m glad to see you’re considering this a security matter."

"The Doctor alerted the heads of all departments, but… I am here because I am… also in need of medical attention," Tuvok said with a hint of disgust in his voice.

"Why wasn’t I notified?" Janeway asked.

"Commander Chakotay hadn’t deemed this an emergency… and your com badge had the privacy override in effect," Tuvok said.

"Oh," Janeway managed. "Uh… I was busy."

The Doctor decided to join the conversation. "Yes, well, from the looks of the matching hickeys… I’d guess Seven was busy too."

Janeway’s glare probably would have made a non-hologram wet his pants. The Doctor merely decided he should examine the aforementioned young Borg. He went over and began checking her readings. Tuvok let the comment go as if he hadn’t heard it, but he casually confirmed that, yes, Seven and the captain did indeed have matching hickeys.

Janeway turned to Tuvok. "We should get you a bed, old friend." She looked around and decided a chair was the best she could do. She pulled it over and motioned for him to sit. "I don’t suppose you have any theories on this?"

"Given the fact the most of the afflicted are from species with some telepathic ability, I believe we should start there."

"What about Seven?" she asked. She looked back and sighed. Seven’s eyes were closed, but her face was pained and didn’t have the relaxed expression Janeway had enjoyed staring at only a few hours earlier.

"I do not know," he said honestly.

The Doctor returned. "Captain, Seven seems to have extremely elevated adrenaline levels. The others have increased levels of metazine."

Tuvok raised an eyebrow. "That is the brain chemical associated with empathic ability. Seven seems to not only be unique in her lack of empathic ability, but also in that she had a previous attack."

Janeway bit her lip and then spoke. "Seven’s been having headaches ever since the one during the staff meeting."

"Yes," the Doctor said with a wounded expression. "Captain, even if Seven is your… lover, you still should have informed me about this."

"I didn’t know," Janeway snapped, "and she’s NOT my lover. The question is, what can you do for them?"

Tuvok stood and addressed the captain, "If I may… many races that have empathy abilities have successfully used beta-lysine."

Janeway turned to her Chief Medical Officer. "Doctor?"

"Yes," he answered. "In some cases, usually in children, if the empathic ability manifests too early or too strongly, beta-lysine can be used to subdue the empathic senses. There’s no reason it shouldn’t work here. Unfortunately, it takes hours to synthesize. I could used psycelsine, it’s a broad spectrum anti-empathic that works on most species."

"Do it," Janeway ordered.

Seven was tired of lying on the bio bed. The headache had not subsided, and her patience was running thin. She had heard the captain’s reaction to the Doctor’s comment earlier, and it had wounded Seven deeply. Janeway had sounded offended when he had referred to Seven as her lover. No, more than offended, appalled. "Obviously, I have misread the captain’s interest," Seven concluded. She sat up and climbed of the bed.

"Seven," the Doctor gasped. "What do you think your doing?"

Seven raised her eyebrow. "I believe it is obvious. I am getting off of the bio bed. I have adapted to the increased level of discomfort, and I can now assist in discovering its cause."

"You’re staying here," Janeway ordered. The Doctor was satisfied she would comply so he guided Tuvok toward a bed that had just vacated. He thought he should give the captain and Seven some space.

Seven eyed the captain and then sheepishly returned to the bed. "All right. But it is unnecessary."

"None the less, " Kathryn said. "You’re staying." Kathryn moved over and guided Seven back onto the bed. She let her hand linger on the Borg’s shapely thigh. Seven took one look at the captain’s eyes and her heart broke. She crossed her arms and leaned back.

"I will comply," Seven said. Seven glanced at the nearby table full of equipment, leaning over and taking a dermal regenerator. Seven eyed the captain, signaling her to come closer, which she did. Janeway stood with her legs pressed against the exBorg’s bed and watched as her officer ran the device over the hickeys on the captain’s neck and they slowly disappeared.

Kathryn sighed. "I guess I’d better get one of those for my quarters." The captain part of Janeway cringed, "Nothing like implying there’s gonna’ be a next time, is there Kathryn? You were supposed to take it slow."

Seven allowed the corner of her mouth to lift forming a tiny smirk. "Perhaps my assumption was incorrect. Kathryn really is interested in an ongoing relationship," Seven considered happily. "It was much more pleasurable to give you these than to remove them," the young Borg finally said.

Kathryn lowered her voice to a whisper, her lips barely parting, "Next time, we’ll remove them before we leave my quarter’s." The captain inside Janeway was blowing a gasket. "NEXT TIME? Shut up. Slow... remember? Slow."

"Next time?" Seven thought as she shut off the regenerator. Kathryn took it and repeated the process on Seven’s neck. She felt her belly tingle at the memory of putting the marks on Seven’s tender ivory flesh. Once the final traces of the hickeys were gone, Janeway set the regenerator down and looked at Seven.

"What is it?" Seven asked.

"You don’t have to act like you’re invincible… You’re not a Starfleet captain."

Seven smiled. Listening to Kathryn made her not care about the headache. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of Kathryn at her side. It was much more complicated, this ‘dating.’ Seven had thought it would merely be a matter of telling Kathryn how she felt and confirming that Kathryn returned those feelings. It was not. There seemed to be so much more going on. Half the time Kathryn seemed eager to escalate their physical intimacy, and the other half she seemed like she wanted to remain strictly professional colleagues. "Human’s are extremely illogical," Seven realized. She had known this fact, but it was never more apparent than now. She didn’t know what Kathryn’s reaction to her would be from one moment to the next. But, more disturbing, Seven found that she herself was acting inconsistently. She did not like this ‘dating’ one bit. She wished Kathryn would just make love to her, then they would be in perfect agreement at all times.

Suddenly Seven felt a familiar feeling that made her blood freeze solid. She stiffened and grabbed Kathryn’s arm. The captain watched Seven’s pale features bleed out to a death pallor.

Seven stood as she spoke, "Captain, my Borg proximity detector just activated."

Janeway touched her com badge as she headed toward the door. "Janeway to bridge, Red Alert."

CHAPTER SEVEN

Janeway exited the turbolift and crossed to the captain’s chair like a panther, her movement fluid and dangerous. Seven of Nine went to the aft tactical station and began accessing data.

"Report," Janeway said as she sat.

"Captain," Chakotay said. "We’ve been running scans since you told us about Seven’s proximity detector. Nothing so far."

"That’s not good enough." Janeway snapped. She turned to the tactical station. "Mr. Kim?" She gave the young Ensign demanding stare.

"Uh, ma’am. I’ve been scanning for any sign of Borg Signals… there aren’t any."

"Incorrect." Seven of Nine stated. "I have detected a faint signature from an asteroid belt dead ahead."

Janeway checked her com panel. "Seven, that looks like background radiation."

"It is designed to. It is a Borg signature from approximately eight hundreds years ago. The Borg of that time hid their signatures to facilitate stealth prior to attacks. The current Borg do not bother with stealth."

Janeway straightened in her seat. "Mr. Paris, all stop. Mr. Kim, Shields? Weapons?"

Kim answered, "All tactical systems at one hundred percent."

Janeway turned to Seven. "Seven, what can those improved sensors of yours tell us?"

"Curious… there is a Borg signature, but I am not detecting a ship," Seven said almost to herself.

"Then what is it?" the captain asked.

"Unknown," Seven said. "There is something else, Captain."

"Yes?" she said as she stood and turned to face Seven.

"I have noticed an exponential increase in my headache… and there is…"

Janeway eyed the young Borg with concern. "You think it’s related?"

"Yes," Seven said. She was positive. She could feel the intensity of the discomfort increase with the signal strength. "The signal is the cause of the painful sensations."

"Why?" Chakotay cut in.

Seven leaned against her com panel. "I do not know… but there is more."

"Explain," Janeway demanded. She didn’t want information spooned out to her while there was a Borg presence in the area, not even if it was Seven doing the spooning.

Seven’s knees gave out and she caught herself on the panel. Janeway moved toward her, but Harry Kim was already at the blonde’s side.

"Seven," he asked, "Are you okay?"

Janeway tapped her com badge. "Janeway to sickbay… Doctor, I need you on the bridge. Now."

She stepped closer to Seven and gentled her voice. "You said there was more…"

Ensign Kim thought Seven looked better so he went back to his panel.

Seven took a deep breath and steadied herself. The pain caused her vision to blur into white sparkles. She focused on Kathryn and pushed it away. "In addition to the sensations of pain, I am also receiving an emotion… fear."

Kim looked up when Seven mentioned fear. "I didn’t think the Borg felt emotions…"

Seven’s concern was visible. "They do not."

The Doctor came through the doors and looked around the bridge. His eyes met the captain’s and she glanced at Seven. The Doctor went to the young blonde and began scanning her. "Are you experiencing the same fear my other patients are?" he asked.

"Yes," Seven said. She stiffened and glared at the hologram.

Janeway leaned over and rechecked her com panel noticing that the signal hadn’t changed. She looked back at the Doctor. "Did you have any luck treating the others?"

"Yes," he said. "The psycelsine has decreased the intensity of the headaches, but they all felt the fear at the same moment. I increased the dosage and the fear is under control." He turned to Seven. "I’m sorry, the psycelsine won’t help you, Seven."

Seven pulled away from the Doctor and returned to her com panel. "I am functioning within tolerable limits, Doctor. We do not have time to do this now." She punched in several calculations.

The Doctor looked to the captain. Janeway said nothing and her expression confirmed that she agreed with Seven. The Doctor’s examination would have to wait. Seven studied her data and then moved to the next panel. She input more commands and watched the results appear.

Janeway paced. "Any ideas, Seven?"

"I need to… there. There is a Borg transceiver on one of the large asteroids. The asteroid does not match the composition of the others. I believe it was placed there."

"By who?" Chakotay asked.

"I do not know," Seven said. "But its composition is unusual. It has a complex crystal structure, similar to dylithium but with a denser matrix."

"Captain," Mr. Kim said as he looked up from his own readings. "I saw similar compositions on a moon at the center of the system when I was going over Seven’s long-range scans."

Janeway rubbed her chin. "Those crystals could be magnifying the Borg signal."

The Doctor straightened and stepped forward. He had moved to the back of the bridge after he was so rudely dismissed by Seven and the captain. "If I may, captain…"

"Doctor?" She had almost forgotten he was still on the bridge.

"The ancient Vulcans used a dense crystal to focus telepathic energy, as a weapon. That might be what this is," the hologram offered.

Janeway nodded. It made sense. "That’s a good theory."

"Yes, well if you give me half a chance I do have sound ideas," the Doctor turned to Janeway. "I think what you have here is Borg repellent."

Seven raised her eyebrow. "If you are saying that it is meant to keep the Borg away, I believe you are correct."

Chakotay turned to Kathryn. "Why don’t we just destroy it and move on?"

"I don’t know what its owners will think of that, but given its effect on our people, we don’t have much choice," the captain said.

"Captain," Seven said. "The technology is in disrepair. Judging from the decay and condition, I would estimate that it has not been serviced for centuries."

"Well," Janeway said. "I guess that makes our decision a little easier. Mr. Kim, target the asteroid."

"Captain," Seven cut in again. "There is something else. The technology is not something taken from the Borg and altered to use against them. All of the components are Borg. Why would they make such a device? It is illogical."

"You’re asking me?" Janeway said with a smile.

"Perhaps we should not destroy it," Seven said.

"Oh?" Chakotay asked before the captain could.

"We could use it against the Borg as well," Seven stated.

"No," Janeway said. "This is a mystery we aren’t going to solve now. We’ll run scans on the moon with the similar composition when we pass it. That’s all we can do. If we want to use this thing, we’d need the asteroid’s crystal matrix to make it work, and that thing would fill our biggest cargo bay ten times over. Plus, I don’t like the idea of having something on board that has that thing’s effect on my crew." Her decision made, she turned to Ensign Kim. "Mr. Kim, with Tuvok in sick bay, you have the honors. Prepare a class four torpedo and send it out to our Borg repellent."

The crew waited as Harry did his calculations and sent out the torpedo. They watched the fore view screen as an explosion rocked the asteroid belt. Seven staggered and used the com panel to catch herself. The Doctor scanned her.

"My headache is gone," Seven said.

"Well, I’m glad that’s over," Janeway said.

"It is not," Seven stated in her typically blunt fashion.

Janeway didn’t like that one bit. "In my ready room." She led Seven into her private room off the main bridge. Once the door closed she turned to face Seven. "What do you mean?" the captain demanded. "Girlfriend or not, she shouldn’t keep things from me... Oh, god. I just said girlfriend."

"We are not out of the system yet. I do not believe the Borg would avoid the entire star system for this minor distraction," explained.

"Yes," Janeway said. "A few headaches wouldn’t even phase the Borg." She chastised herself, "I should have realized." She looked over at her officer. Seven had dark rings under eyes, the constant pain taking its toll on the young woman. Kathryn softened her voice, "I want continual scans of the entire area. Program in the ancient Borg transmission specifications so we know what to look for. Then, Seven, you are going off duty."

"I am required here," Seven stated. She didn’t add that she would rather spend every moment with Voyager’s captain.

"You’re not even supposed to be on duty," Janeway pointed out.

"Neither are you," Seven countered.

"I am the captain. I need to make sure my ship is safe," Janeway said.

"The ship is perfectly safe. The reason for my headaches has been discovered and dealt with. We will not be able to investigate the moon for weeks, and you can have Commander Chakotay alert you if you are needed." Seven smirked. She had anticipated that Kathryn would want her to update the new, or rather ancient, Borg transmitter specifications. "I have already programmed the Borg transmission frequencies into the computer. The scanners will now differentiate between the signals and background radiation."

"Well, it looks like you’ve thought of everything."

"I am thorough," Seven pointed out.

"Yes, you are," Janeway said as she looked at the beautiful woman in front of her. This gorgeous woman could derail the captain’s train of thought in a nanosecond, and suddenly the older Janeway became slightly self-conscious, and it was a foreign and quite unwelcome feeling. "Seven," Kathryn asked quietly. "What attracted you to me?"

She cupped Kathryn’s cheek in her hand and considered the question. This was one of the moments when she felt that Kathryn truly wanted to be with her, and she wanted to word this perfectly. In truth, there were so many reasons she was attracted Kathryn, but one outshone the rest. "We are the same," she whispered.

"How?" Kathryn asked just as quietly.

"On this ship full of people who are interconnected and bonded, we are both alone." Seven saw the questions in Kathryn’s eyes so she continued. "The crew is a family… they complete each other… but you and I, we are a part of the crew, but we can never truly be a part the bond they share. You are their leader, yet that very rank makes you forever detached. I am tolerated as someone who helps the ship function, but I will never be a part of their bond either… because of what I am. You and I understand the pain of that isolation."

Janeway looked at Seven. The young woman’s voice was tinged with sorrow. She hadn’t realized that she was wounded by her crew’s distance. Kathryn had assumed that Seven preferred to keep to herself. She thought about Seven’s words. "You said, ‘because of what you are.’ What are you?"

Seven pulled away as if Kathryn’s skin had suddenly scorched her fingers. She turned her back to the captain. "I am Borg."

Janeway caught her breath. She stood and turned Seven around. The six-foot blonde’s shoulder was delicate under Kathryn’s hand. "You are human," Kathryn said.

Seven ran her finger across her Borg eyepiece. "This… is Borg." She pointed to the star shaped implant at her jawline. "This… is Borg." She poked her chest… "I am Borg. Seven of Nine tertiary adjunct to unimatrix 01." Seven pointed at her temple, "I feel the emotions they send me…"

"Annika," Kathryn said as she touched the blonde’s cheek and looked at the outwardly unshakable young woman who was in truth more delicate than the rarest orchid. From anyone else the comments would be self-pity, but with Seven, no, Annika, it was what she honestly believed. That realization broke the captain’s heart. Kathryn took the former Borg by the shoulders and looked her in the eyes. "You are Annika Hansen. You are Human. The Borg stole you from your birthright… But you are back with your people. You’ve come so far… don’t you see? It’s that resilience that makes you human."

Seven touched Kathryn’s cheek. "I feel human when I see myself reflected in your eyes… but then I realize that I am still Borg. That ‘repellent’ out there proves it. The look in every member of this crew’s face every time I walk into a room proves it."

"NO," Kathryn said as she shook Annika Hansen. "You are the woman I lo... that I look to when I need advice on philosophy and humanity and ethics." She took Seven’s hands in hers. "You have endured so much, and still, you can lo... You can look past our frailties and see true humanity."

Seven cracked a hint of a smile. "I do not look past frailties. In fact, I am the first one to point them out."

The captain was relieved to shift the focus of the conversation away from what she had almost blurted out. "Damn, it. You do love her, Kathryn," her heart nagged. Janeway crossed her arms over her chest. "Never the less, you do have an astute eye for seeing the big picture. And... you have no problem telling me exactly what you think about it. Your view of humanity and morality have helped keep me grounded on more than one occasion."

Seven looked into Kathryn’s eyes. She saw honesty and kindness. She wanted to believe, wanted to believe that she could indeed adapt to the humanity she was born to, yet found was always just outside her reach. She inhaled a shaking breath and decided to trust Kathryn because she could trust nothing else. Only Kathryn was constant, always patient and loving.

"I will try to ‘embrace my humanity,’" Seven said it as if it was some vile medicine she was being forced to swallow.

"You need to regenerate," the captain said in a gentle yet obvious command.

"Very well, but I expect to see you in the holodeck tomorrow," Seven said with a half grin.

"You’ve got a deal," Kathryn said with a barely concealed smirk. "Now, off you go." Seven heaved an overly dramatic sigh and then turned and left. Janeway watched her go. "What am I doing?" Kathryn asked herself. It felt so right and comfortable to be intimate with Seven. "Intimate?" Yes, her conversation with Seven was definitely intimate. It was the easiest thing in the world to be close to Seven. It felt so natural, and yet it terrified Janeway. "It’s not like the other time," Kathryn told herself. "No, don’t go there. It’s in the past, Kathryn. You haven’t thought about her in decades." Janeway rubbed her forehead. "Wrong," Janeway’s heart whispered. "You’ve never admitted thinking about her, but she’s still there." Kathryn sat behind her desk and wondered, "Could it be that simple? Is that why I can’t let Seven in? Annika is NOT Danielle. Oh, god..." Kathryn hadn’t let that name into her thoughts for almost twenty-five years. Janeway leaned back into her chair and let the memories come, memories repressed for so long, that once the captain opened the floodgate there was no turning back. Kathryn was tumbling back in time to her childhood home in Indiana, she was seventeen again and about to graduate high school ...

"Kathy Janeway, get your ass over here."

Kathy looked up from her data padd on quantum physics and stared at Danielle Weston. The tall, svelte, ebony haired woman with green eyes and a wicked smile was in the process of taking off her Starfleet Academy tee shirt. She threw it at Kathy and reached the auburn haired, soon to be cadet, before the she could catch the shirt. Janeway tossed the padd aside and welcomed her girlfriend into her arms and kissed Danielle greedily.

"How can I get my ass over there if you’re mauling me over here?" Kathy asked wickedly.

"Shut up and take me," Danielle ordered.

Which Kathy was more than happy to do. She had no control when it came to her teenaged lover. They made love until the sun began to paint the black night sky a deep blue. Kathy had forgotten her studies and absorbed herself in Danielle. Since they had become lovers, the young Janeway found herself struggling to keep up her perfect GPA. She lay in Danielle’s arms and drifted off to sleep and dreamed of Starfleet Academy.

Dani was one year older than Kathy was, but Janeway was graduating early, so they were going to be in the same Academy class. Kathy couldn’t imagine anything more wonderful. Yes, Kathy’s parents thought Dani wasn’t right for her. They tried to tell Kathy that she had changed over the last year, that her self -confidence had plummeted and that she was losing herself. So what if she gave in to what Dani wanted? Kathy loved her. If letting Dani decide where they went on their dates or who they hung out with put a smile on Dani’s face, then what else mattered? Kathy’s parents didn’t understand how much Dani meant to her. They wanted her to marry some nice boy like the ones she grew up with, but Kathy’s passions were only truly stirred by women, one woman in particular, Danielle Allison Westson. Everyone thought Dani was a cold unfeeling,... well, bitch, but Kathy knew better. Kathy knew that underneath her cold, aloof exterior, there was a passionate woman, and if Kathy waited long enough, Dani would open up to her. They had only been dating about a year. Dani had a lot of walls, but once she let Kathy in, she knew they would be happy. Then Kathy’s family would know the real Dani, not the outwardly cold, harsh person she pretended to be. Sure, Dani would pick on people, or tease them, but that was just because she was so afraid of being hurt. Kathy knew she could get Dani to open up. Besides, no could be as heartless as Dani liked to pretend to be.

Kathy opened her eyes and saw Dani getting dressed in the dim illumination coming through the window from the rising sun.

"Dani?" Kathy asked, "What are ya’ doin’? We don’t have to leave for school for another two hours. Come back to bed. We don’t get many nights when my mom’s out town. I want to cuddle."

"Yeah, well, I’ve got an interview with the Orion Pilot’s Academy." Dani pulled on her last boot and stood.

"What?" Kathy demanded. "Why are you talkin’ to them? You’re already accepted at Starfleet Academy. We start in the fall."

"I’ve been accepted at the Academy, but Orion pilots make a lot of latinum."

"Latinum? What about us?"

"It’s been fun, but you and I both know that this is just a fling. You know I could never love you or anything. I mean, Christ, you’re such a good girl."

Kathy’s world dropped out from under her. She had been dating Dani for almost a year, and yes, Dani would never actually say ‘I love you,’ but Kathy always thought Dani loved her. "Why are you being so cold?"

Dani sighed and rolled her eyes, "Look, don’t start cryin’ on me. Fuck... You are so... Why do you have to get so involved?"

"Because I love you," Kathy said. She was fighting back the tears that ached to fall. Kathy had seen Dani’s cold hearted side on many occasions, but the young Janeway always made excuses for her lover.

"Don’t say that," Dani said as she gathered up her things. "Christ, I should have known you couldn’t handle an adult relationship. You were a sport-fuck, Kathy. I thought we both knew it," with that, Dani walked out and never looked back.

When Kathy saw her on campus, the black haired woman looked right through the young Janeway. Luckily, graduation was in less than a week and a half. Kathy finished her classes in a walking coma. She tried calling Dani, but, as Kathy had seen Dani do to others before, Dani simply wrote the young Janeway off. All of the times Kathy had made excuses for Dani now came back to haunt her. All Kathy could do was try to think about anything else.

A week after graduation, Kathy had went out to fly her hover-bike over her parents’ cornfield. She had run into Dani in town and needed to let off some steam. She had thrown her chest protector at the barn door in a tantrum as she climbed onto the hover-bike, but she grudgingly strapped on her helmet. Kathy’s mom had grounded her for a month, on two previous occasions, for riding without it. What happened next, Kathy really never knew. She remembered circling high, almost to the cloud line, and then diving down for a tight pass over the ripening corn, then nothing. Kathy’s next memory was of opening her eyes in the Federation ICU at the Indiana hospital. Kathy had apparently came in too low and clipped the frame of her bike on a fence post. The ensuing crash took out nineteen rows of corn and set pieces of the hover-bike into a field in the neighbor’s farm. The farmer who found Kathy had told the authorities he had discovered a body. The paramedics were stunned to find Kathy alive. Her body was a bloodied, pulpy mess. She had broken every one of her ribs, crushed three vertebrae, shattered both hips, both arms, crushed her left leg, and the right one was so badly twisted, they almost amputated it. The doctors told Kathy’s parents that her growth plates were damaged and that she wouldn’t get any taller, so Phoebe ended up being the taller sister. Kathy’s internal organs had taken an equal beating. If the Indiana hospital hadn’t been close enough for a long distance transport, she never would have made it. Some people wondered if it had truly been an accident, but the Janeway clan, and Kathy in particular had always known it was. But, she didn’t remember what happened, so how could she ever convince anyone else? Still, Kathy wouldn’t do that. She had been hurting so much, but she knew she would never have tried to end the devastating ache. NO, she would not. That was not Kathy Janeway.

Dani ended up going into the Orion Piloting Academy, and made piles of latinum. Kathy ended up postponing entry in Starfleet until the next year. She needed to recuperate after the accident. In that year, Kathryn Janeway was born. Kathy Janeway, the exuberant, openhearted girl who passionately devoured life and her female lovers died in that cornfield. Kathryn Janeway began dating the nice boys she grew up with. It was easy, no getting carried away by emotions. She loved some of them, but never the kind of soul riveting love Kathy Janeway had shared with her female lovers. Women were off limits for Kathryn Janeway-- Starfleet up and comer. Men were easy, women were messy, and Starfleet officers avoided anything remotely messy. Ten years after Kathryn Janeway had graduated from the Academy, she had a brief, tumultuous affair with another female officer, and it was messy. No, Kathryn Janeway really should stick with men.

Then Seven of Nine came on board and Kathryn Janeway’s life became very messy before she had ever admitted her feelings about the young Borg. Kathryn Janeway hated messy. But Kathryn Janeway also loved Seven of Nine. Definitely messy.

The next morning Janeway awoke from a dream about Starfleet Academy and painful insecurities long buried were suddenly climbing out of their now shallow grave. "Seven is not Dani," she told herself. She sighed and thought about the intriguing Annika Hansen and her discomfort with her heritage with the Borg Collective. She would have to talk to Seven about her feelings about her Borgness. Kathryn could tell Annika wasn’t ready for that. The day before, after Annika had left to regenerate, Janeway had called Chakotay into her ready room. It had occurred to the captain that part of the reason Seven, Annika, was distanced from the crew was that she lived in a cargo bay. True, she did have to use the Borg alcove to regenerate, but she was eating more and needing the Borg technology less with each passing day. Janeway had also called the Doctor, and a brief discussion suggested that if Annika began to actually sleep on a regular basis, she might be able to eventually use the Borg alcove to supplement her intake of solid nutrition instead of the reverse. Kathryn and Chakotay thought that it might be time for Sev… Annika to get regular crew quarters. She could still use the alcove whenever necessary. They decided that Annika could use the quarters left vacant by Ensign Jetal’s death almost two years earlier. They were on the main crew deck, and Kathryn hoped the proximity to her crew would give everyone a chance to become more familiar, even if they never bonded. It was the best she could do for her young officer. And the best thing Janeway could offer herself was to push the memories of that year before entering the Academy out of her mind. Kathryn promised herself that she would not hold things from her own past against the very sincere Annika Hansen.

CHAPTER EIGHT

At 11:00 hours, Kathryn stood in front of the holodeck and closed her eyes. Seven wanted her to get the full effect of the program she had created for the captain. Janeway stood and shifted her weight impatiently.

"Seven, can you hurry up?" Kathryn asked. "I don’t want the crew to come by and find me standing in the corridor with my eyes closed."

Seven smiled as she opened the door and led the captain inside. "You worry too much about other people’s opinions."

"Maybe," Kathryn allowed. She felt Seven come behind her and stand close enough that the captain’s back felt like it would burst into flames at any moment. But, of course, she didn’t move.

"Open your eyes," the former Borg whispered.

Janeway opened her eyes and gasped. "Oh, Annika." The captain looked out over the Yosemite valley. Every detail was perfect. "How did you do this? We don’t have any programs of Yosemite. I checked when I came onboard and I meant to pick one up but I never got around to it."

"I simply created it," said Seven casually.

Janeway had told Seven about a trip the captain’s family had taken to Yosemite when Kathryn was twelve. It was one of the happiest memories she had about the entire Janeway clan. Her parents had been happy and relaxed, and for once Kathryn and Phoebe hadn’t tried to kill each other. Every time Kathryn thought of her family together, she pictured them here. That Seven would create this for her was overwhelming.

Seven led Kathryn over to two horses tied to hitching post. There was a bay and a dapple-gray, both Arabians. Kathryn went to the bay and stroked its elegant neck. "Hello there," she said. The horse bumped Kathryn with its nose and nodded its head. Kathryn smiled and scratched its ears "You like that?"

"Kathryn," Seven said. "It is a hologram. It doesn’t like or dislike anything."

"I know, but he looks so real. Did you program him yourself?"

"I imported the horses from one of commander Chakotay’s programs."

Kathryn looked around valley in awe. "How did you do this? There’re only a few images of Yosemite on file."

"I accessed Voyager’s files on Earth. I was able to enhance the geological surveys that were in the database, and cross-referenced them with the satellite imagery that was available. I then cross-referenced those with all of the personal images I was able acquire from various crewmembers. I was not able to complete the entire Yosemite Valley. Only the areas several hundred meters beyond each side of the trail. I hope that is sufficient."

Kathryn shook her head in awe of the young woman in front of her. "Annika," she said, "it’s more than sufficient. It’s unbelievable. If you don’t mind, I’d like to make it available for the rest of crew. Everyone should be able to enjoy this."

"I have already agreed to allow the crewmembers who provided me with the necessary data to use the program. I have no objection to allowing the rest of the crew to use it."

Kathryn smiled. "Maybe when we get back to Earth you can get a job as a holo-programmer."

Seven blushed, but there was also a hint of a smile.

Seven watched as Kathryn adeptly climbed into the saddle of the bay horse. Kathryn looked at Seven. The young Borg raised an eyebrow then mimicked Kathryn’s action and sat unsteadily on the grey gelding. She swayed side to side as the horse shifted its feet beneath Seven’s weight. Kathryn smiled.

"Seven," Kathryn said with a mischievous smirk. "Have you ever ridden a horse before?"

"No," she said. " But how difficult could be?" Seven looked down at the horse. Both reins hung limply on the grey’s neck. Seven addressed the horse, "Proceed up the path."

Kathryn choked as she stifled a laugh. The horse leaned its head down and picked at the lush green grass at its feet.

Seven’s eyes flashed with fire. "Proceed up the path," Seven repeated.

Kathryn clucked her cheeks and squeezed her knees to move her bay gelding forward. She moved beside Seven and stopped. Seven eyed her captain with renewed respect.

"Take the reins," Kathryn said patiently. Seven picked them up as if they were snakes that would bite her at any moment. Kathryn continued, "Put your feet in the stirrups." Seven looked puzzled and Kathryn shifted her gaze to her own feet. Seven followed her eyes and then slipped her feet into the stirrups of her own western saddle. Kathryn used the reins to turn her horse to the side. "You have to guide the horse with the reins. Squeeze your knees to indicate that you want the horse to move."

Seven squeezed with all of her Borg enhanced strength. The holo-horse’s eyes bulged and it crow-hopped sideways and Seven was unceremoniously dumped onto her shapely behind. She looked up at Kathryn and crossed her arms.

"This creature’s holo-matrix is obviously defective," Seven stated.

Kathryn climbed down slowly and went to Seven and offered a hand to help her up. She knew the holo-safety protocols wouldn’t allow her to be injured but she was concerned anyway. "Are you okay?"

"I am functioning. Though perhaps we should walk," Seven said.

Kathryn shook her head. "Oh, no. We’re going to enjoy all of this program. Come on." Kathryn led Seven to the dapple-grey. It was about two hands taller than the captain’s bay. "Up you go." Seven shot Kathryn evil glare but climbed up obediently. Kathryn then climbed up behind her and wrapped her arms around the voluptuous blonde and took the reins. "Hold onto the saddle horn."

Seven did as she was instructed, realizing that she preferred sharing the beast with Kathryn, with the closeness and the feel of her beloved captain’s arms cradling her, keeping her safe. Surely this holo-beast was no match for her captain. Janeway squeezed her legs and the horse moved up the trail.

The bay whinnied as it was left behind.

Kathryn eyed it, "Sorry, my friend. Computer delete bay gelding." The horse disappeared.

Kathryn and Seven continued up the trail. After a few minutes, Seven relaxed into the rhythm of the horse. She enjoyed the feeling of Kathryn’s body pressed up against her from behind, the way Kathryn’s breasts rubbed against the middle of her back with every step horse took.

"This is far preferable to riding this beast alone," Seven said after a comfortable silence.

"I agree," Kathryn said. She was amazed at how quickly Seven had adjusted to the movement of the horse. Seven was already able to anticipate the horse’s actions. The Starfleet captain smiled. Seven was a natural athlete, obviously that included horsemanship. "Seven, you’re picking this up quickly."

"I have a good teacher." Seven leaned back into Kathryn and pulled Janeway’s arms closer.

"At this rate, you’ll be out riding me in no time," Janeway said. She meant it as a joke, but realized there was probably a great deal of truth in the comment. She also noticed the way Seven pulled her arms snugly against her chest. Kathryn leaned into Annika and enjoyed the closeness.

Seven smiled at the compliment. "I enjoy it." They continued up the trail. "Except when this creature was compelled to deposit me on the ground."

"Of course," Kathryn said with a huge grin. "Maybe later I’ll see what I can do to make you feel better. I guess losing your Borg plating has one disadvantage." Janeway’s hands snaked down and playfully massaged the injured muscles.

"I believe you are mocking me," Seven tried to sound angry, but it was a hopeless endeavor where Kathryn was concerned, that, and the fact that Seven’s pulse had increased exponentially as soon as Kathryn had grasped Seven’s gluteus maximus.

Kathryn leaned forward and placed the tenderest of kisses on the blonde’s willowy neck. Seven’s hair was up in a ponytail and it tickled Kathryn’s nose as she leaned in to whisper to her companion. "Thank you for the program. It’s beautiful."

"You are welcome. I wanted you to have something to remind you of happier times."

"I’m pretty happy right now," Kathryn said. It was true she realized, being with Seven did make her happy.

Commander Chakotay sat at the con and stared at the beautiful swirling blood red nebula. Since they had destroyed the asteroid containing the Borg ‘repellent,’ they had been constantly monitoring every square centimeter of the surrounding space. The improved sensors had picked up four more asteroids with the same composition. Each of the asteroids also had Borg technology, but all of the latest transmitters had not been functioning. A blessing and further proof that whoever put them there had long since disappeared. Chakotay shifted in his chair. Actually, it was the captain’s chair; he was just filling it until she started her rotation. He liked being First Officer, but he knew Kathryn belonged in ‘the big chair.’ Sure, he was a very competent commander, and the crew would follow him, but Kathryn Janeway was the heart and soul of Voyager. Everyone on board knew it. A solitary leader… He used to feel like she was adrift, alone in her journey, despite sharing it with 141 others on the marooned ship. She was always so alone. Not anymore.

He used to think he could be the one to help her ease the lonely ache, but he had always known he would have only been a Band-Aid on her bleeding soul. He never thought she would ever be truly whole, not as long as her crew was lost so far from home. Now, he knew how wrong he had been. Seven of Nine had changed the entire Delta Quadrant equation. She was the quintessential X, the ultimate variable. Once she was introduced, the solution to Janeway’s equation entered new venues, reached new heights, and most surprisingly, seemed capable of a positive solution. Kathryn Janeway had seemed destined to be alone. First, her fiance Mark, was left sixty thousand light years away, and then he married another, though Chakotay doubted she would have ever truly let Mark Johnson into her soul. That was the captain, distanced from her partner by miles or by her own emotional walls, that was just who she was. Until Seven of Nine came on board… "Seven?" Chakotay still couldn’t believe it. Granite solid Janeway had crumbled like grains of sands beneath the wash of the sea. Something about Seven got inside Janeway’s walls, and once inside… she changed Kathryn, made her softness so apparent. "How could he have missed it? They had all missed it. Everyone except Seven."

The bridge turbolift doors opened with a muted hiss and rousted Chakotay from his musing. He turned and wasn’t surprised to see the captain, but he smiled anyway.

"Captain on the bridge," he said. All of the bridge officers straightened and nodded to their leader. She smiled and crossed to her handsome Second in Command.

"Commander," Janeway said. "In my ready room. Tuvok, you have the bridge."

"Aye, captain," the Dark Vulcan security officer said as he raised an eyebrow and went toward the captain’s chair.

Once inside her private office, Kathryn went to her desk and sat. Chakotay remained silent and sat across from her.

"Anything to report?" she asked as soon as she settled into her chair.

"Calm seas, Captain," he said with a smile. "No sign of any more of the strange asteroids."

Kathryn went over the data on her desk console even as she asked her questions. "How long until we pass the moon?" She didn’t bother to say which moon. Everyone on board had been on edge as they approached the moon composed of the same crystal structure as the artificial asteroids. They couldn’t avoid it. There was only one clear corridor through the system, and it passed within a quarter light year of the mysterious moon.

"Four and a half more weeks," he said. He leaned forward and rested one hand on the desk and rubbed his eyebrow with the other. It was one of the few nervous gestures that the stoic officer allowed. He wasn’t looking forward to being that close to the only rock in the system that could have supplied the materials for the artificial asteroids. "We can still alter our course and cut through the outer edge of the asteroid belt. Harry assures me there aren’t any more of those Borg ‘repellents’ out there."

"No," Janeway said. She hadn’t run from the Borg when they stared down species 8472, so she sure wasn’t going to avoid an apparently empty star system. "There isn’t any sign of anything out of the ordinary."

"That’s not really true. We can’t get any clear readings from the moon," he said.

"That’s to be expected," Kathryn said.

"Oh?" her Second in Command asked.

"The crystal structure is reflecting our scans back to us. There’s no reason to believe there’s anything more at work here." Janeway ran her finger over the screen. She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "What if Seven’s right?"

"About what, Kathryn?" he asked.

"What if there is some technology here we can use against the Borg? Can we really afford to just leave it behind?"

"All of the asteroids we’ve found since the first one have been too dilapidated to use anything. If you’re right, and the moon is just as it seems, we won’t have anything new." Chakotay had noticed that Janeway had seemed so rested the last week and a half since she and Seven had found each other. Everyone on board was aware of the budding romance. He looked into her eyes and realized that she had shadows underlining her angular features. "Kathryn, what is it?"

She gave her First Officer a gentle smile. "Am I that easy to see through?" She shook her head. "Seven thinks the ‘repellent’ is Borg technology… that it’s something they designed. Maybe it’s something that got away from them… that they couldn’t control…"

"Something the Borg can’t control? No wonder you look like you haven’t slept. I think that’s even more reason to avoid the moon," he said. "What does Seven think?"

Janeway let out a strangled half laugh. "She agrees with you. She thinks we should steer clear of the entire area… She’s scared."

"Then let’s change course," he said, though he knew in his gut that she had already made her mind up to go charging to the moon.

"I can’t let my concern for Seven color my decisions as Captain," she said, obviously considering the discussion over.

"Kathryn, I’m saying this as your friend… and your First Officer… you might be trying so hard to not put Seven ahead of the ship… that you’re endangering her when you don’t have to…"

"I would never endanger her!" Kathryn snapped. "Or my ship… but if it comes down to the safety of the ship, or possibly the entire Federation, versus the safety of one crewmember… any crewmember… my duty comes first."

"I know, Kathryn," he said gently. "But Voyager’s not at risk. You’re talking about going to that moon to get a weapon that may or may not even exist when it may put Seven and six other members of the crew at risk. Seven is the only one the Doctor can’t help if we get there and things go wrong…"

"I’ve made my decision," the captain said. "Dismissed."

Chakotay stood slowly and returned to the bridge. Apparently the Janeway equation had a few more variables. She was completely open and exposed to Seven, and apparently, the always in control Janeway was scared. She loved Seven so much that she was sure she’d lose herself, so she was pushing too hard in the opposite direction… and that scared Chakotay.

 Part 3