The Leather Made Me Do It
Kathryn awoke with a gasp, her mind muzzy and her mouth feeling decidedly fuzzy. She swallowed with difficulty, blinking in the bright light of the room and trying to cajole her memory into working. She caught sight of Seven at the far side of the room and could have sworn she saw a look of affection and tenderness on the former drone's face. Kathryn frowned, but knocking sound distracted her. Seven opened the door a crack, blocking the visitor's view of Kathryn as she lay on the bed. Low voices murmured in the background as Kathryn took the opportunity to get her bearings.
She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. She remembered a party, people dressed in a myriad of flowing fabrics, the smell of incense and someone dressed black leather pants, but it was all a jumble. She sighed in frustration and looked up at the canopy of the bed draped with luxurious fabrics, the ornately carved ceiling visible through the gauzy material. Time to get up…
Kathryn pushed herself into a sitting position and was forced to close her eyes as the room swam in her vision. Forcing the nausea away, Kathryn took a deep breath and cracked one eye open. The room stayed still so she tried the other one and was pleased when everything continued to obey the laws of physics as she remembered them. Spotting a glass of what she assumed to be water; Kathryn reached out, concentrating on holding the glass in a firm grip and getting it to her lips. She took a small sip at first, gratified when the taste confirmed it was indeed water and that her stomach seemed to accept it without protest.
The door to the room closed and Seven carried a tray over to a long table under the window. Kathryn's stomach heartily approved of the delicious smells emanating from it, however the distance between the bed and the window was far too large for her tastes. Frowning, Kathryn placed the glass on the bedside table and convinced her legs to swing over the side of the bed, only then did she realised she was completely nude. The room was a comfortable temperature; indeed one could forgo clothing entirely if one had the desire to do so. In Kathryn’s current state of mind, however, she felt the need to establish some semblance of control and clothing was the first step. She spotted a neatly folded pile of clothing at the foot of the bed – Seven’s work she guessed, instantly grateful for the young woman’s thoughtfulness. She glanced at the person in question to find her gaze returned; a curious look on Seven's face. Kathryn watched as Seven blinked, her eyes searching Kathryn's. Unsure as to what she was searching for, Kathryn held Seven's gaze until she seemed to come to a decision and tore her cornflower blue eyes away to look at the food on the tray.
“The Doge’s attendant wished to serve us personally this morning. I made it very clear that it would be unwise.” Seven’s lips twisted in distaste; the idea of being fed by someone else clearly offending her, or perhaps it was the notion of eating altogether, Kathryn wasn’t sure. She was thankful that Seven had turned the man away - she assumed it was a man anyway - not wanting any company until her head cleared. She donned the clothing, absently noting the softness of the fabric and the way it seemed to caress her body without restricting her movement. It was a simple black ensemble of a top and pants, the undergarments apparently included in their couture and quite comfortable. Taking a deep breath, Kathryn tested her feet and finding herself reasonably steady, made for the breakfast tray. Seven had pulled out a tricorder and was analysing the tray’s contents, a small frown creasing her brow. Kathryn was about to chide Seven for her paranoia - after all they had eaten and drank all through the night, she now recalled - but paused when Seven’s frown deepened. The smell emanating from the various dishes were making Kathryn’s mouth water and she became impatient.
“Seven, I’m sure it’s fine.” She reached for one of the pieces of bread only to have Seven snatch her wrist in a gentle but unyielding grip.
“Actually Captain, the tricorder is picking up minute traces of a compound; the same compound that was burning in the braziers last night and presumably in the food and beverages, although I have no proof of that.” Seven raised a haughty eyebrow indicating what she thought of that fact and Kathryn remembered their exchanged words quite vividly now. Seven, assigned security duty by Tuvok while the Captain was on the planet because of the segregation of the sexes while in the royal palace, had wanted to scan the entire building and its contents before allowing the Captain to move from the beam down point. The Doge had been offended by the implication, not to mention Seven’s lack of tact, and the negotiations for the much-needed supplies had almost ended before they began. The Captain had smoothed out the diplomatic bumps with the Doge, and had pulled Seven aside at the earliest opportunity, explaining in no uncertain terms was she to scan the palace. Seven had been angry, refusing to back down when the Captain’s safety was at stake. While the Captain appreciated her loyalty, she felt it wholly unnecessary given the welcome they had received and the openness of their hosts. The Captain had made it clear to Seven that Tuvok had already performed a scan from orbit and declared the palace safe enough to meet the Doge and his family with only Seven for company. Seven had subsided, but in retrospect Kathryn questioned her decision. You’d think that after 6 years in Delta Quadrant I’d learn…
Dismissing her second thoughts, Janeway recalled the braziers in question. Ornately carved, the Captain had paused during the evening’s festivities to examine one more closely. Suddenly, there had been a presence behind her and Janeway had turned to find the Doge standing a hairsbreadth away.
“They are beautiful aren’t they? My daughter is an Honoured Master in her art. She carved these her second year of study at the age of only 14!” He boasted, a father’s pride evident in his voice. He bent down the get a closer look, inhaling as he did so and Janeway got the distinct impression it was her scent he drew in, not the pungent smoke floating out of the brazier. She knew she should be offended and put some distance between them, but somehow she couldn’t make her body obey. As Kathryn looked at his handsome profile in the flickering light, she soon forgot why she was supposed to move away. The patterns cast on his features seemed to dance to the music, the swirling pipes and the beat of the drums filling the room with a hypnotic rhythm.
“Are you having a good time Captain?” When had the Doge’s voice taken on that deep, resonant tone?
“Please, all me Kathryn,” she heard herself saying and wondered why she had. Then the Doge smiled and it all seemed to make perfect sense. The Doge’s First Wife came to join them, her movements fluid and graceful as she crossed the complex mosaics on the floor of the hall. “Are you showing off Aranna’s work again, my dear?” The Doge merely chuckled, his eyes never leaving Kathryn’s.
“Of course I am! How else would I manage to get three of the most beautiful things in the room all to myself?” The Doge’s First Wife – she had given up her given name for the honour of being First Wife - winked at Kathryn, running her hand down the outside of Kathryn’s arm. “My dear, this is beautiful material, you must tell me where you got it!” Her exotic accent and the way her fingers danced lightly over Kathryn’s skin made her tingle. The Doge’s First Wife interlaced her arm with Kathryn’s and led her to one of the piles of pillows in a quieter corner of the hall. They sank into the welcoming cushions, Kathryn feeling light-headed and pleasantly relaxed. She proceeded to relate the story of the creation of silk to the Doge’s First Wife, completely oblivious to the wandering hands on her body.
Across the room, there was one pair of eyes that did notice every place that those hands touched. Seven felt a surge of emotion, recognising it as jealousy and instantly understood why some humans chose to lash out violently when confronted with such a feeling. Unaccustomed to such thoughts, Seven slid the small, modified tricorder out of her pocket and gave herself a quick scan. Sure enough, there was a low level of some foreign compound in her system. Her nanoprobes had managed to purge most of it, but the air was laden with it and they simply could no longer keep up. Noting that the largest concentrations seemed to be coming from the braziers like the one she currently stood behind while she conducted her brief scan, Seven tucked the instrument back into her pocket and moved at a leisurely pace away from it and closer to the Captain.
When the Doge’s First Wife spotted Seven, she took the opportunity provided her and insisted the tall blonde join them. Seven was about to refuse, giving her standard reply about preferring to stand, but one glance at the Captain’s unfocused eyes and she changed her mind. “Thank you, I would like that.” If the words were a little stilted in Seven’s mouth, no one seemed to notice.
“Oh Seven, I’m glad you’re here.” Kathryn reached out and took her hand, their fingers interlacing automatically. Seven wondered how that had happened so easily when she had never performed that action before. Deciding that it was simply a sign of her evolution as a human, she gave the Captain a small smile. Kathryn smiled back, tears forming in her eyes. “Oh Seven, you’ve no idea how beautiful you are when you smile.” Kathryn’s voice had lowered to a pleasant purr and Seven felt a second strong surge of emotion that evening, only this time it was a significantly better experience. “I must agree, Seven, you are a being of extraordinary beauty.” The Doge’s First Wife lightly caressed Seven’s cheek, her touch warm and strangely welcome.
The analytical part of Seven’s mind noted that she was most likely under the influence of the compound burning in the braziers, but was somewhat at a loss as to what to do about her altered behaviour. Had she simply been on any other away mission, she would have excused herself and returned to the ship, however this was simply not possible given her role as the Captain’s sole guardian. Logically reasoning that the inhabitants of this planet would not subject themselves to a dangerous substance - indeed all of the room’s occupants seemed to be experiencing a similar lassitude - and thus highly unlikely that the effects would be irreversible given the 99.95% similarity in physiology between their two species. Satisfied, Seven allowed herself to be subject to the compounds effect, confident that her nanoprobes would keep the levels low enough to allow her to remain Janeway’s protector should the need arise.
As the evening progressed, Seven noted that more physical contact was being exchanged between the three of them, and they were not alone. Couples, triads and groups were all engaging in some sort of physical interaction with each other, some very blatantly sexual, some more subtle. The Doge’s First Wife stroked Kathryn’s hair as she lay in the woman’s lap. They conversed extensively on the subject of different fabrics and their origins; Seven was surprised by the Captain’s level of knowledge of such things. At some point during their conversation, Kathryn's fingers had made their way to play over Seven’s knee, but Seven could not precisely recall when that had occurred.
“One of my favourite materials is leather,” Kathryn added, her voice low and content, “but it needs to be tanned and treated properly.”
The Doge’s First Wife frowned. “Don’t you find it terribly stiff?”
“Oh no,” Kathryn purred, “it can be one of the most pliable materials for clothing, and it has the ability to warm to the touch as well as conforming to the wearer’s body.” Kathryn’s finger made a sensual sweep along Seven’s inner knee.
“In the past, our ancestors clothed themselves with the hides of animals, but we abandoned the practice once we were able to create other fabrics. Now we use it only for footwear on occasion,” the Doge’s First Wife observed. Kathryn gave Seven’s leg a squeeze and sat up, shifting her body until she was reclining between Seven’s outstretched legs.
“Then you must feel this.” Kathryn took the Doge’s First Wife’s hand and placed it on Seven’s thigh. Inexperienced with so much physical contact all at once, Seven’s body was a flurry of sensation. While she did not mind the Doge’s First Wife’s hand on her thigh per se, she objected that it hadn’t been her choice. She was about to protest, but the sensation of Kathryn’s trailing her fingers gently up and down the other thigh stilled the words on her lips leaving room for only a sharp intake of breath. Kathryn’s head lazily rolled on her neck to look up at Seven, her auburn hair pooled over the black leather of Seven’s pants. Seven thought the highlights danced like the fire in the braziers, then wondered why she would think such a thing. When the Captain had first insisted that Seven be ‘properly attired’ for the evening’s celebration, Seven had refused, stating that her biosuits were designed to be worn for any occasion. The Captain had persisted, making it an order and stating that if Seven did not comply, she would beam down to the planet alone. Frustrated, Seven had sought out the advice of Tuvok, whom had merely raised an eyebrow when she had relayed the Captain’s threat, and sent a selection of proper attire to Seven’s workstation. At the time Seven wasn’t sure why the leather breeches and silk shirt had appealed to her, but looking down at her friend and mentor languorously sprawled in her lap, Seven reconsidered. She shivered as Kathryn rested her head on her abdomen, the hidden padding built into the breeches over Seven’s abdominal implant protecting the Captain’s scalp.
A flash of colour out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. Seven could not recall exactly when she had removed the brocaded long coat and vest without accessing her Borg eidetic memory and she was enjoying the sensations enveloping her body far too much to go searching for such an insignificant piece of data. She noted that her reaction of apathy was out of character, filing away yet another observation of the compound’s effects on her physiology.
Kathryn felt wonderful. Her mind was finally at peace; something that hadn’t happened since the day she lost Voyager in the Delta Quadrant, and her body was gloriously comfortable and relaxed. That was the one thing she couldn’t quite manage on Voyager, between finding the resources to keep her ship and crew going, to weathering the quadrant as it seemed intent on dropping one disaster after another into her path, Kathryn couldn’t recall the last time she had felt completely relaxed. She sighed, rubbing her cheek on the buttery soft leather and hugging a leather-clad thigh to her chest, content to simply exist in the moment. She opened her eyes to find her and Seven alone on the pillows, the Doge’s First Wife apparently having joined her husband and several other women during the course of her musings.
Kathryn blinked sleepily at Seven, smiling at the feeling of being safe in the beautiful woman’s arms. She reached up and stroked her cheek gently, Seven leaning into her caress. Kathryn’s eyelids were growing heavy but she fought to keep them open. Seven cupped Kathryn’s hand to her cheek before clasping it to her heart. “Rest now, Kathryn, I will watch over you.” Kathryn nodded sleepily, her mind already drifting away. Seven felt of wave of tenderness for the woman in her lap, which was soon over-ridden by a sharp bolt of desire when Kathryn’s other hand connected with her groin. Seven gasped, closing her eyes at the intensity of the sensation. “Kathryn,” she whimpered.
Part 2
“Kathryn…”
Who was it that said her name with such longing and desire? Kathryn struggled to remember where she was, but the electricity dancing along her skin soon made her forget why her location was so important. Only the warm presence next to her that smelled lightly of musk with a metallic tang mattered, only the breathless voice that sighed her name had any meaning. Kathryn raised herself up and met cornflower blue eyes dilated with desire, and the pulse between her legs intensified. It had been so long, yet her body knew exactly what it craved. This woman would satisfy the appetite that no amount of holotechnology could ever hope to touch. Kathryn felt the heart hammering under their joined hands and sighed. She wanted to make it last, but the insistent pressure in her belly was growing steadily and she doubted whether she’s be able to hold herself in check for too much longer. Attempting to bribe her libido into a slower rhythm, Kathryn leaned forward and kissed Seven’s pouty lips.
It turned out to be the wrong course of action, for the moan that loosed itself from her throat merely accelerated the demands of her body and the hands that came up to cup her face, holding her in place did not help matters. Kathryn heard herself groan at the sensations flooding her body, her heart thundering in her ears. She needed to feel flesh under her hands and sought out the buttons, frantically undoing them as fast as she could. When at last she slid her hands inside, the flesh was hot to her touch and she couldn’t tell if it was her moan that reached her ears.
“Seven…”
Kathryn’s lips sought out Seven’s once more, her tongue tasting and touching until Seven opened her mouth welcoming Kathryn into her body. Kathryn’s fingers danced along Seven’s ribs to her spine, tracing muscle, bone and implants with focused intent. Seven cried out and sat up almost pushing Kathryn out of her lap from the sensation of Kathryn’s fingers on the sensitive flesh around her implants. Impatient to taste her, Kathryn yanked Seven’s shirt open, sending button flying and pinning Seven’s arms with the sleeves. Kathryn’s mouth devoured every inch of flesh she could reach, desperate to undo Seven’s bra and free her breasts for her lips and tongue. When at last the clasp gave way, Kathryn pushed the garment out of her way, her lips latching onto a plump nipple and laving it voraciously with her tongue. She made sure to give the same attention to the other as Seven’s hands tangled in her hair and their legs entwining. Not to be left out, Kathryn soon found herself topless, Seven’s long fingers moulding and sculpting her flesh like the Maestro with his clay. Seven’s fingers slid along her ribs, barely touching the undersides of her breasts only to slide away when Kathryn pressed herself into Seven’s caresses. Kathryn was overcome with the desire to been taken by the woman under her, to be shaped and drawn out to Seven’s desire, sure in her faith in Seven’s ability to give her what she needed.
“Oh yes…” Kathryn hissed when Seven’s fingers pinched her nipples. When she did it again, Kathryn’s back arched into her hands and Seven felt the need to taste Kathryn’s flesh. Seven shifted, using her arms to lift Kathryn gently to her mouth and settling her lips over one dark nipple. Kathryn cried out, hugging Seven’s head to her chest and stroking her hair that had somehow become loosened from its habitual twist. Seven switched to the other breast, kissing her way to the stiff point begging for her attention.
“Oh Seven!” Kathryn clutched Seven’s head to her making it difficult for her to breathe. Experimentally, Seven used her teeth which caused Kathryn to jerk back enough to slide up her body and recapture her lips. Kathryn pulled away panting, only the slimmest rim of blue visible in the indefinite light of the room. She felt a sense of vertigo and found herself in Seven’s arms being carried in the direction of their room in the palace. Kathryn wrapped her arms around Seven’s neck and began nibbling a path between Seven’s collar bone and ear, her tongue flicking out periodically to taste the heated flesh. Not wanting to jostle Kathryn unduly, but needing to hurry before Kathryn’s actions caused her knees to buckle, Seven called on her enhanced strength, lengthening her stride until the corridors became a blur in her peripheral vision. Kathryn grinned and murmured against her neck.
“Are you in a hurry, darling?”
In response, Seven deposited Kathryn on the bed and covered her compact body with her lankier form. Kathryn groaned out her contentment, wrapping her arms and legs around Seven and grinding her hips against her. Kathryn heard a growl and suddenly found herself surrounded by cool air. She gasped in surprise, opening her eyes to find Seven standing over her.
“This clothing is unacceptable.” Seven unclothed them both with her usual efficiency and climbed back onto the bed, pulling Kathryn on top of her. Kathryn sighed and wriggled against Seven, flinching slightly when her hip bone connected with Seven’s abdominal implant. Kathryn shifted her weight to one leg, resting beside Seven and leaning over her to kiss and taste her skin once more. Seven’s hands cupped the back of her head, urging her downwards; the former drone’s body knowing what it wanted. Kathryn complied, sliding down the lithe body of her lover and pressing open mouthed kisses along her way. Kathryn’s lips touch the top of Seven’s mound and her tongue flicked out to taste the fluid bejewelling Seven’s golden thatch of hair. At Seven’s inarticulate cry, Kathryn plunged her tongue down the length of Seven’s cleft, hanging on with difficulty as Seven’s hips raised off the bed. Kathryn lapped at Seven’s lips, carefully avoiding her clitoris for the time being; she wanted to save the best for last. Kathryn slid her tongue inside Seven’s tight opening and Seven’s implant made the bedpost groan in protest. Kathryn thrust her tongue in and out, growling low in her throat. The vibrations triggered off a set of minor explosions in Seven’s belly, her body going taut as a bow string and Kathryn grinned, feeling entirely too pleased with herself. Finally Kathryn sucked Seven’s clitoris into her mouth, her lips and tongue merciless on the quivering organ. Seven called out Kathryn’s name, the bedpost finally giving way under the assault from Seven’s implant and sending the translucent fabric of the bed’s canopy fluttering to the ground.
Kathryn crawled up Seven’s body, the hunger in her own barely held in check for the moment. Seven gasped for breath, her nanoprobes no longer able to keep up with the demands her body placed on them. She opened her eyes to find Kathryn gazing at her intently, the heat from her look threatening to spark off another orgasm in Seven. Flipping them over effortlessly, Seven devoured Kathryn’s body, skipping from one place to another not giving the craving a chance to build up anywhere. Kathryn gasped and arched into Seven’s ministrations, her entire being focused on the connection between Seven’s lips and her body. Seven didn’t pause when she reached Kathryn’s cleft, plunging her tongue into the folds immediately, two fingers finding their way into her opening with little preamble. Kathryn’s body surged off the bed as she cried out, dimly aware of Seven adding a third and a fourth finger. Her whole body filled with a burning pleasure that lit a fire along her synapses and blazed into her brain. Seven’s wrapped her lips around Kathryn’s twitching clitoris, lashing it unendingly while she tucked her thumb into her fist and pressed her hand farther into Kathryn’s opening. Kathryn’s inarticulate scream filled the room as her muscles clamped onto Seven’s hand again and again, Seven never relenting on Kathryn’s clitoris until she dropped back down to the bed.
Kathryn felt nothing but pleasure swirling around her body and filling her mind. She felt a distant pulling sensation, but that soon vanished, leaving only satiation and the allure of oblivion in its wake, then nothing.
All this Kathryn recalled as Seven held her wrist in one hand and scanned the tray with the other. Seven raised her eyes to meet Kathryn’s, but Janeway looked away flustered. Seven frowned, confused by Kathryn’s reaction.
“Seven, about last night,” Janeway began, unsure how to broach the subject.
“Yes Captain?” Seven clasped her hand behind her back, the gesture somehow looking more courtly, than aloof while she sported the leather breeches and white shirt from the before night. Wait, hadn’t those buttons been torn off?
“I’m not sure what…” Janeway trailed off.
“You are not sure what occurred. Yes, I calculated that loss of memory would be one of the short term effects of the compound, which also has other psychotropic effects. The substance affects the decision making centre of the brain, much in the way alcohol does, only to a greater effect. It also enhances tactile stimulation quite markedly in humanoid species. I, too, was affected by the compound, but not to the extent you were as my nanoprobes were able to remove the majority of it from my system.
“Undoubtedly you remember attending the gathering the Doge had prepared in our honour?” Janeway nodded absently, gesturing for Seven to continue, her mind spinning with the effort of trying to explain to Seven that what had happened last night was a one time thing and could never happen again, not so long as she was Captain, and Seven her subordinate.
“There was a feast, followed by musicians that played the local style of music, at which point you became fascinated with the design of the braziers. The Doge spoke of his daughter’s skill in carving the stone from which they were made, and the Doge’s First Wife approached and engaged in banter with the Doge for 3.5 minutes before she led you to join her in a discussion about the fabric of your attire from last night.
“It was at this point I began to notice the effect of the compound on my system and scanned both myself and braziers. Confirming its presence, I moved toward your direction intending to inform you of my finding, however I do not recall doing so, but instead remember joining you and the Doge’s First Wife at her insistence.”
Janeway recalled the events as if through a fog; the actor in the play looking and sounding like her, but she couldn’t reconcile what she remember with how she knew she would act under the circumstances. Janeway’s brow creased as she considered the impact of the compound on her behaviour; bad enough that she had lain in the Doge’s First Wife’s lap, but what happened with her and Seven! The Captain sat on the bed, her legs unable to hold her up any longer under the weight of her humiliation and guilt.
“At one point in the discussion, you remarked that your favourite material for garments is leather and proceeded to expound upon the subject while caressing my thigh and inviting the Doge’s First Wife to do the same. When you fell asleep, the Doge’s First Wife left to join her husband and several other females in an adjacent area, stating that you’d be asleep for some time. I waited 12.38 minutes, then picked you up and carried you back here, when I removed your clothing and placed you into the bed. At certain points along the way, you mumbled but I could not ascertain any sense from it and assumed it was merely a dream.”
Seven approached Janeway and sat gingerly on the bed beside her. “I must apologise Captain, I was charged with your safety and I failed to keep you from all harm.” Janeway scarcely heard the words, her mind fixated on Seven’s description of the event from the time the Doge’s First Wife left their company.
“Waitaminute…” Janeway held up her hand and sought Seven’s eyes, desperate to confirm what she just heard. At Seven’s look of abject misery, Kathryn took her hands.
“You have nothing to apologise for, Seven.” When Seven refused to meet her eyes, Kathryn raised her chin gently until Seven raised her eyes.
“Listen to me. You have nothing to apologise for. It was my call and I made it, you did the best you could under the circumstances.” A fire burned brightly in the Captain’s eyes, her conviction on the matter beyond a doubt. Seven felt something inside her ease.
“I was the one that tied your hands,” Janeway got up and started pacing. “Hell, if you hadn’t disobeyed me and used the tricorder during the party things could have been a lot worse.” She blew out her breath and ran a hand through her hair causing it to stand up. Seven was about to mention it when Kathryn shook her head and laughed. It was a pleasant sound, one the Seven hoped she would hear again, preferably sooner than later.
Kathryn walked over to the tray of food and eyed it suspiciously. “So this compound, it’s a narcotic?”
“Yes, Captain.” Seven stood and offered her tricorder. The Captain briefly examined the small instrument before poking in a few commands. “A nice little piece of equipment you have here,” she complimented, glancing at Seven. The former drone felt herself unaccountably pleased at the notion that Janeway approved.
“Thank you, Captain, it is of my own design.” Janeway said nothing, but made a mental note to see how much of the ship’s resources it would take the replicate a few more like it.
“So is it addictive?”
“Yes, but only after repeated and prolonged exposure. Our short tenure should not be sufficient time to create an untoward amount of dependence on the compound, and it is limited to the meat dish.” Seven pointed to a wonderfully smelling dish that resembled sausages. Kathryn narrowed her eyes, unsure if she liked the direction her mind was taking, yet finding it inevitable.
“I suppose the question is: Was it deliberate?”
“I have little doubt that is the case, however, it is fortunate that there is sufficient protein and nutrients in the other dishes to satisfy your nutritional requirements,” Seven stated as she continued to run her tricorder over the breakfast tray.
Janeway reached for some bread and tore off a hunk. It was fresh and practically melted on her tongue, causing her to groan appreciatively. Seven felt her heart jump at the sound, her nanoprobes struggling to bring the hammering organ under control. Seven walked across the room and set the tricorder aside, deliberately putting some distance between her and her mentor. After the previous night, it was difficult to get the image of a completely relaxed and sensuous Kathryn Janeway out of her mind, and its effect on her was most unsettling if not unwelcome. Seven forced herself to take slow, measured breaths and felt her heart rate returning to normal with some relief. I am Borg, I will adapt. I cannot allow my hormones to deprive the Captain of adequate protection. I will adapt.
For her part, Kathryn had continued to devour the contents of the tray, careful to avoid the flavoured meats. The food was helping to clear her head and she noted that Seven seems to be taking an inordinately long time to store the tricorder.
“Seven? Are you alright?”
Seven had been so focused on her breathing that she jumped when Janeway called her name. Kathryn saw Seven flinch and frowned. She licked the fruit juice off her fingers and crossed the room, a slight frown of concern creasing her brow. All of Seven’s efforts to quell her body’s physical reaction to Kathryn vanished as her footsteps approached. She clasped her hands behind her back and turned to face her Captain.
“Yes. My apologies, Captain. I was trying to determine if I could synthesise a counter-agent to the narcotic. Unfortunately, with the materials at hand, I am unable to do so.” It wasn’t a lie, strictly speaking; however those thoughts had not occupied her cortical processor for more than a few seconds. Kathryn’s hand on her arm was making the skin under her silk garment tingle and warm in a most distracting manner.
Kathryn’s eyes crinkled at the corners in concern. They had just sorted out what had happened the night before, much to Janeway’s relief. Her memory was still a little fuzzy on the events of the night before, but resolved to deal with things as they came. These negotiations were proving to be more complicated than she had anticipated, and she was due in the negotiating room in an hour. Janeway stifled the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose in her frustration. Unable to spend anymore time on personal matters, Janeway resolved to speak to Seven further when they returned to the ship at the conclusion of the negotiations.
“Seven, please contact the ship and send the Doctor your data on the compound and see if he can synthesise a counter-agent; if we’re going to be here a while, I don’t want a repeat of last night.” She intended to stay as clear-headed as possible for the duration and if that meant finding some way around the Doge’s prohibition against matter-energy transfer during negotiations, so be it.
“I’m going to have a shower in the meantime.” Janeway strode toward the bathing room but stopped just outside the door. “There’s nothing I need to worry about in there, is there?” Kathryn indicated the bathing room with a tilt of her head, a wry grin tugging at the corner of her lips.
“No, Captain, I made a complete scan while you slept.” Choosing to ignore Seven’s obvious breach of protocol, Janeway disappeared into the well-appointed bathing room and slid the door shut behind her. A little smiled played around Seven’s mouth before she tapped her comm badge to speak with the Doctor.
FIN