Part 03

The younger woman didn't respond. She stood rigid and confused. Since arriving on the planet surface she had been told what to do by a group of tall blonde Sapphorian women who all seemed to be fascinated by her physical appearance. She had been forced to warn the woman who had helped her to change into the robes that she now wore, to refrain from touching her body. The woman had complied reluctantly. And then when she had finally been reunited with her crew mates, none of the male crew members had been present. To cap it all off, a few moments ago, a Sapphorian woman had entered the room that they occupied and called her by her human designation. Now the Captain was greeting her enthusiastically and kissing her. Kathryn stepped away from Seven and smiled up at her.

The Queen looked from one woman to another and laughed. "Well, if I didn't know better I would say that you two were barely acquainted. But I can sense the connection between you. So, we shall leave you alone for a while. Please feel free to treat the place as home. The bathing area is through there." She said, indicating a set of white drapes to the left of the dressing area that Kathryn had already been in.

Adrianna bowed slightly and left the room with Chianna. "Thank you." Kathryn said, when the Queen failed to elaborate.

"We will dine in a turn." The Queen said, and was about to leave the room when Seven spoke.

"A turn? How long is that?" She asked, tipping her head slightly.

"I think it equates to 78 of your minutes." The Queen purred, her lascivious gaze took in the full length of Seven's body, and the former Borg felt as though she was naked under the other woman's gaze.

Kathryn smiled, a stab of jealousy spurring her to move to Seven's side. "Thank you, we look forward to it." She said, taking Seven's hand in hers.

The Queen bowed slightly and left the two women alone. Kathryn dropped Seven's hand, and stepped away. She felt a cold draught as though a blast of icy wind had brushed her body and looked at Seven. "We have to find a way to escape." She said, turning away again and sitting down on the closest sofa.

As she sank into the soft white cushions, she marveled at how everything was so relaxing, and a feeling of peace overwhelmed her. "Captain, what is going on?" Seven asked, her hands clasped behind her back.

"Seven sit down please."

"I prefer to stand."

"Seven please." Kathryn looked up at the beautiful woman who stood before her.

Seven hesitated, and then took a seat on the same sofa as her Captain. "What is going on, why am I here?" Seven asked.

Kathryn sighed. "I wish I knew why any of us where here. Seven, these women are… they..." She stopped, unsure of how to explain her suspicions to her Astrometrics officer.

"Where are the men?" Seven asked, realizing that the Captain was having as much trouble understanding their situation as she was.

"This is an all female society Seven. From what I can gather the men are enslaved and used for manual work and procreation." Kathryn said, repeating what Adrianna had told her earlier.

"I do not understand. I thought their culture was one of emotional and physical peace and pleasure?" Seven said, repeating what *she* had been told.

"Yes Seven they do." Kathryn said, wishing that she hadn't got into this discussion before she had the chance to work it out for herself.

"How do they obtain physical pleasure without males?" Seven asked, her mind was racing.

She was trying to remember what the Doctor had told her about the physical pleasures two people could obtain together. From her understanding it required a member of each gender. "Well Seven there are some women who prefer the, company, of other women." Kathryn said, her heart was racing.

Suddenly something that Seven had read about popped into her mind. "Oh you mean homosexuality." She stated.

"Yes." Kathryn said, heaving an internal sigh of relief.

If Seven knew about it, she wouldn't have to explain to her. "A concept I always found intriguing. I questioned the Doctor on it, but he wouldn't discuss it with me. He said that I wouldn't encounter it on Voyager." Seven continued.

Kathryn stood up and walked a few paces away from the other woman. "We have to work out how to get out of here. Where was the room that you were in with the others?" She asked, turning back to face the former Borg drone.

Seven was lounging back on the sofa. One arm was draped over the back of the seat, and her legs were crossed. The robe had slipped from Seven's leg and a long length of smooth thigh was revealed. Janeway felt a strange sensation travel through her body. It seemed to originate in her stomach, but it radiated throughout her body, and to her alarm she found her body responding in ways that she didn't want her body to respond. She turned away again, and swallowed a lump of emotion. "The Room was on another floor, quite some distance from here, but I could find my way back if you wanted to go there." Seven said, Kathryn wondered whether she imagined the change in Seven 's voice.

"Not for now. We need to find out what we are up against." She croaked, and cleared her throat furiously.

"Why did you tell them my human designation?" Seven asked quietly.

"I wanted to warn you that there was something wrong." Kathryn said, still not daring to look at the other woman.

She wished she knew why her body was responding this way, and she looked around the room. There were candles on every surface, suffusing the room with a soft light. There were also perfumed oils burning in several places, and Kathryn wondered if they were affecting her senses. She decided that must be what was happening to her, and now that she had an explanation for her reactions, she was able to maintain a better control of them. "Why am *I* here?" Seven asked.

Kathryn finally turned back to face her. Seven was still sitting on the sofa, her soft blonde hair haloed her face, and for the first time Kathryn realized how beautiful the former Borg truly was. "Seven, I had to get myself out of a potentially difficult situation. In order to avoid that situation I had to make the Queen believe that I had a partner, and that that partner was you." She said.

Seven gazed back at her and Kathryn wondered if she was imagining the dilation of her pupils. "What sort of partner Captain?"

"Romantic. I realize that this will be a difficult deception to carry off." Kathryn said, looking away again.

Seven gazed at the Captain. Her heart was racing almost as fast as her mind. She hadn't informed the Captain that her reasons for researching homosexuality were that she had felt a strange attraction to another female on the ship. When she had questioned the Doctor about such an attraction, he had refused to discuss it with her saying that it wasn't a romantic attraction, merely one of admiration. Which, he had explained, many people often mistook for romantic interest. But Seven had known differently. The thoughts that she had were not of admiration, but of lust. The same thoughts that the Doctor had told her that she would have towards a man. She had not informed the Doctor of which woman she had been attracted to, but she had gone out of her way to spend more and more time in that woman's company. "Captain, why did you choose me and not B'Elanna?" She asked, her voice catching at the other woman's name.

Kathryn looked down at her again. There was a look of desire on Seven's face that made Kathryn panic. 'She couldn't be attracted to me could she?' The older woman wondered. She turned away again. "Seven you must understand that this is purely a deception, that we will not be forming a romantic bond. Our purpose will be to work together to find a way out of this. Do you understand that?" She said.

Seven didn't reply for a few moments. "Yes Captain, I do understand. But you didn't answer my question." She said, her voice was low and quiet.

Kathryn didn't dare to look at her again. "I chose you Seven because I needed someone who would have ideas, and upon whom I could rely. Someone whom I could trust to not talk about what happens afterwards. I didn't chose B'Elanna because she is pregnant, and although I don't think that would make the Sapphorians suspicious, I didn't think that B'Elanna would be able to pretend to be the partner of another woman. She is too, aggressive."

Again Seven didn't respond for several moments. When she did speak her voice was quiet, and she sounded remote. "Do you think that B'Elanna would not accept the romantic attention of another woman?" She asked.

Kathryn turned to face Seven. She studied the younger woman for a few moments, realizing that the Borg sounded disappointed. "No I don't think she would. Because she is very much in love with Tom." She said gently.

Seven looked away. Kathryn sat next to her and placed her hand gently over Seven's. "Is it wrong to develop a romantic attachment to another woman?" Seven asked, still not looking at her Captain.

"No Seven. It isn't wrong. But not every woman will return the affections. Although homosexuality doesn't carry with it the social stigma that it did in the past, it is still not acceptable to everyone. But don't be discouraged, one day you will find someone who will return your affection, and love you the way you love her." Kathryn said.

She placed her arm around Seven's shoulder and hugged her gently. How ironic that most of the men on board the Voyager would happily have a relationship with Seven, and she turned out to be a lesbian. Seven leaned into the embrace and Kathryn felt a wave of affection flood her. The way a mother would feel about a troubled daughter she told herself.

The two women sat holding each other for quite some time before Kathryn Janeway roused herself. "Now come on, let's start thinking about a way out of this mess." She said, loosening her grip on Seven's shoulders.

Seven sat up and wiped one hand across her face. She had felt safe and comfortable in the Captain's arms, and she could have stayed there for hours. But she also knew that they had a responsibility to the other crewmembers. "Have you seen any weapons that we could obtain?" She asked.

Kathryn looked at her and shook her head. "No but then I haven't really looked." She said, looking away again.

Her gaze took in the whole room. All that she could see were drapes on the walls and cushions on the sofas and beds. "Have you checked in the bathing room?" Seven asked, standing up and moving towards the drapes that covered a doorway.

Kathryn followed her across the room and through the drapes. They walked into a huge room with one wall made of glass. Both women gasped as they took in the view. They were perched on the very top of a mountain, and the vista that was laid out before them was of a sloping mountainside covered in flowers of all colors, in the distance were more mountains, and in between there was a river flowing over several waterfalls. It was a breathtaking view, and Kathryn rushed up to the window, pressing her hands against the cool glass as she stared out. "Isn't it incredible?" She gasped, turning to smile at Seven.

Seven stepped up to stand behind her. She was so close that Kathryn could feel the heat from her body. "It is truly remarkable." Seven whispered, and Kathryn could feel her breath on her neck.

They stood gazing at the view for a long time, both of them seeing new and more wondrous things to exclaim over. Their concentration was broken by a voice from behind them. "Well I am glad to see that you have made your way in here." Adrianna said.

The two women turned to face her, and Seven realized that she had placed her hands on Captain Janeway's shoulders as they had stood. She blushed and stepped away. Adrianna smiled. "Do not be embarrassed to be intimate with your partner." She said, moving towards them.

Kathryn looked at Seven and then self consciously took the younger woman's hand in her own. "Oh we aren't." She said, trying to sound confident.

Adrianna smiled. "Would you care to bathe now? Queen Eleanora instructed me to ensure your comfort." She said, indicating the large circular tub in the center of the room.

Kathryn saw, for the first time, that the tub was made for two, and she realized that Adrianna clearly expected them to bathe together. She blushed slightly and gripped Seven's hand more tightly. Seven looked down at her, raising her ocular implant slightly. "We are expected to bathe?" She asked.

"Well Kathryn did express a wish to relax in a bath." Adrianna laughed.

She stepped across the room and pressed a button on the cabinet by the wall. A flow of steaming water flooded into the tub, and Adrianna reached across to pour some scented oils into the water. "Please, enjoy." She said, indicating the foaming bath.

Kathryn's heart was pounding in her chest. She could feel the heat of her embarrassment flooding her face and neck. She had no idea how to get out of the predicament they now found themselves in, and hoped that Adrianna would leave them alone. She didn't. Instead she turned to the cabinet that contained the controls for the tub, opened the doors and removed two golden goblets. After she had placed them on a platter, she turned back to the two women and smiled. "Do you need privacy to disrobe?" She asked.

Kathryn couldn't speak and realized that her grip on Seven's hand had tightened even further. Seven was clearly having her own problems as she was gripping Kathryn's hand just as tightly. "Yes." Seven stated finally.

Adrianna smiled. "I will leave you to obtain refreshments. Perhaps you will feel more at ease once you are in the bath." She said, and left the room.

Kathryn let go of Seven's hand. "Oh my god." She whispered as she stepped away and ran one hand through her hair.

"We should disrobe and get into the tub before she returns." Seven said simply, pulling her robe off her shoulders.

As the white cloth slipped from her body, Janeway couldn't tear her eyes away from the sight of Seven's perfect body. Her skin was soft and clear of blemishes, although why Kathryn had expected her to be blemished she didn't know. There were a few Borg implants visible, but they enhanced rather than spoiled Seven's body. Once she was naked, Seven turned her head to look at Kathryn. "Captain, will you join me?" She asked, her back still to the older woman.

Kathryn nodded silently, not able to speak, as Seven stepped into the foaming bubbles. Once Seven was settled in the tub she looked up at Kathryn, who was staring back at her. "Captain?" She asked again.

Kathryn was unable to move. Her heart was pounding, and her head felt light. She couldn't explain the feelings that were overwhelming her. She had seen naked women before, but she had never been tempted to reach out and touch them the way she was tempted by Seven. "Captain, may I caution you to haste? Adrianna will return shortly." Seven said, wondering why the Captain was staring down at her that way.

Kathryn shook herself into action, and turned her back to slip out of the white robes that she wore. She pulled her singlet over her head, and dropped it to the ground with the robe. Then slipping her panties down, she stepped out of them, and stood naked, with her back to the tub. She was blushing furiously. It had been 6 years since she had been naked with another person, and that had been Mark. She knew that she should not feel so self conscious, but something about the Borg made her agonizingly aware of the imperfections of her own body. "I will not watch you, if that would make you feel more comfortable." Seven said suddenly, and Kathryn realized that she was being foolish.

She turned to face the tub. One arm across her breasts and the other hand dangling in front of her in an attempt at casual concealment. She smiled as she saw that Seven had closed her eyes tightly, and was clearly waiting for Kathryn to get into the tub with her. A sudden noise in the next room made her realize that Adrianna was returning, and she stepped quickly into the water. She gasped as the hot water rose up around her body, it was hotter than she felt comfortable with, but she had no choice but to sink into it. As she attempted to sit on a ledge in the tub she slipped, and lurched into Seven. The younger woman reached out her arm to prevent Kathryn from submerging herself, and they found themselves face to face.

"I see you are enjoying the bath at last." Adrianna said, entering the room carrying a pitcher and a bowl of fruit.

Kathryn pulled back from Seven and sat opposite her in the tub. She hoped that her embarrassed blushing would be mistaken for redness from the heat of the water, and she tried to look nonchalant. "Yes thank you." Seven said.

Kathryn wondered briefly why the Borg was so at ease with the situation, but before she could consider it for too long, Adrianna passed her a golden goblet filled with a sweet smelling liquid. "Please drink, enjoy. Take your time, there is still half a turn before we dine." Adrianna said, and then left the room.

Seven sipped the liquid and nodded her approval. "It tastes familiar." She stated and watched as Kathryn sipped the liquid in her goblet.

Kathryn was too uptight to enjoy the bath, and after a very short time she sat up again. "Seven, I think I have sat here long enough." She said, looking at the other woman.

Seven had rested her head back against the edge of the tub and seemed to be enjoying herself very much. She looked up in surprise. "Yes Captain." She said, and returned the gaze of the older woman.

Something in her chest contracted, and Seven tried to analyze the sensations that were flooding her body. She had never experienced such tingling feelings before. Even when she had imagined what it would be like to be naked with another person, she had not experienced these feelings. She realized that Kathryn was waiting for her to avert her gaze, and so she looked away.

Kathryn stood up, causing a wave of warm water to splash up against Seven's body. Bubbles adhered to her skin, and she stepped out of the water, and dribbled down her body to the floor. Kathryn reached for a large white towel from the pile beside the tub, and wrapped it around herself quickly. Seven was unable to resist watching the older woman as she stepped out of the water. Her skin glowed with the heat of the water, and the sight of the rivulets of bubbles flowing down Kathryn's back and legs made Seven's body react strongly. Heat spread through her body, concentrated in her groin, and she felt as though something had flowed out of her core to travel down her legs. She looked away quickly as Kathryn turned back to her. "Are you ready to get out?" Kathryn asked, her voice was gruff and Seven wondered if she was annoyed.

"Yes, I think I will." Seven said her gaze still averted.

She stood up, steadied herself on the edge of the tub, and then stepped out of the water. She looked up to see that Kathryn was watching her, and she stood up. Her naked body shone in the subtle lighting and as bubbles flowed down her body she felt alive and very sensuous for the first time in her life. She stepped out of the tub, not rushing to cover her nakedness, and accepted the towel that Kathryn handed her. She chose to dry her hair with the towel instead of covering herself, and Kathryn quickly handed her another towel. Seven's nipples were rock hard and jutted out from her breasts, clearly visible among the bubbles adherent on her skin. She felt a tingle emanating from her groin again, and wished that she could enhance the sensation, as she knew that it would lead to a very powerful experience.

Kathryn couldn't stop looking at the vision before her. She realized that she was attracted to Seven, and there was nothing she could do about it. The younger woman seemed to be flaunting herself, and yet Kathryn knew that she couldn't be. Her breasts were full and inviting, and Kathryn longed to reach out and take their weight in her hands. Seven looked up at her with a look that Kathryn would have sworn was desire. She reached out with one hand to brush away a strand of hair that had stuck to Seven's cheek. As her fingers touched Seven's cheek a bolt of electricity shot between them, and Kathryn stepped back. "I am sorry." She stammered, and turned away.

Seven reached out and placed one hand on the Captain's back. "Kathryn, please." She said quietly.

Before either woman could speak again Adrianna stepped into the room. Her appreciative gaze settled on Seven's naked body, and the former Borg quickly wrapped a large white towel around herself. "Well I see you have bathed." She said, smiling at them both.

*********************

B'Elanna stood beside them by a low table. The female members of the Voyager crew had been gathered together and were in a large dining area, several Sapphorian women were seated on the floor on soft white cushions. "Is everything here white?" B'Elanna hissed.

Kathryn smiled. "Yes, don't you find it peaceful?" She whispered in reply.

B'Elanna shook her head. "No I don't. And I don't like the way there are no men. Where is Tom? Where are the other men? I have asked to be taken to Tom and they smile and nod and ignore my request. And when I told one woman Tom was my husband she shook her head and said poor you!" She said, her voice was insistent and she glanced around her to see if any of the Sapphorians were listening.

"I see what you mean about B'Elanna's aggression. I hadn't noticed it before." Seven said quietly.

Kathryn hushed her quickly, but B'Elanna had already heard the comment. "What did she mean by that?" She demanded.

"Shh, you will attract attention." Kathryn said, smiling gently as she spoke.

B'Elanna leaned back slightly. The Captain and Seven of Nine were both behaving strangely and she couldn't work out what was going on. When they had arrived on the planet, Captain Janeway had been taken off on her own, the other women were taken to a large room where they had been commanded to change into long white robes, and the men had been taken somewhere else. No matter whom she had asked, B'Elanna had been unable to find out what was going on. Then Seven of Nine had been taken to join the Captain wherever she was, and now they were both behaving as though they had been brainwashed. "We have to get out of here." She said, looking from the Captain to Seven and back.

Kathryn smiled. "Yes B'Elanna we are aware of that, but if we attract attention we will get no where." She said quietly.

Seven smiled and nodded in agreement. "Have you been drugged?" B'Elanna asked.

Adrianna appeared at Kathryn's shoulder. "The Queen wishes for you and Annika to join her at high table." She said gently, and Kathryn started to follow her.

B'Elanna grabbed her arm. "Captain?" She hissed.

Seven reached out and pulled B'Elanna's hand from Kathryn's arm. "B'Elanna, try to think of ways of getting out of here. We will be back." Kathryn said quietly, and the two women followed the Sapphorian out of the room.

They walked into a smaller chamber, where the cushions were white with gold trim, and the drapes were also trimmed with gold. There were a few women lounging on the cushions, several of them obviously coupled with other women. Seven reached for Kathryn's hand as she saw some of the single women looking appreciatively at the two strangers. "Kathryn, Annika." Queen Eleanora said, greeting them as they approached her.

Adrianna stepped forward and leaned down. She kissed the Queen on the lips. The embrace lasted for several seconds, and Seven's heart flipped over in her chest. "My love, sit." The Queen said to Adrianna.

Then she turned to Kathryn and Seven. "Please sit." She said, indicating a large gold and white cushion to her left.

Kathryn lowered herself into the cushion, and then Seven sat gently down beside her. Seven looked around the room. All the women were in couples, and they were all entwined with each other. With hands clasped, arms wrapped around shoulders, and in some cases faces buried in necks. She reached out to grasp Kathryn's hand, and then slid closer to the older woman. Kathryn looked at her, and then rested her body against Seven's. The Queen smiled at them, and clapped her hands.

Several serving girls appeared, carrying large gold trays upon which piles of food were perched. Steam rose from the dishes as they were placed in front of the women, and enticing aromas invaded their nostrils. Kathryn realized that she was incredibly hungry and tried to remember how long it had been since she had last eaten. "Eat, enjoy." Adrianna said, lifting a fork from the table in front of her.

She secured a piece of an orange substance on the fork, and then tenderly lifted it to the lips of the Queen. Seven watched in fascination as the women accepted the food, and then reached down to kiss Adrianna. She took her fork, speared a piece of the orange substance and offered it to Kathryn. "Captain?" She said, when Kathryn didn’t take the food.

Queen Eleanora and Adrianna watched as Kathryn glared at Seven, who didn't realize the position she had placed her Captain in. Kathryn's mind whirred. If she took the food would she be obliged to kiss Seven in return? If she didn't take the food would the Queen be offended? So she did nothing. Seven pressed the fork forward, frowning when Kathryn didn't accept the food. "Kathryn?" Eleanora asked, watching her closely.

Kathryn looked across at her, and saw that several people were watching her now. She cleared her throat and tried to smile, then she turned her head to Seven, and opened her lips to accept the food that the younger woman proffered. It was the most delicious thing that she had tasted in a long time, the texture was reminiscent of a potato, but the taste was much more complex. She chewed slowly, savoring the flavor, and trying to prolong the need to make a decision. She continued to chew for several minutes, until a bemused Adrianna leaned forward and whispered to her, "you can kiss Annika now."

Kathryn almost choked on the remaining food in her mouth, and she blushed furiously. She waved her hand in front of her face, and she pretended that she needed to drink something, and cleared her throat loudly. Seven's heart was pounding. She had suspected that if she had offered the Captain the food then she would be rewarded with a kiss. So she had acted before her brain had been able to stop her hands. Now she sat waiting to see what the Captain would do.

After sipping some warm golden liquid from the goblet in front of her, Kathryn looked from the Queen to Adrianna to Seven and then back to the Queen. The Sapphorians were looking at her in expectation, and she realized that there was no way that she could avoid kissing her Astrometrics officer. Not if they were to maintain the deception that they were a couple, thus avoiding the likelihood of the Queen making advances towards her. She swallowed her fear, and steeled her courage, then leaned in to Seven and kissed her gently on the lips.

Seven didn't respond. She didn't move, she didn't even seem to notice that the Captain had just kissed her. Kathryn sat back again, and looked down at the table. She felt lightheaded, and incredibly aroused. Her breathing was deep and almost painful, and she struggled to control the emotions that were swirling around in her head. Meanwhile, Seven of Nine was rigid in her seat. When the Captain had kissed her, the brush of her lips was so gentle that Seven couldn't say for certain that she had even touched her, and yet the sensations that had been triggered had shot through her body like a dart. She was unable to move, for fear that this was all some kind of hallucination, and that she would be roused from her dreams to find herself in her regeneration chamber. Queen Eleanora's voice slowly cut through to her conscious. "Let the entertainment begin." She called, and Seven tried to turn her head towards the sound of the other woman's voice.

Kathryn was struggling to maintain control of herself. She knew that one kiss did not mean anything, and that there was something going on other than the obvious. Her scientific brain told her that she had been drugged and that was why she was responding the way she was. She knew that there was no way, under normal circumstances, that she would be reacting this way to such an event.

The entertainment took everyone's minds off the visitors. Everyone except Kathryn and Seven of Nine. They spent the rest of the time avoiding each other's gaze, and nibbling at the food that was offered to them by the serving girls. When the entertainment ended Queen Eleanora leaned across to Kathryn. "I expect you two would like to be alone now." She said, smiling cheerfully.

Kathryn couldn't speak and nodded nervously. The Queen sat back again. "Adrianna, please ensure that our guests aren't disturbed." She said, and Adrianna nodded.

They were lead through high ceilinged corridors towards a part of the Palace that neither had seen before. Kathryn followed behind Chianna and Seven followed behind her. Chianna talked the whole way, explaining the significance of the paintings and carvings that lined the walls of the wide corridors, but neither Kathryn nor Seven was listening. They were both deep within their own worlds.

Once inside the large bedroom, Kathryn realized that she would have to speak. "Thank you for showing us the way." She said, walking towards the window on one side of the room.

It was totally dark outside, and Kathryn could see up to the sky above. The sight of the stars shining down at her reminded her that she should be concentrating on trying to get away from these women, and not on what Seven was feeling. Or about her own feelings towards Seven. She turned to the other women, smiling broadly. "If you need anything else, please pull this rope, and a serving girl will attend you." Chianna said, indicating a silver and red rope that hung from the ceiling.

Kathryn smiled in response. "Thank you we will." She said, wishing the Sapphorian would leave them alone.

Seven walked to the window and stared out. Kathryn moved aside to give her some room. "Sleep well." Chiana said, backing out of room.

Kathryn waited for the door to close, and then went over to check that it was closed tightly. She turned back to see Seven facing her. "Captain." Seven said, and Kathryn could see that she was struggling.

"Seven, we need to put our heads together and come up with a plan." She said, dismissing the possibility of discussing their embarrassing predicament in the dining room.

Seven stared at her as she walked across the room to sit on a large white sofa. "We need to find a way out of the Palace. We need to find out where the men are being held. And most of all, we need to find out if anyone is left on the ship." Kathryn said, ignoring the look of desperation on Seven's face.

She swallowed several times and then looked up at the former Borg drone. Seven had gathered her self-control and was looking back at Kathryn with a look of defiance. She had longed to say something, all throughout dinner. She had wanted to return the Captain's kiss. She had wanted to reach out and touch her, to receive acknowledgment at the least, of their kiss. Now here they were, alone at last, and the Captain wanted to talk about escaping, and returning to the ship. She was confused and hurt by Kathryn's attitude, but she reasoned with herself, until she realized that this was the only way the older woman could cope. Kathryn's words came back to Seven as they had finished their dinner, and then been lead to this bed room. 'No Seven. It isn't wrong. But not every woman will return the affections. Although homosexuality doesn't carry with it the social stigma that it did in the past, it is still not acceptable to everyone. But don't be discouraged, one day you will find someone who will return your affection, and love you the way you love her.' She realized that Kathryn was one of those women for whom homosexual love was unacceptable.

Seven crossed the room to sit on the large bed that was in the center of the room. "How do you propose we gather this information?" She asked.

Kathryn looked up at her. "I don't know. They don't seem to be ready to talk to us. I wonder if we would have any better luck with the serving girls?" She said, standing up and crossing the room to the bell pull.

A few moments later a small dark haired woman stepped into the room. "You called?" She said, bowing slightly before she spoke.

"Yes, I was wondering whether we could get something to drink?" Kathryn said, and the serving girl left the room again.

"Do you think she will tell us anything?" Seven asked, if only to break the silence that had fallen in the room.

Kathryn shook her head. "I have no idea, we can only wait to see." She said, pacing back and forth as she waited for the girl to return.

A few minutes later the girl reappeared, carrying a tray with two goblets and a pitcher balanced on it. "Thank you. I was wondering whether we could ask you a few questions? We are curious about some aspects of your society." Kathryn said, taking the tray from the girl.

Seven moved to stand behind the girl, effectively preventing her from leaving the room. The serving girl looked around, and then looked back at Kathryn. She had an expression of panic on her face, and she quickly shifted her gaze to stare down at the floor. "I am not supposed to engage in conversation with the guests." She muttered.

Kathryn smiled. "That is ok, we won't tell anyone." She said softly.

The girl looked up again. "Well I supposed I could answer a few questions." She said, and smiled thinly.

"Thank you. Now would you like sit down?" Kathryn asked, indicating the sofa.

The serving girl shook her head nervously, and Kathryn realize that if someone else came into the room and she was still standing, the girl could say that she had just arrived with the tray of drinks. "Ok, well just a few questions." She said, moving to sit on the sofa.

Seven peered out of the door to see if there was anyone in the corridor. She saw that the lights had been dimmed, and there was no one around. She closed the door again, and leaned against it. The serving girl looked at her, and then turned her attention back to the Captain, as did Seven. "Where are the men held?" Kathryn asked quietly.