In Dreams

Part 9

This unmistakable sexual overtone surprised Kathryn to such a degree that she was thrown off and found herself unsure how to respond. She quickly gathered herself, and backed away just a little from Seven.

The blonde only moved with her. The tension was sudden and palpable. Janeway could feel the sex moving from Seven like a heat wave, and her own body responded involuntarily.

Kathryn stood and moved away, thrown so out of her own usual way of thinking by this. "Perhaps you should get some rest now."

"Sleep" Seven stood now, approaching Kathryn. "Perchance to dream... No, I don't think I want to do that. Kathryn."

Janeway watched the change come over Seven, saw as an aspect of Seven she'd never really seen before came out and seemed to be taking over. She made her own conclusion.

"I want to take you back to the Doctor. Your body is still learning to regulate itself without implants. I think your hormones-"

She was interrupted by Seven's quick movement and found herself against the wall, Seven's hand's holding Kathryn's arms to her sides, pinning her to the wall.

Quite taken back, Kathryn fought against her own urges to respond as she wanted to and as her body begged her to respond. "Seven." Her eyes locked with the blonde's and she couldn't seem to will herself to say more.

Seven's voice came in a whisper, which rang true and loud in Kathryn's ears. "Hormones. No. It's my close proximity to you." Seven's hands slid down to Kathryn's, grasped them and began lifting her arms against the surface of the wall. "Do you know how I have watched you?"

Kathryn let her. Kathryn, still silenced, listened and felt her heart beat faster, and her blood raced.

"Kathryn, do you know how it pains me… to watch you move, to hear your voice, to see you command this ship and its crew, to watch you in power and to know I could never have you?"

Seven had Kathryn's hands above her head now, held together in one hand.

Kathryn's lips moved as if words might form, but Seven's finger lightly pressed them closed.

"Do you know how much I've wanted you?" Seven's finger worked its way down between Kathryn's breast, around her waist and back to rest in the little crook there. "My Captain. I know how alone you feel. I know how you long to be touched again."

Seven's face was close to Kathryn's now, and she was barely brushing Kathryn's skin with her cheek and eyelashes.

Kathryn tried to protest, "Seven, you don't know what you're saying right now." It was a meek protest, she knew, full of her own needs and wants, her voice coming breathy and almost strained by the desire she held back.

Seven's face nuzzled the side of Kathryn's neck. "Can you say you don't want me?"

Kathryn's eyes closed, Seven's breath on her neck. I can't do this. I can't do this.

But her protestations wouldn't make it to her mouth.

She felt the moisture of Seven's tongue on her throat.

It was enough. She knew she couldn't cross this line. Not with Seven in this condition.

"No." It was stern, and she pushed Seven away.

Seven stood for a moment, dejected and shocked.

They stood staring at each other in silence as the comsystem chirped.

"Tuvok to Captain Janeway."

Janeway spoke, knowing her voice wouldn't quite be normal yet, "Janeway here."

"Z'ela has taken Engineering and removed shields throughout the ship. Tepes is free." He paused. "We are attempting to force our way into Engineering."

Janeway felt herself return to normal. "I'll be right there." She signed out.

Seven stepped toward Janeway, who held both hands up. "Stop right there. Seven, you are coming to sickbay with me. Now."

Seven smiled slyly. "No. No, I am not…" she twisted a bit at the waist, and then back again, like a little girl, threw her head back and laughed. She wrapped her arms around her stomach and laughed harder.

"Please." Kathryn spoke loudly over Seven's laughter. "Don't make me use force." It was awful seeing Seven behaving so maniacally.

Seven slowly held her wrists out. "Take me, Kathryn."

Kathryn stepped toward her. "I don't know what's happening to you. But I will get you help." She thought about taking Seven's arm, but thought better of it; she thought it best if she didn't touch her.

And then Seven softened, and she whispered as if speaking through a keyhole and afraid to be heard. "He's in me, Kathryn." The fear was evident in her face.

The sudden change gave Kathryn pause.

Seven said again, "He's in me." Her eyes closed, her hands went to the sides of her head. "Please help me. I can't fight him."

"You can." Kathryn understood then, what Seven had been trying to tell her just minutes ago. Tepes, whatever he was, was using a telepathic link of some kind and he was controlling her.

But why?

Kathryn felt the cold in her heart as she realized she'd been right. Seven's sexual overtures were not her own.

Kathryn took Seven's hands from her head, held them tight. "You can fight him. And Tuvok will find him any moment. You just have to hold out a little longer."

The door chimed, and Kathryn's gut told her it wasn't good company.

"Computer, secure this room." She looked up into Seven's eyes, "Just a little longer." She pressed her combadge. "Janeway to Tuvok."

Again, the door chimed.

"It's him." Seven said, looking toward the door.

To Kathryn's surprise, the door beeped, and slid open.

She moved to stand in front of Seven. Tepes stood at the entrance to her room, looking at least ten years younger and stronger, with his turquoise eyes on Seven.

"Come. It's time we left."

Seven stepped toward him, and Kathryn blocked her. "Computer, erect a force field around Tepes."

The computer responded. "Unable to comply."

Kathryn held Seven back. "Tepes. The entire crew knows what you are."

"I doubt that very much, Captain Janeway." He smiled, and called to Seven again. "Come, my beauty."

Kathryn noticed something. "Why aren't you just walking in here?" She smiled. "I see… I remember the legend. My ship may be open to you, but I haven't invited you into my room, is that it?"

Tepes showed no sign of acquiescence. "Z'ela didn't invite me."

"So then why are you standing there?" She waited his answer.

Anger spread over his handsome features.

"Z'ela wanted him." Seven's voice shook with the effort to remain herself. "She would have had to want him in some way."

He reached his hand out. "Come."

Seven tried to move toward him again, and Kathryn had to physically hold her back. "No, Seven. Fight him."

His voice growled up out of his throat then and he almost howled at her, so angry, his face changed shape for a moment. "Kill her."

Seven was next to Janeway now. She looked down at her, and Kathryn could see her Seven inside, pleading for forgiveness of what she was about to do. But facing her was another Seven entirely, whose hand was instantly on Kathryn's throat, lifting her and throwing her across the room and against the far wall.

Kathryn picked herself up, stood against that same wall and reached for her phaser, but it was gone. Seven held it in her hand and pointed it at Kathryn's chest.

"Seven. Don't do this." Kathryn said. "You don't want to do this."

Tepes spoke across the room. "My blood is in you. Use it."

Seven looked back at him, and with a determined look, she stepped toward Janeway, who was pushing herself to her feet.

Kathryn kept her eyes on Seven as she stood.

Seven's tongue peeked out from between her lips, and she moistened them. "A taste of Kathryn," she said, "And I will know her intimately."

"Yes." Tepes willed her on. "You will. You'll feel everything in her, my Seven."

Before Kathryn knew it, Seven was on her, her hands holding Kathryn's head back. The phaser in Seven's hand was hard against the back of Kathryn's skull, and as Kathryn gazed into Seven's eyes she saw the embers there, felt her own horror as the beautiful face transformed into animal like, her brows arching, her lips drew back and exposed her extended eye-teeth.

"No-" Kathryn couldn't fight Seven's strength.

Tepes relaxed now, "That's it… that's my girl."

Seven drank deep; she released only when she felt the time was right, and looked down at Kathryn's wilting spirit. She whispered, almost inaudibly. "Because I love you."

And with her body blocking Tepes' view, she yanked Kathryn's hair back and fired the phaser into her Captain's head.

The Captain crumpled to the ground. She landed on her side.

Blackness wanted to take her. She fought it with every ounce of Janeway blood, and opened her eyes to see Seven crossing the room, phaser still in hand. The phaser was dropped on the floor and Seven moved through the door into Tepes' arms. He looked down at her.

He touched Seven's face. "Your world is in my eyes. All you have ever needed... I offer."

Kathryn couldn't hold on. The sadness engulfed her. She felt her heart break as surely as she had felt the tearing of her flesh beneath Seven's mouth.

Blackness took her.

*

End Part Nine