In Dreams

Part 10

Kathryn’s eyes opened. The room was quiet. The hum of the ship was there, but nothing else.

Her door had closed.

She moved her hands and tried to push herself up.

Too weak, she let herself lay still. Her eyes scanned the floor. Her phaser was not three yards away. Her eyes saw something else, in her peripheral vision and she looked again.

Under her couch… the Doctor’s mobile emitter.

She tried again to push herself up, and with what seemed like the last ounce of strength she managed to sit up, and lean against the wall. It was hard to breathe for a minute and her head throbbed. One hand went to her head, to feel where the phaser had stunned her.

With her other hand, Kathryn pressed her combadge. It was difficult, but she managed to form the words. “Janeway to Tuvok.”

No answer.

She breathed again, and the hand on her head went to her throat. It was sticky with blood, the wound clotted but still open. She realized her collar and shoulder were soaked in her own blood, but not so much that she should be this weak. It was the phaser fire to her head that did that.

She heard Seven’s voice in her ear again, Because I love you.

Think about it later, she told herself.

This feeling of helplessness was pissing her off.

“Computer.” She said, and used one hand to help push herself toward the couch. “Locate Seven of Nine.”

“Seven of Nine is in Shuttle Bay Three.”

“Shut down Shuttle Bay Three, computer.” Kathryn said. She had to take a breath while she winced from the pain of weakness and the stabbing in her head. “Secure all bays and hatches leading off Voyager. Authorization Janeway. Alpha Omega Nine.”

The computer bleeped. “Shuttle and docking bays are secured. Hatches are secured.”

That ought to hold them, she thought. She’d given the highest-level code she could give without a second in command present, one that Z’ela couldn’t have tampered with. No one else could very easily either, so she’d better get out of here and stop Seven.

Again, she spoke. “Computer, Red Alert.”

The audio signal went off, and the lights changed as was customary in Red Alert.

Over the system, the voice she’d hoped would respond. “Chakotay to Janeway. What’s going on?”

“I can’t reach Tuvok. Get to Shuttle Bay Three. Tepes is there.”

“Captain, are you injured?” Chakotay could hear the strain in her voice.

“I’m on my way to sickbay now.”

She had made it to the couch and reached underneath. Her fingers found the emitter. She relaxed, and took some deep breaths in her exhaustion.

“Computer. Emergency transport to sickbay.”

*

The Doctor turned and surprise took his face as Janeway materialized on the near biobed. Her arm was outstretched, and his mobile emitter was in the palm of her hand.

He quickly snatched up his emitter and attached it to his sleeve, while at the same time starting the scans that would tell him more about the Captain’s condition.

He spoke to her, “What’s happened?”

She looked up at him and quietly answered. “Seven.”

“I was afraid of that.” He shook his head at himself. “I don’t know why I let you talk me into letting you take her out of here.”

She inhaled deep breath to speak and she sincerely said, “I apologize for that, Doctor.”

He gave her a small nod, and while worked on her phaser wound, he allowed the biobed to unfold its wings over her to begin hemoregeneration. “I was in the middle of receiving a Starfleet transmission when you beamed in.”

She looked up at him. “How?”

“I’ve never been one to believe in luck. I never believed in vampires before either.” He examined the phaser burn beneath her hair. “Starfleet was forced to send their transmission early, due to an impending ion storm in the Alpha Quadrant. I was able to send them my data on Seven, and what we know about Tepes.”

She felt her strength returning, albeit not as quickly as she’d like. “And?”

“From what I’ve read so far, it looks like we caused quite a furor at Starfleet. They sent data back at the last moment, for your eyes and my eyes only.” He stepped away from the biobed and brought back a PADD. “Encrypted for security. I was just about to contact you.”

Now he held the PADD where they could both read it.

“From Section 31.” Janeway said, almost in disbelief. “Tepes is a vampire. Tom was right.”

“This Section 31- they gave me only a portion of the data that modern science has on vampires. They said it was on a need to know basis. Tepes is particularly of interest to them.” The Doctor set the PADD down while he watched the biobed readings. “It seems he’s been around for some time.”

“Let me guess. Hundreds of years.”

“Thousands.” He answered, and adjusted the hemoregeneration sequence. “How are you feeling?”

“About a pint low.”

“Just another moment.” The Doctor said, his hand on her shoulder. “Your hemoglobin levels are at almost normal levels.”

“I don’t have time.” She took a frustrated breath, testing her new strength. “Seven is with him now. Chakotay and the others might not be able to get through to her. She’s not herself.”

“I understand, but you’re no help to her if you can’t even hold yourself up.”

Janeway knew he was right, and addressed the comsystem. “Computer, locate Commander Chakotay.”

“Chakotay is in Shuttle Bay Three.”

She looked back up at the Doctor. “Soon?”

The unit unfolded itself with a high-pitched beep to signal its completion.

She sat up quickly, but was just as quickly taken by dizziness. Her hand went to her head, which throbbed.

“I’m afraid the pain in your head won’t go away for a little while.”

“It’s all right.” She stepped down from the bed, balancing herself. “I have to get to Seven.”

“You need to read this first.”

She grabbed the PADD from his hand, “I’ll read it on the way.”

She rushed from sickbay, leaving the Doctor with his hand still outstretched.

*

She made her way out of the turbolift and was heading for the shuttle bay when the Doctor appeared beside her. “Captain, if you insist on leaving sickbay early, then you get me as an escort.”

She handed him the PADD. “Fine by me, Doctor.” The sound of phaser fire erupted ahead of them. “Just stay out of the range of fire.”

“Of course.” He looked at the data Kathryn had been reading on Tepes. “Captain, you can’t be serious.”

“Seven let me live. He doesn’t have total control over her.”

“And you have a plan?”

“Yes, I do.” She stopped and looked around the corner toward the door to Shuttle Bay Three.

Chakotay and three security officers were crouched near the door; it had been blasted open somehow, and the officers were peering in and trying to avoid being hit by the phaser fire that periodically found it’s way into the corridor.

Kathryn turned back to the Doctor. “I need you to do me a favor, Doctor.” She looked around the corner again, and punched some hasty commands into the PADD she carried. “Take this. Go to the bridge. I can’t risk using the comsystem, we don’t know what Z’ela’s tampered with, or what she’s tapped into right now.”

The Doctor looked at the PADD, and smiled. “Right away, Captain.” He turned and headed back down the corridor.

Okay, Kathryn. She took a deep breath, and walked toward Chakotay and the security team.

He was relieved to see her, but his face showed shock when his eyes fell on her blood stained uniform. “Kathryn, what-“

She held her hand up as if to dismiss his impending comment. More shock on Chakotay’s face as she walked past him, and directly into the line of fire.

She paused just inside the shuttle bay.

Z’ela stood across from her. The lights were dimmed in here, and Z’ela’s eyes seemed luminescent in the dark. She stood with her legs apart, phaser gun pointed directly at Kathryn.

“Z’ela.” Her bet had paid off. Kathryn counted on this, “Z’ela I knew you wouldn’t fire on me.”

Z’ela’s face was hard with anger, but her lips parted just enough to show the tip of her tongue glisten against her teeth. “Computer, erect a holographic door. Level five force field.”

Behind her, a door appeared, solid as a real door, and a lot more dangerous if touched.

Kathryn heard it shut close behind her. She had to hand it to Z’ela. If any f them survived this, she’d find out how the young woman managed the holographic door. She spoke to her now, “I don’t want you to leave.”

There was pause in Z’ela’s face. Her hand may have flinched on the phaser. “No. No tricks, Kathryn.”

“It’s no trick.” She said, and took a slow step forward. “Z’ela… please.” She whispered, tried to sound seductive, let her gaze fall into Z’ela’s. “Take me with you.”

Being this close, Kathryn saw as Z’ela’s true self inside the monster she had become seemed to gain hold. Z’ela visibly shivered.

Her voice was quiet. “You never wanted me. Why now?”

“I would have, Z’ela.” Kathryn was closer. “But I’m your Captain.”

Z’ela’s phaser lowered just a bit. “I want to believe you.” Her hands were both on the phaser now. “My Master wants to leave.”

“I have the codes.” Kathryn said. She allowed her eyes to connect with Z’ela’s. “And I won’t allow you to leave.”

“No.” Z’ela’s eyes were beginning to tear up; red hues covered the whites of her eyes. “You love Seven.”

Kathryn shook her head, “Only an infatuation.”

Z’ela lowered her phaser. Her voice was quiet, “Kathryn.”

Kathryn stepped toward the young woman and took her in her arms. She held her tightly for a moment.

Before she could move, Z’ela’s lips found Kathryn and she was kissing her full and deep.

Kathryn allowed herself to accept the kiss, but Seven was in her mind. She’d told the Doctor she’d had a plan, but the only part of her ‘plan’ that had formed thus far was getting Voyager dangerously close to the nearest Sun. The Doctor would be taking care of that.

The rest was up to her.

“Z’ela.” Kathryn whispered. “Come with me. Leave this bay with me, now.” Kathryn held the younger woman’s face in her hands, examined what really was a beautiful face. She looked into the eyes of this person she’d barely known, and knew that she was a girl still in many ways. Z’ela was a person worth saving, as every member of her crew was worth saving, but something in Z’ela made Kathryn resolve there that not only would Tepes not get Seven, he wouldn’t get Z’ela either.

The door to the Demeter slid open, and Seven stepped out. Her eyes were angry, her mouth drawing back, her brows arched; Seven was growing more vampiric every moment.

She stepped towards Kathryn and Z’ela. Z’ela moved instinctively in front of Kathryn, and even from behind, Kathryn knew Z’ela had also gained that vampiric face now, and she heard Z’ela’s breath coming quick.

“Master wished you on board.” Seven stated. Here eyes moved from Z’ela to Kathryn.

There was pain there.

Betrayal.

Kathryn swallowed her fear. This was not something she’d anticipated.

Seven’s voice dripped with disgust. “Captain. You are to board the Demeter.” Seven seemed to force the disgust away, the betrayal left and there was little of Seven in the next statement. “You are to sustain us until we reach our rendezvous point.”

Kathryn hoped her next effort would come across correctly. She mouthed the words, “Because I love you.”

Her hand was on Z’ela’s phaser and her arm around former security officer’s neck, the phaser to her skull. Kathryn fired before Z’ela had a chance to react, the power setting high enough to kill a human easily, and the young woman crumpled to the floor.

Seven was still. No tell tale signs of emotion. Nothing to indicate what she was thinking.

Kathryn didn’t dare move. The face there, it wasn’t Seven. Seven was inside, but Kathryn couldn’t see how much of her was left. She had no idea where Tepes was at this moment. She wondered why he wasn’t here with Seven.

Seven’s tongue was lightly licking her lips. She smiled then, her head tilting to the right as she spoke again, “I can still taste you.” She seemed to be simmering in her own heat.

Kathryn checked her desire. This sensuality that seemed to take Seven was so unlike the woman she knew, and it would have thrown her off had she been anyone but Kathryn Janeway. She held the phaser at her side, and ventured the next question.

“Where is he?”

Seven was silent, and somehow she seemed closer now. Kathryn had not seen her move.

“Tepes knows I am alive?”

Seven smiled. Or rather, the monster inside her now smiled. She shook her head. She whispered, “All a lie.”

Kathryn was confused. “A lie. What do you mean, Seven?”

One side of her mouth was smiling now, and her chest heaved in a deep breath. “He sleeps.”

“Tepes?” Kathryn was trying to decipher what Seven was saying.

“I wanted to take you with me.” Seven said. “She would have been in the way.”

Seven looked down at Z’ela, and then in a moment she was kneeling next to the woman, and looked up at Kathryn. Seven’s hand reached down and took the woman’s throat in her hand.

“No!” Kathryn was there as quickly as she could be, but Seven’s hand was already crushing the woman’s throat. “No.” Kathryn was across from Seven, Z’ela between them, and Kathryn held Seven’s hand with strength that felt puny in comparison.

Seven’s face was calm as she looked at Kathryn. “I meant to kill her myself. You didn’t.”

“Please, Seven.” Kathryn pleaded. Her eyes were on Seven’s, “Please, don’t.”

She took the chance and released her own grip from Seven’s wrist, and touched Seven’s face. Gently, she stroked the animalistic brow, the hardened skin. “Please.”

Seven faltered.

Kathryn, looking at Seven now knew there had been deeper change than when she’d just last seen Seven. But how…

Seven blinked. “He sleeps.” Her hand released Z’ela’s throat, leaving behind dark bruises, which faded almost immediately.

Kathryn’s gut told her what had happened. “You killed him.”

Seven stood, and Kathryn stood with her. “No. He isn’t dead.” Seven said, “He is in stasis. Almost dead. He is… too ancient for me to kill. Uniquely resilient. As I once was.”

Kathryn thought about Seven as she was when first on board; completely Borg, hopelessly, totally assimilated. Yet she was able to pull her back into humanity. She would again. “You are unique. As Seven.”

Seven seemed to be holding herself back from something. “He was the purest form of his species. Is the purest.” She touched her brow where her implant had once been. There was a momentary sweep of confusion in her features. “Strange. He is dead but not dead. It has been this way before.” Her voice was a whisper, “Centuries.” She took a deep breath, Seven smiled, and again it was like pure evil. “I know him well.” She paused, seeming almost light hearted and she spoke, “You, Kathryn, will come with me now. We’ll dispose of Tepes. We will leave this place.”

Kathryn had to know more, “Seven-”

Seven’s eyes lit up. “You will taste his power, Kathryn.” She stepped over Z’ela’s still unconscious body and was directly in front of Kathryn. Her hand went to Kathryn’s face. “You will taste him, through me.”

“Seven. I want to help you. As I did before. Do you remember?” She watched and Seven’s eyeteeth seemed to grow slightly longer as she parted her lips and her tongue flicked over those sharpened points.

“All I ever wanted…” Seven’s hands went to Kathryn’s waist, pulling her close against her body, “All I ever needed. Is here in my arms.”

Kathryn was lost in an almost magnetic force, and let her eyes connect with Seven’s.

Seven spoke again, her hand moved up Kathryn’s back, then tilting the Captain’s chin, bringing Kathryn’s face to her own. “Let me show you the world in my eyes.”

Kathryn felt the draw. Knew she could be lost in this so easily. She forced her mind to resist. Ignored the almost painful desire arising in her now.

Seven’s old self flickered in there for a moment. “Time is wasting. We must leave.” She took Kathryn’s hand.

“You know I can’t.” Kathryn said, and wouldn’t move.

Seven was calm for a moment, but the rage inside her exploded, “I will not be controlled! NO more!”

Kathryn had jumped when the words burst forth from Seven’s mouth.

Seven went on, here eyes growing red, her face growing harder and more frightening every moment, “Voices, always voices, and I will NOT be subject to the reins of others. Too many lifetimes enslaved, and I will not do it any longer!”

“So you took his power.” Kathryn stayed calm. She felt Seven would not hurt her; her mind raced, thinking of the Section 31 document on Tepes and what this transformation of Seven meant.

“I took what was mine.” Her rage had calmed a bit, and she put her hands into her hair as if she might pull it out. “He took me Kathryn, through many centuries and many lives. It was my right.”

Kathryn wanted to hold Seven right now, comfort her more than anything. But all she could allow herself to think of was getting Tepes off the ship and into the nearest sun. Destroy him completely and return Seven to normal.

“You were never a slave here, Seven.” Kathryn said, “You know that. Stay.”

“Not as I am now.”

“As you are now. As you were; in any guise. Seven, please.” Kathryn allowed herself to show emotion to Seven, hoping it would help. And the words she never thought she’d say came from her lips. “I love you, Seven.”

There was visible softening in Seven’s face now, and again, Seven was in those eyes. “Kathryn-”

“We have to get Tepes off the ship.” Kathryn said. “We are on our way to a small sun. We’ll send the shuttle into that sun.”

“I won’t be human again.”

Kathryn had heard similar words before. “I’ll be here for you the entire time.” She touched Seven’s hair. “As I was before.”

“You misunderstand.” She said, “Destroying Tepes will not make me human again. Nothing will.”

“I don’t believe that.”

***
End part ten