Part:
One of Five

 

 

 

Waking in her Captain’s arms had become her reason for waking. Seven found herself to be sleeping more often and regenerating only enough to maintain her systems; it was a more pleasant experience to wake here, in the quiet scent of Kathryn.

 

Six months ago, she’d wanted this to happen, but never for once at that time did she think it would become reality. Never for once did she actually bring an entire scenario to mind for fear of disappointing herself when the fantasy did not come to life.

 

Kathryn’s chest rose and fell slowly under Seven’s arm. She shifted a bit in her sleep, and was still again.

 

Seven let her hand stroke Kathryn’s hair. She closed her eyes, knowing the morning alarm would soon sound, and Kathryn would be heading to the bridge.

 

Her Captain was a beautiful and wise woman. Since Seven and Caela had parted as a couple, Kathryn said little on the subject. Seven preferred it that way. There was still pain there.

 

This she didn’t understand. The Captain, her Kathryn, filled Seven’s heart. She brought Seven joy with a smile, brought her pleasure with a touch. She gave Seven the fulfillment she never knew was possible before.

 

Still, there was pain. When she and Caela passed in the corridor, Caela would nod and pass by with her eyes to the ground. She had told Seven it was time for her to choose a mate- months ago- and still she had not. Caela had taken to living almost exclusively in her second quarters, the holoworld constructed to hold the animal inside her when it chose to take over.

 

Chakotay had been spending his free time with Caela, and though he didn’t say anything, Seven had the instinct that he wanted to tell her something about the woman who he held in his heart.

 

The morning alarm went off, and Kathryn barked at it to stop. She mumbled, eyes still closed “Seven, sweetheart, could you wake me in five minutes?”

 

“Yes, sleep.” Seven had sat up a bit, and let Kathryn lay against her belly.

 

Her thoughts turned to Caela again, who she’d last seen one week ago. Seven had wanted to approach her then, as the familiar green eyes stared down at an untouched plate of fruit. Caela had looked wan that day. The blue-green hues from her veins didn’t show through her pale skin, and there was more than a hint of dark circles beneath those emerald eyes. Her black hip-length hair had seemed to lack the luster it usually held. Seven was concerned and wanted to approach when Chakotay had sat next to Caela, whispered something to her, and they left together.

 

Caela had given her much. She had been her first lover… they had promised each other friendship, and then had not pursued it... Caela had backed away from that, and Seven allowed it. Seven was so wrapped up in her new relationship with Kathryn, that she didn’t give Caela the attention that she now felt she should have.

 

She would change that… at the earliest opportunity. There would be discomfort at first. That was to be expected. But she found there was a tiny ache in her chest where her feelings of warmth for Caela used to be. She missed her.

 


The holoforest was quiet. Evening was simulating itself into dawn. Caela lay at the edge of a dying fire, her fingertips at the edge of the ashes, slowly making little circles in the grey powder.

 

She whispered, “Computer. Fire beetles.”

 

The beetles appeared one by one out of the ashes, and swarmed around the glowing embers until Caela tapped the ground and they turned for her.

 

She felt the first pinch, and then a sting as they entered her flesh. She felt the razor like burn, and she savored it.

 

She savored feeling. Pain was there, better than nothing, it seemed to her, and she closed her eyes and wondered if tears would come.

 

“Caela,” Chakotay had walked in and he saw Caela lying there with her eyes closed. “What-” He saw the beetles and immediately shouted at the computer, “End fire beetles!”

 

The pain was gone. Caela kept her eyes on the fire.

 

“Caela.” Chakotay took a breath to calm himself, and kneeled next to her. “You promised me you wouldn’t hurt yourself again.” The frustration in his voice was clear. “I can’t stand by anymore and allow you to descend like this.”

 

“Then don’t.” She said flatly.

 

Chakotay had lifted her arm to examine the wounds. “How did you get past the safety controls?”

 

“I learn quickly.”

 

Chakotay stood, and fairly well yanked Caela to her feet, “Look, I don’t know if this is something you are subjecting yourself to, like self-pity, or if something is wrong with you biochemically.” He looked into her sad green eyes, at the tiny flicker of anger behind them. “But you will come with me now, to the Doctor, or I will report this to the Captain.”

 

Caela didn’t want Kathryn getting wind of this. She breathed, “I’ll come with you.” She stared down at an actual tree branch, real wood, from the bunch she’d brought in to make the forest smell more realistic. Nothing else here is real.

 

Chakotay relaxed a little, and felt the panic in his heart now that the initial shock of seeing her with the beetles had subsided. “What are you doing to yourself, Caela?”

 

She looked at the ground. “Are we going to sickbay, or not?”

 

“The Doctor believes he can help you.”

 

She flashed her eyes at him, angry at the betrayal. “You told him.”

 

“He asked me.” He pressed his combadge “Chakotay to Tom.”

 

“Tom here. What’s up?”

 

“Please reinstate the safety controls on Caela’s holodeck, and add a new clearance code.”

 

“Right away, Commander. Tom out.”

 

“The Doctor asked me about you earlier today. There’s not a person on this ship who hasn’t noticed the change in you in over the past two months.” Chakotay said. “He didn’t want to pry, but he asked that I talk to you about seeing him.”

 

Caela tried to be grateful, but she wasn’t. “I feel nothing. Nothing.”

 

“I know.” Chakotay wanted to touch her, but it was clear that he shouldn’t when she was feeling this way. “Let him help.”

 

“I can’t be helped.”

 

“That is what you said about the Howl, and you’ve learned to control it almost completely.”

 

Is that what you think? Her voice trembled, and barely came as she said the words,  “Tthis is- he can’t-” Caela took a deep breath, and looked at Chakotay’s concerned face.

 

Looking up at the false stars fading into a lavender morning sky, she was silent and only thought to herself. Had she known all those months ago… had she known before she’d stepped out of the woods to help a certain Fire Beetle bitten Captain….

 

“The Doctor will keep your confidence, Caela.” Chakotay said, and then, feeling the desperation to see her help herself, he pleaded. “Please. Caela, please, let him help you.”

 

She couldn’t bear the thought of this. Chakotay was obviously hurting. She never could sense much more of him than he wanted her to, but here she should have felt something. Her senses were dying.

 

Chakotay seemed to know something of what she was feeling. He knew her well enough. “The pain- that was so you could feel something, wasn’t it?”

 

My own pain, she thought. My own pain is all I can feel. She walked out and Chakotay followed alongside.

 

 


Seven was in the Captain’s ready room, waiting with a cup of coffee, when Kathryn walked in.

 

The Captain smiled, and gave the tall blond a kiss on the cheek. “Mmm, the coffee smells wonderful.”

 

“It’s a new roast today. I hope you like it.”

 

Kathryn took a sip. She closed her eyes, leaned her head back in ecstasy. “Oh, Seven, this is-” she sipped again, “I’m in awe. Is this one of Caela’s blends?”

 

Seven paused at that. “No. She’s no longer working in botany.”

 

Kathryn went to her sofa, motioned for Seven to join her. She never did feel comfortable talking about Caela, but was trying to become comfortable with it. She didn’t think Seven was comfortable talking about Caela either. She easily changed the subject, “I was thinking that tonight we might take in a play. Shakespeare, perhaps.”

 

Seven pondered it, “I would prefer something along the lines of the late twentieth century… Sondheim.”

 

“Let me guess… Into the Woods?” Janeway smiled, taking a sip again of the dark brown elixir in her favorite cup.

 

Seven nodded, “I wish to observe the journey of Red Riding Hood again.”

 

Kathryn set her cup down, “Sounds fine to me, I’ve always been a fan of the Witch, myself.” She paused to look at Seven’s eyes, her hair. Her throat. “Beautiful.”

 

Seven’s hand went to Kathryn’s, “Tonight, then? A play and then perhaps dinner?”

 

Kathryn nodded. “Sounds wonderful.” She stood, picked up her coffee and quickly took a gulp. “I need to get back on the bridge.” She placed her coffee on her desk.

 

“And I’m needed in Astrometrics.” Seven followed her out of the ready room, “I’ll contact you when my shift if over.”

 

“Captain-” Tuvok spoke, catching the Captain as she was approaching her chair, “A vessel has just dropped out of warp, just off our starboard bow. They are emitting a distress signal. The vessel is now on screen.”

 

Seven paused with Kathryn to look up at the screen. There it was, a small, battered Hirogen shuttle.

 

Seven had taken over her old station, “Two life sign.” She looked at the readings again. “Correction. The computer has made an adjustment.” She looked at Kathryn. “Three life signs. One Hirogen, pregnant. One- Caela’s kin.”

 

Kathryn looked back at Seven, eyes widened. “Please repeat the scans.”

 

Seven repeated, “The computer recognizes the life signs as Hirogen and one of Caela’s race.”

 

Harry spoke from his station. “They have only auxiliary power, and there is some damage to their communications systems. Their weapons are offline, as are their scanners. They have no shields.” He looked up, “They’re hailing us, but the signal is coming through weak.”

 

Marred by static, a young man’s face appeared on the view screen.

 

Kathryn gave the customary greeting, “I’m Captain Kathryn Janeway of the starship Voyager. How can we be of assistance to you?”

 

“We’ve been attacked by Hirogen. My pilot is badly injured, and in need of aid.”

 

Kathryn gave the order, “Tuvok, get a team to Sickbay to meet our new guests. Harry, notify the transporter room. Two directly to Sickbay.”

 

Harry spoke up first, “Captain, the vessel’s warp core is about to breach.”

 

The young man on the vessel spoke again, “Please, take my pilot. She’s with child, she needs help.”

 

Kathryn nodded, “Harry, how long until the core breaches?”

 

“Two minutes.”

 

The young man was almost in a panic now. “Your transporters won’t work on me. Take my pilot. Now, please.”

 

“Captain.” Seven said, “Requesting transporter control.”

 

“Give transporter control to Seven.” No one on this ship knew the way the physiology of Caela’s race affected the computers like Seven did. It was she who first found the calculations that made the computer recognize Caela. She could do this.

 

Kathryn spoke calmly to the Howl male. “We’re bringing you in.”

 

The transporters began their work, and the young man faded from view.

 

Seven completed the transporter. “The Howl and the Hirogen are in Sickbay.”

 

Kathryn nodded to Harry “You have the bridge. Please take us away from that warp core breach. Seven, you’re with me.”

 

Harry was happy to oblige. “Yes, Captain.”

 

Kathryn and Seven were on the turbolift in no time.

 

“Kathryn, Caela should be notified immediately.”

 

“I agree.” Kathryn said. “Computer, locate Caela.”

 

The computer answered. “Caela is in sickbay.”

 

Kathryn and Seven looked at each other. Kathryn folded her hands behind her back. She lifted her brow. “Next time, we’ll check first.”

 

The turbolift slowed and as they left the lift, walking into the corridor, Seven gave herself a comforting thought. She said it out loud. “Caela is not the last of her kind.”

 

“I wonder how she’ll feel about finding out this way.” Kathryn said, “And how she’ll feel about the Hirogen he’s with. I myself have to wonder how these two ended up on a shuttle together.”

 

“Because Hirogen destroyed her race, Caela might judge the Hirogen woman in a way that she normally wouldn’t. However, I believe she will be respectful of her as a wounded guest.”

 

When Seven and Kathryn stepped into Sickbay, Caela was sitting up on a biobed, still, shocked, her lips slightly parted in surprise.

 

She knew it was one of her kind; she may have lost her empathy, but his clothes were of the same skin hers were; the skin of their ancestors. His long black hair was tied back with a strip of furry skin.

 

The young man seemed to not have noticed her yet. His back was to her, and he held the hand of the young Hirogen woman, whose leg was splinted with shuttle siding and torn skins. She had suffered a phaser wound to the chest also, but her eyes were open and focused on the young man.

 

He whispered to her as the Doctor made his quick examination, and his hand stroked her forehead in comfort.

 

The Doctor looked at the man. “What’s her name?”

 

“Lilak.”

 

The Doctor could see that the young Hirogen was with child. “Lilak, how far along is your pregnancy?”

 

She was almost senseless from pain.

 

Aonghas, however, offered an answer. “She is nine courses along. Is the child well?”


”Are you the father?”

 

He nodded.

 

The Doctor pressed forward with his emergency care. “The readings for the child are fine, but unusual; understandable for an interspecies child. Now, to attend to your wife.”

 

There was a field erected around the couple and the Doctor, and Kathryn stopped just outside it. 

 

The young man turned and looked at Kathryn through the force field surrounding him, but he was still painfully ignorant of Caela standing across the room. “Captain? My gratitude. I cannot express-” He took a deep breath. “Thank you. But I must leave the ship.”

 

“Wouldn’t you like to stay with your friend?” Kathryn asked.

 

He was pausing, and didn’t want to tell them.

 

Seven said it for him. “You are Howl.”

 

The shock was clear on his face. His lavender eyes grew wide and the veins that showed through at his jaw line were darker for a moment.

 

“Caela.” Seven said, and turned to her, holding her hand out in a gesture to draw her near.

 

The young man looked at Caela. A mix of emotions ran over his face- surprise and even fear for a moment. Then his features softened.

 

Caela didn’t take Seven’s hand, but she did step forward. “You are Howl.” She said it to reassure herself.

 

“Caela.” He said the name, rolling it over in his mind. He was searching for the source of familiarity. He questioned, “I’m not the last?”

 

Caela’s eyes peered around him at the Hirogen woman who was watching this exchange with great interest. She focused on the young man again. “Nor am I, it seems.”

 

There was the quick intake of a breath as the Hirogen gasped from the pain of her leg being moved.

 

“I’m sorry.” The Doctor said, “Our local anesthetic has been known to fail when it comes to Hirogen physiology. Perhaps a general would be better.”

 

She could only look up at her young man. “Aonghas- stay with me.”

 

Aonghas was back at her side, his hand in hers. “Do as you must, please.”

 

She wasn’t happy about it, but she pursed her lips.

 

He stroked her face, “I won’t move from this spot.”

 

The Doctor had her under in moments. “Now. Her leg will be good as new, or better.”

 

Aonghas held Lilak’s hand but turned to face the Captain. “If you have Howl on board, then you know why I must leave.”

 

Caela asked again. “How did you survive?” The suspicion in her voice was apparent. “Why are you with a Hirogen female?”

 

“Caela.” Kathryn turned to her. “Perhaps you should return to your holodeck for now, and we’ll talk about this later.”

 

“Captain-” Caela started to protest, but then saw the resolve on Kathryn’s face.

 

“Captain,” The Doctor looked up from Lilak. “I have tests running on Caela and I’d prefer she not leave yet.”

 

Kathryn gave her a stern glance- one that clearly said to watch her questions with the new Howl. “All right, Doctor.”

 

Seven’s hand was on Caela’s shoulder. She spoke quietly, “Are you all right, Caela?”

 

She looked up at her. “I don’t understand this.”

 

Aonghas heard and faced her. “I survived because the Hirogen thought I was dead. When I awoke on their ship, I hid from them. There were many of us- as you know… and I think they simply didn’t realize one male was missing. Lilak found me before the others. We left the Hirogen together.”

 

Caela tried to understand. “And you bonded.” She tried to accept that this Aonghas could bond with a member of the species who killed her race.

 

“As I see you have.” He said.

 

Caela’s was still; she was silent as Kathryn and Seven both heard the comment. But their attention for now was on Aonghas, and Kathryn quickly turned her mind back to him.

 

“Who attacked your shuttle?”

 

“Lilak’s family. Her father has a bounty on my head. They have been searching for us since we escaped together. And I doubt they will stop looking.”

 

“We can offer you asylum for now.” Kathryn said, “But I’ll be perfectly honest with you. We are on our way home, and we can’t afford to have another run in with the Hirogen.”

 

“Another?”

 

Seven answered, “Some time ago, they turned most of Voyager into a war simulation.”

 

“Perhaps,” The Doctor said, “You can discuss this later, Captain?”

 

“Of course, I am sorry Doctor.” Kathryn said, “We’ll leave you to your patient. When you’re finished, please let me know.”

 

Seven quietly said to Kathryn. “Caela shouldn’t be alone at this time.”

 

Kathryn felt an odd little twist in her stomach at Seven’s words. “Call Chakotay. Ask him to keep her company. If he’s unavailable, find someone. Then report to Astrometrics to scan for Hirogen vessels.”

 

Seven nodded, and Kathryn walked out.

 

Caela was still feeling somewhat shocked by all this. “Seven, Chakotay had to see B’Elanna in Engineering. I’ll be all right here alone.”

 

“Nonsense.” Seven said in her sensible way, “I’ll wait with you until the Doctor’s tests are complete.” She stepped back to Caela’s biobed. “Perhaps you should sit while we wait.”

 

“I’ll stand.” She was watching Aonghas. She knew he could hear her, but she was quiet anyway. “He might need a sensor. The males have a different cycle than the females, but he might have the same troubles I had when I first arrived.”

 

“Aonghas.” Seven said, “Are your cycles under control?”

 

He looked back at her, and it was apparent the question was unexpected. “Yes, but I am due to change soon.”

 

Caela offered, “He can use my holodeck.”

 

Seven disagreed. “You might need it. He can be secured in the brig.”

 

“He won’t attempt to fight a female Howl, unless provoked.” Caela said, “In any case, I don’t believe I’ll be needing it.”

 

Seven nodded, and settled back against the biobed, inasmuch as Seven ever settled back. “He said you’ve bonded.” She looked down at Caela. “I thought perhaps you did not.”

 

Caela kept her eyes on the Doctor. “I don’t wish to talk about it.”

 

“I’ll respect your wishes… if I can ask you one question.”

 

“I won’t tell you.” Caela said. “I won’t tell you who it is.”

 

“Will you tell me when?” Seven had the unexpected feeling of jealousy. “How near to our parting?”

 

Caela looked up at her. “Seven, while we were together, there was no one else. I never betrayed you.”

 

“I didn’t think you did.”

 

Aonghas was looking back at Caela again, and it made her uncomfortable. “Doctor.” She said, “I would prefer to wait for my test results elsewhere.”

 

The Doctor paused in his work. He pressed his lips together, “Caela, you know why I prefer you not be alone right now.”

 

Seven stepped in, “She is welcome to accompany me to Astrometrics.”

 

She nodded. She was stuck. To turn down Seven’s offer would be unseemly, and might arouse suspicion from the Doctor. Then she might never get out of sickbay. “Please, can we go now?”

 

Seven made her goodbyes to the Doctor. “Doctor, I would appreciate being notified when Lilak and Aonghas are ready to speak with the Captain.”

 

With the Doctor’s agreement they left sickbay.

 


End Part One