HUSK

To hell with Star Fleet Protocol, thought Janeway attempting to snuggle down into standard issue bedding, for the last half hour of sleep. Well actually, hell with these sheets!  “Computer, replicate Devorian silk…”

The stars suddenly stopped moving.

“Engineering to Janeway.” The captain sprang up.

“Yes B’Elanna.”

“Devorian Silk is not in the database, “ intoned the computer.

 I really didn’t want hear that, thought Torres.

“Captain, we are about to experience critical stress corrosion cracking of the warp casings.”

  “You have my authority.”   

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            “Eject Core,” yelled B’Elanna at her staff.

“What the hell happened?” demanded Janeway.

“We don’t know yet.”

“I’ll be right down, Janeway out.”

Several minutes later the doors of engineering opened to admit the Captain, Chakotay, Tuvok and Seven of Nine. Seven immediately began running scans.

“Report,” barked Janeway.

“Trans granular micro fractures began appearing in the Magnetic Constriction segments at 0635 this morning. There was a high chance of SCC developing in the casings, yelled B’Elanna. “The core has been transported to Cargo Bay 1, I’ve sent a team down to investigate.”  Anticipating the next question, added, “All other systems are function normally.”

Janeway ran her fingers through her hair “Seven, any ideas?”

“No.”

“Tuvok?”

“Not at present Captain.”

“Bridge to Captain Janeway.”

“Here.”

“Captain, we have company.” Harry sounded worried. “I think they may be Hirogen.”

Janeway ran a hand through her hair

“They are Hirogen Captain, and they are hailing us.

“ B’Elanna, have Seven help you. Chakotay, Tuvok, you’re with me. “ Computer, beam us to the bridge.”

“I require a dilithium crystal sample.”

You require a kick up the arse, thought B’Elanna before directing Vorick to give the Borg a set of test samples.

Even before her molecules were coherent she commanded. “On screen.” Harry was only too happy to oblige.                                                                         

 Janeway, Tuvok and Chakotay stared at the screen in disbelief.

“You! “There was a pause between heavy pants. ”You have our babies nesting place.”

The captain paused, “Could you clarify exactly what you mean?”

“He will die, he needs his nest,”

“We have his nest?” asked the bewildered Janeway.

“Help me,” the Hirogen screamed before she passed out.  Several other heavily pregnant females rushed to her.

 “You will help,” demanded another female before the screen went blank.

“Hail them Harry.”

“No response, Captain.”

She turned,” Tuvok?”

“No apparent threat,” he paused and lifted one eyebrow, ”They have no weapons.”

“All senior staff, ready room now!”

“Well people, what’s going on?” She rose out of her seat. “Nellix?”  The lone indigenous resident of the delta quadrant hurried to his feet knocking over a glass of water in his haste.

“I have never even heard of a female Hirogen.” 

All but one of the senior looked back blankly. “Seven do you have any suggestions?”

“I have several.” She glanced at several of the bridge crew.”  None pertain to this situation. “ She looked steadily at Janeway and finished, “You would not allow it.”

Janeway looked sharply at the stoic blond. And then drifted off a vision of Stockholm in spring.

The Borg caught her eye, “Hirogen females have never been assimilated.”

“Perhaps your other suggestions may be kept for a more convenient time,” she said quickly.

“As you wish,” said Seven.

“ I would like to hear her suggestions,” said B’Elanna.

Tom Paris cringed. The captain had looked at her with a ‘don’t you dare gaze’, confirming his suspicion that B’Elanna wanted to goad Seven into suggesting they eliminate or assimilate the stricken vessel.

The captain scanned her staff and glanced at Tuvok,” Scan them again. Verify threat status.”

“There is no change, they are no threat,” he confirmed. “Their life support systems are at the stage of collapse.”

“Cuckoo,” said the EMH.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Well perhaps they have detected the sent of their birth place somewhere on Voyager.” He turned, looked up and arched an eyebrow. “As you know, on your own good green earth, reptiles predated mammalians by several…”

“If you have a point Doctor, “ snarled Janeway,” could you please get to it.”

The Doctor sniffed, “Reptiles like to nest near to their birth place.” He sat down in a huff.

She nodded. “How may life signs Tuvok?”

“Twenty two.”

“Harry, get a lock and transport them directly to sick bay.”

“Paris, Kim and Seven, I want you to take the Flyer and search for survivors on Helicon”.

***

Seven had no contact with Janeway during preparations for the mission. The Hirogen females were proving to be a bit of a challenge. After their initial medicals it was decided to replicate some sand dunes on the hollodeck for their use. Away teams were posted on the Hirogen vessel in an attempt to solve their system failure.

Janeway was also occupied with Voyagers engineering problem and Seven’s analysis work was handed over to Nicolletti

The preparations complete, Seven was surprised to find that Ensign Sharr was onboard the shuttle when she arrived. Seven knew little of this crewmember other that she had once been referred to as a, “ good sport,” by Tom Paris.

Several hours into the flight Tom suggested that they should take turns at getting some rest. Seven suspected that he wanted some time alone with Sharr and quickly made an exit to the sleeping quarters despite the fact that she did not require rest. Harry trailed after her like a puppy.

Seven worked on a padd while Harry made several attempts to engage her in conversation. Eventually he gave up and drifted off to sleep.

“So Renlay, how have you been?”  chirped Tom once they alone.

“Busy holding Jenkins’s hand, he,” she gestured to the sleeping compartment, “dumped her. I believe he still has a thing for Seven.”

“Well in this case, persistence will be futile,”

“Really?  Spill the beans Tom!”

Delighted to have someone to gossip with, he told her all about B’Elanna’s observations in Cargo Bay 2.

“You’re making this up,” Sharr giggled.

“I swear, I’m not,” he said, reaching out to swot her thigh.

“Well she’s certainly a very attractive woman, but she’s a child emotionally and Janeway is so much older. Perhaps what B’Elanna saw was something more maternal? You know how she likes to exaggerate.

“Perhaps, but B’Elanna was very clear about what she saw and it doesn’t sound remotely maternal to me.”

Borg enhanced hearing picked up every word.

“Coming into range now,” said Harry, “starting scans.”

Seven, Tom and Renlay were staring at the planet through the view screen. The thick cloud cover obscured the view.

“What does the cloud contain Harry?” asked Tom

“Mainly carbon dioxide, droplets of sulphuric acid.  Water is being photo dissociated, and there is a loss of hydrogen to space. Nothing could survive through this.” He turned and addressed Seven, “It is approaching Condition Venus.”

“I wish to take a look,” stated Seven.

“Not a good idea, Seven,” said Renlay looking over Harry’s shoulder. “Everything on the surface has been oxidised and it’s bloody hot down there.”

“I wish to take a look,” repeated Seven

“Come on Seven, it’s raining sulphuric acid…” her look stopped Tom dead. “OK, I’ll go down with you, but we are only staying a few minutes.

She smiled briefly at him.

The relatively stable ground on which they stood was pock marked with crevices running deep underground. Tom suggested that they stood still until he could scan the area. Seven complied and observed the surface.

Nothing remained of the once vibrant planet. At her stationary setting she spied an outcrop of obsidian.

‘Lieutenant I would like to proceed in this direction,’ she indicated.

“Careful Seven.”

As soon as her gloved hand toughed the glassy surface the outcrop crumbled to dust. Seven started back in shock and stumbled on the uneven terrain. Paris stopped her fall. “I think we should go”, he said gently.

Approaching the rendezvous Seven, who was at the controls of the flyer with Sharr started to detect a strange energy pattern surrounding Voyager and the Hirogen vessel.

“What is it?” asked Sharr, who was becoming alarmed.

Seven ignored her and concentrated on refining her scans.

“Seven to Voyager.”

“Chakotay here Seven, is everything OK?”

“No, I believe you trapped in a mass-less energy field.”

“Localised Higgs? Questioned Chakotay.

“No, but the field is gaining strength and starting to produce mass. It is feeding off the energies of both ships.” Sharr took a sharp intake of breath and shouted for Tom. “Voyager will be trapped if you do not take action soon.”

“Janeway here, Seven try to tractor us out,” she said urgently.

“No good Captain, “ said Tom whose fingers were now flying over a control panel, “the energy would feed straight into the field. You be caught like bees in a honey pot. We need a solution that requires little or no energy output.

“Have the away team shut down all energy on the Hirogen vessel now and beam back to Voyager. Shut down all, but life support here, “ yelled Janeway.

“I’m coming to get you,” said Tom pulling on a space suit. “How many metres of TecO alloy do we have Harry?”

“Tom, listen to me,” commanded Janeway, “you are not to put yourself in danger. Do you hear me?”

“You do not have another option,” stated Seven, “the field is clearly defined. Tom will manually hook the ship to the flyer and we will tow you out.” She then promptly cut all communications.

How many times is she going to pull that stunt, thought Janeway, who really hated having the ‘phone’ put down on her.

Several hours later the ship was finally free and a round of cheers went up for Paris. The Hirogen had been settled back down in their photonic sand dunes and Seven restored the communications system.

“Janeway to Seven,”

“Yes, Captain?”  Replied Seven as they were disembarking from the flyer.

“I would like to see you in my quarters at 1900 hours.” It sounded more like an order than a request.

Sharr giggled and slapped Tom’s shoulder. “Mummy does not sound pleased.” The look Seven favoured her with, would have frozen a pyroclastic flow. 

***

Seven arrived promptly at 1900 hours and was surprised when the door swished open without a request for entrance. Janeway was not in her living area. As she rounded the corner she found the Captain sitting up in bed with a white sheet pulled up around her armpits. This was not what she was expecting. Averting her eyes briefly she decided to press ahead with the speech she been rehearsing ever since she had overheard Sharr and Paris.

Taking a deep breath she approached the foot of the bed and clasped her hands behind her back. “I have wanted you now for 2 years seven months 3 days and 42.75 seconds.  You have not engaged with me for 4 days, 6 hours and 34. 7 minutes.”

“You know why that’s been Seven, ” said Janeway calmly.

The sheet had slipped and exposed one of Kathryn’s breasts. She reasoned that anyone showing this level of vulnerability must be open to truth.

“You are frustrated?”

“Yes.”

“You desire me?” asked the Borg.

“Of course I do!”

“You have desired me for some time?”

Janeway suddenly sat upright, “ I believe this fact has been established,” she whispered through gritted teeth., feeling rather foolish looking up at the fully clothed Seven.

Seven decided to press her advantage forward. “Show me.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Show me what you do, when you are alone. Alone, and desiring me.”

“Seven?”  Mildly confused, the Captain lay back down onto Sumarian cotton sheets.

“Show me,” demanded the Borg.

“Oh.”  Now realising what it was Seven wanted, she kept quiet.

Seven released the catch on her biosuit and slowly pealed it down over her breasts. “Kathryn, I need …” She looked down at her own exposed breasts, before adding… “I am not…I require evidence that you do not see me as a….”

“Come here,” demanded the Captain.

 Seven rounded the edge of the bed and submitted to Janeway’s hands gently removing the suit completely from her body.

“You wanted evidence,” she said to the naked Seven, standing up from the bed.

“I have never experienced such conflict in my life as I did the moment I saw you for the first time. I recognised you as human, and I knew I would hurt you.  I dragged you away from order, and offered you only chaotic silence.” Janeway moved from the bed and grasped Seven’s hands in hers. Looking up into the eyes of the woman she loved,  “I lied to myself about what you meant to me, and yes Seven, I will show you that I desire you.”

Seven lower her eyes to the captains exposed breasts and watched the nipples move and stiffen “I am experiencing difficulty,” whispered the stunned Seven, “with my lower body.” She looked up into Kathryn’s eyes and caught dilated greyness.

“Sit.” As Seven did so, she straddled her thighs.  She briefly kissed her before gently taking her hand and placing it between her own legs. Tears welled up in Seven’s eyes.

Her respiration stopped “So wet, a sign of want?”  Seven, looked up into grey eyes that gave her permission to explore.

 “I’ve been ready for you like this for days.. months,” said Janeway holding Seven’s face with both hands, “You don’t even have to be in the room. A fleeting memory of you, does this to me.”  She kissed away the single tear that ran from Seven’s right eye. It tasted salty.

“I hope corrosion is not going to be a factor in our relationship,” she said softly, bringing Seven back down to artificial gravity.

“That was a ‘joke’,” said Seven. “It was not funny.”

The captain flattened her, and lay down on top of her.

Seven pushed against her and growled like an animal. Entirely without edifice or apparent embarrassment.

It was the most sexual human response that Janeway had ever heard or felt in her life. She was humbled yet again in the presence of unexplainable organic responses from a woman who had no sexual past. She surrendered her body to the pounding from below.

 “Friction may be a factor in our relationship.” Was the last coherent thing Seven said for some time.

“It is morning.”

“Seven?”

“Yes”

“Have you slept?”

“No.” She slid her on top of her captain. “I do not wish to sleep.” She caught Kathryn’s mouth in a brief morning kiss. “I have been waiting.”

Janeway felt movement across her right hip. Seven groaned and shifted her body weight onto tensed hands at either side of the captains straining neck.

Seven looked down at a mouth that issued commands to her, a mouth that both steadied  and unsettled  her and the mouth that she wanted join with hers “I feel a need to do this.”  The kiss at first gentle became an intense unbearable pleasure.

Suddenly Seven disengaged from Janeway’s thigh and sat between her legs observing her sex.

“You are wet.”

Janeway tensed her buttocks and spread her legs further.

“Your clitoris is engorged. You are straining you limbs in order to touch it to my body?”

“Yes Seven.” Her breathing was deep. A full bladder was long forgotten.

Seven took her right breast in her hand and pushed between Kathryn’s spread legs, rubbing her erect nipple in audible wetness.  Seven murmured and crushed her face into Kathryn’s stomach, licking the small depression that was heaving under her.

“Suck me Seven,” whispered Janeway. The moment that Seven’s mouth touched her swollen clitoris the fire started, every molecule of her slender frame burst into awareness. The waves started in her belly along the cooling trail of Seven’s saliva and reached out to every nerve fibre she had. She came.

Before she had even caught her breath she felt Seven straddling her face.

“Bring it down to my mouth,” breathed Janeway.

“I will not comply, “ hissed Seven. “You will observe what you have caused me to endure.”

Seven started to touch herself slowly. Her hair, the starburst on her cheek, her mouth, the nipple of her left breast and down passed the taught stomach that was starting to glisten with sweat. She paused briefly to assure herself she had a captive audience and then carefully her fingers spread swollen labia.

“Oh God… Seven, “ whispered the stunned Captain, her eyes riveted to the display above her.

Seven pushed two fingers into her wet vagina and began to fuck herself vigorously. Janeway squirmed underneath her, tears streamed passed her temples into hair prickling with sweat. The scent Seven was exuding was driving her insane with desire. Her vulva thrust violently into the empty air. Eventually, Seven relented and lowered her aching clitoris to Kathryn’s mouth. Both cried out at the contact. Seven was afraid she would crush Kathryn with the energy of her demands and she turned quickly pulling the Captain down the bed and pushed her face between heaving thighs. Her buttocks were grabbed desperately as Kathryn’s mouth closed around her sexual nerve centre. Seven was busy trying to fuck Kathryn with her tongue whilst probing the tightened ring of muscle between her cheeks when a voice said…

“OH, FOR FUCK SAKE!”

B’Elanna had been called to repair a fault in the Captain’s door