The doors to cargo bay two ground open, with a metallic clang to reveal a breathtakingly beautiful Captain Kathryn Janeway, dressed in a layered, charcoal satin evening gown. As she stood in the entryway the light ebbing in from the corridor silhouetted her frame like that of an archangel. An archangel who was in search of her wayward goddess, Seven of Nine. Janeway crossed the expanse to Seven's alcove and, not for the first time, found herself stopping short to marvel at the stark contrast between the beauty of this creature and the adamantine, Borg technology. The vision of her beloved surrounded by gelid, unfeeling metal, was compelling. With an aching heart yearning to encircle Seven in the protective love that only the captain knew her ex-borg so richly deserved, Janeway keyed a command into the computer console and waited, impatient with worry.
"Regeneration cycle incomplete." The monotone feminine computer voice echoed through the otherwise dead silence.
Seven opened her eyes to look upon the troubled features of her captain and partner.
"Captain. How may I be of assistance?"
The worry lines on Janeway's face deepened. This much Borg formality always meant something was very wrong.
"You can start by telling me what the hell is going on!" She felt the self-command of Captain Janeway retreat, surrendering to the passions of Kathryn Janeway, the woman very much in love.
"In reference to..." Seven stared at the Captain with a stoical, inquiring demeanor.
"Dammit Seven! Just stop!"
She began to pace back and forth in front of Seven's chamber.
"You didn't come home after your duty shift. And when I asked the computer where you were, I thought, 'okay, she just wants to regenerate before the reception tonight. Maybe she had a rough day.' Never mind, you've never once failed to inform me of unexpected plans, such as sneaking off to your alcove without so much as a word."
"Kathryn..."
Seven stood, not so calmly, with hands clasped behind her back, watching Janeway wear a four meter track into the floor of the cargo bay.
"Then, you don't come home to change for the party. So I guessed you were coming straight to the reception from here. I would have liked to have seen you before hand. But hey, I'm not your mother. I'm just Kathy Janeway. Remember? The one you call 'perfection'."
"Kathryn, please..."
"But, I arrive at the mess hall and guess what? No Seven of Nine. You asked the Doctor to inform me that 'you regret having to miss the function. But you are in need of a longer than expected regeneration period'. Well... that would have been fine and dandy. But, the Doctor was babbling on about how you shouldn't need to regenerate for another 48 hours. Needless to say I was disturbed!"
"Kathryn, enough!"
"What do you mean, enough? I'm scared half out of my mind because you have been pulling back from me for the past few days. And you tell, *me* enough. It's not enough!"
Janeway softened her voice and her brow furrowed as the aching above her diaphragm got the best of her. "You're hurting me, Annika. Tell me what's wrong. Please, tell me something."
"Kathryn I..." Seven stepped down from her dais. "I am sorry."
With utter tenderness, the ex-borg moved within centimeters of the woman who's heart beat only for her.
"You are never, 'just', anything."
Seven trailed gentle fingers along Janeway's brow, over her cheek bone, and traced her thin quivering lips.
"You are still, and will always be, my perfection."
She locked her blue eyes with the captain's glistening, thunder gray ones and, ever so slowly, pressed lips with her partner. They melted together like heated wax, with tongues flowing over and around one another in discovery of what had been lost.
When they finally ended the kiss, Janeway rested her forehead on Seven's chest, drinking in the rhythm of her heartbeat.
"It's been so long since you've touched me like this. I missed your heart beat. I've missed all of you," Janeway breathed.
"It was not my intention to cause you pain. It injures me, as well, to know that my inability to deal with my fear has brought you harm."
"Your fear? What are you afraid of Seven? Please, tell me." Loving concern weaved its way through each of the captain's words.
"I fear loosing you. I am uneasy about our return to the Alpha Quadrant. Earth is your home, with your family, with your friends, with your Starfleet. I know no family but Voyager. And I desire to be only where you are. But I have no way of predicting how Starfleet will perceive my presence. I need this ship, this alcove, to survive. And if Starfleet sees fit to take this ship from you, you will no longer be able to protect me. I will loose you, which will make everything else irrelevant."
"No, Seven." Janeway took the hands of her strength. "Starfleet can take this ship, can take my command, can take everything else. But I will never let them take you from me. Never. No matter what happens, we stay together. I promise you."
Janeway donned her captain's wry grin. "Besides, if the Borg tried twice and failed twice, to take you from me, what makes you think Starfleet even has a ghost of a chance of getting you away from me?"
Seven smirked. "Point taken. I apologize for my lack of confidence."
"Well, we'll let it go this time," the captain chuckled. "But don't let it happen again."
"I shall endeavor to do my best Kathryn."
"Sweetheart, you know we can discuss anything, don't you? You hold my heart. That doesn't change just because we have problems. If you're hurting, than I'm hurting. If you're afraid, than I'll be afraid for you. We have to communicate with each other to work these things out. We can't hide from one another. Okay?"
"I understand. In the future, I will be careful to excel at this aspect of our relationship."
"That's all I can ask for."
Janeway gazed at her partner for a long moment, noting that the confidence had returned to those blue eyes along with something else, hunger.
"I know that look. And the answer is no. As much as I'd love to, darling, we have some place to be."
Seven grinned slightly and smoothed her palms up Janeway's arm's, over the slick fabric of her dress, and let her thumbs come to rest at the hollow of the captain's throat.
"Kathryn, your choice of apparel this evening is..."
"Mmmm. I take it you like the dress." Janeway's eyes became lidded, as her head lolled back to expose more of her neck to her lover's affections.
"It is... very distracting."
The statuesque Borg persisted in her caresses, tangling her slender fingers in the soft down at the back of Janeway's neck. She formed circles around the captain's earlobes, with her thumbs and kissed along the firm line of her jaw.
"You have told me, 'no', with your voice but your body seems to be indicating the affirmative." She cooed in her lover's ear. "I would prefer to respond to your actions in this matter, instead of your words."
Janeway groaned in protest as she reluctantly pulled Seven's hands away to firmly grasp them in front of her in an attempt to regain control of the situation.
"Remember the party in the mess hall?" The captain's gaze radiated joy and warmth and love as she questioned her partner. "The crew just wants to honor you and B'Elanna, for your genius in solving the problems with the Slip Stream Drive."
"Yes. I am aware of the festivities. B'Elanna, however, may have my portion of the 'honor'. Let us return to our quarters instead, to engage in a celebration of our own."
"Seven of Nine!" Janeway scolded her in jest. "Neelix and Naomi went to a lot of trouble putting on this little get together. We have to be there."
The younger woman put on her best Borg face.
"Very well. I will go. But I will not enjoy myself."
"That's okay love. I'll have enough fun for both of us," she winked.
Seven sighed, "Not too much champagne Kathryn. It is detrimental to your physiology."
It was going to be a long night.
"Yes dear. And I'll be home by 22:00 hours also," the captain quipped.
Seven just shook her head, as they strolled out of the cargo bay, bracing herself for the evening to come.
Seven of Nine stared, from her auxiliary tactical station on the bridge, at the aqua and white orb her Voyager collective called home. She wondered uncertainly if she was looking at her paradise or her purgatory. The Slip Stream Drive had worked perfectly and deposited the prodigal vessel and her crew right on Earth's door step.
"Captain, we are being hailed."
"I'll bet we are Tuvok. On screen."
A wide eyed officer appeared on the view screen.
"Are my sensor readings correct? I show your vessel to be U.S.S. Voyager, registry NCC-74656."
"Yes lieutenant. That's us. I'm Captain Janeway. And I am pleased to say, we're finally home."
There was a pause as the reality sunk into the young man's psyche. And then, "Wheeeew, whoooo!! Welcome home you guys. We thought you all were gone for good."
Janeway smiled and gave Chakotay an amused sideways glance.
"Thank you for the warm welcome, lieutenant. But we are all very anxious to see our loved ones as soon as possible. So, if you don't mind."
"Yes, yes. Sorry Sir."
Janeway cringed. She hadn't been addressed as sir in over twelve years.
"I'll get Admiral Ross for you right away."
"Thank you lieutenant. Janeway out."
"All right people, remember your orders. Exercise caution. We have many members of this crew who have a great deal to loose should Starfleet decide to take the hard road. I have no intention of throwing any of my crew to the wolves. We all go home or none of us go home."
Janeway looked back at Seven and gave her a reassuring smile, trying to convey as much love as she could in just a glance.
"Now, we wait."
Captain Janeway escorted Admiral Ross into Voyager's conference room where her senior staff had been assembled. She introduced him to each one of her officers with hopes of having him get to know them a little before getting down to business.
"Well, you all certainly have done an exceptional job. I understand this crew is made up of Starfleet, Maquis, Borg, and various other Delta Quadrant aliens."
"That's right Admiral," Janeway affirmed.
"Remarkable! I'll put your minds at ease right away. Your captain has recommended that we pardon all Maquis, which under these extraordinary circumstances I have no problem doing. Your efforts, which contributed to the returning of this vessel and her crew, more than make up for any differences we may have had in the past. Many things have changed since your last contact with the Federation. We have a common enemy and have been making peace with all old adversaries in order to pool our creative resources in this endeavor. Also, all aliens picked up along your trip are welcome to make a home in the Alpha Quadrant if they wish. However, in light of the fact that we are engaging the Borg collective, I'm concerned about the Borg element on this ship and possible security risks. So to that end, I'd like to take them into custody for questioning."
Seven of Nine stood. Hands clasped behind her back, chin forward, with eyes burrowing into the Admiral.
"I am the only Borg on this vessel."
"As I said Admiral, this is Seven of Nine, my Astrometrics Officer and certainly not a security risk. She was severed from the collective over eight years ago. Seven has rediscovered her humanity and become a valued member of my crew. And a valued friend."
"I see."
Something dark passed behind the Admiral's eyes that gave Seven a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. Yet, he smiled at her and nodded his head.
"Well, anyone the captain calls a friend, could hardly be a security risk. Very well then, Captain, I would like you and your first officer to beam down to Starfleet Headquarters to start your debriefings first thing in the morning. The rest of your crew will stay on board and await further orders. I don't foresee any problems with about a months worth of leave after all interviews are completed. I will expect you at 07:00 hours tomorrow. Good evening then."
Janeway rose to escort him to the transporter room.
"As you were. I can find my own way."
The captain nodded pleasantly.
"It is good to have you all home."
"It is good to be home, Sir." Chakotay smiled warmly as Admiral Ross exited the conference room.
The captain tugged at her collar as she and Chakotay strolled away from what had felt like an inquisition instead of a debriefing. She was tired, hungry, and felt grubby, as she watched the San Francisco sun sink behind the waves of the Pacific. It was a beautiful day, what was left of it. Janeway and her first officer had endured nearly eleven hours of 'Twenty Questions'. So they decided to stop and rest a while on a bench that looked out over the bay, before beaming back to the ship.
Chakotay rubbed his tattooed brow. "That was worse than trying to negotiate with the Kazon Nistrum."
"I have a headache the size of the Delta Quadrant," Janeway frowned. "I hope Seven has something in mind for supper. I'm starving."
"Hungry enough to eat an Admiral," he chuckled.
"Bleck! If I never see another Admiral, it'll be too soon."
They both laughed and said in unison, "Let's go home."
They fell silent while looking at each other in the realization of what they had just said. Voyager was home. A home that they most likely will have to give up, to move on to other assignments, other postings, other commands.
She didn't break their gaze.
"Janeway to Voyager."
"Go ahead Captain," came the even tones of her tactical officer.
"Two to beam up."
"Only two Captain?"
"Yes Tuvok. Me and Chakotay. Who else were you expecting?"
"I assumed Seven would be returning with you."
"What do you mean, 'returning with us'?" Janeway questioned in a restrained rumble.
"Shortly after you and Commander Chakotay beamed down, Starfleet Command contacted Voyager and stated Seven of Nine's presence was requested at your debriefing. So she beamed down to Starfleet's specified coordinates."
The captain's breathing became deliberate, forced in and forced out.
"Tuvok, what were those coordinates?"
"Admiral Ross's administrative office."
She forced herself to maintain control of the fire that was beginning to rage in the pit of her stomach.
"And where is his office located?"
"In the north wing of the research laboratories of Starfleet Medical."
Janeway gasped slightly as her mind began to decipher the plot which was unfolding as they spoke. Chakotay placed his hand on her forearm.
"Kathryn, we don't know that anything is wrong yet. Let's make sure before we jump to conclusions."
"Captain, I take it you did not rendezvous with Seven."
Slamming down her command mask, "No Tuvok. Scan Starfleet Headquarters for her location."
"I am unable to locate her combadge signal or her bio signature. A security dampening field has been activated at the research facility, which will not allow our scans to penetrate."
"Or our transporters."
"That is correct, Captain."
"Dammit! Beam us up Tuvok. We have to find a way to break through that field."
"Understood. Energizing."
Her mind was a jumble of strategies at war with her heart, which was a jumble of panic, pain, and rage, as she stepped out of the turbolift onto the bridge.
"Captain, there is a Starfleet vessel on an intercept course. ETA two minutes."
"What vessel Tuvok?"
"The Enterprise."
"And it begins," a dark soliloquy whispered from Janeway's lips.
"Excuse me, Captain?"
"Never mind," she waved her hand. "Hail them."
"Sickbay to the captain."
"Captain, a transport from the Enterprise to sickbay has just occurred."
"Go ahead Doctor. What's going on down there? Do you have Seven by any chance?" Janeway could only hope.
"Not exactly Captain."
"Come on Doctor! I don't have time for riddles."
"Well I... it appears that we have Seven's Borg enhanced left hand and forearm and also the outer casing of her ocular implant. I'm sorry Captain. But I am certain of it."
Janeway felt like she had just been kicked in the gut. She dropped into her chair and stared blankly into the forward view screen, not wanting to think, to feel or even breath.
"Captain, the Enterprise is hailing us."
She heard the sound of Tuvok's voice, through the fog in her mind, as if he was far, far away. And she couldn't quite make out what he was saying.
"Tuvok, put them on screen," Chakotay answered.
"Captain, I realize this is a bit unconventional. But under these circumstances, I had no other choice."
Janeway stared into the gentle, yet staid, features of Admiral Jean Luc Picard. Her shock had begun to turn to white, hot rage and she nearly jumped out of her command chair. 'Another Admiral,' she fumed.
She bit off each word as she spoke. "What... do... you... mean... by 'these circumstances'?"
"Seven of Nine is in grave danger. When Admiral Ross became aware that you had an ex-borg on your ship, he convinced Starfleet Command to allow him to perform research on her in order to obtain Borg secrets that would help the Federation in its conflict with the Collective. Starfleet has tunnel vision where the Borg are concerned. They will not stop until some weakness is revealed. They will destroy her in the process if necessary. One drone's life to save millions is an acceptable loss. I have Seven of Nine's exact location. And with the help of a close doctor friend from the research facility, I've managed to return her implants. But that's all I can do. You'll have to formulate a rescue operation of your own. I'm transmitting the coordinates now."
"Admiral Picard," Janeway finally gathered her wits about her, "why are you, of all people, helping Seven? I thought you despised the Borg."
"I do Captain. But I'm well aware of the fact that Seven of Nine is now an individual, a human being. And I know what it is to have one's humanity and individuality stripped away. And I refuse to stand by and watch as Starfleet commits such an atrocity. The Federation you have returned to is not the same Federation that you left behind. They are becoming no better than the collective which they seek to destroy."
"Thank you for your help, Admiral." The captain smiled grimly.
"If you're successful Captain, you will have to take your ship and escape the jurisdiction of the Federation."
Janeway raised her voice to protest, "I don't believe this is a fight I should run from Admiral."
"I assure you, this fight is a fight you can not win. You have no other recourse but to flee, if you wish to be certain Seven of Nine remains alive. If you're not successful, I'll have to take your ship into custody. At any rate, I'm prepared to take on board my vessel any of your crewman who wish to stay behind. You just got home. I'm sure there will be those who wish to stay."
"Acknowledged. Stand by Admiral."
"And Captain, good luck."
His eyes shone with a mixture of compassion and sorrow. A testimony to the good spirit within.
"Thank you, Sir."
"Chakotay, see to it that all crew members that wish to disembark, do so freely, before I return. And be ready to go to warp. We'll probably be bringing trouble with us."
"Understood Captain."
"Tuvok, Paris, you're with me."
The Delta Flyer streaked toward the planet Janeway once called home but now called hostile. She had imagined bringing Seven to Earth and showing her off to friends and family, especially her beloved mother, Gretchen. The captain had dreamed of lying with her young lover under familiar stars, making love on breezy, Summer afternoons, and snowball fights in the deep, Indiana Winter. But none of that was to be. She'd been betrayed by the one thing she had been sure of all her life: her Starfleet. And worst of all, her blind faith had cost Seven dearly. That, Janeway could never forgive herself for.
"Tuvok, scan those coordinates. I want to locate her as soon as possible."
"Scanning. No bio signature detected."
"We're still to far away to penetrate the dampening field?"
"Yes. It is likely we will have to be within the perimeter to detect her. Even then, we will be unable to achieve a transporter lock."
"You're just full of all kinds of good news. Aren't you?"
He raised a Vulcan eyebrow which meant, 'Captain, I fail to see the positive nature in any of this information'.
She nodded at her staunch, tactical officer. "Phasers. Tom, when we locate Seven, land as close as you can and cover our backs. Be ready to leave in a hurry."
"Aye Captain," the blonde, normally puerile ensign replied soberly.
"We're inside the dampening field Captain." His pilot's hands tapped busily at the controls. "Whoa! We're right on top of her ma'am."
"Tuvok?"
"Seven is apparently attempting an escape. She is being pursued by a security force."
"How many?"
"Six. Armed. They are closing."
"Tom ready phasers. Let's warm them up a bit. Target ten meters in front of their position and fire. That should slow them down."
"Yes, ma'am. Firing! Six, against a one armed..." Paris shook his head in disgust.
The Flyer's phasers sizzled through the evening air and impacted against the grass and trees of Starfleet Medical's park perimeter. The security team scattered like leaves in a gust of wind.
"It worked. Some are stunned and the others are helping them to cover."
"Put us down between the lines, Mr. Paris. I want to protect Seven as much as possible."
"Aye Captain."
"What about Seven, Tuvok?"
"Her life signs are erratic. I believe she is in shock. And her Borg signature is nearly nonexistent."
"Make it quick Tom!" Janeway's voice sliced through the air with her vehement desire to be at Seven's side.
"Almost there." They felt a jolt as the craft made contact. "Down and clear Captain."
"Let's go Tuvok."
She raced down the exit ramp into the night, with Tuvok close behind. As she felt the cool evening air engulf her, she became aware of the acrid smell of phaser fire. Janeway's adrenaline seemed to enhance all her senses, making her feel as if she was viewing the world around her through a telephoto lens. The night was darker and crisper. The smells were greener and smokier. And Seven's blood, when the captain finally found her, seemed redder and richer than the finest garnet stone. Janeway gasped. And the ache that shot trough her was more intense than the burn of a plasma fire.
Seven raised her partially amputated left arm to shield her remaining eye from the glaring light of Tuvok and Janeway's wrist lamps. Her once beautiful blonde tresses were mated to her forehead and neck by sweat and the blood issuing from the wounds inflicted upon her brutalized body. With every last once of conviction Seven held a phaser toward these, her last two punishers.
In an feral voice she raged, "You will fail! I will resist you until I cease to function. You will have to terminate me!"
Her chest heaved with labored breaths as she continued to weaken.
The captain fell to her knees and managed to croak out, "Seven... it's Kathryn."
The gravelly timber of Kathryn's voice soothed over Seven's desperate, broken body like the warm, tender hands of a lambent caress.
Her heart leap to her throat. "Ka... Kathryn," she sighed with relief like that of finding a love that was thought lost forever.
The captain gathered her battered lover into her arms.
"Oh darling, it'll be all right," she breathed into Seven's tangled hair and placed a tender kiss on her temple.
"Tuvok, help me."
Together they carefully lifted Seven and carried her onto the Flyer, where Paris went white at the sight of her. In the lighting of the spacecraft's interior, she looked... dead.
"Captain?"
"Go Mr. Paris!"
"Yes ma'am!"
The captain pressed a hypo spray to Seven's neck and eventually her remaining eyelid began to flutter.
Kathryn whispered softly, "Sweetheart, can you hear me? You're safe now. I love you."
Seven groped for the hand of her partner. And Kathryn held her close, gently rocking her and cooing softly with ardent defiance, "You'll be all right. It'll be all right."
"The Doctor synthesized some of your nanoprobes and put them in a hypo before we came for you. You should begin to feel them go to work."
"I do," Seven rasped.
Silence.
"Annika, hang on for me love. I..." The auburn haired pillar of strength began to crumble.
Tuvok and Paris were too busy trying to make it back to Voyager in one piece to notice their immovable leader sobbing helplessly into the hair of the woman that meant the most to her in all the universe.
"Don't you leave me," Kathryn choked. "Your presence is necessary for my continued function."
The captain's chest felt as if someone were standing on her and forcing the last, precious breath out of her lungs.
"I will comply," Seven managed before she lost consciousness again.
Gently easing out from under her, Janeway straightened, and plastered the command mask back on.
"ETA to Voyager?"
"Fifty-three seconds Captain," Paris answered.
"Any pursuit?"
"Not yet ma'am."
"I don't want to risk beaming Seven over in her condition. So let's get a move on Mr. Paris. Best possible speed."
"We're doing it Captain."
"Good."
The fugitive starship Voyager sped toward Vulcan with its new crew compliment of one hundred-seven, hoping to increase that number by at least one. The news of the departing crew members was not pleasant. But the captain understood the need of those who departed. To be home, is a very powerful, wonderful thing.
"Chakotay to the captain."
"Go ahead commander."
"The message buoy has been launched successfully and is transmitting its homing signal toward Earth. They should have no problem retrieving our good-byes and passing them along."
"Very good Chakotay. I'm remaining in sickbay. Let me know when Tuvok receives his answer."
"Aye Captain. Chakotay out."
Janeway's stormy gray eyes came to rest again, on the long goddess-like form of her ex-borg lying on a bio bed. The confidence in Seven's lovely features had returned. And she met her partner's gaze with amatory longing.
"You are having difficulty expressing your emotions. That is unlike you Kathryn."
The captain slowly shook her head, rubbing her brow and temple with three fingers and a thumb. "Oh Annika, it feels impossible."
"Try," Seven encouraged her.
"I failed you, almost lost you. I'm not use to feeling defenseless. But when we found you on the surface I..." She cleared the lump from her throat. "I was terrified. I can't loose you Seven. I feel you, everywhere, even without touching. It empowers me and at the same time renders me helpless. And I'm angry. I'm too old to have to think about spending the rest of my life alone. Yet, I let my blind faith in the almighty Starfleet almost kill you. How could I have been so stupid!?"
With her right hand, Seven clasped that of her lover's. She rubbed Janeway's palm and brushed her lips over the older woman's knuckles.
"You, Kathryn, are the center of my existence. You have been, from the moment you severed me from the collective. I do not adequately understand the emotion you stated, to feel me without touching. But someday, with your continued guidance, I am confident I shall. Your perception of failure is incorrect. You were betrayed by that which you trusted. Trusting is part of being human. A lesson you shared with me from the very being. You are the most human, being I have ever encountered. And your anger at that deception is justified."
Kathryn brushed her finger tips along her lover's temple, urging a few unruly locks behind Seven's ear.
"Are you the new ship's councilor now or just mine?" she beamed.
"Whatever you require."
"I require you to get well, soon. I miss you. Our bed is a very cold and empty place without you," Kathryn purred.
Seven flashed a prurient smile. "I will do my best to comply."
"Annika..." she paused, unsure. "How do you feel, in here?" placing her palm over Seven's heart. "It must have been..." she could not force the words past her lips. "Are you all right?"
"I am glad to be safe on Voyager, with you. I do not wish to discuss any details of the ordeal until we return to our quarters."
The warmth of the captain's hand on her chest seemed to cause Seven discomfort, which was the opposite effect Kathryn had intended. She watched as Seven clinched her jaws and tried to swallow down unwanted emotions that were boiling to the surface.
"All right," the older woman gently conceded, taking her hand away. "Whatever you want."
"I 'want'," Seven quickly seized the hand before Kathryn could pull it away completely, "to return to the privacy of our quarters so that I can make love with you until all recollection of my capture is driven from my eidetic memory."
Such a statement would have struck the captain as amusing if it weren't for the fact that Seven was sincere about how she planned to deal with the pain of her dissection.
"I promise I'll love you until there is nothing to remember except the love we shared the day before, and the day before that, and the day before that," Kathryn soothed.
"I am certain of this, my Kathryn."
The breath of their desperate whispers touched each other's lips. And before they were even consciously aware of it, the kiss had taken on an energy and urgency of its own. Warm lips searching and caressing, mouths expressing love's infinity as best they know how, and wet tongues speaking a heated benediction upon each other. Kathryn pulled herself away from the kiss and lay her head on Seven's heaving breasts.
Breathlessly, "I'm sorry. This can't be good for you in your condition."
"I am not sorry. And yes it is."
The captain smiled to herself, nuzzling closer to the younger woman and tracing the soft line of Seven's collarbone with a fingertip.
"I miss you so much I can hardly see straight. How can I possibly hope to captain this ship back through the Delta Quadrant?"
"You will adapt."
"Yes. I suppose I have no choice."
"I will be well shortly. The Doctor has indicated that my final implant procedure will be complete by this afternoon. And I will be fit to return to my alcove, for twelve hours of regeneration, by this evening."
"That's wonderful news."
"After that time I believe it will be possible to fit you into my schedule," Seven quipped.
Kathryn straightened and threw her head back slightly to let out a bit of joyous laughter, relieved at the playful mood of her partner.
"I would appreciate any time you could spare."
Seven nodded. "Of course Captain. Your wish is my command."
The older woman gave her Borg a cunning, slanted grin.
"You are sailing into uncharted space with that one, darling."
"Yes. But are we not explorers, after all?"
Kathryn eyed her partner. "You are in a mood aren't you?"
"Chakotay to the captain."
"Go ahead commander."
"Tuvok and his family request your presence in the ship's conference room."
"Acknowledged. On my way. Janeway out." She looked down at Seven once more. "Got to go. I hope this is good news too. Be well, love. I'll see you soon."
Janeway pecked Seven's cheek and headed off in hopes of adding a few new members to her crew.
"Personal log, Seven of Nine, star date 58917. Kathryn was unusually ebullient today. She, I believe, has finally released herself from the guilt harbored with regards to stranding her ship and crew in the Delta Quadrant. When we escaped the Federation, she was stunned by the amount of the ship's compliment which choose to stay on board. I, however, was not. I believe she has, at last, come to the logical conclusion that the only one on board who blamed her so completely for Voyager's misfortune, was Kathryn herself.
Another plausible explanation for her behavior concerns the Federation and Klingon families which have decided to join us on our journey. She is especially pleased at the fact that Tuvok's wife and two sons have agreed to accompany us. I do not believe Tuvok would have stayed aboard had his wife not agreed to come with us. The idea of continued exploration in the Delta Quadrant and becoming the co-founders of a new civilization was, however, too intriguing for the Vulcan family to refuse. It seemed extremely illogical to decline such a unique opportunity. I am quite sure Tuvok was as close to excited as I have ever witnessed.
The captain has explained to the crew, that as we further our discoveries, we will be searching for what she called, 'a safe haven'. An M class planet as far away, from the Federation and the Borg or any other hostile entity we have encountered previously, as one can successfully become. The new families, along with the rest of the Voyager crew are inspired, as I have always been, by Kathryn's integrity and vision. They are urged on by the expectation of creating a new humanoid settlement which will be based on the concept of justice. A destination of peace, where one is free from fear of oppression, demoralization, wickedness, and ridicule. A colony where its inhabitants work together in truth and love with the common goal of survival. Simply put, a place of Zion.
Now that Kathryn is free from the mantle of Federation and Starfleet responsibility, she has begun to exhibit, more frequently, the characteristics of her persona which make her perfection even more apparent to me. Even now, she slumbers in the sleeping area of our quarters, exhausted from her hours of ministrations to this insignificant Borg drone. Her devotion is as mysterious to me as the overpowering emotions which constantly rage within me. Being ever changing in its nature, it is clear to me that I will never fully comprehend this feeling called love. Because, one can not hope to ever wholly analyze such a dynamic phenomenon.
As I sit at my work station in our living area, I begin to understand what Kathryn meant by feeling without touching. I can hear her soft respirations, which indicate she is still sleeping. But yet, she calls to me. Her pull on my inner being is overpowering. And I find I can not resist. The memory of her hands and mouth and hair caressing my flesh is disorientating. I have an undeniable passion to feel her heated skin upon mine. When we make love, her body becomes wantonly animated, sweating and glistening in the glow of the star light that streams through the oval view port above our bed. A wonderfully responsive expanse of ambrosia that I must explore each millimeter of, with every means at my disposal. It is difficult to breath. I must wake her and smell her and taste her, again. I need to see her breasts rising and falling, in an ecstasy that I have imposed, until she screams my name into the darkness. My name, not my designation. I must.
End personal log."
~~~The End, Of The Beginning~~~
"Survival is insufficient".......*loving* is perfection.
Copyright: 11/99