Partners in the Sublime
 

The shipwide announcement of B'Elanna Torres and Seven of Nine's newly altered relationship came somewhat unexpectedly and accidentally, via the shipwide intercom system.

"This is not an appropriate time to engage in this activity," the ex-drone's precise, measured tones suddenly announced, followed by a long pause, and the distinctive sound of lips parting.

Sheer shock propelled Captain Janeway out of her chair, but once standing, she had no idea what to do. Her vocal chords did not appear to be functioning.

"I'm on my lunch break, Seven," B'Elanna's voice said. She sounded persuasive, almost seductive. "You should be, too. Come share it with me in my quarters."

On the bridge, shock still held sway over the command staff of Voyager. Even Tuvok was in danger of spraining his eyebrow as the unlikely dialogue continued. Tom Paris, who had only recently been tactfully disengaged from by the Chief Engineer, was gradually paling.

"If I join you in your quarters, you will not ingest suitable nutrition," Seven replied. Her voice held a note of humour. "Additionally, this communications relay is malfunctioning and in need of repair."

"Maybe later." Another pause, then - "Seven, this circuit has tripped."

"You are correct." There was a clonk. "Curious. It is broadcasting shipwide."

B'Elanna now sounded alarmed. "Broadcasting what?"

"This conversation."

Silence.

"Damn."

Of course, the metaphorical cat was firmly out of the bag, to the extent that it had also escaped the metaphorical county fair and was making great speed towards the metaphorical back country. It was the talk of the ship, with the unexpected side effect that Tom Paris became the jilted darling of the female half of the crew. It helped ease him over the nasty shock.

Captain Janeway tried to be happy about the developments, but failed. Tom Paris' new adventures didn't concern her (although sorting out the occasional spat in the mess hall grew tiresome), but the sneaking sense of dislike she felt for the idea of Seven and B'Elanna being a couple.

At first she thought she was jealous, but decided that couldn't be it - after all, the notion was equally disturbing no matter whether it was Seven or B'Elanna she was considering. She grew progressively crankier as weeks past. The day they logged Seven of Nine as a resident in B'Elanna's quarters, she was insufferable.

B'Elanna scowled as she slouched into the quarters she now shared with Seven and threw herself onto the bed, still smarting from the Category Four lecture she had just received from the captain. Worst, she supposed, was that in the outraged misery the captain's rending had left her with, she still didn't have Seven of Nine to comfort her. The blonde was on duty, as far as she recalled.

"B'Elanna?" said an unexpected, and overwhelmingly welcome voice. Seven stepped out of the bathroom and joined her on the bed, kissing her sweetly. The sheer intensity of Seven's kisses, born of the absolute focus with which she applied herself to them, still amazed B'Elanna. Some time later, they disengaged. "What is wrong?"

"Captain Janeway was angry with me today," B'Elanna murmured in reply, her attention now mostly on the baby-soft, smooth skin of Seven's neck. "I don't really know why." She gasped at the cool touch of metal on her skin as Seven slid a hand under the shirt of her uniform.

"I do," Seven answered absently. "She is upset that we are together."

The sentence penetrated the haze of growing arousal that had been starting to cloud B'Elanna's consciousness. "What?"

Seven pulled back a little. "I have observed that the captain exhibits symptoms of arousal towards us both. Her past behaviour also indicates that she was unusually fond of us. I have concluded that the captain desires us. We are now lovers, and she is upset."

B'Elanna rolled Seven onto her back and straddled her hips, nuzzling thoughtfully at her biosuit-covered breasts. "You ever consider... approaching the captain?" she asked curiously.

Seven's immediate reply was incoherent, and then she seemed to gather together her thoughts. "Yes. However, my feelings for you were equally powerful, and I was confident that you returned them."

"You mean I actually hit on you," B'Elanna answered, with a slightly wolfish smile. "But you know... I felt the same way." She sat up, pulling Seven up with her, and began removing her biosuit.

"Perhaps a more harmonious solution would be preferable," Seven said, as she removed B'Elanna's jacket. B'Elanna stopped suddenly, staring at her.

"Seven, are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?" she demanded.

"I presume so," Seven replied evenly. "My researches indicate that polyamorous relationships are not unprecedented in human society. The evidence suggests that to begin one would be of benefit to both the three of us and the crew as a whole."

"You're serious." A statement, not a question, and B'Elanna found herself seriously considering the idea. "There'd be problems."

"The benefits would outweigh them."

Kathryn Janeway scowled as she stomped into her bedroom and collapsed on the couch. She didn't know what was wrong with her, except that she felt as irritable as a lion with a thorn in its paw and an Androcles shortage. Not only that, but she'd been getting odd looks from that damn Klingon and that double-damned ex-Borg of hers. B'Elanna had been gazing at her with a kind of curious wonder in her eyes, and Seven... was just damned smug. Damn it.

Her door chimed. Damn.

B'Elanna took a deep breath and steadied herself. "Are you sure about this, Seven?" she asked, looking sideways at her lover.

"Yes, B'Elanna." The blonde reached around her and pressed the chime.

"Come in," came Janeway's voice from inside. She sounded annoyed.

"Seven, maybe this isn't a good id -" B'Elanna was cut off as she was propelled into the captain's quarters.

Janeway was seated on her couch. Her look as she identified them was partly quickly hidden desire and part grump.

"Well?" she demanded.

Seven answered. "Captain, your behaviour recently has been irrational, and detrimental to the functional wellbeing of this ship," she said coolly. "Lieutenant Torres and I have determined the appropriate remedy for your malady."

"And what's that?" Janeway folded her arms.

"Us, Captain." It occurred to B'Elanna that if they were wrong, this was probably the biggest mistake she'd made in five years. Oh, please, Seven, be right.

Janeway paused just a moment too long before she snapped, "That's ridiculous."

Seven took a step closer. "Elaborate."

The captain propelled herself upwards from the couch and stalked past the elegantly poised blonde. "Because, Seven, I'm your superior officer. It would be inappropriate. And the two of you are..."

"It would not be a violation of any formal Starfleet protocol. And we are - both - in love with you, Kathryn."

Janeway whirled at the use of her first name, and B'Elanna took the opportunity to close on her. "There is only one problem with this, Kathryn." She lightly stroked Kathryn's arm, letting the edge of her palm brush the older woman's breast.

"You're the captain," Seven said simply, standing at B'Elanna's shoulder.

Janeway took several moments to regard them. "You wouldn't be here if you planned to let that stop you."

"It doesn't," B'Elanna answered. "But who will you be when we wake up tomorrow? Mine? Hers? The ship's?"

Seeming to give way to the sensuous connection vibrating between them, Janeway took a step closer. "All of them, B'Elanna." She touched both their cheeks. "All of them."

It was too much for them all, and too much for B'Elanna not to close the distance and move into her captain's arms, nuzzling at Janeway's neck as she felt Seven's arms wrap around them both. She knew if she left this wonderfully warm and perfect place she'd see their kiss. Aware of the effect of Seven's kiss, she tightened her hold on Kathryn just before her knees began to buckle.

When finally they parted, Kathryn was flushed and slightly breathless. Her look towards B'Elanna was warm, but slightly envious. "Where do we go from here?" she asked softly.

"Do you love us?" Seven asked, her voice vibrating along B'Elanna's spine.

"Yes," Kathryn answered simply.

"Then from here, I would suggest that we go to the bedroom." B'Elanna smiled at the husky note in Seven's voice that mixed humour and desire, pressing slightly against the narrow, yet beautiful body against her back.

Kathryn gave them a lazy smile that sent B'Elanna's blood pressure skyrocketing. "Very well."

Seven slid around them and began removing Kathryn's uniform with an ease B'Elanna remembered her lacking, once. The engineer gladly assisted, and soon the uniform that separated captain and woman was heaped on the couch.

B'Elanna kissed her, feeling the pressure of Kathryn's breasts against her own as they were nudged by Seven towards the bedroom. This was nice. Seven was perfect, of course, but too tall. The sound of the biosuit hitting the floor was shortly followed by the ghosting sensation of Seven's fingertips tracing her back and shoulders.

She arched into the contact, and couldn't help but moan into Kathryn's kiss as the movement brought sensations new to her attention. "Undress," Seven purred in her ear, and she slid away to comply as the alabaster Borg took over the task of seducing their new lover.

B'Elanna watched as she slipped out of her uniform, feeling her own arousal increase exponentially when Seven's mouth locked onto Kathryn's breast as she pressed her down to the bed. She knew full well the incredible sensations that Seven's focus and Borg ingenuity could coax from tender flesh. Rejoining them, she claimed the other. Her eyes met Seven's and they smiled.

Kathryn's hands stroked through their hair, neither pressuring nor pulling them back. She seemed aware that for now, at least, her new lovers needed to hold the initiative.

Seven's human hand covered hers where it rested on Kathryn's stomach, and squeezed. B'Elanna saw her bite lightly at Kathryn's nipple, and mimicked the action when she moaned audibly. Seven's hand urged her own downwards, to slip and tangle through damp curls. Kathryn cried out, then shuddered beneath them.

"Please..." she whispered.

B'Elanna raised her head and kissed Seven passionately as long, pale fingers guided her own across slick, hot surfaces, each shifting touch eliciting new cries from their willing victim. When B'Elanna and Seven disengaged, she looked down and saw Kathryn's eyes on them. "I love you," B'Elanna whispered, almost in unison with Seven. The touches continued, intensifying, and moments later Kathryn screamed.

Seven and B'Elanna didn't pause in their joint caresses until their captain breathlessly whimpered for surcease and wrapped her arms around them. "Oh, I love you," she whispered.

"As do we," Seven replied, bestowing one of her rare, full smiles on them. They lay, trading kisses and soft touches, for quite some time.

Finally, Kathryn spoke again. "Is it just me," she began archly, "or did Seven seem very controlling in that?"

Seven's implant lifted as B'Elanna replied. "Oh, yes," she purred. "She's often like that."

"I think revenge is called for, don't you, B'Elanna?"

B'Elanna smiled as they wrapped their arms around the lanky body of the amused ex-drone.

"Definitely."

finis