Chapter Seven

They decided to adjourn to the sofa for dessert. Lis had concocted a chocolate pie that had Cass' mouth watering just looking at it. The security chief carried the champagne glasses and bottle over to the coffee table, while Lis sprinkled the slices with a dusting of powdered sugar, put them on plates and brought them over.

"My god, Lissy," Cass exclaimed around her first mouthful. "This stuff should be made illegal." She chewed enthusiastically. "It's fantastic."

Lis grinned. "It's my mother's recipe," she replied, leaning back against the cushions, her shoulder against Cass' arm. "It tastes even better when it's not replicated."

Cass groaned at the thought. "Oh, god, I can't wait for that," she muttered, spearing another morsel with her fork. A thought occurred to her and she turned her head to look at the blonde munching happily next to her. "Do you think your mother will like me?" she asked quietly.

Green eyes tracked to hers and a quiet acknowledgement of a long future ahead passed between them. Lis nodded with a smile.

"I think she will very much like you," she replied. "And you'll be utterly charming I'm sure." She grinned at the rakishly poised eyebrow that provoked.

"Aren't I always?" Cass asked.

"No," Lis answered around a laugh. "You can be positively obnoxious when you want to be."

Cass grinned back at her. "It's my job to be obnoxious sometimes," she said, nudging the blonde with her elbow gently. She glanced down at Lis. “You must miss her a lot.”

The older woman nodded slowly. “I do,” she answered. Her mother had finally left her abusive father when Lis was 18. Mother and daughter had taken care of each other until she and Nick had been married, and even then they had remained very close. “That packet of messages we managed to get from Starfleet just wasn’t enough,” she said, with a sad smile.

Cass leaned over and kissed the top of the blonde’s head gently. “You’re right,” she said. “I’ve never claimed to have the best of relationships with my parents, but damn, it was good to get that letter from them.” She slid her plate onto the coffee table and then swung herself around, stretching along the length of the sofa and resting her head in Lis' lap.

The blonde dipped her fingers in the filling of her piece of pie and offered it to Cass, painting the smooth chocolate across the full lips. Twinkling blue eyes invited her closer and she turned slightly to rest her plate on the windowsill. Then she accepted the invitation, bending down to taste the chocolate on Cass' lips with the tip of her tongue.

Cass felt like something was filling up and spilling over inside her. As their nibbles and licks turned into another deep-felt kiss, the release of a silent tension she hadn’t even realized existed began. She started to tremble, even as Lis’ arms wrapped around her and lifted her close. Between kisses, a tiny sob escaped and the blonde immediately cradled her gently against her chest, soothing the quivering woman.

“Sshhhhh sweetheart, it’s all right,” Lis crooned.

"I'm s-sorry," Cass mumbled against the soft fabric of her shirt. "I-it just t-took me by s-surprise."

"Mhmmmmm, I understand baby," the blonde reassured her. "You've waited so long and now it's all happening in a big old rush, isn't it?" She felt the younger woman nod. "We really can slow down, Cassie," she suggested. "What are a few more days ... or weeks ... if that's what you need?" Tenderly, she brushed disheveled black locks off Cass' forehead, placing a light kiss there. "There's no rush, honey."

"B-but that's just it," Cass gulped around her tears. "I don't feel like we need to wait." She reached up and traced Lis' cheek and jaw with her fingers. "I know you better than I've ever known anybody," she whispered, seeing the affirmation in the blonde's eyes. "And nobody comes even remotely close to knowing me like you do." That brought a smile. "I love you with all my heart and I don't think that comes as big surprise to you either." A wider smile and a quick shake of a blonde head. "So, unless you need to wait ...?"

Lis reached up and took Cass' hand, kissing the centre of her palm. "I don't," she murmured.

The dark-haired woman in her lap nodded. "I just feel so relieved," she said.

"Relieved?"

"Mhmmmmm. To be past all the waiting." Lis nodded in understanding. "I think that's where the tears came from." She watched as Lis clasped Cass' hand to her heart, where she could feel the blonde's pulse pounding strong and fast. "We've been together so much since ... the accident. Part of me is still trying to process that now we're really together." She covered her eyes with her other hand. "I'm not making a lot of sense am I?"

Lis chuckled softly. "Actually, yes you are," she replied. "Do you feel like I sprung this on you out of the blue?"

Cass looked a little sheepish. "Yeah, maybe a little." She grinned. "I'm not complaining, though."

Lis nodded. "I guess I should have built up to it a little,” she admitted. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while.”

Cass smiled up at her. “What made you decide to do something about it?” she asked.

“The wedding,” the blonde replied. “While we were standing up for Kathryn and Annika I looked across at you and you looked so … well, gorgeous …” She laughed softly at the quick blush that colored Cass’ cheeks. “But also, for the first time I realized I could look at you and just want to be with you, without any complications or baggage or worries or guilt. And I wanted to be with you so badly I almost reached out and took your hand right there and then.”

“I caught your eye once, during the vows, do you remember?” Cass asked. Lis nodded. “I wanted to kiss you then, too.”

“And then while we were dancing I was thinking about us and when we first met and it occurred to me that our anniversary was close,” Lis continued. “And I decided to make this one the first we could truly celebrate.” She squeezed Cass’ hand gently. “I know the others have been miserable.”

Cass searched the sea-green eyes. “Were they for you too?” she whispered.

“Oh yes, my love,” Lis answered quietly. “Every single one.” She swallowed. “I used to find a reason to be on my own that day. And I would go to one of our places …”

“Castagnola’s,” Cass smiled.

“Mhmmmmm. Or that little beach we found, remember? Up the coast?” Cass nodded. “And I would spend the day just thinking about you … wondering where you were, if you were okay. And remembering.”

Cass reached up and, with a fingertip, brushed away the tear that was sliding down the blonde’s cheek.

“We’re supposed to be together, Lissy,” she murmured. “That was the only thing that got me through. I’ve known it from the first moment we met.”

Lis nodded. “And so did I. That’s what made it all so hard.” She brightened a little. “Until the day I woke up and didn’t feel like grieving anymore. And that’s when I knew all those feelings I’ve always had for you could exist without any restrictions.” She leaned down and kissed Cassie’s forehead. “I’m sorry I ambushed you, sweetheart.”

Cass closed her eyes and rested her cheek against the blonde’s shoulder, savoring every second of the warmth and safety she felt there.

“Don’t be sorry,” she said quietly. “We’ve been waiting an awfully long time. You did the right thing.” The temptation of the close proximity of the older woman’s neck was too much and she trailed her lips across the soft skin slowly.

“Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Cassie,” Lis groaned, her body’s response to the dark-haired woman’s touch immediate and profound.

Encouraged, Cass continued to kiss and nuzzle, making her way to the soft and sensitive spot she knew existed just below the blonde’s ear. She brushed her tongue lightly against her lobe, smiling at the shuddering breath Lis took. She slid her hands against the warm torso under her, feeling Lis begin her own exploration. Hands slid under her t-shirt and Cass gasped.

Lis felt like her skin was on fire. Cass' hands seemed to be everywhere, inside her clothes, stroking and teasing. The blonde felt the urgent need to kiss Cass and she sought the younger woman’s mouth hungrily. They fell into the kiss, both shifting awkwardly until they lay side by side on the sofa, the blonde slightly on top of Cass’ more solid frame.

“I want you so much.” Cass whispered hoarsely as Lis tongued the hollow at the base of her throat, sending bolts of white-hot desire coursing through her.

“Oh yes,” the blonde growled. Her hands quickly found the bottom of the Cass’ shirt and pushed impatiently upwards until her fingertips brushed the bottom edge of her bra. She let her hands wander further, tracing teasing circles across the younger woman’s breasts, then zeroing in on the hardened nipples through the flimsy fabric, delighting in the immediate response. Cass growled and arched under her. “Mmmmmm, this shirt has to go,” Lis muttered, tugging at the garment.

“Yours too,” Cass insisted.

They fumbled and squirmed, trying to remove each other’s shirts, succeeding only in tangling themselves further. Simultaneously they swapped roles and wrestled with their own clothing, just avoiding flailing elbows and hands in their hurry to feel skin against skin.

“Were we always this clumsy?” Cass chuckled even as she thrilled at the sensation of Lis’ silky-soft skin against hers.

“Only when we couldn’t wait to be inside each other,” the blonde responded huskily as she pushed her thigh between Cass’ legs, unsurprised but deeply aroused by the heat she felt there.

“Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Liiiiiiiiiissssssssssssssssss.”

**********************************************

“Isn’t it a little late for you Miss Wildman?” Captain Janeway asked with mock formality, surprised to see the young girl, Voyager’s only child, standing just inside the door to her ready room.

“A good Bridge Assistant always checks with her commanding officer before going to bed, Captain,” replied Naomi confidently, clasping her hands behind her back in an unconscious imitation of her other role model, Seven of Nine.

Janeway smiled indulgently. The youngster had been an unexpected bonus on this long trip, she had decided. Precocious, independent and determined to find a useful role for herself, Naomi had talked her into being appointed as Bridge Assistant, the first step in the girl’s quest to become Captain Wildman. The fact there was no such rank as Bridge Assistant had been no deterrent. Janeway had found assigning Naomi little tasks an exercise that had proved helpful to them both.

“Join me?” Janeway said aloud from where she stood on the upper level of the ready room. She had been contemplating the rushing starfield, opting to stay on duty while Seven worked late on an important update to the astrometrics software. Naomi was a welcome intrusion. She waited while her shortest crew member climbed the steps to the top level and came to stand next to her. “Have you had a busy day?” the commanding officer asked, sipping at the cup of coffee she held in her hand.

“Yes ma’am,’ Naomi nodded, looking up at the captain with adoring eyes. Of all the adults on Voyager, the girl was closest to Seven, but since Janeway’s marriage to the ex-Borg, Naomi had been a regular visitor to their quarters. She had developed a huge crush on the captain as a result.

And don’t you just love that, Katie, her inner voice laughed.

“I had lessons this morning and then Mom let me help her with the astrometrics diagnostic,” Naomi said, happy to detail her day for the captain.

Janeway put down her coffee then patted the sill of the big bay window, inviting the girl to clamber up. She gave her a helping hand and soon they were almost on eye level. She smiled at the youngster.

“Who were your classes with this morning?” she asked, happy to let the child talk.

“Ensign Roberts for an hour on warp drive theory, and then Chakotay for religious philosophy,” Naomi replied. “Today we did Buddhism.”

Janeway chuckled. A large group of crew members had volunteered to teach Naomi as soon as the child was old enough to appreciate the lessons. The result was an education that was turning out to be eclectic to say the least.

“And what do you think of Buddhism?” she asked.

Naomi contemplated her answer for a few seconds. “I think I like it,” she said finally. “It’s kind of peaceful.” Janeway nodded. “There was one bit that bothered me though.”

“And which part was that?” She wondered briefly if she knew enough about Buddhism to be having this conversation. Too late now, Katie.

“Chakotay gave me a book of quotations,” Naomi told her. “One of the sayings was ‘I am totally defenseless. I have no need to defend myself or anybody. In my total defenselessness is my invincibility’.” The child looked puzzled. “I don’t think I get that. Especially the not defending anybody part. Isn’t that what we do all the time? Defending people who can’t defend themselves, I mean.”

Hoo boy, thought Janeway. You had to ask.

She thought about her response carefully, trying to reconcile the pacifist philosophy with what she did for a living.

“I’m not sure Buddha means we shouldn’t defend the helpless,” she answered cautiously. “I think what he’s saying is we should accept the things that happen to us. I don’t think he means we shouldn’t respond to them.”

Naomi frowned as she tried to understand. “So, when bad things happen to us, we shouldn’t waste time wondering why, but just get on with dealing with it?” she asked.

Janeway nodded, once again impressed by the young girl’s mental abilities. “I think he means defenseless as in accepting,” she clarified.

“Okay,” Naomi said. “That makes more sense than just standing by while someone else gets hurt.”

“Mhmmmmm.”

Naomi gazed at her with a look of open honesty. “A lot of bad things happen to us,” she said bluntly.

Janeway didn’t flinch. “Yes, they do,” she agreed. “But a lot of good things do too. It’s just sometimes they’re harder to remember.”

The lights flickered briefly and Janeway glanced around, half-wondering if she had imagined it.

“Something’s wrong,” Naomi said.

Before Janeway could reach for her communicator, a ghostly green form shimmered into being in front of her, closely followed by another, and then a third. Borg drones. Immediately the captain stepped in front of Naomi, shielding the child. She slapped her communicator as the adrenalin surged through her.

“Janeway to security, intruder alert.”

The drones advanced on them and she backed up, torn between protecting the girl behind her and wanting to push her away from the immediate danger. But there was nowhere to go. The three Borg had them more or less surrounded, cutting off any route of escape. She felt Naomi wrap her small hands around her bicep as she peeked around the captain’s shoulder at the intimidating creatures. Janeway reached for the phaser that wasn’t on her hip, silently cursing herself for being unarmed, though she’d had no warning that she needed to be.

“What do you want?” Janeway asked, sick dread pooling in her gut. She didn’t really expect an answer and she didn’t get one, the three pallid zombie-like Borg continuing to advance. Voyager’s lights had dropped to the pale amber of a yellow alert and she could hear sirens pulsating through the ship.

Chakotay and two security officers burst through the door, phasers raised. But even as they began firing, the Borg to Janeway’s left reached out, clenching her arm with his once-human hand. The captain tried to shake him off, pushing at him with her other hand, but he was twice her size and far too strong. She half-expected assimilation tubules to snake out in her direction but none did.

One drone dropped to the floor under the weapons assault from the Starfleet officers, but then the others adapted to the phasers’ frequency, their personal shields blocking them. The Borg who was twisting her wrist reached for the transporter module on his shoulder and Janeway realized Naomi would be beamed out too if she was in contact with her.

“Naomi, let go of me,” she muttered over her shoulder, even as she tried to shake the child loose. But the scared girl was having none of it, squeezing her arm tighter and pressing her face against Janeway’s shoulder blade. The captain felt the tug of the Borg transporter beam taking them away as Chakotay reached them.

Damn.

*****************************

Cass’ breath came in ragged gasps as Lis teased and tantalized her breasts with her mouth and fingers. The dark-haired woman could barely think. Every nerve ending in her body jangled and hummed under her lover’s attentions even as Cass did her damnedest to return the favor. She slid her hands under the waistband of Lis’ slacks, rejoicing in the blonde’s moaning response as she cupped the smooth firmness of the smaller woman’s buttocks.

They moved and slid on each other, rhythm eluding them as haste made them clumsy. Their clothing was half off, their legs, arms and tongues tangled. Movements became more and more frantic as their passion outstripped their ability to coordinate themselves. Small, lust-filled sounds warred with the soft background music.

Lis remembered the body under her so well – almost too well. I want to be everywhere at once, she thought. I want her to be everywhere at once.

Her attention was distracted when Cass slid down further and captured her bare breast with her mouth. The blonde arched in pure response, then slid her hand to the back of the dark head, holding the younger woman closer.

“Oh god, Cassie,” she moaned, feeling the answering suckle deep and strong.

Cass was almost beside herself with want. Lis’ nipple was hard and sweet against her tongue, her breast full and soft. Without thinking about where they were, Cass pushed herself up and twisted, intending to roll them over until she was on top of Lis. Unfortunately the narrow sofa they were lying on couldn’t accommodate them and Lis yelped as she felt the universe drop away from under her.

Cass tried to brace their fall with her hands and elbows but they both thumped to the floor, Lis grunting as the security chief landed on top of her.

“Oooofff.”

Nose to nose they blinked at each.

“Guess you’ve fallen for me all over again,” Cass quipped, grinning down at the blonde. They both started giggling, struck by the ridiculousness of the situation. “My god, Lissy, we suck at this,” Cass exclaimed. “Please tell me we weren’t always this klutzy.”

Lis laughed, brushing the hair off the beautiful face above her. “We were very, very good, actually,” she said softly, some sweet memories resurfacing. “We’re just rushing things a little too much.”

Cass ducked her head, claiming the blonde’s mouth in another heartfelt kiss that set them both tingling all over again.

“Mmmmmm … if this is as bad as it gets, my love, then I have no complaints at all,” she murmured when they finally broke off.

Lis chuckled, pulling Cass into a hug. “We’ll be fine, angel. We just need to-”

“Janeway to security. Intruder alert.”

Cass jerked upright as the lights dimmed to yellow alert status. Hard on the heels of the captain’s grim announcement both their communicators, discarded with their shirts, chirped again. This time it was Chakotay.

“Senior staff, Ensign Wildman, to the bridge.”

Cass was on her feet and hunting down her clothes even before he finished the sentence, with Lis scrambling up behind her.

“Shit,” Cass muttered as she struggled to pull her bra back on.

“Hold still,” Lis said, stepping close and helping the taller woman get untangled. She knew it was more important for Cass to get moving. The blonde scooped Cass’ shirt up off the floor and held it open for her, allowing her to just slide her arms in.

“You coming?” Cass asked bluntly, buttoning her shirt as she headed for the door.

“Right behind you,” the counselor answered, pulling her t-shirt on and following her outside. They ran for the turbolift, warning off a couple of ensigns before claiming it for themselves.

“Bridge,” Cass barked. She began pacing circles around the ’lift, anxious to find out just what the situation was. “Why call in Samantha?” she mused.

“We’ll know in a minute, Lt,” Lis said quietly, trying to stay calm and still as she leaned back against the wall of the ’lift.

Cass looked around at the use of her rank, sighing at the lost opportunity.

“I’m sorry, love,” she said. “We didn’t get much chance to change gears back there, did we?”

Lis shook her head slowly, but smiled at the tall woman. “No, but that’s life in Starfleet,” she shrugged. “Especially when you’re head over heels in love with the best chief of security in the fleet.”

The words curled around Cass’ heart like a summer breeze. She stepped closer, momentarily setting aside whatever the latest crisis was. She slid her hand into Lis’, savoring the warmth of the brief contact. Blue eyes met green.

“You’re in love with me?” she asked hesitantly.

“Oh yes, Lt,” Lis said confidently. She chuckled. “Figures that would be the bit you would question and not the ‘best chief of security in the fleet’ part.” She grinned.

Cass matched it with one of her own, ducking her head and looking up at her through dark lashes.

“Weellllllllll,” she drawled. “That’s a given.”

The turbolift slid to a halt and Lis watched, fascinated, as Cass became all business once again, stepping away from her quickly and striding out on to the deck of the bridge, straight to her station at Tactical.

The psychologist glanced around, noting the high levels of tension in the room. Chakotay was talking to Harry Kim, the two men pouring over readouts on the ensign’s console. Lis watched Cass’ hands flying over her own panel, bringing herself up to speed. The blonde stepped close to the tall woman’s shoulder.

“What’s going on?” she asked quietly.

“Borg sphere,” the security chief answered grimly, her eyes flicking over the readouts. “Popped out of subspace with no warning, penetrated our shields.” She set her jaw. “Took the captain and Naomi.”

“Naomi?” Lis asked, incredulous. “Why would they …”

She was interrupted by the arrival of Seven of Nine and Naomi’s mother, Samantha Wildman. Chakotay quickly moved to the women, talking to them both in low tones. But it didn’t take much to figure out what he was telling them, nor what their reactions were.

Ensign Wildman’s hand flew to her mouth but Seven’s response was much more difficult to read. Lis noted the slight tightening around the young woman’s mouth but she was otherwise outwardly calm. The counselor knew the ex-drone well enough now though to know she would be very much different on the inside.

Seven moved immediately to her station on the upper level of the bridge, beginning a series of scans of the Borg sphere, which sat, still and malevolent, off their port beam.

“I will retrieve them,” she said succinctly.

“Transporters won’t work, Seven,” said Chakotay. “We’ve tried already, but the Borg are blocking our signal.”

“Then I will take a shuttle,” the blonde said immediately, turning towards the turbolift.

“Wait,” Chakotay said warningly. “I’m not sending you over there alone. In fact I’m not sure it’s a good idea to send you over there at all. You’re too close to it.”

“That is precisely why I should go, Commander,” Seven protested, just keeping the quiver out of her voice.

“I think she’s right, Chakotay,” Cass said quietly, not wishing to contradict the senior officer, but strongly agreeing with Seven, nevertheless. “Nobody knows the Borg like Seven. She’s our best chance of getting them out of there.”

Samantha Wildman was becoming increasingly agitated.

“Why would they take Naomi?” she asked anxiously. Lis moved to the woman’s side, offering silent but subtle support.

“I don’t think they intended to,” Chakotay said. “She and the captain were standing close to each other when the drones transported the captain. Naomi just got caught up in the beam.”

“W-will they assimilate her?”

“Unlikely,” Seven said curtly. “As long as she stays close to the captain, she will be relatively safe.”

“Assuming they haven’t assimilated the captain already,” Ensign Kim said, immediately regretting his words when he saw Samantha’s face go white. “S-sorry,” he muttered.

“Also unlikely, Ensign,” Seven replied. “They did not come all this way just to assimilate one human.” She turned to look at the view screen, which was filled with the image of the sphere. “They came for Kathryn for some other reason.”

Tom Paris piped up from his place at the helm.

“What I don’t get is why they’re still here,” he said.

Cool blue eyes fixed on him. “They are a scout ship, Lt,” Seven said, her voice devoid of any emotion.

The light dawned for Cass. “Meaning, there’s a cube on the way,” she said, feeling a cold dread curling around her guts.

“Precisely,” Seven confirmed. “It would be inefficient to expend energy moving when the cube will be here shortly.”

“Happy thought,” muttered Tom.

“We are wasting time, Commander,” Seven said, facing Chakotay.

“I’m going with you,” Cass said calmly. The ex-Borg looked at her and nodded, gratified that the tall security chief would be by her side.

“All right,” Chakotay agreed. “Take those modified phaser rifles we used the last time we ran into the Borg. And, Lt,” he hooked Cass’ arm as she turned to leave. She looked at him questioningly. “Make it fast,” he muttered. “Who knows how close that cube is.”

She nodded then walked into the turbolift behind Seven, Lis and Samantha. Cass leaned against the wall of the ’lift, her mind spinning through strategies and her stomach doing double back flips around the butterflies. She looked across at the counselor who was talking softly to Samantha.

I love her, Cass thought. Hard to believe that 20 minutes ago we were making love on my sofa. She half-grinned as she caught Lis’ eye. Or at least trying to make love, she chuckled inwardly. Lis raised an eyebrow at her from across the ’lift, obviously surprised to see a sign of merriment from the tall security chief.

The ’lift stopped at Deck 8 and Cass ducked out the door.

“I’ll meet you in the shuttle bay,” she said, heading for the armory. As the door closed again Lis found herself sending a silent prayer out to the universe.

Don’t take her away from me now, she pleaded.

*******************************

Ten minutes later Cass walked into the shuttle bay hefting three phaser rifles. Seven had added some Borg modifications to the weapons several months ago. Now they were designed to automatically shift their phase variations through a random rotation. That meant it would take a little longer for the Borg to adapt their personal shields.

But they will eventually, Cass reminded herself as she handed one of the rifles to Seven, slung the other across her back, and settled the third into the crook of her arm. We’re not gonna have a lot of time to get this done.

Lis left Samantha’s side for a moment and walked over to Cass. Long before she got there blue eyes locked onto hers and she felt a wash of warmth sweep through her. Once in front of the security chief she slid a hand into Cass’ and squeezed gently.

“You okay?” Cass murmured, seeing the worry and love in the green eyes gazing up at her.

“I will be when you come home,” Lis said quietly, feeling Cass’ fingers tighten around hers in reassurance. “Do you have a plan?”

Cass smiled self-deprecatingly. “Seven’s the expert here,” she said. “I’m just the brawn.”

Lis snorted. “I can think of many phrases to describe you,” she said, watching Seven make her preparations. “‘Just the brawn’, isn’t one of them.”

“Are you ready, Lt?” Seven asked. Cass could see impatience in the ex-drone’s every movement, even though to most people Seven looked as calm as ever.

“Yes,” she said. Lis slid arms around her waist and Cass ducked to kiss the top of the blonde’s head. “Don’t worry okay? We’ll all be home before you know it.”

“I’m counting on it,” Lis murmured, letting Cass go reluctantly.

Samantha Wildman walked forward as Cass and Seven stepped up onto the shuttle’s ramp.

“P-please,” she said anxiously. “Don’t let them d-do anything to Naomi. Bring her back?”

“Do not worry, Ensign,” Seven said firmly. “No matter what happens, we will not be leaving Naomi Wildman behind.”

“Thank you.”

Lis couldn’t take her eyes off Cass. There was an aching in her chest that she didn’t much like. Blue eyes held her own in a steady gaze that was equal parts confidence and reassurance. With just a touch of love thrown in, Lis thought to herself. More than a touch.

Seven keyed the door’s control panel and the ramp began to rise.

Cass stared long and hard into the gentle green eyes of her lover as the door closed. Coming home to you is what I want, she mentally projected towards Lis. More than anything.

****************************

Janeway pressed her hand against Naomi’s back, trying to convey reassurance to the young girl who had her arms wrapped around the captain’s waist, her face buried in the warmth of her uniform jacket. The older woman could feel the girl trembling against her and she tried to still her own rapidly beating heart. Keep her safe, Katie, she urged herself. Whatever happens, keep her safe.

Janeway set her jaw, watching as the drones moved around her, for the moment at least ignoring their captives. She tried to remember everything she knew about Borg spheres.

Subunits, she recalled. They’re just subunits of a cube. So it’s a fair assumption there’s a cube on the way. She swallowed hard. In front of her was a view screen. Voyager loomed large in the frame, hanging motionless and beautiful in open space. And we’re not going anywhere so that would mean the cube isn’t all that far away, Janeway reasoned. Great.

Naomi stirred and the captain looked down into frightened, wide young eyes.

“C-captain, are th-they going to a-assimilate us?”

Janeway patted the girl’s back as reassuringly as she could. “I don’t think so,” she answered, summoning a confident smile from somewhere. “If they were going to do that, they would have by now.” She decided not to tell the Naomi that probably the only thing that had saved her was her close proximity to the captain. It just doesn’t make sense for them to come find me just to turn me into another drone. They have something specific in mind. She hugged Naomi closer. And I have a bad feeling the Borg Queen is behind it.

The atmosphere inside the sphere was cramped, warm and clammy. Janeway felt a trickle of sweat run down her backbone. She counted drones. Seven. And, as usual, no discernible leader. The Borg shuffled around her silently, completing whatever tasks they had before the arrival of their mother ship.

“What do you want with us?” Janeway called out, wondering if the collective Mind would answer her. There was nothing. The seven didn’t deviate from their steady pace, didn’t turn a head in her direction.

That’s almost more unnerving than a direct attack, Janeway thought with a shudder. She glanced around, taking in the control panels that were scattered around the small space. Regeneration units ringed the area, one for each drone. Janeway inched herself and the girl closer to one of the consoles.

If they run true to form they will ignore me unless I become a threat to them, she reasoned. On the other hand, there’s going to be a rescue party arriving any minute now and they’re going to appreciate a distraction. Naomi shifted against her, tightening her grip around the captain’s waist. On the third hand, there’s her safety to consider.

“Naomi,” she whispered, waiting till the youngster looked up at her. “Whatever happens, I want you to stay close to me, okay?” Big brown eyes widened, but the girl nodded.

“This place smells bad,” Naomi whispered back, wrinkling her nose in distaste.

“Yes it does,” Janeway agreed, smiling at the girl. “I don’t think personal hygiene is a big priority.”

“Will Seven be coming for us?” Naomi asked.

God I hope so, Janeway thought, picturing her no doubt furious partner. “I’m sure she will soon, sweetie,” she murmured. If I was alone I’d be wreaking a little havoc about now, but I can’t risk that with Naomi here, she thought. “As long as we don’t do anything to annoy them, they’ll leave us alone.”

Naomi shifted against her side, snuggling a little closer.

“Why did they take us, Captain?” she asked.

Janeway looked down at her.

“That is a very good question,” she said. “I think they took you just because you were standing next to me at the time. And I’m still trying to figure out why they took me.”

Naomi thought about it for a few seconds while Janeway continued to watch the silently working drones.

“Maybe it’s Seven they really want,” the girl said quietly. “It was last time, wasn’t it?” she asked, remembering the Borg Queen’s last attempt to lure Seven of Nine back to the Collective.

Janeway thought about it. She had gone in and rescued Seven herself that time, so the Collective certainly knew they meant something to each other. A cold thought occurred to her. Perhaps this time they will offer Seven a deal she can’t refuse. Her life for mine.

She shook it off.

“I don’t think it really matters, Naomi,” she said finally. “Seven and an away team will be here soon and we’ll be back on Voyager before you know it.” She patted the girl’s back again.

“I hope so,” muttered Naomi.

Me too, kiddo, me too, thought the captain.

*********************************

Seven knew they would have to move quickly once they were onboard the sphere. She had her own theories about why the Borg had taken Kathryn, and she suspected they were using the captain as bait.

For me, she thought as Cass maneuvered the shuttle towards the sphere. I am putting myself in danger by walking into their arms. She set her jaw and pictured her partner's face. Irrelevant.

Cass was deeply uneasy as she kept the shuttle on course. It’s quiet, she thought. Too quiet. “They’re not firing at us,” she muttered aloud.

“Correct,” answered Seven succinctly.

“They’re expecting us then,” the security chief reasoned, glancing at Seven and receiving a small answering nod. “In fact they want us to pay them a visit, right? More specifically, they want you?”

“Indeed, Lt,” Seven confirmed, keeping her gaze locked on the looming sphere. “I expect that very shortly they will …” The shuttle jolted as a green beam lanced out from the sphere and enfolded the shuttle.

“… lock us in a tractor beam,” Cass finished. She lifted her hands from the control panel as the beam took over, tugging them closer.

The shuttle was pulled into the tiniest of docking ports, so small that Cass sucked in a breath and held it as they negotiated the narrow opening. The craft settled gently onto the metal deck. It was a tight squeeze – enough room for the shuttle and walking space around it. The two women eased themselves out and made their way to the access corridor.

"Not exactly built for comfort, is it?" Cass muttered, fighting the sudden feeling of claustrophobia. Seven, by contrast, looked focused and rather unnervingly at home in the clammy atmosphere and metallic surroundings.

“It is a Borg sphere, Lt,” the ex-drone answered dryly. “It was designed for reconnoitering, not mass assimilation like a cube.”

“Well, that’s a comforting thought.” She flicked the safety off her phaser rifle. "What's your plan?" she asked quietly.

Cool blue eyes turned on her.

"I must insert myself into the Collective," she said calmly. "Then I can misdirect the drones, perhaps even force them into a hibernation cycle."

Cass looked at her uncertainly.

"Isn't that a pretty dangerous thing for you to do?" she asked.

"Yes," Seven answered. "But it is required if we are to retrieve Kathryn and Naomi and divert the cube."

Cass nodded. "Okay, I can see that," she muttered. "Do they know you're here?"

"Almost certainly," Seven said. “And as soon as I reconnect to the Collective they will certainly know.” She walked slowly along the bank of Borg computer terminals, searching for the access port she needed. She paused in front of a particular terminal.

"Lt, go and find them," she said, shifting her rifle into her right hand. "Do not provoke the drones. Ignore them and they will ignore you ... at least for the time being."

"Okay," Cass agreed. She watched as Seven lifted her Borg-enhanced left hand to the console, strangely fascinated by the sight of the tall blonde's assimilation tubules emerging from the implant on her wrist. The tubes waved around for a few seconds before plugging themselves into the access port on the control panel. Seven's eyes closed and the ex-drone became very still and silent. That's just creepy, Cass thought.

She shook off her uneasiness and moved slowly down the cramped corridor in the general direction of the centre of the cube. She knew there she would find most, if not all of the drones, and hopefully, the captain and Naomi.

**********************

Seven found herself holding her breath as the assimilation tubules snaked toward the access port. She was vaguely aware of Cass watching her quietly, but she couldn’t take her focus away from what she was about to feel. She was scared, she knew, but there was also a disconcerting note of anticipation vibrating somewhere deep inside her.

I do not want that, she thought as the ends of the tubules glided into the snug fit of the port. I do not want to enjoy what I am about to experience. She fought the rising panic as the tubules slid home. She knew she had to walk a fine line between allowing herself to be swept along by the Collective, and staying in touch with her individuality. My humanity, she thought. I must hang on to Annika and Kathryn.

The tubules clicked into place and Seven gasped as the sensual flood of thousands of voices speaking as One washed over her. After almost two years of hearing only her own voice in her head it came as an intense shock. Seven dove into the Collective's stream of consciousness and the wash of internal sound threatened to drown her for a few seconds before she found her mental feet.

It feels so good, Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct to Unimatrix 01 exalted. The seduction of many voices slid across the surface of her mind, luring and enticing her to submit.

But Annika Hansen, human, wife of Captain Kathryn Janeway, kept herself apart, wrapping herself in a warm coating of humanity. Like a salmon swimming upstream against the flow she bobbed and weaved through the onslaught of imperatives from the Collective. She suppressed her personality as best she could, not wanting to alert the Borg to her true identity.

But it may already be too late for that, she knew. She flicked her consciousness through subroutines and protocols, searching for the minor string of commands that would give her the opening she was looking for. One part of her mind listened to the soothing directives, one message in particular eventually forcing itself to the forefront.

We have Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct to Unimatrix O1 and the human Janeway. All is well. A message directed at the oncoming cube.

Seven seized on the words, programming them into a repeating loop which her cortical implant continued to broadcast, wrapping around and disguising any other messages from the sphere’s drones.

Not alone, Seven of Nine’s mind whispered, tempted to just let the Collective draw her in. Not alone anymore. Annika Hansen continued to search for the subroutine she needed. I have to put them to sleep, she thought, letting her mind do its work.

***************************

Cass wished she were in uniform. It was an incongruous thought as she picked her way along the dank Borg passageway, but the casual clothes she had been wearing during her off-duty rotation were too loose-fitting for this job. She sighed. Quit being distracted, she berated herself.

It wasn’t the first time Cass had been in a Borg ship, but familiarity did nothing to ease the big ball of tension resting in the pit of her stomach. She’d had a theory for a long time that the Borg would be a lot easier to deal with psychologically if they had been a distinct species unto themselves. But instead they were assimilated individuals from every conceivable species in the galaxy.

They’re walking reminders of our mortality, she thought as she cautiously rounded a corner. Living, deadly, zombies. She shuddered. All very well to say ignore ’em, Seven, but if one comes down this corridor at the same time as me, we won’t be able to avoid each other. It would be just my luck to run into someone I know. She shuddered at the thought.

The background hum that had been ever-present since their arrival on board was growing louder and Cass knew she was close to the centre of the sphere. Carefully she eased her head around another corner. Janeway and Naomi were 20 feet away on the other side of the circular control room.

In one piece and not assimilated. This has to be a good thing, Cass thought, relief sweeping through her. She flicked her eyes around the room, counting drones. Two were in their regeneration alcoves, but the other five moved silently around. Doing whatever drones do when they’re not sucking the life out of real people, she thought dryly.

She had two choices now, she knew.

I could just start shooting and see how many I can drop before their shields adapt, she reasoned, her trigger finger itching to do just that. Of course that may not be enough to do anything more than piss them off. She looked at Janeway, noting that the Borg had taken away her communicator. Naomi had her arms wrapped around the captain’s waist. Or I could just start walking and see how far I get before they perceive me as a threat.

She sighed.

Either way, I’m relying on Seven to perform a little ex-Borg miracle, she realized. She took a deep breath. In for a penny, in for a pound. She reseated the rifle in her hands and set her shoulders, stepping forward into the middle of the Borg nest.

*********************************

The Borg sphere hung in space outside the mess hall’s window like some kind of twisted artificial moon.

Lis gazed at it, trying to picture her crewmates – my soulmate – inside its labyrinthine corridors. She closed her eyes momentarily, letting the image of Cass’ face float in front of her. So beautiful. And so brave. She didn’t hesitate to volunteer to go with Seven. Lis opened her eyes again, wincing slightly at the sight of the sphere. I know it’s her job, but even if it weren’t she would have been the first to put up her hand. She sighed, even as a tiny smile graced her lips. She loves being in the middle of things. And I wouldn’t change her for anything. The sphere filled the window pane, dominating the star field. Even when it does scare the crap out of me, she thought.

Lis turned back to the room. Samantha Wildman sat at a table, her hands wrapped nervously around a cup of coffee. Neelix, the ensign’s closest friend on board, sat by her side, talking softly to the anxious woman. Two or three other friends had come to the mess hall to offer their support as well, Lis was pleased to note. She walked back to the table and sat down opposite Samantha.

“Sometimes I think I did the wrong thing going through with the pregnancy,” Samantha was saying. “Not that I don’t adore Naomi, but was it a fair thing for her?” She looked at Lis, her eyes distraught. “We’re in so much danger so often … it’s not much of a life for a child is it?”

It was a conversation Lis had had several times with the woman in the past.

“Sam, don’t second guess yourself like that,” the counselor replied. “Naomi is smart and well-adjusted and loves her life on Voyager.”

Ensign Wildman slipped straight into panic mode.

“Maybe so, but she must be so terrified right now,” she said. Terror widened her brown eyes suddenly. “Oh God, what if they assimilate her?” she wailed.

Neelix wrapped his arm around the woman’s shoulders. “Sshhhhh sweetie, don’t think about things like that,” he said soothingly.

“The captain and Seven and Cass are not going to let anything like that happen to her,” Lis reassured. “They’re doing everything they can to keep her safe, Sam. And they’ll get her home as soon as they can.”

Samantha nodded, trying to calm herself. “I know,” she murmured. “But the Borg are Naomi’s worst nightmare, they always have been. Getting to know Seven has helped with that, but she still wakes up some nights from it.”

Lis nodded. “So do a lot of us. You don’t have to be a child to be frightened of the Borg.” She reached over and placed a hand over Sam’s. “But Seven is the best possible person to be over there trying to get her back.”

“I know, I know,” Sam replied, tears welling up in her eyes. “M’sorry, I know everyone is doing their best.”

“It’s okay.” Lis patted her hand. “If it was my daughter over there …” She closed her eyes momentarily against the sting of that thought. “… I’d be climbing the walls too,” she finished.

*******************************

Cass stepped forward and strode into the middle of the circular control room, making a beeline for the captain and Naomi. Janeway’s eyes widened as she caught sight of the tall security chief walking confidently towards her. But before she could say anything, two huge drones stepped in front of the Lt, blocking her view of the dark-haired woman.

Well, I guess that answers that question, Cass thought wryly as one of the drones took a swing at her with its artificial arm. She ducked and came up firing, slamming the Borg backwards onto the deck. One down, six to go.

The second came at her more forcefully, making a grab for her, and Cass prayed the modifications to the phaser rifle would do their job as she squeezed the trigger again. It took a little longer but he eventually fell at her feet, though he was close enough that she could smell him and feel his breath on her face before he dropped.

The two drones in the regeneration alcoves came to life, stepping between Cass and the captain, who was doing her best to shield Naomi from the crossfire. The captain can't help me much, Cass realized. They won't hesitate to assimilate Naomi if she gets between the Borg and one of us.

The drones advanced on the security chief and she fired again. This time the Borg she hit staggered backwards momentarily but then came at her again, the second shot bouncing off his personal shield uselessly.

Shit, thought Cass. They’re getting faster and faster at adapting every time we encounter them. She reversed the rifle in her hands, grabbing it by the muzzle and swinging it like a club. She caught the drone on the side of the head with a satisfying crunch. It wasn't enough to knock him out though and now more were joining the fight.

"Look out behind you Cass," yelled the captain, but it was too late.

The security chief felt cold, hard arms encircling her from behind. She slammed her head back, smashing into the drone's mouth. She winced as she felt the impact of his teeth on her scalp, but it gave her a brief window of opportunity. She unslung the spare rifle off her back and tossed it towards Janeway. Before she could see if it had reached its mark, the drone had her again. This time he restrained her head with one arm, and her arms with the other.

Cass thrashed around in his arms, trying to loosen his grip anyway she could. His skin felt cold and clammy. And dead, she thought. Very, very dead. She kicked out, using the drone's mass as leverage, and she clipped his advancing brother in the breastbone with both feet. The Borg staggered backwards then came at her again.

Janeway snatched the phaser rifle Cass had thrown her out of midair.

"Stay behind me Naomi, no matter what happens," she ordered, satisfied when she felt the girl's warmth at her back. Cass is in trouble, she thought, quickly checking the settings on the rifle. She raised the weapon, taking a bead on the drone who had Cass wrapped up from behind but the security chief was moving around too much to give her a clear shot. She watched as Cass kicked another drone away only to have it advance again and the captain took aim again, this time taking the Borg down. Three down, four to go, she thought. Now the odds are starting to swing a little.

But the drones, ever adaptable, quickly changed their strategy. Two diverted their course, leaving the other two to take on Cass, before heading straight for the captain.

Or more to the point, they’re heading for Naomi, Janeway realized, swinging her aim around. Her rifle was good for one more telling blow, she knew, and she chose her target well, waiting till the drone was close to outflanking her, as he went for the girl. She pulled the trigger, maintaining the blast as the drone staggered, its personal shield sparking and straining to find a way of blocking her fire.

The Borg dropped to its knees and Janeway took her chance, placing a foot in the middle of its chest and ripping the tubing and wires away with her hand. He fell to the floor, writhing and jerking on his back, blue flashes of energy sparking around his head and neck.

Janeway didn’t have much time to take satisfaction from the kill, however as a shrill squeal from Naomi alerted her to more danger. Instinct told her to move and she raised the rifle above her head, blocking a vicious downward blow from the next drone's artificial arm.

She grunted as she tried to counter the force of the big creature, the pressure forcing her to her knees.

They know Seven's onboard, she suddenly realized. They think they’ve got what they want. Or they wouldn’t be coming this hard at me. She shoved with all her strength upwards, managing to find her feet somehow. They don't need me anymore, she thought grimly as the drone pressed her back against the console, the stock of the rifle hard up under her chin.

***************************

Cass knew she was close to losing consciousness. The drone which held her from behind was relentlessly closing her throat with the blunt edge of his metal arm implant. Her vision was starting to tunnel down and disconcerting red flashes could only mean an imminent blackout.

Come on, Seven, her mind pleaded as she thrashed around, trying to get a purchase on the big drone’s arm. What peripheral vision she had left told her that the captain was engaged in her own battle. Not a damn thing I can do about that right now, she realized. Flashes of Lis’ face alternated with the stars and sparkles she saw against the back of her eyelids.

The last of the remaining three drones, the one she had kicked backward, came back at her. Cass tried to lift her legs again, but they felt like lead weights. The Borg holding her jerked his arm cruelly, and Cass could feel the metal cutting into the skin of her neck.

I’m not going to leave Lissy this way, she thought grimly, summoning the last of her strength. Not gonna become a goddamn lifeless drone.

She tried to set her feet firmly on the ground, finding purchase on the metal deck even as the second drone came within arm’s reach. Cass steeled herself, reached up behind her and found a grip on the first drone’s head. With a grunt of exertion she tried to pull him forward and over her shoulder but his mass was too much even for her considerable power. She succeeded only in dragging them both closer to his buddy. With his organic hand the one in front of her grabbed her by the hair, forcing her head still. Assimilation tubules shot out from his implant and Cass yelped as she felt the sharp tips break the skin of her neck.

“Noooooooooo!” she yelled, struggling to bring her hands up to pull the tubules away, but the two drones held her tight.

***************************

Seven of Nine was also in a fight for her life, though she wasn’t conducting it with fists and rifles. Thousands of voices battled for control of the young woman’s mind. Her cortical implant was both her enemy and her friend. It fought to dictate the transmissions emanating from the sphere back to the oncoming cube, as well as searching for the regeneration subroutine that would allow Seven to deactivate the drones on board the sphere. Along the way she had found the sphere’s tractor beam controls and disabled it them.

But the implant also allowed a kind of seduction to take place. Eighteen years of being One of Many flooded through Seven’s system, soothing and comforting, tempting and intriguing. Annika Hansen struggled to keep her mind focused on her partner, on her friends, on trying to find a way through the noise and confusion that her humanity didn’t understand – didn’t want to understand.

She knew exactly what was happening to Cass and Kathryn, the drones attacking them broadcasting the situation. It took all her concentration to stop those messages reaching the cube.

I must find the regeneration subroutine, Annika thought. My friends will die if I do not find it.Panic threatened to overwhelm her as her mind dipped and swerved through eddies and backwaters in the Collective stream.

And then there it was. The node she was looking for. We … I … can work with this.

She quickly made the changes that were needed, but even as she did so, she felt her humanity begin to slip away. Annika Hansen, now the frightened six-year-old first assimilated by the Borg, curled into a tiny ball to protect herself from the onslaught of the voices.

*************************

The two drones dropped Cass like a rock. She fell to the metal deck, barking her shins and elbows on the cold surface. Gasping for air, she put her hand to her throat, unsurprised when she felt warm liquid there.

“Bloody hell,” she rasped, blinking at the blood on her fingers. Oxygen had never tasted as sweet as she gulped in big, panting breaths.

“What happened?” the captain exclaimed, watching the three remaining drones move mindlessly into their regeneration alcoves. They closed their eyes, almost simultaneously, and the green glow around them dimmed.

“Seven must have found the regeneration subroutine,” Cass rasped, wiping her neck with her shirtsleeve as she pushed herself to her feet.

“Where is she?” Janeway asked quickly, walking towards the security chief. “Let me see that,” she muttered, tilting Cass’ chin up.

“It’s nothing, just a scratch,” Cass replied, tactfully blocking her commanding officer’s hand. “And Seven’s back near the shuttle bay.” She looked down into the captain’s concerned grey eyes. “She plugged herself into the Collective.”

Janeway nodded, her lips thin and pinched. “I thought she might try that.”

“Captain.”

Janeway looked where her security chief was staring. Naomi was standing against a console. She was hugging herself and shivering noticeably.

“Damn,” the captain muttered, moving back towards the girl. She knelt in front of Naomi, taking the youngster by the shoulders. Glazed eyes stared over her shoulder at the Borg drones regenerating. “Naomi, everything’s going to be okay,” Janeway said softly. “We just need to go find Seven and then we can go back to Voyager.”

Wordlessly Naomi pulled her gaze from the Borg and searched the captain’s face. Janeway nodded in answer to the unasked question and the girl wrapped her arms around the older woman’s neck. Momentarily taken aback, the captain hesitated for a half a second before responding. She cuddled the child close then picked her up as she stood, supporting Naomi as the girl clung on.

Cass watched as a previously unseen side of her commanding officer unfolded before her. She smiled a little despite the circumstances but then her eye was caught by the view screen.

Oh shit.

“Chakotay to Lansdown,” her communicator crackled. She slapped it.

“Yeah, we know, Commander,” she answered before he could say anymore. She stared grimly at the reason for the First Officer’s warning call. “Captain,” she said. “We’ve got trouble.”

Janeway walked over, Naomi still in her arms. The Borg cube, huge and imposing, hung in space not far away.

“No warnings,” Cass murmured, running her eye over the control panels in front of them. She looked at the captain, blue eyes meeting grey.

“Seven,” Janeway answered and Cass nodded. “Let’s get out of here before they decide to put a tractor beam on us. Lead on, Lt.”

Cass bent down to pick up both discarded phaser rifles, slinging one over her shoulder. Probably both useless now, she realized. But they make me feel better. She hefted the second one in her arms, strangely comforted by the weight.

“Back this way,” she said, indicating to the captain that she and Naomi should go first.

The trio made their way back through the dim, narrow corridors, Cass bringing up the rear in case Seven’s control over the drones should falter. They emerged into the tiny shuttle bay and Cass heard the captain’s sharp intake of breath.

“Seven?” Janeway gently let Naomi down on to the deck and the young girl followed the captain over to where the ex-drone stood silently by a bank of computer consoles. Cass felt her stomach lurch at the sight.

Oh, this is not good, she thought. She watched as Janeway approached the tall blonde and reached out.

Janeway felt sick to her stomach. Her partner’s usually clear skin was clammy and beginning to show signs of the pale blotchiness characteristic of a Borg drone. As she placed her hand on Seven’s arm, cold eyes that were almost colorless turned on her.

“Annika,” Kathryn said gently. “We need to leave now. The cube is here.”

“We are aware of the cube,” came the chilling response from the blonde. “We are in contact with the Collective.” Emotionless eyes stared piercingly at the Starfleet captain. “We have told them that we have what we want.”

“Which is why we need to leave now, Annika,” Janeway replied, deliberately using her lover’s human name. “Before they put a tractor beam on the sphere.”

Cass watched the interaction uneasily. She’s too far into the Collective, she thought. We’re going to have to do something drastic to get her out of there. The tall woman leaned forward and down, tapping Naomi on the shoulder. The young girl turned to her reluctantly, her eyes continually drawn to Seven and the captain.

“Naomi, listen to me,” Cass said, getting down on one knee so she was closer to eye level with the girl. Big brown eyes finally turned to her. “You know how to operate the shuttle door, right?”

Naomi’s eyes flicked briefly to the small craft, and then she nodded.

“Okay. I want you to open it and go inside and strap yourself in ready for departure, okay?” She watched as Naomi looked back at Seven, clearly torn between obeying the security chief and worrying about her friend. “We’re not going to leave her behind, honey,” Cass said gently. “I promise. But I need you to go into the shuttle, because when we do get her free, we’re going to have to leave in a hurry.”

Naomi nodded her understanding. “Yes ma’am.”

“Good girl,” Cass said, smiling. “You’ve been very brave Naomi. Your mom’s going to be proud of you.” That elicited the tiniest of smiles from the child. Cass watched as the girl walked over to the shuttle and keyed the control panel before walking inside. The security chief stood and approached the captain and Seven.

“We must stay in contact with the Collective,” the ex-drone was insisting in a cold voice that gave Cass chills.

“You’ve done all you can, Annika,” Janeway insisted. “You’ve given us breathing space to get away, but we’re not leaving you here.”

Seven’s eyes closed and both Starfleet officers held their breath. Cass slowly moved around behind the ex-drone, putting the second rifle over her other shoulder.

If I have to rip her out of here with my bare hands, I will, Cass thought, steeling herself for a fight.

But Janeway had another idea entirely. As Seven lost herself in the communication with the Collective, the diminutive captain stepped forward. She stood on tiptoe, brushing her lips across her partner’s, trying to ignore the cold, dead feel of the blonde’s skin. Come back to me, Annika.

Cass stepped closer, understanding what Janeway was trying to do. Initially Seven was totally unresponsive, but the captain persisted, deepening the contact with her wife. She slid her hands up to cup the ex-drone's cold face as she maintained the kiss.

Cass found herself blushing at the sight of her commanding officer making such a personal and intimate gesture. She lowered her eyes in an unconscious attempt to give the married couple as much privacy as she could in the circumstances. But her attention was pulled back sharply as Seven began to respond.

The tall blonde gasped suddenly against her partner's mouth. The assimilation tubules which had connected the ex-drone to the Collective through the console's access port snapped back into her wrist implant with a metallic twang that made Cass wince. Seven's knees buckled and the security chief immediately grabbed her from behind, wrapping her arms around the tall woman's waist.

"K-Kathryn?" Seven whispered hoarsely, blinking in confusion at the captain.

"Right here, sweetheart," replied Janeway calmly, sliding herself under Seven's right arm, as Cass moved round to support the ex-Borg under her left. "Come on, darling, we have to get moving."

"We ... I ... I ... they think everything is fine ... that they have me, and that you three have been a-assimilated," Seven gasped as the others began to half-carry her towards the shuttle.

"That's not going to last long once they spot the shuttle," Cass muttered. She left Janeway to hold up the faltering blonde as she climbed up into the shuttle, then turned back to help drag Seven bodily into the craft.

"Th-thought of that as w-well," Seven stammered. She was shivering and trembling, sweat pouring off her. Must be a reaction to breaking away from the Collective, Cass thought as she gave Janeway a hand up. "Their sensors will see only a garbage d-dump. At least for a little while."

"Good enough," Cass replied, leaving Janeway to help Seven into the seat opposite Naomi, who was strapped into the chair behind the pilot. The security chief tucked herself into the cockpit and began the launch sequence.

Naomi stared wide-eyed at her friend as the captain busied herself making sure Seven was properly restrained for flight. The ex-Borg looked ill and the young girl was scared to say anything that might disturb her. Pale eyes that were slowly resuming their blue shade blinked at her and Seven tried a half-hearted smile at her young friend. Carefully she reached out with her right hand and Naomi eagerly grasped it, squeezing gently.

"D-do not concern yourself, Naomi W-Wildman," Seven whispered. "We … I … will recover."

"Thank you for coming to get me, Seven," the girl said quietly.

Seven just closed her eyes and nodded as Janeway finished strapping her in. The captain paused, studying her partner’s pale face for a moment. She brought a hand up and brushed Seven’s cheek with gentle fingertips, smiling softly as the blonde’s eyelids fluttered open.

"Find a seat, Captain," Cass barked from the cockpit. "I'm getting us out of here in three, two ..." Janeway braced herself by hugging her partner tightly, as Seven weakly wrapped her arms around her. "... One!". The security chief slammed the shuttle backwards out of the cramped docking bay, then swung the craft around and pointed it towards Voyager. Once the shuttle was steady, Janeway kissed Seven quickly, then scrambled forward to sit next to Cass.

"That cube will follow us, Captain," Cass said quietly. "There's no way they're going to let Seven get away once they realize they've been duped."

"That will not be a problem, Lt," said Seven from behind them. She was starting to sound more like her normal self. The two officers looked back over their shoulders at the ex-drone. "They must pull the sphere inside before they can pursue us."

"That's not going to give us long enough, Seven," said Janeway practically. "Not even Voyager at warp nine can outrun a fully powered Borg cube."

"As I said Captain, that will not be a problem," Seven insisted. Three pairs of eyes fixed on her. "I have programmed the sphere to self-destruct once it is inside the cube," she said calmly.

Cass felt herself grinning like a Cheshire cat, while the look on Janeway's face could only be described as complete adoration. Chuckling, Cass tweaked the controls on one panel, bringing up a view of the scenario behind them. The cube already had the sphere in a tractor beam and had almost drawn its little acolyte within itself.

"It will be very fast," Seven warned.

Janeway quickly opened a comm link to the ship.

"Janeway to Voyager," she said crisply.

"Good to hear your voice, Captain," answered Chakotay.

"No time for that, Commander," she replied calmly. "The cube is about to explode. Head for the Alpha Quadrant at best possible speed, now. We'll catch up with you as soon as we can."

Cass whooped as the cube blossomed into a pale green fireball. She quickly tried to calculate how fast the shockwave was expanding towards them. Too fast, she realized, her elation dissipating as quickly as the debris from the cube. Without hesitating she punched the shuttle into its top speed, warp four, just as the shockwave reached them. The small craft’s inertial dampers strained to keep the occupants safe and they were all jostled about as Cass fought to get the shuttle back under control.

****************************

Lis gasped as the cube exploded in a shower of green particles in one corner of the mess hall window. She had been standing at the sill with Sam Wildman, watching as the tiny shuttle had emerged from the sphere. The two women had smiled at each other in tentative relief, knowing at the very least that the away team would not be leaving the Borg craft without all four members on board.

“D-do you think she’s all right?” Sam had asked hesitantly, concerned for her young daughter.

“We’ll know soon,” Lis had answered. She was preoccupied with thoughts of Cass, trying to feel her soulmate’s presence somehow. The blonde wanted to believe that she would know if something was drastically wrong with Cass, but it wasn’t a theory she really wanted to test.

Then the cube had disintegrated, the massive explosion eerily silent in the vacuum of space. Lis barely had time to inhale sharply before the starfield distorted and shifted as Voyager leapt into warp drive.

The woman standing next to her cried out in anguish.

“Where did they go?” Sam yelped, leaning forward, her hands on the windowsill. She searched the streaking starfield in vain. Lis tapped her communicator, her own unease making it an easy decision to intrude on the bridge staff.

“Dayton to Chakotay.”

“Go ahead, Counselor,” came the First Officer’s deep tones.

“Sorry to bother you, Commander,” Lis replied. “I was just wondering what the news from the shuttle was, sir. Ensign Wildman is anxious for an update.” Not to mention me, she thought.

“We had the briefest of contact, Dr,” Chakotay replied. “But our scans showed all four were onboard, and alive. We’re outrunning the shockwave from the explosion right now.” Even as he spoke, Voyager dropped out of warp again, the stars solidifying outside the windows as the ship came to rest. “I’m sure the shuttle was doing the same,” he continued. “Of course they can’t match our top speed so it’s going to be a while before they catch up with us.”

“But Naomi’s all right?” Sam interrupted.

“As far as we know, Ensign, yes,” replied Chakotay calmly. “As I said, I had a brief conversation with the captain, and she sounded fine. My bet would be if she was healthy, then Naomi would be too.”

Sam nodded to herself, knowing the commanding officer would have sacrificed herself before letting Naomi be hurt. She allowed a tentative smile to form on her lips. Lis watched her, satisfied that for the time being at least, the situation was as good as it could be.

“Thank you, Commander,” she said quietly. “Is there any way of knowing when they’ll catch up to us, exactly?”

“Assuming they went straight to their top speed and stayed there, it could be 24 hours, or it could be a couple of days if they suffered any damage from the explosion,” he replied. “Either way, we’ll stay put till they get here.”

“Can we go back for them, Commander?” asked Sam.

Lis already knew the answer to that. Janeway had long had a policy of never backtracking along their course to the Alpha Quadrant unless it was absolutely necessary.

“They’ll be back in communication range soon, Ensign,” Chakotay replied. “If they tell us they need help getting home then we will, otherwise it’s a good idea to give them a stationary target to hit.”

“Understood, sir,” Lis answered for the ensign. “Thanks for the update.”

“No problem. Chakotay out.”

Lis turned back to Samantha, who had her hands over her mouth as the emotion of the last few hours caught up with her. Tears spilled over and Lis stepped closer, wrapping her crewmate up in a supportive hug.

“I’m sure they’re fine,” she murmured, as Sam cried quietly against her shoulder. She felt the woman nodding.

“I know … I know,” Sam said around the sobs. “I just …”

“It’s late, and it’s been a stressful night,” Lis finished for her. “It’s going to be a while before we hear from them again. Why don’t you go and try and get some sleep, Sam? I’m sure the Doctor can help if you feel too wired.”

Sam nodded.

“I think I will,” she murmured, pulling back from Lis’ embrace again. “Thank you for all your support.” She smiled a wobbly smile.

“No problem,” Lis said, happy to have been able to provide at least some comfort. “You were helping me too, you know.”

Sam looked at her quizzically, before understanding. “You and Cass …?” she asked hesitantly.

Lis smiled back, her stomach aching from a strange mix of anxiety and elation. “Yes,” she murmured. “I will be very happy to have her home again.”

Sam smiled more confidently this time.

“That’s wonderful,” she said. “You two have been waiting a long time for each other.”

Lis raised an eyebrow at that. Sometimes I wonder if there is anything about my life that isn’t circulating round this ship’s rumor mill, she thought dryly. She decided to just accept the good wishes at face value.

“Yes we have,” she answered. “Right now I just want her safe.”

“Oh, I do know that feeling,” Sam said as the two women walked out of the mess hall together, heading for the nearest turbolift.

**********************************

Cass sighed as she watched the starfield warping around the tiny shuttlecraft. The ship was the smallest Voyager had and she wasn’t designed for long journeys or continual warp speed. Conditions were cramped for four people, even when one was a child, and Cass had drawn the short straw, taking the first shift at the controls. Janeway would relieve her in four hours.

She looked back over her shoulder and had to smile a little at the sleeping arrangements in the tiny space between the second row of seats and the stern of the shuttle. They had improvised some bedding from seat cushions and the blanket in the first aid kit. Naomi was snuggled against Seven’s right side, soundly sleeping with her head on the ex-drone’s stomach. The captain had begun curled up with her back to the other two, but as sleep had relaxed her she had turned around and was now tucked in the crook of Seven’s other arm, pressed against the blonde’s lanky body.

Nice, Cass thought with a smile. But I’d better not mention it when she wakes up. She grinned at that as she turned back to the view outside the cockpit. Which is a whole bunch of not much, she thought.

They had been caught by the leading edge of the shockwave just as they were about to go into warp drive. It hadn’t stopped their escape, but it had thrown them around a little and caused some minor damage to the shuttle’s port nacelle that needed constant monitoring. Cass leaned forward and made a tiny adjustment to the propulsion system. They had decided on a compromise, not pushing the shuttle beyond warp three in a bid to keep it together until they rendezvoused with Voyager.

In about 36 hours’ time, Cass calculated. She sighed. Which is about 36 hours too long as far as I’m concerned. She eased her feet up onto the co-pilot’s chair and tried to relax. They had been banged about a little by the shockwave and Cass was annoyed to find she was stiff and sore in a number of places. She rubbed her neck absentmindedly, feeling the tenderness where the Borg drone had choked her. Not to mention those damn tubules, she thought, shuddering at the how close she had come to being assimilated.

Ewww. Enough of that, she decided. Now, how can I pass the time and keep myself awake for the next four hours, she pondered. A slow, sexy smile crossed her face. I could always plan how I’m going to say hello to Lissy once I get back. Mmmmmmmmmm. Oh yes. That’ll do nicely.

******************************

The shuttle settled on to the deck of Voyager’s docking bay with a metallic scrape. The sound, eerily amplified, bounced off the walls of the large empty room, announcing their arrival. It was the middle of the night shift and apart from the ensign on duty, only three others awaited their arrival.

Cass didn’t need to look out the cockpit window to know Lis wasn’t one of them. She had spoken to the counselor several hours before, a conversation that was still making her smile.