Timeline: Season 5
Breathless (Part One)
"Captains log supplemental. During an away mission on Mulren Four we met with a peaceful race, the Candullay's, with whom we have come to a mutually beneficial agreement. They are to provide us with dilithium crystals and food supplies. In exchange I have granted permission for a science team to stay aboard Voyager for a period of three days, allowing them use of our facilities to complete their research into plant chemicals. Due to the extra space required by our guests, the crew will have to share quarters temporarily."
The corridors were full of Candullay's moving strange looking apparatus into various rooms; Janeway had never seen the corridors so packed to capacity. There were people and equipment over-flowing every square metre of Voyager's decks. Everyone was busy and the atmosphere was alive with excitement. It looked as though this was going to be an enjoyable experience for all concerned.
Janeway walked beside Seven as they made their way towards B'Elanna Torres's quarters, where they would be staying for the next few days. The demand for space was greater than the quantity of space, however, the crew had been most accommodating and were more than willing to treble-up in accommodation.
The Captain had also given up her quarters to the leaders of the Candullay party, it was the least she could do in return for their kindness. Dilithium crystals were hard to come by in this region of space. Janeway just hoped that she didn't end up spending her time acting as a mediator between the temperamental Klingon and the infamously cool drone.
They were both carrying a box of their personal affects, Well, if Seven can call dust particle data personal affects, Janeway thought to herself, making a mental note to have a little chat with her Astrometric's officer about the importance of interests outside the workplace.
The doors to B'Elanna's quarters were already open; Kathryn poked her head inside, calling out to her Chief Engineer.
"Make yourselves at home!" Came the tentative reply.
Janeway set her box down on the coffee table.
Feeling highly uncomfortable with this whole arrangement, Seven imitated the Captain, placing her small box beside Janeway's.
Kathryn couldn't help but notice Seven's unease. Anxiety was printed all over the blonde's face and her body language was enough to send the Borg Queen into a nervous break-down.
Kathryn placed a comforting hand on the blonde's arm. "It's alright Seven, no one's going to bite," she said soothingly.
Seven smiled obligingly at Janeway, feeling glad that at least she would have Janeway with her; the Captain could make any situation bearable.
Torres appeared from the bathroom, having just replicated new towels for her guests and finished a spot of cleaning. She smiled at Janeway and even attempted a half-smile for Seven. If they had to live together for three days; she figured she should make an effort to be pleasant.
Just then Tuvok entered and if B'Elanna's eyes weren't deceiving her, the Vulcan seemed irritated.
"Did you get the bunk bed?" Torres asked him, since that had been the aim of his trip to Cargo Bay 3.
Tuvok ignored her enquiry and looked intently at the Captain; he opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by the arrival of Chakotay who appeared in the doorway, carrying a large box that looked as if it were attacking him. He peered over the top of it.
"Where do you want this?" he asked, sounding exhausted and slightly dazed.
Janeway looked around the room and pointed to a chair. "How about over there?"
Chakotay mocked saluted her and staggered over to the chair. Putting the container down carefully, he sighed with unrestrained relief.
Tuvok remained stern as he said, "Captain, will you grant me permission to change my accommodation arrangements?"
Chakotay moved to Janeway's side, breathing heavily at the unexpected exercise. He put his hands on his hips, his attention on Tuvok.
"Tuvok, the crew have already begun settling in. It wouldn't be fair to everyone else if I allowed you to swap rooms. It would cause a lot of disruption. Frankly - it wouldn't be logical!" argued the Captain, trying to stop herself from laughing at the look of sheer dismay on the Security Chief's face. It was a rarity and quite priceless, definitely a dear diary moment!
Janeway and Chakotay shared a covert look, then Kathryn stepped forward and put a comforting arm across Tuvok's shoulders. "Think of it as an educational experience." She commiserated, nodding her head in a positive manner that was meant to instil him with confidence of her confidence in him.
He still looked bewildered. Janeway patted him on the back.
Tuvok let out a sigh. "Very well," he said, obviously displeased.
He marched out of the room, causing Seven and B'Elanna to stare after him in amazement.
Janeway and Chakotay leaned in to each other as they watched Tuvok exit.
"What I wouldn't give to be a fly on that wall!" declared Chakotay.
Tuvok hovered in the corridor, staring with dread at the door in front of him. In his arms he held a box of his belongings as if it would protect him. He stepped into the room, looking anxiously around.
Neelix suddenly appeared from behind him.
"Hello Mr. Vulcan! Or should I call you Mr. Roommate? Won't this be fun?" chirped the perpetually up-beat Talaxian.
The Mess Hall was buzzing with the noise of raised voices intermingled with laughter.
Janeway, Chakotay and Harry stood in the midst of it all, conversing with the Candullayan leaders, Synbar and Nelvrn.
Nelvrn leaned towards Janeway. "I just want to tell you how much we appreciate your kindness Captain."
Synbar nodded in corroboration, adding. "The facilities you have provided for us will put us ahead of schedule by months. You have saved us invaluable time and we thank you."
The Captain smiled diplomatically. "The pleasure is all ours, please - no more thank you's. We're happy to help."
A Candullayan approached Nelvrn and whispered in her ear.
With a look of urgency, Nelvryn turned to Janeway. "Excuse me Captain; we are needed."
Nelvrn and Synbar bowed to their Starfleet hostess and then hurried out of the Mess Hall.
"Well, they were certainly grateful," Chakotay observed.
"Yes…" Kathryn muttered; a familiar look of distrust crossed her elegant features.
Chakotay didn't need to say anything, he already knew what the Captain was thinking and made a mental note to keep a close eye on the Candually until their departure. Hopefully Kathryn could relax and enjoy the rarity of having some time off while he kept the ship up and running.
Unaccustomed to the metallic materials that made up the kitchens surfaces, Gaccais was easily impressed as Neelix talked her through the functions of his kitchen utensils and the different foods he prepared. He figured since plants were her field of expertise she would be interested in gaining knowledge of Voyager's hydroponics bay. He had been right - Gaccais had been most eager to learn.
"...and this is Dawnlew. I use it to spice up dishes, otherwise the food the crew insists on eating would be unbearably bland."
He handed her a small plant pot.
She opened the top and smelt it. "Oh, it smells wonderful, such a strong scent and the detail on the leaves. So intricate..."
Neelix nodded, pleased by her enthusiasm. "You can keep it, if you want."
"Really? No - I couldn't possibly," the young Candually exclaimed.
"Go ahead. There are plenty more to go around. Think of it as a present, from me to you."
Gaccais leaned forward and kissed Neelix on the cheek. He was surprised but pleased.
She put the Dawnlew carefully into her shoulder bag, eager to study it when she got back to her quarters… after the small matter of her mission.
Jeffries tube deck eleven, section two was further than she expected and far more cramped than she had been led to believe. Gaccais hated confined spaces; they made her nervous.
She worked on the computer console specified in her instructions from Head Quarters - this was her first mission and she desperately wanted it to be a success.
At the back of her mind, Gaccais felt the niggling of guilt. The crew of Voyager had been so helpful… so generous. Her mind flashed back to Neelix and his kindness. Then she pushed the memory from her mind, she had to do this – Voyager had everything and they had nothing.
She completed her task and slid the panel cover back in place, gathered up her equipment and headed towards the tube hatch. As she climbed out, she tripped and fell, dropping her equipment and cutting her leg.
Grimacing with pain, Gaccais leant over to pick up the fallen implements; the Dawnlew plant pot fell unnoticed from her bag and rolled silently along the floor and tumbled through an open hatch. After retrieving her equipment, Gaccais glanced around and then left in a hurry. The longer she stayed the higher the probability of being caught and that would ruin all their plans.
When Janeway entered her temporary quarters, the lights were low. B'Elanna was curled up on the sofa reading a book and Seven was nowhere to be seen. Janeway felt slightly disappointed by the absence of the ex-drone.
Torres looked up from the pages of her novel. "Captain," she greeted, giving a rare smile. "Chakotay called by earlier."
Kathryn grinned. "Did he manage to get it?" she asked, awash with excitement, her eyes beaming with anticipation.
B'Elanna grinned, Janeway looked so cute, like a child who had the entire cookie jar at their disposal. "He set it up in the bathroom," she replied.
Janeway almost skipped over to the bathroom, the door opened and she sighed in wonderment at the bathtub that now took up most of the space. She silently thanked Chakotay, first thing tomorrow when her roommates were out of her hair she would have a good, long soak.
Janeway and Torres were already in their night attire when Seven entered. She glanced briefly between the two women, then reached her arm up and shed her bio suite.
Torres instantly shielded her eyes with her hands, while Janeway stared at the naked ex-drone in shock.
"Seven, what are you doing?" the Captain asked, her voice strangled as she gazed, entranced by the beauty of the woman who stood before her. Seven was magnificent. The mesh of metal and smooth skin decorated Seven's left shoulder, trailed across her chest and followed down her abdomen.
"Preparing for 'bed'," the blonde answered.
"You don't undress in front of people!" Torres cried out, her eyes still firmly covered.
Seven seemed surprised by this over-reaction. After all, the Captain and Torres were also female - they had seen the naked female form numerous times, why were they behaving so strangely?
"Explain," Seven demanded taking her usual stance with her hands gripped behind her back.
Torres turned to Janeway and said in a low voice. "Is she still naked?"
"Yes," replied Kathryn, finding it difficult to look away. She knew she should avert her eyes but Seven was a vision of perfection - the closest the Borg had come.
Suddenly it occurred to her that she should be doing something, after all, Seven was now looking to her for clarification. Close you mouth Katie. Pick your jaw up off the floor and stop drawling before you embarrass yourself! Janeway instructed herself.
Kathryn pulled a sheet from the top bunk and walked unsteadily towards her Astrometric's officer. She almost felt afraid to touch Seven. It was odd, seeing Seven like this… her physical shape seemed to make her that bit more human, that bit more accessible.
The blonde allowed the Captain to drape the sheet across her shoulders and observed Janeway's flushed face and shortness of breath and wondered what she had done wrong. She hoped the Captain wasn't angry with her, there was nothing she hated more than unintentionally upsetting Janeway.
Kathryn pulled the sheet securely around Seven, making sure the crucial areas were concealed. Then tucked the corner of the sheet under Seven's arm. The younger woman's skin was warm and supple under her fingers and Janeway pulled back, overwhelmed by the unsavoury thoughts whirling through her mind. As she turned away from Seven, she inadvertently brushed her arm lightly against Seven's thinly veiled breasts. The ex-drone shuddered. Tingling sensations ignited within her body and a tremendous sense of heat permeated through each of her nerve endings.
"It's alright B'Elanna," Kathryn assured.
Torres looked up from behind her hands. "You don't undress in front of other people, it's just not the done thing," the Klingon explained, waving her arms emphatically.
Seven tugged shyly at the sheet wrapped around her, suddenly feeling vulnerable. Not because of what Torres had said but because of the feelings the Captain had awakened in her. She could not identify them… she was aware that she had not experienced them before and that frightened her.
"Never do that again," B'Elanna warned.
Seven nodded numbly. She fetched her pyjamas and then stood awkwardly, waiting to be given instructions as to where one did get undressed.
Janeway caught the pained look on Seven's delicate features and her heart went out to the younger woman. She pointed to the bathroom. Seven nodded and disappeared into the other room.
When she was safely out of earshot, B'Elanna turned with disbelief to the Captain. "You would have thought the Doctor might have covered that in one of his lessons!"
Seven, now fully clothed, lay on the top bunk. Her whole body was rigid. Janeway stood at beside her; while Torres sat on her own bed on the other side of the room, half immersed in reading and half surveying her new roommates.
"The Doctor said that I should attempt sleep, to allow my human physiology to rest but I am unaccustomed to the process," Seven enlightened her Captain.
Janeway smiled. "Don't think of it as a process, Seven. You have to loosen your muscles, relax."
Seven still looked extremely uncomfortable. "This is an awkward position. As Borg, there was no need to lie down," irritation clear in her tone.
"You'll get used to it soon enough," B'Elanna attempted to be encouraging.
Seven gazed expectantly at Janeway. "What now?" she asked uncertainly.
Janeway smiled comfortingly. "Close your eyes."
Seven did as she was instructed.
Janeway studied Seven; she looked so serene. She had gone to Cargo Bay 2 on numerous occasions to talk to the ex-drone and found her regenerating but instead of leaving, she had habitually stayed and watched Seven. It was so satisfying. It made her feel as if everything bad in the universe was conquerable, as if anything were possible. Seven gave her hope.
"That's it. Now you... wait," Kathryn informed her friend.
"For what?" came the puzzled reply.
"Sleep," said B'Elanna.
Seven opened one eye. "The Doctor did not mention that I would have to wait."
Janeway grinned, "You won't have to wait long; you'll soon drift off into a peaceful sleep. Trust me."
"I do trust you Captain," Seven stated.
Kathryn felt warmed by this declaration.
Seven closed her opened eye and nestled into a more comfortable position, letting her body meld into the mattress.
"That's better. Forget about the stresses of the day," coaxed Janeway.
"I felt no stress today."
Janeway rolled her eyes and Torres smiled.
"Alright… now, empty your mind of everything... all thoughts... " Janeway opened her mouth to speak again but was silenced by a loud snore from Seven.
Janeway lifted Seven's arm and let it drop; she was out for the count.
Kathryn glanced over at Torres, who shrugged.
"I guess you have the magic touch!" B'Elanna teased.
Seven snored again. Janeway and Torres exchanged an amused smile, then laughed.
Gaccais sat on the bio-bed quietly as the Doctor repaired the cut on her leg.
"How did you manage to get in such a scrape?" he inquired.
Gaccais hesitated. "I'm not sure really, I… I didn't even notice it until a short while ago."
The Doctor glanced up at her. "You should be more careful," he scolded gently. He hated treating ailments that were avoidable; humanoids had a tendency not to take care of themselves properly.
Gaccais nodded, overcome with guilt. She was planning their destruction and yet this man… hologram… was full of compassion for her.
"So, how are you enjoying your stay on Voyager?" The EMH asked politely, he was always proud of the ship and relished any opportunity to discuss Voyager's capability.
"Very much," came the stilted reply.
"Have you seen much of the ship?"
Gaccais avoided eye contact with the Doctor - he didn't seem to notice.
"Hardly any, just the lab and Mess Hall," the Candually lied.
Main Engineering had a peaceful quality about it first thing in the morning Ensign Yates thought as he studied the schematic of Voyager. While he was pondering, something caught his eye. He walked over to Lt. Torres, who was deep in conversation with Tom Paris; she looked tired.
"She's that loud huh?" The pilot asked sympathetically.
"Like you wouldn't believe! The Captain and I didn't get any sleep last night. I tell you Tom, I was this close" she held her thumb and index finger less than half an inch apart, "to throttling her! On top of which, I have to pull a double shift today."
Torres rubbed her eyes wearily. "Alright - I'm done moaning. I'll just try to get a good sleep tonight. Go to bed early and fall asleep before she does!" the Engineer joked.
Yates approached the couple. "Sorry to interrupt Lieutenant but there seems to be a problem with the impulse drives. I've located it to the fusion reactors on deck eleven," Yates informed his superior.
"Get a maintenance kit and fix it, we don't want to lose auxiliary power," B'Elanna ordered. It was going to be a long day; she could feel it.
Mulren Four was a dazzling combination of greenery and beaches; the temperature seemed to be perfect, not too hot and not too cold. The crew of Voyager were collecting fruit and vegetables for the hydroponics bay. Tasting the various delicacies was, of course, part of the task and the crew threw themselves happily into the chore.
Standing together in a cluster, Janeway, Chakotay, Torres and Paris discussed the joys of being able to feel the sun on their skin and the wonders of not being able to hear the continuous low purr of the warp drive.
Seven approached, a wicker basket draped over her arm that contained an oddly shaped yellow fruit. The Captain had prohibited her from performing her normal duties, insisting that she get some 'fresh air' and join in the gathering of provisions. At first Seven had been resistant but if Janeway thought it was important, she decided it would be an acceptable way to spend the day.
"What have you got there Seven?" Kathryn inquired, curiosity alive in her eyes.
Seven found the Captain's interest in such a trivial matter amusing and slightly… endearing? The ex-drone moved beside Janeway, picking up one of the fruits. "It is called a hjumdu-ka'l. Taste it," offered the blonde.
She held up the fruit.
"How?" Janeway asked as she she looked at the bumpy, furry skin of the fruit.
"You bite directly into it," Seven clarified and held the fruit up to Janeway's lips. The Captain hesitated, then saw the look of complete assurance in Seven's eyes and leaned forwards. She bit into the fruit and her taste buds were immediately activated by the complexities of the fruit; it was delicious. Janeway smiled at her Astrometric's officer, she wiped her mouth but some of the hjumdu-ka'l juice trickled down Kathryn's chin. Seven almost gasped at the sight, she was tempted to lean forward and lick the fruit juice from the Captain's face and was shocked by the thought.
Janeway felt the stickiness on her chin and quickly wiped it away with the back of her hand. Seven wore a strange expression and Janeway was about to ask what was wrong when Paris drew her attention away from the blonde by declaring. "Tuvok looks cheerful!"
They all turned to see Tuvok, looking harassed and being closely followed by Neelix.
"I'll bet they're getting on like a house on fire!" B'Elanna joked.
Janeway and Chakotay exchanged a devious glance.
"Wouldn't they make the greatest couple?!" Chakotay said playfully.
"I'll bet you Tuvok cracks before the three days are up," Paris wagered good-humouredly.
"He will not," responded Seven defensively. She greatly respected the Security Officer and could never understand why Paris and Kim took so much pleasure in tormenting him.
Tom crossed his arms at this challenge. "I'll bet he won't survive three days."
"I… bet he shall," stated the blonde.
"You're on. Anyone else care to join?" Tom opened-up the wager.
"My money's on Tuvok," Janeway declared, taking a step closer to Seven.
"Even Tuvok can't have that much self-control!" Torres united with Tom.
They turned to Chakotay who held up his arms. "I'm staying out of this one!"
"What are the conditions?" the Captain enquired, she did enjoy a challenge.
"If B'Elanna and I lose we'll sing, I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts in front of the crew at Neelix's next Talent Night. But if we win, you and Seven have to perform the ritual mating dance of the pookey-snuckums."
Chakotay grinned at either prospect while B'Elanna stared at Tom in horror. Seven felt her stomach lurch at the possibility of having to do the pookey-snuckums with Janeway.
Paris extended his hand towards Janeway. Kathryn turned to Seven, who nodded her agreement. Janeway shook Tom's hand and the deal was sealed.
As Tuvok drew near, they all suppressed a smile.
Janeway observed the pained look on her Security Officer's face and felt a momentarily pang of guilt. "Yes Lieutenant?" she asked.
"Captain, I wish to discuss my rooming arrangements with you," stated the fraught Vulcan.
"Go ahead."
Tuvok looked pained at what he was about to say. "I am finding it difficult to share a confined space with that... with Neelix. He has gone through my personal effects - without my permission. He has no regard for my rituals. He talks incessantly... and..." Tuvok paused in embarrassment.
"Yes?" Janeway pressed.
"This morning - he made me breakfast in bed!"
The others looked away - biting their lips to stop from laughing.
"Looks like you and the Captain should air out your dancing shoes!" Tom whispered to Seven,
With masterful seriousness, the Captain leaned into Tuvok and lowered her voice to emphasis her concern. "I'm sorry you feel this way Tuvok but it is only for two more nights. Have you tried talking to Neelix about this?"
Just then, Neelix approached with a basket brimming with herbs.
"Hello there! Isn't it a glorious day?" the Talaxian sang cheerfully.
When he reached them, he put his arm across Tuvok's shoulders. "What a joy to spend it with my dearest friends."
They all grinned as Tuvok took a deep breath, betraying his annoyance. "I must return to my duties," he stated bluntly.
"You're going back to Voyager?. I think I'll come with you Tuvok," the Morale Officer declared.
The others watched as the pair walked off, Neelix chatting away and Tuvok wishing he were anywhere else.
"This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship!" Janeway laughed.
B'Elanna turned to Tom. "Come on - we have a shuttlecraft to repair," she reminded him, fixing her command cap firmly in place.
The Captain diverted her attention back to her Chief Engineer. "Have you discovered what caused the shuttlecraft's central computer core to shut down?"
Torres shook her head, feeling frustrated. "No, the computer doesn't seem able to trace the origins of the energy discharge."
"Keep me informed," Janeway instructed.
"Aye Captain."
Torres and Paris headed back to the ship.
Yates crawled out of the Jeffery's tube on deck eleven, section two. Shining his torch onto the panel door, he opened it and was about to begin repairs to the damaged circuit relays when something unusual caught his eye.
"That's odd - the reactors have been severed from the inside..." he said aloud but his trail of thought was interrupted by a faint slithering noise.
He froze; the sound was getting nearer. Slowly, he turned in the direction of the noise and was savagely grabbed and pulled upwards. He screamed but no one heard.
Kathryn returned wearily to Voyager. After three hours in the heat picking fruit she was covered in sweat and dirt. She entered B'Elanna's empty quarters and ran a bath. She climbed out of her uniform, piled her hair on top of her head with a clip and slipped into the comforting folds of water, lying back and enjoying the relaxation that washed over her tense muscles.
As the water caressed her skin, Janeway's mind drifted back to the previous evening. The whole incident with Seven re-played in her mind and her face flushed at the memory. Why had she stood their gaping like an idiot for so long? Why hadn't she launched into "Captain" mode automatically? Because it threw you, Katie. Her inner voice ascertained. Yet, Kathryn felt unsatisfied with this reasoning, she was a Starfleet officer, she thrived on the unexpected; the situation with Seven would hardly be enough to throw her, unless… her muscles tensed again.
Kathryn heard the doors to the bathroom open and Seven entered.
Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix Zero-One, ex-Borg Drone who had faced every form of combat and conflict without trepidation, now stood rooted to the spot in panic. Her ocular implant had first perceived the bathtub, then that it was filled with water, then that it contained the Captain. The naked Captain.
Kathryn sat up, pulling her knees into her chest, the water whirled about her with the sudden movement and splashed onto the tiled floor.
Still feeling the aftermath of the sensations the Captain had stirred today and last night, Seven was at a loss as to what she should do. She opened her mouth to speak but no words would come. The Captain's gaze conveyed her embarrassment at this unexpected invasion of her privacy.
Seven took a step back and hurriedly exited the room. The door swished close after her, separating them. Seven stood motionless in the bedroom. Her legs were heavy with weakness. Before the Captain had sat up, she had seen everything… and she had a photographic memory. Seven closed her eyes and saw the image in perfect detail. Janeway's body was as perfect as she had envisioned but there was something more… the texture of her wet skin was unexpectedly appealing, Seven couldn't fathom it. The Captain's hair casually pulled back like that, they way it hung messily about Janeway's face, the blush on Janeway's face, the sound of water against the Captains bare skin… all made the blonde want to jump in the tub with her.
Seven took a deep breath. Her heart was attempting to burst through her ribcage and her jaw clenched tightly in an effort to stop what she was about to do, but it was already too late.
Seven stepped forward and re-entered the bathroom.
Ensign Baron and Scott crawled along Jeffery's tube deck eleven, section two cautiously.
"This is the last known co-ordinate of Yates," Baron informed his co-worker.
They reached the hatch and opened it. They both screamed as they were latched on to and dragged through the conduit by something unseen.