Disclaimer: Paramount owns everything but the idea.
Clarification: In music, modulation is employed when one is changing keys/tonal centers within a piece. Thus, the feel, idea, and emotion in the piece can change from a depressed to a happy sound.
Based on JuPiter Challenge #22: [from Angela Drews] Write a story in which the first line is, 'He could hear her screams and his heart raced.' Can be frightening, romantic, funny, sweet, whatever your imagination creates.
He could hear her screams and his heart raced. They were pained and sounded more like a threnody for the spirit that was slowly being sucked from her. As it echoed down the corridor and into his cell, Tom tried to cover his ears to hide from the sound. Each one grew more frantic as the torturing session continued, and each succeeded in making his heart ache. He knew that she was of strong will, but her body was frail in comparison. A few more sessions like this one...
She had stepped in the way of a guard's attack on another crew member today. This wasn't the first time she had been beaten for interceding, and it probably wouldn't be the last. As much as Tom had pleaded with her, she would invariably step in the way.
A heavy door slammed shut somewhere down the hall. The cacophony of un-oiled iron hinges creaking against each other followed by a guard's distant growl confirmed there was a prisoner on the row. The sound of shackles being drug along the floor grew louder as they approached. Tom felt his heart beat quicken at the sound, terrified by condition she would be in when they returned her. The massive iron door swung open and two heavy-set guards threw her into the cell.
Captain Kathryn Janeway fell to her knees; the pain too intense to remain standing. She was slowly giving into the dark light that was enveloping her. It offered a warm place to hide where there was no pain, hunger, moans from injured crewmen, and no guards to come for her in the morning. Closing her eyes, she lay down on the cold cement floor.
Tom pulled her limp body against his. His hands slowly stroked her hair as he hummed softly to her. Over the weeks they had been trapped, it had become a ritual to force her to stay with him. A gentle reminder that he was as dependent on her as she was on him.
The cell they were held in was small, no more than five feet by seven, and damp. A tiny, barred window was their only reminder that there was life outside of this prison. Early morning light would filter down through it, and, sometimes, at night, they could see a star filled sky. It taunted them, offering brief glimpses of what they had lost months before.
Food, in the form of watered down broth, came only twice a week. In the early days, they had refused it, worried that it was poisoned. However, current circumstances were such that it no longer mattered. The crew had all but given up hope, believing instead that the only escape would come in the form of death.
As he held her, he couldn't help but notice how thin she had grown. A direct result of the lack of food and the amount of work they were forced into doing. The punishment was direct; anyone not willing to work would be executed along with everyone on their cell block.
Tom slid his hand along her back, noting that he could feel each and every rib's outline perfectly as well as the scars from brutal beating she had received in the past. Kathryn began to stir lightly at his touch.
"Rest. There is still a few more hours before morning," Tom whispered. Kathryn moaned lightly.
"The guards found the tunnel that B'Elanna and Harry had been burrowing at night. Their cell block...," she stopped.
"I know," Tom said softly.
Morning came quickly just as it always did. A screech from the loudspeaker filled the compound, awaking the prisoners. The cell doors all slid open, and each inmate filed out into the main cell block.
"Roll call. Line up in five's," the lead guard barked towards the crew.
Row after row, person after person, began to call out their number. The Kamien had deemed it 'the most efficient way of keeping track of their herd.'
The lead guard, Kenoshia, began to pace behind his podium. To his left, gallows stood prepped with eight nooses. A smug smile tugged at his lips as the blurry eyed crew stared at his latest form of punishment.
"Yesterday, we discovered a tunnel that lead from cell block E towards the main gate. Those in that cell, numbers...," He stopped, checking his notes for accuracy and a dramatic pause, "120 and 121 have been...dealt with. According to Her Royal Highness's rules, everyone else on that cell block must die. Numbers 122 through 130 please step forward and form a straight line."
A murmur fell across the crowd as they stepped forward. Kathryn's eyes strained against the blinding sun to make out their faces as they marched up the steps of the gallows. Ensign Kellerman, Lt. Daniel, Crewman Dunst, Crewman Holmes, Ensign Puccini, Crewman Gano, Sam Wildman and....
"Naomi," she whispered.
Anger surged through her. She had witnessed too many beatings, trying to be indifferent to them all so that no one else would be hurt, but somehow, ending the life of Naomi was something she couldn't bear to see. Naomi was an innocent. Her hands bore none of the stains of sin that any of the other crew members. She was barely able to climb up the steps...Kathryn took a step forward from the line. Tom reached out and grabbed at her hand.
"Kathryn, please..."
Kathryn smiled at Tom. A few months ago she would have scolded him for using her first name in front of the crew, but here all decorum was irrelevant. The only rule that seemed to preside over this place was survival of the fittest.
"I have to. She's just a little girl..."
Tom gave her a fearful look and then nodded slowly. She left the line and moved towards the gallows. Her path was cut short by the butt of a phaser rifle to the back of her head. She fell to the ground, surrounded by the familiar blackness.
"Well, well. It's my lucky day. Your captain seems to wish to take your places. Release them," the lead guard yelled.
Pain spread across her back as the familiar sting of the lead guard's bull whip kissed her flesh again. Kathryn could feel blood pouring freely from her wounds.
Her wrists ached from the weight of her body. They were bound into cuffs as she dangled helpless from the wall. The floor was just a few millimeters out of reach. It taunted her as mercilessly as the guards did.
Kathryn's throat had long since grown raw from screaming, an action she did not recall doing. Breathing was becoming more difficult as was ability to focus in on what was happening.
Another order was being barked out by Kenoshia. A hypospray was being placed against her neck. Darkness slipped into her subconscious. It called to her, offering freedom. This time, she gave in.
Tom began to pace his cell. Kathryn had been taken a little before sunset, and it was nearly morning. His mind was filled with ideas of what had happened to her. For the first few hours, he had heard her screams, but they suddenly grew silent.
He clamped his eyes shut trying to avoid the images that were flowing through his mind. This place brought up old demons in him. The cell was too close to the one he'd lived in while in New Zealand. The walls seemed to be moving in on him. Never had he noticed how truly small the room was until now.
"She can't be dead," he said, leaning against the back wall. "She just can't."
Tom sank down onto the floor, too weak to stand. He eyes began to film over; a haze covered them half from exhaustion half from tears. As much as he hated to admit it, Kathryn was his great hope. His voice of reason that kept him sane within these walls. She'd saved him from his old life and offered him a new one. Helpless...he felt utterly helpless.
Seven years of memories he had shared with her filtered through his mind. The numerous pool games she had won, her chiding him for the sign at Sullivan's, the reassurance she offered him every shift as she placed her hand on his shoulder, the pain in her eyes as she removed his lieutenant's pip, and the mischievous grin when it was returned to him. Slowly, Tom began to realize he couldn't imagine a life without her.
Too wrapped up in his own thoughts, he hadn't heard the door to his cell creak open. A guard, dragging Kathryn behind him, throwing her lifeless body inside. She landed on the ground near Tom's feet.
She became only vaguely aware of her surroundings. The sound of a voice speaking to her softly. It was familiar..a man's voice.
"Kathryn, please wake up," the voice repeated. She could feel his hand on her face. It was warm and reassuring. She licked her lips. Her palette was greeted with the salty taste of sweat mixed with blood ...the lead guard's handiwork.
"Tom?" She said at just above a whisper.
She heard him sigh with relief before responding. He pulled her into his arms again. Placing her head against his chest, she could hear his heartbeat quicken. A smile tugged at her lips.
"I always did have that affect on you, didn't I?"
Tom laughed lightly. "You mean being able to put me into a panic about your well being?"
"Hmm..I was thinking more along the lines of making your heart beat faster," she said, laughing.
Kathryn felt Tom stiffen at her comment. Craning her neck to look up at him, she saw him crimsoning at her comment.
Kathryn raised an eyebrow. "Tom Paris at a loss for words?" She laughed at him lightly.
"I just never thought..." He said, voice trailing off.
"Never thought what?" she repeated.
He smiled at her. "I never thought that I would see you again."
"And leave you all alone to brood? Never."
Kathryn reached up and drew her hand along his cheek until she met his lips. Her thumb brushing against the soft tissue. She sighed lightly and lowered her hand.
"Kathryn? What's wrong?"
He ran his hand along her back, feeling the blood soaking through her uniform. His face instantly changed to one of utter concern.
She shook her head slowly. "There was just so many things I had thought would happen in my life..." Her voice trailing off.
Tom remained quiet and waited for her to continue. He drew her closer towards him to offer what little comfort he could.
"I always put my career ahead of my family life. It's just my personality; the need to be in control. Mark understood it, but hated it. Don't get me wrong. I don't regret my time on Voyager, but I always thought that I would have children, a husband...maybe even a desk job someday."
"Somehow I can't see you in a desk job," Tom said lightly.
"Well, it would be worth a try," she said laughing. "Anything would be an improvement to our current situation."
"Permission to speak candidly, Captain."
"Granted." She said, raising an eyebrow.
"Why didn't you ever date anyone on Voyager?"
She sighed sadly. Given their current situation, revealing too much wouldn't be out of the question. "I suppose protocol for one, and, two, who would want to? I'm grouchy, have a full schedule, am devoted to the ship first, and I wouldn't be objective towards that person."
"Why do you say that? I've never seen you make a decision based solely on emotion."
"Then how would you explain the demotion and the thirty days I gave you?" She replied. The words tumbled out before she could stop herself. Kathryn turned her gaze away, unable to meet his.
Tom reached out and touched her cheek lightly, turning her face back towards his. He smiled down at her, and kissed her lightly on the forehead.
"Stardate 54392.05. We stopped at an M class planet in the Garrent System. We were married on the holodeck in that beach resort program mine. We went against tradition and I wore that silly, red Hawaiian shirt and you had on a black one piece and a sarong that was in shades of red, orange, and yellow. Chakotay gave you away.
"We spent two glorious weeks on Takar before we returned to duty on Voyager. When you returned for your first shift, Harry announced your arrival on the bridge with 'Captain Paris on the bridge.'"
Kathryn raised an eyebrow and finally met his gaze. "Stardate 54392.05 we were no where near the Garrent System, and the only time I have been to that beach resort is when Neelix insisted on holding a morale party there."
"Surely you remember when I proposed to you. We were on the outskirts of Fair Haven, near the cliffs looking out on the water. The sun was setting in the distance, and the water was slowly turning from a deep blue to black. The wind was howling through the sea caves below. I remember how cold it was because I put my jacket on your shoulders. You turned away from me to look out at the ocean. I placed my hand on your face and stroked your hair lightly just as I've done every day that we have been here. I got down on my knee..."
Kathryn closed his eyes, not wanting him to see her cry. "None of that happened," she whispered. He pulled her her closer.
"It could have."
"Tom, you don't have to humor me."
"Who said I was humoring you?" Tom replied before drawing Kathryn into a kiss. She didn't protest nor did she back away. Instead, she gave in to him.
Part 2
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