A/N: This is my first story on this site, so I would really appreciate any feedback you have! I'm looking to beceome a much better writer and I'm guessing that actually writing things will help! So I'm not going to publish another chapter unless someone reviews this one, but I will keep working, so if you keep reviewing I'll keep posting.
I haven't had this beta-ed, firstly because I don't really know what it is, secondly because I think I'm very good at grammar anyway.
Disclaimer: Just like everyone else on this site, I really don't own any of the Star Treks nor their characters. The new aliens are the only things that are mine. I'd rather not be sued, thanks =]
It all happened so fast, no one was quite prepared for it.
One minute, Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager and her crew were sailing along just fine, trying to shorten the journey home that should take 75 years, and the next they faced a huge ship that seemed to come out of nowhere. Kathryn didn't even have time to sound Red Alert and throw up the shields before armed humanoids overtook the bridge and held captive each of the officers. She stood facing a man, clearly their leader, who announced "We are taking over the ship."
Obviously, she thought. "Mr. Chakotay," she called to her first officer without turning her head in the slightest.
"Yes Captain," she heard him answer.
"We will be in my ready room. You have the bridge." She led the way.
Inside, she sat at her desk and the alien sat in one of the chairs opposite. For a minute, they only examined each other. The alien was very humanoid, and very handsome by human standards. He had blonde hair and green eyes, very different from the other members of his crew. While he could have passed for human, they were ogre-like and clearly alien. This man in front of her was dangerous, though; Kathryn could tell by the gleam of a battle already won in his eyes and how he held himself: back straight, chin up. He knew that he was superior to her and wasn't afraid to hide it. This would be an interesting conversation. She finally broke the silence with a very exasperated, "Who are you?"
"I am Kartok of the Thayn," he answered.
"And why are you here?"
"We are taking over the ship."
"Our ship is of no use to you. We are still making repairs from the last battles we had. Besides, yours must be more advanced than ours if you could appear out of thin air."
"We could sell it."
"Only a fool would buy such a broken ship."
"The warp core."
"How would you transport it? Would you tow the whole ship to the nearest buyer?"
After some consideration, he replied "I suppose not."
Kathryn was relieved, but she did not show it. "Then you have no use for us."
But Kartok was not so hasty. He said with a wicked smile "Not so fast Captain…"
"Janeway. Kathryn Janeway."
"Well, Captain Janeway, if the ship has no use to us, then it does not even deserve to exist as far as I'm concerned. We will leave, but your ship, and your crew, will not."
Though she managed to control her facial expression, Kathryn was sure her face paled as her mind whirled through the possibilities of things they could take.
"We have water," she said remembering the early wants of the delta tribe people.
"As do we."
"Replicators."
"Previously installed."
"Holodeck?" Tom Paris would not be happy with this suggestion, but at this point she was getting desperate. She was running out of things to give.
"An amusing choice, Captain, but we have them already. If that is all, I think we'll just…"
"Wait." She stood up. This was their final option. It was either this, or death in the battle that would ensue. "Take me."
Kartok was not as surprised by this suggestion as would be expected; she hoped he hadn't been leading up to this the entire time. But he was a good negotiator and asked "Why should I do that?"
Kathryn was prepared for this one. "Firstly, you would get more from this meeting then a pile of debris and some repairs. Secondly, I'm sure there are things to be done on your ship that no one wants to do. And, if you were to have no more use for me, I could be sold.
He seemed intrigued by this, she hoped. How odd that my only wish now is to leave this ship, and when I do I will only want to come back.
"But I could say the same for the rest of the crew, and if I took them all I would have much more manpower, and more money."
Kathryn had to stay on her toes to keep ahead of this man; he was too logical, too cunning. This was the last thing she wanted to say. "Because for as long as you leave Voyager alone, I will willingly do whatever you wish."
Now he had a curious expression on his face that he no longer tried to hide. He had wanted this, she knew it. But what other choice did she have? Her heart was pounding like a snare drum, leading up to the final answer. She thought she might break in two: a noble half, wanting him to say yes and save the crew, and the scared little girl she used to be terrified of what would happen if he did.
"Anything?" he confirmed.
"Anything," she whispered and stared at the ceiling, the ground, her desk, anywhere but his piercing green eyes.
"Captain Kathryn Janeway, I do believe we have a deal."