I do not own the characters. No profit made off this ritzy biosuit.
Rated T to M
POV Janeway
Misplaced
Alert, you've been spotted
My shift is finally over. With a deep sigh, I move my PADD's from my desk and toss them into my briefcase to take back to my empty cabin. "Oh the glitz and glamour of a Starfleet Captain," muttering to myself, I walk to the turbo lift.
My eyes slide over to watch Chakotay as he sits in his Officer's chair, shoulders tossed back and head facing the view screen. Our eyes meet as he turns his head to watch me walking. My eyebrow raises in question and he smiles then shakes his chin. Five years of command together has cemented our translation of each others body language.
Smiling at the two of us, I step into the turbo lift and say, "deck three." The turbo lift jumps under my feet and I close my eyes for the quick ride up. Far too soon, the doors flip open and I step out into the hallway of deck three, turning right to head towards my home away from home.
My fingers punch in the lock code automatically and I enter my cabin. The lights are lowered and the atmosphere is quiet. Sighing with pleasure, my feet carry me over to my couch. The cushions look so soft and they beckon me. I relent and sprawl down on them face down, my briefcase falling to the floor with a thud.
"Oh couch," I mumble against weaved cotton coverings. My eyelids close and I allow my body to relax for the first time since this morning.
I am so very tired, mentally and physically. Peace and quiet has become my refuge and I relish it with every breath of stagnant air conditioned air I take. Darkened points dance across my closed eyes and I feel my body beginning to fall into sleep.
A warm hand touches my shoulder gently.
"Hmmm, go away," I softly whine and turn my face away from the figure touching me. Inhaling a deep breath, I smell peach. "Gis?" my relaxed brain connects the scent with my earlier memories.
"No Captain," a soft feminine voice says from close by.
I open my eyes and turn my head. Standing beside me is a tall silhouette. "Seven?"
"Yes. I am here to assist." She leaves her warm hand on my shoulder. The touch comforts me and alarms me. Seven never touches me unless I am 'damaged' as she says.
"Assist with what?"
"Your lost coffee mug."
Sitting up, I meet her twinkling gaze. Her eyebrows raise up in the low lights. "Lights, brighter by thirty percent," I command and close my eyes until the lights are brighter. Opening my eyes, I see Seven in her bio-suit standing beside my couch and looking at me with a puzzled expression on her pale features.
"Uhm.. Feel free to look around for the mug, but I'm telling you, its not here." I stand up and stretch my arms above my head. Impromptu nap interrupted.
"Stay out of my bedroom drawers and closet. But look everywhere else if you want." With a nod of her head, she walks around my cabin while I head into my kitchen to fix something to eat. My stomach is growling and demanding food. "Are you hungry?" I call out.
"I do not require food at this time," came the immediate low toned response.
"Okay then," I mutter and head to the replicator to get a turkey sandwich and vegetable soup. Nutritious and filling. I always feel like vegetable soup when I feel the weight of my command bearing down heavily upon my shoulders.
"Did you find it?" I carry my dishes over to my table and sit down, glancing over frequently towards my bedroom and where Seven is still lurking about. Probably looking through my closet even though I asked her not too.
"I do not see it Captain," she shouts from inside my ensuite.
"We'll find it later. Come and sit with me while I eat dinner."
She marches through my doorway and stands at attention. "What do you require Captain?"
"I don't require anything. I would like your company while I eat dinner. Please sit with me?" She moves towards me slowly. I sigh and glance up at her as she stands beside me. Pointing to the chair in front of her I say, "sit down and keep me company," I use my command tone and she immediately grabs the chair and sits on the edge. Her hands wrapping around the edge of the material tightly.
"You won't fall off Seven."
"I apologize." Blue eyes meet mine briefly, then she looks away and down at my steaming soup. "You feel the need for comfort. Are you upset over the loss of your coffee mug?"
My eyes blink and I drift down to stare at my bowl of soup. "Why..would you say that?"
"You only consume the dish known as vegetable soup when you are upset."
I am intensely flattered and slightly embarrassed she observes my eating preferences as closely as she does. I wonder what else she knows about my preferences?
"I'm feeling distress over the loss. It is very special to me and cannot be replaced," I mumble as I pick up my spoon and take a timid bite of my replicated soup. My eyes flutter shut as I savor the taste of the broth, using my taste buds to identify the spices used. Hmm, tastes a bit salty. But I dip down for another spoonful anyways, my growling stomach still needs to be filled with some form of food.
"Captain to the bridge." I drop my spoon back into my bowl dejectedly.
"Be right there," I shout and sigh. Another supper abandoned before I even have the chance to consume it.
"I will accompany you Captain." Seven stands up from the table, waiting at attention for me to hoist my tired butt back to my feet.
I nod. "Yes, I'm sure I'll need your expertise."
With a quick push, I am on my feet and tossing my napkin onto my full plate. She turns and leads the way out of my cabin. I follow her silently out the open doors and down the hallway to the turbo lift. Standing side by side while we ride the turbo lift down to the bridge on Deck One, my eyes dart over to watch her. Blue eyes meet my side glance and we both quickly look forward once again.
"I am sorry your meal was interrupted," she softly says as the turbo lift halts and I step out first.
Turning my head to glance at her, I say, "don't worry about it. It's become routine by now."
"Captain on the bridge," Chakotay shouts and stands up from his chair to watch me approach him. His eyes flicker to Seven then back at me. A dark eyebrow raises and a smile lifts the corner of his thin lips. It's his 'what's going on between you two' expression. He gives me this look everyday now. I shake my head at the silent query of something between Seven and I, not that I would tell his nosy butt anyways.
Seven takes her position behind the command chairs and looks down at her control panel, fingers flying over the buttons. "Captain…a Borg cube is within range of our sensors."
"Borg," I shout. "Are they approaching?" I look to Seven. "We aren't even in their territory."
"With all due respect Captain, the Borg have no defined territory," Chakotay points out. Always the optimist, he is. I want to punch him sometimes, I swear.
"They appear to be sedentary. Hovering not far from the M-class planet."
"Run a scan and determine how many drones are on board that vessel. I want tactical and weaponry reports immediately."
"Captain it is a ship from the Unimatrix complex," Seven helpfully clarifies.
"Could it be the Queen?" Fear settles in the pit of my empty stomach, churning it until I feel nauseated.
"It is possible. I will run scans for her frequency now." A scowl crosses Seven's face as she reads the control panel in front of her. "Captain..the Queen is on board. Along with four other drones."
"Have there been any transports between Voyager and their ship?" I turn to watch Kim at Operations running a diagnostic on the transporter records. I hope he tells me no but experience has taught me to be cautious and not assume anything.
"There was a transport from our ship at ten hundred hours this morning. An object was transported from Voyager to the Borg vessel." My eyes lock onto his wide brown as he reads the details on his panel and looks up at me.
"An object was taken from your quarters Captain." The statement processes with a sense of dread. "My mug," I mutter under my breath. Seven hears me and nods slightly. "Damn…what does a Borg want with my coffee mug?"
"I do not know," Seven says softly. "I will find out." A fast flicker of her fingers then she looks back up at me.
Wait a minute? "How did they penetrate our shields without us knowing?" I ask. Glancing into the serious blue eyes of Seven, I sense she knows the answer but is reluctant to say. "Seven?"
"The Queen is able to penetrate any frequency of shielding and remain undetected. It is how she survives. She will take what she wants."
"By stealing in a covert manner," a roll of my eyes and I plop down in my chair to think. "Sneaky Borg bitch," I mutter under my breath. Chakotay laughs as he hears me talking to myself. Turning my head, I give him my best 'shut up or you'll lose it' glare. He quiets down to allow me to think in peace.
"Or by setting a trap." Seven's flat tone breaks through my thoughts. I turn to glance up at her and notice her perfect eyebrow arches as she gazes down at me.
"I always did enjoy a good cloak and dagger situation. Mr. Paris, take us towards the planet at Warp three. Steady as she goes." I tap my commbadge and say, "all free Senior staff…to the conference room."
A/N: As you requested… +bows+ RRRRRReview please….