Seven woke to the uncomfortable stabbing sensation of light piercing her vision.
"I must apologise for the surreal sensation you are feeling," a voice filtered through her audio-processor, "It will pass."
"What have you done?" Seven asked as she felt the blanket tighten on her raging anger.
"I have attempted to allow you the calm of detached emotion," he explained as Seven found enough strength to sit up and take in her surroundings.
"You have melded our minds," Seven assessed.
"You need an outlet for this energy," Tuvok explained, "with informed meditation, you will be able to control the emotions causing you violent reaction…"
Seven flexed her muscles, rolling her neck and spine to relish the true fire surging through her system as adrenaline flowed and found no other source but pleasure to make its escape…
She sighed… her vision clearing. "Why have you dimmed the lights?"
"It is effective in creating a calmer environment in which meditation can occur," Tuvok explained.
Seven felt her nose wrinkle.
"I can see no other alternatives at this time."
Seven thought there were one, save the death of their captors… But doubted the Vulcan would appreciate the retort.
"May I ask how you are feeling?"
The Borg rose an eyebrow, "Exactly as anticipated, Commander. I am calmer than before and have a greater hold on the volatile emotions which overran my rational processes."
Tuvok now rose the brow; "You are not simply telling me what I want to hear... are you, Seven?"
She remained silent.
Nodding to himself, Tuvok turned – as if to walk away – and swayed, dangerously, off centre.
Seven was at his side in a moment, propping the commander on her body to keep him upright.
The Vulcan gripped his head, a mild expression of distress forming over his usually placid features... he was in discomfort... and Seven grew concerned.
After a moment, the man regained his balance and moved away from her, straightening his ragged clothing and clutching his hands firmly behind his back to stretch the fullness of his height.
"Commander?" Seven asked, with some hesitation.
"I am fine," he affirmed.
She doubted his assertion, but made no effort to contradict the statement. Instead, she waited for the inevitable explanation.
"Melding our minds was not an easy feat, Seven," Tuvok admitted, "while you are one person and whole, there is a pocket within your mind that will ever be one of many; a pocket that holds the conscious and subconscious of countless individuals. How this is possible cannot easily be explained, but it is a challenge I am continuing to counter."
"You do not appear to be countering them effectively…"
In a flash, Tuvoks hands took hers as he shuddered and dipped his head, perspiration blooming across his brow…
Her grip on him tightened reflexively and he growled in response.
Seven felt her heckles rise as she looked to her commander…
She bit-down the sensation… she was excited… she was anticipating further contact when the Vulcan released her and took an unsteady pace back.
Tuvok did not look at her – his eyes squeezed shut with effort. "These pockets…" he forced from between clenched teeth, "Are extremely unpredictable and…" he juddered, "I suspect they reside within an element of your subconscious of which I was unaware…"
Seven nodded, steadying her breath and watched a shiver run through the man before her.
"You are drained," Seven stated, only wanting to be of assistance, "I shall fetch you sustenance."
"No!" Tuvok screamed, rage pushing him into an upright stance, suddenly towering over her. "You are not mine and I want no food from you!"
Seven blinked in shock, but held her ground. "I was merely suggesting…"
"Enough," his nostrils flared as his eyes flickered over her… "It is undignified for a woman to play servant to a man who is not hers…"
She blinked again… The image of ownership flooded through her… it was enticing…
Her olfactory nodes detected Vulcan pheromone and Seven took the air in deeply.
In her years she had never felt the atmosphere thicken about her as Tuvok fixed her in his gaze; she felt, distinctly, like prey…
Her heart began to thud once more as blood rushed through her veins.
Tuvok was before her, alert and hunched like a tiger preparing to pounce.
Seven held her breath.
Beep.
The comm at the door sounded.
She startled…
Beep, beep.
A hench-man entered before Seven had had the chance to grant him leave…
Penk stepped in; arrogance and detestable pride tilting his head perversely high as though he owned all he surveyed; including Seven and Tuvok.
"I like what you've done with the place," the small slave trader took a few steps about before looking over to Tuvok, "What's wrong with your pet?"
Seven ignored the snarl issued from her Vulcan comrade and moved to shield him from Penks view to demand, "He is not why you are here. What do you want?"
The alien laughed, a hollow and joyless display, "I have a match for you."
"I trust this one isn't designed to end in a terminal outcome."
A smirk spread across the pinched face of her captor, "The establishment now carries out stringent checks on all fighters to discover concealed weapons. Your… unfortunate experience has incurred investigation and remedial actions have been implemented in order to mitigate repetition of those horrifically unconscionable events."
Seven heard Tuvok snarl.
"Very well," she snapped, wanting rid of them, "Send me the details and I will train for victory."
Penks small, black eyes narrowed… he looked past her a moment and then back in her eye, "Very well."
And with a clap pf his hands, he and his henchmen left.
"You shouldn't have had them leave so soon," Tuvok stated.
Seven held back her surprise…
"We may have missed an opportunity to escape."
"Highly doubtful," Seven observed.
His breath growled out of him, "And what makes you say that?"
Wasn't it obvious? "You are not in any condition to attempt successful escape at this time."
It wasn't surprising to sense his attack before it came; heightened emotion made the best Vulcans sloppy and Seven easily dodged the overhead strike down intended for cranial impact.
She boked the shot, crossing her arms and the wrist to hold his weight…
Seven faltered…
And his considerable strength.
Rethinking strategy, she closed her hands on his to swing down and right, but it was only further miscalculation as Tuvok swept her hand away from mid-point through the move... the Commanders eye sparkled slightly at his advantage and he twisted beneath her arm, stretching it out and above his head, delivering a sharp blow beneath her rib.
The hit winded her and Seven gulped in a lung of air she was unable to process as the Vulcan dropped to the ground to kick her legs out from beneath her.
She recovered too slowly for any other result than landing awkwardly on her back as the commander crouched above her with an expression wavering dangerously close to a smile.
Seven held up her hands, "I concede..." then she noticed something far more alarming than the ease with which the man had brought about his victory... the Commander was sweating.
Tuvoks eyes found hers; his pupils dilated so wide that she should no longer define the outlining iris pigment…
The Vulcans body curled downward to suppress her own… his lower body sliding down her in such a way it made her flesh tingle as she arched involuntarily to meet him.
He hissed.
Without rational thought, something within her acknowledged they were equally aroused.
From above her, she heard a snarl as Tuvok aligned their pelvises, allowing her the tantalising feel of his length against her thigh…
Seven felt her head loll back as she allowed the contact to wash over her; it was intense… adrenaline fired in her veins, making her swell.
She bucked; he held her to the ground, moving to scent her neck line as his teeth bared against the strain between them.
Vulcans were revered for their logic. Seven had intimate knowledge of the species and their passions; the thought that that strength and drive was focussed on her… she shivered…
His grip tightened.
Seven found herself revelling in his strength… in the base knowledge that a being as powerful as Tuvok needed to possess her… she felt her heart thud against her ribs… she swelled at knowing how he wanted her and moistened at the thought that he would soon take her…
Her mouth dried…
She waited…