Chapter Four

"No matter what path you pick, it's always the captain."

"What's always the captain?" B'Elanna interrupted Tom and Harry as they discussed something in hushed tones over their lunch in the corner of the mess hall.

Harry reddened and poked at his food. Tom's eyes widened and it was obvious he was looking for some lie to feed her.

"C'mon," B'Elanna urged. "What are you talking about? And I want the truth." She strongly suspected that this all had something to do with the holodeck. Harry and Tom had obviously found some interesting new holoprogram, and she wanted in.

The men exchanged glances, and Harry shrugged.

"Take a seat, B'Elanna," Tom suggested, patting the chair next to him. "And remember this is just between us."

Torres did as he said, and he told her briefly and quietly about their discovery.

"And you have no idea who made this program?" she asked when he finished.

None," Harry admitted.

"Well, apparently it's someone with the hots for the captain," B'Elanna pointed out.

The three of them looked around the room at the few crewmates seated at other tables.

"Or," B'Elanna added with a teasing smile, "both of you subconsciously want her."

Tom tossed his hands up in self-defense. "Not me." Well, at least not before he'd gone through the holonovel half a dozen times.

Harry shook his head. "I've got Libby back home," he said.

B'Elanna rolled her eyes. "What I'm saying is, you need more test subjects. I wonder what would happen if a woman initiated the program. The results could give us some clues."

Tom chuckled. "Leave it to Torres to make this an experiment."

B'Elanna punched his shoulder. "I can't let you two have all the fun."

They all laughed.

"Be our guest, Lieutenant," Tom invited.

Both Harry and Tom had managed to agree that, while not their favorite, the away mission scenario was a pretty good option. So when B'Elanna found that the program had at least begun as it had for the men, she decided to take that path.

She made her way to the cargo bay with no interference. When she arrived, she was greeted by none other than Captain Janeway. Well, it looked like this program made no discrimination by gender. For a moment, she considered ending the program. This wasn't exactly her thing after all.

What the hell, she finally decided. Might as well try everything once. She just hoped this didn't somehow corrupt her friendship with Captain Janeway. She wondered briefly how Tom and Harry were able to carry on a normal conversation with the woman after all this. But she didn't have much time for thought.

"Glad to see you, Ensign," Janeway greeted, a subtle smile playing her lips. "A simple mission. We should be back in time for supper. Come along."

B'Elanna took a deep breath and followed her captain into the shuttle.

It didn't take long for them to be cleared for departure. Before she knew it, B'Elanna found herself profoundly alone with Janeway. Nothing untoward had happened yet. Maybe the program was different for women after all. A sex game for men but just a standard simulation for women. She relaxed somewhat at the thought.

However, things soon turned uncomfortable once the shuttle was out of comm. range.

"All stop," Janeway commanded.

B'Elanna's heart beat furiously. She took comfort in the knowledge she could stop the program at any time. Yet, curiosity made her hold her tongue for the time being.

"I hope you don't mind my methods, Ensign," Janeway said softly. "I don't mean for you to feel isolated, but I appreciate privacy." She gently laid a hand on B'Elanna's knee.

B'Elanna took a deep breath.

"I've noticed the way you act around me," Janeway continued. "I doubt I'm misreading the situation." Hesitantly, she stroked a finger down B'Elanna's cheek.

Somehow, B'Elanna found her voice. If she was going to do this, she was going to do it all the way. "No, Captain," she breathed. "You've understood correctly. I just don't have much experience with…this."

"I suppose it must be a little confusing," Janeway said, her eyes tender.

You have no idea, B'Elanna thought.

"We can take it slow," the captain suggested.

"I think we can just go for it," B'Elanna responded, surprising herself. She suspected that heightened arousal was part of the holoprogram. There was no other way to explain the hunger that had suddenly coursed through her.

The corner of Janeway's mouth raised in a half smile. But it only lasted an instant because the next thing B'Elanna knew, the captain's mouth was on hers. She recoiled slightly, but gave the captain entrance to her mouth. Janeway smelled so good. How had she never noticed before?

After a few minutes of passionate kissing, B'Elanna wondered if this was as far as it was all going to go. But Janeway's lust was rising rapidly. And if she was honest with herself, so was B'Elanna's.

Janeway made the next move by unzipping B'Elanna's uniform. Timidity wasn't in B'Elanna's blood, especially not during sex. So she responded in kind and went a step further by removing the gray turtleneck from her captain as well. Janeway laughed softly at B'Elanna's enthusiasm.

She used one hand to fondle B'Elanna's breast and another to massage her own. B'Elanna gasped at the sensation, but didn't back away. She reached forth a determined hand to return the favor. Kissing resumed.

After some time, B'Elanna became impatient. She wanted more from this. She disengaged from Janeway, stood up, and took a few steps to the back the shuttle. Janeway watch with one raised eyebrow, as B'Elanna stripped herself of all remaining clothing. Then B'Elanna stood there, naked and breathing heavily.

"Are we going to do this or what?" she asked shakily.

Janeway smiled. "Of course, Ensign," she answered before removing her clothing as well. She then strode up to B'Elanna, appraising her bare form with quick eyes. Hands behind her back, she circled her as B'Elanna resisted the urge to cover herself.

"Lay down, Ensign," Janeway commanded.

B'Elanna obeyed without delay. Her captain knelt beside her and began running her fingers long the length of her body. B'Elanna's shivering had little to do with the cold metal against her back.

"You're beautiful, you know," Janeway said almost under her breath. With deft fingers, she prompted B'Elanna to spread her thighs. B'Elanna stopped breathing when her captain slipped a finger into her sex. A second finger soon followed. Janeway thrust with a steady rhythm and brushed her thumb regularly over B'Elanna's clit.

"Kathy!" B'Elanna called out. She'd never addressed Janeway in this way before. Hell, she could count on her fingers the number of time's she even called her Kathryn. But then again, she'd never been fingered by her captain either.

She closed her eyes to enjoy the sensation. Blinded thus, she was in no way prepared for the feeling of Janeway's lips replacing her thumb. The shock of it caused B'Elanna to struggle to sit up, but Janeway held her down with her free hand. Soon, Janeway's mouth moved down B'Elanna's folds and a tongue joined the fingers.

B'Elanna had finally reached her peak and climaxed with a muffled squeal.

And with that, the program ended.

It took a while for B'Elanna to come to her senses. She lay panting on the floor. "Oh, hell," she muttered when she was finally collected enough to redress herself. "There is no way I'm telling Tom about that."

And she certainly wouldn't be looking the captain in the eye for days.