Chapter Seven Opposition"Then all that remains is the exchange," Kathryn said to Kiy'De, "no tricks on either side."
"It might be hard for you to believe but the Xian Order honours it's contracts," Kiy'De replied, "but let's make it crystal clear. In exchange for the S'Her Serum I receive one Kathryn Janeway as compensation."
She felt like livestock, a commodity, "Yes, these are the terms I will agree to. Give me two hours to prepare myself and my crew."
"Of course," Kiy'De smiled wickedly, "be seeing you soon, Shade."The viewscreen went black, and Kathryn could feel a dozen pairs of eyes upon her.
"I know you all have objections about my decision, but I am your commanding officer," she said, her voice strong, "and this is my will. I order each and every one of you to attempt no rescue, or try to interfere in any way with this exchange."
Chakotay looked like he wanted to say something, and she motioned for him to follow her into her Ready Room. Inside she leaned against her desk, and waited for Chakotay to speak.
"Are you out of your mind Kathryn," he asked.
"I know what I'm doing," she replied, "and this will leave you as Captain, Chakotay. Please, promise me you'll get them back home."
He spoke as calmly as he could, "I won't take command of Voyager. I am not the Captain, you are, and you have to what's best for your crew. This isn't what's best."
"I ensure Voyager's safety this way," she justified, but he knew better.
"Just tell me one thing," he said, "tell me you're not doing this out of guilt. Out of guilt for abandoning three alien babies on a planet, guilt for what's happened, guilt because she's dying in Sickbay right now and you could've prevented it."
"You're out of line Commander!"
"Tell me."She turned away from him, folding her arms. He had no right to question her motives.
"You're dismissed."
A moment passed and he did not budge, stubborn as always.
"I said dismissed," Kathryn repeated, stepping closer to stared her obstinate eyes down, and stood at attention.
"There's got to be another way," he finally said.
"You have an idea," she spread out her arms, "let's hear it."
"Aless is coming back with reinforcements, when we take Kiy'De's ship we could procure the serum then."
She nodded, "Shade'll be dead by then. She has two and a half days. Aless will be here in four days at best."
"There has to be another way," he said softly, and bowed his head.
She rose and put her hand on his broad shoulder, "I don't like this any more than you do, Chakotay. This isn't easy, and I need your support."
"Do you know what he'll do to you," Chakotay asked.
"Yes," Kathryn tried to sound brave, but her voice quivered, "I won't just let him have me. I'll fight him, you know that."
"For how long," he asked, "why is your life less valuable than Shade's?"
"She's my daughter, Chakotay," Kathryn looked sadly out her Ready Room window, "and I do this not for my guilt but for that innocent child dying in Sickbay. She deserves to be happy, she's suffered too much already."
"You know she'll be okay right," he reached out and touched her arm, "she is a Janeway woman after all."
She stepped away from him, her heart heavy. Leaving was not going to be easy, this was her home, this was her family. But Kathryn could not in good conscience allow Shade to die or go back to a life of anguish. Though it would be hard to this new path in her life she would do it with dignity and honour, as she did all things.. "I meant the order I gave Chakotay," she said firmly, "and I expect you to follow it. No rescue attempts or interference. I need your word on this."
He shook his head, "That's a promise you can't expect me to make."
Her eyes lifted to his, and in them he saw a troubled woman. Though Kathryn always tried to best to hide her inner emotions he could always see right through her walls.
"Please."
"I will follow your wishes," Chakotay held up a finger, "but if an opportunity presents itself I will take it."
"I guess that's as close as it's going to get."
"Sickbay to Captain Janeway," the Doctor hailed.
She tapped her combadge, "Yes Doctor?"
"I think you'd better come down here," he said with a sigh, "she's very awake right now."
In the background she heard things being thrown, and someone swearing.
"On my way."She cowered on one side of the Biobed, as the Doctor tried to approach her with a hypospray. As he neared her on one end she ran to the other side, a never ending game of cat and mouse. Sweat dripped from Shade, and her balance was shaky. Her body felt like a thousand needles were poking her at any given second, and the blood in her veins burned. The Doctor had had to try and sedate her when Shade took a laser scalpel to her wrists, and she had tried at assure him that, no, she was not trying to commit suicide, she just had to get the bad blood out of her body. Had the Doctor not been in his office she may have succeeded, but thankfully he got to her before she cut too deep. All the same, fresh blood was bleeding out her left wrist and Shade would not let him treat her.
"You're injured," The Doctor pleaded, "let me help you."
"No," Shade screamed, "the blood is bad. It's rotting, why don't you understand that?"
"I'm a doctor, and I'm telling you blood does not rot in the traditional sense."
Shade was facing towards the doors when Kathryn strode into the room. Her face light up, and she smiled.
"I need your help," Shade called, "he won't help me."
"Doctor," Kathryn asked, approaching the Surgical Bay .
"She's delirious," he explained, "and has tried to hurt herself once already. The majority of the nuclei degradation is in red and white blood cells, so the fever is in the blood."
"Shade," Kathryn held out her arms, "you're hurt, let the Doctor help you."
She violently shook her head and Kathryn stepped towards her slowly. Shade was cornered behind the biobed, as faked towards the Doctor, but ran towards Kathryn, who was ready. Kathryn firmly wrapped her open arms around Shade, and as Shade's legs gave out the young woman was racked with deep sobs. Shade faced away from Kathryn, and her mother's arms were around her midsection. A sound of mourning came from Shade, a true cry of pain. The cry of someone who knows death is close at hand, and that it is the most merciful thing to happen to her.
Kathryn made shushing sounds into Shade's tousled hair, and kept her arms resolutely back as the Doctor ran a dermal regenerator over the wound on Shade's arm. He made his way out of the Surgical Bay to give Kathryn and Shade some privacy.
"I always thought I wanted to die," Shade said, suddenly calm, "but now I'm not so sure."
Kathryn whispered tenderly to Shade, "You're not going to die. The Doctor's found a way to treat you. You're going to live."
"You don't have to lie to me," she replied indignantly.
"I'm not," Shade felt hot tears on her neck, "I just have to go get it. You will live. I won't let you go, I promise."
They sat in awkward silence as Kathryn entered the Briefing Room, her senior staff assembled.
"It has been an honor," she began, "to not only have served as your Captain but to have had the chance to know all of you. Each of you is an exceptional officer."
Seven of Nine broke the silence, "I do not like this."
"I'm sorry," Kathryn replied, but Seven stood defiantly.
"You encourage me to explore my humanity and yet you abandon me in the midst of my quest," Seven stared Janeway down.
"You have made me proud, Seven," Kathryn replied, "and you are strong enough to endure on your own. As you said, Voyager is your collective."
She looked away.
"Are we supposed to stay silent and be okay with this," Harry asked vehemently.
"Harry," Chakotay cautioned, but the Ensign pushed forward.
"No, Chakotay," Kathryn leaned forward in her chair, "Harry, I won't ask you to understand my motives. But you have to trust that I'm doing the right thing, as you've always done."
She met the gaze of everyone present, "Your orders are to stay here and make repairs, then resume course for the Alpha Quadrant. You are not to attempt a rescue. Understood?"
Nobody replied, but she did not expect them to.
"Tom, set a course out of the gas giant, rendezvous with the vessel in orbit."
"Aye, Captain."
Kiy'De materialized on the Trasporter Pad, two security officers by his side. As per the agreement they were unarmed, and Voyager had lowered their shields. He stepped off the Pad and towards Kathryn, and he looked at her with unveiled lust in his eyes.
They filed out of the room and to Sickbay, silent as a funeral procession. The Doctor has sedated Shade, so she was asleep when they entered.
"The Serum," Kathryn requested, but Kiy'De went up to Shade first. He removed a silver tag, and as he ran it along the bracelets they opened, freeing a woman, only to enslave another. From inside his uniform he pulled a tiny vial and handed it to the Doctor.
"It is a sample of healthy cells from Shade," he explained, "it will restore normal metabolic function."
He approached Kathryn, and motioned for her to raise her hands.
"Doctor," she said, "will the Serum work?"
The hologram loaded a hypospray and injected Shade. Taking a tricorder he scanned the young woman.
"Her body temperature is falling," he announced, "she's going to make it."
Kathryn watched as Kiy'De put the bracelets on her.
"I repeat what I said to your daughter," he said smugly, "from this day forward you are nothing more than a shadow. By owning you I give you worth. Your life before me has ended. Kathryn Elizabeth Janeway dies today, and Shade is born."
"I understand," Kathryn replied, "and thank-you for saving her life."
He rubbed a palm along her cheek and grabbed her chin roughly.
"You won't be thanking me for long, Shade."
Kiy'De motioned to his officer and he handed him a wrapped package.
"Your uniform is hideous," Kiy'De handed the package to Kathryn, "I demand that you change."
"No," Kathryn protested, not wanting to dress skimpy for him. He raised his hand and belted Kathryn on the cheek, and she nearly fell over from the blow.
"You will not address me so insolently, when I tell you to do something you will say, whatever pleases you Counsel."
She nodded, her cheek bearing a large red welt, "Whatever pleases you Counsel."
He grabbed her by her shoulders, "You'll find I can be merciful or cruel, and that the choice is yours. To prove this, you have ten minutes to change and say your goodbye to your brat."
The Doctor watched this in horror, but he had already been warned by the Captain not to react. It would only fuel Kiy'De's rage towards her.
"Can you wake her," Kathryn asked.
"It's not advisable," the Doctor replied, "her body temperature is still high, it's unlikely she'll be very coherent."
"Proceed."
He loaded a hypospray and injected Shade, her eyes fluttered as she became aware.
"Hi," Kathryn whispered as the Doctor silently deactivated himself, "how are you feeling?"
"Better," Shade replied, "you saved me, didn't you?"
Had Shade's head been clearer she may have seen Kathryn's noiseless tears.
"I need your help."
Shade brought herself into a seated position. Kathryn placed the wrapped package on her lap.
"Are you going to wear this," Shade was still so feverish the plain facts made no sense, and she choose to believe Kathryn's lies.
"Yes, to celebrate you're getting better," Kathryn removed the outfit, "Neelix is going to have a party."
"Sounds lovely," Shade was happy in this illusion. Kathryn looked disapprovingly at the lengths of soft green silk. It turns out that Shade's outfit was made of two large pieces of fabric, tightly folded. Her daughter's graceful hands wrapped the cloth expertly, using the top piece to criss-cross and cover her. The sleeves fell past her fingertips, covering her bracelets, and the hem of the skirt billowed loosely to her ankles, but had a slit up the right side to Kathryn's hip. Shade removed Kathryn's combadge and handed it to her.
"Don't forget about this."
Kathryn folded Shade's fingers down, "I want you to have it. Please, keep it safe."
She pinned it to Shade's chest, and folded her uniform neatly.
"This is like an old friend," she said as she fingered her pips, "you must be tired."
"Yes," Shade agreed, wavering, "maybe I should rest."
"There's one thing," Kathryn said, as she helped Shade lie down, "it's about your name. I won't call you Shade anymore."
"In the Lunati culture a name is precious, and is normally derived from both parent's names. Aless's parents were Rena and Dessan."
"How do you feel about Isabel?"
"It's lovely," Shade remarked, her eyes growing heavy. She felt Kathryn place a kiss on her forehead, and leave the room.
She heard the Sickbay doors close behind her, and Kiy'De stood, waiting. He lead her down the hallway to the Turbolift. When they reached Deck Four the doors opened to reveal her crew, lining the corridors. Chakotay was the first one she saw.
"Captain on Deck," he called, and everyone stood at attention. Her eyes filled with tears of pride, Kiy'De walked in front of her, slightly impatient. If anyone saw the red welt on her cheek they did not comment, nor did they look away when Kathryn walked passed them in her new clothes. She did not walk sheepishly, instead she held her head high, and confidently walked. No matter what suffering she would endure this one precious moment would be a safe haven of memory. Every crewman was present, honouring their much-beloved Captain.
The doors to the Transporter Room loomed ahead, and Kiy'De entered first. Seven of Nine was the last one the Captain saw, standing resolutely.
"Thank you," Seven said, as Kathryn entered the Transporter Room, she nodded in acknowledgement and followed Kiy'De in. Instead of the usual Crewman Harry Kim was at the Transporter Controls.
"Transport us back to my ship," Kiy'De ordered, but Harry looked to Kathryn.
"Captain - "
"As he says Harry," Kathryn ordered.
"Yes ma'am."
She was surprised he had ignored her when they arrived on his vessel, and she had been escorted to his chambers. Kathryn surveyed the rooms. Everywhere was evidence of Kiy'De's ego; rare art, fine cloth, and now her. But she had choose to come here, to save someone else. Though in thinking of what was to come it was only a small comfort. She made herself promise to be unyielding, stubborn, and a fighter in every way.
"I am Kathryn Elizabeth Janeway," she whispered to herself, a mantra, "Captain of the Federation Starship Voyager."
Kiy'De was not stupid, anything which could have been used as a weapon was missing. Except for maybe a sculpture, but after trying to lift she concluded it was too heavy. The clothes bothered her, she felt exposed, vulnerable. Escape was impossible, the door would not open for her, and she found no manual override.
Another idea however, shadowed her thoughts, if it came to it she would rather die than submit to him, though she found no way to accomplish the task.
"Even though you're not in your prime you're still quite lovely," Kiy'De said as he entered his quarters.
"Go to Hell," she replied, defiant.
She thought for sure he would hit her, but instead he just laughed.
"This is why I wanted you," he said, pouring himself a glass of liquor, "you've still got some fight in you. Breaking you will be a pleasure."
"I will not stop fighting," she replied, as he stepped closer to her. When he reached for her she tried to punch him, but he was faster. Though Kathryn had extensive knowledge of hand-to-hand combat she was no match for Kiy'De's strength. With one hand he pinned her hands above her head, and the other touched her face, almost gently.
"There is a way to escape the pain," he whispered sadistically in her ear, "you only have to ask me."
"Never," Kathryn tried to wriggle free, but only made it easier for her captor to get his leg between hers.
He smiled, "There's something unique about the technology you're wearing."
"Technology," she wondered aloud, and thought immediately of the bracelets he had removed from Shade and placed on her.
"That's right," he pulled a device from his pocket and forced Kathryn against a section of wall comprised of a different type of metal. The bracelets sank into the wall and made excellent cuffs. She was not going to escape, but she was not going to give in without a fight.
In the end Kiy'De won the fight, and her screams echoed through the bowels of the ship.
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[[ Chapter Seven is done, whew! It's been an interesting ride. I want to thank all of you for your kind reviews, and hope to hear more feedback. This journey of Shade's is far from over…]]
