Chapter 8 –
As they marched her onto the bridge, she could see Lang as well as a few Skolron lying on the deck. Good, she took a few out with her. I hope she's only stunned and not… She refused to consider the possibility that she'd lost yet another crew member. A quick minute to survey the bridge told her who else had been caught up in their little nightmare. Bristow, Kim, Seven, and Ambassador Ivo.
The ambassador was already looking a bit wan and worried, rubbing his temples as he stood off a bit from the group. Maybe he will have better luck at reasoning with them?
==/\==
A short while later…
It's getting hot in here. At least all the others were able to shed a few layers down to their tank tops. Unfortunately for me, she looked down at the loose gown she was wearing; I have no extra layers to shed. She kicked off her slippers so she was barefoot and wiggled her toes. At least I'm not wearing my favorite worn-out Tribble print pajamas- complete with fuzzy slippers and that rip in the armpit. It would have been comfier but the Skolron would never have been able to talk with me with a straight face. Although I guess I still look a lot like a dirigible… and using the pallet jack I probably move like one too.
Lang and Kim looked guiltily at their hugely pregnant commanding officer as she waddled around the bridge methodically. As the acting security chief and acting captain during Gamma shift, respectively, they felt they bore the blame for not preventing the situation outright and were reassessing their actions.
Freddy Bristow appeared to be bored and trying to sleep. He was propped up against the helm console but was fooling no one; he was pouting. I shouldn't have taken Thompson's bet for double or nothing. If I hadn't, he'd be the one on the bridge and I'd be the one on a date with Megan Delaney.
The Ambassador continued to look increasingly apprehensive and twitchy.
Seven appeared annoyed and angry, or, in other words, the same expression she wore on an almost daily basis. The former drone was sitting a few feet from Freddy, observing the captain covertly.
Kathryn paced the bridge carefully, thinking over their plight. I pride myself on my diplomatic skills, but they are useless with a group who refused to engage in any real discussion. By now, Chakotay must be frantic; he's down there with a large portion of the crew, unable to communicate with the ship. Imagining various scenarios, each one worse than the next, while being forced to sit on his hands, waiting for them to communicate, issue demands and threats. So how do we sour this for them, make it distasteful enough to convince this group that they should just let us go and end it? She paused for a moment as the obvious solution dawned on her.
Kim and Lang finally approached the captain. Lang began, "We're sorry we failed and let Voyager be captured."
She was momentarily startled from her thoughts and interrupted the earnest ensign. "Miss Lang, Mr. Kim, did you forget who was in command when the Kazon captured this ship?" Now that was a spectacular blunder! She paused self-consciously. "Sometimes luck conspires against us. Sometimes we make grievous mistakes. When this is all over, I expect both of you to file after-action reports. Chakotay and I can review with you what you might have done differently, if anything. A good Starfleet officer learns something from all their actions and isn't afraid to face the music. I'm not sure this Government was completely forthcoming with their information. Walk with me."
She started to lead them back to the others but stopped in her tracks as she felt another contraction. She chose to motion them over to her instead and quietly began sharing her ideas.
"I've been considering our options."
They all looked at her skeptically. Options?
"We need to make this whole thing problematic for them. They don't seem like hardened criminals. As time passes, several of them have looked more and more uncertain about the situation, and I don't just mean the heat. We need to figure out how to add to the discomfort and indignities the Voyager crew is trying to try to inflict on them. Voyager has already moved the climate controls to uncomfortable. "
Lang declared, "Make 'em sweat! But that means us too. Sorry, Captain."
Kathryn smiled weakly and used a small towel to mop the perspiration from her face and neck. Sweating is supposed to be good for your skin, right? I'm really going to be glowing.
So does that mean they've disabled the replicator? guessed Bristow.
"Possibly. But it might be easier to just limit what it will replicate."
Do you think they'd limit the choices to replicated versions of Neelix's culinary delights?" inquired Lang.
The captain winced at the thought. That might be considered cruel and unusual punishment for all involved.
Seven almost whined, "That is why I drink various nutritional supplements, so I might avoid his cooking."
"I wouldn't mind a Borg shake right now," said Freddy to no one in particular.
Seven arched an eyebrow.
Kim muttered, "I kind of like some of Neelix's creations."
Kathryn ignored them and plowed on, "If they think I'm about to…ah, give birth right here on the bridge…" At the thought, she closed her eyes momentarily. Oh, I hope not! "I can convince them I need the Doctor or a medic." She tried to surreptitiously rub her abdomen. Is that another one? "If we can get them to open the doors or allow someone to beam in, it gives the crew a chance to either get us out or get someone else in who can help us end this."
Harry stated excitingly, "You were a natural in the Captain Proton holodeck program, but how long can you keep up the subterfuge? They won't be fooled as easily."
Seven revealed, "I've been observing you these past few hours, Captain. I believe that you already are in labor."
Harry gasped. "Wait. Here? Now?" The ensign, looking apprehensive, raked his hand through his hair. Chakotay is going to go nuts.
Lang stared at the captain's midsection and took a tiny step backward, like the captain could explode at any moment. What am I going to tell Tuvok?
"Are you sure?" sputtered Bristow as he gazed at his commanding officer's face. "Do we need to boil water or something?" I'm never playing poker with Thompson again!
Janeway shot Seven a dirty look. You couldn't let me explain, ease them into it. She found herself pinching the bridge of her nose in an attempt to stave off the emerging headache.
"I remember being in my mother's womb," Harry added.
"That is improbable and irrelevant," stated Seven.
Lang and Bristow rolled their eyes.
They are driving me nuts. There are way too many people for me to give birth… on the bridge- of all places! My husband isn't here. The EMH is offline. And I'm going to have to do this the hard way. Other than that, this is going to be a piece of cake. I think I'm going to scream.
But to her surprise, the sound did not come from her lips.
Apparently, the revelation and discussion seemed to be the last straw for the Ambassador. To everyone's surprise, he started to dither, moan and fret, working himself up into a state. Then his face slowly began to turn an interesting shade of purple.
Bristow observed, fascinated, "Is that a normal color for his species?"
Concerned, Kathryn shoved the Ambassador into her first officer's chair. "Mr. Kim, fan him with something. Mr. Bristow, help him loosen his clothing a bit." She grabbed both of his hands and willed him to look at her. "Ambassador, please calm down. We may need you to mediate. Breathe with me, slowly… in and out, in and out. That's it, you're doing great. Concentrate with me." I thought the idea of giving birth on the mess deck complete with Neelix, as midwife, was a bad nightmare. But whoever dreamed of this is a sadist.
"What the heck is wrong with this picture?" whispered Kim to Bristow.
"Everything," Freddy shot back from the side of his mouth.
Once they managed to calm the Ambassador down as well as make him more comfortable, the captain explained her plan to the officers and demanded that someone fan her.
==/\==
Several hours later…
"I'm sorry, Seven. I didn't mean to snap at you. But my discomfort is making it difficult for me to be level-headed. As a captain, I'm usually in control, but all of this is something I just can't control or dictate."
The former drone rubbed Janeway's back. "I think it is admirable that you are pioneering the way for Voyager to be a generational ship."
The captain's laugh was cut short by a contraction. "I'm not all that altruistic. Those weren't exactly my motives."
Seven wiped the sweat from Kathryn's brow, using the towel. "You have taught this crew that a captain has many motives. Someone once told me that babies are a tangible hope for the future. If that is the case, then these children represent quite a large investment in Voyager. Even in this situation, you are still providing lessons in humanity."
Kathryn blushed.
==/\==
"We need to get the upper hand. If I'm not mistaken, from what I could tell from the last set of negotiations, I think Chakotay is going to try something soon. I'm just not sure it's going to be soon enough." For me.
"Captain, you must be patient just a bit longer. My people seem to be on the verge of negotiating a stand-down."
A tray with servings of plekka rind casserole was brought out from the ready room, giving Janeway the beginnings of an idea.
She had to pause to breathe through a contraction. "I think we need to accelerate things a bit. We may need your help, Ambassador Ivo."
Kathryn asked, "Mr. Kim, is it true you were captain of the Velocity team at the Academy?"
Harry looked at her confused, "Yes, Ma'am."
Lang volunteered, "I didn't bring it up earlier, but I have a phaser on the lower shelf at the security station. If we could create a diversion, someone could get it. But one phaser won't be nearly enough.
Seven reminded her, "There's at least one more in the ready room."
Freddy volunteered, "I played Parrises Squares before my shift, and I didn't have time to put my stuff away. My iron mallet is in my gym bag. I think we can keep that group by the ready room doors busy enough so someone could grab that phaser. They'll have trouble dealing with four determined individuals.
"Six individuals. They all turned to stare at her. "You're forgetting about the Ambassador and me."
Harry blanched. "We can't possibly let you risk..."
The captain interrupted, "Mr. Kim, I don't believe I've ever had to ask you or anyone else for permission to help save my ship. But, I've always been a Velocity player. It's a game of wits. Mr. Bristow, Miss Lang, Seven: you handle the ready room. Ambassador, you and Mr. Kim are with me. Take no action until after the diversion."
"What diversion?"
"You'll know it when you see it. But first, let's have something quick to eat."
They all looked at her, puzzled, but followed her orders.
"Lang, Bristow, Seven: you'll form a modified scrum to attack the ready room. Seven, with your reflexes, you should grab the phaser.
"Harry, I'm counting on you to incapacitate as many as you can. Ambassador, I'll need you to help me get close to those oafs by the security station. We're the distraction."
Harry looked at her uneasily. "The last time you ate plekka rind casserole… it was a sight."
"Exactly."
"But, I thought the Federation outlawed all biological weapons."
She gave him a vulpine grin. "A good captain has to use all of the tools at her disposal."
She managed two large bites, masticating furiously before the next contraction.
==/\==
When the time came, the ambassador nearly threw her at the Skolron guards.
The fountain of vomit that rose up out of her throat and covered the guards by the security station was epic. The gore was more effective than a kick to the groin when it came to temporarily incapacitating the four men. However, they had no intention of wading through the muck to halt anything.
Lang, Seven, and Bristow were a whirling dervish that flattened those standing by the ready room doors. Harry and Seven's skills in Velocity effectively leveled their captors before the Voyager crew appeared on the bridge.
The next thing that Kathryn was sure of was the sound of the concerned EMH rushing to her side and the arms of her favorite person around her, before they all materialized in Sickbay.
