Cheshire

Cells

"She is antagonistic, combative, and thoroughly obstinate."

Chakotay can practically hear Tom's molars crack as the pilot grinds his teeth together, physically preventing himself from rebuking the minister's characterization of Kathryn Janeway – despite its accuracy.

"You're right, Minister," Chakotay finds he has to allow. "She is all of those things."

"Chakotay!"

He holds a hand up to silence the younger man. Despite their many disagreements over the years, Tom usually has the restraint necessary to avoid speaking out of turn in front of others. Usually. The blue-black smudges darkening the corners under the pilot's eyes betray his fatigue. Chakotay has never quite understood the unique bond that Kathryn and Tom share, but he is aware of it and he knows the mental stress the pilot is under. He knows if anything happens to her here, Paris will likely never forgive himself.

"That is to say," Chakotay continues, "that Captain Janeway can be all of those things. Given the situation I witnessed, however, I can't fathom what else you could possibly have expected from her."

"Her refusal to cooperate is what forced her into that situation to begin with." Verol's thin teeth briefly appear in what Chakotay can only think of as a grimace before the alien continues more calmly. "If she had simply cooperated with the process as you did, she would have never been subjected to re-experiencing such harsh memories."

Chakotay's brow furrows. "That was a memory?"

"Yes."

"Which memory was it?" Tom asks.

Verol's double orbed eyes focus on Tom. "One that didn't involve you."

"Tom." Chakotay warns him off before he can snap, and Paris leans away from the table grudgingly, his arms crossing tightly over his chest as sits back in his seat. Returning his attention to Verol, Chakotay continues, "None of the process that I completed had anything to do with my memories. They were more like challenges and problem solving."

"They were decision points. We exposed you to stimuli and were able to assess your character based on your reactions and decisions." The double orbs blink simultaneously as Verol's voice takes on a glacial quality. "When a subject such as your captain does not cooperate with the process, we must determine her character through other means. Janeway refused every offer to join the process of her own accord." He shrugs. "Other measures were initiated."

Chakotay doesn't bother to hide his confusion. "Captain Janeway was unconscious minutes after we arrived." That much, he remembers. "How did she refuse your offers?"

Verol makes a low gurgling sound as he pushes away from the table. Tom's mouth curls briefly into a grimace before flattening out again as Minister Keridos raps his clawed, webbed hand against the table between them.

"Your captain is unconscious now yet you do not question our ability to communicate with her," the minister snaps.

"That's true, but-"

The minister's tendrils flush a deep crimson. "Then you are accusing us of lying."

The corner of Chakotay's mouth twitches upwards. He can easily imagine Kathryn's reactions to such one-sided posturing. "Of course not, Minister. I'm simply trying to find out the circumstances under which these offers were made to Captain Janeway."

"To what end?" Verol asks, returning to the table carrying refreshments that he doesn't offer to anyone else. "What difference would it make for you to know?"

It's a genuine wonder that they got her to speak with them at all if this was the extent of their communication attempts. Chakotay takes another steadying breath to calm himself before explaining, "I'm her first officer, and I've known her for several years. I've been able to observe her under all sorts of circumstances. With a few details, I'm sure I could offer insight to her motives for refusing your process." He's already thought of plenty of reasons why she would refuse. "For instance, when were these offers made?"

Verol's intense eyes appear to ripple before he speaks. "We had to wait until she was acclimated which took an extra, lengthy medical procedure. You had already started your first meditations when we first encountered her obstinacy."

"And was she aware of her situation?" Chakotay presses. "Did she know where she was?"

"It wasn't necessary for her to know."

"I see. Did she know I was there?"

Keridos makes an impatient gesture of settling in his seat, visibly reminding them that he is only here speaking to them under protest.

Verrol sniffs. "She did."

"Did she ask about me?"

"Your whereabouts were her first concern."

"Let me guess," Tom leans forward on the table, interjecting, "you assured her that he was fine but that she wouldn't be allowed to speak to him."

"It's part of the process," Keridos replies sharply.

"Yeah, well," Tom laughs, "good luck getting her cooperation after that answer."

"What Lieutenant Paris means to say," Chakotay clarifies with a sharp glance at the man in question, "is that Captain Janeway is very protective of the people serving under her. She would have been more concerned about my welfare than anything you or even she wanted. Until that priority was resolved in her mind," he shakes his head, "all bets were off."

"We assured her repeatedly that you were cooperating."

"But she didn't hear it from me." He holds a hand up. "Believe me, Minister. I understand that she can be exasperating. But as a leader of your people, surely you can appreciate her instinct to protect as a positive quality."

"Perhaps." His tendrils shift continuously between burnt orange and red. "However, it changes nothing. The process must continue. It must be completed."

"You mean you want to continue torturing her?" Tom demands.

"As we have explained numerous times, the process will take place with or without your cooperation or hers. It has already taken up too much of my time." Keridos stands. "Currently, I see no reason to allow your ship, its crew, or your captain to traverse any further into our space. Your species is a danger I will not expose my people to."

"Our species?"

"You're making a mistake, Minister," Chakotay says, ignoring Tom. "There's a lot more to us than what you've seen so far. Give us another chance; give her another chance."

The minister's tendrils flatten out to pale, translucent colors. "Your meditations gave me hope, Commander that our worlds could find common ground, but your captain does not. Nothing about her circumstances has changed. I see no reason to try again."

"Then change the circumstances. Send me in with her."