Captain Janeway caught herself as the Kazon shoved her into the turbo lift. Her head protested at the rough treatment but, thanks to Chakotay's hypospray, it was a dull ache she could live with. The lift sped towards the bridge. When the doors opened, her eyes immediately found her chair with Cullah, the Kazon she had first met in the Delta Quadrant, perched on it.

Her eyes scanned the bridge and she noticed Paris, Kim and Tuvok along with a few other Starfleet bridge officers guarded and sitting by her ready room door. Stepping off before the Kazon guard could shove her again, Janeway strode over to her chair. Seska sat in Chakotay's grinning as Janeway walked over. She ignored her and returned her gaze to Cullah. "You are sitting in my seat, Cullah. Get out."

Cullah laughed in her face along with the other Kazon guards who were scattered around at the various bridge stations. None of the Maquis who remained joined them except Seska who took delight in cackling the loudest beside her.

Janeway glanced over Cullah's shoulder and saw Paris smirk at Harry while Tuvok nodded at her. She folded her arms across her chest and said, "I fail to see the humor in what I just said. Leave this ship and I may, may allow you to leave it unscathed."

"My, my," Seska said. "Such brave words from someone who is now in control of nothing. That delusion will soon pass, my dear."

Janeway leaned over. "I really didn't have a personal problem with Cardassians until I had the pleasure of being a guest at one of your camps. I normally pride myself on my diplomacy and living by the Starfleet code of ethics I swore to uphold but you're really pushing my limits."

Seska lost her smile. "I swore to uphold nothing of your pathetic Federation."

"I know. And I also know that you and I are all alone out here in the Delta Quadrant, far from Starfleet eyes and ears. I've never taken on the role of a rebel like you did but I'm getting there, Seska. And it would give me great pleasure to make you pay for what I went through all those years ago including what you've done here tonight to my crew, so don't tempt me. You're already on my list."

Cullah laughed again. "Such posturing. That's all you women do. You're all yap without any bite. It does take a man to show you how to command respect from others."

Janeway straightened up. "Your lesson in how wrong you are is next."

Cullah's smile faded and his hand shot out. It cracked against Janeway's cheek sending her to the ground. She heard the gasps of her crew and immediately shrugged it off. Getting back to her feet, she brushed off her uniform and said, "That was yet another mistake."

Cullah's hand came out again but Janeway was ready for him and ducked. Paris also broke from his position and grabbed Cullah around the neck. A Kazon guard fired and hit Tom in the back. Janeway watched as his eyes met hers and he slowly slid down Cullah's back and dropped lifeless to the floor.

"Tom!" Janeway tried to get around the chair but Seska stuck out her foot to trip her. The Captain stumbled again but found the edge of the console to steady herself before she hit the ground again. The Kazon guard stepped in front of her and aimed his weapon.

"Lower that!" Cullah said. "She is mine."

The Kazon dropped his gun and stepped back as Cullah turned to Seska and said, "I need privacy."

Seska pointed at the ready room. "Her…your office is in there, Mage."

Another guard rustled Harry, Tuvok and the others from the entrance as Cullah ordered, "Take them to the cargo bay. If anyone gives you any problems, shoot them. They'll be one less annoyance to deal with."

Harry stood up and said, "What about Tom? It's our custom not to leave anyone behind." He saluted Janeway with his best command pose and said, "I'd like permission to take him with us, Captain."

Janeway smiled at Harry's bravery and gave him a slight nod. Only a few weeks ago, he could hardly speak to her. Now, the newly minted ensign was standing up to a hostile alien usurping their only way back home after she had stranded him decades from his family and from Earth. Even his own mother couldn't have been prouder of him at that moment.

Cullah noticed their silent exchange and glanced down at Tom's still body. He growled and said, "You want his body? Go ahead and take it. It'll save us the clean up. But if you can't keep up with the rest, then you will join your friend with your body next to his."

Harry nodded at Janeway and said, "Thank you, Captain." He walked over and leaned down to pick Tom up. As he did so, Cullah's boot sharply kicked at his forehead. Harry fell back and placed a hand against his face to stem the blood.

Captain Janeway stepped forward again but was stopped once more as the Kazon guard and Cullah took note of her movement. Seska laughed again and murmured, "Stupid little boy."

Harry flashed her an angry expression. Standing, he cautiously watched Cullah as he bent again to drag Tom to him. Placing his arm underneath Tom's shoulder, he managed to swing him onto his back and join the others.

Janeway watched them go but shook her head silently at Tuvok who hesitated before walking away with the others. As they exited, Cullah said, "Good choice. I don't need to clean up any more blood from my ship." Turning to Seska, he said, "Wait here while the former captain and I have a chat."

Seska stood up. "But you need me. I can tell you if she is lying or not."

Cullah backhanded Seska hard and said, "I am not a fool! I can handle her quite well on my own." He turned back to Janeway and his eyes swept over her small body. Grabbing her arm, he yanked her to the door and pulled her inside the room. It shut leaving them completely alone.

Janeway wrested her arm from Cullah and walked over to her desk.

"Don't even think about sitting there as if you were somehow still in control of this vessel," he said.

Janeway met his angry gaze before slowly moving in front of her chair and making herself comfortable. Placing her hands on her desk, she smiled and said, "Now, how can we help each other today, Cullah? I am sure, now that it's just you and I, that we can come to a peaceful solution without anyone else's interference."

Cullah marched over and chuckled. "You are entertaining, Captain. Tiresome but entertaining." Leaning over, he snatched her by the hair and yanked her out of her seat.

Janeway's eyes watered as pain shot through her head again. Her hands flew up, clawing at his fingers, trying desperately to loosen his tight grip. Cullah pulled her around the edge of the desk and drew her close to him. He pulled her in and held her head back. Sneering, he said, "Don't worry. I don't find your race particularly attractive otherwise I would." Tossing her aside, he watched her stumble back to the handrail.

As she caught her balance once again, her hands went up to massage her sore scalp. Tufts of hair and long curls fell forward into her face. She did her best to pin it back but knew she looked more than a little disheveled. Drawing herself up, she said, "What do you want, Cullah?"

"This ship," he said.

"You have it!" Janeway snapped. "Now what about my crew?"

Cullah walked towards her again. Janeway didn't flinch. "I am not a murderer. I will leave you off at a very special place and you may live out your miserable, pitiful lives there."

"And just where is this special place?"

"Patience, Janeway. You'll be arriving there shortly and then you and I can be rid of each other, forever."