As Captain Janeway watched from the Bridge two hours after Shimai's death, the technological shields flickered and finally died, and an eerie, almost howling sound resounded throughout Voyager. What looked like fog surrounded the ship, and it began moving forward at low warp. Six of the K'Terrans were stationed at each corner of the ship, the forward most point, and the bottom most point. They would cycle out every few hours, to save as much energy as possible. They were literally singing themselves to death.

There has to be another way, thought Janeway in horror, as she listened to the terrible, haunting sound.

Janeway passed another tense hour, until Seven nodded that she had a momentary emergency shield ready to go if The Song stopped for any reason. Only then was she able to creep off to Sickbay.

She sagged against the wall of the lift as the doors closed.

I thought it was lonely riding up after the men went into stasis…..I had no idea what was coming…

The doors to Sickbay opened to find there was no change in B'Elanna's desperate condition, and Gretchen had still not woken up.

The Doctor nodded as she entered, but he could not stay for long, he was tending to the crewmen who had been injured in the implosion of the Esoterian gas core. They were being treated in the room across from Sickbay where there was more space. His non-sentient assistant hovered by the EMH office, ready to respond at a moment's notice…but it was not the same as having an old friend near.

Janeway sighed deeply as she looked at B'Elanna and Gretchen's faces, staring for long moments. Finally, almost in a haze, she lowered herself into the uncomfortable chair she had used earlier. An awful sense of déjà vu filled her.

When I was waiting here before Voyager was relatively safe…now we're desperately holding off a race that wants to turn us all into broodmares…

Janeway sighed very deeply and sagged into the chair, rubbing her forehead.

As she lingered in the quiet, her thoughts began hazily repeating.

I know now Shimai violently overtook Gretchen's mind with her auditory powers….that can't be good for someone already on the brink….if she wakes up, will she even have a mind left?…..

If B'Elanna somehow survives, will she be hauled off for parts…as the most "exotic" of all the women here?...

… or will Voyager explode and save us all the trouble?

Janeway groaned out loud, and balanced her head on one hand, disgusted with herself for her morbid thinking, knowing it would do no one any good. She sighed internally, very deeply.

Let's face it, I'm too tired and too lonely to be of any use to anyone right now.

She blinked, wondering if she should call for a coffee or a hypospray…..but even as she continued to watch B'Elanna's chest rise and fall by the slightest degree, she felt her consciousness slipping away.

Hours later Janeway heard the door to Sickbay open and jolted awake.

She blinked in that direction and realized with alarm, that it was a K'Terran.

With another jolt of shock, she realized that it was Be'nl.

"Hello Captain," said the blue K'Terran, "I was told you wished to see me."

"Yes, well…..hours ago," said the Captain, straightening up and standing, feeling tired, but no longer worn beyond her limits, "I'm glad you're alright. What did happen to you?"

"Shimai attacked me and hid me in one of our storage areas," said Be'nl, "I suspected her…..but I did not wish to believe it…..and she sprung a trap on me before I could make myself convinced with evidence…..perhaps I should have warned someone…but I did not wish to give myself away, though she saw through my façade anyway…Shimai always was the best at reading voices," said Be'nl sadly.

"I'm sorry about Shimai," said Janeway sincerely.

"It is not your fault Captain," said Be'nl softly, "This plan must have long outdated our dealings with you. There is no way Shimai could have contacted the Jen Hadar recently.…we have been patrolling that area of space, warning ships away, for hundreds of years. She is not in charge of communications, and would have been caught."

Be'nl sighed, very deeply, "We live for thousands of years Captain…..she waited for a very long time for her opportunity…..as an unknown species you were finally worth the risk that she would be caught," said Be'nl softly, looking away, "But once she decided to align with the Jen Hadar, she was lost to us…..we just didn't know it until now. She has not been our true sister for a very long time."

"Why didn't you tell us about the Jen Hadar's true motives?" asked Janeway intently.

"We are very ashamed of it Captain," said Be'nl, "It is against our culture to speak of it. And if you accepted that they were dangerous did it matter the details? Would it truly have changed your mind about taking this journey Captain?"

"No," said Janeway, "I suppose it wouldn't have. Though perhaps it might've thrown suspicion on your ship earlier."

"That may well have served Shimai," said Be'nl, "She was trying very hard to strike the right balance, she did not want to elicit enough suspicion that you figured out what was going on, only enough to make you break your alliance when you perceived that it was safe. Then she would be sure we quickly abandoned you, before we realized what had truly happened."

"And it was her that altered your readings? That made us believe we were much farther, safely out of Jen Hadar territory?

"Yes, Captain," said Be'nl, "I am in charge of the Esoterian gas core, but I relied on Shimai's readings. I did not question it," she said looking away again, very sadly.

"It's not your fault Be'nl," said Janeway.

"It is," said Be'nl, looking at her, "It is our fault, but thank you for saying it."

"I….."

Janeway searched for something to say, and remembered something else.

"Be'nl you're…..more gifted at reading voices than Soeur, aren't you? Could you tell if B'Elanna and Gretchen will recover? Can you do anything for them?"

"I am afraid I am not as gifted as Shimai….." said Be'nl cautiously, "But I will discern what I can."

"Captain," came a voice on Janeway's combadge, and Janeway clenched both hands, and breathed in very deeply, trying to resist the urge to throw something…..anything…across the room…..and shriek at whoever was on the line…calling her away again from where she should be.

But she was the Captain, and Voyager was her ship.

"Yes," said Captain Janeway, voice even and professional as her Starfleet training took over.

"The warp core is behaving erratically" said Samantha Wildman's voice from Engineering, "I'm officially requesting Seven's help…honestly I'm not sure if we can keep moving without her Captain," said the Ensign reluctantly.

They're down B'Elanna...along with everyone else…it's a miracle they've kept it together this long.

"Understood," said Janeway consolingly, "And good job. I'm sending Seven to you and I'll be taking the Bridge."

"Thank you Captain," said Sam Wildman, voice wobbling ever so slightly, "And…..can you tell B'Elanna to fight for us?"

"She heard," said Janeway, chocking back her own tears at the words.

It's hard to be Captain, thought Janeway, staring at B'Elanna's bruised face, But how many crewmen wanted to be here, and didn't have the ghost of an option?

Janeway clicked off the comline and turned to Be'nl, "I'm down to two senior staffers other than myself," she said firmly, jerking her gaze away from B'Elanna, determined not to look again, "I have to take the Bridge, you can come to my Ready Room if you have anything else to discuss."

"We shall stay with your sisters," said Be'nl, smiling.

"I….." said Janeway reluctantly, breathing in.

"I am not due for The Song for another day on Soeur's orders," said Be'nl, "Due to my recent injury….and I know little of your technology. The Esoterian gas core is gone. There is little else I can do right now, and so I offer to do what you cannot, and watch over those you grieve for…."

"Grief and injury are not unknown to us," continued the K'Terran, staring back at Janeway, as the Captain paused reluctantly, "Gretchen is our friend, and we greatly admire your Lieutenant Torres…..but we cannot make up for Shimai's actions…we understand your suspicion…..you must do what you deem best."

I think she's telling the truth and…..that's what Starfleet is about isn't it?...

Janeway nodded softly, and left Sickbay, acknowledging the Doctor across the hall and informing him of Be'nl's offer as she walked towards the turbolift.

She was surprised, when the lift doors closed around her, that she really was relieved that she wasn't leaving them alone.