Her quarters were dark when Janeway entered. She didn't bother calling for the lights, having long since memorized her way around them. She began to walk slowly towards the bedroom, shedding her uniform one layer at a time.
Captain, a voice whispered.
"Hello?" she called into the darkness. "Is someone there?"
There was no response.
It's just another trick of the mind, she thought.
She strolled over to the replicator, kicking off her boots along the way. "Computer, coffee… no, belay that. Vulcan spice tea." The replicator beeped obligingly and produced a mug of steaming tea.
She took it and blew the steam away. Then she took a sip.
It tasted vile.
Instead of the soothing blend of herbs and spices she was expecting, it tasted, quite literally, like shit.
"Ugh. Computer, what is this?"
"Vulcan spice tea," the computer said.
"No, it's not. Give me a real cup of tea."
The computer beeped again. The replicator lit up. A steaming mug materialized.
It did not taste like tea.
It had a metallic tang, and was redder than tea had any right to be.
It tasted… it tasted like blood.
Disgusted, Janeway put both cups back in the replicator and hit the 'recycle' button.
Useless piece of… "Oof!" She tripped over her boots and face-planted on the floor.
"Looks like my bad day isn't over," she muttered. "Computer, play some music. Something soothing. Something to fall asleep to."
The computer beeped.
Suddenly loud music assaulted her ears.
"Computer, stop that noise!"
The music ceased.
Kathryn sank to her knees in the middle of the floor. "Is nothing going to go right today? Can't I just have One. Good. Day?!" She pounded her fists into the deck plating to emphasize her point.
I can give you whatever you want, a voice whispered from behind her left ear.
Kathryn spun around.
No one was there.
"Show yourself!" she yelled.
Nothing happened.
I can give you everything you desire, the voice whispered.
Kathryn spun around to her other side.
Nothing was there.
Or I can take it away!
A sudden, fiery pain shot through her left arm, from fingers to shoulder. Gasping through the pain, she clutched her arm close to her chest.
It was then she saw the bracelet. The silver serpent was still wrapped tight around her wrist, and it was glowing golden.
She touched it, then pulled back instantly as heat seared her fingers.
Don't do that, the voice said. It was louder now. And close. It almost seemed like it was coming from inside her head.
"Security to the captain's quarters! Intruder alert!" she called.
The computer did not respond.
"Show yourself!"
In the middle of the room, floating a meter off the ground, a black cloud began to coalesce. The mist gathered itself into a long, coiled form. A serpentine figure.
A long black snake with glowing red eyes.
Do not resist your fate, it hissed.
The voice came from everywhere at once.
The fiery pain in her arm boiled hotter.
Give in to it. Give in to me.
Kathryn's fingernails dug into her arm as she tugged at the bracelet. It stayed fast.
The snake snarled and darted towards her face. She fell backwards.
I am above all. I am everything! It hissed loudly. I am Divine.
"You're nothing!" Janeway retorted. She groaned as the bracelet coiled tighter around her arm. Her fingers began to tingle as her arm continued to burn.
"Leave. Me. Alone!" She leapt forwards into the mist. It stung her eyes as she passed through it. She landed heavily on the coffee table, shattering the glass.
The snake laughed.
You are a mortal, it scoffed. You will bend to my will. They always do.
Grabbing a large shard of glass, Janeway swung wildly, blindly, into the mist. The snake laughed louder. Her arm burned hotter. Her eyes stung. Her hand went numb. Her lungs burned.
She fell to her knees.
Gasping for breath, she felt the snake coil its ethereal form around her body and squeeze.
I. Am. Everything.
The whisper in her ear was the last thing she heard as she lost the battle to breathe.
She fell, lifeless, to the floor.
