The Colonel- Series 2- Sequel to the Colonel

by ray gower

Captain Janeway learns more about the Colonel and faces some home truths. Seven of Nines 'Involvement' becomes deeper and B'Elanna receives a much awaited proposal eagerly accepted. Of course catching the Colonel is one thing, keeping him is another

4. Sirens

1-13 Sirens

Voyager meet a new race that is prepared to offer friendship and help in their quest. The price proves to be high...

Voyager and characters (except the Colonel) in this story are copyright of Paramount. No resemblance is intended to any person alive or dead.

The story line and the Colonel is my own.

Constructive criticism and comments are welcome on e-mail story@rgower.f9.co.uk.

If like me you like to know why things occur like they do, I would heartily recommend you start at chapter 1-01 Castaway. This will be the last story of the series, probably!

This story is rated PG

Through the dark of space a small dark ship flitted silently and unobserved. It was the way the builders had intended it to be, an advanced stealth space ship, hovering on the brink of reality and unreality. The Ships Captain licked her lips nervously, watching the white vessel on her screen. The vessel she had been following for the last week had proven to have more than a few tricks of it's own, she was not at all certain that her vessel wouldn't be detected by some new trick that they suddenly discovered, they certainly appeared to be inventive enough.

The Valorians had detected the vessel nine days ago when it had suddenly appeared, the Queen had ordered an immediate investigation and had dispatched her ship to do so. They were a cautious race, with good reason to be nervous of strange races, but they had a need that could only be fulfilled by others so they inspected visitors to their sector carefully.

She turned to her Second in Command, aide and Intelligence Officer. "Well Martha? Your scans have been completed?"

"Yes your Highness. I apologise for them taking so long, but we had to use ultra low power scans to escape detection. But we have interrogated the ship and now know more about them than they do!" She boasted.

"And the results?"

"The vessel is a long way from their home, more than twenty thousand light years. It is named the Voyager, technology slightly behind ours. Crew 147 of mixed race and gender. Mostly Terrans from a planet called Earth. Generally peaceful, their weakness is the desire to return home. They are compatible. The Captain is Kathryn Janeway. There are three crew members that do not conform to their usual pattern. One is a Talaxian and is nothing to worry about. The second is a Terran, but was rescued from the Borg collective. She could be a problem. The third is more interesting. He is also a Terran, but is from their past, it seems he was involved in some form of accident. The ships' logs suggest that he is a warrior, very violent and protective. He has had a major impact on the safety of the vessel. He would be a serious threat. He is involved with the Borg female. He is also unsure of himself in their presence, so could be tempted."

The Captain nodded. "Very well, call up the 'Welcome Ship." She ordered, "We will transfer to that and we will welcome them and see if we can tempt them peacefully."

"Yes, your Highness!" The aide bowed low in acknowledgement of her Mistresses command.

The Colonel sat up in the bed sharply, barely stifling the cry that had come unbidden to his lips. He sat silently, shivering with sweat beading and then trickling down his body. In the dimmed lights of his quarters he looked around, whilst desperately trying to remember what the dream was that had woken him so violently. He could not remember having anything so unnerving before. His eyes alighted upon the woman lying on the bed beside him, for a few moments he wondered who she was. It came to him slowly, Seven of Nine, the ex-Borg, part machine all woman, beautiful, intelligent but misguided. She had to be, he thought, to have fallen in love with him and be prepared to declare it publicly barely a fortnight ago. The fact that he had also done so seemed irrelevant, he had nothing to lose, or so he thought.

The young woman stirred, the cool of the air on her naked back in place of the warmth of his chest disturbing her sleep. He smiled softly and tenderly tucked the covers around her as he swung himself out of the bed. In the dark he dressed himself, then approached the replicator. "Computer, glass of chilled water, 10 degrees Celsius." He commanded quietly. The required item appeared and he drank it thankfully, then approached the door.

"Your regeneration cycle is not complete. You should return to bed." An off hand voice came from the bed.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you." He apologised. "I was having an unpleasant dream."

"You should discuss it. That is what you have told me. You have been having them for the last few nights."

He nodded. "Yes I probably should." He agreed. "But not now, not until I've worked out what and why I was dreaming. Go back to sleep. There's nothing wrong."

He returned to the bed, leaned over and kissed her gently. "Would you like me to sing you a lullaby?" He asked.

"That will not be necessary. You wish to be alone." It was a statement.

"It will never cease to amaze me. Just how well you know me, but manage to ignore the bad bits." He admitted quietly.

"You have been an efficient teacher." She pointed out. "Your techniques work on you as well."

He smiled and turned for the door again and left her to return to sleep.

She didn't, instead she sat and thought for a little, then got up herself, dressed and went to her computer console in Cargo Bay 2. Absentmindedly she picked up the teddy bear that habitually lived in one of the rooms easy chairs.

"Computer play personal logs starting 26046.78." She demanded softly, then sat back and listened to some of her inner thoughts since she had met the tall soldier.

The Colonel found his way to the Mess, it was deserted at that time of night, so he sat himself in front of a window and worried at his thoughts. Finally it came to him.

He was afraid of the future, his role in it, now he was stuck in something he would never really understand or control. The possibility of Seven of Nine deciding that he had been right, he didn't deserve her, the thought terrified him even more than the idea that she could love him had. Now he had something to look forward to. The uncertain nature of his future was looking bleak

Now he had a cause for his disquiet. He considered what he could do about it. He got up and walked to the Science Labs. There he inspected some of the materials he found, but found no immediate inspiration, so sat at a computer terminal instead and began to study.

The Captains door opened early that morning, to reveal Seven of Nine. "I wish to talk." She announced without preamble and walking in. She assumed her usually easy stance, arms behind her back.

"It's a little early in the morning." The Captain commented mildly, stifling a yawn and putting the remains of her breakfast down. "I thought you'd given up asking me about human emotions?"

"The emotions I wish to discuss are not my own." Seven of Nine responded evenly.

"The Colonel?" The Captain guessed. "How have you two been getting on?"

"He is still having difficulty adjusting. I have examined both his and my logs. I believe he is still uncertain of his status in the future. I believe he is afraid of it and that fear is giving him nightmares."

The Captain nodded. "It figures. His life has changed drastically again, it must be frightening and we know behind everything he can be frightened, it's just not at the same things as everybody else! He's having to accept that people actually care for him and one has even declared that she loves him. That is one of the few things that don't appear in that book of regulations. He may have helped you, but I think you may have had just as big an effect on him!"

"I've been going over the records Sergeant Major O'Neil gave me on Earth." The Captain announced, indicating the desk. "They make amazing reading. I wouldn't believe them if they weren't official, they read like something that Tom Paris dreams up for the Holodeck."

"Lieutenant Paris is highly inventive and possesses an active imagination." Agreed Seven.

"It's not as though there are only one or two, but there's 50 of them, many from different organisations!" The Captain continued, picking up a couple of papers at random and read highlights. "Commendation for actions carried out in the selfless pursuit of relieving suffering in the Earthquakes in Nepal. Where 24 men from Her Majesties 60th Rifles, under the command of Major Alan Samuels over a period of 21 days, did carry 12 tonnes of food and medical aide to the relief of villages in the high mountains through impassable land slides, treated the injured and erected shelter for the inhabitants. And through this action prevented plague and pestilence. For bravery in the face of the enemy, 150 troops against three hundred tanks and a division of infantry. Emergency famine relief in Africa. Everyone has a little note pinned to it refusing the award. This one appears to be where he came in." She held up a yellowing newspaper cutting.

"Super Hero, Rescues Nurse from Gang." She read. "Fifteen year old, Alan Samuels, on the run from a childrens hostel, is recovering from multiple stab wounds in hospital, after rescuing student Nurse Mandy Chambers from an attempted gang rape by a fifteen strong gang of youths in Leeds last night. Said Mandy Chambers, 'He was amazing, they kept hitting at us with knifes, but he wouldn't let them past. Instead he kept hitting them back with his fists.' She is standing vigil by his bedside. Six of the gang are in hospital under armed police guard, four others are being held for questioning. A police spokesman announced that Alan is also wanted in relation to preventing an armed Bank Robbery three weeks ago in London, where he was injured by a shotgun blast protecting a police constable. The spokesman warned that nobody should attempt to repeat these actions, but should call for the Police. 'We are not all indestructible,' He declared. Social Services have refused to comment as to which hostel he escaped or his future."

"There are a few others as well. The trouble is, even if he doesn't like the term, he is a genuine all action super hero." She continued in wonderment. "We can't offer him a life like that."

"I think you ought to look after them, Seven." She offered, "They're his history and belong to you both."

"He does not like being reminded of his past, he will destroy them if he finds them." The ex-Borg pointed out. "They will be safer in your possession. I do not need to know what others thought of him, I know what kind of person he is."

"That's true, so do we." Admitted the Captain softly, "But it's nice to know others have appreciated his qualities, if only for a moment."

"How far is he from completing your studies?" She asked suddenly. "I want to give him the status he deserves and the responsibilities to go with it."

"Tactical and command abilities are superior to Star Fleet parameters. But he is still incapable of grasping some theoretical concepts." Responded Seven automatically.

"There is still a question mark over his mental stability. It is still a possibility for it to become an issue again." The Captain reminded her.

"He is aware of that danger. It is what drives him to be what he is. He will not suffer a similar breakdown." Seven promised.

The Captain sighed. The same problems were meeting the same obstacles. "I wonder whose regulations are the least flexible, ours or his. Can we push his theoretical studies harder or in a different way?"

"You are assuming he wishes to qualify as a Star Fleet Officer and there is a need for him to be one." Seven responded. "His benefit to this vessel is that he does not approach problems using Star Fleet methods. Perhaps you should ask him his opinion?"

The Captain looked at her sharply. "What do you think he wishes to be? Star Fleet Troopers perform nothing like the range of duties that the Colonel can and does do, and I don't see him in the Pioneer Corps either." She paused, then added slyly. "Perhaps the better question would be what are your plans for the future? After all, he's devoted to you!"

"I have no plans for the future." Seven replied honestly. "I am not eager to go to Earth."

The Captain nodded. "Perhaps it's time you should. When we get there, you will be with us and you'll need some goal. I will talk to him for you though, I've been meaning to since we returned from his home. Where is he?"

"I do not know. He omitted to put his jacket on when he left his quarters, the computer cannot locate him by his comm badge. I believe he wishes to be alone for a period." Seven admitted.

"Okay, I'll wait until he surfaces." The Captain agreed good naturedly.

"Captain to the Bridge." Chakotay's voice sounded over the intercom, interrupting further discussion. "We have visitors!"

"No peace for the wicked." The Captain sighed, snatching up her own uniform jacket and shrugging it on. "I promise I will talk to him and get him to accept he has a future." She added to Seven of Nine, as a parting shot hurrying through the door.

She arrived on the Bridge to find Chakotay talking to a tall woman on the view screen. He turned to her, he was wearing a slightly soft smile, she noticed.

"Captain, this is the Princess Mardila of Valoria, they are offering us a place to rest." He announced happily.

She turned to the screen and examined the woman closely. As she had already observed she appeared to be tall, probably approaching the Colonels 1.9M. Slim and well proportioned, dark haired. She was young, no more than her mid twenty's, and very beautiful, she reflected, she felt quite jealous.

"I am Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Star Ship Voyager." She announced. "I thank you for your very generous offer, but I don't know if we have anything to offer you in return."

"I am sure we will find something." Princess Mardila informed her. Her voice seemed friendly and had a strange melodic property to it, the Captain found it quite disarming.

"If you would care to follow my yacht, then we will guide you through our defence perimeter to Valoria. You and your officers will obviously come aboard for hospitality?"

"Why, Thank you. I am sure we will enjoy the experience." The Captain, somewhat taken aback by the display of friendliness, managed to thank their new host. "There at least we can reciprocate?" She offered quickly.

"I shall let my aide Martha arrange the necessary formalities." The Princess announced. "She will contact you shortly."

The Princess closed the communication.

Captain Janeway turned to her second officer. "It seems we have a friend in the wilderness. Have we scanned their vessel?"

Chakotay nodded. "Basic scans only. They have warp capability, the ship is better armed than it looks, it carries' a huge range of weapons, photonic, temporal, plasma, you name it they've got it. They would be a difficult host to fight. But nothing is charged and their shields are down. So they appear to be as friendly as they look."

"Okay, we'll take a party across. Tuvok will remain here. Otherwise, I'll leave the decision to you." She decided.

"I suppose it will be formal dress." She sighed at the thought as she sat in her chair.

The Colonel emerged from his studies, briefly, at lunch time and made his way back to the Mess. He expressed some surprise at the heightened level of activity in the corridors to Neelix.

"We've been met by a friendly race." The excited cook explained. "The Valorians. We're due to exchange visits with them en route to their home planet. The Captain wants the ship tip-top for their visit."

"We've met friendly races before. Why such extremes now?" The Colonel asked curiously.

"We think they may be able to offer us some help getting home, but don't appear to be asking for anything. Their princess is extremely beautiful, or so I'm told."

"So the Captain is swayed by Royalty." The Colonel commented. "I'll take today's special please."

He took his plate to his customary corner table and ate quietly. He was joined by Chakotay.

"I was hoping to find you here." He announced. "Would you like to join the Valorian Dinner Party?"

"If there's a choice, then not especially." The Colonel replied calmly. "I had other plans for this evening."

"You could be of assistance." Chakotay urged, a little peeved at the Colonels lack of enthusiasm. "You have more experience dealing with Royalty than anybody else on this ship."

"You are correct, Sir. I have had experience of Royalty and met a few. I've served a Queen most of my life and I've strutted around in parades for quite a few. But it's an experience I would rather not go through again, I know my place and it's not with the gentry." The Colonel admitted neutrally.

"Actually it's quite easy, you reply when spoken to. Address them as 'Your Highness' or 'Your Majesty'. Ensure you bow each time you say it, avoid long words and don't put your elbows on the table at dinner. Under the formality younger ones tend to be quite dim but otherwise normal."

"You don't like Royalty?" Chakotay asked in surprise. "I thought you swore an oath to serve your Queen?"

"Don't get me wrong Commander." The Colonel responded. "A monarch is as good a way of controlling a nation as any, probably better than most. I willingly took the shilling and swore to serve and protect the Queen of England and I would do it again. But it is not my place to go hobnobbing with them."

"Besides I have my own princess." He added quietly a slight smile playing on his face. "And she's a lot more important for me to impress, just at the moment, thank you."

"Well, I won't force you. It's a volunteer's only thing." Chakotay agreed, catching the intonation, accepting the Colonel's wishes and getting up. "The Captain will be disappointed though. If you change your mind then let me know? We'll be leaving at three."

"I'm sure you'll have adequate volunteers, Commander," the Colonel mildly. "So I doubt I'll be missed." He also stood and saluted the departing Commander, then returned to the lab he had been working in.

"Aren't the Colonel and Seven coming?" The Captain asked Chakotay, as the dinner party gathered in the transporter room.

"They declined. Seven wants to realign her cubicle and the Colonel had other plans. I suspect they have something to do with Seven. I didn't have the heart to order them to come." Chakotay remarked with a sly smile.

"I was hoping for his guidance. I've never met a live Princess before." The Captain remarked.

"He offered some guidance." Chakotay admitted still smiling. "Speak when spoken to, bow and respond with 'Your Highness', don't put your elbows on the table and don't expect intelligent conversation."

"That seems simple enough, we'll see how wrong he is." The Captain agreed happily. "Energise!"

They beamed to the Valorian vessel to be met by their welcoming committee, all women, all young and all remarkably attractive the Captain noticed.

Two women stepped forward.

"Captain Janeway?"

She nodded.

"I am Martha, Personal Aide to Princesses Madila." The foremost woman announced, she appeared to be older than the rest, perhaps forty the Captain guessed. "This is Athena, the Royal Yachts Commander. The Princesses will meet you a little later, but in the mean time may we extend our hospitality to you with drinks and a tour?"

"Thank you. We would like that." The Captain responded calmly. Despite her seeming confidence she was still felt a little nervous. "May I introduce the rest of my party?"

"You may." The response seemed cool almost uncaring.

"My second in command, Commander Chakotay. Chief pilot Lieutenant Tom Paris. Senior Engineer Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres. Navigation Officer Ensign Harry Kim." She intoned formally.

"You are all welcome. Tell me Captain these are all of your command officers?"

"I have my Security Officer, who is temporarily in command of my ship and there are two others whom I find invaluable, but they have other duties to perform." Janeway admitted carefully.

Martha nodded. "If you will follow me, I'll show you to our reception room," She announced.

As they walked, they passed a number of the crew, all were female in their characteristic skin tight uniforms. Kim asked. "Excuse me Ma'am, but are all your crew females?"

"Almost all." The tall Valorian woman replied. "It is the nature of our race that we have few male children, and most of those were destroyed by a terrible war a hundred cycles ago. We cherish our male off spring accordingly."

The Voyager crew looked at each other slightly bemused by the confession.

Aboard the Voyager the Colonel was approaching Tuvok. "Excuse me Commander. Could you spare me a few moments please, Sir?" He asked.

"I am involved with ship command." Tuvok pointed out impassively.

"Nothing appears to be going wrong, there is no alert and your relief crew is generally competent, Sir." The Colonel pointed out calmly. "Nor am I going to ask you to leave your post unless you consider it necessary, but my request is on a subject that you profess to be close to what passes as your heart."

Tuvok considered the Colonel's statements carefully. "Very well." He announced. "What is your request?"

He saw the Colonel swallow, almost nervously. "I'd like to sit your Star Fleet examination. Sir?"

The statement stunned even the impassive Vulcan. "You are ready for the test and wish to attempt it?" He asked in mild confusion.

"Yes, Sir!"

"You should refer to Seven of Nine," he commanded.

"With you permission, Sir, I'd rather not! he exclaimed. I'd like it to be something of a surprise, Sir. I know you oppose the Captains enthusiasm regarding my duties and rightly so, but you are fair with it. So I'd rather have you as the examiner than Miss Nine as a distraction, Sir!"

"It will undoubtedly be a surprise should you pass and not just to Seven of Nine." Tuvok agreed.

He considered the proposal. It would be interesting to see the Colonel struggle for once, he decided. "Very well I shall bring up the test paper's, if you will go into the Conference Room. I will be there directly."

"The examination requires five hours." Tuvok reminded the Colonel as he placed the required eight PADDS on the table. "You may answer the papers in any order you wish, but must answer all questions fully. I will review each paper on completion and you will have ten minutes to correct any or all questions inadequately answered. There will be no discussion. The terminal is configured to provide necessary assistance."

The Colonel nodded his agreement at the terms. "Thank you Sir!"

He quickly took out a wad of blank paper and pen, checked the PADDS, selected the first and commenced work.

"This is not a traditional written test." Tuvok pointed out. "Calligraphy is not required nor is there sufficient time for such manual responses."

"I am aware of that Sir." The Colonel replied. "But I find I can often deduce an answer with pen and paper quicker than on a terminal. The rules allow me to use my own methods do they not?" He asked without looking up.

"You may continue." Tuvok gruffly agreed. "I shall return in thirty minutes to mark the first paper.

He left for the Bridge, to find that the Bridge Crew were taking bets on the Colonels chances of success.

"How do you think he'll do, Sir?" Ensign Carver asked good naturedly from the Tactical station.

"Colonel Samuels has never shown great ability to grasp theoretical concepts." Tuvok responded honestly. "Yet it seems unlikely he would volunteer for anything he believed he could not achieve. I am unsure of the outcome, nor is this an appropriate discussion for the Bridge. We will leave the speculation until he has completed the examination."

"Captain Janeway, may I present the Princess Madila." Martha intoned. They had just returned from their tour of the ship.

The Captain bobbed a bow towards the Princesses. "Your Highness. You have a truly marvelous ship." She complemented. The princess was every bit as beautiful and melodious as she had appeared on the view screen. The beauty was now enhanced by a glimmering tiara and a cape that glimmered and flashed as she moved.

"Thank you, Captain. Martha tells me you have a marvelous story to tell. I like stories. You will tell me some of it. Perhaps over dinner?"

"Certainly. If it will not bore, your Majesty." Agreed the Captain amiably.

The dinner followed a similar pattern to the formal dinners the Colonel held, though there was no round table entertainment or toasts. Instead the visitors were shown into the dance hall immediately after the meal was complete. The Captain noted that her male crew members were soon being invited to dance by their female hosts. She also noted that B'Elanna was looking a little put out.

"Don't be too miffed," She commented softly to her. "I don't think there are enough men so the chance of a dance with a male must be something new. I suggest if you want to join the dancing you should approach one of the Valorian crew."

"I wouldn't mind." B'Elanna replied angrily, "But they are just too beautiful to be true. Tom is not the Colonel. He's getting rather too attached to that woman." She indicated the Valorian officer that Tom Paris was snuggling up too.

"I see what you mean." The Captain agreed. "I'm sure nothing untoward will happen."

"Captain. The Princess would like to give you an audience in her chamber." Martha announced coming up behind them both. "If you would both like to follow me?"

They followed the woman into a lavishly furnished and decorated sitting room.

"Please make yourselves comfortable. Her Highness will join you in a moment." She commanded, providing them with drinks.

The Princess joined them with a drink of her own. This time she was dressed in a comfortable but bland looking, sari.

"Thank you for joining me in my rooms." She announced softly. "It is so good not to have to be formal sometimes. Here I am simply Madila. Please use that name."

"Thank you, Madila." The Captain pronounced carefully. "Please call me Kathryn and my colleague B'Elanna."

The Princess laughed, it tinkled like a bell. "Good. Real friends at last! Now please tell me more about your voyage. It seems so thrilling. And this Super Hero of yours the Colonel, he is even more thrilling."

Carefully they started to describe their adventures, correcting each other occasionally as they warmed to the task. Charmed by the girlish enthusiasm of their host.

After they finished their stories, the Princess smiled. "After such exciting stories, perhaps we can offer you some assistance. We know of several wormholes. One at least must take you at least part of the way back to your home. I shall ask Martha to execute a study to see if there is something suitable, if that would meet your approval?"

"Indeed it would! Your Highness." The Captain admitted in surprise. "Thank you very much."

"It will take a couple of days, long enough for you to see our home world, it is very beautiful. And I'm sure my mother the Queen Dessira will wish to meet you before you finish your journey."

Tuvok was inspecting the Colonel's completed tests, there had been a couple of minor errors, but the Colonel had corrected them quickly. Now he was faced with the task of inspecting them in detail. Finally he looked up from the task.

"Lieutenant Colonel Samuels. I must formally advise you that your methods are unorthodox." He announced to the waiting Colonel. The Bridge strained to hear.

"However I must also advise you that you have successfully completed the Star Fleet promotion examination."

A cheer broke out amongst the eavesdropping crew.

"It is not a good pass." Tuvok cautioned, "But your experiences and endeavours aboard this ship will undoubtedly go to sway Star Fleet of your command potential. I will formally withdraw my objections to any decision that the Captain makes."

"Thank you Sir!" The Colonel announced, slamming a salute. "May I be dismissed?"

"You may go." Agreed Tuvok.

The Colonel almost danced into the lift. Phase one of his plan had been completed.

In his quarters he relaxed into a chair, waiting for Seven of Nine to appear. She did so an hour later after a three-hour regeneration cycle in the cargo bay.

"Miss Nine!" He called happily, standing and handing her a tall glass filled from the last bottle of Metheglin. "You will be glad to hear I've finally booted my backside into gear and completed the examinations you've been so patiently trying to prepare me for during the last year. I've finally applied myself!"

"You were successful?"

"Not brilliant perhaps. But adequate for a start." He admitted. "Perhaps I won't seem quite so stupid anymore?"

"You were never stupid." Seven protested. "You are an individual's, individual, that is why you are acceptable and a benefit."

"I still am, but perhaps less likely to get lost in this age of wonders and better able to support you?" He quizzed.

Despite her cool attitude, she had to admit to herself that she was pleased and proud if a little surprised at his actions. Finally she smiled, that rare smile he worked so long and hard for. "You are my Collective. You will obey?"

"Never a doubt and no more bad dreams." He claimed, putting his arms around her and kissing her firmly. She responded likewise. Pushing him back onto the straight-backed chair, he happened to be standing in front of. She straddled his lap, arms still around him, then kissed his neck as she lay her head against his shoulder. Gently she fondled the dead implant at the nape of his neck.

As the Captain and her crew left the Princess turned to her aide. "Did we get the necessary data?"

"Yes your Highness. The mechanoids will be ready by the time we reach Valoria. We shall place transponders when we visit their vessel." Martha replied.

"There is one other. I want the Colonel. He will be invaluable." The Princess ordered.

"It will be difficult, Your Highness, we may not have the time to create a good mechanoid. They could suspect." Martha cautioned her mistress

"Provided the mechanoid lasts until the wormhole, it doesn't matter. They cannot come back and claim him." The Princess predicted.

"As you command your Majesty." Responded Martha reluctantly.

The Captain went in search of the Colonel the following morning. She found him working in the Science Labs.

"I was a little disappointed that you didn't join us yesterday, Colonel." She chided gently.

"I'm sorry Ma'am." He replied honestly. "It appeared to be a Star Fleet thing, so there was no requirement for me to attend and I was doing something else that seemed more important."

"So I heard, you caught Tuvok by surprise. Congratulations are in order. But why?" She asked. "You've shown little interest and even less ability to handle the theory. How did you do it?"

"The 'how?' is easy. I simply examined the computer's test papers and answered them. I've been working on them for some time, it's just that yesterday I completed the studies and wanted to get it over and done with, before I chickened out again. It wasn't perfect, Commander Tuvoks papers asked a couple of new questions, but I managed to fudge those." He admitted. "The 'Why' is a little more difficult to explain. It appears you have voluntarily lumbered yourself with me, so it was about time I knuckled down and learnt about it properly."

"There was another reason as well, Ma'am."

"Oh?" She queried, though she suspected the answer.

"Well it seems that no matter what, I seem to have landed Miss Nine. It is, perhaps, time I started to do something to genuinely woo her. I'd like her to be sure that I do love her and can keep up with her. Maybe have a little pride in me?"

The Captain laughed. "You could have fooled us. We thought you'd been wooing her since you joined. So what else are you planning, I don't think she'll appreciate flowers and chocolates."

"I wasn't knowingly doing so Ma'am." He commented wryly. "I was simply trying to offer friendship, I think I overcooked it. I suspect you are correct about flowers and chocolates though. What do you suggest?"

"I don't know." She admitted. "Perhaps you could convince her she wants to go to Earth? Or perhaps you know what you want to do in the future?"

"I'd like Miss Nine to be my future, Captain. The rest I think I will have to wait and see what turns up. I still don't think I will ever really fit in Star Fleet. Returning to Earth? I'm not desperately certain I want to either. I've probably seen more of it a lot closer than you have, a fair amount leaves an unpleasant taste, so whilst I may be of benefit to Historians, I don't know if there is anything of benefit to me, it's not home anymore!"

"We will have to wait and see. The Valorians are visiting us today. I want to present you to the Princess Madila. She was very impressed with our stories about you." She claimed, changing subjects.

"If that is an order, I shall ensure I'm in my number ones." He assured her

"What are you hoping to gain from them, with all the hobnobbing, Captain?" He asked quietly.

"They have coordinates for a couple of wormholes. They believe one of them may lead almost directly to the Alpha Quadrant. They are analysing their data now." The Captain explained happily. "If one of them does, then I think it's worth all the 'hobnobbing'. Don't you?"

"There were several sayings in my time, Ma'am." He replied. "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth', was one I had little truck with. The other 'Beware of Turks bearing gifts', always seemed to have a lot more sense to it. It is my experience that people, no matter how friendly, always want something, the less they say the more they actually want. I suspect this is a Gift Horse that needs inspection not just in the mouth, but every other orifice as well. If they are real friends then they'll accept our caution."

"You are an out and out cynic!" She challenged in amusement.

"Yes, Ma'am. It leads to a longer life." He agreed evenly.

"Perhaps you will change your mind when you meet them. They'll be here in an hour. Be sure you're in Transporter Room 2 to meet them." She commanded, turning away.

The Colonel sighed and picked up his things and returned to his quarters.

B'Elanna Torres was also in search of somebody. In her case it was Seven of Nine. She found her at her usual station in Astro metrics.

"Seven?" She called nervously.

"Lieutenant Torres." Seven responded coolly.

"I'd like some advice, please? If you can spare the time?" Torres asked, even more nervously.

Seven looked at her with surprise, this was a rare event, B'Elanna Torres rarely sought advice from anybody, let alone her.

"Very well." She agreed calmly. "Upon what subject?"

"That ceremony in the Church on Earth, did it have an effect?" B'Elanna asked quickly.

The question surprised the ex-Borg even more than having the engineer asking them. "You wish to ask me a question about humanity?" Her surprise and metallic eyebrow reaching the levels of incredulous.

B'Elanna nodded anxiously.

She considered her answer carefully. "It settled the uncertainty." She admitted cautiously. "The Colonel is more responsive."

"What did that Padre say to you in the vestry?"

"He tested my feelings for the Colonel by asking simple questions with simpler answers." Seven admitted. "It enabled me to fully understand my feelings. Why?"

"Do you think a similar ceremony would work for Tom and me?" B'Elanna asked, ignoring Seven's question.

"I do not know." She admitted. "The ceremony was arranged by the Padre to persuade the Colonel to release his feelings for his ex-wife and make him accept the alternative possibilities. Why?" She asked again, more firmly.

Torres took a deep breath. "When I saw Tom dancing with that Valorian woman I could have killed both of them." She confessed. "I want him to know my feelings and remember them. I was wondering if a similar ceremony for us would achieve the same results for us?"

"Your reasoning is valid." Commented Seven. "However I cannot supply a definitive answer. Neither of you shares the Colonel's religion."

"Nor do you. But it helped you!" B'Elanna pointed out enthusiastically.

"Yes it did." Seven conceded. "It may have a beneficial effect, but there is no equivalent of the Padre on the ship."

"But there is the Colonel! I bet he could perform it!" B'Elanna announced her excitement building.

Seven viewed the excited engineer with growing interest. "Perhaps you should ask him?" She suggested.

"I will. Thank you, Seven!" B'Elanna announced, turning on her heel and leaving.

"You are welcome." Seven said after she left. She suppressed a grin of amusement at the Engineer's actions and returned to her console.

The Colonel in his quarters carefully took his dress uniform out of its wardrobe and dressed as prescribed. It seemed as out of place as he was, a uniform that was designed in the Seventeenth Century, worn by a Twentieth Century soldier, aboard a Twenty-fifth Century space ship, long after his world had disappeared under the onslaught of progress. Finally he crammed his Shako on his head and marched for the Transporter Room at the double, Voyager crew members stepping aside in awe as he passed.

There he slammed to attention and saluted the assembly awaiting the Valorians. "Lieutenant Colonel Samuels reporting as ordered. Ma'am!" He snapped.

The Captain blushed deeply. The Colonel's dress uniform always made the Star Fleet equivalent seem so shabby. Its dark green cotton, razor sharp creases, polished leather and glimmering silver not comparing to the generally shapeless and nondescript Star Fleet jacket and trousers.

"Stand easy, Colonel." She calmed him with a smile. "I'd forgotten just how spectacular you look in that uniform. Can we hide behind you? You make us look like tramps."

"Ma'am." He responded with a grimace.

They stood back as their Valorian visiting party was beamed aboard.

The Captain stepped forward. "Your Highness welcome to the USS Voyager."

"Thank you Captain." The Princess announced, stepping from the transporter pad. She was wearing the same slick black costume and cape as she had worn during the dinner yesterday, resulting in the fascination of the majority of the male greeting party.

"May I present the three officers that were not present last night?" The Captain offered.

"I would appreciate it." The Princess agreed regally.

The Captain did so. "Lieutenant Commander Tuvok, Ships Security Officer. Seven of Nine, Science Officer and Lieutenant Colonel Alan Samuels, of Her Majesties 60th Rifle Regiment, our friend and ally."

The Princess stopped in front of the Colonel and examined him closely from his glass polished shoes to the similarly polished shako. All the while he stood at attention without moving or displaying recognition of her interest "The Captain has told me a lot about you." She announced with a broad smile. "I can see you are every thing she described. You look most spectacular." She held out her hand magnificently.

The Colonel bowed stiffly and kissed the proffered cool hand. "Your Highness, favours me with complements." He intoned just as stiffly.

The Princess ignored the seeming hostility in his voice. "I hope you will be at my table for dinner. I'd like to hear more stories about you."

"I'm sure the Captain has designated as she sees fit, your Highness" He assured her.

She nodded her acceptance and moved back to the Captain. "He will be at my table, will he not?" She queried.

"It can be arranged, your Highness." She agreed with a smile. "If you care to come with us we will show you the rest of our ship."

"That woman is a spider. Beautiful, flirtatious and suggestive. Please make sure I'm not in her presence alone." The Colonel commented to Seven of Nine as the party left the room and they were left alone. "Do you know the race?"

"Species 3872, Valorian. They have never been successfully assimilated, but are generally harmless. Females out number males by a factor of 100 to 1." She recited. "You believe they are a danger?"

"Probably only to my pride." He admitted with a wry smile.

"Shall we go somewhere quiet, perhaps they'll forget about us?" He asked, without much hope.

"That is unlikely. The Princess has expressed a deep interest in you." Seven pointed out, "We should go to the Mess ready for their appearance."

He sighed. "You're right as always, M'Lady. May I take your arm?"

"That is acceptable." She agreed readily, so they left for the Mess.

The Princess turned to the Colonel over dinner. "The Captain tells me you served a Queen, who was she, did you ever meet her?"

"Yes, your Highness." He admitted cheerfully. "Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen of England, Great Britain and the Commonwealth. I took her shilling at the age of 15 and served in her army for thirty-seven years as a soldier. I still do, in a way."

"Yet you became a member of this ship? What role do you fulfil?"

"I have orders to serve and protect them, your Highness. Otherwise, I try to make myself useful without getting in the way."

"There can be little opportunity for you to carry out your orders. It must be very boring with nobody to fight?" She suggested with an open smile. "Don't you miss commanding men?"

The Colonel considered the questions. "I find there are things I miss from my home world, fighting isn't one of them, on balance I find that there are things I would miss more here. As for boredom, that was a feature at home as well. This is a foreign flagged ship sailing in a media I am still learning about, I cannot command it and again I can't say I would go home just to have that privilege again."

"I sympathise with your position." She commented. "But wouldn't you like to command again? Have power over the lives of people? Perhaps take a mate of your choosing that is your equal?"

Again the Colonel had to consider her questions. "I have a mate, your highness." He conceded. "She is not my equal, rather superior to be honest, but I don't think I could choose better. If left to my own devices I doubt I would ever have one. If you mean, would I like to rule over people'. I would make an awful king, absolutely no grasp of politics. I prefer to follow orders, but in my own way. Is there a purpose to this questioning Ma'am?"

"Captain Janeway is absolutely correct. You are the most remarkable individual I've met!" She laughed, avoiding the question. "The Captain also said you are a musician and singer, could you be persuaded to sing and play for us as well?"

"It pleases people to say that I can perform those functions, Your Highness. I can do so if so requested." He admitted

She turned away to talk to the Captain sat on the other side of her. "I compliment you Captain, you have an excellent crew and ship, but I think your Colonel surpasses them all in his modesty over his abilities. I would like to hear him entertain, is that possible?" She asked meekly.

"I'm sure it is possible, your Highness. The Colonel enjoys singing." The Captain assured her, shooting a stern glance at the Colonel.

He caught it and nodded. "At your command, Ma'am." He intoned.

"Tell me Captain, why do you refer to him as the Colonel? You use peoples names at almost every other occasion." The Princess asked quietly as the Colonel got up from his seat.

"I don't know," The Captain admitted thoughtfully. "No other form of address ever seems to fit him somehow."

As people watched the Colonel sing, the Princess carefully pocketed the Colonels glass. Alone of the Voyager's crew, only Seven of Nine, who had been watching the woman intently, noticed. She wondered why a Princess should need to steal a glass, but said nothing.

"You have everything prepared?" The Princess Madila demanded of her aide all business again, when they had safely beamed back to their own vessel.

"Yes your Highness. We are receiving mind scans from the transponders and mechanoid programming is progressing." Martha responded quietly. "But I must urge you to reconsider taking the Colonel. He will be highly resistant and the Borg is very close to him. She will be suspicious."

"We can deal with that. Replace the Captain as well." She ordered. "Do any of the wormholes lead where they wish to go?"

"No, your Highness." Admitted Martha.

"Then send them to the Agra. Make sure they think they will be nearly home but not quite. They trust us, so by the time they find out they have gone to the outer reaches of the galaxy it will be too late, it will be easier with a mechanoid Captain. Is there a prediction from insemination yet?"

"A prediction has been made, Your Highness. It is estimated at better than 500 from each Star Fleet male. More than 50% will be male offspring. We have no results for the Colonel as we have no DNA imprints."

"Take this." The Princess ordered, handing over the glass the Colonel had been using. "I do not want him processed until I've finished with him. I wish him to be my personal consort."

"Yes, your Highness!" Martha sighed.

"We shall carry out the exchange tomorrow when they visit Valoria. The Queen will appreciate the visitors." The Princess decided. "Ensure the relevant invitations are made."

"Your Highness." The aide bowed low before her mistress.

"Thank heaven that is over." The Colonel exclaimed, ripping the stock of his jacket from his neck. "This thing gets tighter every time I wear it. I must be putting on weight." He complained.

"Dearest Miss Nine, will you still love me when I'm fat and bald?" He teased her.

"You will never be fat. And I believe you enjoy wearing dress uniform." She assured him.

"The Princess stole a glass from the table, whilst you were entertaining." She commented, preparing for bed.

"So?" The Colonel replied indifferently. "I nicked a towel from Earth the other week.

"That is because the one you had, had holes in." Seven pointed out calmly. "I imagine a Princess has access to as many glasses as she would require. Why would she require a replicated one from Voyager?"

"Perhaps she's a kleptomaniac?" The Colonel parried. "Royalty have at least as many faults as us peasants."

"May we retire now?" He asked hopefully. "I promise I won't wake you up in the middle of the night with my bad dreams?"

"That will be acceptable." She agreed, laying herself on their bed. The actions of the princess still troubled her.

"She is very beautiful." She commented as he lay beside her.

"Very." The Colonel agreed amiably. "Also charming, rich, powerful and as you've pointed out a thief. But she is not Seven of Nine, so it doesn't worry me." He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer, kissing her forehead tenderly.

"That is an acceptable response." She agreed, responding to his kiss by snuggling closer and gently moving his hands to more strategic points.

They settled to sleep.

"You must have done something right last night Colonel." The Captain announced happily the next morning in the staff conference. "You've been invited to meet Queen Dessira this morning, along with Chakotay, Tom, Harry and myself."

"Can't I join the sick parade?" The Colonel asked despondently.

"No, you may not." She retorted. "You're our ace in the hole here. The Princess was absolutely thrilled with you yesterday, and loved the uniform. You're supposed to be a diplomat now, so this is as good an opportunity as any to learn how to be one."

"I could lend the uniform to the Commander or Ensign Carver?" The Colonel volunteered. "Admittedly it will need a tuck or two, but nobody would know the difference."

She glared at him. "I fail to see a reason for your reticence!" She informed him coldly. "You are going and you will smile, talk politely and all the other things you do so well. Seven will still be here when you get back."

"Ma'am." He replied meekly, the rest of the meeting melting in fits of giggles at the Colonel's discomfort.

She turned her attention to Tuvok. "They will transmit coordinates for the wormhole that they've identified when we are in orbit. Arrange a class five probe to check it out. I'm sure it will be everything they claim, but we can do without nasty surprises." She commanded.

"Agreed Captain." Came Tuvoks calm reply.

Seven of Nine and B'Elanna both joined the party in the transporter room for their departure. The Colonel, shrewd as always, stepped forward and held Seven tightly and kissed her lips. "There are enough of us, I won't fall victim to the spider woman." He whispered in her ear.

B'Elanna watched them carefully, then stepped towards Tom Paris. "Don't you dare get carried away with those bitches, or I won't speak to you again!" She hissed.

She kissed him quickly, then stepped back in embarrassment at the chuckles of mirth from the others. Seven of Nine noted the deep blush that flushed Lieutenant Paris's boyish features, with some interest.

As did the Captain. 'Is Seven teaching us about humanity now?' She thought in wonderment.

Seven of Nine watched the party dissolve with some trepidation. She was almost certain that the Colonel wouldn't be tempted by the fabulous beauty of the Valorians, but it had not stopped her feeling a little put out by the Captain insisting he joined her on the away mission. Or the flash of irrational jealousy that had flitted through her mind that he might be receiving the affections of one of the beautiful women on the planet and might even enjoy it. Jealousy was another emotion that was new to her, one that she didn't like, so she determinedly put it out of her mind. She determined that he would remember his love when he returned, just to be sure.

They were met by the Princess Madila, her aide and a small party of Valorians at the landing point that had been identified for them.

"Welcome to Valoria." Announced the Princess in her familiar singsong voice. She took hold of the Colonel's arm, to his obvious embarrassment. "My mother will give you an audience in a few hours. But first you must see some of our city. It is beautiful isn't it?"

The landing party looked around them. The Park in which they had materialised was full of flowering bushes and trees. It was surrounded by light and airy two storey buildings.

"It is quite attractive. Don't you think, Colonel?" The Captain agreed, extraditing the tall soldier from his predicament.

"There is a pleasing simplicity." He agreed guardedly. She glared at him in warning, the Princess managed to ignore his coolness.

A young woman approached them. "Your Highness, your presence is requested in the developing rooms." She announced bowing before her.

The Princess nodded. "Martha will show you a little of our city. For now I must leave you." She claimed cheerfully.

"If you will follow us." Martha began.

"Excuse me, Ma'am." The Colonel announced. "I can't help thinking this is a perfect place for children? Why aren't there any?"

"This is the Palace Garden." He was informed gently. "There are no juniors here. If you wish I may be able to show you an educational establishment?"

"Thank you, Ma'am. It may awaken memories." He agreed, effecting an amount of enthusiasm.

With the exception of the Colonel the party enjoyed the tour. It seemed, to the Captain, that the Colonel was actively trying to drop from the group as they were escorted around. But each time he managed to fall a few paces back from the crowd, two of their escorts fell in beside him.

"What are you up to Colonel? You're embarrassing us!" She hissed in his ear after one of his attempts.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am. But I keep getting the feeling something is not quite as it seems. It worries me and when I get worried I'm inclined to look for reasons." He whispered back.

"Like what?"

"Like there are no children below the age of 16?" He suggested. "Surely for a capital city their must be some babies, even if they are all girls?"

"That's their problem!" The Captain hissed in anger. "It won't affect us!"

"Probably not." He admitted, but the thought continued to trouble him.

The queen herself was regal enough to impress even the cynical Colonel. She was about sixty the Captain reckoned, about her height, and robed in an elegant sari, her greying hair neatly platted and bunned, it seemed to form the anchor for the shimmering Tiara that was also perched precisely upon her head.

"Welcome to Valoria, Captain Janeway." She announced warmly. "It is always an honour to meet new races."

"My daughter has told me a lot about you and the person you refer to as the Colonel. I think she has taken a liking for him." She confided with a weak smile. "We can't persuade you to leave him behind?"

"I'm afraid not, Your Majesty." The Captain answered with a smile. "He's a valuable member of my crew, I wouldn't like to be without him. Besides one of my crew is already totally devoted to him and him to her."

"I quite understand." The Queen agreed. "Poor Madila, she has the free choice of all the men on Valoria, yet she falls for an outlander."

"It happens, Your Majesty." The Captain sympathised with feeling.

"How long will it take you to get home from here?" The Queen asked, suddenly changing the subject.

"Well the information that your scientists have provided suggest we will be less than a hundred light years from our quadrant." The Captain considered, struggling to catch up with the conversation.

"Provided nothing goes wrong, then about three months, Your Majesty." She claimed, finishing her mental arithmetic.

"I am very pleased for you and your crew." Queen Dessira congratulated her.

"Now if you will excuse me. I'm afraid I'm not as strong as I used to be and tire easily. Please accept our hospitality. I wish you a good voyage Captain." Queen Dessira excused herself and left.

The party from Voyager prepared for departure some 50 minutes later. "Away Team to Voyager. Five to beam up." The Captain commanded.

They felt the familiar fuzzy feeling of the transporter beam dematerializing then rematerialising them.

Five figures stepped off the transporter pad.

"Okay people. We're on our way home. Let's go." Announced the Captain with enthusiasm. "Tuvok get us underway. Warp 5."

"Captain." The Vulcan replied calmly.

Voyager broke orbit and headed into space.

"We will receive telemetry from the probe in about two days." Tuvok informed her. "Our journey will be approximately five."

"I wish the Colonel's assistance in Astro metrics?" Seven of Nine requested of the Captain. "I need to prepare for data capture from the probe."

The Captain nodded quietly.

"You forgot to request permission to step on the ship." Seven commented, placing her arms around her beau and kissing him tenderly and frequently, after they arrived in Astro metrics

"Pardon?" He queried.

"You always request permission to board the ship. That is the regulation to which you comply." She insisted. "You omitted the action, as you did on the Bridge."

"Oh that!" He commented in surprise. "I'm satisfied that I am part of the ship." The reply was smooth and even.

"We will complete our preparations in approximately two hours. After which you will escort me to Holodeck 2. I wish to experience a recreational programme with you." She announced quietly.

"Okay, Seven." He agreed enthusiastically.

She looked at him sharply. He had never been so informal on duty before, even with her. It was puzzling and out of character.

"Excuse me, Captain, for pointing out the obvious." The Colonel commented mildly. "But this doesn't look very much like the ship." He finished, looking around at the steel walls that surrounded them.

"I agree!" The Captain snapped. "Janeway to Voyager. What happened?"

There was no reply. Chakotay tested his, with similar response. She looked at him sharply.

"Okay Colonel. This is your nightmare! What happens now?" She asked heavily.

"I haven't a clue!" He admitted candidly. "I'm sure we will find out soon enough though." He settled on the floor to wait.

"You're taking this very calmly?" Chakotay challenged him, as he, Kim and Paris started to search for a way out.

"On the contrary Commander. I am decidedly pissed and I have a desire to kill somebody before the days out." The Colonel admitted. "But we have been well and truly 'suckered', we can't contact the ship and we appear to be in a cell without a door. Running around, as my beloved Miss Nine would say, is 'inefficient'. So for the time being, I'll wait for the half chance."

They all sank to the floor around the Colonel.

"You were right to be suspicious." The Captain admitted quietly. "When will I learn your senses are as effective as any of the ships sensors?"

"Probably the same day that I actually believe the sensors instead." The Colonel suggested. "Unfortunately my senses don't actually tell me what is wrong, so we may still have fallen into this trap." He consoled.

"The exchange was successful, Your Highness." Martha intoned calmly. "The prisoners are in the underground holding cell. Voyager is underway, they do not suspect the mechanoids and we have taken control of their probe. We will send encouraging information at the appropriate time."

"Good." Agreed Princess Madila. "I wish the Colonel to be in my rooms tonight."

"Your Highness. He must be prepared!" Exclaimed Martha in exasperation. "He will be too resistive!"

"In loyalty to a Borg?" The Princess snapped. "I can persuade him better than that creature! Am I not more attractive than she?" She blasted.

"Yes, your Highness." Martha sighed in resignation, she suspected that beauty alone may not be a totally effective key with this human.

The captives stood back in alarm as the Colonel was dematerialized from their midst some two hours later.

"Why the Colonel?" Captain Janeway screamed at the blank walls surrounding them.

She received no reply, though a container of food and water was beamed into his place.

"At least they don't want us to die." Chakotay pointed out, examining the food stuff. "In fact I'd say they definitely want us to live considering this food!"

"You've never heard of the condemned mans last meal." The Captain responded harshly.

"Maybe." He admitted quietly.

He had found it difficult to assume the Colonel's calm acceptance of their situation, in fact it had quite irked him. But after examining the walls and floor in infinite detail, he had to admit the Colonel had been right about the possibilities of escape. It was not impossible therefore he might be right about anything else that he might offer as advice.

A sentiment he offered to the Captain, along with a plate of what looked like shell fish.

"I suspect the Colonel is in more danger than we are." The Captain responded, taking a couple of the delicacies from the plate. "I think the Princess has had something to do with his departure. But I wish I knew what she wanted from him?"

The Colonel, was wondering much the same thing. He found himself sitting on a luxurious couch in an even more luxurious room. Quietly he stood and prowled the room. He examined the drapes, rich and lovingly embroidered taffeta, but not a hiding place. The window was guarded by a strong force field, with no visible controls. Of the three doors, one led into a washroom, another into a luxuriously appointed bedroom. The third was locked, he suspected that there were probably a goodly number of guards outside. For the time being he gave up and examined the contents of the shelves, picking up and examining closely the fine jewellery and ornaments.

"You like my ornament's Colonel?" The Princesses voice tinkled at him from the direction of the door.

"Some of them look as though they've been produced by an average blacksmith or a very poor silversmith, you Highness." He said without looking around. "But this one is exquisite. I suspect it doesn't belong here?" He picked up a jewelled metal flower, like a rose, it was complete to every detail.

"Why do you say that?" She demanded.

"Because it is very dainty, it belongs to a dainty lady. Despite the deception, you're not dainty, your Highness." He replied calmly. "Why have you taken me and my friends? Why am I here?"

"It was necessary. Our race cannot produce male offspring. The male crew members we brought here will produce many male offspring."

"And the Captain? Or are you having her put to death whilst we speak?"

"The mechanoids we placed on your ship may not be perfect. A mechanoid Captain will cause additional confusion, until it's too late."

I see, he responded. And the Captain?

We will not harm her.

"But will remain a prisoner, I'd choose execution, he responded. "And I don't suppose Voyager is actually going anywhere near Earth or the Alpha Quadrant either is it?"

He continued without waiting for her response. "There used to be a name for people like you on my planet. Sirens, beautiful women that enticed sailors with whispers of treasure, then wrecked and killed them. When are you going to put me on your slab for extraction?"

"It pleases me not to." She assured him. "I will take you for my own."

"You and whose army, Ma'am?" He snapped. "I was married once and it took a company of very tough soldiers to get me to the church and I was not all together unhappy at the outcome. I warn you I'm not going to roll on my back and let you get on with it!"

"I can be very persuasive." She said sliding up behind him and placing her arms around him and nuzzling his neck softly.

He pried them away, feeling an unwanted desire form. "I'm sure you can, your Highness. You might even get a chance of what you want, if you have the patience. But it will only be one chance, I've sworn my honour to another."

"You swore to serve a Borg. A being without emotions of it's own. How can you love a machine? She will be well taken by the mechanoid Colonel and won't know the difference." She claimed with scorn.

"I however can give you every thing you ever wanted, power, riches, love, children." She claimed regaining her gentle voice and approaching him again, arms open.

He deliberately turned his back to her. "You've missed every detail of what Captain Janeway told you about me," He hissed.

"I don't want power. I've given everything I've ever had away and would do it again. As for love Miss Nine has learnt more about it than you ever will. Children? What Children? You don't know what they are either, do you?" He snapped turning back to her in anger. "We were taken to see one of your educational institutions. Do you know what I saw there? I'll tell you shall I? Rows and rows of youngsters attached to machines. The headmistress told me they spend more than ten hours a day like that! That's not education it's brainwashing! Children are young bundles of fun and mischief, that's the way they learn to be human. Not the way those sad little things I saw in your college today were. I had a better childhood than they've got. The youngsters here don't have a childhood!"

"Now if you don't mind, your Highness. I think I'd like to return to my cell, before I really get cross and the company is better!" He announced stiffly, marching to the door.

She stamped her foot in fury. "I will not be spurned." She screamed. "You will be my consort!"

"Willingly, not in a month of Sundays, your Highness." He bowed to her and opened the door to find Martha and six armed female guards waiting.

"Excuse me, Ma'am?" He asked mildly. "But could you direct me back to my rooms, the Princess and I have completed our conversation. From this point it can only get physical."

Martha looked to her Princess for guidance. She nodded distractedly, so she led the Colonel away.

"Why does your race have so few males, Ma'am?" He asked her quietly as they walked.

"Two hundred cycles ago men controlled our lives. They were harsh and violent, then there was a war with another race, the Tigra's, it was a terrible war, it lasted many years and thousands died." She told him. "In the end they used bigeneric weapons. Almost all our men were rendered impotent, those that weren't we found incapable of producing male offspring. The Tigrans then attempted an invasion and took many women captives, until we beat them off. They still mount raiding parties from time to time, but we usually manage to defeat them and take our own prisoners, they are not perfect."

The Colonel laughed, it was a dry and unpleasant laugh. "The more advanced races become the more stupid they are." He stated. "Both of you deserve to die out! The thing about war is that they are a natural, if illogical event and everybody loses, but they don't last in the great scheme of things. Sooner or later they end and everybody goes back to what they were before. I have some sympathy with your plight, but not to the extent of condoning your survival plans."

"You know, a place like this inhabited by beautiful young women, ought to be Nervana for red bloodied males, even I could be tempted. Unfortunately your way of collecting for the cause is too extreme. Perhaps you should try and find another way of rebuilding your race, a more natural way, that doesn't make you look like a galactic enemy of everybody."

He was silent for the rest of their walk through the Palace grounds until they entered a low building near the centre.

"Would this be your insemination chamber?" He asked, looking at the various couches.

"Not quite." Martha confided. "We extract here and develop the foetuses in generation tanks."

"If you can grow children like tomatoes, why don't you use genetics to rebuild your race?" The Colonel asked in bewilderment.

"We do not have the technology. We are afraid if we use our men, they will be violent." Martha claimed.

"Not nearly as violent as I'm likely to be with your Princess!" The Colonel snorted in amusement.

"If your Princess is still intent in keeping me. Persuade her to let my friends and Voyager go?" He suggested. "It won't make me responsive overnight, but it might be a gesture in the right direction. To gain my love she will have to earn it properly!"

"Is this where I join my friends?" He asked turning to examine a new device as they entered another smaller room. He stumbled as he did so, knocking over an escort.

"I'm most terribly sorry my dear! Not hurt in anyway are you?" He asked gently, bending to help her up. As he did so his hand slipped around her waist, sliding out what he assumed was a weapon, then quietly palming it into his pocket as she stood.

"You are correct, Colonel." Martha announced. "If you would care to stand in the circle, you may rejoin your friends."

"Thank you, Ma'am."

He was beamed away safely.

Seven of Nine's Holdeck simulation proved to be a dance hall. A twenty piece orchestra played a waltz in a corner, tables spread around the edges of the room, leaving a large circle in the centre as a dance floor. Several waiters were plying drinks from a bar situated in another corner.

"This is an acceptable simulation of 'Brains'?" She asked nervously.

"I'm sure it is." The Colonel admitted. "Why did you create it?"

"The Doctor advised me that social interactions are assisted by close contact. I wish to be held by you, so that we may demonstrate our love." She said quickly. A strange feeling was scratching at her mind, he wasn't responding the way she expected, she pushed it away. Then took him in her arms, pulling the slightly resistive man towards her and kissing him with all the passion she could muster. Gently her hand crept up his back to his neck, to subconsciously toy with the dead implant that had given her such intimacy with the man. It didn't find it.

Shocked she stepped backwards, stumbling into a table.

"You are an impostor!" She shouted, her hand reaching for the communicator on her left breast.

He shot her, without waiting, with a phasor. She looked at him accusingly as she crashed over the table behind her, then to the deck.

The Colonel hit his own communicator. "Captain to Holodeck 2." He called.

She arrived inside ten minutes.

"What happened?" She demanded, seeing the unconscious blonde sprawled across the floor.

"She knows about me." He replied stiffly. "I had to stop her."

"You were defective." The Captain complained. "Take her to her quarters, then lock the door. She must not be allowed to contact the crew."

The Colonel nodded and picked up the unconscious woman in one arm.

"Carry her properly, you are supposed to love her!" The Captain ordered. "If asked, she passed out. That will be an acceptable answer. Then look after her."

The Colonel nodded and walked out the room, carrying her in both arms.

"You have a report, Colonel?" The Captain asked anxiously when he rematerialised.

He nodded. "Is there something left to drink?" He asked. "I'm parched."

They gave him a glass of the wine they had been drinking. He swallowed it in one shot and held it out for a refill.

"Thank you. I beg your forgiveness, Ma'am." He said at last after draining the second glass.

She looked at him quizzically.

"I have made an impression on the Princess as ordered, but not a good one I'm afraid. I told her what I thought of her and her people." He apologised.

"I'm sure you acted correctly." The Captain assured him. "Now what happened? Where is Voyager?"

He explained the events of his two hours away from the cell.

"So basically we are in the pooh, Ma'am." He commented at length.

"Is there any good news? Or have you a plan?" She asked quietly.

"Nothing that could be run up a flag pole, Ma'am." He responded diffidently. "I believe the Princess may try to invite me to her parlour again, but I expect some sort of demonstration from her first. I nicked this as well." He retrieved the weapon he had pickpocketed earlier from his own pocket. "I think it may be more suitable for somebody else to use."

"As for a plan, the best I can offer at present is whoever goes next, takes this toy and attempts to take control of the transporter room. If you start shooting first and don't stop until everybody is down then you may have time to work out how to operate their controls. After that we will have to wing it."

"We're not the trained killer you are." The Captain pointed out. "Why should we be more able to take the control room than you? Why didn't you take it when you had the chance?"

She took the weapon from him and examined it. It was broadly rectangular with a rectangular hole through which the fingers could pass. Two short barrels presented themselves from a long edge. A stun gun of some sort, she guessed.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am, I'm not a killer, I kill those known to be a threat to life because I'm a soldier and that is what a soldier does, but I'm not an assassin, unless they start shooting I'm not sure I could. Shooting women out of hand is not something I'm good at. And I doubt I could work out how to use the Control Panel," He apologised.

The Captain nodded, "More of your regulations?" She queried calmly.

"Not exactly, Ma'am. It's what I was taught. I promise I'll spill as much blood as you want, when they become hostile, and I won't need that toy." He assured her. "Besides they think I'm a killer as well so they were prepared for me."

She pocketed the weapon, "I'll deal with it, if I get the opportunity." She agreed. "But more weapons would be helpful if you can arrange them?"

"Ma'am."

Seven of Nine awoke slowly to find herself in her quarters and a tall figure sat on a chair at the opposite side of the room. Her head and chest ached from the after effects of the phasors stun beam, it left her groggy and unable to properly recall the events that had led her back to her quarters.

"What happened?" She queried.

The figure got up and moved towards her. "You had a nasty turn and collapsed over some furniture." Said a familiar voice. "How do you feel?"

"I am damaged. I must regenerate."

"There will be plenty of time for that." The figure suggested, kneeling beside her and stroking her gently. "Just rest for a while?"

She started to relax as the gentle caresses tingled her body. Suddenly noticed the chronometer on the wall, it showed she had been unconscious for nearly twenty hours. She sprang out of the bed and staggered as the room swam around her.

"I must regenerate. I will need to assimilate data from the probe when it arrives." She insisted, "You may accompany me." She offered.

"That will be acceptable." The Colonel agreed.

Together they left the room for Cargo Bay 2 and Seven of Nine's alcove. Gently he helped her to stand in the booth, then activate it.

Satisfied that she was fully in the influence of the machine, he made some modifications to the computer terminal and hit his communicator. "Colonel to Captain. She has forgotten the event. She is no longer a threat."

The Captain and her team spent a long and uncomfortable day in their cell awaiting the next event. The Colonel had predicted a demonstration of some sort. But apart from another trolley of food and drink, little else broke the monotony of their captivity. They had unconsciously separated themselves from the others to be in their separate space to contemplate their fates.

Amidst the boredom Tom Paris approached the Colonel.

"Why did B'Elanna say what she did when we left the ship?" He asked quietly.

"Perhaps Lieutenant Torres thinks that intelligent and attractive isn't enough compared to the beauty of these spider women?" The Colonel suggested mildly. "Face it Lieutenant, she loves you and you are as feckless as any hot shot pilot or sailor I've ever known. Her love isn't as wickedly open as Miss Nine's actions seem to be, thankfully, but it could be as strong. Maybe it is time you demonstrated some genuine loyalty to her? Or let her down very gently?"

"You're suggesting I should marry B'Elanna?" Paris asked in mildly surprise.

"I'm not suggesting anything of the sort!" The Colonel responded sharply. "All I'm suggesting is that you are at a point where a display of loyalty would be appropriate, if you do not wish your relationship to end. Love isn't just sharing a bed for a night's passion. How you do it is entirely up to you."

Tom Paris considered the comment for a moment, then asked. "What would you suggest?"

The Colonel sighed. "I am having the same problem with Miss Nine." He admitted. "The only advice I can offer is it ought to be an expression from inside you, which she can keep, appreciate and beat you with when you forget."

The Captain watched Tom engage in conversation and half-overheard what was being said. It prompted her to move to Chakotay.

The ship is becoming something of a love boat." She commented quietly. "We have Tom and B'Elanna, Winston and Kala, Seven and the Colonel and several others, I think, I'm getting quite jealous!"

"You always said that the crew would pair up on their own, Kathryn." Chakotay reminded her. "They're doing just that. You have also made it clear it is not something that you could allow to happen to yourself."

"I know." She admitted. "But when I look at the Colonel, the way he has changed for Seven, yet remains the same. I wonder whether that was the right decision? Am I becoming a wizened old maid without cause?"

"The Colonel and Seven are a very special case." Chakotay pointed out. "They were both alone and in a different world to what they knew. I think it was natural that they should find consolation in each other."

"Besides, you created that match!" He added lightly.

The Captain laughed. "I suppose I went a little way to help it develop." She admitted modestly. "I shall have to find the order of service when we return to the ship. I'm going to need it!"

"You know the Colonel had a licence to conduct acts of worship?" Chakotay asked. "You might not have to perform the ceremony if it proves too difficult?"

The Captain dematerialized before she could reply.

She found herself in the same room as the Colonel had arrived in the day before. This time however the Princess was already in attendance. She was lounging on one of the room's settee's.

"Please Kathryn, sit down. Can I get you a drink?" The Princess asked quietly.

"Why am I here?" The Captain asked suspiciously, ignoring protocols, sitting on the edge of a settee and ignoring the offer.

"I wish to discuss the Colonel with you." The Princess replied.

She rang a bell and a handmaid appeared. "A drink for the Captain." The Princess commanded.

The handmaid bowed and left the room, to return a few minutes later with a bottle and glasses. She poured and handed a brimming glass to the Captain. She took it and tasted it carefully.

"Not bad." She admitted. "What do you want to know about the Colonel?"

"How I can make him accept me in place of the Borg."

"You don't!" The Captain replied bluntly.

"Explain?" The question was sharp.

"His life is littered with women who have wanted to take him for their own. Seven of Nine is only the second to have got near him on her own. You haven't got the patience. He has given his word to her, I can't see any circumstance, short of her decision, that would make him break it and that won't happen," She claimed pointedly.

"Martha suggested that letting you and your ship go would help?" The Princess offered.

"It might." The Captain admitted. "But that assumes I would be prepared to just leave him here and I'm not, unless he proves it was of his own free will."

"You will risk the lives of your crew to rescue one man?" The Princess exclaimed in astonishment.

"He has done it for us and he belongs with Seven of Nine, not here!"

"You may leave me." The Princess commanded, she was containing her anger with an effort. "I will decide what to do with you and him." Again she rang her bell for her handmaids.

The Captain stood and bowed to her host. "Your Highness." She intoned.

"If you love him, then the best thing you could do is, let him go back to whom he loves." The Captain suggested quietly, walking to the door to meet her escort.

She didn't remember the gun in her pocket until she was being escorted through the gardens. She contemplated trying to take out her four woman escorts and gripped it firmly. Realising that success was unlikely at that point, she allowed herself to relax again. There would be a better opportunity she consoled herself.

The opportunity came very shortly afterwards. Not expecting a problem from their captive, two of her guards left as she was shown into the transporter room. The two remaining guards allowed their attention to focus on the console. Quietly she stepped out of the transporter circle and pulled out the weapon, they didn't notice.

Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, she fired. The first slumped to the floor. The second looked at her fallen partner in surprise, the delay in her response gave the Captain plenty of time to shoot again, except she didn't.

"Bring my people back up." She demanded, threatening the woman with her weapon.

The woman looked at her calmly, without moving. The Captain stepped towards her, moving around the console, threatening with her weapon, still she didn't move.

"Do it!" She demanded again.

Again there was no movement. Something wasn't quite right, the Captain conceded, what was it the Colonel preached to the Dog Watch, 'Look for the smallest detail, a blink, a twitch anything that meant something was about to happen'. The guard's eyes widened, watching as closely as she was she saw it and threw herself at the ground, without waiting, firing at the guard as she did so. She slumped to the ground, the Captain rolled to see the two missing guards enter the room, their weapons drawn. One was firing at where she had been not a second before. She fired back, taking out both in rapid succession.

"He's right!" She muttered in astonishment and getting up, "The smallest details are more important than the obvious. I'd never have been able to take those two out if I'd not seen her see them come in." She congratulated herself.

Quickly she stepped to the door and peered around it, examining the corridor. It was empty. Satisfied she stepped back to the control console and examined it. Tentatively she prodded a couple of buttons and a screen came alive, showing the activities of her crew in the cell. Adjustments of some more controls allowed her to target them all, then she activated the system. A brief delay ensued in which she managed to worry that the destination was still set for the Princesses quarters. She sighed with relief as her people did materialise in the room with her.

"Quite impressive. I'll be out of a job soon." The Colonel complemented her, then bent to examine the casualties. "I think it would be a good idea to get rid of them for a while though."

Gently he picked up the fallen guards and placed them in the transporter circle. "If you would be so good, Ma'am?" He asked, "They'll be safer in the cell."

She smiled weakly at him, doing as he bid. The shock of initiating hostilities at such close quarters hit her and she sank to the floor.

Seeing her slump he responded quickly, gently holding her in his arms. "Hurts doesn't it?" He offered gently. "They will be fine in a couple of hours, a little sore but alive, you haven't killed anybody. But you've done what you needed to do and gone the first step to saving our lives. You've got a lot more to do though, we aren't out the woods with your crew here, then we've your ship to deal with, so hang on." He whispered encouragement to her as the rest kept watch on the corridor.

Louder he asked the room in general. "Okay gentlemen, we aren't free yet, we've simply changed cells. Suggestions on how we can find a way out, like where there is a space port or a ship would be appreciated? Or even a way to contact Voyager?"

"Otherwise we will have to wait for dark and deal with anybody else that turns up."

Seven of Nine awoke from her regeneration with a start, something was still wrong and the machine's cycle had not completed properly. Uncertainly she looked around to find that she was alone. The Colonel was nowhere to be seen. In circumstances where she had been damaged before he had sat with her until the cycle had completed.

She knew she had been damaged. Her aching chest told her so. She stepped towards her console and tried to activate it. It proved to have been disabled. She tried the door. It was locked. Alarmed, she pondered the situation for a few minutes, then came to a decision. She opened an inspection hatch in the wall and moved data cards around, then stepped back to her console. It shimmered into life and she enabled her cranial log files and started to read, the Borg codes making perfect sense to her. Even though she had been physically unconscious, the implants had still recorded data and supplied it to the booth as she regenerated. After twenty minutes she found the answers she sought, the Colonel was an impostor, as was the Captain and she had been struck by a phasor beam. She wondered how many of the rest of the Away Team had been replaced. Quick reprogramming of the console and some more card swapping at the access panel allowed her to examine the transporter's system log. There had been another influence involved in the transporter, it had been overcome, so there was nothing concrete. She stood back and contemplated the data.

The suspicion formed in her mind that most of the crew on the bridge had been replaced. She considered approaching Tuvok with her information, then dismissed it. It would be difficult to get to him unnoticed and with his loyalty to the Captain it would be difficult to get him to accept the flimsy computer evidence, even with the bruising she could feel in her chest. That suggested the Doctor, perhaps he could gain the evidence she needed.

She checked the ship's chronometer. The probe's data would be returning within the hour. She had no doubt now that the data would be encouraging, showing everything they wanted to see. The Captain would increase speed to get there quicker. That had to be stopped. The only person she was close enough to talk to that could stop it happening was B'Elanna Torres.

She reached for her communicator, to find it missing. That would mean a ship wide broadcast she realised, the bridge would hear it.

There was also the problem of the fate of the Away Team to consider. That she reflected was less of the problem, the Captain was there and had the Colonel to protect her.

From a container she removed a phasor rifle then she opened another hatch in the bay's wall and crawled through into a crawl way. This she followed for a few yards until she met a ladder and began to climb. Thirty minutes later she arrived at another hatch. Carefully she listened for any sound, then even more carefully opened it. There was nobody there. Gratefully she stepped out into the Sick Bay.

"Computer, activate Emergency Medical Hologram." She ordered.

"Please state the nature of the Medical Emergency." Announced the Doctor, materialising in the centre of the room.

"Intruders have taken control of the ship and I have been damaged." Seven replied instantly.

"How? Why are there are no security alerts?"

"The Captain, Colonel and the Bridge crew have been replaced." She replied calmly.

"Nonsense, I carried out medical scans on them when they returned." The Doctor protested.

"Your scans were in error." Seven assured him. "I know the Colonel is not who he claims, his attitude is different, he no longer has the implant and he fired at me with a phasor."

"It is time that man changed his attitude, but perhaps your right, I can't see him shooting you with anything." He admitted. "But what about the Captain?"

The Colonel called her after shooting me, she had him take me to quarters until recovered then secured in Cargo Bay 2. They tried to tamper with my memory core. They failed." Seven of Nine claimed.

"So what do you want to do?" The Doctor asked quietly.

"Information from the probe will be received soon. I must prevent them acting upon it. It will be false. I will need the assistance of Lieutenant Torres."

"I'll call her." said the Doctor, "Doctor to B'Elanna Torres!"

"Torres here, I'm busy getting the ship ready for the worm hole, can it wait?"

"I have a patient and a system failure. I need assistance." It wasn't a complete lie he told himself.

"I'll be right up." Torres sounded annoyed.

"While we are waiting, I'll treat your injuries." Suggested the Doctor. "After all I'm a doctor. Not a special agent."

"That is acceptable." Seven agreed.

"Where's the emergency?" Torres asked entering the bay at speed. "Hello Seven, what have you done to yourself?"

"I was shot, by the Colonel, with a phasor." Seven responded.

"You made a mistake, surely. He couldn't shoot you no matter what happened." Exclaimed Torres in shock.

"He is an impostor, as are the Captain and the rest of the landing party." Claimed Seven of Nine. "The Valorians have replaced them."

"We must prevent the Captain getting the ship to the wormhole. It will be a trap. You must disable the warp drive." Seven continued.

"The Colonel is in Engineering at the moment, being 'useful'." Torres thought aloud. "I can fuse the EPS manifolds easily enough, but I will have to deal with him first. Can we get Tuvok involved? He wasn't a member of the Away Team."

"The Captain would suspicious if we attempted a security alert, it would put him in danger. However, I may be able to contact him through the console." Said Seven in thought. She moved to the Sick Bay medical console and set to work.

In the absence of better ideas but the assistance of nightfall the Away Team elected to explore the palace grounds. For over an hour they had sat uncomfortably in the building that housed the transporter, nervously watching for relief guards to appear. They hadn't, obviously, the Captain had decided, they didn't think it necessary to guard anything if the prisoners were safely tucked away. They had seen their erstwhile guards recover in the cell and look around in alarm when they had discovered where they were, then they had huddled up together for company. Out of compassion the Captain had ordered that the trolley of food and drink that had been waiting in a side room should be beamed to their captives, though they didn't appear to be totally enamoured with its content.

The Colonel led them. Silently he flitted through the shadows, always keeping out the light and always a full ten yards ahead, signalling them to follow as he found suitable cover. In this way they had skirted the Palace Gardens until they came to a force field fence. Here he called the Captain over.

"What do you think they use for rocket fuel to launch their ships, Ma'am?" He asked in a hushed whisper.

"I don't know, why?" She whispered in genuine surprise.

"Could it smell like the shuttles? Sort of a blustery day at the sea side?" He asked.

"I hadn't realised the shuttles smelt of anything." The Captain admitted. "But their propulsion systems are similar so it is possible. Why?"

"Can't you smell it? A taint of the sea on the rocks, Ozone and salt?"

She tried a deep breath, a faint smell did hit her nostrils, but she couldn't place it. "I can smell something," She admitted, "But I can't place it."

"May we assume I'm right?" He whispered. "If so we need to get past this fence. Can you disable it please, Ma'am?"

Without replying she examined a fence post, then the one next to it, then returned to the Colonel. "No, I can't. There are no controls on the post." She whispered.

"Never mind. We'll have to get dirty. There is a stream running through the garden. It must pass under the fence somewhere near here. I'll see if it's grated." He flitted away into the gardens.

The Captain returned to her team. "The Colonel thinks we need to get through the fence. He thinks he can smell shuttles." She whispered.

"Shuttles don't smell of anything." Paris protested in a whisper.

"He says they do. I'm not going to argue with him." The Captain pointed out. "He's in the element where he performs best."

The Colonel found the stream quickly and started to follow it, but was brought up short by the sound of voices. Quickly he slid into the water and pressed himself into the mud. The voices came nearer, "The Princess says we may begin extraction tomorrow." It was Martha's voice. "Are we ready to send probe telemetry?"

"Yes Ma'am."

"It seems a shame, there are many more males on the ship that would have proved useful." The voices faded away until he felt safe to lift his head and look around again. Seeing no further danger he got up and continued to follow the stream to a culvert. After another furtive look around he dived in to the hole and elbow crawled along it. It was a close fit, he could feel the water damming up behind him, but there was no other restriction and he came out in the open air some 30 yards away and on the outside. Quickly he looked around to get his bearings and sniffed the night air. He was a good two hundred yards from his friends, but the smell was still there.

Satisfied he dived back in the hole he had just emerged from and returned to his party.

"Okay there is a way out." He announced when he found them again. "But it is wet and muddy and we are about to be discovered. Unless you want to find out how a cow feels I wholeheartedly recommend not being caught."

"We have about 150 yards of open ground to cover. Follow me, but not too closely, keep very low and don't run in a straight line, it will throw your shadow off." He ordered. "Are we ready, let's go?"

He led them at a quick trot to the culvert.

"Everybody through here." He hissed. "When you're out, stay low and in the stream. Use your elbows to pull yourself along. Go!"

He pushed Kim into the hole, followed by Paris then Chakotay, then finally turned to the Captain. She was looking at the small hole in consternation.

"Couldn't you find an easier way?" She complained.

Lights suddenly lit much of the grounds around them.

"No. And no time for dignity Ma'am. I think they know we are missing. This will throw them off the scent for a while." He whispered, bundling her into the hole and rapidly following her, pushing her along.

"You did this for a living?" Paris exclaimed as the Colonel emerged spluttering from the culvert.

"Not in dress uniform and very rarely in clean water." The Colonel admitted solemnly.

"Those look like warehouses." He continued, pointing towards some large buildings. "We'll find somewhere to hole up for a few minutes. Follow me in the same way as before, but stay on the grass, a wet footprint on the tarmac can be seen even in the dark."

Again he led them at a twisting run across the grass towards the buildings he had pointed out. They collapsed gratefully into a shadowed hiding place between a row of bins and a wall.

"How far do you think we are from the Space Port?" The Captain asked, feeling a little winded.

"I suspect we are on the edge of it." Said the Colonel, "The smell I caught can't linger for long so it has to be close. But I'm hoping for something else as well."

"What's that?" She asked guardedly.

"A communications centre. They are going to send information from the probe regarding the hole. It could be our method of contacting the ship. I assume Miss Nine will do the data analysis?"

"What can she do?" Chakotay asked.

"I'd leave that to her. Seven is very resourceful when the need arises." The Captain put in quickly. "The Colonel and I will look for the Communications Centre. You, Tom and Harry, see if you can find a ship to get us off this planet." She commanded. "Lead on Colonel."

In the darkness the Colonel smiled, the Captain was taking command again. "Ma'am!"

He led the team quietly along the side of the warehouse to its front. The Colonel had been right. They were on the edge of the suspected space port. On the far side they could see six dark vessels standing on pads.

"One of those would be good, Commander?" He suggested. "It looks as though there is a storm gully running within a hundred yards of the nearest one, if they come looking they'll expect you to be skulking around the edges not sat in the middle of the airfield. A possibility of some more holes though." He apologised.

"I suspect that the Comms Centre will be in or under the Control Tower, Ma'am. Do you wish to try for it? If not I'll ensure the tower is put out of action."

"Let's do it." She insisted.

He led her away, back the way they had come, around some more offices and warehouses, suddenly he stopped and dragged the Captain to the ground as the sound of voices approaching.

"The prisoners have escaped. They will probably try to steal a ship, ensure they are guarded. The males are not to be hurt if avoidable."

"Yes Ma'am."

A figure rounded the corner in front of them and walked past them without noticing the couple, thanks to the Colonel's dark uniform in the shadow. Silently he stood and stepped after her, taking her around the waist and placing a large hand across her mouth, then dragged her back into the shadows.

"Now Duck." He started. "It will be difficult for me to kill something as pretty as you, but I'm attached to my wedding tackle and would like to use them with whom I please, so I'm sure I'll get the hang of snapping your dainty neck, if you try to be clever of foolish." He hissed.

"The Captain and I would like to go to your Communications Centre. I'd like you to lead us there, if you please." He let her go and she looked at him in alarm.

"It is guarded. You won't get in!" She said quietly.

"It's never stopped me before." The Colonel assured her, "Just show us where it is. After all you have the Captain as a prisoner, I'm sure the Princess will be happy about that." He pulled her arm behind her back and pushed her forward.

She led them around the warehouse towards what looked like a bunker. "See there are two guards at the door," she hissed in pain as he tilted the arm up.

"Keep going," He whispered in her ear, "The Captain will accompany you, and she is quite adept with the stunners."

He disappeared into the shadows.

As they approached the guards, they were challenged.

"I have the female Terran." The Captains captive called, in alarm as the Captain dug the stunner into her waist.

The guards approached cautiously. Not cautiously enough as a tall dark figure rose from behind them and crashed their heads together. Not allowing them to fall to the ground he pulled them to the door, and peeped in. The room was empty, so he and the two guards disappeared inside, to be rapidly joined by the Captain and her prisoner.

"Your comms room, Ma'am." The Colonel announced happily.

Quickly Captain Janeway examined the consoles and set to work.

"I'm sorry, my dear, I don't know your name?" The Colonel asked their captive.

"Marie." She said nervously.

"Well Marie, I'd like you to know that a place like this inhabited by beautiful young women, ought to be Nirvana for red bloodied males, even I could be tempted. Unfortunately your way of collecting for the cause is too extreme. Please remind the Princess of that for me, when you see her." He said quietly, then clipped her smartly just below and behind the ear.

He caught her before she fell and laid her gently with the other two.

"Are we ready Ma'am?"

"Just about," She affirmed. "I can't stop the transmissions, but I've managed to link my own message for Seven of Nine into it. I hope your replacement isn't too distracting and she sees it."

"So do I, Ma'am." He agreed, not entirely for the same reasons.

Chakotay and his party had no problems getting into the storm ditch the Colonel had pointed out, or following it to the closest point to the ships they had seen earlier. Together they watched the activity around the nearest vessel. They appeared to be preparing it for flight.

They examined their prospective transport with interest as well. It was bigger than their shuttles, they realised. They were long and wide, circular in shape, it made them look lower than they actually were. They tapered smoothly from a wedge-shaped nose to the stern, were they cut off squarely, displaying the drive systems. Two fins stuck out the top forming a vee configuration.

"They look the business." Chakotay commented mildly. "We'll wait for them to finish what they're doing and take it."

They waited for nearly fifteen minutes, before they saw the ground crew move away from the craft.

"Quick, now is our chance," Hissed Chakotay. "Harry takes the one on the left of the ramp. I'll take the one on the right. Tom takes out anybody left inside."

They leapt up and sprinted towards the space ship.

The two guards heard them coming, but responded too late to defend themselves from the stun guns wielded by the Star Fleet officers as they thundered in. Paris leapt up the ramp, not waiting for the other two and inspected the interior. It was small, smaller than it looked outside, it appeared to require a crew of four to operate, though there were also an extra six jump seats arranged in the cabin. There was nobody aboard.

Kim and Chakotay moved the unconscious guards out the way of the craft and followed him into the cabin. Shouts from the buildings alerted them to the fact that their escape had been noted. A body of people could be seen moving towards them.

"Tom!" Shouted Chakotay, "Get us in the air. We're going to have company." He closed the door securely and moved forward to a seat behind Tom Paris.

Tom was examining the controls with an expert eye. It was very different from a shuttle, more like the Colonel's biplane, but much more complicated. It had a control stick in the centre, a lever and twist grip to the left, to control the power he surmised. His feet reached out and felt pedals, rudder controls. Numerous buttons and switches also jutted out the two control levers, he could only guess at their full purpose. He did however find the engine start switches and managed to get the engines running. Again he waited a second or two to see how the instruments reacted before applying more power. The ship shook as he adjusted the controls, finally getting it in the air, it was more responsive than a shuttle he realised, but not as quick.

Kim was also exploring the station that faced him. "This is a tactical station." He announced. "I have control over a complete suite of sensor and weapons systems."

"Good, use them to find the Captain." Ordered Chakotay.

"I've got them Commander. Four hundred metres on the right, they're running this way. They're being chased."

"Tom?"

"I'm moving." Tom Paris announced.

Captain Janeway and the Colonel were crouched in the shadows beside the ports control tower watching figures approaching the ships parked in the middle of the field. They had been there for some ten minutes carefully keeping out of sight. They saw Chakotay and his team assault and take the ship and a strong force approach it Then they saw it take off and hover uncertainly in the air, as though the pilot was trying to work out what to do next. Slowly it turned towards them and started to move towards them.

"That's our bus!" The Colonel announced, "Come on!"

He pulled the Captain to her feet and started to push her forwards at a smart trot. They had barely made a hundred metres before a shout came from behind them.

"Run!" He shouted.

They both took off like hares and hounds as the first weapons fire scattered around them.

He heard her grunt and turned to see her slump to the ground. Quickly he stooped and scooped her up and commenced running again.

"Leave me, get to safety!" She whispered.

"Shut up." He panted.

"The Captains down!" Shouted Kim on the captured fighter. "The Colonel's trying to shoot back, the stunner hasn't the range. He's picked her up."

The Colonel felt a sharp pain in his leg as he was hit by a stun gun. He crashed to the floor, sending the Captain tumbling from his arms. Groggily he got to his hands and knees, shaking his head at the grogginess, then to his feet and picked her up again and continued to stagger forward, dragging his numbed leg.

"He's fallen. Christ, what does it take to stop him, he's got up again." Kim kept up the commentary as the ship approached.

"Tom, try some of those buttons. See if you can slow their chasers down." Chakotay ordered. "Then bring us down close to them. Harry, get down to the hatch and prepare for covering fire."

The Colonel picked himself up again after another fall and set off again, altering course slightly as he saw their rescue ship come to a hover and start to descend

He could hear Chakotay and Kim shouting encouragement at him as he staggered towards the ship. "Another ten yards and I'll be there!" He said to himself, but his progress was now slow, too slow, the pursuers were less than 50 yards behind him.

Another sharp pain hit him, in the small of the back. He crashed to the floor again, although conscious he was totally paralysed from the waist down.

Chakotay and Kim were with them in a flash, dragging both towards the ship and firing back at the pursuers.

"Tom, get us out of here!" Screamed Chakotay as they finally collapsed into the ships entry way. Weakly he operated the door closing controls, then turned to his fallen comrades. The Captain was dazed, but recovering, the shot that hit her had obviously been from too long a range to do serious damage. The Colonel though was having severe problems breathing, the two wounds he had received were too much for his nervous system and paralysis was overcoming his whole body. He was whispering something, Chakotay leaned further forward.

"Permission to come aboard, Sir!" He gasped.

He sat back in surprise. "Granted!"

The Colonel's eyes closed and he went still.

"The first telemetry from the probe is in Captain." Tuvok announced on the Bridge. "Transferring to Astro metrics for full decoding."

"There is a problem contacting Seven of Nine. She is not responding to the hail." He advised.

"She collapsed on the Holodeck, nothing serious but the Doctor sent her to regenerate." The Captain informed him quietly. "You deal with the data and let her rest properly. Ensign Kim will assist."

"Captain. I will not be as efficient as Seven of Nine." Tuvok pointed out.

"Nor are you as averse to returning to the Alpha Quadrant. I'm sure our Valorian friends would have advised if there was a problem."

Tuvok stepped in the lift with Ensign Kim in tow.

In Astro metrics he opened a console, slightly surprising Ensign Kim didn't. It puzzled him, Ensign Kim as a part designer of the lab knew more about its systems than anybody except Seven of Nine.

The second surprise he received was a second message hidden in with the data from the probe. Curious he decoded that first. It wasn't a data file. It was a text file with the Captains security code addressed to Seven of Nine. Puzzled he read it, not entirely believing its contents.

"Ensign Kim. There is a problem with the decoding of the probe data." He announced. I require assistance."

"What's wrong with it?" Kim asked suspiciously, stepping closer.

"There is a message from the Captain. It says you and the away team are impostors." Tuvok informed him, drawing his phasor and firing.

The mechanoid Kim was faster than the Vulcan. He also pulled his phasor and fired. Both men slumped to the deck.

"I am unable to contact Commander Tuvok." Seven of Nine announced from the computer terminal. "He is not at his station on the Bridge."

"Computer, locate Lieutenant Commander Tuvok?" She ordered.

"Lieutenant Commander Tuvok is in the Astro metrics Laboratory."

"I'll go and get him." B'Elanna Torres offered.

"You must gain control of the ship. I will find the Commander." Seven stated.

"Okay. Just don't get yourself hurt again. The Colonel would never forgive you!"

"I will go armed." Seven assured the engineer. "You should also go armed, the Colonel's replica is as quick as the real one." She recommended.

"I'll take care." Torres promised, trotting out the door.

Seven of Nine made her own preparations, carefully programming a site to site transport from the terminal. The transporter signal would be picked up she realised, but it would be safer than walking the corridors and quicker than the Jeffereys tubes.

She beamed into Astro metrics and found Tuvok in a crumpled heap along with Ensign Kim. She examined them both, satisfied that Tuvok was still alive and Kim was not a threat for the moment she turned her attention to the control panels. She quickly found the message from the Captain, it was still on the open terminal that Tuvok was inspecting. She in her turn read the message meant for her, informing her of the Away Teams plight and urging her to take measures to prevent Voyager from arriving at the wormhole. There were no direct instructions she noted, obviously the Colonels influence she conceded.

Next she examined the replicant carefully. After some searching she found a switch on its waist. She pressed it, nothing visibly happened, she hoped it had deactivated the machine permanently.

She considered her next move. Despite her newly found popularity, thanks in a large part to the relationship she had with the popular Colonel, without Tuvok, she doubted that she would be able to control the ships security teams quickly enough to be effective. She took a deep breath and headed for the turbo lift, the shields around the bridge would prevent her using another site to site transport.

As the door opened onto the Bridge the Captain turned to see who had entered.

"I'm sorry, Captain." Seven announced uncomfortably and fired the rifle. The Captain collapsed. She turned the weapon on the next person to move, Tom Paris. Then dived to the floor and rolled, as Chakotay stood and fired back. Rolling to her knees she fired again, he fell, but she was under fire from the remaining bridge crewman, Ensign Carver. She dropped the rifle.

"Cease fire!" She commanded, "The Captain is an impostor!" She managed to get out before she was in turn stunned to the deck.

"Security to the Bridge, Seven of Nine has attacked the Captain," Carver shouted at his communicator. "Doctor to the Bridge, medical emergency."

In Engineering Torres started to work on preparing an engine failure as soon as she returned to engineering. She could sense the Colonel watching her closely, she hoped the replica was knew as little about the ships workings as the Colonel and was somewhat less astute.

"Vorick, there is a fluctuation in relay 47KZ, fix it." She ordered her Vulcan assistant. It would get her out of the room and stop him interfering, she thought.

"Yes Lieutenant," he duly replied.

She moved to another console and made an adjustment. She grunted in annoyance and moved to a heavy access panel.

"Colonel, could you help me remove this panel? It's a little heavy." She asked sweetly, "There's a fluctuation in the plasma relays. We need to stabilise it before it becomes a problem."

"Certainly," the Colonel replied. He moved to her side and grabbed the handles as she released the latches and stepped aside.

The panel released from its restraints blasted the Colonel across the room as a surge of plasma was released. He hit the far wall with a thud and remained stunned as Torres returned to the control panel and shut down the plasma stream. She turned towards him to see him lifting the heavy door from himself and stand, he dropped the hatch on the floor with a clang and automatically reached for the phasor at his belt. She hadn't expected that, the forces involved would have crushed any human. She ripped out her phasor and fired until he fell to the floor.

She turned her attention to a control panel and erected a force field around the replicant, then set about preparing to gain navigational control of the ship.

"What have you done?" The Doctor shouted at the confused crewman and crouching by Seven of Nine.

"She shot the Captain!" He protested.

"It's not the Captain!" The Doctor shouted back. "It's an impostor!"

"Can you prove that, Doctor?" Ensign Carver asked, still protesting.

"She was shot earlier by the Colonel, with a phasor. Is that likely?" The Doctor hissed.

The Ensign stood stunned for a moment. "No, Sir!" He agreed.

The Doctor applied a stimulant to Seven of Nine and she stirred.

"Commander Tuvok is in Astro metrics. He is damaged. The replica Ensign Kim is also there. He has been disabled." Were the first words she uttered.

"I'll deal with them in a minute." The Doctor assured her. "Are you all right?"

"I am functioning. What is the status of Engineering?"

"B'Elanna has dealt with the Colonel and has the ship under control."

"We must return to Valoria to rescue the Captain," she claimed, struggling onto her feet again.

"I'll see to it, Ma'am!" Claimed the Ensign in attrition. "I apologise for my actions, Ma'am. Please don't tell the Colonel!"

"You were unaware of the deception and behaved correctly," she assured him uncomfortably, she felt as though she had been pummelled head to foot. "Your apology is unnecessary. However we need to recover our Away Team. Set course for Valoria. Maximum warp. Bring the ship to battle stations," she commanded taking control of the ship."

The vessel turned and retraced its route.

Chakotay was examining the Colonel with concern. His problems were obviously getting worse.

"Kim, take Toms place. I need his medical expertise. The Colonel is dying!" He screamed.

"I can't fly this!" Exclaimed Kim, "I've never tried the Colonel's airplane!"

"Then get him to land. He's needed more here than up there."

"I'll take it." Captain Janeway said, groggily getting to her feet and moving forward.

Paris released the controls to the Captain and waited a moment to ensure she had proper control then staggered back towards the figures at the back of the craft. They were attempting CPR.

"I need a stimulant, and something to get his heart going," he said, examining the Colonel. "What's in that first aid kit?" He pointed to a green case in an alcove.

Kim grabbed it and examined the unfamiliar phials it contained, selecting one he snapped it into an injector and passed it to Tom, who injected it.

"Now something to get his heart going, find a couple of big power leads from that console," he demanded.

Chakotay ripped the front off the panel, located two thick cables and ripped those out, they produced reassuring sparks. These he rammed into the Colonel's chest at the command of Tom Paris. He jerked then fell back again.

"Again!" Paris insisted.

Chakotay responded. Again the Colonel surged.

"We have a pulse!" Paris exclaimed in relief. "Just don't tell the Doc how I did it!"

"More of whatever you put in this injector," he demanded of Kim.

Kim handed him the phial, "There's only one more left." He cautioned.

"Tom, there are craft coming after us," the Captain called. "Do you know how to get the weapons systems working?"

"The firing and defence controls are all part of the control column," He responded. "I don't know what they do though."

"Try and get hold of Voyager. We'll have to hope that Seven of Nine has been as resourceful as the Colonel claims." She announced, engaging full power.

"They're on their way, Captain!" Paris announced, "They'll be here in a couple of hours, so the fighters could catch us. Seven reports that these fighters don't appear on the standard sensors, so she's adjusting the deflectors to pick up their trail."

Desperately the Captain slammed at the power lever. It jerked forward another notch. The craft leapt forward pinning them into their seats. They sat back to wait.

"Boosters!" Gasped Tom. "They won't last long before the engines burn out," he warned.

"Your Highness. The prisoners have taken a Starfighter, the Imperial squadron is pursuing them," Martha announced unhappily to her mistress.

The Princess turned towards her aide, she was taken aback by the stricken face she saw. The Princess had been crying.

"Call our fighters back. Let them go!" She whispered.

"Your Highness?"

"I have considered what they have said. Perhaps they are right we should find another way and not destroy people for our own needs."

"Yes, your Highness!" She agreed dutifully.

"The fighters have turned back, Captain!" Ensign Kim announced. "I think we can slow down a little. The engines are overheating!"

Thankfully the Captain did as Kim suggested. "How long before Voyager reaches us?"

"Sixty minutes," said Chakotay.

"And the Colonel?"

"He's okay, the paralysis is wearing off, he's breathing easily again," answered Paris.

In silent relief they sailed on, until they were interrupted by a deeper silence.

"The engines have burnt out," the Captain announced in resignation from the pilot's seat. "Let Voyager know we need to be picked up."

Seventy minutes later the ship was dragged into Voyagers shuttle bay. They were met by Seven of Nine, B'Elanna Torres, Tuvok and the Doctor as they disembarked.

Rapidly the Doctor moved forward and examined the Away Team. "I can happily announce they are the genuine articles." He announced in relief to Seven of Nine.

"What have you done with the mechanoids?" The Captain asked Seven.

"They are in the Brig, awaiting a decision."

"I'll deal with it later," the Captain affirmed.

"Perhaps we ought to send them back, Ma'am. Along with the craft we stole." The Colonel suggested weakly, leaning on Chakotay. "Keep everything above board like."

"Perhaps. But you need to go to sickbay to be checked over properly, so does Seven, she keeps holding her side, so I think she has been hurt."

"Ma'am!" He replied.

They watched them depart.

"You know he still asked for permission to come aboard that space craft?" Chakotay said to the Captain.

"It doesn't surprise me in the least. It's our guarantee he is who he says," she affirmed.

She took a deep breath. "Can you smell it?" she asked the assembled group.

"What, Captain?" Asked Torres in surprise.

"The smell of sea on the rocks!"

"No!"

"Nor could I until yesterday. But it is there," she confided. "He was right about that as well."

"How was my facsimile, Miss Nine?" The Colonel teased after the Doctor had finished fussing.

"He was a good copy," she announced calmly, "In some ways he was preferable."

The Colonel's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "How so?" He demanded.

"I took him to experience a reproduction of 'Brains' and we became intimate. He was more responsive than you!" She teased back.

"Oh!"

He thought for a moment. "Perhaps I should take you down to the holodeck and get you to demonstrate how intimate he was?"

"I will comply!" She agreed readily and led him to the holodeck, where she activated her programme.

"Now let's see," the Colonel said, scratching his chin in thought as the band started a gentle dance tune. "Did he do this?" He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close and kissing her tenderly.

"Yes!" She responded.

"How about this?" He asked, moving his hands apart and gently stroking her neck and buttocks.

"Or this?" He kissed her firmly on the mouth, prising her lips apart with his tongue, then teased her own with it.

"No!" She whispered huskily.

"I don't think we need a dance floor," he whispered, "You've no idea how my desires have been tempted for the last few days, but I'm still all yours and I still want you. Do you want me?"

"We should return to quarters, we will discuss the matter properly." She replied, still husky. "You will demonstrate these desires you have."

They adjourned.

Revision 9