Disclaimer: I don't own the ship, the characters or anything at all.
Chapter 6 – The device
Cassie crept through the living room area and out of the door, unheard. She was on her way to meet Q, who would give her the device to create a temporal fold in space and change her life and all those around her forever. No longer would she be an orphan, or so she hoped.
Cassie ran through the academy grounds to the spot that she had met Q at only days earlier, full of excitement and hope. She slowed her pace to a brisk walk as she neared the bench she had been sat on when Q had appeared from nowhere, as he was known for doing.
She rounded a corner and came upon the bench and Q; who was lounging on it with a small device in his hand.
"You came then. I knew you would," he said, standing up, showing his height superiority.
"I said I would," Cassie replied, quietly. She extended her hand for the object that she required.
Q laughed, "So quick to jump," he said cryptically, "your mother was the same," he said.
"The device, may I have it?" Cassie asked, with a raised eyebrow.
"Say please," Q said, irritatingly.
Cassie glared at him, exasperated, "Please," she said.
Q grinned and handed her the device, "Be careful, time travel's a dangerous thing," he said before disappearing.
Cassie was left in the light of the moon to contemplate what she was about to do. She looked around her; everything was so still, so peaceful and so terribly quiet that it was almost eerie. Cassie sat down and ran her fingers over the small device; it was incredible really – a device so small could do so much good or so much damage.
After a few moments, Cassie stood up and slipped the device into her jacket pocket, as she headed back the way she had just come. She wandered slowly through the officer's quarter's corridors, until she reached Tom and B'Elannas. She slipped back inside quietly, hoping to go un – noticed, unfortunately for her she wasn't the only one awake.
"Chakotay!" she exclaimed, seeing him sat on the sofa, starring intently at her.
"Where have you been at this time of the night?" he asked. Tom had told him that Cassie had been going out for late night walks, but not this late surely.
She glanced at him guiltily, unable to look him in the eye and completely clueless as to what to say as an excuse.
"I needed some fresh air," she said, quietly attempting to slip past him and into her own room unsuccessfully.
"Sit down," he said, gently holding her by the arm.
Sighing, she sat down, she didn't want this, didn't need this. She didn't want to have to lie to him, but if she had to she would, too much was at stake, too much.
"Cass, if you want to talk you know I'm here, don't you?" he asked, obviously worried about her, he loved her like daughter. His respect for her went undiminished, since her mothers death he had watched her grieve privately, watched her try to hide her pain and from what he saw he had gained a far deeper respect for her than he had for anyone he had ever known, save her mother.
"Yah, I know where to find you, but I'm fine, honestly" she said, sounding relatively convincing.
Chakotay nodded, and with a squeeze of her hand he let her go, which she did with an appreciative smile and nod. She headed to her room and flopped down on the bed, removing the device form her pocket and slipping it into her drawers.
Fin
Please review. I will add more when I have the time, which is somewhat limited at the moment, however, I would like to know your opinions on the plot so far, etc.
!!