Redemption
Written - 8/20/02 Summary - It's the anniversary of the encounter with the Equinox and Noah Lessing has something special in mind to mark the occasion. Rating - PG
Chapter 2
When the turbolift stopped, both men entered the bridge to the surprised looks of the night shift. Lieutenant Rollins was the officer in charge and immediately inquired as to the meaning of their arrival. "Commander, is there something wrong?"
"Not that we know of Lieutenant, at least not yet. We're here to see the Captain. We'll let you know if there's something we need."
Rollins nodded and Chakotay and Tuvok continued through the bridge to the ready room door. "Tuvok, you wait here out of sight. I'll keep my comm signal open so that you can hear what goes on in there. If it's nothing serious, I'll close the signal and you're free to go about your business. If not, at least you'll know what we're up against."
"Agreed." said the Vulcan in reply. Then he stepped back away from the door to wait.
From inside the ready room, Lessing and Janeway both heard the door chime and were both filled with their own version of apprehension.
"Let him in." commanded Lessing.
She complied with a simple "Enter."
When Chakotay walked through the door he froze in his tracks as soon as he caught sight of his commanding officer. She had her hands bound behind her back. Her right eye and the left side of her mouth were bruised and swollen and there was a small trickle of blood falling from the corner of her mouth. She also had an obvious knife wound on her throat that had bled significantly enough to leave a trail down her neck to stain the regulation tank top visible under the open collar of her dress uniform. Simply said, she looked terrible. Worst of all, Noah Lessing was directly behind her with the knife still at her throat and a small devise resting in his other hand. "Captain?" He questioned as he looked deeply into her blue eyes.
She returned the intensity of his gaze and replied. "I'm alright Chakotay."
Chakotay was somewhat less than convinced that was indeed true, but he was well aware she was trying to keep some level of control of the situation even if all she could control was herself.
"Yes, she's alright for the moment Commander. But she won't stay that way, and neither will anyone else on this ship if you don't cooperate." Lessing said as he moved the hand with the device in it into view. "I've rigged an explosive device on this ship in a place that would cause Voyager's total destruction. Let's just say it's a little insurance that I get the time I need to deal with the Captain here." At that moment he depressed the button on the device and a small green indicator began to blink. "I've just armed it. Should anything happen to me before the completion of my plan, boom, no more Voyager."
"How original." Chakotay muttered. The First Officer of Voyager was angry, very angry. First, for the fact that his best friend was in a situation that, for the moment at least, he was unable to do anything to change, but secondly for misjudging Lessing so badly. He had thought him to be a thoughtful, generally mild mannered individual. He never would have guessed he would do something like this, that there was so much hatred fueling a scheme like this in his mind. Moreover, to put the ship and the rest of the crew in such danger gave a real indication how far he would go to exact his revenge against the Captain. While he could be bluffing about sabotaging the ship, there was no doubt in his mind that Kathryn Janeway was in real trouble.
Tuvok and most of the bridge crew were also hearing this exchange, as Chakotay had never stepped far enough into the ready room for the door to close. Several of the crew near the front of the bridge could also see their Captain and her predicament from where they sat at the forward bridge consoles. Tuvok took the initiative to move back away from the door and step to the tactical console. Within a few seconds he had sent a silent summons to his security detail for them to assemble in the briefing room immediately. He also contacted the senior staff with the same instruction. Before long, the rest of the ship would know something was wrong and the sooner they took control of the situation the better.
After putting everything in motion and checking something in the computer a second time, Tuvok moved back down to Chakotay's level. He slid with his back along the wall to a position just behind him, being careful to stay out of the line of sight of the doorway. "Commander." He whispered.
Chakotay heard Tuvok and nodded his head ever so slightly in acknowledgement so that Lessing wouldn't notice anything.
Tuvok continued, "I've summoned the staff and a security detail to the briefing room. I must also inform you that the transporters are off-line."
'Damn.' Thought Chakotay, but he only nodded again and took the extra step necessary for the ready room door to slide shut behind him. "Okay Noah, now we have some privacy. What is it that you want?"
"I want the truth." Was his simple reply.
Chakotay was puzzled. "What truth?"
"I want everyone on this ship to know what she did. What she did to me, to the rest of the crew from the Equinox, and to you and everyone else on this ship a year ago. It's time she paid for it. All of the rest of us have." The venom in his voice sent a shiver down both Chakotay and the Captain's spines.
Chakotay took the opportunity to make eye contact with his captain again. He could see the concern there. He knew it was not for herself, but for the rest of the crew. Knowing her the way he did, he was certain that she was now feeling guilty for her actions having put them all in jeopardy.
Lessing's next comment interrupted Chakotay's train of thought. "Commander, you will find a PADD on the table in my quarters containing your instructions. I'll give you one hour to make the arrangements."
"You can't expect me to march to your orders Crewman. Not and leave you alone with the Captain in this condition."
"And why not?" he snapped in reply. "You follow her without question don't you? Something I'm sure you regretted a year ago. Well, I'm in control now, unless of course you want me to pass judgement right now." He said as he moved the knife into a position from which he could slit Janeway's throat from ear to ear in one swift motion. All the while oblivious to the fact that he was pressing it against her skin hard enough to draw blood yet again.
Chakotay cringed as he looked at her. She had thrown her head back as far as she could in an attempt to get away from the knife blade, her expression one of determination, and her eyes transfixed on his. "Alright, alright, you're serious," he said, tossing his hands in the air as if motioning for Lessing to stop, "but whatever you have in mind, you seem to prefer her alive and somewhat coherent for a while yet. Let me send the Doctor in here to check her condition and I'll do as you say. You've got that detonator in your hand for insurance."
Lessing thought about it for a moment and both the Commander and the Captain thought they saw a glimpse of the thoughtful side of him reappear. "Very well, I suppose I owe you that much, and this could take a while. We don't want her passing out on us or anything do we?" He taunted, looking down at Janeway and finally releasing some of the pressure of the knife on her throat, momentarily spellbound by the sight of the blood trailing a path down her neck. Turning back toward Chakotay he said, "You can call the doctor."
Chakotay's hand was slapping his communicator before Noah could take his next breath. "Chakotay to sickbay."
Given the hour, the EMH had shut down for the night. The Commander's hail elicited the pre-programmed response. "Please state the nature of the medical emergency."
"Doctor, get your medical kit and report to the ready room on the double. The Captain. she's been hurt."
"On my way."
=/\=
With that, they waited. Chakotay stood restlessly near the door, trying to communicate his support to his friend through the expression in his eyes all the while Noah Lessing held the knife against her perilously exposed throat. He could tell she was in pain. The position she was in had to be wrenching her shoulders out of their sockets about now. He had also caught a glimpse of her hands and they were becoming quite bruised and swollen, but she didn't flinch, and she didn't cry out. She endured it with a steely determination not to show any weakness to her captor.
His gaze moved to scrutinize her tormentor. Lessing looked odd to him. Something wasn't right about his appearance, but he couldn't place exactly what. Chakotay's trained eye noticed that Noah's eyes were bloodshot and his hands seemed to tremble. The movement was slight, but constant. It could simply be nervousness over his current endeavor, or it could be more. Only time would tell.
Chakotay knew just what this last year had been like for Kathryn Janeway. They had struggled to regain their previous working relationship after she had relieved him of duty during the crisis with the Equinox. It had taken time. Ironically, with all that had happened, his attitude wasn't the problem, although he would have had valid reason. He had more than forgiven her for what happened when he witnessed her dramatic change of demeanor when she had reinstated him after the loss of both Ransom and his ship. It was as if an evil curse had been broken and she was instantly transformed back into the person he respected and called friend. Yet, even after all this time, there were times when he felt an awkwardness in their relationship like a cold draft down the back of his neck. In those moments they walked on eggshells around each other, always overly formal, their conversations mostly business. He was convinced she was still punishing herself beyond reason and having great difficulty putting what happened in perspective enough to move beyond it.
Within a few minutes, the door chime sounded breaking Chakotay's train of thought. "Come in Doctor, join the party." Lessing choked, wiping his sleeve across his now perspiration damp forehead.
The Doctor entered the room by stepping around the Commander and stopped. He took in the situation before him and deferred to the Commander for instruction.
Chakotay turned toward the crewman and questioned "Well, Lessing?"
There was no response.
The Doctor took the initiative, "Crewman Lessing, do you want me to treat her before or after you finish trying to kill her?" asked the EMH in his usual sarcastic tone. Of course, he did not yet realize how close he might be to the truth of the situation.
While there was nothing funny about her predicament, there was a distinct smirk on the Captain's face in response to the Doctor's observation.
After a long pause, Lessing released her and stepped behind the desk to stay out of easy reach of the Doctor as he treated the Captain. "Alright Doctor, you may examine your patient." Then he leaned heavily against the back wall and watched.
The Doctor stepped quickly forward and ran a tricorder over her. "Deep throat lacerations, concussion, severe contusion to the right eye socket, extreme muscle strain to the shoulders, and a dangerous lack of circulation to the hands." Looking deeply into her intense blue eyes, he completed his assessment if her condition, "But other than that you're in fine shape Captain." Reaching into his medical kit he began to pull out the instruments he needed to treat her injuries.
Lessing immediately became agitated and lurched upright toward the desk, his body movement jerky and uncoordinated. "I want her alert for several more hours Doctor, that's all, understood?"
"Crewman, I must protest."
"Protest all you like, but only what's necessary. Or I swear, I'll blow this ship to kingdom come."
The Doctor turned back to the Commander for a decision. "Do as he says Doctor." Chakotay replied, watching Lessing even more closely than before. There was definitely something wrong with him. If they were to deal with this situation effectively, they would have to find out what it was.
"Very well." The Doctor first administered a hypospray that contained something to ease her discomfort as well as a mild stimulant. He then ran a regenerator over the cuts on her neck to prevent further bleeding, adjusted the setting on the instrument and then ran it over the side of her face to relieve the effects of the concussion. When he had finished with these, he spoke. "I will need to untie her to treat her hands and wrists."
"No!" Argued Lessing.
The doctor stood and stared at him "Crewman, I assure you this is necessary, otherwise I promise you, she will not be able to continue with whatever you have in mind. The bindings are simply too tight."
"Fine," he spat, "do what you have to, but she gets tied up again when you're finished."
The Doctor shook his head, but moved quickly into position where he could reach the bindings and swiftly untied them. Janeway immediately lurched forward as if attached to a taught spring that had just had one end released. The Doctor caught her in his arms before she fell completely forward to the floor and settled her back in the chair. "Easy Captain."
She looked up at him with a weak smile, "Thank you Doctor." She said as she pulled her hands up to rest in her lap. The movement straining her abused shoulders and caused her to wince.
The Doctor treated the angry marks on her wrists with the regenerator and then massaged her hands to improve her circulation. Surprisingly enough, it was an intensely painful experience. Her hands had gone from a slight tingling sensation, to feeling as though they were asleep, to completely numb, a long time ago. Now that the circulation was returning, it felt as though a thousand tiny needles were poking into her flesh. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply through clenched teeth.
"I'm sorry Captain." Said the Doctor. "I don't have a better way to do this right at the moment."
With sweat forming on her brow she replied, "Understood."
The Doctor finished his ministrations and stood, glaring at Lessing. "Well, I've done as you asked, now what?"
"Then leave." He said as he motioned toward the ready room door with the knife.
The EMH again looked toward the Commander for acknowledgement and when he received a nod he knew he should go. Before complying, he looked down at the Captain. "Whatever this is about Captain, take care of yourself."
She looked up at him still rubbing her sore wrists and said, "I'll do my best."
"Enough Doctor, out!" Exclaimed Lessing.
"Alright, I'm going, no need to get impatient." with that the EMH replaced the last of the items he had used back into the medical kit and left the room, sharing a glance with the Commander on his way out.
Lessing motioned to Chakotay. "Now you can tie her up again. And make it good, I'll be checking to make sure."
Chakotay hated the thought of causing Kathryn more discomfort, but at least if he was the one to tie her, he could make sure the bindings were secure, but not constricting and painful as before. As he approached her, the two of them made eye contact again. "Sorry about this." He said to her quietly as he turned and then knelt behind her. "I wish I didn't have to do this, but for the moment I don't see we have much choice."
She slowly dropped her hands to her sides and moved them toward the back of the chair so he could reach them. "It's okay Chakotay, better do as he says until we find out what he's really up to."
"Something's wrong with him Kathryn, have you noticed his eyes?" Chakotay whispered.
Kathryn Janeway distinctly remembered being up close and personal with him and part of her initial reaction was to the look in his eyes. Now that Chakotay mentioned it, she had noticed the look of his eyes as well. She simply hadn't registered it with everything else that was going on. She nodded her acknowledgment.
Lessing could hear them speaking to each other from where he stood, but he couldn't make out the words, "That's enough chit-chat over there. Just do as I asked Commander. You're cutting into your hour as we speak."
Chakotay lifted her hands as gently as he could and crossed them behind the chair but left her arm position as relaxed as he could so as not to strain her already abused shoulders any more than necessary. Holding her hands in position, he then picked up the cable on the floor and secured her wrists together with it. It was tight enough that she wouldn't be able to pull loose, but wouldn't restrict her circulation. He then stood, resting his hand on her shoulder, "How does that feel?"
"Better than last time Chakotay, thank you. Now do as Noah here asked and get that PADD. I'm anxious to get on with whatever it is he has in mind."
"Good advice Captain, but I'm not sure I'd be so anxious if I were you. But then, you'll find out about that soon enough. Move away from her Commander, back by the door."
Chakotay complied with the request and Lessing then walked around the desk until he was again behind the Captain. He reached down and grabbed her tied wrists roughly, pulling on the bindings to make sure they were secure. The Captain responded with a grunting sound low in her throat but said nothing.
"Ok, I'm satisfied she's not going to get loose. Get going. I'll expect you back here in less than an hour and with my instructions followed to the letter."
Chakotay wasn't sure he wanted to leave with no one to keep an eye on the situation from inside the ready room. "Fine, but I'm not leaving her alone with you."
Lessing cut him off, "You most certainly are!" he barked as he moved the knife into a threatening position again. "She's in more immediate danger if you don't follow my instructions."
"Chakotay, it's alright, get going. I'll see you in an hour." She tried to be reassuring and commanding at the same time, and as usual, it worked. He would do as Lessing asked, not because he had requested it, but because his commanding officer had, in essence, ordered it.
"Aye Captain." He said to indicate both his compliance and his respect for her. She smiled back at him. "You harm her in any way while I'm gone Noah and all bets are off, no matter how much you threaten the safety of this ship. Understood."
To his credit, Lessing said nothing and simply watched as the Commander glanced quickly in the Captain's direction and then left the ready room.
After Chakotay left the room, Lessing relaxed noticeably and moved the few steps necessary to sit atop the Captain's desk. "Well, Captain, it's just us again, read any good books lately?"
"Oh that's good crewman, really good, small talk and bad humor to relieve the tension." She said as she shifted her position slightly so she could see him but keep her hands and arms in as comfortable a position as possible. "You must be delusional if you think I'll play along. But then again, you're obviously delusional to think that you can get anywhere with whatever this little scheme in the first place, I guess I shouldn't be surprised."
Angry again, Lessing declared "Delusional Captain, I don't think so. You haven't even heard my plan yet, how can you be so certain it won't succeed? Let me give you a little hint. As far as I'm concerned, I have nothing to lose and everything to gain out of what I have in mind. And the thought of what your staff could do to me when all this is over doesn't worry me in the least. It certainly can't be any worse than what I've already been through. So I'd be very careful about making any assumptions at this point."
She noticed his interesting choice of words. He had clearly said her staff and not her. Whatever he was up to, the end result was clear. He wasn't planning for her to be around for the aftermath. As for himself, he was obviously not concerned with his own welfare. Exactly what she was up against she still did not know, but his ultimate goal had been determined. She only hoped that somehow she and Chakotay would be able to sway the outcome of this game in her favor.
=/\=
TBC
Written - 8/20/02 Summary - It's the anniversary of the encounter with the Equinox and Noah Lessing has something special in mind to mark the occasion. Rating - PG
Chapter 2
When the turbolift stopped, both men entered the bridge to the surprised looks of the night shift. Lieutenant Rollins was the officer in charge and immediately inquired as to the meaning of their arrival. "Commander, is there something wrong?"
"Not that we know of Lieutenant, at least not yet. We're here to see the Captain. We'll let you know if there's something we need."
Rollins nodded and Chakotay and Tuvok continued through the bridge to the ready room door. "Tuvok, you wait here out of sight. I'll keep my comm signal open so that you can hear what goes on in there. If it's nothing serious, I'll close the signal and you're free to go about your business. If not, at least you'll know what we're up against."
"Agreed." said the Vulcan in reply. Then he stepped back away from the door to wait.
From inside the ready room, Lessing and Janeway both heard the door chime and were both filled with their own version of apprehension.
"Let him in." commanded Lessing.
She complied with a simple "Enter."
When Chakotay walked through the door he froze in his tracks as soon as he caught sight of his commanding officer. She had her hands bound behind her back. Her right eye and the left side of her mouth were bruised and swollen and there was a small trickle of blood falling from the corner of her mouth. She also had an obvious knife wound on her throat that had bled significantly enough to leave a trail down her neck to stain the regulation tank top visible under the open collar of her dress uniform. Simply said, she looked terrible. Worst of all, Noah Lessing was directly behind her with the knife still at her throat and a small devise resting in his other hand. "Captain?" He questioned as he looked deeply into her blue eyes.
She returned the intensity of his gaze and replied. "I'm alright Chakotay."
Chakotay was somewhat less than convinced that was indeed true, but he was well aware she was trying to keep some level of control of the situation even if all she could control was herself.
"Yes, she's alright for the moment Commander. But she won't stay that way, and neither will anyone else on this ship if you don't cooperate." Lessing said as he moved the hand with the device in it into view. "I've rigged an explosive device on this ship in a place that would cause Voyager's total destruction. Let's just say it's a little insurance that I get the time I need to deal with the Captain here." At that moment he depressed the button on the device and a small green indicator began to blink. "I've just armed it. Should anything happen to me before the completion of my plan, boom, no more Voyager."
"How original." Chakotay muttered. The First Officer of Voyager was angry, very angry. First, for the fact that his best friend was in a situation that, for the moment at least, he was unable to do anything to change, but secondly for misjudging Lessing so badly. He had thought him to be a thoughtful, generally mild mannered individual. He never would have guessed he would do something like this, that there was so much hatred fueling a scheme like this in his mind. Moreover, to put the ship and the rest of the crew in such danger gave a real indication how far he would go to exact his revenge against the Captain. While he could be bluffing about sabotaging the ship, there was no doubt in his mind that Kathryn Janeway was in real trouble.
Tuvok and most of the bridge crew were also hearing this exchange, as Chakotay had never stepped far enough into the ready room for the door to close. Several of the crew near the front of the bridge could also see their Captain and her predicament from where they sat at the forward bridge consoles. Tuvok took the initiative to move back away from the door and step to the tactical console. Within a few seconds he had sent a silent summons to his security detail for them to assemble in the briefing room immediately. He also contacted the senior staff with the same instruction. Before long, the rest of the ship would know something was wrong and the sooner they took control of the situation the better.
After putting everything in motion and checking something in the computer a second time, Tuvok moved back down to Chakotay's level. He slid with his back along the wall to a position just behind him, being careful to stay out of the line of sight of the doorway. "Commander." He whispered.
Chakotay heard Tuvok and nodded his head ever so slightly in acknowledgement so that Lessing wouldn't notice anything.
Tuvok continued, "I've summoned the staff and a security detail to the briefing room. I must also inform you that the transporters are off-line."
'Damn.' Thought Chakotay, but he only nodded again and took the extra step necessary for the ready room door to slide shut behind him. "Okay Noah, now we have some privacy. What is it that you want?"
"I want the truth." Was his simple reply.
Chakotay was puzzled. "What truth?"
"I want everyone on this ship to know what she did. What she did to me, to the rest of the crew from the Equinox, and to you and everyone else on this ship a year ago. It's time she paid for it. All of the rest of us have." The venom in his voice sent a shiver down both Chakotay and the Captain's spines.
Chakotay took the opportunity to make eye contact with his captain again. He could see the concern there. He knew it was not for herself, but for the rest of the crew. Knowing her the way he did, he was certain that she was now feeling guilty for her actions having put them all in jeopardy.
Lessing's next comment interrupted Chakotay's train of thought. "Commander, you will find a PADD on the table in my quarters containing your instructions. I'll give you one hour to make the arrangements."
"You can't expect me to march to your orders Crewman. Not and leave you alone with the Captain in this condition."
"And why not?" he snapped in reply. "You follow her without question don't you? Something I'm sure you regretted a year ago. Well, I'm in control now, unless of course you want me to pass judgement right now." He said as he moved the knife into a position from which he could slit Janeway's throat from ear to ear in one swift motion. All the while oblivious to the fact that he was pressing it against her skin hard enough to draw blood yet again.
Chakotay cringed as he looked at her. She had thrown her head back as far as she could in an attempt to get away from the knife blade, her expression one of determination, and her eyes transfixed on his. "Alright, alright, you're serious," he said, tossing his hands in the air as if motioning for Lessing to stop, "but whatever you have in mind, you seem to prefer her alive and somewhat coherent for a while yet. Let me send the Doctor in here to check her condition and I'll do as you say. You've got that detonator in your hand for insurance."
Lessing thought about it for a moment and both the Commander and the Captain thought they saw a glimpse of the thoughtful side of him reappear. "Very well, I suppose I owe you that much, and this could take a while. We don't want her passing out on us or anything do we?" He taunted, looking down at Janeway and finally releasing some of the pressure of the knife on her throat, momentarily spellbound by the sight of the blood trailing a path down her neck. Turning back toward Chakotay he said, "You can call the doctor."
Chakotay's hand was slapping his communicator before Noah could take his next breath. "Chakotay to sickbay."
Given the hour, the EMH had shut down for the night. The Commander's hail elicited the pre-programmed response. "Please state the nature of the medical emergency."
"Doctor, get your medical kit and report to the ready room on the double. The Captain. she's been hurt."
"On my way."
=/\=
With that, they waited. Chakotay stood restlessly near the door, trying to communicate his support to his friend through the expression in his eyes all the while Noah Lessing held the knife against her perilously exposed throat. He could tell she was in pain. The position she was in had to be wrenching her shoulders out of their sockets about now. He had also caught a glimpse of her hands and they were becoming quite bruised and swollen, but she didn't flinch, and she didn't cry out. She endured it with a steely determination not to show any weakness to her captor.
His gaze moved to scrutinize her tormentor. Lessing looked odd to him. Something wasn't right about his appearance, but he couldn't place exactly what. Chakotay's trained eye noticed that Noah's eyes were bloodshot and his hands seemed to tremble. The movement was slight, but constant. It could simply be nervousness over his current endeavor, or it could be more. Only time would tell.
Chakotay knew just what this last year had been like for Kathryn Janeway. They had struggled to regain their previous working relationship after she had relieved him of duty during the crisis with the Equinox. It had taken time. Ironically, with all that had happened, his attitude wasn't the problem, although he would have had valid reason. He had more than forgiven her for what happened when he witnessed her dramatic change of demeanor when she had reinstated him after the loss of both Ransom and his ship. It was as if an evil curse had been broken and she was instantly transformed back into the person he respected and called friend. Yet, even after all this time, there were times when he felt an awkwardness in their relationship like a cold draft down the back of his neck. In those moments they walked on eggshells around each other, always overly formal, their conversations mostly business. He was convinced she was still punishing herself beyond reason and having great difficulty putting what happened in perspective enough to move beyond it.
Within a few minutes, the door chime sounded breaking Chakotay's train of thought. "Come in Doctor, join the party." Lessing choked, wiping his sleeve across his now perspiration damp forehead.
The Doctor entered the room by stepping around the Commander and stopped. He took in the situation before him and deferred to the Commander for instruction.
Chakotay turned toward the crewman and questioned "Well, Lessing?"
There was no response.
The Doctor took the initiative, "Crewman Lessing, do you want me to treat her before or after you finish trying to kill her?" asked the EMH in his usual sarcastic tone. Of course, he did not yet realize how close he might be to the truth of the situation.
While there was nothing funny about her predicament, there was a distinct smirk on the Captain's face in response to the Doctor's observation.
After a long pause, Lessing released her and stepped behind the desk to stay out of easy reach of the Doctor as he treated the Captain. "Alright Doctor, you may examine your patient." Then he leaned heavily against the back wall and watched.
The Doctor stepped quickly forward and ran a tricorder over her. "Deep throat lacerations, concussion, severe contusion to the right eye socket, extreme muscle strain to the shoulders, and a dangerous lack of circulation to the hands." Looking deeply into her intense blue eyes, he completed his assessment if her condition, "But other than that you're in fine shape Captain." Reaching into his medical kit he began to pull out the instruments he needed to treat her injuries.
Lessing immediately became agitated and lurched upright toward the desk, his body movement jerky and uncoordinated. "I want her alert for several more hours Doctor, that's all, understood?"
"Crewman, I must protest."
"Protest all you like, but only what's necessary. Or I swear, I'll blow this ship to kingdom come."
The Doctor turned back to the Commander for a decision. "Do as he says Doctor." Chakotay replied, watching Lessing even more closely than before. There was definitely something wrong with him. If they were to deal with this situation effectively, they would have to find out what it was.
"Very well." The Doctor first administered a hypospray that contained something to ease her discomfort as well as a mild stimulant. He then ran a regenerator over the cuts on her neck to prevent further bleeding, adjusted the setting on the instrument and then ran it over the side of her face to relieve the effects of the concussion. When he had finished with these, he spoke. "I will need to untie her to treat her hands and wrists."
"No!" Argued Lessing.
The doctor stood and stared at him "Crewman, I assure you this is necessary, otherwise I promise you, she will not be able to continue with whatever you have in mind. The bindings are simply too tight."
"Fine," he spat, "do what you have to, but she gets tied up again when you're finished."
The Doctor shook his head, but moved quickly into position where he could reach the bindings and swiftly untied them. Janeway immediately lurched forward as if attached to a taught spring that had just had one end released. The Doctor caught her in his arms before she fell completely forward to the floor and settled her back in the chair. "Easy Captain."
She looked up at him with a weak smile, "Thank you Doctor." She said as she pulled her hands up to rest in her lap. The movement straining her abused shoulders and caused her to wince.
The Doctor treated the angry marks on her wrists with the regenerator and then massaged her hands to improve her circulation. Surprisingly enough, it was an intensely painful experience. Her hands had gone from a slight tingling sensation, to feeling as though they were asleep, to completely numb, a long time ago. Now that the circulation was returning, it felt as though a thousand tiny needles were poking into her flesh. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply through clenched teeth.
"I'm sorry Captain." Said the Doctor. "I don't have a better way to do this right at the moment."
With sweat forming on her brow she replied, "Understood."
The Doctor finished his ministrations and stood, glaring at Lessing. "Well, I've done as you asked, now what?"
"Then leave." He said as he motioned toward the ready room door with the knife.
The EMH again looked toward the Commander for acknowledgement and when he received a nod he knew he should go. Before complying, he looked down at the Captain. "Whatever this is about Captain, take care of yourself."
She looked up at him still rubbing her sore wrists and said, "I'll do my best."
"Enough Doctor, out!" Exclaimed Lessing.
"Alright, I'm going, no need to get impatient." with that the EMH replaced the last of the items he had used back into the medical kit and left the room, sharing a glance with the Commander on his way out.
Lessing motioned to Chakotay. "Now you can tie her up again. And make it good, I'll be checking to make sure."
Chakotay hated the thought of causing Kathryn more discomfort, but at least if he was the one to tie her, he could make sure the bindings were secure, but not constricting and painful as before. As he approached her, the two of them made eye contact again. "Sorry about this." He said to her quietly as he turned and then knelt behind her. "I wish I didn't have to do this, but for the moment I don't see we have much choice."
She slowly dropped her hands to her sides and moved them toward the back of the chair so he could reach them. "It's okay Chakotay, better do as he says until we find out what he's really up to."
"Something's wrong with him Kathryn, have you noticed his eyes?" Chakotay whispered.
Kathryn Janeway distinctly remembered being up close and personal with him and part of her initial reaction was to the look in his eyes. Now that Chakotay mentioned it, she had noticed the look of his eyes as well. She simply hadn't registered it with everything else that was going on. She nodded her acknowledgment.
Lessing could hear them speaking to each other from where he stood, but he couldn't make out the words, "That's enough chit-chat over there. Just do as I asked Commander. You're cutting into your hour as we speak."
Chakotay lifted her hands as gently as he could and crossed them behind the chair but left her arm position as relaxed as he could so as not to strain her already abused shoulders any more than necessary. Holding her hands in position, he then picked up the cable on the floor and secured her wrists together with it. It was tight enough that she wouldn't be able to pull loose, but wouldn't restrict her circulation. He then stood, resting his hand on her shoulder, "How does that feel?"
"Better than last time Chakotay, thank you. Now do as Noah here asked and get that PADD. I'm anxious to get on with whatever it is he has in mind."
"Good advice Captain, but I'm not sure I'd be so anxious if I were you. But then, you'll find out about that soon enough. Move away from her Commander, back by the door."
Chakotay complied with the request and Lessing then walked around the desk until he was again behind the Captain. He reached down and grabbed her tied wrists roughly, pulling on the bindings to make sure they were secure. The Captain responded with a grunting sound low in her throat but said nothing.
"Ok, I'm satisfied she's not going to get loose. Get going. I'll expect you back here in less than an hour and with my instructions followed to the letter."
Chakotay wasn't sure he wanted to leave with no one to keep an eye on the situation from inside the ready room. "Fine, but I'm not leaving her alone with you."
Lessing cut him off, "You most certainly are!" he barked as he moved the knife into a threatening position again. "She's in more immediate danger if you don't follow my instructions."
"Chakotay, it's alright, get going. I'll see you in an hour." She tried to be reassuring and commanding at the same time, and as usual, it worked. He would do as Lessing asked, not because he had requested it, but because his commanding officer had, in essence, ordered it.
"Aye Captain." He said to indicate both his compliance and his respect for her. She smiled back at him. "You harm her in any way while I'm gone Noah and all bets are off, no matter how much you threaten the safety of this ship. Understood."
To his credit, Lessing said nothing and simply watched as the Commander glanced quickly in the Captain's direction and then left the ready room.
After Chakotay left the room, Lessing relaxed noticeably and moved the few steps necessary to sit atop the Captain's desk. "Well, Captain, it's just us again, read any good books lately?"
"Oh that's good crewman, really good, small talk and bad humor to relieve the tension." She said as she shifted her position slightly so she could see him but keep her hands and arms in as comfortable a position as possible. "You must be delusional if you think I'll play along. But then again, you're obviously delusional to think that you can get anywhere with whatever this little scheme in the first place, I guess I shouldn't be surprised."
Angry again, Lessing declared "Delusional Captain, I don't think so. You haven't even heard my plan yet, how can you be so certain it won't succeed? Let me give you a little hint. As far as I'm concerned, I have nothing to lose and everything to gain out of what I have in mind. And the thought of what your staff could do to me when all this is over doesn't worry me in the least. It certainly can't be any worse than what I've already been through. So I'd be very careful about making any assumptions at this point."
She noticed his interesting choice of words. He had clearly said her staff and not her. Whatever he was up to, the end result was clear. He wasn't planning for her to be around for the aftermath. As for himself, he was obviously not concerned with his own welfare. Exactly what she was up against she still did not know, but his ultimate goal had been determined. She only hoped that somehow she and Chakotay would be able to sway the outcome of this game in her favor.
=/\=
TBC