RATING: PG-13

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is set sometime during the late fifth season. Sorry if it strays from canon. . .artistic license. wink The action starts here!

DISCLAIMER: Paramount owns all things Trek, including Voyager, etc. sigh

------------------------

"Mr. Paris, did you finish running those tests?"

"Yeah, and you were right. Some of those gasses we found don't match any in the ship's database. We've never seen them before."

"Hmm." The Doctor glanced over the PADD Tom handed him. "Each molecule contains twice as many electrons as it should be able to hold. Fascinating."

"I wonder if that had anything to do with the high radiation levels the nebula was giving off."

"I don't know. It's possible. Well, put the information in your report and continue testing. I want to know more about these gasses." He grinned. "We may have taken biochemistry to a whole new level!"

Tom just shook his head and turned back to scanner table, preparing to run some more comprehensive scans of the gas samples. "Oh, Doc. . ."

"Yes?"

"How is Seven doing?"

"Fine, of course. When are Borg anything less than perfect?" Smiling at his own quip, the Doctor continued perusing the results of the last scan.

"I noticed you ate together again today."

"So?" The Doctor was doing his best to sound nonchalant.

"Well, that makes four times this week so far."

"I fail to see your point."

"Oh, come on, Doc! You two have been spending more and more time together, you can't deny there's something going on between you."

"I can, and I am. We are good friends, nothing more."

"Yeah, but how good?" Tom muttered, reconfiguring the scanner to further analyze the gasses.

"I heard that, Mr. Paris. As far as I'm concerned, you've been listening to idle gossip. Or spreading it." The Doctor eyed him suspiciously.

"What makes you think that?" Tom asked innocently. "A man can draw him own conclusions, can't he? I see how you stare at her when you think she's not paying attention. I can't say I blame you. If B'Elanna and I -- "

"Mr. Paris, I would advise you stop right now before you say something that could be held against you."

"Okay, okay, I get the hint. You don't want to talk about it. That's fine with me. If you want to keep your relationship a secret. . ."

"There is no 'relationship!'" the Doctor insisted. "If you want, ask Seven, she'll tell you."

"Oh, so maybe it's a one-sided relationship," Tom surmised slowly, the scanner casting a blue light over his face as he peered through the eyepiece.

"I refuse to continue this pointless conversation."

"Ah, talking like Seven now, are we?"

The Doctor merely huffed and moved across the science lab, his back towards Tom. Annoyance radiated from every photon in his body. Of course they didn't have a "relationship"! The thought was ludicrous! But he couldn't help but feel a small prick of guilt. He did have feelings for Seven that ran deeper then friendship. He could deny that to anyone but himself. Unfortunately, people were starting to notice. Well, he would just have to be more careful. For now he was content with the way things were, he could only hope it would stay that way.

------------------------

"Bridge to Captain Janeway."

Kathryn had just drifted off to sleep when Chakotay's voice broke into her consciousness. It took a long moment for the summons to register.

"Captain?"

She rolled over with a groan, reached out to her bedside table, and slapped the offending object. Every limb felt like a dead weight, and she dreaded any bad news that might be coming.

"Janeway here," she answered sharply.

"We've detected a small fleet of alien ships on an intercept course."

"Time to intercept?"

"About ten minutes."

She recognized the foreboding in her first officer's voice and took a deep breath as she pulled herself out of bed. "On my way."

------------------------

"Report," Captain Janeway ordered as the turbolift let her out on the bridge a few minutes later. The viewscreen displayed a triangular formation of alien vessels heading straight for them.

"The fleet will intercept us in exactly thirty-seven seconds, Captain," Commander Tuvok reported from his station at Tactical.

Kathryn dropped into her seat beside Chakotay and threw him an irritated glance. "Any idea what they're after?"

"Our sensors can't penetrate their shields." Chakotay looked at her curiously, noticing her unusually stressed demeanor, but Harry's voice prevented him from questioning her.

"They're charging weapons, Captain!"

"Try hailing them."

A few tense seconds passed, then Harry shook his head. "No response."

Kathryn stood up and assumed her command stance. "This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. We aren't looking for a fight. Please stand down."

"They're not responding," Harry called a moment later.

Kathryn looked back at Tuvok. "Can you penetrate their shields and disable their weapons?"

"Standby." Tuvok worked over his sensor readings and after a brief pause, spoke evenly, "Captain, their technology is highly advanced. Our sensors and weapons cannot penetrate their shields."

Suddenly, the bridge rocked as the lead ship darted past them and unleashed a powerful charge at their forward weapons array.

"Weapons are offline, shields at 67 percent," Tuvok called.

"Evasive maneuvers, Mr. Paris," Kathryn ordered the lieutenant at the helm. She tumbled into her seat as a second weapons charge struck Voyager.

"Shields at 50 percent!" Harry shouted.

Kathryn looked at Chakotay, then at Tom. "Get us out of here, maximum warp!"

"Aye, Captain." Tom turned back to the helm and entered the necessary commands. A second later, the ship shuddered slightly as the warp drive shifted into full gear.

"The alien ships are not pursuing," Harry told them with obvious relief.

Janeway relaxed in her chair and took a deep breath. "I wonder what that was about."

"Captain, their weapons appear to be nothing more than EM charges of some sort."

She looked back at Tuvok incredulously. "EM charges?"

"Yes. The voltage was high enough to disrupt and penetrate our shields." Tuvok quirked a pointed eyebrow as he looked from the computer display to her.

"Thank you, Tuvok. Damage report?"

"Hull microfractures on decks five, nine, and eleven," Harry filled in from his post. "Casualty reports coming in. . . twenty six injured, no deaths."

Kathryn breathed a sigh of relief, and caught Chakotay's understanding look. She nodded and stood up. "I'll be in my ready room. Chakotay."

He followed her off the bridge, and when the ready room doors swished closed behind them, she turned to him.

"What do you think?"

"To be honest, I don't know."

"This is one time I don't want honesty." She sighed heavily. "I want answers. Why fire and cause damage, then turn and run? It doesn't make sense."

"The way Tuvok explained it, it sounds like their weapons were nothing more than standard phasers. I don't understand how they could cause so much damage."

"I don't know, Chakotay," she sighed, rubbing her aching forehead wearily. "Their technology is so advanced. . .our ship is no match for them."

"We did alright this time," he told her, sensing her anxiety.

"They didn't want to destroy us -- they could have if they wanted to. The question is, why didn't they?" She looked up at him, searching for answers.

Chakotay thought for a minute. "Maybe they were warning us not to get involved in something."

"What?"

He smiled. "You're really out of answers today, aren't you?"

Instead of smiling back, as he expected, she jumped up and crossed her arms, turning away. "If you don't want to talk, then you're dismissed."

His surprise rendered him speechless for a moment. When he didn't respond directly, Kathryn turned on him. "Well?" Her dark blue eyes narrowed.

"Kathryn, is something wrong?"

"Of course not." Again, she turned away.

He stood up and followed her across the room, catching up to her before she could sit down at her desk. He took her arms and pulled her around to face him. "I know you, and I know when something's bothering you. If you need to talk, I'm here to listen."

She didn't meet his gaze. "I. . .I'm just tired."

Chakotay stared at her, trying to decide if he believed her or not. But then she wasn't looking at him. "Kathryn. . ." He lifted her chin until she finally looked at him, and he smiled slightly. "To put it bluntly, you look like hell. And you never were a good liar."

This time she had to smile, but barely. "You're just too suspicious."

"You've been really tense lately -- are you sure nothing is bothering you?"

She hesitated, then sighed deeply. "It's just, um, I'm restless. . .tired. . .I don't know. I don't feel in control anymore."

"Control of what?"

"Me, myself. I can't pay attention, I can't focus. I haven't finished reading any reports in three days."

He laughed. "Now I know something's wrong."

She smiled, a full smile this time.

Chakotay looked down at her and felt his heart contract as she smiled up at him. He still held her, close to him, and suddenly it seemed very close. She noticed it a second later, and instantly stepped back. An awkward silence followed.

"Well, uh, I'm here if you need to talk." He spoke after what seemed like an eternity. She looked up, surprised, and then nodded. "Of course. Thank you."

After he left, Kathryn let out a breath she had been holding for too long. These kinds of things were happening more and more often lately -- the last thing she needed right now.

------------------------

Seven of Nine slowly opened her eyes and found herself lying face-down on the cargo bay floor. The world spun around her as she tried to lift her head and look around, and she found she could hardly draw breath. Every limb tingled and felt like they were filled with latinum. A wave of pain swept through her, and she was vaguely aware of seeing strange light crackling along the implants in her hand. As it got harder to breathe, darkness closed around her and finally she passed out.

------------------------