Evolutions I: An Act of Betrayal

Part Fourteen

Seven and B'Elanna made their way to the mess hall, any of the crew they encountered moving out of their way quickly. B'Elanna's glare let them know that there was going to be trouble.

Seven and B'Elanna entered the mess hall just as the party was starting. The majority of the crew still hadn't arrived. Most of the senior staff was talking quietly amongst themselves, not having noticed their entrance.

The mess hall was decorated with multicolored balloons and streamers. A large banner was hung against the back wall that read "Welcome Back!" Tables were placed off to side containing finger foods and drinks.

B'Elanna noticed that both Harry and Tom were carrying large bouquets of flowers. This was not the strangest part however. The doctor was moving around the mess hall freely, without the aid of his mobile emitter. "How are you doing that?" B'Elanna questioned the doctor.

The rest of the crew turned around quickly, noticing the arrival of the guests of honor.

"I thought you would never ask," the doctor said smiling. "The Socadan gave me the technology to create a human body. I can now do everything that a normal person can."

"Why would the Socadan just give you this technology?" Seven asked, suspicion growing in her mind.

"When we reached the star base I was able to speak with some of them," the doctor lied smoothly. "They were fascinated by my holo-matrix. They said it was the most complex they had ever seen. They wanted to know what would happen if an artificial life form were given an organic body."

"This was for the good of Voyager?" Seven asked the captain as she pointed to the doctor angrily. "You sold us out to the Socadan so that this thing would have an organic body?" Seven's disgust was apparent.

"That wasn't all they gave us," Janeway responded defensively. "They improved all of Voyager's systems. Tactical, propulsion, engineering, weapons and shields have all been improved. We can make it back to Earth in a fraction of the time, and it is going to be much safer."

"Safer for whom?" B'Elanna asked. "Would you let a bunch of aliens do god knows what to you so that Voyager could get to Earth a little sooner?"

"Of course I would," Janeway lied, trying to defend herself. "I would do it for any member of my crew."

B'Elanna was disgusted by the lies that were coming out of the older woman's mouth. She could practically smell the deceit in her words. "You are lying."

"How can you say that after all that I have done for the both of you?" Janeway said, beginning to realize how difficult it would be to regain their trust.

"When you severed me from the Borg you told me that I was free. That I would be able to make my own decisions, that I was an individual. Yet at every opportunity you have taken away my right to choose. I do not trust you, any of you." Seven said as her gaze swept over the mess hall.

"No matter what happens now, we're always going to be watching you. The next time you try something like this we'll be ready." B'Elanna said as she glared at the senior officers.

"Let's go Seven," B'Elanna said as she took Seven's hand, pulled her to a quite corner of the mess hall, and sat down in one of the chairs.

The senior officers watched B'Elanna lead Seven away. They continued to watch as Seven sat down in B'Elanna's lap and placed a soft kiss on her lips. Whatever romantic plans anyone had had for the two women were literally blown out of the water. They could only stare in open-mouthed shock at the two former enemies.

B'Elanna, noticing the senior staff staring at them, shot them all an icy glare. "We only came to this 'celebration' because it was the only way that Janeway would let Naomi stay with us, so quit staring at us and finish your party."

Seven glared at them as well as she leaned into B'Elanna.

The senior staff shook off their astonishment and started their conversations again.

"What are we going to do now?" Harry asked Tom. "I never saw this coming."

"You're making too much out of this Harry," Tom said as he tried to calm his friend. "They were held captive and experimented on by a bunch of aliens. They probably just set aside their differences to deal with that. There's no way that the two of them are going to stay together," he added confidently.

"Are you sure about that Tom?" Harry asked getting worried. "I don't want to hurt them anymore than we already have."

"We're doing them a favor. Those two just aren't right for each other. If we step in now maybe they won't completely destroy the friendship they've started."

Harry reluctantly agreed and followed Tom through the now full mess hall. By the time the two men had reached the couple, Seven was so relaxed she looked like she was almost asleep. She was leaning against B'Elanna, her head resting on the older woman's shoulder with her eyes closed. B'Elanna had her arms wrapped around Seven and was smiling down at her warmly.

"Hi there you two," Tom said, plastering a smile on his face. "We were wondering if the two of you would like to dance?" he said as he looked Seven up and down.

As Tom finished speaking both he and Harry proffered their bouquets to the two women.

Before B'Elanna could shout at Tom for leering at her girlfriend, Seven lazily opened her eyes and uttered, "No." She then closed her eyes and snuggled closer to B'Elanna.

"You may keep those, we have no need for dead plant matter," Seven added loudly enough for the rest of the crowd to here.

For the second time that night Tom was completely flabbergasted. Seven had said no to him. No woman had ever said no to him.

"What do you mean no?" Tom asked, confused. His ego simply would not let him believe that he was being turned down.

"I do not wish to dance with you," Seven said, her eyes still closed. "B'Elanna is the only one that is allowed to do that."

"What about you, B'Elanna?" Harry asked.

"I don't want anything to do with either of you," B'Elanna said. "I don't forgive or forget when people betray me."

"Come on B'Elanna, it can't have been that bad," Tom said, trying to down play what happened. "We've all been on tough away missions before."

"This was not an away mission, you idiot. You all turned your backs on us and worse, not one of you stood up for us when we needed you the most. After everything that we have done for Voyager you practically sold us into slavery." B'Elanna shouted, bringing the party to a stand still.

"They can not control us like this forever, B'Elanna," Seven said trying to soothe her. "Soon Naomi will be of age and they will have no more power over us."

Just as Seven finished speaking Janeway stormed up to them. "What the hell is going on here? This is supposed to be a party. The next one of you to start arguing will spend the rest of the night in the brig." Janeway threatened.

"It was nothing Captain," Tom said as the gears in his head began to turn. "Harry and I were just asking these two lovely ladies for a dance," he smiled.

"This is perfect," Janeway thought. "All I have to do is let Tom get in between Seven and B'Elanna. B'Elanna will get mad and it will frighten Seven. Then Seven will come running to me to make things better." She thought, conveniently dismissing what she had tried to do to Seven before she left.

"I think that is a wonderful idea," Janeway said with an insincere smile on her face. "Computer, start music."

Tom smiled smugly at the opening strains of a slow jazz number and offered his hand to Seven. "Well I guess since none of us want to end up in the brig we better start dancing."

Harry and Tom put their flowers down on the table and led the two women onto the dance floor.

"If you try anything Paris, I'll make you regret it." B'Elanna threatened.

"Relax, I'll be a perfect gentlemen," Paris said, ignoring the threat.

Paris escorted Seven to the dance floor while Kim finally convinced B'Elanna to dance. Even though it was only to make sure that Seven was okay.

As the dancing progressed it became clear why Paris liked to spend his time creating holograms. He had no rhythm to speak of. He spent half the time hitting on Seven and the other half stepping on her toes. It soon became evident that he was failing on both accounts.

When the song finally ended, much to Seven's relief, Tom started to ask her for a second dance. "You were great Seven, may I have-"

"Mind if I cut in?" B'Elanna interrupted, bumping Paris out of the way.

"I would like that very much," Seven smiled at her love.

"Hey!" Paris exclaimed. "We were dancing."

"Is that what you call it?" B'Elanna smirked.

A new song started and B'Elanna wrapped her arms around Seven and kissed her lightly on the forehead. The rest of the world faded away as the two women danced. Nothing else seemed to exist to them, not the music, not Paris and Kim trying to get their attention in the background, and not Janeway glaring at the couple.

As the song finally came to an end the spell was broken by an insistent tapping on B'Elanna's shoulder. She gave Seven a soft kiss before finally turning around to face the person behind her.

"Do you mind if I cut in?" Paris asked, throwing B'Elanna's words back at her.

"Very much so Tom," B'Elanna said as she turned around to look at Seven again.

"I was wondering if I could have the next dance?" Harry asked as he stepped up beside Seven.

"I really must insist," Paris said as he tried to push B'Elanna out of the way.

Both Seven and B'Elanna smiled at each other before saying at the same time. "If you insist." The couple then walked off the dance floor, leaving behind two very embarrassed senior officers.

B'Elanna moved back to her original seat and pulled Seven back into her lap. So far the party from hell was going just as they had expected it to. It was as if the crew didn't even care that they were back. Most of the crew in attendance at the party only seemed to be there for the food and drink. Only Paris, Kim and Janeway had actually spoken to them, but that didn't really count as their choice of conversation – threats or unwelcome advances - was not exactly appreciated.

"What the hell was that about?" Janeway asked as she walked up to them. "You completely embarrassed Tom and Harry."

"I do not see how that is any of your business," Seven told the Captain.

"Watch your tone," Janeway said trying to threaten the two women again. "Is there a shortage of chairs?" she asked pointedly.

"Only a shortage of chairs as comfortable as this," Seven answered as she pulled B'Elanna's arms up and around her waist.

"Be that as it may, you are still officers of this ship," Janeway ground out. "As such you must conduct yourselves with a certain level of decorum."

"You just don't get it do you," B'Elanna said. "Seven was never a Starfleet officer, and I gave up my pips as soon as I got back on Voyager. We are pretty much civilians."

Janeway had no answer to B'Elanna's comments. Everything the Klingon said was true. Neither of them held a rank, or for that matter any obligations to Voyager. In short, she had no leverage over them. She had played her Naomi card too early and now there was nothing left for her to use to control them.

Janeway had only one option, a tactical retreat. She turned on her heel and left the two women alone.

"I though she was never going to leave," B'Elanna sighed in relief.

"Does this mean we may leave?" Seven asked.

"It has been a long day hasn't it?" B'Elanna said.

"I feel as if I will fall asleep here," Seven agreed.

Seven stood up from B'Elanna's lap and leaned into her as they made their way out of the mess hall.

To Be Continued...