Disclaimer: Yes, Paramount still owns the Star Trek Universe, but they don't own any characters that I've made up (even if they own their parents) nor the vessel I made up. Dana Marcus is my creative product from some of the events in the novel "Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan" by Vonda N. McIntire, but is still owned by me, H. S. Hines. Saavik history derived from "The Pandora Principle" by Carolyn Clowes.
Notes: References to TNG and TOS
Genre: Angst, Drama
Rating: M
Codes: B/7
Feedback: Reviews beget more fiction!
Issues
Chapter 5
Seven sat in her tent thinking over what B'Elanna had said to her. She had tried reading the letter that Naomi had sent her, just before the ship was destroyed, but she couldn't concentrate. Naomi had graduated in the top ten percent and eighth in her class. She was on her fourth boyfriend and her team had won the Hoverball championships two years running.
Seven didn't know how to reply beyond: Congratulations. It was all the padd in front of her displayed, beyond Naomi's address aboard the USS Lakota NCC-42768. Seven dropped the padd, knowing that she couldn't finish the response. Her mind was too much right where she was.
Seven stood before she realized what she was doing. B'Elanna's accusations rung in her ears and she was going to refute them. At least, this was the explanation that she gave herself. She was standing in B'Elanna's tent a few moments later, looking down at the sleeping form of the other woman. Seven decided to leave and was surprised to find herself kneeling by the sleeping roll of the half-Klingon.
B'Elanna rolled over and opened her eyes, halfway. She raised her blanket, beckoning Seven to join her in sleep. Seven crawled beneath the blanket, telling herself that she would discuss what she had come here to discuss.
She was asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow she had brought with her.
B'Elanna opened her eyes groggily and was startled at the sight of Seven stretched out next to her. The blonde's eyes were puffy, as though she had been crying and her hair was sleep-tousled. There was the sound of nocturnal animals stirring from outside her tent and B'Elanna knew it was not yet time to wake up. Seven wrinkled her forehead in her sleep and looked troubled.
B'Elanna reached out and brushed her fingers against the soft forehead of the ex-Borg woman and was rewarded when Seven snuggled closer to her. B'Elanna threw an arm across her bed partner and closed her eyes again, allowing sleep to reclaim her.
Seven woke up and the first thing she noticed was the pleasant pressure around her middle. The next thing that she noticed was that B'Elanna was crying. She rolled over, breaking the death-grip the Klingon had on her waist and gently shook B'Elanna. The half-Klingon didn't respond, but her whimpers were growing in volume as tears streaked down her cheeks. Seven brushed away some of those tears and B'Elanna jerked awake, sitting up abruptly.
"Seven?" she asked, looking confused.
"You were experiencing a nightmare. I was merely attempting to end it." B'Elanna's eyes dropped and she rolled over, curling up slightly and hugging herself. After a moment, the repressed sobs began causing her shoulders to tremble and Seven wondered if she had resumed the upsetting dream.
She tried to roll B'Elanna over, but was met with resistance and surmised that the other woman was awake and crying on her own. Unused to any tears but her own, Seven wasn't sure what to do; especially considering that she usually repressed those tears. She decided to assume the position that B'Elanna had used when sleeping with her and spooned her body against B'Elanna's back, wrapping her arms around the smaller woman.
B'Elanna rolled over, looking confused again. Seven looked into the brown eyes, so close to her own blue and unbidden, her eyes traveled down the dark face until they reached the trembling lips. Seven had an almost overwhelming desire, suddenly, to take those lips with her own, but she was used to fighting her desires and wants. This was, although new, just another inappropriate emotion to express, and therefore dismissible.
Instead, she raised her head and gently pressed her eager lips against B'Elanna's strong forehead. She looked back down at B'Elanna's eyes and saw that they were closed. Either with contentment or her own need; Seven couldn't be certain. But she knew that the emotion wasn't negative, as B'Elanna's tears had stopped and her lips curved ever so slightly upwards.
"Shall we get breakfast?" Seven asked softly. B'Elanna smiled and nodded, then stretched her muscles as she sat up. Seven laid her head on her arms for a moment and watched B'Elanna twist and stretch out the kinks in her body while sitting next to her. Then as B'Elanna stood, Seven joined her and they went searching for breakfast.
"I'm not really a hunter, Neelix." B'Elanna said to the now pouting Talaxian. She felt a stab of guilt as Neelix shuffled closer, favoring his left leg, which would probably be crippled for the rest of his life, since Starfleet was taking their damn time in rescuing them from the watery world they had landed on. When Voyager had been trapped in the event horizon of the anomaly, the Ten Forward Lounge had been one of the first sections breached. Neelix had been helping Ensign Kyote round up the stragglers when a bulkhead had exploded, nearly killing them both and ripping Neelix's leg almost off his body.
The Doctor had repaired it the best he could with the technology left to the crew, but Neelix now had a limp and, B'Elanna knew, pain with every step. She felt horribly responsible, for not keeping the ship together better, for not realizing what might happen just a little sooner and had trouble meeting the friendly golden eyes anymore.
"Oh, come on, B'Elanna," Neelix coaxed. "Everyone's been taking a turn. I can't do it all by myself you know." Neelix meant the words to be encouraging, not guilt-inducing, but B'Elanna immediately felt almost overwhelmed by culpability, despite her innocence. However, the words had the desired effect, as B'Elanna immediately agreed to go with him.
"Just this once, Neelix. After all, you don't want to bring out the Klingon in me too often," she said with a wink. Neelix beamed.
"Good! I was hoping that we could perhaps look into that bovine herd that's been moving east past the woods. Perhaps one of the older females."
"That's a big target, Neelix. Are you sure that the two of us can handle it?" B'Elanna asked, looking over at the cow they used for milk, tethered to a nearby tree. "I mean, why not just kill Voy, there?" she asked, motioning to the peaceful animal. Neelix looked horrified.
"Voy! Then where would we get our milk? Besides, it just seems wrong to kill an animal that you've nursed to health and cared for, for over two months."
"I was just teasing, Neelix. But may I suggest that you never become a farmer?" B'Elanna grinned at him. He gave her a stern look and she laughed. After a moment, he did, too.
"Lieutenant Torres has a point, Mr. Neelix." Seven said, making B'Elanna jump. She never seemed to hear the blonde approaching. "Acquiring and killing a bovine of that size, no matter how infirm, and carrying it back to camp is not a job for only two humanoids, especially when one has an injured appendage." Neelix sighed.
"I guess you're right, Seven. So should it be fowl or pig tonight?" He asked B'Elanna, looking downcast.
"You did not allow me to finish, Mr. Neelix." Neelix looked up, hopeful. "Two would not be sufficient, however three..." Neelix grinned at her. "Therefore, I shall accompany you. I agree that beef would be a relief from the monotony of white meat. Perhaps while we are on the other side of the woods, we might pick some fruit as well. Roots and leafy vegetables are not sufficient nutrients for the vegetarian crewmembers."
"They also have nuts and berries," B'Elanna said, grinning. Seven raised her eyebrow.
"Yes, but the berries are a small fruit and I was thinking that perhaps some of the larger fruit might be edible." Neelix looked like he was about to start hopping up and down in delight that he had an entire foraging party, at least one being voluntary.
They had gathered three dozen of a large, bluish fruit that passed toxicity scans and tasted much like a melon crossed with citrus and brought it back to the encampment before setting back towards the herd. They had also acquired some vegetables that had the consistency of avocados, but tasted more like tomatoes and a few heads of a pink variety of lettuce. Now they were laying low in some bushes, attempting to pick out the best choice for their supper from the tan-furred heifers.
"That one's too bony. There's no way we could lift her. She's too small; looks sick too. She's too young; just calved, see?" B'Elanna pointed to each of the animals in turn, and explained why they should be dismissed.
"That one appears to be the best specimen," Seven said, pointing to a pale, fat and exceedingly furry cow. B'Elanna and Neelix both nodded. Quietly, Neelix aimed his phaser at it. He fired. The herd stampeded. They waited until all the animals cleared but the cow and then gathered around the body. Neelix had killed it cleanly without destroying the body, although the top of the head was missing.
"Good shot, Mr. Neelix," Seven commented. Neelix beamed and they crouched over the dead animal, arranging themselves to carry the heavy body and attaching portable antigravity generators to lighten their load. That's when they heard the sound—like a small earthquake and a roaring. The group looked up to see a bull charging at them, his twisted side horns pointed threateningly at them and the snout horn promising them painful things.
They broke up and ran. The steer stopped to decide which of the humanoids would be the best to chase. It only deliberated a moment before choosing B'Elanna. Seven noticed as the animal stampeded towards the half-Klingon and she was half-surprised when she found herself changing course to intercept.
B'Elanna ran as fast as her legs could carry her, knowing that it couldn't be fast enough and picturing the three horns causing her bodily harm. Then she saw Seven racing towards her and she was taken off her feet a moment, the breeze the bull made as he passed strong enough for her to know that she had been narrowly missed. When she turned around, Seven literally had taken the bull by the horns.
B'Elanna ran to help her, grabbing on to the animal, her body pressed against Seven's while they tipped him over on his side. Neelix came bounding in and as the women let go of the animal, he fired his phaser, now reset to stun. Quickly checking for a pulse with her tricorder, B'Elanna then indicated that they should quickly take their meal and run.
It was a wonderful feast that was held that night and more than one crewman openly stared at Seven and B'Elanna as they sat very close together, eating in silence.
To Be Continued…