IN THE NAME OF LOVE

They were a day away from Omri-Wor when something went wrong with the warp drive. No one could quite figure out what it was, and B'Elanna was still unfit for duty. Janeway called an emergency staff meeting and they discussed the situation. It was agreed upon that she and Neelix would take his ship to Omri-Wor and complete the negotiation while picking up the needed supplies, and the rest of the crew would work on repairing Voyager. The warp core would probably be online within two days, and Voyager could simply swing by and pick them up when the warp drive was functional once again. Kathryn was fairly confident about the plan. It might in fact, she said, give her more time to complete the negotiation, seeing as no one would recognize Neelix's ship upon arrival when they would recognize Voyager, and the Bromalians wouldn't be alerted on time. So Janeway and Neelix set out, the crew of Voyager started to work on the warp core, and Renhika sent a transmission to the Bromalians.

Mordus still didn't believe the woman, the one who had tipped him off as to where Janeway was going. He sat in wait, Vaila at his side, on the low roof of a building where the negotiation was supposedly to be held. He watched the street below him intently, waiting to see the woman who had eluded him for so long, if she'd show up at all. "It must be a trap of some kind." He'd told Vaila earlier. "Be prepared." However, he still failed to receive any sign of deception. But then again, the mere fact that someone would give away their leader was a sign of something being amiss. Sure, Mordus had heard of double crossings of this nature before, but this one still had a note of... unease attached to it.

He noticed Vaila eyeing him, and returned her stare until she hastily looked away. He'd noticed she'd been acting strangely lately. She was still pursuing him, despite the fact that his interest in her had nearly faded. Her irrational jealousy merely made her look the fool. It almost made him laugh out loud. She was seeing things that weren't there. He had interest in Captain Janeway purely as a challenge, yet Vaila seemed to take it personally. Perhaps it was because this was the first one they had pursued that had been female. However, this female was also the most cunning person they had hunted. No one had ever escaped him for this long.

Vaila was once again staring at him, and he calked his head sideways at her, to inquire why she was staring at him, or maybe just to let her know he knew she was watching him. She glanced away once again, staring down at the street for their prey to come into view. They had received word a few minutes ago that an alien ship had arrived, however, upon looking at it, Mordus concluded that it was not the Voyager. Besides, these people used transporters, they didn't land ships on the surface.

Vaila hit him on the arm, and he immediately glanced down at the street. He could only see a short, fat man, and a blur of bright red. But he could feel her in the air, as though her very presence was tangible... "That's her!" He whispered, readying his weapon, signaling his officers to turn on theirs. None of his officers made a move. They were too well trained to go rushing into a fight like a bunch of rookies. Instead, they waited until the prey was in a good enough position for the ambush to be wildly successful. Mordus felt anticipation build up in him as he forgot all about his troubles with Vaila, his hands shaking as he raised his weapon to focus right on the woman. He watched as the Omri-Wor man walked out to greet her, nervously, but he went along with his instructions and started to lead her to the building. The short fat man was escorted off by another Omri-Wor. Unconsciously, Mordus assessed the Omri-Wor. They were known to be rebellious and have a lack of respect for authority, but they feared the Order, and that's all that was needed to keep them in line. He watched the man trot a few paces ahead of Janeway, glancing up at the roof nervously.

Don't do that, you imbecile! You'll give us all away! Mordus thought, preparing to spring just in case Janeway caught on. "Do not fire your weapons unless absolutely necessary," he whispered to his men, wincing as the Omri-Wor man glanced a second time at the roof.

After the third time he glanced at the roof, Janeway did so as well. She could have sworn that she saw movement. She slowed down uncertainly.

"Is something wrong, Captain?" The Omri-Wor asked. Janeway looked at him. He was nervous.

"No, nothing's wrong." She said, although she started to get a terrible feeling in her gut about what was happening. He was far too frantic for simply pre-negotiation jitters. She recalled a quote from a 23rd century captain, something like, "You can't run a ship off of gut feelings and intuition alone..." That wasn't exactly the right wording, but she couldn't quite recall what the exact quote was at the moment. She pushed down the feeling and continued to follow the man.

Mordus watched her intently as she hesitated. He knew the man had aroused some suspicion in her. The Omri-Wor said something to her. If he's telling her, Mordus thought, I'll kill skin him.

He let out the breath he'd been holding when Janeway continued on, instinctively walking slower. If she had figured it out from where she had been standing, she might have had a chance to get away. He noticed Athader next to him starting to rock slightly in anticipation. Mordus could sympathize with him. He was new at this, and the most thrilling moments were always right before you close the trap. He was about to put out a hand to still Athader when he realized that Athader had knocked a bit of gravel loose from the top of the ledge. It slid down the roof and landed on the ground.

They were about ten feet away from the door of the negotiation room when a few small pebbles hit the ground in front of Janeway's feet. The thought rushed to her head, Someone's on the roof. The Omri-Wor broke out into a sprint and began to run away. The same instant, in dawning horror, she realized, My god, I know why he was looking up there! The thought came to her the instant before her hand automatically went to her phaser.

She had realized what was happening, and was undoubtedly about to fly, Mordus knew. He'd kill Athader for it later, but for now, he had more important things to concentrate on. He unceremoniously let out a battle cry and jumped down from the ledge, noticing his men and Vaila follow his action. There were eight of them in all, and he realized that despite Athader's blunder, it was already too late to get away.

Next to him, Athader suddenly fell with a cry after a bright beam of light flashed out from a weapon Janeway was carrying. She backed up a few steps to avoid Pothtomok's blow, and fired on a wider beam, taking out Theravall and Sandor. Mordus noticed with displeasure that his people seemed to be hanging back, hesitant to attack her. Unfortunately for Janeway, she had turned at a bad angle to fire her last shot, leaving her entire right side exposed to Mordus.

He instinctively sprang at her, tackling her, knocking her phaser out of her hands and to the ground. He was surprised at the speed of her recovery as she lifted herself up on one hand and elbowed him with the other to knock him to the side of her before she quickly crawled out from under him, straight towards the phaser. Alas, there were now five of them and one of her, and she was quickly intercepted by two more of Mordus's men. One kicked her in the rips and the other grabbed her by the upper arms and pulled her up from the ground, jerking her into the air and off her feet and swinging her around to toss her right into the wall. She hit the wall and slid down a short ways, stunned for a moment before she managed to get once again to her feet. The man who had just thrown her quickly punched her. She staggered back once again against he wall. He hit her with the other hand, and she almost collapsed. One more hit would probably knock her out, Mordus reasoned, standing back like the rest of his men to let Lurd'Morda do his work. Lurd'Morda aimed a third punch at her and swung. She ducked at the last second and his hand contacted painfully with the wall.

He cried out in pain as Janeway quickly stepped back, away from him, only to bump into Vaila, who she hadn't seen yet. Vaila was nearly a head taller than Janeway, and it suddenly dawned on Mordus that Janeway was a tiny woman. It gave him more confidence in the fight, and when Vaila shoved Janeway back, he caught her himself and forced both harms behind her back, both wrists in one of his hands while his other arm looked around her waist, pulling her two him and holding her back against him. She was small. Mordus began to wonder if he could snap her in two.

He cried out when one of her boot heels contacted with his shin. She was still struggling, with a strength that he never could have counted on by looking at her. Vaila gestured for one of the other men to help, and he grabbed Janeway's legs, securing them to prevent her from struggling anymore.

She must have realized that she couldn't fend them off any longer, so she stopped straining to free her captured limbs and looked around, not sure which one to talk to . "What do you want?" She was half out of breath, and Mordus almost thought he head a slight waver in her voice. Out of fear or out of rage? He wasn't sure.

The question she asked was fairly simple, so Mordus answered from behind her, his lips right near her ear, "I want you to stop struggling. You're beaten." She couldn't turn her head to face him, but he felt her bristle in her arms. Yes, it was definitely out of rage.

"And I assume you're Ragnar Mordus?"

Mordus gestured with his head to Vaila, who brought forward binders. Mordus slowly, warily, slipped his arm from around her waist. His men, the ones that were still conscious, drew in close to restrain her in case she started to fight them again. She glanced around, face impassive, assessing the situation, but didn't make a move against him as he snapped binders on her wrists.

"You're assuming correctly," he replied, nodding to Pothtomok to release her legs. He turned her around to face him, noticing bruises already appearing on her face in the places where Lurd'Morda had hit her.

"So, what happens next?" She asked quietly, eyes flashing. Mordus had learned enough about her to know she was just stalling until she thought of a plan.

Knowing it was best to keep her off balance, he said gruffly, "You come with us." He grabbed her by one of her restrained arms and jerked her with him as he turned to walk away from the building. Lurd'Morda and Eshemmot stayed behind to help the injured, and Vaila and Pothtomok flanked around Mordus and his prize to make sure no one interfered in what was happening. He noticed that Janeway stumbled often as they were walking, obviously still disoriented from the blows she had received and most likely in shock from the recent turn of events, but she kept up with him.

Mordus heard a faint, "Captain?"

Janeway's eyes grew wide and she spun around as far as she could. "Neelix! Get out of here, now! Go!" she screamed, struggling furiously against Mordus as he looped his arm around her waist. Mordus nodded to Pothtomok, who ran in the direction of the voice, and he reaffirmed his grip on Janeway's wrist and his hold around her body as he shuffled her in the direction of the ship.

Janeway was unable to put up an effective fight with the binders on. There were only Mordus and the woman holding her now, and it was a prime chance to escape, but he held her securely in a way that allowed no effective struggle.

"Mordus," the female Bromalian said, panting at his side as he dragged Janeway with him. "She's still struggling and slowing us down too much. At least let me sedate her."

Mordus glanced down at Janeway briefly, then nodded his compliance to the woman.

"No, wait, I'll stop," Janeway began, knowing she had no chance of getting away if she was unconscious-- but faded off when she felt a slight sting in the side of her neck. The world darkened around her, and the last thing she was aware of was being hoisted up onto Mordus's shoulder.

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"B'Elanna! It's good to see you up and about!" Chakotay exclaimed.

"No thanks to you," the half-Klingon grumbled, even though it was obvious she was in a great mood. "You didn't even bother to visit me when I was sick." They stepped into the turbolift.

"I'm sorry, B'Elanna. We've had so much happen lately, with the virus, the warp core malfunctioning and the negotiation with the Omri-Wor," he replied, thinking, but not speaking of, his argument with Kathryn.

"Well, I can assure you of one thing," B'Elanna said jovially, turning to him. "If I had been on duty and not your girlfriend, the warp core would never have malfunctioned."

"Come on, be fair," Chakotay said. "Renhika was stranded on a desolate moon for nine years; she hasn't been around starships for a while, and she's still getting into the swing of things."

"The others from the moon are getting into the swing of things very nicely. And besides, I can't believe so large an error can take place without her catching it first." She gave a dramatic sigh and raised her chin. "But never fear: I'm back, and I'm her for good."

"I think we'll all be grateful for that," Chakotay replied, turning back to face the door. The lift stopped and they stepped out onto the bridge.

Applause broke out, and Torres swept down into an elegant bow. When the applause continued, she waved it off. "Please, people, you're embarrassing me," she said with a laugh.

"We're just glad to have our most brilliant and beautiful engineer back." Paris said; B'Elanna shot him a dirty look and he grinned sheepishly in return.

"Well," Chakotay said, "if that's over, I suggest we all return back to duty... Something wrong?" He had noticed Torres glancing around the bridge before resuming the engineering post.

"Yes. Where's the Captain?" She glared at Chakotay. "Now there's someone who actually did visit me when I was sick."

"Hey, I visited you!" Paris called from the helm.

"You don't count, helmboy!" She replied, turning briefly to Paris before she looked back over to Chakotay.

"She's just gone temporarily. She and Neelix are negotiating for dilithium on Omri-Wor."

"Is it just me," B'Elanna muttered to him, "Or are the names of these planets getting stranger and stranger as we go along?" They shared a private chuckle before they went back to their posts.

Chakotay looked back at Tuvok and barked, "Speaking of the Captain, what's our status, Mr. Tuvok?"

"We are headed at warp nine to Omri-Wor. We should be in the planet's orbit within the next fourteen hours." Tuvok reported.

"Good. Once we finish with this planet, we won't have to stop again for the next five weeks." Chakotay commented.

"Unless Carey and I end up out of commission again, and your girlfriend somehow manages to blow up the warp core." B'Elanna remarked.

"Hey," Chakotay said, glancing over at her, "Don't overstay your welcome, Lieutenant." B'Elanna interpreted that he said it in jest, but there was a quiet, warning under tone to his words..

"All right, all right. I was just about to clear out anyway," she replied. A few minutes later, conversation had died back down, and Chakotay was wordlessly watching the stars zip past on the view screen. He was somewhat startled when Tuvok's panel began beeping.

"Commander, I am detecting an alien vessel on long range sensors." He studied the panel for a moment before he glanced up. "It is Mr. Neelix's ship."

"Already?" Chakotay asked, standing up. "Hail them."

Tuvok's panel beeped again. "I am getting no response."

He glanced back at Tuvok. "What's their status?"

"I am detecting one life sign on the vessel. The vessel itself appeared severely damaged, with life support failing rapidly. Shields and weapons are down as well."

Chakotay felt his stomach tie up in knots. He began to feel almost sick with dread. "Are we within transporter range?"

"We will be shortly," Tuvok replied.

Chakotay tapped his comm badge. "Chakotay to sickbay."

"Go ahead, Commander," The Doctor answered.

"Prepare for a patient, Doctor." He turned back to Tuvok. "Can you beam the person out while the ship is at warp?"

"I believe so." Tuvok replied. "Stand by..." He paused, then glanced back up from his panel. "The transport has been successful." Chakotay felt his tensed shoulders relax slightly. "I'll be in sickbay."

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He must have run the whole way. When he reached sickbay, his heart was pounding so loud he could hear it. Or was it just apprehension? Chakotay bolted through the doors, and stopped short in dismay. Neelix was lying on the biobed, being treated for various burns and cuts. Chakotay strode up unceremoniously and demanded, "Where's the Captain?"

"Commander," the Doctor said, "My patient is in not shape to be interrogated--"

"Answer me, Neelix. Where is the Captain!" He resisted the urge to go up and slap Neelix to try to jog his memory.

Neelix looked like he was trying to speak, but it ended up a throaty gurgle. "Commander," the doctor said, steel in his voice. "If you persist in this behavior I will be forced to call security. Now please, back of and give my patient room to breathe!"

Chakotay glanced up at the Doctor and reluctantly backed off. "Thank you," the hologram said. "When he is fit to speak, I will inform you. For now, I suggest you leave him in peace."

Chakotay nodded his compliance. Damn. It was all he could do. He retreated to the door. "You'll call me the minute he can speak to us."

"Of course. Now leave, please." The Doctor shooed him out.

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"... the next thing I knew, she was yelling for me to run, and this large Bromalian fellow started for me. Now, if I had brought a phaser, I could have stopped him right there, but since I didn't, I just had to run. He chased me all through the streets, shooting at me. Even some of the Omri-Wor tried to get me. I was hit in the back right outside of my ship. I managed to crawl into my ship and set a course for the rendezvous coordinates. They shot at me until I got out of orbit, but they didn't follow. The next thing I knew, I was here." Neelix was holding himself up like he was a martyr as he spoke. Chakotay was sitting on a nearby biobed, listening with distant eyes and a brooding expression. Tuvok was staring at Neelix, his features set to neutrality, his eyes haunted.

"Do you know where they took her?" Chakotay asked.

"I-I don't know, Commander. But they were there so quickly, it was less than fifteen minutes after we had arrived. They must have been waiting for us. Someone must have told them."

"The Omri-Wor?" Chakotay asked, glancing at Tuvok.

"It's the most likely conclusion, although I fail to see what they could gain out of such a deal," Tuvok replied.

"I can think of a lot of things--" Chakotay began, before Neelix blurted, "Sir, if I may speak?"

Chakotay glanced at him, annoyed, but nodded for the little man to speak.

"I don't think it was the Omri-Wor. They seemed very nervous, frightened, even. If they helped the Order, I don't think they did it willingly."

"Well, Neelix, if you can name anyone else who would turn the Captain over to Mordus, I'm all ears," Chakotay replied.

"Commander," Tuvok interjected. "We are not considering all of the possibilities. It may be someone on Voyager who tipped the Bromalians off."

"Impossible," Chakotay said immediately.

"It is not 'impossible' as you put it, Commander. We have been betrayed on two separate occasions already, and it is perfectly conceivable that we have been betrayed a third time."

"But who would it be, Tuvok?" Chakotay demanded. "Unlike the Kazon, there is no dealing with the Bromalians. No one has anything to gain out of it!"

"That is not necessarily true," Tuvok replied. "If someone harbored ill will against Captain Janeway, then they would have everything to gain off of this."

"The Starfleet-Maquis problem is long gone; I can't think of anyone who would have a grudge against her. The crew would follow her to hell." He sighed and buried his face in his hand.

"Perhaps," the Doctor intervened, "If you got some rest, Commander, your thinking process would be clearer."

"Doctor, we are losing precious time. They could be getting farther and farther away with her this very moment while we're just sitting here. I have no time..." He trailed off, gazing thoughtfully into space for a few moments. Then,. "How long until we reach Omri-Wor?"

"Approximately six hours and twenty-two minutes," Tuvok replied.

"Very well," Chakotay conceded. "I'll take your advice, try to sleep for a few hours. I want to be contacted immediately when we reach the planet."

"Aye sir," Tuvok said.

As Chakotay was leaving sickbay, he couldn't stop the feelings of helplessness and guilt that washed over at him. He had no clue where the Captain was, and he couldn't help her in the least at the moment.

He had a feeling that he wouldn't be getting very much sleep tonight.

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They arrived at Omri-Wor ahead of schedule. Chakotay spent the entire day arguing with Omri-Wor officials. Finally, they revealed to him that the Bromalians were headed to the T'Itari system. The third planet was apparently a Gatekeeper Planet.

Without thanking them, Chakotay beamed back to the ship and they set a course for T'Itari. It was a six day trip, and it gave Chakotay time to sit back and discuss the situation with Tuvok.

"I think you might just be right," Chakotay said finally.

Tuvok raised an eyebrow. "About what, Commander?"

"Someone on this ship gave away what we were doing." Chakotay leaned across Janeway's desk to look eye-to-eye with Tuvok. "The Omri-Wor claimed that they weren't the ones who turned the Captain over to the Order, that somehow the Order knew of the negotiation before the Omri-Wor had affirmed it."

"It is possible that they are not telling the truth," Tuvok noted.

Chakotay stood up and stared out the view port. "Let's see... the warp core just happened to malfunction right before the negotiation that the Order just happened to find out about. Too damn much of a coincidence to be accidental."

"Then I believe we should begin investigating the people in engineering at the time." Tuvok said.

"I'll ask Renhika if she saw anyone that wasn't supposed to be there--" he faded off at Tuvok's pointed stare. "What? You don't think she did it, do you?"

"I am not implying anything, Commander. I am simply saying that everyone in engineering is suspect, and we should not let on to any of them that we are investigating a possible traitor."

"Then I guess I'll ask B'Elanna to start analyzing the warp core problem to see if it was sabotaged," Chakotay said. He paused for a second, turning back to Tuvok. "I think you were implying something, Tuvok. I can assure you, if Renhika was responsible, which I doubt, but if she was, I wouldn't hesitate to tell you. You know that, don't you?"

"Of course, Commander," Tuvok replied.

"Good." Chakotay stepped through the door onto the bridge, Tuvok walking past him to his post.

"B'Elanna," Chakotay called. She glanced over at him from the engineering station and he waved her over.

As soon as she reached him, he gestured towards the ready room. "Let's talk."

Janeway woke up in darkness. She had a dream that she was in a tiny box, being stifled to death. She woke up in a tiny box-like place, being stifled by the warm, humid air. Maybe that wasn't a dream after all. She thought.

The memories of the previous events came rushing back to her, and she quickly figured that she was in the process of some sort of psychological torture. She was in a fetal position, unable to move anything but her head. The box was narrow, with barely enough room for her. She struggled for a few seconds, trying to unwind her limbs in the narrow space provided. Finally, she gave up and was still for a few seconds. A feeling of the walls closing in around her crept into her mind as she began to feel rising panic.

"Stop it, Kathryn!" she said aloud. Now was no time to give into her mild claustrophobia. She willed herself to calm down and think clearly, trying to find a way to get untangled. She moved her legs the little ways she could, unweaving her arms. Finally, she managed to get the out of the place where they had been trapped up between her body and the wall. This gave her a little more room, at least. She was extremely uncomfortable, and her neck was stiffening up.

She raised her head slightly and hit Mehta bars. A number of horizontal metal bars, as a matter of fact, right over her head. They were wide enough to allow her arm through, but not wide enough to allow her to stand up, or even straighten up her neck for that matter. She wasn't quite sure what their purpose was, but it felt good to stretch her arms. Kathryn sat still for a few minutes more before she grew restless. She started moving as far as she could, trying to shift her position. Her legs ached and she wanted to be able to move them somehow, but there was no way. She sighed as she felt them cramp up.

After a while, her body almost felt numb. She had to fight the feeling she was getting of her mind being separated from her body, drifting off into the endless darkness of the box.

She must have fallen asleep sometime, because when she woke, a bright beam of light was coming from the top of the box, through the metal bars. Someone wordlessly set a plate of food down on top of the bars, then the light disappeared and the box closed again.

Kathryn felt the stifling humidity and heat of the box die down for a few minutes, then it came back in full force. She understood now what the bars were for. She reached an arm through and felt around the plate of food, looking for any water that came with it. She finally found the cup, and she brought it down through the bars and greedily gulped it down. It was difficult to do with her head bent at the bad angle, but she was allotted no more room to raise her head straight up.

Hours more must have passed, and still nothing. She began to feel claustrophobic again, but she couldn't fight it back this time. She felt like she was being suffocated, her body ached from the position she was in, and her throat was once again parched by the need for water. She struggled against the walls, trying to tip over the box. Something, anything. But the box was too solid, so she finally ended up calming down and holding her claustrophobia in check.

What are they doing? Aren't they going to ask me any questions? She wondered. Right now, she'd welcome any conversation. It would help deter the feeling that she was dead. This stifling box, she realized, was worse than any torture she had experienced.

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Druk wasn't quite sure when the six aliens came in, but soon they were surrounding him, his fellow operator lying on the ground out cold, and a gun pointed to his head by one with a drawing on his forehead.

"If you want to live, open up the gateway to Axarus," the alien man said.

"You- you don't understand. It's impossible!" Druk stammered, hoping against hope that security would arrive in time to stop these crazed maniacs.

"And why not?" One of the man's five companions demanded. This once was a female with a ridged forehead and a terrible temper.

Druk glanced down at his colleague who the female had knocked out. No, he didn't want to get on her bad side.

"The gateway is closed days ago," he told them.

"Then open it up again!" The female snapped.

"I can't. It's closed from Axarus, Mordus's orders. If you want to get there, you have to go through the Shrelton IV gateway."

"How far away is Shrelton IV?" The man asked.

"I can give you the location, just please don't kill me!" Druk implored, holding his hands out to beg.

"I won't if you just give me the location and give it to me right now," the man with the drawing on his forehead replied.

"Sure, sure." Druk took a few cautious steps backwards before he reached into his desk drawer. He had a few maps, tourist maps, of the different planets. He fumbled through until he came to Shrelton. "Here."

He tossed the map and the pamphlet to the man with the drawing. The man studied it closely for a moment, then he raised his weapon. "This won't kill you, although you'll wake up with a bit of a headache." And then he fired.

Chakotay sat back in the chair, rubbing his temple. He was exhausted. The past three weeks had been the most stressful of his life. They were headed at warp nine to Shrelton IV. The planet, even at maximum warp, was nearly three months away, but it was the only thing that they could do to get Kathryn back. It was unfortunate that Mordus had brought her to Axarus, a prison colony nearly 40,000 light years away. The planet only had two gateways to access it, and Mordus had already cut off one of them. Chakotay just hoped he didn't cut off the other.

Renhika had come in uninvited and refused to leave until he told her what was bothering him. Chakotay told her everything about the situation (except for the investigation) and the toll it had taken on him. She pulled him into her arms, and with sympathy that seemed forced, she whispered, "We'll get through this. Whatever happens, I promise you, we'll get through this."

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Kathryn was restless again. She wasn't sure how long it had been since they'd last fed her and given her water, but it was a lot longer than usual. Were they just going to kill her like this? Were they going to let her die in this tiny little hole she'd been in for God knows how long?

Sanity had been difficult to hold onto. After an interminable period, time had blurred for her. She found refuge in daydreaming, imagining life back on Voyager, Voyager's reception when they reached Earth. Her dreams allowed her to ignore the cramping of her limbs, the immobility of her body. She could pretend she was somewhere out there, in space, and not locked within the tiniest of cells.

But it was hard to ignore your conditions when you were dying of dehydration. Her throat burned with every swallow. She was grateful when sleep found her, the third one since they'd stopped giving her water.

Janeway woke up with a start when the accursed box was picked up. This had happened a few times. They'd drag her out, drug her, and then she'd come back to awareness in the box again, both herself and the box cleaner than they had been before.

She braced herself as the box was set back down. The drug always subdued her instantly and left her with the worst of headaches. She heard the creak of the metal bars moving back into the wall. The light came in, hands reached in, grabbing her and dragged her through the opening, dropping her onto the floor.

She knew by experience that if she raised her head, they'd hit her with the butt of a weapon, so she lay still on the ground, waiting for the drug to be administered. When nothing happened, she dared to open her eyes.

That was a mistake.

The light was blinding after the darkness of her solitude, and it cut into her pupils like a thousand tiny knives. She gasped and threw a hand over her eyes to shield them from the blinding glare. "Dim the lights." The command came from the lips of a woman, whose voice Janeway could vaguely recognize. The lights dimmed to a level where Janeway could squint and not experience so much pain. "Leave us," the woman said. Janeway heard a shuffling, as if someone was about to speak, when the woman urged, "Go! I can handle her."

The two men quickly nodded to her and left the room. The woman (Janeway recognized her from the day she'd been captured) walked across the room to sit at a chair across from Kathryn. Feeling like she was in a vulnerable position, Kathryn tried to stand, to get her feet under her. She wasn't too surprised when her legs wouldn't hold her and she collapsed back to the floor, her body assuming the fetal position they'd been holding for so long.

"It always happens when you've been in the Box for too long. The muscle wears away with inactivity. You should be grateful to me. Command wanted to keep you in there for a minimum of five months. I talked them down to one." She watched, impassive, as Janeway tried once again to get her legs to work. "I never have really liked the Box method anyway. Maybe it's bad memories. We had to spend a week in one of those during training, just to let us know what the prisoners feel. But other than that, it usually doesn't break people; they simply go mad." She laughed as if remembering a few unfortunate people. "And it also takes too long for my taste. I've always approved of more hands on methods of extracting information. And speaking of information," She said, brightening, "Would you happen to know any of those command codes you run your ship by?"

Janeway started to reply, but her throat was parched to the point where she couldn't get a word out. Vaila must have prepared for this, because she picked up a glass of water that had been lying on the floor next to her chair.

"Thirsty?" She asked. She set it back onto the floor. "It's yours if you want it."

Janeway couldn't walk over there. She could barely twitch her legs. If she was to get it, she'd have to crawl over on her stomach. She realized what the point of this was. The woman was trying to show her just how... high, superior she was compared to Janeway, who it was that had the power. Out of pride, Kathryn almost considered not drinking the water, but it had been nearly three days (from her estimate) since she had had anything to drink, and a human could only go so long without water.

She put her arms on the ground, lying on her stomach, and pulled herself over, creeping over inch by inch. She finally reached arms length, and she grabbed the cup and brought it to her lips. It was not enough to satisfy her thirst, but it was just enough to help her sore throat.

"If you cooperate," the woman said, "You'll get more later."

"And if I don't?" Janeway choked out. The woman smiled menacingly at her.

"Rest assured, we'll give you enough to live." She stood up and walked a few feet away. She stayed facing Janeway as she leaned back against the wall. "I don't want to have to torture you. I'd prefer you cooperate. It's an ugly business, Captain, but I've grown... used to it. It pays well, and the faster I break you, the more I get. It would be best for both of us if you just told me everything."

"I suppose that goes for both of you," Janeway rasped.

"No, not really," The woman smiled. "Mordus's wealthy and powerful enough already. He doesn't especially need this job. He's in it because he enjoys it." She was studying Janeways' reaction carefully. The Captain kept her face impassive, allowing no sign that the statement bothered her to show. She's good. Vaila thought to herself. If she hadn't been so learned in reading people, she might not have noticed the apprehension that flickered through the younger woman's eyes.

"You needn't worry about that, though. Mordus's finished his part in this case, and we'll leave as soon as the Bureau decides we're done with you." At least I hope we do. Vaila thought. She wasn't so sure about Mordus anymore. He had been surveying his work for the past month, sitting only a few feet away from the box so he might hear every movement made by Janeway. Sometimes he was even the person who put meals in the box, and he was there every time she was drugged and cleaned up. Vaila had thought he would grow indifferent to Janeway as soon as she was apprehended, as he did with all his other contracts, but he seemed interested in seeing her broken in person.

"But before the Bureau can decide we're done with you, it's my duty to get all the information we can get from you. We can do this the easy way, I ask questions, you answer them honestly, or we can do this the hard way." She fingered a small device attached to her belt. She waited until Janeway's eyes drifted to the device before she continued, "It's a standard instrument. You see, it simultaneously manipulates the body's pain receptors and stops the body's natural defense of dimming the pain, so it can produce levels of pain unimaginable."

Janeway took a breath and spoke, "There's no useful information you can get from me. My command codes were canceled the minute my ship learned of my capture."

"Then you will tell us what weaknesses your ship possesses."

Janeway stared at the device a moment more, then she looked up into Vaila's eyes. "Then I guess it has to be the hard way."

Vaila paused for a second, not quite sure of what she had heard. Clearly the woman was mad, or maybe just naive. But in any case, she was going to get what she asked for.

"So be it."

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It was Vaila's own methods that prevented Janeway from breaking.

She would be tortured for hours on end with the device, then left alone for about half an hour to recuperate slightly. She was allowed very little sleep before she was woken up and tortured again. Vaila couldn't seem to understand; it had already been a week and a half, and yet the woman wasn't spilling out everything she could like people usually did.

As for Janeway, it was all a blur. The pain was so terrible that she couldn't even form a coherent thought. They'd ask her questions, but she couldn't seem to understand what they were saying or think of a response. It was like they were talking to her in gibberish. After the torture ended for the day, she'd be in shock, trembling and shaking, still unable to think of anything. The level of pain she was experiencing was grossly unnatural for humans. The Bromalians and their subject races had been using these devices for over two thousand years, and they had a certain tolerance for them that humans didn't.

When Janeway was woken up again, she was still disoriented and confused, not fully recovered from the effects of the torture. Looking back, Janeway realized that if Vaila had given her more time in between sessions, or even if she had lessened the pain factor, Janeway might have broken. However, after two weeks of no results, the Bureau decided to pull the plug, deeming it a waste of precious time and equipment.

They were planning on killing her, seeing no other alternative. The Bureau had too much on their hands to imprison her long term, and she was too dangerous to release. It was only because of Mordus's intervention that prevented them from executing her. He claimed that he would get the needed information out of her and take her off of the Bureau's hands.

High Admiral Amaroth was curious about Mordus's motives, but he allowed his friend to do as he pleased. The only one who wasn't pleased with this turn in events was Vaila.

She came up to Mordus one day and handed him two slips of paper. He glanced at them curiously. "What's this?"

"It's just something I picked up," she replied, waiting for him to study them a bit longer before she continued. "A few proofs of purchase. You know, a nice rented lodge on Pentarus."

He looked up in mild surprise before he handed them back to her. "Enjoy yourself." He started to turn, but she circled around to stand in front of him.

"Ragnar, there are two of them."

He raised an eyebrow, bemused. "Are you inviting me?"

Vaila smirked at him. "Actually, you invited me a while ago. But I guess now I'm the one who's paid, so yes, I am inviting you." "Well, I would enjoy going with you, but..." he faded off, letting the silence speak for itself. Vaila felt fury boil up in her.

"But what! Is it because of Janeway? She's nothing! You're just in another one of your fixations--"

"Vaila," he said slowly, surprised by her sudden outburst. "I'm not quite sure what you think this is about, but I assure you, it's nothing like you think it is. I am only trying to complete what's already been started, not trying to start some sort of relationship with an inferior being."

"Oh really?" Vaila asked, not swayed by his words. She walked a few paces away from him, then turned back to him. "If it's just that, then you'll go with me."

"I can't."

In a low voice, Vaila asked him, "Do you realize what you're turning your back on?"

"We have our whole lives ahead of us, Vaila," he replied smoothly. In truth, it was beyond consideration. In the midst of his latest hunt, his momentary infatuation with her had died into coolness.

Oblivious, Vaila railed, "Damn it, Ragnar, I'm getting old! I'm nearly 150. I can't wait all of my life for you."

"Then don't." Mordus said simply. Vaila stood there for a few seconds, in shock. Rage heated up her blood, which she could almost feel rushing through her veins. If this had been any other man... but it was Ragnar Mordus, and no one sensible would dare lift a finger against him.

"Fine. That's-- that's just fine. You stay here with your precious Captain Janeway. Just don't come crawling to me when you get sick of her! Don't ask me to take you back after what you're turning away from today!"

She was on the verge of breaking down, but she held it back behind a mask of dignity. She had far too much pride to show her emotions in front of this bastard.

Mordus didn't say a word. His face hardened as he silently stood up and ambled out the door. Vaila felt her insides shrivel up and her blood felt like it was on fire. She was angrier than she could ever remember. Just when she was making progress with him, a ship called Voyager showed up.

"Damn them. Damn them all!" She hissed.

She vowed to keep tracking the ship, and one day present its battered hull to Amaroth himself.

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Janeway didn't cry out as the foot contacted with her ribs. She had experienced so much pain lately that her pain receptors wouldn't seem to respond without the device's help. "Wake up!" The female, Vaila, snapped at her.

It was the first time in... she wasn't sure how long, but it was the first time in awhile that Kathryn had woken up with a lucid head.

It had been... she still had no concept of how long, since the last session, and she began to wonder if they were done with her yet. She hadn't broken down and given them information... or had she? She couldn't remember. Since the torture began, all she could recall after those first few unbearable minutes was pain, nothing else. It was all a blur of jumbled images that she couldn't sort out.

"So, you made it through," Vaila remarked, bending down in front of her. Janeway didn't even attempt to get up. She had had not chance to use her legs, and still couldn't walk. She simply stared at Vaila, waiting for something to happen

"You know, "the Bromalian woman said, "you owe your life to Mordus. He convinced Amaroth not to have you killed."

"I see." Janeway murmured.

Vaila smiled a thin-lipped, bitter smile. "I wouldn't be grateful if I were you. It would probably be farm better for you if you were killed."

Janeway didn't answer, but she glanced at Vaila curiously. Vaila knelt down closer to Janeway, voice lowered. "You see, Ragnar gets these fixations on things. It happens every once in a while; and you, friend, seem to be the object of his latest. And if his obsession about you is like the others he's gone through..."

Janeway didn't say anything. Vaila, put off by her lack of expression, stood back up.

"Well, I won't be seeing you again. You can breathe easier, for now. But let me tell you one thing," Vaila said, a note of malice creeping into her voice. "I would not be you for all the galaxy. This-- what you're about to get-- is not the attention I'd want, from anyone. And believe me when I say this-- a short time from now, you're going to wish I had killed you."

She walked towards the door, pausing once to glance back at Janeway where she was lying on the floor. The other woman already had forgotten her, lying on her back, gazing silently at the wall. Vaila felt a momentary twinge of genuine pity. She knew all too well what was in store for her.

She walked out the door and left Janeway to her fate.

TBC