Nine Months – Community - 1
By Kudara
Disclaimer: Star Trek Voyager and all who sail in her belong to Paramount/Viacom and no infringement of copyright/trade marks is intended.
Rating: Adult
Feedback: Always welcome, feedback is what encourages me to keep writing. Please let me know what you like and what you dislike about the story.
Notes: If I missed an actual Church of Conscious Design, I apologize; I'm specifically trying to stay away from naming any existing religious organization, as this is merely a back story for one of the secondary characters.
Definition: (Because I was chided for using a word that many wouldn't be familiar with.) Deism – The belief that the order and architecture of the universe as indications of a conscious designer. Deism as a philosophy makes no positive assertions about the nature of that designer. It rather leaves it up to the individual to speculate based upon empirical observations of the universe and personal reason.
Revision History: 12/13/05
Summary: Getting to know the others of Alpha Squad and themselves better.
Chapter 19 - Stardate 52563.7 (July 25, 2375 5:05pm)
After she was released from training, B'Elanna walked back to the quarters she and Seven shared, her mind still mulling over the information she had learned about exactly what duties a Communications and Electronics Specialist was expected to perform as a part of Alpha Squad. It was nothing she couldn't have guessed from her training, but it was nice to find out for certain. In short, she was to find and scan the enemy unit for what information she could find out about them, while preventing the enemy from doing the same to Alpha Squad.
B'Elanna entered the quarters and immediately noticed that Seven was seated on the couch, and of all things, appeared to be writing upon a pad of paper, like in the old movies Tom had insisted she watch. The blonde woman looked over at her entry and smiled, "B'Elanna," she greeted her warmly.
"What's that?" asked the half-Klingon curiously.
Seven hesitated for a moment, "An exercise Lee and Maria suggested to help clarify my thought about being separated from the Borg."
"Oh?" B'Elanna remarked, frowning. She wasn't sure she liked the idea of the two women trying to play therapist with Seven.
"I am making lists of what I lost when I was severed, and what I gained. I believe this type of exercise was a common therapeutic tool used in the twenty-first century." Seven replied. The blond was watching her intently, her head slightly tilted to the side.
B'Elanna nodded, "It's a bit disconcerting to know that we're the only ones from this century."
Seven nodded, "Lee was taken in 2019, Maria in 2003, Nancy in 2008 and Janice in 2014. They woke up in cells where they were paired, just as we were."
"They had no prior knowledge of each other?" B'Elanna asked, trying to imagine what it would have been like to be paired with a complete stranger.
Seven stated, "Elizabeth and Maria recognized one another, but had never actually talked with one another. Christina had never met Nancy, Lee had never meet Amy Lewis, and Janice had never met Brenda Allen. I have not obtained information as yet, about the other couples."
B'Elanna came over and sat down beside Seven. To her surprise the blonde turned over the pad that she had been writing upon, preventing her from seeing what had been written upon it. Concerned she frowned even more deeply, and took in a breath to try and explain to Seven that no matter how well meaning the two women were they shouldn't be doing this.
"Lee and Maria assured me you would respect my privacy in this; they appear to have been wrong." Seven said, as she turned back over the pad of paper and rose. "I will prepare our bath." There was a world of hurt in her eyes and voice that stunned the half-Klingon.
"Seven, wait," B'Elanna asked as she turned back over the pad. "I do respect your privacy; I'm just worried that they could hurt you, if they don't know what they're doing." She knew, though Seven had never said it explicitly, that the blonde had come to appreciate the relative privacy she had gained in their captivity. B'Elanna certainly didn't want to do anything which would make the blonde think that she didn't respect her right to it.
Seven paused and looked back at her, "Though many advances have been made in the development of pharmaceuticals, the basic principles of psychoanalysis have not changed appreciably in the past 350 years."
B'Elanna was about to reply when she realized that she might be lacking a vital piece of information. "Are you saying they have training?"
Seven raised her brow, "Lee Scott has Doctorial Degrees in Theoretical Physics and Counseling Psychology as well as a Masters Degree in Divinity. Maria has a Doctorial degree in Clinical and Counseling Psychology. Janice has a Masters Degree in Social Work, and had completed all but the residency requirement of her Doctorate degree in Counseling Psychology. She has worked with Lee and Maria to complete that requirement, and though they cannot officially give her the degree, she now has all the training required for it."
"Oh," B'Elanna replied weakly, "Good grief, there are three of them. You know you have the right to tell them to go away, they didn't bully you into this did they?"
Seven looked amused, "No, they did not 'bully' me into anything B'Elanna, and it is time for our bath."
"Are you implying that I smell?" replied the half-Klingon with mock indignity, knowing full well that she reeked from all the sweating she had done during the day, and trying to lighten the mood further. Orientation had taken about an hour, the rest of the time had been spent in team runs of the obstacle course. She was unconcerned about the robot reacting, over the course of several months it became apparent that more than their tone's were being monitored, and the robots were exceptionally accurate in detecting when they were actually angry.
Seven took in a breath from where she was standing across the room and raised her brow once again, then turned smartly on her heel, and headed into the bath room.
B'Elanna ambled after her, "Theoretical Physics, Psychology and Divinity, interesting mix of degrees." She commented as she entered the bath room.
"Her first degree was in Theoretical Physics from Cambridge University, which was still in existence when Voyager last had contact with the Federation. The thesis paper she presented is in Voyager's database, as are the remainder of her writings. She obtained her Divinity degree immediately afterward, also from Cambridge University, and served as a minister for six years before going to Bangor University, for her Psychology Doctorate." Seven responded as she adjusted the water temperature.
"She's in Voyager's database?" replied B'Elanna surprised.
"Yes," Seven glanced toward her, "She was one of the primary authors of the religious theory of Free Will. She was also one of the central figures in the formation of the Church of Conscious Design in 2015, as well as it's first President."
B'Elanna stared at Seven in disbelief, she had certainly heard of the Church of Conscious Design, it was the precursor of the only major remaining system of religious philosophy on Earth, now known simply as Deism. And now B'Elanna realized where she had seen Elizabeth Scott before. A picture of the woman could usually be found somewhere in almost every Deist meeting hall.
Chapter 20 - Stardate 52581.59 (August 1, 2375 06:45am)
B'Elanna breathed deeply through her nose, knowing that Elizabeth would give her a look and a lecture if she saw her panting through her mouth.
"And down," Elizabeth called, the russet haired woman dropped into a perfect push-up position along with the entire Squad, and began calling out the next twenty-five, four position push-ups.
B'Elanna cursed the woman silently as she called out with the rest, "One, two, three, four, one. One, two, three, four, two…" On the first day she joined Alpha Squad, and found out that Elizabeth had been a Colonel in the old United States Marine Corps, she had been very interested in finding out what the woman's life had been like. But that had been before she joined the unit in their daily exercise drill that started at 0600 hours. This was entirely too much first hand experience in how the former Marine had lived.
B'Elanna ran through the completed exercises, trying to figure out how much longer she had until she could go back to her quarters, take a quick bath and sit down with Seven for breakfast. This new time schedule was hard to adjust to, she had to wake up and pull herself away from a very cuddly, naked blonde, get dressed, and then force herself to leave on time when Seven insisted on getting up and giving her a good morning kiss. Since the blonde was about to take her own bath, Seven didn't see any reason to get dressed before kissing her, thus B'Elanna's difficulty in leaving.
This morning, after the events of the previous night, it had been especially difficult to pull away from Seven and go to training.
They had been sitting on the couch after eating dinner when B'Elanna finally asked Seven what had been bothering her all evening. The blonde had been noticeably distracted and worried about something ever since the half-Klingon had entered their quarters.
B'Elanna had grown increasingly alarmed as Seven stood up, actually paced back and forth a few times, and then finally stopped in front of her and took on her old Borgish stance, feet slightly apart, stiffly upright and hands behind her back. It was out of character for her after all this time, and looked even odder as she was wearing a pale green silk robe.
"Seven?" B'Elanna stood up as well, deeply unsettled by the blonde's reversion to the old mannerism, and wondering what in Gre'thor was going on to upset her so much.
"B'Elanna," Seven interrupted her, "if we were returned to Voyager would you return to Lt Paris?" the last words came out in a rush.
B'Elanna stared at her silently for a moment in surprise, then she reached out and pulled her into a hug. "No, Seven. I said my goodbye to Tom the night we first made love. I won't leave you, not even if we get released and somehow find our way back."
Seven's arms wrapped around her back and the blonde hugged her back. "You will not?" the slight waver in her voice betrayed her continuing need for reassurance.
"Seven," B'Elanna waited until the blonde looked up at her. "I," she bent down and gently kissed soft lips, "choose," this time she claimed the soft lips more passionately, "you." This time when she kissed Seven, she didn't withdraw, and when the blonde's lips parted beneath her own, she claimed what was offered as well.
When they finally parted she gazed into Seven's darkened eyes, "Because I want to." She didn't say anything further; she didn't dare, as it might be interpreted as a criticism of their treatment. She could only hope that Seven would understand everything she meant by those words.
Seven's eyes widened, and she nodded. "I want this as well," she declared. The blonde rested her head against B'Elanna's collarbone, and they stood silently in each others' arms for a moment. "Lee was correct, I was 'making a mountain of a mole-hill'," she murmured.
"What?" asked B'Elanna, unfamiliar with the term, though she thought she could guess what it meant.
"I was letting my fear of your answer turn the question into a bigger obstacle than it actually was," Seven replied straightening, and leaned back against the half-Klingon's arms, letting their strength support her. "Lee warned me that if I did not face my fear and ask you, that my doubt would poison the emotions I feel when I think about you. I did not want that to occur, even though I do not understand all of them, they are important to me."
B'Elanna sucked in a breath, searching Seven's eyes for any hint of what feelings the blonde was referring to feeling for her. She wasn't sure, but that certainly sounded like Sevenish for 'I think I'm falling in love with you.' Or maybe it was just wistful thinking.
'Wistful thinking?' B'Elanna thought to herself. 'Do I want Seven to fall in love with me? Am I falling in love with her?' She considered the questions for a moment then ruefully she silently acknowledged, 'well I was thinking just a week ago that it would be easy to fall for her.'
Focusing on Seven once again B'Elanna admitted, "I'm feeling some rather intense emotions when I think about you too, their rather new to me as well."
Seven's blue eyes opened wide, and she stared silently back at B'Elanna for so long that the half-Klingon became rather nervous that she had just completely misread the blonde, and admitted too much too soon. Then suddenly Seven reached up and grabbed her head and pulled her down into a passionate kiss.
"Make love to me," the blonde requested when she finally released B'Elanna.
"Absolutely," B'Elanna agreed, and lifted Seven into her arms. She was almost in the bedroom when she noticed that Seven was looking at her with a curious expression on her face. "What?" she asked.
"You have performed this action with increasing frequency ever since your treatments were finished. Does it have some meaning of which I am unaware?" Seven inquired curiously.
"Ahh," she hedged, as she laid Seven down gently upon the bed. She was still trying to figure out how to answer, when she noticed the gleam in the blonde's eye and an ever so slight quirk to her lips.
"Your teasing me," she exclaimed.
"Yes," replied Seven. Then more uncertainly, "I did not do it correctly?"
B'Elanna got upon the bed with Seven. "No, you did it perfectly," she admitted. "I'm not sure why actually; I just like how it makes me feel." She did like having the strength to pick Seven up so casually, but that wasn't the main reason, she just liked how it felt to hold the blonde like that.
Seven's expression turned analytical for a moment as she examined B'Elanna, then the look faded and the blonde stated calmly, "Acceptable."
The half-Klingon eyed the blonde uncertainly for a moment, wondering what had Seven had just decided her actions meant, but decided to drop the subject, she wasn't certain she wanted to know. Besides, there were many other things she wanted to do, now that they were here. Moving quickly she shed her robe and moved so that she was completely on top of Seven, supporting her weight on one knee and both hands, and barely touching the blonde's body.
She was not surprised to see Seven's eyes darken, and her nostrils flare, as the blonde's eyes wandered over her body, and her hands explored the musculature of B'Elanna's arms as they supported her weight. "I'm not the only one who likes my new strength," the half-Klingon noted with a smile, "or the fact that I'm now taller than you."
"No you are not," Seven readily admitted with a smile of her own. She met B'Elanna's brown eyes frankly, "Though I considered you to be aesthetically pleasing before they were made."
"So you thought I was sexy before?" B'Elanna asked smirking, her eyes wandering appreciatively over the form underneath her.
"Yes," agreed Seven simply, as she tightened her arms around the half-Klingon.
B'Elanna submitted and rested a little more of her weight on the blonde, knowing that Seven liked it.
Seven twisted restlessly under her, "B'Elanna I need…" she trailed off, and the half-Klingon could see the frustration on her face.
"You need what, Seven?" she asked softly.
"I am unsure," came the aggravated reply, "I need to know that you need me, I need to be touched by you, I need you to hold me…. I need…I need to hear your sub-vocal growl, I need the feeling that it causes in me." Seven looked at her desperately, silently asking if B'Elanna at least understood what she needed, even if she didn't.
Seven was breathing rapidly, agitatedly, B'Elanna shifted more of her weight onto one side and reached up and stroked the blonde's face gently calming her. Once Seven was less emotional, B'Elanna shifted her weight once again. "What do you feel when I lay on you like this."
Seven considered the question, "Protected, safe."
B'Elanna captured Seven's wrists and pinned them to the bed on either side of the blonde, "And now."
"Aroused," Seven struggled slightly and then stilled, "helpless…secure." The blond frowned slightly.
"You know I wouldn't hurt you," B'Elanna assured her.
"Yes," Seven agreed and her face smoothing out as she understood, "That is why I feel secure, even though you are displaying your superior strength."
B'Elanna lowered her head and began kissing the blonde, the usual surrendering parting of Seven's lips was all the trigger she needed. This time she didn't bother to try and hide the growl of possessiveness, instead she pulled back and stared into Seven's blue eyes as she made the sound.
Seven's eyes widened, a tremor ran through her entire frame, and she arched against B'Elanna's body and moaned.
Hearing, seeing, smelling Seven's reaction, the half-Klingon finally uttered what had been silent in her mind until now, "Mine." she growled.
A sharp longing cry broke forth from Seven, "Yes," she agreed.
A loud cough brought her abruptly back to the present, looking around confusedly B'Elanna realized with embarrassment that everyone but she was standing. Her fellow members of Alpha Squad were staring at her with mingled looks of curiosity and amusement.
"And here I was thinking that you didn't really like doing push-ups." Elizabeth's voice drew her attention to the front of the unit.
B'Elanna groaned silently, as she jumped to her feet. "Sorry," she apologized, feeling some relief that at least they didn't know what she had been thinking about.
Elizabeth chuckled softly, and meeting her grey eyes B'Elanna realized from the knowing smirk on the other woman's face that perhaps she shouldn't make that assumption.