Nine Months – Last Day 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: Mature
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.
Revision History:
Summary: The last day of their captivity.
Chapter 27 – Stardate 52915.63 (Dec 1, 2375 5:00am)
Her eyes snapped open; listening silently she searched for the noise that had awoken her. B'Elanna sat up looking toward the entryway to the bedroom; there was a glint of light on metal, and then an emotionless voice.
"You have one hour to report to the Alpha Squad training hall for today's mission."
The message delivered and received it left. The slight sound, of its legs on the carpet, informed B'Elanna of what she had heard that woke her. She looked down beside her at the open blue eyes of her lover. They stared at each other solemnly, now all too painfully aware of how this day could end. It had been almost a month since the last unsuccessful mission, the emotional turmoil and pain of the unit wide punishment, and the resulting admissions of their love for one another.
Their declarations had resulted in some significant changes, mostly internal ones. They were more certain of each other, more confident that they would remain together no matter what the future brought. The past eight months had taught them that they could unquestionably depend on one another, now there was an added emotional surety to that trust.
"I love you," Seven whispered as she cupped one hand behind B'Elanna's head and pulled the half-Klingon down for a kiss.
When they parted B'Elanna whispered back, "And I love you. I promise you that I will..."
Seven's finger on her lips silenced her, "Yes," she replied simply, looking steadily into the half-Klingon's brown eyes.
"Yes?" B'Elanna's voice was husky with the emotions that were suddenly upwelling inside her.
"Yes," replied the blonde serenely, her blue eyes shining with conviction.
A tremble ran through the half-Klingon's body, before she realized it two tears ran down her face and splashed upon the bare skin of Seven's chest. She wasn't certain about all the questions Seven had just replied to, but she knew that it included at the least, yes, I trust you, yes, I know you will do your best. She wasn't certain why the plainly spoken declaration affected her so strongly; perhaps it was simply because no one had ever given her such unconditional trust, or had such unqualified faith in her before. More likely it was both of those reasons, along with the immediate stress she had felt the moment the robot had entered and made its announcement.
She buried her face in the blonde's chest, breathing deeply of the reassuring scent of her lover. 'No wonder the kids compete for who gets to be held by her,' she thought irreverently as she rested against the soft bosom of her lover, and felt Seven's arms wrap around her back. Within a minute or so the emotions that caused her to react so strongly subsided, and unhappily she pulled away from the comfort of Seven's body.
"I need to go bathe," she explained regretfully.
Seven nodded slowly, examining her face curiously, "I will bathe with you."
They took the opportunity to comfort one another during the bath, soaping each other, taking the opportunity to connect through touch, trying to forget for a moment the reality of the day.
Chapter 28 – Stardate 52916.4 (Dec 1, 2375 11:43am)
Thankfully, this time they had not been dropped in a marsh, instead rugged mountainous terrain surrounded them, affording them ample cover for their preferred tactics. Elizabeth favored using concealment and surprise as much as possible, as opposed to what she termed scream and jump frontal assaults. Since they frequently faced more than one unit during these missions, they could not afford to loose people over the course of the day.
B'Elanna had been assigned, as usual, to rifle squad one. Currently they were lying prone on a ledge watching the movements of what appeared to be the same Kazon unit they had faced the previous month. The half-Klingon's eyes were fixed upon what appeared to be the Kazon's communication's specialist. To her expert eye he didn't seem very sure or knowledgeable of his equipment, it was one of the reasons they were letting this small scout group get so close. His incompetence meant that B'Elanna didn't even have to try very hard to keep her squad hidden.
Watching him the glimmer of an audacious idea formed in the half-Klingon's mind. The Kazon's equipment appeared to be very similar to her own, which meant that if they could capture him without anyone noticing she could break into their enemy's communications network. From there she could do anything from keeping track of their movements, injecting erroneous information, and maybe even set up a feedback loop that would disable all the electronics gear connected to their enemy's network.
The trick would be to manage to capture him without him alerting the others, knocking him unconscious which would result in him being transported out, or closing his link to his network. Thankfully, the Kazon were not wearing helmets, which meant they weren't using built in communication devices like B'Elanna's unit. B'Elanna could only assume that the Kazon had forgone helmets because of fear of being seen as weak if they wore them. Instead the Kazon used handheld communications units. Unfortunately for the Kazon, their focus on not being perceived as weak meant that B'Elanna's idea just might have a chance of working.
Knowing full well that her helmet prevented the sound of her voice from carrying, she said, "Amy," and paused. "See their communication's specialist, how he keeps falling behind and fiddling with his equipment. Do you think we could manage to capture him? I had a thought about what I could do with his equipment if we can grab him before he shuts down his link."
"What type of thought?" came back the reply from Amy.
"Feedback surge," was all she needed to say, Amy was more than capable of understanding the implications.
"Oh I like those types of thoughts," Amy commented approvingly.
The next communication from Amy was for all of rifle squad one, "Linda, see their communications specialist. Do you think you could lead a group of three or so and capture him without alerting the others?"
B'Elanna understood why Linda had been asked, before being captured she had been a teacher of hand to hand combat techniques, though she called it martial arts. Linda took a few minutes to examine the Kazon they were referring to, and the terrain around them, "Yes, it can be done. We will need some luck though, if he decides to catch up before we get into position it won't be safe to capture him. I'd like Lisa and Barbara to help please."
B'Elanna nodded in approval, Linda was their hand to hand expert, but Lisa and Barbara were not too far behind her in proficiency. Lisa Stewart, the former Mountie, and Barbara Miller, a former U.S. Marine recruit instructor, were Linda's assistants when she taught the unit in hand to hand combat.
"Ok let me inform Elizabeth and Christina and get their input." Amy acknowledged. About a minute later she ordered, "Ok Linda, Lisa and Barbara we have the go ahead. We will take up covering positions while you three capture the target."
Everyone watched tensely as the three women carefully moved from cover to cover, and took up positions near the Kazon, who was falling further and further behind his comrades as he angrily pounded on his equipment. B'Elanna almost felt sympathetic towards him as the three women grabbed him, adeptly wrestled him to the ground, slapped a gag in his mouth, and bound him hand, knee and foot. It took them perhaps just over a minute to secure him.
Watching the other Kazon disappear over a rise, B'Elanna could only shake her head at how easy the Kazon were making this for them. They had just allowed one of the most important team members fall behind, and didn't even seem to notice. She had always known that one of the biggest weaknesses of the Kazon was their 'do it right or die' mentality. Apparently it was so conditioned into them that no matter how tactically important this particular Kazon was, they weren't going to make an effort to assist or even check on him.
Three more minutes later and the three women appeared, Linda and Lisa carrying their struggling captive by his shoulders and feet so that he didn't have any opportunity to make a sound. B'Elanna lost no time accessing his equipment and giving a thumbs up to Amy as she verified that not only was it still active but that no alarm had been raised.
"Rifle Squad One," she waited until the requested channel was up, "Ok what did you want me to do, it's up and… Oh, look what we have here, this isn't just connected to the Kazon's equipment, their cooperating again, and it's connected to the other unit's communications network as well. They've connected them all together."
Amy came over to her and examined the Kazon's equipment, "Your right, Fortuna's definitely smiling upon us today."
"Fortuna, and Kazon upbringing," B'Elanna agreed.
There was a moment of silence, "Elizabeth says that if you can set up a feedback and disable all their equipment to do it."
B'Elanna had already been working out how to accomplish exactly how to do that, so it was just a matter of implementing it when she got the go ahead. When her equipment suddenly started registering the enemies' locations, she knew she had succeeded. Without their electronics they could no longer mask themselves.
"Congratulations Rifle Squad One," Elizabeth's voice came over the unit channel. "The enemies' communications and electronics equipment has been disabled; we are now the only ones able to move without detection. Everyone regroup at this location, oh and bring your captive with you Rifle Squad One."
"You heard her, let's move out," Amy ordered.
It took them fifteen minutes to make it to the rendezvous Elizabeth had indicated. Bringing the captive forward they sat the impotently glaring male down on the ground before Elizabeth and Christina. "Take off his gag," Elizabeth directed them. She watched as Linda pulled off the adhesive tape covering the Kazon's mouth, she raised the faceplate of her helmet, and then held out a water bottle and shook it slightly. "Drink?" she offered him.
Staring up into her face he hissed, "Federation, my First Maje will still defeat you."
"I'm not of the Federation," Elizabeth informed him calmly.
He eyed her with hatred then a nasty smile covered his face, "My Maje says you are slaves."
Everyone tensed uncomfortably; but Elizabeth only shrugged, unconcerned with his attempt to anger her, "You might say that."
It was obvious that she had surprised him, "Why do you fight if you are slaves." He tried to hide his interest, but it was obvious that he was curious about them.
Elizabeth stared at him, considering what she could say, "Why do your women fight?"
He straightened proudly, "Our women do not have to fight, we protect them, unlike your own men."
"I misspoke," Elizabeth commented, "When are your women at their most dangerous?"
He frowned, "If their children are in danger, of course, but we do not allow that to happen."
Elizabeth smiled, "Good for you. So I guess you won't give us any information about your unit or the other units? Not that we need it really…" she trailed off.
"You will not get any information from me," he snarled.
"Alright, I suspected you would say that. Guess it's time to send you back up to your ship, don't worry this won't hurt…much at least." Elizabeth said as she aimed her rifle at him.
"You did not answer my question," he demanded.
"Yes I did actually," she replied, hesitating.
His eyes widened, "You fight because the one who holds you has your children."
"You will not speak to the captive further." The emotionless voice of a robot ordered them over their helmet communications.
Elizabeth replied, "Understood."
The captive Kazon who had heard all of this, stared at them, and one could almost see the thoughts turning in his mind. Elizabeth returned his stare levelly, and then stunned him. His unconscious body disappeared a moment later.
Elizabeth stared for a moment longer at where he had laid then shook herself, "Ok we now know that we are facing five other units, unfortunately for them they no longer have the ability to mask themselves, and fortunately for us we now know exactly where they are and what they are doing."
Chapter 29 – Stardate 52919.95 (Dec 1, 2375 04:33pm)
B'Elanna walked through the open door to the community room with Sabrina and Linda. Still feeling wound up from the unit's victory, she looked around for Seven, eager to tell the blonde about the mission. She kept reminding herself that she didn't want to brag, and wasn't going to brag. She just wanted Seven to know what she had accomplished today. That she had helped keep everyone safe, that she had kept Seven safe.
Seven was sitting at a table with Carmen, Patricia, Karen and Janice. Carmen and Patricia were holding the unit's two newest arrivals, Rachael and Anna, who despite their early arrival the month before, were both thriving, while Janice was holding Karen's youngest. Seven was listening closely to something Patricia was saying until she caught sight of B'Elanna then a smile formed and she focused her attention on the half-Klingon as she strode quickly across the room.
B'Elanna nodded to the other women at the table, but her eyes were focused on Seven admiring how the blonde looked in the royal blue shirt and white pants she was wearing. Leaning down she meant to give Seven a quick kiss, but feeling the soft full lips under hers, and scenting her lover's distinctive fragrance, she found herself deepening it and growling softly.
When they parted B'Elanna wasn't really aware of the surprised looks she was getting from the other women, she was only aware of Seven's darkening blue eyes as they met hers. The blonde inhaled sharply, as her eyes searched B'Elanna's brown ones, "We were informed of your success." she stated, after a seconds pause.
B'Elanna flushed slightly with both pleasure and a touch of embarrassment as she became aware of the other women at the table looking at them curiously.
Before she could say anything Seven stood, "Thank you for the information," she said to the women. She turned back to the half-Klingon "I would like to return to our quarters B'Elanna."
B'Elanna nodded slightly confused, but more than willing to go along with Seven. The kiss had aroused her, and certain parts of her body were definitely eager at the thought of getting behind closed doors. She completely missed the signs of mirth and amusement on the other women's faces as the two of them left.
As soon as they entered their quarters Seven asked, "Are you experiencing bloodlust B'Elanna?"
B'Elanna paused, her hand on Seven's arm, she had been about to pull the blonde into an embrace but the question stopped her cold. Staring at the blonde and thinking about her on actions and reactions, she dropped her hand and took a step backwards. "Oh, Seven I'm sorry, I didn't even realize," she started apologizing.
Seven raised a metallic brow at her, "Why are you apologizing? I merely wished to know if I was correct. You are part Klingon B'Elanna, there is no reason for you to apologize. You have just succeeded in battle, it is natural for you to react in this manner."
"It doesn't bother you?" stammered out B'Elanna staring down at the blonde.
"No," replied Seven amused, "B'Elanna you are aroused and excited, I am in no way bothered by either." The smile faded, replaced by a more intent look, "I wish for us to make love now." The blonde stepped up against her and pulled her head down, and began nipping and kissing her lips. The blonde pulled back long enough to stare into B'Elanna's brown eyes hungrily. Seven growled, "Make my blood boil for you," and then bit the half-Klingon's cheek lightly.
B'Elanna groaned in desire, both at the words and action. "Hold on to my shoulders," she growled. When Seven obeyed she grasped the blonds' hips and lifted her, "legs around my waist."
Seven moaned B'Elanna's name in longing as she wrapped her legs around the half-Klingon's waist, responding to the intimate contact.
Her hands supporting the blondes' weight, B'Elanna strode through the room to their bedroom, intent on following her lover's order.