Disclaimer: I am not making any money of this fic, nor do I own Star Trek: Voyager, Deep Space Nine, The Next Generation or the original series, or anything else I make references to. If you saw the character on any show, then it is not mine. The same goes for ships, planets, cultures, et cetera. This story will depict a loving relationship between two women and there are no apologies to be made over this. Chapter 7 title is from "Joining You" by Alanis Morrisette. Song contained within is "The Man You Fear" by Marilyn Manson.
Genre: Action-Adventure, Drama
Codes: K/7, T/7
Feedback: Please, reviews are the food of the muse…
Home, Chapter 7
Joining You...
2373...
The group walked out onto the bridge, firing weapons and taking down whatever aliens they could from a distance. Only one Vorchen remained away from the fight, down in the command area: the Cardassian captain, Kanir. Jessica walked down to him while her comrades finished securing the bridge.
"So you are the vole that has been causing so much trouble for me." He sneered and walked up to her. "Who are you, girl?" Jessica turned to look him full in the face.
"Don't you know me?" She asked, her voice low and dangerous. Kanir's eyes squinted, then his face broke into a wide grin. He threw his head back and laughed.
"The bastard brat!" He laughed uproariously at her. "Oh, was it only nine years ago? And here you are, even older than that. Of course, I've heard the story as to how, but I want to know how you knew."
"You just told me." Kanir laughed again.
"So I did. Then what is it, brat? Have you come to avenge your mother?" Then his sneer grew wider. "Or your daughter." At this point, the entire group had finished fighting and was watching the exchange. Jessica stood stiffly, her back bristling and her ridges rising in fury. Kathryn saw her eyes glowing red for an instant. Jessica blinked and she appeared normal again, if it weren't for the telltale spinal ridges, raised like the hackles on a cat.
"Both. It is your choice, of course, as to how this ends. I am officially placing you under arrest as a criminal—"
"You know that I won't go quietly to a prison facility, so you'll just have to accept the challenge I'll lay out for you. Mortal combat, if you will." He spit the words at her and Jessica didn't move. Not one muscle twitched and Janeway couldn't even tell if she was breathing.
"We require a judge." Jessica said, still not moving anything but her lips. Kanir walked over to the command seat and pressed a button. A forcefield popped into effect, only inches from Kathryn's nose.
"No!" Alexander yelled, hitting the forcefield as though he would try Jessica's earlier trick of stepping through it.
"Calm down, Alex. This is not your fight." Jessica said without looking at him.
"That is right, boy. Listen to your woman," Kanir taunted. "After all, you are no killer like she." He turned to face her. "We have a panel of judges now."
"Choose your weapon." Jessica said.
"Call me old fashioned, but... how about... swords?" He flashed the steel from his back, whipping it into view with lightning-quick movements. Jessica began stripping her weapons until she was left only with a long, double edged sword with a leather-wrapped hilt. "Now, no changing shape in the middle of the fight. You won't have a problem obeying your own rules, will you?"
"Of course not. My word is my honor."
"And you honor your word," he mocked. "No claws, either. Nasty way to die, there." Jessica held up her hands and the black claws turned clear. "Well, I suppose no adamantium is as good as no claws. At least the—"
"Must you keep pontificating?" Jessica said, quietly.
"Oh, my dear. This is not pontificating. No, that was what that fool who claimed your mother's life offered you. I make no claims, I only offer bare facts."
"He did slit her throat. I remember."
"Yes, but you also remember what I did. Right before I put the dagger in her chest, so that prattling fool could take it and put it in yours."
"How do you—?" Jessica began, but Kanir interrupted.
"I was there, cloaked in the shadows, just another Cardassian visiting the station that day. You were magnificent, my dear. Especially when you reached in and pulled out his still-beating heart." Kathryn narrowed her eyes, her breath catching in horror. "The flame job was brilliant."
"I never bluff," was all Jessica offered.
"But to take a man's heart, just for touching your—"
"Watch it." Jessica finally looked up at him. "Like I said, must you keep—" his sword was flying at her head in an instant. Hers moved faster than any sword Janeway had ever seen. The fight was on. The combatants moved fluidly, clashing swords in a silver dance. Kanir swung at Jessica's legs and she jumped into a backward aerial, landing with practiced ease. Kanir smiled.
"The acrobatics must grow tiring, dear." Jessica moved faster and faster, forcing Kanir to stop talking so that he could keep up. But still, he wasn't fast enough. He lost his left arm after making just one mistake. Kanir screamed and held up his remaining hand. Jessica stopped her blade a breath away from that hand. She lay the blade against her leg, waiting.
Kathryn watched with mingled amazement and horror as Kanir's arm was shot through with the same electrical impulses that Jessica had shown, to heal her back, earlier. The wound closed very quickly and the fight resumed. Without warning, Kanir kicked Jessica. She yelled and fell back, her hand going to her side. It came away, smeared with blood. Janeway looked down at Kanir's boot and saw the bladed toe.
"Is that cheating?" Janeway asked Alexander, who was clutching the guard rail in front of him like he would use it to propel himself through the field blocking him from his young wife.
"Yes." Alexander growled.
Jessica looked up at Kanir, her eyes flashing red.
"There it is! The anger, the passion. If you're going to fight me, do it with your heart, or I shall never release your family's souls." Jessica froze halfway up from the ground and looked at him, a look in her eyes that Kathryn didn't recognize.
"That's quite a boast." Jessica said slowly.
"I told you, I do not boast."
"You're nothing but a slimy Cardassian. You can't honestly expect me to believe that you're a soul eater."
"In the worst possible way," he growled. "Thanks to the blood of your... mother." Jessica shrieked and flung herself at him, her sword flying. He blocked and parried, but not fast enough. She cut off his sword hand and knocked his feet out from under him. He fell to his knees, his head down. She raised her sword and Kathryn looked away, unable to watch. "What are you waiting for?" Kanir asked.
Janeway looked back. Jessica's sword hung in mid-air, prepared to attack, but unwilling. A tremble in her arm told just what it took to stay her hand.
"Last chance. We'll clean you up, reattach your arm and hand and release you to the penal colony on Shasha Alpha Six. Fresh air, hard work, no escape."
"I would rather die." Kanir said, sneering.
"Are you certain?"
"If you don't kill me, your family will never find peace. I never will." Jessica's sword never wavered. "Drop your blade, end my life. Or else, I'll end yours." Not a second passed between his last word and the removal of his head. It may have been a clean cut, but Janeway still would have preferred not to see it. The music around them was dark, full of whispered voices and angry words. Kathryn looked at Jessica, who staggered backwards and fell to the floor.
Then Jessica screamed. At first, Kathryn saw no reason for it. Jessica was on her side, facing away from the body. But the shapes moving from within the dead Cardassian weren't aliens of any kind that Janeway had seen before. She wondered; could they truly be souls?
Jessica screamed as they left the body, some disappearing through the hull, others rushing to caress the screaming child before they departed.
" 'Pray unto your fear, Pray your life was just a dream, the cut that never heals... Pray now, baby, pray your life was just a dream,' " Jessica cried, covering her head with her arms and curling into a ball. Kathryn heard the words coming from the music. 'There's no one left to hear you scream, no one left for you...'
Janeway wanted to run down and pull the girl away from what was happening, but she surmised that there was no place to take her to escape the tormented voices whispering in her head. For that was what she guessed they were doing that was driving Jessica mad. Kathryn almost felt guilty for her next thought, 'Thank God or whoever that I'm not telepathic.'
The music ended. Jessica looked up at the ghostly form floating in front of her. Kathryn gasped when she saw that it looked jut like the child, only older.
"Mother?" Jessica looked at her, tears running down her cheeks. The spirit reached out a spectral hand to her. Jessica began crying. "Please, let me go with you, Mommy, please!" Kathryn felt her heart wrench at the words. The spirit shook her head.
"She says no..." Kathryn's head spun to B'Elanna, who was watching with her eyes looking glazed. " 'You are not finished here. Your time is yet to come.' " Janeway looked at her chief engineer and wondered if she'd gone insane. But when she looked back, Jessica was reacting as though she had heard the same words.
"Please, Mommy, I'm so tired. I want peace. I want to die, please let me die!"
" 'My daughter, you have your own family now. You chose this path; do not give up now. I know you are strong.' " B'Elanna continued translating.
"I don't want to be strong anymore, please, I don't want to be," Jessica sobbed. "I'm broken; my mind can't take anymore."
" 'You will be all right. I believe in you.' " Jessica looked up.
"I'm sorry, Mommy, I'm sorry I didn't save you."
" 'No. It was my time. I must go.' 'Mommy?' " B'Elanna's voice didn't change, but the tiny child that glided to Jessica told Kathryn who was speaking.
"Pammy. Oh, I'm so sorry, baby," Jessica reached out to let her hand hover over the child-spirit's hair. "I'm sorry I wasn't a better mother."
" 'You are what you can be, Mommy. I love you. Don't worry, grandma is going to take care of me now.' "
"Mother..."
" 'I am proud of you, Jessica Shanala. I'm sure your father is, too.' "
"Good-bye, Mother," Jessica said, standing. The form shimmered until it faded into nothing. Jessica stood there for a moment, then she fell to her knees and screamed, her head thrown back. A silence filled the room as the child leaned forward and buried her head against her legs. B'Elanna staggered and Tom caught her.
"Are you okay?" he asked. B'Elanna jerked away from him and nodded.
"Fine." She looked at Jessica with pain etched into her features. "But she's not."
"How do you know?" Kathryn asked.
"Probably the same way she knew what that... ghost or whatever was saying," Tom said. "They're... zhanals?"
"Zhanali is the plural," B'Elanna growled and stormed away from the group. Kathryn reached out a hand to stop her and B'Elanna glared at it. Janeway pulled it back.
"For how long?"
"Since the tracheotomy. She did it to take my pain."
"To take it away?" Kathryn asked, confused. B'Elanna spun on Kathryn.
"You heard me. She blocked it, but to do that, she had to join her mind with mine. Which meant she felt the pain, I didn't."
"Why are you being so defensive?"
"Sorry, Captain. It's just... personal." B'Elanna said, then walked away.
Kathryn looked back at Jessica, who was tapping some commands into a console. The forcefield separating them disappeared with a slight hissing sound. Alexander rushed to Jessica the second it did, but she seemed listless as she endured his hug. He whispered something and her head snapped up. She threw her arms around his bare chest and hugged him tightly.
She released Alexander and began walking around the bridge, giving orders on repairing the damage. Immediately, Tom, B'Elanna, Chakotay and Alexander began working on the systems they were assigned to. After she was sure that things were being done properly, Jessica turned her attention to the people remaining, who had nothing to do.
"Mr. Tuvok, Captain Janeway, you can probably relax, unless any of you can find out if my science station can be repaired," she said, inclining her head in the direction of an almost demolished control station.
"I'll have a look," Janeway responded, not yet wound down from the events of the day.
"What about me?" Letraya asked.
"Your work comes later. Then I'll make sure that you get to one of your people's ships safely." Letraya nodded, and then sat on the deck, relaxing. Jessica moved to her own panel and began working.
"When will we be able to contact our ship?" Tuvok asked.
"Soon," Jessica answered. "This is the operations station. I have to restore communications and destroy the dampening field before we can send you home." There was a popping noise from the console Jessica was half hidden under and the girl hissed. "Ow," she said, sitting up and rubbing her hand. Whatever she did worked, however, as the communications indicator on the panel began flashing and a soft sound went off.
"You really need to learn to be careful," B'Elanna reprimanded Jessica. Jessica stuck her tongue out. "Getting it done faster is not worth personal injury." Jessica snorted with laughter, then answered the hail.
"Yeah, what do you want?" She growled, shocking Kathryn with her lack of diplomacy.
"It's good to hear from you, too," a male voice crackled over the speakers.
"I should be able to get visual up in a minute. What's your location?"
"Not far. We'll be there in an hour, maybe a little longer. Are you all right, Jess? No one's heard from you in three weeks. Bendon's been on all our asses to find you."
"Well, you win the prize Luii. I'm alive and kickin'. How's the war progressing?"
"The war? Jess, you've been M.I.A. for almost a month and you want to know about the war? Not our esteemed king, your children, the rainfall...?"
"Stop being an ass and answer my question."
"They just invaded Mawnwar last night. The Counsel is sending in the riders to root them out. Ragellor is screaming at us to protect them, but with Mawnwar gone... Well, you know. We haven't heard yet from the Mawn government. Speaking of the riders, have you found your husband?"
"He's right here, Luii."
"Hello, Alexander. Call Moran, you're going in." Alexander stood and looked at Jessica.
"Go on, love. You're needed. But come back to me." Alexander walked to her and kissed her. They held each other for a moment, and then Alexander turned to leave. "Don't forget to pick up a riding suit from the laundry room."
"I won't. Take care, Jess."
"You, too," She said softly. Alexander left. The viewscreen flickered to life, showing one of the most beautiful young men Kathryn had ever seen in her life. He had black hair that fell down past his shoulders, shining and soft. Blue-green eyes seemed to glow from his almost feminine face. Yet, she would never mistake him for anything less than a man, even if he hadn't been wearing only a pair of black breeches, billowing out from his boots. She would have been saddened by the fact that he was obviously way too young for her if she didn't have Mark waiting for her at home.
"You look like shit," Luii said once he saw her.
"Fuck you. I've just taken back my ship from some damn Vorchen led by the bastard that murdered my mother."
"Guess you have a reason, at least. Who are your friends?"
"You'll meet them when you get here. We're going to give them a tow to Shaola, so we can fix their ship. It was damaged rescuing me." Luii looked at Janeway and she just stared back, wondering why he chose to appear Human, as Jessica did.
"Then we owe you a debt of gratitude. May I offer the Dracco, flagship of the Shashan Fleet, as an escort at your service."
"Thank you, Captain... Louie?" Janeway said, trying to say the Shashan name, but only managing the human equivalent.
"Luii Tarrel, at your service. But Louie is fine. It's what Alexander calls me, too."
"I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation starship Voyager."
"You're Starfleet? Long way from home, Captain. Not looking for our Jessica are you?"
"No. We were brought here by force."
"Caretaker, right? That sucks. He's been bringing ships out here for months now. Sorry for the people you have lost."
"Luii, do you have any stock on board?" Jessica asked, interrupting the conversation.
"Yeah, of course. You may have first pick when you get here." A woman, dressed in the same breeches as Luii, only colored cream, stepped into view. She also wore a matching top that barely covered her breasts. She was a pale green-colored Shashan. Luii looked at her, then nodded and she left. "Well be there shortly, Dracco out." The transmission ended abruptly and Jessica gave a gesture of surprise.
"That was polite," she growled sarcastically. Kathryn looked at her and she smiled. "Don't worry, Captain. You can beam back to your ship now. I don't think that there is any reason why you shouldn't. Both Voyager and the Aurora will be repaired by my people, no problem."
"Are you sure?" Kathryn asked.
"Trust me." Jessica gave a half-smile and hailed Voyager, letting them know that their crew was ready to be transported back.
Present...
"Are you letting me win?" Seven broke from her thoughts to address the young Ktarian's question.
"Of course not. To do so would be unethical."
"Well, that's the third game you've lost. In a row. Is something bothering you?" The little girl started clearing the board.
"Why do you ask?"
"Because when something's bugging me, I can't concentrate, either."
"I am fine, Naomi. But you are correct. I am distracted."
"Well in that case, go on being distracted. I don't mind winning." Seven returned Naomi's smile as they set up the board for the next game.
"Torres to Seven of Nine." Seven's heart picked up speed.
"Go ahead."
"Are you free right now?"
"No, I am engaged in recreational activities with Naomi Wildman. Is there something you need assistance with?"
"Yeah. When you're done with your 'recreational activity' I want you to report to the Mess Hall. But don't you dare cut your game short. How are you, kid?" Naomi grinned at being spoken to over the comm.
"I'm good. I've beat Seven at Kadis Kot three times!"
"Ha! That's it, you show her, Naomi! See you soon, Seven. Torres out." As they began the next game, Seven once again found herself distracted as she wondered what B'Elanna was up to.
…
Seven walked to the Mess Hall, suspicious of B'Elanna's motives. Wary of a social gathering, she braced herself as she walked through the doors. Much to her relief, it was only the usual compliment of crew, there to eat dinner. She spotted B'Elanna, sitting alone and waving her over. Hands clasped behind her back, she walked to B'Elanna's table and sat down across from her.
"You wished to speak with me, Lieutenant?" Seven began. B'Elanna smiled mischievously.
"If you call me Lieutenant again, I'll break your nose." B'Elanna responded. Seven raised her implant.
"Very well, Torres, what is it that you wish to discuss?" Seven mocked. B'Elanna saw the glint in Seven's eye and she laughed.
"I don't think I've been called that since the Academy." B'Elanna mumbled. Seven sat, waiting patiently for B'Elanna to continue. "I wanted to discuss our friendship."
"Do you wish to resume it?"
"That depends on how you answer my next question." Seven braced herself. "Why did you call off our friendship?"
"Because I was uncomfortable around you."
"Why?" B'Elanna asked, leaning forward.
"Please, B'Elanna. I fear that in answering that question, I will jeopardize any chance we have of resuming our companionship."
"I don't want to be friends with someone that is uncomfortable being around me."
"My discomfort has been eased." B'Elanna started to get angry.
"Good for you. Now tell me why you were uncomfortable." Seven looked at B'Elanna, sadly.
"If it is no longer an obstacle—"
"It's an obstacle for me, now." B'Elanna noticed that Seven was shaking, but she felt that she needed to press the issue.
"If the exigency for the continuation of our camaraderie is for me to confess to something that causes me extensive embarrassment, then I fear I am not capable of maintaining our social intimacy." Seven stood and began walking away.
"That's it?" B'Elanna growled, incredulously. Seven stopped and turned around.
"I value your companionship, B'Elanna. But at this time, I am unable to comfortably express the reasons for my disassociation with you."
"Then don't," B'Elanna leaned toward Seven, looking down, the looked back up at her, "push me away again. If you're not comfortable talking about it now, will you ever be able to 'express your reasons?'"
"Perhaps." Seven offered. B'Elanna considered Seven's answer.
"I can live with that. Now sit down, dammit. People are beginning to stare." B'Elanna growled, looking around. Seven smiled slightly and sat down. She noticed Neelix wink at her from the corner of her eye and she smiled at him before turning back to B'Elanna.
"Then we are friends again?" Seven smiled when B'Elanna nodded.
"But I don't want to be friends with you if you're going to avoid me every time that a problem arises, rather than dealing with me directly."
"I will not make the same mistake twice. To do so would be... inefficient." B'Elanna smiled at Seven and picked up the tea she had been drinking and sipped at it.
"Are you hungry?"
"I have already consumed my nutritional supplement for this meal period," Seven answered. B'Elanna made a face.
"Let me ask you something. Do you ever try to fit in?" B'Elanna inquired. Seven thought for a moment.
" 'Fit in?' Please elaborate."
"You know, like with the way you speak. You still speak like a Borg. Is that so much of your personality? Do you ever want to try and talk to people like they do?"
"Yes. However, my attempt to integrate colloquialisms into my speech has been inadequate at best. Often, it is the subject of derisive jokes made at my expense." B'Elanna looked at Seven and apologized with sincerity.
"Seven, I'm so sorry. I had no idea."
"I pretend to be oblivious, but... I am not unaffected." Seven looked down at the table. "I believe that the crew is ignorant to the fact that I understand what they are saying. Though they do not intend to harm my feelings, which I am certain that they are unaware exist, they still engage in 'poking fun' at me. However, I do not find it 'fun.' "
"No, and you shouldn't." B'Elanna reached across the table and covered Seven's hand with her own. Then she tried to lighten the mood. "On the plus side, your verbosity is improving my vocabulary." Seven looked up, searching for signs of taunting, but she found only good intentions and she smiled a little.
"Indeed?"
"Oh, yeah. In fact, I've run back to a console more than once to look up a word or two that you used in our conversations." B'Elanna laughed and Seven smiled wider. "Look, the truth is, I've already eaten, too. I've got about two hours before I have anything else to do, you want to kill time in the holodeck if it's not in use?"
"May we play a game of hoverball? I enjoyed winning last time." B'Elanna laughed and shook her head.
"What makes you think you're going to win this game?" Seven raised her ocular implant as if there were no doubt. "Oh, you're on." B'Elanna said, grabbing Seven's hand and dragging her out of the Mess Hall.
To be continued…