Sorry this took a little while, but preparing for my graduation party took every last second of my time. Hopefully the next chapter will be up soon. And I tried to use as little technobabble as possible, because I suck at it. So if anything doesn't make sense, chalk it up to my technobabble deficiency. Enjoy!
"I will not allow you to take my ship." Kathryn said forcefully.
"It's really not up for debate, Captain. As you can see, we clearly outnumber you."
"Our weapons are stronger. I'll blast a hole in every damn ship in this sector to get the hell out of here and back to Earth, and you know I will, Seska."
"Please, Captain, don't make grandiose threats." Seska narrowed her eyes. "Why are you here? You still haven't said, and I don't buy that you're just on your way home. Even at minimum speeds, Voyager should be thousands of light years from here by now."
"Seska, I will fire on your ship. Don't make me have to give that order. You've seen what we can do."
"I have. And I look forward to overseeing the installation of your weapons on a fleet of Kazon ships. Now, stand down, Captain."
"Captain, they have us in a tractor beam!" Harry said. "I can't break out of it."
Seska smiled, nodding. "You see, you're not the only one with improved technology. It's amazing what a former engineer from a Starfleet ship, the Kazon's brutal fists, and the Viddians seemingly limitless resources can accomplish. You may have superior firepower, but I assure you, we are superior in every other way."
"Mute audio." Chakotay said in disgust. He turned to Tuvok. "Like Kathryn said, we're unfamiliar with the improvements on this ship. Is there any way we can go to transwarp…or even warp while held by their tractor beam?"
"No, Commander. Engaging transwarp engines will rip the ship apart. Mr. Kim, would we be able to go to warp, or is the beam too strong?"
Harry examined his console and punched in a few commands before shaking his head. "They're using some sort of rotating pulse in the tractor beam. I can't see any way to break free of it. The tractor emitter is heavily shielded."
Tuvok examined his console as well. "I believe if we focus our firepower on the modules at the bottom of the emitter, we may blow out the beam. It appears to have less shielding than the rest of the emitter."
"Do it." Kathryn ordered. Then she smiled sheepishly. "Forgive me, Tuvok. Old habits."
"No forgiveness is necessary. This is your ship for the duration, Captain. As I said, it would be unwise for Seska and her comrades to be aware of your extended absence. I have already transferred command to you. I did so as soon as I saw that our opponent was Seska."
"All right." She said softly. "Target the module and…what does she want now?" Kathryn caught sight of Seska waving pleasantly on the view screen. "Resume audio. Yes, Seska?"
"Captain, this is really becoming somewhat irritating. Regardless of your fancy weapons, if we all target out weapons on you, you'll probably do something unpleasant, like blow up. Isn't it better to choose life, Captain? Come now, be reasonable. Stand down and we'll have a nice little chit chat."
"I don't think so. Tuvok, fire!"
Tuvok fired the quantum torpedoes and phasers at the apparent weakness in the tractor emitter. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, suddenly, Voyager shook violently. Seska laughed as they all attempted to gain their bearings.
"Oh, I knew you would do that! Do you really think I'd leave a vital area of my ship exposed?"
"Captain, weapons are offline." Tuvok said.
Kathryn felt her heart sink as Seska shook a finger at her. "You always think you're a step ahead of me, Captain. Well, I'm about five ahead of you. When you fired on that module, it emitted a feedback pulse that knocked out your weapons. Now, I suggest you lower your shields while we discuss the terms of your surrender. Oh, and have your children on the bridge when I get there. I'd love to meet them."
"I don't think so, Seska." Kathryn said coldly.
Seska's face hardened. "Have them on the bridge, Captain. I'm sure you'd rather they be with me than found by one of my Kazon warriors. And I suggest that any other children on board be there as well. I won't tolerate any insolence from you, any of you. But I won't let harm come to the children. After all…" she sneered. "It's not like they had a choice to be born in the Federation. Why make them pay for the arrogance of their parents?" She smiled sweetly. "Lower your shields. I'll be beaming over in a moment. Yes, that's right. We have transporters. And replicators, too. You'll find we're just full of surprised. See you soon, Chakotay." She let her gaze linger on him, and then the view screen blinked off.
Kathryn stared in shock at the viewscreen, and then her expression changed. "Once upon a time, I would have given the order for self destruct rather than see this ship in the hands of the Kazon." She addressed the bridge crew. "But I've become something of a pragmatist in my old age. There's always a way out, and if we have to suffer a little mistreatment from the Kazon's in the meantime, well. We've been through worse. We have to find out as much as we can. We have to find weaknesses. For instance, why," she said thoughtfully. "Is Seska so focused on the children remaining safe?"
"She did say her son was taken from her. Maybe she really has grown a soft pot." Tom said from the helm.
"I am interested in how the Kazon and Viddians came to form an alliance…and I am curious as to how they developed such sophisticated cloaking systems." Tuvok said. "We did not detect them until they were right on top of us."
Kathryn tapped her chin. "Maybe we can use that to our advantage." She murmured.
"What, the cloaks?" Chakotay asked.
She looked up at him. "No. The children. Maybe we can get through to her somehow." She looked around the bridge. "I'm so sorry, everyone. I feel as if this is all my fault. If you hadn't come back to get us, and if your schedule hadn't been delayed because of me, you all wouldn't be in this mess right now."
"The fault is not yours." Tuvok said, and all the other officers on the bridge nodded. "It was our choice to retrieve you both, and I believe we would all do it again, no matter the consequences. None of us were to know the turn today would take. Now all we can do is find a way to thwart Seska and her comrades. And I believe you are right to look toward the children. Seska is behaving very much out of character, and they may be the key to using that behavior to our advantage."
Kathryn smiled gratefully at him. "Bridge to Gretchen Janeway."
"I'm here, Kathryn. What's been going on? Are we under attack?"
"I'll explain later. Please bring the children to the bridge."
"All right," Gretchen said hesitantly.
"Bridge to Neelix."
"Captain Janeway? Are those Kazon ships out there?"
"There's no time to explain, Neelix. I need you to get your daughter and grandson and bring them here immediately. Trust me, they'll be fine. But only if they're here."
"Of course, Captain. We're on our way."
"I've been meaning to ask," Kathryn leaned in to Chakotay. "Why is she on board with her child?"
"Her husband is a security officer. Tuvok told me before that she received special permission to come along, and Voyager is something of a golden ship back home, considered in as high a ranking as the Enterprise. Starfleet tends to grant most requests coming from this ship, and when Lieutenant Ross requested his wife and child be allowed to come on this mission, they were happy to comply."
She raised an eyebrow. "How unlike Starfleet."
"From what I understand, the war changed a lot."
"Captain, Seska is hailing again." Harry said, trace of annoyance in his voice.
"Oh, my God, what does she want now? Put her through." Kathryn snapped.
Seska's face appeared again. "Captain," she said shortly. "Lower your shields. Don't make me have to blast them down." The viewscreen blinked off again.
"Fine, we'll play this her way. But I want you all to be thinking of options." She paused. "Anyone thought of any yet?"
The bridge was quiet. Kathryn sighed. "Bridge to Torres."
"Torres here, Captain."
"We need some workable options here, or in another minute we're going to be flooded with Kazon invaders. How are things down there?"
"We have busted relays all over the place, Captain. We still have warp drive, but if we can't get out of this tractor beam, it won't do us much good."
"I want you to lock out all systems, especially the transwarp drive. We can't hide it from them, but we can sure as hell make it difficult for them to figure it out.
"We're on it, Captain."
"Good. B'Elanna, Seska has agreed that the children on this ship are not to be harmed, and for some reason, I'm inclined to believe her. I want you up here. Since you're pregnant, I think she'll see that you're treated properly. I also want to you with them to use her interest in the children to our advantage. See if they can soften her up."
"I really think I would be of better use down here…"
"Commander, that's an order." Tuvok chimed in. "Report to the bridge."
"Yes, sir."
"Harry, send Seska a message that we're preparing for her arrival. And open a channel to the entire ship."
"Done, and done. Channel open."
She met Tuvok's eyes and he nodded at her. "All hands, this is Captain Janeway. In a few moments we will be boarded by the Kazon. Unfortunately, they are significantly more advanced than they were when last we met. Follow their instructions and try to stick together. We will find a way out of this, but for the time being, don't give them any reason to make the situation worse. I expect you all to behave like Starfleet officers. Don't lose hope. Janeway out." She signaled to Harry, who nodded and closed the channel.
The turbolift doors opened, and Gretchen, Neelix, Alixia and the twins piled out. Each twin ran to a parent, and Gretchen approached them, her face lined with worry. "Kathryn?" she asked tremulously. "Boarded?"
Kathryn ran a hand over her daughter's head and tried to keep the tears at bay. She had lost so much for so long, and now she was in danger of losing it again. Why can't fate just leave us be?, she thought angrily. "I'm afraid it's true. They took us completely by surprise."
Chakotay sat in his chair and he pulled both children towards him. "I want you to listen to me very carefully," he said sternly. "And I don't want any arguments. There are some people who…don't agree with us. They're going to be coming on the ship, and there's the possibility you might be separated from the adults. But I don't want you to put up a fuss." He held up a hand as Katie started to speak. "No, Katie. It's very, very important that you follow instructions and take care of each other. You'll probably be in the care of a woman named Seska. She won't hurt you, not if you behave. These are not nice people. I'm not trying to scare you. I just need you to know that this isn't a game, and throwing a fit isn't going to help. And I need you to keep an eye on Benaren." He glanced at Alixia, who was holding her son tight to her chest as Tuvok explained what was happening to her and Neelix. "He's younger than you, so he'll be much more upset. Take care of him, all right?"
The twins' eyes were now filled with tears. "But Daddy," Katie wept. "Why won't we be with you?"
"It's just for now, Katie. Mommy and I will be trying to get us out of this, okay? So don't worry, and listen to what Seska tells you. Everything will be okay." He pulled them towards him and hugged them tightly, then released them and allowed Kathryn to hug them. She, too, kneeled down and stared into their wet eyes.
"There's one more thing. We don't want Seska or her people to know that we've been living here. Pretend that you grew up on Voyager. And don't act as smart as you are. It's better if she thinks that you don't know that much about what goes on around you."
"We have to lie?" Edward asked in a small voice.
"You have to protect yourselves. And us. If she knows that I haven't been the captain all this time, she'll…well, it won't be good. So just do that for me, okay?" She held them close and fought back the tears, and they wrapped their little arms around her neck.
"Okay, Mommy." They both said.
"Good kids." She ran a hand over both their heads, then stood up. She took a deep breath. "Drop shields."
A few moments later, Seska materialized in a beam of pale green light, along with three Viddians and five Kazon, all holding weapons. She smiled a sickly sweet smile at Kathryn and Chakotay. "Well, well, we meet again. Welcome to the Empire."
"Yes, I'd be interested in hearing all about that." Kathryn said.
"Well, I'm the person to talk to. I am, after all, the Empress."
"You always did have lofty goals, didn't you?" Chakotay said with contempt.
She shook her weapon at him and her mouth spread into a thin line. "I'd watch my mouth, if I were you. I'd hate to have to vaporize you in front of your precious urchins."
"Daddy," Katie whimpered, and wrapped her arms around her father's.
Seska's countenance softened, and she smiled gently at the children. "Don't worry, now. I wouldn't really do that. If your mommy and daddy do as they're told, everything will be just fine. But for now, you're to come with me. I promise, I'll take good care of you."
Edward held Kathryn's hand so tightly that she felt his nails cut into her skin. "We want to stay with Mommy and Daddy." He said softly.
"You'll see them soon. But Mommy and Daddy have business to conduct, so I'm going to send you to a playroom on my ship. There will be a nice lady there who will take good care of you until I go back. Will you be good children and do as you're told?"
Kathryn, astounded at the maternal kindness in Seska's voice, looked down at the children and nodded comfortingly to them. "They'll go with you, won't you, darlings? Go to her ship and play until she comes to get you. We'll be fine."
Katie and Edward reluctantly left the safety of their parents to approach Seska. Neelix had to remove Benaren from Alixia, who cried softly and wouldn't give him up. He brought his grandson down and placed him standing next to Katie, who immediately grasped the toddler's hand. Neelix stood up and faced Seska, his hatred for her and the Kazon burning in his eyes. "This is my grandson, Seska." He said through his teeth. "If anything happens to him, I'll tear your from limb to limb myself."
Seska rolled her eyes. "Calm down, rodent. I'm not in the business of killing babies." Her head snapped up as the turbolift doors opened and B'Elanna stepped out. "Well, this is a happy reunion! Look at that maternal glow! I didn't ever think I'd see the day."
"I'd like for B'Elanna to go with the children, Seska." Kathryn said. "She's in an advanced stage of pregnancy, and the children know her. Please. Let her go with them."
Seska tilted her head and grinned at her old friend. "Did you miss me, B'Elanna? Did you miss those nights I would tell you of my lovemaking with Chakotay, and you would salivate with envy? Hm? Or has he been going to you on the side and the child is his? I wouldn't be surprised if Janeway bored him to tears and he had to look for new meat elsewhere. And your hot Klingon blood is just what he was looking for, wasn't it?"
Tom, who was being held at phaser point by a Kazon, lunged forward. "You foul mouthed, back stabbing-"
Seska whirled around in surprise. "Why Tom Paris, what has gotten into you? What happened to the rebellious rascal I once knew? Why, you look positively old!"
"Losing a child can do that to you." He said grimly.
She flinched. "I suppose it can. Now tell me, why are you jumping to defend this little Maquis' honor?"
"She's my wife." He said through clenched teeth.
Seska's eyes widened and she laughed. "Well, I am learning so much today! I have to tell you, this is not how I would have expected your lives to play out. Well, B'Elanna, I'll take pity on your inflated form and let you go with the cherubs." She chuckled and shook her head in amusement. "B'Elanna and Tom, Janeway and Chakotay. What will you people throw at me next?" She curled her lip in disgust. "Ugh, Captain Janeway. Honestly, Chakotay. You would have been better off with a Borg drone or something."
"I think not." He said stiffly.
"Oh, relax, darling. Isn't this fun? All of us, together again." She pulled a few objects out of a pocket on her jumpsuit, and Kathryn could see they were small circles of silver. She placed one on B'Elanna, Katie, Edward and Benaren, then tapped a panel on her wrist. "This is Seska. Lock on to the signal enhancers and transport to Deck four, Section 10."
"Acknowledged."
Kathryn and Chakotay watched in horror as their children disappeared, and they heard Alixia's weeping increase in volume behind them. Kathryn glared at Seska. "Well, you got what you wanted. Now tell us your terms."
Seska smiled cruelly. She gestured to her guards. "Keep an eye on all of them. Janeway, Chakotay, Tuvok, Paris and Kim. Let's all go pow-wow in the good Captain's ready room. That is how your people say it, isn't it, Chakotay?"
Chakotay glared at her in disgust. "No, Seska."
She shrugged. "Hm. Come on, now." She gestured with her phaser. "Move it along."
B'Elanna materialized in a garden. There were exotic flowers and trees and lovely little stone paths leading to reflecting pools. She knew it wasn't real, because when she looked up, she was greeted by a pinkish sky and the glow of an amber sun. Unless she had been transported farther than she thought, this was all some sort of holodeck.
The children looked around tentatively, and B'Elanna smiled down at them. "Don't worry. Everything will be okay."
"It won't, you know." A voice said from behind them.
B'Elanna whirled around to see a figure partially hidden in the shadows of a tree. "Who are you? Where are we?"
"They'll kill everyone on your ship if they have their way. They might even take all of you. She'll try to protect you…but even she is not all powerful."
"Who are you?" B'Elanna whispered, pulling the children closer to her.
A woman stepped out of the shadows. The children gasped at her appearance, but it didn't faze B'Elanna. She studied her for a moment, then gasped. "You!"
They all stood near the dividing rail in the ready room, with Seska holding them there at gun point. "Seal the doors." She said softly.
Kathryn glanced at Tuvok, who nodded. "Computer, seal doors." She called. A chirp of recognition followed her request. "All right, you have us here, beaten. You've taken our children from us. What do you want? You have everything, it seems. Why do you even need Voyager?"
"The Viddian's will want your crew to harvest their organs."
"We'll destroy ourselves before we let the Viddians lay a hand on us." Kathryn hissed.
"Of that I have no doubt. In fact, I would suggest it." Seska frowned. "I tire of our alliance with them. I grow ill when I see them conquer world after world with our warriors, and butcher the conquered to serve their blood lust. I can understand why they do what they do, but I've never believed in killing innocents. Enemies, yes, but many of the worlds they decimate have no quarrel with any of us. I suppose as the years go by, I tire of the constant bloodshed. Maybe now I appreciate what it was like to be on a Starfleet ship. Most certainly, I appreciate the serenity of Cardassia. I am so tired," she said, pronouncing each word with distinction. "Of living among thugs. Cardassian's are more…eloquent in their warfare. Intelligent. What the Kazons lack in intelligence, the Viddian's make up for, but both races lack the…morals of the Cardassians."
"Isn't moral Cardassian something of an oxymoron?" Tom said snidely, his arms folded over his chest.
"Regardless of what you think," Seska snapped. "The Cardassian's have a system of morals not unlike your own. Perhaps they're not as good and pure as Starfleet's code of ethics, but we are not a barbaric race. We have culture, which is something the Kazon sorely lack and something the Viddian's have abandoned. In short, Captain, I want to go home. I want my son, and I want to go home, and you and your ship are going to get me there. I want out of this hell hole."
TBC