Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of Paramount and TPTB. The plot is the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Warning: Rated M Violence, angst, and adult situations included but nothing overly graphic.
Under My Skin: Chapter 3
Tom Paris
"I'm telling you Doc, she isn't herself. Everyone saw it today. She even told Harry to call her Sir. After seven years, c'mon."
Belanna and I had just related to the three senior officers that hadn't been on the bridge the weird events surrounding today.
"I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary with her today, Tom. She drank almost two pots of coffee according to the replicator and what's left in the kitchen." Neelix comments.
"That's because she's still the captain," I explain. "Even the computer agrees with that, but that doesn't mean something else can't be going on. Influencing her in some way. The last time she acted this weird was because you were her, Doc." He had the grace to look chagrined at this last comment.
"I checked for energy signatures and came up with nothing. Tuvok hasn't had any security problems. Harry's working on the internal sensors, but so far we haven't come up with anything." Belanna explains to Seven knowing she'll pick up the thread.
"I will return to astrometrics and begin scanning the region on modulated frequencies." Seven nods understanding and turns to leave.
"Wait Seven, we also need to keep an eye on her. Any interaction any of us has with her, we should let the others know."
"You intend to spy on her?" Seven asks.
"Not exactly. But if she's trying to tell us something without drawing attention to herself, we need to be watching for it. It may be something small. I just don't want any of us to miss it if it happens."
"Has anyone spoken to Chakotay about all this?" Neelix asks. "I'm sure he'd notice something different about the captain before the rest of us."
"He hasn't been on the bridge all day. I'm hoping to talk to him later, but I'd also rather have something concrete to give him. Not just weird behavior." Belanna states. "Doc, can you scan her or something?"
"Well she is legendary with avoiding sick bay, but I'm sure I can come up with something." He speaks confidently but then he frowns. "Getting her to come to sick bay and actually being able to scan her are two different problems though. We may have to resort to something drastic."
"Let's try simple first. Maybe she just had too much caffeine today." Belanna drops herself onto the couch. "It's just little stuff. She didn't even call me by name today. She called me Chief."
"You are the Chief Engineer." Seven comments. It's painfully obvious to me that Seven isn't going to be much help in the behavior department of this mission.
"Yeah, Seven, I know but she's never called me that. It's like we've been saying, she's just slightly off. Y'know out of character." She shakes her head. "And poor Sam."
I nod thinking back to my own experience. It's not unusual for her to call me by rank, but she's never called me by my position. It wasn't even unusual for her to put her hand on my shoulder, but then she leaned into me. She's never done that before. It was as if she needed my physical support just to stay on her feet. Even when I know she's been up for two days straight, she hasn't shown that kind of weakness. I shake my head. I hear the Doctor call for the computer.
"What is Captain Janeway's current location?" he asked.
"Captain Janeway is in her quarters."
"Doctor to Captain Janeway." He taps his comm. Badge. Belanna and I both listen as the computer responds.
"Captain Janeway is off duty and requests that all non-essential calls be directed to Commander Chakotay."
The doctor looks over at us. I wave my hand as if to say I told you so. The doctor continues, "Computer, alert me when the Captain returns to duty."
"Affirmative." The doctor is quiet for a moment and then asks the computer another question.
"Computer, is the Captain conscious?" We all hold our breath for the computer's response.
"Captain Janeway is asleep."
The doctor raises an eyebrow at this response. "An insomniac that has consumed two pots of coffee is asleep in her quarters thirty minutes after her shift. Hmmph. I'll be seeing her in sick bay in the morning."
The Doc leaves and I decide I'll be in sick bay in the morning to help out.
Chakotay
I follow Kathryn's lead and take a shower with my eyes closed. I can't help but look over my body as I don a new uniform. There are no visible traces of abuse from the past twelve hours. I can still feel sore muscles and deep bruising beneath my skin. They didn't want to heal that. Oh God, Kathryn what are you going through right now?
I know you worried about me throughout the day. There were times throughout the day when you would remain still and unfocused staring at the wall. The Cardy's thought you were up to something, I knew better. And now I have to pretend to focus on mundane matters aboard this ship knowing that you are suffering at their hands while I read a report. I attempt to push you to the back of my mind and concentrate on how to perpetuate what you've started. But you were never one to be ignored.
I leave my quarters and head for the bridge. Inspiration strikes as soon as the lift doors open and I see Ayala at the security station. Maquis. That's exactly who I need. Harry hands the bridge over to me. I can tell he has something on his mind, but I cut him off. I've only just realized, if any of the crew tell me you've been acting strange the Gul will hear. He'll know you were trying to alert them. I can't help them. And I certainly can't verbally let them know anything while you are still over there. Damn. I have to let them know. Belanna. She'll be my solution. Not ten minutes into my shift I leave, "Ayala, you have the bridge."
Ayala is a good man. He has no more command experience than Sam, but he simply nods and remains at his post. His eyes follow my movement to the turbolift. I keep my back to him. I move my hand behind my back and flash a signal to him as the turbolift door opens and I walk inside.
Tom Paris
Belanna and I are eating dinner when her comm. Badge activates, "Ayala to Lt. Torres."
Belanna flashes me a look and answers it. "Go ahead."
"I know about the poker game and I'll be down to join in at the end of my shift, but it might be awhile. Maquis One just left me in charge of the bridge."
The only way Ayala would've heard about this already is if Tuvok briefed him when he came on shift. I know that crazy Vulcan has a soft spot for the Captain. I should've known he'd alert his team to any danger she may be in. Belanna acknowledges Ayala and signs off. She looks deep in thought, but before she can explain what she's thinking the door chimes.
"Say nothing about the Captain unless I bring it up." She says quietly and calls for entry.
Chakotay enters our cabin. "Paris. Torres. I wanted to get your assessment on how the thruster test went today."
Huh? I stumble in my response. "Uhm, I haven't written that report yet sir. I was going to have it for you at the end of my shift tomorrow."
He knows we won't have any results from that yet. It will take all day tomorrow for the data to be compiled, and quite frankly the thrusters are the last thing on my mind right now. Despite Belanna's warning, I want to tell him about our concern for the Captain. Chakotay turns to face me with his back to Belanna. "Paris, you can give me a verbal assessment of how you feel the thrusters performed."
A verbal assessment? He's acting just as weird as the Captain. He keeps one hand behind his back, and Belanna makes a gesture for me to keep talking. I realize she's seeing something I'm not. Well, I'm not Tom Paris for nothing. I launch into a twenty minute spiel on how the thrusters were sluggish when we turned to port, but performed well on a starboard turns. I swear Chakotay's eyes glaze over at one point, but he has a slight smile to his face. Finally he holds up the hand that had been behind his back signaling me to stop, "Enough. Thank you Mr. Paris, that was very enlightening. Torres, I'll be expecting your initial report by the end of my shift."
Belanna nods, and Chakotay walks out of the room. I begin to speak, but she holds up a hand for me to be quiet and begins to scan our quarters with a tricorder. After ten minutes, she closes it and turns towards me. I can't wait any longer, "What was that all about?"
"We've got problems. My Maquis hand signals are a little rusty, but Chakotay's being followed or watched. He basically said don't include him."
"Include him in what?" I ask, but she ignores me and continues.
"He also kept flashing a four to me and saying captured. But he gave the go ahead for the plan." She finishes and looks at me.
"What plan?" I ask her.
"I have no idea, but he seems to think there is one." She sighs. "We have to talk to the others."
Kathryn
I listen as Tom gives Chakotay his report on the thrusters. My heart sighs knowing that my crew knows something is indeed wrong. Tom's never given a report with that much detail in his entire life. I'm glad he's on our side.
I had hoped someone would've spoken to Chakotay about my behavior. It would've alerted the Gul and he would know that I had been up to something. Then, maybe, he would've left Voyager's side, and Chakotay wouldn't be returned to this living hell.
A sharp pain brings me back to myself. I immediately try to distance myself from it again. I can't see the panel from my position on the floor underneath the Gul, but I try to listen to Chakotay's interactions. Listening to Tom's voice for twenty minutes had not completely erased what was happening to me, (even I'm not that good at detaching) but it had given me something on which to focus.
As Chakotay makes his way back to the bridge, the pain pushes its way to the front of my mind. I can no longer hear the sounds of Voyager over the blood rushing through my head. The Gul's face is only inches away from mine. His hot breath washes over my face. He's enjoying the pain he is causing me. My control slips. I scream. The Gul laughs.