Star Trek Voyager: Noughts and Crosses

On a Knife Edge

Thank you to all my wonderful reviewers: Kartimis, ascii27, addrianna818, TheVulcanPrincess, Doec, voyfan7, anoymous and India Janeway. I'm sorry it's been such a long time since I've updated but I hope you enjoy this chapter. As you can see TargTusk I value the opinions of those who like my work and I'm continuing this for them.

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Tom Paris

I woke up at first light as my alarm clock went off. I then woke everyone else. They dressed quickly. I let them go in ones, two's and three's counting two minutes till the next lot went.

Campaign Day was dangerous. The politicians in our one political party were vying for power as the last votes came in and anti-Vulcan and Stronghold feeling was running high. I hoped everyone would make it back home in one piece.

Kathryn Janeway

I left Tom's house with Bane and Athena. There were already more people on the streets than I was comfortable with. They were either walking swiftly to their destinations or standing huddled in groups talking. We hurried past all of them. Bane offered to accompany Tiral to her riverside apartment and she agreed. I headed towards the centre on the city and home. If it could really be called a home.

I paused before I keyed in the code to open the door. I really really hoped my father would be with the security detail guarding the party's building. Then I keyed in the code and stepped through the door as it slid back. No such luck.

I'd barely stepped into the hall before he'd grabbed my arm dragged me into the living room and flung me onto the sofa. I shot him a glare and he back-handed me right across the face.

"Where have you been? Your Mother has been worried sick. She was up half the night waiting for you to come back. Well where you? I think I deserve an answer."

I didn't look at him as I replied. "At a friends for the night. There were other people there."

My Stepfather continued to go on and I tuned him out. I really envied my older sister Phoebe. She was in the process of moving out. She was getting her own apartment several blocks west of here.

She wouldn't have to put up with this treatment for much longer. "Kathryn are you listening to me?" His voice broke through my thoughts.

"No." I stated feeling rebellious. I saw my Step-father's ears turn red always a danger sign. "No." He repeated.

"Kathryn you do realise that I'm saying this for your own good. You should be listening to me..." His voice was low and dangerous and he was moving towards me with an almost predatory look on his face. I don't know why but it scared me witless. His words though made my temper flare.

"For my own good." I yelled back. "You've never cared one iota for me. I heard you last night. All you see me as is a halfer."

His face darkened and I knew I'd crossed the line. Recklessly I thought I might as well let him know what I thought of him I had nothing to loose things couldn't get worse.

"I hate you. You treat Mother and Phoebe like dirt. All you care about is your political career. You're a filthy crawler and a boot-licker; smarming up to those important politicians. You're never going to get anywhere. I don't know what Mother sees in you but leave her alone. I heard you slap her last night just before I left. Do you want that to get out? The respectable Daniel Thompson; a wife-beater."

He froze. I stood still adrenaline and anger still coursing through my veins waiting for the inevitable outburst. I'd never lost my temper that badly before. However it never came.

"Get out. Get out of this house. I've put up with you for far too long." He said calmly and evenly. I could tell it was taking a lot of effort. "If you ever tell anyone about what you heard last night; I'll have you killed."

I stood there stunned. "I said get out." He suddenly roared and I fled.

I couldn't go back that was for certain. I'd go to Phoebe's apartment. I knew her entrance codes. I could sleep on the sofa and she'd get my things if I asked her. I just couldn't believe Daniel had threatened to have me killed. I'd never realised the man could be that ruthless. He'd actually hire an assassin. I knew I'd have to be on my guard from now on.

Tuvok Mivaru

The next time I came across Nightingale was in a bar. It was in a shadier area of town but I'd gone there with Tirok to win some credits in some of the games. We were running out. Tiral was at Supernova's.

The moment I saw her it was obvious she was drunk. She could hardly stand and was leaning against another girl who was also completely inebriated. The other girl was trying to give her something and was giggling madly.

It looked like a syringe and was probably drugs. I made my way over. The other girl was trying to persuade her to take the needle. "Come on Kat." She slurred. "It won't hurt you. It'll make the world feel like a nicer place." She giggled.

I noticed Kathryn still seemed to have a modicum of sense left because she was shaking her head. "Don't like needles." She managed to get out. "I have it in powder form." The other girl replied. Kathryn shook her head. "Not into that."

"Oh don't be boring Kat." She replied. "It's good stuff."

I decided to interrupt before things went too far. "I'm sorry..." I paused. I didn't know the girl's name. "Nicky." She supplied. "I'm sorry Nicky," I continued. "But it's late and I think Kathryn needs to get home." Nicky just giggled. "Night Kat." She said and staggered off.

I caught Kathryn before she fell. She wasn't looking so good. "How much did you drink?" I asked. "One Whisky." She replied. I got her to sit down and went to talk with the bar man to confirm it. He said that was all she'd had. That worried me.

I turned back to the table I'd left her at to see her slumped over it unconscious. Her drink must have been spiked.

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