PRIME DIRECTIVE: Space may be the final frontier, but I'll never get there by any monies derived from this as Harry Potter and all properties of such are owned by the Dark Lady JKR. All content, characters related to Star Trek are owned by Paramount Pictures, Inc...except maybe some of that stuff that ended up being used in Starfleet Battles which is owned by the Amarillo Design Bureau who used that content via the Starfleet Technical Manual by Franz Joseph Schnaubelt and published by Ballantine Books.
CHAPTER NOTE: This chapter contents sexual scenes for the purpose of character development. Any gratification a reader derives from it is solely their responsibility.
XxXxX
CHAPTER FOUR – VOYEUR
(Episode: Interlude between ST:VOY The Gift and Revulsion)
XxXxX
PITHY STATEMENT RELATING TO THIS CHAPTER: "And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it." Roald Dahl – British novelist, screenwriter and poet – 1916-1990
LAST UPDATED ON: 01-30-24
Captain's Log, Star Date 51042.5. After almost a month of rest and restocking, Voyager is almost ready to leave Talaska IV. The people of the Norcadian colony and free port have been gracious hosts and never pushed for more technology sharing than we were willing to give. It was nice, for a change, to find a group who had left their world due to their pacifism and thus did not cast greedy eyes on Voyager. The many merchants and traders at the port were a treasure trove of information. We now have a much better understanding of where we are in this new region of the Delta Quadrant as well as having some idea of what we're heading into. As much as I, and most of the crew, like to boldly go where no one has gone before, it's nice to have a road map for a change.
The Norcadian's help was especially appreciated given the odd reticence of our new resident wizard, Harry Potter. In a way, he reminds me of Q. Not that he's annoying and capricious, but that he seems to act like he cannot interfere too much. As if he does not want to steal Voyager's story from us. While he has given us the probable location of the USS Equinox and where we can expect to find it given the travel time, Harry Potter has done little else.
I have had to call many of the crew aside to keep them from badgering him. However, for all the attention, Harry Potter seems content to ghost through the ship, watching without participating. Tuvok feels that this is most likely due to suddenly being singular again after so much time being the Borg's mental neighbor. For whatever the reason, Mr. Potter has been helpful in small ways and his Borg Ship "The Wart" has enabled Voyager to continue safely using many facets of the Borg tech Seven of Nine brought with her as a drone.
As predicted, Seven of Nine's journey into regaining her humanity has been rough. Still, she and the rest of the former drones are fitting in the best they can. While many have skills learned from the Borg, most are unused to a ship as modern as Voyager. Still, most are doing well. I must admit that Commander Tahl and I have an interesting relationship given if things had gone slightly differently, we might have been crossing torpedoes in anger across the Neutral Zone instead of shipmates in the Delta Quadrant. Luckily, all of the former drones are united in being refugees far from home, willing to put their differences behind them to work toward the day when we get home.
For my part, I find myself adrift between being a Starfleet captain and accepting that to get back home will require changes I find difficult to make.
JEFFRIES TUBE, SUB-SECTION A, USS VOYAGER ORBITING TALASKA IV SECTOR 393, DELTA QUADRANT – STAR DATE 51043.2
"Ensign Kim, for the past 143 minutes, you have spent an inordinate amount of time distracted from the duties assigned to you," Seven said dispassionately while continuing to work on the isolinear manifold with a precision sonic spanner. "This distraction has been predominately spent staring at me. From the direction of your gaze, I conclude you are, as Lieutenant Paris might say, checking me out. Is this correct, Ensign?"
Kim blushed deeply as he stuttered lamely, "I'm not sure I understand what you're trying to say."
Seven turned with a raised eyebrow, "I believe I was being quite concise. You have been observing me and focusing on areas known to cause arousal in human males. In the last 42.5 minutes, you have adjusted your uniform twelve times in your genital region suggesting you are exhibiting the male erection arousal affect."
Kim's eyes went wide, "I...I...wait. You weren't looking at me most of the time!"
"My sensory capabilities far outstrip a baseline human such as yourself, Ensign Kim." Seven said as she turned back to her work. "We are nearly at the point of the mandated break from your duties. I would suggest you perform a manual triggering of your reproductive organ. You will then be less distracted and thus able to complete the tasks Lieutenant Commander Torres assigned us more efficiently."
Kim's eyes, already wide, practically bugged out. "Are you saying that during my break that I should...jerk off?"
Seven turned her head to look at Kim. "I thought I made my analysis quite clear. Yes, I suggested you 'jerk off' as you colloquially put it. Given you have become sexually aroused from simply observing my form, I calculate that you will be able to achieve orgasm within the time frame of your mandated rest break and still have time to use the waste facilities and return to duty."
"Wait! Wait! Are you honestly saying that while you keep working on that busted manifold that you expect me to just whip it out, whack off while watching you and then just hit the head and go back to work?" Kim said incredulously.
Seven turned completely towards Kim, "Ensign, I was led to believe that while this is your first Starfleet assignment, that you had proven your worth on many occasions. However, I am finding this difficult to agree with given you seem incapable of processing a very straight forward process. You are having a hormonal event caused by my physical presence. It is interfering with your efficiency. Manually achieving an orgasm should be an attainable goal in the time allotted you, especially given the amount of time you have wasted observing my secondary sexual characteristics. Why are you having difficulty processing this, Ensign?" Seven asked archly.
"Because we aren't drones, Seven! We don't just casually do sexual activities in public simply to raise our efficiency rating!" Kim said heatedly.
"Which explains why humans achievement is so staggered and unreliable," Seven said dryly. "It is disheartening to realize that the species I was born into has not moved past attitudes most advanced civilizations gave up prior to developing warp travel. Tell me, Ensign, do you have such difficulty keeping on task during your bridge assignments?"
"No. Why would I?" Kim asked obviously confused by the shift in the conversation.
"While my form falls well within the rating of desirable by human standards, there are many sentients aboard this vessel that match or exceed this general level of desirability. By many metrics, Commander Chakotay easily fits the male profile for desirability. He is a fit specimen of the human male, tested in battle, able to show a balance between passion and precision. Therefore, I am unclear why you have not been advised to 'jerk off' during your time on the bridge due to his presence. While Captain Janeway also falls into a similar category, I calculate that her being the captain could have a negative effect on your libido."
Kim sputtered incoherently for a bit, "I can't believe we're having this discussion! And no, I don't have any issues on the bridge because Chakotay is a guy!"
"Why should that be such a detrimental factor? Certainly, sexual dimorphism gives human a default for sexual attraction towards the opposite sex. However, you are a sentient being. Your Federation is supposedly built on the idea of the betterment of all. This includes moving towards a high level of self-actualization. By rejecting the potential of a rewarding relationship due to sharing a gender is inefficient," Seven said pedantically as she returned to her task.
Kim shook his head, "I thought the Borg didn't believe in love and here you are giving me relationship advice when you're not trying to get me to jerk off in this Jeffries tube!"
"While it is true the Borg as a Collective do not see the value of love, this is due to our status as a hive mind. Love between individuals is irrelevant in the Collective. However, the Borg have assimilated thousands of species, most have a concept of love. While often capricious and counter-productive, it would be illogical to try and refute that the concept of love drives many individuals to feats they might not contemplate or be able to perform without it. As you are an individual and not a drone, I do not see the value of denying the possibility of a relationship, sexual or not, with another simply because they share your gender."
Kim looked embarrassed, "Look, I'm not saying I'm biased against homosexuals. I just prefer women, that's all."
"Indeed," Seven said curtly. "However, given your current single condition and the larger number of male to female ratio on Voyager, I have to wonder how that strategy is working out for you? I would conclude from your actions that you would prefer a female of a different species than a potentially compatible male of your own. While not implying love between species is lesser, it does seem that one would have a statistically higher chance with one's own species...that is if the culture was advanced enough to view the concept of love being more divorced from the physical act of sex."
Kim shook his head, "Look, I don't feel that I should feel that I'm somehow inefficient because I am not sexually aroused by Commander Chakotay. I'm also not going to jerk off just so you can feel like we're going to meet some arbitrary efficiency goal!"
"Then in the future, I will suggest that you be assigned duties with male crew-members," Seven said as she finished the work on the manifold and flipped the panel shut. "That way you will not be distracted, you will not have to masturbate to alleviate sexual tension and you will be able to stay on task. I will mention it to Lieutenant Commanders Tuvok and Torres. If you cannot efficiently work around female crew-members, perhaps your additional duties as an emergency responder should be revoked."
"What? Seven you're crazy! I am having a normal biological reaction that is common in normal humans. If you weren't fill with Borg doodads, you'd know that!" Kim snarled out.
"So is the fact that I am still partially Borg and therefore represent some form of potential threat may be causing you to become sexually aroused? Interesting." Seven mused.
"What? No! Don't trying and analyze me! Humans don't come with a manual with easy on and off switches! You know what? You might think this is about efficiency but this is harassment! I don't need to stand here and be insulted and told to preform sexual acts while you watch! I'm out of here!" Kim said before turning and angrily stalking off down the corridor and then climbing down out of sight.
Seven turned back to her work. "Excellent. Without Ensign Kim's lackluster performance, I will be able to complete all of our assigned tasks 17.92% ahead of schedule. Lieutenant Commander Torres will undoubtedly be pleased with my efficiency," she said softly to herself.
While Seven's ability to sense things was markedly better than a normal human, she had no idea that her interaction with ENS Kim had been observed by a being with brilliant green eyes.
XxXxX
DINING HALL, USS VOYAGER, SECTOR 390, DELTA QUADRANT – STAR DATE 51044.9
"I must admit it is difficult to know whether I should congratulate Warrior Korath for his commendable effort or express concern regarding Centurion Helev's performance," Tuvok said as he watched as B'Elanna, Warg and Ventrys roasted Korath in a boisterous show of insults and counter-insults. In stark contrast, the former Romulan Centurion looked impassive at his arm-wrestling win as he massaged his arm.
"I think congratulations would be in order for both sides. The Klingons seem to have barely registered that they had been assimilated. While they are loud, boorish and boisterous, they have adapted back to their old life well. In Helev's case, his new arm is taking some time for him to adjust to. Many of us former drones are having such issues. I myself, for example, keep looking at things expecting to be able to scan it with my ocular implant that I no longer have," Commander Tahl said in the dry manner Tuvok found refreshing. While often seemingly calm, Romulans were known for being like a smoldering volcano, seemingly quiet but able to erupt at any moment. It appeared that being assimilated truly had softened this aspect of Romulan behavior.
"I am sure that it must be jarring to go from using Borg technology which you 'learned' at a cellular level and now having to deal with Federation technology. Familiar but different," Tuvok said as he slowly shifted his position to watch JLT Paris. Paris had a sour look on his face as he drank alone while watching B'Elanna join the Klingon's in a favorite drinking song.
"Yes...Federation technology," Tahl said pensively.
"Commander?" Tuvok prompted.
"The rest of my brethren have not realized the trap we are in. If we are to return to the Alpha Quadrant, we will have to integrate quickly. To do this, we will become quite familiar with the technology aboard Voyager. Tell me, Security Chief Tuvok, if after a few years of this, we found a wormhole back to the Alpha Quadrant. Would you expect Starfleet to expatriate us? Or the Klingons back to the Empire?"
Tuvok was silent for a moment, "No. No, I do not believe that would be the course of action taken. Logically, it would be better to keep you confined in some way."
"Or perhaps have an 'accident' in transport to our confinement," Tahl said with a slight smirk.
"If you are trying to goad me, Commander, it will not work. However, you may be surprised to find that such an accident, while low in probability, is well within the possible outcomes. In my time performing counter-intelligence and espionage actions against the Maquis, I was privy to many actions most sentients of the Federation would not expect Starfleet to undertake," Tuvok said solemnly.
Tahl laughed, "I have to say, Tuvok. I did not expect to find someone who had undertook the Vulcan Kolinahr ritual through to the end to be so forthcoming or personable."
Tuvok shook his head, "It is a common misconception that the ritual purges Vulcans of all emotion. It is, indeed, almost the opposite. As a Romulan, you are fully aware of our shared depth of emotions. Emotions which, unfettered, would make a Klingon or Andorian seem placid. No, the Kolinahr is a crucible where the emotions, bold and raw are embraced, tasted, but finally mastered. I can hate the Borg as deeply as any sentient and love my wife like few sentients can. However, because of the Kolinahr, I see these emotions as only a part of a larger, logical whole. I am their master, they my subjects which make up the whole community that is Tuvok."
"I would expect that has helped you deal with humans then," Tahl said. It was obvious he was mildly surprised at Tuvok expressing so much of what was usually deeply personal to Vulcans.
Tuvok's face turned back to Paris, an annoyed look gracing it for a moment, "Indeed. That humans succeed more often than not reminds me of a Terran military aphorism that quantity has a quality all of its own. While humans mostly make daily errors in judgment, mired as they are in emotions and customs they refuse to give up, they still manage as a species to challenge the universe."
"Well this Potter wizard is certainly a challenge to almost all my core beliefs," Tahl said as he sipped his tea and turned his gaze to the wizard who was sitting alone at his customary table close to the door. A chair and table which he had transmuted into archaic, wooden versions. The comfortable cushions were red, trimmed with gold. As always, the green-eyed wizard was alternating between reading from a PADD and people-watching.
As Tahl watched, Torres and Warg walked up to him with a jug and began discussing something. After a moment, the wizard shook his head but then his face lit up and said something that Tahl could not hear. Whatever the question had been, both Torres and Warg seemed agreeable and the Klingon held out the jug of some toxic Klingon brew the replicators had somehow managed. The wizard calmly reached out and the odd stick Tahl had seen him use before grew out of his palm. A few swishes and a flick later, the wand disappeared and the wizard went back to reading.
"What do you think he just did?" Tahl asked Tuvok.
"Something I believe will be amusing. Regardless of his usual stoic nature, from discussions with Mr. Potter, I have learned his father, god-father and two good friends from his magical school were known for their jokes and pranks. Mr. Potter has shown a penchant to occasionally partake in that legacy. However, I believe he does it because he enjoys making other people laugh," Tuvok explained.
The Romulan and Vulcan watched as the Klingons (and B'Elanna) poured out a slug of the reddish liquor. With a boisterous cry of, "'IwlIj jachjaj!" the four slammed their drinks down. Everyone in the room watched as all four seemed to pause, waiting for something to happen...which something promptly did. Korath began to beat at his chest before belching out actual flames! The other three rapidly did the same. Soon, B'Elanna was fanning her face while both Korath and Ventrys coughed a bit and tried to clear their throats. Only Warg seemed unaffected as he beamed at the watching crowd. He raised the jug and cried out, "Hija'... Fire-Whiskey!"
"Fascinating. I deduce that this Fire-Whiskey was an adult wizarding beverage popular among Mr. Potter's kind given he was able to transfigure whatever the Klingons had been previously drinking," Tuvok said.
"Interesting. How did you come to that conclusion?" Tahl asked.
"Mr. Potter replied negatively to their initial query. I would suspect that they asked if Mr. Potter could change their drink into Blood-Wine. Something our replicators cannot do to their satisfaction. Commander Torres had mentioned this early on in our journey. Given it is doubtful Mr. Potter ever had any contact with the Klingon drink, he would be unable to use his magic to affect the needed change."
"Well that's encouraging in a way," Tahl said after a moment, "Mr. Potter's abilities smack too much of that of the Q. Like your Starfleet, the Romulan Imperium has had too many dealings with that renegade from the Continuum. Seeing Potter having limits makes him seem less god-like."
"I agree. However, the more I get to know Mr. Potter, the more I can say I believe that being like the Q is the last thing on his mind." Tuvok said as he took note that Potter was watching Paris. It seemed the security chief had not been the only one to notice that Paris was stewing in a toxic brew of emotions watching B'Elanna drink and sing with her mother's people.
OoOoO
Tom rubbed his sore jaw and tried to remember if the Doctor would be activated now or not. He wasn't in the mood for a lecture or the Doctor's disappointed sighs. Maybe instead he could just nip into one of the emergency medical packs throughout the ship…no then he'd have to log why he used a dermal regenerator. Blast B'Elanna! She was the one suddenly cavorting around and yet he was the one sporting a hurt jaw from her backhand!
"You are setting yourself up for failure, Mr. Paris," came a soft but firm voice from behind him.
Tom turned to find Harry Potter looking at him with a sad look on his face. Where had he come from? A lot of Voyager crew-members had commented on how their resident wizard seemed to be able to just appear and disappear when one wasn't looking. This was the first time it had happened to him, though.
"Oh and how am I doing that, exactly?" Tom asked. Great. He could sense the paternal lecture coming. Harry even had the same sort of look his father would always get before a dressing down.
Harry shook his head slowly, "Well right there is a good example. You don't seem to have a clue, do you? I can see it in your eyes. You're already blaming someone else for what just happened. Yet did you ever think that perhaps your own preconceptions have led you to almost having your jaw broken?"
Tom through up his hands, "And there it is! Welcome to my life, Mr. Wizard. No matter where I go, I can't get away from the people judging me! So, are you here to fill in for my father, eh Mr. Wizard? Are you going to tell me how disappointed you are in me? Because you know what? I've been hearing that song and dance my whole life and I'm not about to start listening to another round of it from someone like you."
Harry's eyes narrowed but he calmly asked, "Someone like me? What could I know? Well…let me point out that I know a lot. Don't let the face fool you, Mr. Paris. I'm the oldest living human in the universe right now at a spry age of 394. I was over the century mark when I was almost assimilated by the Borg. In my time, I've seen a lot of humanity's best and worst play out in front of me. I've been there, doing some of the best along with some of the worst. So perhaps out of other people with an opinion, you might want to give mine a bit more attention."
Tom scoffed, "Well far be it for a lowly ex-felon to argue with the Borg Space Wizard. Should we adjourn to the holodeck so I can at least put on my Captain Proton outfit?"
Harry went deathly still. Tom had to admit that as angry as he was, this sudden stillness shook him in a fundamental way. As if he was a small creature who suddenly realized a large and hungry predator was right next to him.
The moment passed and Harry sighed, "You don't own B'Elanna, Mr. Paris. You seem to think you do. You think you have some sort of proprietary claim because you two have been doing this subtle dance without being overt about it. Maybe you feel there is an understanding between you and her…but here's the thing. Have you ever actually talked about it? Or have you just been acting like Sixth Years and 'dancing' without ever talking?"
Tom scowled, "You don't know what you're talking about."
Harry laughed, "Oh I do, Mr. Paris. I do indeed because I watched my two best friends dance this dance back when I was 16. That may have been 378 years ago, but I remember it as if it were yesterday. A lot of heartache could have been saved if my friends had actually talked about their feelings. Sadly, they both had issues and I was far too messed up from being raised in an abusive home to know what to do. Now? Now I can see that you are angry that you think B'Elanna is reneging on some sort of unspoken pact and so you lashed out at her."
Tom tried to respond to this but Harry held up a hand, "Oh, don't get me wrong. B'Elanna is just like you in being good at running from her problems. However, in this case, I think she's allowing herself some freedom to be someone different than what she has made herself into to survive. Perhaps she's also getting two birds for one stone in doing this with someone from her mother's people who is also one that has no preconceptions about her. If you'd think about it, I'm sure you'd see the appeal."
Tom snorted, "Warg and Korath just waltz in, sing a few songs and I'm supposed to see the appeal that B'Elanna is probably getting all bitey with a guy who she barely knows?"
Harry snorted, "Angry that someone is stealing out of your playbook? Let's be honest, Mr. Paris, you're a charmer. You come in with your easy ways, your award-winning smile and you can make a gal feel like she's your entire world. Whether she's a buck-tooth, bushy-haired bookworm or a half human-Klingon mix, it can be intoxicating to have a guy like you sweep into their life."
Tom again through up his hands! "That's what I'm saying! I'm the one who has been giving her the attention! Yet some Klingons show up and she's off drinking and carousing! She's probably off throwing things at Warg right now! It's not fair!"
Harry scowled, "Yet you only began to be interested in B'Elanna after your efforts to woo Kes failed.
Tom blinked at this, "What?"
Harry's face fell into a lop-sided grin, "Oh yes Mr. Paris, I've accessed all of Voyager's records. I am aware of all the ship's dirty laundry and where all the metaphorical bodies are buried. You wooed Kes even though she was with Neelix. A guy who had a hard time standing up to you because of his own issues made him feel it was only a matter of time before Kes would wise up and leave him for someone better. Yes, Mr. Paris. I've seen this dance before. So believe me when I tell you that you're about to jump off a cliff and, on the way, down you, will blame everyone but yourself."
Tom's face felt hot like the anger that shot through him. The pain in his jaw wasn't helping him make rational choices either. He lunged forward and pushed Harry back with both his hands, "Oh so I'm the bad guy here, huh? What are you going to do, Mr. Wizard? Put me on report with Tuvok? I'm the one sporting the injury here, pal! I don't need any of your 20th Century 'wisdom' to tell me how to live my life. News flash! We're more advanced here in the future so I don't need some throwback playing at ship's counselor telling me what to do!"
Tom made to push Harry back again when in a flurry of movement, Tom found himself slammed up against the bulkhead, a bright, silvery dagger against his throat. Another was held right below his crotch.
"What can I do?" Harry hissed out, his green eyes glowing with power. "I can gut you like a fish like I did so many times during the Eugenics War. I tried to do what was right instead of what was easy. Well I don't know if it was right, but it was easy to rack up a large kill count. So much so that my enemies called me the Reaper."
Tom gulped as Harry laughed a deep, horrifying laugh. "How little did they know how true that was! Master of Death! That's what the old legends said, one of my titles I'm least fond of. With a but a twitch, this poor 20th century barbarian could put you in the morgue for the Doctor to pick over. Maybe B'Elanna will shed a tear or two."
Harry leaned in and whispered into Tom's ear, "My best mate? Ron Weasley was like you. Oh, he wasn't a charmer. He wasn't a Gilderoy Lockhart knock-off like you. But he was aces at blaming others, never owning up to his own flaws. Even when my other best friend saw it in her heart to take him back after a terrible betrayal, he still couldn't get over feeling cheated somehow. He had issues, real ones that if he'd stopped blaming others for, he could have transcended them. We all were broken by the War. Many of us were broken before it. With work, we got through it. The problem is he never put in the work. He always took what was easy over what was right."
Tom gurgled, partly in pain but mostly in fear as he felt the knife starting to cut into his throat. But he couldn't look away. It was like Harry's eyes had him trapped.
"Ron was a good bloke, nonetheless. He had his issues and he had his triumphs and through it all, he was my best mate. Still, when it came down to the wire, when every magical being on Earth was in danger, do you think he jumped in to help?" Harry asked.
Tom tried to say something, anything but only an incoherent mumble came out. He could feel the lower blade somehow cutting into his pants with Harry merely holding it up against him.
"No, Mr. Paris. He didn't. He let his fears, jealousy and feeling of being owed something allowed him to be convinced I was the threat. I was the one who had to be put down. Even as he'd always talked himself up due to his relationship to my own fame, Ron deep down knew he would always be in my shadow. And what better way to gain glory, to gain what he felt due him than take out the fabled Boy-Who-Lived and save the world?" Harry said in a flat voice. "So I killed him. Just like I killed a lot of former friends who simply believed the wrong thing at the worst time ever."
Harry suddenly backed away from Tom. He pointed at him with the dagger in his right hand, "I sent everything I ever loved away. I did horrible things to try and save the best of Earth. I lost it all, to a portal of no return, to war, to nuclear fire and then finally to the Borg. All I have from my former life is the Stone, the Cloak and the Wand…oh and these goblins forged beauties. Reminders of when I reaped enemies like a scythe through wheat. I cut down the men and women who were drenched in privilege, filled with self-righteousness, and tainted by hate of anything not like them."
Harry did a showy flip of his daggers that ended with them being slipped into sheaves on his belt that then disappeared to Tom's astonishment. "So, Tom Paris, you would do well to heed this warning. I have seen it play out too many times before. You need to look outside yourself and deal with people as people and not as some resource for you to use to advance yourself. Do not let your self-absorption, your sense of being owed something due to what you perceive as the deck being stacked against you rule you. For it will destroy you like it did my friend Ron. You think you're interested in B'Elanna, but we both know she's the current girl you can't have…and you love chasing after what you can't have, don't you Tom?'
Tom glared at Harry but said nothing. Both men knew that in this case, Harry was right.
Harry held Tom's gaze before suddenly turning and walking back towards the mess hall.
Tom let out the breath that he'd been holding. He reached up and found that he was bleeding slightly from his neck. After this, he'd take whatever crap the Doctor wanted to give out. He just wanted to get away from that green-eyed killing machine!
Of course as he gingerly made his way to Sick Bay, deep down, Tom knew he also wanting to get away from the words which had cut him far more deeply than those blades.
OoOoO
Harry walked into the mess hall and found it to be mostly empty. A few Gamma shift personnel eating early. He walked over to Neelix and clapped him on the shoulder, "You're a good man, Neelix. You might not always believe it, but you are. Wherever she is, whatever she is now, I'm sure Kes is proud of the time she spent with you."
Harry patted the Talaxian's shoulder twice before turning and going back out the door he'd just come through.
Neelix stared at the door with a bemused look on his face.
"What was that all about?" Chell, the Bolian, former Maquis member asked as he refilled his coffee cup.
Neelix shook his head, "I'm not sure. However, I'm thinking it had something to do with Lieutenant Paris."
Chell's blue face lit up in understanding, "Ah yes…Mr. Paris did try to poach your patch. Very unsporting. About time he got a bit of a comeuppance. Humans, so arrogant. For all the good of it, the Federation is mostly a vehicle for humans to cram their beliefs down the rest of the Quadrant's throats. And the rest of us let them do it!"
Neelix frowned and was about to rebuttal that statement when he paused. It was a bit true. Even as much as he adored Captain Janeway, it was true that she forced her moral compass on her crew and on the Delta Quadrant. He'd never say it out loud, but he had to wonder about how they had dealt with Species 8472. Had they really meant to destroy all life or just the Borg? They should have tried to negotiate more with them to find out. They had been an enigma. A threat certainly but should the captain have thrown away a chance to humble the Borg so quickly?
Neelix sighed and went into the pantry. It was difficult sometimes to be the only Delta Quadrant individual on the ship at times. The Alpha Quadrant had suffered little, by comparison, from the Borg. If they had more experience like the people of the Delta Quadrant had, Captain Janeway might have given more thought to allowing the Borg to be brought low for longer.
How many Delta Quadrant races would be assimilated that could have been saved? How many would curse the name of Voyager before they were forcibly taken into the Borg Collective? Did this fact keep Captain Janeway up at night or was it simply for the Greater Good and so made it alright?
Neelix made a small noise of disgust. Such thoughts were, as Ensign Campbell like to say, was above his pay grade. As Neelix began to prepare for the rush of Gamma shift, he tried to brush off the memories of all the nights he had been kept awake, wondering at the cost of Captain Janeway's actions might be.
XxXxX
ENGINEERING JUNCTION A113, SUB-SECTION A, USS VOYAGER, SECTOR 390, DELTA QUADRANT – STAR DATE 51046.3
"Commander Torres; might I ask a personal question?" Seven of Nine asked as she calibrated the tricoder to better detect micro-fractures.
B'Elanna looked up from her own calibrations, "A personal question Seven? How unlike you. Sure; go ahead."
Seven paused for a moment, "I have observed you displaying certain facial and bodily motions related to pain. Given the unofficial crew information network, it would seem likely that you have been engaging in Klingon sexual relations. If so, I do have a dermal regenerator which I can easily mask its use from the medical logs. Being in pain will reduce your efficiency even though my readings support the theory you might treat such pains as a badge of honor. Do you wish me to treat you?"
B'Elanna blinked at this before quipping, "That's one for the books. Never heard ship gossip being seen as an 'unofficial crew information network' before. As to your question yes, I've been doing a little of throwing down and trying my hand at the biting. It's not something I've ever had a chance to explore. Also, Klingon genes and honor be damned, feel free to hit me up with some sweet dermal regenerative love!"
Seven gave a curt nod before retrieving the medical device from her kit. Her hands danced over the device before it gave out a beep. "Computer, activate a level 5 warning field at a distance of 10 meters."
"Please state the nature of the warning field," the computer asked.
"Delicate calibrations and repair work in progress ," Seven replied.
"Acknowledged. Level 5 warning field activated," the computer confirmed.
If B'Elanna had eyebrows, one would have quirked up in surprise, "And the reason for all that?"
"Your injuries will necessitate removal of most of your uniform. The prudent course of action was to keep any crew-members from observing your state of undress along with the reason for a medical procedure to be used on your person," Seven replied matter-of-factually.
B'Elanna nodded at that as she began to take off her uniform, "Good thinking, Seven. I may not fully trust you or forgive you for your multitude of sins done as a drone, but I can't fault you for your sense of proper procedures."
"Your animosity is duly noted, Commander," Seven said flatly.
B'Elanna laughed even as she winced in pain as she took her undershirt off, "Don't think you're getting special privileges, Seven. I mostly hate and mistrust everyone."
"That I have previously noted on many occasions," Seven said in the dry tone B'Elanna had come to see as what came to as close as Seven ever got to a joking tone.
B'Elanna snorted at this before standing still in nothing but her panties to allow Seven to work on her. In truth, her injuries were considered mild by Klingon sexual standards. She wasn't fully Klingon and Korath had confessed before they parted that he felt like an outsider wearing a Klingon skin. B'Elanna had already heard a few of the former drones make similar statements. Some, like Sub-Commander Dhael, Arrain Decius and Ensign Mortley, slept in a modified regeneration chamber. While they no longer had any Borg implants, the Doctor theorized that their brains hadn't yet adapted back to normal sleeping. While the former drones looked as if they had been cured, it was obvious to all of the crew that they were not even close to being back to normal.
As Seven worked on the various bite-wounds on her neck and shoulder area, B'Elanna found herself mostly staring at Seven's ample bosom given their height differences. It got her thinking.
After five minutes or so, Seven deactivated the dermal regenerator, "Regeneration is complete. Full functionality should be restored."
B'Elanna blinked at this. She'd been deep in thought. She tested herself with a few careful stretches. "I have to hand it to you, Seven. You might give the Doctor a run for his money. Of course, I'm betting you know all about the human body and how best to disable, kill or assimilate it?"
Seven gave a curt nod, "That is correct."
B'Elanna was about to reach for her uniform when, unexpectedly, Seven reached out and took her right wrist in her hand, "Commander. You have been intently observing my secondary sexual characteristics in a manner I have had to have words with Ensign Kim. Is my physical form so distracting to even those sharing my gender?"
B'Elanna looked at Seven's hand on her wrist. The other woman quickly let go with an odd look on her face. If it had been anyone else, B'Elanna might have thought it to be embarrassment. Still Seven was very much in her personal space, her exposed breasts almost touching Seven's.
She looked at Seven's chest for a second with a smirk before looking Seven in the eyes, "I did some digging into the security tapes after Kim whined about you to me. Personally, I think that was an amazing way to deal with him. However, as to your question, let me ask you a counter-question."
Seven nodded, "I will comply."
"Why do you have tits to begin with?" B'Elanna said in a serious tone even as her mouth was fighting a smirk.
Seven cocked her head to the side slightly, "I do not understand your query."
B'Elanna huffed, "Come now Seven, it's a simple question. A simple question but one that raises a host of other questions. Again, why do you have tits? And not just wimpy ones like I got saddled with." She cupped her hands under her breasts to emphasize the point. "So, I'm stuck with these pert but boring tits and you got these babies that remind me of my mother's."
Seven's free eyebrow went up as B'Elanna cupped Seven's breasts as she said all this.
B'Elanna gave Seven's breasts a squeeze. "I wish I had gotten a more Klingon set of these from my mom. Just another thing for Klingons to belittle me for. And these are a pair of beauties. Might as well call you Rack of Two instead of Seven of Nine."
Seven seemed bemused if anything else as she just stood there as B'Elanna massaged her breasts.
"You see, while you were working on me, it struck me. Why do you have breasts? It's one thing for an adult drone to have them. Maybe it's not efficient to get rid of them. But you were assimilated before puberty and you went through a lot of time in a maturation chamber."
Seven frowned slightly, "That is correct."
"Take it off," B'Elanna said as she motioned for Seven to remove the top part of her body suit.
"Commander?" Seven asked.
"I want to prove a point," B'Elanna said even as she unconsciously had begun to finger the nubs of Seven's nipples through the catsuit fabric.
Seven hesitated for a bit before woodenly stating, "I will comply." With a few efficient moves, she stood before B'Elanna nude from the waist up.
B'Elanna nodded with a satisfied smile, "I was right!" She began to trace a finger up and down one of Seven's breasts, "Your tits are perfect! Not a trace of any Borg implants. Look! Even your nipples are getting hard! I'm wondering if you could still nurse?"
"I am unclear at what I am supposed to be seeing. As you say, my breasts, indeed all of my secondary sexual characteristics are in working order. I believe it is why the likes of Ensign Kim have difficulty in my presence. I am well aware that even with my obvious Borg implants, I would not be considered anything but attractive," Seven said pedantically.
"That's just the point! Why would a drone who goes through a maturation chamber need any of that? The space your tits take up could be used for other things or just left off entirely. Plus, as you like to say, 'secondary sexual characteristics' require hormones to kick off. Why would the Borg bother? Why not force you into maturity but without the sex hormones? It's not like drones breed. Isn't gender irrelevant to the Borg? So any drone who went through a maturation chamber shouldn't have gone through puberty."
Seven's brows knitted in thought, "You are correct. It would be more efficient to forgo the normal hormonal change and the lack would further block me from my biological ties to humanity which are irrelevant in the Borg Collective."
B'Elanna began to lightly finger both of Seven's nipples, "Does that feel good Seven? They're nice and hard. I know I like it when mine get teased like this."
Seven paused before taking a deep breath but said in a calm voice, "It is indeed a pleasant feeling. It is, however, not something I have explored before."
B'Elanna chuckled at that, "Yet you were the one to tell Harry to jack off. Maybe you should take a long bath and have some private time before regeneration. Who knows how your efficiency might rise?"
Seven gave B'Elanna a flat look but said nothing as the other woman continued to play with Seven's breasts.
"So again, I'm wondering about things. Here you are with a smashing ass and a lovely set of tits and I have to ask why? The Doctor isn't programmed to edit for vanity so I have to wonder about those pouty, kissable lips and those rocking hips. It's like you were designed by a committee to hit all the sexy metrics. Yet none of that is relevant to the Borg, is it Seven?"
Seven simply shook her head, her breathing coming a little more erratically.
B'Elanna leaned against the taller woman and whispered, "You like how this feels don't you Seven? Kes had to help you remove things that were keeping from becoming human again. So why would the Borg allow you to keep parts of you functioning that remind you of the pleasures of the flesh?"
"I...do not know. You are correct. It would be more efficient to limit...ah...such things to keep from inadvertent reversion to experiencing pleasure," Seven said as her eyes fluttered closed.
B'Elanna's face broke into an evil smile. She found she was enjoying making Seven squirm, "And are you experiencing pleasure, Seven? Does this make you feel good?"
To B'Elanna's surprise, Seven actually moaned. What happened next surprised her even more. Seven's hand snaked out and into B'Elanna's panties and began to move as if Seven had been fingering women all her life. "It appears I am not the only one experiencing pleasure, Commander. You are exhibiting all the classic stages of desire. It would be prudent to continue so we will not be distracted from our...ah...ah…duties."
B'Elanna's head was going in about ten different directions at once. But she realized that Seven had been right. For all her questions as to why Seven was so...hot, it didn't hide the fact that she was horny and Seven was pushing her buttons like only a few women at Starfleet Academy or in the Maquis had accomplished. For some reason, she kept falling into such relationships as the men she seemed to attract ended up not working out. Not that any of her relationships ever worked out.
With a moan of her own, B'Elanna leaned forward and began to lick and nibble on one of Seven's hard nipples as she continued to stroke the other. Seven's free hand moved to one of B'Elanna's own nipples to mimic what the half-Klingon was doing to her.
For the next few minutes, neither spoke as Seven began to grind against B'Elanna's thigh as her breathing began to become more erratic. However, it was B'Elanna who shuddered in pleasure as the orgasm Seven's fingers produced shot through her and she moaned into Seven's breasts.
For a moment, the two women leaned against each other before Seven gently pushed B'Elanna away, "Commander. The Doctor has been pushing me to explore more of my human side. To do this, I am in need of your assistance," Seven then wiggled out of her catsuit to leave her naked in front of B'Elanna. "I have not achieved satisfaction. Am I correct to believe that you will be able to use oral manipulation to allow me to climax properly?"
B'Elanna grinned like a wolf, "Oh you don't know how right you are!" before kneeling and taking Seven's hips in her hands as she drove her tongue deep into the folds of Seven's sex.
OoOoO
Both women sighed as their mutual orgasm subsided and they began to untangle from the scissoring position they had been locked into for ten satisfying minutes. They both were covered with sweat even as Seven's shoulder and her left breast had slight bite marks on them.
B'Elanna sighed happily as she laid on the deck as she tried to figure out which excuse would be best to explain this work shift being a complete botch. Well she wasn't the Chief Engineer for nothing. If anything, she could put herself on report. That would at least shut Tuvok up.
"I am surprised this happened so soon," a soft voice said from the other side of Seven.
B'Elanna's eyes snapped open to find Harry Potter sitting cross-legged against the far bulkhead.
Both women began to struggle to get up but before they could do much Harry waved them back, "Do not get up on my account. Enjoy this moment. It is a big step for both of you."
"And did you get your jollies from our big step?" B'Elanna hissed out.
Harry face was impassive, "I wish I had. Your lovemaking was raw and pure. Something I did not expect Seven to be able to do at this stage. That you were the one to bring this forth, however, is not too surprising. All three of us are, in a sense, two semi-incompatible people."
"Explain!" Seven said curtly. It was obvious that her state of nudity did not bother her in the least.
"You are human and Borg yet not truly either. The same with B'Elanna. Part human and Klingon but not belonging to either. I was raised in a terrible, mundane environment only to find out that I came from a long line of wizards. All the way till the end, I struggled with not feeling comfortable in either the mundane or magical world. Now I live among normal people but am apart from them as I am functionally immortal. I live but I do not age," Harry explained.
Both women traded looks with each other. Finally, B'Elanna spoke up, "So are we just a hobby to you? Like bird-watching?"
Harry shook his head, "No. Please, I do not want you to think my being here was anything but out of concern for Seven. From my experience with the other drones I saved, I knew she would have issues as the Borg is mostly all she's known. So I've been keeping an eye on her to see if I needed to intervene or help as needed."
Seven merely raised eyebrow at this, "A prudent course of action."
Harry smirked slightly, "Thank you." He then turned to look at B'Elanna, "That being said, you are an interesting person B'Elanna. One who reminds me of a good friend who ran from life. Yet where he, like Tom Paris, never seemed able to break the cycle, here on Voyager it seems you are slowly finding a path for yourself."
B'Elanna scowled but then her face softened, "Look...I'm shit at saying thank you but Seven here showed me the security feed of what you did with Tom. While I don't need someone defending my honor, I want to say I appreciate that you tried with him. I do like Tom, but…"
"But you feel he was another one in a long line of self-sabotaging relationships of yours," Harry finished.
B'Elanna looked shocked at this before her face softened, 'Yeah...something like that." It wasn't as if she hadn't been thinking about her string of failed relationships not to long before it got to heated with Seven.
Harry got up and his wand grew out of his hand. A few swishes and not only did both women find themselves cleaned up but fully clothed as well. "Ladies, I apologize again for interrupting this moment between the two of you. However, I felt for Seven's sake I wanted to tell her that this was a good step for her. She could easily choose to be more like a Vulcan and embrace the colder, more logical Borg side of herself. Yet it is moments like this which show that for all the hassles and illogical nature of humanity, it has its transcendent moments. Times like this may be just a treasured memory but they might lead to love. Who can say? All I can say is that you, Seven, have a better idea of what this side of the fence looks like."
Seven slowly nodded, "I believe I understand."
Harry's face broke into a rare smile, "Good. I am reminded of a show my youngest loved. She and I would watch it together and it was a time I hope both of you can find something like. A time that to an outsider might seem trivial or banal but is truly one of the moments you remember and treasure always. So this show was all about having feet in two worlds. I am reminded of a piece of advice that I believe fits both of you. 'You are not two people. You are not one person. You are an experience. Make sure it is a good experience.'"
Both women looked at each other. An unspoken something passed between them.
Harry nodded, "Seven, for all that people like the Doctor, Neelix and Captain Janeway may push you; do not let them push you to go faster than you are ready for. They are not walking your path. Only you can truly decide how slow or fast you need to go."
Harry turned to B'Elanna, "Your questions about Seven have a lot of merit. I will meditate on them. Again, that someone like you that spans so many divides saw this when no one else did does not surprise me. When your thoughts turn dark with self-loathing or doubt, remember this time. The time when you spotted something no one else did. Something that may be particularly important."
Harry turned to go but before he took more than a few steps, B'Elanna called out, "So you didn't feel anything while watching us? Really? Are we so dull and boring that you felt nothing?"
Harry turned with a sad look on his face, "Maybe some time in the future I will be able to remember this moment and need to take a cold shower. For now, I am still trying to remember what it is to be human again." Harry's face went from sad to looking a bit sheepish, "Hopefully I'll stop talking like I swallowed a Thesaurus. My old friend Hermione would be having me checked for possession if she heard how I was talking."
B'Elanna snorted at that. She had noticed that Harry alternated between talking like any other and then would spout out something she'd expect from Tuvok.
Harry chuckled as well, "Seeing the two of you together in such a way certainly helped, I'm sure. So even as I spied on you, thank you for sharing it with me." Harry then turned and walked away.
Both women watched him go without a word between them. Finally, Seven turned to B'Elanna, "As I have mentioned, the Doctor has been working with me to regain my humanity. Today, I am sure, would be seen as progress. However, I find myself...reticent in mentioning this progress to the Doctor."
B'Elanna laughed, "Don't worry Seven. Hologram or not, his Hippocratic sub-routines will keep him from gossiping. If you feel comfortable enough to tell him, I'm okay with it. Now, I think we have enough time to do enough work to before we had that 'unfortunate mechanical failure" we're going to log. It's a good thing you set up that warning field. Even so, we just couldn't get things to work."
Seven's eyebrow went up as she cocked her head to the side, "Am I to take it that you shall work while I manufacture the appropriate failure?"
B'Elanna smirked, "As I said, Seven. You know your procedures! Let's get to work. Thanks to Harry we have more time as we won't need to squeeze in the emergency spill shower stall together."
"More is the pity," Seven said absently as she turned towards her maintenance kit.
A shocked look graced B'Elanna's face as she watched Seven being to rummage through her kit. Had she heard that right? Had Seven almost flirted with her? She stared at that smashing ass a bit longer before shaking her head. Tom, Korath and now Seven of all people. Maybe Captain Janeway had been right. They had been on red alert for too long.
B'Elanna turned back towards her own work, a slight smile on her face. At least while she was in a very confused place, it had been far too long since her needs, so long suppressed had been so deliciously satisfied. She hadn't been with a woman since her early Maquis days. She'd forgotten how good it could be.
She hoped that Harry the Wizard might be able to magic up a way to let this quiet time continue a bit longer before the Delta Quadrant went back to chewing on them like its favorite chew toy.
XxXxX
AUTHOR'S NOTES
My wife has called Seven of Nine "Rack of Two" for many, many years. I hope some of you find the hidden Star Trek joke hidden in this chapter. That and the Cartoon Network reference.
Also, I will be discussing Tom Paris in next chapters notes. Fear not, people, I'm not going to be Tom!Bashing but I do have some issues with the character.
Perils of Fanfiction: Due to a reviewer pointing out that Fire Whiskey makes you belch flames instead of the steam coming out of one's ears as I had originally used, I found an interesting thing in researching it. Like many things we think we know about a series, fanon seeps into everything. You see, I've yet to come across any mention of burping flames in the books or on the numerous online sources. The main bit about it is when Harry tries it: "The firewhisky seared Harry's throat. It seemed to burn feeling back into him, dispelling the numbness and sense of unreality firing him with something that was like courage." So basically, it's literally liquid courage. Obviously, the drink of choice among Gryffindors!
In fact, the first time I found it drunk is when Arthur puts some into Molly's tea to calm her down. No mentions of flames. However, for effect, I need something to happen so I'm going to go with the fanon concept of fire whiskey…or whisky to all you Scots & Irish types.
RANKS
Because I'm OCD, I've always felt that the ranks in Starfleet never made sense given that while starships are ships, getting into space would be sort of a joint Air Force/Navy endeavor. USAF has ranks built off the Army just as the Marines have similar ranks as well. That and Star Trek almost always showed officers. Except for a few "Crewman X" or Chief O'Brien, everyone in Star Trek seems to be an officer.
I think one of the big things to try and predict is how gender-neutral terms will continue to grow in our global society. Given that even the Klingons are dinging the Federation in Kirk's time about terms like 'brotherhood' might imply we're behind the curve. One concept I like comes from David Brin's Uplift series where mel and fem as semi-replacement for man. (I think mel got picked because the pronunciation of mel in American English is closer to male than if you used mal. (mal rhyming with pal versus mel rhyming with fell)
For now, I will stick with man still winning out over mel (or not going back to the original word wer(e) as in werewolf) but woman would use fem. For those without a designated gender (or refuse to pick) then the suffix of "den" would be used.
One big change is for the rank of Captain in that it isn't a rank, it's a title. This is because whoever runs the ship is the captain regardless of their rank. So smaller ship's captain might be a Senior Lieutenant. Also, on the bigger ships, things would be different. Commander Riker should be the "captain" of the Enterprise-D in that he's the guy who keeps the ship running. Commodore Picard, OTOH, would be in charge of the mission and also be in charge of all the civilians on board as well. US Navy carriers are like this. The Admiral in charge of the battle group isn't the captain of the carrier; s/he is just based there.
Also, Commander, Sub-Commander, Centurion, Arrain and Uhlan are Romulan ranks. In the case of Commander, it is the equivalent of Captain. (It is also the Klingon equivalent as well)
Thanks to guest reviewer James3reed with his advice on naval ranks which I gleefully took. One thing his comments got me thinking about was the Midshipman rank. For the most part in the military, the lowest rank is almost only used when one is in training or when someone has been busted down so low that the next step would have been kicking you out of the service.
However, I did think of a reason why you might want a Midshipman rank outside of Starfleet. First off, before graduation, trainees might do a short tour on an actual ship. As any reader of Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers knows regarding the 3LT rank, it allows one to be part of the chain of command while not actually being part of it.
It also allows for people to come into service provisionally. Wesley Crusher should never have been allowed on the bridge without him being a Midshipman. Likewise, on Voyager, you might use it in two ways, a "Green to Gold" where an enlisted wants to move up to officer status and so is a 'Middy' till they either wash out or become an Ensign. The other would be to allow for people who never were Starfleet, like maybe some of the Maquis or Neelix. So pretty much anyone coming in without formal training would be an O-1/S-1/E-1. Technically for the combat arm, a 3LT would be an O-0 but that's also because at least in the Army (and maybe Marines) they don't allow non-tested types lead troops. You'd want the non-com to take over before a 3LT.
Also, I cut off the ranks at #-8 but obviously there are levels above that. For the purpose of this fic, except for maybe someone calling in from the Alpha Quadrant, we'll never see any Command Sergeant Major's or the various Admiral or General ranks.
OFFICER RANKS - NAVAL
O-8: Commodore (CMDR) While this rank in today's navy is normally a rear admiral, I think the 'Master and Commander' nature of Star Trek would allow for this rank. That and Starfleet isn't just a copy of the US Navy. That and it has been used before in ST:TOS The Doomsday Machine with Commodore Decker.
O-7: Skipper (SKP)
O-6: Commander (CDR)
O-5: Lt. Commander (LCDR)
O-4: Lieutenant, Senior Grade (SLT)
O-3: Lieutenant, Junior Grade(JLT)
O-2: Ensign (ENS)
O-1: Midshipman/fem/den (MIDN)
ENLISTED RANKS – SPECIALIST: These are similar to how the Army used to have an entire branch of ranks assigned to non-combat duties. They were abandoned as the lowest corporal outranked all of these ranks...because the Army was dumb like that. The two highest ranks of Chief are in many ways the equivalent of Warrant Officers.
S-8: Master Chief (MCF)
S-7: Chief (CHF)
S-6: Master Sergeant (MSG)
S-5: Staff Sergeant (SSG)
S-4: Specialist (SPC)
S-3: Technician First Class (TFC)
S-2: Technician (TCH)
S-1: Yeoman/fem/den (YMN)
OFFICER RANKS – GROUND COMBAT/MARINES
O-8: General (GEN)
O-7: Brigadier (BGR)
O-6: Colonel (COL)
O-5: Lieutenant Colonel (LTC)
O-4: Major (MAJ)
O-3: Hauptman/fem/den (Taken from German for various reasons) (HAP)
O-2: First Lieutenant (1LT)
O-1: Second Lieutenant (2LT)
ENLISTED RANKS - GROUND COMBAT/MARINES
E-8: Command Sergeant (CMS)
E-7: Sergeant Major (SGM)
E-6: Sergeant First Class (SFC)
E-5: Sergeant
E-4: Corporal / Lance Corporal (CPL/LCP) In this case, a lance corporal is part of the chain of command while a regular corporal is the equivalent of today's specialist rank.
E-3: Private First Class (PFC)
E-2: Prívate (PVT)
E-1: Trooper (TPR)