Just Between Earth & Sky
G. L. Dartt
The silvery form of the Delta Flyer sped through the stardusted night of the Delta Quadrant, heading for a rendezvous with the USS Voyager, some five light years ahead of it. The away mission that had introduced the Federation crew to the Permuntans, a species of bulky, furred humanoids, had also provided some of the crucial elements needed for Voyager's life support systems ... so crucial that it made it worthwhile for the captain and her team to stay behind a few extra days to negotiate for a larger supply. The hulking beings had been most hospitable and quite friendly species, yet the away team was relieved to have left the planet with an ambient temperature of -5° Celsius at the equator, to return to the relative warmth of the shuttle and space. At the helm, Lt. Ro Laren, late of the Maquis and prior to that, the USS Enterprise, scanned her board, making sure they were still on course, before glancing back to check on the rest of the team.
Captain Kathryn Janeway sat aft, working quietly at her away mission notes. A compact woman with rich, auburn hair and classic features set off by remarkable blue-grey eyes, the Human radiated an assurance and presence that the Bajoran could only envy. Ro Laren had been fortunate in her turbulent career to have served with the best captains Starfleet had to offer and she was pleased that, in Janeway's case, it still rang true.
Opposite the captain, Seven of Nine, Janeway's spouse and Voyager's astrometrics officer covered operations, her blonde head bent studiously over her console. Over her left eye and on her right cheek, greyish metallic implants remained, stark testament to the young woman's time as a Borg drone. Her narrow features with their ice blue eyes provided a cool and somewhat arrogant demeanor, but Ro had been able to get by Seven's regular persona to realize how deceiving appearances could be. Beneath the sleek, biometric outfit beat a warm heart, along with a surprisingly kind and generous nature that could be coaxed out whenever she was in the company of her immediate friends and partner.
At the engineering station, just behind Ro, Lt. B'Elanna Torres looked up in time to meet the Bajoran's dark eyes. The offspring of Klingon and Human parents, the chief engineer was a person who had become quite important to the security officer in recent months, and for a moment, they just stared at each other with warmth and shared intimacy. Stocky with olive skin and dark eyes, and wavy hair almost reaching her shoulders, B'Elanna was feisty, aggressive and stubborn. She was also loving, kind-hearted and quite amusing once one got past all that attitude. Ro had come to the decision that as lovers went, B'Elanna served her quite nicely, far better than she could have hoped for when she first contemplated the relationship.
Ro smiled faintly and turned her attention back to her board. Another twenty hours and they would be back on board their starship. With any luck, the two day R&R accorded the away team members after completing a mission could be spent with the engineer and they would find several ways to warm up after all those icy nights spent in separate beds on Permunta.
There was a chirp on her board and she sobered. "Captain, Voyager is hailing us."
Janeway rose from her seat and moved along the narrow aisle of the Delta Flyer until she was leaning over the slender Bajoran's shoulder. "Put it through," she ordered in the husky voice that Ro had always found rather appealing.
The tiny viewscreen on the helm flickered to reveal the burly first officer of Voyager. Darkly handsome, Chakotay had a tribal tattoo arching over his left eye and down his temple which crinkled when he was amused or concerned. Judging from his frown, Ro guessed it was the latter. The reception was bad, the image distorted with lines and static.
"Captain, Voyager's long range sensors are detecting the approach of an ion storm on a intercept course with our current position. We can outrun it but only in the other direction. We don't have time to return for you and I strongly advise you take cover yourselves. It's going to pass directly across your projected flight path and if it suddenly intensifies or turns on its track as we know these things can..."
Janeway sighed. "You don't have to spell it out, Commander. We'll find a place to take shelter. You just keep my ship safe. When the route is once again clear, you can return for us." She paused, keying in some data on the board. "Any idea of the duration?"
"Unknown. At present intensity, astrometrics projects it lasting for three days. But there is a great deal of unstable plasma run off from it, indicating it could dissipate after a few hours or settle in for a month."
"Damn," Janeway muttered. "I really hate these class seven storms. They're so unpredictable."
A flash of a grin from the first officer. "I don't blame you." He looked away briefly, as if something or someone else had drawn his attention, and immediately lost the grin. "Captain, we're losing communication. Is there any further instructions you want to give?"
"No, just get my ship out of harm's way, Chakotay. We'll look after our end. Delta Flyer out."
The viewscreen flickered and went blank as Janeway straightened. "All right, people," she said, in a more authoritative tone. "We need a place to hole up until the storm passes. Lt. Torres, increase the power allotment to the shields and integrity field. Seven, find us a planet we can reach before that storm gets to us. Lt. Ro, get a line on the storm's track and do your best to skirt it."
"On it, Captain."
"Yes, Captain."
"Aye, ma'am."
Ro ran a sensor sweep through her board, trying to increase the sensor range so she could pick up the leading edge of the spatial anomaly and keep the Delta Flyer well clear of it. Behind her, she could hear B'Elanna muttering softly as she boosted power to the shields and integrity field. It would slow them down a fraction, but the increased strength to the hull might mean the difference between getting through intact or flying to pieces during any necessary maneuvers. Ro wondered if the engineer even knew that she mumbled to herself as she worked, or if only the Bajoran took notice of it.
Further back, Janeway and Seven spoke quietly as they searched the charts for a suitable planet. From the intonation, Ro didn't think they were having much luck and she felt a certain qualm. Ion storms were tricky things and even a tendril discharge from the swirling mass of energy and pulsating flashes of plasma displacement would be enough to disrupt the systems of a vessel the size of the Delta Flyer. Sucking vacuum when the life support systems failed was not the sort of thing that was conducive to a long and healthy life. Ro knew a sensible body wanted a nice layer of planetary atmosphere between it and an ion storm, regardless of whether said atmosphere was breathable or not. An M-class planet simply meant that they wouldn't be trapped on the Delta Flyer for the duration ... a situation that carried its own potential for aggravation.
She took a breath when she saw the light flash on her board. "Captain, sensors are beginning to detect the storm front. It's moving fast."
"Understood, Lieutenant," Janeway responded. Another few murmurs were exchanged with Seven, and then data began streaming through to the navigational computer. "Lay in a course, Lt. Ro. Best possible speed."
Ro quirked an eyebrow. "That's quite a distance, ma'am," she offered quietly even as her hands danced over the board to implement the course alteration.
Janeway returned to her seat, settling in. "I'm aware of that, Lieutenant," she noted mildly. "It's our best option."
"Aye, ma'am," Ro said, feeling the implied rebuke in that innocuous tone.
She knew she should have trusted that Janeway and Seven would have made the best choice of a bad selection and not said anything. Sometimes, it was still hard for the Bajoran to rely on the abilities of others. It had landed her in trouble more than a few times in her life, but then, it had also allowed her to escape trouble a few times as well. She just had to learn how to balance it with her innate need to speak up, especially now that she was once more wearing the red and black of a commissioned Starfleet officer.
She guided the ship away from the oncoming storm, setting a course for the planet indicated. As she did, she ran a projection of the storm's track with the one she was taking. It would be very close, but the Delta Flyer should arrive in the system just ahead of the storm. She might have to do some fancy flying to make the final approach to the outer atmosphere of the planet they were trying to reach, but her skills were equal to that task. Of course, she could take a wider track that took her well clear of any turbulence, but that would also prevent her from reaching that particular planet altogether and there were very few systems in the area that would provide a haven. Any rogue asteroids that they might come across would be devoid of atmosphere, offering little in the way of protection.
"Lt. Torres," she muttered. "Any way you can increase engine output? I'd like a little bit more of a safety factor."
"I'll see what I can do," B'Elanna responded quietly.
A few moments passed, and then Ro detected an increase in velocity, the ship edging up from warp 7.5 to warp 7.9. "Good job."
She glanced over her shoulder and received a smile in return, the Klingon displaying slightly pointed teeth. Ro returned to her board, feeling somewhat more comfortable with her margin of error now. She discovered she needed it as the storm showed a distinct increase in ferocity, almost as if it were suddenly aware of them and was attempting to gobble up its prey before it escaped.
"Sensors detect an increase in ionic output," Seven noted.
"I see it." Ro took a breath. "I suggest we secure from stations and strap down. It might be a bumpy ride."
She heard Seven and Janeway move around in the rear of the Delta Flyer, storing away anything that might come lose to fly about the cabin in the event of turbulence. Then they took their stations, not without a little resistance from the captain. Ro's keen ears picked up the murmured conversation between the two women.
"Be sure the harness is secure, Kathryn," Seven said.
"I know how to work the restraints, Annika," Janeway responded testily.
"Yes, Kathryn." A pause. "It would benefit by being tighter over your left shoulder. Allow me to adjust it."
"Seven! I'm not five years old."
Ro swallowed her smile, thinking it a fairly cute exchange, the Borg's sense of protectiveness for the captain well known by all the crew at this point. She glanced over her shoulder, relieved to see that B'Elanna had also strapped in. Sometimes the Klingon liked indulging her reckless side and the Bajoran was glad to see this was not going to be one of those situations.
"Don't forget yourself," B'Elanna muttered.
Embarrassed at the oversight, Ro wiggled into her own harness, releasing it from the compartment on the back of the chair and bringing it around to secure herself to the pilot's chair, clicking it into place as the Delta Flyer tore into the star system at high warp, passing by the outer planets just ahead of the spreading energy mass.
"Dropping to impulse," Ro said as the tiny vessel approached the inner planet. This was the trickiest part. Though the bulk of the storm would not enter the system ... the gravitational pull of the system's star countered by the gravimetric pressures within its swirling mass ... random tendrils of energy and plasma discharge still broke off the main mass to boil through the system on their own, creating a distinct threat to the fleeing ship.
The tiny vessel shuddered at the disturbance around it and the Bajoran coaxed every bit of impulse power from the shuttle's engines as it dived toward the outer layer of the third planet's atmosphere. There was a brief instant of uncertainty, the thought that perhaps they had not made it after all, then abruptly the outer hull was heating as the first wisps of air molecules screamed over the sleek surface of the ship.
Ro throttled back, dropping quickly from full impulse, to half, to quarter, and then killing the drive altogether to engage the atmospheric thrusters. The billowing clouds through which they were descending made visibility impossible, and then abruptly they were clear. Ro hauled back on the stick, discovering the surface a lot closer than she ... or the sensors ... anticipated. Whether that was from a minor malfunction from the buffeting they had received or that somehow the quality of the atmosphere distorted eyesight, she didn't know at the moment.
A quick scan revealed a clearing in the heavily forested surface below, not far from a placid lake, and Ro decided that would be as good a place to land as any. This was a virgin planet, covered with lush jungle and shallow seas, totally devoid of sentient beings, though a wide range of unintelligent lifeforms swarmed over the surface. The Bajoran knew that the planetary survival protocols were in full implementation at this point, regardless of the fact that they planned to leave as soon as the ion storm was over so she tried to find a place where they could build shelter if they had to. She lowered the landing struts, delicately reining the vessel back into a hovering mode, and slowly eased it down onto the grassy surface. There was a brief second of sogginess ... had she mistaken a swamp for solid land? ... but then the struts found purchase on firm ground and the ship settled onto them. The Bajoran quickly shut down the thrusters and engines, the abrupt quiet almost deafening after the noise of their descent.
"Well," she remarked, looking through the front viewport at the heavy foliage of the jungle bordering the clearing. "We're here."
B'Elanna Torres unhooked her webbing and got to her feet, moving over to the hatch. But she waited before cracking it, looking back at the Borg working at the operations console.
"Seven?"
"Scanning." The Borg paused. "No indication of lifesigns in the vicinity above the level of insects."
"No doubt our landing scared everything away," Janeway noted, struggling to get out of her seat. Apparently, her harness was snagging at the adjustment buckle over the left shoulder and B'Elanna saw her shoot an exasperated look at her spouse. "But do another scan. Insects can boast a wide range of poisons. Seven, I'm assigning you as medical officer. You're the only one with any knowledge of biometrics, and I know you've helped out in sickbay."
"Yes, Captain." Seven studied her board. "Lt. Torres, I believe it would be prudent to inject a wide spectrum anti-microbial agent prior to exiting the shuttle, as well as an all purpose antivenin spray."
"Got it." B'Elanna opened a compartment at the back where she retrieved a medikit. Behind her she could hear Janeway's aggrieved hiss.
"Get me out of this."
The Klingon carefully swallowed her smirk before turning around and handing the kit to Seven. Then she went over to the captain and examined the buckle that had become jammed. "Hang on, Captain."
"It's not as if I have a choice," Janeway said peevishly.
B'Elanna grinned at her and worked at the fastening until she had loosened it, enabling Janeway to release the webbing enough to get out of her seat. The chief engineer glanced over at Seven who had injected Ro Laren with a hypospray, before using it on herself. The Borg reloaded the hypospray and pressed it against the neck of her spouse, and then beckoned to B'Elanna. Stifling a sigh, the Klingon raised her head, exposing her throat and barely succeeded in not flinching as the medicine hissed through her skin and into her system. Theoretically, the broad band spectrum of antibodies would protect her from any microbes or bites from poisonous animals or insects.
Then she moved over to the hatch and cracked it. The steamy heat of the outside billowed into the cool interior of the shuttle, instantly making perspiration break out on all the women with the exception of Seven. She merely looked vaguely displeased at the abrupt rise in temperature. The air was smothering and immediately, Janeway, Ro and B'Elanna stripped off their uniform tunics and sweaters, leaving the women clad only in their thin tank tops.
"Oh, this is pleasant," Ro said sardonically, as she and B'Elanna stepped down onto the spongy surface of the purple-hued vegetation. The atmosphere was exceptionally humid, lying thick and heavy over the jungle, the sky hazy with a lavender tint. There was no wind and the high whine of insects had resumed around them, filling the area with their hum. No sound of birds though, B'Elanna noticed.
"Could be worse," she said dryly. "It could be like Permunta."
The Klingon, maintaining a higher body temperature than the rest, had suffered greatly in the icy chill of their last stop. While this was a bit hotter than she ordinarily liked, she was aware that she would still be more comfortable in it that her crewmates. Already, Ro's dark hair was sticking to her forehead, and her smooth skin glistened as she studied her tricorder.
"Anything?" Janeway said from the doorway of the shuttle, her eyes squinting as she looked out over the alien landscape.
"Some fairly large lifesigns about thirty kilometers east." Ro made a slow circle, holding her tricorder away from her body. "Some smaller ones closer, but you were right, Captain. We cleared out this area for the time being."
"They'll return when they see we're no threat," B'Elanna said. "Maybe we should take advantage of it while it lasts and become one."
"Elaborate," Janeway ordered.
"I think we should set up an alarm perimeter surrounding the shuttle at a distance of about ten meters, Captain. That way, any animal that considers this a watering hole won't be tempted to get too close to us."
"I concur, Captain," Ro added. "It would be a prudent security measure."
Janeway considered it. "Do it. Check out the lake as well. There's no way of knowing how long we'll have to stay on the surface and it might be a good idea to secure supplies, just in case."
B'Elanna nodded. After six years in the Delta Quadrant, with the ship always seeming limited in one form of supplies or another, all of the crew had gotten used to thinking of in terms of consolidating resources and making sure they had backup in the event things did not go as expected. She looked at Ro.
"Give me a hand?"
"Sure."
Together, the two women went to a compartment at the side of the Delta Flyer and removed several pieces of equipment. The rods were thin, made of metal and topped with a diamond-shaped knob, consisting of golden energy crystals that powered the devices. B'Elanna and Ro separated, setting the rods in place around the shuttle in a fairly even circle before activating them. A line of defense, invisible to the naked eye, shot out from each brightly glowing crystal to connect to the next, creating a web of sound resonance frequencies and energy pulses designed to ward off intruders. Of course, anything really determined could force their way by the repulse field, but it would set off an alarm and grant the Federation crew fair warning in order to set up a stronger defense.
Once that was done, B'Elanna and Ro strolled down to the lakeside to check the water. B'Elanna kept blinking her eyes to clear them of moisture, finding the colors unusually jarring and unappealing. Where, to her jangled senses, there should be the various shades of green, there were instead, shades of purple and blue; where the sky and water should be conversely blue, they instead held a vaguely shimmering lavender and red tint. The splashes of flowering bushes and plants boasted an array of various greens and oranges. It all combined to make B'Elanna faintly nauseous though there wasn't really much she could do about it. No matter how long one had been in space, no matter how many alien planets one visited, one's body always knew what was normal for it, and when it ran into something that wasn't, it reacted, despite all the intellectual reasons why it shouldn't.
As they approached the water, B'Elanna was disturbed to see that it retained its lavender tint and she realized it was the water itself, not the light spectrum reflecting off it. She knelt next to it, her booted feet crunching on black nodules of pebbles and scooped up a handful of the warm liquid. Looking at it closely, she could see that it was full of some kind of fungus or algae that left a trail of slime on her hand as she shook it off.
"Ick," she muttered, wiping her hand on her pants.
"Single-celled organisms," Ro noted, checking the tricorder. "Millions of them in order to be actually visible to the eye. I'm sure the local inhabitants find them quite nutritious. So could we, in an emergency."
"We can always strain them out," B'Elanna suggested.
Ro was obviously not enthused by the idea. She shielded her eyes with her hand as she looked across the oily surface of the water. "I don't think this is a lake as much as it is just a big pond. We might have better luck if we look for an inflow source."
"Like a stream or river," B'Elanna agreed, nodding.
The women walked along the shore, various cries and sounds coming from the jungle's inhabitants, resuming after the quiet the shuttle's arrival had caused. Ro continued her tricorder scans, but also took the precaution of detaching her phaser from her waist and carrying it at a ready position, the setting a few notches above the minimum stun level. Prudently, B'Elanna followed suit, feeling better with the metal handle of the weapon in her hand. They had gone about a quarter of a way around the body of water when they came across a creek flowing through grey, sharp rocks, crystalline in appearance. Unlike the lake, this water was completely clear, burbling over the shards of stone cheerfully and the women followed it upstream a short distance to where it emerged from a large rock outcropping, vegetation hanging over it to provide a bit of shade as the women examined it.
"Drinkable," Ro said, scanning it. "It's a spring. No trace of harmful impurities."
B'Elanna felt a certain amount of relief, even as she knew that was the thing with water on M-Class planets. Two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen tended to combine at a certain temperature the exact same way, regardless of what vegetation and evolution predominated. It was just important to make sure nothing harmful was present after it formed ... such as a pathogenic single-celled organisms or other toxins.
"We have to christen this place sooner or later," the Klingon said, scooping up a handful of the clear water and bringing it to her lips. It was pleasantly cool, issuing as it did from the planet's earth and tasting clean and sweet. "Not bad."
Ro also drank, then filled the two canteens she had brought with her. "Water supply secure. We'd better get back."
"I guess we should," B'Elanna allowed, with just a touch of reluctance. But Ro caught it, starting at her.
"No?"
"Well, we could take a moment more."
Ro smiled faintly. "That's not exactly protocol."
"No," B'Elanna agreed, disappointed.
Then Ro leaned over and kissed her, her mouth cool and wet on B'Elanna's and most definitely as sweet as the spring water had been. Their time on Permunta had been spent dressed in insulated mission outfits, even while sleeping in the fur covered beds, and the two women had no opportunity to be alone together at all. Since they had recently elevated their relationship to a physical level, it had been far more difficult than it otherwise might have been. Not that this was much easier, B'Elanna noted as she lost herself in the kiss. It occurred to her that, with the captain and Seven along, and all four of them being required to stay within the confines of the Delta Flyer, she and Ro would not necessarily have any time to be alone together here, either. The kiss, which inflamed her, also caused her frustration to rise.
"I'll be glad when we get back to Voyager," B'Elanna growled when they finally parted.
"Me, too," Ro admitted and flashed her a smile.
This made B'Elanna feel marginally better and she took one of Ro's hands in her own as they started to trudge back to the shuttle. Idly, she ran her thumb over the back of Ro's hand, then curled it inside to stroke the palm, knowing that Ro found this particular caress arousing. Ro glanced at her with a frown but did not pull it away ... at least, not until they came in sight of the shuttle.
B'Elanna hesitated, holding back. "Maybe we should make some noise, break the barrier just to test it."
"To make sure the captain and Seven weren't ... 'distracting' each other while we were gone?" Ro said sardonically, as if she had read B'Elanna's mind. "I don't think that's a likely scenario."
"I know, it's sort of astounding to think they would, but honestly, those two are a lot more ... active than I think people realize. Did I ever tell you about the time I was out on the ship's hull and saw them ... well, you know."
"On Voyager's hull?" Ro responded in clear disbelief. "In space suits? Is that even possible?"
"No, no, no," B'Elanna explained hastily. "I was outside. They were inside."
"You peeked through the viewport of their quarters?"
"No, there's a little auxiliary room on the underside of the saucer section. Apparently, it can turn transparent to ... I don't know, give the people inside a view of space or something, I guess. Anyway, I was out doing some routine maintenance and I happened to be facing that direction. The hull turned transparent and there was Janeway on her back while Seven was ... uh, 'dining'."
"Prophets, there's an image I didn't really need before having to look the captain in the face. Or Seven, for that matter." Ro rolled her eyes.
"We need to remember that, as hard as this has been on us the past few days and will be the next few, it probably applies to them, too."
"The ship is sort of cramped, even if it is larger than the traditional shuttle." Ro quirked an eyebrow. "I wonder if the captain would authorize us setting up a habitat outside?"
B'Elanna grinned. "There's a thought." She shot the tall, slender woman beside her an admiring look. "It's a good thought, in fact. It wouldn't just benefit us, it would allow them some privacy in the shuttle."
"I'll ask. The worst she can say is 'no' and then, we're no worse off than we already are."
The women stepped through the perimeter, breaking the beam. B'Elanna felt an unpleasant tingle as she did, but nothing more as the sensor recognized her as sentient. As a result, the field did not deliver the stronger, more dissuading jolt it would to an animal. Seven immediately appeared in the hatchway, holding a compression rifle while the captain's head popped up in the near window.
"Guess it works," B'Elanna noted.
Ro waved her hand. "Just checking."
"Understood." Seven disappeared back inside and B'Elanna shot a look at Ro.
"She didn't look distracted."
Ro shrugged. "Maybe they don't take advantage of their opportunities like we do."
Janeway took a breath and blinked away a few droplets of perspiration from her eyelashes as Seven ducked back inside the shuttle, leaving the hatch open. Even in the sleeveless, tank top, the sweat still poured off the captain and she tried to keep it from dripping onto her console. The interior temperature of the shuttle could be kept cool, of course, but that would be an expenditure of energy that could not be justified as long as the air from the outside continued to pass freely inside. She regarded her spouse wistfully, sorry they hadn't been able to take advantage in the absence of the other two crewmembers. But, by the time she and Seven had finished securing the shuttle for ground status, it was too late and they had only a second for a rather heated kiss and quick embrace before the alarm sensors went off, heralding Ro and B'Elanna's return.
Seven of Nine looked remarkably cool and contained as she worked quickly and quietly at her station. At least, Janeway had been able to convince the Borg to remove the padded vest of her away mission outfit and exchange the long-sleeved sweater for a thin t-shirt. Seven's remaining Borg implants maintained her body's internal cooling system far more efficiently than mere sweat glands could and the only sign that she might be aware of the oppressive heat at all, was a faint sheen over her forehead. Since Seven did not perspire, it was probably just condensation from the heavy humidity. Janeway tried not to feel resentful about her partner's cool composure as the other two members of the team crowded into the shuttle. Knowing her irritation sprang from the heat, she forced herself to regard Ro evenly as she took a seat to make her report.
"There's a spring of drinkable water about two hundred meters to the northwest," Ro said, handing her a canteen. "The lake is populated heavily with some kind of single-celled organism. I don't believe it worth the effort of straining it out, though we could set up a filtration system, if absolutely necessary. Some of the vegetation in the local vicinity is edible, but I don't think any of it would taste very good according to the scans I took with the tricorder."
"Good work." Janeway glanced through the front viewport, judging the light and the flash of sunbeams gleaming through the jungle. "Dusk is approaching," she added in a louder tone, so that the entire away team could hear. "That means any large animals in the area will undoubtedly be coming down to the local water supply to drink. It's time we sealed up for the night."
"Uh, Captain," Ro added as Seven and B'Elanna moved outside to do Janeway's bidding, making sure the exterior of the shuttle was secure before the evening watch.
Janeway eyed her. "Yes?"
"Lt. Torres and I were wondering if perhaps it would afford us more space if we set up a habitat outside."
Janeway stared at her long enough that Ro colored faintly. Janeway relented and smiled briefly.
"Lieutenant, I don't want you to think that I am entirely insensitive to your suggestion." Ro colored even more. "But I think we should wait to see how this first night goes. If it remains quiet, I will consider your request for tomorrow night."
Ro nodded. "Thank you, Captain," she said, obviously relieved that Janeway had not made more out of it than she had. Though, if truth be told, had the captain been less hot and uncomfortable, she might have taken the opportunity to tease Ro a little.
Finally, B'Elanna and Seven returned to the shuttle and shut the hatch for the night. Seven went over to her console and activated the internal environmental controls, able to now stabilize the interior temperature and moisture content of the atmosphere. Janeway breathed a sigh of relief as she felt the cool, drier air issue from the vent next to her and she basked in it, her mood improving significantly.
"Seven, can I ask you to take over mess duties tonight?" After the food the Permuntans had provided while she was carrying out their negotiations, the captain was anxious for some home cooking ... or at least, as homey as Seven, limited by a shuttle replicator, could manage. Thankfully, both B'Elanna and Ro knew about her unique touch around food, so there was no concern about picking up more dinner guests than the couple already hosted on a regular basis.
Seven flashed her a slightly amused look. "Of course, Captain."
Janeway shivered briefly as her sweat quickly dried, but it was still warm enough that she didn't need her tunic, though she did move out of the direct flow from the vent. Janeway wondered how long the shuttle would have to remain on the planet's surface, keying her touch pad once more. An updated scan revealed that the ion storm in space had intensified and was still throwing off magnetic strings to infest the star system, but with any luck, the main mass would be soon moving on its way. If it didn't, Janeway would need to start looking at her options. Four strong willed people trapped on a shuttle where the temperature outside was this oppressive could be a prescription for trouble.
She shut down her board where she had been tracking the storm and followed the other women who had moved to the rear compartment of the shuttle. This was considered the tiny vessel's 'crew quarters', containing a replicator, a table with room for six, and a like number of bunks which, at the moment, were folded up into the bulkheads on either side of the compartment. Above the table, a subtle light illuminated the area that was darkening rapidly as the sun set outside. Janeway sat down next to B'Elanna who was already seated, out of the way of Seven who was programming the replicator and Ro, who was setting the table. Ro also helped Seven carry over the evening meal, which included a large bowl of spaghetti and a plate piled high with garlic bread.
Janeway hungrily served herself a healthy portion of the stringy pasta covered with spicy tomato sauce thick with chunks of peppers, celery, mushrooms and pieces of chicken breast. Seven had also added condiment containers of fresh grated Parmesan and Romano cheese as well as providing a large bottle of Bajoran spring wine. It was not the standard type of food issued for an away mission, but not anything Janeway was going to complain about. Janeway had no idea how her spouse managed to program in the various percentages of spices and additional ingredients to the replicator's standard pattern of spaghetti to provide such a flavorful meal, but as time went by, she knew it was a gift of immense proportions. One that she was fortunate enough to share in when it came to the final product.
"Good," B'Elanna mumbled, between mouthfuls of her pasta. "Great job, Seven."
Ro, sitting next to Seven, also nodded. "It tastes wonderful."
"Thank you," Seven remarked politely as she settled down to her own smaller portion.
Janeway merely shot her spouse a warm look of gratitude and Seven's pale eyes glowed in response. Seven genuinely liked both B'Elanna and Ro, but it was always Janeway's opinion that meant the absolute most to her, even after all this time.
For the next few moments, there was little conversation as all four women intently took the edge off their appetites. For some reason, Janeway decided, a body always seemed hungrier planetside. Of course, since this planet also boasted a higher gravity than Earth standard, they were using up more energy than normal when they moved around, even without taking into account the sapping heat and humidity.
Abruptly, Seven's head came up and she stared pointedly at the captain. Baffled, Janeway returned the look as Seven's laser gaze searched her face intently. After a few seconds, the pale eyes shifted over to B'Elanna, who still had her head down, apparently oblivious to anything other than her meal.
"Lt. Torres," Seven noted crisply.
Startled, B'Elanna glanced up. "Yeah?"
"That is my leg you are caressing with your foot beneath the table. Not Lt. Ro's, as I am sure you originally intended."
Both Ro and B'Elanna flushed deeply as Janeway, despite her best efforts, snorted laughter, covering her mouth with a napkin and turning away from the table so she could bend over. It took a moment to compose herself, the memory of the sheer indignity in her spouse's tone serving to increase her merriment every time she thought she had managed to control herself.
"Heavens," she said when she was finally able to turn back, gently wiping a tear away from the corner of her eye. "How are we going to survive two or three days cooped up with new lovers, Seven?"
"I trust it shall prove difficult," Seven remarked dryly.
Ro and B'Elanna refused to respond, keeping their attention firmly on their plates and doing their best to pretend they were not even paying attention to Janeway and Seven. Janeway laughed again and picked up her fork to resume her meal, glad that it wasn't always her who ended up embarrassed by Seven's forthrightness and lack of tact.
They finished their meal, all replete enough that no one took Seven up on her offer to program a dessert, and leaned back in their seats, sipping their wine in companionable silence. Janeway wasn't sure when she became aware of the subtle vibration, but when she did, she looked over to see Seven staring intently at her wineglass sitting on the table.
"Captain?"
"I see it," Janeway said, watching uneasily as the golden wine quivered in the clear crystal.
"Earthquake?" B'Elanna offered, having picked up on the conversation. Suddenly, all four women were displaying a heightened awareness, a sort of sixth sense that warned of some unknown threat. Janeway herself, could feel the hair rise on the back of her neck, an unpleasant tingle traveling down her spine.
"It is too rhythmic for tectonic instability," Seven noted.
"Whatever it is, it's getting closer," Ro noted, in a voice carefully devoid of inflection.
Without any further discussion, the women left their wine and slipped out of the booth, moving from the aft crew quarters to the main cabin of the Delta Flyer. The only illumination came from the small glowing lights on the active panels and three small moons rising over the jungle, casting a brilliant, silvery glow that streamed through the large viewports looming over the helm. Janeway started to activate the interior cabin lights, but some subconscious warning kept her from it. Instead, she quietly opened the compartment next to her and closed her hand over the muzzle of a high compression phaser rifle. She hauled it out and handed it silently to the Bajoran, and then took one for herself. The women gathered at the front of the Delta Flyer, feeling the vibration ripple through their legs, the sound of solid, heavy regular thumps growing louder with every breath.
Uneasily, the captain's eyes searched the jungle and she flinched as the foliage began an agitated dance, heralding the arrival of the huge creature that pushed its way through it, clearly visible in the moonlight. Janeway was aware that her mouth had fallen open as she stared wide-eyed at the animal that lifted its scaly head to sniff the air suspiciously, turning it right and then left, before focusing its forward-set, red-rimmed eyes on the shuttle resting in the center of the clearing.
"Those perimeter rods aren't going to stop that," B'Elanna muttered unhappily.
The captain forced herself to swallow. "A tyrannosaurus rex," she identified in a weak voice.
"This planet's equivalent, perhaps," Seven remarked calmly.
"Captain?" Ro tore her eyes briefly away from the large reptilian form standing upright near the jungle's edge.
"A dinosaur, from Earth's Jurassic period."
"Cretaceous, actually," Seven corrected. "Several million years after the Jurassic era."
B'Elanna swallowed audibly, gulping a little in the dark. "Whatever. All I know is, with that coloration, it must blend into the jungle really well. A big purple dinosaur. What the hell could be worse?"
Seven studied it with scientific detachment. "I do not believe that the Terran dinosaur possessed a row of bone plates running down its back. That could be 'worse'."
B'Elanna looked confused.. "What do you mean?"
Janeway caught her breath. "Oh, dear."
B'Elanna turned to look at her with a baffled expression. Ro chose to answer. "Why would a carnivorous animal that size need to evolve additional protective plating over its spine, when its hide is obviously pretty thick already?"
B'Elanna thought about that and looked a trifle green as she finally reached the same conclusion as everyone else. "Because there's something even bigger and nastier that can take a chunk out of it."
The women abruptly fell silent as the creature began to move purposefully toward the shuttle. Janeway gripped her rifle with nerveless fingers, slippery with sweat as it approached and wished she had utilized the ship's head before going to dinner.
The creature hesitated as it reached the line of repulsion, jerking back as it intersected the field but it was apparently intrigued enough by the new thing in its territory to shake off what must only have been a mild discomfort, and push through the web of energy. The bulk of its thick legs brushed aside three of the rods, knocking them down and disrupting the perimeter system altogether.
"Lieutenant?" Janeway said, hoping her voice was a lot steadier than her insides were at the moment.
"On it," Ro said, her fingers dancing over the helm as she handed her rifle to Seven, who was closest. The Bajoran activated the shields, the protective force field designed to ward off weapons fire and the harsh environment of space springing up around the shuttle's hull. The creature's snout touched the sparkling shield and was jolted with such force that it whipped the animal's head around, making it step back several paces on its heavy muscular legs.
The dinosaur opened powerful jaws, roaring loudly and Janeway's knees turned to jelly.
"I think you made it mad," B'Elanna noted worriedly.
The creature reared back, it's absurdly tiny front legs dangling in front of its chest, and lunged at the shuttle, mouth gaping as half-meter long fangs crunched down on the shuttle's hull. The force of the blow was such that the vessel actually slid back a meter, though the shields held and the animal was repulsed violently at least twenty meters in the opposite direction. The women were knocked to the floor, collapsing onto the deck.
"Ro," Janeway said loudly, as she struggled to get out from beneath B'Elanna muscular form. "Ready phasers."
Ro scrambled back up into the pilot's chair and keyed in the necessary controls, lights springing up over the board. Through the front viewport, Janeway would see the animal shaking its head uncertainly before roaring loudly once more. It paused, as if to get its bearings, and then pounded for the shuttle in a full charge.
"Ro!" Janeway yelled.
"Firing," the Bajoran said calmly.
Twin beams of ruby light lanced out from the fore part of the shuttle and intersected directly in the chest of the charging creature. Designed to cut through the hull plating of a starship, the phaser beams stabbed easily through the large body, exiting out the other side. For a brief instant, Janeway thought she saw an expression of consternation and astonishment appear on its face, and then the creature toppled to the turf with a mighty crash, its momentum carrying it forward so that Janeway was actually afraid it would crash into them anyway. It skidded to a stop a scant half-meter from the front of the shuttle, granting a close up view of just how large it actually was.
For a moment, all four women stared wide-eyed at the thirty-tonne carcass lying motionless before them. Finally, Janeway was able to dredge up enough moisture to get her mouth working again.
"Lieutenant Torres, make sure the heaviest filters are placed in the air recirculating system," she said with unnatural calmness. "That will start to decompose quickly in this environment and I want as much of the odor coming in from the outside air scrubbed out as possible through the night. We'll look at moving our location in the morning."
"Aye, Captain," B'Elanna said and Janeway wondered if it was only her imagination that was putting that slight quiver in B'Elanna's voice. She moved quickly to carry out the captain's order and Seven joined her.
"Lt. Ro?" Janeway remarked, her eyes never leaving the bulk of the big dead purple dinosaur in the clearing.
"Yes, Captain?"
"I don't think it would be wise for you and B'Elanna to set up a habitat outside tomorrow night."
"No, Captain," Ro responded somberly, "I don't suppose it would."
"It was a most formidable creature," Seven noted as she handed the heavy-duty devices to B'Elanna who replaced the standard issued filter in the open compartment that contained some of the air recirculating system.
"Anyone ever tell you that you have a knack for understatement?"
Seven quirked an eyebrow. "You seem disturbed, Lieutenant."
"I just have an aversion to being something's dinner." She took a breath and sealed the hatch. "C'mon, we still have two more to replace."
Seven followed her dutifully into another part of the shuttle, into the confines of the ship's head. "What did the captain mean?" she asked as they started in on the main air supply system that lay beneath the floor of the small bathroom. "About setting up a habitat outside?"
B'Elanna sighed. "Laren and I were going to ... well, find a little privacy tonight, as well as provide you and the captain some. Of course, now that we know what's out there, I don't think any of us will be going outside unless it's absolutely necessary."
Seven considered that, feeling a very real pang of regret herself. Although she sympathized with her friend who undoubtedly wished to spend more quality time with her new lover, Seven also missed being with the captain with decided longing. In fact, the thought that she would have to continue to sleep without Kathryn's warm body by her side served to put her in a most aggravated and dark mood indeed.
"Unfortunate," Seven murmured unhappily. B'Elanna shot her a commiserating grin.
After finishing up their task, the two squeezed out into the aft compartment. Through the door leading to the main cabin with its generous viewports, Seven could see that the dead animal next to them was already starting to attract attention. A multitude of scurrying creatures were beginning to crawl over the leathery skin, biting their way through to get to the flesh beneath while occasionally snapping at others in order to secure their portion of the gigantic feast. They seemed oblivious to the metal construct resting quietly next to the dinosaur's large, heavy head.
"Perhaps we should consider moving now," Seven suggested to Janeway who was mopping up a pool of spring wine spread over the deck, undoubtedly having fallen when the shuttle had been attacked. Shattered shards of glass were littered amid the remains of their dinner dishes, mixed in with the crimson splash of leftover tomato sauce. Seven found some clean cloths and began to help her, wiping down the nearby bulkheads and deck. "And to a climate that is less oppressive."
"I instructed Ro to try to bolster our shield strength to hold off the scavengers." Upon hearing that, B'Elanna turned and went out to the main cabin, no doubt considering that task more entertaining than mopping up spilt food. "Seven, I'd rather not spend the night looking for a spot to land, and that's what we'd have to do unless we completely circled the planet. Since this world has yet to develop ice caps, we're already in as temperate a climate as it's going to get."
"Understood." Seven moved closer. "Yet, I would be grateful for an opportunity to exit the shuttle," she offered, in a lower voice. "We have not spent any personal time together for more than a week and a half."
Janeway smiled faintly. "I know." She straightened, bearing her load of broken crockery over to the recycling unit, tossing her dirty cloths in as well. "It bothers me, as well, Annika, but sometimes, it just works out that way."
Seven followed her over to the unit with her own armload of debris which she placed carefully in the recycler. "I cannot help thinking of our quarters on Voyager. It is unfortunate that the storm did not hold off another day. We would have reached the ship by then."
"And if wishes were horses," Janeway said, turning around to slip her arms around her spouse. "We'd all be riding."
"Why would we want to ride?" she asked, puzzled as she returned the embrace.
Janeway laughed softly. "Never mind."
Janeway took a quick glance out the door leading to the main cabin, and as Seven followed her gaze, she saw that B'Elanna and Ro were huddled together as they worked on the shields, far closer than they probably needed to be, their backs to the aft compartment. When she turned her attention back to her, Janeway took the opportunity to kiss her.
Seven returned it happily. It was probably the first really good kiss she'd had in over a week, including the brief one earlier in the day, and she concentrated on it closely, not wanting to miss any aspect of it. When they finally parted, Janeway was blushing faintly.
"Heavens, you can kiss." It was not for the first time she had reached that conclusion.
Seven accepted it for the compliment it was and kissed her again. Then with obvious reluctance, Janeway pushed Seven away, easing out of the embrace.
Seven noticed that Ro and B'Elanna broke apart as well as she and Janeway entered the main cabin, though Seven could not see any indication that they had been doing anything nearly as intimate as what she and the captain had been indulging. Seven was still not entirely sure why it was so necessary to present a show of personal disinterest, especially when what she really wanted was to take her partner back into the aft compartment, drop a bunk down, and make slow, passionate love to her. Indeed, she knew for a fact that Janeway probably wished to do the same and Seven was sure that the other two women would not mind. In fact, Ro and B'Elanna would no doubt take the opportunity to make love themselves. She made a note to ask Janeway to explain it to her later so she could understand this social taboo completely. For now, she realized Janeway did not want any indication of physical intimacy and Seven, despite her desire, intended to respect that.
"Lieutenant, bring down the blast shield," Janeway instructed. "I really don't want to look at that if I don't have to."
"Aye, ma'am," Ro responded, keying in commands which brought the metal plating down over the transparent aluminum, shutting out the moonlight and the rest. The internal running lights brightened accordingly and Seven felt very cozy suddenly, the four of them finding seats in the main cabin.
"Well, it's a little early for bed," B'Elanna offered. "Anyone have any ideas?"
"You mean like Twenty Questions or Truth or Dare?" Janeway asked lazily.
B'Elanna eyed her skeptically. "Would you play them?"
Seven wondered what they were talking about.
Janeway considered that. "Perhaps the first. I don't think I know you well enough to play the second, Lieutenant. At least, not at this point."
"Really?" B'Elanna said, with a small snort. "Like you have any secrets after Seven's talked to me?"
Janeway allowed a small smile. "Point taken. I'll rephrase. I don't know Ro yet, and it is my opinion that she probably does not wish to know me that well."
Ro quirked an eyebrow as the gaze of the other three women intersected with hers.
"Actually, Captain," she said with what Seven decided was a deliberately provocative tone, "I wouldn't be adverse to getting to know you better. Unless you're afraid of what I might discover about you."
Janeway eyed her. "You should be careful what you wish for, Lieutenant," she said evenly, though Seven was sure that there was more here than what she recognized. "It's rarely what you expect."
"That can work both ways," Ro responded easily.
The two women stared at each other for a long moment, then Janeway inclined her head slightly. "Very well," she said silkily and Seven felt a touch of alarm. It was never a good sign when the captain used a tone like that. Seven simply could not predict what she would do next.
"Really?" B'Elanna said, looking back and forth between them with astonishment. "Then we'd better do this right." She scrambled to her feet. "C'mon, Seven. Let's get the popcorn and some drinks."
Bemused, Seven followed B'Elanna to the rear of the vessel where B'Elanna replicated two huge bowls of fluffy popcorn and two chilled bottles of Bajoran spring wine along with glasses. Seven found the choice of beverage appropriate since they really didn't have a chance to finish the first bottle. The light, fruit flavor of the wine would be a delicate counterpoint to the buttery, salt flavor of the popcorn.
"What are we doing?" Seven asked her, accepting her share of the provisions.
"We're going to play Truth or Dare," B'Elanna explained, appearing slightly excited.
"What is that?"
"It's a game, Seven. A person asks someone else to pick 'truth or dare'. If it's 'truth', they ask a question that the other person must respond to honestly. Otherwise, they have to carry out whatever dare they're offered."
Seven blinked. "That sounds ... unimaginative." She always told the truth when asked and thus could not imagine why anyone would conversely, choose the 'dare' option.
"You've just never played it," B'Elanna informed her as they returned to the cabin.
Seven watched as the Klingon took one of the bowls, two glasses and a wine bottle over to where Lt. Ro was seated and settled on the deck next to her. Ro immediately changed position, finding a place behind B'Elanna so that the Klingon could lean back against the Bajoran. Intrigued, Seven glanced at Janeway and saw no sign of censure in her face. Hesitantly, she also found a place on the deck beside the captain and was both astounded and pleased as Janeway obligingly got out of her chair and sat down in front of Seven, snuggling back against her. Perhaps it was part of the game, Seven thought. If so, she decided, it was possible that she had judged the activity too harshly.
Janeway held the glasses as the wine was poured by Seven, then, after handing the second glass to Seven, settled the bowl of popcorn onto her lap. Thus prepared, she regarded B'Elanna evenly.
"Who goes first?"
"Rank hath its privilege. After you."
"Wonderful," Janeway said dryly. She paused, then looked back at her spouse. "Seven, truth or dare?"
Seven quirked an eyebrow. "Truth."
"Were you aware that I would not approve of you gambling on pool when you were playing for the replicator rations you intended to use for my birthday?"
Suddenly, Seven understood why one would be more apt to choose 'dare' rather than 'truth'. She swallowed.
"It crossed my mind shortly before I began my match with Lt. Paris, but I deemed it more important to accumulate the rations than any temporary annoyance that might occur on your part."
"Ouch," B'Elanna muttered.
"She's deadly at this, isn't she?" Ro added and Seven was not sure if the Bajoran was referring to her or the captain.
Janeway's eyes glinted, but all she did was smile faintly. "Your turn," she said, in that same silky tone. Seven felt a shiver run down her back.
"Seven, you can't ask who asked you," B'Elanna informed her. "You have to ask someone else."
"Very well," Seven allowed. It occurred to her that this would be a perfect opportunity to discover information that might not otherwise be offered and since Janeway's question had been so brash, she assumed it was part of the game's rules, to push the provocation as far as one could. "Lt. Torres, 'truth or dare'?"
B'Elanna grinned challengingly at her. "Truth."
Seven raised an eyebrow. "I am aware that you and Ro Laren have copulated. Was the experience adequate?"
Janeway, taking a sip of wine, immediately began to choke as the grin disappeared from B'Elanna's face. Ro smirked and leaned over to look at the Klingon.
"Yes," she added. "Was I adequate?"
B'Elanna blushed furiously. "I hate how quickly Seven adapts."
"That was not the question." Seven was beginning to enjoy herself.
With an effort, B'Elanna composed herself. ""Yes, Seven. It was adequate. It was more than adequate but you didn't ask about that." Then she quickly pinned her dark eyes on Janeway. "All right, Captain, truth or dare?"
Janeway blinked. "I thought you would ask Ro."
"She'll get her turn."
Ro raised her head. "I don't mind, Captain."
Janeway took a breath. "Refill, first," she said, offering her glass to her partner. "Then, dare."
B'Elanna looked vaguely disappointed as everyone's glass was filled for a second round, but after a moment, she grinned, the sharp points of her teeth showing. "Kiss Seven. Not like you do so rarely in public, but how you would in private."
Seven perked up. This game was becoming more interesting all the time.
Janeway hesitated, and then with a bit of an exasperated sigh, she turned so that she was sideways against Seven. Their lips met and Seven abruptly realized that Janeway was indeed, honoring her part of the competition, the tip of the captain's tongue coming out to flick against her lips, parting them, and invading Seven's mouth as the kiss deepened and went on for a lot longer than perhaps anyone had anticipated. When they finally parted, Seven felt a bit breathless, B'Elanna was wide-eyed and Janeway was entirely too smug for her own good.
"Lt. Ro," Janeway said, and it seemed her voice had grown husky. "Truth or dare?"
"I think I'm in over my head here," Ro complained.
"Too late," Janeway remarked. "You're already in the water. The time for second thoughts was on the beach."
"I know." Ro eyed the captain warily, obviously trying to decide which choice would be least rife with potential embarrassment. "Truth," she decided finally.
"Why are you so resistant to becoming a bridge officer?"
"Maybe I'm not. Maybe I'm just pretending to be so you'll pursue it."
Janeway abruptly looked uncertain. "Is that the truth?"
Ro grinned crookedly. "No. It's the same reason as what I've told you before, Captain. I don't want to let you down. It's my history. Maybe it's my nature."
Janeway opened her mouth to respond, checked it, and merely nodded. "Very well. Your turn."
"All right." Seven, who had been confused by the last exchange, was suddenly aware of the Bajoran's attention centering on her. "Seven, truth or dare."
"Dare," Seven said promptly, hoping for another kiss from her spouse.
"Kiss B'Elanna the way you kissed the captain."
Seven was shocked and so, apparently, was Janeway, her body stiffening in Seven's arms. Ro refused to look away, humor glinting in her dark eyes. "Do you refuse, Seven? You have the option of changing it to truth, but should you refuse to answer, then you'll be out of the game."
Seven considered this very carefully. If she refused, it could possibly insult B'Elanna and hurt her feelings, something she certainly did not wish to do. But, by the same token, there were Janeway's feelings to consider, not to mention that hint of attraction that Seven had once felt for her friend. Would that be something that B'Elanna could pick up through the kiss? Or worse, would the captain, thereby deciding that perhaps Seven's confession was not as harmless as she had believed? She wondered if this was where her spouse had learned her formidable composure during trying circumstances ... by playing this game, which was obviously neither as simple nor as unimaginative as she had first believed. Indeed, there were complexities to it that she had never before experienced.
She took a breath. "It would be ... intriguing to kiss B'Elanna, but ultimately, I will fail the 'dare' because I do not love my friend the way that I love Kathryn. Therefore, the kiss would not and could not be identical to how I kiss the captain. I must, in that case, choose the alternative, which is 'truth'."
Janeway looked back at her, a touch of admiration in her eyes. "Well done," she complimented in a low voice that probably only Seven could hear.
Ro smiled faintly, apparently not put out by Seven's answer. "All right." She took another sip of her wine and considered it. "What is the most unusual place you've ever made love?"
Janeway sighed softly, B'Elanna smirked and Seven tried to think. "There have been so many," she admitted, frowning. That seemed to surprise the other couple and it was Janeway's turn to smirk. "I believe it was on the table in Voyager's main conference room."
B'Elanna started to cough and Ro stared. Janeway attempted to look inscrutable.
"With the captain?" Ro blurted.
"I believe that is two questions, Lt. Ro," Seven pointed out. "It is now my turn." She squeezed Janeway lightly. "Kathryn, truth or dare?"
Janeway cleared her throat. "You've gotten very good at this, very quickly," she complained mildly. She took a breath. "Dare."
Seven quirked an eyebrow. "Kiss me again." In truth, it was difficult for Janeway to be so demonstrative in front of an audience and it pleased her that her spouse was making the attempt now. Perhaps it was the alcohol the captain had imbibed or the situation, but it seemed she was far more comfortable in the presence of Ro and B'Elanna than with others of the crew. "As you would in private."
Janeway turned and smiled. "Gladly," she said and kissed her partner deeply.
"At least someone's having fun with this game," B'Elanna noted, somewhat grudgingly once the couple had parted.
"And on that note, I think it's probably time to turn in," Janeway noted with a smile, as she uncoiled from Seven's arms. Obligingly, the two lieutenants got up themselves and headed for the rear compartment, leaving the captain and Seven alone for the moment. Seven reached out and put her hand on Janeway's arm.
"Kathryn, did I embarrass you?"
She turned to her, a soft expression on her face. "Not at all, darling," she said in an equally low tone so that her voice would not carry to the other section. She studied Seven closely. "You know that I need to maintain a certain distance from the rest of the crew, but I also realize that sometimes that distance might make it appear to you as if I'm ashamed or embarrassed by how we feel for each other. Trust me, Annika, I do like when I'm able to lower the defenses a little and show others just how much I love you. It's just not something I can do often. Can you understand that?"
Seven nodded. "I do, Kathryn." She moved closer, resting her chin against Janeway's temple. "I'm glad you were able to 'be yourself' tonight. B'Elanna is my friend, and I believe that Ro would like to be our friend as well."
"I think you're right, darling," Janeway agreed quietly. "I do know that there seem to be hidden depths to the good lieutenant the more I get to know her."
"I am not entirely certain why she would dare me to kiss B'Elanna," Seven noted with puzzlement.
Janeway took a breath and looked a bit serious. "Now that, I can't answer."
For some reason, Seven thought her spouse was not being entirely forthcoming with her, though she couldn't quite put her finger on exactly why she felt that way.
Ro Laren dropped down the bunk from its bulkhead compartment and tried not to look in the direction of B'Elanna who was staring at her intently.
"Did you have a reason for trying to get Seven to kiss me?"
Ro concentrated intently on making up the bunk. "It was just a stupid game, B'Elanna. Don't take it so seriously."
"Oh, I'm not." B'Elanna waited, her arms crossed and Ro hesitated, then finally stopped what she was doing and looked back at her.
"Okay, I admit it. I wanted to see if ... there were any feelings there."
"What?" B'Elanna responded with what seemed honest astonishment. "Why?"
"Honestly, B'Elanna," Ro said unhappily, smoothing out the sheet on the mattress. "Anyone could see you had the hots for Seven."
B'Elanna seemed honestly stricken. "It's not like that, Laren."
Ro turned to face B'Elanna, pinning her with a look. "Lie to yourself, if you want. You can even lie to Seven because I don't think it would occur to her that anyone other than Janeway would fall for her. But I've seen it in your face more than once, and furthermore, the captain saw it, too."
"That was ... it didn't ... I don't ..." B'Elanna tried incoherently.
"Hey," Ro said, not unkindly as she interrupted the stammering. "I'm not saying that you don't care for me. I know better. I just wanted to see if Seven was completely out of your system." She sighed and finished making up the bunk. "Granted, it was a stupid way to try to find out, and I probably owe you both a big apology for putting you on the spot like that even though that's the whole purpose of the game. But I think for everyone's sake's, we have to know for sure, Lanna. For your own piece of mind, if nothing else."
"The captain knows?" There was an unsteadiness to the tone.
Ro shrugged. "She probably figured it out when I did; in that cavern on Meuranato. I could tell every time you looked at Seven. I mean, the captain might have already known by then, but you were really obvious at that point."
"Oh, Kahless," B'Elanna groaned, slumping against the first bunk as Ro pulled down a second and started making that up as well. "She never said anything to me."
"Why would she?" Ro asked logically. "You've never made a play for her wife and Seven's not interested, so it's not like Janeway was ever worried."
"It didn't matter, you know," B'Elanna said, a bit sadly. "Even if she and Janeway had broke up or something, I don't think Seven could ever feel that way about somebody else."
"So you settled for me," Ro finished for her.
B'Elanna stared at her with what seemed honest surprise. "Is that what you think?"
"It's okay," Ro said carefully, even as she knew it wasn't. "I mean, I don't blame you for falling for her. She's got that incredible body and she's brilliant and attractive..."
"And you don't have any of those things?" B'Elanna started to add something else, stopped, took a deep breath and started again, in a quiet, calm voice. "Laren, you're right, I was attracted to Seven. It would be a lie to say I wasn't. But I didn't fall in love with you because I couldn't have her. I fell in love with you, despite being attracted to her. Once you came into my life, all the feelings that I had for Seven just ... faded away, as if they had never been. It's like they weren't even real. What I feel for you is real."
Ro stared at the sheets she was holding in her hand.
"How can you be sure?"
B'Elanna considered it. "I guess I can't. Not yet. Anymore than I can know that what you feel for me is the long-lasting kind. It's still too early. But I do love you, Laren."
"I love you, too," Ro said, feeling her throat close up. "But sometimes it's not enough."
"But sometimes it is." B'Elanna sighed. "I wish Seven had accepted the dare, now. Maybe that would have proved something to you."
Ro finished making up the second bunk and moved across the room to another. "Maybe. Or maybe I would have been so jealous I would have just made it worse than I'm already making it."
"You have nothing to be jealous of. I believe in fidelity above all, Laren. I would never cheat on you or try to be with someone else as long as we're together. I swear that to you, on my honor."
"I believe that you mean it, but I also know that sometimes you can't always control what you feel."
B'Elanna colored, looking angry, but then, with a visible effort, she calmed herself. "I can. I meant what I said, Laren. When I'm with someone, I'm never looking to be with anyone else. It would be wrong."
Ro nodded slowly, picking up on the genuine distress in her voice. Obviously, this was very important to her lover. "I'm sorry to have doubted you, Lanna. I was out of line."
B'Elanna moved closer. "I guess we're still getting to know each other. There's bound to be a few bumps between us, but I know we can get by them, if we really want to."
Ro glanced at her. "I really want to."
"I do, too." B'Elanna dared to slide her arm around the front of Ro's waist and pulled her close. Ro didn't resist, dropping the bedding and slipping her arms around B'Elanna's neck. They kissed for a few moments, then as the kisses, despite their best efforts, deepened and became passionate, they forced themselves apart.
"Damn," B'Elanna groaned quietly, resting her proudly ridged forehead on Ro's.
"I know. Of all the planets, why did this one have to have large, carnivorous dinosaurs on it?"
"We're just lucky, I guess."
Ro grinned crookedly. "I'm impressed. You react so calmly to setbacks lately."
B'Elanna shrugged. "I've been taking more lessons from Tuvok about anger management." She paused, frowning briefly. "Though lately, he doesn't seem to be as good as he usually is with his teaching technique."
"You've noticed something different with him as well? That he hasn't been acting the way he normally does?"
"No, he hasn't. He's ... I don't know, 'off' a little. But I couldn't tell you why I think that."
Ro was about to pursue it when Janeway entered the aft compartment. Hastily, they let go of one another as Janeway smiled faintly.
"Ladies, I appreciate your adherence to duty but the fact is, we are on down time now. Just try to keep it to a level where it wouldn't be considered ... um, vulgar."
"Yes, Captain," Ro said, blushing.
<>"Seven has first watch," Janeway sat on the side of the bunk opposite where Ro and B'Elanna were and began to remove her boots and trousers. "We'll rotate through the night, B'Elanna, Ro, and then myself. We need to be ready if there's another visitor. At the first hint of a threat, don't hesitate to lift off and try to find a more appropriate landing site ... assuming there is one." Without waiting for a response, she lay down in the bunk and stretched out beneath the thin sheet, still wearing her tank top and underwear. Ro and B'Elanna glanced at each other and then, with matching rueful expressions, they both followed suit.
Ro was conditioned, after long years in a Cardassian internment camp, then at the Starfleet Academy dorms and subsequently, the Maquis, to go to sleep at a moment's notice and to stay asleep even when it was noisy. Which was fortunate because not only did B'Elanna snore ... which Ro had become somewhat accustomed to ... the captain also provided her own contribution to the nocturnal noise, though Janeway's snore was somewhat quieter and more elegant than B'Elanna's. Still, the combination required Ro to put a pillow over her ears and burrow into her bunk, attempting to muffle the sound. She awoke unknown hours later at a touch to her shoulder, opening her eyes to see B'Elanna bent over her.
"Your watch."
"I'm on it," Ro said and flipped back the sheet, sitting up. B'Elanna reached down and cupped Ro's face, raising it so that she could kiss her deeply. Ro felt a little lightheaded when she finally released her.
"Is that part of your report?" she asked in a very low voice, aware of the other sleepers in the room. B'Elanna grinned in the dimness.
"All's quiet except for the banquet going on out there," B'Elanna whispered. "Nothing's paying attention to us at all."
"Just the way I like it." Ro noted as she stood up. B'Elanna slipped into the warm space the Bajoran had vacated and Ro saw that Seven was actually slumbering in the bunk where B'Elanna had started out. Ro pulled on her trousers and boots, and then picked up the phaser rifle B'Elanna had discarded and moved lithely out into the main cabin.
The blast shield had been raised again and outside, shadows of movement and flickers of various creatures flowed over the carcass. Ro realized that, with creatures this size populating the world, the scavengers had to be pretty voracious as well. Insects just weren't efficient enough to break down an animal so large. The Bajoran had an extremely good view of a large variety of species interacting right in front of her. It was just too bad she didn't have any particular curiosity about biometrics or exobiology beyond what she required for her job. She guessed that Seven was the most likely candidate for having raised the blast shield. Seven had a keen interest in the sciences that had otherwise been denied her as a drone and she must have spent a fairly entertaining and informative watch observing the planet's biometric patterns in action.
Ro stifled a sigh and sat down at the helm, running a check. She noted that someone, probably B'Elanna during her watch, had brought down the shields and replaced them with a simple deflector field channeled through the array. It was more than enough to repulse any animal that got too close, just as it did with meteors and dust particles while in space, and it used far less power than did the shields. The Bajoran checked the energy output levels, making sure that they were still at full capacity. The solar panels at the top of the shuttle had stored a sufficient amount of power during their brief period of daylight to run the internal environmental controls all through the night, thus keeping the crew from having to tap into the energy reserves. All in all, they were in pretty good shape.
A movement caught her eye and she looked up, frowning as she watched all the scavengers abruptly scatter, leaving their unexpected banquet in droves. She half rose out of her seat as the carcass seemed to quiver, moving on its own, and her heart rose in her throat as she tried to figure out what was going on.
Then dimly, through the darkness, she saw thick, grey tentacles wrapped around the carnivore's tail, becoming taut as they dragged the body in the general direction of the lake. Ro couldn't see what the possessor of the tentacles looked like, the massive bands stretching away to disappear into the darkness and mist, and had a feeling she probably didn't want to. Anything that could drag a thirty-tonne carcass away through sheer, brute force was not anything that she should be getting close to in order to make a clear identification as to its particular classification.
Her heart pounding, her respiration coming hard, Ro settled back in her seat, wondering if she should wake the others. But when nothing further happened, she relaxed marginally, though an image did cross her mind of how she and B'Elanna had blithely strolled along the lakeside the day before in search of water, armed only with hand phasers. They were fortunate that the shuttle's arrival had served to scare most of the local inhabitants away, but now that the various creatures had gotten used to the ship's presence, they were once more returning to the natural process of living, dying, eating and being eaten. No doubt, that food chain would now extend to any puny humanoids strolling about the clearing.
They had been damned lucky.
Ro took a deep breath and ran a pre-flight sequence through her board, disturbed when a series of three red lights came up. She ran it again, then with a muttered curse, turned around and pried open a panel in the deck, looking down at the shuttle's launch relays.
When Janeway appeared a few hours later, Ro had repaired most of what she could reach and was trying to figure out how to handle the rest. Ro shot a glance at the chronometer and realized Janeway had actually awoke early for her watch, possibly because she needed coffee, which she was sipping from a mug as she entered the main cabin.
"This does not look good," Janeway remarked as she knelt beside her.
"It's not," Ro responded. "The conduit must have ruptured when that thing hit us and slowly leaked out all the plasma through the bottom. Normally, it would be an easy repair but the compartment below is fully contaminated. I've been trying to flush it with radiation, but it's not doing much good."
"Can it be reached any other way?"
"Sure," Ro told her. "Easily through the compartment on the other side. But a person would have to go outside the ship to access it. And unless someone does, the Delta Flyer isn't leaving the ground."
B'Elanna blinked sleepily at the other three women, the early morning sun filtering crimson through the viewports.
"Why wasn't this picked up on the ship diagnostic after we were hit?" she demanded, feeling personally affronted, as if they were blaming her that the ship was not at one hundred percent. Of course, it could be considered my fault, she allowed to herself, feeling a sense of shame. I'm the chief engineer. It's my responsibility to know when things were damaged.
"Because this system is only activated during launch," Ro explained patiently. "No one would catch it until then. But I ran a pre-launch last night and discovered it."
"So we'll have to go outside to fix it," B'Elanna nodded. "Okay, what are we waiting for? I'm sure there isn't another one of those big purple dinosaurs out there. After all, carnivores usually have a specific territory and it would take time before another came along to take ov...." Her voice trailed off as she stared out the front viewport. "What the hell happened to it?"
"Something in the lake apparently dragged it off last night," Janeway said in a voice devoid of inflection.
"Something with tentacles thicker than I care to measure." Ro quivered ever so slightly and B'Elanna was impressed. Ro was not the sort to be disturbed by a trifling threat. She wasn't even the sort to be disturbed by a large threat. This, apparently, was bigger than that. "I didn't get a look at what they belonged to, but it had absolutely no problem yanking that carcass across the field and into the lake. You can see the drag marks all the way down to the water's edge. And when it showed up? Everything else made immediate plans to be somewhere else."
"So anyone who goes out there might find themselves going the way of the dinosaur?"
"Exactly," Janeway said. "Is there any other way to bypass or repair the system?"
B'Elanna considered it, staring down into the open panel. She could see the glowing green where the plasma had contaminated the area. If that hadn't happened, she could wiggle in there and fix the rupture, but she wasn't small enough to maneuver with a full environmental suit on. Plasma residue was not anything to mess around with. Even a limited exposure did a nasty sort of permanent damage to a body, even a Klingon one.
She shook her head. She would have to access the system from the other end, tap into the undamaged conduit, run a line around the contaminated area, and connect it up on the other side.
"I have to go outside," she said simply. "There's no other way."
Janeway made a face. "I was afraid you were going to say that." She glanced at Ro and Seven. "Lt. Ro, I want you to monitor us from in here. The second anything larger than a dog appears, activate the phasers. Since we can't have the shields or the deflector array activated while B'Elanna has the inner conduits exposed, Seven, you and I will have to go outside and cover her from that end."
B'Elanna retrieved the tools she would need and put them in a backpack, then nodded at Janeway and Seven who had armed themselves heavily. The women all exchanged glances, and Seven cracked the hatch, going first. The heat and humidity billowed into the cabin, seeming worse than the day before and Seven dropped lightly to the surface, weapon ready. There was no sign of any threat, and she motioned the others to come through, which Janeway was quick to do, hefting her rifle alertly.
"Hey," Ro muttered, just before B'Elanna was about to exit, "don't get eaten."
"That's reserved for you," she muttered back with a reckless grin, and jumped down, not waiting to see Ro's reaction to the comment.
The grass was spongy beneath her boots and B'Elanna spared a look at the front of the shuttle where deep ruts and stains in the ground indicated where the dinosaur used to lie. She couldn't even imagine the power required to drag a bulk that big ... well she could, but not in a living creature. That sort of power was usually reserved for heavy machinery and industrial strength tractor beams.
"Now is not the time to sightsee, Lieutenant," Janeway reminded her engineer quietly. She was tense, her eyes constantly scanning the jungle even as Seven watched the lake.
"Aye, Captain," B'Elanna returned, ducking under the shuttle. She frowned as she saw splashes of purple and blue underneath, fungi that was already growing on the smooth hull despite the seeming lack of any nutrients. Of course, the deflector grid was not set for anything this small, but it did prove how aggressive the lifeforms on this planet were.
She cracked the nearest panel and wormed her way inside the tube, finding the plasma conduit where it ran beneath the main cabin. Carefully avoiding any of the small droplets of plasma residue that had reached this far, she sealed off the conduit and began the bypass. Even working quickly, it took time to go around the area, constructing a solid conduit that would not be jarred loose during the shuttle's flight. As she worked, she wondered how Janeway and Seven were doing outside.
She discovered exactly how when she finally finished up and slithered out, crawling from under the ship to find Janeway and Seven keeping a pack of small, wickedly fast dinosaurs at bay with their phaser rifles. Occasionally, a beam from the shuttle itself would fire, blasting a hole in the turf that would explode with a spray of dirt and grass, but rarely connecting with the incredibly quick, constantly moving pack animals. The creatures displayed a wide range of blue hides with yellowish stripes and if they weren't so obviously deadly, they'd almost be pretty.
"I'm done, Captain," she said softly, ducking against the hull. "Repair is complete."
"Then, let's get the hell inside," Janeway barked tersely.
Cautiously, the three women eased their way back to the hatch which opened at their approach. The small dinosaurs seemed to sense that their prey was getting away and they increased their attack, yelping and snarling as they darted at the women, trying to avoid the constant beam of the captain's weapon, playing over them like a hose and the sharp, precisely aimed bolts from Seven's rifle. B'Elanna scrambled inside, then reached down and grabbed the captain's arm, yanking her in as well. Seven snapped off a few more shots and made a leap for the opening.
Both B'Elanna and Janeway grabbed her and pulled her inside, all three collapsing on the deck.
"Seal the hatch, seal it!" Janeway yelped as they saw a growling beast hurtling toward them. There was a clang as it slammed into the panel that had slid smoothly shut and despite the density of the metal, B'Elanna thought she saw a dent appear in it.
"Restore the deflector field," Janeway ordered breathlessly and immediately the howling and yelping grew in intensity as the animals threw themselves recklessly at the sparkling field only to be flung meters away.
"What the hell were those?" B'Elanna asked, lying on the deck as she tried to catch her breath.
"On Earth, they would have been known as velociraptors," Janeway explained as she got to her feet. B'Elanna decided the captain must have been a bit of a dinosaur buff at one point in her life. She couldn't even pronounce half these names. "They were reputedly far more vicious than a tyrannosaur and hunted in packs. They possibly displayed a certain amount of intelligence as well."
"They were sentient?" Seven asked keenly.
"Not exactly. Just very smart for animals."
"I'll say," Ro noted from the helm. "Look, they're testing the deflector field. Each one picks a different spot and takes a run at it. Maybe I should raise the shields again."
<>Janeway shook her head as she and Seven huddled next to Ro as the three women studied the creatures. B'Elanna was content to remain on the deck and bring her pounding heart under control. "Are we leaving now?" she asked plaintively.
Janeway looked back at her and grinned. "That's probably a good idea. We've stirred up the neighborhood enough, I think. Time to find another."
"Is the ion storm still around?" B'Elanna rose to her feet wearily and moved over to the engineering station.
"Yes," Seven reported as she resumed her place at the operations console. "But it does seem to be moving away. Projections have it out of the area in another day, and it will then be safe for the shuttle to return to space."
"Great," B'Elanna mumbled. "What's a couple more days on the Planet from Hell?"
Seven glanced at her curiously. "Are you christening this planet, Lt. Torres?"
"Sure, why not." She glanced over as Ro began the launch sequence. "Let's call it; Hellmouth ... just because everything wants to eat us."
"Hellmouth, it is," the captain agreed as she took a seat at the science station. "It is so logged." B'Elanna was pleased and surprised, caught off guard by the captain's humor.
"Are we leaving our perimeter equipment?" Seven peered out the porthole.
"Do you want to go out and get it?" Ro asked, glancing over her shoulder at Seven and raising an eyebrow. "I'm sure those things will be glad to assist."
Seven stared at her. "You are being facetious." She glanced at the captain. "We could beam them aboard. Their individual power supplies emanate a distinct signature that makes it easy to get a lock on them. The deflector field does not interfere with the transporter signal the way full shields do."
Janeway considered it, then nodded. "Do it."
There was the hum of the transporter system and a pile of metal rods appeared. Most were bent and ripped apart ... one even had a tooth embedded in it, a large, curving tooth with a serrated edge. B'Elanna had a sudden image of what a body might look like similarly mangled and it was not at all pleasant.
Seven regarded the spindly rods with obvious disappointment. "They are damaged beyond repair." She seemed offended that her idea to retrieve the equipment had offered so little return; far less, in fact, than the energy which had been required to beam them aboard. B'Elanna offered her a sympathetic grin.
"Prepare for launch," Ro said.
"Thrusters at optimum," B'Elanna responded, monitoring the energy flow through the repaired conduit closely.
The shuttle lifted off the ground, the jolt of its motion making them all feel briefly heavy.
"Course, Captain?"
"The nearest desert region, Lieutenant," Janeway remarked. "Try to find an oasis. I'd rather not be without water altogether."
"Understood," the Bajoran responded promptly.
The ship made a gentle turn and flew off, the rising sun at their back. They were not very long into the flight when the shuttle made an abrupt turn to starboard, tilting the shuttle almost to a forty-five degree angle that spilled the captain and B'Elanna out of their seats and onto the hard deck. Seven was able to maintain her seat ... barely ... and she played her hand swiftly across her touch pad even as she clung to her console with the other.
"Sorry," Ro said tersely. "We have incoming."
"Ten, no, twelve airborne lifeforms," Seven reported as B'Elanna and Janeway crawled back into their chairs, bracing as the shuttle took another dive and abrupt turn, this time to port.
"And they're big," Ro added, jaw set, eyes narrowed as she piloted the Delta Flyer clear of the flock of creatures. "I think I know why the dinosaur had its back armored."
"Can you outrun them?" Janeway asked, holding onto her science station and looking a trifle green from all the abrupt maneuvers.
B'Elanna herself, was glad they had all skipped breakfast earlier.
"More power to the thrusters," Ro demanded.
B'Elanna channeled some excess away from the impulse engines that wasn't using any at the moment, and bolstered the atmospheric jets.
"I think we're clear," Ro said after the shuttle straightened out its flight path. "They're keeping pace, but they don't seem to be gaining."
The captain scrambled out of her seat and over to the window, looking out at their attackers.
"Pterodactyls," she said with what seemed delight. "Much larger than I could have imagined. Look at the claws on them."
B'Elanna tried not to roll her eyes.
"You know, flying dinosaurs didn't appear until the end of the Cretaceous period," the captain lectured, in full scientist mode. "They were the forerunners of birds and indicated the first decline in the dinosaur's existence." The captain abruptly seemed to realize that she didn't exactly have an appreciative audience, other than Seven who already knew it, and she favored the women with a bit of an exasperated look. "But no, they're not gaining. I'm sure they'll give up pursuit once they see they can't catch us." She looked out again. "Yes, some of them are already peeling off."
"Now that's a scientific observation I like to hear," B'Elanna muttered in a low voice. But apparently not low enough because, in passing, the captain brushed her hand up the back of the Klingon's head as she returned to her seat. Were it anyone else, B'Elanna might have thought it a deliberate slap across her skull. But the captain would never do that, she thought to herself.
Would she?
The temperature that greeted them upon exiting the shuttle was extremely high, but the air was dry, without a hint of humidity and of blast furnace intensity. Janeway panted as she jumped down onto the granules of sand, the heat making ripples appear wherever she looked. There was no threat of sweat here, she noted sardonically. Any moisture that her body might have produced evaporated immediately, sucked away by the aridness of the surrounding air. All of them, even B'Elanna, stood an excellent chance of heat stroke if they were required to perform any sustained form of labor in this environment.
She glanced over at Seven who squinted briefly back in the bright sun, and then motioned with her head toward the small area of vegetation a few meters away. Ro Laren had brought the Delta Flyer down beside a small oasis situated next to a rock outcropping. The plants growing here were spiny and thin, sucking any moisture they could get from the parched earth. Trickling from some unknown source, shadowed by the line of rock overhead, a spring spilt its contents out into a shallow pool that spread a few meters before it was evaporated away by the merciless sun.
Janeway was careful to avoid brushing against any of the cacti as she knelt by the pool, her tricorder humming merrily as it took readings of the liquid, indicating a clean source of drinkable water. She glanced over at Seven who was examining a shimmering blue and yellow lizard perched on a branch of a rather stark and blackened bush.
"No larger lifesigns," Seven reported when the creature finally spooked and darted down the bush and into a dark hole in the rocks.
"This area couldn't support any. Even if a creature could cross the kilometers of desert under that sun to reach this source of water, there would be nothing to eat that would sustain a large bulk for very long." She stood up, looking over the seemingly endless sand and gravel, broken occasionally by rock outcroppings similar to this one, but devoid of vegetation. She wondered if it had once boasted another of the shallow, salty seas that were so numerous on the planet and if so, what had made it dry up? "Hopefully, we will find this area a little more peaceful."
"It is hot.." Janeway decided that it must be if her spouse was indicating any kind of discomfort.
"We should get back inside. I'm pretty sure the temperature will drop considerably once the sun goes down. The land can't retain its heat without cover of vegetation."
Seven nodded and turned around. Together, the two women returned to the shuttle that rested uneasily on the yellowish desert sand, as if it wasn't sure it wanted to be there. Janeway entered its cool interior with relief as Ro quickly sealed the hatch behind them and decreased the internal temperature a few more degrees.
"Perhaps it would be prudent for us to sleep during the day and move around at night," the Bajoran suggested.
Janeway nodded. "That's not a bad idea, though I would like to have a complete scan run on the mineral deposits in the area, today, particularly with regards to their use for Voyager." She paused, trying not to smile at the expressions of dismay which crossed their faces. Geological surveys, particularly for those not interested in that specific area of science, were tedious in the extreme but then, she had a bit of an ulterior motive behind it. "It occurs to me that it could easily be handled by two people. Ro, Torres, I want you to carry out the scans while Seven and I retire for a few hours. We'll relieve you in the afternoon and you two can catch some downtime while we finish the scans."
Their expressions grew confused and Janeway could tell almost exactly what the two women were thinking. The captain couldn't be saying what they thought she was saying, could she? Seven, of course, merely accepted the words at face value and remained impassive.
"Seven," the captain invited evenly. As she turned to head for the rear compartment, her spouse following her obediently, she added. "By the way, to insure that neither group disturbs the other, I'm going to have the aft compartment sealed, so anyone who has to access the head or the replicator, should do it now."
She waited patiently as Ro and B'Elanna swiftly went aft, one to use the bathroom, and the other to replicate some drinks and snacks to hold them through the rest of the day as they carried out their scans. Then the captain sealed the door between the two sections, slumping against it with an audible exhalation of relief, feeling a sense of privacy for the first time in ages. She turned, still leaning against the smooth surface of the bulkhead, regarding her spouse wistfully.
"I am so tired of being without you. I think we're all adult enough to accept that both couples need some time together, apart from the other two."
"I agree." There was a touch of humor in Seven's tone. "I am pleased that you utilized 'Captain's Privilege' to do so first."
Janeway grinned crookedly and accessed the nearest bunk, folding out the narrow shelf and wrestling the mattress off it. She dropped it on the floor before flipping the bunk back into the hull even as Seven did the same on her side before the two found some bedding behind another panel. Together, they made up a double pallet by jamming the two, narrower mattresses together, creating a fairly decent-sized bed for themselves.
"Heavens," Janeway said as she pulled off her tank top, catching a good whiff of herself. "I need a shower. I reek."
Seven took the opportunity to embrace the topless captain. "You smell wonderful," she assured her quietly just before she kissed her.
"Still," Janeway responded, breaking away from the full lips with an effort, Seven's hands searing her flesh where they touched. "Just give a few minutes, all right? Then you can take a turn."
"Very well," Seven responded, releasing her reluctantly.
Janeway slipped out of her boots, pants and underwear, and padded naked into the small head set to the port side of the shuttle's aft section. The starboard side was where the engines were, taking up a better part of the shuttle's width and it made for cramped conditions in the ensuite. There was only room for a compact waste disposal unit, a small sink and a rather tiny shower. Of course, the captain did not really like the feeling of a sonic shower at the best of times, but she knew that was purely psychological on her part and that the sound waves worked efficiently at removing dirt, dead skin and loose hair. She was perfectly clean even if she didn't quite feel that way after she stepped out.
She gave way to Seven and lay down on the pallet, staring idly at the ceiling as she waited for her spouse to finish her ablutions. She realized that it was the first time she had completely relaxed since leaving Voyager a week and a half before and she felt muscles she hadn't even known were tense, unkink slowly.
She closed her eyes and drifted briefly in the sensation of being able to fully stretch out without worrying that she was going to fall off the side. Even the Permunta beds had been unusually narrow for such bulky creatures and she had found out later that the Starfleet crew had been given children's beds because the adult beds were about the size of this entire room. Janeway had a brief flash of her and Seven rolling about in the furs of a full-sized Permuntan bed and she shivered from the sheer thought of it. It was a shame that there had been no opportunity for recreation while they had been on the icy world ... just diplomacy, scientific exchange and some cultural revelations that had left the captain and her astrometrics officer no time for themselves, let alone each other. In fact, for most of their stay, Seven and B'Elanna had been on the other side of the planet, studying Permuntan mining techniques while Janeway and Ro remained in the main city, deep in negotiations for the supplies they needed.
Still, it hadn't been a complete waste of time ... even assuming that any scientific observation could ever be considered a waste ... and right now, there were three extra kilograms of the element Voyager's life support systems used, stored in the Delta Flyer's cargo compartment. Not to mention the new methods of extracting said element from its mineral cocoon that B'Elanna and Seven had learned about while on the planet that could come in handy for the future.
Janeway was dimly aware of a warm body joining her, a lean, lanky form that wrapped around her with absolute heavenly comfort.
"Kathryn," Seven whispered softly into her ear. "Are you falling asleep?"
Janeway groaned. "God, I think so, darling. I'm sorry."
"Do not be sorry," Seven responded, her lips moving soothingly over the captain's forehead. "I am weary as well. Let us nap now and perhaps we shall have time for other things later."
Janeway made a sound of assent and rolled over, nuzzling her face into Seven's throat, snuggling close in her embrace. Held in the slender, impossibly strong arms of her partner, the captain allowed herself to drift off, feeling safe and warm and loved beyond anything's ability to disturb.
When she woke up, she wasn't entirely sure where she was, even though the body next to her was eminently and joyously familiar. She drew back a little, opening her eyes so that she could look at her spouse. Seven was still asleep, her sandy eyelashes casting soft shadows over her pale cheeks, the grey metal of her cranial implant glinting subtly in the lowered illumination. Blonde hair fell about the narrow features and carefully, Janeway brushed it back, revealing a face that seemed so much younger while lost in sleep than it did the rest of the time. The full lips were parted slightly, the brief flash of white teeth appearing along with the soft pink of the tip of Seven's tongue.
Janeway smiled, loving her spouse so much and basking in this precious moment of being able to watch her sleep, vulnerable, open, completely trusting that the captain would watch over her and protect her until her slumber was done. Janeway remained still, wanting nothing more than to brush her lips over that smooth brow, trace down the elegant nose, to cover the full lips, but knowing that the second she did, Seven would wake. This vision of what she might have been like had Seven never taken her, would be gone, hidden behind a cool, competent demeanor that was certainly attractive, but far more familiar than this rare glimpse of childlike repose.
Seven woke anyway, perhaps sensing some form of observation or merely detecting a type of tenseness from the captain that simply wasn't there when Janeway was asleep. Seven's face tightened, her eyelids fluttered and she inhaled deeply, making the softest of sounds in her throat. Her embrace strengthened, her arms pulling Janeway closer to her, as if needing the reassurance that her partner was indeed there. But her eyes did not open and the captain wondered if perhaps she would fall back asleep.
"Kathryn?" A mere whisper, just to acknowledge that she knew Janeway was there, and was watching her.
Janeway smiled and brushed her nose along Seven's. "Annika."
"How long have you been awake?"
"Not long. Just enough to be able to watch you sleep for awhile. I love watching you sleep, my darling."
There was a minor curve to Seven's full lips, the bare trace of a smile. "You always have, even when we were not together and I was regenerating."
"Ah, you caught me," Janeway responded, amused.
Seven quirked an eyebrow. "Are we going to make love now?"
"Mmm, I don't know," Janeway said, wiggling a bit closer. "Do you want to?"
"I do not know. I do, yet I am enjoying the pleasure of simply lying here with you."
"That's how I feel." Janeway brushed her lips over Seven's. "Perhaps we should just kiss for a while and see how it goes from there."
"Efficient," Seven complimented.
They moved closer until they could kiss without needing to move their heads very much, gentle touches of their lips, moving over each other with the most lazy of pressure and motion. Janeway loved kissing Seven, not only because Seven did it so incredibly well, but because there was a softness and gentleness there that she had experienced with no one else. Seven always tasted sweet and warm, never unpleasant, which the captain was sure was not entirely true in the reverse. Yet, Seven never complained, or hesitated or indicated anything to the contrary.
Janeway felt Seven's right hand trail down her back, moving slowly as if afraid she would somehow disturb this intimate moment between them. The captain was acutely aware of the fingertips, so soft, slipping over each minor bump of her spine, and then finding that hollow at the base. Still, their kisses did not intensify, remaining so very, very tender. Carefully the fingertips eased over the swell of Janeway's buttock, to the place beneath where the back of her leg began. There was the gentlest of pressures, a soft urging which Janeway obeyed, slowly sliding her leg up the outside of Seven's, bending her knee until the inside of it was resting comfortably on Seven's hip.
Janeway's breathing deepened, but the kisses did not alter, no teeth or tongue, just lips, soft and gentle on each other, barely moving. The captain whimpered as she felt Seven slowly slide her hand between them, fingertips tangling briefly in the auburn thatch of triangle, then lower, resting against the top of her crease.
"Annika."
"Shh," Seven soothed, offering more kisses, so very refined and sweet.
Janeway felt the tip of one finger gently ease along the upper ridge of intimate flesh, barely touching and it was so much more powerful than perhaps a different sort of caress would have been at this time. The captain caught her breath, making a sound deep in her throat, but neither of them tried to hurry it or attempted to become more passionate. It was as if they were trying to build a house of cards, each move trembling on the edge of the next, requiring the most delicate of touch to make it work.
The fingertip reached the top of the ridge, then descended into wetness, dipping in briefly before bringing it back up over the swelling nodule. Janeway had never felt so incredibly sensitive, never so aware of every millimeter that such a journey took, back and forth with slow, patient, fondling, alternating strokes along each side, then back to the pool of wetness that seemed to be spreading as each exquisite second of eternity went by. Janeway's hips began to move, barely perceptible undulations against the fingertip that stroked and stroked without pause. Helpless gasps issued from her lips until finally, she was there with a soft cry of release. Not an abrupt climax, but rather, a gradual ascent of pleasure until it peaked and slowly, gently, she relaxed in Seven's embrace, surprised to find herself crying. Janeway hardly ever cried and she was shaken, both by the tears sliding down her cheeks and by how incredibly close she felt to Seven at this moment in time. It was, as if she had been cradled in Seven's pure emotion, lifted up to shine brightly in the sun, then gradually lowered to the safe haven of loving arms and the most tender of lips.
She didn't say anything. She couldn't. Words would have somehow made it disappear and she desperately did not want this feeling to disappear. So she clung to Seven, her lips pressed tight to hers, breathing in the air that her lover exhaled and wanting nothing more than for this to go on forever.
Seven didn't know how long she held Kathryn, but that was not her concern so much as the tears that were sliding down her partner's face and pooling wetly in the hollow of Seven's shoulder and neck. She stroked her partner's hair, nuzzling it gently and waited patiently for her partner to compose herself, and perhaps explain what was going on. She thought it a fairly pleasant encounter but apparently Kathryn either found it lacking or derived some meaning from it that Seven was missing at the moment.
Finally, Kathryn raised her head, resting her forehead against Seven's, her cheeks wet and cool and Seven had only to reach out with the tip of her tongue to taste the saltiness of them.
"I love you," Janeway whispered huskily. "I always do, but sometimes, something happens and for that instant in time, I have the ability to realize just how very, very much I feel for you."
Seven considered this. "It makes you sad?" she asked quietly, uncertainly.
"No, far from it. It makes me feel wonderful, exhilarated, so happy and blessed ... so many things and yes, perhaps sad, as well, because the words to express it simply aren't there, they just can't do it justice. This happens at such unexpected times, and rarely when I can give it my full attention but oh, my darling, I love you. I love you so much."
Seven concentrated very hard on comprehending this because she knew that it was very important to her spouse. She did think she could relate to the emotion and how the depth of it had sprung upon Kathryn unexpectedly. It had happened to her many times, but how could she say it in a way that would allow Janeway to realize that?
She hugged her. "I love you, too. I love you with all the words that are beyond love."
Janeway laughed huskily. "Yes," she said, seeming to understand perfectly. "I beyond love you."
Seven smiled and rested her cheek on the top of her partner's auburn hair, sighing softly as she enjoyed the moment of holding her beloved in her arms.
"Hey," Janeway said softly, raising her head so she could look at Seven. "Are you going back to sleep?"
"I do not require sleep now," Seven responded, somewhat puzzled.
"Then what does my darling require?"
Seven smiled, understanding finally. "I do not require that, not at the moment." She cuddled her closer. "I simply like being with you."
"Hmm, if you're sure," Kathryn said, not sounding completely convinced. "But I bet I could interest you in a back scratch."
Seven raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You would win that wager."
"Roll over."
Obediently, Seven rolled onto her stomach, feeling her partner straddle her, sitting on Seven's buttocks. The captain's nails ran lusciously over the smooth skin of her back and Seven actually groaned, lost in the sheer pleasure of having her spouse provide this service for her. Kathryn had learned to do it so well. Exactly how hard to scratch, where to scratch, when to scratch, and how long to scratch. It was pure and utter bliss. Seven knew that this interaction truly proved her spouse's love because she had it on good authority ... well, B'Elanna's authority, at any rate ... that scratching one's back was not something that just anyone would do. It was something that only one who truly loved another would accommodate, particularly if it was done after the lovemaking. Apparently, it was traditional for many lovers, according to B'Elanna, to simply roll over and go to sleep.
Thus, Kathryn proved to be an exemplary spouse in her sense of caring and tenderness ... but, then, Seven had already known that.
Seven moaned again as Janeway began to lightly scratch her ribs, and the captain laughed throatily.
"Honestly darling, I think you like this better than making love."
Seven considered it seriously. "At times, I do." She paused. "Is that wrong?"
"Not at all, darling," Janeway said softly, bending over to kiss Seven on the shoulder blade. "I love that there's something I can do for you that is so indulgent. Something that you can enjoy for the sheer sake of enjoying it."
Seven wiggled as she felt Janeway's breasts on her back, the nipples prodding into her.
"Please, Kathryn," she requested. "Remain where you are."
"Oh, you like this, too?" Janeway continued to scratch Seven's sides as she settled onto her. Seven felt the captain brush away the blonde hair and kiss the back of her neck and she shivered pleasurably.
"I believe that you are arousing me."
Janeway chuckled as she nibbled her ear. "Is that wrong?"
Seven purred. "Not at all. Please, continue." A sudden thought struck her. "Do we have time?"
"All the time you need, my love," Janeway told her with utter seriousness.
Seven relaxed at the reassurance.
Janeway's caresses grew more lingering, gentler as the passes began to include the sides of Seven's breasts, the captain merely running her fingertips over the swells of flesh rather than actually scratching as she did over the ribs and sides. Seven wiggled again, drawing her right leg up, bending the knee so that she was angled slightly sideways. Janeway eased off to that side, concentrating on one hand that traveled slowly over Seven's torso as she kissed and nibbled the soft skin over Seven's shoulders and spine.
"Do you like this, darling?" she asked huskily.
"Yes. I like how it makes me feel. It pleases me when you touch my back."
Janeway's voice was a low murmer, husky and provocative. "You have a beautiful back. I love touching it."
Seven rested her head on her forearms and closed her eyes, delighting in the sensation of Kathryn's hand on her, the soft weight pressing down on her, the kisses and gentle nips over her flesh. For some reason, she found her back quite sensitive to stimulation and she was glad that, in recent weeks, Janeway had made a point of paying more attention to this area. She quivered as the captain slid her hand over Seven's buttocks, pausing briefly to grasp a handful and squeeze lovingly before resuming her lazy caress. Seven liked having this area touched as well and it made her rise up slightly, pressing into the fondling. Seven decided that there was a certain vulnerability to this position, unable to see her partner or what she was doing. Instead, she had to place herself completely in Janeway's hands, trust in her utterly and that gave Seven a certain sense of pleasure that another position perhaps could not. She wondered if Janeway felt the same way when Seven made love to her from behind.
Seven made a soft sound as she felt Kathryn's fingers brush gently over her anus in passing. Another area that was acutely sensitized to her partner's touch, and vulnerable to the captain's attention. Janeway's caresses became more specific, gently touching Seven's intimate flesh, going beneath to slip softly over her little bundle of nerves, to the opening where moisture gathered, and then back to the puckered orifice which she circled tenderly. Janeway did not linger on any one of the areas, trailing between them with maddening slowness, first one, then the other, then the third, not attempting to penetrate or fondle with greater intent. She simply ... teased.
"Oh, Kathryn."
"Easy," the captain soothed, her mouth sweet on Seven's neck. "In time."
In time, Voyager would return to the Alpha Quadrant, Seven thought.
"Kathryn." Her tone was slightly more demanding.
A soft laugh, husky and deep, rushed along Seven's nerves like a flood of warm water. Janeway's fingertips grew a little more localized, intent at each spot, taking the time to rub Seven's nodule carefully, then penetrating slightly into the wetness before withdrawing to prod provocatively at the other entrance.
"Oh, please," Seven moaned, bringing her other knee up under her, arching further into the air. "Kathryn ... please."
"Yes, darling," Janeway promised, rising so that she was kneeling behind Seven. She placed both hands on the inside of Seven's thighs and spread them apart. Never had Seven felt so open and vulnerable to her partner and she waited breathlessly to see what Janeway would do with such a surrender.
The captain did not disappoint, caressing Seven's soft cheeks firmly with her palms, trailing down the back of the legs and back up over the hips, around to the stomach to take a pass through the triangle and crease, then back around again. Seven could barely catch her breath, her senses aflame, her body quivering in anticipation. Then amazingly, she felt Janeway's warm breath over the crease between her buttocks and she shuddered.
"Kathryn?"
"Shh," Janeway said, using her hands to spread Seven's buttocks apart even further. Then the young woman felt the captain's lips moving on her, over the small opening, the tip of her tongue actually reaching out to touch her there.
Seven was aware that it was her 'pristine' nature that allowed the captain to even consider indulging in something like this, but it was not something Janeway favored and certainly never in this position or from this angle before. It was astounding, and inadvertently, Seven cried out as she felt the softness of her partner's tongue enter her.Almost before she had recovered from the pleasurable shock of that, Janeway's fingers were penetrating deeply in the opening below, a wonderful contrast to the tantalizing oral caress of the other orifice. The captain's other hand came up between Seven's legs and began to rub over the slick little nodule, manipulating it with firm pressure.
Somewhere along the line, Seven lost track of herself in all the pleasure and dimly, she was aware that she was keening loudly. She generally tended to restrain herself with a more subdued verbal emoting, but this experience had caught her completely by surprise. The sensation overwhelmed her and she tried to muffle most of her cries into the bedding, particularly the final ones when it seemed her whole body would come apart from the intensity of the peak Janeway so lovingly and skillfully brought her to.
She gasped for breath, gradually becoming aware of Janeway pressing down against her back, kissing her neck and cheek.
"It's all right, my darling," the captain assured her. "I'm right here."
"Kathryn," she responded. "That was ... it was ..." She was stymied, unable to form a coherent sentence to express what she had felt.
"I know, love," Janeway told her dryly, amused.
Seven swallowed and rolled over, pulling the captain tightly against her.
"I love you," she whispered intently.
"I love you too, darling," Janeway told her, tangling her fingers in Seven's hair and holding her head close to hers. "You are so beautiful, so very responsive. I think I owe you an apology."
Seven drew back, looking at her with wide eyes. "Oh, no, Kathryn, that was nothing to be sorry for."
Janeway laughed. "I didn't mean that. I was referring to the fact that I haven't exactly been eager to do it before." She sobered slightly, running her fingertips over Seven's face as her blue-grey eyes searched the pale blue ones intently. "I think I've allowed certain ... personal biases keep me from fully granting you all the pleasure I could. I know that there are reasons for being careful in ordinary circumstances but you, my sweet, are unique in many ways and I need to remember that."
Seven had many responses go through her head, but none that really expressed how she felt so she said nothing. Instead, she kissed Kathryn as deeply and as passionately as she could, wanting to convey in touch, if not in words, just how much her partner meant to her.
It was Janeway who was breathless by the time they parted.
"Oh, my, but we definitely don't have time now. We need to shower and go relieve B'Elanna and Ro."
"I understand," Seven said, reluctantly letting her go. "Do you wish to go first?"
"I guess I better. There's no way the two of us could fit in there and even if we could, sonic showers just aren't the same."
"No," Seven agreed, looking up at her partner as she rolled away and stood up. "They are not."
Her eyes followed the compact form appreciatively into the bathroom, and then she got up herself, uncoiling from the tangled bedding. She stripped the linens from the makeshift pallet, remaking it with fresh sheets, then slid the whole thing over to the corner where it would be out of the way. She did not know for certain if her friends would avail themselves of it, but it would surprise her profoundly if they did not, so she wanted to make sure it would be ready. She also noted a distinct aroma in the air, positive that the captain would not appreciate it lingering.
She went over to the replicator and programmed in a certain neutralizing agent she had discovered when she was researching different ways and places to make love. Hiding the evidence after the fact was apparently an important contribution to the illicitness of the encounter and since she knew part of Janeway's enjoyment came from just that element, she tried to accommodate it.
She sprayed the deadening agent liberally through the room, returning the atmosphere to its regular, faintly metallic scent, and then gathered up the captain's clothes and her own, recycled them and placed the neatly pressed uniform on the table for the captain. Her own, she placed to the side, waiting for the captain to finish her shower and grant Seven access to it herself.
Though if anyone had asked Seven, the young woman would have stated clearly and for the record that having Kathryn's essence and scent smeared all over her was something that she was never adverse to. In any circumstance.
Ro Laren set up the scan program on the system and waited for B'Elanna to finish her refinements before activating it. She glanced over at the Klingon who was frowning over her board, idly enjoying the view of the proud features of the woman. She was caught by surprise, however, when the dark eyes rose to meet hers and she colored faintly.
"What?" B'Elanna asked, grinning faintly.
"Nothing." Ro hesitated. "I just like looking at you, I guess."
Now it was B'Elanna who was self-conscious and shyly, the Klingon looked away, though using 'shy' and 'Klingon' in the same sentence was not something Ro thought she would ever be considering. It occurred to her that B'Elanna did not consider herself beautiful or physically attractive and that was sad to the Bajoran. She wondered how much of the 'attitude' the other woman liked to display was actually a result of her own insecurities rather than any character trait passed down her maternal lineage.
"I finished the parameters," the younger woman said finally. "You're all ready to go."
"Got it," Ro acknowledged and activated the first series of scans that would go through the area in a specified search grid, seeking out pockets of minerals and elements that could be used in Voyager's systems. Later scans would refine the search parameters even further, creating a detailed and extensive display of the planet's crust within a radius of several hundred kilometers. It was tedious work since it was primarily done by the computer and all the operator had to do was stand by and take note of any irregularities that might crop up. It certainly did not require two people other than the fact that at least, two people could interact with each other while doing it, whereas one person would be completely bored on their own.
B'Elanna glanced back at the sealed door. "Do you really think they're back there ... doing it?"
Ro grinned crookedly. "Maybe they just wanted a little time to themselves, to talk or have lunch together without us intruding."
B'Elanna paused, tilting her head and Ro knew she was listening intently. "I don't hear anything," the Klingon added after a minute.
"Maybe you can't. Maybe the bulkhead is too thick."
"Maybe," B'Elanna agreed, not sounding entirely convinced. "Or maybe they're just taking a nap. That's what married people are more apt to do, isn't it?"
Ro grinned. "I thought you were the one who told me that the captain and Seven were ... more 'active' than most people knew."
"I didn't mean all the time. Just that they can be, sometimes."
Ro leaned back in her pilot's seat, crossing her arms over her chest. "Do you really think all the romance dies after you're married?"
B'Elanna linked her hands behind her head and propped her booted feet up on the console, reclining in her seat. "Not the romance necessarily," B'Elanna said thoughtfully. "After all, that stuff Seven did for the captain's birthday was pretty romantic. But I know the sex loses the thrill after awhile."
Ro carefully swallowed a smile. "Oh, really?" She tilted her head. "Now granted, it's not as if I have a lot of long term relationships under my belt ... or any, for that matter, but my understanding is, the longer you know and love someone, the better the sex."
B'Elanna frowned and Ro was struck suddenly by how youthful her companion was. After all, when Ro had been serving on the flagship of the 'Fleet, the USS Enterprise, a young Torres was washing out of Starfleet Academy. The Klingon had been in the Maquis only a year when they had all been transported to the Delta Quadrant. The difference in age was only about nine years but sometimes, Ro felt like it was an eternity. It seemed like only now that the Klingon was starting to mature emotionally.
Of course, she was hardly one to make judgements like that, Ro reminded herself sardonically. Considering how long it took for the Bajoran to dull some of the chip she had worn on her shoulder for so long, she shouldn't expect more from the engineer than what B'Elanna was capable of giving.
In fact, wasn't that really why Ro had been fighting the professional expectations Janeway had for her? Feeling pressured to perform before she was ready, even as she suspected that perhaps the captain knew better about her potential than she did? She should try to be a lot easier on B'Elanna when it came to their personal lives.
"I don't think that's true," B'Elanna said, drawing Ro back to the discussion at hand. "After all, every relationship I've ever been in has ... well, got dull after a while."
Ro grinned. "Ah, something to look forward to."
B'Elanna suddenly realized what she had said and flushed. "I don't mean..." she babbled. "Not that you and I would ... I'm sure we would be different."
"I'm sure." She started to laugh at the consternation on her lover's face. "I don't think that you've had the proper sort of relationship to accurately judge, but I'll take your word for it."
"Fine," B'Elanna growled, glowering at the Bajoran which only served to make Ro laugh harder until finally, the Klingon joined in despite herself.
"How's the scan coming?" she said after the laughter had finally died down.
Ro took a quick glance. "Progressing. It's at 23%. There's a way to go yet. Nothing of particular note to report."
"Let's set up for the second pass," B'Elanna suggested.
The two women worked steadily for the next hour or so, and then activated the second series of scans designed to isolate promising areas and do an in-depth cross section of each one. It was B'Elanna who resumed the conversation.
"Honestly, do you think they're doing it now?"
Ro swallowed a smile. "I'm sure if they are, they wouldn't appreciate us speculating about it."
B'Elanna quirked an eyebrow and looked mischievous. "You never do?"
Ro hesitated, then dipped her head. "I guess so." Her eyes grew a bit distant as certain visualizations abruptly crossed her mind and she blushed. "Prophets, Lanna. Keep your mind on your work." The Klingon just snorted at her which set the Bajoran off and for the next few minutes, the two women laughed helplessly once more. It occured to Ro that she had never been able to laugh so easily with someone before. She wondered if it was significant.
It took an effort for the two women to resume their work as they tried to ignore the mental images generated by what might be going on behind the sealed door. When a completely composed and elegant Captain Janeway, accompanied by her immaculate spouse, made an appearance some time later, both Ro and B'Elanna were able to keep a straight face. But it required that they not look at each other.
"Report," Janeway said, leaning forward on the helm as she looked out the fore viewport at the sun setting crimson and lavender on the horizon.
"We're proceeding with the third level of scans," Ro responded, bringing up the data for her captain. "The second set had certain discrepancies that we thought should be explored closer, but so far, nothing of particular note is apparent."
"What kind of discrepancies, Lieutenant?" Seven asked with interest.
"I don't know," Ro said. "My first guess was that they were caverns or caves, but when the area in question was isolated and magnified, all indication of them would be gone. So I'm beginning to believe that perhaps it's some form of substance in the sand that's distorting the readings."
Janeway glanced at her with a faint smile. "Thank you, Lieutenant. We'll take it from here. Consider yourselves both off duty for the next few hours."
"Aye, Captain," Ro said, uncoiling from her chair. To the Bajoran's bemusement and the obvious humor of the captain, B'Elanna was already in the aft compartment. Ro felt herself blush as she tried to stroll back with some semblance of dignity.
"I thought you were the eager type," she heard the captain mutter to Seven just as the door sealed behind her. She never did hear Seven's response.
B'Elanna was gleefully stripping off her uniform as the Bajoran entered the room and sealed the door behind her, pausing to watch as the tank top, pants, boots and underwear landed in various parts of the compartment. The Klingon glanced at her, obviously puzzled as Ro continued to stand there.
"Are you waiting for something?"
"You can't be serious," Ro said in a whisper.
"What?"
"B'Elanna, that's the captain out there. I'm not going to ... do anything that she could hear."
"We didn't hear them," B'Elanna pointed out, putting her hands on her hips. Even naked, she looked formidable, a muscular, compact form covered with olive skin. It was a delectable sight but Ro was not prepared to take advantage of it. "What makes you think they'll hear us."
"Maybe they didn't do anything. And if they did, perhaps they are more ... restrained than you could be accused of."
"What are you talking about?"
"Lanna, when you ... reach the Celestial Temple, you're loud enough to wake the dead," Ro said, crossing her arms across her chest.
"The 'Celestial Temple'?"
"You know, when you ... climax. You yell."
"I do not," B'Elanna retorted, greatly offended.
"You do, too. If the portholes in your quarters were constructed of glass, you'd shatter them, every time."
"You're exaggerating." The Klingon frowned. "You're loud, too."
Ro raised an eyebrow. "Certainly not as loud as you are. In fact, I hardly make any noise compared to you." She held up her hand. "In any event, that's not the point. It would be humiliating if they heard us. That's too much familiarity between crew and captain. As long as something isn't pointed out, then we can all pretend it doesn't happen."
B'Elanna stared at her. "That's the stupidest thing I have ever heard."
Ro blinked. "It is not. Look, I realize you're not really Starfleet but..." She paused as she realized what had just came out of her mouth.
"Oh, and like you are?" B'Elanna's eyes were stormy. "You're the one who skipped out without resigning, remember?"
Stung, Ro glared at her. "Look, there is a reason that I don't want to do this. If you respected me, you would respect that."
"What, that you're a prude? Face it, Bajorans like sex ... all except for you."
"I like sex, but just because I don't want to make an exhibition of myself in front of the captain doesn't make me a prude."
"What even makes you think that she would listen? Even if she could hear us? It's not like you could probably teach her anything!"
Too furious to respond, Ro turned away, staring at the wall. There was a time when she would have continued the argument, even to the point of striking out at random. Over the years, she had learned to take control of her temper, but sometimes it was difficult. There was a silence, before the Bajoran sensed the Klingon moving closer.
"I can't talk to you right now," she said tightly.
"I know," B'Elanna responded in a different tone than what she had been using. "Laren, I'm sorry. I was out of line, especially with the 'Starfleet' crack. I know you're working really hard to get back to where you were. I shouldn't have made fun of that."
Ro swallowed painfully. "I shouldn't have said what I did. You're one of the best engineers I've ever seen, Lanna. Any ship in the 'fleet would be blessed to have you as their chief of engineering. In fact, I think we wouldn't have managed to come this far if it weren't for you."
There was a pause. "Thank you," B'Elanna said, in a even gentler tone. "And I'm really sorry if it seems I'm trying to push you into something that you're not in the mood for. If you don't want to make love, then you're right, we shouldn't. I just ... I guess I thought that's why we came in here, why the captain made sure we had some time together in the first place. It was exciting after being without you for so long and I guess I let my ... hormones get the better of me."
"No, you're right." Ro sighed. "That is probably why Janeway found some time to be with Seven and why she made sure we had some time as well." She turned around, a little startled to discover how close B'Elanna had gotten. The Klingon was a mere whisper away, her body almost, but not quite touching Ro. She took a breath. "I just don't like knowing the intimate details of other people's lives, and I certainly don't want anyone to know mine. I ... I'm a little embarrassed, you know?"
B'Elanna nodded. "I know, but Laren, the captain's a woman too. I know it's hard sometimes to separate the two but she does understand why two people would want to be together. I'm not saying she would have been that understanding before she fell in love with Seven ... she really roasted me and Tom one day, as a matter of fact ... but I think she's mellowed a lot by being in a relationship where she knows she's loved. Believe me, she's a pretty passionate woman underneath all that uniform. Sometimes, I think that only Seven is strong enough to handle it."
Ro sighed. "I guess, it's ... it's like finding out your parents ... you know."
"Kahless, thanks for that image," B'Elanna laughed. "Laren, I think Janeway would be disappointed if she thought we wouldn't make love because of her. Especially since she ... uh, arranged it." She had moved to within a millimeter of the Bajoran and Ro could feel her heat radiating through her uniform. She swallowed. Hard.
"Lanna?" Ro whispered.
"Yes, Laren?"
"We need to be very quiet," she pleaded.
"Very, very quiet," B'Elanna agreed, her breath brushing warm over Ro's lips.
"No yelling," Ro demanded.
"Not a peep," B'Elanna promised.
And as the engineer kissed her with passionate intent, Ro felt all her defenses crumble before the loving and most insidious form of the Klingon's arguments to date.
B'Elanna didn't quite understand why Ro was so hesitant, but she did realize that getting angry about it wouldn't solve anything. So she forced herself to apologize even though she thought the Bajoran was being completely unreasonable. She had discovered that the longer she was with the Bajoran, the less she wished to be in any kind of conflict with her and certainly, at the moment, the absolute last thing she wanted to do with the Bajoran was fight. She was gratified to find that once she made the first step, it seemed easier for Ro to apologize in turn and relax a little bit. Nor did Ro push her away when the Klingon kissed her, their lips hesitant at first, gentle, but soon, B'Elanna's passion got the better of her and she ran her hands over Ro's body beneath the tank top, pleased when the other woman offered no further objections.
It wasn't that Ro was less passionate, B'Elanna decided, feeling decidedly ashamed of what she had said earlier. The Bajoran just had a better sense of protocol and presence than the Klingon did and B'Elanna just had to learn to respect it. After all, it only served to keep them both out of trouble in the long run. In fact, once Ro was aroused, it usually took all the Klingon's energy to keep up with her.
And she could tell Ro was starting to become aroused, kissing the Klingon back hard, her breathing increasing correspondingly. The slender arms wrapped around the engineer tightly, her long-fingered hands resting naturally on those muscles at the base of the engineer's spine. B'Elanna tensed in anticipation, feeling the fingertips start to dig into the flesh there, massaging with authority. It made B'Elanna want to growl, to throw the Bajoran onto the deck and ravish her utterly. Instead, she groaned and began to tug at Ro's clothing, wanting her to be as naked as she was at the moment.
Ro stopped her caress to help the Klingon, pulling off the tank top to reveal firm breasts with delicate nipples, a pronounced ridge radiating briefly upward from the top of each one. These ridges were extremely sensitive, even more so that the small, pink buds, and B'Elanna dipped her head immediately, dragging her tongue over the ripples, touching each of the four little bumps with each pass. Ro groaned softly and clutched the Klingon's head to her, holding her close as B'Elanna managed to wrestle the Bajoran's uniform trousers down over the other woman's slim hips, letting them fall to the floor where Ro kicked them off, along with her boots, sending them across the room.
Finally it was warm flesh on flesh and B'Elanna moved her hands freely over the Bajoran's legs and hips, pressing her against the metal of the bulkhead.
"Lanna," Ro muttered. "The bed."
"Take too long to get over there," B'Elanna mumbled around the soft swell in her mouth.
"Uh, okay," Ro agreed readily and she put her hands back on the Klingon's spinal base, rubbing it more firmly than before.
B'Elanna cried out softly, and raised her head, capturing Ro's mouth in a searing kiss, replacing her mouth with her palms which she used to cover the Bajoran's breasts, squeezing each handful, feeling nipples and ridges beneath her hands and chafing them almost roughly. They kissed again and B'Elanna dropped her right hand from the breast to the dark triangle of hair, combing through it to reach the four, pronounced ridges between the Bajoran's legs. These were f'lar ridges, the plexus of a Bajoran women's sensuality and B'Elanna rubbed them, feeling how slick they were from the moisture which oozed from the clefts on either side.
Ro tore her mouth away, groaning loudly at the sensation, apparently no longer concerned if they could be heard or not.
"Use your mouth," she demanded in a harsh whisper.
Obligingly, B'Elanna dropped to her knees and pressed her lips and tongue over the sensitive area, lapping at the wetness, and delighting in the taste and texture of the Bajoran's essence. The tip of her tongue swirling around each individual f'lar, mouthing them with specific intent. Ro's hands tangled in the Klingon's wavy hair, pulling her head tight to her, her hips moving strongly against the oral caress. B'Elanna's tongue darted down to the opening below, feeling it expand and contract with each wave of pleasure and she brought her hand up to press fingers into it, finding them drawn deep into the woman with each powerful pulsation. She wiggled them energetically and brought her mouth back up to the f'lar, sucking hard. Ro's response was immediate and the Bajoran screamed, her head thumping rather soundly into the bulkhead behind her.
B'Elanna, despite her Klingon heritage, winced in sympathy and eased her touch, knowing by this time how long she could caress the intimate recesses of her lover without causing her to pass out. Ro was still weak in the aftermath, leaning against the bulkhead for support, and B'Elanna was forced to hold her up as she got off her knees and slid up the slender form.
"Prophets, you're good at that," Ro growled as she wrapped herself around the Klingon and kissed her fiercely. She bit B'Elanna's bottom lip, hard enough to draw a little blood but no more, and the Klingon was inflamed, shuddering at the taste and minor discomfort.
Ro shifted, turning so that B'Elanna was forced against the bulkhead, never losing the contact with her mouth. Her hands were all over the Klingon, caressing avidly, making love to the woman's body with passionate intent. B'Elanna gasped, trying to catch her breath only to find it captured and controlled by the Bajoran instead. Slipping a hand down between her legs, Ro began to caress the Klingon's clitori, rubbing back and forth between the aching nodules, her fingers growing wet from the moisture the engineer was producing.
"Inside," B'Elanna growled when she was able to free her mouth. "Now."
Ro obeyed, pushing two fingers into the tight channel, curving up to caress the interior firmly. B'Elanna yelped with glee and bent her left knee, raising it to rest on the Bajoran's hip, affording Ro a better angle as the slender woman began to thrust in and out of the Klingon, using her thumb to swipe over the lower, more sensitive nub. The combination of sensation was intense, profound, and B'Elanna cried out, her hips hitting the bulkhead behind her with each forceful penetration by the Bajoran.
"Yes," she howled. "You're doing it ... keep doing it ... keep doing it .... I'm going to .... I'm going to come ... yes ... oh yes .... YESSSSS!!!"
She quivered and shook and still the Bajoran did not stop, evoking even more spasms from deep inside as B'Elanna howled with the intense pleasure of it until finally, she just couldn't respond anymore.
She collapsed in the Bajoran's arms, the slender woman much stronger than she appeared, holding the Klingon up effortlessly. Slowly, B'Elanna became aware of the woman kissing her gently, holding her with protective tenderness and she sighed, finding her lips and kissing her back.
"I love you," she murmured. "So much, Laren."
"I love you, too, Lanna," Ro responded. The Bajoran swallowed. "I think we should move over to the bed."
"After you," B'Elanna responded, still trying to slow her pounding heart. She followed the slender form of her lover over to a pallet that had been made up on the deck in the corner and sank down onto it, grateful to be in the Bajoran's slender arms. Ro drew the sheets up over them and pulled her to the lanky body.
"That was not quiet," she said mildly.
B'Elanna laughed. "I don't suppose it was," she said, arching under Ro's hands as the Bajoran began to caress her again. "I did try, however."
Ro chuckled huskily. "You failed."
B'Elanna merely grinned. "Well, I was just following your lead. That scream could have peeled paint."
Ro frowned suddenly, stopping her caress. "What scream?"
"The scream you don't make whenever you come," B'Elanna assured her just before kissing her. Fortunately, Ro did not seem inclined to pursue it any further and they made love again, slower, hotter, taking their time now that the initial edge had been smoothed off their passion. It was quite a while before B'Elanna found herself lying against Ro, her head resting on the Bajoran's shoulder, her arm draped heavily over the woman's torso, her leg tangled gloriously in hers.
The tip of her tongue prodded gently at the nip in her bottom lip, discovering it only to be a minor sore and she smiled, aware that Ro was forcing herself to be that aggressive just for B'Elanna. It had taken a while before the Bajoran understood that a little blood could be all right, even as B'Elanna made sure she never, ever came close to drawing it with Ro. And in that restraint, the Klingon had found another sort of passion and tenderness than she had experienced before, a deep caring for the other woman that fulfilled her in ways that other relationships had not.
"Hey, can I ask you something?"
Ro made a small sound of amusement as she lay on he back, her eyes closed. "If you must," she said in a sleepy voice. "Not that I can guarantee a proper response."
"Why are you resisting becoming a bridge officer?"
Ro opened her eyes, though she took another moment to respond. "That's a ... long story."
"I'm willing to listen," B'Elanna said softly, then flushed as she realized why Ro might be reluctant. "I swear I won't tell anyone else."
"Hmm, well, if you swear," Ro noted dryly. She smiled faintly. "B'Elanna, you know about Garon II and how I left the Enterprise."
B'Elanna raised up on her elbow, looking down at her seriously. "I do, but you had no choice."
"On the contrary, Lanna, I always had a choice. My problem was, I always seemed to choose wrong. I disobeyed orders on an away mission and eight people died. Janeway says that perhaps if I hadn't disobeyed orders, the entire away team might have died, but I can't be sure of that. She wasn't there, after all and she might be trying to make me feel better."
B'Elanna paused to consider that. "Janeway doesn't say things just to soothe feelings. Believe me. I don't think she would be encouraging you to be something she didn't think you were capable of being."
Ro looked unhappy. "Maybe not," she allowed, though she didn't seem entirely convinced.
B'Elanna bent down and kissed her. "Hey, trust me. I know what I'm talking about." She settled onto the Bajoran's chest, looking down at her. "Don't get me wrong, Laren. I'm not saying she wouldn't go out of her way to encourage someone or boost their confidence if she thought they needed it. She did it for me, after all, and let's not forget how she bent over backwards for Seven when she first appeared on the scene."
Ro smiled faintly. "That drove you crazy, I remember. I had never seen anyone so jealous. It was like 'mommy' had a new favorite child. You were just livid."
B'Elanna blinked. "Is that how you saw it?" B'Elanna paused. "Maybe you're right. Of course, Janeway wasn't exactly maternally motivated, was she?"
Ro grinned faintly. "Once you saw that it was romantic rather than you being replaced as the 'favorite daughter', you completely changed your tune about Seven."
The Klingon blushed faintly. "I 'changed my tune' because I finally figured out what was under all that Borgness," she corrected. "And I discovered I liked it, much to my surprise." She eyed her lover narrowly. "Did you change the subject? You haven't finished answering my question."
"I guess I haven't." Ro tilted her head, taking a moment to consider her words. "Lanna, when I betrayed Picard, there was no reason for it. Not really. My Starfleet career was finally progressing the way I wanted and yes, I felt a kinship to the Maquis and yes, I felt guilt over not having been a resistance fighter on Bajor, but perhaps the truth is that I was really scared I wouldn't be able to live up to the expectations Picard had of me ... so when I had the opportunity, I bolted."
"You mean, it wasn't the Maquis you were joining as much as it was Starfleet you were trying to leave?"
Ro shook her head. "No," she said, obviously struggling to put her thoughts into words. "Not Starfleet, the Enterprise ... the flagship, the pressure of serving on the best, of having always to live up to standards that seemed impossible yet were met daily by that crew. I didn't want to fail when I was needed most. Not again."
"I don't think you would have," B'Elanna suggested gently, saddened by the hurt and confusion in the Bajoran's dark eyes. "You would have come through. I think the problem is, you don't give yourself a chance to prove it to yourself." Ro was looking at her intently and the Klingon thought that perhaps the other woman wanted to believe ... she was just afraid to. "Laren, when I first became chief of engineering, I always felt like Janeway was just waiting for me to fail so she could replace me. It took me a long time before I realized that she was actually waiting for me to succeed. Waiting for me to believe in myself as much as she did. She believes in you, Laren."
Ro was silent for a long moment, clearly thinking about B'Elanna's words. "Is it really that simple?"
B'Elanna sighed. "I didn't say it would be simple. Believing in yourself, trusting in your own abilities, isn't easy. In the end, I think it really comes down to taking a leap of faith. It doesn't matter how many people say they believe in you, until you're willing to go that extra distance yourself. Until you make the jump despite your fear, it just can't happen. You won't know when the moment is or what you have to do, only that, when it's all over, you'll look into yourself and realize, you've made it. You finally know exactly what it was you were missing, because all of a sudden, it will be right there."
Ro exhaled slowly. "You sound like you're talking from experience."
"I am." B'Elanna brushed her fingertips over the Bajoran's cheek. "You won't let Janeway down, Laren."
"No?" Ro managed a brief smile. "I don't think I dare."
B'Elanna grinned in return. "The captain doesn't guess wrong very often. She was right about Seven, wasn't she?"
"She was," Ro allowed finally, pulling the shorter woman closer to herself until the couple were lying together in happy contentment. "Prophets knows, she was definitely right about you. You're smart and capable and wonderful ... I still can't believe it took me so long to see how beautiful you were."
B'Elanna felt the heat rise in her cheeks, bashfully pleased. "I was pretty dense. You were right there all along and instead of seeing you, I kept running around after Tom and Chakotay ... how could I have been so obtuse?"
"That's just the way it goes." Ro quirked an eyebrow. "Ironic, isn't it? Of all the people on the ship, it took Seven the least amount of time to see who was really right for her and to go after that person. Maybe we can learn something from Seven after all."
B'Elanna's smile at that was interrupted by a big yawn that caused the Bajoran to echo it a second or so later. The two women grinned and blinked sleepily at each other. As passionate as they both were, the afterglow tended to be rather overpowering as well.
"I think I'll take a nap."
"I think so, too," Ro agreed. "Pleasant dreams, Lanna."
"You too, bangwI'."
But before the Bajoran could ask what that word meant, there was a sudden alarm from the fore compartment, and over their comm badges scattered in different parts of the room, the captain's voice called them to battle stations.
Seven glanced over at the captain. "Do you suppose they fight every time?"
Janeway shrugged. "Maybe," she responded absently, not really paying her spouse the attention she perhaps should have been as she ran another scan. Ro was right, the captain decided. There was an odd little discrepancy in the readings that kept slipping away whenever Janeway tried to pinpoint it. Her partner's words were barely making a dent in her intense scrutiny, her scientific curiosity completely absorbed by the puzzle the scans were presented to her.
"You realize, of course, that if they are so clearly audible, then undoubtedly, we were, as well."
That did get the captain's attention.
"What?" The captain frowned as she raised her head and listened intently. "I don't hear anything."
Seven quirked an eyebrow. "You cannot hear that?" she asked, obviously surprised. Her head tilted as she listened. "I believe they are copulating against the bulkhead." She looked at the captain with that expression on her face that indicated she wished something explained to her. "Why would they disregard the use of a perfectly good bed in order to make love against the wall?"
Janeway opened her mouth, hesitated, and then stared at her partner. "You can really hear them?"
Seven paused. "Perhaps it is due to my Borg enhancements."
Janeway eyed her. "Perhaps." She took a breath. "Seven, it's not polite to listen when people make love." Suddenly, she winced as a faint howl penetrated the metal thickness of the door and muffled thumps echoed softly into the main cabin. "My god!"
"That was B'Elanna," Seven explained helpfully. "Apparently, she is climaxing ... assuming I can take what she is yelling at face value."
Janeway blushed deep crimson. "I hope to heaven, we weren't that loud."
Seven considered it carefully as another, particularly intense howl penetrated the cabin and completely defeated the sound muting qualities of the bulkhead. "The death scream of a star being sucked into a black hole is not that loud," she informed the captain knowingly. She studied her partner. "Why does this bother you, Kathryn? Particularly since you, yourself, arranged the opportunity for us, and them?"
"Because," Janeway began. She paused, trying to find the words to answer this. "Annika, I don't like other people to know what we do in our private life. And I certainly don't want to know what goes on in their's."
"But most people are aware that we make love," Seven responded, in obvious confusion. "Or would certainly assume it. We are married, after all, and the sexual consummation of such a state is apparently necessary for such a relationship to be valid. Otherwise, we are merely good friends who happen to share quarters. I do not believe anyone judges that to be our true relationship. So the fact that we may or may not have been heard during this particular copulation would merely confirm what B'Elanna and Laren already know. Why are you upset by that?"
Janeway pinched the bridge of her nose with her forefinger and thumb, wondering how she managed to get into conversations like this. She could explain all about sexual taboos to her partner, but she didn't think they'd be on the planet long enough. In fact, they might not even be in the Delta Quadrant long enough.
"I just am, darling," she said finally. "Can you just chalk it up to my being 'Human'?"
Seven stared at her. "Very well. We shall discuss something else." The look in her eyes, however, meant that she was filing it away in her eidetic memory to bring up at another time in the future, probably one night just as the captain was ready to make love or had just finished making love, hoping to get a more comprehensive response from Janeway while all her defenses were nonexistent.
"Kathryn, is making love against the wall better? We have made love in the shower, which did require utilizing the nearby bulkhead, but that was due to location. I do not understand why anyone would utilize a wall for support when a bed is only a few feet away."
Janeway searched for a way to answer that. "It's uh, a matter of taste, I think, darling. It can be fun, but it's more a ... well, it's probably a lot more physical than the way we generally make love."
Seven blinked. "We are not physical?"
"Not ... that way. Not the way Klingons ... or, apparently Bajorans are."
"Explain."
Janeway looked at the young woman who was studying her so intently and stifled a sigh.
"Uh, there's a certain amount of aggression involved with Klingons that you and I simply don't ... indulge in."
"You can be very aggressive, Kathryn," Seven informed her gravely.
"Not like ... that." Janeway wished someone else could explain sexual habits of other species to Seven. It wasn't as if the captain had any firsthand knowledge of Klingon behavior, in any event. Just what she had heard through rumor and innuendo, most of which was unappealing. She wondered why B'Elanna hadn't been more specific in discussing it with Seven, then realized that Seven might not necessarily have asked the Klingon a question pertaining to it before. Possibly because it would never occur to her to ask until now. "It's a different kind of aggressive, Seven."
"In what way?"
Janeway forced herself not to sigh, though her exhalation of breath was perhaps a bit louder than it had to be. "Sometimes aggressiveness can also be considered ... roughness."
Seven quirked an eyebrow. "Indeed," she said, with great interest. "Define 'roughness' so that I can be sure that what you mean is what I think you mean."
Janeway pursed her lips. "It's different things for different people. For you and me, probably the way Ro and B'Elanna make love would be ... extremely uncomfortable. There would be a certain amount of pain involved."
Seven thought about that and frowned. Obviously she didn't like the thought that the other women whom she considered friends, would indulge in the sort of relationship that might include discomfort. "How do you know?"
Janeway opened her mouth to respond, hesitated, then frowned. "I guess I don't, really." A particularly loud thump shook the vessel and she glanced backward. "But I can make a pretty good guess," she added dryly.
Seven tilted her head. "It merely sounds enthusiastic to me," she reported dispassionately. "They are no longer against the bulkhead, they are now on the bed." She paused, and regarded her spouse intently. "We are passionate quite often, Kathryn. Remember the time we made love in the ensuite and you hit your head on the sink counter? Or the time we utilized the wonder wand while making love on the kitchenette counter and we fell off the other side onto the deck, where you injured your elbow? Or the time we made love in the bathtub and you slipped, inhaling water which required me to administer CPR? Or the time..."
"Enough," Janeway interrupted. "None of that has anything to do with 'rough sex', Annika. That was just us being clumsy."
Seven took a breath. "Perhaps Ro and B'Elanna are merely clumsy while making love as well."
Janeway eyed her for a moment, then nodded. "All right, perhaps they're just clumsy. Any other questions?" Knowing it was a mistake the instant it left her mouth.
"Did you know there are anatomical genitalia differences between Humans and Klingons and Bajorans?"
Janeway tried to figure out how to answer that without getting into something that was far more complicated than she wanted to get into at the moment.
"Is it relevant? Are you planning to alter your technique in the near future in order to make love to one of those particular species?" She was rather proud of that response, figuring it would flummox the young woman enough to get her out of this one.
Seven stared at her. "You are attempting to divert me," she noted, somewhat flatly.
Caught, Janeway searched for an intelligent, rapier-like reply which would forestall this conversation from deteriorating any further.
"I am not!"
"You are," Seven insisted. "When you do not wish to answer my questions, you attempt to turn the discussion in a direction other than what I wish to speak about. Why do you not wish to discuss this?"
A chirp sounded on the console and the captain turned to it gratefully. "I have another indication of a crevice forming approximately twenty kilometers east from here," she said, deliberately not looking sideways.
Seven hesitated, clearly not satisfied with the termination of this particular discussion, but realizing that perhaps the ship's scans were more important at the moment. She turned her attention to her board ... much to the captain's great relief.
"I see it. It is as if an empty space opens up in the earth and then is filled in again almost immediately afterward. Perhaps if we increase sensor parameters?"
"Maybe this is some sort of tectonic activity?" Janeway suggested finally after they spent the next half-hour enhancing the scans and pouring over the results. Fortunately, the sounds coming from the rear of the ship seemed to have trailed off and the captain hoped her spouse would not be inspired to ask why.
Seven shook her head, clearly not liking that conclusion. "Certainly the sensors would have detected such a thing and warned us. These appear randomly, first in one place, then in another some distance away."
Janeway frowned, pondering the puzzle. "It also seems to be limited to the areas where the soil is predominantly loose. Almost as if..." She caught her breath. "Something's traveling through the earth, Seven," she said, the whole thing becoming frighteningly clear to her suddenly. "Switch the scans to detect biological entities."
Seven spent a few moments doing so as Janeway uneasily tracked the various discrepancies, realizing with trepidation that there were several individual tracks in widely divergent regions, indicating more than one entity. And that they all seemed to tracking in one specific direction ... the oasis where they had landed.
"Recalibrated sensors are detecting large lifeforms moving through the ground," Seven reported finally. "Apparently tunneling on a steady course, a space appearing before the creature before closing up behind them. The geological scans detected the tunnels only when they were moving in areas that do not have a solid content."
"They must also be able to move through clay and rock. We only picked them up in the sandy areas."
"Now that we have a biological scan running, we can pick them up on a continuous basis."
"Can you determine how many there are?"
Seven keyed in a few more commands. "There are five." She quirked an eyebrow. "They seem to be converging on this particular location."
"That's what I was afraid of." Janeway slapped her comm badge. "This is the captain. All hands to battle stations."
Seven glanced at her as a burst of activity suddenly erupted in the aft compartment.
"You could have informed them that they had time to shower, Kathryn, since you are so concerned with potential embarrassment."
"Embarrassment is the least of our problems, Seven," Janeway barked with sudden alarm, dashing for the front of the shuttle. The latest scan had revealed just how close one of the lifeforms was approaching. It had traveled a ten kilometers in less than five minutes and somehow, she did not think it was stopping by just to be friendly. "Initiating launch sequence."
Seven glanced up as Ro Laren stumbled through the door from the aft compartment, raking her fingers through her hair.
"Captain?"
"We can expect a visitor in approximately three minutes," Janeway explained tersely. "And it's big."
"How big?" Ro responded, reaching over the captain's shoulder. In a lower voice, she added, "I have it, Captain."
Seven saw Janeway hesitate, and then grudgingly give way. The captain was a good pilot but still not as good as the Bajoran who, in recent months, had knocked the rust off skills little used the previous six years. Ro settled down in the pilot's chair, her hands running over the helm as Janeway moved quickly back to the science station where, to Seven's surprise and approval, she strapped in.
"The creature is approximately twenty meters long and ten meters in radius," Janeway reported.
"Is there really a danger here, Captain?" B'Elanna frowned over her engineering console. Seven noted that the Klingon's hair was in considerable disarray while she hadn't quite managed to tuck her tank top into her trousers. One end hung over her hip, giving her a distinctly disheveled appearance.
"They're big and there are five of them heading in this direction, one of which is only a minute away," the captain remarked. "Considering the creatures we've encountered to date on this planet, what would be your guess, Lieutenant?"
"Ro, get this thing off the ground," B'Elanna ordered. Her lover did her best to comply, the Bajoran's hands flying over the board as the engines powered up.
"The creature will intersect with our position in ten seconds ... five seconds ... four ... three ... two ... one," Seven read off impassively. "Contact."
The shuttle, easing off the ground, suddenly jolted and shook, a high whine cutting through the air as Ro frantically made adjustments.
"Report!" Janeway yelped, gripping the arms of her seat with white knuckles.
"Something just grabbed our rear port landing strut. Attempting to compensate." Ro keyed in commands. "No response."
"More power to the engines."
"Doing so," B'Elanna shot back. "Thrusters are overloading. This thing is too strong for them and we can't go to impulse so close to the ground."
"Increase power to deflector array."
"No effect," B'Elanna returned. "Only the hull is covered with the deflector field and apparently whatever it is, is touching only the strut."
"Full shields," Janeway barked.
"It is already inside the shields," Seven said. "They would merely extend around it."
Janeway opened her mouth, hesitated, and finally looked baffled. "Suggestions?"
B'Elanna leaped up from her seat, staggering as she moved across the angled deck to the compartment containing the phaser rifles.
"Shoot it off," she said, tossing one to Seven who was already on her way to the hatch.
Seven accessed the hatch controls, leaning through the opening as B'Elanna gripped her legs tightly. The creature was wormlike, a dark, brownish color with short tentacles ringing a beaked mouth full of sharp little teeth. Right now, it had its teeth clamped on the landing strut, preventing it from recessing back into the shuttle as its tentacles wrapped around tightly. Obviously, it had a grip on the soil in some fashion, preventing the shuttle from simply lifting it up and out of the ground. Seven thought that possibly it might be a little under stress because its body seemed unduely elongated. Yet, it refused to let go.
She brought the rifle around and attempted to fire, but the angle was not the best and all the ruby beam could find as a target was the armor-like hide of the beast, washing off without effect. She had to find a more vulnerable spot on the creature and she squirmed vigorously, attempting to curl under the shuttle in order to target its head.
But she was too vigorous and suddenly, she was falling, hitting the sand below with a thud as B'Elanna lost her grip on Seven's legs. Seven's rifle was jarred loose and she scrambled for it, rolling to her feet and bringing it up before her. She froze as she saw the creature abruptly let go of the landing strut, the shuttle shooting directly up into the air as it was suddenly released.
Seven tilted her head curiously as the creature turned to her, arching higher out of the ground with a throaty gurgle. From the corner of her eye, she was acutely aware of other creatures approaching, sand spraying and humping up, indicating their passage directly for her. She wondered if it was scent that drove them, or simply sound, and whether she had made a distressful one when she hit the ground. Certainly, they seemed far more interested in her than the ascending vessel and it occurred to her that she had provided the perfect distraction to make the creature release the shuttle ... certainly far more efficient than firing the phaser rifle had been.
At the moment, the weapon dangled limply in her hands as she looked up at the creature looming over her, mesmerized by the gaping mouth spreading wide as the hulk began to descend upon her. She had the sudden, incredible thought that, all things considered, being eaten was a most inelegant way to die. Yet, her accidental tumble had resulted in freeing the shuttle, allowing her crewmates, including her beloved spouse, to reach safety, so she supposed it was a reasonable death, certainly worthy of honor and even a bit of pride.
She straightened perceptibly, determined to face her demise with dignity and presence, looking the creature ... in the gullet, actually, since apparently, it had no eyes. It crashed down towards her and she firmed her jaw, steadfastly determined not to flinch in this, her final moment of existence.
There was a brief disorientation, the sense of being displaced and suddenly, the familiar confines of the shuttle's main cabin was before her. She stepped gracefully down off the transporter dais and glanced over at B'Elanna who was staring at her, wide-eyed, her hands still on the transporter controls.
"A most timely intervention, Lt. Torres," Seven said calmly. She hesitated and added, "Thank you."
She placed the rifle that she still had in her hands back into the weapons compartment and took her place at her ops station. She carefully did not look over at Janeway, not needing to see the captain to know that Kathryn's face would be absolutely still, a rock of composure, but with a subtle tightness to her mouth and eyes, the lines that radiated from each somehow appearing much deeper and more defined. The captain's porcelain skin would also be decidedly paler than normal.
"Helm, get us out of here," Janeway said in voice that was devoid of inflection. Perhaps only Seven's enhanced hearing could have picked up on the tiny quaver underlying it. "Find a landing spot devoid of wildlife. The highest mountain, the poles, one of this planet's moons if need be. Just find us a place without anything that could ... attack us."
"Understood, Captain," Ro said, her voice subdued.
Indeed, it seemed that the ship was unnaturally quiet and Seven decided that her close call must have rattled the other three women more than was visibly apparent. She herself, had a somewhat unfamiliar sensation in the pit of her stomach and it seemed that her fingers were trembling slightly as she ran them over her board. She wondered if this was in relation to her nearness to death and decided that was unlikely, since she had faced many dangerous experiences in her lifetime before and had no reaction at all. She forced herself not to shudder as the image of rows upon rows of tiny sharp teeth set in a round mouth, crossed her mind.
"Seven, I need to see you in the aft compartment," Janeway said in a low voice, releasing her harness and getting out of her seat. "Privately."
"Understood," Seven replied calmly, getting up and following the captain into the rear section of the Delta Flyer. She was aware of B'Elanna and Ro exchanging a look and wondered if they knew what Janeway wished to see her about.
As soon as the door was sealed, Janeway was in her arms, clinging to her tightly and Seven hugged her close, realizing the captain was trembling violently. Perversely, that made Seven feel a great deal better and she nuzzled the top of her partner's head, breathing in the warm fragrance.
"I am undamaged, Kathryn," she said softly. "The situation is over."
Janeway just shook harder for a moment, then finally drew back, staring wildly into Seven's face, her hands gripping Seven's arms with bruising force.
"Don't! You! Ever! Do! That! Again!" she said, biting each word off with cutting precision.
Seven raised an eyebrow. Since she found it unlikely that she would ever be required to accidentally fall out of a shuttle in order to be threatened with the prompt ingestion by several giant, voracious worms, it did not seem that difficult to agree to such a request. Though it did occur to her that facing her partner's anger was somewhat more jarring than the encounter with the creatures.
"I will not, Kathryn," she promised gravely.
Janeway let out a breath that was half sob and she threw herself back into Seven's embrace, talking quickly as if she needed to get it all out before she was unable to speak at all.
"I couldn't get out of the damned harness. I saw you fall and I couldn't do anything and suddenly you were gone and B'Elanna was just staring down and the ship kept rising until we could barely see you and the creatures were coming and their signals were all intersecting yours on the board and I thought you were dead when B'Elanna jumped for the transporter console and beamed you back and you were all right and you were alive and damn it, don't you ever scare me like that again!"
"I will not, Kathryn," Seven repeated dutifully.
Then Janeway was silent, her breath coming in harsh gasps and Seven held her close.
"I do not wish to ever leave you," Seven added, in a much gentler tone.
That's when Janeway started to cry and Seven realized that this was the true reason the captain required privacy. It was one thing for a crewmember to possibly hear the captain and her partner engaged in ... recreational pursuits. It was even another for them to see Janeway lecture her spouse angrily and somewhat illogically on her need to be more prudent in her future actions. But for them to see her break down was completely unacceptable. As the captain buried her face in Seven's black t-shirt, her tears soaking through, Seven realized that she would have to recycle the shirt before returning to the main cabin so as not to display the copious moisture and mucus now smearing the material.
After several long moments, the sobs slowed and trailed off, even as Seven continued to hug Janeway warmly and stroke the soft, auburn hair. Still, Janeway clung to her and Seven allowed it, content in this moment of mixed joy and terror that she was loved deeply and without reservation.
Finally, Janeway drew back, looking into the pale blue gaze of her spouse and Seven reached up with her hand, gently using her thumb to wipe the splash of wetness from beneath the reddened eyes. Janeway sniffed, swallowed and made a trembling sound in her throat.
"This is really hard," she said, her tone rusty, as if she had not spoken in decades. "I don't know that I can continue to handle situations like this on a regular basis."
Seven considered it. "It is our life," she said simply after a moment. "Yours and mine. And to a great extent, we are both ... attuned to it. We enjoy it."
"I did not enjoy this."
Seven quirked an eyebrow. "Perhaps not this particular situation, but the adventure, the challenge of being on an alien planet, of conquering threats and obstacles? You do enjoy it, Kathryn. It is a part of you and thus, part of who I love. And, as time advances, I find that I too, am ... invigorated by it. As are B'Elanna and Laren. We are all of a type. We find such things inviting despite our occasional terrors, which are also a part of the challenge." She paused, studying the eyes, far more grey than blue at the moment, choosing her words with care. "Kathryn, you are reacting with fear at this moment, fear for me and my safety, but I am also aware that there is a part of you that is ... exhilarated by it, by the fact that we are both safe to live another day."
Janeway looked as if she would deny it, then her face smoothed out. "Yes," she admitted and it was a difficult admission, Seven knew. "You're exactly right. But Annika, I don't want to be exhilarated by it. I don't want to want this life."
Seven brushed her lips over the captain's forehead. "I do not believe it is the sort of thing that can be chosen. It simply is and we must adapt."
Janeway closed her eyes and eased back into Seven's arms, resting her cheek on Seven's upper chest, her ear pressed against the breast bone and the younger woman was aware somehow, that the captain was listening to her spouse's heartbeat, finding solace in it.
Seven smiled faintly. "Survival may be insufficient, but it is required for me to continue to love you in a physical state so perhaps I must redefine the phrase somewhat."
Janeway groaned. "You pick the damndest times to try to be funny." She hugged her tighter. "Survival as a concept, may be insufficient, but your survival is absolutely a priority for me."
"As yours is for me." Seven bent her head and Janeway obligingly lifted hers, their lips touching softly. "I love you, Kathryn," she murmured quietly after they had parted briefly. "I beyond love you."
"I beyond love you, too, my darling." Janeway managed a small smile. "When we get back to Voyager, I am going to show you just how much for the entire two days of our accorded R&R."
Seven smiled. "I shall be sure to eat many vegetables and significant amounts of red meat for the rest of the away mission, in order to build up my stamina."
"You do that," Janeway responded, digging her thumb into Seven's ribs to indicate she knew she was being teased. Seven would have laughed if it were not such a difficult ability for her to muster. Instead, she merely allowed her smile to widen, showing her teeth and her spouse hugged her one last time.
"Let's get back to work," the captain added. "Hopefully, by this time, Ro has found us a nice, quiet, out of the way spot where nothing will try to eat us."
Epilogue
Ro Laren woke up, blinking in the dim illumination of the chief engineer's quarters. Beside her, the warm body of B'Elanna Torres continued to slumber peacefully and Ro swallowed, wondering what it was that disturbed her. Then she realized there was another warm spot, resting heavily on Ro's chest, vibrating subtly. With exquisite care, aware of the sharp little claws so close to her skin, she eased the furry blue ball off her and onto the bed beside her.
Originally, the B'Rethna, which looked like a cross between a kitten and a weasel, had made a point of disappearing whenever the Bajoran came by. Now it seemed that B'Elanna's alien pet had finally decided that Ro's presence was going to be a regular occurrence and despite its initial, very apparent disdain, it was gradually coming to accept her. The Bajoran couldn't decide if that was advantageous or not, twitching her nose as she stifled a sneeze. If the damned thing was going to start sleeping on her, perhaps she should do something to encourage it back to its previous antipathy. Unfortunately,B'Elanna was somewhat smitten with the creature, despite all her efforts to hide such infatuation behind bluster and feigned unconcern for its well-being. In fact, Ro was pretty sure B'Elanna had gotten to the 'love me, love my pet' stage and 'Libby', as it was named ... ironically by Harry Kim though Ro had no idea how that happened ... was very much a part of the package.
She guessed that it was fortunate the rest of the package was so adorable, though she'd never actually say that to B'Elanna, who would no doubt say something quite disagreeable in return. She rolled over and wrapped the compact form up in her arms, cuddling against the warmth and soft skin over firm muscles and heavy bone.
B'Elanna stirred and muttered. "What time is it?"
"0843 hours," Ro responded, closing her eyes. "Good morning."
B'Elanna rolled over and snuggled up to the lanky Bajoran, reaching over to scoop up her fluffy blue pet and setting it on Ro's stomach where she could stroke it. It emanated a solid purr and settled down happily on Ro's belly as the Bajoran resisted the urge to sigh.
"I like this," the Klingon murmured, nuzzling Ro's neck. "I like waking up next to you."
Ro kissed the nearest forehead ridge. "I like waking up with you, too. It's too bad we can't do it more often."
"Maybe we can," B'Elanna suggested.
Ro blinked. "How?"
"I'm going to see if I can switch my shift over to the beta rotation, so we'll both be on duty at the same time rather than always missing each other."
Ro was disturbed. "You can't do that."
"Sure I can," B'Elanna responded. "I'm the head of the department and it doesn't really make any difference when I serve my shift. You, on the other hand, can't pick and choose your shift so, it only makes sense that I do."
"But," Ro began, paused, began again. "It won't be good for your career. There's a reason why the senior staff are tapped for alpha shift duty."
"I know," the Klingon muttered. "But it's not like I'm bucking for promotion, here, Laren, even if that was possible on Voyager." She paused. "I want to be with you."
Ro inhaled slowly. "I want to be with you," she said, acknowledging the depth of that need to herself even if it wasn't openly apparent. "The captain won't like it. She, like every other captain, prefers command staff to serve when she does."
B'Elanna raised onto an elbow, looking down at the Bajoran with a grin. "She'll understand why I want to do it and I think she'll want me to be ... comfortable. So she'll approve the shift change ... or even better, switch you back to alpha rotation."
Ro eyed her uncertainly. "I don't know, Lanna. Chakotay determines the crew rotation."
B'Elanna nodded. "Yeah, but he knows I work better when I'm happy and this will make me happy. So he'll take it to the captain and she'll decide which will work best, me switching or you. Either way, I'm satisfied with the outcome."
Ro sighed. "I have to admit, you seem to have covered all the angles."
"Well, if we're going to live together," B'Elanna said, yawning sleepily as she settled back down onto the Bajoran. "I want our duty shifts to be compatible."
The Klingon drifted back to sleep as Ro lay, staring wide-eyed at the ceiling.
Live together?
The End