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Nine Months - Beginning at the End
- Ch. 1, 2
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Nine Months – Beginning at the End
By Kudara
Disclaimer: Star Trek Voyager and all who sail in her belong to
Paramount/Viacom and no infringement of copyright/trade marks is
intended.
Rating: Adult
Feedback: Always welcome, feedback is what encourages me to keep
writing. Please let me know what you like and what you dislike
about the story.
Revision History: 11/09/05; Major rev. 01/01/06; minor rev
01/04/07
Summary: After nine months of captivity, B’Elanna, Seven and
their fellow former captives manage to find Voyager.
***********************************************************
Chapter 1 - Stardate: 53010.08 (Jan 4, 2376 4:33pm)
“I’m sorry I ever suggested finding Voyager,” growled B’Elanna
to Elizabeth Janeway, a deep scowl etched upon her face, and her
arms crossed over her chest, as she regarded the russet-haired
woman.
A short bark of laughter erupted, “Janeways have often shown
more stubbornness than sense, it’s somewhat reassuring to see
that 400 years hasn’t changed a thing about that.” Elizabeth’s
smile turned wry, “We just didn’t realize the extent of her
prejudice against genetically modified humans.” She shrugged
after a long moment of silence, “Perhaps its all for the better,
given the rules against genetic modification in the Federation,
along with that personal example of how people react to it...”
Elizabeth’s voice trailed off and she sighed unhappily, “Well I
think we can now say that the worst case scenario we thought up,
that the Federation might insist that we submit to genetic
re-modification and not permit our children to go into any
technical fields, might actually be the most likely outcome.”
The russet-haired woman shook her head, her wry smile changed to
a frown, “I’ll have to say that I’m not impressed with anyone on
Voyager right now. Captain Kathryn Janeway’s response to us,
combined with what I heard from some of the crew, makes me
wonder how they can actually not choke on their claims of
enlightenment and acceptance.” Her attention shifted to Seven,
and B’Elanna saw the muscles in her jaw bunch as her face
tightened, “I know you told me about them holding your having
been assimilated against you, but seeing it today…” she growled,
“I really wanted to knock some sense into those jerks for you
Seven.” She finished colorfully, “Assholes.”
“I believe they thought you, Christina, and Tanya would as
well.” Seven noted with a small smirk.
“What?” asked B’Elanna confused, and with growing anger at the
clear implication that someone had said something unpleasant to
Seven.
Seven placed a reassuring hand on her arm, “Comments were made
about my presence aboard Voyager by two of the crewmen in the
Mess Hall. You were talking to Tom at that time, but Elizabeth,
Maria, Christina, Nancy, and Tanya were with me. The crewmen
decided to return to their duties shortly after Elizabeth and
Tanya conversed with them regarding their comments. I believe it
was made clear to them that their continued wellbeing depended
upon them vacating the Mess Hall.”
“Damn it. P’taq’s. I’m sorry Seven, and thanks Elizabeth.”
Frustration and anger were evident in B’Elanna’s tone.
Elizabeth merely nodded in reply.
“I am alright.” Seven reassured her, “While it was initially
unpleasant to hear them wish that I had remained lost, I was
gratified at the response of my friends.” Seven smiled at
Elizabeth.
With an exaggerated southern drawl Elizabeth replied, “Any time
Ma’am, always a privilege to defend a lady.”
B’Elanna snorted in amusement, and Seven raised a brow at this
reply, even as she smiled at it, recognizing Elizabeth’s efforts
to lighten the mood.
B’Elanna’s anger rapidly diffused once it occurred to her that
the situation had actually worked out for the better. Seven
needed to know that she could depend upon the friends she had
made among the other captives, that they would stand by her and
protect her.
Elizabeth paused, and her demeanor changed into a solemn one.
She regarded B’Elanna and Seven evenly, “There will be a vote
tonight. Stay with Voyager or colonization. I think we both know
the majority will choose colonization once we make our reports
on how Voyager reacted to us. All anyone wants at this point is
to be safe, have the freedom to choose our own futures, and not
have our children be discriminated against. I hope you two will
be going with us.” With that she took one long look at both of
them, nodded, and left Artemis’ transporter room.
B’Elanna watched Elizabeth leave, knowing that the woman wanted
them to go with them badly, but she was not the type to use
emotional appeals, preferring to bluntly state her case and let
the other person make up their own mind.
As she turned toward Seven, she was still scowling, but as soon
as her gaze fell upon the blonde, the scowl fled and sadness
replaced it as she regarded the former Borg. “I never though she
would react that way. I knew she could be hard headed and
stubborn… but to insist that we let the doctor tamper even
further with us to try and undo the genetic changes that were
made… Even after we informed her that we were told it would be
dangerous to even make such an attempt.”
Seven took a step forward and wrapped her arms around B’Elanna,
laying her head on the half-Klingon’s shoulder as she did so. “I
was surprised by her reaction as well B’Elanna. I did not really
believe that she would act in that manner, even though I
assisted in developing the various scenarios.”
B’Elanna wrapped her arms around Seven and nuzzled her hair,
“Neither did I. And I’m sorry you had to hear some Borg comment,
some people are just jackasses.”
“You are picking up more idiomatic expressions from Elizabeth
and the others,” Seven noted amused pulling away slightly so she
could look into the half-Klingons face. “Their comment did not
damage me, and it was gratifying to see Elizabeth and the others
react to protect me, though it was not necessary. I was used to
ignoring such comments before we were taken captive.” Seven
commented, but B’Elanna could see the disquiet in her eyes.
“Seven, you don’t deserve such treatment, you never did. You
should have never have had to get used to, or ignore, such
comments,” B’Elanna stated emphatically. She waited until Seven
nodded an acknowledgement of her words, and then pulled the
blonde into a tight embrace.
They stood for long moments silent, wrapped in each other’s
arms. After a minute of silence B’Elanna sighed and spoke, “Lets
go to our quarters and discuss this.”
********
Chapter 2 - Stardate 53010.42 (Jan 4, 2376 7:33pm)
“Captain, I must protest, I don’t think now is a good time for
you to insist that they undergo any more genetic manipulation,
even if I could figure out a safe way to do so. They’re simply
too traumatized by their experiences to add any additional
stress.” The Doctor paused for breath, “And I absolutely refuse
to perform any such procedure upon Seven at this time.”
Janeway had been about to tell him that after the discussion
Tuvok and Chakotay had with her earlier, she had already
rethought her initial reaction and regretted how she had handled
the entire meeting, but this obvious insubordination angered
her. Janeway gave him a furious look, “And just why is that
Doctor,” she asked in a frosty tone.
“Besides the fact that I feel it is unethical of me to force
treatment upon anyone, I couldn’t predict the effect of such a
treatment upon the fetus.” He answered frostily.
“Fetus?” Janeway repeated in a blank surprised tone, “Seven’s
pregnant?”
“Yes, eleven weeks pregnant. As it is, she’s not as healthy as I
would like, I gave her some supplements to take and instructed
her to rest. She definitely does not need to be subjected to any
additional stress right now.” The doctor punctuated his
statements with emphatic gestures of his hands and a deep frown
cut into his face.
“She didn’t mention that she was pregnant.” repeated Janeway,
shock evident in her tone.
“I assure you she is,” the Doctor defended.
Janeway stared at him for a moment then a defeated look crossed
her face, “I didn’t mean to imply that she wasn’t, I’m just
shocked that neither of them mentioned the fact.”
He regarded her silently for a moment then in a kinder tone “I
think Seven and B’Elanna are still dealing with the idea of it
themselves, after all it wasn’t a voluntary choice on their
part. Right now I suspect their both just relieved that they are
free and will never have to worry about the child being
implanted with those…,” he paused an outraged look upon his
face, “barbaric pain inducers. I don’t think they’ve thought of
much beyond that.”
Janeway winced at the reminder of the past treatment of the two
women. “Alright, I get the idea Doctor. I’ll apologize to them
tomorrow, and let them know they don’t have to agree to any
procedure.”
The Doctor inhaled and Janeway interrupted him before he could
begin speaking, sure he was about to continue berating her.
“It’s just… They are not the women who left on that away mission
bickering and sniping at each other. B’Elanna should be with
Tom, and Seven, she’s not ready for any relationship yet. Much
less being a mother.” She began pacing, her hands on her hips,
she began striding back and forth in an abrupt fashion, “I want
my Seven of Nine and B’Elanna Torres back Doctor.” She stopped
in front of him and looked him directly in the eyes.
In a soft tone he replied, “I don’t think that’s possible
Captain.” She opened her mouth as if to interrupt him but he
held up a hand and continued, “Even if I could figure out how to
safely make such changes, I don’t think it would bring the women
we knew back. Captain, they’ve suffered though severe
physiological manipulation and abuse for an extended period of
time, with no one but each other to depend upon. No one goes
thought that type of treatment and remains the same.” He
hesitated, then gamely continued, “I would think that you would
understand that Captain, given your own past experiences.”
Janeway’s face tightened and she turned abruptly away from him,
absorbing his words. She sighed deeply, strode over to her desk
and leaned against it staring out the port, “Yes I do, and no
they don’t.” She admitted.
Straightening, after a long silent moment, she turned toward
him, “They were both so serious and quiet. I remember Seven
being somewhat like that, but B’Elanna, never. And so reserved,
I couldn’t tell what they were thinking or feeling. They just
seemed to shut down emotionally, and refused to respond to me.”
She was quiet again and then in a regretful tone, “I just want
them to get back the fire they both used to have.”
“I suspect that was a by product of the way they were treated,
Seven was punished whenever either of them displayed anger or
questioned any orders they were given.” the Doctor theorized in
a grim tone.
Janeway’s eyes widened in shock, “They obviously told you more
details about what happened to them than they did me.”
The Doctor grimly nodded, “From what Seven described to me of
her experiences, I believe that whoever was responsible knew
quite a lot about human psychology, and had an utter lack of
moral compunction about how they used it.” |
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