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Nine Months – Voyager Part 2
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: Mature
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: 01/08/06; minor revision 01/26/07
Summary: The former captives meet up with Voyager.
************************************************************
Chapter 39 - Stardate: 53010.09 (Jan 4, 2376 4:43pm) (follows
from Chapter 1)
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.”
As they walked back to their quarters, B’Elanna couldn’t help
but mentally compare the quiet strength and innate politeness of
Elizabeth Janeway, with the more fiery, outspoken and driven
Kathryn Janeway. Both of them were strong leaders, both of them
had their strongly held convictions, but Elizabeth had a strong
dislike of forcing her point of view on anyone.
Probably a side effect of the past eight years, though B’Elanna
suspected Elizabeth had always been one to tell people they
could follow orders or walk out the door if they had a problem
with it. One of the benefits of ground based command; there was
no place to go on a starship. Kathryn Janeway had used to be
more like Elizabeth, before the years in the Delta Quadrant, the
constant attacks, and the tickle of people dying. Then she had
become more and more controlling, and less likely to listen to
dissent without seeing it as a challenge to her command.
“Am I that different?” B’Elanna asked, once they walked into
their quarters.
“No, she was merely seeing a conditioned response to her anger.
I reacted to it as well, as did everyone else from the Artemis
at the table. As Maria has reminded us, it will take awhile for
the memories to fade. You are still B’Elanna Torres, only, as
you have stated before, with your emotions more under your
control.” Seven answered, coming up to her, laying her head
against the half-Klingon’s chest, and wrapping her arms around
B’Elanna.
“The Doctor will fail; I believe he already suspects this after
the results of the theta radiation test on the DNA samples he
took. The bonds between the molecules broke much earlier than
they should have. She will have to accept that the Ilanar are
correct, and nothing can be done.” Seven continued.
“I meant what I said you know, that I would refuse the changes,”
B’Elanna stated, her expression completely serious.
Seven looked at her intently curious, waiting for her to
continue.
“Neither of us had a choice about them, but now that it’s done.”
She trailed off, gathering her thoughts. “I like being taller, I
like being stronger, and living to be a hundred and eighty or so
isn’t something I’m going to protest.” B’Elanna paused,
“Learning who you are and falling in love with you is the best
thing that’s ever happened to me, the child your carrying is
second. But these changes, I feel like I’ve paid for them, in
the pain I went through and the pain you went through, and their
mine now, I’m not about to let Janeway decide she has the right
to take them away.”
Seven nodded understandingly, “I too felt resentful of the idea,
but I did not understand why I felt that way. You are correct we
did ‘pay’ for them, and now they are not something I am willing
to give up either.”
The half-Klingon nodded, and continued “I also wasn’t at all
thrilled by her reaction in the briefing room, we haven’t been
members of her crew for nine months, and she thinks she has the
right to dictate our futures.” B’Elanna fell silent for awhile
staring into Seven’s blue eyes. “I think Elizabeth is correct,
the worst case scenario we designed, is now the most likely
one.” She pulled out of the hug long enough to shift positions
so she could place a hand over Seven’s lower stomach, as she
stared into the blonde’s eyes. “Our child would not be permitted
to be an engineer or a scientist, and we would be denied the
technology for us to have another one. You and I might not be
permitted to work in our respective fields.”
Seven placed a hand upon the caramel toned one resting upon her
abdomen, “We are in agreement, I have reanalyzed the situation
and I came to the same conclusion. We will vote to colonize, and
travel with our friends to Amazonia. I have already sacrificed
one child for Voyager; I will not sacrifice the future of this
one.”
B’Elanna nodded, silently, an unhappy expression on her face as
she remembered the fate of One. She leaned over and kissed Seven
on the forehead, “She deserves the best future that we can give
her, one where she won’t be discriminated against.” She smiled
wryly, “For that matter we do as well, I’d loose my mind if I
couldn’t be an engineer, or you a scientist.” Changing the topic
slightly she asked curiously, “Amazonia? I didn’t know they had
already picked a name?”
Seven smirked, “That is Aria’s choice, apparently in ancient
Earth history there was a nation comprised primarily of women.
The women were called Amazons. It seems an appropriate choice,
as our colony will consist entirely of women.”
“Aria… she is… was rather, Morgan’s hostage right? Short
brunette with grey eyes and a child? From Beta Squad?” said
B’Elanna frowning slightly as she tried to place the name.
“Yes,” replied Seven, “They have a 6 month old daughter,
Marian.”
A smile slowly formed on B’Elanna’s face, “There was a nation of
lesbians on ancient Earth? I never heard about that in school.”
“I am not certain, it was a matriarchal society. Given the
primitive medical knowledge of the time I doubt they had access
to ova fusion, thus it is not likely their population was
comprised entirely of lesbians,” Seven commented with a raised
brow. “One would assume men were needed for reproduction.”
B’Elanna chuckled in response, “Amazonia, I like it.” More
seriously she asked, “Are you sure Seven? Janeway might change
her mind, we might be judging the Federation too harshly, and we
planned out all the upgrades and modifications we wanted to do
to Voyager. I’m not sure how much of a technical challenge
building a colony will be, though I’m sure it will be
challenging.” The half-Klingon’s hands shifted to gently hold
Seven’s waist and her brown eyes showed her concern.
“It is alright, B’Elanna. I know your main reason for finding
Voyager was to fulfill your promise to me, and to see how Tom
Paris was functioning. I found it very distressing that Captain
Janeway would even consider that she had the right to give those
orders. I have had enough of things being done to me; I am not
willing to go into a situation where that might occur again.”
she stated emphatically. “Hearing her tell you she would order
you to comply, reminded me of how she was when I was severed.
For a moment I believed that she was about to tell you that you
were not competent to make decisions for yourself.”
“I had forgotten how autocratic she could be when she gets in
the mood,” B’Elanna commented ruefully.
“How was Tom Paris?” asked Seven changing the topic.
“Surprised by the changes, I don’t think he stopped comparing
our heights during the entire discussion. He’s seeing Megan
Delaney again; I wished him luck and happiness. Told him we were
planning on getting married soon, and that you were pregnant,”
B’Elanna grinned mischievously. “That sure did surprise him,
seems as if Janeway got entirely the wrong impression about our
relationship. She thinks that we were forced upon one another
and no one should bring up ‘what we had to do to survive’.” She
finished disbelievingly. “I don’t know whether or not to be
insulted, or just amused at the conclusion she jumped to.”
Seven gave her an incredulous look, “While I was aware that
coercion by our captor might occur at some point, I choose to
make love that night because I wished to, I was very aroused by
your kiss and did not wish to stop.”
B’Elanna chuckled softly, “Trust me; I am well aware of that
fact, and very thankful for it. I hope I don’t forget the
tiniest thing about that night, how you looked, how you reacted
to my touch, how you sounded…” her voice dropped to a purr, and
the last was said almost touching Seven’s lips. “I realized that
night, how very easy it would be for me to fall in love with
you.”
“If you do forget you have only to ask me, I have ensured that I
will not forget that night as long as I am functioning,”
murmured Seven.
“Mmm, perhaps we should make sure I haven’t forgotten anything
yet, it’s been a few months after all.” B’Elanna smirked.
“Indeed, from what point are we starting?” Seven asked softly.
“This one,” B’Elanna kissed her passionately.
**************************************************
Chapter 40 - Stardate: 53010.37 (Jan 4, 2376 7:08pm)
“It is fortunate that we went over the events of that night,
your memory of it has obviously been corrupted.” Seven smirked
at B’Elanna as she ran a washcloth over her arms.
B’Elanna grinned unrepentantly in reply, she stepped out of the
tub and began drying off, “What are you planning on wearing
tonight to the meeting?” she asked. Lately Seven had been ‘thick
as thieves,’ as Elizabeth would say, with Maria, Lee, and Evelyn
Brooks from Beta squad. Evelyn had been a fashion designer, and
had been consulting with Seven to find out what fabrics the
blonde could get the replicators to produce. In return for
Seven’s help she had designed several outfits with the blonde
specifically in mind, and as an afterthought some for B’Elanna
as well. As a result the amount of clothes in their closet
aboard Artemis had multiplied.
“The woolen wine red split boot skirt, the antique-white
cashmere sweater, and black boots,” Seven answered, staring at
her curiously. “I have not had the opportunity to wear them as
yet.”
“Gorgeous,” commented B’Elanna, thinking of how Seven would look
in the outfit.
Smiling she stepped to the closet and opened the door. One of
Seven’s latest accomplishments, at least in the minds of Maria,
Lee, and Evelyn was a fabric that duplicated the look and feel
of leather. Seven, B’Elanna strongly suspected, thought their
fascination with fabrics was a bit peculiar, but she did enjoy
the new clothes she got from assisting them. She pulled the pair
of black leather pants from the closet and took a moment to
admire them; Seven had really done an excellent job considering
she had only been given a verbal description of the fabrics
properties.
Pulling on the black pants, B’Elanna admired how she looked in
them. They were designed to fit like a glove over her hips and
thighs, and then flare slightly to fit over boots. Grabbing a
cream colored silk shirt, and black boots, she completed
dressing.
Seven appeared in the bedroom door, a towel wrapped around her.
She stared at B’Elanna, taking in her appearance, her voice
husky she commented, “I may have failed to appreciate the actual
value of finding the correct replicator pattern for leather.”
B’Elanna chuckled smugly.
Ten minutes later Seven joined B’Elanna in the main room of
their quarters. Her hair was loosely gathered at the nape of her
neck with a gold hair clip; the antique-white cashmere sweater
she wore was cowl necked, providing the slightest glimpse of the
hollow of her throat. The wine red divided skirt was basically A
line in design, fitting closely over her waist and hips and then
gathering into full loose folds to mid calf. Calf length black
boots completed the ensemble.
“You look very beautiful,” B’Elanna told her appreciatively.
“Shall we,” she asked holding out her arm for Seven to take as
she had seen some of the other women do for their partners.
Seven regarded her curiously for a moment then walked over and
curled a hand around her forearm.
As they walked toward the Artemis’ meeting room B’Elanna
couldn’t help but compare the many greetings, and compliments on
their appearance, she and Seven received, with what Elizabeth
had described had happened in the Mess Hall on Voyager. She knew
that some of the disparity was due to the simple fact that these
women had never met the unemotional Seven who had constantly
stated that things were irrelevant, inefficient etc. Another was
that these women had never lost anyone to the Borg, or had ever
seen Seven when she had been a Borg drone.
But whatever the differences were, the simple fact was that
Seven was welcomed and accepted here in a way that she had never
been aboard Voyager. Here, Seven’s reputation was that she was
standoffish and wary of adults she didn’t know well, was kind
and helpful once she was comfortable with you, and had an
immediate rapport with children. It was the last that had
enabled the women to first see past the cool exterior, one had
only to watch Seven interact with a child to see the person
hiding behind the defensive behaviors.
They entered the room and found seats next to Maria, Mary and
Ruth. Elizabeth was standing by the central podium along with
Tanya. As soon as everyone was seated, Elizabeth stepped up to
the podium. “The Ilanar have some new information for us, Trya
Kryayh’s criminal trial went to sentencing today. He was found
guilty on all charges and received a sentence of a thousand
years of consecutive imprisonment for his…” she had to stop as
the noise level in the room drowned her out.
B’Elanna felt a surge of satisfaction, turning to Seven she saw
that emotion mirrored in the blonde’s blue eyes. She pulled her
into a tight hug, felt Seven’s arms wrap around her back and
return the pressure.
Finally everyone quieted from their elation at the news, and
Elizabeth continued speaking, “They also had a second piece of
news for us. The Ilanar understand that we may not all be in
agreement as to whether or not to colonize or go to Earth, and
that we might feel in some way obligated to assist Voyager.
Therefore, matter what our decision, whether to return to Earth
or to colonize, they have decided to open a temporary wormhole
just beyond the range of either ship’s sensors that will go to
the Alpha quadrant.” The room broke out again into loud
discussion, and Seven and B’Elanna stared at one another in
complete surprise and dawning joy.
“Harry,” B’Elanna breathed, thinking of how happy her friend
would be to see his parents.
Seven smiled, “I am pleased that they will be able to return, no
matter what decision we make.”
“Quiet please, we do still need to make our report to you about
how today’s meeting with Captain Janeway before we can discuss
anything further.” The room quieted down, and Elizabeth was able
to begin her report of the meeting on Voyager. Elizabeth
included nothing about Captain Janeway’s behavior, her initial
insistence that Seven and B’Elanna submit to a treatment if the
Doctor found one, she only went over Janeway’s responses to
their questions.
Finishing Elizabeth concluded, “Maria and I got the distinct
feeling from Captain Kathryn Janeway that the idea of allowing
us or our children to bypass the Genetic laws was like opening
some type of Pandora’s Box. Maybe it would be, after all if we
are permitted to then why not all children that have been
genetically engineered, they weren’t given a choice either. I
admit I hadn’t looked at it before from that point of view.
Unfortunately, I think the Federation might agree with her, it’s
probably a precedent they will not want to set.”
B’Elanna frowned disturbed; it wasn’t really a point of view she
wanted to consider either. She understood the reasons for
banning genetic engineering weren’t just to prevent another
generation of warmongering supermen; it was to prevent wholesale
genetic engineering just to ensure that your children had a
level playing field with everyone else’s. She just hadn’t wanted
to think about whether or not their children could create that
situation if the Genetic laws were waived for them. She glanced
over and noticed a furrow between Seven’s brows as she looked at
Elizabeth, undoubtedly the idea the Alpha squad leader had
raised was troublesome to her lover as well.
Elizabeth continued after a moment, drawing B’Elanna out of her
own thoughts, “I don’t know this for a fact, and I might be
completely wrong, but my personal opinion is that we will find
ourselves in an unfortunate position if we go back to Earth. I
have no doubt the will welcome us, feel very sympathetic for
what happened to us, and have a very hard time with allowing our
children to compete with theirs for positions in Starfleet,
medicine, and the technical fields.”
She stepped back from the podium and Tanya took her place, “I
don’t know about a Pandora’s Box, but it was very clear than
Captain Janeway was very resistant to any suggestion that the
Genetic laws be bent for us. Personally, I believe we should go
to the planet we determined was the best choice for colonization
and build our own society, one were we can be sure that our
children won’t be limited in any way because of what happened to
us. Now there was one other point Captain Janeway brought up.
I’ll let Dr. Nancy Miller address it,” Tanya nodded to Nancy as
the blonde woman stood and made her way to the podium.
“Good evening,” Nancy greeted everyone. “Captain Janeway raised
the question of trusting the Ilanar medical doctor’s opinion
that any further genetic engineering to correct what was done to
us would be fatal. She wanted Voyagers Doctor to examine us and
make his own determination.” She held up her hands, her face
solemn. The rise of hopeful conversation in the room died down
immediately, sensing that there would be no good news. “He did
some testing on our DNA while we were there, in all cases it
showed that the molecular bonds between the nucleotides were
much weaker than they should be. He hasn’t given up, but I think
its more determination and hopefulness than any actual
possibility. He informed us that he should have a better idea by
tomorrow afternoon, but I’m more certain than ever that the
Ilanar with their much greater medical knowledge are correct.”
Nancy stepped away from the podium after finishing
Elizabeth stepped up to the podium as Nancy retook her seat,
“Tanya and I have discussed the vote we were to have tonight. We
do not want there to be any doubt in anyone’s mind about whether
or not anything can be done for us medically before we make our
final decision. Therefore we will put it to a quick vote whether
or not to proceed, if there is any objection then we will delay
the vote till tomorrow.”
The two leaders looked around, finally Elizabeth stepped
forward, “Please if anyone has any doubt speak up, twelve hours
isn’t any time to wait considering.”
A woman stood up, “Tanya do you have any doubts?” she asked.
B’Elanna didn’t know her name only that she was from Beta.
“Absolutely none, my personal opinion is that Captain Janeway’s
grasping at straws hoping to get B’Elanna and Seven back.” Tanya
answered immediately.
“Then I have none,” the woman sat back down.
“Well then I guess the next thing is to move onto voting on…”
Elizabeth broke off as her communicator activated. She and Tanya
stepped back from the podium and began a quiet discussion with
whoever was on the other end.
B’Elanna looked inquisitively at Seven who had her enhanced ear
tilted toward the pair; finally with a frown the blonde shook
her head. “They are too far away, and there is too much other
noise,” Seven told her in a low tone.
Elizabeth stepped back to the podium looking rather bemused,
“Diplomat Mryayh wishes to address us after we have made our
decision. Apparently, there was what we would call a civil suit,
entered on our behalf by the Ilanar government against Trya
Kryayh, and the other Ilanar involved in the illegal games. The
court decided in our favor, and he wishes to discuss the
settlement with us, but our decision will affect what form it
can take.”
There was an excited buzz throughout the room as people
immediately began speculating about the latest news.
“A settlement is usually money or goods awarded to those damaged
by another’s actions?” Seven spoke directly into B’Elanna’s ear
over the noise. B’Elanna nodded in reply, and returned to
watching the commotion around them.
Finally Elizabeth shouted, “Quiet!” The room settled down some,
“We’ll never find out anything until we get this vote done, you
guys are worse than a bunch of guinea hens today I swear.”
“Well, since there are no guys here you can’t be referring to
us,” Christina responded loudly from her seat.
Elizabeth gave her a dirty look in response, which quickly
changed into a grin. There was a combination of good natured
outrage and snickers over the comment but people got the point
and quieted down.
Seven looked questioningly at B’Elanna but all she could do was
shrug, she had no idea what guinea hens were or why Elizabeth
would compare everyone to them.
“Alright we will begin voting, please vote according to what you
actually want, not what you think anyone else wants. It’s very
important for us to get an accurate idea of everyone’s opinion.”
Elizabeth stated earnestly. She looked around the room slowly
meeting everyone’s eyes, “Voting begins now, I’d like for it to
be done in thirty minutes.”
***************************************************************
Chapter 41 - Stardate: 53010.59 (Jan 4, 2376 9:03 pm)
“Ok, I know this is getting late for some of the children to be
up, so we will try to wrap this up quickly.” Elizabeth said as
she stepped back up to the podium after the thirty minute voting
break. “We have counted the votes, and it seems that we are
unanimous, everyone voted for colonization.”
Spontaneous cheers had started breaking out as soon as she said
the word unanimous, they grew in number and volume when she
finished. B’Elanna looked around at the women in the room,
feeling an odd mixture of pleasure, excitement and seriousness
as she realized that she would be spending the rest of her life
with these women. They would be her coworkers, neighbors, her
daughter’s, or rather daughters’, in-laws as she and Seven
planned on having at least three children.
She finally noticed that Seven was watching her, and impulsively
she captured the full rose colored lips with her own. She
resisted the urge to growl possessively, Seven would be her
wife, they would raise their children together, she would have
the blonde’s love and support, and be able to give all the love
she felt for Seven in return, for the rest of their lives. They
would build a home, a society, for themselves and their
children, one that would hopefully be as tolerant and accepting
of its people as humanity claimed to be.
“What would you say to us marrying before Voyager goes through
the wormhole,” she blurted as soon as their lips separated.
“Instead of waiting until we reach Amazonia.”
Seven blinked once in surprise, then smiled, “You wish to invite
members of Voyager over for the ceremony.”
“Harry, Chakotay, Tom if he will,” B’Elanna said.
Seven nodded, “I would like to invite the Doctor, Nelix and
Naomi as well, and I have a distinct feeling that Captain
Janeway will apologize to us tomorrow. If not for her beliefs,
then at least for her choice of words, would you object to me
inviting her?” she asked uncertainly.
B’Elanna looked at her dubiously, “Why do you think that?”
Seven raised one brow, “The brief Elizabeth sent was…brief. We
gave much more information to the Doctor than was contained in
it about our treatment and the details of the psychological
conditioning Trya attempted. As well as informing him of our
wedding and my pregnancy. And you took great delight in
informing him of how we fell in love with one another.” The last
was said in a slightly disapproving tone.
“He kept hovering over you,” B’Elanna explained moodily, “I just
wanted to make it clear that you were taken.”
“You succeeded,” Seven said, and then went quiet as Elizabeth
started speaking once again.
B’Elanna tuned out Elizabeth as she made the connections Seven
had been explaining, the Doctor of course would tell Janeway,
and Janeway… B’Elanna groaned quietly, drawing an inquisitive
look from Seven. “Janeway’s going to feel guilty and apologize,”
she whispered in the blonde’s ear.
Seven smirked.
B’Elanna raised an eyebrow at the blonde in reply, and then
refocused her attention on Elizabeth speaking at the front of
the room.
“I am planning on asking Captain Janeway to take some
information back to Earth with her. The names of those who did
not survive and what little we know about them, as well as our
information. If any of you would rather we not include your
information please let us know, I will be asking her about it
tomorrow.” Elizabeth finished. She was quiet for a second before
bringing up the next point.
“Now, since the robots were made in the same body shape as the
Ilanar, Diplomat Mryayh is going to use a humanoid holographic
projection to discuss the settlement with us as he doesn’t wish
to upset the children.” Elizabeth broke off as a glittering
humanoid shape materialized in an open space to the left of the
podium.
“He has used the actual appearance of his exoskeleton instead of
skin,” noted Seven with interest.
B’Elanna nodded, glancing around them. Everyone knew basically
what the Ilanar looked like, Elizabeth and Tanya had done their
best to describe them, but seeing the glittering crystalline
form, even if it was vaguely humanoid, was another matter. If
there had not been the children present, B’Elanna would have
wished that the Diplomat would have transported over in person,
just too actually see one.
“Greetings, I am Diplomat Mryayh,” the Ilanar introduced
himself, “We did not wish to have any influence on your final
decision, but may I say that I am pleased that you have chosen
to colonize instead of returning to Earth. It makes it much
easier for us to arrange for the transfer of appropriate goods
and services in equal value to the settlement you are now
entitled to receive. It is not a small amount, the Kryayh family
was a highly successful one, and the others who participated in
the games who knew of your circumstances were also successful.”
He paused for a moment.
Interestingly his color shaded just barely towards blue, “I am
embarrassed to admit that we cannot determine how to express to
you the valuation of the settlement. The Federation uses Latium
and credits, but those units have no meaning to most of you.
None the less I can assure you that it is quite enough for us to
offer you our services. We cannot give you technology or let you
see it in use, but there is no rule preventing you from
benefiting from our technology where it leaves no trace of
itself, as in the wormhole we are opening for the other human
ship.”
Everyone waited curiously wondering what exactly he could be
talking about besides the wormhole.
“We are offering to terraform the planet you have chosen, into
one more suitable to your needs and uses. And to provide stocks
of plants and animals with which you are familiar, as well as
building the initial core of your settlement, to include a
medical facility, food preparation and basic living shelters.”
He managed to get out before the reality of what he was saying
became clear to everyone.
The planet they had chosen was of course an M class planet, but
they had not chosen only on habitability, but also on the
likelihood of the Borg finding it, the amount of metals present
for the future needs of their children, as well as the richness
of resources available in it’s solar system. Amazonia was not a
bad planet to settle upon, but it certainly hadn’t been the
nicest planet of all the ones suggested by the Ilanar. They had
known that they would have to work to improve the planet some to
get it up to earth standards, and they had accepted that fact.
Now with just a few words the Ilanar had just turned over all
the tentative plans they had made. Instead of spending the first
few years fighting with the planet, it seemed like they would be
able to begin building their settlement as soon as they arrived.
*************************************************************
Chapter 42 - Stardate: 53011.98 (Jan 5, 2376 9:15 am)
“Captain, the Artemis just contacted us. Elizabeth Janeway is
requesting a private conversation with you.” Ensign Kim informed
her, lively curiosity apparent in his eyes.
“I’ll take it in my Ready Room,” Captain Janeway answered, and
stood up. It only took a minute until she was seated in the
chair at her desk.
“Captain Janeway, good morning,” Elizabeth greeted her politely.
She murmured in reply, “Good morning.” The information the
Doctor had given her last night had left her more than slightly
frustrated with the briefing Elizabeth Janeway had sent over.
She would have went into the meeting with a different set of
expectations had she known what she did this morning, and she
wouldn’t have formed such an erroneous impression of the reason
behind B’Elanna Torres and Seven of Nine’s reactions.
“First I’ll state that I’m sorry my briefing included so little
information about what happened to us, and about the Ilanar. But
we needed your honest reaction to our questions and we weren’t
certain we would get it if you were in possession of certain
facts.” Elizabeth Janeway informed her calmly.
She straightened, “And what facts would those be,” she asked
somewhat coldly.
“That we were about to make the final decision on whether to go
to Earth or colonize, and were just waiting for more
information. Information you provided us yesterday.” Elizabeth
answered, her expression kind but unrepentant.
Kathryn Janeway resented it, she knew perfectly well what that
expression meant, she had used it often enough when explaining a
difficult decision to someone. It said I’m sorry I had to do
that, but I’m really not because I would do it again in the same
circumstances. “And your decision?” she asked.
“Unanimous to colonize, we can’t take the chance that the
Federation will uphold the Genetics Laws.” Elizabeth answered.
Janeway was not surprised, “The Doctor still hasn’t given up,
you don’t need to make that decision yet.”
“He won’t find a way. I think you already know that from his
preliminary results.” Elizabeth responded.
She shifted uncomfortably, “He’s surprised us before.”
Elizabeth shook her head and smiled. “Anyway,” she continued,
“The Ilanar government has agreed to open a wormhole to the
Alpha Quadrant for either ship, we won’t need it, but I assume
you might have some interest in it.” Elizabeth Janeway sat back
in her chair and waited.
“A wormhole to Earth?” she repeated numbly, “Where? When?”
“A few days’ time, there were a few things I wanted to work out
with you first,” Elizabeth stated.
“Such as,” Kathryn Janeway asked on automatic pilot as her mind
tried to wrap itself around the fact that it seemed they would
be headed back to Earth in just a few days.
“Literature, music, history, I’d like for our children to know
where they came from. And we would appreciate it if you would
take back a list of those who didn’t survive, and a list of
those who wish whatever relations they may have on Earth to know
what happened to them.” Elizabeth requested quietly.
“I think we can do that for you,” Captain Janeway replied, after
a moment of consideration.
“Oh and one last thing,” Elizabeth smirked.
“Yes?” she responded warily.
Elizabeth grinned, “I have some wedding invitations for the 7th
of January at 1700 hours for the nuptials of B’Elanna Torres and
Seven Hansen. I was wondering if you would deliver them for me.”
***************************************************************
Chapter 43 - Stardate: 53015.32 (Jan 6, 2376 2:36 pm)
Her head whirling from her recent conversation with Tom Paris,
B’Elanna stared out the viewports in Voyager’s messhall. Artemis
dominated the view, the graceful curves and lines of her hull
gleaming white against the absolute black of space. Though
designed and built by the Ilanar, Artemis looked as if it had
come right out of Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards. As with most
Starfleet designed vessels, the elongated oval of the main hull
swept forward and above the engineering hull to which were
attached the warp nacelles. Like Voyager, Artemis’ nacelles were
mounted on variable-geometry pylons to minimize damage to
subspace, but instead of two nacelles, the Ilanar made vessel
had four. Much larger than the ship B’Elanna was currently
aboard, Artemis was 3 times the size the Intrepid class ship,
allowing it to generously accommodate the former captive’s 300
families.
“She looks like Starfleet ship,” Kathryn Janeway’s distinctive,
husky voice commented from just behind her, eerily echoing her
thoughts, “Do you know if she looks like other Ilanar vessels?”
B’Elanna turned her head just enough to see her former Captain’s
profile. “I have no idea, their vessels are either cloaked or
are to far away for us to detect them. They transported us
approximately 200 lightyears in just 2 hours to catch up to
Voyager, but I have no idea how, our sensors were inoperable
during that time.”
Janeway nodded her acknowledgement of the statement, “They take
their non-interference directive seriously then.”
“Yes,” B’Elanna replied briefly, old habits made her want to say
Captain, but she stopped herself, this was not her Captain
Janeway, not anymore.
Neither woman said anything more until B’Elanna finally broke
the increasingly, at least to her, uncomfortable silence. “Tom’s
much quieter than I remember him. I’m glad you let him out of
the brig to help with the search effort.” The two statements
didn’t really have much to do with one another; they were just
the two things from her recent conversation with Tom that stuck
in her mind the most.
Janeway turned away from the viewport to look at the
half-Klingon, “I was concerned that he would never believe that
he couldn’t have found you if only given the chance.” Her grey
eyes met B’Elanna’s brown ones unflinchingly, “I know you
thought I was being unduly harsh on him, but I needed him to
understand that my friendship with his father and with him did
not mean that he could disobey orders, especially one as
important as the Prime Directive. His actions then showed me
that he still didn’t realize that there are some lines you just
don’t cross. Now I’m sure that he does finally comprehend that.”
She hesitated briefly before finishing, “And I needed him to
understand that because I never again want to be put in a
situation where I’m forced to fire upon him.”
The two women stared at one another for a long moment until
B’Elanna finally dipped her head in brief acceptance of the
Captain’s reasoning. She didn’t like it, but she remembered how
Tom believed that he could get away with occasionally breaking
the rules because of Janeway’s fondness of him and his father,
and quite a few times the Captain had let him.
Abruptly, jarring B’Elanna out of her thoughts, the Captain said
in a low tone, “I thought we knew each other well enough for you
to know I’m not some unfeeling monster,” hurt flashed briefly in
Janeway’s grey eyes.
The statement and brief show of emotion surprised the
half-Klingon who was still contemplating the Captain’s earlier
words. “No you’re not,” B’Elanna acknowledged slowly. “You’re
just determined no matter what objections anyone has in the end
your opinion is the only one that counts. As Captain that’s your
right, but I just can’t do that anymore.” She said the words
calmly, she didn’t want to hurt Kathryn, but she did need the
Captain to understand that her insistence that everyone do as
she ordered was one of the reasons she and Seven had decided to
stay with their fellow former captives.
The Captain tensed, and for a moment B’Elanna was certain
Janeway would argue with her. “You wouldn’t have to for long,”
Janeway finally responded, her face an expressionless mask,
“with the wormhole the Ilanar are opening, our return to Earth
is just a few days away. I know the legal standing of the Maquis
is uncertain, but even if they choose to press charges then your
time on Voyager will be counted as time served. I’ve seen your
Maquis record; you have nothing to worry about.”
B’Elanna hadn’t expected that particular response, she stared at
the auburn haired Captain in silent surprise before marshaling
her thoughts to form a reply, “I know, but it’s not just that.
We have the future of our daughter to worry about. If we go with
the others and colonize then our daughter will be normal, she
will be no different than all the other children. If we go to
Earth, she will always be singled out as a genetically enhanced
human. Seven and I have to do what’s best and safest for our
daughter, and choosing to go to Earth is neither.”
The Captain’s grey eyes searched B’Elanna’s face, finally the
severe expression softened and she sighed softly, “There’s
nothing I can say to counter that, Elizabeth told me the planet
is well away from any other inhabited systems, and that the
Ilanar are terraforming it as well as building the core
settlement buildings.”
B’Elanna nodded, “I suspect if the Ilanar divided out the
settlement from the civil suit among us, we would all be very
rich by Federation standards. I’m looking forward to seeing the
results of the terraforming, I suspect Amazonia will be nicer
than Earth is now after they are done.”
Janeway looked surprised, “Did the Ilanar ever tell you a
Federation credit equivalent?”
“No,” B’Elanna answered, “But it’s enough to pay for Artemis,
terraforming a planet, and building a settlement base, so it
must be several billions of credits.”
The Captain raised one eyebrow at the figure, then after
thinking about it for a moment she commented, “I guess it would
have to be wouldn’t it.” Janeway regarded her former Chief
Engineer thoughtfully, the perusal stretching out long enough to
make B’Elanna uneasy. Unexpectedly changing the subject, she
said finally, “Thank you for the wedding invitation.”
B’Elanna met the Captain’s grey-eyes, “It wouldn’t be right not
to have you there, after all, you’re the sole reason she had the
chance to become an individual. The rest of us saw her as only
Borg drone, and would have put her off the ship at the first
chance whether the Borg were close enough to retrieve her before
she died or not,” she said frankly. “You’re the one who saw her
something more than Borg.”
Janeway acknowledged her words with a short nod, “I knew none of
you understood, but it was all of that anger and fear that
showed me there was a human being there, even as she was
shouting at me to return her to the Borg. I had read
Enterprise’s records of their experiences with a young Borg
drone they named Hugh. It took Hugh days to show any signs of
individuality, any hint of emotion. Seven,” the Captain paused,
smiling wryly at the memory, “Seven took only seconds to start
angrily demanding that we return her to the Borg. There was
certainly no mistaking that she was furious with us, with me. I
couldn’t do as she asked, not when the very passion with which
she was asking made me was certain that given time away from
them she would come to appreciate being an individual.”
There was a human saying, ‘there are two sides to every story’,
and right now B’Elanna was sharply reminded of that fact. “She
does,” she reassured the Captain.
“I know,” Janeway chuckled, “I think Seven took so long to
confess that simply because she didn’t want to admit I had been
right.” The smile fell away; the Captain sighed, “And because
she was angry with me, perhaps even still is.”
B’Elanna debated for a moment, she wasn’t certain what she
wanted to say was hers to say or not, “She’s not anymore,” she
finally decided to say knowing that Seven wouldn’t mind her
reassuring Janeway. Before the Captain could ask the questions
she was certain were forming in the woman’s mind, she said, “If
you want to know more you need to ask Seven.”
Janeway pursed her lips and glared at the half-Klingon in
irritation, but B’Elanna only stared resolutely back at her.
“Alright,” the Captain finally yielded.
‘Some things never change,’ B’Elanna thought to herself as she
regarded her former Captain in amusement. The half-Klingon
debated internally for a few moments, ever since she had
discussed what friendship was with Seven she had pondered this
question, and had come up with a few reasons for Janeway’s
choice, but she didn’t really know and wouldn’t know for certain
unless she asked her. “Why did you choose the Doctor to help
Seven?”she inquired simply.
Janeway was surprised by the question, “Who else could I have
chosen?” she asked incredulous. “You? You saw her as a threat
and an enemy, remember.”
B’Elanna grimaced at the reminder, “I was wrong, and I’ve
apologized to her for my behavior. She’s an incredibly loyal,
honest, gentle, loving person once she lets you see beyond that
protective Borg shell.”
Something in the half-Klingon’s tone, the expression on her
face, or look in her eyes caught Janeway’s attention. In wonder,
Kathryn said, “You love her; you’re not just getting married
because of her pregnancy.”
It didn’t really surprise B’Elanna that Janeway had thought
that, “I’ve been in love with her for months now. As much as I
hate the bastard for what he did to us, Kryayh’s psychological
profiles and the matches he made from them were incredibly
accurate. All the couples he put together fell in love with one
another; Seven and I are no exception.”
Kathryn smiled; it was the crooked smile, the one that allowed
the woman’s natural compassion to show through. “I’m sorry for
how it occurred, but I’m happy that you both finally looked
beyond the protective facades each of you present to the world,
and saw the wonderful person underneath them. You and Seven
deserve to be happy.”
“Thank you Captain,” B’Elanna finally managed to reply once she
had recovered from her surprise.
Dropping the subject of their marriage, Janeway briskly said,
“Now back to your question. It should have been Chakotay’s duty
as First Officer, but he couldn’t see beyond the fact that Seven
was blonde and Borg and therefore would betray us just like
Ripley and the Cooperative.” As she was speaking the Captain’s
tone became sharper, revealed her continuing irritation with the
Commander and his behavior.
“Tuvok?” Janeway continued, “He was probably the best choice to
help her, but he was simply too busy, the ship and I needed him
performing the duties he already had not taking on yet another.
The time he was spending helping Kes with her abilities, and
helping you with your anger, was impacting on his duties as it
was. Besides I was certain that Seven would seek him out if she
felt she needed his viewpoint.”
Before Janeway could continue, B’Elanna interrupted her, “That
was what I didn’t understand, why you didn’t have Tuvok help
her. It seemed to me as if he would have been the most
appropriate choice, but I didn’t realize that it was because he
just didn’t have the time.”
He would have,” the Captain replied, “But as it was he regularly
spent seven to nine additional hours each day performing tasks
for me and assisting the crew. I couldn’t ask any more of him,
he barely had time to eat, meditate and sleep as it was. I guess
you don’t need for me to tell you why not Tom, Harry or Neelix?”
she asked dryly.
B’Elanna made a face, “No I think I can guess those reasons on
my own. Tom was too interested in what was under her biosuit,
Harry was too attracted and intimidated by her, and Neelix…” she
paused trying to find the right words, “they just don’t have
compatible personalities, I think his talkativeness would have
really irritated her.”
Janeway’s mouth twitched in amusement, “That’s one way of
putting it.” The smile faded and she sighed, “I was already
taking too much time from the ship and crew to help her as it
was, and I knew she needed much more help than I could find the
time to give. I know the Doctor wasn’t the ideal choice, but he
was the only suitable person that had the time available. I
believed at the time that he wouldn’t use the opportunity to
take advantage of her, but I never anticipated that he would
develop feelings for her.”
B’Elanna shook her head, “I don’t think any of us could have
foreseen that complication, you can’t blame yourself for it.”
“Perhaps not,” the Captain allowed.
B’Elanna stared at her former captain for a moment, then looked
at the time and grimaced, “I really need to get back to Artemis,
I’ve got some engineering classes to teach this afternoon.” She
paused, “Thank you for telling me that Captain, and both Seven
and I look forward to seeing you at the ceremony tomorrow.”
“I wouldn’t miss it,” Janeway smiled.
B’Elanna was almost to Voyager’s transporter room before she
realized she had called Kathryn Janeway, Captain.
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