The BLTS Archive - Dark Rose
by cygirl1 (dmcelrath179631@comcast.net)

---

DISCLAIMER: Star Trek is the property of Paramount. I am not making
profit from this story.

Published: 07-18-07

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is the sequel to my story YOUR LOVE IS AN OASIS. I
would suggest you read that story first to get some background
information on how B'Elanna and Seven got together. In addition, it
would help you understand some of the teasing and puns.

The events in the episode of MUSE, in Season 6 of Voyager, are
mentioned.

'Women Warriors At The River Of Blood' is a novel mentioned in
Voyager. B'Elanna was reading it in the episode 'Real Life'.

'Vulcan Love Slave' is a Holosuite program that is mentioned in Deep
Space Nine and in several 'Trek' novels. The sequel is 'Vulcan Love
Slave. Part Two: The Revenge'.

In my story, Voyager never ran across the Borg Children. Voyager makes
it back home earlier than seven years: More near six years and nine
months. PG17 for some four-letter words, descriptions of consenting
sex between women, unwanted sexual advances toward one of the main
characters (NO RAPE), and violence, but not in the extreme.

The following story has some Romulan words and phrases:

Romulus: Ch'Rihan or sometimes seen as ch'Rihan Romulan People:
Rihannsu

Air, Water, Fire, and Earth. Rihannsu identify themselves with the
Four Elements.

Frahdha'nia Kholairlh-a nahi: What in the element's name. An
exclamation of surprise.

Jol-ao-au: I love you.

Klivam: Derogatory word for Klingon.

Lagga uh' j hu: A flower for an Angel.

Mnhei'sahe, "The ruling passion." Which centers on honor, duty,
courtesy and strength.

V-ri nanov: Adopted mother.

Sela is encountered in Star Trek: The Next Generation. She is the
daughter of an alternate time line Tasha Yar and a Romulan official.
This version of Yar went back in time to serve on the Enterprise-C,
which was captured by Romulans. (See The Next Generation episode of
"Yesterday's Enterprise") Yar agreed to become the concubine of a
Romulan official to save the others from Enterprise. This union led to
the conception of Sela, around 2345.

Yar attempted to escape with her daughter in 2349, but Sela did not
want to go and revealed the plot. Yar was discovered and executed.
Sela grew up to become an operative for the Roman Empire and a
military officer. In my story, I have her serving as a Tal Shiar
officer. Sela's first appearance was in the episode "The Mind's Eye",
and later in the episodes "Redemption, Part II" and "Unification. I
and II"

---

Time. 0600.

"Computer. Lights at one quarter." Seven's voice was at a lower octave
than usual having just awoken. She remained still, not wanting to
extricate herself from the warmth of her wife's body spooned behind
her, feeling the soft breasts pressed against her back and one arm
draped around her waist. She heard a groan close to her ear, feeling
the soft warmth move against her, and then a soft mouth and nose
nuzzle the back of her neck under her hair. The arm that was around
her waist moved upward, and she felt a soft warm hand gently cup and
squeeze her right breast. She felt hot, moist breath in her ear then a
sharp nip on her earlobe. "We do not have sufficient time to engage in
making love."

"Uhm, how much time do we have?" B'Elanna enquired in a sleep-roughed
voice.

"Fifty-six minutes and twenty seconds before we present our final
report at the senior staff meeting. Captain Janeway will no longer
tolerate our tardiness." Seven turned over on her back and pulled
B'Elanna over and on top of her, drawing her head down for a kiss.

B'Elanna softly growled, "So what. The captain doesn't have a
beautiful woman in her bed when she wakes up in the morning or she
would understand. Besides, we've only been late a couple of times."

"Twelve times since we returned to duty one hundred and twenty days
ago."

"Big deal," B'Elanna snorted. "That works out to what? Once every ten
days." She ran the tip of her tongue in the crease around the rim of
Seven's ear, causing her be'nal to feel a delicious shiver course down
her spine.

Seven groaned but managed to say, "Incorrect, as we have had seventy
meetings to date. One day out of every 5.833 is the correct
correlation."

B'Elanna chuckled and said, "Who's counting? Besides, we were late for
only a couple of minutes--five at most." B'Elanna straddled Seven's
waist and placed her hands beneath her be'nal's generous breasts,
lifting them slightly and sighing. She watched as the pink nipples
hardened and the areolaes pebbled. "Uhmm, I can't leave these beauties
pining for my attention now, can I?" She leaned down and taking a
nipple between her teeth, lightly bit and flicked her tongue over it.

Seven squirmed and groaned, pulling B'Elanna down for a hard kiss,
wrapping her legs around her be'nal.

B'Elanna abruptly pulled away, slid off her be'nal to stand by the
bed, reaching her arms up high and arching her back in a long feline
stretch, her breasts pert and stomach muscles taut. "Well, I guess
you're right, duty before pleasure."

Seven quickly sat up, reached out catching B'Elanna by her right arm,
and pulled her back in bed and on top of her. "You are correct. It is
your duty to attend to my pleasure before we proceed with our
schedules."

B'Elanna melted into her be'nal and laughed. "If only all duties were
so pleasurable."

---

Captain Janeway entered the Conference Room, took her seat at the head
of the table, and quickly looked around her, noting that all of her
senior staff were here save for her Astrometrics Officer and Chief of
Engineering. It was now two minutes until 0700 hours. She had given
precise orders that no one was to be late to this meeting due to its
importance. She couldn't very well start without Seven and B'Elanna.
The two informed her last evening of the final simulation of the
transwarp coil, and Janeway planned this meeting to discuss the
preparations that they would require for a successful trip back to the
Alpha Quadrant.

Tuvok was perusing a padd and Chakotay was rubbing his tattoo with his
index finger; something the Commander often did while thinking or
waiting. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Tom nudging Harry
while looking at his wristwatch and whispering a countdown, a smug
look on his face. No doubt he expected to win on a wager involving the
two absent officers. She heard him whispering, "Six, Five, Four..."
and was just about to nail him with a force ten stare, when the door
whisked open at the count of 'one', and her two wayward officers
entered. She quickly noticed the sour look on Tom's face and the smile
on Harry's. She then knew for sure they were betting to see if the two
officers would make it on time to the meeting.

She let her glance rest on the two arrivals, and smirked when she saw
B'Elanna's flushed face. She had a suspicion that that look came from
dallying in bed too long with her wife, as was further evidenced by
the dazed look in her eyes. Seven, of course, was immaculate. She
could go through a velocity match and five minutes later look like a
cadet for a Starfleet recruiting poster.

Seven had taken to wearing her hair in a loose ponytail held at the
base of her neck by a wide gold hair clip, with nary a strand out of
place. Since her and B'Elanna's ordeal on the desert planet, she had
taken to wearing a Starfleet Science Officer's uniform, and Janeway
thought she was far more alluring in a uniform than in those skintight
biosuits, as was demonstrated by the generally approving glances of
the crew when she passed them in the corridors.

She was also more approachable since embarking on her relationship
with B'Elanna, and Janeway noticed that she smiled more frequently.
Crewmates had now taken to greeting her in the hall and she returned
their greeting with a slight smile and comment, rather than walking on
by as if they didn't exist or were unworthy of notice.

That wasn't the only change. Since marrying Seven, B'Elanna was more
patient with her crew and less volatile when things didn't go right.
She was more willing to delegate responsibilities, and worked within
her schedule instead of working 10-11 hour days, unless there was an
emergency that required more time to resolve. She had taken to wearing
her hair in a more attractive and Klingon manner; the loosely flowing
waves a reflection of her more relaxed attitude. She didn't seem as
angry and easy to take offense as she once had. Yes indeed, marriage
was definitely good for B'Elanna, or to be more precise, it was Seven
who was good for B'Elanna. All it took was the power of love and a
certain Borg. Resistance is futile.

Janeway cleared her throat and said, "Now that everyone is here, we
can begin. As you are aware, Seven and B'Elanna have been working
diligently on perfecting a viable transwarp coil that will return us
to the Alpha Quadrant. I'll let them give you an update." She looked
expectedly at the two women.

B'Elanna smirked and facetiously said, "You want the good news first
or the ah. . . flip side?"

Janeway, in good spirits answered, "Give us the good news."

"All simulations show that it works." There was a few seconds of
silence before everyone started talking at once.

Janeway held up her hand for silence, clearing her throat before
inquiring, "And?"

"We will need to equip the Delta Flyer with a small reflector array as
it needs to follow in Voyager's wake. The Flyer will be within
Voyager's transwarp bubble and the array will strengthen the transwarp
signature, preventing the conduit from closing prematurely. Hmm,
Seven, you give them the rest."

Seven utilized a projector, which created a three dimensional star
chart above the middle of the table. "We have constructed a coil based
on that which the Borg utilize. Since the coil is composed of actual
Borg components and those designed along Borg specifications, we could
not improve the compatibility of the unit to operate efficiently with
Voyager's warp core power for the time needed to reach the Alpha
Quadrant. Our simulations show that the transwarp corridor opened for
a period of 2.47 minutes before collapsing, which would allow us to go
a distance of 20,000 light years. This would put us in this sector and
close to the border that separates the Delta from the Beta Quadrant."
A small area in the star chart lit up. "We found that if we elongated
the warp bubble to a distance of at least 1000 Kilometers behind
Voyager, it would facilitate an increase in time to 3.01 minutes. We
would reach this area of the Alpha Quadrant." She used her control
padd to highlight the area. "Voyager's array can only be used to keep
the corridor open in its forward progress. We tried mounting a small
array on Voyagers aft position, however, the power required to stretch
the warp bubble drains needed energy from the forward array, causing
the integrity of the field to collapse. The simulations show that if
we mount a small deflector on the Delta Flyer, we can extend the
bubble to the required amount needed. The corridor will collapse, but
not before we achieve our objective of reaching the Alpha quadrant."

All eyes were on the display with the pinpoint of light blinking in
the Alpha Quadrant. Janeway's expression showed a fleeting glance of
worry before she went back to 'Captain Mode'. "That puts us right at
the edge of the Romulan Neutral Zone."

Seven said, "Yes, Captain. We have a seventy-eight percent chance of
making it to Federation Space and a nineteen percent chance of making
it to this point." A pinpoint of light activated just barely inside
the neutral zone.

"That leaves three percent," Commander Chakotay noted.

Seven activated another pinpoint of light a small distance from the
neutral zone but well in Romulan space.

Janeway smirked and said, "That's hardly a risk after what we have
gone through out here in the Delta Quadrant."

Tom piped up, "If that's the bad news, then I don't think we'll be
losing sleep over it."

Seven looked at Tom and replied, "That is the good news. The negative
aspect is to keep the Delta Flyer within the transwarp bubble at a
precise distance from Voyager of 200 meters. Any deviation will cause
the aft bubble to collapse, expelling Voyager and the Delta Flyer from
the corridor and into the Delta Quadrant, or somewhere in the Beta
Sector, perhaps even in Romulan space. We have boosted the engines of
the Delta Flyer to obtain a maximum warp of eight. This will
facilitate a sufficient entry into the transwarp bubble in Voyagers
wake. Voyager must not exceed warp eight. The ideal speed for optimum
safety would be at warp 7. 2."

Tom said in his self-assured voice, "Piece of cake. With me at the
helm of the Flyer you'll be having dinner in Federation space on the
same day we leave here."

B'Elanna rolled her eyes. "It's not going to be a 'cake walk', Tom. We
will need you to pilot Voyager. The main turbulence occurs as the
transwarp coil tears open space in front of Voyager to create the
corridor. If Voyager is unable to navigate the eddies and deviates
even slightly, it could cause the projected signature from Voyager to
the Flyer's reflector to fluctuate and collapse the bubble in her
wake. That's why Seven and I will be in the Delta Flyer trying to
adjust for any fluctuations."

Janeway looked at both women and said, "Who will insure the steady
operation of the transwarp coil and handle any problems that may arise
in Engineering?"

B'Elanna glanced down at the table before looking at Janeway. "Well,
I'm training both Carey and Vorik to handle the transwarp coil and
make any adjustments to the deflector. They are both able to take care
of any engineering crisis that may arise."

"Is it necessary for you to be on the Flyer or can Seven handle the
array?"

"Er, I thought I would go along as pilot."

"I see. Well, I will go over your report before I make any final
decisions as to what personnel are to go where. When can we have
Voyager and the Flyer ready?"

Seven replied, "In approximately sixteen days, Captain."

"Start right away. Take whatever personnel you need to get the job
done. Our next transmission from Starfleet is in seven days. I will
send them a packet with the information and expected place and time of
arrival. It will be their decision if they want to contact the
Romulans and try to get their cooperation if we should end up in
Romulan space. Do we have any questions?"

Chakotay looking at Janeway, inquired, "Do we inform the crew,
Captain?"

"Yes. They need to know. I had rather them hear the facts from us than
have any wild speculations flying about at warp ten. Everyone needs to
do his or her part in helping to achieve the success of this. We will
give them the facts, both positive and negative. I want to know from
all of you what the feelings of the crew are about this so we can
address any concerns. Now on to other business. . . "

---

B'Elanna walked beside Seven and said, "Uhh. I'm starving. Let's get
breakfast in the mess hall. I thought the Doc would never shut up
about that damn home brew Ensign Jackson and Watson are making. It has
to be at least 120 proof. Any fool that would drink that stuff
deserves to feel like a photon torpedo exploded in their guts and
head."

Seven entered the turbo lift with B'Elanna. "Deck two. It is obvious
that you have knowledge of Ensign Jackson and Watson's endeavor of
producing a prohibited and obviously dangerous substance. As an
officer you were obligated to report this to the Captain, were you
not?" Seven's ice blue eyes bored straight into B'Elanna's surprised,
dark brown ones.

"Err. Well, I ah. . . " B'Elanna said sheepishly. She glanced at Seven
and noticed that the ice blue stare did not waver. She sighed
resignedly and said, "Okay, I had a small taste. A very small taste. A
teensy weensy taste. I didn't report them because every Starship,
Maquis ship, and merchant ship, I have been on has a secret still that
the Captain doesn't know about, or turns a blind eye to. They probably
had one on Noah's ark, too. I'm sure Janeway knew someone on the ship
had one, but didn't want the details. Hell, she probably had a nip or
two herself. If some of the crew hadn't over indulged and told old
Doc, she would have let it go. Now, it's in Voyager's log and Janeway
has to follow the rules. If I know Jackson and Watson, despite having
to scrub out the plasma conduits for a week, they'll be back in
business. Hopefully, they will stick to making wine, like they used to
do." , She gave Seven a big smile and hoping to change the subject,
added, "I think I could go for a big plate of banana pancakes and a
side order of hash browns. Especially after that workout you gave me
this morning." She then wiggled her eyebrows up and down.

Seven maintained her icy demeanor and said, "You are attempting to
divert my attention from the subject."

The turbo lift stopped at deck two, and before the doors opened,
B'Elanna quickly grabbed Seven by her chin and planted a kiss on her
lips. The turbo lift doors swished open, B'Elanna stepped out and
waited for Seven. Smiling coyly, she said, "Was I successful?" She
noticed the corners of Seven's lips quirk up in a small smile, and
took her be'nal's hand in hers as they proceeded to walk the few yards
to the mess hall.

There was still a lingering smile on Seven's slightly upturned lips as
she replied, "Perhaps." She gave B'Elanna's hand an affectionate
squeeze.

Many of the crew in the mess hall greeted them. None offered them a
seat, as the two were still considered to be in the Honeymoon stage,
preferring to eat breakfast alone. On the occasions when they didn't
take meals in their quarters, they would gladly accept invitations or
invite others to dine at their table in the mess hall. Seven would
listen intently to their conversations, often joining in, asking
questions in a polite voice, and smiling at their jokes. She even
surprised the crew with her dry humor. The gossip making the rounds
was that B'Elanna had managed to melt the Ice Queen, and Seven had
tamed the Klingon.

Seven took a chance on Neelix's Tagrath grain hot cereal with a dollop
of replicated honey, and a glass of milk. B'Elanna used her replicator
allotment for banana pancakes with maple syrup, and milk. They found a
table by the window, and B'Elanna no sooner took a seat before she
started eating her pancakes, saying around a mouthful, "Good, but not
like my Nana could make."

Seven took a sip of her milk and said, "You make that observation
every time you consume them."

B'Elanna quickly swallowed her next bite. "It's true. She made them
from scratch and the maple syrup was the real thing. When we get back
to the Alpha Quadrant I will make you the real thing with real bananas
and maple syrup from real maple trees."

Seven looked across the table at her mate. "B'Elanna, we have not
discussed, nor have we made plans, for our future when we arrive in
the Alpha Quadrant."

"I know. If it's okay with you, I would like to go to Qo'noS, make
peace with my mother, and learn more about my Klingon heritage. We
don't have to stay long."

"We will stay as long as you desire. If you like, we can make our home
there."

B'Elanna's smile was sappy. "You really are wonderful bang'wI." She
paused and then added, "I don't know about a home there. Is there
anywhere you would like to live? I know you have relatives on Earth.
Maybe you would like to visit them for a while. . . maybe live on
earth. I'm not adverse to that. Some of my father's relatives still
live on Earth."

"I have no desire to live on Earth, or for that matter, anywhere else,
except with you." She looked at B'Elanna tenderly and said in a soft
voice, "Wherever you are, bang'wI, is my home,"

B'Elanna gave Seven a melting look and sighed. "You say the most
wonderful things and you're a wonderful be'nal. I feel the same way.
But I do think you need to see your relatives. I know your aunt and
cousins have contacted you through the array. It's important for them,
I think, to meet you and you to meet them. They are a part of your
parents' history. And, through your parents, they are a part of your
history."

"I will visit my father's sister, Irene Hansen. I believe I have an
obligation to inform her of what occurred to her brother and my
mother. It is an obligation I am not looking forward to performing."

B'Elanna reached across the table and rubbed the back of Seven's Borg
hand. "I know. You know I'll be there with you, to give what support I
can."

"Yes. You are an exceptional mate. Thank you." Seven took a sip of her
milk before adding, "We need to decide our futures as far as careers.
I know that Starfleet has pardoned the Maquis, and since I was born a
Federation citizen, and married both a Federation and Klingon Citizen,
Captain Janeway believes that Starfleet will not take me into custody
as a threat to the Federation--"

B'Elanna interrupted and snarled, "If they touch a hair on your head
they will rue the day they were born." She continued in a calmer
voice, "I sent a copy of our wedding certificate through the array to
the Klingon Embassy on Earth. Since you are my be'nal, you are a full
citizen of the Empire. I doubt Starfleet would want to start a
confrontation. Klingons are warriors, but believe me, they have their
romantic side and would champion our cause."

Seven's mouth flicked up at the corners in a decidedly seductive
smile, and her voice sounded almost like a purr when she said, "Yes, I
have personal experience with their. . .  romantic side." The look
that accompanied this comment made B'Elanna tingle. Seven continued,
"I have also read Women Warriors At The River Of Blood, which was very
informative on Klingon romantic and sexual customs."

B'Elanna drew her head back slightly in obvious surprise before
blurting out, "Gee, Seven, I thought I recycled that thing. It's
fiction and has nothing to do with reality, especially the sex
scenes." B'Elanna then gave Seven a salacious look and softly growled,
"Believe me 'be'nal, you're so good in the love making department, you
could write a manual on it."

"That would be plagiarism, as I obtained my information on how to
perform Klingon sexual practices from, Women Warriors At The River Of
Blood."

B'Elanna's eyes widened slightly in mild alarm. Kahless. I have to
delete 'Vulcan Love Slave' from my collection of Holosuite programs
before Seven finds it, or she'll think I'm into all that stuff and
wasn't just curious.' She then smugly smiled. Yeow, with a be'nal like
Seven, I don't need no stinking Holo-sex programs.

---

Seven knelt on the deck by an open panel, making final adjustments to
the deflector on the Delta Flyer. "Mr. Kim. A micro spanner please."
Harry Kim handed Seven a micro spanner and resumed reading his padd.
Seven had selected Harry to help her install the reflector array in
the Delta Flyer.

Janeway had called a meeting earlier that morning and announced that
Harry would pilot the Delta Flyer as he had a hand in building and
designing it, as well as a familiarity with the deflector, as he and
Seven were working to install it. Seven would monitor the deflector in
the Delta Flyer and B'Elanna would monitor the transwarp coil on board
Voyager. Tuvok would handle Voyager's deflector. B'Elanna was not too
pleased that she wouldn't be with Seven on the Delta Flyer, but
understood why Janeway needed her on Voyager, as she knew the
transwarp coil inside out.

"So, Seven? You and B'Elanna make any plans for when we return to the
Alpha Quadrant?" asked Harry.

"We shall disembark on Earth, where we will proceed to the Klingon
embassy. There, we will finalize my citizenship as a citizen of the
Klingon Empire. We will proceed to stay with Captain Janeway, either
at her residence in San Francisco, or at her mother' residence, while
I arrange to visit my aunt. We will proceed to visit my aunt and I
will attempt to explain to her what occurred to my father and mother.
I am not looking forward to it. Following the visit to my aunt's, we
will return to Captain Janeway's residence and obtain times and dates
for a trip to Qo'noS. Captain Janeway might be able to obtain passage
for us on a Starfleet vessel instead of a civilian starship. We will
depart Earth. Depending on whether we are provided Starfleet passage,
or that of a civilian ship, it will take us approximately--"

"Uh, Seven? That's not what I meant. Have you and B'Elanna decided
where you are going to live? And what career paths you will each
pursue?"

"No."

"Oh. Uh. I guess you have plenty of time to decide that when we get
home."

"Indeed." Seven closed the panel and stood up. "We will now commence
with testing procedure 15 Alpha."

"Right, 15 Alpha." Harry activated a communications console and said,
"Lieutenant Torres, commence with testing procedure 15 Alpha."

"Acknowledged, 15 Alpha has been initiated."

Seven viewed the control panel while entering in the data. After a few
moments, she announced, "The test was successful."

B'Elanna still had the communications line open. "That's great. It
looks like we're on schedule for the day after tomorrow. Let's call it
quits for now and head for the mess hall. Bring Starfleet, he's
treating."

Harry suspiciously asked, "Wait a minute. Why am I treating?"

"I know you have a zillion replicator credits stashed away. No way
you're gonna be able to spend them all in two days. So, as your good
friend, I thought I would help you get rid of them."

"Oh, yeah. Right. Actually, I only have twenty-seven. Tom has been
mooching off me since Neelix cleaned him out a few months ago."

"Hey, that's what Tom PetaQ gets for running bets on my love life. I
thought by now he would have come up with a new scheme to fill his
coffers."

"Well, ever since his big loss, he has had a run of bad luck and owes
everybody."

"Ha. You know Starfleet, by helping him out you're just feeding the
beast. I bet he has a pool betting on when Voyager reaches home. At
least he learned his lesson and won't involve my personal life in his
little schemes anymore."

Harry was silent for a little too long and Seven noticed him grimace.

Despite not being able to see Harry, B'Elanna noticed the strained
silence. "Starfleet, you would tell me if he was making betting pools
on me or Seven, wouldn't you?"

"Ah. . . sure, B'Elanna," he hesitantly answered.

"Hmmm. Okay, good. Now back to those twenty-seven credits you have.
It'll be a big steak and baked potato with sour cream for me. Oh, and
a big piece of Texas toast, too. What will it be for you, Seven?"

"I shall have chicken Parmesan, baby asparagus sautéed in butter, and
a dinner roll."

"Wait a minute. That comes to over twenty credits. I won't have any
left for my dinner," Harry groused.

Seven smirked and answered, "It comes to exactly twenty-six credits.
You shall have one credit left."

"Well, it is your lucky day, Starfleet. One credit is enough to get
you a glass of tea to wash down Neelix's Leola Root Surprise. See ya,
B'Elanna out."

Harry looked beseechingly at Seven and whined, "That's not fair."

"Fair is irrelevant," Seven replied in her Borg monotone.

---

Captain Janeway looked at her Senior Staff seated around the
conference table. She had listened to the various reports on the
ship's readiness to undertake the mission to return to the Alpha
Quadrant. "Starfleet has been informed of our approximate time and
place of arrival tomorrow. They will have several ships, not only at
the expected points of arrival, but also ships at various distances
surrounding those points if we should arrive at a different location.
The Romulans have agreed to assist us if we should emerge from the
corridor in their space. I think their cooperation has something to do
with the fact that we were allies in the Dominion War."

She then smiled and continued, "I have some important news for three
of you here at this table. I put in a request for promotions and
appointments to Starfleet, and they have been approved." Janeway fixed
her gaze on Ensign Harry Kim and allowed her smile to broaden. "Let it
go on record that Ensign Harry Kim has been promoted to the rank of
Lieutenant, Jr. Grade. Congratulations, Lieutenant Kim." Janeway stood
and motioned Harry over to her, and amidst the applause and cheers,
pinned a black pip on his collar next to his gold one.

"Thank you, Captain." Harry was all smiles.

"I want to thank you, Lieutenant, for your outstanding service to me,
the crew, and this ship."

Harry took his seat and Tom patted his back in congratulations.

Janeway remained standing and reached for a small envelope on the
Table. "For her outstanding service to me, this crew, and Voyager,
Annika Hansen has been awarded the provisional rank of Senior
Lieutenant." Every one clapped and B'Elanna threw her arms around
Seven's neck, giving her a hug.

Seven gave B'Elanna a questioning look, not knowing quite what to do.
B'Elanna looked at her wife with pride and said, "Go ahead and take
it, Seven; you earned it."

Seven rose from her seat and walked up to Janeway, who attached the
oblong gold bar with two horizontal gold stripes onto her collar. She
grinned and said, "Seven, thank you for all you have done for us.
You've come through for us many times."

"Thank you, Captain Janeway. I will serve to the best of my ability."

"Of that I have no doubts," Janeway said with her trademark lopsided
smile.

Tom Paris looked over at B'Elanna and smirked. "Hey B'Elanna, she
outranks you now. Guess she will be giving you orders."

B'Elanna smiled good-naturedly and said, "And this will differ, how?"
This caused everyone to laugh. Seven went back to her seat and
B'Elanna reached over and squeezed her shoulder, looking at her be'nal
with pride. Seven gave B'Elanna a pleased smile.

Captain Janeway reached for another envelope. "I have one more. For
her outstanding service to Voyager, Lieutenant. Jr. Grade, B'Elanna
Torres, has been awarded the rank of Provisional Lieutenant
Commander."

Tom exclaimed, "What! Two whole jumps in rank. Gee, she'll be bossing
me around."

Seven hugged a surprised B'Elanna who rose from her seat and walked
over to Janeway who pinned her Lieutenant Commander Bar on her collar.
"B'Elanna, we wouldn't have made it this far without your expertise in
engineering. You have done an outstanding job."

Chakotay gave a "Hear, Hear" and among the cheers and clapping,
B'Elanna took her seat next to Seven, who hugged her neck.

Janeway said, "Well folks, we have a big day tomorrow. I know with all
the excitement it will be hard for many of us, as well as the crew, to
get any work done. Just check to make sure there are no problems that
we can't handle. Try to get some sleep tonight. I want everyone awake
and aware tomorrow. We have come this far and I don't want any
miscalculations because of fatigue to ruin our chances. Try to impart
this to the crew also."

The Doctor spoke up, "I don't want any calls in the wee hours of the
morning due to injuries received because of rowdy behavior or over
indulgence in synthehol." He looked at Tom and sniffed. "I heard all
about the 'Last Night in the Delta Quadrant' party you're throwing. I
will be keeping an eye on things."

Tom said, "Hey Doc, it's the last time we'll be at Sandrine's and Fair
Haven you know? Everybody has an invite to drop by and have one last
blow out on the good ship Voyager. Many want to say goodbye to some
friends from these programs. They may be holo-characters, but we have
become attached to them over time. Surely, you can understand that."
Tom gave his best winning smile and added, " We hope to see you there
too. You know we need a piano player and a crooner at Sandrine's. Who
better to fill that role then yourself? You know all the good tunes;
you'll be ideal. So, how about it?"

The Doctor seemed to preen and smiled smugly. "What time do the
festivities start?"

"They'll be going on all day and well into the night so the different
shifts can attend. I'll spread the word to the crew that you'll make
your farewell appearance as Voyager's primo star and virtuoso. They
will mob the place," Tom said smoothly.

The Doctor's smile seemed to grow even larger and he actually puffed
out his holographic chest. "You can count on me. I can't let my
adoring fans down."

Janeway tried to control her desire to smirk at Tom's obvious play to
the Doctor's vanity. "I'll be dropping by Sandrine's for a few games
of pool. Tom, it's your final night to try to take my crown away as
Voyager's top Pool Player. Think you have the moxie to pull it off?"

Tom gave the captain a feral smile. "Better powder up that cue,
Captain. I'm going to run the table tonight."

Janeway gave him one of her lopsided grins and facetiously said, "Oh?
And to do this, what handicap do I have to play with? Blindfolded and
one hand tied behind my back?"

This caused everyone to laugh and it was with an upbeat air that
Voyager's senior officers left the conference room.

---

B'Elanna entered her and Seven's quarters, and saw that the lights
were on, which indicated Seven was home. She went into the bedroom,
and not finding her be'nal there, went into the bathroom. Seven was in
the sonic shower and B'Elanna leaned against the sink, a big smile on
her face, as she viewed the warm flesh tones through the opaque shower
door. Even though the glass did not allow for a clear view, she could
still make out the luscious curves of her be'nal. After a couple of
minutes the sonic shower stopped, and Seven emerged from the shower.
Seeing B'Elanna, she smiled. "B'Elanna, have you finished your duties
for today?"

B'Elanna walked the few steps over to her and wrapping her arms around
Seven's waist, pulled her close while tipping her head up for a kiss.
"If you're referring to my work duties, yes."

Seven lifted the implant over her left eye in question. "What other
duties are there?"

B'Elanna quickly licked the cleft in Seven's chin and replied, "My
wifely duty."

Seven gave B'Elanna a seemingly innocent look and said in a seemingly
innocent voice, "You are going to prepare our dinner?"

B'Elanna chuckled and facetiously replied, "Why yes. Is there anything
particular you would like tonight?"

Seven put her left arm around B'Elanna's' shoulder and her right hand
behind her head and drew her close, her lips a breath away from
B'Elanna's. "This." She pressed her lips against B'Elanna's in a
searing kiss and softly moaned, deepening the kiss, which elicited a
growl from her wife. Seven drew back slightly, her breathing
quickening. She nipped B'Elanna's bottom lip, moved to her neck, and
lightly bit the throbbing pulse point, eliciting a deeper growl from
her wife.

B'Elanna took Seven by her hand and drew her into the bedroom,
stopping by the edge of the bed. Seven reached out to unfasten
B'Elanna's jacket and then drew it off. She next pulled her wife's
gray uniform shirt over her head along with her black undershirt,
leaving her be'nal's chest bare. Seven softly stroked the caramel
breasts, noticing with satisfaction that the brown nipples had
hardened. She ran her hands along the sides of the trim waist before
lightly guiding B'Elanna to sit on the edge of the bed.

Seven knelt and removed B'Elanna's boots, and tugging down the pants
and undies, dropped them to the deck. Still kneeling, Seven ran her
hands up the outside of B'Elanna's legs, then to the silken inner
thighs, parting them. She placed gentle kisses on the smooth flesh,
nipping softly with her teeth. B'Elanna groaned and shivered as
Seven's silken long hair brushed across her thighs. Seven looked up
into her be'nal's dark eyes, molten with desire, her own, liquid blue
and questioning. B'Elanna groaned again and quivered lightly, her
voice roughened by desire. "Oh yes, bang'wI. Please."

Seven lowered her face to B'Elanna's apex, breathing deeply the rich,
heady aroma of her be'nal's arousal. B'Elanna shivered, groaning again
as she felt Seven's warm breath tickle her pubic hair and soft fingers
separate the wet folds of her labia. B'Elanna fell all the way back
upon the mattress, opening her legs wider, entangling her hand in
Seven's hair and gently urging her to the source of her fire. Seven
drew her fingers through the slick, warm wetness and gently massaged
the hard knot above her be'nal's opening. She removed her fingers and
touched her tongue along the wet opening and up to the protruding bud.
She flicked the bud with her tongue and then forcefully licked along
B'Elanna's crease, tasting the slightly salty and bitter essence of
her wife's arousal.

B'Elanna sucked in her breath as she felt Seven's lips and tongue
caress her center. She groaned and began to move her hips in rhythm to
the oral caresses. She lost all rational thought as her bang'wI took
her to that place where all that existed was this primal fire, stoked
to such heat that she felt as she were the great cosmic core gone
nova, filling the void with stars and light. Time and place had no
meaning. She did not know if seconds or centuries passed, until a
voice pulled her back into the now. "I have you, be'nal." She felt
herself cradled in warm arms, and the soft press of lips on her
forehead. She turned into the warmth, pressing her face into the soft
breasts, and cried from the sheer joy of loving this woman and having
this woman love her in return.

Seven continued to stroke her wife's hair and back while whispering
her love into her ear. B'Elanna took a shuddering breath, pushed Seven
down on the bed, and gently settled her weight on her be'nal. She
kissed her deeply, feeling Seven's lips move against hers, and tasted
her own essence. She parted from the kiss long enough to say, "Now
bang'wI, I will return to you the fire you have kindled in me."

---

Seven stroked B'Elanna's bare back as her be'nal nuzzled her ear and
purred, "Hmmm, you have worn me completely out. I'm not moving from
here until the alarm goes off."

Seven reached her hand down to B'Elanna's posterior and pinched one of
her cheeks.

"Ouch! That hurt, " B'Elanna protested.

"That was the purpose."

"What did I do?"

"You have failed to perform your...wifely duty."

B'Elanna blew a puff of air through her mouth in surprise and said,
"What. . . your cortical node must have failed. We've been performing
our wifely duty for the past two hours."

Seven propped herself up on her elbow and smirked. "That is not your
primary wifely duty. Your primary duty is to prepare our dinner."

"You had rather eat than make love?" B'Elanna asked in disbelief.

"No. However, I have not eaten since breakfast and making love has
depleted my energy. I wish to replete my energy in order to resume
making love."

B'Elanna snickered and replied with a growl in her voice, "Hmmm. Well,
I guess I will need to replete my energy if that's your plan." She
lightly smacked Seven on her behind and said, "So, be'nal, you can
replicate me a hamburger with all the fixings, and a chocolate shake.
. . oh, and serve it to me in bed."

"That is not my duty. Your duty is to prepare our nutrients and my
duty is to wash dishes. We agreed to this when on the desert planet."

B'Elanna complained, "Gods, Seven, you haven't replicated anything to
eat once. Throwing dishes in the recycler does not count as washing
them."

Seven answered, almost indignantly, "That is untrue. I have replicated
breakfast fifteen times and dinner eight times since we have been
sharing these quarters." Seven sighed and fluffed her pillow, lay her
head down, and turned slightly away from B'Elanna, saying in her Borg
monotone. "Very well. We shall forgo nourishment and attempt to sleep.
Tomorrow we shall go to the mess hall for breakfast. Perhaps that will
be sufficient to regain my strength for our journey to the Alpha
Quadrant."

B'Elanna sighed resignedly. "What will it be?"

"A peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwich, and a glass of milk."

B'Elanna replied in a nasal voice, "Yes, dear."

After a few minutes, she returned and handed Seven a tray. "Anything
else, Your Highness?"

"This will suffice. . .  for now."

B'Elanna crawled back in bed beside Seven and leaned back against the
headboard. Seven leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Thank you,
bang'wI. You are an exceptional mate."

B'Elanna reached over to the tray on Seven's lap and took her plate.
"Just keep remembering that, bang'wI." She took a bite of her burger,
chewed and swallowed. After eating a few more bites, she said, "This
is our last night in the Delta Quadrant. Hard to believe we have been
here almost seven years. In a way, it seems like a lifetime, but in
another way, it seems like yesterday."

Seven took a sip of milk, and looked at B'Elanna for a few long
seconds, before asking, "Do you regret your time here in the Delta
Quadrant?"

B'Elanna answered right away, "At first I did." She smiled gently and
let her gaze search Seven's face before saying sincerely and softly,
"Now? No. How can I regret what happened when it brought me you? If I
have any regrets, it's that I didn't get to know you better when we
first met. I should have listened to what my heart was telling me,
instead of fighting you all that time." B'Elanna leaned over and
kissed Seven's cheek.

Seven smiled, her teeth showing and her eyes bright with little
crinkles at the edges. "You did listen to your heart, your Klingon
heart. It told you I was your mate and you acted in the Klingon way.
It demanded that you challenge me to see if I would be a worthy mate."

"Yeah, you were a challenge all right. I guess being half Klingon it
took longer for me to understand what was really going on. I was a
real PetaQ to you, and to make matters worse, I hooked up with an even
bigger PetaQ. That I truly regret. What a waste of time."

"The past is irrelevant. We are together."

"Forever, bang'wI. I just wish I could be with you on the Delta Flyer
tomorrow." B'Elanna took Seven's Borg hand and kissed the fingertips.
"I'm all wound up tight about tomorrow. I doubt anyone will get much
sleep. I bet Sandrine's will be jumping until early in the morning."

"Do you wish to attend Tom's . . . bash?"

"Not at all. I want you all to myself. I have plans for you, my dear,"
she said and wiggled her eyebrows, a salacious grin on her face.

Seven smiled at this, and inquired innocently, "Plans? What are the
specifications of these. . . plans?"

"Me, you, here in this bed, doing things. Delicious things to each
other that we both enjoy. Things you do so very well," B'Elanna
replied in a sultry voice.

Seven lifted the implant over her left eye. "Things? Could you be more
precise? Perhaps give me a demonstration of these. . . things?"

"I can do better than that. I can give you a lifetime subscription to
these things. They come complete with their own special bio-molecular
unit, and a lifetime guarantee of providing you with the utmost
enjoyable activities and pleasure. The only requirement you have to do
for keeping your unit working at peak performance is to operate it
several times a week, as often as you like. In fact, the more times
the better."

"Maintaining the unit will not present a problem. I accept your
generous offer. Now, I would like to utilize my unit and experience
these. . . enjoyable activities. What is the procedure for activating
the unit?"

"The unit is activated by using the owner's distinct genetic code. The
only thing you have to do is place your lips against the matching part
on the unit, and it's done."

With that, Seven pressed her lips against B'Elanna's who deepened the
kiss. After a few long minutes of passionate kissing, B'Elanna pulled
a hair's distance away and breathlessly said, "Bio-molecular Unit is
activated."

---

B'Elanna walked with Seven to the Delta Flyer. Harry Kim was already
inside at the helm, checking the systems for the last time. The two
boarded the Flyer and B'Elanna drew her wife's head down for a kiss.
"Have a nice flight, bang'wI. I'll be thinking about you while we're
going through the corridor."

Seven leaned in for another kiss. "I will expect you to greet me with
a kiss. . . our first kiss in the Alpha Quadrant."

B'Elanna smiled and said, "Our first kiss of the millions to follow."
B'Elanna let her gaze linger on Seven's face for a few moments, then
added, "Well, I'll see you in a little bit." Seven nodded and with an
effort, tore her gaze from her be'nal's, and walked into the Flyer to
the helm, taking the seat behind Harry. B'Elanna stood in the opening
of the Flyer and said loudly to Harry, "Hey, and Starfleet. You take
care of my girl."

Harry turned and shouted back, "Hey, Maquis, she'll be taking care of
me. See you in the Alpha Quadrant."

"Sure thing." B'Elanna looked at Seven and their gazes met, their eyes
bright, and saying what they did not need to voice.

"God's Speed, bang'wI," B'Elanna mouthed in a whisper.

Seven's enhanced Borg hearing heard, she smiled and also replied in a
whisper, "Good Journey, bang'wI."

B'Elanna could not hear her, but read the movements of her lips,
smiled, and walked out of the Flyer, heading toward Engineering.

---

"Delta Flyer, we are engaging transwarp in 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1,
mark," Tuvok said over the comm system.

Harry and Seven's view from the Flyer's window was of the rippling
vortex of blues and violets opening around Voyager. They could not see
the front of Voyager as she plunged through the opening eye of the
storm, but they did have a good view on their viewscreen of the back
portion of the warp bubble at a safe distance, closing behind them.

Harry fingered the controls and announced, "Voyager is maintaining a
steady course, as are we."

"The array is functioning within acceptable parameters. We should
emerge in one minute twenty six seconds."

Almost a couple of minutes passed before Harry looked nervously at his
controls and readings, and declared, "Damn, Voyager must have picked
up some turbulence. She's starting to bounce a little. Not to worry.
We're still within safe parameters."

Seven announced coolly, "Collapsing corridor field has progressed to
within 800 meters of the Delta Flyer. We are now within forty-eight
seconds of the targeted point."

Harry was concerned now, his voice strained when he said, "Damn! Come
on Tom. . . keep her steady." He now said with alarm, "Voyager is
careening too much and at too rapid a speed!"

Seven's voice was at a higher pitch, reflecting her concern, "Array
has lost contact with transwarp signal. Corridor is collapsing. We
have fifteen seconds remaining to reach the designated point. Ten
seconds, four seconds--"

The Delta Flyer suddenly shook from the forces of the collapsing
corridor. When the swirling lights around them cleared, they found
themselves in a clear star field.

Seven quickly accessed the scanners. "I am not detecting Voyager's
signature. Nor do I detect any debris."

Harry looked over at Seven, concern on his face and asked anxiously,
"You think they made it through?"

"Yes. The collapse caught us at three seconds before emergence at the
terminus point. My calculations are that the collapse did not catch
Voyager and they have emerged in the Alpha Quadrant."

"Any idea where we are?"

Seven accessed the various readings and after a few long seconds,
announced, "My astrometrics readings show that we are in the Beta
Quadrant."

"Where in the Beta Quadrant, or do I want to know?"

"We are in Romulan Space."

"Oh boy. I hope that they are going to get help like they said they
would. I hope they are still on good terms with the Federation. After
all, we were allies in the Dominion War."

"That may be correct. However, given the history of the Romulan
Empire, both past and present, good terms do not necessarily mean
cooperation. We shall plot the quickest route to Federation Space."

"Should we send out a distress call?"

"Send out a distress call on all channels. If the Romulans intercept
it, they will search for a Federation vessel with a Federation ship
design and power signatures. Our vessel utilizes components that are
Borg, and a few from other Delta Quadrant species. I can disguise our
weapons array. This may enable us to escape detection or be perceived
as none threatening until we can determine if there is a threat."

"That's a good idea, Seven. . . er, Lieutenant." Harry hadn't had time
to adjust to Seven's new rank.

Seven ignored his breach of protocol and said, "It is not my idea. I
assimilated this particular tactical idea from Species 1091."

"What species is that?"

"Romulan."

---

Captain Janeway held tight to the arm of her Command Chair. She felt
as if her teeth would rattle right out her mouth and her eyeballs
would fall out onto the deck. She watched as Tom fought to keep
Voyager within the transwarp corridor. Come on, Tom, just a few more
seconds. Suddenly the shaking stopped and the viewscreen showed that
Voyager was in clear space.

Before she could call for a damage report, Tuvok reported, "Captain,
we are being hailed by Federation Vessel Embolden."

Janeway looked at Chakotay, her second in command, and said, "My, that
was quick. Chakotay, check the status reports." She quickly faced the
view screen and drew herself up to attention. "On screen."

The placid features of a Vulcan Starfleet captain greeted her. Her
voice was evenly modulated, "Welcome home, Captain Janeway. I am
Captain Dasal of the U.S.S Embolden."

Janeway smiled. "Captain Dasal. I take it that we are in the Alpha
Quadrant?"

"Actually, Captain Janeway, you are in the Federation portion of the
Beta Quadrant."

"Ahhh. Federation Space at least. Are there any other ships in the
vicinity?"

"We are to maintain station keeping until Federation vessels, Liberty,
Vladimir, and Exeter, arrive in the next hour. Admiral North is aboard
the Exeter. In the meantime, Captain, is there any assistance that you
may require?"

"Thank you, Captain Dasal. I have not had time to go over any damage
reports. I will contact you shortly."

"Understood, Captain. Dasal, out."

Janeway went back to her Command Chair with a beaming smile on her
face. "Well, it looks like we made it."

Tom turned in his seat with a stricken expression. "Captain. The Delta
Flyer is nowhere in the vicinity."

Janeway sprang to her feet and looked at Tuvok who said, "I have
scanned the surrounding area and have not detected the Delta Flyer's
signature, nor have we received a distress call."

Janeway set her features into a firm mask, only her eyes showing a
stricken look. "Do another search, go through any information we
gathered on our way through the corridor. They can't be far away if we
were able to make it through the corridor. I'll contact Captain Dasal
from my ready room."

---

B'Elanna sat on the edge of her chair and looked around the Exeter's
conference room table. To her right was Captain Janeway, and to her
left was Tuvok. At the end was seated Admiral North and across the
table were Captain Carlos Leon, and his Second in Command, Commander
Fariso.

Admiral North had their attention as he spoke, "We have to do this by
the book. Romulan Admiral Telir is to rendezvous with us in two hours.
What I'm going to tell you next is not general knowledge outside of
Starfleet Command, and I expect it to stay here. Our operatives in
Romulan space have been sending reports to us for the last six months,
and it appears that there was an attempted coup by the Tal Shiar and
certain members of the Senate, to take over Romulus. It was
unsuccessful. However, the Tal Shiar, under the command of General
Sela, has its own base of operations and a fleet. For years now, they
have been stock piling supplies and building defenses on various
planets in the sector that you indicate as a possible location of the
Delta Flyer. They have also supplied various other factions of
non-Romulan species that wish independence from the Empire with
weapons and ships, including the enslaved inhabitants of Romulus'
sister planet, Remus. The Empire has stretched its fleet and forces
thin in trying to squash out the various rebellions. The Tal Shiar has
enough ships, weapons, and resources to prevent the Empire intruding
on what they consider their domain."

B'Elanna could no longer contain her fear and anger and rose from her
seat, facing Admiral North with a belligerent stare. "So, what you're
basically telling us is that we cannot expect any help from the
Romulans, nor from Starfleet. Is that what you're saying? You're going
to sit back and do nothing?"

Janeway put her hand on B'Elanna's arm and calmly said, "B'Elanna,
let's see what options we have."

B'Elanna glared at Admiral North, who glared back. She took her seat,
her face flushed and teeth clenched.

Admiral North looked at B'Elanna with sympathy. "We are not going to
abandon them. We are going to do everything we can to get them back
quickly and safely. We will have to work with the Romulans for this to
succeed. I'm asking, no, ordering you, Commander Torres, to hold your
tongue unless we consult you. You could jeopardize everything. Is that
understood?"

B'Elanna looked down at the table top, then back up. Her eyes held a
hardness that glittered like jet. "Understood . . .  Admiral."

Janeway reached behind B'Elanna and patted her back in affection and
support. To come this far and then to have this happen.

---

Admiral Telir looked directly into the eyes of Admiral North. "I am
aware that the Federation has knowledge of the problems that our
Empire faces. You have your spies and agents, perhaps in the Senate
itself, and we have our. . . sources in the Federation."

Janeway studied the Romulan Admiral closely. She was an older woman,
in Human years, perhaps in her 60's, but it was hard to tell with
Romulans. She could well be over 100 years old.

She let her gaze settle on Telir's aide, Adjunct Vlara. She looked to
be in her late twenties or early thirties. She appeared more Vulcan
than Romulan due to her smooth forehead. Then again, her features and
fair coloring were more like the Vulcan/human hybrids one occasionally
saw. Her hair was a rich seal brown, curling softly around her face
and almost to her shoulders, and not in the ugly, severe military cut
that was now popular among Romulans. Her face was a soft oval, unlike
the angular features of most Vulcans and Romulans, and her eyes were
large and expressive. Janeway had not managed to get close enough to
note the color clearly, but from where she sat, they appeared hazel.
Her nose was not too small or large. It was slightly pug in an
attractive way. Her mouth was small and well shaped. She was not what
one would call beautiful, or even pretty, but she was attractive in a
race that Janeway had never found physically appealing. Romulans
always looked too stern and foreboding to her: The women harsh and
angular, especially with the current fashion of dark lip coloring and
unbecoming haircuts. Janeway knew she shouldn't judge other species by
her more Earth-centric standards of beauty, but still, one couldn't
help certain cultural biases. The young woman quickly turned her gaze
to Janeway, causing her to blush at being caught staring, and turned
her attention back to Admiral Telir.

Admiral Telir said, "Your crewmen are indeed in the section of space
that you have pinpointed. One of our ships, close to that sector,
received their distress signal and relayed the information to me. I
will be honest, if it has not happened already, the renegade Tal Shiar
will soon apprehend them. They will quickly investigate the source of
the communications, as well as any unusual singularities appearing in
the sector controlled by them. The most we can do is to have our
operatives pass on any information they receive. If there is a chance
to get them out, our operatives will take it. The chances are very
slim that you will see your people again, unless the Tal Shiar were to
use them in trade for something they want from you or us. You can rest
assured that the trade would be to their favor and would not be
accepted by us or your Federation."

B'Elanna quickly stood, flinging back her chair, and tersely declared,
"No! God damn it, no! I'll not accept that. You can let me take a
small shielded shuttle into the area. I'll find them!"

Admiral North barked, "Commander, you're out of line."

B'Elanna ripped off her officer's bar, slammed it down on the table,
and shoved it towards the Admiral. "I don't answer to Starfleet
anymore. I'll get them back without Starfleet's help."

Janeway looked beseechingly at the distraught woman and calmly said,
"B'Elanna, please, take your seat--"

"No!" B'Elanna turned blazing eyes on Janeway and in a barely
controlled voice stated, "Thank you, Captain. It has been an
interesting ride. But this is my stop. We are not far from Klingon
Space, and I request passage there. . . Please. Contact the nearest
Klingon ship and tell them a citizen of the Empire, and Maquis Freedom
Fighter, requests passage home." With that, she turned and left.

Admiral Telir questioned, "Maquis? The ones in our space are Maquis?"

Janeway looked at Admiral Telir and said, "No. One of the two is her
wife and the other a good friend."

The Romulan Admiral raised her eyebrows, a thoughtful look on her
face. "Ahhh. The Universe sometimes exacts a bitter payment for every
sweet success."

Janeway sighed. "She won't give up on finding them, and neither will
I."

Admiral Telir nodded her head. "I will assist as much as I am able."
She looked toward the Starfleet admiral. "Admiral North, I need as
much information as you are willing to share on the two lost
individuals, and their ship. With your permission-" She looked at
Janeway, "and if Captain Janeway is agreeable, I would like to meet
with her and Commander Torres, face-to-face. Perhaps we can come up
with a viable plan of action."

Janeway held her breath and looked at Admiral North.

He smiled and said, "Agreed."

---

B'Elanna left the transporter pad and rushed out from the room,
leaving the ensign operating the controls feeling some dismay at the
look of rage on her face. There was no one in the corridor or in the
turbo lift when she exited the lift, and hurried to her quarters,
sealing the door behind her. She went into the bedroom and looked
around, her sight settling on Seven's bathrobe draped over the back of
the lounger. She picked it up and brought it up to her face, breathing
in deeply the scent of her wife. A primal scream of rage and anguish
issued from deep in her chest, and catching her breath, she screamed
again. Still holding Seven's robe, she threw herself face down on the
bed, and screamed until her voice was hoarse. She turned over on her
back, staring up at the ceiling, wondering what she could do, and how
she could awaken from this nightmare.

Her comm badge beeped but she did not acknowledge it. Tears welled up
and leaked down her cheeks, neck, and down into her hair.

She didn't know how long she lay there until she pushed herself off
the bed and went to the replicator. "Computer, double rum straight
up." The small glass of spirits materialized and she quickly grabbed
it, drinking the contents down in one swallow, and then she threw the
glass across the room where it shattered against the view window.
"Computer, double rum straight up." Another drink materialized and she
again downed the contents, repeating her action of smashing the glass
against the window. "Computer, one bottle of light rum."

You have insufficient credits to purchase this item.

"Damn. Computer, double rum, straight up." A glass of the clear liquid
materialized, and she once again drank down the contents in one
swallow, and threw the glass against the window, feeling some amount
of satisfaction as the glass splintered.

She was just about to see if she had enough credits to get another
drink when she heard the chime at the door. "GO AWAY!" The chime
sounded again and she sat on the couch, ignoring it. The chime kept
pealing, making B'Elanna angry, and she screamed, "God damn! I said GO
AWAY!"

There was silence and then the door opened and Captain Janeway walked
into the darkened quarters, stopping and looking around, her eyes not
yet adjusted to the darkness. "B'Elanna?"

She was startled when she heard a hoarse voice from the dark growl out
menacingly, "Get the god damn hell out of here!"

Janeway swung her head toward the voice and saw B'Elanna outlined by
the faint glow of the running lights on Voyager. She walked over to
the couch. "May I sit down?"

B'Elanna sprang up and stood close enough for Janeway to see the dim
light reflecting from the black pools of her eyes. B'Elanna's voice
was dangerously low. "Get. Out."

Janeway did not budge. She could smell the alcohol on B'Elanna's
breath. She reached out her hand only to have it slapped away, and she
said sincerely, "B'Elanna, I haven't given up. I came here to go over
some ideas with you on retrieving Seven and Harry. I'll not let this
go. If I have to, I will resign my commission and find some way to
search for them."

B'Elanna stopped breathing for a moment, and then asked in a surprised
voice, "You'd do that?"

"In a heartbeat. Seven is like a daughter to me; you as well. Harry
has been loyal and I've grown quite fond of him. And you know, I never
leave my people behind. Let's sit down and see what resources we have
to work with."

B'Elanna hesitated for a second, searching Janeway's face, before
sitting down on the end of the couch. She placed the heels of her
palms against her eyes trying to stymie the flow of tears. Janeway sat
beside her and pulled her into a hug. B'Elanna hugged her back and,
placing her head on her captain's shoulder, cried. Janeway let her
cry, rubbing her back in comforting circles.

Finally, B'Elanna sat up and rubbed the tears from her eyes. Janeway
got up and went to the bathroom and replicated a washcloth, dampened
it with cold water, returned to the couch and handed it to B'Elanna,
who wiped her face.

"Captain, what can we do?" B'Elanna asked beseechingly.

"What we've always done. Bend a lot of rules, break a few, and make up
our own. We may have an ally with Admiral Telir. She has invited us to
dine with her on board her ship, and give her information on Seven and
Harry that would assist her in searching for them."

"Do you trust her? I mean, the Federation is on friendly terms right
now with Romulus, but these are Romulans."

"Yes. I think she is sincere in wanting to help. I'm not so naive that
I believe she won't gain something out of this. My greatest fear is
that she wants the information on the transwarp coil. Or, it may be as
simple as wanting to establish better relations with the Federation.
The Empire could use some allies right now. Let's float some ideas
around. And, if you don't mind, I would like to call Tom in on this.
He has expressed a desire to help."

B'Elanna looked like she was about to object and Janeway put her hand
up to forestall her as she added, "I know he can be immature and a
pain. But he also has an active imagination and may come up with
something. Besides, Harry is his best friend and he wants to help."

"You're right. Knowing Tom, he probably already has an idea. I just
hope it doesn't involve ray guns and rocket packs."

---

Vlara went to her desk in her quarters and pressed her fingertips onto
a three by four inch recessed green lighted area on the polished black
top. A drawer slid open and she removed a flat green leather folder.
She sat in her chair and, placing the folder on the table, flipped it
open. There was a picture of her and her father taken on the day of
her acceptance as a Senatorial Page at the Imperial Senate Training
School. Her father was a handsome man, as far as humans went. He was
fair-haired and blue eyed, a color combination very rare on Ch'Rihan
and very much sought after in concubines and slaves.

She had loved him very much, even though his station in life was that
of a slave. Her mother loved him also, in her own way. Her mother
chose him as part of her share of a war prize after the Romulan
victory at Narendra III.

Starfleet prisoners were often executed after information was obtained
from them save for those that caught the eye of some senator, military
official, or upper caste citizen. Starfleet prisoners made poor slaves
in that they felt it was part of their duty to escape captivity. Her
father's name was Richard Vincent and he had served as a Lieutenant in
the science department on board the Federation Starship Enterprise.
His capture followed the destruction of his ship at Narendra III. He
resided on her mother's ancestral estate on Campus Prime, which was
located on a small habitable moon of the gas giant Dothus, in the
Corunian system. There was no way he could escape; the only ships
permitted on the moon were supply ships and certain military ships.
That did not keep him from trying. Once he hid away in the grain bay
on the monthly supply ship that delivered supplies to their home. He
was quickly apprehended after the broadcast, on subspace frequencies,
of his missing status. His punishment had been confinement to his room
for a time, and when allowed to wander the estate, loyal servants of
her mother watched him around the clock.

Her mother never physically or mentally abused him. She was a patient
woman and treated him kindly. She knew he was trained as a biologist
and had a love for nature, so she would take him for walks among the
estate's forest and fields. Much of the moon's fauna and flora
remained unstudied and unrecorded. Her mother offered him the task of
doing this and he readily accepted. She even told him to name the
plants. He would share with her mother his findings and they would
discuss the various aspects and characteristics of the different
species. Not long after that, a friendship grew between them, which
led to love, as much as was possible between two persons of unequal
social class.

For political reasons her mother had never married any of the
available Rihannsu in her class. She made him an official concubine.
He could never be a citizen, but was accorded certain respect due to
the position of her Mother. She was born two years after his capture,
and was the couple's only child.

She was a full citizen, due to her mother's status and social class.
Her mother was often gone on missions, leaving her father as her
primary caretaker. He seemed satisfied with his life on Campus Prime
and she never learned of his past until after her graduation from the
Imperial Senate Training School.

He told her of his background as a Starfleet officer, and most
shocking of all, revealed that he had a wife and three children in the
Alpha Quadrant. His children had been thirteen, ten and six years of
age when he left for a six-month tour. They would now be adults. His
wife had most assuredly thought him dead and had probably remarried.
His one wish was to tell them that he had not died and that he loved
them. He assured her that he loved her. He made her promise that one
day she would get word to them and, if he still lived, tell him what
she had learned of them. She had promised him that she would carry out
his wishes.

That had been nine years ago. He died four years ago from the sting of
a harvester bee while studying plant life along a nearby creek bed.
The bee sting was painful but not fatal to most mammals. It appeared
he was allergic to the sting and his death occurred within a matter of
minutes.

At the time of his death, she was serving as a civilian adjunct to her
mother. Their ship was near the Neutral Zone when word reached them.
She was shaken and saddened. It was a solemn homecoming for her and
her mother.

They interred his body in the family mortuary vaults. There was the
customary feast in his honor, attended by all the servants and
military staff alike. As is the Romulan custom, his family and friends
recalled various anecdotes concerning his life with them with both
laughter and tears.

He had left a letter for her, and one for her mother, with
instructions to open them in the event of his death. Her mother did
not share the contents of the letter to her but did share with her his
last request. That she, his daughter, one day visit the Federation and
carry private letters that he had written to his children and wife.
She knew this of course, as her letter contained the same request he
had made to her personally.

The recent events with the lost Federation craft and crewmembers might
open up a way for her to go to the Federation planet of Earth. It was
her mother's desire that she journey in person to carry out this last
request. It was a matter of honor to carry out the last wishes of a
loved one.

All she needed was for the Federation to allow the visit. It would
help facilitate matters smoothly if she cultivated a friendship with a
member of Starfleet.

Captain Kathryn Janeway was an honorable person according to the data
and research they had on her. It would not hurt matters that the
Federation also viewed Captain Janeway as a hero. If her mother could
help Janeway recover her lost crewmembers, then perhaps Janeway could
help her. If this action resulted in better relations between the
Federation and The Empire, it would give her mother a power point to
use in her future position as a member of the Senate, perhaps even as
Proconsul someday. After all, it was not only who you were that
mattered, but also who your friends were.

---

Captain Kathryn Janeway looked with appreciation at her reflection in
her bathroom mirror. She admired the fit of her new formal Starfleet
uniform, how the white dress jacket brought out the red in her hair
and flattered her figure. She always hated the old former dress
uniform: A red sack that made her look short and dumpy. One last sweep
of the brush through her hair and she was ready. She was looking
forward to dining with Admiral Telir. She hoped B'Elanna would be on
her best behavior. After all, the old earth saying that you got more
bees with honey was tried and true.

She met B'Elanna in transporter room one and immediately noticed that
she was also wearing the new version of the Starfleet dress uniform.
Her white jacket had a yellow shirt and gold trim. Janeway noticed
with pleasure that B'Elanna still had her provisional rank bars,
indicating that she had not carried out her threat to resign. . . yet.
She also noticed her engineer's drawn face and tired eyes. "The new
dress uniform looks nice on you, B'Elanna."

B'Elanna smiled faintly and looked Janeway over. "As does yours,
Captain. The person who designed these needs to be awarded a medal."

Janeway saw that the smile never reached B'Elanna's eyes. "Well, then.
Let's see what plans our guest has." She turned her attention to the
ensign at the transporter controls. "Ensign, two to beam over at set
coordinates."

"Aye, captain. Permission has been granted."

Both women materialized on a transporter pad and were met by Vlara who
gave them the typical Romulan military salute consisting of clenched
fist and arm, quickly drawn to the chest. "Captain Janeway, Commander
Torres, welcome aboard. If you will please accompany me." Vlara's
voice was surprisingly warm and the sound possessed a deliciously rich
throatiness that made the hair on the back of Janeway's neck prickle
in a pleasant way. The young woman had not spoken at their first
meeting.

After a short walk down a wide corridor, Vlara stopped at a wide door,
which parted to allow them to enter into a large living room. This was
obviously the Admiral's personal suite. Their host greeted them
cordially. "Captain Janeway and Commander Torres. Welcome. Please,
this way." She led them to another room that contained a set table
with a number of food items already in place. "Please, Captain, sit
here." She indicated a seat at the end of the table. "Please,
Commander Torres, here. She indicated a seat to the Captain's right.

Vlara took the seat across from B'Elanna. Admiral Telir sat at the
other end of the table and, after a few seconds, two servers entered
with carafes of various liquors. They then stood at the elbow of the
Starfleet officers and, taking their glasses, poured in a small amount
of blue liquid. Captain Janeway recognized it as the rare and
prohibited Romulan Brandy: That is, prohibited in the Federation.

Admiral Telir stood and lifted her glass. "I believe it is an Earth
custom to toast success with a drink of spirits, Captain Janeway?"
Janeway nodded and Admiral Telir continued, "To your return home,
Captain, and the safe return of your crewmen." Captain Janeway nodded
and took a sip of the spirit, finding that it went down easily and
left a slight licorice aftertaste. One of the waiters immediately
refreshed her glass. Admiral Telir was still standing and looked
toward B'Elanna. "To the safe return of your loved one, and friend,
Commander." B'Elanna nodded and threw back her head and swallowed the
sapphire liquid in one gulp.

Admiral Telir was an excellent host. The food was delicious, and the
conversation touched on everything from the recent Dominion War, to
some of Voyager's adventures in the Delta Quadrant. Janeway was
surprised at the seemingly candid discussions on the brooding Civil
War with the Remans and the mutiny of the Tal Shiar.

The Admiral was an astute listener and seemed to enjoy Janeway's
anecdotes of their adventures in the Delta quadrant.

Janeway glanced often at B'Elanna and noticed that she seemed to have
relaxed. Whether this was due to the amount of Romulan Brandy she
consumed, or their host's interesting portrayal of events while
Voyager was missing, from the Romulan point of view of course, she did
not know. Perhaps it was a combination of both. Janeway also glanced
on many occasion at Adjunct Vlara. For the most part, the young woman
seemed to be engrossed in the conversations, only speaking when
confirming a specific event that Admiral Telir was relaying. Several
times, she would catch the young woman looking at her, only to lower
her eyes or look elsewhere. However, the last few times she caught the
young woman staring at her she was amused to notice a smile and the
cutest dimples that she had ever seen. Janeway returned her smile.
//She is very lovely when she smiles//. She had a feeling that there
was something more than an officer and commander relationship between
the two women. Perhaps they were lovers. Before she could ponder more
on their connection, her host made a surprising announcement.

"Captain Janeway, Commander Torres. I wish to help you retrieve your
two crewmembers. With your permission, Captain, I wish for Commander
Torres to stay aboard my ship and work directly with me to achieve
this goal."

Before Janeway could answer, Admiral Telir looked at B'Elanna.
"Commander Torres. What I am formulating could very well cost you your
life, but it is the only solution I have at the moment."

B'Elanna's eyes glowed and her color heightened. "Admiral. Trust me. I
would give my very life to have my be'nal safe. My only question is,
when do we start?"

Janeway interceded. "I would have to hear your plans before I could
approve them. It may be out of my hands anyway. Starfleet would have
to be informed and give their permission."

B'Elanna immediately reached for her provisional rank bar, and taking
it off, laid it on the table. "I resign my commission, Captain." She
looked at the Admiral. "Admiral Telir, when do we start?"

Admiral Telir looked at Captain Janeway, her face neutral. "Captain. I
would like for you and Starfleet to approve this mission. I believe it
could open up promising possibilities of friendship between our
governments."

Janeway nodded. "I agree and I will do what I can to facilitate
things."

Admiral Telir smiled and said, "I have a personal favor to ask of you,
one which I think in your role as a Starfleet officer you may be able
to perform."

Here it comes, thought Janeway. Her eyes did not blink as she stared
directly into the Admiral's eyes. "That favor would be?"

Admiral Telir looked across the table at Adjunct Vlara. "Take my
daughter back with you to the Alpha Quadrant to visit with her family
there."

Janeway's eyes widened and she turned to gaze at Vlara. Vlara returned
the look with a smile and said, "Yes, Captain, my father's family. He
is dead, but it was his wish that I carry messages to his family. . .
my family. On my honor, as his daughter, I promised him I would do
so."

Janeway saw the sincerity in the young woman's eyes. "I . . . see."
She looked at B'Elanna and saw the pleading look in her eyes. She
directed her attention to Admiral Telir, giving one of her trademark
lopsided smiles, and said, "I'm sure we can work something out."

Admiral Telir nodded and motioned to her staff to fill the glasses
with more sapphire liquid. "On my honor, Captain Janeway, I will do
what I can do bring your crew back to you safely." She stood, lifted
her glass and looking at B'Elanna, and then at Janeway, said, "Let us
toast new friends, old friends, and loved ones far away. May the
universe smile on them and grant them success, happiness, and good
fortune."

The other three women stood and lifted their glasses and swallowed the
contents to honor the toast.

---

Seven of Nine checked the various indicators on the Delta Flyer's
monitors, while Harry slept in the Flyer's aft area. So far, the only
sensor readings had been those of a few cargo ships at a far enough
distance away to avoid any contact. She had fine-tuned the various
sensors to detect any tachyon particles in the vicinity that would
indicate the presence of a cloaked ship. Realistically, she knew that
the Romulans were already aware of their presence in Romulan space,
and that a search for them was already in effect.

She knew that their identity as a Starfleet vessel remained unknown,
due to the various Borg and Delta Quadrant components in the weapons
signatures, arrays and shielding. Any ship close enough to scan them
would undoubtedly be concerned more with the Borg signatures, as that
would pose the greater threat to the Romulan Empire.

Seven wanted to evade capture for as long as possible. This would give
them time to get that much closer to their destination and, in the
event of their capture, send out a burst of communications as to their
last location, which would have a better possibility of reaching the
Federation.

True, the latest information had the Romulans as allies during the
Dominion war, but it could be as Janeway had once told her. "Even your
worst enemy can ally with you in the face of a bigger threat. I did
that with the Borg to fight species 8472, and they did not keep up
their end of the bargain." Now that the war for the most part was
over, the old status quo could be in effect.

She and Harry were in agreement to avoid capture as long as possible
while maintaining their present course. She estimated reaching their
destination in approximately three months at their present speed and
course. They had plotted the course back to the Alpha Quadrant using
the coordinates from where they had emerged, and where the expected
exit point of Voyager would have been. The accuracy of this method was
in doubt due to the nature of wormholes themselves, but it was the
best method they had going for them.

By following the supposed path, they could also scan for Voyager if
she had emerged from the wormhole before reaching the plotted
emergence point. Seven had a gut feeling, as B'Elanna would say, that
Voyager had made it safely to the Alpha Quadrant and that B'Elanna was
now engaged in searching for her. B'Elanna was intelligent enough to
use Voyager's recorded data of the trip through the wormhole to get an
accurate estimate as to The Delta Flyer's emergence point.

The Flyer's cabin lights were off and the only lights that lent any
luminescence to the interior darkness were from the few instruments
and the star field outside the cockpit. Her eyes gazed at the stars
that appeared as pinpoints of light that elongated on either side of
her vision as they passed. Those straight ahead were a constant beacon
toward the Alpha Quadrant and to her heart and home, her be'nal,
B'Elanna.

There was not a waking hour that did not go by that she did not think
about B'Elanna; her smile, her voice, her scent, and her taste.
B'Elanna was the last thought she had when claimed by sleep and the
first when waking. Her B'Elanna was in her dreams, holding her and
telling her that she loved her. She would cry silently into her thin
bunk pillow when she realized her be'nal was far away.

She heard Harry stirring behind her and smelled the aroma of tea. "Hey
Seven, can I get you anything. . . tea or something to eat?"

She turned and acknowledged him. "A cup of hot chicken noodle soup,
please, and a glass of milk." She had informed him to call her Seven,
and not lieutenant , when it was just the two of them. She had yet to
become accustomed to her new designation. . . Lieutenant Annika
Hansen.

She noticed that Harry wore his slate gray shirt and his black pants.
They both looked fresh and she assumed that he had run them through
the sonic shower to remove any grime or odor.

They had a small replicator on the Flyer, but it did not have the
capacity to replicate complete uniforms, and its main function was to
replicate food items. There was also a thirty-day supply of Starfleet
rations in self-heating packets and containers. Plus a thirty-day
supply of emergency ration bars. She hoped the replicator would
continue to operate so that they would not need to resort to ration
bars.

Seven, at one time, would have deemed the flavor irrelevant, but after
almost four months of eating a varied menu of foods provided by her
be'nal, the thought of ration bars was along the same line as the
nutritional milk shakes she had consumed in the past: Unacceptable.

She found out that she had a particular fondness for chicken, as it
had a very similar flavor to the iguanas that B'Elanna had prepared
for their meals when they were stranded on a desert planet together,
some months back.

Harry handed her the tray with the hot cup of soup and glass of cold
milk, then took the seat at the console behind Seven, who occupied the
pilot's seat. "Anything of importance out there"?

"Negative. There does appear to be an increase in freighter traffic
and ion trails. It appears to originate and terminate in a star system
five light years away, which has an M class planet."

Kim accessed his panel. "Yeah, looks like the system is in our path.
Maybe we should detour around it."

"Negative. I have formulated a plan that may assist us in passing
through this area of space undetected."

Harry quickly looked in Seven's direction. "Okay. I'm for anything
that will get us back to the Alpha Quadrant faster."

Seven input data into her console. "We shall use the ion trails left
by freighters to mask our own trail."

"Yeah, Seven, but in order to do that, we would have to get in a
vessel's wake. How would we avoid detection?"

"We shall use long range sensors to detect a vessel headed in our
direction. We will drop out of warp and shut down all systems, save
for life support. When the ship passes, we will maneuver at the speed
of the ship and enter the ion trail, then maintain the same warp speed
as the vessel."

"That could work. But if the freighter enters the system and heads to,
say a space station, then what?"

"If that occurs, we will drop out of warp and travel at impulse speed
to another point in the system and repeat the procedure with a ship
heading in our designated direction."

"I guess that could work. Don't tell me this is another trick the Borg
assimilated from the Romulans."

"It is not. It is a . . . trick. . . I learned from B'Elanna. The
Maquis used it often to evade their enemies."

"A Marquis trick, eh? What other kinds of tricks has B'Elanna been
teaching you?"

Seven turned in her chair and gave Harry a level look, her implant
lifting to her hairline.

Harry, realizing how that sounded, turned red and sputtered, "Ah...I
didn't mean it like that, Seven, I, ah, honest, I swear... I just
wondered what other Maquis tricks she ah. . . honest. . . "

Seven turned back to her console and smirked. B'Elanna is correct.
//Harry was such an easy mark.//

---

Dr. Damar stood back from the biobed with a smile on his taunt
features and, looking B'Elanna's face over, said, "All done. I must
say, the results are better than I expected. You make a very good
looking Romulan, Commander."

Tom Paris gave B'Elanna a leering wink, and said, "Hey, you make a
very cute Romulan. Not that you weren't cute to begin with."

B'Elanna brought her right hand up to her forehand, feeling the
absence of her Klingon ridges, and the wide spaced v-shaped ridge in
their place. "Give me a mirror." Dr. Damar turned to one of his
assistants and nodded his head.

B'Elanna turned on Paris and snarled, "You're next flyboy. I can't
wait to see how your little cosmetic surgery will turn out." An
assistant handed B'Elanna a mirror, and she quickly brought it up to
her face, her eyes growing wide. "OH MY GODS!" she brought her left
hand up and touched the points on her ears and the heavy ridges over
her eyebrows. "I'm not ME anymore."

A voice answered from the doorway, "No, you're not. You are D'len and
Lieutenant Paris is your brother, Tomos. You are both traders in fine
wines and spirits from the Romulan Empire, and even rarer spirits from
as far away as the Federation itself." Admiral Telir stopped in front
of B'Elanna, inspecting her closely, a half smile on her face. "Very
good, Dr. Damar. You are not only a superb doctor, but an artist as
well."

Dr. Damar smiled smugly. "Thank you, Admiral." He turned his attention
to Tom. "If you will sit on the table, Lieutenant Paris, I will apply
my artistic skills on you."

Tom asked shakily. "You did say the procedure is reversible didn't
you, Doc, I mean Doctor Damar?"

Dr. Damar smirked, His dark brown eyes crinkling at the corners. "Of
course, but I assure you I will do such fine work on you that you may
never want to go back to looking. . . Human."

Tom smiled weakly and got up on the table vacated by B'Elanna.

B'Elanna smirked and turned to Admiral Telir. "So, we are wine
merchants? I gotta tell you, the only thing I know about spirits is
drinking them."

Admiral Telir replied, "Not to worry, we have eight days to reach your
embarkation point. That is eight days for you to learn enough about
wine and spirits to convince all but a true connoisseur that you are
knowledgeable in the product. Just avoid an in-depth conversation with
a connoisseur. Or have Lieutenant Paris dazzle them with his. . . wit,
and his ability to flatter."

"Hey. . . ." Tom said. Only to be stilled by Dr. Damar.

"Please, be still, I almost sliced your right ear off."

B'Elanna smirked. "I see Paris' reputation as a smooth talker has
preceded him."

Admiral Telir nodded. "Of course, Commander. I know all there is to
know about both you and Lieutenant Paris. We have obtained a
considerable amount of information in the short time we had. I know a
lot about your personalities and your likes and dislikes. I know most
of your history and even your psychological makeup.

B'Elanna frowned. "I don't even want to know how you came by any of
that."

Admiral Telir laughed. "And you shan't. Even the Klingons and
Cardassians have their ways of finding out about anybody in our
respective military and government, as we do theirs. Just as the
Federation probably has the same on every Romulan who serves in the
military and senate."

B'Elanna lowered her voice. "You think you could show me what you have
on Captain Janeway?"

Admiral Telir drew her head back and gasped in mock surprise. "That,
Commander, is classified information and only one with General or
Admiral Rank is privileged to review. And only if it pertains to a
mission." She smirked. "You are known as Voyager's unofficial source
of gathering and disseminating. . . information. Perhaps you could
fill in the blanks that are missing on your Captain. Hmmm?"

B'Elanna blushed and sputtered. Before she could come up with a
suitable answer, Dr. Damar proclaimed, "Another masterpiece."

B'Elanna took one look at Paris and said, "Wow, your own mother
wouldn't even know you." She turned to Doctor Damar and discreetly
winked. "But, Doctor, it looks like you made his ears too large and
they are lopsided."

Apparently, Dr. Damar understood the meaning of a wink. "Oh, yes.
Hmmm, well, I don't have time to rectify the error. I'm afraid he's
stuck with them."

Tom quickly grabbed the mirror off the end of the bed and stared hard
into it, then displayed an amazed but pleased look on his face. He
grinned and touched the points on his ears and the v-shaped ridges
above his now slanted eyebrows. "Ha. What are you talking about? Why
I'm still a handsome devil. Bet I have the Romulan girls lining up for
a night out with me. You did a damn fine job, Doc. Of course, you had
something to work with."

B'Elanna snorted and rolled her eyes.

Dr. Damar slowly looked Paris up and down, pursed his lips, and said,
"Why don't you drop by my place for dinner and some. . . 
conversation. . . later tonight, say 1900, and tell me how much you
admire my work. You know, we still have to darken your hair and change
your eye coloring. And we can easily do that in the comfort of my
quarters."

Tom Paris was suddenly at a loss for words and his eyes darted around,
not focusing on the Doctor's face. "Well. Hee, hee, Ah. . .

It was all B'Elanna could do to keep from bursting out with a belly
laugh at the sight of Tom's face turning red and his obvious lose for
words. 'Wait until I tell Seven this one.' Her laughter died in her
throat as she immediately realized that her be'nal was far from her.
She felt her jaw ache and her throat tighten from the anguish of her
loss. She battled to squash the negative emotions assailing her.
Closing her eyes tightly she wrestled down the feeling of despair. You
are alive, my be'nal, for I still breathe and my heart still beats.
I'll find you. I promise.

---

Janeway gazed at the dimpled, smiling face across from her. //Damn,
she is cute, downright lovely when she smiles.// She absently rubbed
her tingling left hand on her pants legs. For the last five days, ever
since coming aboard Voyager, Vlara had been her dinner guest. The
young woman was witty and had a way of describing things that Janeway
found most interesting and refreshing. Janeway loved the sound of
Vlara's voice and how it could sometimes cause delicious goose bumps
to skitter along the back of her neck. The young woman was an
attentive listener, often asking Janeway to elaborate on points she
was making, and on Voyager's adventures in the Delta Quadrant.

Voyager was now eight days out from McKinley Station and home. There
were reports that she still had to complete for Starfleet, and
conferences over communications with the brass.

Admiral North often beamed over to Janeway's ready room to discuss
different issues, and to catch her up on almost seven years of
Federation history, as well as changes in Starfleet policy. She had
had several lunches with Admiral North, Captain Leon, and his first
officer, along with Chakotay and Tuvok. However, she preferred to
spend her nights in the company of the young human-Romulan hybrid
across from her. Vlara was not at all taciturn, as she believed most
Romulans to be. She did not have that saturnine olive look of most
Romulans, or even Vulcans. Her coloring was more Northern European,
except for the softly waving fine dark sable brown hair, which she
wore shoulder length. Janeway surmised that her blood was more in the
red spectrum than in the green of both Vulcans and Romulans, as
evidenced by the few occasions she blushed. Her eyes were light brown
with green flecks and Janeway noticed that when excited the green was
more prominent. Janeway had also noticed that she was close to her
height, solidly built, with curves, and not lanky and wiry like most
Romulans.

Janeway had learned that the young woman's role in the Romulan
military was not that of an officer at all, but as a liaison between
the Romulan senate and the Admiralty. She had told Janeway that her
true wish was to become a botanist as her father had been, but her
mother's house had always served the Empire as military officers and
senators, so it was tradition that she pick one of those two fields to
serve in. She chose the governmental branch, and started training as a
senatorial aide. However, she did manage to cross train as a botanist
through the Imperial Institute of Sciences, earning the equivalent of
a B.S degree.

She had given Janeway a little insight into the machinations and
complex underpinnings of the Romulan Senate, which Janeway had never
learned in her political science classes.

"Captain Janeway. Am I taking up your time?" Vlara inquired softly.

Janeway drew herself out of her reverie. "No. Not at all. And please,
when we are alone in settings like this, call me Kathryn."

Vlara smiled and said, "Kathryn," causing Janeway to draw in her
breath at the richness of the sound.

Janeway said, "I was just thinking. . . I know that you have one
brother remaining on earth who wishes to meet you. But you have not
mentioned where you will be staying?"

"My brother is making arrangements for me to stay in an inn. Ah. . . I
believe he referred to it as a hotel."

"I see. I was wondering if you would be averse to being my guest
during your stay on Earth. My mother has plenty of room and would not
mind you stay with us during your visit."

Vlara looked closely at Janeway and smiled, her dimples in evidence.
"I would not want to impose. You have just returned after a long
absence and I would only be a fifth leg on a coliby."

Janeway smiled lopsidedly. "I seem to recall that coliby is the
Romulan equivalent of our horse. And no, you will not be imposing.
True, I will be busy with Starfleet for the next few weeks, but I
believe you need a base of operations and also contact with Starfleet
on a regular bases."

Vlara replied, "I see. Your invitation was prompted by Starfleet no
doubt, to keep me under surveillance?"

Janeway grimaced and put up her hand, palm out, in denial. //Damn
Katie, she thinks you are spying for Starfleet.// "No. I'm putting
this badly. Starfleet has not approached me, nor I them, with the
purpose of keeping you under surveillance. I won't lie and say that
they will not keep an eye on you, but I will tell you honestly, I
won't be doing that. I gave my word to your mother that I would look
after you and assist you in contacting your two sisters who are
serving in Starfleet. That is what I meant when I said you needed to
stay in contact with Starfleet on a regular basis."

Vlara blushed, looked down and then back up into Janeway's eyes. "I
apologize. I am a grown woman, yet my mother worries needlessly. If it
would not inconvenience you, or your family, I would be honored to be
your guest."

Janeway smiled, then replied, "I must tell you that my mother is a
Traditionalist and pretty much lives a Traditionalist life." Seeing
the puzzled look on her guest's face, she continued, "Traditionalism
is a way of living life as it pretty much was lived by the average
North American citizen 200 years ago. No replicators, food is organic,
and dishes prepared by actually blending the ingredients and cooking
them. Clothes are often tailored from cloth composed of natural
materials. No sonic showers, but aqua showers--that sort of thing."

Vlara's eyes opened wide and she smiled. "Ah, pretty much how we do
things in my home on Campus Prime. I myself am considered a good cook.
Perhaps we can trade recipes. No?"

Janeway laughed. "My mother is the cook. I replicate, and sometimes
not too successfully. I think you and she will get along very well."
Janeway felt almost giddy with the knowledge that the young woman
would be her guest. She thought briefly why this was so, but brushed
any thoughts but friendship into that part of her mind labeled,
Danger. Do not open.

---

Seven relinquished her seat at the cockpit to Harry and proceeded to
go to the back of the shuttle to take a sonic shower and clean her
uniform. She had taken to removing the jacket and leaving on the slate
blue sweater. She quickly shed her clothes and let her hair down
before stepping into the small sonic shower and setting the cleaning
cycle for five minutes. When through, she deposited her uniform in the
shower for 2 minutes, and removing it, once again dressed. She took a
seat on a small fold down chair set in the bulkhead, and pulled on her
socks and boots.

They had successfully entered the commerce zone of the solar system by
slipping into the ion trail of a large freighter, and had blended in
with the busy space traffic. They received only one hail. This
occurred when they dropped out of warp and into one of the lanes that
would head in the direction of the Alpha Quadrant.

The Spaceport Controller had inquired if they were having problems as
they had stopped in one of the busiest lanes. Seven, had put on the
audio only, and answered in perfect Romulan standard, that she was
testing a craft she was thinking of purchasing. The controller snorted
and stated he hoped she did not purchase it from Craket Used Crafts,
as he sold nothing but clunkers. Seven raised an eyebrow, looked at
Harry in puzzlement, and silently mouthed, "clunkers?"

Harry had snickered and whispered, "Junk"

She had answered, "Yes, it is a vehicle that Craket has for sale.
Thank you for your warning." The Controller passed them on through.

Seven's ability to lie convincingly, and so easily, impressed Harry.
"Ah. . . Seven. I didn't think Borg lied."

"They do not. However, I am also human."

That was all she had to say for Harry to get the meaning.

It was not soon after that incident that they located a freighter
heading in their direction. They slipped behind its ion exhaust, and
had been following it now for seven days at warp six. They kept a
monitor on the freighter's communications for any indication that
their presence was discovered, or their identity known. So far, the
only communications were the normal chatter to other freighters and
communications with different clients and prospective clients.

Seven spent her off time writing love letters on a padd to give to
B'Elanna. Granted, with her eidetic memory, she had no need to commit
them to a padd. However, she wished to give the padd to B'Elanna as a
gift when they were reunited and have B'Elanna pursue them at her
leisure. Besides, Seven had a feeling of shyness come over her at the
thought of repeating each letter verbally. She regularly and on a
daily basis, before their separation, had told B'Elanna many times
that she loved her. However, committing the words to a padd was
somehow more profound. She found she was able to go into detail about
her feelings for her be'nal. She even waxed poetic. She compared her
mate to a dark rose, one whose beauty and scent were enticing, and
only she was able to hold the soft petals to her breasts without fear
of the thorny stem pricking her. She commented on the beauty of
B'Elanna's eyes, comparing them to the richest amber gems, with mystic
depths that reflected the fire of her soul. How she loved to breathe
in her be'nal's breath, which was life itself, and sustained her. The
taste of her mouth, rare nectar and intoxicating, driving her to take
all that B'Elanna could give, and for her to give all that she was to
B'Elanna. The sound of her voice, that both soothed and inflamed.
Seven even complimented her intellect and other mental virtues.

As Seven wrote these things, she felt comforted, as if her words
conjured up B'Elanna before her. She was comforted, yet melancholy at
the same time because her be'nal was not there with her.

Seven was beginning a new padd of her love letters when Harry
exclaimed from the cockpit. "Seven. Two Romulan war ships have
uncloaked at 7000 meters and have demanded that the freighter come to
a halt."

Seven felt both hot and cold at the same time before her nanoprobes
regulated her temperature. She had a feeling of dread. The Romulans
had discovered them, of that she was sure.

She resumed the comm station behind Harry and scanned the readings.
She reached for the controls of the communications array to send a
message blast containing their location, hoping it would reach
B'Elanna or Starfleet. Before she could facilitate the action the
communications array blinked for an incoming message. She put it on
both audio and visual, routing it to the small viewscreen in front of
the cockpit. She faced the small screen as the image of a Romulan
officer appeared on it, who quickly surveying them, announced,
"Federation craft Delta Flyer, you will surrender and make no attempt
to escape. We will retrieve your vessel by tractor beam to enter our
cargo bay. Remain where you are until further instructions. We are
scanning your vessel, and any attempt to send a message, or delete
information from your computer banks, will result in your immediate
destruction."

Harry turned in his seat and looked at Seven, uncertainty and fear in
his eyes.

Seven glanced quickly at him, her features bland. It did not surprise
her that the Romulans knew who they were. The Collective's assimilated
information on this Species contained the fact that they were superb
at gathering information in clandestine ways, and quickly. She turned
her attention back to the small screen. "We will do as you have
instructed." After all, what choice did they have? Surrender willingly
or be blasted to so much space dust. The former course held out the
hope of escape or rescue; the latter was unacceptable as that meant
she would never see her be'nal in this lifetime.

---

B'Elanna eyed the portly, or should she say, fat Romulan male who was
leering at her. "Hey. Wait a damn minute. No way am I gonna pretend
I'm his spouse. That just isn't going to fly. Understand?" she said
forcefully.

There was silence for a moment as Admiral Telir considered B'Elanna's
comments. Tom tried not to snicker. B'Elanna glared at the Romulan
agent, com wine merchant, she recently met. Efok was his name. He had
offended her from their first introduction by slowly looking her up
and dow, in a lascivious way, as if she were a sweet morsel he would
like to eat. He was doing it now. B'Elanna hissed, "If you don't stop
leering at me, I'm gonna snatch your eyes out of your head and shove
them up your fat--"

Admiral Telir quickly interceded. "It is the best solution to our
problem. Efok is a trusted agent, as well as a wine merchant, and has
customers among the Tal Shiar. It would be fitting to take his new
wife and her brother on his business trips to teach them the trade and
to introduce them to his clientèle."

B'Elanna still was not mollified, and baring her teeth in a false
smile, directed her gaze to a smirking Tom Paris. "I got the perfect
solution. Tom PetaQ can be the blushing bride, or whatever." She
smiled with gleeful malice at Tom's widening eyes and his gaping
mouth.

Efok answered quickly, his voice having all the charm of a used
shuttle salesperson, "My dear, D'len, my reputation as a lady's man is
well known in the section of space we are about to embark upon. Your
friend would not do. I am a successful merchant, and believe me when I
say that you are the sort of beautiful woman my clients are used to
seeing in my company. They will think I am fortunate to have such a
lovely wife."

B'Elanna sneered. "Hey, creep. Any beautiful woman, or for that
matter, any woman at all you have ever been seen with had to be
bought, or you got her drunk on your wine."

Admiral Telir said, "Trust me, Commander. Efok receives invitations to
all the houses of the elite, and that of the Tal Shiar. He attends
many of their social functions and dinners. He has a way of soliciting
information at these events that no one else can. Posing as his wife
will entitle you to accompany him and be another set of eyes and ears
to gather information." She looked forcefully at the smirking fat
merchant. "I give you my word, if he should step out of line with this
pretense; you have my permission to spill his guts. . . after the
mission is completed, of course."

Efok immediately replaced his leer with a sober look and nodding to
both B'Elanna and Admiral Telir stated, "I give you my word I will act
in a courteous manner toward the young lady. But it may require a hug
or chaste kiss in public so that people will think we are blissful
newlyweds."

B'Elanna screwed her mouth up as if she tasted something vile.
"Listen, you. I'll be the one to decide when public displays of
affections are to be initiated. Got that?"

He smirked again. "Of course, my dear. I do love a spirited and bossy
woman. Tell me my dear, is it true what they say about Klingon women?
That they are so passionate that they often break the bones of their
paramours?"

B'Elanna gave him a feral smile and slowly raked him up and down with
her eyes. "Not only that, my dear, but my house is entirely female and
we kill our husbands after mating and devour their hearts. It assures
that our unborn children are properly nourished while in the womb."

Efok blanched and pulled his tunic collar out from around his neck. "I
see."

Admiral Telir tried not to laugh and roughly cleared her throat before
saying, "Well. Let's discuss your route and review all recent
information over dinner tonight, shall we?"

---

Kathryn finished unpacking her Starfleet issue suit bag and placed her
three new Starfleet issue uniforms in her closet. She had replicated
the new pattern on Voyager when they had entered the Alpha Quadrant
two weeks ago. Her Traditionalist home did not have a replicator,
which necessitated her need to bring the uniforms, and other personal
items, with her, including several pieces of civilian attire.

She looked around her old room, noticing that her mother had kept it
dusted and clean.

Gretchen and her sister, Phoebe, had never given up hope that she was
still alive, lost somewhere in the vast regions of the universe. Now
their dear daughter and sister had returned to them, alive and safe.

Alive and safe, she remarked to herself as her thoughts returned to
her two lost crewmembers, Seven and Harry. The last news she had
received was several days ago from Admiral Telir, who had sent her a
brief message stating that the Tal Shiar had sent out a search party
to look for a ship that was thought to be Borg. Janeway had no doubts
that this was the Delta Flyer.

B'Elanna Torres and Tom Paris were now aboard Admiral Telir's
flagship, and on a mission, with the help of the Admiral herself, to
rescue the two.

Tom had volunteered to go out of loyalty to his friend Harry, but
Janeway knew that he did it for B'Elanna and Seven too. Tom, ever the
one to try and lighten the serious mood of the situation, had said the
real reason he was doing it was so he wouldn't have to go through the
entire official Starfleet debriefing, and to have his dad, Admiral
Owen Paris, rake him across the coals.

Admiral Telir had been receptive to having Tom Paris accompany
B'Elanna on the mission when she found out he was, perhaps, one of
Starfleet's top pilots, and had brought both shuttles and Voyager
through more scrapes and battles over the past six and a half years
than Janeway could name.

She was jarred from her reverie by a light knock on the doorframe and
looked up to see Vlara regarding her with a small smile.

Kathryn smiled and said, "All unpacked and ready to go down to
dinner?"

"Yes, thank you. I hope I am not inconveniencing your sister by using
her room during my stay."

"No. Not at all. Actually she rarely uses it as she has an apartment
and studio a few minutes away in Bloomington, as well as a small flat
in Paris."

"Oh. Are they centers for art and culture for your planet, as
Brilharde and Tollusad are for Ch'Rihan?

"Paris is one of the many cultural centers for art, cuisine, and
fashion here on Earth. There is also Rome, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and New
York, to name just a few."

Vlara looked thoughtful. "I will have to learn my father's heritage
and history since it is part of who I am."

"I will point you in the right direction. Now, let's go down for
dinner. I assure you my mother is a great cook and her dishes, in my
opinion, rival any cuisine in the galaxy."

She stepped out the bedroom door and Vlara linked her arm through
Kathryn's, and smiled. Kathryn took delight in the warmth that
radiated from the woman's nearness, but quickly reined in the feelings
of arousal that also accompanied it. //She is just being friendly
Katie, it is a cultural thing'// She remembered seeing a group of
young Romulans in San Francisco, who were with a special envoy to the
Federation, linking arms in pairs and threes with same sex as well as
opposite sex companions, while seeing the sights. She learned it was a
cultural idiom for friends to do when walking together on their free
time, and did not indicate a romantic involvement. She was flattered
that the young woman thought her a friend and felt at ease with her.

Over the two weeks it had taken her to get home, she had dined every
night with the young woman, and after dinner they would discuss
everything from politics to stories about their childhood. On four
occasions Kathryn had taken her to the holodeck to teach her the
ground rules for velocity, admiring Vlara's graceful moves and her
ability to keep her on her toes. Kathryn had won all games and Vlara
was a gracious loser, unlike Seven, who hated to lose in both physical
and intellectual pursuits.

They had stopped briefly at Star Station 5 where Kathryn and the
Voyager crew had been guests of honor at a dinner hosted by the
station's commander and his senior officers. They all wore their new
dress uniforms and Kathryn had invited Vlara to attend with her.

Kathryn had Vlara meet her in her quarters and was impressed, and
pleased, at the young woman's appearance. She wore a soft green robe
of emerald and light green, which she belted at her waist with a light
gold and green sash. Her delicate pointed ears had small emerald stone
studs in the lobes. The colors made her eyes sparkle and the green was
very much in prominence. Kathryn thought her quite lovely and was
pleased at the admiring looks given to the young woman as she escorted
her through the station. She arranged to have her seated next to her
at the dinner.

Vlara was a pleasant and an interesting conversationalist, and had a
nice sense of humor, something Kathryn appreciated in a dinner
companion. The young woman had asked her the night before if there
were any set ritual to a formal dinner that she would need to observe.
Kathryn informed her of the silverware placement and on what items of
food to use them, and how the use of the fingers to pick up food was
considered uncultured, unless it was bread and certain specific food
items. She had looked at Kathryn with a slightly bewildered look and
stated she would follow her lead. Other than that, Kathryn informed
her that burping loudly after a meal was not acceptable, even though
many cultures did practice this. Vlara laughed and assured her that
Romulans did not incorporate this in their culture. However, in
certain provinces, when a guest desired an additional helping of food,
they banged their plates on the table, and did the same with an empty
glass or goblet for more drink. Kathryn had laughed and told her they
would reserve that practice for rowdy taverns and spaceport bars.

Kathryn groaned in delighted fullness as she pushed her chair back
from the table. "Mom, you don't know how much I missed your cooking.
Gods, I will be getting fat."

Gretchen looked across the table at her daughter, a satisfied smile on
her face. "I have yet to serve dessert, Kathryn. I hope you left room
for your favorite."

"Caramel brownies?" Kathryn asked with a grin.

"Yes, and Phoebe has agreed to make coffee to go with them." Gretchen
looked commandingly at her younger daughter, seated to her left.

"The pot is all set up and the only thing I have to do is turn it on,"
Phoebe said as she got up and quickly went to the kitchen, returning a
few seconds later.

Kathryn noticed that Vlara seemed to be enjoying the varied foods that
Gretchen had served. Chicken and homemade dumplings, dinner rolls,
deviled eggs, green beans, and mashed potatoes. Vlara had even asked
Gretchen if she could have seconds on many of the items. Gretchen had
smiled and told her to help herself to as many servings as she
pleased.

The conversation had been light, mostly concerning the happenings
around the community. Conversation then turned to a darker subject,
the recent Dominion war.

Soon Phoebe announced enough of the bad news, and began to regale them
with stories about her latest exhibits and the peccadilloes of her
artist cohorts. Kathryn noticed, with some envy, that Phoebe looked as
if she hadn't aged a bit in the almost seven years she had been gone.
She now wore her chestnut hair in a soft, curling bob, just below her
ears and looked almost pixyish. Her eyes were a bright blue and still
retained that mischievous glint that Kathryn remembered. She always
thought Phoebe the beauty of the family, and had to admit that she was
envious of her sister's height, which was three inches taller than her
own five feet, five inches. How she kept her figure so trim was a
mystery, as Phoebe abhorred exercise and ate like the proverbial
horse.

"Mrs. Janeway. Thank you for the wonderful meal. I enjoyed it
immensely. Perhaps you can give me some of your recipes," Vlara said.

This compliment pleased Gretchen, and she smiled warmly, and said,
"You're welcome. I will be glad to give you any recipe you like. Do
you like to cook?"

"Yes. I have several recipes that I will trade, if you desire. Your
chicken is very similar to the hlair, which is our main poultry on
Ch'Rihan. I believe you would have ingredients that could substitute
for the ones we use."

"I would be delighted to share recipes." Gretchen looked ruefully at
her daughters. "Neither of my daughters have an interest in cooking.
Kathryn always preferred replicated food to freshly cooked dishes.
Phoebe always prefers eating at restaurants."

Both women protested, Kathryn replying, "Mom, believe me, after
tasting Neelix's concoctions, and after eating replicated dishes for
the past few years, I have come to appreciate how good we had it
growing up and eating your delicious food."

After dinner, they retired to the living room to enjoy coffee and
brownies. Both Gretchen and Phoebe asked Vlara about life on Romulus
and her home, Campus Prime. It was then that Kathryn learned that
Vlara's birth name had been Valerie, given to her by her father, and
Romulized to Vlara, which was also the name of a small hawk found only
on Campus Prime.

Vlara had been in touch with her brother, and next week was to meet
with him. Phoebe volunteered to accompany her to Rome where he
currently lived, and show her the way around. She also volunteered to
show her some of the ancient art galleries and buildings. Vlara
agreed, her eyes shining with obvious excitement.

Conversation turned again to events closer to home. Phoebe looked at
Kathryn over her cup of coffee and said, "I saw Mark about a month
ago."

Kathryn replied nonchalantly, "Oh. I hope he's doing well and is
happy. Last I heard he was married to his secretary." That had been in
the 'Dear Jane' letter she had received while in the Delta Quadrant.

Phoebe scrunched up her face as if she smelled a bad odor. "He was
with his little woman, who apparently has a pie in the oven." She
glanced over at Vlara who was trying to follow the conversation. "That
means she is pregnant. Oh, and Mark was Katie's fiancé. They were
planning to be married until she got herself lost in the Delta
Quadrant." She turned her attention back to her sister. "Katie, it was
worth getting lost so you didn't end up married to him. Gods, I would
be volunteering for deep space missions if I were married to Mr. No
Personality."

Gretchen interceded, "Phoebe. . . "

Kathryn held up her hand. "That's old history. Believe me, looking
back, I know that in the long run it would not have worked out. I
mean, I was the one that kept postponing the wedding date. That right
there should have told me I didn't want to commit to him. I'm glad he
decided to go on to someone else, because if he had waited I would
have had to break some unpleasant news to him."

All of a sudden, a voice in controlled outrage declared, "What? He has
no honor. For you I would wait forever. . . ." Vlara seemed to realize
what she said and blushed deeply. "I mean. . . for Romulans it is
customary for those who are betrothed to wait at least nine years for
their intended if they are lost while serving on board ship. The
universe is often a dangerous and unforgiving mistress and it could be
that one is stranded on a planet, or being held prisoner, and will one
day return." She bit her lower lip and went silent, staring at her
cup.

Kathryn glanced quickly at her mother and sister. She noticed that
Phoebe had a small smile on her lips, and her mother was staring
intently at Vlara, a pleased look on her face, and then turned the
same stare onto Kathryn.

Kathryn stared back, puzzled at the expression, and then understanding
dawned. //Oh, no. She's reading more into this than there is. Isn't
she?// She cleared her throat, "I think I'll have another cup of
coffee, anyone else?"

---

Seven and Harry, following the orders of their captors, exited the
Flyer with their hands on their heads. A young female officer had
quickly looked her and Harry over and then said, "Follow me."

Their captors flanked them as they followed the officer. They came to
a transporter and were ordered to stand on the pad. Seven felt herself
dematerialized and then rematerialize. She looked around and saw that
she was in a small, eight by eight foot cell that contained a sink and
a toilet in one corner, and a fold up bunk against the left wall. Only
the front afforded any view out, and from that area, she detected the
slight hum of a force field. Across from her cell was nothing but a
wall. She heard Harry's voice come from a cell next to her.

"Seven. Are you there?"

"Yes. I am in a cell."

"Ah, me too. I guess we wait to see what happens. I mean, the last I
heard from communiqués that Starfleet sent us, we are kind of allies
with the Romulans, you know, helping each other against the Dominion.
Maybe we will be out of here soon, ya think?" Harry was nervous by the
tone and timbre of his voice.

Seven hated to disillusion the young man, but it was not the Romulan
military that held them, but their secret service, the Tal Shiar. She
had noticed the uniform differences in the halters and belts they
wore. The information she had on the Tal Shiar was that they were a
separate branch from the military, and often operated on principles
that had nothing to do with military laws, or even those of the
Romulan Empire. They were ruthless and a law unto themselves. Not even
answerable to the Senate, to whom they only gave lip service.

She wavered in her answer but decided honesty was best in this
instance. He would need to prepare himself for the possible
difficulties that might lie ahead. The Borg had assimilated a few Tal
Shiar operatives in the past. She accessed information from her
cortical node, and knew that they would use any brutal means necessary
to obtain information they needed, and to 'persuade' cooperation in
their many nefarious endeavors. "They are Tal Shiar." There was
silence for long seconds.

"Oh."

"Rest assured, Mr. Kim. As your commanding officer I will endeavor to
protect you and negotiate a release."

"I know that, Seven. . . ah, Lieutenant. I just don't want any
heroics. You forget I was the one who promised B'Elanna that I would
look after you."

Seven smiled wryly. "Indeed, Mr. Kim. I cannot forget. After all, I
have an eidetic memory."

---

They had passed the time over the next couple of days playing word
association games back and forth. They received two meals a day.
However, their captors would not communicate with them, even at
Seven's most imperious Borg command that they comply.

Seven rested against the wall of the holding cell. They had been in
captivity for two days now. When she was not in conversation with
Harry, she studied the minute vibration of the ship's engines and
tried to pick up the muted sounds of conversations. Now she noticed
the vibration change slightly, and the sounds differing. It alerted
her to possible changes in the ship's speed, or perhaps, it had
reached its destination. She had no more finished that thought when
she heard footsteps approaching and saw an officer and four guards,
weapons drawn, stop in front of her cell. The force field immediately
dropped and a guard motioned for her to exit the cell.

Seven saw that the officer in charge was a centurion, by the style of
her rank belt. "You are to come with us. No questions."

"Hey, where are you taking her? What's going on?" Harry's voice was
frantic.

The guards ignored him, and Seven fell in step behind the officer,
flanked on each side by two guards, and the other two guards behind
her.

They went down the corridor and to a turbo lift; the doors swished
open and they entered. The officer and two of the guards entered with
her. "Deck one," the officer stated, her eyes never once wavering from
Seven's face. Seven lifted her eye implant and returned the scrutiny.
Seven thought it probable that the Tal Shiar taught their soldiers
this technique to intimidate their foes and prisoners. It would be
hard for one to guess their intent if there were no facial
expressions.

The doors swished opened, the officer turned, and Seven followed her
out into a corridor. The two guards flanked her, one on either side.
The officer stopped at a transporter room and ordered Seven up on the
transporter, where the officer and two guards joined her. Moments
later they materialized on a transporter pad, exited into a long wide
corridor, and continued on to stop in front of a set of large double
doors that had a guard on each side.

The two guards at the door saluted with a quick motion of their right
arm with clenched fist across their chest.

The officer ignored them and tapped a comm badge on her right harness
belt. The doors immediately slid open and the officer ordered Seven
in. The room was dark, except for a bright spotlight shining on a
small area of the floor.

"Stand in the light and do not move," The officer ordered before
turning around. Seven heard her footsteps recede and exit the doors
where they had entered.

Her surroundings, save for the spotlight she was under, were dark and
in shadow. She immediately sensed she was not alone. Her enhanced
hearing could detect breathing seven feet in front of her. She quickly
adjusted her visual implant and was able to see a female figure of
about five feet, seven inches standing before her in the shadow. The
first thing she saw was the short cropped blond hair, and the second,
the uniform with the insignia belt sporting the rank of General. Her
night vision had problems making out the color of the eyes, but she
easily discerned the general shape of the rest of the face. She
quickly assessed her cortical node for information that would indicate
the identity of this particular Tal Shiar commander.

The voice surprised her with its sudden declaration that pierced the
surrounding dark. "Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct to Unimatrix Zero
One. Severed from the Borg Collective by Kathryn Janeway, captain of
the Federation Ship, Voyager, on Star Date 51003.7. Or do you prefer
to be called by your human name. . . Annika Hansen?"

She almost stated that she preferred the name Seven, but for some
reason, found her preferred name coming from this stranger
distasteful. Her friends called her Seven. Her be'nal called her
Seven. Let this one call her Annika. That name invoked in her feelings
of trust betrayed by those that were supposed to protect her. Coming
from the General's lips it would remind her that this woman was not to
be trusted. "Annika."

The General nodded her head and smiled. "Annika. The name given to you
by your parents, both scientists, Magnus and Erin Hansen. They too
were assimilated by the Borg. Information recovered from the Raven's
records contains much interesting data on the subject of their
studies."

Seven knew that the Tal Shiar were thorough, but to have this much
information and this quickly, was surprising. No, not surprising since
Janeway would have forwarded Voyager's logs through the Midas Array,
and they would contain all the records that they had managed to savage
from the remains of Raven. It was obvious the Tal Shiar had their
agents within the halls of Starfleet itself.

Seven had finally found the information she wanted from the
assimilated memories of a Romulan operative, assigned aboard the USS
Enterprise as an ensign during the Battle of Wolf 359. She was Admiral
Sela then. A member of the Romulan Military. Now, apparently, she was
no longer a member of that organization. "Sela. Daughter of Starfleet
Lieutenant Tasha Yar, who was aboard the U.S.S Enterprise, under the
command of Captain Rachel Garret, when it was captured in 2344 at
Narendra III by the Romulans. She became the Concubine of Romulan
General Kaonz of the Tal Shiar, who fathered you. You betrayed your
mother when she attempted to escape. . .

"Silence!"

Footsteps approached and General Sela stepped into the light. Her eyes
glaring, she looked into Seven's eyes, almost challenging her. Then
she abruptly smiled, but Seven noted that the smile did not reach her
eyes.

"I see Voyager's data banks were not lacking in intelligence
information."

Seven almost revealed where she actually got the information. However,
she decided that the less she revealed about what the Borg knew, and
how they obtained it, was in her own best interest.

Sela looked her over carefully, focusing on the implant over her left
eye. Then the one on her right cheek. She looked down at her left
hand. "Hold up your left hand," she demanded.

"I will not comply."

Sela smirked. "Let's get one thing straight, Lieutenant Annika Hansen.
You are in no position to deny my request. I can make it very
unpleasant and very painful for you to refuse." She paused and then
continued, "However, the information I have on you indicates that you
can take a lot of pain, even torture, but your crewmate, Lieutenant
Harry Kim, would be unable to take much of what I can give him. Now,
hold up your left hand."

Seven knew that General Sela would not hesitate to carry out her
threat. Sela was ruthless. Seven obeyed. Sela looked closely at the
Borg hand and then stared Seven in the eyes as she reached out to feel
the mesh.

"It is warm, not like metal at all. Your medical records sent to
Starfleet indicate that you still have your assimilation tubules, show
them to me."

Seven sighed and protruded her tubules. She was satisfied to see that
Sela looked slightly sickened at the sight of the two squirming worm
like strands. Sela took a step back. "Put them away."

Seven retracted her tubules and stared at Sela.

"Now, Annika. Here are the rules. They are quite simple. You will
cooperate with me and I will assure that you, and Lieutenant Kim, will
remain unharmed. If you do not cooperate, I will have you witness
firsthand the methods we use to gain information. I know that
Lieutenant Kim probably has less of the information I need than you
do, and it would be a shame to have him suffer the side effects of our
methods when you will eventually tell us what we want anyway. If he
succumbs to the side effects, then we will apply the methods to you.
Believe me, 'resistance is futile'." She laughed at her own joke. Then
she sobered and asked, "What will it be Annika, cooperation or foolish
heroics?"

Seven frowned and said factually, "I know of no Federation secrets
that I can impart to you. We were lost in the Delta Quadrant, and only
recently returned. Nor was Captain Janeway in the habit of keeping me
informed of any communiqués she may have received from Starfleet."

Sela smirked. "I know that. What I want is the information you have on
that transwarp coil you and your half-breed wife constructed. Give me
that, and you and Lieutenant Kim can enjoy your little stay without
fear of harm."

Seven said, "The information you request will not give you the results
you desire. You will fail in constructing a transwarp coil for your
use."

"Oh? And why is that?"

"You need certain Borg components to integrate into the transwarp
coil."

Sela smirked and said, "Tell us which ones we need and I will be able
to obtain them."

Seven blinked in surprise and stared at the woman. It suddenly dawned
on her that Sela was being factual. She could obtain the needed parts.

Sela laughed at the fallen look on Seven's face. "My lovely Annika.
You were at Wolf 359, were you not? You know that many of the small
Borg craft never returned to your cube because they received damage
and could not form a transwarp conduit to escape. You also know that
many made their way to the Beta Quadrant. Your collective never saw
them again." Sela continued facetiously, "Why is that, Annika?"

Seven said nothing. One thing was certain, she would only give them
information piece meal. And information that she would encrypt with
certain Borg codes that would cause massive malfunctions when
triggered by certain Borg frequencies, which she could broadcast over
subspace and hyperspace, when she made it back to the Alpha Quadrant.

She was sure she would make it to the Alpha Quadrant. She knew with
some kind of hidden sense or intuition, as B'Elanna called it, that
she and Harry would make it there. She knew in her heart that her
be'nal, and Captain Janeway, had correlated where they left the
slipstream, and her be'nal was already on her way to find her.

"Now. Your stay here will be long, very long. Short of some
intervention by the Gods, you and Lieutenant Kim will never see the
Alpha quadrant. I want to make your stay with us comfortable, and I
will assign you both quarters. You will both be under constant
surveillance, and we will monitor your time spent with each other so
there will be no plots to escape. If you attempt to escape, I will
punish you... severely. I will assign you two assistants. Both are
officers of junior grade. If you need anything, within reason, they
will obtain it for you." Sela paused and once again looked Seven up
and down with keen interest. She had a small smile on her face when
she said, "You will dine with me tonight."

Sela next pressed the communicator on her harness, the door opened,
and two young officers entered, one female and the other male. "This
is Ulan Glaria and Ulan Spar. They are assigned to you and anything
that you need, within reason, they will do for you or obtain for you."
She turned to them and ordered, "Show her to her quarters."

---

Seven was surprised at the size of her quarters. They rivaled
Janeway's quarters on Voyager. She had a living area with a combined
dining area, and a small replicator. The living area had a low divan
and many large pillows on the floor. The dining area had a low table
with two low couches and two chairs. Seven knew from her studies that
Romulans often reclined while eating, especially on formal occasions,
much like the ancient Greeks and Romans on Earth. She wondered if Sela
would follow this custom when she joined her for dinner, or use the
Romulan military custom of sitting in a chair to dine at a table.

She noticed the two large transparent aluminum windows that overlooked
a lush blue and green garden under turquoise skies. She surveyed the
outside with her infrared vision and knew this was no hologram. There
was a door that led to the garden.

To her right was a door that led to a good-sized bedroom with a neatly
made double bed. Both living room and bedroom where decorated in pale
mauve and turquoise. Leading off the bedroom was a bathroom complete
with a sonic shower as well as a large hydro tub set into the floor.
There was a large mirror placed over a long counter area, which had
two sinks. In one corner was a commode. She noted that there were a
few brushes, combs, and other toiletries on the counter.

She went back out to the living area and to the computer console
located against the far wall. She sat in the chair by the computer
console and studied the computer's manual control pad. She would try a
vocal command first.

"Computer. What is my location?"

You are in Sector one cabin four.

"Computer. What facility is this and where is it located?"

Tal Shiar headquarters in Sector 24, the Geggis system on Geggis
Supreme, in the Province of Qulpar in Rihanaia City.

"Display a map of the beta quadrant and indicate the location."

The screen displayed a map of the quadrant. Apparently, Sela was not
concerned with this information. She was delighted to see that the
location was not far off the path they would have taken to get to the
Alpha Quadrant, and the path that B'Elanna would surely take as the
quickest route to get to the point where the Delta Flyer came out of
the transwarp corridor.

Computer, display a schematic of this facility.

That is restricted information.

"Computer. Give me the location of Lieutenant Harry Kim."

Lieutenant Kim is in his quarters.

"Open up communications with Mr. Kim."

The screen showed the symbol for the Tal Shiar and cleared to show
Harry's face.

His eyes widened in surprise. "Seven. Am I glad to see you."

"Likewise. You are well?"

"Yeah, so far. I have my own room, but can't leave unless I get
permission, and then only under guard."

"Likewise. Our calls are monitored, as are these rooms. Can you
discern the location of your room?" Seven hoped their communications
would not be terminated at this point.

"Uhm, I have a window that looks out on a garden area, which is about
six meters below me. I must be about one story up."

"I am on the ground level. Perhaps it is the same garden, there is a
round fountain surrounded by blue flowers."

Harry said, "Yes, that's what I'm seeing, too. I must be right above
you. There is a small balcony, but the door is locked and I can't open
it."

Seven could not, of course, establish his exact location and give
hers, but she surmised that he was either right above her or very
close. She hoped to prolong their conversation with small talk. She
felt that whoever monitored them would lose focus on their
conversation if it were not interesting.

"Perhaps we will be able to venture outdoors together and enjoy the
esthetically pleasing surroundings of the garden."

"Well, it would be nice to walk among real trees and smell real plants
growing. Maybe we can have a picnic lunch outdoors soon. I can't
complain about my room though, kind of small, but I do have a
replicator and a small bathroom. The replicator is for food only. You
know, the food isn't half-bad. It sure beats a lot of what Neelix
served. I'm told I will be provided appropriate clothing. The computer
only lets you have so much information. There are a lot of novels and
games I can access though. So I guess it's not too bad. It sure beats
sitting in a cell."

Seven knew Harry was nervous by his continuous chatter. The door chime
interrupted her. "I will contact you later. Seven, out."

She did not have a chance to give the command to enter when the door
slid open, and her two guards entered. The male, carrying what
appeared to be garment bags, went to her bedroom and deposited the
bags on her bed. The female stepped in front of her with a smaller
bag. "I am to instruct you that dinner is at 1900 hours and you are to
wear the items in this bag." She handed the bag to Seven and said, "We
will be here at 1855 to escort you to the quarters of General Sela.
Please be ready." With that, both guards exited her quarters.

"Computer, time."

The time is 1756 hours.

She had plenty of time to investigate the clothing the General had
given her.

---

Seven paced her quarters with agitation. She was not looking forward
to the dinner she was to have in General Sela's quarters. She felt a
great amount of trepidation concerning this event after viewing the
garments given to her by the guard.

Her face still blushed as she thought about the contents of the bag.
There was a small ice blue sheath which would require only her bosom
to hold it up, its length was a good three centimeters above her knee
and split to her thigh on the right side. There was a matching pair of
silky ice blue briefs, in Seven's opinion, very brief, only a lacy V
in front and back. The only other items where a pair of soft step in
shoes. There was no way she would wear what B'Elanna termed 'seduction
lingerie' for anyone but her be'nal.

She felt a certain queasiness as her thoughts quickly ran down a list
of all the possibilities that General Sela had in mind in connection
with the outfit she had provided. Was she expecting sexual
interactions as part of assuring that she and Harry would remain free
of harm? Or was this the expected attire when one dined with a Romulan
dignitary? If the former, what would she do if Sela threatened to harm
Harry if she did not acquiesce to her desires? Would she, or even
could she, have intimate relations, even to save Harry's life. One
part of her rationalized that it would only be hollow motions and not
anything related to what she and her be'nal shared. Their sharing was
spiritual as well as physical.

The Borg had purged many assimilated references to social and sexual
interactions from the collective consciences as being irrelevant. She
could find no Romulan information to indicate the proper dinner wear.
She had looked through the other clothing provided and found them to
be more acceptable, even though they had the military cut and style to
them. She would wear the set that consisted of a pale gold tunic and
matching trousers, and her Starfleet issue boots. The material was
soft and silky and had a sheen that was appealing. It was casual yet
elegant. She also received more functional underclothes that she could
don. Her mind made up, she went to take a sonic shower and dress.

---

Seven stood in the lush surroundings, facing the large table which was
set with a variety of dishes, and decorated with numerous candles.
Seven had a sinking feeling when she saw the muted lights and realized
this was a romantic setting. She saw that this was also a dinner for
two, as there were only two dining couches. Besides her and the two
guards, there were two other species present, an Andorian and the
other Human. They stood to the side by a serving bar, dressed
identically in simple cream smocks, their heads bowed slightly,
seeming to focus on the floor. Seven surmised that they were servants,
or slaves. Many upper caste Romulans took enemy captives as slaves and
concubines. Sela's own mother had been a captive and kept as a
concubine.

She heard a door open on her left and General Sela entered. Seven
noticed that she was dressed similarly to herself. Her tunic was black
and belted with a red sash, her trousers, gold. Sela's expression had
been what Seven thought of as anticipation, which quickly changed to a
scowl when she stopped two yards away and gave Seven a discerning
look. Her face flushed red and she barked out, "Why have you not worn
what I requested you to wear?" She looked from Seven to Ulan Glaria.

The young Ulan swallowed hard. "I did as you ordered, General."

Sela returned her gaze to Seven. Seven noted the fury in the eyes and
decided it was prudent to answer. "I wished to wear this garment
instead."

Sela put her hands on her hips and said in a harsh voice, "You wished?
My wishes come first. What you wish is of no consequence. Where are
the items located that I ORDERED you to wear?"

"I placed them back in the package, and placed it on my bed."

Sela looked at Ensign Glaria and ordered, "Go to her quarters and
retrieve the package and bring it to me."

Glaria saluted and hurriedly exited. It would take her only a few
minutes to retrieve the items, as Seven's quarters where only four
doors down from those of the General.

Sela turned her back to Seven, went to the side bar, and poured
herself a glass of sapphire blue liquid. She turned back around and,
looking at Seven, smiled and took a slow sip, continuing to stare at
her over the rim of her glass, her eyes slowly raking Seven's body and
then focusing on her face.

This continued until Ensign Glaria entered and handed the bag to Sela.

Nodding, she looked at the two guards and ordered, "You two, to your
post." They saluted and quickly exited. She next looked at the two
servants. "Out." Both nodded in deference and quickly went through a
side door. Sela next focused on Seven, her eyes became dangerously
bright and intense. She motioned at the outfit Seven wore with her
right hand. "Take those off."

Seven looked at her in shock, her breathing stilled.

Sela's smile disappeared and her eyes hardened to blue ice. "Here.
Now. Take them off."

Seven swallowed and stood straight in her old customary Borg pose, her
hands clasped behind her back. "I will not comply."

Sela tapped a small jewel on her tunic, apparently a communications
device. "Centurion Lodar, I have need of your services. Bring the
Federation Officer, Kim, to my suite at once."

Seven looked sharply at Sela, assessing her with her cold Borg stare,
and in a decidedly Borg voice said, "State your intentions."

This caused Sela to laugh and then she paused and narrowed her eyes,
looking Seven over slowly, taking her measure. "My lovely Annika, how
forceful and commanding you are, how. . . very refreshing and should I
say, stimulating. Your very voice and bearing tell me you are a woman
who loves to take the lead. Tell me, do you command that little
half-breed wife of yours? When you make love to her, do you take her
and bend her to your will? She is part Klivam and it is a fact that
they are passionate and often violent lovers. However, you, you are
Borg. You are strong and arrogant. The Borg Queen herself groomed you
to succeed her and rule. Tell me, Annika, does your little half-breed
beg you to take her and make her come?"

Seven was both appalled and angered. She ground her back teeth and it
took all her will power not to leap on Sela and throttle her. She
noticed that Sela's respiration had increased, and she could gage with
her Borg implant a slight increase in temperature. Seven knew that
Sela was aroused. "You are. . . disgusting."

Sela swallowed the remains of her drink and smirked. "Disgusting. Am I
now?"

A chime at the door interrupted them. "Enter"

A heavyset older Romulan entered, followed by Harry Kim, dressed in a
lounging robe and barefoot. He wore a look of fear on his features. He
was flanked by four guards, two on each side of him."

"Now, Annika, see what results you have reaped by disobeying my
command."

She nodded to the Centurion, who smiled in glee, and then he nodded at
the guards. One stepped behind Harry and held his forearm around the
lieutenant's neck. The other two held his arms on each side. The
Centurion quickly, and with much force, punched him in the stomach.
Harry would have bent over except for the Guards holding him up. The
Centurion forcefully smashed Harry's face with his fist. There was
resounding crunch, which resulting in a splattering of blood from his
nose and mouth.

Seven made a move toward her friend but the fourth guard held a weapon
on her. Sela quickly stated, "Move and I will kill him, and no amount
of begging or pleading by you will stop me."

Seven shouted, "I will do as you say!"

Sela ordered, "Enough, Lodar. Take him to the infirmary for treatment,
and then return him to his quarters."

Lodar saluted, and the guards dragged a dazed and bleeding Harry out
of the double doors.

Seven trembled slightly, her nanoprobes working hard to keep her from
vomiting. True, as a Borg drone, she had witnessed pain and suffering
of those she assimilated, and even the removal of limbs from those
that were awaiting assimilation. Now, her humanity had found its way
back to her. What she now witnessed sickened her. Harry was a friend
and she had caused him to experience pain.

Sela poured herself another drink and tuned to her, raising her
eyebrow inquiringly. "I'm waiting."

Seven pulled the tunic up and over her head, letting it fall to the
floor. She would not look at Sela. She next removed her boots,
loosened her trousers and slid them down her legs to pool around her
feet, and stepped out of them. She stood straight and stiff, clad only
in a soft white chemise and panties.

"Take off the rest."

Seven swallowed hard, closed her eyes, took her chemise off and let it
drop to the floor. She next slid the simple pair of white briefs down
her calves until they pooled at her feet, and stepped out of them. She
stood embarrassed and ashamed. There was a time that nudity would not
have mattered, now she knew the social taboos and the erotic nuances
that nudity entailed. Only for her be'nal would she willingly display
herself like this.

She heard the soft approach of steps and opened her eyes quickly. Sela
stood only a few feet away now, raking her body with hot eyes. She
walked around to Seven's back and Seven felt a hand pull the pins from
her hair, and heard them tinkle onto the marble flooring where they
fell. She felt a hand run through her hair, felt the soft gold mass
fall about her shoulders and down her back. She felt the heat radiate
from the General and heard a slow drawn in breath through the nose, as
if she were being scented. She felt a warm exhalation of breath below
her right ear, which caused her to shiver involuntarily, feeling the
goose bumps skitter across her neck and back. There was a soft caress
at one, and then the other implant below her shoulder blades, the ones
used to draw power during regeneration. The caress continued down her
spine and the small of her back, over the tops of her hips, where her
abdominal implants terminated. She detected steps as Sela continued
around her, and felt a gentle stroke on the implant on her right arm.

Sela stood back in front of her, looked at her breasts and the thin
band that followed their bottom curve and continued around her
ribcage. She shifted her gaze lower to the two thin bands that girded
her hips and dipped down to her apex. She did not touch Seven.

She returned her gaze to Seven's eyes, hers bright and her breathing
quick, and her mouth slightly parted. Her voice was soft and at a
lower decibel when she spoke, "You are the Shalora Jewel that the
Imperial Symbol of our first Empress holds in her beak. There is no
jewel that is more beautiful. Idonana, the power that embodies the
Four Elements, made it from a star. She gave the jewel to our first
Empress as a token of her great love. Perhaps you are a gift to me
from Idonana herself to show that she loves me. For I am the one who
will bring the Empire back to its former glory."

She stared for a few seconds longer and abruptly handed the bag to
Seven. "Dress." Seven took the bag, donned the panties, and slid the
ice blue sheath over her torso smoothing it down her thighs. She
stepped into the soft slippers, bent, and retrieved the pins where
they had fallen on the floor. She smoothed back her hair into a twist
and was about to pin it.

"Leave it down."

Seven, finished now, looked at Sela. She knew she had to be careful
here. "What are your intentions?"

Sela momentarily looked confused at the question, then smiled, and
replied, "You want to know if I will require any sexual favors from
you, do you not?"

"Yes."

"Very well. Let me say this and you must never repeat it, or I will
make you sorry. I have never forced my attentions on a woman, nor
required her to please me, unless it so pleases her. I require certain
things in a sexual encounter that may surprise you, Annika. I am a
general, a leader, and billions obey my commands. I decide the fate of
thousands of worlds. I can destroy a city, or a planet with a word and
none dare disobey me. If it was my desire, I could have any man or
woman I want, even the spouses and lovers of my officers. None would
say a word, or even dare look displeased about it. That is not what I
want, or desire. I do not want to lead in matters of passion or
desire. I desire to be led--to be taken. I need to be taken. . . made
to forget who, and what I am. I need to know that it is not Sela the
General, but Sela the woman, who is desired and sparks passion. Do you
understand, Annika?"

"I. . . do not know. However, I do not desire you or want you. I
belong to another. All that I have, and all that I am, is hers. I will
not, and cannot, give you what you want. Even if you were to order me,
I would only be able to go through the motions, which would be devoid
of meaning, with no passion or love. Hollow. The only emotions they
would evoke in me would be loathing and hate. "

Sela smiled wryly and said, "Oh my exquisite jewel. In time you will
give me what I desire, what I crave. You will do this willingly and of
your own accord. Deny it all you want, but I will be yours and your
taking of me will bind you to me.

"You were created to rule and to take what you want. This is part of
your nature as the successor to the Borg Queen. You are relentless in
your pursuit of your desires. Yes, desires. These Borg drones are but
mere automatons, but the Queen, she is more, much more than an
emotionless automaton. She feeds on power. She feels pride and
satisfaction at what she has accomplished. She even feels love and
possessiveness. Her pursuit of you tells me that.

"You, my lovely Annika, you were fashioned by her hand and infused
with her desires. I can give you what you truly crave and want. Power
over billions, power over the universe. Even the mighty Borg Queen
will bow before you when you finally stand by my side. I will
surrender to your passion and you will have your fill of me and still
want more. I will be your addiction, Annika. Our union will shake the
very foundations of the universe and reverberate over all four
Quadrants." She saw Seven's obstinate and confused look, then
forcefully said, "Do not dare deny it for I have the control now." She
then smiled and said, "Let us to the table and dine. I want to hear of
the Borg and who better to tell me but a former Borg Princess."

Seven said nothing, but reflected on Sela's words, finding them
disturbing and obviously coming from a delusional and unbalanced mind.
The part of her thought process that was still Borg analyzed Sela's
statements and found them illogical. 'She is flawed, weak, damaged.
She shall be terminated.'

---

B'Elanna exited the plush and opulent quarters that Efok assigned her
on his ship. In the nine days that they had left Admiral Telir's ship,
they had come across six freighters, none bearing any news of foreign
ships, or anything out of the ordinary with the renegade Tal Shiar.

She was getting frustrated, and to boot, plenty fed up entertaining
freighter captains every other night and having to play Efok's demure
little wife.

Efok's ship, Tat be Qual, or Free Spirits in Federation Standard, was
more than what she seemed. Granted, she had a cargo bay full of rare,
and not so rare, wines and other spirits, but she also sported state
of the art warp engines capable of sustained speeds of 8.9, and short
burst of 9.78 warp, as well as a cloaking device. State of the art
Romulan devices masked the true nature of her engines. Any scans done
would show ordinary industrial engines only capable of reaching warp
seven.

Efok had a nasty, hulking, vampire looking engineer, named Brod, who
she later learned was a Reman, a native of Remus, Romulus' sister
planet. He gave her the creeps, but Tom seemed to get along well with
him, swapping stories and boasting of their romantic conquests.
B'Elanna had warned Tom that he had better not mention that they had
once been more than friends, or she would divest him of his manhood,
and he would be able to find employment on Risa as a joy boy, where he
could employ his tongue, which he loved to wag, on pleasuring female
Hortas and giving oral umox to Ferengi. This must have worked, as
there was no indication from Brod that Tom was telling him anything.

She was, however, glad that Tom was with her. He encouraged her to
keep up hope and she often went to him when she needed to talk. He
told her he was honestly happy for her and Seven, and that he had
never seen her so content. He conceded that he was at first jealous of
them, but after seeing them together, he knew they were right for each
other. He even apologized for making the bet that none on Voyager
would have her. However B'Elanna thought he was more sorry that he had
lost his entire stash of rations, but she did make him promise that he
would never bet on her or Seven or anything to do with their
relationship ever again.

Efok entertained many clients aboard his vessel and it had small, but
opulent guest rooms and a large opulent dining and entertainment area,
with tables, chairs, and couches.

It was attending social functions and dining on the couches that she
hated the most. At these functions she had to share a couch with Efok.
She had to feel his fat belly against her back, and his breath on her
neck, during the dinners as she reclined in front of him. The first
time she had to dine this way, he nuzzled her neck and attempted to
kiss her cheek. She had viciously reached back and grabbed his
genitals, squeezing hard, until she heard him groan in pain. After
that, he was more subdued in his actions, but still sickened her with
his display of 'my sweet and my dears'. He had to have a special couch
that was a little larger than most, due to his rotund size. She
supposed she should be grateful he had a fat belly, as she would kill
him if she had felt a particular part of his anatomy poking her
throughout the meal.

Tonight would be different though. They were coming to a planet that
boasted a busy spaceport to attend a banquet that would be crawling
with not only Captains of various vessels, but dignitaries from other
planets and colonies.

Tom and Brod would be busy taking a little tour among the many bars
and taverns that catered to the crews of various freighters and cargo
vessels. Brod told Tom that crews of freighters were always full of
information, and when plied with enough spirits, would sing it out on
the street corners. He had grinned, looking even more menacing with
his sharp teeth bared, and stated, "The right amount of fermented
juice, and they will confess to screwing their brother's wife."

B'Elanna was relieved that the banquet did not have a couch big enough
for both her and Efok to share, and that she had one all to herself.

So far, the talk was all about commerce and very boring. She had no
interest in the price of grain on Dosoil. And she almost screamed when
the conversation turned to the difficulties of cleaning out cargo
holds after transporting farm animals.

She picked a small nut from her plate, and while no one was looking,
tossed it at Efok who was on the next couch. It hit him on the side of
his head and he turned and looked at her. She motioned with her head
and eyes to get the topic onto subjects that were more useful to their
needs.

There was a pause in the conversation and Efok quickly changed the
topic. "You know, I heard something a week or so ago from a freighter
captain heading to the Ocelor system. He said something about the, ah.
. . authorities. . . looking for information on a ship that may have
contained pirates that were operating in and around the Brasling
system. I, for one, am heading that way and sure don't want to run
into any pirates."

A slightly tipsy freight company owner, by the name of Granor,
guffawed and said, "Pirates? Not on your life. It was smugglers, and
the Tal Shiar caught them. I know that for a fact."

B'Elanna perked up at this, and Efok inquired, "Oh, and how is that,
Granor? Was it perhaps one of your ah. . . ships that got caught?"
Everyone laughed at this as it was a fact that many freighter
captains, and owners of freight lines, dabbled in smuggling.

Granor hrumphed. "I read the report from the captain of my ship the
Blue Nova. When they left the Nolido system a small vessel apparently
left with them, concealed in their ion exhaust. You know, to disguise
their exhaust trail. Well, in sector twenty-eight, two warships
stopped them and apprehended the ship and its crew. The commander of
one of the warships ordered them to go and said he was sure they did
not know that they had company, and he would not levy a fine against
them. My captain was then ordered not to scan the vessel, and to keep
on his way. Well, he did as he was ordered, you know them being Tal
Shiar, and all. He states he did get a visual of the craft on his
screen, and it was a small craft, about the size of a shuttle. Looked
like it couldn't carry much, and only big enough for about four
people. He had never seen that type of shuttle before, and the strange
thing is, it had symbols on the side that were not Romulan, or any
that he was familiar with. Anyway, he states that it wasn't much later
when these two warships passed him, not even cloaked, and headed
toward Tal Shiar headquarters on Geggis Supreme. Probably the poor
crew is dead by now, or wishing they were."

Everyone shook his or her head in pity and one guest said, "A person
can't even do a little harmless bartering these days without it being
a capital offense."

A short time later Efok begged tiredness, and amongst much guffawing
from the others that he wanted to leave the banquet to be with his
pretty wife, he and B'Elanna returned to the ship.

---

B'Elanna paced up in down the small conference room. Seated at the
oblong table were Tom, Brod, and Efok. She stopped pacing and
addressed the others, "It's them. I know it is. The fucking Tal Shiar
has them. Gods, we got to get them out."

Efok had a sober expression on his face. "Granted I don't know all
there is to know about your crewmates. But I do know you used some
kind of device to get from the Delta Quadrant to the Alpha Quadrant,
and some kind of Borg technology was involved. That fact alone is very
valuable to General Sela. She will keep them alive if they have
information she can use. She is not one to torture or kill. That is,
if they cooperate. Besides, they are Federation citizens and serve
Starfleet. She could use them in the future as a bargaining tool.
There is a good chance that both are alive."

B'Elanna looked at him disbelievingly and tersely said, "Not one to
torture and kill? Great Gods, Efok, you must not know her as well as
you think!"

"I know her well, about as well as anyone could know one such as her.
I have sold my goods to her, and also sold certain information to her
that she was able to use against her enemies on Romulus--"

B'Elanna growled and grabbed Efok by his collar. "You fucking PetaQ.
You're a double agent. Gods, you probably sold us out to her and are
just delivering the goods."

Brod immediately broke B'Elanna's hold on Efok and Tom held B'Elanna
back.

Efok coughed to clear his throat and still clutching at his neck, said
in a squeaky voice, "I play the role of spy for Sela. Admiral Telir,
and certain members of the Senate, go along with this. I feed her
information that does prove correct, but not to the detriment of the
Empire. She pays me quite handsomely, and I am able to gain
information from her. So far, what I have told her has resulted in
what she thinks of as gains for herself. Actually, they are, but very
small ones. Ones that are really of no consequence. This has built her
trust in me.

"She will invite me to dine with her and her officers. These banquets
of hers almost always include the spouses and lovers of her officers.
I always have a good amount of spirits set aside for her, as well as
delicacies that are difficult to come by. I provide the entertainment,
so to speak, by regaling them with gossip I have obtained on my
travels. The spirits will flow and tongues will wag, and this is at
the reception before the banquet, when officers socialize, gossip, and
tell jokes. I tell you, just play your role as my pretty wife and you
will know the whereabouts of your friends the first night of her
banquet."

B'Elanna closed her eyes for a second to compose herself. "Okay. That
sounds like the easy part. How do we get them out?"

Efok smiled, "I have the schematics to the main headquarters building.
I know where her brig is and the location of her quarters, as well as
where most of her troops are located."

B'Elanna snorted and wryly said, "Oh, and these places aren't guarded,
and we are just going to walk right in and shut down the whole place.
Hmm. If it were that easy, why hasn't the Empire just waltzed right in
and done it before?"

Efok laughed and winked at B'Elanna. "My dear wife, that's just what
the Empire is doing now, isn't it."

"Okay. So we waltz into the joint, and somehow get by security, I
somehow find my wife and Harry, and we somehow escape. We would have
more luck looting the Ferengi Great Vault. We have two prisoners we
have to free and I bet they aren't walking freely down the halls.
Every door in that place will lock down and every move we make will be
monitored. That place would be like stirring an ant hill with a stick,
soldiers pouring out of every nook and cranny."

"I won't lie, it will be hard but not impossible. I have a device that
will shut down anything that operates by a plasma or electrical
impulse, for twenty-six minutes and within a three-mile perimeter. Not
a phaser, weapon, door lock, transporter, or containment field will
work during that time. No messages will be able to pass to orbiting
warships, nor will they be able to contact the compound.

Tom exclaimed, "Wow, I would like to see that."

Efok smirked. "You can see it and I will show you how to activate it,
but I'm not giving you the specs on how it works. Top secret, and
Admiral Telir would execute me if the Federation, or anyone else, got
their hands on it."

B'Elanna interjected, "Wait a minute. If it shuts down all electrical
and plasmic impulses, what about Seven's Borg implants, and how the
hell is our ship going to escape?"

"A dampening field. This ship has one and I have several small
personal fields. I'm sure you will be able to get one to your wife."

"Provided I am allowed anywhere near her."

"Leave that to me, my dear. There will be an opportunity. I'll see to
that."

B'Elanna sighed. "That will be the easy part. But what about the rest,
what's the plan?"

"Seize the opportunity when it presents itself, of course. Plans will
be made according to what we discover. Plans made too far in advance
are prone to failure."

Tom said, "In other words, play it by ear?"

Efok looked stumped for a moment and then brightened. "Yes, ears,
eyes. Utilize them all. When the opportunity is right, we act. We will
formulate a password. When it is broadcast, the field will be
activated, and the ship ready to depart."

B'Elanna laughed ruefully. "You know, I thought I left my Maquis days
behind. We always had a plan to back up a plan. When both failed, we
used to play it by ear. It was those times when we had our greatest
success. . . and some of our biggest flops. Hell, after dealing with
Cardies, this might just work."

She looked at Efok through slitted eyes. "But there is something about
this whole thing that is bothering me. Secret weapons, spies...No.
Something isn't right. The Romulans are getting more out of this than
the good will of the Federation. What is it?"

Efok looked sheepishly at B'Elanna and said, "Sela"

---

Kathryn rubbed her temples with her left hand, and held a cup of
Phoebe's coffee in her right. Ever since the hearings wrapped up
earlier that morning, she had been working on a major tension
headache. That wasn't what set it off though. It was the offer of the
rank of Admiral that did it. For a grueling nine days of closed-door
hearings, in front of dour faced admirals with accusatory, questioning
tones, she had no idea that this would be the outcome.

"So, Katie, do you get to use any of that long leave time you accrued
in the almost seven years away from home?" Phoebe asked.

Kathryn was seated in the living room of her childhood home with
Gretchen, Phoebe, and Vlara. She had arrived home less than an hour
earlier, and informed her family of the promotion. She looked
pointedly at Phoebe. "I plan on taking two weeks off to get situated
back in my home in San Francisco. Phoebe, not that I want to kick you
out as you are welcome to stay in the guest room, but I would
appreciate it if you removed your canvases and art supplies. Gods,
you've turned it into an art studio." She had stayed in her home
during the nine days of her questioning by Starfleet, and had found
that Phoebe was using her living room as an art studio. The smell of
turpentine and oil made her feel light headed.

"Hey, no problem, I'll have it cleaned out by the end of this week."

Kathryn said, "I'll have to get my furniture out of storage and move
it back in."

Phoebe said, "I think Vlara and I can help with that." She turned and
smiled sweetly at Vlara, who nodded her head in agreement. They had
just the night before returned from a trip to Paris and Europe.

Vlara had visited her half brother for a couple of days, and Phoebe
had taken her shopping in Paris, London and Rome. Vlara had been quiet
about her visit to her brother. Only saying it went well, but giving
no indication that they would contact each other in the future. She
had also communicated with her other two siblings who were serving
with Starfleet, and sent them the communiqués from their father.

Phoebe had talked to Kathryn twice during the weeklong trip and had
informed her that Vlara seemed depressed after the visit with her
brother. Phoebe's cure for depression, or the 'funks' as she called
them, was simple, go shopping. She firmly believed in shop therapy to
pull one out of the funks.

Kathryn had conversed with Vlara on two occasions, cheered when the
young woman excitedly told her of the shops she and Phoebe visited,
and the clothing she had purchased. She had thought that Phoebe had
truly found a soul mate, but then she wondered if there could be some
chemistry other than friendship between Phoebe and Vlara. This thought
disturbed her for some reason. Whom was she fooling? She knew the
reason. She herself was attracted to the young woman, and she had a
feeling that Vlara was attracted to her.

However, things just couldn't work out for a romantic relationship
between them. Kathryn had her upcoming change in rank, and Starfleet
to take up her time. Besides, Vlara would not stay in the Federation,
but would be returning to the Romulan Empire, and Kathryn was not
prepared to have a broken heart when the young woman went home. A long
distance relationship between the two was out of the question.
Different quadrants and different factions. Factions that at the best
of times were wary allies, and at the worst, had the capacity to
destroy each other.

Vlara pulled Kathryn out of her reverie by asking, "Kathryn, have you
heard any news from my mother, I mean, Admiral Telir, on your missing
crew?"

Kathryn sighed softly. "Just a communiqué stating all was proceeding
according to plan. That was over a week ago. Admiral Paris is keeping
me informed of any news on that front. Damn, I wish I could do
something more than just wait."

Gretchen saw the worried look on her daughter's face. "Well, you know
the old saying, no news is good news. From what you told me of your
officers, they can accomplish the impossible."

Janeway snorted, then answered, pride evident in her voice, "The
impossible and then some. I am worried about them. But I also know
they can take care of themselves, and get out of sticky situations, as
they have done in the past."

Gretchen changed the subject. "So, have you set a date for the
official ceremony to celebrate your new rank?"

"No, Mom. I'm going to delay that until I have my lost lambs back
home. Officially, I am admiral, and when I come back from vacation I
will start my new role as such." Smiling, she turned to Vlara and
said, "So, Vlara, tell me about all the sights you saw and what your
impressions of Earth are so far."

For the next hour both Vlara and Phoebe filled her in on all the
sights they had seen, and things they had purchased.

---

Kathryn went out onto the front porch to enjoy the evening twilight.
She saw Vlara sitting in the swing, pushing it back and forth with her
foot. "May I join you?"

The young woman smiled and scooted over to make room on the swing. "Of
course."

Kathryn settled herself next to Vlara, feeling the warmth radiating
from the young woman's slightly higher temperature, and smelling a
light scent of some delicate perfume, reminiscent of vanilla. "It's
about time for the fireflies to be out and about." A lone whistle
pierced the night. "That's a whip-poor-will, a native bird of this
area. They hunt insects in the evening and dawn."

"It is close by. Listen, I hear another. Is that its mate?"

"Could be. I'm not an authority on the mating habits of birds." //Nor
on Romulans. No Katie, don't go there.// "You haven't said much about
your visit with your brother and his family. I don't want to pry, but
you seem a little down whenever they are mentioned."

Vlara sighed, "It was cordial but. . . how do I say this. . . cold. Do
not mistake me. He was pleasant, as were my two sisters, when I
conversed over Starfleet communications with them. I would like to
thank you for arranging that."

Kathryn patted Vlara's hand. "No problem, I was glad to help." She
stilled to see if the young woman would continue. After a moment she
did.

"My brother has two children, my nieces. One nine and the other five
in your years. The youngest asked me why I made her grandfather a
slave. Her mother immediately tried to hush her. I told her that he
was not a slave, that he was my father. She asked why we did not let
him return to the Federation. What could I say?" She looked at Janeway
with sad eyes. "He was a slave. Granted that he had certain freedoms
given to him by my mother, but the fact remains, he was owned by my
mother. He was never allowed to return to the Federation, to his home
and family. He was never charged with crimes against the Rihannsu
Empire. There are many in the Empire who no longer believe that a
civilized nation should own another being. Even my mother feels it is
wrong. She took my father as a slave because he would have been
executed otherwise."

Vlara gave a small chuckle and continued, "My father told her this was
not so, and the real reason was that my mother was taken by his fair
hair and blue eyes. If she could have done so, she would have freed
him and, as much as it would have hurt, she would have let him go,
even back to the Federation. Rihannsu law does not recognize
emancipation. Once a slave, always a slave."

Kathryn inquired, "Is there no. . . movement or party to change the
laws?"

"Many Rihannsu continue to cling to the old ways. They see change as a
threat to what it means to be Rihannsu. However there are many, like
myself, who believe without growth and change in the direction of
peaceful coexistence with others, we will perish as a nation."

Kathryn thought for a moment. "I see. Are you a follower of Ambassador
Spock?" She saw Vlara's features take on a guarded look, and added,
"Whatever you tell me, I will not repeat. I give you my word."

Vlara looked at her closely and after a moment, said, "Yes. It would
mean my discharge from service in the Senate, as well as disgrace for
my family, and possible censure of my mother if it were known. Yes, I
am a follower of Ambassador Spock as is my mother. If we do not
embrace our sister, Vulcan, and subscribe to her path of working in
harmony with those that are not Rihannsu, we will eventually find
ourselves outnumbered, and we ourselves will be conquered. We must
forge alliances with the Federation and others. We must learn to trust
and treat those that are not Rihannsu with trust.

"Rihannsu are very loyal to each other. We give our word to each other
and it is held as a sacred bond. To break our word is a disgrace to
the whole family. However, we do not keep our word to outsiders. They
are to be duped, fooled, and taken advantage of. But, if I or any
other Rihannsu should say to you, 'On my honor, I speak the truth.',
or, 'On my honor, I will keep this bond between us' believe it. For
honor, or as we call it, mnhei'sahe, is the highest virtue among my
people. My mother has sworn this oath to you. She will help you get
your people back. This is a very Vulcan thing she has done, to keep
her word with foreigners. This is one of the many tenets that
Ambassador Spock teaches."

Kathryn said, "Yet his beliefs have already put a wedge in the Romulan
governing body, has it not?"

"You are talking about the schisms within the Tal Shiar and some in
the Senate. It is not so much about Ambassador Spock's teaching, as it
is General Sela's ambition that has caused this divide."

"General Sela. Her mother served aboard the Enterprise along with your
father."

"Yes. Her mother was a concubine for an Admiral, who later became a
General for the Tal Shiar. Sela followed in his footsteps. It was his
ambition, and now Sela's, that Ch'Rihan should expand its border past
the Neutral Zone and into Klingon space. There are rumors that she
helped to orchestrate a coup on Qo'noS. The Tal Shiar thought to
weaken the Klingon Empire and set up a puppet ruler who they could
control. Her plot failed, and then the Dominion War came into play,
and all efforts were diverted to protecting Ch'Rihan against a greater
threat." She paused for a moment and continued, "It is thought that
she is the one who ordered a preemptive strike into the Gamma quadrant
against the Dominion, as a way to get rid of her rivals in the Tal
Shiar, and to weaken the Senate."

"Why would she do that? I mean, I can understand her getting rid of
rivals, but this was a blow to Romulus."

Vlara snorted and said, "A blow to us, yes, but not to Sela. She has
long thought that Ch'Rihan should maintain its course as an Empire
built on conquest. I should rephrase that and say, she is of the mind
that Ch'Rihan should return to its distant past, and aggressively
conquer other worlds, confront the Klingons, and provoke the
Federation into war. Now, with many of those opposed to her plans
gone, she has mutinied against the Senate, and has taken what Tal
Shiar believe in her ways with her to build an army that she hopes to
use to conquer Ch'Rihan, and then the universe."

Kathryn asked in surprise, "Is she insane?"

"Yes, Kathryn, she is, and there lies the danger. She is not only mad
but has an army in which she is the sole leader. Many do not believe
she has restoring the Empire to its former glory as her goal. Many
believe she wishes to restore the monarchy, and to become Empress, as
in the old days."

"Do you believe this?"

"I am not sure. I do know that we must find a way to stop her. I do
know she must not get her hands on technology that would increase her
chances of carrying out her goals, whatever they truly are."

Kathryn smiled wryly and said, "Ah, I see. And it complicates matters
that Sela may well have in captivity one of the most brilliant minds
in the galaxy, that contains not only Borg technology, but also a
method to travel great distances in seconds. And I thought your mother
was helping us retrieve my crew as a favor for me helping you. And
will she be willing to give me my crewmembers when they are found? Or
will the Empire use them to gain the same information?"

Kathryn could not make out Vlara's features in the dusk, but heard the
hurt in her voice. "Kathryn, I will not pretend that my mother did not
have other motives. Her best interest is in preserving the Empire. It
is her sworn duty. A duty you as a Federation officer are familiar
with. You, or I should say, the Federation is benefiting from this.
You are getting your crew and something that the Federation has wanted
for centuries: Open communications with Ch'Rihan, and on good terms.
You know this will lead to that goal. You agreed to help me because it
was in the best interest for the Federation."

Kathryn was about to protest, when Vlara held her hands out, palm
first, to forestall her and continued, "You are an honorable and kind
person, Kathryn, and would have more than likely helped me anyway.
Tell me, Kathryn, was it not in your thoughts that by helping me you
would help the Federation? You know my mother is the highest-ranking
military officer in the Empire. Her cousin is the Praetor and she is
related to half the senate. She has their ears and they listen to her.
However my mother is an honorable person, and she would have helped
you find your crew for no other reason than it is the right thing to
do. She has promised on her mnhei'sahe to help. This I do know. This I
tell you in confidence. She has not told the Senate that one of your
crew is the scientist who is most connected with the creation of the
transwarp coil. When found, she will not probe her mind for
information. The Empire is at a crossroads. One to peace and
prosperity, the other to destruction, and possible annihilation. There
are those in power who secretly believe in Sela's goals. To have the
transwarp device would send us down the road to ruin. We would believe
we are invincible. The short-term gain is not worth it. You will get
your crew back, unharmed by her."

Kathryn sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. Vlara was right.
When she agreed to help her, there was the thought of helping the
Federation fulfill the goal of bettering relations with Romulus. She
quickly changed the subject. "When do you plan to return to Romulus?"
She realized that that could have sounded like she wanted the young
woman to leave. This was far from the truth.

"Have I worn out my stay already? I suppose I have carried out my
father's wishes, and nothing is holding me here. Could you arrange for
me to return, say in a couple of weeks? Phoebe wants me to attend a
gallery showing and also show me more of Earth."

//Tell her to stay longer. You want her to stay. You want her.// "I
was hoping you would stay longer. . . as long as you like. You are a
Federation citizen through your father. I have plenty of room at my
home in San Francisco and I would appreciate your company." Kathryn
gave a lopsided grin and continued, "Besides, Mom would be glad for
you to stay here. I think she would miss you and your recipe sessions
if you left."

Vlara gave a scintillating smile and said, "I would like to stay
longer. For some reason, I am not as homesick as I thought I would be.
On Ch'Rihan, there is a saying that all those of Rihannsu blood wither
if too long gone from her, and the spirit soars when home. It is
strange, but I do not feel that way. I am here on this fair planet and
my spirit soars. The sun and her light feel right, the air and sea,
and the soil, smells right. It is if all four elements on your planet
call to me. I feel as if I belong. Perhaps your Earth speaks to me
through my human side, perhaps in a strange way, I am home."

Janeway smiled, her own spirits soaring. "Then perhaps I should say,
welcome home."

---

Seven walked beside Harry down the winding flag stone path. This was
the sixth time she and Harry had been allowed to have face-to-face
contact in the more than four weeks since their capture.

The morning sun had yet to melt the thin mist that veiled the small
pond, and lower lying areas, in the well-tended garden. As always,
their assigned 'assistants' accompanied them, but remained ten paces
behind.

Seven had been explaining to Harry the problem she was having
integrating the Borg parts that Sela had been able to provide her into
the transwarp core she was instructing the Romulan scientists on how
to construct.

"Gee, Seven, that is just bad luck that those parts were defective,"
he replied sheepishly and with a slight smirk on his face. "So, how
long is it going to take them to find some good ones?"

Seven's voice held no emotion and was evenly modulated. "It is
uncertain. Perhaps two weeks. I am not privy to the methods used in
obtaining such parts. It is, however, unimportant how they obtained
the parts. Only that they are undamaged. Even with the parts, there is
no guarantee that the device will function. The age of the Borg
components may determine if the device functions at optimum levels."

Harry could read between the lines and determine that Seven would
insure that the device would malfunction. Fortunately for him, he had
very little knowledge on constructing the transwarp coil. His
knowledge was in the construction of the reflectors needed to increase
the width of the transwarp bubble. He had told them all he knew,
knowing that it would be a simple thing for them to wrench it out of
his mind. Besides, the Tal Shiar scientist had the Flyer and could
easily figure out how the reflectors worked.

The computer system on the Flyer had very little information
pertaining to the transwarp coil, and for good reason. Shuttlecraft
were vulnerable, due to size and speed, to being captured by hostile
forces, and nothing of importance was ever, as a rule, contained in
their computers. Besides, Seven was a walking computer herself.
Anything there was to know on the transwarp coil was stored in her
cortical node. He supposed, no hoped, that the Tal Shiar were not
cognizant of that fact, or Seven could find her life and health at
jeopardy.

Except for the beating that he took, their treatment had been humane.
Seven had later apologized and stated it was her fault, as Sela wanted
her to reveal certain information, but she had refused.

Harry had a strong feeling that General Sela was using his continued
fair treatment as a tool to force Seven into cooperation.

He nonchalantly asked, "You doing anything else now that you have to
wait for the needed parts. I mean, anything on the transwarp system."

"No. General Sela has her team analyzing the Flyer's varying Borg
shields and weapons array. She states this activity will require her
team to use their mind and keep them sharp. I believe she was being
facetious."

"Hmm. You still dine with her every night?"

"No," Seven quickly answered.

Harry waited for Seven to elaborate. When it was not forthcoming, he
said, "Oh. Okay." He couldn't help but wonder if Sela was requesting
more from Seven than just a companion for dinner. He inwardly cringed
when thinking General Sela would require Seven's presence for more
prurient pursuits. He didn't know what he would do if that were the
case. He knew what he would like to do, but that was out of the
question. He would die before he could carry it out. Seven was strong
and could take care of herself. He had had occasion to see her use her
Borg enhanced strength. What bothered him was suspecting that Seven
would do things to protect him. What lengths would she go? He didn't
want to know.

His thoughts were interrupted by his guards telling him their time was
up. He smiled at Seven. "Give me a call. I have a great Romulan card
game we can play over the computer with each other. I might have a
chance of beating you in this one."

"Chance? It is a game that depends on random choices and events?"

"Well, pretty much so. How else am I going to win a game against you?
Any game that uses logic you win."

Seven cocked an eyebrow. "Perhaps they have a game similar to Kadis
Kot. That is a game of both chance and skill. Naomi Wildman wins at
least 42 percent of the games we have played."

Harry replied dryly, "Gee Seven. If Naomi can do that well, I guess I
have a chance to beat you."

Seven smirked and replied, "Perhaps."

---

Seven slowly sipped her drink as she listened to yet another diatribe
against the failings of the Romulan Empire in living up to its
destiny, which was to rule the whole universe. In the month since she
had been a 'guest' of the General, she was required to dine nightly
with her, save for two nights a week, as Sela needed to conduct
meetings and other business.

Tonight Seven wore a midnight blue gown with long gossamer sleeves.
The skirt was full and fell to just below her knees, with silver
threads shot through the material. Her slippers were silver, with flat
heels.

After that first night at dinner, when Sela showed her displeasure at
Seven's thwarting of her stated wishes, she had dressed in whatever
Sela required. She had to admit that most of the choices, since that
first dinner, were not vulgar or tasteless. She would gladly wear them
under other circumstances, those being if B'Elanna had picked them out
for her. She would then wear them proudly, and be pleased that
B'Elanna would look at her with desire and pleasure.

Instead, she had to wear them for Sela, and it displeased her to have
Sela rake her eyes over her as if she were some prized possession. She
was sure that Sela considered her as such. She was relieved that Sela
only directed looks her way. They made her uneasy, but better looks
than having Sela touch her intimately. She did not know if she would
be able to tolerate demands for a physical involvement. She shuddered,
thinking of Sela's hands near her. Sela had touched her body only
once, and that was at their first dinner together when Sela had her
strip. However, Sela had touched her hair twice by taking it down from
the customary twist. This was at their first dinner together, and then
later at their second dinner together when Sela let her hair down from
its twist. After that, she had taken to leaving her hair down for
dinner, not wanting to invite the General to touch her. B'Elanna was
the only one that she would willingly, and with pleasure, allow to
take her hair down.

B'Elanna. Her bang'wI, her be'nal. She wondered how long it would be
before B'Elanna found her. She thought once again of being in her
arms, of feeling her heat next to her when she slept, and felt a lump
in her throat.

"Do I bore you my lovely Annika? You sighed. I must be boring you.
Perhaps you sigh because you miss that little half-breed wife of
yours. Hmmm. We have talked of many things, the Borg, the Delta
Quadrant, even your Captain Janeway. We have not really discussed that
little wife of yours. I wish to hear about her and why you picked such
an inferior species as a Klivam to be your mate."

Seven glared at her.

"Oh, excuse me. Only half Klivam," Sela said facetiously. "Is it true
what they say about Klivam females? That they scratch and bite in bed,
and lovemaking is a battle. Have I somehow misread you, Annika? Is it
the Klivam who conquers you, instead of you conquering her and bending
her to your will? Tell me of her, Annika."

"I will not dishonor her by discussing her, or what is private and
between us," Seven coldly replied

Sela smirked and said, "Oh? Why, you have already told me, Annika. You
told me that you wish to breathe in her very breath, as it sustains
you. The taste of her mouth, rare nectar that intoxicates you. That
you give her all that you are. . . "

Seven flung herself off her couch, went around the small table to
stand before Sela, and demanded, "Where is it, Sela? It is mine and
does not belong to you."

Sela remained reclined on the couch, smirking, and replied, "Oh? You
would tell me what to do, Annika? Your little ship and everything on
it is mine. Even you, Annika. You're mine. You just haven't accepted
it yet. You know, that little padd was the cause of my having to
discipline some of my scientists. They were so intent on the computers
and engines that they failed to do a thorough search of your cabin,
until a week ago. There in plain view, or should I say, beneath the
pillow on your cot, was this little gem. Instead of giving it to me,
they opened it up. I threatened to cut the tongue out of the
scientists who read it, and tell what they have read. They assure me
they have already forgotten what was in it."

Sela stood up and reached under the cushion she had been reclining on
and retrieved the padd. "Ah, here it is. If you want it, Annika, feel
free to take it from me."

She held it out with one hand, and as Seven reached for it, she put it
behind her back. "Take it from me, Annika. If it is so important, take
it from me."

Seven stepped up to within a foot of Sela and reached around her back
for the padd. Sela backed up against the couch, still clutching the
padd behind her. Seven tried to reach around her again. This caused
her to press against Sela's front. Seven felt Sela's breasts against
hers, and she heard Sela moan, and felt the heat from her body.

Seven immediately realized the mistake she made. She was giving Sela
what she wanted. Seven stepped back, as if burned, and put her hands
behind her back and drew herself up into her Borg stance, the stance
she used when upset or angered. She replied in her Borg voice, "It is
of no consequence. I do not need words on a padd to tell my be'nal how
I feel when I once again see her."

Sela snorted. "My lovely, Annika. You will never see her. She is not
coming for you. Nor is your Captain Janeway or Starfleet. Your little
Klivam has forgotten about you. It was one thing for her to. . . fuck.
. . you when 40,000 light-years from home. It is another thing to have
a Borg as a spouse, now that she is home with her family and friends.
You, my dear Annika, would shame her. She would be sleeping with the
enemy. No, dear. She will not come for you. You were just someone to
fuck for a while."

Seven's nostrils flared with her attempt to control her anger and she
gruffly said, "You lie. She is honorable. We took The Oath. She would
not dishonor me, or The Oath."

Sela smirked and said, "You think I lie. Believe me, I would know if
she, or Starfleet, were looking for you. I have my people in places to
know. I have one of my operatives here now, and he has informed me
that there has not been a whisper in Romulan Space of a lost
Federation ship. Romulus knows of even a stray meteor that crosses
into her space. And there have been no reports of Federation, or any
other ships, crossing the Neutral Zone. You don't believe me? Ask him
yourself. He will be at a dinner I am hosting for my senior staff
tomorrow night. You will be there. Ask him yourself."

"It proves nothing if he does not know. I know and that is all that
matters."

"We shall see. I expect you to treat me with civility tomorrow night.
I know that you are not an actor, and I don't expect you to fawn over
me--"

"You are correct. I am not an actor. You cannot force me to pretend
that I have any feelings for you, beyond those of the contempt I
already possess." Seven paused before adding, "I will, however, treat
you civilly."

Sela facetiously said, "Oh, you are too kind. Thank you, my lady." Her
expression turned more serious and she said, "You also will be treated
with civility by me and my officers. I have passed along the word that
my officers, and guests, refer to you as Lady Annika. You are more
than just a slave or servant. As for your acting abilities, I do
believe my lovely Borg Princess, that in time you will not have to
act. Time is on my side, and you are here with me for all time."

Seven's implant over her eye quirked upwards and her voice was at its
most Borg. "Then you do not understand the concept of time."

Sela laughed. "Enough. I believe all of my officers will be jealous of
me. Your distance and aloofness will tantalize them and they will envy
me. They already wonder what we do all these nights together. I must
say, you would not be pleased that whenever two or more of my officers
get together, we are the most popular choice of conversation. Not
pleased at all, that it is speculated that you are indeed pleasing me
in the most delightful way."

"They are delusional," Seven spat out. It upset her to think that
others would perceive that she and Sela had a romantic, and worst of
all, a physical relationship.

"No they're not. They have no delusions. . . illusions maybe. You are
in my quarters almost every night, looking so beguiling. Your stay
here is long enough for dinner and ah. . . dessert. They are just
misinterpreting the data."

"Their false speculations do not displease you?"

"Quite the contrary, it pleases me. To have such a beautiful woman
dine with me, and please me in other ways, only adds to my mystique as
a powerful leader. I am a powerful woman and power, my lovely
Annika...power has its privileges. And believe me, you are a privilege
that only one as powerful as myself is entitled to enjoy. You are a
status symbol. They are reminded every time they see you with me that
in order for me to have such a woman, that I am powerful."

Seven thought then of a phrase she once heard, 'trophy wife'. Tom
Paris had referred to his latest stepmother as a trophy wife. She had
asked B'Elanna what that meant. B'Elanna had said it was a status
symbol among older and successful persons to have a spouse who was
beautiful and usually younger, much younger, than they were. It meant
that they had power and influence to attract a person whom others
considered desirable. B'Elanna had laughed, and stated that Seven was
her trophy wife. Seven had disagreed, and stated that B'Elanna was her
trophy wife. They had disagreed in a teasing way, until laughter and
teasing led to passion and lovemaking, as it often did. Seven was
disquieted that others thought she would forget her vows to her be'nal
and cheat on her.

Seven coldly stated, "I shall inform them otherwise."

Sela sobered and then commanded, "You will not. I don't want you
discussing what goes on behind these doors with anyone. DO I make
myself clear?"

"Yes. But it is a lie."

Sela smugly smiled and said, "For now it is, but it won't be for
always." Before Seven could reply, she continued, "Now. You may go and
rest for tomorrow. I don't want you going to the lab. I want you well
rested for the banquet. I have picked something special for you to
wear. I think even you will approve."

Seven nodded and reached over, taking the padd from the table. Sela
looked at her, a smirk on her face, but didn't say a word. When Seven
returned to her quarters, she would erase what was on the padd. She
knew every word by heart and she would tell those words to her be'nal
in person. She would put all that she felt into her voice, into her
eyes, and into her touch, coloring it with the texture and richness of
her love and devotion.

---

B'Elanna sipped her drink as she stood by Efok's side, playing her
role as his wife. They had arrived some twenty minutes earlier and
were mixing with Sela's officers and guests, prior to dinner.

She listened to the officers' conversations with only surface
attention, her thoughts were on her be'nal and she was impatient with
wanting to see her, and to ascertain for herself, that Seven was
indeed there, and safe.

B'Elanna wore a silken black and rose tunic and pants. Around her neck
was a gold pendant that was actually a device that would counter-act
the power-dampening field generated by the deadening device. She was
to give the pendent to Seven to protect her implants when they
activated the power-dampening device. Also on her person were two
small hand held weapons that used a gas to project a small pellet at
great velocity to incapacitate or kill an adversary. The deadening
device would have no impact on these weapons, since they required no
electrical or plasmic impulses to operate.

Efok told her and Tom about his conference with General Sela earlier
in the day. And how easy it was to gather information from the
unsuspecting woman. Sela had asked him for any information that he may
have obtained regarding a Federation ship lost in Romulan Space, and
if a rescue party, or any unknown ships, had crossed the Neutral Zone.
He had reported that all was quiet on the border, except for the
miraculous appearance of a Federation craft called Voyager, which had
supposedly been lost for close to seven years in the Delta Quadrant.
He reported that Admiral Telir had quickly arrived in the Neutral
Zone, had met with a Federation Admiral, named North, to ascertain
that the Federation would not cross the zone and into Romulan
territory. There were no other suspicious actions noted.

Efok had snickered when telling B'Elanna and Tom that he told General
Sela that he had an interesting conversation with a Freight Company
Owner about possible pirate activity, and a small ship the Tal Shiar
took into custody. Sela had then informed him that she had in her
possession a very interesting ship, using Borg and Federation
technology, and two of the crew. She would not elaborate only to say
that one member of the crew was very special, and would be present at
the formal dinner she was hosting that evening.

B'Elanna's attention was brought to her present surroundings by a
pause in the buzz of conversation. One of the officers near her said
in a low voice, "I see our General is displaying her jewel tonight."

Another officer answered, keeping her voice low, "If that jewel were
mine I would keep it hidden from public view, lest a thief attempt to
steal it."

The first officer snickered, "A jewel like that would never come into
your possession. She is one of a kind. Our like could never acquire
such a one."

B'Elanna looked in the direction of the officers' focus, and caught
her breath. There was her bang'wI. No, surely she was dreaming. This
creature was no mere mortal, but one of the angels in the Christian
storybook her Nana used to read to her. She was dressed in a gown of
silky gold. The bodice molded to her shapely breasts, with a V-neck
dipping between them. The gown was off the shoulders with attached
gossamer gold sleeves reaching to the wrist. A long flowing skirt
followed the thighs and long legs down to the ankles. The angel seemed
to float across the floor when she moved. Her hair was down and around
her shoulder, a shower of radiant gold. She looked like some mythical
goddess or queen. B'Elanna thought, She is a queen, the queen of my
heart.

The vision stopped moving, and it was then that B'Elanna noticed the
woman who held her by her right elbow in a proprietary manner. General
Sela. B'Elanna saw the smug look on Sela's face. She wore a silver and
gray silk military tunic, but it had a gold shoulder sash adorned with
badges of rank and honors. The material of the sash matched that of
Seven's gown.

B'Elanna felt a cold rage infuse her and wanted to strike the woman
down for daring to touch her be'nal, and flaunting her as property.
She, however, controlled her rage but vowed that later she would
settle things with the General. She watched as Sela stopped to
converse with several of her officers, and then move on toward where
B'Elanna was, guiding Seven by the elbow. B'Elanna held her breath,
knowing that her be'nal would see through the disguise, and hoping
that she would not give her away.

Sela beamed as she introduced Annika to her officers, and to Efok.
Seven stilled for a moment, her eyes widening as she looked at
B'Elanna. There was recognition there, but she recovered nicely. Efok
immediately put his arm around B'Elanna's waist and said, "General
Sela and Lady Annika, let me introduce my wife, D'len."

Sela smiled and looking B'Elanna over, replied, "Why, Efok, she is
very lovely. You were not exaggerating when you earlier sang her
praises." She addressed B'Elanna this time, "Welcome D'len. I hope you
find your stay here enjoyable. I will try not to keep your husband
away too long on business."

"Thank you, General. These apartments are magnificent. I have been
admiring the art work." She turned to Seven and said, "Lady Annika,
that dress you are wearing is divine. Efok has promised to buy me many
new gowns on this trip. . . would you mind giving me the name of the
boutique you purchased this from, or perhaps, the name of your
tailor?"

Efok quickly broke in and complained, "Dresses and jewelry, I will
soon be a very poor man." He addressed Sela and the gathered officers,
"General and officers, let us to the bar and leave these two beautiful
ladies to discuss fashion. I have a very rare spirit from Tolas that
has to be tasted to be believed."

Sela hesitated as if deciding to go along with Efok's request, and
then looking at Seven, said, "Annika, I will leave you here to
converse with Lady D'len, until dinner." She gave her one last look
that seemed to say, behave.

B'Elanna searched the room, spying a secluded area with a divan and
table. "There Lady Annika, let us to that spot to talk." Seven nodded
and they both headed toward the place indicated. B'Elanna noticed that
one guard accompanied them, but he managed to stay twenty feet away
and was trying to be discreet.

Seven seated herself on the divan, and B'Elanna right beside her and
said, "That is a very beautiful dress." She whispered low, "Oh,
bang'wI, I have missed you. You are unharmed?"

Seven quickly replied, "It is a gift from General Sela. She has given
me many such gifts. Perhaps we can arrange a time for you to come to
my quarters and see them. I am unharmed. bang'wI, I knew you would
come for me."

Seven's eyes were soft and liquid as they focused on B'Elanna.
B'Elanna felt both cold and hot and fought the urge to hug her be'nal
to her. She swallowed hard and said, "I would be delighted, lady.
Perhaps we can do so tomorrow. I have many pieces of fine jewelry that
may interest you. They are wedding gifts from my husband. How is
Harry?"

"Perhaps, I will be able to provide a lunch for us in the gardens.
They are aesthetically pleasing. He is well. They monitor our
quarters. The gardens remain unmonitored by listening devices. I am,
however, guarded when I visit them."

"Oh, that sounds wonderful. It has been a while since I have been
planet side and enjoyed the outdoors. I would enjoy lunch and
discussing fashion. I love you."

Before they could continue, the dinner gong sounded, and the guard
accompanied both women to the dining area.

Seven could not relax as she reclined on the couch. She had to share
it with Sela, who was reclining behind her on the slightly elevated
back portion, so that she was easily able to view those around her,
and reach over Seven to the platter containing food. Seven could feel
Sela's arm graze her own, as the General reached over to pick a morsel
of food. She felt the heat from Sela's body against her back and
thighs. Seven controlled her revulsion and instinct to jump as if some
insect were on her. Being this intimate with Sela made her appetite
almost nonexistent and she picked at the food. She was sure Sela had
arranged the sharing of a single couch to impress her officers. She
hoped that Sela would not decide to carry this practice on to their
customary dinners together.

Seven had glanced frequently at B'Elanna, who was reclining with Efok,
to the left side of the table and two places down. She notice that
B'Elanna's features were flushed and her eyes dark and glinting. She
could tell it was an effort for B'Elanna to control her rage at seeing
Seven in such intimate contact with the General. She inwardly cringed,
knowing that B'Elanna was thinking that Sela was partaking of what
belonged to B'Elanna alone. She knew that B'Elanna would not blame
her, would not think that she was a willing participant. Still, she
felt guilty, even though nothing occurred beyond Sela viewing her
naked and touching her implants, back and hair. She knew that B'Elanna
would punish Sela for even doing that much.

There was a lull in the conversation and Seven, who had been quiet up
to that point, looked at B'Elanna and said, "Lady D'len, I have been
admiring your necklace, it is aesthetically pleasing." She felt Sela's
body jump slightly as if surprised. Perhaps she was, since, so far
tonight, Seven only spoke when spoken to and then in short answers.

B'Elanna answered with an expression of seeming delight, "Thank you,
Lady Annika. Efok gave it to me as a wedding gift. He has given me
many beautiful pieces. I will bring them with me to show you at our
luncheon tomorrow."

Sela leaned close against Seven, speaking softly into her ear,
"Luncheon? What is this about a luncheon?"

Seven replied, "I have not had time yet to ask your permission.
Earlier, Lady D'len expressed an interest in seeing the beautiful
items of apparel that you provided me. I informed her that I would
arrange for her to visit me in my quarters, with your permission of
course. I thought I could also show her the gardens and we could have
our lunch there."

Efok, overhearing the conversation, chuckled. "General Sela. This is a
plot. My wife will come back from this soirée and demand that I buy
her gowns. She will bore me with details of how beautiful the ones
Lady Annika has, and hers but rags in comparison. Your own lady will
rave on about the beautiful jewelry my wife has and demand that you
provide her with pieces that will outshine them."

B'Elanna pushed her elbow back and into Efok's stomach, causing him to
exhale sharply, and groused, "I have been on this trading trip for
weeks now with nothing to do but read the same novels over and over,
and entertain your trading cronies while listening to their boring
talk of merchandise and profits. I meet someone who appreciates the
finer things in life, and wish a little time to talk about them, and
you accuse me of having ulterior motives. I wish to show Lady Annika
those gorgeous pieces of jewelry you gave me, and you make a joke of
it." B'Elanna pouted nicely and went back to picking morsels of food
from the platter, a displeased expression on her face.

Seven was impressed by her wife's acting skills and glad that she had
an opportunity to witness them firsthand. A few months earlier
B'Elanna's shuttle had crashed on a planet and she was forced to
participate as an actor for a playwright. When she returned to
Voyager, she had told Seven about the play she acted in. Seven made a
mental note to have B'Elanna recite some of her scenes.

There were snickers around the table and Efok held up his hand in
surrender and said in a sincere tone, "I apologize my sweet, and to
you also, Lady Annika. I do understand that some feel about clothes
and jewelry as I do about fine wines."

Seven noticed that Efok was rolling his eyes behind B'Elanna's back
when saying the last part. She heard Sela snicker at this. Sela
replied, "If my lady wishes, then I give her permission to receive
Lady D'len as her guest."

Seven lowered her voice and replied, "Thank you." Her eyes, however,
were on B'Elanna.

---

Kathryn was getting a headache from all the clashing colors, optical
lighting, and strobes that the large canvas incorporated.

She had arrived a few minutes before, on an invitation from Vlara to
meet her, and Phoebe, at the gallery showing in San Antonio. Phoebe
wasn't showing any of her work here; she was attending to support an
artist friend of hers from Qo'noS.

The title of this work was 'Targ Hunt'. Kathryn wasn't a fan of this
type of abstract art. She preferred pieces that were more realistic in
nature. She sure couldn't see anything resembling a Targ in this
piece.

She looked over to where Phoebe and Vlara were talking to the artist
and his admirers. She noticed, with a pang of jealousy, that Vlara and
Phoebe were holding hands. //Now Katie, don't go reading anything into
that, it's just a cultural affectation. Nothing going on there. You've
seen Vlara every night now at Mother's, and would know if there is
something between the two.// She was thinking about walking over to
make her presence known when Vlara glanced up and saw her, smiled
widely, and said a few words to those in the group, and still smiling,
walked over to her.

"You have come. Phoebe said that you would find some excuse at the
last minute not to attend." She reached out and took Kathryn by the
hand, smiling and showing those two gorgeous dimples.

Kathryn couldn't help but smile back. "Well, I am still a little tired
from doing all that moving yesterday. I wouldn't be able to move a
muscle if I had it all to do myself. Thanks for helping out."

"You are very welcome. How was your first night in your dwelling?"

Kathryn smiled at Vlara's use of the word dwelling, instead of home.
"Strange, after being away for so long. I finally managed to fall
asleep after reading up on some Starfleet memorandums."

Phoebe had just walked up and,. apparently overhearing her sister's
comment, said, "Gods, Katie, you're supposed to be on vacation. Can't
you enjoy yourself a little?"

Kathryn quipped back, "Who says I'm not. I just needed something to
put me to sleep, and what better way to do it than start on Starfleet
memorandums. "

Phoebe exclaimed, "Surely not the ones for the past six years or so."

Janeway rolled her eyes. "No, Phoebe. A lot of those I read while in
the Delta Quadrant, after we had contact with Starfleet through the
array. These are the more recent ones."

Phoebe changed the subject. "I thought you would beg off coming. Have
you picked up some appreciation for abstract Klingon art while in the
Delta Quadrant?"

"Not on your life. I just thought I would drop by and see if I can
interest you two in dinner tonight at Chan Yongs in San Francisco. My
treat, of course. Call it payment for helping me move." She let her
eyes settle on Vlara.

Phoebe noticed where her sister's interest lay and smirked. She
covered it quickly by saying, "Well, I have an invitation to attend a
little dinner get together with the artist and gallery owners. I
really don't see how I can get out of it. Of course, the invitation
includes Vlara. I told them I would ask, but. . . " turning to Vlara
she said, ". . . these things are boring for someone outside the art
field. As much as it pains me to say this, my sister will be much more
entertaining."

Kathryn punched Phoebe on the shoulder lightly and looked at Vlara.
"We can make it another night if you wish."

Vlara smiled and turned to Phoebe. "Tell the artist I am honored, but
I have another commitment."

Phoebe gave Kathryn a quick wink and said, "No problem. You might want
to stay at Katie's tonight. Knowing her, she will want to show you
some of the Bay by moonlight, and it will be late when you get in. Not
that I mind picking you up at the transporter station."

Vlara looked at Janeway expectantly. "Would this be a problem?"

"Not at all. I have the spare room already made up. You know, we could
get up early and I could take you for a tour of Starfleet
Headquarters."

Phoebe snorted. "Starfleet Headquarters! You sure know how to show a
girl a good time, don't you?"

Kathryn blushed, but was relieved when Vlara said, "I would enjoy
doing that."

Kathryn smiled and said, "I can introduce you to some old friends and
colleagues, and we can have lunch in the cafeteria."

Phoebe had a pleased expression on her face as she said, "Well, looks
like you two have a. . . date. . . if you will excuse me, I see
someone I must talk to."

She quickly departed, leaving a red-faced Kathryn who glanced at
Vlara, relieved to see that the expression on the young woman's face
indicated that she had no idea to what Phoebe had really been
implying.

---

It was a pleasant evening; Kathryn thinking that dinner was a success.
She had ordered a platter of the different varieties of oriental style
foods and enjoyed watching Vlara try each one. She took pleasure in
the young woman's obvious enjoyment.

At the conclusion of their dinner, Vlara looked suddenly sober, and
said, "I am concerned that your friendship with me may present
problems with your career in Starfleet."

Kathryn looked momentarily surprised and inquired, "How so, because
you are Romulan, or because your mother is an Admiral and one of the
most powerful people in the Empire?"

Vlara glanced down and back up, meeting Janeway's eyes. "Both."

Kathryn smiled, reached across the table, and covered Vlara's hand.
"There is nothing to worry about. I choose my own friends and
Starfleet has no say in that. They are well aware that you and I are
in daily contact with each other. I will not lie to you and say that
your name has not come up in conversations I have had with a few
colleagues. They are aware that you have family here and were carrying
out a family duty."

Kathryn paused for a second as if weighing some decision, then said,
"I must confess, I have other reasons for wanting to take you to
Starfleet headquarters. I do want to show you around, but Admiral
Shanmir approached me and asked if I thought you would be interested
in a civilian position as an advisor on Romulan culture. Since
protocol and diplomatic functions are under his auspices, I think he
would like to have more knowledge of the social customs of Romulus."

Vlara looked somewhat surprised. "What you are saying, Kathryn, is
that Starfleet and the Federation would perhaps have need of this
knowledge in the foreseeable future, that is, if the current overtures
of agreeable cooperation between Romulus and The Federation should
lead to formal diplomatic relations. What did you inform this Admiral
Sha. . . "

"Shanmir. I informed him that you were a cultured Romulan, from the
highest social caste, which he already knew. That you are amiable,
intelligent, well-spoken, interesting, a good conversationalist, and
have an open mind. I also informed him that I would let him judge that
for himself when he meets you."

Vlara pursued her lips and said, "I am flattered, but why did you not
inform me of this when you made the invitation earlier to tour
Starfleet Headquarters?"

Kathryn said one word, "Phoebe."

Vlara smiled in understanding. "Phoebe has made it known to me that
she does not like Starfleet. She would cast their offer in the worst
light possible."

Kathryn smirked. "Exactly. The Admiral approached me yesterday. Rest
assured, it was probably discussed by other Starfleet Admirals, and
agreed upon prior to the inquiries of Admiral Shanmir."

"I will think on this tonight. I do find this offer interesting."

Kathryn gave her trademark uneven smile and said, "Oh, and I was
telling only the truth when I described you to Admiral Shanmir."

Vlara flushed, bit her lower lip, and shyly looked at Kathryn through
lowered lashes. "Thank you."

Kathryn thought the reaction endearing. //Watch it Katie. You could
fall hard for this one.// Then she mentally sighed and added, //Who am
I kidding? I'm falling and falling hard.//

They left the restaurant, but the notorious San Francisco fog had
rolled in and made a walk around the Bay impossible. They decided to
go back to Kathryn's home.

Kathryn opened the front door to her home, allowing Vlara to enter
before her. "You know where everything is. Just make yourself at home.
I'm going to make some coffee, would you like a cup?"

"Yes, thank you. I'm going to use your facilities."

Kathryn went to her kitchen area and instead of using the replicator,
used a percolator. It was an old tried and true method of brewing
coffee by using real beans. Kathryn had missed this in the Delta
Quadrant. To her, this was the way coffee was intended to be prepared
and enjoyed. And it was great that Vlara had discovered she liked the
brew while staying at her mother's home. She also enjoyed it black, a
woman after Kathryn's own heart. She sighed and her thoughts ran to
another meaning for the phrase. //I can only dream.//

The coffee was ready and Kathryn poured two cups. Turning quickly, she
bumped into Vlara, who had come up behind her. Both hot cups emptied
onto the chest and arms of the young woman, who cried out, and quickly
stepped back, holding her sodden blouse out from her chest, a pained
looked on her face.

"Oh my gods!" Kathryn exclaimed, quickly putting the now two empty
cups in the sink, and turning back to Vlara, said, "Take your blouse
off quickly while I go and get the dermal regenerator."

Kathryn hurried through her bedroom and into her bathroom. She reached
into one of the drawers, found the small household emergency dermal
regenerator that was a part of her first aid supplies, and hurried
back to the kitchen.

Vlara had her shirt and chemise off, and was at the sink holding a wad
of wet paper towels against her chest and breasts, her eyes closed in
obvious pain. Kathryn placed her hand on the young woman's right
shoulder and turned her around. "Here, let me tend to that." She
sucked in her breath on seeing the red areas and slight blistering of
the flesh on Vlara's upper chest and the tops of her breasts. She
waved the regenerator over the scalded area, seeing the redness
subside. She continued for around a minute, running the regenerator
only a fraction from the skin. Her hand felt the heat radiating from
Vlara's body.

She couldn't help but notice the hardened coral nipples on well
rounded, pert breasts. Kathryn thought, //these would nicely fit in my
hands.// She then realized what she had been thinking and tried to
step back. However, a pair of soft, but firm arms grasped her around
the shoulders and pulled her tightly against the objects of her
admiration. She looked up, stunned, and her mouth was captured by a
soft pair of lips, and held in a firm and hot kiss. She stiffened and
then relaxed, putting her arms around the young woman and drawing her
closer. Her tongue entered into warm, wet velvet softness, caressing
and being caressed. Suddenly, she felt the velvet warmth leave her
mouth and Vlara pushed her away, a breathless cry bringing Kathryn to
her senses.

"I. . . please. . . forgive me," Vlara said nervously and attempted to
turn but Kathryn gripped her by her arms and brought her forcibly
against her, placing a hot long kiss on Vlara's mouth.

Vlara deepened the kiss and melted into Kathryn. She groaned and
Kathryn caught the sound in her mouth and returned it. They parted
then, leaving both women shaken. Kathryn searched Vlara's face, seeing
the eyes half-lidded and laden with passion. She said in voice made
gravelly by passion, "I've wanted to do that for some time now, and
more, much more. It would be so easy to let this lead to something we
may both regret. We need to talk."

Vlara stared long into Kathryn's eyes and said, "Yes. I agree, we do
need to talk."

Kathryn looked down at the naked breasts pressed against her front and
stepped back. "Go over to the couch, I'll get you one of my shirts."
She hurried off to her bedroom, and opening a drawer, snatched out a
slate blue tee shirt emblazoned with a Starfleet emblem on the front.
She had noticed that Vlara was very close to her in height, with Vlara
more filled out in comparison. She thought this shirt would fit Vlara,
as it was a little big on her.

Kathryn returned to the living room and handed the shirt to Vlara,
turning her eyes away as the young woman dressed. She sat down on the
couch next to Vlara, and saw the young woman staring intently at her
folded hands, her mouth quivering. She cupped the young woman's chin,
forcing her gaze up to look her into her eyes. "Talk to me Vlara.
Where do you want to go with this? I'm on unstable ground here."

Vlara sighed and felt her eyes tear. "I am in love with you, Kathryn.
I love you and I don't know what to do."

Kathryn leaned over and kissed each eyelid, catching the tears before
they fell. She searched Vlara's face, and said, "I can't say that I
love you, Vlara, but I am so close. I think of you when I wake and
when I fall asleep. I'm not one who loves easily. I've been hurt
before. I don't want to go into this and then lose you when you decide
to go home. I can't do that. What is it you want, Vlara?"

"I want to give my love to you, Kathryn. I want you to love me. I look
at you and see my tomorrows. I would not leave you if you let me into
your heart. For me, it would be forever."

Kathryn swallowed hard, and felt the ache in her jaws and behind her
eyes, which meant she wasn't far from tears. She drew Vlara to her and
the young women wrapped her arms around Kathryn and eagerly kissed
her.

Breathless, Kathryn broke the kiss and said, "I'm not sure of the
cultural nuances here. I would like to explore the possibility of a
committed relationship with you. Is there some custom I must adhere
to?"

Vlara's eyes had a bright twinkle, with a decidedly mischievous look.
"Yes, you must present my mother with a gift of fine spirits and food,
and request that you be allowed to court me, and that your intentions
are honorable."

At seeing the stumped look on Kathryn's face, she added, "I am only
teasing. It is an old custom many still practice. But no, it is up to
the two individuals involved to decide to court, much as it is with
your North American mating customs."

Kathryn lifted her eyebrows in surprise. "Oh, and you know this, how?"

"I have a particular interest in North American mating customs and
have been studying them of late," Vlara said with a grin.

Kathryn reared back slightly, humor crinkling the corner of her eyes.
"Am I to be a field study then?"

Vlara smiled, her dimples deep, and Janeway thought she was absolutely
adorable. "No. But I do need practical application of the various
methods I have studied."

Kathryn laughed heartedly. "What you need is a study partner. I think
I can provide that. I must tell you though, I've not studied Romulan
mating customs. You may have to help me out there."

"They are quite similar in many aspects to human mating customs. I'm
not an expert, but I believe I can give you some . . . assistance."

Kathryn then looked unsure. "You've not been involved with anyone?"

Vlara gave Kathryn a shy look. "No. I have never found anyone, until
now, that I have these feelings for, or wished to involve myself with,
in. . . that way."

"I see."

"You think because I am inexperienced, I may find that this is not
what I want. I can only say, you make my blood heat and my heart beat
fast. Your very being pulls me, both body and soul, to you. I am sure
that it is the ancient stirrings of the blood fever, the desire to
mate, that I am feeling. It is not that rare that many Romulans
instinctively know their mates upon meeting them. Kathryn Janeway,
from the moment I met you, I was drawn to you. I may have not known
why, but now I do."

Kathryn smiled and drew Vlara tightly against her, kissing her deeply.
She too felt an ancient human stirring and the desire to mate, to give
love and take love. To share all her hopes and dreams, fears and
desires with this young woman, and perhaps, to share all of her
tomorrows with Vlara.

---

"Oh, Lady Annika. That spot by the fountain looks nice. Let's take our
lunch there." B'Elanna motioned to a soft carpet of blue grass that
butted against the side of the large round fountain. The spot they
chose had a yard high border of blue and coral flowering growth, and
was just barely big enough for the two women and their picnic basket.

B'Elanna winked at Seven, causing the young woman to raise her left
eyebrow, and glance furtively at Ulan Glaria, who was setting a
blanket on the ground and placing the large basket on it. However, the
young Ulan had not noticed the exchange. Seven was usually accompanied
by two guards wherever she went, but in the last few days, only one
guard accompanied her. Seven did not know the reason for this, and
decided it was unimportant, since it met one less set of eyes to spy
on her.

B'Elanna looked at Seven and smiled, drinking in her wife's beauty and
noticing how the sunlight made her gold hair shine, giving her an
ethereal look. Earlier, she had been in Seven's quarters pretending to
ohh and ahh over the fine gowns and wardrobe Sela gave her so the
guard wouldn't get suspicious. B'Elanna's blood had boiled when
thinking about Sela giving her be'nal such intimate and personal
gifts. Gifts that only she, B'Elanna, had the right to give. It was
all B'Elanna could do to keep from going into a blood rage and ripping
the garments to threads. The cold fury must have shown in her eyes, as
Seven had looked at her and blanched. B'Elanna tried hard to dampen
her underlying rage, and it had torn at her very soul to think that
Seven thought she was the cause of her dark looks.

Seven settled herself on the blanket and B'Elanna beside her. The
guard had no choice but to leave the small area and go back to the
main path, some 25 feet away. Seven reached into the basket, brought
out a small device, and placed it on a blanket. Immediately the sound
of mellow music issued forth. "I thought we might enjoy music in these
surroundings."

B'Elanna smirked, knowing that the music would serve to drown out
their conversation. "How very nice. Yes, it is does set the mood."

Seven removed the carafe of wine and the food from the basket, putting
them on the blanket before. "Please, select what you wish."

B'Elanna's eyes were melting as she gazed at Seven. So that no one
would over hear her above the music, she softly said, "I wish for only
you, bang'wI. Gods, how I wish I could take you into my arms. You
don't know how I ache to hold you."

Seven swallowed hard, her breathing coming through parted lips. "I do
know. I have no other wish but to hold you also."

They stared at each other, and B'Elanna saw Seven suddenly grab a
glass and start pouring. "Here Lady D'len. Try this, it is a local
drink made from the juice of a fruit tree that grows in profusion
here. I find it quit refreshing." B'Elanna then heard a soft rustling
nearby and surmised that Seven's acute Borg hearing had picked up the
guard's movements. After a few seconds, she could hear the sound
receding.

She took the glass from Seven and chuckled lightly. "Bet she is bored
out of her wits at our conversation."

Seven smirked. "Indeed, I find I am bored discussing fashion." Her
eyes softened and she added, "However, I am not bored at hearing the
sound of your voice."

B'Elanna smiled. "Seven." She said the name with all the love she
felt. Both women stared at each other for long seconds, and then
B'Elanna took the gold pendent from around her neck, and said loudly,
"I wish to give you this gift, Lady Annika. I believe it becomes you.
I got it on Telokso III. Many believe that it imbues the wearer with
protection against misfortune. Here, let me fasten it around your
neck."

Seven turned her torso slightly, and B'Elanna slid over on the blanket
behind her and placed it around her neck, quickly placing a kiss on
the nape. She whispered low in Seven's ear. "Don't take it off for any
reason. It has certain properties that will be needed to escape here."

She slid back and Seven turned, her hands fingering the filigree work.

"It looks wonderful on you Lady Annika." B'Elanna reached over and
deliberately knocked the carafe of juice over, drew her breath in
sharply and said with distress, "Oh, how clumsy of me." Both women
quickly stood, looking at the spreading stain on the blanket. "I am so
sorry. Perhaps we can have your servant get us another carafe and
blanket."

Seven smirked and called loudly, "Ulan, Ulan."

A few seconds later Ulan Glaria appeared. Seven indicated the spilled
carafe and wet blanket. "We will need another carafe of plimal juice,
and a blanket. Please, go back to my quarters and obtain these items."

Ulan Glaria looked flummoxed, and then replied, 'Lady, my orders are
to stay with you."

Seven stood up to her full Borg height, seeming to tower above the
young soldier, and said in her most cold Borg voice, "You were also
ordered to obtain for me items that I may need, were you not?" She
looked the young woman up and down disdainfully. "I shall inform
General Sela that you would not perform this simple request for me. I
shall get it myself." She bent down to remove the blanket from the
ground, and said to B'Elanna. "This garden is secured with force
fields. Perhaps this Ulan is delusional and thinks that I have the
ability to walk through them."

B'Elanna had retrieved the carafe and glared at the young Ulan. "Our
luncheon is ruined." She looked at Seven, her expression angry. "For
what it is worth, lady, I shall tell Efok to inform General Sela that
her staff is woefully under trained. Perhaps she will get you a new
servant. One who is more attentive to her Lady's needs."

Glaria sighed, reaching out her hand for the blanket and empty carafe.
She took them and said, "I will return shortly with what you have
requested."

When she had disappeared out of sight, B'Elanna said, "Here is the
plan. . . "

---

Sela took a sip of her drink and, eyeing the necklace around Seven's
neck, motioned to it with her glass and asked, "I've seen that
somewhere. Ah, yes. Last night. Efok's wife was wearing it. How did
you come by it?"

Seven stood a few feet away, having just arrived for dinner. Tonight
she wore a sedate, light gray tunic with a black belt. Sela did not
pick this outfit, Seven did. Many nights Sela did not request that
Seven wear a particular outfit, and Seven always tended to pick the
less revealing pieces. She did not care that she still drew the
fascinated stares of those that encountered her in the facility. Seven
continued to wear her hair down at dinner, not wanting Sela to decide
to let it down for her, thus touching her in so intimate a gesture.

"D'len gave it to me today at our luncheon."

"My, but you surprise me by wearing it. It seems strange that you
would even be interested in such. I'm sure the Borg did not have use
for such irrelevant items as jewelry."

"They do not. I, however, am no longer Borg. I find the artisanship
and design aesthetically pleasing. If you wish, I shall remove it."
Seven mentally held her breath.

"No. If it pleases you, leave it on. It will give me the incentive to
purchase pieces for you. Though, my dear Annika, you yourself are a
jewel and do not need to wear them."

Seven bowed her head slightly in acknowledgement of the compliment,
not because she agreed, but wished Sela to think that she was thawing
to her presence and comments. This was a dangerous game she was
playing, but if it meant Sela thought she was becoming used to her
captivity, and no longer as adverse to Sela herself, it could mean
that their chances for B'Elanna's plan to work were good. She just had
to arrange to see Harry Kim in the gardens again and slip to him one
of the pistols B'Elanna had slipped to her, and give him a brief
outline of the plan.

Sela again looked carefully at Seven. "I can't imagine that you have
anything in common with Efra's wife, what was her name. . . D'lon. . .
"

"D'len."

"D'len. A pretty woman, but no doubt her world revolves around
fashion, parties, and common gossip of whose spouse is sleeping with
whom. I imagine you were somewhat bored."

Seven forced a small smile on her face. "You are correct, Sela. Her
interests do lie in those things you mentioned. However, I find her
company to be entertaining. She is widely traveled and has many
descriptive and interesting stories concerning the various. . .
customs of some of the local cultures on many planets."

Sela snorted. "I would have never thought you would be interested in
anthropology. Physics, stellar phenomenon, and technology seem to be
what we have mostly discussed. Perhaps I am boring you, and should
expand our dinner discussions to include varying cultural aspects of
different species and such."

"You are not boring. I find our discussions interesting and
informative. However, since my time on Voyager, I have always taken an
interest in the different cultural aspects of many species, including
an appreciation for art, music, and literature, from many worlds and
times. Captain Janeway has a holo-program that she created. It is the
studio of one of Earth's most renowned artistic and scientific minds
of his times. I found it. . . stimulating."

Sela smirked and said, "Perhaps I should start collecting pieces of
art and antiquities from various planets, and see how stimulating they
are."

Seven said, "D'len has many items of art and antiquities on her ship.
She has invited me to dine with her, and to see and discuss them. She
states that Efok will be more than pleased to allow her to entertain
me. She also extended the invitation to you. She has many fine and
rare foods that cannot be found anywhere else in this sector, and
states her brother, Tomos, knows how to prepare them."

Sela thought for a moment. "I've been on Efok's ship for dinner
before. His dining room is opulent, as is the general living area of
his ship. Not to my taste, but the food is delicious. I will check my
schedule and get in touch with him on a date. Now I have many
delicacies prepared for our consumption. Let us to dinner."

Sela walked the few steps up to Seven and lightly grasped her elbow.
Entering the dining room, Seven's spirit sank as she saw only one
couch, for two, at the table.

---

Seven combed her hair about her shoulders and then brought her left
hand up to feel the pendent that hung around her neck. Its bright gold
went well with the new wine colored gown she wore. B'Elanna had warned
her to keep it on her person always, as it would offer protection when
the plan for her and Harry's escape fell into place.

She smoothed the gown about her ankles and rearranged the small
handgun more comfortably into the top of her short, suede boots. She
would have to be careful in her walk and not show the tops of her
boots, which went only a few inches above her ankle. She wondered if
B'Elanna would think her beautiful in this gown. Then she abruptly
thought, she would hate it, as it is a gift from Sela. At that moment,
she wished she could tear the gown from her body and rip it to
threads.

Perhaps, in a way, it was fitting that this would be the last time
Sela would see her in a gown that she chose. After tonight, she would
never have to dress in clothes chosen for her by Sela, nor dine with
her captor again. She had to trust in the plan that B'Elanna, Tom and
Efok had set in motion. How could it fail? Sela was walking right into
the brig, so to speak. The only problem was, if Harry could manage to
extricate himself from his captors.

It had been two days since B'Elanna had managed to sneak to her the
two small hand weapons. She kept one for herself and the other she had
given to Harry that morning in the garden.

She had requested that she have permission to play a game of Kadis Kot
with Harry in the garden, since the weather was mild, and she had not
had the chance to see him in person in over five days. Sela granted
her request, and Seven had Ulan Glaria carry a small ground table, and
a cushion for her to sit on. Seven carried the Kadis Kot game.

Harry was waiting for her with his guard, which on this occasion had
been reduced to one. She led him to the area that she and B'Elanna had
used two days before. The table was set up and she sat on her cushion,
opening up the game. She had told her guard to return to her quarters
and get another cushion for Harry, as she did not want him sitting on
the hard ground. Glaria had left to do so. This only left Harry's
guard. She set up the board quickly and took out the game pieces. "I
believe I have lost a game piece. It must have dropped out of the box
while walking here." Harry looked around the table, Seven looked at
his guard and said, "Ulan, please help us look, I believe I could have
lost it on the path here."

Harry's guard immediately began to search the ground and retrace their
steps. This was all the opportunity that Seven needed to quickly take
the small gun from her boot and pass it to Harry. His eyes had grown
large and he had looked bewildered, but quickly hid the piece in his
boot, pulling his trousers' leg back over his boot tops. Seven said in
a whisper, "Tonight, all power will go off. Get to the garden and exit
the back. Go to the spaceport. Third pad down. . . " She broke off
quickly as the two guards had returned, but noticed that Harry
understood her.

The small spaceport was right next to the gardens, and Harry had told
her previously that he had a good view of the ships berthed there.
Mostly they were small shuttles and small private ships. The port was
too small for large warships. She was hoping he could break the door
to the balcony, drop the short distance to the garden below, and make
his escape, as the force fields would be inoperable.

The door chimes interrupted her thoughts; she did not have to answer
it, as her guard would wait a few seconds and enter. Seven went to her
living area and folded her hands behind her back, Ulan Glaria stopped
just inside the door. "Lady Annika, I am to accompany you to the
General's quarters first, and from there, you we will proceed to
dinner aboard Tat be Qual."

Seven nodded her head and preceded Glaria outside the door, and down
the hall to Sela's apartments.

Seven waited in the anti-chamber and was soon joined by Sela, who
looked her over appraisingly. Sela smiled and said, "How lovely you
are." She turned and went to a small side table and retrieved a small
dark maroon oblong box and bought it over to Seven and handed it to
her, smiled and said, "Lagga uh' j hu."

Seven looked carefully at the box, wondering what it contained.

"Open it. I assure you, it's harmless."

Seven glanced up, noticing that Sela's eyes were bright, and she wore
a small smile, as if pleased.

Seven looked back down at the box, released the small gold clasp that
held it shut, and lifted the lid. There among soft wine velvet was a
round faceted clear stone. It caught the light in glittering rainbow
hues. A diamond she thought and then saw that it had an iridescent
gold sheen. It was set in a simple gold frame and attached to a slim
gold chain.

"Well? I picked it out myself. It is very rare gem from Catslittay in
the Ocelor system."

"It. . . it is esthetically pleasing. I thank you." Seven kept her
eyes on the gem, not wanting Sela to read in them her true feelings,
those of anger. This was a gift only her be'nal had the privilege of
giving her.

Sela reached for the box and took it out of Sevens hand. She removed
the jewel and put the box on the side table. "Here, let me put it on
for you. Now, D'len will envy you tonight."

Seven panicked for a moment. That would mean she would have to take
off the pendant that B'Elanna gave her.

She said quickly and a little too forcefully, "No. I will put it on."

Sela looked somewhat stricken and said, "Is my touch still so . . .
distasteful to you? Don't think I haven't noticed the way your body
stiffens, and the little flinches you give, when I touch you. Here,
you put it on. However, know this Annika. I am growing impatient
waiting for you to come to me. I find myself wanting to take you." She
paused, looking at Seven's wide eyes and stepped forward, grasping her
face and planting a kiss on her lips. Seven did not move, nor did she
return the kiss. Sela broke the kiss and drew back slowly. "Yes. I
find myself wanting you very much, willing or not."

Seven wanted to rub the hateful kiss from her lips and snarl and
scream at Sela, but held back, lest somehow it ruin the plans for
dinner and escape. She slipped the gold pendent from over her head.
Sela reached for it and placed it in the empty jewel box. Holding the
ends of the slim chain in her hands, she slipped the necklace around
her neck, and using her Borg enhanced left thumb and forefinger,
quickly snapped the tiny clasp off. She looked at Sela and said,
"Sela, I believe I need your assistance. I cannot seem to secure it."

She handed the jewel to Sela and turned around, lifting the golden
mane from around her shoulders and baring the back of her neck. Sela
looked closely at the piece and said, "It is broken. This is
unforgivable. How dare the artisan sell this to me in this state. I
hope you aren't too disappointed. I will have it repaired in plenty of
time for you to show it off at another dinner."

Sela took the gold pendant from the box and stepped up to Seven,
placing the pendent over her head. She smoothed out the long chain and
allowed her hand to trace the length to where it fell at the beginning
of the valley between Seven's breasts. Seven felt Sela's knuckles
graze her skin. It took all of her will power not to shudder and draw
back. Sela leaned forward and drew Seven into her arms and kissed her
cheek, then slid her lips to Seven's. Parting only slightly, she
ordered, "Kiss me, open your mouth for me." Seven parted her lips and
felt Sela's tongue slip between her teeth and stroke her tongue.

Seven repeated mentally, over and over, This is irrelevant. It means
nothing, this is nothing, this holds no relevancy.

Sela drew back slowly, her pupils dilated. She stepped back and
searched Seven's face with hot eyes, as if looking for some reaction.
She ran the tip of her tongue along the top lip before saying, "I am
vacillating on whether to send my regrets to Efok and spend some. . .
quality time, with you tonight."

Seven was silent. She would not meet Sela's eyes.

She heard a sigh. "However, I do not want to disappoint you, or his
wife, and what I have in mind can wait until after dinner."

There was silence again, as if Sela was waiting for Seven to comment
on what she had said.

Seven thought to break this silence; she did not want Sela's hot stare
on her. It was too easy to read what lay beneath the meaning of
quality time. "Again, I. . . I thank you for the gift. It is
aesthetically pleasing."

Sela smiled. "I am pleased that you like it. I find that I enjoy
buying things for you. Expect many more gifts of jewelry in the
future. We should go now. It is time. I thought we would walk through
the gardens to the spaceport. It is beautiful at night. I have
programmed the fountains to reflect varying hues of colored lights,
and I do not believe you have seen the night sky. I believe all three
moons are in the sky tonight."

There was a chime at the door and Sela looked up. "Enter." Two Tal
Shiar, of high rank, entered and saluted. "Yes. What is it?"

"General. We just found this on the prisoner, Kim." He turned and
motioned for the other officer to step forward, this officer handed
Sela a small hand weapon: The one Seven had given Harry. Sela studied
it for a moment. "Where did he get this?"

"He would not say. His guard noticed that his gait did not seem right,
and suspected his boot was bothering him. Kim denied this. When he was
bathing, his guard checked his boots and pants and found this in the
leg of his trousers. We have Kim in the brig awaiting your orders."

Sela turned her gaze on Seven, frowning. "What do you know of this?"

"Nothing." Seven knew that she had to deny knowing anything. She was
not accustomed to dissembling, despite having to do that on several
recent occasions, and hoped by keeping her comments short, Sela would
not know she was doing so.

Sela gave Seven a hard and searching look, and then turned to one of
her officers and ordered, "Have her taken to her quarters. Search her
quarters for weapons, or anything else unusual. Have two guards keep
an eye on her at all times. I will interrogate the prisoner, Kim,
myself. Contact Efok and tell him that I regret that we will not be
able to dine with him tonight, due to important business that just
came up."

Before Seven left the room with her guards, Sela looked at her and
softly said, "My Annika, It would sadden me greatly if you knew about
this. If you have any knowledge at all, tell me now, and I will be
very lenient with you."

Seven stood straight in her Borg pose, her hands behind her back, and
her voice cold. "I know nothing."

"Very well. I shall have to punish you if you are lying." She raked
her eyes slowly down Seven's body and back up to her face, leering
slightly, and then motioned with her head for Seven to go.

Seven turned and followed her guards.

---

"What do you mean they're not coming? What did they say?" B'Elanna
demanded, her tone strident.

Efok wanted to hold his hands over his ears at B'Elanna's loud voice.
"That important business just came up that Sela must attend to, and
she sends her regrets. I tried to get more information, but the guard
was tight lipped. I have a bad feeling about this. We need to decide
our next course of action."

Tom stated, "Hey, Brod and I have made a few friends among the
soldiers here in the port, maybe they know something. We could contact
them on the pretense of going out to a tavern, and talk them up.

B'Elanna looked at him and ordered, "Do it now. I too have a bad
feeling about this. Damn! We were so close. I have to get in touch
with Seven. Trouble is, they won't let her have direct outside
communications. I have to get permission to talk to her over the com."
She ran to the communication console, and looked impatiently at Paris,
who was busy talking to someone.

He closed the channel and said, "Orders are everyone is confined to
base tonight. They are not letting anyone communicate unless it is
over official channels. Hell, they're blocking out the video portion
for some reason. I couldn't even get a look at who I was talking to."

B'Elanna bumped Paris out of the chair and sat, quickly pushing in the
code. "Yes. This is Efok's wife, D'len. I would like to speak to Lady
Annika, it is urgent. . .  What do you mean I have to go through a
senior officer. . .  Well, get one." B'Elanna held her breath and a
few long seconds later, stated, "I see. Well, when can I expect to be
able to speak to an officer in charge. . .  What is going on, all the
officers at some party. . .  Oh. Then I will call later."

B'Elanna cut the channel and blew her breath out in frustration. "No
communications by civilians allowed until further orders, and all
personnel are ordered to their post."

Efok sighed. "This is bad. If they have a general lockdown and forbid
troops from contacting the outside, that could mean there is something
internally that is going on, something among the ranks or . . . It
does not bode well. We need to make a decision, and a plan, quickly.
The prisoners would more than likely be in their quarters in an
emergency. Unless, of course, it involves them, then they might be in
the brig. We will use the deadening device. D'len, we must go though
the garden and try to get your friends out that way. Sela is another
matter. She will surround herself with guards. I will just have to go
to plan B--kill her."

B'Elanna asked, "And you're going to do this, how?"

"Detonate a photonic bomb. It's already in place, hidden amongst a
shipment of wine. In fact, it looks like a bottle of wine.

B'Elanna looked at him with her mouth half open.

Efok laughed. "Don't worry. It's set to go off ten minutes after the
deadening device's effect dies. Quite simple you see, the timing
device on the bomb will activate when the deadening device shuts down.
Then, BOOM. We should be well clear of the area by then."

"Uh-huh. Didn't think it important enough to tell Tom and me I
suppose. Plan B, huh? And this from the man who states he plans
everything when needed. What if we can't get Seven and Harry out, then
what?"

"Unfortunately, they will be casualties of war."

B'Elanna's face flushed dark red and she snarled, shaking in her rage,
"This wasn't about saving my friends at all was it? It was always
about Sela."

Efok sobered and answered, "Truthfully, as far as Admiral Telir was
concerned, it was about freeing your friends. However, Admiral Telir
herself is a game piece. My true orders come from the Proconsul
himself, and yes, his goal is Sela dead or alive and the destruction
of the renegade Tal Shiar. The Empire's survival depends on this. It
may seem that I have no honor in my actions. However, one thing I am
and that is a loyal Romulan. My loyalty to her is not for sale, and I
will do what it takes to help keep her safe. My honor is for Ch'Rihan
alone."

B'Elanna closed her eyes, her rage making her tremble. She stated
through clenched teeth, "Efok, I should kill you now, but I need you.
Pray to all the gods you hold dear that I get my wife, and friend
back. Because I will kill you if I don't."

"I'll help you do that, B'Elanna." Tom put a hand on B'Elanna's
shoulder, his eyes cold blue steel, and stared hard into Efok's eyes.

Efok nodded and said, "Here is the plan."

---

Two guards stood menacingly in front of the inside door to Seven's
quarters. They watched her intently as she sat on the sofa, their
weapons drawn. Two other guards had searched her quarters thoroughly
by taking her clothing from the closet, and riffling through her
dresser drawers, as well as searching the cushions and pillows, and
searching her bed.

They had allowed her to have privacy to get out of her gown and dress
in a tunic and trousers. She had also donned a pair of high top boots,
and slipped the pistol into the top of one. She thought of taking the
gun and shooting them, but knew she would not get far. She thought of
at least thirty-three plans of action she could do to distract them,
and disarm or kill them, and 126 reasons why they would fail.

She had to act. If she could access her computer, she could plunge her
tubules into the auxiliary frame, perhaps access the main frame, shut
down all power to the facility, and escape through the garden, to the
ship, and to B'Elanna. Perhaps then, she and B'Elanna could free
Harry.

She turned her thoughts to her be'nal. She was in danger also. Just
then, all lights went out and there was a silence so profound, that
Seven could only hear the surprised intake of breath from her guards.
B'Elanna. She drew out her handgun, and using her Borg enhanced
implant, accessed her night vision and shot both guards. The only
sound was the buzz of the pellets ejected at great velocity, and the
thuds of her two guards hitting the deck. She quickly went to the door
leading to the garden and using her Borg strength, tore it open.

She heard running footsteps. The moonlight and her Borg vision let her
see clearly that it was B'Elanna and two others, dressed as Tal Shiar,
one was Efok, and the other she thought to be Tom, by the general body
shape, though the face was Romulan. She ran a few steps forward and
flung herself into B'Elanna's arms, hugging her tightly. B'Elanna
returned the hug and both women drawing back slightly, started to rain
kisses on each other's mouth and face.

Efok hissed, "Come on. Save that for later. We must get your
companion. We can see no movement from his room."

Seven said in a low voice, "Sela's guard discovered the pistol I had
secreted to him, 56. 4 minutes ago. She is interrogating him."

Efok answered, "I know where he is. Tomos and I will get him. You two
go back to the ship. Leave, if we are not back by 2108 hours."

Seven replied, her voice strained, "No. I will not go. I will assist
in freeing Lieutenant Kim. I am his commanding officer."

B'Elanna stated, "We do this together."

Efok huffed, "Very well then." He looked at Seven and said, "You are
our prisoner and we have orders to take you to Sela. There is no light
so we will not be recognized."

They entered Seven's quarters where all three rescuers took out small
lamps. Seven heard a faint hiss, and dry scraping sounds, immediately
each device omitted a bright light. Seven surmised that the devices
operated by using gas and ignited by a small device, which produced a
spark when struck against a hard object.

Efok noticed the two bodies at the door, and stepped over them. He
tried to pull the doors open, but the lack of electrical impulse had
sealed them shut. Seven stepped forward and using her Borg strength,
quickly and efficiently tore them open.

Efok stared at her in shock. " Frahdha'nia Kholairlh-a nahi?"

Seven replied, "I am Borg."

"I. . . see." He then replied under his breath, "I wouldn't mind being
assimilated by you."

B'Elanna, who had overheard the remark, shoved him hard from behind.
All four stepped through the door. B'Elanna and Tom, who were on each
side of Seven, followed Efok who headed the group.

The halls were empty, but the corridor ahead had the sound of
movement. The small lanterns cast enough light to see at least twenty
feet ahead.

They heard a challenge. "Identify yourself."

Efok smoothly answered, "Major Govor. I have orders to take this
prisoner to Sela in the Interrogation room."

There were two Tal Shiar, their rank was difficult to make out, but
they did wear thin officers' belts, indicating they were of the lower
ranks. One of them said, "Major, all the lifts are out. You will need
to take the stairwell down. I will show you."

"I know where it is. You are blocking the hallway. Find a room and get
out of the way until the lights are on, unless you have orders to stay
here."

"Right away, Major"

They quickly passed the officers, hurried down the corridor, and
turned a corner. Some three doors down, Efok stopped and tried the
door to the stairwell. It too was sealed. He motioned Seven forward
and she easily forced it open.

Going down two flights, they came to another door, and Seven repeated
her action. The door opened to a wide corridor. Immediately, a guard
challenged them. "Halt. Do not move."

Efok and Tom played their lights over the faces of four Tal Shiar.

Efok sneered, "Out of my way, General Sela wants this prisoner, and I
am already late due to this power outage."

One officer stepped close. "Get that light out of my face. This is
Colonel Wansor. All orders go through me and I issued no such orders.
Who are you?" While saying this, he drew his weapon, not knowing that
it would be ineffective due to the deadening device. The other three
Tal Shiar followed suit.

Efok sneered. Wansor pulled the trigger and looked stunned when
nothing happened. Efok had drawn his pistol, and quickly shot all four
officers. The party stepped over the bodies and up to the large door.
Seven forced it opened and the others stepped in.

"What is the meaning of this? Who are you?" Efok turned his lamp to
the voice and saw Sela standing with two officers. They had their
weapons drawn. He methodically shot the two officers and turned his
weapon on her.

"My dear General. I believe you have a dinner date to keep. You will
arrive a little late, but I'm keeping the meal warm for you."

"Efok! You're behind this. You won't get out of here alive. Who are
you working for?"

"Ch'Rihan. Now shut up. You can either be dead, or keep your mouth
shut and follow us. What is it to be, General?"

B'Elanna, Seven, and Tom went to the chair where Harry Kim was
strapped, with a wire cage like contraption surrounding his head.
Seven unhooked the device and Tom looked his friend in the eyes.

"He's alive. Hey Harry, can you hear me? Come on, buddy, we have to
get out of here." Seven and Tom helped him up to his feet and
supported him between them. He moaned, "Where am I?"

Tom let out a relieved breath, and said, "With friends."

It was easy to retrace their steps and exit the building through the
gardens. They met only two other Tal Shiar and these Efok quickly
dispatched. Sela threatened what she would do to them, but B'Elanna
cuffed her upside her head and said, "My choice was to kill you on
sight. If you don't shut up and move faster, that's what I will do."
For the short trip to the ship, Sela remained quiet.

Once in the ship, Efok ordered Brod to leave as fast as they could, or
in ten minutes they would go up with the compound.

The ship took off at such a fast speed, the inertial dampeners did not
have time to kick in, and the g-forces threw all six onto the deck.
The inertial dampeners kicked in and Sela made a move for B'Elanna's
weapon, only to feel herself snatched back forcefully by the nape of
her neck and a cold precise voice state, "Touch her and I will
terminate you."

All were on their feet again, except for Harry.

He was conscious, but weak and confused. Tom knelt beside him. "Hey,
buddy. You're safe now and we're on our way back home."

He looked confusedly at Tom. "Tom?"

"Yeah, me and B'Elanna had a little cosmetic job done to fit in with
the local population. Come on now. Let's get you treated and cleaned
up." He helped his friend up, and led him through a door.

Sela looked at B'Elanna and Seven, who were standing beside each
other. She sneered and said to Seven, "My dear Annika. I am sorry to
see that your little wife is ruining our beautiful moments together.
Tell her about them, Annika. How you crave being in my arms."

B'Elanna growled, and Seven sneered and said, "You are delusional."

Sela looked at B'Elanna, and said in a silky voice, "You know, I
fucked that pretty wife of yours. . . many nights. I had her begging
me to make her come. And she did, so beautifully and so many times
while I held her in my arms. It was my name she screamed--"

Before she could finish, B'Elanna screamed in fury and slapped her
hard across the face, knocking the woman to the deck and then she fell
upon her, with her hands around Sela's neck. Efok quickly interceded
and pulled B'Elanna off. It was all he could do to restrain her.
"Ignore her. Do not give her the satisfaction of thinking that her
words have wounded you, or that you believe them."

"Let me go, Efok. She dies now!"

Efok pushed his gun barrel to B'Elanna's forehead. "She is too
important to the Empire. You, however, are not." Seven made a step
toward them, but Efok stopped her. "I will kill her. Now, here is what
you are going to do. . . " he looked at B'Elanna, "Both of you need to
go to your quarters and calm down. I'll take the prisoner to a holding
cell. I guarantee, she is not going anywhere. Now. I'm letting you go.
Your wife needs you."

He let loose his hold and waited until both made a move to go. He
turned to Sela and said, "I have a room prepared just for you, Sela.
It has all the comforts you will need. A cot, sink, and toilet. Room
service will provide you with two meals a day. No need to tip the
staff."

---

B'Elanna led Seven to her quarters. Seven preceded B'Elanna through
the door, hearing the door swish shut behind her, but she did not
turn. She felt her be'nal's arms encircle her waist, turning her
gently around. She opened her eyes and met the dark liquid amber of
B'Elanna's gaze. She lowered her head to the strong shoulders of her
be'nal and cried, her sobs shaking her.

"Shhh, bang'wI. It's all right. You're here with me. You're safe now."

Seven felt soft hands stroke her back and soft kisses in her hair.
B'Elanna led her to the bed and guided her to sit on the edge where
she brushed the hair from her face, and the tears from her eyes.

"Look at me, bang'wI." She felt warm hands cup her chin, and lift,
until her gaze was on the concerned eyes of her be'nal, noticing that
they too were brimming with tears. "It's okay. I have you now. I won't
let you go. Oh bang'wI, everything will be okay. Trust me."

Seven tried to swallow past the lump in her throat, and in a tremulous
voice, said. "I do trust you. I trust you with all my heart and soul."
She looked intently at B'Elanna and started to quiver. "I am afraid."

"Afraid? Of what, bang'wI?"

"That you will believe what Sela told you. That you will believe that
I betrayed our vows."

B'Elanna felt her heart breaking, and said tenderly but with
conviction, "Oh no, bang'wI. Never, never. I know she is lying. I love
you, be'nal, trust in that--believe in that. That will never change.
Never." B'Elanna reached over and pulled the cover down on the bed.
"Here, you're exhausted. Why don't you rest for a while?"

Seven clenched B'Elanna's arm tightly and said beseechingly. "Do not
go. Do not leave me alone."

"I'll stay as long as you like." B'Elanna helped Seven out of her
tunic, and her chemise, she removed Seven's shoes and then her
trousers, drawing them down her hips and letting them fall on the
floor. She guided Seven to lie back upon the pillow. She then removed
her own tunic, boots, and pants, sliding in next to Seven, and
reaching down to draw up the covers over them. "Computer. Lights out."
Darkness surrounded them, except for a small night light near the door
of the bathroom, and the cold streaks of starlight outside the
viewport next to the bed.

Seven shivered, a reaction to all that had happened. B'Elanna drew her
be'nal's head to her chest and stroked her back. "Rest, bang'wI. I
have you for now and for always." She nestled her cheek into Seven's
hair and breathed in the scent she had missed so much the past few
weeks. She felt the shivering cease and soon heard Seven's relaxed and
even breathing, indicating that she was asleep.

B'Elanna couldn't help that her mind played out Sela's words, "You
know, I fucked that pretty wife of yours. . . " B'Elanna wanted then
to get up and pay Sela a visit, to make Sela suffer and beg to die
quickly. She felt bile rise to her throat at the thought of Sela
touching her be'nal and forcing her to. . . No, don't think it. Now
was not the time for revenge, Seven needed her. She needed to be an
anchor for her be'nal, strong and steady, the lee side of an island,
shelter from the raging storm of raw emotion. She let her mind turn
inward to that calm place that Tuvok had showed her, and drifted to
sleep.

---

Seven woke slowly. She felt the warmth under her cheek and inhaled
deeply, taking in the aroma that let her know she was home, and safe
in the arms of the one person who was her world. She was almost afraid
to open her eyes, thinking that this might be a dream.

After a few more moments of just enjoying the feel of her wife's
nearness, she began to feel the stirrings of want and desire. She
turned her head and nuzzled the soft breast next to her cheek. There
was a groan from beneath her and she felt soft, gentle arms enclose
around her. She rose up on her right elbow and felt soft breath waft
across her cheeks. She lowered her mouth to the softness of her be'nal
and they moved their lips gently together. The kiss strengthened and
deepened, soon the kiss progressed to open mouths, taking the very
breath from each other.

Seven put her left leg over her be'nal's hips and moved against the
warm thigh. "I want you, bang'wI. Please, let me love you, please,
love me."

B'Elanna lifted her thigh up and pressed the warm flesh against
Seven's juncture, feeling warm wetness. Seven moved slowly against
her, and pressed her breasts against those of B'Elanna. She dropped
her head onto her be'nal's shoulder, her breathing becoming short and
harsh. B'Elanna whispered in her ear, "Yes bang'wI, I'm yours, I love
you, for now and always." Seven increased the thrusting of her hips
and B'Elanna met it with the upward movement of her thigh. Seven rose
up, placed her hands on the mattress on each side of her wife, and
leaned into them. Her breathing was rapid and harsh, and in the faint
light, B'Elanna could see that her eyes were tightly shut, her mouth
open. Then, Seven's strokes became shorter and faster, and she threw
back her head, exposing the beautiful long neck, like a swan's. Seven
groaned loudly for long seconds. She stopped all motion for a moment,
and B'Elanna felt her tremble and the flow of warm wetness on her
upper thigh. Seven looked into B'Elanna's eyes, her own eyes liquid
silver in the reflection of stars and the dim light. She started to
undulate her hips again and continued to stare into B'Elanna's eyes,
soon she closed them tight, and groaned, her mouth open as she
screamed out, "B'Elanna!" and collapsed into the waiting arms of her
be'nal, her tears flowing freely. B'Elanna stroked her and whispered
through her own tears, "You are so beautiful, so very beautiful when
you climax, bang'wI. Seeing that, it shatters me, shatters me into a
billion pieces." She kissed the tip of Seven's nose. "Thank you for
sharing that with me."

Seven nuzzled the side of B'Elanna's temple and said, "Now it is your
turn to shatter me."

---

Seven slipped quietly down the corridor. She had left an exhausted
B'Elanna sleeping soundly. She felt regret at having to extract
herself from the warmth of her spouse, and the heady scent that
lingered from their lovemaking, but she had a certain duty to perform.

She had drawn up the ship's schematic on the small computer in
B'Elanna's quarters and located where she needed to go.

She stopped in front of a set of doors. They were sealed of course,
but this would not keep her from entering. She put her left wrist up
to the lock pad and inserted the small slim tubules. The door hissed
open and she entered. There were two cells side by side. The first
contained her goal.

The occupant was awake and sitting on the edge of her cot. She quickly
stood up and smirked, saying sarcastically, "Ah, you grace me with
your company, Annika. What brings you here? Did you miss me?

Seven did not answer. She stood in front of the cell and looked at
Sela. She pressed a recess on the side of the cell and the force field
dropped. With speed that seemed faster than light, she stepped forward
and roughly pushed a surprised Sela against the back wall, her right
forearm squeezing the General's throat. Sela struggled, but could not
break the grip. Seven held up her left hand, making sure Sela saw it.
She extended her tubules. They wiggled beyond her wrist like two blind
worms, looking for a source to anchor. Seven let them skitter across
Sela's cheek and down to her throat. Sela tried to scream, but could
not suck in air. Seven hissed close to her face, "You shall cease
fabricating events that never occurred between us. You shall not
disparage my wife, our relationship, or me. If you persist, I will
grant you your heart's desire. I will assimilate you, you will then be
mine, no thoughts of your own, no action that but those I dictate. You
will be mine to command, a slave to my every wish. Resistance is
futile. Do you comprehend?"

Seven did not wait for an answer, but quickly removed her forearm from
Sela's throat. She turned and exited the cell reactivating the force
field. Not looking back, she made her way back to the warmth of her
spouse.

Sela huddled on the floor, her back against the wall, whimpering and
trying to fight down the nausea.

---

Kathryn fought the fog of sleep and tried to make sense of the words.
Someone shook her, and from a far distance, she heard someone calling
her name.

"Kathryn, get up, you have a message on your comm console. Wake up."

She jerked into awareness and quickly slipped out of bed and over to
the comm console, which was persistent with its intermittent beeps.
The display screen showed the Starfleet seal and a streaming message.
'Incoming from Starfleet Command'.

She hit the receive button and sat in the chair. She waited a few
seconds, and the seal of Starfleet Command dissolved. The torso and
face of a young Vulcan Lieutenant appeared on the screen. She had
turned off the video portion on her end so that the young officer
would not be able to view her in all of her naked glory, but he would
be able to hear her.

"Admiral Janeway here."

"Admiral. I have a message for you from the Romulan Star Empire. It is
a recording and was received twenty-seven minutes ago."

"Put it through"

She heard soft footsteps closing in behind her and the feel of her
robe being draped over her shoulders. Then the feel of soft warm hands
resting on her shoulders. The screen showed the image of the Imperial
Romulan Bird of Prey and cleared, Admiral Telir's face appearing.

"First let me say, congratulations on your promotion, Admiral Janeway.
That however, is not my main purpose in contacting you. Your missing
crewmembers have been successfully found and all are well. We are to
rendezvous with them in six days. We will then proceed to coordinates
6467 in the neutral zone to facilitate their return to Federation
Space. We should arrive at that point eighteen days from now. I hope
that you can personally make the trip to receive them. If possible, I
would like to see my daughter again. Admiral Telir, signing off."

Kathryn exclaimed, "What. That's all? No details? What am I to read
into this? What about B'Elanna and Tom, no mention of them."

Vlara knelt, put her arms around Janeway's shoulder, and smiled. "My
mother is deliberately leaving out pertinent details. You never know
who is monitoring communications, even those over secure channels.
What she is saying is that everything went well. All of your
crewmembers are safe."

Kathryn brought her hands up to her face and covered her eyes. She
emitted a sobbing laugh of relief. Then the tears came. They were
safe, and she would go to the Neutral Zone to welcome them home. She
felt warm arms enfold her and she leaned her head onto a soft
shoulder.

Kathryn felt somehow protected by this young woman. And free. Free to
do something she had not done in years. Cry.

She remembered the years of struggle to reach home and those she had
lost along the way. Their faces were etched into her memory forever.
She was their Captain. They had looked to her to protect them. She
felt that she had failed them.

As part of her command training, officers learned that they would lose
crew to accident or war, and that they would have to make the decision
to send some to their deaths to protect the innocent and the many. She
had accepted this responsibility. She would not have been a good
officer if she had not. She recalled the many eulogies she had given
over the almost seven years of their journey home. She had done what
was required, laid them to rest, and returned to her duty as captain.
She steeled her heart and never grieved. She had to be strong for her
crew. They would see tears as a sign of weakness. Even in the privacy
of her quarters, she did not allow herself to cry for she feared that
giving in once was like an alcoholic saying they will have just one
drink.

Vlara just held her. She did not try to stop the tears. Perhaps she
knew that Janeway was crying, in not only relief at hearing the good
news about Seven, Harry and the others, but crying for the ones who
weren't coming home. Finally, when the tears and crying stopped,
Janeway lifted her head from the young woman's shoulder. "I've soaked
your robe. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I'm here for you, Kathryn. For your tears of joy and your
tears of sorrow. Never hold those back from me. Or from yourself,"
Vlara said tenderly.

Kathryn knew then that Vlara understood.

Kathryn tried to give a force ten stare to the young woman and said
with mock severity, "And just what were you doing sneaking up behind
me and eavesdropping? This was a private communiqué from Starfleet,
you know. It could have contained top-secret information and I would
be forced to take drastic measures."

Vlara snickered. "Oh, and what would those. . . drastic measures be?"

Kathryn grabbed the young woman and brought her against her, feeling
the warmth of her body through the thin silk robe. She kissed her
forcefully, and after a few moments, she broke the kiss and, standing
up, brought Vlara up with her, still holding her tight. "Do I need to
demonstrate more drastic measures?"

Vlara replied, "Hmm, I believe so. However, I am chilled. Demonstrate
them in the warmth of our bed. I promise I will not try to escape."

They walked the few feet to the bed, and Kathryn slid out of her robe
and let it drop to the floor. She caught a glance of a white body
sliding under the covers and holding them open for her. She quickly
slid into place beside her lover, taking her in her arms and kissing
her deeply. Arousal was already on the surface and easily stoked.

It had been five weeks since that night in Kathryn's kitchen when she
had accidentally doused Vlara with hot coffee. That night they had
taken their relationship to the physical level, and Kathryn found that
she could not get enough of the young woman, surprised that they had
made love almost every night. Maybe she was making up for all those
years on Voyager when she went without. No, that wasn't it. She
couldn't remember a time when her libido was in warp drive this high.
. . not even in her younger days, or with prior lovers. It was Vlara
that ignited this inferno of all consuming want and need.

And need her she did, and in so many ways. It was not just about the
physical, but the emotional, as well. This quiet and unassuming young
woman from a distant world had managed to slip behind her defenses and
make Kathryn Janeway do what she had never done before, not in her
role as a Starfleet officer, or in her private life.

Surrender.

---

B'Elanna looked in the hand mirror and smiled. The transformation from
Romulan back to her former human-Klingon visage, was done.

At one time, she hated the forehead ridges, but now she was glad to
have them back, as well as her wavy hair. They were a symbol of what
she was and she would proudly wear them. She put the mirror down and,
looking up at her be'nal, wagged her eyebrows. "I'm back". The huge
smile of delight on her be'nal's face caused her heart to skip a beat.

Seven smiled and said with obvious delight, "I have missed your
ridges. You were. . . acceptable as Romulan, however I prefer you as
Klingon." She leaned over and kissed each ridge gently.

Dr. Damar cleared his throat. "Off the table and out of here, you two.
I have to now call Lieutenant Paris in and undo all of my artistic
creation." He sighed dramatically, "A pity, he is so becoming as a
Romulan."

B'Elanna slipped off the table and took Seven's hand. "Thanks Doc.
I'll recommend you to any of my old Maquis acquaintances who may be
looking for a change of face."

"Please. Don't."

B'Elanna laughed and the two exited the medical bay. Looking at her
be'nal, she inquired, "What would you like to do, bang'wI? Admiral
Telir says we're welcome to go to their mess hall and their
entertainment facilities."

Seven squeezed the hand holding hers. "I would like to return to our
quarters and look at your ridges for the next few hours. I have missed
them."

B'Elanna stopped and smiled up at her be'nal. "You know, I think they
need to be kissed and stroked; they itch a little."

Seven looked concernedly at her be'nal, her left eye scanning the
ridges. "Should we take you back to Sick Bay and have Dr. Damar scan
them?"

"Of course not. He did say there might be a little discomfort, but
that it would subside after a few hours. But I think the symptoms
would subside quicker with a little loving attention," she stated
hopefully and with an enticing smile.

Seven leaned over, gave the ridges a quick kiss, and said, "Then I
shall provide them with all the loving attention they may require."

They entered their quarters, and Seven had B'Elanna recline on the
bed. She placed two pillows underneath her be'nal's head, and then
started lightly stroking and kissing her be'nal's ridges.

B'Elanna contently purred, "Uhmm. That feels so good."

B'Elanna was almost drifting into sleep when Seven said, "Starfleet
should give you and Tom a medal of valor for what you two
accomplished."

"Hey, bang'wI, as far as Tom and I are concerned, this wasn't a
Starfleet mission. We would have done this without their permission."
She looked into Seven's eyes. "I would have gone to the deepest pits
of Gre'thor to get you, bang'wI."

Seven leaned down and kissed her ridges. "I know. However, Starfleet,
and the Federation, both need to recognize that you eliminated a
threat, not only to the Romulan Star Empire, but also to them.

"Sela had ambitions to control not only the Empire, but to destroy the
Federation and conquer the Klingon Empire. Sela informed me that this
was indeed her plan. Admiral Telir herself has stated this. That is
why she has put in recommendations for the Order of the Talon to be
awarded to you and Tom. That is one of the highest civilian awards
that can be given for service to the Empire. Not to mention, the great
monetary rewards you and Tom are to receive for facilitating Sela's
capture and destroying the rogue Tal Shiar headquarters."

"Those mean nothing. I mean, they do mean something, but it wouldn't
hurt my feelings if I didn't get them. My greatest award, and reward,
is having you back again. . . safe. . . where you belong. . . " she
took Seven in her arms and kissed her, saying against her lips, ". . .
with me." . At that point, B'Elanna's stomach let out a long and
undignified gurgle.

Seven smirked and said, "I intend to be with you. However, I believe
you require nourishment first, in order to be with me."

"Oh?" B'Elanna's smile then widened on seeing the meaning in Seven's
words. "Ohhh. Well, get thee to the kitchen, wench. I'm starved."

"You have forgotten. It is your wifely duty to cook and mine to do the
dishes. However, since our quarters do not have a replicator, we will
have to go to the officer's mess hall to obtain our daily requirements
of nourishments. Perhaps they have chicken on the menu."

B'Elanna smirked. "I have it on good authority they regularly serve
kopa."

"Kopa?"

"Yes. A dish made from a reptilian species very similar to iguana. I
had it a few times when last aboard, and it does taste like iguana. .
. or chicken."

"Acceptable."

---

B'Elanna and Seven took their trays over to a table where Tom and
Harry were dining and in conversation with Efok.

The Romulan agent, seeing them nearing the table, rose and bowed. "Ah,
join us ladies. Grace us with your presence." He leered at B'Elanna
and said, "My dear wife, you are even more lovely as a Klingon. You
are surely one of their goddesses."

B'Elanna rolled her eyes and said, "Efok. Please, not tonight, dear. I
have a headache."

Everyone laughed except for Seven, who looked concernedly at her
spouse's forehead and said, "B'Elanna, perhaps I should take you to
see Dr. Damar."

This caused everyone to laugh harder.

B'Elanna looked at her be'nal and said, "I'm fine. It's a joke. I'll
explain later."

B'Elanna and Seven seated themselves, and Efok quickly clued them in
as to their conversation. "We were just discussing what we would do
with our reward. You know, I'm going to have to find a new route to
ah. . . ply my trade. I'm thinking about trading with the Gamma
Quadrant. I'm sure there are some fine spirits to be had from that
Quadrant. Only thing I would need to do would be to get a permit from
the Federation to travel through their space and use the Bajoran
wormhole. I was hoping that you and Tom could be references for me."

B'Elanna snorted. "Efok. You would have us lie. Gods, you're a spy. We
would be serving time in a penal colony if we vouched for you."

Tom wryly said, "Been there. Done that. Not going back."

Efok affected a hurt look and said, "You wound me, both of you. After
what we went through together, why, I thought we were like family.
Besides, you are wrong. I haven't always been a spy. I really did
start out as a wine merchant. I'm through with this spy business. Just
because we got Sela, doesn't mean some of her cohorts aren't still on
the loose. She probably has a few on Romulus in high places. No. I
want out of the sector for a while and off the sensor screen. What
better place to be but in another sector."

B'Elanna considered this for a second and said, "Well. I'm not going
to lie. However, if you apply and someone asks me about your
reputation as a merchant, I will tell them that you are an excellent
wine merchant, and as far as I know, honest in your dealings with
customers."

Tom agreed. "Yeah. Me too. I guess we do owe you." He looked at his
friend Harry and then Seven. "We couldn't have done this without you.
But you have to agree, you probably couldn't have done it without us."

"Agreed. If ever either of you are in need of employment, your old
jobs are available." He winked at B'Elanna and added, "Or should I
say, your old position is available."

B'Elanna who glared at him and said, "Hey, Efok you been guzzling your
stock? Look at what's sitting by my side and say that again, would
you."

He smirked and said, "Oh, that's what I'll miss about you, my dear;
your affable and gentle personality."

B'Elanna gave him a narrowed eyed look and changed the subject. "So,
your guest of honor all settled in?"

"As far as I know, Admiral Telir has her in solitary confinement. In
two days, we are to meet with Subadmiral Gatho. Sela will be
transferred to his ship and taken to Romulus, tried for treason, found
guilty, and executed as a traitor. I know you Federation types are
soft hearted and don't want to know the method of execution."

B'Elanna thought back to the prior four weeks of their return trip to
rendezvous with Admiral Telir. She had had only one brief encounter
with Sela during that time. A day after Sela's capture, B'Elanna had
gone to the brig and stood in front of Sela's cell. Strangely, Sela
did not say a word, just glared at her. B'Elanna had told the woman if
she dared utter her wife's name in any way, shape or form, and told
another lie involving her wife; she would cut out her tongue and stuff
it up her rear. Sela said nothing and after a few seconds, dropped her
stare, looking at the floor. B'Elanna had almost been disappointed
that Sela didn't challenge her, as she was prepared to drop the
containment field, go into her cell, and work her over.

She spent the rest of the trip tending to her spouse, holding her
tight, and listening to her talking about her ordeal. Seven had told
her about Sela having her strip and viewing her naked body. . . of
Sela touching her and kissing her. B'Elanna could tell that Seven was
upset, and may have had some feelings of guilt that she had somehow
encouraged these actions from Sela. B'Elanna knew it would serve no
purpose in ranting and raging, and threatening to kill Sela. These
emotions would only upset Seven. Her be'nal needed her gentleness and
support. B'Elanna reined in her rage and comforted her spouse by
telling her that she was not to blame for any of Sela's actions, and
whatever happened, it did not change how she felt about her. She still
loved her with all her heart and soul.

She felt her be'nal's arm brush hers as they finished up their meal,
and asked her, "You want dessert?"

Seven leaned close and whispered into B'Elanna's ear, "Yes. However, I
wish to delay dessert until we are in our quarters."

B'Elanna smiled in anticipation.

---

Admiral Kathryn Janeway stood on the bridge of the USS Venture, Vlara
beside her. They were within minutes of the rendezvous coordinates
with Admiral Telir. Captain Shanna Mason gave orders to reduce the
speed to warp six on entering the Neutral Zone. Two Defiant class
vessels acted as their escort.

Kathryn had left earth two weeks ago, bringing Vlara with her. Before
the Admiral's message, she had feared the possibility that if she had
to meet the Romulan Admiral again to get her people back, Vlara,
seeing a way home, would have a change of heart, and decide she did
not want to remain in the Federation. Thankfully, they lay to rest
those fears.

This occurred on the night of Janeway's message from Admiral Telir
informing her of the success of freeing Seven and Harry. After the
message, they had returned to bed and made love. Their sweet
lovemaking, and her emotional letting go earlier had left her feeling
fragile. She was so much in love with Vlara, but had yet to tell her.
She was afraid that if she said the words, 'I love you', it would
somehow hurt her more if Vlara left.

She had held Vlara as she slept, listening to the even breathing, and
feeling the warmth of her body, and wondering why it was that she
couldn't trust Vlara when she said, "I love you, Kathryn. I will stay
and not leave." She knew Vlara was sincere. But she was still afraid
that Vlara would leave, as had Justin when he died, and later Mark,
giving her up for dead and marrying another.

These thoughts continued to torment her until Vlara suddenly cried out
in her sleep and flailed about. Kathryn gently shook her awake and
Vlara opened her eyes, and threw her arms around Kathryn, crying,
"Don't send me away, don't send me away."

Kathryn soothed her, wondering if the dream was just coincidence, or
if Vlara had some telepathic ability that allowed her to pick up
Janeway's own fears. "It was just a dream, darling. I'll not send you
away. I love you." She had said it. Her heart stilled and she held her
breath.

Vlara also stilled for a moment, and asked in a quiet voice, "You love
me?"

Kathryn smoothed back the hair from Vlara's face and brushed her lips
against hers. "Yes I do. With all my heart."

Vlara held her tight. "Say it again. Say you love me."

"I love you."

"Again."

"I love you. I want you with me. Always."

"Jol-ao-au. I want to stay with you always."

That night, all Kathryn's and Vlara's fears of a future together were
vanquished. They had talked until dawn of making a life together, of
sharing all of their tomorrows with each other.

Kathryn was brought back to the present by the communications officer
announcing, "We are being hailed, Captain."

Captain Mason ordered, "On screen."

Kathryn straightened her tunic, stood at attention, and gave Vlara a
quick smile. The screen immediately showed Admiral Telir sitting in
her Command chair. Behind her could be seen the smiling faces of
Kathryn's lost lambs.

Admiral Telir smiled and said, "Admiral Janeway. As you can see, the
mission was a success. I am arranging for your crew to beam over as
soon as you are prepared to receive them."

"That can be arranged right away." She looked at her crew and smiled.
"I'll meet you in the transporter room. Seven, Harry, welcome home.
I'm glad this had a happy ending. All of you are assigned quarters. I
want you to rest tonight, and tomorrow we will have a briefing at 0900
hours."

B'Elanna smirked and said, "Kahless, so it's true, an Admiral eh? I
mean. . . yes, Admiral Janeway."

Kathryn gave B'Elanna a force ten glare before turning her attention
to Admiral Telir. "Admiral Telir. Thank you. It would be an honor if
you would join me for dinner tonight so I can thank you personally.
There are things I think we both need to discuss." She looked at Vlara
who was standing beside her. "As you can see, Admiral, I have brought
your daughter with me. I can beam her over when I receive my crew. She
has some important issues she would like to discuss with you."

Admiral Telir briefly turned her attention to her daughter and nodded,
a small smile on her lips. "Vlara. Welcome back, my daughter. I have
missed you."

"Mother, I have missed you also. I will see you shortly. Admiral
Janeway is correct. There is something I need to discuss with you
right away." Vlara glanced at Janeway and smiled.

Admiral Telir's expression was slightly puzzled. "Very well. I will
see you shortly." She looked at Janeway and said, "I would be honored
to dine with you, Admiral Janeway. Until then." The screen cleared to
show only a Romulan bird of prey hanging in the perpetual night sky
against a backdrop of stars."

---

Kathryn almost cried when her crew stepped off the transporter pad.
She thought her smile would crack her face. She dropped all
formalities and hugged each one of them.

She watched as Vlara stood on the pad waiting to beam out. Vlara
smiled and disappeared in a sparkle of particles.

Kathryn settled her crew in their quarters and returned to her own.
She was assigned her own VIP suite. After the Dominion war, the Galaxy
class Starship functioned mainly as a diplomatic ship taking
dignitaries and admirals to different assignments, summits, and
important meetings.

The suite was spacious and had two bedrooms, as well as a large formal
dining room. Vlara had stayed with her. She was assigned one of the
bedrooms by the Venture's staff, but of course, shared her bed.
Kathryn did not know if Captain Mason was aware of the true nature of
Vlara's relationship with her. It was general knowledge, at Starfleet
Headquarters, that she and the young woman were lovers.

There was not much that escaped notice by Starfleet Command, if it
involved one of their senior officers or Admirals.

She had introduced Vlara to most of the Admirals and their staff the
morning after their first night together.

Kathryn received a few interesting and assessing looks from some of
her peers when introductions where made. She supposed she was still in
the phase of 'afterglow'. There was not much she could do to hide it.
Making love to Vlara was just so very wonderful. She couldn't help
beaming proudly when introducing her.

Vlara was not intimidated by all the brass. No doubt, having a mother
as an Admiral, and being a senatorial aide, had taught the young woman
how to act around high-ranking Military and Civilian dignitaries
alike.

It was apparent to all that she was affable, intelligent, well spoken,
and a good listener. Admiral Shanmir had been impressed. Even though
his Vulcan features remained neutral, Janeway could see a satisfied
glint in his eyes at Vlara's agreement to become a civilian instructor
in Starfleet's protocol department. Kathryn knew her pride in the
young woman's acceptance was showing."

---

Admiral Janeway, dressed in her dress whites, stood with Captain Mason
by the transporter pad, awaiting the arrival of their guest of honor.
There was a sparkling shimmer of four ghostly forms on the pad, and
Admiral Telir, Vlara, and two Romulan officers materialized.

Kathryn's smile was genuine as she welcomed the Admiral aboard and
made the introductions to Captain Mason.

Admiral Telir's features were cool, almost cold. Janeway glanced at
Vlara, and her heart immediately froze at the stricken look on her
face. Her eyes were slightly reddened and swollen as if she had been
crying. Vlara looked at Janeway and shook her head slightly, glancing
quickly at her mother, indicating some problem there. //Oh, no. She
disapproves of our relationship, or that Vlara is staying in the
Federation. Or both.//

A Starfleet honor guard escorted her, and the Romulan Party, to her
quarters where the dining room was set. This was to be a private
dinner between the two of them. The two Romulan Offices remained
outside the dining room doors, along with two Starfleet Honor guards.
Vlara had excused herself and gone to her assigned room.

Kathryn cleared her throat. "Admiral, may I offer you a drink? I have
a wonderful sherry from my home planet I think you might enjoy."

"Thank you," Admiral Telir coldly said.

Kathryn poured the drinks and both women stood assessing each other.
Kathryn was just about to ask the Admiral if she and Vlara had talked,
knowing that they had, when the admiral beat her to the punch.

Admiral Telir studied Janeway as she sipped her drink, then said, "My
daughter has told me of her involvement with you and that she intends
on remaining in the Federation, and working for Starfleet. Also, that
she intends on attending a place of higher learning to get a degree in
botany." She then added harshly, "I trusted you, Admiral Janeway. I
put her into your care while she was away from her home. You have
betrayed my trust by seducing my daughter, and taking her away from
me, and her family obligations."

Kathryn replied in her best diplomatic voice, "Admiral, with all due
respect, there was no seduction involved. I fell in love with Vlara
and she with me. She made the decision to stay in the Federation and
to work for Starfleet. If you feel she has somehow betrayed
Romulus...that is not true. Her acceptance to work in the protocol
department is in fact, a service to Romulus in that we can learn more
about you and apply what we learn in facilitating smoother relations
between our two societies."

Admiral Telir thought for a moment, sighed and replied, "I do not feel
she is a traitor. She has, however, turned her back on her family
obligations. My family has a long and proud history of serving the
Empire, both as military leaders and governmental leaders. Vlara was
to carry on that tradition. It is a matter of Mnhei'sahe. She has
dishonored the family."

"As I said before, Admiral, she is serving Romulus in helping,
hopefully, to pave the way for better understanding. You should be
proud of her. She is one of the most honorable persons I believe I
have ever met. No doubt, she learned her honor from you. Your family,
if you think about it, has the honor of having one of its members
leading the way toward a viable peace between the Federation and The
Empire. This can only benefit both the Romulan Empire, and the
Federation in the long run."

Admiral Telir paused for a moment in thought. She took a sip of her
drink and looking at Janeway said, "Perhaps you are right. Perhaps I
have been too hasty in forming opinions. I love my daughter very much,
and she will be far from home, among strangers."

"Not among strangers. My mother and sister are very fond of her. They
welcomed her as a part of my family. She is starting to form
friendships within Starfleet, as well as making friends outside of
that institution. She has a personality that draws others to her. She
will not lack for friends or family. I will be there for her."

"You speak of her as being a part of your family, yet you treat her as
you would a concubine. Why have you not offered to marry her? She
talks of a committed relationship with you, but you have not offered
to formalize a union. Committed in the Empire means marriage." She
looked at Janeway coldly and spat, "You dishonor her."

Kathryn thought, this is the real reason she is angry. She feels I
have dishonored her family.

"I want to marry her. However, I want to give her time to see if that
is really what she wants. I don't want to rush her into anything she
may regret down the road."

Admiral Telir's face darkened and she said with barely controlled
anger, "Admiral Janeway. It is obvious that you have no understanding
of the Romulan psyche and nature." She continued with a more modulated
voice, "My daughter is Iikhe Graes. It means born old. She has
genetically inherited certain ancient traits that have generally
disappeared since the settling of Ch'Rihan. She has told me how she
recognized you as her mate. This is an ancient ability found only in a
minority of Romulans, and perhaps, more common on Vulcan. You have
mated with her and she accepted the mating in a psychic bond that will
be broken only by death. This bond is so strong that some believe
mated pairs often have the ability to know when a mate is in danger,
even though far away, and they have the ability to know what their
mates are feeling. She will not leave you. Perhaps it is you who see
yourself as having regrets down the road."

Kathryn was silent for a moment. This would explain how Vlara seemed
attuned to her moods. How she always seemed to know what Kathryn
needed emotionally, and yes, physically. "I will have no regrets,
Admiral. My only regret would be if you should disown your daughter,
or disapprove of her choices in what she chooses to do with her life,
and who she chooses to spend it with."

"No. I am her mother and love her. My fears are a parent's fears. I
will be able to accept that what she does in the Federation is
honorable." She then gave Janeway a forceful look and said in a terse
voice, "However, I would take it as an insult to my family if you do
not marry my daughter."

Janeway smiled and said with enthusiasm, "I will gladly, and with all
my heart, marry her. However, will you regret her choice of mate? I am
not Romulan."

"No. Neither was her father. But in my heart he was my mate and I
would have made it so in front of the eyes of Romulus, if our laws
allowed.

"You, Admiral Janeway, are an honorable person. You come from an
honorable family with a history of long service to your Federation.
You will do right by my daughter. Perhaps destiny is being fulfilled.
Perhaps by this joining of our two cultures, it will bring greater
harmony and peace between our peoples. Admiral Janeway, I accept you
into my family. You are a most honorable addition."

"Thank you, Admiral, I am proud to be called a part of your family.
Call me Kathryn."

"Kathryn. You may call me V-ri nanov. Now. Let us call my daughter,
and your wife to be, and tell her that we have come to an agreement.
Then we will talk of things that are important to the future of my
Empire, and your Federation."

Kathryn nodded her head in agreement, smiled lopsidedly, and said, "By
the way Admiral, I have a crate of Earth's finest wines here on this
ship for you, as well as some food items I think you will enjoy. And
my intentions toward your daughter are honorable."

Admiral Telir threw back her head and laughed.

--- Epilogue --- Three Months Later ---

Seven contently held her wife in the languid aftermath of a bout of
passionate lovemaking. She watched the star field streak by the
viewport with no particular thoughts. Her mind touched on many
subjects, her and B'Elanna's appointments by Starfleet to head up a department devoted to further development of transwarp engines. B'Elanna and Tom's recent ceremony of recognition for their service to Starfleet, when they were awarded the Medal of Valor. Admiral Janeway and Vlara's recent Traditionalist marriage at Janeway's home in Indiana. And her and B'Elanna's upcoming visit to Qo'noS to visit B'Elanna's mother. Admiral Janeway had secured transportation for them on the USS Florida, which had an assignment to visit Qo'noS. They would arrive in another two days.

Seven felt some apprehension at meeting Miral, B'Elanna's mother. B'Elanna had told her that Miral would love her as a daughter. After all, it was Seven who was tutoring B'Elanna in learning to speak and write Klingon. Also, it was Seven who had fully embraced that part of B'Elanna that was Klingon, in turn, making her be'nal proud to be Klingon. Still, this was B'Elanna's mother. She thought it would be much easier if she were on her way to meet the Borg Queen. At least, with her, she knew how to relate.

She was brought out of her reverie by her be'nal stirring beside her, and drawing her close, nuzzling her ear. "Hmmm. Come here, you. Sorry I fell asleep. I'm just regaining my strength from that last round of lovemaking. Now, where were we?"

"Recovering. From our last round of lovemaking."

B'Elanna snorted in amusement. "Have I told you lately that I love you?"

"Yes, approximately thirty- nine minutes and fifteen seconds ago. Right before initiating your recovery period."

"Well, that is definitely too long ago." She moved her mouth down Seven's cheek and over to her lips, capturing them in a long and intense kiss. She parted and said with great tenderness, "I love you, be'nal. For now, and for always. You are my destiny, my Sto-Vo- Kor. Did you know that?"

Seven was both touched and amused. "That is very. . . romantic for such a tough Klingon Warrior as you to say."

"What?" B'Elanna said in mock surprise, and then added, "Klingons have their romantic side. Look at all those operas. I'm romantic, you have said so many times."

Seven nipped her nose. "True. You are very romantic."

"You can be pretty romantic yourself, for a former Borg drone. In fact, tell me something romantic right now."

"I love you." Seven said with a smile.

"Hmm. Can you elaborate?"

"I love you in infinite measures of both time and degree."

"You're getting there. Continue."

Seven smiled and then thought about the time on the Flyer when she
was separated from her be'nal. She thought of the feelings that she
had written for B'Elanna on a padd, intending to give it to her later,
only erasing it after Sela had found it. Those words were etched
forever in her heart.

"You are to me a dark rose. Your beauty and scent entice me to hold
the soft petals of your love to my heart, without fear of the thorny
stem wounding me. The taste of your mouth, rare nectar, that
intoxicates me beyond all reason. . . "
---

The End