The BLTS Archive - Untold Love
Part Three
by Karen (CP4Karen@aol.com)

---

Post: BLTS, ASCEM(L) and archive to R'rain.

Disclaimer: Paramount owns them. I imply no copyright  infringement.

---

Tom pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.  Seventy years from
home and they were cranking out 'Fleet reports like someone was
actually going to read them.

No, he took that back.  They would be read.  He couldn't picture his
new captain doing anything else.  Tuvok? A given.  Probably slept with
them under his pillow. Chakotay?

Chakotay.

Tom turned from the desk to look at his lover sprawled across the
couch reading...a report.

At his snicker, a pair of inquisitive eyes swung up and fixed upon
his.  Wonderfully green, always, but tonight they looked like
emeralds.  Even after a year, one look from those eyes left Tom
breathless.  They were abruptly underscored by a wicked grin, which
left him with no doubt as to Van's knowledge of his power over the
younger man.

"I *know* that you cannot be laughing over one of these Godforsaken
reports, love, so please share the humor."

The younger man smiled and stood.  Detouring long enough to replicate
a couple of glasses of wine, he joined Vance on the sofa.

"The contents of the reports didn't have me laughing; the whole
situation did.  Would you have believed a week or so ago that we would
be plowing through so many of these things?"  Tom kissed the older man
and moved the pile of padds between them to the coffee table.

"Mmmmm, you could still prepare them for me, love.  I could request
that the Captain assign you as assistant ship's counselor."

Tom smiled.  "I don't think so.  Between manning the helm full time
and an extra two half shifts in Sickbay, I'm going to be plenty busy."

Vance pulled Tom's head down to rest on his shoulder.

"Are you through with the reports for the evening?"

"I think so.  I read any more and my eyes will be permanently
crossed."  Tom looked at his glass.  "You know, for a replicated wine
this isn't bad."

"It's a shame that it's synthehol, though.  I could use a mild
relaxant tonight."

Tom took the other man's glass and placed it on the table next to his
own.  Pulling up to kneel next to his lover, he began to knead the
tense shoulders.

"Gods, Van, what was the crew talking about to you, today? You've got
knots all through your shoulders."

"Oh, right there, love.  Gods, that's good."  Vance sighed. "People
are hurting.  They're scared.  Suddenly they're so far from home that
barring a miracle, it will take nearly a century to return.  Most
likely, they will never see their families and friends again.  And, if
they do, they'll be so old that they'll be virtual strangers."

Tom slid around until he was sitting behind his lover on the back of
the couch.  Working the tense muscles, he leaned forward to place a
kiss on the top of the older man's head.

"We're so lucky, Van.  I can't even contemplate what I would be doing
if I had stayed behind in the Alpha quadrant. I think I'd want to join
you if I thought that you were dead."

Vance leaned to place his head against the younger man's thigh.

"I think you're stronger than that, love."

Tom slid down to rest against the other man's back and placed his chin
on the firm shoulder in front of him.

"Face it, handsome, you're what keeps me strong."  Tom pressed a kiss
against Vance's neck.  "You know, if you wanted you could counsel me.
I haven't been in the 'Fleet for quite a while.  After two whole days
of it I'm feeling a little tense, myself."

Warm hands worked their way under Crittenden's shirt. Spider-walking
their way across his belly and up to tease his nipples into hardness,
the long talented fingers sent bolts of excitement straight to his
groin.

Vance gasped and then grinned as a pair of bare feet massaged slow
paths up his calves to rest against the outsides of his knees.  Thighs
tightened against his sides and a moan rose from deep in his chest as
his lover's length pressed hot against his back.

"Ahh, love, parts of you feel tenser than others."

Tom chuckled and hugged the older man tightly.  The throbbing heat
pressed against his back was driving Vance wild.  He moved out of
Tom's embrace and pulled him to his feet.

"Come with me.  We'll both end up in sickbay if we try anything on
this couch."

Kneeling, facing his lover, Tom slowly unfastened and removed Vance's
shirt.  He leaned back for a moment and took in the view.

"Like what you see?"

Piercing blue met amused green.

"The view is excellent."  Placing his hands on the older man's
shoulders, Tom lowered his head.  Using just the tip of his tongue,
his flicked the rosy nipples into hardness.

Vance's head dropped forward and he moaned.

"I am sure that you were a pleasure slave in a past life."

Tom smiled serenely.

"I'm quite willing to be a pleasure slave in this life. Lie back and
let me remove the rest of your clothes. It wouldn't do to have my
master come in his pants."

Vance moaned as the silky heat massaged his aching cock. One word came
to mind.

Glorious.

No other word would do to describe the vision above him. Tom looked
almost somnolent in his pleasure.  Lazily posting on his lover's
shaft, he moaned, head lolling as the delicious friction drew them
both slowly towards orgasm.

Running his hands up his belly to his chest, Tom began to slowly
massage his own nipples, back arching as the pleasure grew to almost
unbearable proportions.  One hand lowered to his groin, and Vance
groaned as he watched one long forefinger circled the glistening head
of the young man's cock.

A shudder passed through the lean body, then another.  A gasp, a moan,
and then a rather incongruent laugh as his lover's eyes opened to show
pure joy.

"It's coming."

Vance opened his mouth to question the statement when Tom's muscles
clenched down on his cock like a vise.  Both men convulsed as wave
after wave of sensation rose and flowed through their bodies.
Loosening his grip on his lover's hips, Vance allowed the near
impossible pleasure to take him away.

---

"How long have I been asleep?"

Tom laughed.

"About twenty minutes and there was no asleep about it, Van. You
passed out.  You were as limp as a rag while I cleaned you up and
changed the sheets on the bed.  I was almost ready to comm the holoDoc
but you started to come around."

Vance wrapped himself around the warm body at his side.

"I'm rather glad that you didn't contact the doctor.  I would have
hated to try to explain that you ravished me until I passed out."

"Ravished?  Isn't that a little strong a term to be using when *you*
dragged *me* in here?"

Vance grinned.

"How about plundered?"

Tom laughed.

"I didn't take anything.  In fact, I'm pretty sure, *I gave*."

Vance leaned over and kissed his lover.

"Yes.  I think you gave me a near death experience."

Tom rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to reply.  Vance quickly took
advantage and kissed his lover again.

"But what a way to go."

---

"What do you mean you won't help?!  Where's Maje Cullah? He agreed to
an alliance!"  The screen went dark in the middle of her tirade.

"You gettle-fucked waste of flesh!"

Seska broke off her tirade as she realized that the line of
communication had been completely severed.  Contemplating her next
move, she deleted all log records of the outgoing transmission, and
then reinitialized the waste control matrices to bypass her
communication protocols and reestablish the systems original
functionality.

So Cullah wanted to back out of their agreement.  Fine.  It had been a
tenuous thing at best; hastily set up while both factions had been
vying for the power of the array.

The alien had appeared intrigued with her offer of Voyager in exchange
for her safety and her own share of the power.  He had even agreed to
let her keep Chakotay as a servant.  Seska frowned. The pleasure of
breaking the big Maquis alone would have been worth the risk.

But something had spooked the Kazon.  It was obvious from the look on
the little vole's face that something wasn't right.

Unless Cullah wanted to take the ship for himself?

No.  He would have merely gone along with her plan and then tried to
remove her...not that she hadn't been expecting something anyway.
There were now enough traps in the main computer to drive Tuvok mad.
In fact, she had placed a marvelous one in his own little hololibrary.

Really, a program to study the threat of a possible Maquis mutiny.
Whatever gave him that idea?!

OK, the Vulcan was probably suspicious.  She had to admit that she
might have been a little...vigorous in her attempts to rally the
Maquis.

She could afford to wait a bit...but not too long.  She had enough of
the crew on her side to man the ship.  This would just set the plan
back a few days until she decided what to do with the rest of the
crew.  She knew that she needed at least twenty-five to man the more
important sections, and up to fifty to really do it right.  Her little
surprise for tonight would sway more of the crew.  Seska smiled.

She had time.

---

Tuvok sat in his quarters considering his next course of action.  As
expected, the Kazon had negated their agreement with Seska as soon as
they had seen the *modified* ship's complement and weapon's status
that he had *accidentally* released with yesterday's dispatch from
Seska.

Without Kazon backing, she would be severely hampered in any possible
plans.  From what he had been able to ascertain, approximately
thirteen percent of the crew roster showed sympathetic leanings, which
could prove unfortunate in a full-scale mutiny.

The Captain was convinced that arresting Seska would bring an end to
the problem.  Tuvok was not so sure.  In his opinion, there was a
sizable risk that such an overt action would not only alienate more of
the crew, but perhaps Commander Chakotay. And while his new superior
officer seemed a fair and just man, he was blind to activities of his
lover.  Tuvok allowed himself a small sigh.

It was time to bring in outside assistance.

---

"Gentlemen, the need for secrecy is obvious.  I believe Mr.
Crittenden's skills will be vital in diffusing the tension that Lt.
Seska has so carefully built."

Tom turned from the view port.  "You have determined which Maquis in
your security staff you can trust implicitly." It was not a question.

Tuvok acknowledged the subtle compliment with a single nod. "I have
culled the questionable, and given them temporary assignments in
maintenance under the guise that we need the extra manpower to bring
Voyager up to peak operability."

Tom grinned.  "The best lies always contain as much truth as
possible."

"Indeed."

Vance looked up from the crew roster.

"I've noticed that almost half of engineering personnel are former
Maquis.  Couldn't this cause serious repercussions if a mutiny is
attempted?"

"That is true, however, to suddenly reassign nine crew members, all of
them Maquis, from such a vital department would almost certainly bring
the tensions to a head."

Tom finished perusing the list over his lover's shoulder.

"Torres, Dalby, Hogan and Henley are completely loyal to Chakotay.
They wouldn't do a thing without his direct orders."

Tuvok nodded slowly.  "I quite agree on the issue of Hogan and Henley.
Torres, however, is closely aligned with Seska." There was a brief
pause. Tom wondered just what the somber Vulcan considered as being
*aligned*.

"And I have observed that Kenneth Dalby frequently disturbs the status
quo, seemingly for the simple alleviation of boredom."

Tom laughed.  "That's Dalby in a nutshell.  However, Ken is primarily
a talker.  There is very little action unless he has backing.  He also
looks up to Miguel Ayala who worships the ground Big Man walks on.
Same goes for Henley.  As for B'Elanna Torres...you're right about her
being friends with Seska, and we all witnessed her actions on the
bridge the day the array was destroyed.  But we also saw her back
right down when Chakotay called her on it."  Tom looked over at Tuvok.

"I think the key to all of this is Chakotay.  In my opinion, you will
be making a huge mistake if you and the Captain don't include him in
this investigation, regardless of Seska being his lover."

Vance agreed.  "You stated that you have proof of contact with the
Kazon.  Chakotay is aware that there is a problem, and after all, they
were his crew.  Not only does he deserve the chance to stop this, he
is perhaps the only person to whom everyone will listen."

Tom managed not to frown at his lover's obvious liking of the other
man.  He knew Vance's first instinct was to create open and friendly
relationships with those he had dealings.  It was what made him so
good at his job.  Then he smiled ruefully.

He was jealous and he hated it.  He was beginning to realize that
while Van was his lover, an increasing amount of the older man's time
would belong to the crew of Voyager.  And that would tie him closely
to the second-in-command who was actually in charge of the crew.  Tom
looked across the conference room at his lover and imagined him
working with

Chakotay.

Two very intelligent, enigmatic and attractive men...passionate and
caring...vibrant in their interest in others, and actually quite
complementary in personality in Tom's assessment.

And that frightened Tom most of all.

---

"It was one simple task, lover. How did you manage to fuck it up so
completely?"  Seska hid her amusement as Jonas writhed under her.  She
rose slowly and then, as the young man grunted into his gag, slammed
herself down as hard as she could on his swollen groin.  A muffled
scream was her answer.  Seska leaned forward to slip the ball gag from
Michael's mouth.

"You wish to answer my question?"  He swallowed and then nodded.

"The program was set to execute at 0200 when there wouldn't be anyone
in the lab.  I checked it twice.  No one was supposed to be in the lab
when the explosion occurred, certainly not Geron!" Jonas took a deep
breath and winced at the look in Seska's eyes. "I don't know why it
triggered early and since everything was set to delete upon execution
except for the name of the file, I can't find out what went wrong!"

Pretending to consider his words, Seska slowly rocked a couple of
times on Jonas' cock.  The resulting moan was a dizzy mix of pleasure
and pain.  The tightly bound cock ring ensured his understanding of
just what his lover was trying to say.

"Michael, who are the only people with edit access to the files?"

"Tom Paris and...and you.  But Janeway, Chakotay and Tuvok would be
able to use command overrides if they found them."

"Did you bother to check the system logs for any activity in the
file?"

Jonas' wild nodding resembled that of a child hoping against hope to
get out of a deserved spanking.

"That was the first thing I checked.  The only activity showing in the
system logs is the execution at 0804 this morning."

"Lover, think a moment.  That means that either there is someone else
on this ship with hacking skills comparable to mine, or that perhaps I
changed the file myself."

Michael's eyes grew big, causing Seska great amusement.

"Oh, Michael, do you really think I would hurt a fellow Maquis
especially an innocent such as Geron, just to take over the ship?"

"N-no.  Of course not."

Seska smile was feral as she reached down to remove the black leather.
Jonas came with a scream.  After sliding backwards off the narrow
bunk, Seska calmly straightened her clothing.  Michael was an idiot,
but he learned from his mistakes.  She waited until his breathing had
slowed, idly stroking his softened groin as one would a well- behaved
pet.

"I'm still not convinced, lover, that there wasn't an error somewhere
in your programming, but since everything turned out well, I'm willing
to overlook it this time."

Michael looked up in shock.  "Turned out--  but Geron was almost
killed!"  Suddenly realizing that he was in the process of hanging
himself, Jonas back-pedaled.  "Seska, I am positive the timer was
correct when I initiated the timing sequence. I think someone knows
what we are doing!"

"Geron's injuries were unfortunate, but we can use them to our
advantage.  There are already rumors that the incident was not an
accident and was deliberately set for an area almost completely manned
by Maquis.  It will be interesting to see what happens when it comes
to light that the program belonged to Tom Paris."

---

Chakotay frowned across at his friend. "Paris is a lot of things, but
I don't think that he would deliberately sabotage the ship."

Gregor shrugged.  "I'm just telling you what I heard. Scuttlebutt says
that remnants of a couple of subroutines that probably caused the
explosion were found, and that when traced, they appear to have been
created within Paris' root directory."  Ayala coughed and looked down
at the top of the Commander's desk.  "Again, that's according to what
I have heard."

"How much of this have you told Tuvok?"

Ayala blinked.  "Well, nothing yet."

Chakotay smirked.  "As head of Security and your immediate superior he
might be interested."

"C'mon, Chak, we're talking about Tuvok.  He's pulling a lone wolf
routine on this one, not trusting anyone but the Captain.  I'm sure
he's got any evidence there is, and he'll work every angle until he
has the answer."

Chakotay watched his friend's body language.

"Let's forget Tuvok for a while.  What does your gut tell you about
Paris?"

Ayala looked up in surprise, and then eased back into his chair.  "I
don't like Tom Paris any more than you do, although probably for
different reasons."  Chakotay looked up sharply, but Gregor went on.
"His heart was never into what we were doing in the Maquis; and he
drank enough to worry me about risking anyone else's neck on a mission
with him.  I was glad to see him go, and pretty surprised to see that
he was even still alive." Gregor scratched his head, and then looked
into Chakotay's eyes.

"I know about his court martial.  He actually told me about it one
night when we were stuck together on a patrol.  He lied about what
happened all right, but I could see that he hated himself for what
happened."

"But?"

"But nothing."  Ayala suddenly grinned.  "Or maybe it's everything.  I
guess what I am saying is that accidentally causing three deaths and
lying about it is very different to deliberately causing an explosion
which will most likely cause a few deaths."

Chakotay nodded.  "You don't think that he did it."

"Nope, not really.  You asked for my gut feeling on the whole thing
and that's it.  I think there is someone on the ship using Paris' past
against him to cover up their own mischief."

"Mischief.  That's an interesting choice of words."

Ayala chuckled briefly, but then sobered.  Gesturing with his chin,
"What's your gut telling you?"

Chakotay just shook his head.  He didn't like the direction his gut
was leading him at all.

---

Tom was aware of the looks he received on his way to the Bridge; but
after a morning full, handled them with the aplomb that comes with
long practice, good breeding and a hearty case of 'Kiss My Ass'.

The Bridge was no less annoying with everyone somehow managing to
stare without actually looking at him, but the sight of Harry in the
Captain's chair looking like a little boy caught playing at his
daddy's desk kept him from cracking.  He'd have to thank Kim later for
the brief respite.

After one very telling look, Harry began to speak but Tom was already
striding down the ramp to the Captain's ready room.  The door opened
before Tom could signal.  Throwing a small glare back at his friend,
he entered to the sight of Kathryn, Chakotay and Vance sitting in
silence on the far sofa.  Tuvok, standing to the Captain's right,
opened the conversation.

"During my investigation of this morning's occurrence in the
microbiology lab, evidence was found that points to a probable
explanation for the explosion."

Tom eased in a chair across from the quartet, rubbing the side of his
neck.  He quickly glanced at his lover and was rewarded with a small,
but comforting smile.

"I guess I'll go ahead and ask... why are you telling me?"

Kathryn leaned forward.  "Tom, Tuvok was able to trace the computer
routines that initiated the explosion.  It definitely was not an
accident."  She held up a hand to stop his comment.

"The subroutines came from your library."

Chakotay carefully observed the younger man and unless he was one hell
of an actor, Paris was genuinely shocked. He watched as Vance stood
and stepped in front of Tom, who had jumped to his feet and was pacing
in the center of the room.  Together, they moved to the smaller sofa,
all the while Crittenden quietly speaking to Paris.

They looked good together-- loving, and secure in that love.  Chakotay
was stunned to realize that he was jealous, and even more stunned to
realize that he was unsure which one was the target of his jealousy.

Suddenly, the younger man sharply shook his head and looked Chakotay
directly in the eye.  When he spoke, however, it was to Janeway.

"Captain, the only way this is going to work is if we're all reading
from the same page."  Van snorted, while Tuvok looked inquisitive.

Kathryn Janeway just looked pissed as hell.

Chakotay was tired of being an observer, and decided to try a shot in
the dark.  "Lt. Tuvok, I get the feeling that you had another suspect
in mind before this evidence came to light."

The Vulcan tossed a brief glance at his Captain, who nodded. "I think
before we discuss my prior suspicions it would be wise to include that
while Paris is the owner of the files, there is one other name listed
as having full access." He raised one expressive eyebrow.

"That name is Seska."  Ignoring Tom's mutter of disbelief, Tuvok
continued.

"It is common knowledge that there is much animosity between
Lieutenants Seska and Paris.  Therefore, unless ordered, it is highly
unlikely that Mr. Paris would create computer routines and grant Seska
access.  However, it is not impossible.  With some deliberation, I
have come upon three scenarios.

"One, the files were created by Mr. Paris, and the addition of Seska's
name was made in case they were discovered and another was needed to
take the blame."

Tom managed not to comment, but barely.

"Two, the files were created by Seska. However, by placing a different
name as the primary owner, the lieutenant could direct suspicion
towards another."

Chakotay clenched his jaw and glared at first Tom, then Tuvok.

"Three--" Tuvok paused briefly.

"Lieutenants Paris and Seska were in actuality much closer than they
appeared."

The last statement was followed by a grin from Janeway, a snort from
Chakotay, and a not-so-muffled oath from the gentleman in question.
Van was willing to bet that was the closest to telling a joke that the
Vulcan had ever come.

Tom grimaced.  "So ruling out the more unlikely possibility, you're
basically saying that the files were created by either Seska or me."

Tuvok dipped his head in acknowledgement.  "In essence, yes."

Chakotay looked at Kathryn and then the rest of the group.

"But you really suspect Seska, or she would be here."

Kathryn's eyes were full of apology.  "Yes, Chakotay. There is
additional evidence that Seska is not only responsible for the
explosion, but was planning a takeover of Voyager by the Kazon
Nistrum.  Looking back, it may have been a error to keep the evidence
from you; but given your relationship, I simply didn't want to put you
in that position."

"You couldn't have thought that I would let her know." The softly
spoken statement carried more punch than a than a photon torpedo.

Kathryn reached for her second-in-command's arm, and then thought
better of it.  Letting her hand fall to her side, she simply shook her
head.

Chakotay's eyes were burning, and Tom felt a brief moment's glee as he
watched Kathryn and Tuvok take the brunt of the Maquis' anger.  A
squeeze of his hand showed that Van was not above sharing the small
pleasure.

Kathryn finally turned away.  Chakotay growled and made to follow her.
They both froze at the muted sound of a shout and weapon's fire from
the Bridge.

---

Any last hope Chakotay had for Seska's innocence was gone.  Standing
in front of the tactical station, Seska welcomed the five onto the
Bridge.

"Well, that was simple.  Although, I would have expected better... at
least from Tuvok."  She turned glittering eyes on her lover.  "We've
taken over Engineering, the Bridge, and completed a system-wide
lockout of all unauthorized crew."

Janeway started forward, but stopped when several phasers swung in her
direction.  It was simple to pick out the *players*.  The small, but
well-armed, contingent was dressed in Maquis civvies.  Kathryn was
again caught off-guard when she suddenly found herself shoved onto the
floor under the main view screen, where Tom managed to soften her
landing. The pair watched as Chakotay and Vance were herded up to the
command chairs.

"This does not look good," Tom muttered and then swore as Seska
casually turned and fired on Tuvok.  Without waiting for him to hit
the floor, the woman turned towards Kathryn and Tom.

"He's not dead... at least not yet."  Seska sidled over and nudged the
unconscious man with the toe of her boot. "Sorry, but I owed you at
least that much for messing with my plans."  She looked up at Kathryn
again.

"I found out about your little meeting today, and decided to listen
in.  You're lucky that Chakotay was in there with you.  I came very
close to sealing the doors and flushing the atmosphere out of your
ready room."  She turned and strode briskly to the helm.

"Seska to Engineering!"

"Jonas here.  I have the systems reconfigured to our command codes
only.  Russell and Stanton have locked the last of the crew cabins.
No one is going anywhere."

Seska smiled.  He might be an idiot in most things, but give him an
order and he was all over it.

"Perfect.  Stand by for further orders."  Seska turned and smiled at
Chakotay.  "Awaiting your orders, Captain."

Chakotay groaned.  "Seska, we are not taking over the ship. If there
are problems, Captain Janeway and I will work on them, but a mutiny is
not the answer."  He gestured around the room with one hand.  "What
are you going to do with the crew?"  He took a step forward, shaking
off Vance's hand that came out in warning.  "Do you honestly believe
that I would help you mutiny?"

Seska's eyes glittered.  "You don't have to help me with *anything*.
It's done.  The Maquis *are* in control of Voyager!  *I* am in control
of Voyager!"

The young woman swung her arms wide.  "It's all ours, Chak! All of
this!  A month or so in one of the cargo bays and most of the crew
will come around."  She sighed at the glare on the big man's face.
"All right.  We won't kill the ones that refuse to cooperate.  The
first M Class that we come to, Janeway and her little puppets go free.
OK?"

Chakotay slowly shook his head and then turned away. The Captain and
Paris knelt in silence, eyes wide, as they watched the tableau unfold
before them.

"What is the minimum number of personnel that it would take to operate
Voyager?"  Vance's quiet question broke through Seska's fixation on
her lover.  She gave a crooked smile.

"More than I have currently, but there are enough sheep on this can
that will obey orders when a phaser is pressed to their heads.  All I
currently need is enough to control each major department of the
ship."  Seska looked back down at Tuvok.  "My negotiations with the
Kazon Nistrum may have been temporarily halted, but they'll come
running when they find that I have gotten control of the ship."

"Are you sure about that?"  The Captain’s question seemed to amuse the
other woman.

"Surer than you are about just who in this crew you can trust." Seska
grinned at the Captain’s palpable anger.  "Annoys you just a bit to
know that your crew would sooner follow Chakotay than you?"  The
silence seemed to please Seska.

Tom sat back and watched the other Maquis.  Chakotay’s refusal had
visibly unnerved them, but not to the point of surrender. Tom briefly
thanked the powers for his lover’s presence at the other man’s side;
Vance’s whispered words seemed to be all that was keeping Chakotay
from physically intervening.

Seska noticed the quiet conversation as well.  Gesturing with her
pistol, she had Vance pull away from the Commander while she moved
back to stand in front of the tactical position.  Tom suppressed a
moan as she raised her weapon and pointed it at Vance.

"You seem to be everywhere, don’t you?  I wrote you off at first as
decorative, but then I noticed that the crew seemed to listen to you.
I even considered offering you some sort of position with the new
command staff, but figured you probably won’t be too cooperative if I
end up blowing your lover out of an airlock."  She smiled as Tom and
Vance traded looks and then turned her weapon back to the Captain.

Tom’s attention was drawn as Vance slowly rolled his shoulders in
seeming discomfort.  A flash of metal or plastic in the man’s left
hand caught his eye.  Returning his gaze to his lover’s face, he
caught a small nod.  Vance was armed.

Seska’s next words broke the moment.  "You, Janeway, are leaving my
ship.  However, if I merely let you off at the next planet, I just
know that you’ll find a way to eventually follow.  You and that Vulcan
vole, you call a friend.  You’ll make an excellent example as to what
will happen if the others don’t coop—"

"You kill her and you’ll lose at over half of the crew."  Tom’s sudden
interjection seemed to echo in the resulting silence.

After a moment, Seska rolled her eyes.  "I think you overestimate the
Captain’s popularity.  Look around, Paris.  Half of my people are
Fleet."

Tom just shook his head.  "Half of the people you have here." Tom
looked around and smiled when Missman refused to meet his eyes.
"That’s still only two.  And I bet the number in other locations is
just as small.  You’re just trying to mess with the Captain’s mind."
Seska laughed and started to speak, but Tom refused to back down.
"No. Just because they aren’t happy with circumstances doesn’t mean
they’re going to stand by you after you’ve killed the Captain and
Tuvok."

Seska grinned again.

"How about if I kill you?"

Tom heard Vance cry out as he fell into darkness.

---

TBC