Voyagers
By Maquis Leader
Chapter 4: Crucible
“Wake up, sleepy.”
“Go away.” Chakotay hid his head under the blanket.
“Come on.” Kathryn tugged at the blanket. “Another exciting day awaits!”
“Kill you…”
“I’m so scared of the big bad Indian warrior hiding under his blankie.” She danced back as he grabbed at her ankle.
“You want me up?” He pulled the edge of the blanket down to expose his eyes.
“Yes.”
“Fine.” Whipping off the blanket, he stood up.
Kathryn’s face flamed as she realized he was naked. Her eyes shot down then back up. Naked and aroused.
“I’m up. Now what?” He laughed as she ran out the door. “Be careful what you ask for.”
Outside, she drew in a breath of sharp air. In the last month, she’d gotten quite comfortable living with Chakotay – but not that comfortable! She scanned the sky, looking at the dim sun. It was getting cooler everyday.
“Hey.” Chakotay, now fully dressed, stepped out of their cabin and shut the door. Flipping the crude lock into position, he walked over to where Kathryn stood in the center of the roadway.
“That was mean.”
“Just following orders.” He put an arm around her shoulders. “What are we looking at?”
“The sun. It’s looking farther away, isn’t it?”
“Winter’s coming. I noticed the moosels are getting furrier. The squirrels and rabbits, too.”
“We need heavier clothes.” She put her arm around his waist as they walked toward where the others were eating breakfast. “And some answers. How long does winter last here? How cold does it get?”
“We need to lay in more supplies.” Chakotay grabbed a bowl of porridge for each of them. “Get some bread.”
Picking up some of the small rolls Kes was handing out, she followed him to a table. “We need to dig out a cellar under the new mess hall for storage.”
“We can take dried meat with us – everyone may get sick of it, but it’s better than starving.” He added a large dollop of honey to his porridge.
“You’re such a kid, just a big kid.” She smiled as he added as second spoonful.
“You’re just jealous we haven’t found any coffee.”
“Chakotay, Kathryn.” Ayala sat across from them. “Any plans?”
“Right now, the plan is to stock up on supplies. We can’t rely on replicators.” Kathryn tore open one of the still warm rolls. “I’d kill for butter right now.”
“We need bags small enough to carry but large enough to hold a fair amount of foodstuffs.” Chakotay smeared honey on her roll for her. “Who knows what we’ll find on the ship we get.”
“When are we getting a ship?”
“I’m not sure.” That was one detail Kathryn hadn’t quite figured out.
“We can’t just stay here.” Ayala growled. “We’ve go to do something.”
“We are.” She told him. “B'Elanna and Tom are both in the Kazon compound. You know they’re working on getting us a ship.”
“B'Elanna, yeah. But Paris?” The big man shook his head. “I wouldn’t count on him.”
“Tom’s on our side.” She looked to Chakotay for support. When he looked away, she repeated firmly. “Tom’s on our side.”
“We better go.” Chakotay stood and motioned for Ayala to follow. He leaned down and kissed Kathryn before he walked away.
Sue Nicoletti sat down beside her as the men left. “ Don’t worry, we know Tom’s a good guy.”
She smiled at the younger woman. “Neelix tells me you’ve been drying vegetables.”
“My grandmother used to sun dry tomatoes and peppers. I helped her sometimes. Hated it, but now I’m glad she made me learn.” She nodded at Sam Wildman. “Sam’s a whiz at finding edible plants – besides leola. They’ll be good in soups and stews. We’ll be able to take some along with us when we go.”
“Good thinking, Sue.” Kathryn finished off her breakfast. “I’m really proud of the way everyone’s pulling together.”
“No big deal, Cap – Kathryn. We’re just pretending it’s a Starfleet survival course gone bad.”
Laughing, she got up from the table and joined the group heading for the refinery. “Me too. I keep hoping I’ll wake up and this will all be some crazy dream.”
“If it isn’t, I hope we get a passing grade.”
That evening as Kathryn sat on the bed piecing together the blanket she was making, she chased her thoughts in circles. Across from her, Chakotay sat carefully carving wooden pieces.
“What?” He asked finally.
“Nothing.”
“You’ve been staring at me and sighing. It’s either
something good or something bad. Spit it out.”
“I’m just wondering what you’re making.” Liar.
“I’m making you a bathtub.” He held up the long curving piece.
“Really? A bath would be so nice! I hate the showers! When will it be done?”
“At this rate? About six months.”
“Oh.” Her face fell. Looked like cold water showers were still in her foreseeable future.
“Sorry. There’s only so much I can get done.” He yawned and put down the piece he was working on. “There just aren’t enough hours in the day.”
“Seems that way.” She tucked the blanket in her bag of sewing supplies. Getting her nightgown, she fidgeted with the lace edging. “I’ve been thinking.”
Chakotay waited patiently. All evening he’d had the feeling she was worrying at something. Kathryn Janeway was one to chew on a problem until she had it all figured out.
“You work a lot harder than I do. I get to sit down all day.” She paced back and forth as she laid out her thoughts. “It’s not right for you to sleep on the floor, this is your cabin after all. I should sleep on the floor.”
“No.”
“But you should have the bed, you’re the one doing the physical labor.”
“No.”
She stopped pacing and planted her hands on her hips. “Must you always be difficult?”
“Contrary, Kathryn, the word is contrary.” He smiled at some secret joke. “You’re not sleeping on the floor. We’ll share the bed.”
“That’s – that’s out of the question!”
“It’s getting colder. We have a small fireplace and 2 thin blankets.”
Did he have to be so damn right all the time? “You’re suggesting we keep warm by sleeping together?”
“Something like that.” He held his breath and hoped she wouldn’t suggest moving into the other half of the cabin that had been empty since B'Elanna had been taken.
“Chakotay, I’m not – “
“Sleeping, Kathryn, nothing else. Not until you’re ready.” Getting up, he pulled his shirt off.
Chakotay was getting leaner and more muscular from the hard
work he was doing. Kathryn licked her lips as she watched the muscles ripple
under his golden skin. Vivid images of what they were doing when Cavit mutinied
came back to her. If he hadn’t interrupted them, they’d have made love then. That
sounds romantic, Kathryn, now be honest! You’d have fucked him.
Stripping his pants off, he stood in front of her unashamed of his nakedness. She couldn’t not stare. “I – I need – to change.” She went quickly to the bathroom and shut the door.
When she came out, the lamp was out and he was already in bed. Slipping under the blanket, she found he had wrapped himself in his blanket leaving the other one for her.
“Good night, Kathryn.”
“Good night.” She lay awake a long time watching the steady rise and fall of his chest before falling asleep.
“B'Elanna!” Tom called as he entered his quarters.
“In here!” She called from the bathroom.
“I’ve got great news! The replicator – hello!”
“What?” B'Elanna looked up from a mountain of bubbles.
“I’ve just never seen a Klingon in a bubble bath before.”
“You still haven’t, I’m only half Klingon.”
“Yeah, the right half.” He knelt down next to the tub. “Just call me Tommy towel boy.”
“Hands off, I’ve had a hard day!”
“And getting harder by the minute.” He slid his hands
through the bubbles searching for her.
“What’s your news?" She pushed his hand off her thigh.
“Huh? Oh! The replicator Seska put on the ship – blew up.”
“Blew up? It exploded?” She didn’t know they could.
“Yup, killed everyone on board. What I heard was it fused them with parts of the ship.”
“Ugh.” B'Elanna shuddered. “Sounds gruesome.”
“The best is yet to come.” Tom found a soft breast hiding in the bubbles. “So to speak. Seska’s being sent to the work camp.”
“Cullah’s sending her to the mines?”
“That was his last order. He died in a ritual combat this morning. Seems the Kazon take responsibility for orders very seriously.”
“He can’t say I didn’t warn him.” she grinned ferociously. “Wait, what about us? What happens to us now?”
“Nothing. Seems the new Majh likes me.” He placed a soapy hand over his heart. “I let him win at cards.”
“So Cullah is dead, huh? Too bad he couldn’t take Seska with him.” She pulled Tom into the tub with her. Bathwater sloshed out over the floor. “At least she won’t get her hands on you anymore.”
“Hey! Let me take my clothes off first!”
“We’ll get them off, don’t worry.” B'Elanna pulled his mouth to hers.
“I’ve got to get enough cormalite for Eggplant to get us the weapons we need.”
“How much do you need?” B'Elanna stretched out lazily as Tom massaged her shoulders.
“Three canisters. That’ll get us enough phaser rifles to arm everyone.”
“Why not ask for the moon while you’re at it?”
“B'Elanna, my sweet Klingon, have faith! A little trading here and there and we’ll have it.”
“I installed the cloaking circuitry on the Big Ship while you were on your last run.” She looked over her shoulder at him. “I keep going back to the idea that we should steal it.”
“Are you kidding? It’s at least five or six times the size of Voyager – we don’t have enough crew to run it.”
“It’s not half as sophisticated either. I’ll slave the controls together or something. We can do it!”
“That might work.” Tom moved down from her shoulders to her back, making her sigh in pleasure. “Like that do you?”
“I may keep you around, I suppose.”
“We could steal one of the smaller ships, land it next to the camp, and use it to get to the Big Ship.” He sat back and frowned. “We’ve got to keep the Kazon off our backs, though.”
“Who told you to stop?” When he started rubbing her back again she continued. “We need a way to disable the other ships.”
“We need – to run this past the Captain and the others.” Tom slid his hands over B'Elanna’s firm bottom.
“I should go visit. With Seska gone, I’ll bet we could pull it off.” She sucked in her breath as his hand slid between her thighs.
“I’ll bet we could.” He rubbed his hardon across her soft bottom while his fingers slid through her wetness.
“Stop teasing me!” She growled.
“Whatever you want.” Pushing her legs, apart, he buried himself inside of her with one hard stroke. “Whatever you want, baby.”
Arching up to meet him, B'Elanna moaned as he bit her shoulder and began pumping roughly into her.
A rumble of vehicles alerted them to the Kazon’s approach. Putting down the scrap wood he’d carried out of the mess hall, Chakotay wiped the sweat off his face.
“What do they want?”
“I don’t know, Harry, but it’s never good. Find Kathryn, I think she’s down at the stream getting mud for caulking.”
By the time the Kazon vehicles stopped in the center square, Kathryn had joined Chakotay. She was still wiping mud off of her hands. “What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
Doors opened on the lead vehicle and two Kazon warriors climbed out pulling a struggling figure with them. Throwing her to the ground, they got back into the vehicle and drove away.
“Seska?”
“Chakotay? Oh, Chakotay, thank the prophets you’re okay!”
She pulled herself up and ran to him. “I was so worried!”
Pushing her away, Chakotay glared at her. “Were you? Were you worried about us while you were living in the lap of luxury?”
“It wasn’t like that! I was a prisoner!” She began to cry. Her lip was split and her eye had been blackened. “Look at the bruises! I was terribly mistreated!”
“Yeah, bruising her knuckles on my face every day.” B'Elanna stepped out of the second vehicle. The driver said something and she nodded before he drove away.
“B'Elanna!” Chakotay picked her up and hugged her to him. “Are you okay?”
“Put her down, you big oaf!” Kathryn hugged her as soon as her feet hit the ground. “You look good! We were so worried about you!”
“Let’s go inside, everyone!” Neelix bustled up “We’ll have something special in celebration!”
“What about me?” Seska pulled on Chakotay’s arm.
“I suggest you find a cabin. On the other side of the camp.” He nodded at Tuvok. As the Vulcan pulled Seska away, he called after her. “And you better get some rest – you’re going to need it.”
Inside the new mess hall, B'Elanna gave Harry the small PADD she’d had hidden on her. “Everyone needs to learn these Traben symbols.”
“Traben?” He took the PADD. “Not Kazon?”
“The Traben shared the Kazon home world, ruled them really. It seems that around 25 years ago, the Kazon overthrew the Traben. All the technology is theirs.”
“So the Kazon really are just scavengers?” Kathryn asked. “I thought this operation was a little beyond them.”
“They trade the cormalite for weapons and technology that they use to raid other ships and planets.”
“Pirates.” Chakotay shook his head. “Like the pirates that terrorized the Caribbean on ancient Earth.”
“Scavengers who eventually died out.” Kathryn looked over Harry’s shoulder at the strange symbols. “We need those written down on something so we can all get a look at them.”
“I’ve got some paper.” He grimaced. “My musical notebook.”
“I appreciate the sacrifice, Harry. When we get Voyager back, we’ll replicate you some more.” Turning back to B'Elanna, she leaned forward. “What’s the story with Seska?”
“She installed a replicator on one of their ships. It malfunctioned and killed everyone. Majh Cullah sent her here before they killed him.”
“And Tom?” Harry asked.
“He’s – “ She bit her lip. She didn’t like the story Tom had given her to tell them. “He’s fallen right in with them just like you’d expect. Gambling, drinking, going on runs with them.”
Chakotay shook his head. “I should have known.”
“Surely Tom’s just acting like one of them?” Kathryn looked at B'Elanna hopefully.
“He – he doesn’t care about getting us out of here.” She choked down the lie. “You know Tom Paris, looking out for number one.” Harry stood up abruptly and left. She watched him go sadly.
“Forget about Paris.” Chakotay patted her shoulder. “What have you been up to?”
“I’m working on getting us a ship, maybe two.”
“Two? B'Elanna there’s only 75 of us.” Kathryn pointed out. “We’re going to have trouble crewing one ship as it is.”
“One small ship to get us off the planet and a bigger one to help us find Voyager. They’ve got some new cloaking technology.” She excitedly explained how it made the ship invisible to standard sensors. “It’s only been installed on this one ship. And if we take it, they’ll have a harder time tracking us.”
“It’ll help us sneak up on Voyager as well.” Kathryn grinned. “I can’t wait to see the look on Cavit’s face.”
“I can’t wait to put my fist through his face.” B'Elanna growled.
“Get in line.”
“Both of you can get behind me.” Chakotay arched an eyebrow. “I owe him for puking my guts up.”
“You win.” Kathryn grimaced.
The senior staff gathered in the meeting room and spent the afternoon discussing various plans to get off the planet. The biggest flaw in every plan was the Kazon and their ships.
“They outnumber us by a considerable ratio.” Tuvok pointed out.
“We need a way to disable their ships somehow.” Kathryn was pacing around the room. “Something to keep them from knocking us down before we get going.”
“We can’t have them hounding us while we look for Voyager.” Chakotay told her. “We’ll need to be at full strength to take her back.”
“What if…” They turned to look at Harry. “What if we upload a virus into their computers?”
“Can we get into their computers without their noticing?”
“Captain, I’ve been rummaging through their computers for the last month and nobody’s noticed.” B'Elanna’s eyes glittered with excitement. “They have no idea how half the technology they have even works! If we destroy the computer cores on their other ships – they could be grounded indefinitely!”
“Do it.” Kathryn sat down at the table again. “Harry, you’re the one for this job. Give me a virus that’ll knock their socks off.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He smiled for the first time in hours.
“We need weapons.”
“I’m getting them, Tuvok. Phaser rifles mostly, and whatever supplies I can.” B'Elanna looked up as the sound of a Kazon vehicle rumbled through the camp. “I’ll try to get back with more information when I can. Just learn the symbols and be ready.”
They hugged her before she got into the vehicle. “Be careful of Seska.” She whispered to Chakotay.
“I will.”
“She did things to Tom – “ She stopped as his eyes hardened. “You don’t know, Chakotay. Just trust me.”
“I do.” He smiled at her and stroked her cheek with gentle fingers. “Be careful, little sister.”
“Are you awake?”
“No.”
“Kathryn, there’s no sense dwelling on it.”
“I keep telling myself that.” She rolled over to face Chakotay. “I thought Tom had changed. He seemed so different, so…” She sighed.
“I know.” He brushed her hair back out of her face. “You can’t save everyone.”
“Deep down, I know he’s a good man.”
“Can we talk about something else?”
“Like what?”
“Like how beautiful you are with the moonlight on your face.” He leaned closer. “Like how wonderful you smell and how sweet you taste.”
“Like how about how you’re a big flirt?” She met his lips with her own.
“I’ve been called worse.”
They’d slept together for almost a month with nothing more than the occasional kiss. Not that Chakotay hadn’t made her very aware of what he wanted. Every night she went to sleep on her side of the bed and every morning she woke in his arms with him hot and hard against her belly. Maybe she should let him see what she wanted.
His tongue was wet and hot inside of her mouth as they kissed again. Pulling him closer, Kathryn slid her hands over his shoulders enjoying the silken skin under her fingertips.
The blankets between them frustrated Chakotay. Tugging the material away, he pressed himself against her. The silk of her gown was cool against his aching erection. Leaving her lips, his mouth traveled down her neck and into the valley between her breasts.
Moaning, Kathryn tangled her fingers into his soft hair as he nuzzled her through the thin material. His hands cupped and squeezed her bottom, holding her to him. Reaching between them, she closed her fingers around the velvet hard shaft and squeezed him gently until he began thrusting into her hand.
“Kathryn…” He gasped into her mouth. “I want you.”
“I want you, too.”
Rising up over her, he pulled the gown over her head, baring her body to his ravenous gaze. The moonlight silvered her pale white skin. “You’re beautiful.”
Reaching up, Kathryn drew him down to her. “Make love to me, Chakotay.”
She was already wet, and his fingers teased her until she was moaning and writhing under him. Rubbing the swollen tip in her moisture, he pushed into her slowly.
“Yes, oh god, yes!” She wrapped her legs around his hips and pulled him deeper inside of her. He was big and thick, filling her completely.
Shaking with the effort of holding back, Chakotay began a slow steady stroking in and out of her heat. “Spirits, Kathryn, you’re so tight and sweet…” He captured a nipple in his mouth and suckled it. “I want to go slow – Spirits – I want to fuck you hard!”
“Do it, Chakotay…” Kathryn ran her hands over the flexing muscles in his back and buttocks. “Fuck me – I need you so badly!”
Letting loose, he thrust into her harder and deeper, causing her to cry out in pleasure. Burying his face in her neck, he pumped into her and strained to reach his climax.
Fire ripped through her as he crushed her into the bed. Her orgasm tore her apart and she clung to his heaving body as another one started. Higher and higher until she exploded again.
Chakotay was still pounding his body into hers in an effort to meld them together. He was magnificent. She’d never had a man with so much stamina. Never had so much pleasure from sex before. His hand between them was rubbing at the center of her to coax her to yet another orgasm.
Wanting to give him the same pleasure, she whispered in his ear. Naughty nasty things that made him grunt and move faster. Harsh foreign words tore from him as he rode her. His rhythm became rougher and jerkier until with one last lunge, he spilled himself inside of her.
“I love you, Kathryn…” He gasped into her ear. “I do love you.”
Tears prickled behind her eyelids. “I love you, too.” When had it happened? When had she fallen in love with him? From the moment they met it seemed as if she’d known him forever. Maybe she had.
“Are you okay?” He lifted himself to kiss her gently.
“Very.” She blushed. “I’ll bet they heard me next door.”
“There’s no one next door, remember?”
“Trust me, Chakotay, they heard me down the block and around the corner!”
He laughed and kissed her again. “You said some bad, bad things. Do you really want me to do all those things to you?”
“Some of them.” She blushed. “Some I may have to think about.”
Rolling off of her, he pulled her against his side. “Go to sleep now.”
“What? Once is it?” She teased.
“It is when we do it that way.” He kissed her gently. “If I didn’t have to work tomorrow, it’d be different.”
“I’ll expect a double feature on Saturday night then.” Snuggling up to him, she fell asleep.
“I’ll die happy at least.” He placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
Kathryn knew there was a big smile plastered across her face, but she couldn’t help it. Every time she thought about last night, she smiled. Working with the cormalite left her with plenty of time to think. She’d woken up this morning to find Chakotay kissing her and…
“Are you just trying to irritate Seska or are you really that happy?”
Blinking, she turned to see Megan Delaney grinning at her. “I – uh – “
“Megan, you’re so nosy!” Her sister scolded. “So, is he a good kisser?”
Kathryn laughed. “Yes, I’m happy and yes, he’s a good kisser.”
“You’re so lucky! When I first saw him, I thought he was so sexy! Didn’t you, Jenny?”
“Oh, yes! Dark and brooding, oh my!”
“He wasn’t brooding! Just intense! Oh and those pants!”
“Leather, yum!” Jenny rolled her eyes.
“It’s like watching a tennis match, isn’t it?” Sue Nicoletti laughed.
“Are they always like this?” Kathryn asked.
“Always! Verbal volleyball.”
“Oh, here he comes!” The Delaney twins and Sue scattered as Chakotay walked up to the group.
“What was that about?” He asked as he sat down next to her.
“Just girl talk.”
“Girl talk, huh?” He put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close for a kiss. “About me?”
“Seems I’m not the only one who likes the Maquis uniform.”
“That’s the real reason I joined the Maquis.” He whispered in her ear. “To get women.”
“Quit that!” A shiver ran through her as he nipped at her ear. ”What are you doing down here, anyway?”
“What? I can’t come see you for lunch?” He took a bite from her bowl.
“It’s a long walk for a bowl of whatever this is stew.” She teased.
“But the kisses are better.”
“God, I’d hope so!” She laughed and kissed him. “I’d hate to think Harry’s a better kisser than I am.”
“Harry? No. But I hear Ayala’s pretty good.”
“Well, isn’t this cozy?” Kathryn and Chakotay looked up to see Seska standing over them. “I guess Cavit was right after all. You hid your plan well, Chakotay. Even I never suspected. All those nights in your bed and I never heard her name even once.”
“Go away, Seska, you’re not welcome here.” He told her coldly.
“What’s wrong, lover? Don’t want her to know how you spent your time when she wasn’t with you?”
“I know all about your relationship with Chakotay.” Kathryn told her. “And I know it was over long before we ever came to the Delta Quadrant.”
“And was it over for Mark?” Her eyes glittered with maliciousness. “Is he home pining away for you while you’re fucking another man? Not that I blame you, Chakotay is the best fuck I ever had. Big and thick and he can fuck for – ”
“That’s enough!” Chakotay bolted from his seat. “Take your poison and get away from us!”
“Poison? She’s the one who poisoned you! Turned you into her lapdog! Made you – “ Seska yelped as strong fingers bit into her arm.
“That will be sufficient.” T’Ren pulled her away. “Finish your lunch, sir.”
“Let me go!” Seska struggled against the Vulcan woman’s grip.
“If you continue to resist, I will be forced to take appropriate measures.” The cool tone suggested that was something the Vulcan might enjoy.
Chakotay watched as T’Ren pulled the struggling woman to the other side of the roadway.
Kathryn’s face was white and she pushed her food around with her spoon.
“I’m sorry, Kathryn.”
“Whatever else you can say about Seska, she knows exactly what to say to hurt you the most.” She sighed. “I haven’t thought about Mark in I don’t know how long.”
“We’ve been too busy trying to survive here.”
“Not just here, Chakotay.” She shook her head. ”Even on Voyager. At first I thought of him every night. That he would think I was dead and how much it would hurt him. Then…”
“Then?” A pain lanced his heart. Was he just a rebound affair for her?
“Then there was you.” She took his hand and squeezed it. ”What I feel for you is different, stronger than what I felt for him. Even stronger than what I felt for Justin.”
He nodded, remembering the night she’d told him about Justin and his death. “Are you saying you didn’t love Mark?”
“No, oh no, I loved him! But…” Kathryn stared down at the strong hand she held, trying to find the right words. “It was a comfortable relationship. I had no problem leaving him to go on a mission. I knew he’d be there whenever I got home.”
“A safety net?”
“Whenever someone would say ‘a woman can’t have a career and a life’ I could say ‘not me! I have a fiancé’.” Her voice cracked. “I was just using him.”
“Kathryn, you said you loved him and I believe you did.” He tipped her face up. ”You’re not the type to use someone.”
“If we weren’t here, if I hadn’t met you – I would have married him and been content. I don’t – didn’t believe in love at first sight or that you could fall in love with someone and it would make you crazy.”
“But you do now?”
“Yes.” She smiled as she brushed back an errant lock of raven hair from his forehead. “I love you so much it scares the hell out of me.”
“Not something you’d see in a Valentine’s Day card!” He laughed. ”But I’ll take it.”
“I’m new to this stuff, give me a break.” She leaned forward and kissed him, her tongue mating with his for a hot moment. When she pulled away they were both panting.
“I’d say you’re catching on.”
“So you won’t be kissing Ayala?”
“Not a chance.” Kissing her again, he got up and headed back to the mine.
As she finished the day, Kathryn occasionally felt Seska staring at her. For the most part she ignored the other woman, concentrating instead on getting the green crystals out of their rocky cases.
“She’s been trying to tell us she was just pretending to go along with the Kazon so she could help us escape.” Sue told her.
“Is anyone believing her story?”
“No, but it hasn’t stopped her from trying. She even claims she was forced to tell them about B'Elanna.”
“And who forced her to point a phaser at her?” Kathryn snorted. “I can’t believe she thinks we’re that stupid.”
“I think we should keep and eye on her, she’s too sneaky to work this hard for very long.”
“I doubt there’s much she can do to us anymore, but you’re right, we’ll keep an eye on her just to be safe.” She tossed a large crystal in the collection bin. “I noticed she managed to get a pair of gloves.”
“She probably propositioned him!” Sue shot an angry look in Seska’s direction.
“I doubt it’s the first time she’s used her body to get what
she wants.” Kathryn felt a pang inside wondering if that was how she’d gotten a
position on Chakotay’s ship. No! She may be that way, but he’s not.
The foreman came out of his office and locked his door signaling that the workday was over. Putting away their tools, Kathryn and the others made their way back down the path to their cabins. The doors to the new mess hall stood open and a wonderful aroma wafted out to greet them.
Pausing only long enough to wash the grime off her face and hands, Kathryn headed inside to get dinner for herself and Chakotay.
“Kathryn! I’ve got a special treat tonight!” Neelix placed a large helping of something red onto her platters. “Bar-b-q! I used the honey and some of those zander fruits – and of course a little leola – and basted it over moosel meat.”
“Bar-b-q?” Well, it was the right color.
“Lieutenant McQuade, JJ, said that they have it all the time where he’s from. Someplace called Texas.” He scooped up a spoonful of something gray onto both platters. “And beans, too. Well, they look like beans and fried potatoes.” Another spoonful each of something brown.
“Thank you, I’m sure it’s delicious.” Grabbing some fresh bread, she went to one of the tables and sat down.
Chakotay came in, his hair wet and curling around his collar, and sat beside her. “What’s this?”
“Bar-b-q. Or so Neelix tells me.” She poked a piece of meat with her fork. “I haven’t worked up the nerve to taste it yet.”
“So much for Starfleet courage, we Maquis are made of stronger stuff.” He scooped up a bite. His eyes widened at the taste.
“Did I forget to mention he put leola in the sauce?” She asked innocently.
“Is there nothing he won’t put that awful plant in?”
“Obviously not. Here, wash it down with this.” She gave him a piece of bread slathered with honey.
“Better.”
“Glad you’re made of such strong stuff.”
After they ate, the senior staff gathered in the meeting room. “Harry, any progress on the virus?” Kathryn leaned her elbows on the table.
“I’m working on a generic virus that will attack and corrupt data.” He frowned. “Without knowing anything about their computers, it’s hard to get too specific.”
“Maybe when B'Elanna visits again she can give you some help.”
“She might be able to take what you have back with her and finish it.” Chakotay told him. “She’s pretty good with computer code.”
“There is still the need for weapons and a ship.” Tuvok reminded them. “Without them, any escape attempt will fail.”
“B'Elanna and – B'Elanna’s working on both problems.” Kathryn caught herself before she said Tom’s name. She still couldn’t believe he would betray them.
“We’re well on our way to getting supplies ready.” Neelix spoke up. “Sam’s making these beautiful bags for everyone.”
“We need them packed and ready. Everyone should have one along with a bag of whatever they want to take with them.” She stood up and paced around the table. “Essential items only -- something they can grab and run with.”
“Tuvok, we need to keep an eye on Seska.”
“I agree, Chakotay.” The Vulcan said impassively. “She could easily betray us. I also suggest we limit her contact with the crew as well.”
“I don’t think that’ll be a problem.” Chakotay’s jaw tightened. ”Everyone knows she threw her lot in with Cavit and then with the Kazon.”
“Keep an eye on her, Tuvok.” Kathryn stopped behind Chakotay’s chair and let her hand rest on his shoulder. “Right now, the Kazon have no use for her, but if she tips them off that we’re planning an escape…” She let the thought trail off as she caught the eye of the others. “Let’s not let that happen.”
“Voyager has over a two month head start on us, Cap – Kathryn.”
“We’ll catch her, Harry.” She smiled at the young man. “We’ll catch her.”
“Do you think we can catch her, Chakotay?”
“Where’s my supremely confident starship Captain?” Chakotay pulled Kathryn down onto the bed and tickled her. “Who are you and what have you done with her?”
“Stop, stop!” She laughed and twisted away from him.
“We’ll catch Voyager and kick Cavit out the airlock.”
“What if we don’t – “ She shrieked as he attacked her ticklish ribs again.
“We will! Say it!”
Gasping for breath, she grabbed a handful of hair and pulled him down to kiss her. ”We will.”
“I’ve got the deal set up for next week.”
B'Elanna looked up from the PADD she was reading. “You still need the cormalite.”
“I think I’ve got that figured out.” Tom sat down next to her. “I have just acquired some of the finest in Delta Quadrant porno novels.”
“That’s disgusting even for you.” Her lip curled up.
“They’re not for me.” He kissed her cheek. “You’re all the inspiration I need, baby. There’s a certain foreman of a certain mine who likes dirty holos. And besides, these are all male – not my type. Or mostly male, here look at this one.”
“Ugh!” She waved the PADD away. “And he’ll be willing to pay for these with a little cormalite?”
“Not much, maybe say, four or five canisters.”
“We only need three.” Her eyes narrowed. “What else do you have up your sleeve?”
“Nothing for you to worry about, sweetheart.” He brushed her hair back from her face. “There’s a card game in a couple of nights.”
“Another one? You spend too much time gambling with these animals!”
“I’ve got a plan.” He shushed her as she started to interrupt him. “There’s going to be a raid soon and I need to find out when. They’ll stock the Big Ship with supplies – that’s when we take it.”
“Let the Kazon get our supplies for us? Good thinking, flyboy.”
“Thank you, please no applause, just throw kisses.” He grinned at her.
“We’ve got to figure out how to stop them from coming after us before we start patting ourselves on the back too much.” She chewed on her lip. “We need Harry’s virus.”
“We need Harry.” He took the PADD from B'Elanna’s hand. “But first maybe we need a little playtime.”
“Don’t you ever think about anything else?”
“Sweetheart, I just spent five days cooped up with a bunch of ugly Kazons, it’s all I’ve thought about.” He pressed his lips to hers.
“I missed you.” She tangled her fingers in his blond hair.
“Come on, I’ve got something to show you.”
“I’ve heard that one before.” She rolled her eyes. “Don’t tell me you’ve run out of lines?”
“Seriously, come on.” He led her outside and to the area his shuttle was parked in. The Kazon standing guard grinned at Tom and rubbed his crotch. “Just smile, B'Elanna and keep walking.” He nodded at the guard.
She growled as he shut the hatch behind them. “P’tak! He thinks you brought me out here for sex!”
“Better he think that than this!” With a flourish he uncovered a pile of objects in the back of the ship.
“What is this?” She picked up one of the pieces. “Is this what I think it is?”
“Yep, you’re not seeing things.” He took the communicator out of her hand. “There was a Federation ship that was pulled through by the Caretaker before we were. The Kazon killed them and stripped their ship. At least of the things they thought were important.”
“Tricorders, PADDs, wrist lamps – “ She snatched up something. “Med kits! Oh, Tom, we have to get these out to the Captain!”
“We will.”
“How did you get these?”
“I took a little side trip on the last run.” The Kazon had gotten to the point where they trusted Tom enough that he was on his own during a recent run for supplies. The information he’d traded for had led him to the USS Oklahoma. What was left of her. After docking, he’d pulled on an EVA suit and walked the corridors collecting anything he thought might be useful. Someone had been there before him and collected all the phasers and phaser rifles out of the lockers.
The dead bodies had given up their combadges as well as tricorders and other items left behind by their murderers. He’d salvaged the dedication plaque as well. Captain Janeway would see that the ship and crew received a proper memorial.
“Tom?” B'Elanna snapped her fingers in front of his face. “Where were you?”
“Nowhere you want to be, baby.” He began scooping the items into a duffel bag. “Get that other bag and help me. We’ll take these back to my quarters.”
“Won’t our friend out there notice?”
“Nah, he’ll be too busy enjoying a bottle of scotch.” He held up a bottle of the amber liquid.
“2365? Too good for him.”
“True, but the Captain of the Oklahoma obviously had good taste.” He grimaced as he remembered seeing the Captain sprawled across the desk in her ready room. Her clothes had been ripped from her body and it was obvious she’d been sexually assaulted before she died. He’d pulled her body onto the floor and covered her with a blanket, taking a moment to apologize for looting her ship. Her sightless eyes haunted him as he left, she could easily have been Captain Janeway if their luck had been just a little worse. He shook himself. “Let’s go, toots.”
Outside, he handed the guard the bottle of scotch and shared a quick swig with him before they left. Tom slapped B'Elanna on the butt causing the Kazon to laugh as they walked away.
Back in his quarters, B'Elanna punched Tom in the arm. “You were enjoying that a little too much!”
“Ouch! I’m sorry.” He rubbed his arm. “Just keeping up appearances.”
“It’s been almost a month since I went to the camp. Maybe you can get them to let me visit again.”
“You can take the communicators with you.” He separated them into a smaller bag. “The other stuff will have to wait.”
“They need the med kits!” She protested.
“You can’t haul a duffel bag of stuff out there with you.”
“But they need –“
“B'Elanna, think!” Tom grabbed her shoulders and shook her. “They’ll want to know what’s in the bag. If they figure out what we’re doing, they’ll throw us back in the camp. If they don’t kill us. We have to prioritize. Communications first.”
She shook her head, knowing he was right but not liking it.
“I’ve got to go out there in a few days to get the cormalite. I’ll figure out a way to leave the med kits then. Maybe I can swap them for Harry. Nah, Janeway would never go for that.”
“Let me tell them what you’re really doing.”
“No, it’s too dangerous. It’s better if they think I’ve joined the Kazon.” The blue eyes were sad. “Typical Tom Paris behavior.”
“Tom. It’s not fair – ”
“Life isn’t fair, sweetheart. If it was, we’d have met a long time ago.”
“We did, remember?” She hugged him to her. “We didn’t get along.”
“That’s because life isn’t fair.” He slid his hands down her back to mold her body to his. “Make love to me, B'Elanna, who knows how long we have.”