Seven of Nine and B'Elanna Torres were bound to the same stake, backs together with the stake in between. They'd been like this for twenty minutes and already they were bored out of their respective minds. Natives with black and white paint covering their faces would run up and pinch various parts of the women as if they were checking a roast but when B'Elanna growled at them, they'd just slapped, and pinched her. She wasn't happy. Seven stood still, not really doing anything physical, but in that time, she'd already figured out a way to extend Astrometrics' long-range sensors and increase power to the warp core. "I'm going to kill him for this," Torres growled. "We did volunteer," Seven reminded the fierce engineer. "I don't know why I did this. I have plenty of other things that need attending to," Torres complained. "It is improving my humanity," explained Seven, "Though I have yet to see how this simulation will accomplish that." B'Elanna snickered. "Yeah? And what well of wisdom told you that," she asked sarcastically. "The doctor informed me that participation in recreational activities would improve my social skills," said Seven, looking far from convinced. "I'll just bet he did," B'Elanna replied in disgust. "Can you get loose," she asked the blond over her shoulder. "I will attempt to do," said Seven. As her hands found the knots, she began to feel the configurations and to unravel them. About halfway through, she stopped and told B'Elanna that she would have to complete the rest. Torres extended her fingers to the knots and began to undo her end, but the part she was doing lay right against Seven's butt. As she worked at the restraint, Seven began to wiggle and move. "Hold still," hissed B'Elanna. "I am sorry, Lieutenant. I will try to hold still." But when the woman's fingers tickled the blonde's bottom, she made a giggling sound and moved her butt out of the way, tightening the knot. "Damn it, Seven! What the hell's wrong with you," growled Torres in frustration. "I believe I am ticklish in the area where the knot is, Lieutenant," she said, sounding slightly annoyed at her body's reaction. "What? Where," B'Elanna asked over her shoulder. "Your fingers are brushing against my buttocks," stated Seven. B'Elanna blushed suddenly. Great, she thought, now Seven would think she was copping a feel. "Well, I didn't mean to, it's just I'm having a hard time holding onto the knot," Torres explained. "Where are the mighty hunters anyway," she snarled.
Several times before this, B'Elanna had tried to end Tom's stupid program, but he'd overridden the codes for that very reason. Even Seven couldn't unlock the codes without access to a panel and since they'd come in as captives, they had no hope of getting to one without escaping. They had decided to give Tom and Harry a little time before they escaped and now time was up. They both wanted out. "Idiots probably got themselves captured," sneered B'Elanna as she went back to the knot, but everytime she touched it, Seven practically danced around. "Alright, alright. Can you reach it," she asked. "No, I can not. That is why I turned it over to you," she commented. Sigh. A ruckus set up near a small building, drawing the women's attention. As they watched, an elderly woman shuffled out and approached them. She looked like she was about a hundred years old, if she was a day, but when she came over and grabbed each woman's chin, so she could examine their teeth, her grip was one of iron. Her elderly hands roamed over the curves of Seven of Nine, who paled considerable but when the old woman squeezed a breast, Seven blanched for real. Torres had to give her credit though, Seven never moved a muscle. When it came to B'Elanna's turn however, she wasn't as gracious as Seven and fought the old woman as best she could, which only earned her a laugh and a healthy squeeze. Now she really was going to kill Tom. The old woman turned around, stamped her walking stick five times, spoke a language that neither woman had heard before and then pointed at them. Uh oh, thought Torres. They were quickly untied and placed in a holding cell of sorts, but at least they were no longer out in the open and their hands were free.
That afternoon as Torres and Seven struggled with the indignities of capture, Tom and Harry found themselves in similar circumstances. "No, they're peaceful Harry," said Harry snidely to Tom. "They're too primitive to catch us Harry," he continued as Tom rolled his eyes. "Alright! I screwed. Give it a rest, will you? We have to get out of here fast, otherwise B'Elanna and Seven are going to kill us," he said loudly. "Why would they kill us," asked Harry, but when he didn't receive an answer, he looked over his shoulder and saw the set of Tom's shoulders. "Oh my God, what did you do Tom," he asked glancing around nervously. "Well, remember last night, we both had dates and after you left, Ginger asked to see my new program and then she asked if I could change a few things," he told Harry as he trailed off. "What did you change Tom," Harry asked feeling angry. "I was drunk! I meant to reset it this morning but then we were captured so quickly," he whined. "Oh god, oh god. What did you do," Harry urged, as he began to work on the knot in the rope. "I sort of," Tom said but then ended the sentence in a mumbled. "What did you say," Harry asked desperately. "I said, that I instructed the natives to make their captives mate, before they tested them, or accepted them into the group," said Tom sheepishly. "You what," Harry screamed at him. "It was a joke, Harry. I didn't think I'd get stuck with you," he replied. "Well, turn the damn thing off," yelled Harry. "That's the rest of the joke," said Tom hesitantly. Harry groaned, "What?" "We have to have access to a panel in order to stop the program," he whined. "I'm going to kill you myself, before B'Elanna ever gets near you," yelled Harry. "I wished I'd been with Seven and B'Elanna when I got captured," Harry lamented. "You and me both buddy," replied Tom. "Do not talk to me," Harry told Tom.
B'Elanna paced the cell like a lioness behind bars. Seven stood at attention in the middle and every time B'Elanna bumped into her, she'd pull back and then tell Seven to go sit down in a corner. The more irritated B'Elanna became, the more reserved Seven became until one looked crazed and the other looked like a statue. Since there was only one small window, B'Elanna returned to it after each trip around the jail and glanced out it. When she saw the old woman heading for another hut, she stuck her arm out and waved the woman her way. "What are you doing," asked Seven, breaking her silence. "Trying to get that old one over here. Maybe I can grab her, or get her to release us," she said hopefully. "Computer, locate Tom Paris and Harry Kim," asked Seven to the air. Tom Paris and Harry Kim are on holodeck two. "Where are they located within this program," Seven further asked. Tom Paris and Harry Kim are in the next encampment. "Computer, are they in a room similar to this," she asked, hoping she was wrong. Affirmative. "Computer, can you translate the language of these indigenous people?" Affirmative. By this time, B'Elanna had given up on the old woman and listened to Seven's questions. "Are the safety protocols online?" The safety protocols are currently offline. "It would appear, Lieutenant that we should do as we are instructed until we can find a way to escape," she stated. "Really, ya think," replied B'Elanna blandly. Torres finally stopped her pacing and sat down. "What'd we going to do," she asked Seven, but before she could receive an answer, two burly looking guards came in and told them to remove their clothes. Both women raised their eyebrows, but didn't move. Whispering to Seven, B'Elanna said, "I'm sure glad we know what they're saying now." "Sarcasm will not help in our present situation," replied Seven. The guards pointed long, nasty looking spears at them and told them to remove their clothing again. "I suggest we follow their orders, Lieutenant," said Seven turning toward B'Elanna. "ghuy'cha', petaQ, Ql'yaH, Qovpatlh," mumbled Torres under her breath as she removed her jacket and then the rest of her clothes. When she finished, she looked up and threw them at her captives, without looking at Seven. They picked up the belongings and then stepped out of the cell. B'Elanna turned around, now swearing in English and stopped in mid-swear when she glimpsed Seven of Nine in all her glory. Torres felt her pulse quicken and her breath come faster as she stared at the buxom blond before her. Seven watched the Lieutenant gaze at her body and detected the physiological changes that signaled arousal. Not wanting to spoil the moment, Seven took her time examining Torres's body too. She liked what she saw and marveled at the caramel colored skin. As her body reacted sexually to B'Elanna's, Seven realize that she'd never experienced this sensation with anyone, except B'Elanna. This made her reevaluate her dating options, something she'd been doing more often lately. B'Elanna finally pulled herself out of her reverie and then blushed as she noticed Seven studying her. Embarrassed, she turned around quickly and then looked for a more secluded area of their cell to hide in, but to no avail. Seven stood in the middle again, hands linked behind her back, feet slightly apart, as she watched B'Elanna. When Torres saw the familiar stance, she almost choked. The woman was pretty much opened for B'Elanna's inspection and B'Elanna found it harder to breathe. "Seven," she said waving her hand around, "Can you do something else?" "What do you suggest," Seven asked approaching B'Elanna. "Ah, just don't stand at attention like that," she said trying to avert her eyes and failing. "Does my nudity bother you, Lieutenant," Seven asked curiously. Someone please strike me dead, B'Elanna thought, praying to every God she could think of. "The air is cooling down," said Seven, "At this rate, I estimate the temperature will drop to 45 degrees Fahrenheit." "Kahless," exclaimed B'Elanna angrily, "Now what do we do?" As if by magic, the door opened up and a fur was thrown in. Looking toward the sky, Torres said, "Alright, I owe ya one." The skin looked big enough to hold both of them, but only if they snuggled�closely. Okay, maybe I owe you two, thought Torres looking at the sky again. If this kept up, she'd owe all she had to Kahless, but at this point she didn't care.
Harry shivered in their cell having lost his clothes two hours before. Tom ran around yelling about the indignities of capture and didn't even stop when the fur came flying in. Harry ran over, picked it up and then wrapped it around himself. Sighing, he went over to a corner and lay down, determined to get some sleep. After a few minutes, Tom stopped yelling and noticed Harry's apparent comfort. "Hey," he said, "Share! I'm freezing!" "No, forget about it. It's your fault that you're cold," he scowled. Tom went to grab at the fur, but Harry batted his hand away easily. "You do realize that this could be a long stay," he mentioned to Harry. "What do you mean," Harry asked before he realized that all four of them had three days off and that unless there was an emergency, no one would come looking for them. He moaned. "You are no longer my friend," he growled at Tom, "And I hope you freeze to death."
The two women climbed into the fur and then wrapped it around them. B'Elanna lay curled up in front of Seven with her back tight against Seven's front. Seven's hardened nipples pushed into B'Elanna's back and drove her crazy with desire. "Ah, Seven," she said, "Are you still cold?" "No, I am not cold. Are you? I could cover you with more of my body in order to increase your body temperature," she replied. Yup, that would do the trick, thought Torres. With Seven on top of her, she would certainly heat up quickly. "No, I'm fine, thanks," she replied. As Seven began to snuggle and become sleepy, her hand wandered down and inserted itself between B'Elanna's thighs, drawing her closer. Oh Kahless, thought B'Elanna wildly. Please don't let her move or touch me anywhere else. She'd never get to sleep this way as it was, though finally, the steady beat of the native's drums lulled her and she drifted.
In her dream, she turned over onto her back and looked up into the face of her be'nal, Seven. They'd made a nice home for themselves and were celebrating it, in their usual manner. She reached up and stroked Seven's face, feeling the softness beneath her fingers. Seven's hands sought her breasts and squeezed lovingly, tweaking the nipples just the way B'Elanna liked it. They knew each other so well, that no words were needed, when they made love. Her fingers explored her lover's curves and length. As she touched Seven's breasts, licking and sucking them, she reached down and spread Seven's sex to feel the wetness that held heaven. As their passion rose, each arched against the other, and then brought the other to the edge of orgasm, and then over. Afterwards, she opened her eyes, snug and secure in her lover's arms and kissed the waiting lips. When she came fully awake, she realized that her dream had actually happened, in real life. "I love you, B'Elanna Torres," whispered Seven as she drew her closer. "Seven," she asked uncertainly, "Are you awake?" "Yes, B'Elanna. I have been awake since we began copulating," she answered softly. "Ah, I don't think," B'Elanna started. "You do not believe we should have copulated," Seven asked sadly. "No, no, not that. I�I thought I was dreaming, so I wasn't really with it. I don't suppose that we could," Torres hesitated. Seven just looked into her eyes and sighed. "I wondered if we could make love again," she asked the ex-Borg. Seven smiled and B'Elanna could feel it as she kissed her. B'Elanna knew at that moment that she'd finally gotten what she'd really wanted, though not in the manner she'd thought. The blond had excited her ever since coming onboard Voyager and she owed tonight's adventure to Tom.
Tom shivered and cursed Harry who had not even given him a corner of the fur to warm himself with, so as the sun came up, he silently thanked the heavens and then asked for a really hot day to bleed the coldness from his limbs. Harry woke up a few minutes later and stretched lazily as he yawned. When he saw Tom, he smiled to himself. Hope he froze, thought Harry as he pulled the fur tighter against him. "So, now what Paris," he said suddenly. "I'm not having sex with you, except to say, 'blow me!' So, what's the solution genius," he asked again. Tom gave him a sad, but sour look as he huddled in a corner where he expected the first ray of sun to shine. "I can't think," he whined, "I'm too cold and I didn't sleep well." "Wait, let me get my violin," Harry quipped. "Shut up Harry," said Tom meanly. Hearing a commotion in the village center, Tom and Harry moved over to the window to see what was going on. Tom took advantage of their closeness and pressed himself into the fur, until Harry felt him and shoved him away. "What do you suppose is going on," asked Harry as they watched a very heavyset man wobble to the fire. There was a lot of pointing and staring, and even some laughter, as people slapped the large man's back and made obscene gestures toward the cell. "I don't like the looks of this," said Harry to no one in particular. Tom sat in the small patch of sun the window allowed in and looked miserable.
The next morning, B'Elanna and Seven stretched lazily against each other and then got up to go see what was happening. Seven kept the fur wrapped around them for warmth and modesty's sake. The old woman walked painfully toward the fire, spoke with a few of the guards and then broke into a grin as she looked toward the jail. "I'm not sure I like that," B'Elanna mumbled as Seven's arms tightened around her. A few minutes later, the old woman shuffled over and threw their clothes to them. The look of surprise on their faces elicited a chuckle from the elderly person. Since they'd activated the language translator yesterday, they had no trouble understanding the woman as she spoke. "By sharing your love with each other, we welcome you both as members of our community. We open our arms to you daughters," she said in a whispery voice. "You are now joined." They looked at each other, but said nothing. "You may walk amongst your people and bathe in your freedom." When they exchanged another look, it was one of amusement. "You may go daughters�may the spirits be kind," she said and then hugged each. "With you also, mother" B'Elanna replied respectfully. Seven followed suit and both received another hug before the old woman left. They dressed quickly and left the holodeck.
As they stood in the corridor waiting, people passed by and gave them funny looks, but were more amused at the sight of the two rivals in conspiracy. Harry came stumbling out and blinked at the women. "What happened," he asked confused. "We changed the parameters of the program just enough to get you thrown out," B'Elanna laughed. "How'd you get out," Harry asked before he remembered and then blushed. "Oh," he said. B'Elanna winked at Seven. "What about Tom," he asked looking toward the door. "What about Tom," said B'Elanna frowning and crossing her arms. "It is his program. I believe he should bring it to its conclusion," inserted Seven. Harry looked from one to the other and then grinned evilly. "I can't wait to see him when he comes out," said Harry rubbing his hands together. "Why's that Harry," asked B'Elanna. "Tom did this the night before when he was drunk, to show off for his date, so God knows what else he programmed in" he said. "Peta'Q! Figures he'd do something this stupid for a woman," spit B'Elanna. "Did you happen to see what he programmed in if he were the only captive," Harry asked. All three looked at each other and then went to the nearest panel to read the parameters. Seven's sharp intake of breath made the other two read faster. When they got to the good part, they looked at each other and began to laugh. "He so deserves that," said Harry. "Harry, I'm surprised at you. He's your best friend," said Torres. "Yeah, well look at what we had to do to get free�I mean, you two had it good. Look at the two of you," he complained, "But I had Tom." They laughed lightly until Harry told them about the rather large man who appeared to be the native's champion. "No, stop it Harry. You're killing me! This is too good," B'Elanna laughed, as an image played through her mind. "Oh, bad visual, bad visual," she said to the laughs of Harry and Seven. "Perhaps we should let him out," said Seven, always the voice of reason. B'Elanna turned toward her and said, "Don't you dare!" Seven looked unconvinced. Harry watched the exchange between the women and realized that the dynamics of the little group had changed, probably for the better, though he was sad where Seven was concerned. He never really had lost the torch he carried for her. He had just accepted that they weren't meant to be. "Well," he said, beaming at the new couple, "I'm going to take a shower and get rid of this 'dirty' feeling that seems to be clinging to me." B'Elanna threw a companionable arm across his shoulders and said, "Join us for dinner, Star Fleet?" He blushed, something that really annoyed him, but hesitated before answering. Seeing this, Seven stepped forward and extended the invitation too. "Oh, okay. If you're sure you don't mind," he asked. "We'd love it. I think we have lots to things to�rehash," said B'Elanna. "You're right about that," he replied happily. "See you then," he said as he headed for his quarters. ***
Seven stood closely to the panel and B'Elanna could see her fingers were itching to change the computers commands. "I see," said B'Elanna taking Seven's arm and pulling her in the opposite direction, "That I'll need to keep you occupied until the program's conclusion." She smiled and then let her gaze linger over Seven's body suggestively. Seven swallowed hard and worked her jaw as B'Elanna kissed her body a thousand times using her eyes. The sensation was physical and made Seven weak in the knees. She inhaled deeply and then nodded once, unable to speak. B'Elanna loved having the power to incapacitate the blond and she meant to take full advantage of it as soon as they could get back to her quarters. Seven silently thanked Kahless and Tom Paris for her good luck.
24 hours later, Tom stumbled out of the holodeck, unkempt and walking bull-legged.