Chapter 18
Disclaimer:
If Paramount owns it, then I don't. If Paramount doesn't own it then I do. Does this cover it? If you are a Paramount lawyer please don't come after me. I am just a factory worker. If you come after me with legal papers then I can give you some tips about preserving them, but that is all that I can give you.
This story features some interaction of the female/female kind. If you don't want to read that, or are not allowed to read that, please feel free to go read something else.
Feedback: Yes please. I would like to know whether you liked it or didn't. If you didn't like it, why not? Let me know, but tell me nicely please.
Rating: By now NC-17 for f/f lovemaking. (I refuse to call it sex.)
Archive: I wish. But if you decide to make my wish come true (no, not that one. The one about the archiving) than please let me know. PS, Voyager: Delta, Perfect Misfits and The Vinculum is a given of course.
Writer: I guess that's me. H.W. [email protected]
Pairing: B/7
Note #1: I would like to thank my betas, who are in order of appearance<g>:
My sister: She betad the first chapter for me and still reads each chapter and points out if something is unclear.
Letterx: Who checks if I have no major plot holes in my story.
Jackie: Who takes care of all of my typos, and believe me, there are an awful lot of typos to take care of.
Arydwen: who goes over everything a final time to make sure no major errors are missed.
Note #2: Because I got the idea for this story thanks to a little bit of fun certain people on a certain mailing list were having I honored that fun by putting Astrometrics on deck four. If you don't get it, don't worry it is not important. If you do get it, then you know what I'm talking about.<g>
Now, let's get started.
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Chapter 18
***
Chakotay had squeezed the button on the phaser with difficulty and pushed the now limp Seven of Nine off of him. He had to hand it to the Borg and all of their enhancements. The sleeping agent that he had administered to Seven�s neck should have knocked her out for hours. And yet she had almost overpowered him just shortly after leaving Voyager. He bent down to check Seven�s pulse, finding it with ease and beating strong, even after hitting the Borg with the highest stun level possible without killing her. Of course, Chakotay assumed that this was thanks to the Borg enhancements.
He had no way of knowing that in her struggle to get back to Voyager, Seven wasn�t relying on her Borg strength. She was relying on something even bigger. She was relying on her love for B�Elanna. No way was she going to let a narrow-minded cretin like Chakotay take her away from her reason for living without fighting it with all that she was. The phaser had left Seven immobile, but it hadn�t made her lose consciousness. She could feel Chakotay touching her neck to find her pulse, and was appalled by the idea of him touching her. Touching the very same spot that B�Elanna had kissed so tenderly mere hours ago... B�Elanna, Seven knew that she had to fight it. She had to get back to B�Elanna. But even her body had limitations. First she had to flight off a strong sleeping agent, and then the effects of a high level stun beam. All she could do was feel how Chakotay checked her pulse, and after doing so, watch as he stepped back and erected a forcefield, trapping Seven behind it, away from him and the controls of the Flyer.
Chakotay sat back at the helm of the Flyer to set a course that would bring him further away from Voyager. During his planning on board Voyager, a lot of time had went to the decision of what to do once he was off the ship. It had dawned on him that he was in a solar system filled with a hostile force that would possibly do everything to get their Chosen back once they realized she was gone. During his planning he had made one calculated gamble. He had hoped that the Followers wouldn�t immediately react to his departure because they didn�t expect a shuttle to leave Voyager, and until now his gamble had paid off. But he knew that his luck wouldn�t last. Even with the Flyer he couldn�t match Voyager�s speed, so it would take him at least fifteen years just to get out of the Followers� territory. Now that he had laid in a course and the computer was flying the shuttle, he scanned the solar system, knowing that it would only confirm what he already knew. But one couldn�t go over a plan often enough.
The scans showed that there were sixteen planets in the Followers� solar system, but it was the fifth and sixth planet, which caught his attention. What he saw was physically impossible, but there it was in plain sight. Both planets were sharing the same orbit around the sun. One on each side of the sun in what seemed to be a balancing act of interstellar proportions. He looked at the scan a little closer and found the one major difference he knew was there. One plant was populated with nine billion humanoids. Followers, according to the scan. And the other planet was uninhabited. Chakotay remembered the story Carizon had told him about the Traveler�s home planet and what a dangerous place it was. He knew that this was his chance. Of course, as with every civilization, stories got bigger and bolder with every telling. Chakotay knew that this had to be the same for the Followers. He didn�t doubt that it was indeed a dangerous planet, but he was sure that a person like him, with his survival skills, would certainly survive. However, the stories and the importance of the planet were bound to keep the Followers at bay. He was certain of that.
He looked back at the still immobile Seven and realized that this meant that he would have to spend the rest of his life with her. But on the planet, she wouldn�t be a threat anymore and he was certain that once she had accepted the fact that they both would never leave the planet again, they would get along just fine. A funny thought struck him and he laughed softly as he wondered just how well they would eventually get along. After all, they would be the only two people on the planet. While he set course to the uninhabited planet, images started to form in his head. How he would come back home from the hunt and Seven would be waiting for him, dinner ready. They would share a long kiss while he rubbed her belly to say hello to the child growing inside.
He once again laughed while he said out loud, �No way. I�m pretty sure she would kill me before that ever happened.� And he knew it to be the truth. But still, that didn�t mean that he couldn�t let his mind wonder about just what would happen when they would be living on the planet for a long period of time. While he started his descent into the atmosphere, his mind was so filled with images of him, his wife, and their son, that he didn�t notice the Sensor�s warning signals before it was too late and an electrical charge knocked out half of the Flyer�s systems. The next thing he knew they were going down way too fast and he put all his effort into at least making it a crash landing they could walk away from.
***
The shuttle came to a complete stop just short of entering the planet�s atmosphere and all eyes turned to Zerisan, wondering why she had told Tom to stop. �That is the Traveler�s home planet. Going down there just might be suicide. But even if we were able to survive on the planet, chances of ever leaving again are slim to none. There is an electronic charge in the upper levels of the atmosphere that disables pretty much all electronics passing through it. That is also the reason why the two races that eventually produced the Followers didn�t just leave the planet after they crash landed on it. The layer also prevents communication off the planet. It took the society that started to grow on this planet three hundred years to find a way to travel through the electronically charged layer without it affecting their systems. I highly doubt that your systems would be immune to the charge.�
�The Delta Flyer might be,� Tom said brightly. �With all the tinkering I have done on it recently, and the suggestions that Seven gave me which I used, it might just have withstood the charge.� Then he realized just what he was suggesting. �Of course that means that we would have to go down there in this shuttle, most probably crash land, and after that, try to find the Flyer without help of electronics like the tricorder since all of that will probably be destroyed by the electronic charge we first have to pass through.�
Janeway smiled at Tom�s description. Put like that, it sounded crazy to even try. Good thing she sometimes liked doing crazy things. But it was a big decision and not one to make lightly so she turned to Zerisan to get more information. �Could Tom�s changes to the Flyer have been enough to not be affected by the electronic charge? And what about beaming down?�
�And why might it be suicide to be on the planet?� Tuvok added, thinking that Janeway was disregarding that little mentioning a little too easily.
�That electronic charge is quite unique in the universe. We assume that the Traveler himself put it there. We have never encountered it anywhere else. Even to this day, it is impossible for us to use a transporter beam to penetrate the layer and beam down. We only found the means to penetrate the layer when our, at that point in time, young society was ready to once again go into space. So does your modified shuttle stand a chance? I don�t know. But if it does, I would say it�s only the smallest of a chance. However, a standard Federation shuttle like the one we are in will definitely be affected. And to answer your question, Lt. Commander, it might just be suicide because of the wildlife on the planet. When we left this planet to settle on its twin and create our Homeworld there, we left a vacuum on the top of the food chain, so to speak. One of the predatory cats on the planet then evolved to become the top of the food chain. Far surpassing any of the other predators that also still exist on the planet and who are also quite deadly.�
�Cats?� Janeway asked. Wondering why the Follower was wasting time with talking about the kind of predatory cats that usually existed in some kind or form on each planet they had encountered. �Shouldn�t our phasers be enough protection against them?�
�Cats with an average shoulder height of about... this high,� Zerisan indicated just how high she meant by lifting her hand to what would be approximately chest level for Janeway. �And razor sharp claws. Not just on their feet, but all along their legs and body. Each and every one of them individually extendable and retractable. The whole point of this is that when they attack a prey and the attack is not completely on target, they still kill or injure their prey by brushing past it and slicing it open with the claws on their body. Oh, and trying to run is no use. The top speed of a Tertra cat is about two hundred kilometers per hour (125 Mph).� Zerisan could see that Janeway was beginning to understand now, but she had the feeling that the Captain still didn�t understand well enough. She decided to give a little more information. �Captain, think of the dinosaurs back in Earth�s history and imagine that they never became extinct. Imagine that the humans did not live on Earth anymore for the last sixty thousand years and only observed the planet and its wildlife from far away. Do you think, at this very moment, humans could go down to a planet Earth that was populated with dinosaurs and survive living there?�
�Actually, with the right a...� Janeway spoke up. But she was interrupted as Zerisan continued.
�Now, imagine that those dinosaurs used those sixty thousand years to go from being relatively big, but simple minded animals to being highly intelligent beings. Intelligent beings that, if they come across something they can�t handle on their own, work together as a group of as many as needed to succeed. Also remember that you will only have the most basic equipment. You see Captain, that is the situation down there. And I don�t know how effective your phasers will be since we never did try to find out just what is needed to stop a Tertra cat. After all, they evolved after we left the planet. All we know is what we have observed from outer space observation. We usually do not go down onto the planet.�
�Why are we once again wasting time talking?� B�Elanna finally spoke up. �We have to get Seven. Especially after what you just told us, Zerisan. But it sounds to me as if you�re trying to stop us from going.�
�I�m just giving you the honest facts so that you can make your own decision. Because, you WILL be risking your lives. I see it as my duty to give you that information. But nobody asked me what I actually wanted. I want to go down there, save a friend of mine, and once again unite her with her wife to be. That is what I want. But unless a miracle happens the chances of us surviving and leaving the planet again is about a million to one.�
Janeway, having made her decision, turned her chair around to face forward while strapping in. �I�m not abandoning this when there still is a chance of saving Seven. And, to be honest, I�m also not quite through with Chakotay just yet. Tom, take us down.�
�Aye, Captain.�
For a moment Janeway thought that Zerisan had been mistaken or exaggerating because the descent through the atmosphere was proving to be one of the smoothest she could ever remember. But in the short time they knew the Followers, Janeway had noticed a tendency of theirs to simply state the facts. Not exaggerating or playing anything down. Simply tell things as they are. And at the precise moment when Janeway was thinking this, Zerisan was proven right once again.
�Systems are starting to malfunction.� Tom said with difficulty while he was trying to keep the suddenly violently shaking shuttle under control. �We�re going down! There�s no way I will be able to land this thing. I suggest that we beam down as soon as we are past this layer and we are able to do so.�
Janeway, who was sitting in the copilot seat, could see that already 70 percent of all systems were down. The shields, which kept them from being burned to ashes, were down to only six percent and the engines had shut down completely. �Do it, as soon as possible.�
�I�m sure glad that on modern-day spaceships and shuttles the transporters were much more reliable than they had been in the old days,� Tom said nervously, more to himself than the others. It was clear that he was trying to break his tension. �At least nowadays they are designed as a last safety device. Even if everything else fails, the transporters should keep working so that we can beam to safety, once we�re through this of course. Right, B�Elanna?�
But as soon as Tom had said that last word the transporter showed that even it had its limits. When a particularly strong electronic current hit some of the fuses blew, showering the inside of the shuttle with blue and white sparks.
�I�m on it!� B�Elanna shouted while opening the safety straps and getting out of her chair. She was thrown to the floor twice by the violent shaking before she reached the transporter fuse box. B�Elanna worked as fast as she could while the others could only watch through the window, seeing the ground coming closer with every second.
After what seemed like hours, but had in reality been less than thirty seconds the experienced Klingon had replaced the blown fuses. But while she was shouting �ready!� the shuttle hit one final current. That last pocket of turbulence hit the shuttle right before it finally passed through the electronic layer and started its straight but deadly decent to the planet�s surface. The violent shaking and the suddenly steep angle of the shuttle was enough to sent B�Elanna flying across the floor and crashing headfirst into console between Tom and Janeway. Only a second later Tom managed to activate the transporters and all of them disappeared in a sparkle of light from the doomed shuttle. Something that went unnoticed by the unconscious Klingon.
***
They materialized in a forest clearing and while Tom and Zerisan started to check the condition of B�Elanna, Janeway and Tuvok looked at the tree-line surrounding them to make sure that they wouldn�t be surprised by one of the predators that Zerisan had talked about. Janeway couldn�t help but admire the beauty of the surrounding forest. This was something no holodeck could really recreate. The smell of nature, of real fresh air. And a forest that one would want to leisurely stroll through for hours on end. Just enjoying what nature had created.
�Thank God for that thick Klingon head of hers,� Tom finally said. �From what I can see, without the aid of a medical tricorder, I would say that she�s just knocked out.�
Zerisan nodded her head in agreement while opening one of the pockets on her equipment belt. �I agree. Let me wake her up. I...� Suddenly the Follower stopped talking and looked at a specific spot in the tree line. �Our arrival didn�t go unnoticed.� Zerisan slowly stood up and stepped away from B�Elanna. Clearly posing herself as another separate target for whatever was coming.
It took a moment before the others started hearing the soft sounds that the Follower�s sensitive hearing had already picked up a moment before. Finally, an animal came walking into the clearing as if it didn�t have a care in the world. From the description that Zerisan had given them, Janeway knew that this had to be one of those Tertra cats. But hearing a description and actually seeing it was something totally different. Now Janeway understood why Zerisan had seen it as her duty to warn them. The cat was about as big as one of the grizzly bears Janeway knew from Earth. Except that instead of looking bulky, the animal had the sleek look always accociated with predatory cats. Janeway thought that except for the much bigger size, the cat bore a certain resemblance with a black panther. The cat had a shiny dark black fur that sometimes looked a little bit blue if the sunlight reflected off of it just right. Janeway couldn�t see the claws that Zerisan had talked about and assumed that they were usually retracted under the skin, except when needed.
�Spread out a little bit,� Zerisan whispered. �Make it seem as if we are with a bigger group then we really are. If it isn�t hungry, it might just decide not to bother, and move on. But don�t make any sudden moves.�
The others did as Zerisan had suggested and spread out a little bit around the still unconscious B�Elanna. The Tertra cat looked at them individually every time one of them moved. At one point, the cat looked Janeway straight in the eyes and the Captain could see a calculating soul shining in those black eyes. �Intelligent?� Janeway asked.
�Highly intelligent,� Zerisan answered before she saw the Captain take a step back. The Follower took another step away from the group so that the cat looked back at her before saying, �Don�t move back! If you move back, you give the impression that you�re fleeing. You will make yourself a prey on the run. Only move sideways or forward. But don�t... move... back.�
The cat kept coming closer and by now it was obvious that it was heading for B�Elanna. Janeway assumed that nature was the same everywhere in the universe. Always go for the weakest prey. In this case, the one lying on the ground, not moving.
Because the group had spread out, Tom was the only one left standing between the cat and B�Elanna. The cat came closer until it was just an arm�s length away from a, by now severely sweating Tom. Because the cat was so large it looked to the frightened Tom as if the cat�s head was at the same level as his. The animal looked at him for a moment with frighteningly intelligent eyes before it suddenly let out a loud roar and extended all of its body claws.
Janeway saw how suddenly the claws appeared through that beautiful black fur. All of them about a human hand apart, and also just as long. All of them pointing forward in a deathly intent. Now Janeway understood what Zerisan had meant by �razor-sharp�. The claws didn�t just have a sharp point; the entire inside of the moon shaped claws had a flat, sharp edge to it. And all of those deadly claws were now aimed at the petrified Tom. Janeway slowly pulled her phaser and pointed it at the big cat. She aimed carefully and squeezed the fire button. But nothing happened. And Janeway realized her mistake. The phasers were also electronic equipment, so of course the electronic layer also had affected them.
Zerisan saw that Janeway�s phaser had not worked, and once again moved a little bit away, presenting herself as a clear and easy target. She took out her warrior knife, knowing only too well that she didn�t have a chance. But at least she would die fighting.
Tom knew that he had to move, but he couldn�t. His legs didn�t want to obey him. All he could do was look at death standing before him. He saw how the cat looked at Zerisan and then apparently didn�t find her interesting enough, because the cat once again looked back at him. Suddenly, so fast that Tom didn�t even realize it, the cat lifted one of its paws and batted the pilot aside as if he weighed nothing. For a moment, Tom thought that he was going to die. But then he realized that the cat hadn�t really harmed him; it had batted him aside without using its claws.
Not knowing what else to do the group watched as the big cat walked to B�Elanna. There the cat softly pushed against B�Elanna body a couple of times with its head. And then... laid down at the Klingon�s side, obviously guarding the still unconscious Klingon.
All eyes went to Zerisan, but no question was asked. They could see that the Follower was just as surprised with that behavior as the rest of them. Tom, still being the closest to B�Elanna, tried to move closer to the Klingon but as soon as he came too close for the cat�s liking, the animal made a hissing sound and looked the pilot straight in the eyes. Tom could swear that the expression on the animal�s face had changed. He had thought that he was going to die before, but now there was no question that the animal meant business. Tom knew that if he would try to get any closer he was going to die. For real, this time.
�Umm,� Janeway just said, not really knowing what to do with the situation.
Zerisan put her warrior knife away and stepped closer. �I don�t know, Captain Janeway. This is NOT normal behavior. We all should be dead by now. While Tertra cats are among the most intelligent animals we have ever encountered, if not THE most intelligent animals we have ever encountered, they are not a higher evolved life, like humanoids. This is undocumented behavior.�
Zerisan tried to get closer to B�Elanna and got the same treatment from the cat as Tom had a moment before. �Umm, Captain Janeway, I suggest we simply wait for B�Elanna to wake up. I don�t think that will be much longer anyway.�
�Sounds like a good idea. Let�s get comfortable, everyone.�
Almost half an hour later B�Elanna finally started to move. First small movements, but soon she tried to sit up suddenly, only to quickly lie down again. She brought her hand to her head in a futile attempt to stop the splitting headache she had. Yet, above the pounding, she heard the whispering voice of Janeway. �B�Elanna, move over to me, slowly.�
Despite her splitting headache the Klingon opened her eyes to see where Janeway was, and why she was whispering. Immediately she saw something big and black lying at her left side. Not realizing that this was not a dream, B�Elanna reacted like she always did in her dreams. She rolled over until she was lying partially on top of the big cat and put her arms around the animal�s muscular neck in a tight embrace. �Hi, Toby! Boy am I glad to see you!�
It was then that B�Elanna realized that something was different. She never had a headache in one of her dreams before. And despite the fact that her dreams had always seemed real, she now could feel little things she never felt before. Toby�s soft fur tickling her face, an ant walking over her hand, the grass she was still partially lying in. Suddenly, she realized that this was not a dream. This time it was real.
She looked around and saw the others standing a little bit away from her. All, except Tuvok, were looking at her in total disbelief. She realized that they were staring at her because of the way she was acting with this very deadly animal. She knew that the others without a doubt thought that she had to get away from the cat, but she didn�t care. She once again buried her face in the soft fur of the animal�s neck, enjoying the first little bit of comfort she felt since she had realized that something was wrong with Seven.
After a few minutes, Zerisan once again tried to get closer to B�Elanna but wisely stopped when the cat started growling softly. �Umm, B�Elanna Torres... I... um...� Not really knowing how to handle this situation, the Follower decided to fall back to one of the basic Imperial Guard�s training rules: �If you get into a situation that you are unfamiliar with, always accept that situation for what it is and work from there. Do not waste time trying to find explanations for things you do not understand.� Of course the second part of that lesson stated: �Once the situation is secure, you will have time enough to research whatever you did not understand.� So Zerisan concentrated on the first priority at hand, to get B�Elanna mobile again so that the group could start moving, and find Seven. �B�Elanna Torres, I have something which will cure that headache you most probably have. But it seems that you found yourself a guardian that does not want me to get close to you.�
�Right,� B�Elanna said, knowing that she had wasted enough time already. She had her soul-mate to save... and Chakotay to kill. Or at least severely hurt him. Maybe she could sic Toby on him. No, that would be too quick and clean. �Okay, now, Toby, these are all friends of mine. It�s okay to let them close.� B�Elanna took the animal�s head between her hands and looked it straight in the eyes. �So, be nice... to them.�
The cat let out a soft growl that sounded as if it was disappointed that it had to behave. It laid its head back down onto its paws and looked back up at B�Elanna with pleading eyes.
�You know that trick doesn�t work on me so you might just as well stop it. Now, why don�t you go and run around some while I try and think about how I�m going to answer the questions of my friends. I�m sure that they are dying to find out how the heck I know you.�
But the cat didn�t budge. Instead, it started to rub its head against B�Elanna�s.
�Yes, I love you too,� B�Elanna mumbled into the black fur. �Okay, okay, I see that you don�t want to go. Then at least move a little so that my friends can come closer too.� While the cat did as B�Elanna had asked, the Klingon looked up at Zerisan with a little smile. �Sorry about that. It�s okay now. Umm, you said that you have something for this pounding headache?�
Zerisan looked over to the cat and saw that the animal really hadn�t moved that much. It was now lying a little more than a body length away from the Klingon and was looking at them with, what seemed like, nothing more than mild interest. But Zerisan knew a lot more about these animals than she had said in her brief description. She knew that in reality everyone was standing within striking distance. That peaceful looking cat with its powerful muscles could jump up from its lying position and take down even Tuvok, standing ten meters (thirty feet) away.
Zerisan came slowly closer to B�Elanna, all the while looking at the cat who kept looking straight back at her. The Follower opened a pocket of her equipment belt and took out a small battlefield injector. �Um, B�Elanna Torres, Imperial Guards are all trained in battlefield medicine. That is why I have this equipment with me in the first place.�
�And?� B�Elanna asked, wondering why the tall woman was explaining this.
�And... to prevent us from carrying too much equipment around, most of the equipment we do have is multifunctional. As is the medicine I�m going to give you. It would cure a lot of different things, including what must be a skull splitting headache. But because it is so multifunctional it is actually quite painful the first few seconds after injection.� Now Zerisan looked over to the cat that was still looking at what she was doing. �I would greatly appreciate it if you could NOT give your friend over there the impression that I�m hurting you.�
B�Elanna looked over to the cat, understanding Zerisan all too well. In her dreams, the Klingon had seen some of the things these cats were capable of, including taking down prey ten times bigger then themselves. �Right, I see what you mean. Okay, let me take care of that problem first. Toby, come here for a moment.� B�Elanna patted the earth softly and the cat immediately reacted. It trotted over and laid down again, putting its head in B�Elanna�s lap. The Klingon started to run her fingers absently through the soft fur. �Touch him. Scratch his skull softly like I�m doing now. He loves that; don�t worry, he won�t hurt you.�
After some hesitation, Zerisan did as B�Elanna had suggested. Zerisan was a seasoned warrior. Because of her position as aide to the Empress, an Empress who had the tendency to get involved in battles physically on occasion, she herself was a veteran of several battles. She was certainly not new to the feeling of excitement that danger could bring. But to be touching such a deadly animal, and to have that animal obviously enjoy that touch, it was one of the most thrilling things she could remember ever doing.
After a few moments, B�Elanna once again took over softly scratching the cat�s skull. �Okay, now here is the real test to see if you are accepted as �one of the pack,� Zerisan.� Zerisan definitely didn�t like the small smile the Klingon had on her lips. �Put your hand in front of his mouth and see what happens.�
�B�Elanna Torres...�
�Don�t worry, if he wanted to be chewing on your hand, he would already be doing so by now. You know it�s true.�
Zerisan moved her hand slowly in front of the cat�s mouth. She knew that B�Elanna was right, but still was very relieved when the only thing that the cat did was start licking her hand.
�There, you are accepted. Now, could you please give me that damn injection before I pass out again?�
Zerisan only nodded her head in an affirmative manner and gave B�Elanna the injection.
Tom looked at the picture of B�Elanna with the head of �Toby� still in her lap and suddenly realized something. �You told me about this place. On the night we agreed to our divorce, you told me about a reoccurring dream you had. About you being on a beautiful planet with the love of your life, and big deadly cats playing with you both. While in the evening, they share their body heat with you both while you enjoy the sunset in a cool ocean breeze.�
�Gee, Tom, thank you for blurting that out,� B�Elanna said while a soft tingling feeling started to spread through her body, a soft tingling feeling that started to hurt more and more. �I told you that in private, you know. And... Damn, THIS HURTS!
Continued in Chapter 19
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