Chapter 10
A frown of concern distorted the Athrinian�s features as he listened to the declaration of his sentence. A lifetime wasted. A lifetime among the enemies. He paled, his eyes darting nervously across the room until they met Kathryn�s cold hard stare.
Sedaar shuddered inwardly. She was to be his next possession, his prize. She was almost ready for him to take her. The pale blue eyes of the Athrinian clouded with poorly hidden desire, and he sucked in air, trying to suppress it. But he was too late, and Kathryn read it in his eyes � that animal urge directed toward her. Blood rushed to her face, and, before she realized what she was doing, Kathryn walked over to the prisoner and slapped him forcefully across the face.
�That is for me,� she said tersely, watching his eyes widen in astonishment and pain. �And that,� she punched him hard in the midsection, causing him to double over and fall to his knees before her, �is for my First Officer.� She stared at his crumpled form for a while, as if trying to decide for herself whether it was enough retribution to see her enemy cowered like this. Finally, she shook her head and headed for the door.
But, just as she was about to walk out, she stopped, looking over her shoulder at the Atarri captain. �I�,� she began hesitantly, but the older man interrupted her with a wave of his hand.
�There is no need to explain, Kah-thryn Janeway,� he said calmly, a sad compassionate smile touching his lips. �I understand.�
Janeway nodded in gratitude and exited the ready room, followed closely by Tuvok. The Vulcan remained at her side all the way until they reached her quarters and she leaned wearily onto the door, turning to him.
�I am fine, Commander,� she assured him, noticing a shadow of concern in his eyes. �You may go to your station now.�
He regarded her closely for some time, as if evaluating her words, and shook his head in resignation. �Very well, Captain. Although, I must say that you acted most irrationally back there.�
�Oh?�
�Indeed. Your behavior resembled more that of a Klingon than of a Human.�
Janeway smiled mirthlessly. �There is a bit of a Klingon in all of us, my friend. Certain situations may simply force him to come out.� And with that, she walked inside.
***
In an agonizingly slow motion, the dark waters of oblivion began to retreat, uncovering an islet of consciousness, and he grabbed on to it like a drowning man to a straw.
�Welcome back, Commander,� he heard vaguely. The voice seemed familiar, so he struggled to open his eyes, blinking like a blind kitten at the indiscernible blur of shapes and colors that flooded his vision. Finally, the objects began to come into focus, and he found himself staring into a pair of large emerald-green eyes.
�La�Ariya?� he whispered hoarsely, instantly finding himself gasping for breath. His throat felt as if it was on fire, and it hurt him to talk.
�I�m glad you remember me, Commander,� she smiled.
�Just Chakotay � please,� he forced out, before his voice was cut off by a series of dry coughs that wracked his whole body, making him wince in pain.
�Would you like some water, Chakotay?� La�Ariya asked softly, placing her cool hand on his flaming forehead.
He nodded, forcing a grateful smile on his dry, cracked lips. �Did I miss much?� he asked, as she handed him the cup and he pressed his lips against it, savoring the soothingly cold liquid.
�Oh, no, not really,� La�Ariya�s voice took on a somewhat sarcastic tone, �just a little war between the Atarri and the Athrinians.�
Chakotay grinned. �Who won?�
�We did, of course. With the help of Voyager. We � I believe, the expression is � kicked the Athrinians� butts,� she joked, delighted to see a smile on his face.
But that smile soon dissipated, as he remembered something else. �Kathryn?�
�She�s fine,� La�Ariya assured him, dreading his next question.
�Where�� he began, but, noticing her discomfiture, he cut himself short, his eyes darkening in anguish. �Never mind.�
�I�m sorry,� she whispered, her voice barely audible above the soft beeping of the medical consoles.
�It�s all right. I�m sure she has some important business to attend to.� The raw bitterness in his voice made her cringe inwardly, and La�Ariya turned away, hiding the glint of sorrow that flashed in her eyes.
A couple of minutes passed in complete silence. Then La�Ariya raised her head with a look of determination on her face, and said, throwing a quick glance at the EMH, who remained sitting at his desk all the while pretending not to have any interest in their conversation, �I�d better go now. My ships will be leaving soon.� She covered his hand with hers, squeezing it lightly. �I can�t thank you enough for what you did for me.� Her tone became very serious. �I could never repay you for that. But I want you to know that you will always have a friend on Atarr. Always.�
Chakotay smiled weakly, looking at the childlike gentle features of her face that seemed even younger now that all of her bruises have healed.
�You�ve helped save my life. No repayment is necessary,� he said simply and added, �But I will cherish your offer of friendship � it is the best gift you could have given me.�
�Perhaps not,� La�Ariya thought mischievously to herself. Out loud, she merely thanked him, bidding him farewell once again and admonishing him to rest. And then, after placing a quick goodbye kiss on the cheek of the befuddled medical hologram, La�Ariya left the sickbay.