Icheb began having the dreams two weeks ago. They were very intense dreams,
where he and a young lady spent a good deal of time together. He thought he hid the
dreams well, but there was one time when he stepped out of his alcove that he caught
Seven of Nine looking at his strangely.
�What is wrong with your regeneration sequence?� She demanded of him, concern
barely discernible in her voice. Icheb shook his head.
�No. At least, I don�t believe so.� Seven of Nine tapped at the Borg console next
to Icheb�s regeneration chamber, asking it the same question she had just asked him. The
report came back with some unexpected information.
�You�ve been dreaming.� She said unemotionally. �What has been the nature of
your dreams?�
�They are...personal.� Icheb said, looking away from his mentor. �Why am I
having these? Is this something like Unimatrix Zero?�
�No.� Seven was quite certain of this. �Your dreams may be the result of the fact
that your cortical stimulator has been removed. You are becoming more like a Benali as
your Borg components atrophy.�
�And so I dream.� Icheb concluded, and Seven nodded.
�You may wish to record your dreams as you have more of them.� Seven
suggested. �You may find it...useful in the future.�
�I�m sure I will.� Icheb gave his mentor one of his rare smiles and she left the
cargo bay. As she left Icheb knew that he would not follow her advice. The dreams were
too personal to record, if anyone ever read them he would be mortally embarrassed.
Suddenly the ship rocked and Icheb had to catch himself on his regeneration
chamber�s edges.
�Icheb, report to astrometrics immediately.� Seven�s flat tone rang across his
communicator. Icheb tapped it to respond.
�I�m on my way.� Icheb exited the cargo bay and hurried down the corridor
towards astrometrics. The ship continued to rock beneath his feet as he tried to walk. He
was about halfway to his destination when the computer informed him,
�Intruder Alert. Intruder Alert.� The warning continued, although Icheb paid it
little heed. It was doubtful that the intruder was anywhere near his location. Intruders
usually headed for the bridge or engineering, the parts of the ship where the most
important things were. So Icheb was thoroughly surprised when he rounded the corner
and found himself face to face with one of the strangest aliens he had ever seen.
She was silver in motion. Her skin was a metallic shade of gray, and she wore a
skintight gray bodysuit similar to an outfit of Seven�s. Her eyes were slate gray, and her
hair, also gray, was pulled back tightly around her head. Small clips, the same metallic
color of her skin, held back the strands of hair that insisted on floating about. Icheb took
this all in as he worked hard to keep himself plastered to the wall. It wasn�t hard, the
intruder had three very nasty spines extending from her arm held very close to his neck. As
he breathed, the spines barely brushed against his skin.
�Who are you?� she demanded in a throaty growl.
�My name is Icheb.� Icheb replied. He couldn�t take his eyes off the intruder, and
although he was tempted to ask her the same question she had asked him, but in a way he
felt he already knew the answer. It was the woman from his dreams.
�Has anyone found that damned intruder yet?� Captain Janeway shouted as she
returned to her chair on the bridge. A small ship had attached itself to the hull and no
attempt to remove it had worked thus far. The computer was having a difficult time
locating the intruder or intruders, and Janeway was not at all pleased. �Report,
somebody!�
�I believe I can help you, captain.� Janeway spun around at the unfamiliar voice
that had just emerged from the turbolift. The silver girl still had her spines shoved towards
Icheb�s throat, she still had the Borg boy with her. As of yet he was unable to tell whether
or not she felt some recognition, if she had been in his dreams he was certain she knew
about them also. �You are looking for me?�
�Release him immediately!� Janeway demanded, her voice nothing more than a
growl. The intruder�s eyes narrowed.
�No. He is my insurance for now. You will grand me asylum on this ship.�
�All you had to do was ask.� Janeway folded her arms across her chest, and took a
few steps toward the alien girl. �I will grant you asylum as long as you explain yourself
and release the boy.� The strange girl looked around the bridge and saw that the other
men and women on the bridge were staring at her. Although they looked ready to pounce
on her at any moment, they were containing themselves until she gave them an answer.
�Very well.� The spines coming from her arm retracted and she pushed Icheb
towards the captain. She moved to catch him but he managed to righten himself before he
reached her.
�Now then, you will explain yourself.� demanded Janeway.
�Yes, I will.� The girl stood up straight, her presence almost as commanding as
Janeway�s. �But only to you. Where may we speak?�
�In my ready room.� Janeway�s anger and impatience had dissolved away into
curiosity, and lead the alien girl off the bridge. Icheb remained on the bridge, looking
decidedly uncomfortable as the others turned their attention back to their consoles. Icheb
moved to Seven�s side at her station on the bridge, trying to blend in with everyone else.
Although they all appeared busy, there was not one crewmember on the bridge
who would not given a week�s worth of replicator rations to be inside that ready room.
�You�ve captured my curiosity with your entrance.� Janeway said as she sat at her
chair. She too had noticed the similarity between the girl and Seven of Nine. �Who are
you?�
�I am the Regent of Aremis, Cardinal of Serenity and heir to the throne of Nieca.�
The girl said in one large breath. She rolled her eyes and added, �My name is Tanya.�
�That�s quite a title.� Janeway said with a smile. �I am Captain Katherine Janeway
and this is the U.S.S. Voyager. I�d like to know why you forced your way onto my ship
and requested asylum.�
�As I just said, I am the heir to the throne of Nieca. I do not wish to fulfill my
duties in that regard and so I have runaway. Your ship was unfamiliar to me, and I took
the chance that you would be friendly aliens.�
�I�m sure Icheb would agree that you are quite capable of taking care of yourself.�
Janeway laughed. She swiveled in her chair, trying to make up her mind as she did so. �I
will grant you asylum, at least for now. Are we within Nieca territory?�
�You have just entered it. If you continue on your present course, you will pass it
in less than a day. I�d like to avoid it, if at all possible.�
�Certainly.� Janeway stood, and gestured towards the door. She and Tanya exited
the ready room and returned to the bridge.
�Harry, you and Icheb work with Tanya to plot a course through this area. She�ll
explain the specifics in Astrometrics.� The two men left with the young female heir as
Janeway continued to instruct the other officers. �Seven, continuous scans for any
approaching ships similar to our visitors. Mr. Paris, all stop.�
�Just who is our visitor?� Chakotay asked as his captain as she sat in her chair
beside his own.
�The Regent of Aremis, the Cardinal of Serenity and the heir to the throne of
Nieca. Also known as Tanya.�
�Do we have a spoiled princess on our hands?�
�Hardly. She knows exactly what she wants, but she was polite enough about
asking for it.�
�Anyone after her?�
�Probably just her parents.� Janeway gave her first officer a sly smile. �Seems she
doesn�t like her place in life. Wants to get away from it all.�
�And you�re going to help her with this?� Chakotay sounded surprised but
Janeway was sure that he was joking.
�For a little while. I figure we can escort her around her territory until someone
comes looking for her and she comes to her senses. She at least knows where we�re going
and that can only be a good thing.�
�Okay, we can�t go here, or here or within a thousand parsecs of here.� As she
spoke, Tanya pointed out planets and space stations on the astrometrics map. The
resulting course wound around Niecan space like a wet spaghetti noodle. Harry and Icheb
looked at each other and groaned.
�That will take us months. It would be quicker to go around Nieca space all
together.� Harry told the alien princess. He tapped at the controls, and charted a new
course trough the territory. �What about this?� Harry�s new course was much more
subdued, Tanya checked it over and nodded her approval.
�This is acceptable.� Tanya looked over the two men, her eyes settling on the
younger of the two. �What are you looking at?�
�I�m sorry, you look like someone I know.� Icheb explained. Tanya sniffed.
�I doubt it. Who are you any way?�
�My name is Icheb. I told you that when you took me hostage.� Icheb was miffed
that he had been so easily forgotten.
�Oh. Sorry about that. What�s a boy like you doing on a ship like this anyway?�
�A few years ago Voyager rescued me from the Borg. I came on board with
several other children and Seven of Nine, who was also rescued from the Borg.�
�How old are you?� Tanya asked next.
�I don�t know.� Icheb had to admit. �When the Borg assimilated me I was placed
in a regeneration chamber. However, I didn�t finish my development when the cycle was
broken. Therefore, the age I truly am and my apparent age are not the same.�
�Hm. What about you?� Now Tanya turned to Harry Kim and asked the same
question. Harry was surprised, but answered anyway.
�I�m twenty seven years old.�
�Perfect. What is your position on this ship?�
�I am the operations officer. I delegate power from one system to another, making
sure that whatever system needs energy gets it so that the ship isn�t blown apart during a
battle.�
�An interesting position. How long have you held this post?�
�Six years.�
�You must be good at it then.�
�Its more that there is no one else to do it.� Harry blushed as he murmured this
reply.
�We don�t have to tell people that.� Tanya linked her arm in Harry�s.
�Pardon me?� The alien princess beamed at him, her silver tints shining in the light
of astrometrics.
�We are going to be married.�
�What?� Janeway was sure that she hadn�t heard what she thought she heard.
�You�re getting married?�
�That�s what she tells me.� Harry paced back and forth in front of Janeway�s desk
in her ready room. Tanya had stayed behind with Icheb, putting the finishing touches on
their new course.
�Did she give you a reason?�
�Not that I am aware of, but she did ask how old we were just before that.�
�You make it sound like she was considering Icheb as well.�
�I think she was.� Harry sighed heavily, finding himself a bit over his head. �What
should I do?�
�I think you should find out why she wants to marry you.� Janeway advised. She
managed to hide her smile from the youthful ensign. She felt that the alien girl wasn�t
interested so much in Harry Kim, as she was in making someone else angry. Her parents
or her suitor were the best bets. In time, they would find out who exactly it was. Until
then, she was perfectly willing to play along with Tanya�s game. After all, it had been
some time since Harry had a romantic interest, and it might do him some good. Janeway
turned back to Harry and saw that his face still showed his confusion. She put on a serious
attitude and addressed the OPS officer. �Harry, why don�t you return to your post and I�ll
speak to Neelix and see if he knows anything about the Niecans.�
�Thank you captain!� Harry was incredibly relieved. He left her ready room and
returned to his station on the bridge.
�Is he gone?� Chakotay came from the head attached to the ready room with a
wide smile on his face. Janeway nodded. She could see from her first officer�s smile that
he found the whole situation as amusing as he did. �Poor Harry. I don�t think he ever
expected this!�
�He�s certainly had one of the most interesting romantic runs on this vessel.�
Janeway said wryly. �There was Kali, the women who only wanted his genetic material,
his crush on the wrong sister, a hologram, Seven of Nine, Felina Maxima and now Tanya.�
�Do you really think she has a real interest in him?� asked Chakotay.
�Not as a husband no.� Janeway spun around in her chair, a motion that often
helped her think aloud. �But I�m sure there is someone out there who won�t be happy with
the engagement. When they arrive, we�ll find out what this is all about.�
�I�m sorry.� The words were unexpected and it took Icheb a moment to realize
that Tanya was speaking to him.
�Pardon me?� He secured his panel and looked up at her.
�I�m sorry for the way I�ve treated you. I didn�t realize you were so young.�
�I�m still not sure what you are talking about.� Icheb was confused. First she had
taken him hostage, then totally ignored him, and now she was apologizing.
�The dreams. I know you�re the one who I was dreaming with.�
�I didn�t think you recognized me, but it was so obviously you....�
�That�s what I am apologizing for. My race has some telepathic abilities, mostly
we can enter other�s dreams. I was trying to find someone before I came on board to
marry.�
�I am too young?� Icheb was still not sure how his age tied in with all this talk of
marriage.
�My people are short lived, and I wanted to find someone who wasn�t. The only
way I could prove that was to find someone who lived longer than anyone on my planet.�
�I don�t recognize your species. You have to understand that is an unusual
experience for me.�
�My species has an interesting ability that prevent the Borg from ever assimilating
my people. And we�ve been very careful not to let them assimilate one of our species
because it would make them nearly unstoppable.?� When Tanya stopped speaking, she
began to concentrate. As Icheb watched, she faded completely then reappeared several
feet away. His brain protested that this was impossible and he blinked.
�What did you just do?�
�I folded space, in a way. I slipped between the dimensions of space and time to
another location.�
�I can see why that ability has to be kept from the Borg.� Icheb said. With that
ability, the Borg could go anywhere they wanted when they wanted. They could get past
the highest shields and the thickest walls.
�You aren�t too upset with me, are you?� Tanya seemed genuinely concerned for
his feelings.
�No. I do not know you. Any feelings I may have due to the dreams are
irrelevant.� The Borg boy accompanied his words with a dip of his head. It was
surprisingly easy to suppress his feelings, easier than he would have thought. He would
have to discuss this finding with his fellow crewmembers. He still had a few questions
though. �Why are you so eager to remain inconspicuous in this area?�
�My father will certainly come looking for me. And so will Harrison. I�d rather
avoid them.�
�Who is Harrison?�
�Harrison has been courting me for years. He is a harsh man, determined to get my
hand in marriage and eventually control the planet.� There was a sarcastic tone in Tanya�s
voice and Icheb noticed she pressed the keys of the console with more force than
necessary.
�I take it you do not wish to marry him.�
�No, I most certainly do not.� There was a pause, during which Icheb sensed there
was more to her words than what she said. He waited for her to continue. �There is a man
on my planet, named Abin. He is not of any kind of royal blood, and my father sees him as
insufficient.�
�Then why pursue Ensign Kim?�
�I�m hoping that my father will be so displeased, that Abin will seem like a
wonderful choice.� Tanya completed her course corrections and stepped away from the
console. �If not, Abin will meet me outside the sector in a few weeks. His ship will
rendezvous with us and I can transfer over. You won�t run off and tell your captain all this
will you?�
�It does not endanger the ship.� Icheb said. �Therefore I have no reason to tell
anyone else.� Icheb continued to work at his panel, transmitting the new course to the
helm.
�Thank you.� Tanya went to say more, but she was interrupted by the beep of
Icheb�s communicator and the captain�s voice came across the small device.
�Icheb, could you bring Tanya to the bridge please? There�s someone hear who
wants to speak with her.� Icheb nodded then verbally agreed, after which he and the alien
princess headed for the bridge.
�Captain Janeway, I insist that you hand Princess Tanya immediately!� A male
voice shouted in anger as Icheb and Tanya came out of the turbolift. Janeway stood as
they entered the bridge and indicated the man on the screen. He was as silver as Tanya
was, which seemed to be a trait of their people.
�Here she is General. As you can see, she is in perfect health. I�d like you to back
off now.�
�Not until she is safely on board.� According to the panel on her armrest, the
general�s ship still had all its weapons primed.
�General, I have granted Princess Tanya asylum on board my ship. If you plan on
taking her by force, I suggest you back off.�
�Captain, may I speak with you?� Tanya spoke quietly, so that the man on the
viewscreen could not hear her. Janeway nodded to Harry, who muted the communication.
�What is it Tanya.�
�I heard you call that man general. Who is he?�
�You don�t recognize him? He claims he is the general in command of your
father�s army. He took great pleasure in informing me that your father has sent him to
bring you back.�
�That man is not a general in my father�s army.� Tanya said with conviction.
Janeway regarded her carefully, unsure as to whether she was telling the truth or simply
evading her family. �I�m not lying. I know he has not been sent by my father.� Tanya
moved up to the OPS station and glanced at Harry�s controls. �That ship is not from my
father either. In fact, its registered with Harrison.�
�And just who is that?�
�A man who has been courting me for some time. I do not wish to marry him but
he has been persistent.�
�Is he the kind of man who would hold you against your will until you married
him, just so he could control your planet?� Tanya nodded. �I thought so.� At the girl�s
confused look, Janeway elaborated. �We�ve run into a number of royal family members in
arranged marriages with power hungry suitors. What do you suggest we do with
this...general?�
�Tell him to go on his way. I will not go with him.� Janeway nodded again and
Harry restored the communication.
�I�m sorry General, but is seems Tanya does not want to go with you. I suggest
you let us go on our way.�
�Captain, they�re firing phasers.� Tuvok reported from tactical.
�Shields?� The ship rocked, but the damage seemed minimal so Janeway assumed
they were raised in time. With Tuvok�s Vulcan speed, she was sure he had been ready
long before she asked.
�Shields are holding at ninety eight percent. Their weapons technology is
sufficiently inferior.�
�Glad to hear it. Return fire. Target their weapons and engines.� Janeway sat back
in her chair as Voyager�s red beams struck out at the smaller vessel. It took only two
blows for smoke to billow from the engine section and the ship to cease its attack. �Mr.
Paris, take us to warp.� The stars on the screen suddenly turned into streaks of light as the
ship moved away from its crippled opponent. �Keep a look out for any more ships.�
�Captain, we�re being hailed!� Harry nearly shouted the information. They had
traveled unchallenged for nearly two days, until now.
�What kind of ship is it?� Tanya asked, from where she was sitting in Chakotay�s
chair. Harry had no earthly idea and simply transmitted the data to the armrest�s console.
�Its a personal craft...Abin!� During the past two days, Tanya had informed the captain of
her lover, letting Icheb off the hook. Since he would rendezvous with Voyager anyway,
Tanya felt it best to let Captain Janeway know ahead of time.
�We�re being hailed.� Harry�s fingers danced across his controls, bringing the hail
to the viewscreen when Janeway requested it.
�Are you the captain?�
�Yes, my name is Captain Katherine Janeway and this is the starship Voyager.
Tanya is right here.� Janeway moved to one side to allow Tanya some space. She had a
wonderfully pleased look on her face.
�Hello Abin.�
�Tanya! Are you okay?�
�I�m fine, Abin. Did you have trouble getting out here?�
�No. I had to dive behind the moons of Roden to avoid Harrison�s men, but other
than that I have been left alone. May I come on board?� Abin�s craft looked cramped from
what they could see on the viewscreen, and Janeway quickly agreed.
�You can dock in the shuttlebay. Tanya and I will meet you there.� Abin nodded,
then cut off the communication so he could concentrate on flying his ship.
�Harry should come with us as well. Abin has not been informed of my plans
regarding him.� Tanya blushed as she spoke, embarrassed that she had hidden her plans
from the captain. Janeway nodded her assent, and moved towards the turbolift with Harry
and Tanya.
The Niecan who came from the personal craft which was barely as large as a
shuttlecraft, was a tall and slender being. He immediately moved to Tanya, sweeping her
up in a large bear hug. She reciprocated in full.
�Abin, this is Captain Janeway, who you�ve met. And this is Harry Kim. He is...my
new fianc�.�
�New fianc�?� Abin turned to Harry in both anger and confusion. He looked about
ready to punch the ensign�s lights out so Janeway stepped in.
�Mr. Abin, I can assure you that Harry has no intention of marrying Tanya. She is
simply using it as a ploy to make you seem more...appropriate.� Abin stopped in his
tracks, and considered what the captain had told him. His eyes went from her face to that
of the princess.
�You have a lot of explaining to do.�
�I�m not sure I understand. Are you sure that your father will prefer me over Harry
Kim?� Abin asked. He and Tanya were reclining on the sofa in the quarters she had been
assigned. He sipped at his mug, as the bittersweet taste burned at his tastebuds he
wondered again what Tanya saw in this...coffee.
�Whether he does or not won�t change my feelings for you. If my father still won�t
accept you then Captain Janeway has agreed to marry us. She can do that, as long as
we�re married on her ship.�
�All right then.� Abin sat back, resting in the soft cushions of the regulation sofa.
�I still don�t like it.�
�I�m sure you don�t. But this is my decision to make. I�m the Regent of Aremis...�
�...Cardinal of Serenity and heir to the throne of Nieca. I know.� Abin looked less
than pleased. �I have always respected your royal duties, especially since you hate them
so. I understand that your obligations are sometimes more important than I am. I just
don�t want you to forget that I am around.�
�Abin, in a few weeks we will be married one way or another. You will either have
the same royal duties as I do, or we�ll both be free of them. Trust me, I have this all
planned out.�
�This was not part of the plan.� Tanya grabbed onto the rail behind the command
chairs as Voyager rocked. The bridge lights were dim, as the ship was under red alert.
There were two ships on the viewscreen, both firing on Voyager and at each other. One
ship, the ship to the left of the viewscreen was a stranger, but the one on the right was
quite familiar. It seemed that Harrison was not about to give up on his not to be bride.
�Who is that?� Janeway asked Tanya.
�My father. He can be just as insistent as Harrison.� Tanya was less than amused.
�We�re being hailed by both ships.� Harry reported.
�On screen.� Janeway ordered.
�Which one?�
�Both of them.� Janeway sat back in her chair, as the viewscreen image changed.
As in space, Tanya�s father was on the left, and Harrison was on the right, according to
Tanya. It seemed that he felt the best way to obtain his goals was in person.
�I demand that you release Tanya to me at once!� Both men shouted in unison.
Janeway rolled her eyes.
�Tanya has requested asylum on my vessel. Of course, if you continue to fire on
my vessel, you�ll have to fight over her remains.� Janeway rose from her chair, using her
most diplomatic tone. It was the tone that told people they could either agree with her or
get out of the way. Slowly, the pounds from enemy fire ceased. �That�s better. Mr.
Harrison, I seriously doubt you�re going to get what you want. I won�t make you leave,
but I suggest you stay quiet.� Harrison protested, but Janeway muted his part of the
conversation so his arguments went unheard. The king was a heavy set man, as silver as
any of the others were. �Your Majesty, we have a lot to discuss.�
�Indeed we do. Why are you providing my daughter with asylum?�
�For starters, she has expressed an interest in marrying a member of my crew.�
Janeway pulled Harry Kim into the range of the viewscreen. �Your Majesty, this is Ensign
Harry Kim.�
�This is outrageous! Tanya, you cannot be seriously thinking of marrying this
man!� Tanya�s father blustered on the screen. His hands waved about as he spoke. Tanya
stepped forward to address her father.
�Father, why don�t you want me to marry him?�
�He is not Niecan. I cannot accept anyone who does not have Niecan blood. It
would be...unthinkable! I cannot believe you are thinking about it!�
�Then what about Abin?�
�What about him?�
�He is Niecan. His family has worked beside ours for generations as loyal servants.
He knows much of the royal ways. Why will you not accept him?� Tanya crossed her arms
over her chest and waited for her father�s answer.
�He is not of noble blood!�
�You just said that anyone who does not have Niecan blood would be
unacceptable. Abin is Niecan, Harry Kim is not. I�m marrying one of them father, which
would you prefer?� Janeway knew that she at least was impressed with the princess�s way
of dealing with her father. She was very forward, and had plotted the whole even quite
efficiently.
�I want you to marry Harrison.�
�Harrison doesn�t love me. All he wants is the power to control Nieca. Do you
really want him as your son in law?� Tanya would have continued her rebuttal but she
suddenly flickered. A panicked expression flashed across her face before it disappeared.
�Where did she go?� Janeway demanded. Everyone tapped at their consoles to find
the answer.
�She�s been transported off the ship.� Harry reported.
�Harrison�s ship is powering engines, leaving at warp three.� Paris added.
�How the hell did he transport her off here without us noticing?� Chakotay
demanded.
�Our shields are weakest where they stretch to cover Tanya�s ship. While we were
talking with her father, Harrison somehow disrupted our shields and beamed her through
the hole he produced.�
�Set a course to intercept. Warp four.� Janeway plopped herself back down in her
captain�s chair and held on as the ship leapt into warp. Abin stood to one side, knowing
there was little he could do but at the same time wanting to do something.
�The king�s ship has matched heading and speed.� Tuvok reported. �He�s also
hailing us.�
�On screen.�
�Captain Janeway, you have to get my daughter back. Your ship is more powerful
than mine, or Harrison�s. You can stop him!�
�On one condition.�
�Name it!�
�You let Tanya marry Abin.� The king gasped and flailed his hands about again,
clearly wanting his daughter back but not willing to let Abin into his family. �Look, your
highness, Tanya is not going to go home without a fight, or Abin. I think the best option
to you is accept your losses, and accept Abin as your new son-in-law.�
�I do not like that solution.�
�Your highness, if we don�t get Tanya back, you will have a son-in-law. And it
may not be someone who is willing to let you complete your reign. Harrison has already
kidnapped your daughter. What else could he be planning. Think about it.� The king
thought for a moment, until Tuvok informed them that they were closing in on Harrison�s
ship. After that it was easy enough for him to make his decision.
�Fine. If you get her back in one piece I�ll consent to her marriage to Abin.�
�Thank you your majesty.� Janeway ended the communication and turned her
focus to the task at hand. �What are our options?�
�We can easily overwhelm their defenses. I suggest taking the princess back by
force.� Tuvok suggested.
�Is that really the most logical option Tuvok?� Janeway asked her tactical officer
partly in jest.
�Yes. A direct assault seems most prudent.�
�All right then. Target their shields. As soon as his shields are down, beam out
Tanya.�
�How are we going to identify her?� Chakotay asked from Janeway�s left. �All the
people on board that ship are Niecans. It will be hard to identify her from any one else.�
�I gave Tanya a necklace some time ago. It contains a rare element that�s not used
in most ship�s functions. There should only be the few grams on her necklace on board
that entire vessel.�
�Mr. Kim scan for rare elements.� Janeway watched as the red phaser beams of her
great ship bashed into the shields of Harrison�s vessel.
�I�ve found her.� Harry�s voice had finally become serious, as his responsibility
increased his jovial manner was put aside.
�Harrison�s shields are down.� Tuvok told them. �Beaming the princess aboard
now.� A blue beam of light focused in the center of the bridge and solidified into the
princess.
�...not marry you!� A small drop of spittle flung from her lips dropped onto the
floor. Tanya realized quickly that she was no longer on Harrison�s ship and straightened
herself. �Thank you captain.�
�You can thank me later Tanya. Right now I have a ceremony to perform.�
Neelix was at his best when he had a crowded room of people to make happy.
Considering that most of the occupants were already in a good mood, his job wasn�t too
hard. Tanya and Abin were certainly two of the most upbeat members of the crowd. The
wedding had gone without a hitch. Harrison had been willing to go up against a captain he
didn�t know, but the king was another matter.
�Congratulations.� Icheb approached the couple with a small wrapped box. �This
is a wedding gift.� Tanya took the box from him and opened it. Inside was a small silver
windchime. �This is a tradition wedding chime from my home planet. Every time it chimes,
it brings good luck.�
�Thank you Icheb!� Tanya exclaimed as she ran her fingers through the small silver
chimes.
�My son, we have some things to discuss!� The king, with a chalice of some kind
of alcoholic beverage in his hand came over and threw his other arm over his new
son-in-law�s shoulders. �Lets talk!� The king led Abin away giving Tanya time to talk to
Icheb alone.
�You�re okay with all this?� She asked him. �Niecan dreams are said to be...
irresistible.�
�I have had a limited number of romantic interludes aboard this ship. I have never
had dreams about a woman so this has been a unique experience. I will never forget those
dreams.� Icheb paused. �However, the dreams are easily dismissed as simply dreams. I
have heard that men my age often dream about women in such a manner. As long as the
dreams do not continue...�
�They won�t.� Tanya replied emphatically. �Believe me, they won�t.�
�Then I foresee no further problems. I should be getting back to astrometrics.�
Icheb gave the princess one last smile before heading out of the mess hall. Tanya moved
back to where her father was speaking with captain Janeway and her new husband.
�I guess you aren�t so bad!� The king laughed hard, nearly spilling his drink. Abin
was a little dubious but smiled just the same.
�I�m glad you approve.� the new prince said. �You didn�t have much of a choice at
the time.�
�Tanya has proven herself to be quite persuasive when the occasion calls for it.�
Janeway butted in. �I�m glad she decided to ally herself with us. I�d hate to go up against
her.�
�Believe me captain, you�d be wasting your time.� Abin replied. His comment got
a sharp poke in the ribs from Tanya�s elbow. Everyone in the mess hall laughed, caught up
in the mood.
Elsewhere on the ship, crewmen moved around the decks, repairing faulty systems
and making sure everything was ship shape.
Elsewhere Harrison sat on his bridge, and pouted.
THE END