DISCLAIMER: Star Trek, Star Trek Voyager, and Characters, are property of Paramount. I am not making a profit on this story.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is the sequel to my story YOUR LOVE IS AN OASIS. I would suggest you read that story first to get some background information on how B'Elanna and Seven got together. In addition, it would help you understand some of the teasing and puns concerning wifely duty, cooking, doing dishes, chicken and iguanas. The events in the episode of MUSE, in Season 6 of Voyager are mentioned. In my story, Voyager never ran across the Borg Children. Voyager makes it back home earlier than seven years: More near six and a half years. PG17 for some four-letter words, descriptions of consenting sex between women, unwanted sexual advances toward one of the main characters (NO RAPE), violence, but not in the extreme, and some villains get killed.
STORY INFO: The following story has some Romulan words and phrases: Romulus: Ch'Rihan or sometimes seen as ch'Rihan. Romulan People: Rihannsu. Mnhei'sahe, "the ruling passion," This centers around honor, duty, courtesy and strength. Air, Water, Fire and Earth. Rihannsu identify themselves with the Four Elements.
Sela is encountered in Star Trek: The Next Generation. She is the daughter of an alternate time line Tasha Yar and a Romulan official. This version of Yar went back in time to serve on the Enterprise-C, which was captured by Romulans. (See The Next Generation episode of "Yesterday's Enterprise") Yar agreed to become the concubine of a Romulan official only to save the others. This union led to the conception of Sela, around 2345. Yar attempted to escape with her daughter in 2349, but Sela did not want to go and revealed the plot. Yar was discovered and executed. Sela grew up to become a Tal Shiar officer. Sela's first appearance was in the episode "The Minds Eye", and later in the episodes "Redemption, Part II" and "Unification. I and II"
ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author.

Dark Rose
By Cygirl1

Part One

'Time, 0600.' "Computer. Lights at one quarter." Seven's voice was at a lower octave than usual having just awoken. She didn't move, not wanting to extricate herself from the warmth of her wife's body spooned behind her, feeling the soft breast pressed against her back and one arm draped around her waist. She heard a groan close to her ear and felt the soft warmth move against her. Then a soft mouth and nose nuzzle the back of her neck under her hair. The arm that was around her waist began to move upwards and she felt a soft warm hand gently squeeze her right breast. She felt hot moist breath in her ear then a sharp nip on her ear lobe. "We do not have sufficient time to engage in making love."

"Uhm, how much time do we have."

"Fifty Six minuets and 27 seconds before we present our final analyses at the senior staff meeting. Captain Janeway will no longer tolerate our tardiness." Seven turned over on her back and pulled B'Elanna over and on top of her, drawing her head down for a kiss.

B'Elanna softly growled, "So what. The captain doesn't have a beautiful woman in her bed when she wakes up in the morning or she would understand. Besides, we've only been late a couple of times."

"Twelve times since we returned to duty 120 days ago."

"Big deal. That works out to what, once every 10 days."

"Incorrect, as we have had 70 meetings to date. One day out of every 5.833 is the correct correlation."

"Who's counting? Besides, we were late for only a couple of minutes, five at most." B'Elanna straddled Seven's waist and placed her hands beneath Seven's breasts, lifting them slightly and sighing. She watched as the pink nipples hardened and the aureoles pebbled. "Uhmm, I can't leave these beauties pining for my attention now can I?" She leaned down and taking a nipple between her teeth, lightly bit and flicked her tongue over it.

Seven squirmed and groaned. She pulled B'Elanna down for a hard kiss, wrapping her legs around her be'nal. B'Elanna abruptly pulled away, slid off her be'nal, and stood by the bed, reaching her arms up high and arching her back in a long feline stretch. Her breast pert and stomach muscles taut.

"Well, I guess you're right. Duty before pleasure."

Seven quickly sat up and reaching out, caught B'Elanna by her right arm and pulled her back in bed and on top of her. "You are correct. It is your duty to attend to my pleasure before we proceed with our schedules."

B'Elanna melted into her be'nal and laughed. "If only all duties were so pleasurable."

Captain Janeway entered the Conference room and took her seat at the head of the table. She quickly looked around her, noting that all of her senior staff was here save for her astrometrics officer and chief of engineering. Two more minutes until 0700 hours. She had given precise orders that no one was to be late to this meeting due to its importance. She couldn't very well start without Seven and B'Elanna, since they informed her last evening of the final simulation of the transwarp coil and the need to discuss the preparations that they would need for, hopefully, a successful trip back to the Alpha Quadrant.

Tuvok was perusing a padd and Chakotay was rubbing his tattoo with his index finger. Something he often did while thinking or waiting. She saw Tom nudge Harry while looking at his wristwatch and whispering a count down, a smug look on his face. No doubt expected a win on a wager involving the two absent officers. She heard him whispering. "Six, Five, Four..." She was just about to nail him with a force ten stare, when the door whisked open just as Tom got to one, and her two wayward officers entered. She quickly noticed the sour look on Tom's face and the smile on Harry's. She then knew for sure they were betting on if the two officers would make it on time to the meeting.

She let her glance rest on the two. B'Elanna's face was flushed as if she had been in a hurry to get here on time or more than likely, from dallying in bed too long with her wife as was evidenced by the dazed look in her eyes and pleased smile on her face. Seven, of course, was immaculate. She could go through a velocity match and five minutes later look like a cadet for a Starfleet recruiting poster.

Seven had taken to wearing her hair in a loose ponytail held at the base of her neck by a wide gold hair clip, with nary a strand out of place. Since her and B'Elanna's ordeal on the desert planet, she had taken to wearing a Starfleet Science Officers uniform. In Janeway's opinion, she was far more alluring in a uniform than in those skintight biosuits, as was demonstrated by the generally approving glances of the crew when she passed them in the corridors or was in the mess hall.

She was also more approachable since embarking on her relationship with B'Elanna, and Janeway saw her smiling frequently. Crewmates had now actually taken to greeting her in the hall and she actually returned their greeting with a slight smile and comment, rather than walking on by as if they didn't exist or were unworthy of notice.

That wasn't the only change. Seven had brought about a change in B'Elanna. Since their marriage, B'Elanna was a different person. More patient with her crew and less volatile when things didn't go right. She was more willing to delegate than to take on all the repairs herself. She now worked within her work schedule instead of working 10-11 hour days, unless there was an emergency that required more time to resolve. She had taken to wearing her hair in a more attractive and Klingon manner the loose waves a reflection of her relaxed attitude. She didn't seem as angry and easy to take offense as she once had. Yes indeed. Marriage was definitely good for B'Elanna, or to be more precise, it was Seven who was good for B'Elanna. 'All it takes is the power of love and a certain Borg. Resistance is futile.'

Janeway cleared her throat. "Now that everyone is here, we can begin. As you are aware, Seven and B'Elanna have been working diligently on perfecting a viable transwarp coil that will return us to the Alpha Quadrant. I'll let them give you an update." She looked expectedly at the two women.

B'Elanna smirked and said. "You want the good news first or the ah…flip side?"

Janeway in good spirits answered. "Give us the good news."

"All simulations show that it works." There was a few seconds of silence then everyone started talking at once.

Janeway held up her hand for silence and cleared her throat. "And…"

"We will need to equip the Delta Flyer with a small reflector array as it needs to follow in Voyager's wake. The Flyer will be within Voyagers transwarp bubble and the array will strengthen the transwarp signature and prevent the conduit from closing prematurely. Hmm, Seven, you give them the rest?"

Seven utilized a projector which created a three dimensional star chart above the middle of the table. "We have constructed a coil based on that which the Borg utilize. Since the components are composed of actual Borg components and those designed along Borg specifications, we could not improve the compatibility of the unit to operate efficiently with Voyager's warp core power for the time needed to reach the Alpha Quadrant. Our simulations show that the transwarp corridor opened for a period of 2.47 minutes before collapsing, which would allow us to go a distance of 20,000 light years. This would put us in this sector and close to the border that separates the Delta from the Beta Quadrant." A small area in the star chart lit up. "We found that if we elongated the warp bubble to a distance of at least 1000 Kilometers behind Voyager, it would facilitate an increase in time to 3.01 minutes. We would reach this area of the Alpha Quadrant." She used her control padd to highlight the area. "Voyager's array can only be used to keep the corridor open in its forward progress. We tried mounting a small array on Voyagers aft position. However, the power needed to stretch the warp bubble drains needed energy from the forward array and would cause the integrity of the field to break. The simulations show that if we mount a small deflector on the Delta Flyer, we can extend the bubble to the required amount needed. The corridor will collapse but not before we achieve our objective of reaching the Alpha quadrant." All eyes were still on the display with the pinpoint of light blinking in the Alpha Quadrant.

Janeway's expression showed a fleeting glance of worry before she went back to Captain Mode. "That puts us right at the edge of the Romulan Neutral Zone."

"Yes, Captain. We have a 78 percent chance of making it to Federation Space and a 19 percent chance to making it to this point." A pinpoint of light activated just barely inside the neutral zone.

"That leaves 3 percent." Captain Janeway noted.

Seven activated another pinpoint of light a small distance from the neutral zone but in Romulan space.

Janeway smirked. "That's hardly a risk after what we have gone through out here in the Delta Quadrant."

Tom piped up. "If that's the bad news then I don't think we'll be losing sleep over it."

Seven looked at Tom and replied. "That is the good news. The negative aspects are to maintain the Delta Flyer within the transwarp bubble at a precise distance from Voyager for the deflector to maintain the bubble. Any deviation from the precise distance of 200 meters will cause the aft bubble to collapse and Voyager and the Delta Flyer will exit the corridor in the Delta Quadrant or somewhere in the Beta Sector, perhaps even in Romulan space. Since the maximum speed of the Delta Flyer has been boosted to obtain warp 8, Voyager must not exceed that speed. The ideal speed for optimum safety would be at Warp 7. 2."

Tom said in his self-assured voice. "Piece of cake. With me at the helm of the Flyer you'll be having dinner in Federation space on the same day we leave here."

B'Elanna rolled her eyes. "It's not going to be a 'cake walk' Tom. We'll need you to pilot Voyager. The main turbulence is as the transwarp coil tears open space in front of Voyager to create the corridor. If Voyager is unable to ride the eddies, and deviates even slightly, it could cause the projected signature from Voyager to the Flyer's reflector to fluctuate and collapse the bubble in her wake. That's why Seven and I will be in the Delta Flyer trying to adjust for any fluctuations."

Janeway looked at both women and said. "Who will insure the steady operation of the transwarp coil and handle any problems that may arise in Engineering?"

B'Elanna looked down at the table quickly before looking at Janeway. "Well, I'm training both Carey and Vorik to handle the transwarp coil and make any minute adjustments to the deflector. They are both able to take care of any Engineering crisis that may arise."

"Is it necessary for you to be on the Flyer or can Seven handle the array?"

"Er, I thought I would go along as pilot."

"I see. Well, I will go over your report before I make any final decisions as to what personnel are to go where. When can we have Voyager and the Flyer ready?"

Seven replied. "In approximately 16 days Captain."

"Start right away. Take whatever personnel you need to get the job done. Our next transmission from Starfleet is in 7 days. I will send them a packet with the information and expected place and time of arrival. It will be their decision if they want to contact the Romulans and try to get their cooperation if we should end up in Romulan space. Do we have any questions?"

Chakotay looked at Janeway and Inquired. "Do we inform the crew Captain?"

"Yes. They need to know. I had rather them hear the facts from us than have any wild speculations flying about at Warp 10. Everyone needs to do his or her part in helping to achieve the success of this. We will give them the facts, both positive and negative. I want to know from all of you what the feelings of the crew are about this so we can address any concerns. Now on to other business…"

"Uhh. I'm starving. Let's get breakfast in the mess hall. I thought the Doc would never shut up about that damn home brew Ensigns Jackson and Watson are making. It has to be at least 120 proof. Any fool that would drink that deserves to feel like a photon torpedo exploded in their guts and head."

Seven entered the turbo lift with B'Elanna. "Deck two. It is obvious that you have knowledge of Ensigns' Jackson and Watson's endeavor of producing a prohibited and obviously dangerous substance. As an officer you were obligated to report this to the Captain, were you not?" Seven's ice blue eyes bored straight into B'Elanna's surprised dark brown ones.

"Err. Well, I ah…" B'Elanna noted Seven's stare did not waver. "OK. I had a small taste. A very small taste. A teensy weensy taste. I didn't report them because every Starship, Maquis ship and merchant ship I have been on has a secret still that the Captain doesn't know about or turns a blind eye to. Probably had one on Noah's ark too. I'm sure Janeway knew someone on the ship had one, but didn't want the details. Hell, she probably had a nip or two herself. If some of the crew hadn't over indulged and told old Doc, she would have let it go. Now it is in Voyager's log and she has to follow the rules. If I know Jackson and Watson, despite having to scrub out the plasma conduits for a week, they'll be back in business. Hopefully, they will stick to making wine, like they used to do." She gave Seven a big smile and hoping to change the subject added. "I think I could go for a big plate of banana pancakes and a side order of hash browns. Especially after that 'workout' you gave me this morning." She then wiggled her eyebrows up and down.

Seven smirked. "You are attempting to divert my attention from the subject."

The turbo lift stopped at deck two. B'Elanna quickly grabbed Seven by her chin and planted a kiss on her lips. The turbo lift doors swished open and she stepped out and waited for Seven. "Was I successful?" She noted the bright smile on Seven's face and took Seven's hand in hers as they proceeded to walk the few yards to the mess hall and enter.

There was still a lingering smile on Seven's slightly upturned lips as she replied. "Perhaps." She squeezed B'Elanna's hand. Many of the crew greeted them. None offered them a seat as it was known that they preferred to eat breakfast alone, and were still considered to be in the 'Honeymoon' stage. On the occasions when they didn't take lunch or supper in their quarters, they would gladly accept invitations or invite others to dine at their table. Seven would listen intently to their conversations and often joined in, asking questions in a polite voice, smiling at their jokes. She even surprised the crew when they would catch her dry humor. The gossip making the rounds was that B'Elanna had managed to melt the Ice Queen, and Seven in turn had tamed the Klingon.

Seven took a chance on Neelix's Tagrath grain hot cereal with a dollop of replicated honey and a glass of milk. B'Elanna used her replicator allotment for Banana Pancakes with maple syrup and milk. They found a seat by the windows. B'Elanna took a bit of her pancakes. "Good but not like my Nana could make."

Seven took a sip of her milk and stated. "You make that observation every time you consume them."

B'Elanna quickly swallowed her next bite. "It's true. She made them from scratch, the pancakes that is. The maple syrup was the real thing. When we get back to the Alpha Quadrant I will make you the real thing with real bananas and maple syrup from real maple trees."

Seven looked across the table at her mate and said, "B'Elanna, we have not discussed nor have we made plans for our future, when we arrive in the Alpha Quadrant."

"I know. If it's ok with you, I would like to go to Qo'noS, make peace with my mother, and learn more about my Klingon heritage. We don't have to stay long."

"We will stay as long as you desire. If you like, we can make our home there."

"You really are wonderful bang'wl. I don't know about a home there. Is there anywhere you would like to live? I know you have relatives on earth. Perhaps you would like to visit them for a while, maybe live on earth. I'm not adverse to that. I have some of my father's relatives on earth."

"I have no desire to live on earth or for that matter any where else, except with you. Wherever you are is my home."

B'Elanna gave Seven a melting look, "You say the most wonderful things and are a wonderful be'nal. I feel the same way. But, I do think you need to see your relatives. I know your aunt and cousins have contacted you through the array. It's important for them, I think, to meet you. And for you to meet them. They are a part of your parents' history. And through your parents, they are a part of your history."

"I will visit my father's sister, Irene Hansen. I believe I have an obligation to tell her some of what happened to her brother and my mother. It is an obligation I am not looking forward to."

"I know . You know I'll be there with you to give what support I can."

"Yes. You also are an exceptional mate. Thank you. We need to decide our futures as far as careers. I know that Starfleet has pardoned the Maquis and since I was born a Federation citizen and married both a Federation and Klingon Citizen, Captain Janeway believes that Starfleet will not take me into custody as a threat to the Federation."

B'Elanna interrupted. "If they touch a hair on your head they will rue the day they were born. I sent a copy of our wedding certificate through the array addressed to the Klingon Embassy on earth. Since you are my be'nal, you are a full citizen of the Empire. I doubt Starfleet would want to start a confrontation. Klingons may be warriors, but believe me; they have their romantic side also and would champion our cause."

Seven's mouth flickered up at the corners, "Yes, I have personal experience with their romantic side. I have also read 'Women Warriors At The River Of Blood.' which was very informative on Klingon romantic and sexual customs."

"Gee, Seven. I thought I recycled that thing. It's a Klingon romance novel, its fiction and has nothing to do with reality, especially the sex scenes." B'Elanna gave Seven a salacious look and grin. "Believe me 'be'nal, you're so good in the love making and sex department you could write a manual on it."

"That would be plagiarism as I obtained my information on how to perform Klingon sexual practices from 'Women Warriors At The River Of Blood'."

B'Elanna's eyes widened slightly. 'Kahless. I have to delete 'Vulcan Love Slave.' from my collection of Holosuite programs before Seven finds it. She will think I'm into all that stuff and wasn't just curious.' She looked at Seven and smiled. 'Yeow, with a be'nal like Seven I don't need no stinking Holo-sex programs.'

Seven knelt on the deck with a panel open on the Delta Flyer, making final adjustments to the deflector. "Mr. Kim. A micro spanner please." Harry Kim handed Seven a micro spanner and resumed his reading of the padd. Seven had picked Harry to help her install the reflector array in the Delta Flyer. Janeway had called a meeting earlier that morning and announced that Harry would pilot the Delta Flyer as he had a hand in building and designing it, as well as a familiarity with the deflector as he and Seven were working to install it. Seven would monitor the deflector in the Delta Flyer and B'Elanna would monitor the transwarp coil on board Voyager. Tuvok would handle Voyager's deflector. B'Elanna was not too pleased about it but understood Janeway needed her on Voyager, as she knew the transwarp coil inside out.

"So, Seven. You and B'Elanna make any plans for when we return to the Alpha Quadrant?"

"We shall disembark on earth. Then we will go to the Klingon embassy where we will finalize my citizenship as a citizen of the Klingon Empire. We will proceed to stay with Captain Janeway, while I arrange to visit my aunt. We will proceed to visit my aunt and I will attempt to explain what occurred to my father and mother. I am not looking forward to it. Following the visit to my aunt's, we will return to Captain Janeway's residence and obtain times and dates for a trip to Qo'noS. Captain Janeway may be able to obtain passage for us on a Starfleet vessel instead of a civilian starship. We will depart earth. Depending on whether we are provided Starfleet passage or that of a civilian ship, it will take us approximately…"

"Uh, Seven. That's not what I meant. Have you and B'Elanna decided where you are going to live? And what career paths you will each pursue?"

"No."

"Oh. Uh. I guess you have plenty of time to decide that when we get home."

"Indeed." Seven closed the cover and stood up. "We will now commence with testing procedure 15 Alpha."

"Right, 15 Alpha." Harry activated a communications console and said. "Lieutenant Torres, commence with testing procedure 15 Alpha."

"Acknowledged, 15 Alpha has been initiated."

Seven viewed the control panel and entered in data. After a few moments, she announced. "The test was successful."

B'Elanna still had the communications line open. "That's great. Looks like we are on schedule for the day after tomorrow. Let's call it a day and head for the mess hall. Bring Starfleet, he's treating."

"Wait a minute. Why am I treating?"

"I know you have a zillion replicator credits stashed away. No way can you spend them all in two days. So, as your good friend, I thought I would help you get rid of them."

"Oh yeah. Right. Actually, I only have 27 left. Tom has been mooching off me since Neelix cleaned him out a few months ago."

"Hey, that's what Tom PetaQ deserved for running bets on my love life. I thought by now he would have come up with a new scheme to fill his coffers."

"Well, ever since his big loss he has had a run of bad luck and owes everybody."

"Ha. You know Starfleet, by helping him out you're just feeding the beast. I bet he has a pool going on when Voyager reaches home. At least he learned his lesson and won't involve my personal life in his little schemes anymore."

Harry was silent for a little too long and Seven noticed him grimace.

Despite not being able to see Harry, B'Elanna noticed the strained silence. "Starfleet, you would tell me if he was making betting pools on me or Seven, wouldn't you?"

"Ah…Sure, B'Elanna."

"Hmmm. Ok, Good. Now back to those 27 credits you have. A big steak and baked potato with sour cream for me. Oh, and a big piece of Texas toast. What will it be for you Seven?"

"I shall have chicken Parmesan with baby asparagus sautéed in butter and a dinner roll."

"Wait a minute. That comes to over twenty credits. I won't have any left for my dinner."

Seven answered. "It comes to exactly 26 credits. You shall have one credit left."

"Well, it is your lucky day Starfleet. One credit is enough to get you a glass of tea to wash down Neelix's Leola Root Surprise. See ya. B'Elanna out."

Harry looked beseechingly at Seven. "That's not fair."

"Fair is irrelevant."

Captain Janeway looked at her Senior Staff seated around the conference table. She had listened to the various reports on the ship's readiness to undertake the mission to return to the Alpha Quadrant. "Starfleet has been informed of our approximate time and place of arrival tomorrow. They will have several ships not only at the expected points of arrival, but also have several ships at a distance from the surrounding area if we should arrive at a different location. The Romulans have agreed to assist us if we should emerge from the corridor in their space. I think their cooperation has something to do with the fact we were allies in the Dominion War. I also have some important news for three of you here at this table. I put in a request for promotions and appointments to Starfleet and they have been approved." Janeway fixed her gaze on Ensign Harry Kim and smiled. "Let it go on record that Ensign Harry Kim has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, Jr. Grade. Congratulations Harry." Janeway stood up and motioned Harry over to her, and amidst the applause and cheers, pinned a black pip on his collar next to his gold one.

"Thank you Captain." Harry was all smiles.

"Thank you Lieutenant for your outstanding service to me and this ship."

Harry took his seat and Tom patted his back in congratulations.

Janeway remained standing and reached for a small envelope on the Table. "For her outstanding Service to Starfleet, Annika Hansen has been awarded the provisional rank of Senior Lieutenant. " Every one clapped and B'Elanna threw her arms around Seven's neck and gave her a hug.

Seven looked at B'Elanna not knowing quite what to do. "Go ahead and take it Seven, you earned."

Seven rose from her seat and walked up to Janeway, who attached the oblong gold bar with two horizontal gold stripes on her collar. She hugged Seven. "Thank you for all you have done for us Seven."

"Thank you Captain Janeway. I will serve to the best of my ability."

"Of that I have no doubts."

Tom Paris looked over at B'Elanna and smirked. "Hey B'Elanna she outranks you now. Guess she will be giving you orders."

B'Elanna smiled good-naturedly and stated. "And this will differ, how?" This caused everyone to laugh. Seven went back to her seat and B'Elanna reached over and squeezed her shoulder, looking at her be'nal with pride. Seven gave B'Elanna a pleased smile.

Captain Janeway reached for another envelope. "One more folks. For her outstanding service to Starfleet, Lieutenant. Jr. Grade, B'Elanna Torres has been awarded the Rank of Provisional Lieutenant Commander."

Tom exclaimed. "What. Two whole jumps in rank. Gee she'll be bossing me around."

Seven hugged a surprised B'Elanna who rose from her seat and walked over to Janeway who pinned her Lieutenant Commander Bar on her collar. "B'Elanna, we wouldn't have made it this far without your expertise in engineering. You have done an outstanding job."

Chakotay gave a "Hear, Hear" and B'Elanna took her seat next to Seven, who hugged her neck.

"Well folks, we have a big day tomorrow. I know with all the excitement it will be hard for many of us, as well as the crew, to get any work done. Just check to make sure there are no problems that we can't handle. Try to get some sleep tonight. I want everyone awake and aware tomorrow. We have come this far. And I don't want any miscalculations because of fatigue, to ruin our chances. Try to impart this to the crew also."

The Doctor spoke up. "I don't want any calls in the wee hours of the morning due to injuries received because of rowdy behavior or over indulgence in synthehol." He looked at Tom and said. "I heard all about the Last Night in the Delta Quadrant party you're throwing. I will be keeping my eye on things."

"Hey Doc. It's the last time we will be at Sandrine's and Fair Haven you know. Everybody is invited to drop by and have one last blow out on the good ship Voyager. Many want to say goodbye to some friends from these programs. They may be holo characters, but we have become attached to them over time. Surely, you can understand that. We hope to see you there too. You know we need a piano player and a crooner at Sandrines. And since you know all the good tunes, you'll be ideal. How bout it?"

The Doctor seemed to preen and smiled smugly. "What time do the festivities start?"

"They'll be going on all day and well into the night so the different shifts can attend. I'll spread the word to the crew that you'll make your farewell appearance as Voyager's primo star and virtuoso. They will mob the place."

The Doctor's smile seemed to grow even larger and he actually puffed out his holographic chest. "You can count on me. I can't let my adoring fans down."

Janeway tried to control her desire to smirk at Tom's obvious play to the Doctor's vanity. "I'll be dropping by Sandrines for a few games of pool. Tom, it's your final night to try to take my crown away as Voyager's top Pool Player. Think you have the moxie to pull it off?"

Tom smiled. "Better powder up that cue Captain, I'm going to run the table tonight."

Janeway gave him one of her lopsided grins. "Oh? And to do this, what handicap do I have to play with? Blindfolded and one hand tied behind my back?"

This caused everyone to laugh and it was with an upbeat air that Voyager's senior officers left the conference room.

B'Elanna entered her and Seven's quarters and noticed that the lights were on which indicated Seven was home. She went into the bedroom and not finding her be'nal went into the bathroom. Seven was in the sonic shower and B'Elanna leaned against the sink, a big smile on her face as she viewed the warm flesh tones through the opaque shower door. Even though the glass did not allow for a clear view, you could still make out the luscious curves. After a few minutes, the sonic shower stopped and Seven opened the door and emerged. She saw B'Elanna and smiled. "B'Elanna, have you finished your duties for today?"

B'Elanna walked the few steps over to her and wrapping her arms around Seven's waist pulled her close while tipping her head up for a kiss. "If you are referring to my work duties, yes."

Seven lifted the implant over her left eye. "What other duties are there?"

B'Elanna quickly licked the cleft in Seven's chin. "My wifely duty."

Seven looked at B'Elanna with a seemingly innocent expression. "You are going to prepare our dinner?"

B'Elanna chuckled and facetiously replied. "Why yes. Is there anything particular you would like tonight?"

Seven put her left arm around B'Elanna's' shoulder and her right hand behind her head and drew her close, her lips a breath away from B'Elanna's. "This." She pressed her lips against B'Elanna's in a searing kiss. Seven began a soft moaning, which was caught by B'Elanna's mouth, and she deepened the kiss with a growl. Seven drew back slightly her breathing quickening. She nipped the Klingon's bottom lip, and moved to her neck and lightly bit the throbbing pulse point. B'Elanna growled again, her breathing becoming harsh.

She took Seven by her left hand and drew her into the bedroom. They stopped by the edge of the bed. Seven reached out and unfastened B'Elanna's jacket and drew it off. She next pulled her gray uniform shirt over her head along with her black undershirt leaving her be'nal's chest bare. Seven softly stroked the caramel breast noticing that the brown nipples had hardened. She ran her hands along the sides of the trim waist and lightly guided B'Elanna to sit on the edge of the bed. Going down on her knees, Seven removed B'Elanna's boots, reached up to her waist, and tugged down the pants and undies. B'Elanna lifted her hips and the pants were removed and dropped on top of the boots on the deck. Still kneeling, Seven ran her hands up the outside of B'Elanna's legs then to the silken inner thighs and parted them. She placed gentle kisses on the smooth flesh. B'Elanna groaned and shivered as Seven's silken long hair brushed across her upper leg. Seven looked up into her be'nal's dark eyes, molten with desire. Seven's eyes were liquid blue and questioning. B'Elanna groaned again and quivered lightly. Her voice roughened by desire and pleading. "Oh yes love. Please."

Seven lowered her face to B'Elanna's apex and breathed deeply the aroma of her be'nal's arousal. B'Elanna shivered and groaned again as she felt warm breath tickle her pubic hair and soft fingers separate the wet folds of her labia. B'Elanna fell all the way back upon the mattress and opened her legs wider, entangling her hand in Seven's hair and gently urging her to the source of her fire. She felt Seven's lips and tongue lightly caress her center. She groaned and began to move her hips in rhythm to Seven's oral caresses. She lost all rational thought as her bang'wl took her to that place where all that existed was this primal fire stoked to such heat that she felt as she were the great cosmic core gone nova and filling the void with stars and light. Time and place had no meaning. She did not know if seconds or centuries passed. Then a voice pulled her back to the now. "I have you be'nal." She felt herself cradled in warm arms and the soft press of lips on her forehead. She turned into the warmth, pressed her face into the soft breast, and cried from the sheer joy of loving this woman and having this woman love her in return.

Seven continued to stroke her hair and back and whisper her love into her ear. B'Elanna took a shuddering breath, pushed Seven down on the bed, and gently settled her weight on her be'nal. She kissed her deeply, feeling Seven's lips move against hers, She parted from the kiss long enough to say. "Now bang'wl, I will return the fire you have kindled in me."

Seven stroked B'Elanna's bare back as her be'nal nuzzled her ear and purred. "Hmmm, you have worn me completely out. I'm not moving from here until the alarm goes off."

Seven reached her hand down to B'Elanna's posterior and pinched one of her cheeks.

"Ouch. That hurt. "

"That was the purpose."

"What did I do?"

"You have failed to perform your wifely duty."

"What. Your cortical node must have failed. We both have been performing our 'Wifely Duty' for the past four hours."

Seven propped herself up on her elbow and smirked. "That is not your primary wifely duty. Your primary duty is to prepare our dinner."

"You had rather eat than make love?"

"No. However, I have not eaten since breakfast and making love has depleted my energy. I wish to replete my energy in order to resume making love."

"Hmmm. Well, I guess I will need to replete my energy if that's your plan. So, be'nal, you can replicate me a hamburger with all the fixings and a chocolate shake and serve it to me in bed."

"That is not my duty. Your duty is to prepare our nutrients and my duty is to do dishes. You agreed."

"Gods Seven, you haven't replicated anything to eat once. Throwing dishes in the recycler does not count as washing them."

"That is untrue. I have replicated breakfast 15 times and dinner eight times since we have been sharing these quarters." Seven sighed and fluffed her pillow, lay her head down and turned slightly away from B'Elanna. "Very well. We shall forgo nourishment and attempt to sleep. Tomorrow we shall go to the mess hall for breakfast. Perhaps that will be sufficient to regain my strength for our return to the Alpha Quadrant."

B'Elanna sighed. "What will it be?"

"A peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwich. With a glass of milk."

B'Elanna replied in a nasal voice. "Yes, dear."

After a few minutes, she returned and handed Seven a tray. "Anything else your highness?"

"That will suffice… for now."

B'Elanna crawled back in bed beside Seven and leaned back against the headboard. Seven leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Thank you bang'wl. You are an exceptional mate."

B'Elanna reached over to the tray on Seven's lap and took her plate. "Just keep remembering that bang'wl." She took a bite of her burger, chewed and swallowed. "This is our last night in the Delta Quadrant. Hard to believe we have been here almost seven years. In a way, it seems like a lifetime, but in another way, it seems like yesterday."

Seven took a sip of milk, and looked at B'Elanna. "Do you regret your time here in the Delta Quadrant?"

"At first I did. But now. No, how can I regret what happened when it brought me you. If I have any regrets, it's that I didn't get to know you better when we first met. I should have listened to what my heart was telling me, instead of fighting you all that time." B'Elanna leaned over and kissed Seven's cheek.

Seven turned and smiled, her teeth showing and her eyes bright with little crinkles at the edges. "You did listen to your heart, your Klingon heart. It told you I was your mate and you acted in the Klingon way. It demanded that you challenge me to see if I would be a worthy mate."

"Yeah, you were a challenge all right. I guess being half Klingon it took longer for me to understand what was really going on. I was a real PetaQ to you and to make matters worse I hooked up with an even bigger PetaQ. That I truly regret. What a waste of time."

"The past is irrelevant. We are together."

"Forever bang'wl. I just wish I could be with you on the Delta Flyer tomorrow." B'Elanna took Seven's Borg hand and kissed the fingertips. "I'm all wound up tight about tomorrow. I doubt anyone will get much sleep. I bet Sandrines will be jumping until the early in the morning."

"Do you wish to attend Tom's …bash?"

"Not at all. I want you all to myself. I have plans for you my dear."

"Plans? What are the specifications of these…plans?"

"Me, you, here in this bed. Doing things. Delicious things to each other that we both enjoy. Things you do so very well."

"Things. Could you be more precise? Perhaps give me a demonstration of these…things?"

"I can do better than that. I can give you a lifetime subscription to these things. They come complete with their own special bio-molecular unit and a lifetime guarantee of providing you with the utmost enjoyable activities and pleasure. The only requirement you have to do for keeping your unit working at peak performance is to operate it several times a week, as often as you like. In fact, the more times the better."

"Maintaining the unit will not present a problem. I accept your generous offer. Now I would like to utilize my unit and experience these…enjoyable activities. What is the procedure for activating the unit?"

"The unit is activated by using the owner's distinct genetic code. The only thing you got to do is place your lips against the matching part on the unit and it's done." With that, Seven pressed her lips against B'Elanna's who deepened the kiss. After a few long minutes of passionate kissing, B'Elanna pulled a hair's distance away and breathlessly stated. "Bio-molecular Unit is activated."

B'Elanna walked with Seven to the Delta Flyer. Harry Kim was already inside at the helm checking the systems for one last time. The two boarded the Flyer and B'Elanna drew her wife's head down for a kiss. "Have a nice flight bang'wl. I'll be thinking about you while we are going through the corridor."

Seven leaned in for another kiss. "I will expect you to greet me with a kiss, our first kiss in the Alpha Quadrant."

B'Elanna smiled. "Our first kiss of the millions to follow. Well, I'll see you in a little bit." Seven nodded and walked into the Flyer and to where the helm was and took the seat behind Harry. B'Elanna stood in the opening of the Flyer and said loudly to Harry. "Hey Starfleet. You take care of my girl now."

"Hey Maquis, she'll be taking care of me. See you in the Alpha Quadrant."

"Sure thing." B'Elanna looked at Seven and their gazes met, their eyes bright with the love they held for each other, and both smiled.

"God's Speed bang'wl."

"Good Journey bang."

'B'Elanna turned and walked out of the Flyer and headed towards engineering.

"Delta Flyer, we are engaging transwarp in 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1, mark."

Harry and Seven viewed the rippling vortex opening around Voyager. It was a swirling storm of blues and violets. They could not see the front of Voyager as she plunged through the opening eye of the storm but they did have a good view on their screen of the back portion of the warp bubble, at a safe distance closing behind them.

Harry fingered the controls and announced. "Voyager is maintaining a steady course as are we."

"The array is working within acceptable parameters. We should emerge in one minute twenty six seconds."

"Damn, Voyager must have picked up some turbulence she's starting to bounce a little. Not to worry, We are still within safe parameters."

"Collapsing corridor field has progressed to within 800 meters of the Delta Flyer. We are now within 48 seconds of the targeted point."

"Damn, Come on Tom keep her steady. Voyager is careening too much and at too rapid a pace. "

"Array has lost contact with transwarp signal. Corridor is collapsing. We have 15 seconds remaining to reach designated point. 10 Seconds, 4 seconds."

The Delta Flyer was shook by the forces of the collapsing corridor. When the swirling lights around them cleared, they found themselves in a clear star field.

Seven quickly accessed the scanners. "I am not detecting Voyager's signature. Nor do I detect any debris."

Harry looked over at Seven, concern on his face. "You think they made it through?"

"Very likely. The collapse caught us at minus 3 seconds. My calculations are that the collapse did not catch Voyager and they have emerged in the Alpha Quadrant. My astrometrics readings show that we are in the Beta Quadrant."

"Where in the Beta Quadrant or do I want to know?"

"We are in Romulan Space."

"Oh boy. Hopefully they are going to help like they said they would. I hope they are still on good terms with the Federation. After all they were allies in the Dominion War."

"That may be correct. However, given the history of the Romulan Empire, both past and present, good terms do not necessarily mean cooperation. We shall plot the quickest route to Federation Space."

"I take it you don't want me to send out a distress call?"

"Send out a distress call on all channels. If it is intercepted, the Romulans will be searching for a Federation vessel with a Federation ship design and power signatures. Our vessel utilizes components that are Borg and a few from other Delta Quadrant species. I can disguise our weapons array. This may enable us to escape detection or be perceived as none threatening."

"That's a good idea Seven."

"It is not my idea. I assimilated this particular tactical idea from Species 1091."

"What species is that?"

"Romulan."

Captain Janeway held tight to the arm of her Command Chair. She felt as if her teeth would rattle right out her mouth and her eyeballs would fall out onto the deck. She watched as Tom fought to keep Voyager within the transwarp Corridor. 'Come on Tom, just a few seconds.' Suddenly the shaking stopped and Voyager was in clear space. Before she could call for a damage report, Tuvok reported. "Captain, we are being hailed, Federation Vessel, Embolden."

Janeway looked at Chakotay, her second in command. "My, that was quick. Chakotay, check the status reports." She quickly faced the view screen and drew herself up to attention. "On screen."

The placid features of a Vulcan Starfleet Captain greeted her. Her voice was evenly modulated "Welcome home Captain Janeway. I am Captain Dasal of the Starship Embolden."

Janeway smiled. "Captain Dasal. I take it we are in the Alpha Quadrant."

"Actually Captain Janeway, you are in the Federation portion of the Beta Quadrant."

"Ah. Federation Space at least. Any other ships in the vicinity?"

"We are to maintain station keeping until Federation vessels, Liberty, Vladimir and Exeter arrive in the next hour. Admiral North is aboard the Exeter. In the meantime Captain, is there any assistance that you may require?"

"Thank you Captain Dasal. I have not had anytime to go over any damage reports. I will contact you shortly."

"Understood Captain. Dasal out."

Janeway went back to her Command Chair. She smiled or literally beamed. "Looks like we made it."

Tom turned in his seat with a stricken expression. "Captain. The Delta Flyer is nowhere in the vicinity."

Janeway sprung to her feet and looked at Tuvok. "I have scanned the surrounding area and have not detected the Delta Flyer's signature nor have we received a distress call."

Janeway set her features into a firm mask, only her eyes showing a stricken look. "Do another search, go through any information we gathered on our way through the corridor. They can't be to far away if we were able to make it through the corridor. I'll contact Captain Dasal from my ready room."

B'Elanna sat on the edge of her chair around the Exeter's conference room table. To her right was Captain Janeway and to her left was Tuvok. At the end set Admiral North and across the table was Captain Carlos Leon and his Second in Command, Commander Fariso.

"We have to do this by the book. Romulan Admiral Telir is to rendezvous with us in two hours. What I'm going to tell you next is not general knowledge outside of Starfleet Command, and I expect it to stay here. Our operatives in Romulan space have been sending reports for the last six months of an attempted coup by the Tal Shiar and certain members of the Senate. It was unsuccessful. However, the Tal Shiar, under the command of General Sela, has its own base of operations and a fleet. For years now, they have been stock piling supplies and building defenses on various planets in the sector that you indicate as a possible location of the Delta Flyer. They have also supplied various other factions of non-Romulan species that wish independence from the Empire with weapons and ships. Including the enslaved inhabitants of Romulus' sister planet, Remus. The Empire's fleet and forces are stretched thin in trying to squash out the various rebellions. The Tel Shiar has enough ships, weapons and resources to prevent the Empire intruding on what they consider their domain."

B'Elanna could no longer contain her fear and anger. "So, what you're basically telling us is that we cannot expect any help from the Romulans nor from Starfleet. Is that what you're saying? You're going to sit back and do nothing?"

Janeway put her hand on B'Elanna's arm. "B'Elanna, sit down and let's see what options we have."

B'Elanna glared at Admiral North who glared back. She took her seat, her face flushed and teeth clinched.

Admiral North looked at B'Elanna with sympathy "We are not going to abandon them. We are going to do everything we can to get them back quickly and safely. We will have to work with the Romulans for this to succeed. I'm asking, no, telling you Commander Torres. Hold your tongue unless we consult you. You could jeopardize everything. Is that understood?"

B'Elanna looked down at the table top, then back up. Her eyes held a hardness that glittered like jet. "Understood… Admiral."

Janeway reached behind B'Elanna and patted her back in affection and support. 'To come this far and then to have this happen.'

Admiral Telir looked directly into the eyes of Admiral North. "I am aware that the Federation has knowledge of the problems that our Empire faces. You have your spies and agents, perhaps in the Senate itself, and we have our…sources in the Federation."

Janeway studied the Romulan Admiral closely. She was an older woman, in Human years, perhaps in her 60's but it was hard to tell with Romulans. She could well be over 100 years old. She let her gaze settle on Telir's aide, Adjunct Vlara. She looked to be in her late 20's or early 30's. She appeared more Vulcan than Romulan, with a smooth forehead. Then again, her features and fair coloring were more like the Vulcan/human hybrids one occasionally saw. Her hair a rich seal brown that she wore curled softly around her face and almost to her shoulders, not in the ugly and severe military cut that was now popular among Romulans. Her face was a soft oval, unlike the angular features of most Vulcans and Romulans. Her eyes, large and expressive. Janeway had not managed to get close enough to note the color clearly, but from where she sat, they appeared brown. Her nose was not too small or large; it was slightly pug in an attractive way. Her mouth was small and well shaped. She was not what one would call beautiful or even pretty, but she was attractive in a race that Janeway had never found physically appealing. Romulans always looked too stern and foreboding to her, the women harsh, especially with the current fashion of dark lip coloring and unbecoming hair cuts.

She knew she shouldn't judge other species by her more earth centric standards of beauty, but still, one couldn't help certain cultural influences. The young woman quickly turned her gaze to Janeway and the Captain blushed at being caught staring and turned her attention back to Admiral Telir. "Your crewmen are indeed in the section of space that you have pinpointed. One of our ships close to that sector received their distress signal and the information was relayed to me. I will be honest, if it has not happened already, they will be apprehended soon. The renegade Tal Shiar will quickly investigate the source of the communications as well as any unusual singularities appearing in the sector controlled by them. The most we can do is to have our operatives pass on any information they receive. If there is a chance to get them out, our operatives will take it. The chances are very slim that you will see your people again unless the Tal Shiar were to use them in trade for something they want from you or us. You can rest assured that the trade would be to their favor and would not be accepted by us or the Federation."

B'Elanna had been silent up until now. She stood up and flung back her chair. "No. God damn it, no. I'll not accept that. You can let me take a small shielded shuttle into the area. I'll find them."

Admiral North barked. "Commander. You're out of line."

B'Elanna ripped off her officer's bar, slammed it down on the table, and shoved it towards the Admiral. "I don't answer to Starfleet anymore. I'll get them back without Starfleet's help."

Janeway looked beseechingly at the distraught woman, "B'Elanna, please."

B'Elanna turned blazing eyes on Janeway and in a barely controlled voice stated, "Thank you, Captain. It has been an interesting ride. But this is my stop. We are not far from Klingon Space. I request passage there…Please. Contact the nearest Klingon ship and tell them a citizen of the Empire and soldier of the Maquis requests passage home."

With that, she turned and left.

Admiral Telir questioned "Maquis? The ones in our space are fellow Maquis?"

Janeway looked at Admiral Telir. "No. One of the two is her wife and the other a good friend."

The Romulan Admiral raised her eyebrows, a thoughtful look on her face. "Ahhh. The Universe sometimes exacts a bitter payment for every sweet success. "

Janeway sighed. "She won't give up on finding them. And neither will I."

Admiral Telir nodded her head. "I will assist as much as I am able." She looked toward the Starfleet admiral. "Admiral North, I need as much information as you are willing to share on the two individuals lost and their ship. With your permission." She looked at Janeway. "And if Captain Janeway is agreeable, I would like to meet with her and Commander Torres. Face-to-Face."

Janeway held her breath and looked at Admiral North.

He smiled and said. "Agreed."

B'Elanna left the transporter padd and rushed out from the room, leaving the ensign operating the controls feeling some dismay at the look of rage on her face. There was no one in the corridor or in the turbo lift. She exited the lift and hurried to her quarters sealing the door behind her. She went into the bedroom and looked around. Her sight settled on Seven's housecoat draped over the back of the lounger. She picked it up and brought it up to her face, breathing in deeply the scent of her wife. A primal scream of rage and anguish issued from deep in her chest and catching her breath, she screamed again. Still holding Seven's housecoat, she threw herself face down on the bed, and screamed until her voice was hoarse. She turned over on her back, staring up at the ceiling, wondering what she could do, how she could awaken from this nightmare.

Her com badge beeped but she did not acknowledge it. Tears welled up and leaked down her cheek and neck and down into her hair. She went to the replicator. "Computer, double rum straight up." The small clear glass materialized and she quickly grabbed it and drank it down in one swallow then threw the glass across the room where it shattered against the view windows. "Computer, double rum straight up." Another materialized and she again downed the contents and repeated her action of smashing the glass against the window. "Computer, one bottle of light rum." 'You have insufficient credits to purchase this item.' "Damn. Computer, Double rum, straight up." a glass of the clear liquid materialized. She again drank down the contents in one swallow and threw the glass against the window, feeling some amount of satisfaction as the glass splintered. She was just about to see if she had enough credits to get another when she heard the door chimes. "GO AWAY." It chimed again and she ignored it. She sat on the couch. The door chime kept pealing. "God damn, I said GO AWAY." There was silence and then the door opened and Captain Janeway walked into the darkened quarters. She stopped and looked around, her eyes not yet adjusted to the darkness.

"B'Elanna?"

She was shortly startled when she heard a hoarse voice from the dark. "Get the God damn hell out of here."

Janeway swung her head towards the voice and saw B'Elanna outlined by the faint glow of the running lights on Voyager. She walked over to the couch. "May I sit down?"

B'Elanna sprang up and stood close enough to Janeway that she could see dim light reflected from the black pools of her eyes. Her voice was dangerously low. "Get. Out."

Janeway did not budge. She could smell the alcohol on B'Elanna's breath. She reached out her hand only to have it slapped away. "B'Elanna. I haven't given up. I came here to go over some ideas with you on retrieving Seven and Harry. I'll not let this go. If I have to, I will resign my commission and find some way to search for them."

B'Elanna was still. "You'd do that?"

"In a heart beat. Seven is a daughter to me. You as well. Harry has been loyal and I've grown quite fond of him. And you know I never leave my people behind. Let's sit down and see what resources we have to work with."

B'Elanna hesitated for a second, looking closely at Janeway's face before sitting down on the end of the couch. She placed the heels of her palms against her eyes trying to stymie the flow of tears. Janeway set beside her and pulled her into a hug. B'Elanna hugged her back and placing her head on her Captain's shoulder, cried. Janeway let her cry, rubbing her back in comforting circles.

Finally, B'Elanna set up and rubbed the tears from her eyes. Janeway got up and quickly went to the bathroom and replicated a washcloth, dampened it with cold water, returned to the couch and handed it to B'Elanna, who wiped her face.

"Captain, what can we do?"

"What we've always done. Bend a lot of rules, break a few and make up our own. We may have an ally with Admiral Telir. She has invited us to dine with her aboard her ship and give her information on Seven and Harry that would assist her in searching for them."

"Do you trust her? I mean, the Federation is on friendly terms right now, but these are Romulans."

"Yes. I think she is sincere in wanting to help. I'm not so naive that I believe she won't gain something out of this. My greatest fear is that she wants the information on the transwarp coil herself. Or it may be as simple as wanting to establish better relations with the Federation. The Empire could use some allies right now. Let's float some ideas around, if you don't mind, I would like to call Tom in on this. He has expressed a desire to help."

B'Elanna looked like she was about to object and Janeway put her hand up to forestall her as she added. "I know he can be immature and a pain. But he also has an active imagination and may come up with something. Besides, Harry is his best friend and he wants to help."

"You're right. Knowing Tom, he probably already has an idea. I just hope it doesn't involve ray guns and rocket packs."

Vlara went to her desk in her quarters and pressed her fingertips onto a three by four inch recessed green lighted area on the smooth polished black top. A drawer slid open and she removed a flat green leather folder. She sat in her chair and placing the folder on the table flipped it open. There was a picture of her and her father taken when she was accepted as a Senatorial Page at the Imperial Senate Training School. He was a handsome man as far as humans went. Fair haired and blue eyed, a color combination very rare on Ch'Rihan and very much sought after in concubines and slaves.

She had loved him very much even though his station in life was that of a slave. Her mother loved him also, in her own way. She chose him as part of her share of a war prize after the Romulan victory at Narendra III.

A majority of the time the human prisoners were executed after information had been gathered from them. Save for those that caught the eye of some senator, military official or upper caste citizen. Humans that had been a part of Starfleet did not make docile servants and could not be trusted not to try to escape. His name was Richard Vincent and he had been a Lieutenant in the science department specializing in biology, aboard the Federation Starship Enterprise when it was destroyed at Narendra III. He resided on her mother's ancestral estate on Campus Prime. A small habitable moon of the gas giant Dothus in the Corunian system. He was taken there soon after his capture. There was no way he could escape; the only ships permitted being supply ships and certain military ships. That did not keep him from trying. Once he hid away on a supply ship but his freedom was short lived. When it was found he was missing, subspace transmissions went out to the few ships that had been near the planet. He was found hiding in the grain bay of a Cargo ship. His punishment had been confinement to his room for a time, and when allowed to wander the estate, loyal servants of her mother, put a watch on him around the clock.

Her mother never physically or mentally abused him. She was a patient woman and treated him kindly. She knew he had a love for the study of plants and fauna and would take him for walks among the estate's forest and fields. She had asked him if he would catalog and study the different species of plant life for her as the abundant fauna on the moon had never been fully studied or recorded. She even told him to name the plants. He gladly accepted this assignment. He would share with her mother his findings and they would discuss the various aspects and characteristics of the different species. Not long after that, a friendship grew between them, which led to love, as much as was possible between two persons of unequal social class.

For political reasons, her mother had never married any of the available Rihannsu in her class. She made him an official concubine. He could never be a citizen but was due certain respect due to the position of her Mother. She was born 2 years after his capture and was the couple's only child.

She was considered a full citizen and a member of her mother's Social Class. Her mother was often gone on missions. Her father was her primary caretaker and was always there for her. He seemed satisfied with his life on Campus Prime and she never learned his past until after her graduation from the Imperial Senate Training School.

He told her of his background as a Starfleet officer and most shocking of all revealed that he had a wife and three children in the Alpha Quadrant. His children had been thirteen, ten and six when he left for a six-month tour. They would now be adults. His wife had most assuredly thought him dead and had probably remarried. His one wish was to tell them that he had not died and that he loved them. He assured her that he loved her. He made her promise that one day, she would get word to them, and perhaps learn something about them and if he still lived to bring news of them. She had promised that somehow, she would carry out his wishes.

That had been nine years ago. He died four years ago from the sting of a harvester bee while studying plant life along a nearby creek bed. The bee sting was painful but not fatal to most mammals. It appeared he was allergic to the sting and his death occurred within a matter of minutes.

At the time of his death, she was serving as a civilian Adjunct to her mother. Their ship was near the Neutral Zone when word reached them. She was shaken and saddened. It was a solemn homecoming for her and her mother. He was well loved by the staff on the estate.

He was interned in the family mortuary vaults. There was the customary feast in his honor, attended by all the servants and military staff alike. There had been displays of crying and laughter as the various anecdotes concerning his life with them were recalled.

He had left a letter to her and one to her mother, to be opened in the event of his death. Her mother did not share the contents of the letter to her but did share with her his last request. That she, his daughter, one day visit the Federation and carry private letters that he had written to his children and to his wife and his parents, if they survived. She knew this of course as her letter contained the same request he had made to her personally.

The recent events with the lost Federation craft and crewmembers might open up a way for her to go to the Federation planet of Earth. It was her mother's desire that Vlara journey in person to carry out this last request. It was a matter of honor that the wishes of a loved one are carried out.

All that was needed now was to have the Federation allow the visit. It would help facilitate matters smoothly if a friendship with a member of Starfleet could be made.

Captain Kathryn Janeway was an honorable person according to data and research on her. It would not hurt matters that the Federation also viewed her as a hero. If her mother could help Janeway recover her lost crewmembers then perhaps Janeway could help her. If this action resulted in better relations between the Federation and The Empire, it would give her mother a power point to use in her future position as a member of the Senate, perhaps even Proconsul. After all, it was not only who you were that mattered but also who your friends were.

Captain Kathryn Janeway looked with appreciation at her reflection in her bathroom mirror. She admired the fit of her new Starfleet Uniform, noting how the white dress jacket brought out the red in her hair and flattered her figure more than the unattractive red sack that made her look short and dumpy. One last sweep of the brush through her hair and she was ready. She was looking forward to dining with Admiral Telir. She hoped B'Elanna would be on her best behavior, after all, the old earth saying that you got more flies with honey was a tried and true idiom.

She met B'Elanna in transporter room one and immediately noticed that B'Elanna was also wearing the new version of the Starfleet dress uniform. Her white jacket had the yellow shirt, gold trim, and still had her provisional rank bars, indicating that she had not carried out her threat to resign…yet. She also noticed her engineer's drawn face and tired eyes. "The new dress uniform looks nice on you B'Elanna."

B'Elanna smiled faintly, "As does yours Captain. The person who designed these needs to be awarded a medal."

Janeway saw that the smile never reached B'Elanna's eyes, "Well, then" She turned her attention to the ensign at the transporter controls. "Ensign, Two to beam over at set coordinates."

"Aye, captain. Permission has been granted."

Both women materialized on a transporter pad where they were met by Vlara who gave them the clinched fist with arm quickly drawn to the chest, in the typical Romulan Salute. "Captain Janeway. Commander Torres, welcome aboard. If you will please accompany me."

After a short walk down a wide corridor, Vlara stopped at a wide door, which parted to allow them to enter into a large living room. This was obviously the Admiral's Personal suite. Their host greeted them, "Captain Janeway and Commander Torres. Welcome. Please, this way." She led them to another room, which contained a set table with a number of food items already in place. "Please Captain, sit here." She indicated a seat at the end of the table. "Please, Commander Torres here. She indicated a seat to the Captain's right.

Vlara took a seat across from B'Elanna. Admiral Telir set at the other end of the table and after a few seconds, two servers entered with carafes of various liquors, stood at the elbow of the Starfleet officers, and taking their glasses poured in a small amount of blue liquid. Captain Janeway recognized it as the rare and prohibited Romulan Brandy.

Admiral Telir stood and lifted her glass. "I believe it is an Earth custom to toast success with a drink of spirits, Captain Janeway." Janeway nodded and Admiral Telir continued. "To your return home, Captain, and the safe return of your crewmen." Captain Janeway nodded and took a sip of the spirit. Finding that it went down easily and left a slight licorice after taste. One of the waiters immediately refreshed her glass. Admiral Telir was still standing and looked toward B'Elanna. "To the safe return of your loved one and friend, Commander." B'Elanna nodded and threw back her head and swallowed the sapphire liquid in one gulp.

Admiral Telir was an excellent host. The food was good and the conversation touched on everything from the recent Dominion War to some of Voyager's adventures in the Delta Quadrant. Janeway was surprised at the seemingly candid discussions on the brooding Civil War with the Remans and the mutiny of the Tal Shiar.

The Admiral was an astute listener and seemed to enjoy some of Janeway's anecdotes of their adventures in the Delta quadrant. Janeway glanced often at B'Elanna and noticed that she seemed to have relaxed somewhat. Whether this was due to the amount of Romulan Brandy she consumed or their host's interesting portrayal of events while Voyager was missing, from the Romulan point of view of course, she did not know. Perhaps it was a combination of both. Janeway also glanced on occasion at Adjunct Vlara. For the most part, she seemed to be engrossed in the conversations, only speaking when confirming a specific event that Admiral Telir was relaying. Several times, she would catch the young woman looking at her, only to lower her eyes or look elsewhere. However, the last few times she caught the young woman staring at her she was amused to notice a smile and the cutest dimples that she had ever seen. Janeway returned her smile. 'She is quite lovely'. Janeway thought to herself. She had a feeling that there was something more than an officer and commander relationship between the two women. Perhaps, they were lovers. Before she could ponder more on their connection, her host made a surprising announcement.

"Captain Janeway, Commander Torres. I wish to help you retrieve your two crewmembers. With your permission, Captain, I wish for Commander Torres to stay aboard my ship and work directly with me to achieve this goal."

Before Janeway could answer, Admiral Telir looked at B'Elanna. "Commander Torres. What I am formulating could very well cost you your life, but it is the only solution I have at the moment."

B'Elanna's eyes glowed and her color heightened. "Admiral. Trust me. I would give my very life to have her safe. My only question is when do we start?"

Janeway interceded. "I would have to hear your plans before I could approve them. It may be out of my hands anyway, Starfleet would have to be informed and give their permission."

B'Elanna immediately reached for her provisional rank bar and taking it off laid it on the table. "I resign my commission Captain. She looked at the Admiral. "Admiral Telir, when do we start?"

Admiral Telir looked at Captain Janeway, her face neutral. "Captain. I would like for you and Starfleet to approve this mission. I believe it could open up promising possibilities of friendship between our governments."

Janeway nodded. "I agree and I will do what I can to facilitate things."

Admiral Telir smiled and said, "I have a personal favor to ask of you, one which I think in your role as a Starfleet officer you may be able to perform."

'Here it comes' thought Janeway. Her eyes did not blink as she stared directly into the Admiral's eyes. "That favor would be?"

Admiral Telir looked across the table at Adjunct Vlara. "Take my daughter back with you to the Alpha Quadrant, to visit with her family there."

Janeways eyes widened and she turned to gaze at Vlara. Vlara returned the look with a smile and said. "Yes, Captain, my father's family. He is dead but it was my father's wish that I carry messages to his family…my family. On my honor as his only child, I promised him I would do so."

Janeway saw the sincerity in the young woman's eyes, "I …see." She looked at B'Elanna and saw the pleading in her eyes and then at Admiral Telir. "I'm sure we can work something out."

Admiral Telir nodded and motioned to her staff to fill the glasses with sapphire liquid. "On my honor, Captain Janeway, I will do what I can do bring your crew back to you safely." She stood and lifted her glass and looking at B'Elanna and then at Janeway said. "To new friends, old friends and loved ones far away. May the universe smile on them and grant them success, happiness and good fortune."

The other three women stood and lifted their glasses and swallowed the contents, to honor the toast.

Seven of Nine checked the various indicators on the Delta Flyer's monitors, while Harry slept in the Flyer's aft area. So far, the only sensor readings had been those of a few cargo ships at a far enough distance to avoid any contact. She had fine-tuned the various sensors to detect any tachyon particles in the vicinity that would indicate the presence of a cloaked ship. Realistically she knew that the Romulans were already aware of their presence in Romulan space and that a search for them was already in effect.

That they were a Starfleet vessel was probably not known at this time due to the various Borg and Delta Quadrant components in the weapons signatures, arrays and shielding. Any ship close enough to scan them would undoubtedly be concerned more with the Borg signatures, as that would pose the greater threat to the Romulan Empire.

Seven wanted to evade capture for as long as possible. This would give them time to get that much closer to their destination and, in the event of their capture,send out a burst of communications as to their last location. True, the latest information had the Romulans as allies during the Dominion war, but it could be as Janeway had once told her. "Even your worst enemy can ally with you in the face of a bigger threat. I did that with the Borg to fight species 8472, and they did not keep up their end of the bargain of passage through their space." Now that the war for the most part was over, the old status quo could be in effect.

She and Harry were in agreement to avoid capture as long as possible while maintaining their present course. Which she estimated at three months at their present speed and course. They had plotted the course back to the Alpha Quadrant using the coordinates from where they had emerged and where the expected exit point of Voyager would have been. The accuracy of this method was in doubt due to the nature of wormholes themselves, but it was the best method they had going for them.

By following the supposed path, they could also scan for Voyager if she had emerged from the wormhole before reaching the plotted emergence point Seven had a gut feeling, as B'Elanna would say, that Voyager had made it safely to the Alpha Quadrant and that B'Elanna was now engaged in searching for her. B'Elanna was intelligent enough to use Voyager's recorded data of the trip through the wormhole to get an accurate estimate as to The Delta Flyer's emergence point.

She had the cabin lights off and only the light from the various instruments and the star field outside the Flyer's cockpit windows lent any luminescence to the interior darkness. Her eyes gazed at the stars that appeared as pinpoints of light that elongated on either side of her vision as they passed. Those straight ahead were a constant beacon toward the Alpha Quadrant and to her heart and home, her be'nal. B'Elanna.

There was not a waking hour that did not go by that she did not think about B'Elanna, her smile, her voice, her scent and her taste. B'Elanna was the last thought she had when claimed by sleep and the first when waking. Her 'B'Elanna was in her dreams, holding her and telling her that she loved her. She would cry silently into her thin bunk pillow when she realized it her be'nal was far away.

She heard Harry stirring behind her and smelled the aroma of tea. "Hey Seven, can I get you anything…tea perhaps or something to eat?"

She turned and acknowledged him. "A cup of hot chicken noodle soup please and a glass of milk."

She noticed that he wore his slate gray shirt and his black pants. They both looked fresh and she assumed that he had run them through the sonic shower to remove any grime or odor.

They had a small replicator on the Flyer but it did not have the capacity to replicate complete uniforms and its main function was to replicate food items. There was also a 30 day supply of Starfleet rations in self-heating packets and containers. Plus a 30 day supply of emergency ration bars. She hoped the replicator would continue to operate and they would not have to resort to ration bars.

Seven at one time would have deemed the flavor irrelevant, but after almost four months of eating a varied menu of foods provided by her be'nal , the thought of ration bars was along the same line as the nutritional milk shakes she had consumed in the past: 'Unacceptable'.

She found out she had a particular fondness for chicken as it had a very similar flavor to the iguanas that B'Elanna had prepared for their meals when they were stranded on a desert planet together, some months back.

Harry handed her the tray with the hot cup of soup and glass of cold milk and took the seat at the console behind Seven who occupied the pilot's seat.

"Anything of importance out there"?

"Negative. There does seem to be an increase in freighter traffic and Ion trails. It appears to originate and terminate in a star system, 5 light years away, which has an M class planet."

Kim accessed his panel. "Yeah, looks like the system is in our path. Maybe we should detour around it."

"Negative. I have formulated a plan that may assist us in passing through this area of space undetected."

Harry quickly looked in Seven's direction. "OK. I'm for anything that will get us back to the Alpha Quadrant quicker."

Seven input data into her console. "We shall use the ion trails left by a freighter to mask our own trail."

"Yeah, Seven, but in order to do that, we would have to get in a vessel's wake. How would we avoid detection?"

"We shall use long range sensor to detect a vessel headed in our direction. We will drop out of warp and turn off all systems save for life support. When the ship passes, we will maneuver at the speed of the ship and enter the ion trail, then maintain the same warp speed as the vessel."

"That could work. But if the freighter enters the system and heads to, say a space station, then what?"

"Before that happens we will drop out of warp and travel at impulse speed to another point in the system and repeat the procedure with a ship heading in our designated direction."

"I guess that could work. Don't tell me this is another trick the Borg assimilated from the Romulans."

"It is not. It is a …trick, I learned from B'Elanna. The Maquis used it often to evade their enemies."

"A Marquis trick eh? What other tricks and things has B'Elanna been teaching you?"

Seven turned in her chair and gave Harry a level look, her implant lifting to her hairline.

Harry, realizing how that sounded, turned red and sputtered. "Ah...I didn't mean it like that, Seven, I, ah, honest, I swear... I just wondered what other Maquis tricks she ah…honest…"

Seven turned back to her console and smirked. 'B'Elanna is correct. Harry is such an easy mark.'

Dr. Damar stood back from the biobed with a smile on his taunt features and looking B'Elanna's face over said. "All done. And I must say the results are better than I expected. You make a very good looking Romulan, Commander."

Tom Paris smiled broadly. "Hey, you make a very cute Romulan. Not that you weren't cute to begin with."

B'Elanna brought her right hand up to her forehand, feeling the absence of her Klingon ridges and the wide spaced v-shaped ridge in there place. "Give me a mirror." Dr. Damar turned to one of his assistants and nodded his head.

B'Elanna turned on Paris and snarled. "You're next flyboy. I can't wait to see how your little cosmetic surgery will turn out." A hand mirror was placed in B'Elanna's hand and she quickly brought it up to her face, her eyes growing wide. "OH MY GODS." she brought her left hand up and touched the points on her ears and the heavy ridge over her eyebrows. "I'm not ME anymore."

A voice answered from the doorway. "No you're not. You are D'len and Lieutenant Paris is your brother, Tomos. You are both traders in fine wines and spirits from the Romulan Empire and even rarer spirits from as far away as the Federation itself." Admiral Telir stopped in front of B'Elanna, inspecting her closely, a half smile on her face. "Very good Dr. Damar. You are not only a superb doctor, but an artist as well."

Dr. Damar smiled smugly. "Thank you Admiral." He turned his attention to Tom. "If you will sit on the table Lieutenant Paris, I will apply my artistic skills on you."

Tom smiled shakily. "You did say the procedure is reversible didn't you Doc, I mean Doctor Damar?"

Dr. Damar smirked, His dark brown eyes crinkling at the corners. "Of course, but I assure you I will do such fine work on you that you may never want to go back to looking human."

Tom smiled weakly and got up on the table, vacated by B'Elanna.

B'Elanna smirked and turned to Admiral Telir. "So, we are wine merchants? I gotta tell you, the only thing I know about spirits is drinking them."

Admiral Telir replied. "Not to worry, we have eight days to reach your embarkation point. That is eight days for you to learn enough about wine and spirits to convince all but a true connoisseur that you are knowledgeable in the product. Just avoid an in-depth conversation with a connoisseur. Or have Lieutenant Paris dazzle them with his…wit and his ability to flatter."

"Hey…." Tom said. Only to be stilled by Dr. Damar.

"Please, be still, I almost sliced your right ear off."

B'Elanna smirked. "I see Paris' reputation as a smooth talker has preceded him."

Admiral Telir nodded. "Of course Commander. I know all there is to know about both you and Lieutenant Paris. Or as much as could be…obtained in such a short time. I know a lot about your personalities and your likes and dislikes. Your history and even your psychological makeup.

B'Elanna frowned. "I don't even want to know how you came by any of that."

Admiral Telir laughed. "And you shan't. Even the Klingons and Cardassians have their ways of finding out about anybody in our respective military and government as we do theirs. Just as the Federation probably has the same on every Romulan who serves in the military and senate."

B'Elanna lowered her voice "You think you could show me what you have on Captain Janeway?"

Admiral Telir drew her head back and gasped in mock surprise. "That, Commander, is classified information and only one with General or Admiral Rank is privileged to review it and only if it pertains to a mission." She smirked. "You are known as Voyager's unofficial source of gathering and disseminating…information. Perhaps you could fill in the blanks that are missing on your Captain. Hmmm?"

B'Elanna blushed and sputtered.

Before she could come up with a suitable answer, Dr. Damar proclaimed. "Another masterpiece."

B'Elanna took one look at Paris and proclaimed. "Wow, your own mother wouldn't even know you." She turned to Doctor Damar and discreetly winked. "But Doctor it looks like you made his ears too large and they are lopsided."

Apparently, Dr. Damar understood the meaning of a wink. "Oh, yes. Hmmm, well, I don't have time to rectify the error."

Tom quickly grabbed the mirror off the end of the bed and stared hard, then displayed an amazed but pleased look on his face. He grinned and touched the points on his ears and the v-shaped ridges above his now slanted eyebrows. "Ha. What are you talking about, why I'm still a handsome devil. Bet I have the Romulan girls lining up for a night out with me. You did a damn fine job Doc. Of course, you had something to work with."

B'Elanna snorted.

Dr. Damar slowly looked Paris up and down and said. "Why don't you drop by my place for dinner and some… conversation later tonight, say 1900 and tell me how much you admire my work. You know, we still have to darken your hair and change your eye coloring. And we can easily do that in the comfort of my quarters."

Tom Paris was suddenly at a loss for words and his eyes darted around not focusing on the Doctor's face. "Well. Hee, hee, Ah…

It was all B'Elanna could do to keep from bursting out with a belly laugh at the look of Tom's face turning red and his obvious lose for words. 'Wait until I tell Seven this one.' Her laughter died in her throat as she immediately realized that her be'nal was far from her. She felt her jaw ache and her throat tighten from the anguish of her loss. She battled to squash the negative emotions assailing her. Closing her eyes tightly she wrestled down the feeling of despair. 'You are alive my be'nal for I still breathe and my heart still beats. I'll find you. I promise.'

Janeway gazed at the dimpled smiling face across from her. "Damn, she is cute, down right beautiful when she smiles." She absently rubbed her tingling left hand on her pants legs. For the last five days, ever since coming aboard Voyager, Vlara had been her dinner guest. The young woman was witty and had a way of describing things that Janeway found most interesting. She was an attentive listener and often asked Janeway to elaborate on points she was making and on Voyager's adventures in the Delta Quadrant.

Voyager was now eight days out from McKinley Station and home. There were reports that she still had to complete for Starfleet and conferences over communications with the brass. Admiral North often beamed over to Janeway's ready room as they discussed different issues and she caught him up on the almost seven years that they had been missing in the Delta Quadrant. She had had several lunches with Admiral North, Captain Leon, and his first officer, along with Chakotay and Tuvok. However, her nights, she preferred to spend in the company of the young human-Romulan hybrid across from her. She was not at all taciturn, as she believed most Romulans to be. Except for the pointed ears, she did not have that saturnine olive look of most Romulans or even Vulcans. Her coloring was more Northern European, except for the softly waving fine dark sable brown hair, which she wore shoulder length. Janeway winced as she thought about the ugly hairstyle most Romulans and some Vulcans wore. Clipped short in a cap, with bangs. It looked to her like someone put a bowl on their heads and cut the hair around the bowl edge. She surmised that her blood was more in the red spectrum than in the green of both Vulcans and Romulans, as evidenced by the few occasions she blushed. Her eyes were light brown with green flecks and Janeway noticed that when excited the green was more prominent. Janeway had also noticed that she was close to her height, which was short for a Romulan. She was solidly built with curves, not lanky and wiry like most Romulans.

Janeway had learned that the young woman's role in the Romulan military, was not that of an officer at all, but as a liaison between the Romulan senate and Admiralty. She had told Janeway that her true wish was to become a botanist as her father had been, but her mother's house had always served the Empire as military officers and senators, so it was tradition that she pick one of those two fields to serve in. She chose the governmental branch, and started training as a senatorial aide. However, she did manage to cross train as a botanist through the Imperial Institute of Sciences, earning the equivalent of a B.S degree."

She had given Janeway a little insight of the machinations and complex underpinnings of the Romulan Senate, which Janeway had never learned in her political science classes.

"Captain Janeway. Am I taking up your time?"

Janeway drew herself out of her reverie. "No. Not at all. And please, when we are alone in settings like this, call me Kathryn."

Vlara smiled. "Kathryn."

"I was just thinking. I know that you have one brother remaining on earth who wishes to meet you. But you have not mentioned where you will be staying?"

"My brother is making arrangements for me to stay in an Inn. Ah…I believe he referred to it as a hotel."

"I see. I was wondering if you would be averse to being my guest during your stay on earth. My mother has plenty of room and would not mind you stay with us during your visit."

Vlara looked closely at Janeway and smiled, her dimples in evidence. "I would not want to impose. You have just returned after a long absence and I would only be a fifth leg on a coliby."

Janeway smiled lopsidedly. "Coliby, I seem to recall that is the Romulan equivalent of our horse. And no, you will not be imposing. True I will be busy with Starfleet for the next few weeks, but I believe you need a base of operations and also contact with Starfleet on a regular bases. I can be there for that reason." Damn, Katie, sounds like you're spying for Starfleet. Before she could straighten out the situation, Vlara replied.

"I see. Your invitation was prompted by Starfleet no doubt, to keep me under surveillance."

Janeway grimaced and put up her hand. Damn. "No. I am putting this badly. Starfleet has not approached me nor I them with the purpose of keeping you under surveillance. I won't lie and say that they will not keep an eye on you, but I will tell you honestly, I won't be doing that. I gave my word to your mother that I would look after you and assist you in contacting your two sisters who are serving in Starfleet."

Vlara blushed and looked down then up into Janeways eyes. "I apologize. I am a grown woman, yet my mother worries needlessly. If it would not inconvenience you or your family, I would be honored to be your guest."

Janeway smiled then replied. "I must tell you that my mother is a Traditionalist and pretty much lives a Traditionalist life." Seeing the puzzled look on her guest's face, she continued. "Traditionalism is a way of living life as it pretty much was lived by the average North American 200 years ago. No replicator, food is grown and dishes prepared by actually blending the ingredients and cooking them. Clothes are not replicated and often fashioned from cloth that is not replicated. No sonic showers, but aqua showers, that sort of thing."

Vlara's eyes opened wide and she smiled. "Ah, pretty much how we do things in my home on Campus Prime. I myself am considered a good 'cook'. Perhaps we can trade recipes. No?"

Janeway laughed. "My mother is the cook. I replicate and sometimes not too successfully. I think you and she will get along very well." Janeway felt almost giddy with the knowledge that the young woman would be her guest. She thought briefly why this was so, but brushed any thoughts but friendship into that part of her mind labeled, 'Danger. Do not open.'

Seven relinquished her seat at the cockpit to Harry and proceeded to the back to take a sonic shower and clean her uniform. She had taken to removing the jacket and only wearing the slate blue sweater. She quickly shed her uniform and let her hair down, stepping into the small sonic shower and setting the cleaning cycle for five minutes. When through, she deposited her uniform in the shower for 2 minutes and removing it, once again dressed, going over to a small fold down chair set in the bulkhead, she pulled on her socks and boots.

They had successfully entered the commerce zone of the solar system by slipping into the ion trail of a large freighter and had blended in with the busy space traffic. Only once had they been hailed. This was when they dropped out of warp and into one of the lanes that would head in the direction of the Alpha Quadrant.

The busy Spaceport had inquired if they were having problems as they had stopped in one of the busiest lanes and also inquired as to their destination and registration number. Seven, had put on the audio only and answered in perfect Romulan standard that she was testing a craft she was thinking of purchasing. The controller snorted and stated he hoped she did not purchase it from Craket Used Crafts, as he sold nothing but junkers. Seven raised an eyebrow and heard Harry snicker. She had answered that yes indeed it was a vehicle that Craket had for sale but she was just test-driving it and thanks for the warning. Harry had been impressed by Seven's ability to lie so convincingly.

"Ah…Seven. I didn't think Borg lied."

"They do not. However, I am also human."

That was all she had to say as Harry got the meaning.

It was not soon after that that they found a freighter heading in their direction, once again slipped behind its ion exhaust, and had been following it now for seven days at warp six. They monitored the freighter's communications for any news or signs that they may have been discovered. So far the only communications were the normal chatter to other freighters and communications with different clients and prospective clients.

Seven spent her off time writing love letters to B'Elanna on a padd. Granted, with her eidetic memory, she had no need to commit them to a padd. However, she wished to give the padd to B'Elanna as a gift when they were reunited and have B'Elanna pursue them at her leisure. Besides, Seven had a feeling of shyness come over her at the thought of repeating each letter verbally. She regularly and on a daily basis, before their separation, had told B'Elanna many times that she loved her. But committing the words to a padd was somehow more profound. She found she was able to go into detail about her feelings for her be'nal. To even wax poetic. She compared her mate to a dark rose, one whose beauty and scent were enticing and only she was able to hold the soft petals to her breast without fear of being pricked by the thorny stem. She commented on the beauty of B'Elanna's eyes, comparing them to the richest amber gems, with mystic depths that reflected the fire of her soul. How she loved to breathe in her be'nal's breath, which was life itself and sustained her. The taste of her mouth, a rare nectar and intoxicating. Driving her to take all that B'Elanna could give and for her to give all that she was to B'Elanna. The sound of her voice that both soothed and inflamed. Seven even complimented her intellect and other mental virtues.

As Seven wrote these things, she felt comforted as if her words conjured up B'Elanna before her. Comforted yet melancholy at the same time that her be'nal was not there with her.

Seven was beginning a new padd of her love letters when Harry exclaimed from the cockpit. "Seven. Two Romulan war ships have uncloaked at 7000 meters and have demanded that the freighter come to a halt."

Seven felt both hot and cold at the same time before her nanoprobes regulated her temperature. They had been discovered, of that she was sure.

She resumed the com station behind Harry and scanned the readings. She reached for the communications array to send a message blast containing their location. Hoping it would reach B'Elanna or Starfleet. Before she could facilitate the action the communications array blinked for an incoming message. She put it on both audio and visual and routed it to the small viewscreen in front of the cockpit. She faced the small screen as the image of a Romulan officer appeared on it and quickly surveying them announced. "Federation craft Delta Flyer, you will surrender and make no attempt to escape. We will retrieve your vessel by tractor beam to our cargo bay. Remain where you are until further instructions. We are scanning your vessel and any attempt to send a message or delete information from your computer banks will result in your immediate destruction."

Harry turned in his seat and looked at Seven, the uncertainty and fear in his eyes.

Seven glanced quickly at him, her features bland. It did not surprise her that the Romulans knew who they were. The Collective's assimilated information on this Species contained the fact that they were superb at gathering information in clandestine ways and quickly. She turned her attention back to the small screen. "We will do as you have instructed." After all, what choice did they have? Surrender willingly or be blasted to so much space dust. The former course held out the hope of escape or rescue, the latter was unacceptable as that meant she would never see her be'nal in this lifetime.

B'Elanna eyed the portly or should she say fat, Romulan male who was leering at her. "Hey. Wait a damn minute. No way am I gonna pretend I'm his spouse. That just isn't going to fly. Understand?"

There was silence for a moment as Admiral Telir considered B'Elanna's comments. Tom tried not to snicker. B'Elanna glared at the Romulan agent com wine merchant she was recently introduced to. Efok was his name. He had offended her from their first introduction by slowly looking her up and down in a lascivious way as if she were a sweet morsel he would like to eat. He was doing it now. "If you don't stop leering at me I'm gonna snatch your eyes out of your head and shove them up your fat…"

Admiral Telir quickly interceded. "It is the best solution to our problem. Efok is a trusted agent as well as a wine merchant and has customers among the Tal Shiar. It would be fitting to take his new wife and her ah, brother, on his business trips to teach them the trade and to introduce them to his clientèle."

B'Elanna still was not mollified and baring her teeth in a false smile, directed her gaze to a smirking Tom Paris. "I got the perfect solution. Tom PetaQ can be the blushing bride, or whatever." She smiled with gleeful malice at Tom's widening eyes and his gaping mouth.

Efok answered quickly, his voice having all the charm of a used Shuttle salesperson. "My dear, D'len, my reputation as a lady's man is well known in the section of space we are about to embark upon. Your friend would not do. I am a successful merchant and believe me when I say you are the sort of beautiful woman my clients are used to seeing me with. They will think I am fortunate to have such a lovely wife."

B'Elanna sneered. "Hey creep. Any 'beautiful woman' or for that matter, any woman at all you have ever been seen with had to be bought or you got her drunk on your wine."

Admiral Telir quickly interceded. "Trust me Commander. Efok is invited to all the houses of the elite and that of the Tal Shiar. He is invited to all the social functions and dinners. He has a way of soliciting information at these events that no one else can. Posing as his wife will entitle you to accompany him and be another set of eyes and ears to gather information." She looked forcefully at the smirking fat merchant. "I give you my word, if he should step out of line with this pretense; you have my permission to spill his guts…after the mission is completed of course."

Efok immediately replaced his leer with a sober look and nodding to both B'Elanna and Admiral Telir stated. "I give you my word. I will act in a courteous manner toward, the young lady. But it may require a hug or chaste kiss in public so that people will think we are blissful newly weds."

B'Elanna screwed her mouth up as if she tasted something vile. "Listen, you. I'll be the one to decide when public display of 'affections' are to be initiated. Got that?"

He smirked again. "Of course my dear. I do love a spirited and bossy woman. Tell me my dear is it true what they say about Klingon women. That they are so passionate that they often break the bones of their paramours."

B'Elanna gave him a feral smile and slowly raked him up and down with her eyes. "Not only that, 'my dear' but my house is entirely female and we kill our husbands after mating and devour their hearts. It assures that our unborn children are properly nourished while in the womb."

Efok blanched and pulled his tunic collar out from around his neck. "I see."

Admiral Telir tried not to laugh and roughly cleared her throat. "Well. Let's discuss your route and review all recent information over dinner tonight, shall we?"

Janeway finished unpacking her Starfleet issue suit bag and placed her three new Starfleet issue uniforms in her closet. She had replicated the new pattern on Voyager when they had entered the Alpha Quadrant two weeks ago. Her traditionalist home did not have a replicator, which necessitated her need to bring the uniforms and other personal items with her, including several pieces of civilian attire.

She looked around her old room, noticing that her mother had kept it dusted and clean. Even though not knowing if Voyager was still in existence until the fifth year of their journey in the Delta Quadrant.

Gretchen had never given up hope that her daughter was still alive, lost somewhere in the vast regions of the Universe. Now their dear daughter and sister had returned to them both alive and safe.

'Alive and safe.' she remarked to herself as her thoughts returned to her two lost crewmembers, Seven and Harry. The last news she had received was several days ago, from Admiral Telir, who had sent her a brief message stating that the Tal Shiar had sent out a search party to look for a ship that was thought to be Borg, which had exited through a singularity. Janeway had no doubts that this was the Delta Flyer.

B'Elanna Torres and Tom Paris were now aboard Admiral Telir's flagship and on a mission with the help of the Romulans, that is the help of the Admiral herself, to rescue the two. Tom had volunteered to go out of loyalty to his friend Harry, but Janeway knew that he did it for B'Elanna and Seven also. Tom, ever the one to try and lighten the serious mood of the situation, had said the real reason he was doing it was so he wouldn't have to go through the entire official Starfleet questioning and to have his dad, Admiral Owen Paris, raking him across the coals. Admiral Telir had been receptive to having Tom Paris accompany B'Elanna on the mission when she found out he was perhaps one of Starfleet's top pilots and had brought both shuttles and Voyager through more scrapes and battles over the past six and a half years than Janeway could name.

She was jarred from her reverie by a light knock on the door frame and looked up to see Vlara regarding her with a small smile.

Janeway smiled and said. "All unpacked and ready to go down to dinner?"

"Yes, thank you. I hope I am not inconveniencing your sister by using her room for my stay."

"No. Not at all. Actually she really never uses it anymore as she has an apartment and studio a few minutes away in Bloomington as well as a small flat in Paris."

"Oh. Are they Centers for art on your planet as Brilharde and Tollusad are for Ch'Rihan?

Janeway smiled. "Paris is one of the many cultural centers for art, cuisine and fashion here on earth. There is also Rome, Tokyo, and New York, to name just a few."

Vlara looked thoughtful. "I will have to learn my father's heritage and history since it is part of who I am as well."

"I will point you in the right direction. Now, let's go down for dinner. I assure you, my mother is a great cook and her dishes in my opinion rival any cuisine in the galaxy."

She stepped out the bedroom door and Vlara linked her arm through Janeway's and smiled. Janeway took delight in the warmth radiated from the woman's nearness but quickly reined in the feelings of arousal that also accompanied it. 'She is just being friendly Katie, it is a cultural thing.' She remembered seeing a group of young Romulans in San Francisco who were with a special envoy to the Federation, linking arms in pairs and threes with same sex as well as opposite sex companions, while seeing the sights. She learned it was a cultural idiom for friends to do when walking together on their free time and did not indicate a romantic involvement. She was flattered that the young hybrid thought her a friend and felt at ease with her do this.

Over the two weeks it had taken her to get home, she had dined every night with the young woman, and after dinner, they would discuss everything from politics to stories about their childhood. On four occasions, Janeway had even taken her to the holodeck to teach her the ground rules for velocity, admiring the hybrid's graceful moves and her ability to keep Janeway on her toes. Janeway had won all games and Vlara was a gracious loser, unlike Seven, who hated to be bested in both physical and intellectual pursuits.

They had stopped briefly at Star Station 5 and Janeway and the Voyager crew had been guests of honor at a dinner hosted by the station's commander and his senior officers. They all wore their new dress uniforms and Janeway had invited Vlara to attend with her.

Janeway had Vlara meet her in her quarters and was impressed and pleased at her appearance. She wore a soft green robe of emerald and light green that was belted at her waist with a light gold and green sash. She wore soft green suede boots and her delicate pointed ears had small emerald stone studs. The colors made her eyes sparkle and the green was very much in prominence. Janeway thought her quite lovely and was pleased at the admiring looks given to the young woman as she escorted her through the station and arranged to have her seated next to her.

She was a pleasant and interesting conversationalist and had a nice sense of humor. Something Janeway appreciated in a dinner companion. The young woman had asked her the night before if there were any set ritual to a formal dinner that she would need to observe. Janeway informed her of the silverware placement and on what items of food to use them. How use of the fingers to pick up food was considered uncultured, unless it was bread and certain specific food items. She had looked at Janeway with a slightly bewildered look and stated she would follow her lead. Other than that, Janeway told her it would be considered rude to burp loudly after the meal, even though many cultures did practice this. Vlara laughed and assured her that Romulans did not incorporate this in their culture but that in some provinces it was customary to bang an empty plate on the table to indicate that the food was so delicious that more was wanted, the same with an empty glass or goblet. Janeway told her they would reserve that practice for rowdy taverns and spaceport bars.

Janeway groaned in delighted fullness as she slightly pushed her chair back from the table. "Mom, you don't know how much I missed your cooking. Gods, I will be getting fat."

Gretchen looked across the table at her daughter, a satisfied smile on her face. "I have yet to serve desert Kathryn. I hope you left room for your favorite."

"Caramel brownies?"

"Yes, and Phoebe has agreed to make coffee to go with them." Gretchen looked commandingly at her younger daughter, seated to her left.

"The pot is all set up and the only thing I have to do is turn it on." She got up and quickly went to the kitchen, returning a few seconds later.

Janeway had noted that Vlara seemed to be enjoying the varied foods that Gretchen had served. Chicken and homemade dumplings, dinner rolls, deviled eggs, green beans and mashed potatoes. The woman had even asked Gretchen if she could have seconds on many of the items. Gretchen had smiled and told her to help herself to as many servings as she pleased.

The conversation had been light as to happenings around the community and a darker conversation on the recent Dominion war. Which Phoebe announced enough of the bad news and begin to regale them with stories about her latest exhibits and the peccadilloes of her artists cohorts. Janeway noticed with some envy that Phoebe looked like she hadn't aged a bit in the almost seven years she was gone. She now wore her hair in a soft curling bob just below her ears and looked almost pixyish.

"Mrs. Janeway. Thank you for the wonderful meal. I enjoyed it immensely. Perhaps you can give me some of your recipes."

Gretchen was pleased by the compliment. "You're welcome. I will be glad to give you any recipe you like. Do you like to cook?"

"Yes. I have several recipes that I will trade, if you desire. Your chicken is very similar to the hlair, which is our main poultry, on Ch'Rihan. I believe you would have ingredients that could substitute for the ones we use."

"I would be delighted to share recipes." She looked ruefully at her daughters. "Neither of my daughters are interested in cooking. Kathryn always preferred replicated food to freshly cooked dishes. Phoebe always prefers eating at one restaurant or another. "

Both women protested. Janeway replying, "Mom, believe me, after tasting Neelix's concoctions, and after eating replicated dishes for the past few years, I have come to appreciate how good we had it growing up and eating your delicious food."

After dinner, they retired to the living room to enjoy coffee and brownies. Both Gretchen and Phoebe asked Vlara about life on Romulus and her home, Campus Prime. It was then that Janeway learned that her birth name had been Valarie, given to her by her father, and Romulized to Vlara, which was also the name of a small hawk, found only on Campus Prime.

Vlara had been in touch with her brother and next week was to meet with him. Phoebe volunteered to accompany her to Rome, where he currently lived, and show her the way around. She also volunteered to show her some of the ancient art galleries and buildings. Vlara agreed and her eyes shined with obvious excitement.

Conversation turned again to events closer to home. Phoebe looked at Janeway over her cup of coffee and said. "I saw Mark about a month ago."

Janeway replied nonchalantly. "Oh. I hope he is doing well and is happy. Last I heard he was married to his secretary." That had been in the 'Dear Jane' letter she had received while in the Delta Quadrant.

Phoebe scrunched up her face as if she smelled a bad odor. "He was with his little woman who apparently has a pie in the oven." She glanced over at Vlara who was trying to follow the conversation. "That means she is pregnant. Oh, and Mark was Kathryn's fiancé. They were planning to be married until she got herself lost in the Delta Quadrant." She turned her attention back to Janeway. "Kathryn, it was worth getting lost so you didn't end up married to him. God, I would be volunteering for deep space missions if I were married to Mr. No Personality."

Gretchen interceded. "Phoebe…"

Janeway held up her hand. "That's old history. Believe me. Looking back, I know that in the long run it would not have worked out. I mean, I was the one that kept postponing the wedding date. That right there should have told me I didn't want to commit to him. I'm glad he decided to go on to someone else, because if he had waited, I would have had to break some unpleasant news to him."

All of a sudden, a voice in controlled outrage declared. "What? He has no honor. For you I would wait forever…." She seemed to realize what she said and blushed deeply. "I mean, for Romulans it is customary for those who are betrothed to wait at least 9 years for their intended if they are lost while serving on board ship. The universe is often a dangerous and unforgiving mistress and it could be that one is stranded on a planet or being held prisoner and will one day return." She bit her lower lip and went silent, staring at her cup.

Janeway glanced quickly at her mother and sister and noticed that Phoebe had a small smile on her lips and her mother was staring intently at Vlara, a pleased look on her face and turned the same stare onto Janeway.

Janeway stared back puzzled at the expression, and then understanding dawned. Oh no. She's reading more into this than there is. Isn't she?' Janeway cleared her throat. "I think I'll have another cup of coffee, anyone else?"

Seven rested against the wall of the holding cell that she was placed in two days ago. She felt the minute vibration of the ship's engines and heard the muted sounds of conversations and the different hums of machinery.

On the day of their capture, she and Harry Kim had been ordered to step out of the Flyer with their hands on their heads. She lowered the exit ramp and went down first to face a squad of seven Romulan soldiers, their weapons pointed at her and Harry, who followed a few seconds later. A young female officer quickly looked her and Harry over and said. "Follow me"

She and Harry were immediately flanked by their captors and marched down a corridor. They came to a transporter and were told to stand on the pad. She felt herself dematerialized and then rematerialize. She looked around and saw that she was in a small eight by eight foot cell that contained a sink and a toilet in one corner and a fold up bunk against the left wall. Only the front afforded any view out and she detected the slight hum of a force field. Across from her cell was nothing but a wall. She heard a voice that apparently came from a cell next to her.

"Seven. Are you there?"

"Yes. I am in a cell."

"Ah, me too. I guess we wait to see what happens. I mean the last I heard from communiqués that Starfleet sent us, we are kind of allies with the Romulans, you know, helping each other against the Dominion. Maybe, we will be out of here soon, ya think?"

Seven hated to disillusion the young man, but it was not the Romulan military that held them, but their secret service, the Tal Shiar. She had noted the uniform differences in the halters and belt's they wore. The information she had on the Tal Shiar was that they were a separate branch from the military and often operated on principles that had nothing to do with military laws or even those of the Romulan Empire. They were ruthless and a law unto themselves. Not even answerable to the Senate, to whom they only gave lip service.

She wavered in her answer but decided honesty was best in this instance. He would perhaps need to prepare himself for the possible difficulties that might lie ahead. She had enough knowledge from the information on the few Tal Shiar operatives that had been on board the military ships the Borg had assimilated in the past. She knew they would use any brutal means necessary to obtain information they needed and to 'persuade' cooperation in their many nefarious endeavors. "They are Tal Shiar." There was silence for long seconds.

"Oh."

"Rest assured, Lieutenant Kim. As your commanding officer I will endeavor to protect you and perhaps negotiate a release."

"I know that, Seven. I just don't want any heroics. You forget I was the one who promised B'Elanna that I would look after you."

Seven smiled wryly. "Indeed, Mr. Kim. I cannot forget. After all, I have an eidetic memory".

They had passed the time the next few days playing word association games back and forth. They were fed two meals a day. However, their captors would not communicate with them, even at Seven's most imperious Borg command that they comply.

Now, she noticed the vibration change slightly, and the sounds differing. It alerted her to possible changes in the ship's speed, or perhaps it had reached its destination. She had no more finished that thought when she heard footsteps approaching and saw an officer and four soldiers, weapons drawn, stop in front of her cell. The force field immediately dropped and she was ordered out.

Seven noted that the officer in charge was a centurion by her rank belt. "You are to come with us. No questions."

"Hey, where are you taking her? What's going on?" Harry's voice was frantic.

He was ignored, and she fell in step behind the officer, flanked on each side by two guards.

She was led down the corridor and to a turbo lift, the doors swished open and she was ordered in. The officer and two of the guards entered with her. "Deck one" the officer stated, her eyes never once wavering from Seven's face. Seven lifted her eye implant and returned the scrutiny. Seven thought that the lack of expression and cold assessment was probably taught to the Tal Shiar as a way to keep the upper hand in any contact or dealings with others. It would be hard for one to read them if there were no facial expressions.

The doors swished opened, the officer turned, and Seven followed her out without being ordered. The two guards flanked her, one on either side. The officer stopped at a transporter room and ordered her up on the transporter, where she and the two guards joined her. Moments later, they materialized on a transporter pad, exited into a long wide corridor, and continued to stop in front of a set of large double doors that had a guard on each side.

The two guards at the door saluted with a quick motion of their right arm with clenched fist across their chest.

The officer ignored them and tapped a com badge on her right harness belt. The doors immediately swished open and Seven was led across a large room and left standing in a bright spot light. "Do not move." The officer stated and turned and Seven heard her foot steps recede and exit the doors where they had entered.

Her surroundings, save for the spotlight she was under, were dark and in shadow. She immediately sensed she was not alone. Her enhanced hearing could detect breathing two meters in front of her. She quickly adjusted her visual implant and was able to see a female figure of about 5'7" standing before her in the shadow. The first thing she noted was the short cropped blond hair and the second the uniform with the insignia belt sporting the rank of General. Her night vision had problems making out the color of the eyes, but the general shape of the rest of the face was seen. She quickly assessed her cortical node for information that would indicate the identity of this particular Tal Shiar commander.

The voice surprised her with its sudden declaration that pierced the surrounding dark. "Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct to Unimatrix Zero One. Severed by Kathryn Janeway, captain of the Federation Ship, Voyager, on Star Date 51003.7. Or do you prefer to be called by your human name, Annika Hansen?"

Seven almost stated that she preferred to be called 'Seven' but for some reason found her preferred name coming from this stranger distasteful. Her friends called her Seven. Her be'nal called her Seven. Let this one call her Annika. That was a name that to her invoked feelings of trust betrayed by those that were supposed to protect her. Coming from the General's lips it would remind her that this woman was not to be trusted. "Call me Annika"

The General nodded her head and smiled. "Annika. The name given to you by your parents, both scientists, Magnus and Erin Hansen. They too were assimilated by the Borg. Information recovered from the Raven's records contains much interesting data on the subject of their studies."

Seven knew that the Tal Shiar were thorough, but to have this much information and this quickly, was surprising. No, not surprising since Janeway would have forwarded Voyager's logs through the Midas Array and that would contain all the records that they had managed to savage from the remains of Raven. It was obvious the Tal Shiar had their agents within the halls of Starfleet itself.

Seven had finally found the information she wanted from the assimilated memories of a Romulan operative, operating aboard the USS Enterprise as an ensign, in the Battle of Wolf 359. "General Sela. Daughter of Starfleet Lieutenant Tasha Yar, who was aboard the U.S.S Enterprise under Captain Rachel Garret and captured in 2344 at Narendra III by the Romulans. She became the Concubine of Romulan General Kaonz, who fathered you. You betrayed your own mother when she attempted to escape…

"Silence!"

Footsteps approached and General Sela stepped into the light. Her eyes glaring, she looked into Seven's eyes, almost challenging her. Then she abruptly smiled, but Seven noted that the smile did not reach her eyes.

"I see Voyager's data banks were not lacking in intelligence information."

Seven almost revealed where she actually got the information. However, she decided that the less she revealed about what the Borg knew and how they obtained it was in her own best interest.

Sela looked her over carefully, focusing on the implant on her eye. Then the one on her right cheek. She looked down at her left hand. "Hold up your left hand."

"I will not comply"

Sela smirked. "Let's get one thing straight, Lieutenant Annika Hansen. You are in no position to deny my request. I can make it very unpleasant and very painful for you to refuse." She paused and stated. "However, the information I have on you indicates that you can take a lot of pain, even torture, but your crewmate, Lieutenant Harry Kim, would be unable to take much of what I can give him. Now, hold up your left hand."

Seven knew that General Sela would not hesitate to carry out her threat. Sela was ruthless. Seven did what she was told. Sela looked closely at it and stared Seven in the eyes as she reached out to feel the mesh.

"It is warm, not like metal at all. Your medical records sent to Starfleet indicate that you still have your assimilation tubules, show them to me."

Seven sighed and protruded her tubules. She was satisfied to see that Sela looked slightly sickened at the sight of the two squirming worm like strands. Sela stepped one step back. "Put them away."

Seven did as she was told and stared at Sela.

"Now ,Annika. Here are the rules. They are quite simple. You will cooperate with me and I will assure that you and Lieutenant Kim are not harmed. If you do not cooperate, I will have you witness firsthand the methods we use to gain information. I know that Lieutenant Kim probably has less of the information we need, than you do, and it would be a shame to have him suffer the side effects of our methods when you will eventually tell us what we want anyway. If he succumbs to the side effects, then we will apply the methods to you. Believe me, 'resistance is futile.'" She laughed at her own joke. Then she sobered and asked. "What will it be Annika, cooperation or foolish heroics?"

Seven frowned then stated. "I know of no Federation Secrets that I can impart to you as we were lost in the Delta Quadrant and only recently returned. Nor was Captain Janeway in the habit of keeping me informed of any communiqués she may have received from Starfleet."

Sela smiled. "I know that. What I want is the information you have on that transwarp coil you and your half-breed wife constructed. Give me that and both you and Lieutenant Kim can enjoy your little stay without fear of harm."

Seven said. "The information you request will not give you the results you desire. You will fail in constructing a transwarp coil for your use."

"Oh? And why is that?"

"You need certain Borg components to integrate into the transwarp coil."

Sela smiled slightly and nodded her head. "Tell us which ones we need and I will be able to obtain them."

Sela laughed at the fallen look on Seven's face. "My lovely Annika, You where at Wolf 359, were you not? You know that many of the small Borg craft never returned to your Cube. That they were damaged to the point that they could not form a transwarp conduit to escape. You also know that many made their way to the Beta Quadrant. Your collective never saw them again. Why is that Annika?"

Seven said nothing. One thing was certain. She would only give them information piece meal and information that she would encrypt with certain Borg codes that would cause massive malfunctions when triggered by certain Borg frequencies that she could broadcast over subspace and hyperspace when she made it back to the Alpha Quadrant.

She was sure she would make it back. She knew with some kind of hidden sense or intuition, as B'Elanna called it, that she and Mr. Kim would make it back. She knew in her heart that her be'nal and Captain Janeway had correlated where they left the slipstream and her be'nal was already on her way to find her.

"Now. Your stay here will be long, very long. Short of some intervention by the Gods, you and Lieutenant Kim will never see the Alpha quadrant. I want to make your stay with us comfortable and I will assign you both quarters. You will both be under constant surveillance and your time with each other will be monitored, so there will be no plots to escape. If you attempt to escape, which is impossible, you will be punished and punished severely. I will assign you two assistants. Both are officers of junior grade. If you need anything, within reason, they will obtain it for you." Sela paused and once again looked Seven up and down. She had a small smile on her face when she said. "You will dine with me tonight."

Sela next pressed the communicator on her harness, the door opened, and two young officers entered. One female and the other male. "This is Ulan Glaria and Ulan Spar. They are assigned to you. To guard you, and anything that you need, within reason, they will do for you or obtain for you." She turned to them and ordered. "Show her to her quarters."

Seven was surprised at the size of her Quarters. They rivaled Janeway's quarters on Voyager. She had a living area with a combined dining area and small replicator. The living area had a low divan and many large pillows on the floor. The dining area had a low table with two low couches and two chairs. Seven knew from her studies that Romulans often reclined while eating, especially on formal occasions, much like the ancient Romans on earth. She wondered if Sela would honor this custom when she joined her for dinner or use the military custom of sitting in a chair and dining at a table. She noted the two large plate aluminum windows that overlooked a lush blue and green garden under turquoise skies. She surveyed the outside with her infrared vision and knew this was no hologram. There was even a door that led to the garden. To her right was a door that led to a good sized bedroom with a neatly made double bed. Both living room and bedroom where decorated in pale mauve and turquoise. Leading off the bedroom was a bathroom complete with a sonic shower as well as a large hydro tub set into the floors. There was a large mirror placed over a long counter area that had two sinks. In one corner was a commode. She noted that there were a few brushes, combs and other toiletries on the counter. She went back out to the living area and to the computer console located against the far wall. She sat in the chair by the computer console. She studied the computer's manual control pad. She would try a vocal command first. "Computer. What is my location? "'You are in Sector 1 cabin four.'

"Computer. What facility is this and where is it located?"

"Tal Shiar headquarters in Sector 24, the Geggis system on Geggis Supreme, in the Province of Qulpar in Rihanaia City."

"Display a map of the beta quadrant and indicate the location."

A map of the quadrant was displayed on the screen. Apparently, Sela was not concerned with this information. She was delighted to see that the location was not far off the path they would have taken to get to the Alpha Quadrant and the path that B'Elanna would surely take as the quickest route to get to the point where the Delta Flyer came out of the transwarp corridor.

Computer, display a schematic of this facility.

"That is restricted information."

"Computer. Give me the location of Lieutenant Harry Kim."

"Lieutenant Kim is in his quarters."

"Open up communications with Mr. Kim."

The screen showed the symbol for the Tal Shiar and cleared to show Harry's face.

His eyes widened in surprise. "Seven. Am I glad to see you."

"Likewise Mr. Kim. You are well?"

"Yeah, so far. I have my own room, but can't leave unless I get permission and then only under guard."

"Likewise. Our calls are monitored, as are these rooms. Can you discern the location of your room?" Seven hoped their communications were not to be terminated at this point.

"Uhm, I have a window that looks out on a garden area about six meters below me. I must be about one story up."

"I am on the ground level. Perhaps it is the same garden, there is a round fountain surrounded by blue flowers."

Harry said, "Yes that's what I'm seeing too. I must be right above you. There is a small balcony, but the door is locked and I can't open it."

Seven could not of course establish his exact location and give hers, but she surmised that he was either right above her or very close.

"Perhaps we will be able to venture outdoors together and enjoy the esthetically pleasing surroundings of the garden."

"Well, it would be nice to walk among real trees and smell real plants growing. Maybe we can have a picnic lunch outdoors soon. I can't complain about my room though, kind of small, but I do have a replicator and a small bathroom. The replicator is for food only. I'm told I will be provided appropriate clothing. The computer only lets you have so much information. There are a lot of novels and games I can access though. So I guess it's not too bad. It sure beats sitting in a cell."

Seven knew Harry was nervous by his continuous chatter. She was interrupted by a chime at her door. "I will contact you later. Seven out."

She did not have a chance to give the command to enter when the door slid open and her two guards entered, the male carrying what appeared to be garment bags entered her bedroom and deposited the bags on her bed. The female stepped in front of her with a smaller bag. "I am to instruct you that dinner is at 1900 hours and you are to wear the items in this bag." She handed the bag to Seven and stated. "We will be here at 1855 to escort you to the quarters of General Sela. Please be ready." With that, both guards exited her quarters.

"Computer. Time."

"The time is 1756 hours."

She had plenty of time to investigate the clothing the General had given her.

Seven paced her quarters in anticipation of the dinner she was to have in General Sela's quarters. She felt some amount of trepidation concerning this event after viewing the garments she had been instructed to wear. Her face still blushed as she thought about the contents of the bag. There was a small ice blue sheath which would require only her bosom to hold it up, its length was a good three centimeters above her knee and split to her thigh on the right side. There was a matching pair of silky ice blue briefs, in Seven's opinion, very brief, only a lacy V in front and back. The only other remaining item had been a pair of soft step in shoes. There was no way she would wear what B'Elanna termed 'seduction lingerie' for anyone but her be'nal.

She felt a certain queasiness as her thoughts quickly ran down a list of all the possibilities that General Sela had in mind in connection with the outfit she had provided. Was she expecting sexual interactions as part of assuring that she and Harry would remain free of harm? Or was this the expected attire when one was invited to dine with a Romulan dignitary? If the former, what would she do if Sela threatened to harm Harry if She did not acquiesce to her desires. Would she or even could she have intimate relations, even to save Harry's life. One part of her realized that it would only be hollow motions and not anything related to what she and her be'nal shared. A sharing that was both spiritual as well as physical.

The Borg had purged many assimilated references to social and sexual interactions from the collective consciences as being irrelevant. She could find no Romulan information to indicate the proper dinner wear. She had looked through the other clothing provided and found them to be more acceptable, even though they had the military cut and style to them. She would wear the set that consisted of a pale gold tunic and matching trousers with her Starfleet issue boots. The material was soft and silky and had a sheen that was appealing. It was casual yet elegant. There were also more functional undergarments she could don. Her mind made up she went to take a sonic shower and dress.

Part 2

Return to Voyager T/7 Fiction

Return to Main Page