The Souvenir
By Elorie Alton
Rated NC-17
Disclaimer: All Voyager characters are the property of Paramount. No copyright infringement is intended.
In November I posted a short PWP titled "The Gift of Joy" in answer to a challenge on VAMB. I got some really great feedback and a couple of my readers thought the story could be longer, so this is the revision. I decided to leave the original story as it was and post this as a different story, a before and after.
I would like to thank Mary S and Shayenne for their effort. They took the time to give this newbie some great feedback. I also would like to think CM Princess for starting the whole thing by wanted to read a busted fic. Constanze, Van Hunks, Rosie, Sheri and Alycia1, also gave me great encouragement, thank you. Last but not least to my trusty beta reader/daughter, AerisM, thanks and love always.
This story takes place in early seventh season. It replaces "Nightingale".
=^=
The planet itself was beautiful. It had lush green valleys and snow covered mountains. There were wide white sand beaches and grassy plains: in other words, everything that a sentient species could hope for was provided. Its temperate zone was pleasant without being hot, dry or even too humid. There were arctic regions and deserts, but these made up a small percentage of the planet’s surface. Its variety of climates almost seemed to be constructed as if to offer something for every taste.
The well-preserved remains of a thriving civilization dotted the planet’s surface, but some time in the past its people had disappeared leaving behind neat orderly cities as if packed for storage and ready for its citizens to return.
Although there was not an abundance of many materials, there were enough to facilitate the maintenance that Voyager needed. What was unusual was the abundance of various nonmetallic crystalline substances, many precious, and large deposits of dilithium.
Captain Kathryn Janeway had called a meeting of the senior staff to plan for the days ahead.
"The dilithium is extremely high grade, as high as the finest synthetics produced in the Federation. The deposit we are scanning is large enough to provide us with a complete replacement of the shaped crystals in the propulsion system and extra dilithium for a reserve. This could keep us going for a long time. I think that I can also set up a system to recrystalize dilithium outside of the articulation frames. A new recycling system could expand our dilithium supply almost indefinitely," Chief Engineer B’Elanna Torres referred to the padd in front of her, taking a pause to catch her breath. "There are also enough other materials to allow us a complete warp core overhaul. We badly need the maintenance, I think that this is an opportunity we should not pass up."
"Does anyone have any ideas why we had to be practically on top of this planet before we knew about the dilithium? We should have detected it long before we did," Captain Janeway looked at her operations officer.
"There seems to be a cloaking field around the planet. Not enough to make it invisible, just enough to mask its nature," Ensign Harry Kim continued. "There are scattered remains of a thriving civilization, but our scans do not indicate any higher life forms. We are also having trouble dating the remains. I can tell you this much, they are far older than appearances would indicate."
Seven of Nine continued with her report. "The Borg had no references of this planet or its inhabitants in their databases. This can probably be explained by the field around the planet. There are indications of a data storage system, and the first scans indicate activity in some of the databases. I would like to try to salvage what information I can."
The Captain made a note on her padd then looked over at Tuvok, "What have your security scans found?"
"There is no indication of any type of weapons system either hostile or defensive. The planet’s only protection seems to be the cloaking field. I would like to send down security teams to personally inspect the sites we would be using, to be on the safe side, but I am doubtful that we will find anything harmful."
Mr. Neelix reported next, "The planet has a variety of edible plant life. There should be no problem in restocking our food supplies and we should be able to find some new plants for our airponics and hydroponics bays. Something new for a change should be welcomed by the entire crew."
"We also found evidence of some plants with medicinal properties that I would like to investigate," the Doctor reported.
"And I suppose that our resident anthropological specialist can’t wait to inspect the ruins," The Captain smiled at her first officer.
"They are intriguing," Commander Chakotay flashed Kathryn a grin that lit up his face and exposed his dimples. "I know that we will not be able to spend much time here but I can’t wait to see and record what I can. I also think that shore leave can be arranged for all the crew. There are areas of the planet that are free of any technology from the previous inhabitants. It’s as if they left some areas as natural as possible."
"Ok people, Tuvok, have security check the areas we will be using thoroughly. B’Elanna, make up a schedule for the mining of materials and the maintenance of the warp core. Get that information to Commander Chakotay as soon as possible so he can set up duty schedules that will give everyone time for shore leave. I want you two," she pointed to Harry and Seven, "to work on retrieving as much information from the data system as possible. Neelix and the Doctor will be responsible for the harvesting of plants. Chakotay will assemble teams for recording data at the ruins. I want you to use volunteers as much as possible, everyone should enjoy what they are doing."
The senior staff begin leaving the briefing room ready to get started, excitedly exchanging ideas as they returned to their respective duty stations. Everyone was going to enjoy the assignments.
Kathryn caught up to Chakotay as they walked to the bridge, "I suppose you will be in those ruins the whole time we are here," she chuckled. "I don’t know when I have seen such enthusiasm. It will be so nice to relax, to do what we are trained to do, explore. With no one chasing us or wanting something from us that I can’t give them."
"It just feels nice to be able to stop before we have to, and to be able to gather new data is just the icing on the cake." He laughed.
"Icing on the cake? Where did that come from?" She asked as she reached her chair.
"That’s one of Tom’s twentieth century colloquialisms."
"Speaking of Tom, prepare for standard orbit, Mr. Paris."
The helmsman turned to his console. "Aye, Aye, Captain."
=^=
Assignments were passed out, volunteer positions were accepted, and the entire crew appeared happy with the arrangements. Just about everyone had the assignment they wanted and shore leave time was arranged for all. Some of the crew even volunteered to use their leave time working on the various projects.
Kathryn had spent time at first helping with the warp core maintenance. She and B’Elanna catalogued the materials as they came in and she helped program the engineering replicators for the new parts they needed to manufacture. The captain was planning to use her shore leave time catching up on reports and then finish up again in engineering helping to recalibrate the components of the core.
She was almost at her cabin door one evening when Chakotay called to her to wait up for him.
"I need a favor from you, Kathryn," he said as he caught his breath.
"What can I help you with Chakotay?" she opened her door, motioning for him to follow her into her quarters.
"Sam Wildman has been assisting me with cataloging the ruins on the planet for our anthropological records. We would like to arrange an overnight stay for the team so we can make some records after dark, but Sam needs someone to look after Naomi."
"I thought Neelix looked after Naomi when Sam needed him. I was going to try to get caught up on my reports." Kathryn was suspicious of his motives, and thought that he was using Naomi to get her to take shore leave. She loved the idea of spending time with the child but she decided to wait and see how far Chakotay would go.
"Normally he would, but Neelix has had a lot of success finding new foodstuffs. I’ve heard that he may have found a coffee substitute." He knew she couldn’t say no when he dangled both Naomi and coffee in front of her.
"Coffee!" Kathryn’s eyes lit up. "He’s found coffee?"
"Neelix says that he thinks that he has discovered something so close to earth coffee that even you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. So can you keep Naomi tomorrow night and the next day? I’ve been told that the beaches are really nice. You could swim, hike, and maybe have a picnic. It would be good for you, Kathryn, and you know you always have a good time with her."
"Chakotay, for coffee, I’d baby-sit Q Junior. You didn’t really have to go to this much trouble to get me to take shore leave, you know I’d love to spend time with Naomi," Kathryn laughed. "Thanks for arranging it."
=^=
The next evening Samantha Wildman brought Naomi to the Captain’s quarters.
"Captain, I really appreciate you keeping Naomi for me tonight. She has been looking forward to spending time with you. I cannot tell you how exciting the project has been. We will have enough data to sort to keep us busy for a long time. This has been as much pleasure as it is work."
"No, thank you for allowing me this time with my assistant."
Kathryn made up a bed on the couch in the living area while Naomi got ready for bed. She tucked the little girl in as she told her stories about growing up in Indiana.
The Captain showed her assistant pictures of her home and family. They laughed and talked until Kathryn noticed that it was past Naomi’s bedtime.
"You had better get to sleep, I have a big day planned for us tomorrow."
"Captain, when we get home, would you show me your tree?" the child asked.
"Yes, I will, but I also have a hologram of my pond and my tree. If you would like, I can show it to you tomorrow afternoon after we get back from the beach. Do you know how to fish? My program allows fishing."
Naomi smiled back at Kathryn, the little girl’s eyes almost closed with sleep. "Yes, I’d like that very much." Then she drifted off.
Kathryn lowered the lights and moved toward her own bed. She looked forward to tomorrow, even though time spent with Naomi meant that longing for her own child would torment her afterwards.
Sometime during the night Naomi was awakened by the soft sound of Kathryn quietly crying. At first she thought she was in her own bed, hearing her mother crying for her father. She started to get up as she often did to comfort Samantha and then remembered where she was. Grownups were funny. She knew that her mother was sad because her daddy was so far away. But why should the Captain be so sad when the Commander was right here?
Realizing that the captain was asleep again, Naomi settled back on her pillow and closed her eyes. She thought that maybe she would ask the captain a couple of questions tomorrow.
=^=
Kathryn and Naomi spent a wonderful morning at the beach. They rubbed sunscreen on themselves and each other’s back. They swam, and built sand sculptures along the shoreline.
They were walking along the water’s edge, poking sticks into shallow pools, disturbing the small crab like creatures, when they found the shell.
The shell was a large with the appearance of a conch. Its pearly lining was a rainbow of pastel colors. The pink fading into the lilac, the lilac into blue and the blue into green. Kneeling on the sand, Kathryn checked to make sure that no life form was hiding in the shell and then held it up to her ear. Just like the ones on Earth, you could hear the sea.
"Listen, Naomi, you can hear the sea inside," Kathryn said as she handed the shell to the girl.
Naomi’s face brightened as she listened to the sounds in the shell. Her eyes widened and her mouth formed the shape of an O.
Kathryn felt the longing begin, the yearning for her own child. She desired to see that same look of wonder on her child’s face: a beautiful small face with dark eyes and dimpled cheeks.
"Captain, how does this work?" Naomi continued to look at the shell with wonder.
"Well I could explain the science, but isn’t it enough just to hear the sea?" she answered the child. "Why don’t you keep the shell to remind you of today? I’m having a wonderful time, are you?"
"Yes, Captain, this has been great, but aren’t you hungry? I am."
Kathryn grinned at Naomi, "Your mother said that you liked hot dogs and roasted marshmallows on picnics."
"Oh yea, we fix hot dogs on the holodeck when we go camping."
Kathryn built a small fire, and while they waited for it to burn down a little, they spread a blanket and begin to arrange their lunch things. When the flames had settled down enough, they put their wieners on long forks and roasted the meat over the fire.
Naomi bit into her hot dog, chewed thoughtfully, and swallowed.
"I heard you crying last night, Captain. My mom does that when she is lonely for daddy. Who are you lonely for?"
Kathryn sighed and decided that she could tell a partial truth, "I guess I’m lonely for something I can’t have."
"But you’re the Captain."
"I know, but there are things that Starfleet would prefer that Captains not do," Kathryn looked off into the distance and then added, "I would very much like to have a little girl of my own. But being the Captain is a lot of work, and Starfleet would prefer that I concentrate on being the Captain, and not on a husband or children."
The girl had a confused look, "Are those the rules?"
"Not exactly, they are more like guidelines."
"But if you followed all those guidelines wouldn’t you have the Commander, B’Elanna and some of the others in the brig? And would Neelix be allowed on Voyager if you followed them?"
"Naomi, we’re in the Delta Quadrant, very far from home. I need the Commander and B’Elanna, and I don’t know what any of us would do without Neelix."
"Captain, I know that I am a child and maybe I don’t know everything yet, but it seems to me that if some of the guidelines don’t apply then maybe none of them apply."
With sudden clarity Kathryn realized that her reluctance to start a relationship had more to do with fear than rules and guidelines. She took a drink of the lemonade that Naomi had poured earlier and then spoke, "I’ll have to think about that; you may just be right."
"Good," Naomi said. "Now, where are the marshmallows?"
Naomi moved to Kathryn’s side as the captain pulled not only marshmallows, but also chocolate and graham crackers out of her pack. The child kneeled down and then suddenly pulled back in pain.
"Ouch! There is something hard under the blanket." She sat back rubbing her knee.
They pulled back the blanket and saw a flash of green buried in the sand. Naomi brushed the sand away and uncovered a pretty green stone, about the size of a chicken egg, but all angles and smooth sides. It flashed in the sunlight and deep inside was a flicker of fire.
"Captain, look what I found." Naomi held the stone so Kathryn could see it.
"That’s a pretty stone, Naomi," Kathryn said as she began to push marshmallows on one of the long roasting forks.
"Yes, but I don’t think it is as pretty as the shell you found for me. Why don’t you take this and then we’ll both have something to remember today by?" Naomi held the stone out to Kathryn, trading it for one of the forks.
"Thank you, Naomi. I think I’ll keep this on my desk. When I look at it I’ll think of you and how much fun today has been."
After Kathryn slipped the stone into her pack, they began to roast marshmallows.
=^=
Kathryn and Naomi had just finished their picnic and were talking about going back to Voyager to run the captain’s holoprogram when they heard the whine of the transporter. They turned to look just in time to see Harry Kim and Seven of Nine materialize.
"I’m sorry, Captain, we didn’t mean to disturb you. We’ll find another spot," Harry said.
"Oh, no, we were just getting ready to leave," Kathryn said as she folded up the blankets and packed away the debris of their picnic. "Miss Wildman and I have a date with a fishing pole," she grinned at the little girl.
Kathryn saw the girl showing off her shell. Seven admired it and then put the shell up to her ear as Naomi instructed.
The captain looked over at the young man, "Sometimes I forget just how much of her childhood Seven has missed. At times she seems as innocent as Naomi."
"I know, it’s one of the things I like about her." He admired the expression of awe on the former Borg’s face as she listened to the sea. "Captain, just leave the fire, it’s burned down to embers and I have some vegetables to roast and shrimp to broil. We thought we would go for a swim and have a late lunch and then go back to work."
"Is there… something I should know about?" the captain teased.
"I don’t think so," he grinned back. "She’s just been different since her last experience with the Borg."
"Then we will see you later. Have a good time." The older woman finished gathering up her things, went to stand by Naomi, and called for transport.
Harry begun to push the hot coals together and buried two packets of vegetables, as Seven spread their blankets on the sand.
She stopped for a moment as something green caught her eye. There, lying in the sand, was a small shred of what looked like green crystal. It was about the size of one of her fingernails and was shaped like a teardrop. The sun caught it as she held it up, and she could see what looked like a small ember glowing within.
"What a pretty thing," she thought putting the small stone in her pack.
Harry and Seven swam and then playfully swatted water at each other. He watched with wonder as Seven retreated and Annika came out to play with him. They pursued each other, each one trying to push the other’s head under water, until finally he chased her out of the water catching her were they had laid the towels.
He grabbed one up and began to rub his head, watching Seven dry her own blond hair. "Seven, you’ve been different lately. What’s changed?"
She sat down on the blankets, drawing her beach covering over her wet swimsuit. "I remembered Unimatrix Zero, Harry," she answered quietly.
"How did that experience change you, Seven?" He put foil over the coals and arranged the skewered shrimp to broil. "I read the reports, about how you and other drones had this place where you could mentally go when you were in your regenerative cycle. You were free of the hive mind there."
She paused to collect her thoughts, then began. "We could go there and be with friends. We could visit, play with each other, and exchange ideas like real friends do. Then the regeneration cycle would end and we would return to our duties without remembering anything that we had been doing. It was not real Harry, it was the best thing we had, but it was not physically real. I’ve been thinking about that lately and I would like to try real."
"But didn’t you have a special friend there?" He put out some plates and poured fruit juice into their glasses.
"You mean Axum?" She divided up the eating utensils.
"Yes. What was he like?" Harry pulled the vegetable packs from the coals and placed them on their plates.
She smiled, "Strong, quiet. He was our leader. He protected us and we felt safe with him."
"You mean like Commander Chakotay?" He divided the shrimp between the two of them and handed her a napkin.
"Yes," she answered. "Very much like Commander Chakotay. I believe that I loved Axum, but I do not think that I love him in the same way anymore. I still care about him, but we are too far apart and our lives have gone on without each other." She picked up her fork and took a bite of the shrimp. "Harry, this is good."
"Thanks, my mother showed me how to make it." He ate one of his shrimp then continued, "I was engaged to a girl before Voyager was lost. I thought I was really in love with her, but it is just like you said, we were too far apart and I’ve spent too much time without her. There is a saying on Earth. If you don’t grow together, you’ll grow apart. That’s what happened to Libby and I."
"You are right, Harry. Axum and I may have grown apart, but I would like to have friendships and be close to someone." She looked down at her plate and sighed, "Now that I can remember what it was like, I would like to be close to someone again."
They finished eating in silence, simply enjoying each other’s company. They watched the ocean waves and felt content.
As they gathered up the remains of their cookout Harry stopped for a moment and asked, "Seven, I’d like to do this again, you know, have dinner, maybe go to the holodeck and run a program."
"You mean do something together."
"Yes," he answered as he picked up his things.
She put her pack over one shoulder and looked into his eyes, "Yes, Harry Kim, I would like that very much."
He leaned over and brushed her lips with his in a gentle kiss. Then he tapped his combadge and called for transport.
=^=
The next few days were marked by the hustle of finishing the warp core maintenance and the rush to complete their projects.
The scans of the planet were completed, records of the ruins were made, and food was harvested and stored.
Harry and Seven worked on retrieving what data they could from the ancient computer system. They enjoyed their new closeness. They ate together often. They held hands and exchanged soft kisses, quietly letting their new awareness of each other grow at its own pace.
Kathryn worked with B’Elanna recalibrating the new components in the warp core. She often thought about her conversation with Naomi. She now admitted to herself that fear was the only reason she would not start a relationship with Chakotay, and that is where she always ran up against a brick wall. If she allowed herself to love Chakotay, would something happen to him?
=^=
"Captain, here are the reports I’ve finished." Commander Chakotay walked into Captain Janeway’s ready room and handed some padds to her. "B’Elanna’s report is on top. She just brought it to the bridge. Engineering is nearly finished with the maintenance of the warp core, so we should be ready to break orbit tomorrow morning."
"Has everyone in the crew had a chance for shore leave?" Kathryn looked up at her first officer. "This is a lovely planet. We don’t see many this nice, and the fact that it’s uninhabited helps too."
"Yes, and I can even report that the Captain had some down time." His dark eyes crinkled up as he smiled, all the dimples showing.
"Naomi and I had a wonderful time. The ocean and beach were terrific. The ruins were breathtaking. It must have been a marvelous civilization. I only wish we could stay and investigate further," she answered him with her own crooked smile.
"So do I, Kathryn," Chakotay said as he looked down at the beautiful green crystal resting on her desk. It was the color of emeralds but with a small ember of flame glowing from within. "What is that?"
Kathryn reached for the stone. "Naomi found it while we were on the planet, and gave it to me. Isn’t it beautiful?" She handed the stone to him, their fingers touching in the exchange.
The moment her fingers touched his, the fire that rested within the stone blazed forth, washing their faces with a green glow as they looked up into each other’s eyes and discovered that their souls had been laid bare.
She could feel the pent-up desire that years of longing had amplified. His love poured over her in waves, so strong she could barely breathe.
He felt her love for him and her desire for a family with him, but it was surrounded by a wall of fear. He suddenly understood that all the parameters and protocol she had cited to him over the years were only a cover for the fear of losing him. That fear paralyzed her. A fear caused by the loss of other loves in her past; a fear of loss whose name was Justin and was Mark.
His hand grasped hers, the stone still in her palm as he pulled her up from the chair and around her desk, drawing her into his arms. The stone fell to the floor as he pulled her to his chest and she circled his torso with her arms. Its influence continued to control their actions now even without actual contact. It rolled to rest just under the desk as the green fire within blazed brighter.
He murmured soft words to her as his mouth descended onto hers, and she could still hear him in her head as his mind called to her.
Would the grief be any less if we were parted without knowing this, or would we always regret what could have been? I’m not willing to give up what is for what might be. You are my heart, Beloved. His mind whispered endearments to her as her mind accepted and returned them. Chakotay’s last individual thoughts soothed her and she surrendered to him as the wall of fear fell from around her.
They deepened their kisses, tongues tangling together. As they each shared the other’s desire, they knew what had been denied for so long would now be consummated. The joy of what was going to happen rebounded from and to each other, then rained down on them in the reflected light of green fire.
Chakotay, now aware only of their mutual desire, pushed his hands up under her jacket searching for the soft mounds of her breasts.
She groaned as her clothing became an intolerable barrier and slid out of his embrace to rid herself of them. For an instant she felt his disappointment at her movement away and his desire to pull her back to him.
Then he relaxed as he understood, and began to remove his clothes as well.
As soon as they were both undressed they came together again, kissing and caressing each other with lips and hands, pressing close to each other. Chakotay could feel Kathryn’s awareness of his erection growing against her stomach, and his mouth on her breast.
Kathryn was, in turn, aware of the lines of fire that ran down his back where her hands lightly touched him.
She slowly kneeled down, the fire from her fingertips now running down the front of his body as she placed opened-mouth kisses on his neck and chest, tracing down his stomach until she took his penis into her mouth, her tongue swirling around the head.
He growled with pleasure as their shared arousal rushed through both of their bodies, reflecting back and forth between them with growing intensity. Holding her head, he thrust into her mouth as green light flickered around them.
After a few thrusts he pulled her head back, dropped down to her and slowly lowered her the rest of the way to the floor. Kneeling over her he kissed and licked his way down her body. He kissed her lower lips and then pressed his tongue to her clitoris, slowly circling it. She gasped, her hips arching up off the floor, desire and need racing through them both.
He looked up at her and she saw herself through his eyes and knew that she was truly beautiful. He saw himself as she saw him and knew that she now accepted the love he gave her. The love that she desired but had denied herself, and they understood without a doubt that they would never be apart again as long as they lived.
She reached down to touch him as he kissed his way back up her body, and when he was in position he quickly joined them, pressing deeply within her. They stilled for a few moments savoring the unity, both physical and mental, joined together at both groin and mouth. Neither now knew who entered or who was penetrated, male and female combined.
The light flashed in pulses, growing brighter and brighter. They breathed together, in time with both the flashes of green light and with the awareness of their desire pulsing together. Their bodies instinctually moved into the rhythm of the ancient dance, and they began their ascent as they rocked in unison with the pulses of light; faster and faster, they climbed together to their release.
They climaxed together, Chakotay’s body slamming into Kathryn’s, both of them screaming their release, as he poured his life into her. The green light flared, almost blindingly bright, and then it began to dim as he collapsed on top of her, physically spent.
Afterwards as realization returned to them, Chakotay rolled off of Kathryn and pulled her to him, wrapping her in his arms.
"I love you Kathryn," he whispered, his happiness settling around them.
"I love you too," her voice was soft against his chest. She could feel his joy, she added it to her own and reflected it back to him.
As their breathing slowed and their awareness of each other quieted, another awareness took over. Kathryn looked up at Chakotay in surprise, the red blush of embarrassment on her face. They could sense the bridge crew. Each member had a unique signature. The sexual tension between Tom and B’Elanna was so thick that it almost had form. Harry radiated distress and Sam Wildman a strange mixture of both sadness and joy. Tuvok’s essence was quiet strength, but there was also a tiny echo of joy, and a presence that said T’Pel. The bridge crew was fully aware of what had just happened between the two of them.
Kathryn shuddered and pressed into his chest. "They heard us and they know what just occurred here. How did this happen?" She hid her face against him, her distress building.
"Kathryn, don’t hide from this, don’t hide from me." He knew that he needed to calm her now or she would retreat behind her wall again. "I don’t care that they know. I don’t care if the whole universe knows I love you."
She looked up at him, her blue eyes telling him how much she loved him and smiled her acceptance. "No, I won’t go back. Once with you is not enough, even a lifetime is not enough, but I guess I’ll have to settle for it."
Rolling from him, she sat up on her knees and reached for the stone. Its green flame was ebbing, but it still cast a light that colored her breasts and face. Once again she heard Chakotay’s thoughts and knew that she was beautiful.
He stood and helped her up. "We had better dress and get out of here. Tom and B’Elanna don’t seem to be doing too well."
Nodding she began to put her clothing back on. She could feel the tension between Tom and his wife. While the others were settling down, the need between the pilot and the chief engineer grew. Their bodies screamed for some sort of release.
As she smoothed her hair, tucking some of it behind her ear, she caught another image from Chakotay. He was caressing her hair just before he moved it over her shoulder so he could massage the kinks out of her back. New Earth. Kathryn looked back at him and smiled, "It’ll grow back."
He pulled her to him in a quick hug and pressed his lips on her forehead. Then they turned to the door and stepped out onto the bridge. Kathryn was still holding the green stone.
She walked out onto the bridge; Harry and Tuvok were standing together at the ops station, checking various readings.
The captain looked at the two men and spoke, "Are you both all right?"
They nodded yes; she knew it was true.
She began issuing orders. "Ensign Kim, check the sensor readings for the last half hour. I want some answers. Tuvok, we need to get some relief crew here now."
She turned to the helm, knowing that the man who sat there was not all right and neither was B’Elanna who stood fidgeting nearby. "Tom," She started.
"I’ll be ok, just give me a minute." His breathing was ragged.
"No, you won’t. You and B’Elanna go to the ready room and take care of each other. That’s an order," she smiled gently at the shaken couple, knowing that neither was likely to make it to their quarters in their present condition.
Tom took B’Elanna’s hand and pulled her into the ready room. The sound of a thump echoed out onto the bridge as someone was pushed up against the wall just inside the door, and a growl was heard as the door whooshed shut.
Captain Janeway turned to Ensign Wildman, "I’d like to know how far we broadcast."
"Captain, I don’t think that it went much farther than the bridge."
Kathryn could see the tears in Samantha’s eyes. She went to the science station and kneeled down beside the weeping woman. "Are you all right?"
"Yes I’m fine," the younger woman lifted her tear stained face. "I don’t know why, but it’s just that I could feel Greskrendtregk here with me. Oh! Captain, it was such a gift. Thank you."
Chakotay again helped Kathryn to her feet. "I think we need to go to sickbay and have the Doctor run some tests."
She realized that she no longer heard the thoughts of the other crew and looked down at the stone. All that was left was the deep transparent green. The light still reflected off its smooth sides, but the fire inside was gone. The stone now looked like a very large uncut emerald.
As the Captain and Commander walked to the turbolift, Tuvok walked with them. "Are you up to supervising things for a while?" She asked him.
"Yes, Captain, I am fine."
"Ok. Get the relief crew settled in, and we will have a senior staff meeting in a couple of hours. Samantha, I want you there too," she called to the woman, then adding to Ensign Kim, "Harry, I want you to coordinate the data coming in."
"Tuvok, send Tom and B’Elanna down to sickbay for scans as soon as they are finished," she said, gesturing at the ready room door. "They seemed to be affected much like Chakotay and I were." She entered the turbolift with her first officer.
"I will see to it, and Captain?"
She turned to her old friend.
"Ensign Wildman is correct, it was a gift."
=^=
The meeting was informative as Seven briefed the senior staff on the data she and Harry had recovered from what was left of the planet’s data storage system.
"Much of the information stored has degraded with time, and most of it is irretrievable. However, we did retrieve some data referring to certain rituals. We found that these stones were used in the inhabitants’ marriage ceremonies. They are referred to as gifts of joy; it was thought to help form a permanent bond between compatible couples. They did not use the stones in this raw state, but cut them much like gem stones and then used the stones for decoration when the ritual was finished. Captain, by this planet’s customs, you and the Commander are married."
The Doctor also reported his findings. "Certain areas in your brain that were originally inactive are now showing activity. Captain, your brain waves and the Commander’s show a harmony that wasn’t present before. Lieutenants Paris and Torres have a similar harmony between them, but to a lesser degree. Captain, Commander, I think that you will always have an awareness of each other."
Kathryn felt Chakotay next to her, and knew that he wanted her. She knew that they would have each other later tonight and tomorrow and forever.
"I think that I can live with that." She looked at Chakotay as a broad grin spread over his face. She glanced across the table at Tom and B’Elanna as they nodded their acceptance and knew that they could live with it as well. She heard Chakotay’s mind as it whispered to her, It is a gift.
Yes, her mind whispered back, A gift that I intend to enjoy the rest of my life.
=^=
Seven stood in her corner of cargo bay 2, digging through the bag she had carried to the planet a few days ago. She pushed her hand to the bottom, finally finding what she wanted. Her fingers closed around a small green stone.
She breathed a sigh of relief seeing the ember of flame imbedded within, then spoke.
"Computer, what is the location of Ensign Harry Kim?"
"Ensign Kim is in his quarters."
She touched her combadge. "Seven of Nine to Ensign Kim."
"Kim here."
"Harry, are you busy? Could I come up to see you?"
"Sure, Seven, is there a problem?"
"No, Harry, I just need to talk to you. I’ll see you in a few minutes."
Seven changed her clothes hurriedly. She pulled off her one-piece suit and replaced it with leggings and a soft loose shirt. As she slipped her feet into a pair of comfortable flats, she pulled the pins out of her hair, brushed it and arranged it loosely down her shoulders. Satisfied, she picked up the green stone and put it into the pocket of her shirt, turned and left the room.
Her hand shook slightly as she rang the chime to Harry’s quarters. He quickly answered and invited her into his room.
"Harry, would you answer a question for me?" She walked over to stand in front of him as he sat on down his couch.
"What is it, Seven?" Harry’s curiosity was piqued.
"What did you feel when you were on the bridge this morning, while the Captain and the Commander were in the ready room?"
He sucked in his breath. How could he tell her what he felt? How could he tell her that while he had been aware of what was happening in the ready room, he really felt the presence of someone else? As he looked up into her earnest blue eyes, he knew he had to tell her. "You," he whispered as he stood and drew her into his arms. "All I could think of, all I wanted, was you."
She moved back slightly to pull something from her pocket, and as she opened her hand he saw the green ember glowing within the small stone.
"Harry, would you share this with me?"
The longing he felt this morning returned stronger than ever. However, he had to be sure that she understood just what she was offering him. "Seven, if this works for us, there will be no turning back." He pulled her chin up and brushed her lips softly with his.
"Annika, I am Annika. I know that I want you, and I want you for always," she whispered into his mouth.
He brought his left hand down to cover her right one, palm to palm with the stone in between. He pressed small kisses on her face and neck, maneuvering them until they sat on his bed, the small kisses deepening as their mouths mated.
She let go of his hand to put her arms around him and the small stone fell on the bed between them pulsing brighter and brighter.
His mind sang his last individual thought to her and her mind caught it and echoed it back. A promise and an oath.
Forever.
The End
