By Maquis
Leader
Author’s note: Set 3 months after Basics. Thanks to the
House of Wagg for the idea. And Ralkana for being, as ever, steadfast and true.
It gets harder and harder to live with the rules. Rules for how I eat and sleep. Rules for how I breathe. Rules for everything! The rules are killing me… they’re killing us all.
He became aware of someone watching him. Slowly, Chakotay
lifted his eyes from the PADD he was reading. Casually scanning the room, he
didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. Neelix was behind the counter
preparing breakfast for Alpha Shift. Tom and Harry were laughing while B'Elanna
rolled her eyes. Other members of the crew were eating and talking.
Shaking off the feeling, Chakotay went back to his status
reports.
Every day we delay. While our people are dying at the hands of our enemy. Another sight she has to see. Another place she wants to explore. The blood of innocents is on her hands.
“They’re ramblings, Tuvok.” Kathryn tossed the PADD down.
“It could be anything. Poetry, fiction
– maybe even a holoprogram.”
“I do not believe so.” The Vulcan picked up the PADD and
scrolled through the information until he found a specific passage. ”I believe
this contains a clear threat.”
“I disagree.” She held up a hand. “But keep an eye on it if
you think it’s necessary.”
Clearly unhappy, Tuvok left the ready room.
With a sigh, Kathryn picked up the PADD again. The posts on
the ship’s intranetwork were troubling but not dangerous. Someone on her ship
was unhappy and needed help. This was undoubtedly their way of reaching out.
Perhaps a change is in order. A change of direction. A
change of decisions. A change of command. Who will stand with me?
“Ready?”
“Ready.” Kathryn hefted her duffel bag. “I can’t wait to get
to those hot springs.”
“Is that all you ever think of?” Chakotay laughed as he
escorted her down the corridor. “A bath?”
“Keep your pleasures simple, Chakotay, and you’ll never be
disappointed.” She grinned. “And that’s a hot bath.”
In the transporter room, Kathryn stepped up onto the pad.
Chakotay stepped up beside her and nodded to the Lieutenant on duty.
“Energize.”
“Um…” The transporter officer fidgeted nervously.
“Is there a problem, Lieutenant Kaytlyn?” Kathryn frowned.
“Yes, Captain. Commander Tuvok said you weren’t to – to – “
She flushed.
“To what?” Her hands settled on her hips.
“To leave without an escort.” Tuvok and two Security
officers entered the transporter room. “You could be in danger.”
“We scanned the planet, Tuvok. There’s nothing dangerous
down there.” Chakotay told him.
The dark face was impassive. “Nothing that we are aware of.
Yet.”
“Yet?” He frowned.
“Tuvok, I can assure you we’ll be fine.” Kathryn patted the
phaser on her hip. “I’m taking a weapon, just in case.”
“I must insist on accompanying you.” The Vulcan stepped up
onto the pad beside her. The two Security men followed him onto the pad and
arranged themselves between the Captain and Commander Chakotay.
“Tuvok.” Kathryn bit down her rising temper. “There are no
life forms on this planet that are dangerous. Commander Chakotay and I will be
perfectly safe.”
Looking from her to Chakotay, Tuvok nodded. “Ensign Anderson
and Ensign Murry, you are dismissed.”
“We’ll see you when we get back.” Kathryn smiled. The smile
faded as she realized Tuvok wasn’t moving off the pad. “Tuvok, we’re going to
soak in the hot springs.”
“That will be relaxing.”
Kathryn looked at Chakotay. A typical Vulcan, Tuvok used no
more water than was necessary. She couldn’t imagine him soaking in water
anymore than she could her sister’s cat. Chakotay shrugged. “Fine.”
We need someone who will work for us – not against us. Someone who wants to get us home. We need a warrior, not a scientist. We must come together soon.
Kathryn sighed. The hot springs were wonderful, water
bubbling around her shoulders, and the stones were smooth and comfortable. And
the company… Watching Chakotay strip to his swimsuit had been enjoyable. He’d
grinned at her when he’d caught her looking. She’d kept her head down and
peeked through her lashes after she caught a look of disapproval from Tuvok.
She was sure the hand Chakotay had slid down his chest and over his flat belly
had been for her benefit.
Stripping off her own clothes to reveal the black bikini
she’d spent hours deciding on had been just as exciting. Modest but sexy. Sensual but not trashy. And
designed with him in mind. The sexual
tension between the two of them had been rising since their recovery of the
ship from Seska and the Kazon. The night they’d spent huddled together for
warmth had reinforced the bond forged on New Earth. She smiled. ‘Huddled’ was
the official version anyway. Cuddled was the reality. Cuddled and ran their
hands over each other under the guise of keeping warm.
Across from her, Chakotay smiled as if he could read her
thoughts. And desire simmered in the black velvet eyes. Kathryn licked her
lips. She had the feeling if Tuvok weren’t there, that Chakotay would already
be on her. For a moment, she imagined him moving up over her, pressing his
mouth to hers while his hands tore away her suit and he thrust himself between
her thighs. The erotic image made her shiver.
“Here.” He handed
her a glass of iced tea from the cooler they had brought along. “Something to
help you cool down.”
“Thank you.” She lounged back and sipped the sweetened tea.
Wine would be better, but it was a little early in the day. Maybe later, if
they could shake their chaperone.
When he opened a covered container of fruits and cheeses,
Chakotay selected a ripe cherry and moved closer to offer it to her. A sensuous
half smile dimpled his cheek.
Kathryn leaned forward only to find Tuvok suddenly bending
down next to her. “What – Tuvok!”
“There was – an insect.”
Lying wasn’t the Vulcan’s strong suit. “Tuvok. Go back to
the ship.”
“Regulations clearly state that the Captain is to be
escorted by Security personnel on away missions.”
“This isn’t an away mission.” She waved a hand at the pools
of hot water. “It’s a shore leave.”
“You must still be escorted.”
Chakotay raised an eyebrow. “She is escorted, Tuvok.”
Kathryn’s eyes narrowed as Tuvok turned to look at Chakotay. Oh no, you’re not using that crap on the intranet to ruin my shore leave! “I’ll be perfectly safe, Tuvok. Commander Chakotay is sufficient escort.”
“The Commander – “
“Back. To the ship. Now.” She growled.
Reluctantly, Tuvok stood up. “I will check with you – “
“No.” She glared at him. “If I have any problems that the
Commander can’t handle, I’ll let you know.”
“Yes, Captain.” He picked up her combadge and phaser and
laid them where she could reach them easily.
After he vanished in the transporter beam, Chakotay
chuckled. “What was that about?”
“Maybe he’s worried about his evaluation.”
“After what happened with Seska, he should be.” He leaned
back and took a sip from his glass of tea. “Although part of that should fall
back on me.”
“He’s the Security Chief, he should have changed the codes.”
She patted his leg. “If you want to get picky about it, it’s my fault for not
checking up on you to be sure you checked up on him.”
“True.” He laid his hand over hers. “So it’s all your
fault.”
“I didn’t say that!” She squeezed the muscled thigh. “Now
you’ll have me worrying about my evaluation.”
“I’m sure we can clear up your record without a problem.” He
slid his arm around her shoulders and pulled her against his side.
Her head tipped back as his mouth lowered towards hers.
Kathryn’s eyes fluttered shut and her hand slid up his chest to curl around his
neck.
“Hey!” Harry’s voice startled them apart. “He was right, hot
springs!”
They looked up to see Harry jogging toward them. Tom and
B'Elanna followed behind him at a slower pace. Chakotay sighed and moved his
arm from around Kathryn’s shoulders.
“Let me guess.” Kathryn arched an eyebrow. “Tuvok told you
there were hot springs?”
“Yeah.” Harry threw off the t-shirt and shoes he was wearing
and dropped into the pool with them. “Said the two of you wanted company. Hey,
munchies!” He helped himself to a cluster of grapes.
Tom leaned close to B'Elanna. “Do they look like they want
company?”
“No.” She flushed at the grin on his face. “I think pointy
ears smelled a possible breach of protocol.”
“Wonder if we can get Harry and get out of here?” He sighed
as he saw more crewmembers materialize behind her. “Too late.”
Soon the pools were full of laughing, splashing people.
Kathryn found Chakotay’s hand under the water and he smiled as her fingers
twined with his.
He thinks he can stop us, but he’s wrong. We’ve seen how well he does his job. When the time comes, he won’t be able to stop us. No one will.
Chakotay was walking down the corridor on his way to the
bridge. He nodded and said good morning to a group of crewmembers as he passed.
They stared at him silently without returning his greeting. He continued on,
but a growing sense of unease settled over him. During the past week, he had
noticed a slight but subtle change in the crew’s attitude toward him. There
were fewer smiles and nods. No doubt they’re still unhappy over Seska’s
betrayal.
“Sir.”
He stopped as Gerron stepped out of the connecting corridor.
“Is something wrong?” The younger man seemed nervous.
“I’m with you, sir.”
“With me?”
“You have my support.” He looked around. “And we’re not
alone.”
“What?” He watched as Gerron hurried away.
On the bridge, he settled into his seat. “Captain, do you
have a minute?”
“Certainly.” She rose and motioned toward the door just off
the bridge. “Tuvok, you have the bridge. The Commander and I will be in my ready
room.”
“Yes.” He said automatically. “Kathryn, there’s something –
I don’t know – odd going on.”
“Odd?”
“Maybe it’s just me.” He shook his head. “It seems like I’m
getting the cold shoulder from some of the crew.”
“The cold shoulder?” She frowned as she handed him his cup
of tea. “Has someone been rude to you?”
“No. It’s nothing really concrete, just a feeling.
Conversations stopping, people not returning my hello, or frowning at me.”
“Sit down.” She patted the sofa cushion beside her as she
sat down.
“I don’t know if I’m jumping at shadows – but Gerron just
told me he’s ‘with me’.”
She paused with her coffee cup halfway to her mouth. “What
does that mean?”
“I have no idea. He took off before I could ask.” Chakotay
took a sip of his tea. “I keep thinking this has something to do with Seska.”
Kathryn was torn between telling him what she knew and
sparing his feelings. “There’s been some idle talk. It’s nothing to worry
about.” She assured him when his eyes widened. “So don’t worry.”
“Guess I’m being silly.” He smiled.
“Just keep smiling.” She patted his arm. “Nobody can resist
those dimples.”
“Does that include you?” His smile broadened.
“I think it includes every female between eight and eighty.”
She laughed as she stood up. “Now, get back to work.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
I know who’s loyal and who can be trusted. She thinks a smile and a pat on the shoulder will keep me in line. She crushes us under her thumb and thinks we will love her for it. Soon, she will find out who’s loyal and who can be trusted.
By the end of his shift, Chakotay had convinced himself that
it was just his imagination. He was in a cheerful mood as he entered the mess
hall. “What’s for dinner, Neelix?”
“Pasta with marinara sauce, garlic bread, and a nice green
salad!” The Talaxian dished him up a healthy serving. “And a custard for
dessert that I know you like.”
“Thank you, Neelix.”
“Wonder if that’s what Judas liked, too?”
His head snapped up. “What did you say?”
“I said I made that custard that you like.” Neelix looked
puzzled. “Why?”
“Nothing… I thought I heard something else.”
“Sorry, Commander, I didn’t hear anything.”
Turning, Chakotay looked around, trying to spot the person
who had made the comment. The mess hall was crowded and he didn’t see anyone
who looked guilty. Shrugging if off, he walked toward an empty table by the
view port.
The feeling of unease, that something was wrong, began to
nag at him once again. He passed crewmembers who frowned and turned away. A few
were even bold enough to glare at him. Sitting down with his back to the view
port, he ate quickly, his food tasteless and dry. Finishing, he slid the tray into the recycler.
“Commander! Don’t you want some custard?” Neelix bustled
over to him with a small dish.
“Not tonight, Neelix.”
“Oh, but I made it just for you.” The Talaxian’s whiskers
drooped.
“I’ll take it with me.” He smiled. Neelix’s kindness lifted his spirits somewhat. “Thank you.”
In the turbolift, Chakotay leaned against the back wall and
sighed. He didn’t blame the crew for carrying a grudge, but why wait months to
let it show?
The lift slowed and the doors opened. Tom Paris stepped
inside. “Hey, Chief.”
“Tom.”
“Doggie bag?”
“What?” Some of Tom’s slang was confusing.
“20th century term.” He pointed at the dish. “You’re taking
something home.”
“Neelix made custard.”
“And you haven’t eaten it?” Tom grinned. Chakotay’s sweet
tooth was legendary. “Or is this a second helping?”
“Tom, have you noticed anything strange going on?” If anyone
knew what was happening, Tom was the one. Nothing happened on Voyager that he
didn’t know about.
“You mean other than the rumors that you’re going to take
over the ship?” The younger man asked casually.
“What?” His stomach lurched.
“Take a look at the intranet tonight.” The lift slowed and
stopped. “Nobody wants to say anything, but I think you have a right to know.
And you need to know.”
After Tom stepped out, the doors closed and the lift
continued on to Deck 3. Inside, Chakotay sagged against the wall. Take over
the ship? Is this a joke?
When the lift opened, he walked quickly to his quarters. Once inside, he sat at his desk and called up the ship’s intranet system. He rarely used the system, finding it a disorganized collection of random junk. The crew had a habit of putting up “pages” of what ever their current interest was and then abandoning them as soon as something else struck their fancy.
A blinking icon caught his attention. When he touched it, a
message popped up.
The message disappeared as quickly as it had opened.
When he found the board, Chakotay fell back in his chair.
There were numerous posts about ML and his obvious plans for mutiny. The common
consensus was that he was ML.
After hours of backtracking and searching through the system, he found what he was looking for. ML had a page filled with rambling and ranting about the Captain and Starfleet rules. A chill ran over his skin. All of it pointed to mutiny. Worse still, it pointed to him.
The site refused to pinpoint its owner. Even using his
command codes, Chakotay was unable to find out who had posted the page. The
information had been wiped by someone who had a complete understanding of how
the intranet system worked.
“The time is 0600 hours.”
He jumped as the computer announced the time. “Spirits, I
spent all night – “ Switching off the desk terminal, he went to the bathroom
and stripped. After showering and dressing, he walked quickly to Engineering.
B'Elanna looked up from her station as he entered.
“Chakotay, good morning. Can’t wait for my report?”
“I need to talk to you.” He glanced around. “Privately.”
“Sure, my office?” She led him to her office and leaned
against the desk. “What’s up?”
“Maybe I should ask you.”
The anger that had been boiling beneath the surface all night flared up
once again. “Why haven’t you told me
what’s going on?”
“Nothing is going on, Chakotay.”
“I saw what’s on the intranet system.”
“Oh, that.” She flushed and turned to stack the PADDs lying
on her desk.
“Yes, that.” He grabbed her arm and jerked her around
to face him again. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It’s nothing!” B'Elanna pulled her arm free.
“Nothing? Rumors of mutiny are nothing?”
“They’re just rumors, Chakotay. And they’re not true.” She rubbed her arm where he’d grabbed her.
“True or not, they’re causing a division amongst the crew.”
He sat down on the edge of her desk and tugged at his ear thoughtfully. “What
can I do about this? I couldn’t find out who this ML is.”
“I have no idea. I just know it isn’t you.”
“That’s a start.” He smiled. “I noticed that Gadget Girl
seems quite popular. Maybe she can help me out.”
“I – I don’t know.” She felt a flash of shame at his shocked
expression. “Chakotay, I’ve just gained the acceptance of the crew. I’m Chief
Engineer, I can’t afford to get in the middle of this.”
“I’m not asking you to get in the middle of anything.” He
stood up and grabbed her shoulders. “I’m asking you to do the right thing!”
“I – it’s nothing anyway – just forget it!”
For a moment, he gripped her shoulders painfully. Then he
pushed her away. “At least this answers one of my questions.”
“What?” She rubbed at her shoulders.
“Why Gadget Girl never defended me.”
“Chakotay – I – “
He turned and walked out the door.
Free of the almighty Prime Directive we can find our way home! Take what we need from whoever we want. Do your chains pull at you? Cast them off and join me!
Chakotay spent the day in his office, nervous and edgy from
lack of sleep and the looks he had received from the crew during the walk from
Engineering. Real or imagined, they’d torn at him.
“Chakotay?”
He jumped as he heard Kathryn’s voice. “Sorry, I didn’t hear
you come in.”
“So I noticed.” She leaned against the edge of his desk. “I
rang the chime twice.”
“Sorry.” He rubbed his eyes. “I didn’t sleep well last
night.”
“Hmm…” She took his chin in her hand and tipped his face up.
He had dark circles under his eyes. “I’d say you didn’t sleep at all.”
“Kathryn, there’s rumors – “ He stopped and searched her
eyes. “They’re not true.”
“I know.” The relief in his eyes was heart wrenching. “Go
get some sleep. That’s an order.”
“Aye aye, Captain.” Rising from his chair, he took the hand
she offered and walked out the door with her.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. I hold our enemy close enough to share her breath. To feel her beating heart under my hand. And still she suspects nothing. Will she suspect before her heart stops?
In his quarters, Chakotay tossed and turned in his bed.
“Over twenty-four hours and I can’t get to sleep?”
Rolling out of bed, he pulled on a pair of sweatpants.
Grabbing his medicine bundle, he went into the main room and settled
comfortably on the floor. The smooth river stone was cool and he held it to his
cheek for a moment and let it soothe him.
Chakotay opened his
eyes to blackness. “Where am I?” Turning, he looked for his spirit guide.
“Where are you, sister?” His words bounced off the blackness, hurting his ears.
Blinking, he strained
to see something, anything, in the darkness. A glimmer of light caught his
attention. Moving toward it, he stumbled and fell over something he couldn’t
see. Rising to his feet, he felt his way carefully to the light.
As he got closer, he
could see it was a doorway. A shape was silhouetted by the light. “Kathryn?” He
moved more quickly. “Kathryn?”
Just as he reached
the open doorway, it slammed shut. “No!” He groped along the wall but couldn’t
find the edge of the door. Stumbling through the darkness, he trailed a hand
over the wall. Nothing. It was smooth under his fingertips.
A bit of light
appeared to his left. Another doorway. He made his way to it as quickly as he
could, striking his shins and knees painfully on objects he couldn’t see in the
darkness. He could see his spirit guide silhouetted in the doorway. She yelped
at him anxiously.
“I’m coming!” He
collided with the door that suddenly closed off the opening. His head struck
the hard surface and his ears rang from the impact. Sliding down to sit on the
floor, he listened to the frantic scratching and whining coming from the other
side.
Dizzily, he crawled
along the wall until he found a corner. Turning, he felt along that wall until
he again found a corner. It seemed to take less time. “Is this the way out?” He
called out.
There was a scream
from the other side of the wall. A woman. “Kathryn?” Her agonized scream
stopped abruptly. “Kathryn! Kathryn,
it’s Chakotay, I’m coming!”
His questing hands
hit the next wall almost immediately. Turning, he slammed into a wall and fell
back to his knees once more. Something brushed against his back and he
flinched. Reaching out, he realized the walls had moved. He was trapped. The
walls slid in until he couldn’t breathe. They continued to grind together until
his bones began to snap and break…
With a scream, Chakotay broke out of the vision. Panting and
gasping, drenched in sweat, he lay on the floor. “Lights! Lights at full!”
Instantly, the computer brought the lights up to their full intensity, blinding
him.
“Chakotay! Are you all right?”
He flinched and fell back at the sound of Kathryn’s voice.
“Wh – where are you?”
“I’m in my quarters. You called me.” There was
concern in her voice. “Are you all right?”
“I don’t know.” He crawled up to sit on the sofa. “Can I –
come talk to you?”
“Of course. You can talk to me anytime, you know that.”
After putting away his medicine bundle, Chakotay went next
door to Kathryn’s quarters. His hands were shaking as he took the cup of tea she
offered.
Sitting next to him, she laid a hand on his bare shoulder.
He was trembling and his breath was still coming in harsh pants. “You called
me, but you didn’t answer.”
“I didn’t realize I spoke aloud.”
“Then you cried out.” She ran a hand over his raven hair and
let it rest at the nape of his neck. “I was ready to haul out Betsy and come to
the rescue.”
He smiled at her nickname for the large compression phaser
rifles. “I feel safer already.”
“Good.” She watched as he sipped his tea. The muscles under
her fingers gradually relaxed. “Can you tell me about it?”
“I don’t know if I can.” He struggled with how to put the
vision into words. “It was dark and I was in a box.”
As the account of the vision unfolded, tears burned
Kathryn’s eyes at the frustration in his voice. “When you saw me, that must
have been when you opened the comlink.”
“Or when I heard you screaming. What happens in a vision
doesn’t usually affect the waking world.” He ran a hand through his tousled
hair. “But I’ve never had a vision this intense.”
“I want you to go clean up and let me get dressed.” She
patted his shoulder. “Come back and we’ll have a midnight snack. Neelix told me
you didn’t eat the custard he made for you last night. We’ll have some of
that.”
For the first time, Chakotay realized Kathryn was in her
nightgown. The pale blue silk clung to her body and the neckline plunged down
to reveal the soft curve of her breasts. Her nipples hardened under his gaze
and when he looked up he saw her lips were parted slightly and her eyes were
smoky with desire.
“Let me get my robe.” Her voice was whiskey soft.
“I should go.” He stood up and she took his arm.
“Go clean up and come back.” Kathryn let her gaze wander
over his bare chest and shoulders. He shivered and she knew it was only partly
because of the sweat cooling on his body.
“All right.”
“Hurry up, I didn’t eat dessert either.” She watched him
leave, the sweat pants riding low on his lean hips. If anyone saw him leaving
her quarters dressed like that, they might wonder what had been going on. She
chuckled. When he had cried out in such obvious terror, she had been ready to
run out dressed only in her nightgown. There was one for the rumor mill. She
sobered up. That damned rumor mill.
She hears the rumors, but I whisper sweet lies in her ear
and she ignores them. For now, I’ll play her loyal consort until the time is
right. Until I can play her grieving lover. The queen is dead. Long live the
king.
“Anything else, sir?”
Chakotay looked up in surprise at Lieutenant Sarran’s tone. “That depends, Lieutenant. Do you have a problem?”
“No, sir.” The man’s eyes were fixed firmly on the
view port behind Chakotay’s head. “You have my monthly report. There’s nothing
else we have to discuss.”
Hiding his frustration, Chakotay nodded. “Dismissed.”
After the door snapped shut behind Lieutenant Sarran, he
sighed and leaned his head on his hands. The past two days had seen the
situation worsen to an almost intolerable level. His late night visit to
Kathryn’s quarters had sparked a flurry of activity across Voyager’s intranet
system. The common belief was that his visit was to cover his tracks and throw
Tuvok off his trail by keeping Kathryn happy. The looks from the crew were
becoming openly hostile.
“Janeway to Chakotay.”
“Chakotay here.”
“Can I see you in my ready room?”
“I’ll be right there.” Did she sound nervous? Stop being
paranoid, Chakotay!
“Is something wrong, Captain?”
“Yes.” She rubbed at her temples. “Tuvok was in to see me a
few minutes ago. These rumors are getting out of hand. We’ve removed the page,
but the board is still full of rumors.”
“Kathryn, I don’t know what to do about it.” He sat down
wearily. “Everything I say or do is somehow a sign of my guilt.”
“There’s an old saying, ‘A wise man ignores the braying of
jackasses. Because eventually a jackass will kick itself in the head.’” She sat
down next to him. “Chakotay, I know you and I know these rumors aren’t true.”
“I’d hope so.” He gave her a weak smile. “After all, we used
to live together.”
“We did, didn’t we?” Laughing, Kathryn patted his knee.
“You’re about the best roommate I’ve ever had.”
“That’s just because nobody else built you a bathtub.”
“True.” She patted his knee again. “Think the monkey uses
it?”
He smiled but didn’t answer. “Kathryn, when I was at the
Academy, I met Hikaru Sulu.”
“His grandson was your sponsor, wasn’t he?”
“Yes, he spent a lot of time on Trebus while he was
patrolling the Cardassian border. He took me to meet his grandfather one
weekend.” Chakotay smiled at the memory. “He told me stories about the old
Enterprise and Captain Kirk and he told me that Kirk was the one man he would
have followed into hell.”
“Every cadet dreams of being a Captain with a crew like
Kirk’s.” She smiled at an old childhood fantasy.
“I asked how he could follow someone so blindly.”
“What did he say?”
“He told me that if I were very lucky, I’d meet a Captain
that I would connect with and then I’d understand.” He laid his hand over hers
where it rested on his knee. “I understand now, Captain.”
“You question me constantly.” Her throat felt tight.
“No, I play devil’s advocate. And yes, I argue with you. But
– “ He squeezed her hand. “But I always follow where you lead.”
It was true. Through everything, he’d supported her
unfailingly. “I trust you, Chakotay. And I’d follow you anywhere.”
The crocodile tears soothe her guilty conscience. She
wants to believe and I let her. Our time will come soon. The clock counts down
to the hour of her last breath.
The silence on the bridge was stifling. Chakotay forced
himself to sit quietly and read the report from Gamma shift. The walk to the
bridge this morning had been one of the longest of his life. Crewmembers had
turned away from him and he was able to hear them whispering behind him. Ensign
Bekkan had actually stopped the lift and got off on the wrong deck after he’d
gotten in.
Worst of all was the look Harry had given him. The look of
disappointment in the younger man’s eyes was almost enough to snap his spirit.
He’d been in a good mood this morning, before he’d seen the
message forwarded to him. Apparently his visit with the Captain in her ready
room was yet another sign of his guilt. The fact that he hadn’t defended
himself was another.
“Good morning, everyone!”
Tom’s cheerful greeting made him grit his teeth. “You’re
late, Mr. Paris.”
“Yeah, so?” The younger man plopped down in the seat at the
helm. “So’s the Captain.”
“The Captain can be late if she chooses. She works harder
than anyone else onboard.”
“Yeah.” Tom laughed. “Bet the two of you were working hard
yesterday.”
Rage flared white hot behind his eyes and he shot to his
feet, the PADD he’d been reading bouncing to the deck. “Watch your mouth,
Paris!”
“Or what?” Tom smirked. “You going to use me as a punching
bag again? I’ve had a few lessons since the last time.”
“Good. We’ll see how much you learned.” He ground out. “Holodeck 1, 1800 hours.”
“Be there with bells on, Chief.”
We travel at a scientist’s pace. Who is the guinea pig? The
Delta Quadrant? Or us? Who is with me? Stand and be counted. Or sit back and
wait to die.
“What happened to the locker room?” Chakotay frowned at the changes to his
boxing program. The lockers that had lined one side of the gym were gone.
“Not exactly private.” Tom jerked his thumb at the door
labeled ‘changing room’.
“Modest, Paris?” Irritation over the changes to the program
added fuel to the anger that had been building all day. He was ready to put his
fist through Tom’s face with or without gloves.
“Don’t want to make you jealous, Big Guy.” He opened
the door and gestured grandly for Chakotay to enter. Following him in, he shut
the door.
Inside was a row of small dressing cubicles. Before Chakotay
could say anything, Tom put a hand over his mouth and pulled something out of
his jacket pocket.
The baby blue eyes were serious as he tapped a command into
the small device. He could tell Chakotay was two seconds away from smashing his
face in. Just give me a minute,
Chief! Taking his hand from Chakotay’s mouth, Tom pulled him into the last
cubicle.
Chakotay looked around the small room. There was a table and
two chairs. Nothing more. “Half the crew thinks I’m planning a mutiny now –
this isn’t going to help.”
“Relax, Chief. Nobody will know.” Tom sat down. “And it’s
more like three fourths of the crew.”
“Like nobody should know I went to see the Captain the other
night?” He sat down in the other chair across from Tom.
“You’re being watched.”
Relief washed over him. He wasn’t being paranoid. The
feeling was chased away almost immediately by fear. “Who?”
“Ayala told me Tuvok has Security watching you constantly
and monitoring your logs. Even your personal logs.” He saw Chakotay shoot a
look back at the dressing room. “I’m thinking even Tuvok isn’t paranoid enough
to watch you change clothes.”
“Tuvok?” Had Kathryn been lying to him? Had she ordered
Tuvok to watch him?
“I don’t think the Captain knows.” He watched as the other
man relaxed slightly. “She knows about the posts and the rumors. And she has
told him to track down the person causing it. But I’ll bet a week’s rations
that she has no idea how far he’s taken it.”
“I guess it doesn’t matter to anyone that I haven’t done
anything?” Chakotay said bitterly. “I don’t know what to do. I’m boxed in at
every turn. If I defend myself, I’m guilty. But if I don’t, I’m guilty.”
“There’s nothing you can do.” Tom shook his head.
“You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”
“Because you’re being set up. And I don’t like it.” Tom’s
eyes were intense. “Somebody wants you off the ship.”
“I’d think that would make you happy.” Their past wasn’t an
example of the perfect friendship.
“You’ve always been upfront with me. When you hated me – you
said so.”
Chakotay laughed. When he’d first come onboard Voyager,
wrapping his fingers around Paris’ throat had been his number one priority.
“And when you thought I was throwing away a second chance –
“ The blue eyes never wavered. “You tried to help me.”
Unspoken was the fact that Tom had been faking his unhappiness
to ferret out Seska’s spy on Voyager. “So what do I do?”
Tom grinned. “Oh, it’s so simple.”
The waiting is at an end. Now is the time for action. The endless days of licking her boots are over. Tonight she dies and we win!
Kathryn rubbed her forehead. The headache had raged behind
her eyes all day. Chakotay had grown more and more withdrawn since their talk
three days ago. He declined her invitations for lunch and dinner. The only way
he would be alone with her was when she ordered him to her ready room and even
then he stood at attention close enough to the door so that it would stay open
and he was clearly visible to the bridge crew.
The black velvet eyes were dull and his golden skin was
sallow. The tattoo on his brow was permanently creased by his frown. His normal
patience and good humor were gone. Short tempered and snappish, he’d even
snarled at her when she had asked about Tom’s black eye. The only sign of his
old self came when he heard about B'Elanna’s dressing down her department for spreading
unfounded rumors and ruining his reputation. He’d smiled and joked with her for
a few minutes like he used to do before settling back into his somberness.
Kathryn feared it was too little and too late.
Her conversation with Tuvok this morning replayed in her
mind.
“You’re monitoring him?” She looked up from the report in
shock.
“I believe Commander Chakotay is a risk. It is my duty to
protect you from potential threats.”
“What exactly are you implying?” She snapped.
“I am implying nothing.” The Vulcan remained calm in the
face of her anger. “I believe the Commander may try to kill you.”
She laughed at that. “Do you have any proof? Anything
besides rumor and innuendo?”
“These posts are compelling evidence.”
“These posts are a load of crap!” She tossed the PADD down
on her desk. “Have you seen how unhappy Chakotay is? How worried?”
“If the Commander isn’t guilty, he has nothing to worry
about.”
“Maybe he’s worried that you’ve already convicted him.”
The door chime startled Kathryn out of her reverie. “Come
in.”
Chakotay stepped inside; he was dressed as he was the first
time she’d seen him. Leather pants and earth tone shirt covered with a leather
vest. “I wanted to see you before I left.”