[pwaxen@yahoo.com]

This story can be read as a standalone as long as you recognize that Janeway and Seven are romantically involved with each other.

Disclaimer: The characters of Star Trek: Voyager are the property of Paramount Pictures. This story is written in the spirit of Voyager fandom. No infringement is intended.

Warning: This story depicted two women in love and contains a reference to sexual activity, but contains no sexually explicit material. If this offends you or you are too young or it's just plain illegal on your part of the planet, do not proceed.

Please do not archive, link to or reproduce this story without author's consent.

Element of Caution

by Vaxen (pwaxen@yahoo.com)

Kathryn Janeway's mind was absorbed in pleasure, her heart thumping madly with the rhythmic contractions. For a moment there was nothing and no one in the universe except the ecstasy of release and the woman who brought her there. She looked down into the azure eyes that gazed back with pride, lust and love and marveled at the depths of her bliss.

Seven pulled herself forward between Janeway's legs and placed her ear against the Captain's sternum to listen to the powerful, slowly waning heartbeat. The tiny throb that pounded against Seven's belly matched the one at her ear as warm, thick moisture trickled from the opening below it to cover her skin in a slick, aromatic coat.

Janeway stroked the silken locks that flowed across her chest until Seven raised her head and turned that breathtaking gaze on her again.

"I wish I could tell you what your touch does to me." Janeway gasped.

"Yours is a physiological result of the stimulation of neural receptors and vascular congestion."

She was never quite sure when Seven was joking with her. "It's so much more."

Seven favored her with one of her rare smiles.

"The only problem with doing this the first thing in the morning," Janeway declared, "is that the rest of the day pales by comparison."

"Then we must struggle through it until evening provides us with another opportunity."

"Why Seven, I believe you're developing into something of a poet."

"I do endeavor. Your own fondness for literature is contagious although I am often perplexed by it. Music is much less obscure."

"I can't imagine a world without either of them or my world without you." Janeway coaxed Seven closer and kissed her deeply, tasting the warmth and sex on her mouth. She was tempted to pursue their lovemaking further, but duty called in a voice that refused to be ignored. "Our passengers will be arriving shortly. My presence is required."

"The ambassador from Arvod?"

"Yes. I wonder why the Borg never encountered them."

"Conditions in this region of space restrict travel to sub-warp speeds. Seeking technology to assimilate under the circumstances promised minimal gain for the expenditure of resources. I would not be efficient."

"Another species saved by Borg efficiency. Fortunately, even at impulse, we're three times as fast as anything the Arvodans have. The supplies we acquired in exchange for providing passage couldn't have come at a better time. I must get ready."

"My presence is also required in astrometrics." Seven gave Janeway one brief, final kiss. "Until this evening..."

"I look forward to it."

"Welcome to Voyager. Ambassador Milta?" Janeway was meeting her passengers for the first time. The terms of the transport had been negotiated through an intermediary.

A woman with raven-black hair and dazzling green eyes stepped forward. She took the hand Janeway offered, enclosing it in both of hers and stroked it gently. Janeway was taken aback momentarily by the intimate gesture and fought the urge to pull away. "Captain Kathryn Janeway, I presume. It is so good to finally meet you. Please call me Milta. Our culture does not recognize station to any great degree. This is my aide, Oteto."

Milta released Janeway's hand and touched the aide on the shoulder. In marked contrast to the ambassador, Oteto barely brushed Janeway's hand in greeting. Like Milta, Oteto's appearance was human. Unlike Milta, she had a thin row of characters, along her mousy-brown hairline, that appeared to be decorative rather than natural. Her beady eyes darted anxiously about the transport room.

"She was not happy about using your transporter technology," Milta explained. "I must say that I found the experience a bit overwhelming myself."

"Not at all unusual for the first time, but let me assure you transporting is just as safe as using a shuttlecraft."

"I wouldn't have had it any other way."

"Perhaps you'd like to be shown to your quarters," Janeway suggested.

"No, no. We'll be fine, won't we Oteto."

"Fine," she answered, even though she didn't look it.

"I would much rather look around your wonderful ship. I may never have an opportunity to see anything like it again."

"If you're sure," Janeway responded. "I'll be glad to give you a tour of the major departments and if there are any you wish to explore further, I'm certain their chief officers will be happy to assist you."

"Thank you, Captain." Milta smiled graciously and followed her out the door. Oteto frowned as she brought up the rear.

Seven detected the clamor of voices even before the door to astrometrics opened. She expected Voyager's passengers to visit, but had hoped she would be off duty before they arrived. She had little patience for answering the pointless questions visitors inevitably asked. She programmed the huge screen before her to display an image of Arvod - a bit of flash guaranteed to impress - then steeled herself and turned to face the group.

"This is astrometrics," Janeway announced. "Astrological data is processed here. Scans are used to help us plot a course."

"And would you be the chief officer of this department?" Milta asked, walking over to Seven and taking her hand just as she had Janeway's. The Captain was relieved to see that Seven was not resisting the friendly gesture.

"Not precisely," Janeway offered. "We are a military vessel. Seven of Nine is a civilian. While she is not technically a chief officer, the function of this department is primarily the result of her efforts."

"A civilian. How do you happen to be aboard Voyager?"

"I was severed from the Borg collective."

"I've heard frightening stories of the Borg, but you're not the least bit frightening." Milta favored Seven with a glowing smile. "Is that were you got this?" She touched the starburst implant near Seven's ear and casually allowed her caress to travel along the jaw line.

"Yes. It is an implant."

"And these ridges," Milta continued touching the ribbed outlines on Seven's abdomen, "are they also implants or are they a part of your clothing."

Janeway shifted nervously. The movement caught Milta's eye.

"I'm sorry," she apologized. "I'm being too personal. Forgive me if I have embarrassed you, Seven of Nine."

"I am not embarrassed."

"Then perhaps I can persuade you to discuss the matter with me further. Would you dine with me this evening?"

Seven's eyes shifted to Janeway. "I have plans for this evening. Another time?"

"Tomorrow?" Milta persisted. Again Seven glanced at the Captain, who answered with a shrug of her shoulder.

"That would be acceptable."

"Good. I look forward to being educated by you."

"Another delay," Janeway snarled. "What is it this time? Tribbles clogging the port nacelle." She tossed the padd she was holding and let it skitter across her desk to accent her sarcastic remark.

Chakotay deftly caught it before it fell over the edge. "The astral density is greater than anticipated. We're only reducing speed by one percent."

"That's on top of the two percent from yesterday. Is it going to be like this all the way? I thought that despite the limitations of impulse, it would be faster going through this region than around it. Now I'm not so sure. The Borg may have had the right idea avoiding it entirely. I want to update our course – see if we can't avoid some of this astral density. Janeway to astrometrics."

"Yes, Captain."

The voice that answered was not the one she expected and she realized Seven was off-duty. "Ensign Delany, I need course projections transmitted to my ready room."

"I'm afraid only Seven of Nine or Ensign Kim can handle that and right now Ensign Kim is in engineering."

"Computer, locate Seven of Nine."

"Seven of Nine is in Ambassador Milta's quarters."

Janeway groaned and slumped in her chair. Too late, she realized that Chakotay was still there and how badly she had forgotten herself. "Dismissed, Commander."

"Yes, Captain." He nodded, but did not move toward the door. "Kathryn, if it will help, I'm here to listen."

"Do you want to listen to the sad tale of a Starfleet captain who fell in love a former Borg only to lose her to the charming ambassador?"

"You don't really think there's anything between them?"

"I've never known Seven to take to anyone so quickly. She's always kept strangers at arm's length."

"Have you talked to Seven about it?" Chakotay eased his way into a chair across the desk from Janeway.

"I tried to. She asked me if I trust her."

"Do you?"

"Of course I do, but in some ways she is so vulnerable. It's Milta I don't trust."

"You realize that jealousy on your part will only strengthen Milta's position, assuming she really is interested in Seven."

"Assuming!? No, of that I have no doubt."

"Maybe what you perceive as interest is just a matter of cultural differences."

Janeway gave him a skeptical glare. "You don't see Oteto touching anyone if she can avoid it. The Arvod negotiators weren't like that." She had to admit that they were all male and her exposure to Arvod females had been limited to their passengers.

Chakotay wrinkled his brow. "There is something strange about Oteto."

"In what way?" Janeway had sensed something about the aide, too, but had yet to focus on the cause.

Their conversation was interrupted by a call from the bridge announcing an approaching vessel.

"The ship is small," Tuvok explained as Janeway entered the bridge and he relinquished the command chair, "but is well armed for its size. Still, it poses no threat."

"Hail them."

"They are hailing us."

"On screen."

"I am Tok of Baltara. We are here to take custody of Milta of Arvod."

Janeway recognized Baltara as their passenger's destination. "I don't understand. Are you here as an escort?"

"No. You will hand her over to us. You have 15 minutes to make preparations." The connection went dead.

"Janeway to Ambassador Milta."

"Yes, Captain."

"Is Seven of Nine still with you?"

There was a pause and Janeway could almost picture the puzzled look on Milta's face. "Yes, she is."

"Please have her escort you to the staff room immediately."

"I'll be right there."

"There's someone out there named Tok of Baltara demanding we hand you over," Janeway announced to Milta before she even had a chance to be seated. "Can you offer any explanation?"

A glance passed between Milta and Oteto. Oteto looked as if she was about to speak, but Milta stepped in. "I am sorry that Voyager has become involved in this. We sent a decoy and hoped that by using your transporter we would avoid detection."

"'Wouldn't have it any other way,'" Janeway sneered, repeating the words Milta had uttered the day she came aboard.

"I'm sorry for the deception. I didn't see any reason to subject you to the story of our sad history. For thirty years the Baltara have subjugated the Arvodan. We were little more than slaves. You may have noticed the markings on Oteto's forehead. This is the system the Baltara used to keep track of its property. The characters are an identification code. All Arvodan bare these marks."

"How is it that you escaped?" Janeway asked, scanning Milta's forehead.

"I did not." Milta held her hands out palm down and spread her fingers. There were characters similar to those on Oteto's forehead imprinted on the web of flesh between each digit. "The Baltara mark their property to best suite their purpose. They wouldn't want to devalue the merchandise."

"You could have warned us about this threat. We could have been prepared. You must understand that we have a policy of noninterference."

Seven stepped forward from the post she'd been keeping outside the circle of the table. "Captain, you're not suggesting we abandon the ambassador to these slave dealers?"

"No, but I am curious about why the ambassador is going to Baltara."

"The situation between our two worlds has recently undergone a change. We developed a neural disrupter that has no effect on our physiology but can cause the Baltara intense pain. At last we've been able to secure our freedom. I'm going to Baltara to insure peace between our people."

"We don't have much time. Just how…" Janeway began but was cut off by an announcement from the bridge that the Baltara were once again hailing. As everyone filed from the room onto the bridge, Seven detained Janeway with a touch on the arm.

"You doubt Milta's purpose?"

"Let's say I have some concerns." The acid in Janeway's tone was palpable.

"Perhaps your emotions are clouding your judgement."

"I know what I'm doing."

"Captain."

"Don't interfere," Janeway snapped and marched onto the bridge. "Open the channel."

"We want Milta and any other Arvodan personnel and possessions aboard your vessel and we want them now."

Janeway crossed her arms over her chest and shifted to one hip. "Some serious allegations have been leveled against you. You need to address these charges."

"This conflict does not involve you. Why are you protecting them?" Tok demanded to know.

"Funny thing about a heavily armed ship attacking two unarmed people. It brings out the mother in me."

"Will you release them to us - yes or no?"

"No."

"Then we have no choice."

"They are powering up weapons," Tuvok announced.

"Battle stations. Target their weapons system and fire."

It was a brief engagement.

"Weapons have been disabled, but they sustained collateral damage to main power. An overload is in progress. The cascade is irreversible. The ship will self destruct."

"Baltara vessel," said Janeway, "prepare for immediate evacuation."

"It's too late." Tuvok looked at Janeway with stoic resignation. "They never had a chance."

"Why would they attack a ship so obviously superior?" Janeway paced a slow semi circle around Milta, waiting for an answer.

"It was the desperate act of a desperate people. Some would rather die than face the new world."

A response rested on Janeway's tongue. "Commander Tuvok, scan for survivors then resume course. I'll be in my ready room."

Janeway sighed as the doors to the ready room slid closed behind her.

"I heard what Seven said to you."

Janeway was startled by the unexpected presence. She hadn't heard Chakotay slip in behind her.

"What are you doing here?"

"We have a conversation to finish."

"I suppose you think I'm letting my personal feelings about Milta interfere with my professional judgement."

"As well as Seven may know you, she doesn't understand the burden of command. I have faith in your ability to separate the two."

Janeway buried her forehead in her hand. "I wish I was so certain. Milta has a calm and logical explanation for my every doubt. It looks as if I'm out to persecute this poor woman who is trying to make peace with the brutes that were her former masters. Imagine the indignities she must have suffered at their hands and still she remains open. She's a saint. So why don't I trust her?"

"When you know that…" Chakotay left the statement unfinished and they exchanged a knowing look. "Even when you do know, you'll still have one problem."

"Only one?" She gave him a crooked smirk.

"At least one," he amended. "I just hope Seven doesn't hold a grudge."

The words 'don't interfere' rang in Janeway's ears. "Since the day I fell in love with Seven I've been concerned that my life and my work would one day be at odds with one another, but this is not the way I imagined it would happen. I thought that my relationship would interfere with my command not the other way around."

"Bridge to Captain."

"Go ahead."

"We've picked up a survivor. He's been transported to sickbay."

"I'm on my way." Janeway looked at Chakotay. "Maybe this will be the answer to one of my problems."

Milta answered the door to her cabin and was surprised to find Captain Janeway standing there flanked by Tuvok and two security guards. "Ambassador Milta, I'm invoking the terms of our contract which state that a search of passengers' personal quarters may be conducted at any time if the captain feels that a security risk or violation of any other terms of the contract exists." Janeway directed the team to enter and they began probing the rooms.

"So, now you've decided I'm a security risk." There was an edge to Milta's tone, try as she might to appear civil.

"I just had an interesting conversation with a young man in sickbay. He managed to board an escape pod before the Baltara ship exploded. He confirmed your story about the Baltara enslavement of Arvod. However, he has another perspective on your mission to Baltara. He told me that the neural disrupter is a planetary device. The device itself is fairly small, but it requires a geothermal energy source. As a result, it is only effective on the surface of Arvod, where it was used to drive the Baltara off your world."

"That's correct. That is why they waited until we were in space before attempting to abduct us."

"To keep you from reaching Baltara on your peace mission."

"And to use us as hostages, no doubt," Milta added.

"This young man tells a different story. He says that Baltara is presently under siege from Arvodan forces and that the two sides are deadlocked. He says that your mission of peace is actually an assignment to break the back of the Baltara resistance by installing a neural disrupter there. He says that you are transporting the device."

"And did he say what this device looked like."

"No, he didn't know."

"Then you don't even know what your think you are searching for. Captain, did it occur to you that this man could be lying. His crew fired on this ship. He may be attempting to win your sympathy - to prevent you from executing him. That's the way these people think."

"So never in your wildest fantasies did you entertain the notion of taking control of the Baltara just as they took control of you and your people?"

A wave of emotion flushed across Milta's cheeks, but she remained silent.

"Captain," Tuvok broke the silence, "we've found several items we are unable to identify." He placed them on a table.

"I don't suppose you would care to identify these?" Janeway asked.

Milta, who had regained her composure, smiled graciously at the Captain. "I would be happy to tell you what each of these innocuous articles is and demonstrate their function if it will make you happy."

"This is what you're looking for." Oteto extended her hand. Resting in her palm was a chain and pendant.

"Oteto, do not tease Captain Janeway." Milta's expression was like a brittle mask crumbling to expose the reality beneath.

The sadness in Oteto's eyes caused Milta to look away when the aid spoke to her. "It's wrong. It has been wrong from the beginning. What kind of a life are we building for ourselves when we become no better than those who oppressed us? We may derive some satisfaction by exacting our revenge now, but one day our own people will turn against themselves to protest this injustice."

"And what if one day the Baltara develop the means to overcome us again."

"Have we learned nothing from our own persecution?" Oteto entreated. "We can live in fear or we can live in hope, hope that by our example they might come to understand compassion." Oteto sighed. She could see by the hard lines around Milta's mouth that she had not been swayed and never would be.

Milta turned to Janeway. "As I recall, you said that you have a policy of noninterference." Janeway nodded. "Then you will continue to transport us to Baltara and deliver us with the neural disrupter."

"Yes and no," Janeway replied. "I will deliver you to Baltara as stipulated in our contract. However, the contract also states that any undeclared cargo is subject to the disposition of the ship's commander. This is undeclared cargo." She held up the necklace wrapped in her fist. "Mr. Tuvok, please see to it that this object is disposed of."

"You can destroy the device, but it won't stop us."

"Maybe not, but I won't be an instrument for the execution of your plans."

Janeway stood before the doors to cargo bay two filled with dread. Any feelings of triumph she may have enjoyed in uncovering Milta's deception were fast fading.

Seven looked up as Janeway entered. "Captain, are you here to celebrate your victory?" It had been mere hours since the meeting with Milta, but news traveled fast on Voyager.

"It's hard to celebrate a victory when I've lost so much."

Seven placed her padd on the counter and allowed Janeway her full attention. "Explain."

"I'm afraid I've lost you."

Seven turned her eyes away, searching for a response.

Janeway moved closer, as close as she felt she dared. "How are you?"

"You were right about Milta. I allowed myself to be deceived by her."

"She deceived everyone – even me – and I don't think she deceived you quite as much as you imagine. I think that her interest in you was genuine. She had nothing to gain from you and I'd be the first to allow that despite her other faults, she has good taste." Janeway managed a weak smile that she didn't much feel.

"Would Milta's behavior be an example of situational ethics?" Seven's question received a blank stare. "When you violated the Prime Directive to save us on Dalvar, you explained situational ethics to me using the analogy of the starving man stealing bread. The crime is mitigated by the circumstances."

"Situational ethics is a tricky business. I wouldn't be surprised if Milta saw her actions in that light, but unlike the starving man who would be ashamed of stealing, Milta feels herself justified."

"I was wrong. Is that why you dismissed me?" There was no hint of accusation in Seven's tone, but Janeway still flinched as if she'd been burned.

"Seven, I'm so sorry for the way I treated you. I tried to convince myself that it was caution and not jealousy that motivated me, but that's not entirely true. I don't even have the excuse of command needs to support my actions. I didn't want to hear what you had to say because I was insecure."

"Jealousy. It is an irrational condition. You are normally a very rational person."

"It's not only irrational, it's destructive," Janeway paused, "to both parties concerned."

"You must promise never to be jealous again."

"I'm afraid it isn't that simple, but I will do my best. Have I ever told you how important you are to me?"

"You have remarked on the subject."

"But I don't think I've ever really told you. When I uncovered Milta's plan, the first thing I wanted to do was tell you. It had nothing to do with some illusory victory. It's because you are my one and only. I don't know how many times a day I think to myself, 'I can't wait to tell Seven.'" She put her hand on the console next to Seven's. "Come to my quarters tonight."

"I can't. I have to regenerate."

Janeway looked crestfallen. "I see."

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes," Janeway replied, suddenly brightening. "I'll even cook."

Seven turned from her task to see who had entered astrometrics. It was Milta. She resumed her work without a word.

Milta edged forward. "I haven't seen you for many days, but then I guess that's to be expected."

Seven answered with her continued silence.

"I'm leaving soon and I just wanted you to know that I did care about you and I still do."

"You cared enough to deceive me," Seven stated dispassionately. "Where does the lie end and the truth begin?"

"You don't know what it's like to live under the thumb of tyrants," Milta accused.

"I was once a subject of the Borg – the slave masters of the Delta Quadrant."

"If you had an opportunity to extract your revenge on the Borg, wouldn't you take it?"

"I believe in progress not in revenge."

"To insure the welfare of my people is progress," Milta pleaded, moving up next to Seven.

"Progress is moving toward something. Sometimes it may even mean moving away from something. In either case it is linear. Given your present course of action, you and the Baltara will continue in circles until one or the other of you ceases to exist."

"You don't understand," Milta said and raised a hand to caress Seven's face.

Seven caught her arm and held it suspended. "You desire me?"

"Yes," Milta virtually breathed the word. "Whatever else you think of me, whatever else you may or may not believe, I hope you will believe that."

"Then I tell you now what I should have told you from the beginning – my desire is reserved for Captain Kathryn Janeway." She released the arm and it fell limp by Milta's side. Milta dropped her eyes in defeat and left.