[pwaxen@yahoo.com]

This is a sequel to "Element of Desire," which in turn is a sequel to "Element of Truth." I would suggest reading them, in order, before taking a shot at this one.

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. If this offends you or you are too young or it's just plain illegal on your part of the planet, do not proceed. This story depicts explicit sex.

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

Element of Danger

by Vaxen (pwaxen@yahoo.com)

It was another late night for Captain Janeway. She had allowed herself the comfort of slipping out of her uniform and into pajamas, but continued to pour over logs and reports long after the hour when she should have been asleep. She glanced bleary-eyed at the door when it chimed and wondered who would disturb her, in person, at this late hour.

"Who is it?"

"Seven of Nine."

Janeway hesitated. She wasn't exactly dressed for company and there was the matter of their trip to paradise. It had been two weeks since Q interfered in their lives with the goal of bringing Seven and Janeway together. The chime sounded again and a concerned voice asked, "Captain, are you alright?"

Janeway snapped out of her reverie. "Enter." The door slid into the wall then closed after Seven stepped through. "Have a seat."

Seven preferred to stand, but it tended to make others uncomfortable. She sat in the chair opposite Janeway.

"Forgive the hour, but the computer indicated that your link was still active."

"That's alright. What's on your mind?" She set the betraying padd aside.

"Kathryn, I am here on a personal matter."

She was momentarily rattled by the familiar use of her name. "Does this involve me?"

"Yes."

"And the incident with Q?"

"Yes."

"I'm sorry, Seven. Things have been very busy."

"Things have been normal. You have been very busy. I suspect that you have been using work as a means to avoid dealing with the consequences of that event. I have one question -- did you mean the things you said to me that morning before Q returned us to Voyager?"

"Yes," she said, smiling and remembering.

"I was concerned," Seven responded, barely detectable relief showing in her features, "that our first encounter might have been motivated by lust and your words were merely flattery."

"No. I meant every word of it and I still do."

"I suspected as much. Flattery is not in your nature, nor is it in mine."

"This is a complex situation. It's late, not the best times for what might likely prove to be a long discussion."

"Indeed, that is why I propose that we schedule a date. Our first encounter, while satisfying in it's own respect, was not a stable foundation on which to build a relationship. I intend to court you and the first reasonable step in that process would seem to be a date. It would accomplish several goals. It would give us the chance to learn about each other in a less sexually charged environment. We could also use it as an opportunity to gauge the reaction of the crew to our association as well as our own ability to adapt to that reaction."

"I can see you've given this a lot of thought."

"I've spent an inordinate amount of time on the subject." Seven's expression was hard to read, possibly astonished, definitely delighted.

"You want us to go out together?"

"Cargo bay 2 is not suited to entertaining and would not fulfill the goals concerning crew reaction. Is there a problem?"

"Where would we go?" she said, hoping the change of subject might cover her momentary resistance. Seven was right. The only way she would know for sure just how their relationship might affect her command was to be seen together.

"There is an area in the aeroponics bay. The crew sometimes brings food from the galley and consume their meals there, frequently as couples. It's not as romantic as Q's paradise, but it is pleasant."

"I've seen it. It's nice. When would you like to go out?" Janeway asked, warming to the idea.

"Tomorrow, one hour after end of shift."

"It's a date." Both stood and Janeway showed her guest to the door. "Goodnight, Seven."

"Goodnight, Kathryn." Seven pressed her lips to Janeway's and allowed then to linger.

"You could stay for awhile," Janeway remarked in a throaty growl.

"We are not at the proper stage of courtship for that," Seven replied with a mischievous gleam in her eye. "Our policy for now should be abstinence."

"Easy for you to say."

"No, it is not."

Janeway watched her go, then returned to her padd and deactivated it. Suddenly the reports didn't seem all that urgent.

The aeroponics bay, mainly reserved for food and medicinal plants, had a small area converted for recreational use. It consisted of a circle of grass and flowers, ringed by four tables. In the center of the circle grew a small tree. The area was enclosed by scenically decorated bulkheads on three sides and the final stage of a water recycling system partially covered the fourth. The paneling that normally protected the latter had been replaced by transparent aluminum. Water fell from the ceiling through clear tubules providing a cross between a fountain and a waterfall.

A man and woman already occupied one table when Seven arrived. She proceeded to the table farthest from them and nearest the recycler, where she watched the light sparkling off the water as it flowed through the filters.

"It's lovely, isn't it?" Janeway said as she appeared at Seven's shoulder.

"It is distracting," she replied. Her face was a reflection of peace.

"Most people would call it hypnotic, but I suppose that could be considered distracting. I brought dinner. Are you hungry?"

"I am seldom hungry, but I am ready to eat."

As they took their seats, Janeway noted the other couple looking in their direction. They nodded and she acknowledged it.

"This is going to take some getting used to."

Seven followed the Captain's gaze. "You're concerned about the crew?"

"I'm concerned about many aspects of becoming involved with you and how it might affect my command. The crew's will react is just one." She looked again at the couple, who were now oblivious to them. "So far, so good in that area."

"What are your other concerns?"

"I worry that one day I might have to choose between you and the good of the ship." Janeway was remembering a conversation between Tuvok and herself when Seven and B'Elanna were being held captive.

"You would choose the good of the ship."

"How can you be so certain?"

"Because your are a good captain, therefore the ship and its crew will always come first. I accept this and I expect it. I am also certain that you would do everything within your power to save me or any other crewmember. Since you're power is considerable I do not expect the situation to arise."

"Are you trying to flatter me?"

"As I stated last night, flattery is not in my nature. Is there anything else?"

"We talked about problems with you following my commands." Janeway paused, unsure of the wisdom in proceeding. "In that regard, I have a confession to make. It was wrong for you disobey my command, to turn individual from species 8472 over to the Hirogen, but a part of me was relieved when you did. I don't know how the situation might have turned out otherwise."

A comfortable silence fell between them.

"And," Janeway finally continued in a lighter tone, " I've come to rely on your obstinence. What if you fell so deeply in love with me that you could no longer bring yourself to voice an opposing opinion?"

Seven caught the glint in her eye. "You are teasing me." Seven raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps if you fell deeply in love with me you would be more receptive to my opinions." Janeway laughed.

"But seriously, why me?" Janeway asked. "There are over a hundred men and women on this ship, most of them closer to your age."

"I think, perhaps, your age was one of the things that attracted me to you."

"You know there is some taboo involved in relationships between individuals of disparate ages. Taboos can be strong aphrodisiacs. They are tantalizing by their very nature."

"I am aware of this, but it is no more relevant to me than the archaic taboo concerning sexual relationships between members of the same sex would be to you. Your statement presumes that I 'chose' you. I felt that I was compelled rather than making a choice. I believe that your age gives you something that the younger crewmembers lack. It is difficult to define, but I find it appealing. I also admire your honesty and tenacity, and you have nice breasts."

Janeway's eyebrows shot up.

"Is sexual compatibility not essential?" Seven continued.

"Maybe not essential, but certainly desirable. And may I say, the admiration is mutual. After our first encounter, I was a little concerned that it might not be me that you wanted, but intimacy itself."

"If that had been true. I would not have asked you for a date. You are not the easiest person to approach. I was quite nervous."

"It didn't show."

"No doubt the result of my years with the Borg. You may have noticed that I do not display strong emotional reactions as most humans do. Perhaps, with time, they will develop. Does the difference in our ages trouble you?"

Janeway examined her face closely and thought how little the difference in age mattered compared to the dissimilarity in their experiences. In some ways, Seven was the elder -experienced in the ways of the universe, yet naïve about common things most took for granted. Then her eyes strayed over the rest of Seven's form and she wondered how she had ever convinced herself that her feeling for Seven were maternal. "No, I don't think it does. Not anymore."

They talked about their families, the Borg and Starfleet. Couples came and went, greeting them cordially, then leaving them to their privacy. No one looked upset. Some seemed pleased or at least amused. At last, Seven and Janeway were found themselves alone.

"It must be mid-shift," Janeway said when she finally noticed. "I'll walk you to cargo bay 2." By the time they arrived, another date had been scheduled.

"Goodnight, Seven." Janeway wrapped her arms around Seven's neck, pulled her close and kissed her. If anyone had seen them, neither would have noticed.

"Goodnight, Kathryn. Thank you."

"My pleasure. I'm only sorry I made us wait this long."

"Try it now," B'Elanna's disembodied voice called.

Seven input data at her control console and initiated the sequence. "Dissipation now at point .003 percent. Induction holding steady."

An oath rang from the jeffries tube, followed by an irate Klingon. "I swear, we are never going to get the Federation and Borg technology in this system to work right."

"The alternative is to remove the Borg technology, which would require approximately 800 hours of labor, and replace it with Federation technology, several components of which can not be replicated."

"Borg," B'Elanna snarled. Seven looked at her inquisitively. Their relationship hadn't returned to its old animosity, but neither had they retained the bond that developed when they were captive together.

"Sorry," B'Elanna finally offered, "I'm just a little sensitive about the ship, especially when there's a problem I can't do anything about."

"Apology accepted."

"How did you like the movie last night?" B'Elanna asked, half distracted by readouts.

"I was puzzled. To go into a room, reduce the lighting and watch pictures on a wall seems like an inefficient form of entertainment. Would it not be more effective to incorporate the elements of the movie into a holodeck recreation or at least modify the display to accommodate ambient light?"

"Going to the movies is a very old tradition. It has its roots in primitive story telling. The tribe would gather about the campfire and listen to tales."

"That would explain the dim lights."

"Dim lights are also more romantic. How did the Captain like the show?" B'Elanna asked, hoping Seven wouldn't notice the segue.

"She indicated that it was an old favorite. B'Elanna, you have always been frank with me. Will you tell me what the crew thinks of the relationship between the Captain and myself?"

To herself, B'Elanna thought, "So much for subtle," but aloud she said, "Everyone pretty much accepts it. Well, maybe not Tannon, but he belongs to a cult based on the 20th century movement they called 'born again.' He once called Chakotay a blasphemer because of his vision quests. We shut him up fast using the Maquis method, not exactly Starfleet approved. I think the general consensus is that if the two of you can put up with each other then more power to you."

"Thank you. You've been most informative." B'Elanna returned to her reading, but she continued to glance furtively at Seven. "Is there something else, Lieutenant?"

"No," she replied, as a grin spread across her face. The smile quickly died with a curse. "The best I can get is point .002."

"That is only slightly above specifications. You have done all you can do. It should be sufficient."

B'Elanna didn't know how to react to comfort and support from a Borg. "I think the Captain has had a good influence on you."

"Indeed," Seven replied and the edges of her mouth curled.

"Captain, we're being hailed," Kim announced.

"On screen."

"Is this Captain Janeway of the Voyager?"

"Yes, I am. Our sensors indicate that your vessel is Braxid. You're far from home." Voyager had done some successful trading with the Braxid and developed a friendly alliance. They were now at the far edge of that system.

"My name is Pol, and I believe we may have something you'd be interested in. A transwarp coil."

"What would you want in exchange?" Five years in the Delta Quadrant had taught Janeway to keep a poker face.

"Foodstuff, three or four canisters."

"We'll need to examine the coil. My security officer will make arrangements to transport you and the coil to our ship." She transferred communications to Tuvok's station. "Bridge to Seven of Nine."

"Yes, Captain."

"It looks we're about to become the new owners of a transwarp coil. I'd like you to kick the tires."

"Captain?"

"Report to Commander Tuvok regarding inspection of the coil."

"Very well, Captain."

The coil was not functional, but between Seven and Torres, it was determined that it might be salvageable and removed to engineering. The Braxid departed as the shift was ending and Voyager proceeded on its way. Janeway was looking forward to seeing Seven that evening to discuss the coil, among other things.

Fifteen minutes passed and Seven failed to arrive at holodeck 1. "Captain to Seven of Nine." She paused. "Seven of Nine report." No response. "Computer, locate Seven of Nine."

"Seven of Nine is in cargo bay 4."

"Janeway to Security, send a team to cargo bay 4. I think something has happened to Seven." Her fast walk turned into a run. The turbo lift took an eternity to reach the cargo deck. When she arrived a guard was standing at the door. In the palm of his hand was a commbadge -Seven's badge.

"Janeway to Tuvok, Seven is missing. Meet me on the bridge."

"Aye, Captain."

Janeway was panting by the time she reached the bridge. "Initiate a search for the Braxid vessel."

"We're on it," Chakotay answered, as he turned over command.

"Tuvok, what happened?"

"It appears that Seven was smuggled off the ship in an empty canister. Security assisted Lieutenant Torres in relocating the coil, leaving Seven alone with the Braxid. When they returned, the Braxid told them that Seven had gone to astrometrics."

"Captain," Paris interrupted, "I'm picking up a ion trail originating at the Braxid ships last known location."

"Set a course, maximum warp."

"They'll know we're in pursuit," Chakotay warned, "Their warp capability is a match for ours and they have a lead of several hours."

"Then we'll run 'til one of us breaks."

"You have your orders," he barked at Paris who had half turned to follow the discussion.

"Commander Tuvok, I'd like to see you in my ready room," Janeway commanded. She left the bridge without waiting for his acknowledgment. She was standing behind her desk, facing him, when he entered.

"There's a conversation we need to finish and now seems as appropriate a time as any. It concerns Seven and my lack of perspective," she said.

"I recall the conversation."

"Well, if you have nothing more to say on the subject I'd like to respond."

"Yes, Captain, I do have something to say. I wish to apologize. At the time I was concerned for the security of Voyager. I assumed that your undeclared feelings for Seven might cloud your judgment. I assure you, it was not my intent to be critical. In my haste, I failed to take other factors into consideration. First, that you were cognitive of your own feelings and fully capable of managing them. Second, that Seven's value to this crew and our mission warranted the patience you exhibited. Finally, any captain who could take the diverse individuals you were given and mold them into a crew had to rely on something more than Starfleet training. I do not believe a Vulcan commander could have accomplished what you have. Your strength is in your emotions as well as your mental faculties and Seven is a part of that."

Janeway was stunned. She expected a fight from Tuvok, even welcomed it as a means to vent some of the frustration she felt. She sank into her chair feeling deflated.

"If there is nothing else," Tuvok continued, "I would like to return to the bridge to assist in the pursuit. I feel responsible."

"It's not your faulty. All our dealings with the Braxid have been fair and amiable. Sometimes we just forget that we're dealing with individuals -- some good, some bad."

"Nonetheless, they were operating on the border, an indication that they might not be legitimate."

"We were the victims of our own greed. I only hope we haven't lost Seven over a damaged transwarp coil."

"Indeed. The Braxid knew we would pursue them. No doubt they have arranged to transfer Seven to another ship, presumably the party that arranged to procure her and the Borg technology she possesses. Permission to leave."

"Granted. Captain to Torres."

"Torres here"

"Report to my ready room. We need a little insurance package and I'd like you to prepare it."

"On my way."

"Captain to the bridge."

Janeway emerged from her ready room trying to repair the disheveled condition her uniform. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been beyond the confines of the bridge or her ready room. "Report."

"The Braxid ship has come to a full stop."

"Go to red alert," she ordered. "Time until intercept?"

"Five minutes. Sensors show another ship. It's Borg."

"On screen." It was a scout vessel.

"We're picking up a signal – audio only," Kim announced.

"From the Braxid?"

"From the Borg."

"On speakers."

"We are the Borg. You will release that which belongs to us. The party you were dealing with has been assimilated. You will also be assimilated unless you comply."

"Mr. Paris, I want you to set a course for the Braxid – full impulse. Mr. Kim, maximum power to sensors. We're going to have to find Seven before the Borg do. Transport as soon as you have a positive lock."

"Braxid are firing on the Borg ship." Paris reported. "Borg are returning fire. Braxid shields are down."

"I have a positive lock, but so do the Borg."

Janeway knew that the attempt at simultaneous transport would pull Seven apart.

"Disengage transport!" she cried.

"No, wait," Kim responded, "the Borg have released their lock. We have her."

"B'Elanna, now," Janeway shouted. A conduit opened before them and they jumped to transwarp.

"Engineering, how much time do we have."

"Sixty seconds, maybe less."

"The Borg will be after us as soon as they finish with the Braxid and by that time the scout ship may have some help. Prepare to collapse the conduit."

"Dropping out of transwarp."

"Fire." Behind them, space folded in upon itself. "I don't think they're likely to come after us that way. Helm set a course that will put as much distance as possible between us and the Borg then engage at warp 8. Stand down to yellow alert. Commander Chakotay, you have the comm."

"Computer, locate Seven of Nine," Janeway said as soon as the turbo lift doors were closed.

"Seven of Nine is in the infirmary."

Janeway was relieved to find Seven slapping an instrument away from her face and nearly out of the Doctor's hand. "How is she?"

"That would be easier to determine if she would cooperate for the ten minutes it would take me to examine her."

"Captain, I am fine. This is unnecessary."

"Seven, let the Doctor examine you, then I will walk you to cargo bay 2."

"Yes, Captain," she replied, suddenly much more docile.

The examination was concluded and Seven declared fit for duty. The two women walked together, exchanging small talk until they were inside the cargo bay.

As soon as the doors closed, Janeway seized Seven by the arm and embraced her fiercely. For long minutes they stood that way, rocking gently. When Janeway at last released her grip and they parted enough to look into each other's faces, Seven saw two moist tracks running down Janeway's cheeks.

"Are you alright, Kathryn?"

"I was so afraid I would loose you, I can't tell you…" She kissed Seven -- not like kisses they shared since their courtship began, but the way they had kissed during their night in paradise. The pressing of lips progressed to intertwined tongues that explored the sensitive places, turning tears of relief into beads of sweat. Seven broke for breath, throwing her head back. Janeway took the opportunity to catch the base of her neck between her teeth and began nibbling her way up the side of it until she reached an ear lobe. "I want to make love to you," she breathed. The rush of warm air against Seven's ear made her shiver and she responded by pushing Janeway's jacket off her shoulders. She took the Captain by the hand and led her to an alcove near the regeneration unit.

"A bed. You have a bed."

"Sometimes I like to recline."

"I thought we might have to do it on the floor."

"Perhaps another time," said Seven as she resumed her task of disrobing Janeway.

"Wait," Janeway requested. "Computer, disable the doors to cargo bay 2. Override only on my command."

"Am I your prisoner?"

Janeway's wordless response was to tug on the fastenings on Seven's suit. With Seven's help, she managed to remove the daunting garment, taking every opportunity to caress or nip each area of flesh as it became exposed. Seven snatched at Janeway's clothes, but the Captain caught her wrists, shook her head and forced her to lie back on the bed. Seven leaned back on her elbows and Janeway disrobed -- kicking off her boots, casually undoing her pants and sliding pants and underwear over her hips to let them fall to the floor, pulling the uniform jersey up her torso and over her head -- all the time maintaining eye contact, watching the excitement grow in Seven's eyes.

She pushed Seven flat on her back and stretched out alongside her. Janeway thrust a thigh between yielding legs as she took the nearest nipple in her mouth and aroused the other between her fingers. Seven moaned. Janeway began a deliberate progress down Seven's abdomen, through her pubic mound and into the center of her source of pleasure, tasting each delicious inch along the way. Having arrived, it took little persuasion to send Seven over the top into muscle straining tremors of ecstasy. She teased the last ounce of passion from Seven, leaving her limp and sated. Janeway laid her moist face against Seven's sweating thigh and kissed it.

She felt stirrings above her as Seven slowly began to recover. Then she heard a sound, easily identified but one she had never heard from Seven before. It was laughter. She looked at Seven, who pointed back at her. At that point, she realized that she was hanging naked half-off the end of the bed -- not the picture of a dignified Starfleet captain. She pulled herself back up the bed and flopped down beside Seven.

"You picked a fine time to overcome your Borg conditioning and develop a sense of humor."

"I'm sorry, Kathryn. Let me make it up to you," she said, cupping Janeway's breast.

"I'm satisfied," she replied, forgetting her momentary embarrassment. "I just want to hold you. I love you, Seven."

"I love you, Kathryn."

They fell asleep in each other's arms.

"Captain's log. We've recovered Seven of Nine from the Braxid and seem to have lost both them and the Borg. The actions of the Borg are puzzling. Assimilation, a tool normally used by them to acquire information and technology has been used as a threat. The Borg seem to be acquiring human characteristics -- unfortunate that it's an attribute like coercion and not compassion they've acquired. As to why they released their lock on Seven -- maybe it was a coincidental system failure or perhaps compassion is not beyond their capabilities. I hope the word gets around the Delta Quadrant and discourages others who would hope to profit by abducting Seven."

"Captain's personal log. I'd like to think that the Borg realized Seven's value and that had something to do with why they allowed us to take her rather than let her to die. Whatever the reason, I'm grateful to have her back. I'm in love with a Borg. The Delta Quadrant had been fraught with hazards since the day we arrived. Now my personal life contains its own element of danger. It's exciting. Maybe this could work. For once, the Delta Quadrant doesn't seem like such a lonely place."