Disclaimer:Paramount owns everything except the story.

Rated:PG-13
June 1998

By Orion

"How long until we're in Taleron's orbit, Mr. Paris?" Kathryn Janeway asked from her Captain's chair.

"Another fifteen minutes, Captain."

"Good." The Bridge crew gazed out of the viewport at the planet they were nearing.

"Captain," Tom said, "a ship is approaching and we're being hailed."

"On screen." Kathryn got up from her chair and walked over to the railing. When the picture came into view she said to the alien on the screen, "Hello. I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. We're on a long journey home to the alpha quadrant and were informed by a passing vessel that your planet is rich in deuterium. We were wondering if you could spare some in exchange for something we may have that would interest you."

"You're a female of your species," the alien said in answer.

Taken somewhat aback, Kathryn folded her arms across her chest and said, "Yes I am. Is that a problem?"

The alien paused. "Of course not...Captain. My name is Naelin. Please forgive me, I'm not used to seeing females in such high positions of authority." He seemed to study her, making her feel slightly uncomfortable.

Choosing to ignore the feeling she asked, "What about the deuterium? Our ship requires it for power."

"Yes, I'm sure we could work out a trade of some sort, Captain. The Chancellor of our sector on Taleron takes care of these matters. I could arrange a meeting with him and send you the coordinates. Would one hour suit you?"

"That will be fine, thank you."

"Oh, Captain." Naelin said, almost as an afterthought. "The Chancellor prefers to deal with the person in charge one on one. So please come alone. He was attacked once and tends to be overly cautious at times," he added as if to allay any suspicions.

"I understand. Tell him I'll see him in one hour."

With that, Naelin's image disappeared.

"When we get the coordinates, take us into transporter range and hold position, Mr. Paris."

"Yes, ma'am."

Chakotay came up behind Kathryn. "Captain, you're not really going alone, are you?" he asked quietly.

"It seems we don't have much of a choice."

"I think you should take into consideration what the Lanarians told us about these people," he said, referring to the people they had spoken with the day before.

"Oh, I'm taking it into consideration. But I won't condemn people based on heresay."

"Don't you think it would be wise to be a bit more cautious?" he questioned her again.

Kathryn noticed the interested glances they were attracting from the Bridge crew and said, "Let's go for a walk, Commander. Tuvok, you have the Bridge."

"Aye, Captain," Tuvok answered, as she walked out the doors with Chakotay right behind her.

Falling in step aside of each other, they walked down the corridor. Both were silent for a few moments until Kathryn asked, "Are you having a problem with my decision to go down to the planet, Commander?"

"As a matter of fact, I am. Kathryn, you know the Lanarians had misgivings about this planet."

"I'm well aware of their misgivings, Chakotay."

"But you're going to ignore them." It was a statement, not a question.

"I think we need to come to our own conclusions."

"And what if it's too late by that time? I don't think you should go down there without backup," he said firmly.

"You heard Naelin. He said the Chancellor only takes one on one meetings."

"Then send me. I don't like the way he looked at you, Kathryn. Like you were going to be his last meal."

"Don't be ridiculous," she said, even though Naelin had made her feel slightly uneasy. But she didn't like her authority being challenged.

Somehow they had reached her quarters. She punched in the code and they both entered, the doors closing behind them.

"Look." Chakotay said when Kathryn turned around to face him. "The Lanarians told us , as far as they know, no one has ever seen a female of this species. Doesn't it make you wonder why? And they rarely allow outsiders to come down to the planet, but they're allowing you? I don't like this at all."

"All cultures are different," she said in argument. "Some prefer keeping to themselves. And obviously the males conduct the business and trade transactions. That's why he was surprised I am Captain. They probably are very protective of their females. And it doesn't matter whether you like it or not, Commander, I have made my decision." Her stubborn pride would not let her back down now.

"Don't be a fool, Kathryn," he said, and her eyebrows rose. "It isn't like you to act irresponsibly."

"I beg your pardon?"

"You could be risking your life. This could be a suicide mission for all you know." He began pacing in frustration.

"Sometimes that's the chance a Starfleet captain has to take," she threw at him. "Besides, we need the deuterium. We don't know when we'll get a chance to get some more. I'm not going to lose this opportunity."

"Our stores of deuterium are not that low. We can wait for another opportunity. And that's the chance I'm supposed to take for you."

"I'll have my phaser, and if you don't hear from me in one hour, you can beam me back or send down a team."

"You could be dead by that time! I have a bad feeling about this, Kathryn." Suddenly, he stopped his pacing and turned toward her. "I won't allow you to go," he said, the look on his face telling her he was ready to fight this to the end.

"Won't allow me?" she repeated his words. "You have no authority over me, Commander!"

"Dammit, I care about you and that gives me the authority!"

"Just because we kissed once, don't think you have any control over me. It was a mistake and will never happen again," She said making light of an incident that had truly affected her.

"You've got that right! Why would I want to be with a woman who refuses to listen to reason?" She turned her back on him and looked out of the viewport. "Don't forget," he continued, "I used to captain my own ship at one time. I'm very capable of making command decisions."

"I haven't forgotten," she said stonily.

"Then why are you being so damn stubborn!?"

She whirled around and faced him. "That will be enough, Commander!"

"Yes, that will be enough!" he shouted, and stormed out of her door. When the door closed he turned and slammed the heel of his hand into the control panel, sending sparks flying.

Kathryn heard a thump and what sounded like static, and ran to the door. "Chakotay," she called.

She tried to open it, but nothing happened. "Chakotay!" She banged on the door. "Dammit, what have you done? Chakotay, let me out now!"

"I'm sorry, Captain," he replied calmly, "there seems to be a problem with your control panel. I'll get someone from engineering to have a look at it," he said while walking away.

"Chakotay!" she yelled, still banging on the door, "you're going to spend the next seventy years in the brig!"

She turned around and took a half full coffee cup that had been sitting on the table and threw it across the room, watching the contents fly in all directions as it hit the wall. How could he do this to her? Who the hell did he think he was?

Kathryn paced back and forth in a rage until she heard a noise outside her door. "Chakotay?"

"No, it's me, Captain," came B'Elanna's answer.

"B'Elanna, how long until you can get me out of here?" she asked impatiently.

B'Elanna surveyed the damage. "What happened here, Captain?" she asked curiously. "Chakotay told me the control panel had malfunctioned, but he didn't say it looked like it had been hit with a war club."

"Just get me out of here, Lieutenent!" her tone of voice discouraging further questions.

"Yes, Captain." B'Elanna looked inside the panel. "It looks like it will take thirty to forty-five minutes. The bio-neural gel pack has ruptured and is leaking all over the inside of the panel. I'll have to clean that up first and then repair the damage."

"Let me know as soon as you've finished." She tried to calm down. After all, it wasn't B'Elanna's fault she was trapped in her quarters. She thought of having herself transported out, but didn't want to break her rule of no site to site transports on the ship except in emergency situations.

Kathryn paced like a caged animal the entire time B'Lanna worked on the control panel. Thirty minutes later she was free at last and strode directly to the transporter room, almost knocking B'Elanna over in her haste.

"Computer, locate Commander Chakotay," she barked.

"Commander Chakotay is not on this vessel," came the monotone reply.

He wouldn't, she thought, but knew otherwise. She looked at her watch. It was twenty minutes past the designated meeting time.

"Janeway to Tuvok."

"Tuvok here.

"I'm on my way to the transporter room."

"I'm glad to hear you're no longer a prisoner of your quarters, Captain."

"Thank you, Tuvok," she said, barely concealing the annoyance in her voice. "Is it safe to assume Commander Chakotay is on Taleron negotiating a trade?"

"That is correct, Captain. But the Commander notified us five minutes ago that the trade is proceeding smoothly and he wouldn't be much longer. There's no need for you to beam down anymore."

"I'm sure they won't mind a little company. Janeway out."

Chakotay had beamed down to the meeting site on Taleron at the designated time. He knew Kathryn was going to be furious, but hell, she already had been furious when he left her in her quarters. He knew he had overstepped the bounds, but he didn't trust these people. If she wanted to throw him in the brig when he got back it was fine with him, at least she would be safe on the ship until then.

The Chancellor, having expressed initial surprise at Chakotay's appearance instead of the Captain's, soon agreed to continue with the trade talks. He led Chakotay, along with two aides, into another room where they would hold their discussion. All was going well, and an agreement was on the verge of being reached when another aide came through the door with Captain Janeway in tow.

They all stood up. "You must be Captain Janeway," the Chancellor spoke first. "I'm Chancellor Sorin, but please call me Sorin. I'm so glad you could make it today. I was looking forward to meeting you." He looked at the aide behind her and nodded his head. The aide nodded back and left the room.

"Nice to meet you, Sorin," Kathryn said. She looked at Chakotay, who met her gaze levelly. "It was so nice of you to take my place, Commander, seeing how I was temporarily incapacitated." Her voice dripped honey to cover the venom underneath.

Undaunted he said, "It was my pleasure, Captain."

Sorin slowly walked around from behind his desk to stand in front of Kathryn. "May I say you're as lovely as Naelin said you were, Captain," he said, drawing Chakotay's eyes to him.

"Thank you, Sorin," she said, wanting to get on with the meeting.

Sorin continued, "Since you are here now, Captain, I'm afraid our plans have changed."

Chakotay and Kathryn gave each other a quick glance before she said, "What do you mean?"

The door opened and two more aides entered. Sorin nodded and Kathryn and Chakotay were both seized. Chakotay struggled and was hit in the ribs with a club while his hands were cuffed behind him. The other two aides grabbed Kathryn, one on each side of her, gripping her arms firmly. Sorin removed both their phasers.

"What do you think you're doing?" Kathryn demanded.

She glanced at her comm badge and Sorin followed the movement. "That won't work," he said. "As soon as you arrived, my aide went to jam your communications and transporters. He also activated a shield which covers our entire colony. We're completely sealed off."

"Janeway to Tuvok," she tried anyway. No response.

"I told you," Sorin said.

Chakotay had slowly straightened, but the aides still held him. "What do you want from us?" he asked.

"It's more what I want from her," Sorin said, nodding toward Kathryn.

Chakotay paled and looked at Kathryn, but she was staring at Sorin. His bad feelings were coming to fruition.

"Let me explain," he said, and began pacing slowly in front of them. "Many years ago, the females of our species contracted a virus. The virus didn't effect the males for some reason, and we never found out why. But it killed our females. Slowly. One by one. We couldn't find a cure, even though we worked day and night trying. Within five years all our females were gone."

"We always were a strong species, and couldn't face the thought of having our race die out. So we adapted by pulling in females of other species and breeding with them."

Kathryn's eyebrows rose and out of the corner of her eye she saw Chakotay look at her. She was becoming more alarmed, yet she was angry at the same time.

"Hasn't that created more females for you over the years?" Chakotay asked.

"Unfortunately," Sorin continued, "our females' genes were the deciding factor on whether our offspring was male or female. The males of our species can only produce more males. We haven't come across another species who can produce females for us...yet," he said, and looked at Kathryn. "But we keep trying." A feeling of revulsion came over her and she shivered.

"No one I've seen on this planet so far has looked mixed," Chakotay said, wondering how they could breed with other species and still all look alike.

"Some of our offspring were slightly altered at first. But as I've said before, we are a strong species. Survivors. As soon as our DNA merges with another's, it takes over and mutates the new strands to look like ours. Therefore, even though we start out a mixed species, we ultimately become our own again, by the time we're born."

"You people are sick," Kathryn said with loathing, and jerked her body causing the aides to tighten their hold on her upper arms. She could feel her pulse throbbing where their fingers were biting into her flesh. Sorin came over and stood directly in front of her.

"Oh, after a while," he said, his eyes roaming her body, "the females get used to it. We treat them well, as long as they're cooperative. The offspring is still part theirs, and... what mother can resist her own child?"

"You'll never get away with this," Kathryn said in a steely voice.

"Oh, I think we will. And you, Captain. I think I'll save you for myself." Sorin reached up and stroked her cheek. "Intelligence and fire. An irresistible combination."

Kathryn jerked her head away and spit at him. Sorin hit her across the face with the back of his hand, splitting her lip and sending her hair flying.

"Let her alone!" Chakotay yelled, trying to break free. The butt of a club connected forcefully with his stomach and he fell to his knees.

Sorin's hand snaked out and seized a handful of hair at the back of Kathryn's head. He brought her head up, arching her neck backwards. His other hand stroked her cheek again and toyed with the hair at the side of her face. He was so close and she heard him whisper in her ear. "I love a challenge. I'm sure I won't be disappointed."

She stared straight ahead, trying her best to stifle the rising fear threatening to engulf her. Sorin released her hair. "Take them away," he ordered, and the aides dragged them out of the room.

Kathryn and Chakotay were led to a room with four cubicles set into one of the walls. Each cubicle had three walls, and the fourth side was open to the rest of the room. Chakotay was uncuffed and roughly thrown into a cubicle before a containment field was erected across the open side. The aides put Kathryn in the cubicle aside of Chakotay. One aide released his hold on her and the other shoved her back up against the wall.

"Enjoy your stay," he said with a wicked grin. Then they erected her containment field and left the room.

The cell was bare except for a bench sticking out from the back wall. Kathryn walked over and sat down. She rubbed her hands over her upper arms, which were already sensitive from the bruises she knew were forming. Her hand reached up and she felt the dried blood on her tender and swollen lip.

"Kathryn?" Chakotay called.

"Voyager will figure out a way to rescue us," she said.

"I'm sure they will," he said. "How's your lip?"

"I'll live." She was glad when he didn't say anything more.

Kathryn remained seated on the bench for the next hour, not moving and trying not to think. Chakotay paced back and forth, determined to come up with an idea to help them. He was becoming aware of the increasing pain in his ribs. Why did she have to come down here? We were almost finished with the negotiations. I knew I had a bad feeling about this whole situation. Damn these people! Damn her stubbornness! But what else could I have done, short of throwing her in the brig? It's no one's fault, I guess. You never know what will happen in unexplored space. We've all taken chances.

Chakotay's thoughts were interrupted when an aide came through the door carrying two metal boxes. "Here's dinner," the aide said. He set one box on a table and pulled out a phaser. "Sit on the bench," he told Chakotay, pointing the phaser at him. Chakotay did as he was told and the aide deactivated the containment field, slid the box across the floor into the cell, and reactivated the field.

Then he put his phaser on the table and picked up the other box. He deactivated the field on Kathryn's cell and walked inside, immediately putting her on alert. He placed the box on the bench aside of her, reached out and grabbed her arm, and hauled her up to a standing position. She swung her other arm at him and it connected with the side of his head.

"Stop it!" he hissed, catching her arm. "I'm sure Sorin won't mind if I teach you some manners." He crushed her up against the wall that connected her cell to Chakotay's.

"Let me go!" she yelled, trying to twist free. Her knee came up between his legs, but he moved and it missed it's mark.

"Let her alone, you bastard!" Chakotay snarled, banging his hands against his cell wall. "Kathryn!" he called as if he could help ease her pain just by saying her name.

The aide took both her wrists in one of his hands and raised them over her head, holding them against the wall. His other hand drifted down her arm brushing the side of her breast and continuing past her waist to her hip. Then it moved back up her body by way of her abdomen and stomach. When he reached her breast she raised her leg and stomped on his foot with the heel of her boot.

"Ahhh!" he cried. "That wasn't very smart." She tried to duck as he hit her and it landed on her cheekbone. He still had her two wrists captive and his free hand grabbed her uniform top and ripped it down the front. "I see Sorin is going to have his work cut out for him," he ground out.

The door to the main room opened and another aide entered. Seeing the situation between Kathryn and the first aide he said, "What the hell do you think you're doing, Seric? She's Sorin's property, and unless you want to spend the rest of your life in a very small cell, you'd better let her go."

Seric released his hold on her, and, giving her one last glance said, "I hope you're ready for tonight, Captain. Sorin doesn't like being disappointed." He walked out of the cell and reactivated the containment field. Both aides left the room.

Kathryn stayed where she was, with her back against the wall. She felt tired, bruised, angry, humiliated, and scared all at the same time. Slowly she slid down the wall until she was sitting on the floor, her knees raised in front of her.

"Kathryn, are you O.K?" Chakotay asked.

She stared straight ahead and didn't answer.

"I'm so sorry, Kathryn," Chakotay said quietly.

That was all she could take. She rested her arms across her knees and put her head down. She squeezed her eyes shut trying to stop the tears from escaping, but it was no use. She could have handled anything but I'm sorry. She would have preferred an I told you so. But Chakotay wouldn't say that to her. What was he sorry for anyway? For disobeying her orders? For the situation they were now in? For the abuse she had taken, or the abuse that was yet to come? Oh God, she thought, this is all my fault.

She was overcome by shear misery. Why hadn't she listened to him? He had been only trying to help. But she knew she felt ultimately responsible to what happened to the crew, and felt she had to take the risk alone. That, and he had questioned her decision in front of the crew, therefore challenging her authority and her pride.

Kathryn didn't know how long she'd been sitting like that or when she had dozed off, but her head jerked up when the door to the large room opened. Sorin entered, followed by Seric and another aide. Kathryn practically jumped to her feet.

"My my, so eager, Captain," Sorin said smiling. Seric, standing slightly behind Sorin, looked positively evil.

"Sorin, if you hurt her, I swear I'll kill you!" Chakotay said from his cell. He put his hands up to the containment field and quickly withdrew them as if burned.

"And how do you propose to do that when you're in there?" Sorin asked smugly.

"I'll find a way," Chakotay said, deadly serious.

Sorin looked at Kathryn. "You didn't tell me a jealous lover would be after my head, Kathryn. Or is it simply a case of loyalty toward one's Captain?"

Kathryn didn't answer, her heart pounding in her throat. She felt poised for the fight of her life.

Sorin turned to Seric. "Deactivate the containment field and bring her to me."

Seric nodded and walked to the control panel. He deactivated the field and stepped inside the cell, leering at her. Suddenly Kathryn felt her body begin to tingle and the three men standing in front of her faded from view.

Kathryn and Chakotay materialized in the transporter room. For a moment they stared at each other.

"We've got them. Get us out of here, Tom," B'Elanna's voice rang out before her and Tuvok rushed over to them.

"Oh my God, Captain!" B'Elanna exclaimed, looking at her face. "What happened?"

"I wasn't very popular down there, or...actually I was," she said, causing B'Elanna and Tuvok to give her puzzled looks. She didn't clarify her statement, not sure she wanted everyone to know the whole truth.

"How did you get a lock on us?" she asked, stepping down from the transport site.

"Ensign Kim was able to locate a small rift in their shield, and we only needed a simple algorithm to descramble the transporters," Tuvok explained.

"Remind me to thank Ensign Kim," she said.

"Kathryn," Chakotay said, "I think we'd better get you to sickbay."

"I'd really rather go to my quarters right now, Chakotay."

"Judging from your appearance," Tuvok said, "I think it's advisable you go to sickbay now, Captain."

"Come on," Chakotay took hold of her upper arm causing her to flinch from the bruises there. "I'm sorry," he said, sliding his hand down to hers.

She looked up at him. "I guess we should get to sickbay," she said.

Chakotay had two broken ribs. The Doctor did what he could for him and told him they'd be a little sore for the next few days. He used the dermal regenerator on Kathryn's lip and helped heal most of the bruising on her cheek and arms. Only faint traces remained as a reminder of her ordeal. Neither of them told the Doctor exactly what had happened on Taleron, but he urged Kathryn to take the next day off to rest.

They walked back to their quarters in silence, as if each of them was in his own private hell. When they reached Chakotay's door, Kathryn quickly said, "Good night, Commander," and walked toward her quarters without a backward glance. Chakotay stared after her for a few seconds, then went inside.

Kathryn entered the Bridge the next morning, paused long enough to hear the report and retreated to her ready room. She hadn't missed the surprised look Chakotay had given her. Going to the replicator, she got herself a cup of coffee and carried it to her desk where a pile of padds awaited her. She sat down, took a sip of coffee and set the cup on her desk. Picking up a padd, she tried to concentrate on the report, but her mind kept wandering. She hadn't slept well last night due to nightmares, and wished she had accepted the Doctor's offer of a sedative.

Her door chimed and she looked down at the padd, feigning interest. "Come in," she said.

Chakotay entered and walked across the room. He placed his hands on her desk and leaned over it. "Aren't you supposed to be resting today?" he asked.

"I'm fine. Thank you for your concern, Commander," she said, barely glancing at him.

"Would you like to talk?" he asked.

She picked up her cup, took another sip and put it back down again. "Not particularly," she said, still avoiding meeting his eyes.

He paused briefly, looking down at her. She was looking at the padd in her hand. "I'm sorry, Kathryn. For everything," he said.

Kathryn glanced up. "Apology accepted, Commander," she said tonelessly.

Chakotay studied her. "You know, I expected many things, but I didn't expect this reaction," he said, straightening up to stand again.

"And what reaction it that?"

"Emotionless. I thought maybe you'd like some help dealing with what happened yesterday, but I can see you have everything under control." He waited, and when she didn't answer he started to leave, but turned around at the last minute and asked, "Since you're taking this so well, I don't suppose it would be too much for you to admit you may have made a mistake?"

"What!?" she looked up again.

"I thought so," he said quietly, and left the room.

Dammit, what's the matter with me? she thought throwing the padd down on her desk. She knew she had made a poor judgment call. A "mistake" in Chakotay's words. Why couldn't she admit it to him? Her damn pride was going to ruin the best friendship she ever had. She needed him, especially after yesterday's ordeal and last night's nightmares, yet she was pushing him away. What must he think of her?

Chakotay went back to his chair on the Bridge and sat down. He was so angry with her. She had dismissed his opinions yesterday like he was an adolescent. And now she wouldn't even admit she may have been wrong, and is acting like nothing ever happened! He hadn't intended to ask her to admit she made a mistake. He knew she was hurting inside, and he hadn't wanted to hurt her anymore, but her attitude had set him off. He didn't understand. When she was angry with him, she usually let him know it. And he thought she had every right to be, after what he had done yesterday.

Yes, he was angry, but he also felt totally helpless. He had been unable to keep her from being abused by those bastards! He wanted to help her now, but that had to be up to her.

Chakotay watched Kathryn come out of her ready room and sit in her chair, staring straight ahead. He decided, if this was the way she wanted it, he'd play along.

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