Path: newsspool2.news.atl.earthlink.net!stamper.news.atl.earthlink.net!elnk-atl-nf1!newsfeed.earthlink.net!prodigy.com!news.glorb.com!news-xfer.newsread.com!yellow.newsread.com!news-toy.newsread.com!netaxs.com!newsread.com!POSTED.newshog.newsread.com!not-for-mail Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated Approved: ascem@earthlink.net Organization: Better Living Thru TrekSmut Sender: ascem@earthlink.net Message-ID: From: "longbeachtrekstar" MIME-Version: 1.0 Mailing-List: list ASCEML@yahoogroups.com; contact ASCEML-owner@yahoogroups.com Subject: NEW FFF: Apocalypse | Pale 4/4 (TNG/DS9/VOY: T/7, AU) [NC-17] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Lines: 715 Date: Sat, 27 Nov 2004 13:55:12 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 209.198.142.218 X-Complaints-To: Abuse Role , We Care X-Trace: newshog.newsread.com 1101563712 209.198.142.218 (Sat, 27 Nov 2004 08:55:12 EST) NNTP-Posting-Date: Sat, 27 Nov 2004 08:55:12 EST Xref: news.earthlink.net alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated:85792 X-Received-Date: Sat, 27 Nov 2004 05:55:19 PST (newsspool2.news.atl.earthlink.net) Title: Apocalypse | Pale Author: longbeachtrekstar ( longbeachtrekstar @ yahoo . com ) Series: TNG/DS9/VOY Codes: Troi/Seven, AU Rating: NC-17 Parts: 4/4 Warnings: f/f sex, angst, violence, death (canon and non-canon characters) Disclaimer: Paramount owns Star Trek. "Someone to Watch Over Me" by George and Ira Gershwin (1926). This is not for profit, just for fun. Archiving: FFF, ASCEM, others please ask. Feedback: Yes please, here or by email. Notes: ^ ^ indicates telepathy. Written for Round XV of the Femme Fuh-q Fest -- http://www.geocities.com/femme_fuhq_fest/ Summary: The Federation faces a series of challenges which threaten Apocalypse | Pale by longbeachtrekstar, July 2004 "And I looked, and behold, a pale horse, and his name that sat on him was Death. And Hell followed with him." -- Revelations [6:8] ***** Commissioner Janeway and the rest of the Cabinet sat in awed silence, watching the garbled recording on their viewscreen wall. The log- transmission of the Faulkner showed a cube-shaped vessel, visible through a haze of static and glitches. There was phaser-fire and explosions. The audio was similarly gruesome. From within a cacophony of explosions, static, and excited voices, they could hear Captain Hansen off and on. "...ship no match... tractor beam... carving us up... abandon ship..." When it ended, the audience remained silent. Finally, Janeway spoke. "These... 'Borg'... have swept across the Klingon Empire like a bat'leth through butter. And now it appears quite clear that they intend to engage *us*... Admiral Yar?" The patched and scarred Fleet Commander rose to address the Cabinet. "The Faulkner was the command ship of Task Force Raven, currently patrolling the Klingon border in the El-Adrel system. We don't know for sure that the Borg knew it was the command ship, but according to some sensor transmissions we received, it looks like they sought out and engaged the Faulkner specifically. Two smaller Federation ships which tried to assist were also destroyed. Others were en route but did not arrive in time, and the Borg were apparently uninterested in going out of their way to attack them. "There have been two more Cubes reported crossing into Federation space, along with several smaller, sphere-shaped vessels." She turned to address Janeway directly. "At the lead Cube's estimated speed and heading, it will encounter J'naii in 17 hours... Setlik in 32 hours... and if they aren't slowed down, they could reach the Terran system in 96 hours." Just then, Janeway's intercom buzzed. With a mild look of annoyance, she pushed a button. "What is it?" "I'm sorry to interrupt, Sir," said her aide, Ensign Nicoletti, from the outer office. "But we're receiving a transmission that I think you ought to see." "Put it through." The scene on the wall shimmered again, and when the image resolved itself, every person in the room gasped: It was Captain Hansen, though they could hardly recognize her. Her beautiful long blonde hair was gone, revealing a now pale and blotchy scalp. Her previously warm blue eyes were now cold and dark -- at least one of them was. The other had been entirely replaced by some kind of ocular implant. She was covered with a body suit which also included numerous attachments. She stood before the cavernous interior of a spaceship -- presumably the Cube that had captured her. She spoke with the inhuman voice of her captors, not even using her own name: "We are the Borg. The human you knew as Hansen is no more. This unit," she said, referring to herself, "is now Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct to Unimatrix One, and will speak for us in all communications. The United Federation of Planets will be assimilated by the Borg collective. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Resistance is futile. Your life, as it has been, is over. From this time forward, you will service *us*." ***** Deanna found herself wandering in a lush, subtropical wilderness. She was immediately aware that she was barefoot, soft grass and loose soil under her feet. She then realized that she was, in fact, completely naked. Where was she? How'd she get here? If this was a dream, what was its meaning? She tried to figure out the last thing she could remember, but all was blank. She looked around. The sky was a pale haze -- providing light, but no sun to mark direction. The foliage itself had an iridescent quality about it, seeming to give off a glow of its own. Despite the abundant foliage, and the fact that there were no trails to speak of, it was still easy for her to make her way in almost any direction. She wandered the terrain for a while, not able to gauge the passage of time or distance in any measurable sense. Faintly, she heard a sound in the distance. A voice, possibly. She did her best to find its source. It was frustrating as she took many wrong turns along the way, but ever so slowly she drew closer. It was not a speaking voice, but singing that she heard: "There's a somebody I'm longing to see. I hope that she turns out to be Someone who'll watch over me." Deanna finally happened upon a clearing. Peering through some branches, she saw a dazzling blonde beauty lying on the soft grass. She too was naked, and Deanna drew a breath as she took in the sight. The girl was lying on her side, propped up on one elbow, lazily picking flowers from a patch before her as she sang her tune: "I'm a little lamb who's lost in the wood. I know I could always be good To one who'll watch over me." Deanna approached the woman. She knew it was strange -- one naked woman approaching another in the middle of nowhere -- but she didn't let it bother her. After all, she was convinced that the whole scenario was most likely a delusion of some kind. The woman looked up and smiled pleasantly, absently holding a daisy in her hand. "Hello," she said simply. "Hello," answered Deanna. She stood before the stranger with her hands in front of her in the classic fig-leaf pose. It was not a conscious act on her part, but more instinctual. The blonde before her had no such inhibitions, as she rose from her reclined position to sit upright, limbs spread like a child on the living room floor. Deanna realized she still had her empathic abilities, as she sensed nothing but innocence from the young lady. Despite herself, Deanna's own thoughts were somewhat less than innocent, looking at the feminine form before her. "I'm Deanna," she offered. The blonde only stared. "And you are?" The question seemed to take the stranger by surprise. "I'm... I'm..." She frowned, then smiled suddenly. "I'm Annika," she finally answered, getting up and wandering off through the trees. Slightly annoyed, Deanna followed after her. "Can you tell me anything else? About this place? It's rather important." "No, I'm just here. Sometimes I'm not." She stopped and turned to face Deanna. "And then I'm here again. But why are you here? I've never seen anyone else here before." A slight breeze lifted a few of Deanna's locks, and Annika reached out to catch them. Lowering her hand, she ran her fingers along De's cheek, her upper arm, and -- ever so lightly -- the side of her breast. Deanna felt her heart rate increase, and her mouth went dry. She was about to lean toward Annika, when the young blonde stepped back with a start, saying only, "I have to go." Suddenly, she was gone. She didn't walk away -- she was just gone. The wilderness was gone too, and all was dark. Deanna was alone. She looked around in a panic. More than just *standing* in darkness, she felt as if she were floating in it -- in a non-real, dream-like world. "Annika! Where are you! Somebody! Help me!" ***** The test-tube slipped from Doctor Crusher's fingers. The unbreakable glass bounced off the floor, scattering its harmless saline solution as the doctor reached dizzily for the edge of the table. Doctor Ogawa moved to her side. "Beverly! Are you all right?" "I was just... I felt something. Heard something. Someone crying out... It almost felt like..." Beverly looked up with surprise and fear in her eyes. "Deanna!" She turned and raced out of the lab, heading down to the infirmary level of the new Starfleet Medical Headquarters. Ogawa followed after her. She found her in Troi's room, holding her hand and staring mournfully at the comatose patient. Beverly turned to Alyssa, tears welling up in her eyes. "There's no change. I must have been imagin-" ^Beverly!^ Crusher turned back to Deanna. "Oh my God! Deanna! Deanna, can you hear me?" ^Beverly... please, help me...^ ***** Admiral Yar addressed the assembled Cabinet via subspace from aboard the Salinger. "We've assembled our forces at Wolf 359 -- almost as many as we had at the Battle of Khitomer. Yesterday, I would have thought it'd be more than enough to stop a few enemy vessels. But based on the reports we're getting from our scouts... well, I just hope we can hold out." "And if you're not able to hold the line, Admiral?" asked Janeway. "What then?" "I've committed every vessel I dare, Commissioner. If we fail, the ones in reserve will only be able to engage in delaying tactics to hopefully let anyone in their path evacuate." Kira was incredulous. "You want us to evacuate entire planets on a few hours' notice?" Yar sounded apologetic. "I don't know what else to suggest." Janeway spoke ominously. "There's no need for reserves, Admiral. Commit everything you've got. The way they swept across the Klingons, it's obvious there's no place to evacuate *to*. We've got to stop them, here, now." Doctor Crusher spoke up. "This may sound like a long shot, but last night I was suddenly able to establish a telepathic link with Deanna Troi." "Troi?!" scoffed Kira. "Why that traitorous bitch isn't dead already is beyond me!" Janeway held up a hand to quiet her intelligence director. She turned to Crusher. "So she's starting to mend. What of it?" "Well, our link only lasted a few moments, but she told me of another contact she'd had -- with Annika Hansen." More than one set of eyebrows went up at that statement. Kira attacked again. "Assuming you actually did connect with her, what does one of her delusions have to do with-" "I don't think it *was* a delusion. She's been comatose for over six months. She's never met Captain Hansen, and knows nothing about current events. Yet, as soon as Captain Hansen was kidnapped into this... this 'collective' -- with its strange interconnected mind -- Deanna came into contact with her." "Assuming, for the moment, that she did," said Janeway, "what can we do with it?" Crusher stared blankly for a few silent moments. "I... I don't know." "Then for now," Janeway turned back to Yar on the viewscreen, "I think we'd best proceed with our current plan." Tasha managed a smile and jauntily adjusted her eye-patch. "We'll give 'em hell, Commissioner!" "Godspeed, Admiral." ***** Deanna walked once again through the now-familiar wilderness. She did not search desperately -- that hadn't helped before. She just let herself wander, confident that she would cross paths with her mysterious acquaintance soon enough. She was right. Parting some branches, she saw her new friend once more -- beautiful in all her luxurious nakedness. Deanna approached the blonde, who turned and smiled, recognizing her. Deanna returned the smile. "Hello, Annika... You're Annika Hansen." "Yes, I know." Annika strolled across the soft grass. "I'm a bit clearer-headed now than before. I recognize this place for what it is -- and me for what I am. A drone. A slave to the Borg collective. I don't know what I do when I'm there -- I doubt if it's very nice. And when I'm regenerating..." She gestured around herself. "The others -- there are other drones able to exist here too -- call it Unimatrix Zero. A dream-world, of sorts. And what of you... 'Deanna', right? Are you a slave?" Annika sat down on the ground, and Deanna seated herself next to her. "No," she answered. "Not of the Borg, anyway. At the moment, I'm not much in control in the physical world either. But some of my abilities seem to have brought me here." Annika smiled and placed a hand on De's shoulder. "I'm glad. I was so happy to meet you earlier. It can be scary here, and lonely." Deanna almost said something -- offering her reassurance -- but actions spoke louder than words. After all, wasn't she attracted to this woman as well? She leaned close, and Annika mirrored her actions. Their lips brushed in a tentative kiss -- then pressed forward decisively. Their naked breasts were pressed together as Annika's hands found the back of Deanna's neck, while De slid her fingers across Annika's smooth back. They parted briefly after one kiss, then started another. Deanna began working her way down Annika's neck when she was gripped by a strange feeling. Looking up, she saw fear and frustration in Annika's eyes. They both stood quickly, as Annika stuttered, "I'm sorry, Deanna. I'm sor-" She faded from view once again. But Deanna was not plunged into darkness as before. Instead, the scene shifted around her. She now stood on the metal plating of a strange ship. Annika appeared again to her, but Deanna recoiled in fear. Gone was the beautiful hair and sultry feminine form of the intrepid Starfleet captain -- replaced with the horrific image of a Borg drone. She stood in one of countless coffin-like alcoves along an aisle. Her closed eyes snapped open with mechanical precision, causing Deanna to jump again. So, thought Troi. Called to duty by the Borg, Annika had been yanked out of her dream-world and back to cold reality. But how did she, Troi, fit into this? She suddenly realized that, unlike Hansen, she was still naked. Was she even really here? As if in answer, another drone clanged down the aisle with heavy footsteps. Before she could move out of the way, he passed right through her. A mind-link of some kind, De realized. She was susceptible to the thought waves of the Borg in general, and Hansen in particular. Deanna had been "pulled along" when Hansen was brought to consciousness. For whatever that was worth. Troi was only a phantom spectator as Hansen -- now "Seven of Nine" -- lurched back to life. Seven stepped before a communications console. On a large viewscreen, Federation warships of all types could be seen swarming around the Borg Cube, and a Borg Sphere that had just closed ranks. A communication channel opened. On the viewscreen was the image of a Federation officer Deanna did not recognize. "Borg vessel, this is Admiral Yar of the United Federation of Planets. You are out-numbered and out-matched. Cease hostilities immediately." Troi did not need her telepathic abilities to recognize that it was only a desperate bluff on the Admiral's part. "Cease hostilities immediately," repeated Yar, "and we will negotiate the withdrawal of your forces from-" Seven interrupted with a response. "Negotiation is irrelevant. Withdrawal is irrelevant. Your forces are inferior to ours. Resistance is futile. Surrender, or be destroyed. This communication is terminated." Yar's image disappeared, replaced once more by the battle raging without. The Federation is being cut to ribbons, thought Deanna. I've got to do something. Panic gripped her, and once again everything went dark. ^Help! Help me! We've got to stop them! We've got to stop them!^ Through the darkness, the soothing softness of Beverly's voice sounded inside Deanna's head. ^Deanna. Relax. Deanna, dear, I'm here. Everything will be okay.^ ***** Janeway and Kira stood in the otherwise empty Cabinet room, watching the video-feed from the battle site. Based on Admiral Yar's last transmission, Janeway had no illusions about how things went. The smaller Sphere had been destroyed, but Yar's ship was heavily damaged and facing an imminent warp-core breach. Yar transferred command to Captain Rachel Garrett of the Bradbury and transported as many crewmembers off her ship as possible before ordering a collision course with the Cube. The Cube sustained damage, but was not stopped. Janeway and Kira surveyed the devastated battle zone -- wreckage drifting across the viewscreen. If they caught a name on a broken hull or piece of debris, they would call it out in somber recognition. "The Kipling... the Doyle... the Kerouac... the Tolkien..." Kira spoke with an empty, hopeless voice. "More than twenty systems overrun so far. Borg hives are on the planet surfaces and spreading." "How long until they reach Earth?" "Twenty-eight hours." As Kira left, she passed Crusher in the doorway. Stepping inside, Beverly gasped at the image on the wall. Composing herself, she asked, "May I speak with you?" Janeway slumped into her chair at the head of the empty table, the personification of exhaustion. "Yes, Doctor, what is it?" "I'd like to discuss Deanna Troi again." "Look, Beverly, I know she was very important to you, but-" "Please, hear me out. I really think she's in contact with Captain Hansen aboard that Cube! She's had another... 'episode'. It's hard to explain. Sometimes she can communicate with Hansen, other times she can only watch what's going on. But their link seems to be growing stronger." "At this point, Doctor, I'm willing to try anything. Can Troi help Hansen break the Borg's control over her?" Crusher gazed once more at the desolation on the viewscreen. "She's going to try." ***** Deanna and Annika smiled at each other across a small field of grass. "I *thought* I'd find you here," said Deanna. "And I was hoping you would," replied Annika. Deanna started to approach her, but Annika put her hand up. "Wait. Let me look at you." Annika's sparkling blue eyes roamed over Deanna's nude form, following her gentle curves -- from calf, to hip, to breast, to glowing cheek. She smiled as she noticed De's hands nervously hovering over her crotch, a dark thatch of curly hair disappearing between her legs. She looked up at the long, twisty locks of Deanna's raven hair. And then settled on the bottomless pools of darkness that were her Betazoid eyes. Annika sighed. "I don't think I ever noticed how beautiful you are." Deanna closed the gap between them. "Well, I noticed you straight away. A gorgeous blonde sitting naked in a field of daisies kind of catches my attention." She put her arms around Annika, who followed suit, and they leaned into a kiss. "I was able to follow you before -- when you returned to the Borg. I couldn't communicate with you, but I think our link is growing stronger." Annika kissed her way down into the nape of De's neck. "I know my *feelings* for you are growing stronger. It would suit me just fine if we never had to leave here again." She laid Deanna down onto the grass and settled on top of her. She playfully toyed with several strands of Deanna's dark hair before resuming kissing her way down her body. Annika's hands caressed the curves she had gazed upon a few moments earlier. She cupped one of Deanna's breasts in each hand, gently lifting and massaging the flesh. At first, she kissed and licked her way down the cleavage between each breast, thrilling Deanna, before finally making her way first to one and then the other dark brown nipple. Deanna started to lose herself in the sensual attention being lavished on her. She felt a pang of guilt when she considered that a war was raging and lives were being lost beyond this strange haven of theirs. It also occurred to her that this might be just the thing to strengthen the bond between them, so that she might actually be able to help Annika in the physical world. She gasped as Annika's tongue found her navel -- the same moment the blonde's fingers found her pulsing slit. Deanna's legs naturally parted as Annika began stroking her from the inside. Her mouth catching up to her fingers, Annika gently licked and sucked Deanna's hooded clit. As her fingers moved in and out, she began sucking, and eventually gently nibbling, on the growing apex of Deanna's sex. Annika withdrew her fingers and, locking her eyes on Deanna's in a laser-intense stare, seductively licked every bit of sweetness from her digits. The image sent shivers through the Betazoid as she watched the blue-eyed blonde disappear once more between her legs. Deanna played with her own breasts, squeezing the mounds and pinching their firm tips. A soft, wet, and very warm tongue swiped across her sensitive lips and burrowed its way inside. Her legs reflexively closed tightly around Annika's neck as her hips began bucking in uncontrolled spasms. She tried biting her lip, but eventually let out a cathartic, "Ohhhh!" Deanna's entire body went limp against the ground, and it seemed as if the soft grass was massaging her throbbing flesh. Annika moved up to lie beside her, nuzzling between her neck and breast. Deanna's hand drifted across to her partner's breasts, tracing soft circles around their pink centers. Annika moaned and drew her legs up until her feet rested flat on the ground. Deanna took the hint and rolled over onto her hands and knees. Her body at right angles to Annika lying on her back, Deanna dipped her head between her new lover's radiant thighs, her tongue extended, like a cat about to take a drink. And indeed she was -- dipping her tongue into Annika's sweet fountain, as her fingers gently scratched about in a thick blonde thatch of fur. A satisfying "Mmmm" rose from Annika's mouth as Deanna explored the soft peaks and valleys of her sex. Annika reached up and ran her hand down the subtle bumps of Deanna's spine, trailing her fingers gently across the smooth roundness of her ass, coming to rest on the soft puffiness of Deanna's aroused pussy. Deanna raised her head with a grunt. She rather aggressively pushed Annika's legs wide and climbed between them. Aligned directly above her, Deanna bent down and kissed Annika on the mouth. Their tongues wrapped themselves around each other for the first time as Deanna pushed her groin against her partner's. Both their pussies were wet with desire, and they rocked and thrust against each other in passionate abandon. Their breaths grew short, and sweat coated each of their brows. In a quiet corner of her mind, Deanna noted how very real this world seemed -- whatever it might actually be. Deanna's thoughts were yanked back to the present as orgasms swept over them both. Their bodies jerked and spasmed against each other as they shared that most intimate of events. They lay side by side in the idyllic setting, but they barely had a moment to bathe in the afterglow when Annika froze, her eyes wide. "Oh, no!" Deanna quickly rolled on top of her. She kissed her on the lips and laced the fingers of each of her hands in each of Annika's. "I'm here with you, Annika! No matter what happens, I'll be with you!" ***** Deanna found herself on her hands and knees on the floor of a Cube. She looked up to see Annika -- Seven of Nine -- rising from her cybernetic slumber and walking with robotic strides to a control station. ^Annika, can you hear me?^ On various viewscreens were star charts, the positions of the other Cubes, and a long-distance view of Earth itself. As they closed in on Sol, a rag-tag squadron of spaceships moved against them. The ships opened fire, but were quickly dispatched by the Borg. ^Deanna!^ Seven's mouth did not move, but Annika's mind reached out nonetheless. ^I... I can't stop myself. Help me.^ Deanna concentrated, trying to lend her strength to Annika's. ^I'm here, Annika. I'll help you. You can do it. You've got to stop them.^ Saturn and its beautiful rings slipped by, and Jupiter loomed large dead-ahead, as other ships closed in. ^The Borg are going to destroy them,^ warned Annika. ^You can stop them, Annika. You're as connected as any one of them. Take charge, Annika! Stop them!^ Seven began feverishly working controls. The ships were targeted. They were about to be destroyed. Then... they passed by unharmed. ^Others are trying to stop me. Trying to isolate me from the Collective.^ Deanna "stood" next to Seven, though of course she was not truly there. Just as well, she thought. What an absurd image she made, a naked Betazoid standing next to a Borg in combat. She desperately hoped that whatever genetic magic her creators had conjured up within her, back on her home planet, would be strong enough for her to help Annika hold on. ^You've got to turn them away from Earth!^ ^I've got it!^ cried Annika. For the first time, she sounded optimistic. ^I can't access the propulsion controls, but I can access navigation.^ ^What are you going to do?^ ^I can realign -- *misalign* -- the coordinate axes. Make us fly into a planet when they think we're flying through open space. I can even do the same with the other Cubes.^ Deanna watched as Seven worked a myriad of controls. Annika's mind was linked to the Collective, and Deanna's mind was linked to hers. She could feel the mental assault as Annika's commands conflicted with the Collective's. At any moment, Annika might stop being Annika and become just Seven of Nine. Summoning all her will, Deanna was determined not to let that happen. Annika "spoke" again. ^Wait! I've found something else!^ ^What is it?^ ^Their trans-warp technology... It's how the Borg travel so quickly across the galaxy... The equations, the schematics, I can transmit it all to the Federation. They can close off all the trans-warp conduits. They can even create their own!^ Like water seeping through an earthen dam, Deanna could feel the force of the Collective breaking through her mental barrier. ^Hurry, Annika! For God's sake, please hurry!^ ***** Beverly stood over the motionless body of Deanna Troi. She stared, blankly and dry-eyed, at the screen of Troi's heart monitor -- and the flat line endlessly redrawing itself from one side to the other. A high-pitched warning signal rang unheeded in the Doctor's ears. Doctor Ogawa moved silently into the room. Standing beside Beverly, she reached over and turned off the monitor. Bev continued to stare at the blank screen. Alyssa put a hand on Bev's shoulder, breaking her spell. Beverly closed her eyes, pushing a tear out from each one. Turning toward Alyssa, she collapsed into her arms as sobs overpowered her. ***** Janeway and Kira sat in an easy chair and a couch, respectively, in a corner of Kathryn's large office. They each nursed a cup of coffee. Kira would have preferred a strong cup of raktajino, but she'd grown accustomed to Terran coffee. It was ubiquitous throughout Starfleet. Janeway held a report in her hand. Reports were never-ending, it seemed. It was a salvage report on the Borg Cube. It had inexplicably veered off course at the last minute and crashed on Mars. The other Borg ships had crashed as well, except for one of the Spheres, which had gone spiraling out of the quadrant on an erratic course. Surprisingly, there were a large number of survivors at the crash sites, and Starfleet Medical was trying to undo the assimilation of a number of beings -- some of which Starfleet had never encountered before. Hot debate was raging about what to do with the Klingons and Romulans. With the closure of the trans-warp conduits linking them to the Collective, the Borg that were left behind were in a state of chaos. Some in the Federation wanted to help the Klingons break free from their assimilation. Others thought it appropriate to let them rot. As for the Romulans, Janeway had already made plans in that area. "So," asked Kira. "You've decided to make Garrett's position permanent?" "Yes. Rachel's good -- experienced, mature." Janeway's gaze was far away. "I just wish I didn't have to sacrifice so many good officers for others to be promoted." She swallowed hard, and smiled, marshalling her emotions. "She'll have the fleet back in shape in no time." "I hope so," mused Kira. "I understand she's off on her first mission already. To Romulus, no less." "Yes, with ten of our best ships. Let's just hope the Romulans don't realize that they're just about the only working ships we've got left. Using adapted Borg technology, she'll open a trans-warp portal right above their capital city, and hover there just long enough to deliver our message." "Which is?" "In so many words, it basically boils down to: 'Don't fuck with us.' Hopefully, a demonstration of our new-found ability to attack anywhere, anytime, using trans-warp conduits will have them second- guessing any invasion ideas." "How goes everything else?" "Quite well, all things considered. Radiation protocols are still in effect in twelve systems, but most biospheres are recovering well." "And the disease!" prodded Kira. "Yes!" smiled Janeway. "A cure, at last! It'll be the largest inoculation program in galactic history, but it should work. It knocks out the virus in males *and* females. The afflicted males are recovering already." Kathryn thought wistfully of Nella and Jean-Luc. Her intimacy with Nella was most likely at an end, but hopefully their friendship would endure. And she was truly happy for Jean- Luc. "Of course, most births for the next generation or so will still be in-vitro, but they'll be from natural sperm and eggs -- not cloning." "And what of our Sisterhood of the Federation?" joked Kira. "Are we ready to let the men back into the club?" "Only time will tell. I suppose Nature will do as She sees fit." ***** Doctor Crusher worked tirelessly at her medical studies. It was the best way she knew of dealing with Deanna's death -- keeping herself too busy to think about it. Sitting at her desk, she put down her padd and rubbed the bridge of her nose. She was finding it difficult to concentrate. Suddenly, she felt a familiar sensation across her brain. The cool breeze she always felt when Deanna... but that was impossible. Still, the sensation continued. Perhaps she shouldn't be surprised. People who lose a limb often suffer from so-called phantom pains. Surely this was very much the same thing. Despite having satisfied herself of its origin, the sensation persisted. She got up and left her office, wandering the halls, trying to clear her head. She felt drawn from the research levels of Starfleet Medical down to the infirmary, where casualties from the recent Borg encounter were being treated. As Beverly turned a corner, she saw a tall blonde being helped from one of the treatment rooms. Bev recognized her as Annika Hansen, the kidnapped Starfleet captain forced to act as the Borg liaison. She was looking very much human again, although traces of the Borg implants still remained. Hansen was the source of the sensations -- Bev was sure of it. But how was that possible? Deanna had been the only one to touch Bev in that particular way. Even other telepaths she'd encountered never felt the way Deanna did. Had Hansen's encounter with Deanna changed her in some way? Was there perhaps something of Deanna that remained within Annika? Not wanting to interfere with her recovery, Bev simply watched as Captain Hansen was led away. But perhaps sometime in the future she would pay her a visit -- even get to know her. As Annika reached the corner at the far end of the hallway, she paused. She turned and stared at Beverly. Though they had never met, her expression was one of recognition. She smiled at Beverly as at a dear friend, before finally disappearing from view. (End of Part Four of Four) ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ASCEM messages are copied to a mailing list. Most recent messages can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASCEML. NewMessage: