by Joseph Anderson
jander65@hotmail.com

Star Trek Voyager. K/S, P/T

NC-17

The characters from Star Trek: Voyager belong to Paramount. No copyright infringement is intended with this fan fiction. It may not be sold and must contain all notice of copyright.

WARNING: This story contains B&D, possible nonconsensual sex and violence. It is for adults only.

The Borg resumed her seat beside him. "I am aware of that, Ensign. I took them off line. They were critically damaged and venting plasma. Quite easy to follow."

Harry muttered, "Good. That buys a little time."

An astrometric chart appeared to float in front of Seven's calm face. She said, "We can reach wormhole 369887.4271 by diverting life support to forward thrusters and expending power reserves. The coordinates are before you, Ensign." She buckled herself in.

"You got it, Seven." Harry said and expertly maneuvered the crippled craft using the remaining thrusters and its own intertia, then engaged their engine in a way you were ordered never to do in the Academy. The cabin lights dimmed and Harry smelled burning. He muttered, "And there's the wormhole."

The Borg didn't respond but simply arched an eyebrow at the useless comment. The shuttle disappeared seconds before the Hirogen hunter ships came within sensor range. The Alpha males cursed as the Beta males wondered if this was their chance.

Seven looked at him. "Actually, given the circumstances you did extremely well. Deprived of oxygen, when we exited the wormhole you located a habitable planet, navigated its atmosphere and found a landmass with foliage to cushion our crash. We are alive."

Harry smiled wanly, "Thanks. Any idea where we are?"

"Wormhole 369887.4271 links the Ashtari and Aeschylean systems. Without the shuttle's computer I cannot ascertain our position further than that."

Harry felt like his body was one big bruise. He knew Seven must feel the same but she wasn't showing it. At least neither of them had any broken bones. "Well, the Captain will realize what happened. Eventually Voyager will find us even if we can't contact them."

Seven stood up and hesitated. Harry actually saw the beginning of a wince. She said, "I share your faith, Ensign, barring some unforeseen occurrence. But we may be here for a considerable period of time. We must seek out the local population and decide upon our course of action. We should start immediately."

Harry tiredly stood up. Seven was right as usual. "I glimpsed a road. It's this way." They started out into the woods leaving the shuttle.

Harry said, "Be nice to know what it says. So we don't do whatever they did."

Seven studied the naked corpses. "The female was tortured."

"Yeah, I can see that," Harry said quietly.

They had followed a dirt road with wagon ruts. Seven and Harry were certain this was a preindustrial culture. A dangerous one.

Harry said, "They might kill us on sight just because we look different. I hate to say this..."

Seven said, "I agree, Ensign. And I share your distaste at the necessity." She picked up the clothes. "Presumably the skirt is female attire, unless you wish me to wear the trousers."

Harry had to laugh, horrible as this was. "No, no. I wear the pants around here."

The Borg studied him. "For the moment."

"Why?"

"We've seen seven dead bodies but only the females received special treatment."

"A misogynistic culture?" Seven asked calmly. She glanced at a sprawled teenaged body.

Harry couldn't look at the abused corpse. He tried not to imagine what she'd suffered. "Until we know different, yeah, I'd say it's a little woman hating."

"I agree. And...thank you for your concern, Ensign."

Harry said to Seven. "Now we know what to do with those pieces we weren't sure of. I've gotta figure out how to wrap a turban." They wore the clothes they had found. Harry saw Seven look with distaste at the bodice.

"It serves no purpose. And it appears uncomfortable."

Harry said, "It's fashion, Seven. It's flattering...I mean, look at 'em." He quickly pointed to the women as they disappeared down the road. "Them, look at them."

Seven studied what she held. "It will emphasize my breasts. Is that what you mean by flattering?"

Harry smiled nervously. "Different cultures have different standards."

Seven looked him in the eyes. "I have known since we met that you are sexually stimulated by my body."

Harry took a deep breath and said, "You got me. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

Seven said, "I am not trying to 'get you.' And there is nothing for you to apologize for. This culture obviously shares Earth's obsession with mammary glands. Your own fetish should enhance our ability to blend in."

"I don't have a breast fetish!" Harry protested.

"Describe it however you wish, Ensign."

"Our luck is holding steady," Harry said ironically. The twelve men and women were stopped down the road waiting.

"They must have seen us." Seven said. "They do not appear threatening."

Harry took a breath and said, "Let's hope. Well, here goes."

A middle aged man tapped his chest and held his hand open. Harry copied the movement.

"Greetings sir," the man said. "I am Masra. Your woman appears to be quite a fine beast. Much better than my poor old creature." He indicated an attractive woman a few years younger than himself standing to the side.

Harry felt Seven stiffen. He answered, "I am Kim. Sir, your words are too kind. For my beast is not only ugly as you can see but stupid as well. I envy you your fine woman."

Masra smiled and the other men nodded approvingly. The women kept their eyes downcast which Seven copied.

Harry said, "I am new to this region."

Another man spoke up. "I said as much. No beast here wears such trim."

Harry relaxed a bit more. Seven's borg implants passed inspection. He said, "I saw some unpleasantness on the road...several men and..."

Masra angrily said, "Perhaps it's different where you hail from but it's bad luck here to speak of such things!" The men looked shocked and the women fearful. Harry and Seven couldn't tell what it meant. Were these the killers or weren't they? The subject was closed though.

"Forgive my ignorance," Harry said.

Mollified, Masra continued, "I spoke too harshly. You are a stranger, Kim. Travel with us for you and your beast's safety."

There was no way out of this Harry could see. If these were the killers and he said no that might set 'em off. And if they weren't the killers then they were right. "Thank you. I will join you gladly."

The men relaxed. Harry saw some had been fingering their daggers. That still didn't prove anything. He put his foot in his mouth bigtime apparently. Who knew what he would do next? Seven murmured to Harry, "Nicely done, Ensign."

Harry looked up but no one was outraged at Seven speaking to him. Some of the other couples communicated in low voices as well. Seven had spotted that already. "Thanks. Can you handle this?"

Seven said, "Of course I can, Ensign. Play your part and I will play mine." Her voice carried an edge.

Youch. "You got it, Seven."

"Not a bad setup," Harry said softly to Seven.

"Efficient," she agreed. The women took the packs off the animals and began making fires and bringing out cooking utensils. Seven joined them and opened the pack she carried while Harry joined the lounging men. Seven copied the women and added grain and herbs to a pot along with the others. They smiled at her and made jokes she didn't understand.

Meanwhile, Harry and the men passed around a skin of some mildly alcoholic beverage and discussed the incompetence of government officials, the dishonesty of merchants, and the merits of their respective beasts. As before, the men would insult their own women and compliment each other's. Harry got it. If one of them didn't respond in kind those long knives would be out in a second. He'd seen some flashes of temper already over small perceived slights and they grabbed their daggers without hesitation.

Aldar, one of the younger men who nearly had a fight accepted the skin from Harry and said, "Truly, I am ashamed of my beast after seeing the beautiful animal you possess." He took a drink.

Harry smiled. "I fear you mock me, my friend. For my animal is by far the poorest of all those here. And certainly cannot hold a taper to the fine beast following you."

Harry noticed a knife scar on the back of Aldar's hand. The young man got a glint in his eye and said, "I will prove to you how much finer your animal is." He looked toward the women and raised his hand. "Come here!" A young woman looked up and walked toward them. She was about 19 years old, medium height, with long black hair and almond skin.

Harry felt all of the men's eyes on him. He pointed at Seven. "Over here and be quick about it!" Seven met his eyes. Harry imagined her snapping his neck like a twig with her Borg prosthetic hand. She trotted toward them. Harry heard men make appreciative sounds.

When both women stood before the group of men the young man said, "Look at this drab. Her breasts alone shame me before all of my kinsmen." He made a hand gesture and the young woman undid the top of her leather bodice so only the lowcut blouse covered her. The man pulled the fabric down and held her naked breasts up. "Honestly, my friend. Have you ever seen such rancid dugs? Feel them yourself." The young woman simply continued holding the bodice open with her face expressionless.

Harry hoped he wasn't making a mistake that would get him killed. He reached out and felt her breasts. No one stabbed him. They were small and shapely with brown areolas. He made a show of lifting and weighing them in his hands. Harry ran his thumbs over her nipples and they hardened. He heard men chuckle. Harry tried not to be stimulated. He smiled at the young man and said, "Lovely. I am ashamed to show you how hideous my creature is." Harry felt sudden tension all around him and knew there was no way out. He tried. Harry dropped the girl's breasts and turned to Seven. Her face betrayed nothing. He made the same hand movement as the young man.

Seven watched Ensign Kim examine the female's mammary glands. He took a ridiculous risk trying to spare her but at least he rectified it. Seven unlaced the top of the leather garment squeezing her breasts together. She had to open her bodice more than the other female since she was considerably larger. She looked Ensign Kim in the eyes. He walked up and pulled the under garment down exposing her own mammary glands to all the men. Seven stopped herself from blushing. She shouldn't be embarrassed. It was an irrelevant emotion. Seven felt her heart beat faster as Harry lifted up her large pale breasts for inspection and they spilled over his splayed fingers.

"Look at this! Just look at it! Like udders! Pheew!" Harry dropped her with apparent distaste.

The young man came over and squeezed Seven's breasts together. Aldar buried his face in the cleft then sucked on first her left nipple, then the right. He looked up. "Aw, my friend. Such beauty! And the taste puts my cow to shame."

Harry wanted to pound the guy's face in. Instead he got a disbelieving look and sucked on the other girls tits. "Your fine manners alone could explain such a statement. For these teats make my beast's seem like dried turds."

The young man laughed and slapped Harry on the back. Seven wanted to cover up but the other girl stood exposed and waiting. Seven looked down at her own nipples, hard and wet from a stranger's mouth. She felt faint for a moment then reasserted her will. This means nothing, she told herself. Nothing! It is irrelevant! The other women watched.

Aldar looked at his beast and made a sweeping hand motion. The dark haired girl unlaced the bodice and dropped it. She pulled her blouse off over her head and unlaced the top of the skirt and stepped out of it. The girl was naked except for her sandals which she kicked off. Her young body was brown and lithe. The men openly studied her. She had heavy pubic hair but no other hair on her body except for her long dark mane. Harry couldn't tell if she shaved or if it was natural for her. He glanced at Seven. She waited for his signal but when he didn't move she simply stripped, dropping her clothes as the girl had done and removing her sandals.

Aldar tilted Seven's head back and opened her mouth, pushing her lips up to examine her teeth, then expertly felt down her neck. Harry did the same with the dark girl. Without being told she held her hands up and Seven did the same. Harry copied the movements Aldar used to study Seven's hands and bent her fingers back. Aldar was fascinated by the Borg implants but didn't say anything. The females lifted their feet for the same thorough inspection. When the dark girl laced her fingers together on top of her head Seven also did so. The young man stepped behind the tall Borg female. Seven remained motionless. Aldar ran his hands down her smooth white back feeling the musculature. Then he traced her spine from the base of her skull to the beginning of the cleft in her buttocks. Harry spotted a slight quivering around Seven's organic eye. He copied all Aldar's movements with the dark teenaged girl. Aldar reached around and pressed a hand into Seven's belly with his other hand on her back. Harry remembered holograms of ancient medical techniques. The Doctor on Voyager certainly never touched anyone that way. Harry did the same movements on the dark teen who stoically accepted the treatment.

Aldar stepped back from Seven and Harry stepped away from the girl who lowered her hands. Seven copied her. Harry tried to catch her eye but she avoided him. Seven stood exposed and waited.

Two more men gestured to the women and their females hurried over. One was a tall brunette with hair down to her buttocks who looked about 20. The other was a slight redhaired girl no more than fifteen. Their men made that wide hand gesture. Harry watched the two females strip completely naked in seconds. The four nude women waited. Aldar pointed to the ground. The dark teen got down on her hands and knees with her legs spread apart. The other females did the same. Harry couldn't take his eyes off of Seven as she got down on all fours. The other men watched her too. Harry was ready to fight but Seven obediently spread herself open like a good beast.

Aldar squatted behind his dark teen girl instead of Seven. All the men were behind their own females. Harry looked at Seven's puckered anus and delicate vagina. She was a real blonde. Aldar took a small jar and dipped the fingers of his right hand in it and then passed it to the next man. When it reached Harry he saw it was scented oil. Harry knew he was being watched by the men who weren't participating. He saw what the others did and Harry slid his lubricated fingers inside of Seven's warm vagina. He massaged her gently. Harry stimulated her clitoris with his thumb in circular motions and worked his index finger inside her. She was producing her own lubrication now. Harry's face was red and his penis rigid in his loose trousers. The other men were excited as well and the women were moving rhythmically with them. Harry realized Seven was rocking forward and back on his hand. First one then another woman moaned. Seven moaned. Harry was sure she feigned it. Then her vagina contracted on his fingers and her muscular buttocks went taut. Seven put her face on ground and stretched her hands out with her ass up in the air. Her body shook. "Yes...yes...yes...yes!" Her entire body shook and Harry felt the waves of contractions on his hand. Harry heard another cry and saw other but not all the women reach orgasms as well. Finally Seven's body relaxed. Like the other beasts she shakily resumed her previous position on her hands and knees.

The men stepped back from the satisfied animals. They all had erections tenting their trousers. The women turned to look up at their men. Harry saw Seven gaze up at him with apparent adoration exactly like the other beasts. The Borg copied them and untied Harry's trousers. Harry watched Voyager's formidable chief of Astrometrics pull his hard penis out. Now the beasts passed the oil around. Seven oiled his penis and carressed it with her long fingers. Harry felt her tickle his testicles. Then she grasped the shaft and rubbed her palm over the head of his dick. The other naked beasts were masturbating their men. A man grunted and ejaculated on the face of his worshipful open-mouthed female. Harry caught Seven's eyes but she remained in character and all he saw was adoration. She rapidly worked the hand grasping him up and down, while her other hand massaged his balls. Harry felt the pressure building and knew it was inevitable. Seven opened her mouth as his semen cascaded over her beautiful face. Harry thought of Neelix's glazed doughnuts. Breathing hard and overwhelmed, Harry watched Seven submissively stand. God, she's so beautiful Harry thought, followed by God she's gonna kill me later. She really is gonna kill me. Harry covered himself and copied the men's dismissive hand gesture. Seven picked her clothes up and scurried away. Harry saw the other beasts clean them. He caught himself. Not beasts, women. Women!

Aldar came over to Harry with a smile. He removed his ornate dagger and sheath and held them out to Harry. Careful, Harry accepted them. Aldar said, "I'll win it back, my friend. What a responsive animal you have! But one never knows with beasts. Sometimes they just aren't in the mood or perhaps have a headache. Then no matter how hard a man labors one can't make them spill."

Harry grinned. "I was fortunate today. Tomorrow I may not be. But we both have fine beasts, don't we?"

The young man seriously said, "You must meet my father. He is an important man and can help a stranger. My father says we don't know how to speak anymore, that my generation has no manners. Hearing you, I understand what he means."

Harry said, "You honor me, my friend."

Aldar hugged him. Surprised, Harry returned it.

Seven looked submissively at him but her low voice was like steel. "I told you before, Ensign, play your part and I will play mine." Harry felt his balls contract. He saw some other men talking quietly with their demure females and guessed there was more there as well. Maybe not as much as him and Seven but who knows?

"Masra, it's been a long time." The man was around 40, big and red faced.

Harry heard Aldar mutter, "Not long enough."

The leader said coolly, "Your exile is over is it, Gar?"

"Still angry? It was a fair fight." Gar smirked.

"My nephew was nothing but a boy. There was nothing fair about it."

The big man grinned. "I paid the blood price, Masra. Now I'm back. These roads are dangerous. Aren't you going to ask me to join you?"

Masra turned away. "If you wish." Gar laughed and fell in with the men as his beast joined the women.

The group reached another prepared campsite that evening. After the meal Harry was tense. Gar had been eyeing Seven since joining them. When Gar approached the Borg said, "Be careful, Ensign."

"Thanks," Harry said and rose to meet the man who towered over him.

Gar looked down and said, "Kim. What kind of name is that?"

Harry said, "Like any other." Everyone watched them.

Gar said, "Show me your beast."

"She's not worth examining." Harry spoke perfunctorily and rested his hand on his dagger.

Gar frowned, raised a hand and whistled. A tall blonde girl jogged over. She looked about 25 and wore her hair in two long braids. Her eyes were red. The big man grabbed the back of her head and bent her over so she had to put her hands out to keep from falling. He lifted her skirt up and kicked her legs further apart. She was naked under the skirt. The beast managed to keep her balance. Gar spread her lips open roughly and inserted two long-nailed dirty fingers.

Harry glanced at the other men. Their hands were on their blades watching. Masra's eyes were like ice. Harry sarcastically asked, "So?"

The big man pulled his wet fingers out. "Have a taste. Then it's my turn." He leered at Seven.

Aldar snarled, "Gar, this is a stranger!" The big man shrugged and stuck his thumb in her anus.

The girl remained bent over with her skirt up and her legs spread. Her arms shook with the effort of holding the position. She bent her legs slightly to relieve the pain. Gar pushed her so her face went into the rocky ground. Harry jumped between them and shoved Gar back. "Leave her alone!"

Gar looked at Masra. "Again? Another nephew?" He yanked out his dagger. Harry did the same and got up on the balls of his feet like B'elanna taught him. The big man lunged and Harry avoided it. Too late he knew he'd fallen for a feint. Harry was ready for the knife in his gut. Instead Gar crumpled to the ground. The other men stood around him with bloody knives.

Gar moaned, "You're all...dead... my ...clan..."

Aldar spat to the side. Masra wiped his dagger off on Gar and said, "Avenge you? Not likely." Gar shook and then was still. Masra looked at Harry. "It's good to know what kind of man you are."

"Quite a day, huh Seven?" Harry said ironically. He spoke softly even though no one was close. They weren't monsters he knew. But he didn't want them to hear him speak to Seven like an equal. It was late in the evening and this was their first chance to talk since the killing. There was a ritual of preparing Gar's corpse for burial and, surprise, it was men only.

"Ensign, I did not come to your aid because I saw the men planned to do so."

Harry smiled. "You were worried about that? I know, Seven."

The beautiful Borg said, "I am relieved to know that, Ensign."

"You like me. You really like me." He spoke lightly.

"Of course, I do." Seven was serious.

Harry held his hands out. He always said the wrong thing. "A joke."

"Sally Field's Oscar acceptance speech, Earth late 20th century." Seven arched an eyebrow.

Harry said, "I'm so out of my league with you."

"Must we engage in the same rituals as these ignorant aborigines?"

Harry grimaced. "That famous Borg tact."

"More humor. Very amusing, Ensign. However, I must speak to you about something."

He got serious. "What is it, Seven?"

The Borg said, "Vannas, the female you defended today, is in an unenviable position."

"How?"

"Unless a male takes possession of Vannas bandits will enslave her."

Harry said, "How is that worse? The women are already slaves."

Seven studied him. "I have been speaking with the females. These are fine upstanding men and the women do not consider themselves slaves but wives. The men have clan ties with Gar and can't take Vannas. It would cause a blood feud with Gar's kinsmen. Feuds can last generations and kill scores of people."

Harry was puzzled. "Killing him isn't a problem but marrying his widow is?"

Seven said patiently, "They are preoccupied with honor. Hospitality to strangers is paramount. Harming beasts is also proscribed. Gar was not a well-liked man, Ensign. He was suspected of being a bandit himself. But for one of these men to take his woman would insult Gar's clan." She added, "Bandits are literally out-laws who flout conventional morality as a matter of pride. The females are terrified of falling into their hands."

"So bandits were responsible for those bodies we saw?" Harry asked.

"Yes, the women will speak of it to each other. The females we saw are better off."

Harry grimaced and asked, "Do you know what the signs on the bodies said?"

"It roughly translates as 'The beast died screaming. Ha ha ha.'"

"God..." Harry said.

Seven clearly stated, "These aren't men who commit such atrocities."

Harry commented, "You're awfully understanding about women as chattel."

Seven coldly said, "I am Borg. Ensign, you're provincial attitudes are out of place here."

"Oh, okay. So what about Vannas?"

"You must claim her. As a stranger you are not bound by clan ties and Gar shamed his clan. They will not retaliate."

Harry said, "All right. How do I claim her?"

Seven said, "Rape her in front of the collective."

"What!?"

"Is something wrong with your hearing, Ensign? Perhaps the doctor should examine you when we return to Voyager."

The men saved his life even though he was a stranger. Now they expected him to step up and do the right thing. The women wanted him to do it most of all. They were the ones behind this. The women decided it amongst themselves then started whispering in their mens' ears; just like Seven and him.

Masra came over and patted his shoulder. Harry glanced where the women slept. He couldn't make out Seven from the others.

The leader sat down. Masra said, "I understand, Kim."

Harry smiled bleakly and looked away.

Masra continued, "We have to be strong because beasts are weak. Or so we like to say."

Harry looked down at his hands. "I don't know if I can do it."

Masra said, "I was in a similar situation once."

Harry looked up. "Really?"

The older man looked in his eyes. "Yes. The sister of my first beast, not this one. This was years ago...that beast died in childbirth...my son died too." His voice faltered then he continued with false bravado, "But that's neither here nor there. Her husband was slain and no one could take her but me by clan law. My beast begged me but I was not a man but a child. I could not." Masra's voice trailed off.

"What happened?" Harry asked.

Masra wouldn't look at him. "She left the town. The beast had no choice. You saw that unpleasantness on the road. My wife found her own sister, what bandits left of her." The older man abruptly stood up. "She never smiled on me from that day on. Does your beast wish you to do this?"

"She does."

"Don't make my mistake, son. I cherish my woman now, but every morning and night I pray the Great One cares for my old beast and her sister. I beg he gives them my place in the Good Land. I deserve to dwell in frigid darkness for my cowardice."

The women stepped aside and Harry found Vannas standing with Seven. The Borg said, "Sisters..." The women took positions enclosing them but facing away. Seven said, "Ensign. You can do what you must."

Harry glanced at Vannas's frightened face. "That's easy for you to say."

Seven of Nine calmly said, "I'll help you."

Harry was surprised and not sure where this was going. "Uh...how..." Seven opened her bodice. "Oh." She took Harry's hands and placed them on her breasts. He felt helpless.

The beautiful Borg got down on her knees. Harry started to protest but Seven looked up and smiled. "Resistance is futile." She reached inside his pants and took his soft penis in her mouth. Harry felt himself hardening.

"Mmmnfllluffmnn.."

"What?"

She took his penis out of her mouth and repeated, "I'm fluffing you. It's a term from the Terran pornographic film industry. A fluff girl would assist the male actors reach the proper state of arousal for their scenes." She ran her tongue around the tip of his penis. Then she lifted the shaft and took one of his testicles in her mouth. Harry got instantly hard. She tickled his balls, licked up the underside of his dick for its entire length, kissed the head and replaced him in his trousers.

Harry was breathing hard. "Thanks." He grabbed Vannas by the arm and hauled her struggling over to the circle of men. Vannas tried to bolt away but Harry caught her by the hair and threw her to the ground. She got up and Harry slapped her down. Vannas covered her face with her hands. He yanked down the bodice and pushed Vannas on her back. Harry was excited and not only from Seven's ministrations. He didn't like that about himself. Vannas flailed her arms and her hand connected with his face. Harry pinned her arms down. A length of rope was tossed next to him and he tied her hands in front of her.

"Stop! Please! Don't! Oh please!" Vannas was crying. Harry was revolted but he couldn't afford that now. He got up and pulled her skirt off. The helpless girl looked at him and the watching men. She was naked except for the bodice bunched around her middle. Her large breasts showed Harry's red fingermarks.

Harry ordered, "Spread your legs, animal" The girl tried to scramble away but Harry caught her easily. "Rope." Several lengths fell near him. He grabbed two up and roughly pulled Vannas over to one of the supporting poles for the roof. The circle of men followed him. Vannas weakly struggled as Harry tied a length of rope to each ankle. One he tied to the pole. The other he looped around a stone bench and stretched the beast's legs wide apart. This was it. He started to lose his erection so Harry pretended Vannas was Seven. His penis hardened and he took it from his pants and placed it at the entrance of her vagina. She was slippery inside and he knew she'd prepared herself. Harry grabbed her by the hair and rammed inside the helpless beast. He was excited by her slick warmth. He pumped away with his eyes closed, imagining he was fucking Seven of Nine in the dirt. He felt the pressure building. Harry pulled his cock out and grunted as he ejaculated on her white breasts in spurts. When he finished Harry loosened the tight grip on the beast's hair. Harry put himself back in his pants and cut the ropes from her ankles and wrists. The circle of men broke up. The women hurried over and carried Vannas away. Harry stood alone.

Seven of Nine approached him. "I must help care for her, Ensign."

"All right."

She started away then turned back. "An excellent money shot, Ensign."

"Thanks." Harry watched her join the other beasts. He sat down on a bench.

Captain Janeway sat forward in her command chair as Commander Chakotay looked over the helman's shoulder.

Voyager was orbiting a small M-class world. It had taken them three months to doggedly follow the shuttle's trail and they'd had to fight off Hirogen twice. They had located the shuttle but their crewmen were nowhere near it.

Tom Paris said, "The signals are surrounded by many other lifeform readings."

The captain stood up. "A town possibly. I'll take an away team down."

Paris said, "Captain, I'd like to volunteer for the team."

"All right, Tom."

Chakotay opened his mouth but Janeway said, "I'm leading this team. You're objection is duly noted." He didn't say anything. The captain smiled. "You can select the team, Commander. Provided it includes Lieutenant Paris."

"As you say," Chakotay said grimly.

As they entered the village, Tuvok commented, "A highly developed aesthetic sense, Captain."

"I see that," Janeway agreed. Sophisticated animal motifs decorated every structure. "Picard would be fascinated by all this."

B'elana Torres said admiringly, "It's nothing but mudbrick but these could stand a thousand years."

Janeway said, "Let's hope they're as advanced in other ways." Pack animals stood outside a somewhat larger building that voices emerged from.

Tom Paris said, "Shall we check it out, Captain?"

The captain said, "We have to start somewhere."

The five member away team walked inside and stopped.

"What in the...?" Paris muttered. He heard the captain and B'elana gasp.

Two naked women squatted on tables supported by their hands. They were surrounded by men whose hands felt their breasts and whose fingers were inserted in their vaginas and rectums. One was Seven of Nine, the other a tall blonde woman whose two long braids touched the table. Harry stood to the side holding a drink and talking with another man. He saw the away team and got quiet. The older man with him followed his eyes and stepped forward. The men stepped away from them but Seven and the other woman kept their exposed positions. Other women in various stages of undress watched. The men rested their hands on daggers. Harry set his drink down.

Masra tapped his chest and held his hand out. When Captain Janeway moved to copy it, Harry stepped forward and slapped her. "Beast, keep your place!" Harry prayed they followed his lead. He saw a slight hand sign from the captain to the other's. He nervously watched B'elanna but she held still. Harry turned to face Masra and the others.

"What is this, Kim?" Masra asked quietly.

"These fools belong to my clan."

Aldar said, "The beasts don't know how to act. I see why you left."

B'elana snarled, "Who're you calling, beasts?" Tuvok reached out and she collapsed from the nerve pinch. Tom stared at Tuvok and made his hands into fists.

Harry grabbed Tom's arm and demanded, "What are you doing here, cousin?"

Tom Paris whirled furiously, but seeing Harry, got control of himself. "We're here for you. The...clan needs you." His eyes burned.

"Indeed," Tuvok said. "Your father has died." Tom's eyes flashed at the vulcan.

The men muttered and fingered their knives. Harry looked at the two naked women still squatting widely on the table. "Beasts, cover yourselves." Seven and Vannas jumped off and pulled their bodices and skirts on in seconds. The other women remained as they were. Harry looked at Masra. "I must return."

Aldar said, "Don't go! Stay here with us, brother!"

Masra said, "Quiet, Aldar. Kim, is this truly your duty?"

"It is." Harry said simply. Masra nodded.

Masra said, "We will bid you farewell with a banquet."

Harry knew what that would mean for Seven. He said, "I cannot wait even an hour, even a minute. My clan has summoned me." Masra's eyes got angry then softened again and he nodded. Harry shook his hand and the hand of every man in the room. When he reached Aldar the young man grabbed him in a bear hug. Harry said, "Say goodbye to your father. I have a boon to ask, friend."

"Anything, Kim," Aldar replied.

"A man may only possess one beast in my land. Take Vannas."

Aldar's face blanched. Kim reassured him. "You don't have to do what I did. My kinsmen won't harm her." He said to Tom, "Tell him."

Paris followed Harry's lead. "Our clan will not harm her."

Vannas wept with relief and sank to the floor. Aldar lifted her up and supported her gently. Masra eyed Tom Paris with contempt. He said with disgust. "Have you no honor?"

Tom quipped, "I suppose not."

Masra pulled his knife. Harry quickly said, "He has always been a fool, Masra. Don't lower yourself." Tom kept his mouth shut. Idiot! He'd be hearing about this from the captain. The older man didn't move. Harry added, "He is still my kinsman," and rested his hand on his dagger. Masra nodded and sheathed his weapon. The room relaxed.

Tuvok picked up B'elana's unconscious form and Captain Janeway kept her eyes downcast like the other women.

"Farewell," Harry said and strode out of the building followed by Seven. The rest of the away team followed them.

When they were outside the village Seven and Harry stopped and looked at one another. Harry said, "Captain, you might as well arrest me now."

The captain said, "Seven, should we be thinking of drafting charges against Ensign Kim?"

Tuvok said, "In addition to the charges for striking a superior officer. Mr. Kim, prepare yourself for..."

Tom Paris snapped at Tuvok, "And you attacked B'elana. Arrest yourself!"

Janeway said, "Never mind that, Tuvok. We went in without learning enough. That's my fault." Tuvok didn't respond, but set about reviving B'elana, as Tom knelt beside her.

Seven clasped her hands behind her back. She hadn't stood like that in three months. "In keeping with the Prime Directive we did nothing to alter this culture's evolution. Ensign Kim and I both did what was necessary."

"I don't really want to know, do I?"

Kim glanced at Seven and back at Janeway. "Probably not, Captain."

Janeway studied them then said, "Good enough." She turned away and tapped her communicator, "Away team, Ensign Kim and Seven of Nine to beam up."

Harry murmured to Seven, "I know you hate me, Seven."

The Borg smiled slightly, "You are mistaken, Ensign. I learned a great deal about myself. And a great deal about you."

"Ouch," Harry said.

Seven got a far off look in her organic eye. "Human intimacy can be quite complex."

"What's that mean?" Harry asked.

"We should have remained for your banquet. You took a ridiculous risk. We will discuss this further, Ensign. Other configurations bear study."

The End