"A Separate Peace"
by Andra Marie Mueller

PART THREE : 'Rules Of Engagement'

SUMMARY : Kathryn and Chakotay discuss the *terms* of her imprisonment

See Part one for author's notes and disclaimer

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In the infirmary, the doctor had provided Janeway with a fresh uniform and was finishing his treatment of her injured face. It had only taken a few minutes for Janeway to recognize some of his equipment as Starfleet issue, and she added the theft of Voyager’s medical equipment to her list of grievances against Chakotay.

He had me abducted off my own Bridge and his men stole supplies from Sickbay, she grumbled silently. I don’t know if that makes him arrogant, stupid or both.

Oblivious to the slow boil of Janeway’s temper, Ean had attempted to engage her in casual conversation. The dialogue was strictly one-sided, however, as Janeway remained silent while Ean ran off at the mouth like a babbling brook.

"You got off lucky, Captain," he said. "Last time one of the prisoners tangled with R’Vek, they wound up with half a dozen broken ribs, a dislocated jaw and internal injuries."

"Never a dull moment with Romulans around," added the doctor, an attractive Human male named Julian Bashir.

"Unfortunately for R’Vek he was a little lacking in the brains department," Ean continued. "If he was half as smart as he was mean, he never would have disobeyed the captain."

‘Disobeyed the captain’ caught Janeway’s attention, as it was the second intimation that she was supposed to have been left alone. "What do you mean ‘disobeyed the captain’?" she asked.

Bashir glanced at Ean. "She doesn’t know?"

"Obviously not."

"Know what?" Janeway pressed.

"When he gave the instruction to have you abducted, Captain Chakotay immediately added a ‘hands-off’ order, meaning anybody who wanted to live to see the sunset was to stay away from you."

Janeway’s curiosity grew. "I wasn’t aware prisoners warranted that much respect."

"Until you, none of them have," Bashir revealed.

Chakotay chose that moment to join them, acknowledging Ean with a brief glance before addressing Bashir. "How’s the patient?" he inquired.

"Right as rain," Bashir responded. "I understand from Ean that she managed to deck Seska. I’m sorry I missed it."

"Given Seska’s fondness for mouthing off, I’m sure there’ll be a repeat performance," Chakotay said dryly. "I’d like a moment alone with our guest."

"Yes, sir."

Bashir exited the room, and at a nod from Chakotay, Ean did the same, leaving the two captains alone for the first time. Janeway and Chakotay held one another’s gaze in silence for a moment before the latter spoke.

"I’ve waited a long time to get you back, Kathryn," he said at last. "Now that I have, I’m not sure what to do with you."

"Then save yourself the trouble of having to figure it out and let me go," Janeway suggested.

"I let you walk out of my life once before, Kathryn. I have no intention of repeating that mistake."

"As I recall, Captain, you walked out of my life, by choice."

"By necessity, not by choice," Chakotay corrected. "In any event, I’m not here to argue semantics with you. Your altercations with Seska and R’Vek made me realize there are a few things I should go over with you to prevent another one."

"This should be good," Janeway muttered sarcastically.

"Most of my people are indifferent to your presence here; some resent it. But all of them understand that my word is law, and as long as you’re here you’ll be treated with courtesy and respect."

"Where was your ‘courtesy and respect’ when I was sitting in that ice pit of a cell staring at the walls for two days?" Janeway snapped. "Where was your concern for my well-being when R’Vek was using me as a punching bag or when your flunkies stole me off my ship and brought me here?"

"I have already apologized for what R’Vek did to you…"

"You expect a simple ‘I’m sorry’ to make everything all right?"

"That is enough!" Chakotay thundered. "I told you earlier to curb your tongue and I meant it, Kathryn. I won’t have a three-way conversation between you, me and your temper."

Her eyes flashing blue fire, Janeway reluctantly fell silent, and Chakotay continued.

"As I was saying, my people know that my word is law. Whatever grievances they have with you, none of them will risk incurring my wrath by harming you while you’re under my protection."

"You’re seriously delusional if you think there’s any way in hell I’ll agree to go along with you."

"The alternative is returning to your ‘ice pit of a cell’ indefinitely," Chakotay responded. "The choice is yours."

"And if I choose to cooperate?"

"You’ll be given free reign of the compound, access to replicators, fresh food and clothing. I’ll warn you now that all of the computers in the compound and on our ships are equipped with a security lockout; so, even if you managed to access one in an attempt to contact Starfleet, the message would automatically be deleted in sixty seconds without the proper code to secure the transmission."

"Thanks for the tip."

Chakotay graced her with a faint smile. "I’m not the monster you’d like me to be, Kathryn," he said quietly.

"Maybe not, but you’re not the man I knew fifteen years ago, either."

"He doesn’t exist anymore."

 

U.S.S. VOYAGER

"Carey to Commander Cavit."

"Go ahead, Lieutenant."

"Sir, would you please come down to Engineering? There’s something here I think you should see."

"On my way."

Relinquishing the Bridge to Tuvok, Elias Cavit entered the turbolift and headed for Engineering. Still smarting from the abduction of Captain Janeway during their skirmish with the Maquis two days ago, Voyager’s crew had been working around the clock to repair the damage to their ship. The page from Carey had sounded slightly ominous, however, and Cavit fervently hoped the news wasn’t bad.

It’s bad enough the Maquis trashed Voyager and kidnapped the captain, he thought. If something they did has resulted in permanent damage, there’s going to be hell to pay.

Strolling into Engineering, Cavit spotted Carey and Ensign Elena Brooks hovering over the computer, and he crossed over to join them.

"What is it you wanted me to see, Mister Carey?"

Carey gestured at the computer. "Ensign Brooks and I were running a Level Two diagnostic to verify that the Maquis hadn’t planted any viruses in the system, and we uncovered a message buried in the communications relay."

"What kind of message?" Cavit prompted.

"We don’t know, sir," Brooks told him. "It’s encrypted with a Level One Security Code and is addressed to Admiral Morgan at Starfleet Command."

The XO let out a low whistle. "Level One is the highest security code in the Fleet."

"What would a message for Morgan be doing buried in our computer?" Carey wondered aloud.

"Many of the Maquis are ex-Starfleet officers," Cavit reminded him. "My guess is one of them planted the message while they were hacking into our system to disable the shields."

"What shall we do with it, sir?" Brooks asked.

"Send it off to Admiral Morgan," Cavit instructed. "Whatever it says, he’s the only one who is supposed to see it."

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Part 4