Jackson Schroeder appeared on her desk only an hour after he'd left.

  He nearly shit a Romulan cruiser with extra engine nacelles when he saw the Captain.

  She was wearing blue. All his eyes could see was the curves and arcs of lacey blue.

  It set off her hair in a disturbingly primal way. Her eyes were sparkling as she looked at him. Light headed music played in the background of some long ago sensual melody.

  He gulped back the ideas he'd been thinking about since he'd been aboard the ship. Screw winning her approval as a Star Fleet officer! He'd LOVE a chance to just kiss her.

  "Report." She lifted her hand palm up to display her elbow length fingerless gloves. He was CERTAIN he'd accidentally beamed aboard the holodeck, or a Vorgonian pleasure cruiser, but this was REAL! It was Captain Janeway in the flesh.

  And UNIVERSE!

  What flesh!

  "I..." He'd forgotten all the crap he'd just been though as he looked at her.

  He had to fumble with his thoughts to put it all together into sentences again. "I looked in on all the guys. They're settled in just like the roster said... but." He had something to report. He wasn't used to reporting to such an elegant and alluring superior. Janeway decided to make it easier on him.

  "Shall we?" She lowered her upturned palm to the desk level. He looked at the texture of her flawless hand trying desperately not to have an "embarrassing" accident. He stepped toward her hand.

  "Step on it?" He asked gulping.

  "Unless you'd rather beam yourself. Don't worry. I won't break. I assure you." She smiled with the most sultry eyes. She'd done her makeup differently and everything. Her red hair was lusciously clinging to her face as her perfume filled his being with awe.

  He was at a loss for words as he gently stepped onto the Captain's hand hoping he wouldn't hurt her.

  When she began to move, he held on for dear life. He finally realized that beating her hand with all his might would have accomplished nothing but a minor finger message for the immense beauty.

  "Let's just relax and talk about it. I'm interested to know how the crew is doing, without them knowing it for once. I don't usually pry into their personal lives, but I am interested in the safety of the men. What did you see? Off the record." She laid back on her couch pulling her legs up so that her knees were eye level with her, then placed him on her knee as she lounged back. It had the desired effect on him. He could not hide the embarrassing rise any longer as he stood on the island of her knee cap looking down her bare legs at her lingerie that was cut like a skimpy one piece bathing suit. It was transparent in the most ENDEARING places.

  "I, um. I saw... some things. I'm..." His face was now the same color as her hair and he was sweating like a Vulcan sand weasel.

  "Come now. One at a time. How are B'elana and Tom doing?"

  "Ah, they were. Well. B'elana was threatening the Equinox lady, Gilmore. But Tom looked okay, sort of. I couldn't see Mr. Morrow so I had the transporter beam me right next to him. He was in her hair. He said that Marla was treating him quite favorably. So next I had the transporter beam me next to Tom. He was in pitch blackness in B'elana's tool bag. He was afraid to transport out, but had the transporter make a shuttle with buckle in seats. We talked in it for a while, he's... well... kind of afraid of B'elana. You know?"

  He was rambling, but it was calming to the Captain.

  Yes. She knew exactly what it must be like to be at B'elana's mercy. But she ALSO knew her defected Marquis was full of love. He'd be on pins and needles trying to sweeten up from now on.

  "And Seven?" She asked. She'd glanced over the roster herself and was quite surprised by the number of men that went to her. But the jealousy was mixed with pride. She'd seen Seven come A LONG way indeed. She was PROUD of her accomplishment.

  "Bad." Jackson said with his fear overcoming his sexual drive for a moment. He was worried about the whole thing. He didn't want to report the truth, but it HAD to be told. He hoped that it wouldn't bring Seven down on him later.

  "Bad?!" Janeway had NOT expected it. But anything was possible with Seven.

  "She won't even talk to them like people, I talked with them and they're afraid she hates them. They tried EVERYTHING to be nice to her, even cleaned her alcove and shoes, but she stormed out and left them there... alone." He was almost choking on his own words not wanting to have to say anything.

  Janeway lost her mood too. She took Jackson in her fingers. He was bracing himself to be killed instantly. Her fingers were stronger than any star ship drive (to his scale). He quivered. It was the end. He'd be squashed like a grape. The Captain wouldn't even feel his bones breaking.

  But he wasn't dead. Her fingers closed and he was lifted as if he was in a sky bucket. Her hand was closed all around him like a Venus fly trap. He could her her voice as she took action.

  "This is Captain Janeway to Seven of Nine. In my quarters on the double!" She ordered.

-     -     -

On to Page 10

-     -     -

Back to the Athenaeum