Sleeping Beauty
by Fewthistle

Acknowledgements: To the Brothers Grimm, my thanks. Special thanks go to Loretta for her help and support.

Rating: R, I would guess..if only for the "lusting in her heart".

Author's Note: J/f and T/7 (although the T/7 is mostly an implied, established relationship...Don't say I never did anything for you, Ms. Micheals). This is set somewhere in season six, I guess. I must admit, I stopped watching after that season, so I would be hard pressed to write about anything in the two final seasons. Although to be frank, this exists outside of the timeline and character development (or lack thereof) of the show. So, I guess this disclaimer doesn't really matter....Oh, well. The character of Beauty is portrayed in my mind by the lovely Natascha McElhone, pictured below.

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"Captain, I'm reading a life sign from one of the asteroids. It's faint, but it's definitely there."

Harry Kim's voice halted Kathryn Janeway's perusal of the data padd she held loosely in one elegant hand. A frown creased her forehead, sending small lines across her skin, like tiny fissures streaking out from a central point between two curved brows.

"A life sign? In the middle of an asteroid field? Are you certain, Harry?"

The interrogatives hung in the still air of Voyager's bridge. The ship's captain stared intently at the viewscreen in front of her, as if the sheer will to see could enable her to peer through the inky blackness, through the dust created by the field of spinning rocks, suspended in space like pebbles lying along a translucent and oblique riverbed.

"I've run three different scans, Captain and they all come back the same. There is definitely something alive in there," the young Ensign replied, only the slightest, almost undetectable waver in his voice belying the certainty of his response.

The U.S.S. Voyager, an Intrepid-class, Federation starship, had been marooned in the Delta quadrant, 70,000 light years from home, for six years now. Through superior technology, a skilled and inventive crew, and the indefatigable will of its captain, Voyager had managed to survive and move step by brutal step closer to home. Recent events had caused that captain, Kathryn Janeway, to admit, loathe though she was, that the mercy of Fate, or God, or whatever watched with amused and kindly regard the petty lives of men, had played a mercurial and capricious hand in allowing her ship and crew to have endured this long.

That something had lead her ship to this asteroid in search of deuterium, an element vital to Voyager's energy supply. Now it appeared that they had been lead to something far more important, and perhaps, more dangerous than these slowly twirling hunks of rock and gas.

"Can you pinpoint from which of the asteroids the life signs are emanating?" Janeway asked, rising almost unconsciously from her command chair, moving absently towards the viewscreen, her hand coming to rest on the back of the pilot's seat, occupied by Lt. Tom Paris.

Behind her, at the Ops station, Harry's fingers flew over the panel before him, fine tuning Voyager's sensors to locate the exact ball of rock that held this unforeseen quickening.

"Got it. A very large asteroid, about 200 kilometers inside of the outer rim of the field. It appears to have several cave-like openings, some reaching deep inside the interior of the rock. It also seems to have breathable air, along the lines of an L class planet. A little less oxygen than we are used to, but perfectly safe," Kim relayed, an edge of excitement evident in the tenor of his voice.

"An atmosphere in an asteroid?" Janeway asked incredulously.

"I can't explain it, Captain, but it is there. It may be being produced artificially, but there seems to be some sort of shield or dampening field that isn't allowing our scans to penetrate. "

"Then how is it that we can detect the life sign?"

"I'm not sure." Harry replied uncertainly.

"Tom, can we maneuver in there?" Janeway questioned quietly.

"Not a problem, Captain," Paris answered, face and voice confident in his abilities.

"Captain," the dark timbered voice of her First Officer broke in, "Wouldn't it be more advisable to send the Delta Flyer in to investigate. After all, we don't know if this is some sort of trap, an ambush perhaps."

"I doubt that, Chakotay. After all, it isn't as if we had received a distress call, or some other method had been employed to lure us to this area. In fact, if we hadn't been using deep scans to search for the deuterium, we would never have located this life sign. Therefore, I don't really think we are being set up, as it were. However, just to be safe, considering the false atmosphere, take the Flyer and go have a look. Take Tom, Tuvok, and Seven along with you." Janeway seemed to be musing aloud, her voice distant as she felt an odd sensation ghost across the periphery of her mind.

"Aye, Captain. Tom, Tuvok," Chakotay lightly touched the Comm badge on his chest, "Chakotay to Seven. Meet me in Shuttle Bay Two."

Seven's voice came clearly over the channel, no hint of interest or curiosity evident, "Acknowledged."

"Let me know what you find," Janeway said as an afterthought, a slight quirk to her lips confessing her own abstracted state.

As the door to the Turbolift slid shut on the three men, Chakotay grinned, "You'll be the first one we call."

Under the gentle touch of Tom Paris' fingers, the Delta Flyer glided soundlessly into the one of the larger of the caverns that lay like pockmarks along the exterior of the asteroid.

Emerging cautiously from the Flyer, the four crewmembers stood for a moment, taking in the towering walls of reddish stone, the ceiling of the cave disappearing into the gloom far above them. Tricorder readings indicated that the life sign, stronger now that they were within the asteroid itself, was located about 300 meters away, deep inside the recesses of rock. Following a curving, meandering tunnel, the away team proceeded silently, phasers drawn against sudden attack, the eerie stillness broken only by the soft plodding of their footfalls against the dust covered stone.

"Commander."

Tuvok, Voyager's Vulcan head of Security, stopped abruptly, the wrist lamp on his left arm pointed downward about a meter ahead of them. The beam of light had caught the glint of metal and the less pronounced gleam of bone amidst the fine, red powder of the tunnel floor. Circling closer, all of the lamps focused on this one spot, Chakotay knelt beside what they could now see were the skeletal remains of what appeared to be a humanoid being.

The skeleton lay at an odd angle, the head twisted sideways, the arms outflung, as if grasping for purchase against the ragged wall of the tunnel. Against the stark white of the rib bones lay a pendant, the gleam of gemstones and of rich metal brilliant, even under the layers of red silt. The empty sockets of the eyes gaped up at them, either in silent plea or bitter reproach.

"Chakotay to Janeway."

"Janeway here. What have you found, Commander?" The Captain's voice sounded impatient, as it always did when she was forced to wait inactive on her Bridge, while her crew forged out in search of the unknown.

"A skeleton. From our tricorder readings, it looks as if it has been here for several centuries." Chakotay said softly, his instinctive reverence for life and for the sanctity of the dead adding a note of deference to his tone.

"Nine centuries to be exact," Seven's no nonsense voice broke in, her time with the Borg having left her with little in the way of regard for the mysteries and complexities of death. To Seven, dead was simply that, dead, to be examined as any other state, with detachment and purely scientific interest.

"And our life sign?" Janeway asked, as in her mind the images of dying out here in this desolate section of space raced, unbidden.

"Our readings indicate that it is in a large chamber about 100 meters ahead of us," Tuvok pronounced, the neutral, unemotional measure of his voice breaking Kathryn's mind free from those unwanted imaginings.

Tom Paris had moved further down the curved corridor, the beam of his lamp seeming to float incorporeal against the inky blackness of the tunnel.

"Commander. Here's another one." Paris' voice rang hollowly off the thick walls of rock.

The second skeleton lay much as the first, sprawled rather unceremoniously on the hard stone floor. To have died here, unclaimed and unremarked seemed to add subtle injury to the ignominy of death.

"Odd," thought Chakotay, "the emanations one gets from the bones of the dead. The first skeleton seemed almost accusatory, as if we could have somehow prevented this calamity if only we had arrived a bit sooner. This one appears apologetic, as if shamed by the inherent failure of dying."

Shaking off his internal musings, Chakotay again spoke to his Captain over the Comm link.

"Another skeleton, the same age as the first. No apparent cause of death, though I am sure the Doctor will be able to tell you upon examination of the remains. We're proceeding to the chamber."

"Keep the link open. I want to know at the first sign of trouble," Janeway replied.

"Understood. Though I doubt that whatever killed these two is still around nine hundred years later," the Commander responded, intentionally keeping his tone light.

"Something is alive down there. Until we know exactly what it is, stay sharp," his Captain answered acerbically.

"Aye, Captain," the slight smile on the Commander's face not reaching his voice.

The away team moved gingerly down the tunnel, emerging without warning into an enormous chamber, larger than the one in which they had landed. Against the far wall of the cave, a starship, twice the size of the Delta Flyer, glowed white and silver against the gloom of the cavern and the blood red of the walls. In the protective shadow of the ship, in the very center of the cave, lay what appeared to be a stasis chamber, a low, almost undetectable hum the only sign that it still functioned.

It was clear from their readings that the life sign that they sought was encased in the gleaming box of metal. Moving closer, the team could see that all was not as it should be with the stasis chamber. Along the front of the chamber, the reflective metal was marred by ugly slashes of black, the carbon remnants of a directed energy discharge. Someone, at some point, had fired at the chamber, no doubt attempting to shut it down. There were also marks along the edges of the top of the box, deep gauges that suggested that whoever had fired on the chamber had been unsatisfied with the results and had attempted to pry open the sealed lid.

"Chakotay, what have you found?" Janeway's voice over the Comm link sounded unnaturally loud, echoing off the walls and ceiling.

"A stasis chamber of some sort. The technology looks quite advanced. There is also a good sized starship in here, so there must be another entrance larger than the one we used."

"Indeed," came Tuvok's voice, his eyes focused on his tricorder "there is another opening on the opposite side of the cavern through which the ship could be maneuvered."

"I am assuming from our readings of a life sign that the chamber is still functioning?" Janeway asked, not quite able to keep the curiosity out of her voice.

"As far as we can tell, Captain. As I said, the technology is beyond anything I have ever seen, both in terms of the chamber and the ship. In addition, at some point, someone has tried to get into the chamber. There are directed energy marks and other marks where they tried to pry off the lid."

Seven's non-committal tones joined the conversation.

"From my readings, the energy marks coincide with the age of the skeletal remains we have found. It would be logical to assume that the remains are those of either the attackers or of those who placed the ship and stasis chamber here. It is unlikely that the being inside the chamber came here unassisted. It is also clear that the discharges locked or froze the control panel, effectively enclosing the being here indefinitely."

"Seven, do you recognize the technology?" Janeway asked.

"Negative. The Borg did not encounter this type of technological advancement. If they had, it would have been added to the Collective."

"Can you tell anything about the being inside the chamber?" Kathryn asked.

"Negative as well, Captain. The lid of the chamber has a solid titanium covering, no doubt to serve as protection from just such attacks, so that we are unable to see the being inside. Without more advanced equipment, we are unable to tell anything beyond the fact that the being is in fact still alive."

"All right," Janeway stated firmly, "Stay there and see what you can find out about the chamber and the ship. I am going to bring Voyager in close enough to beam down the Doctor and myself as well as whatever medical equipment is necessary. Whoever is in that chamber, I doubt seriously that he or she intended to remain there for a millenium or more."

The once desolate cavern was now a hub of activity as technicians and engineers, along with the Doctor and most of the Senior staff, worked to try and repair the controls maintaining the stasis chamber, as well as try to understand the invisible forcefield that protected the ship. The away team had been unable to get more than five meters from the ship before running into the transparent shielding. The crew of Voyager had been working on the problems for two days now, disappointingly unsuccessful in their attempts to free the being inside the chamber or access the ship.

"Dammit!" B'Elanna Torres tossed the tools in her hand aside in frustration. The Captain had determined that gaining access to the ship was secondary to repairing the controls of the chamber, ordering Torres and Seven to work with all due speed to open the chamber, but they had been singularly unable to restore the panel to working order.

"Your anger is ineffectual, B'Elanna. It will not aid in our efforts to open the stasis chamber," Seven said, her voice so tender as to be unrecognizable to anyone but her Klingon lover.

Torres had opened her mouth to reply, disgruntled words hovering on her tongue, when the voice of her Captain interrupted.

"Any luck?" Janeway asked, squatting down beside the duo in front of the chamber.

Glancing at Seven, Torres replied. "None, Captain. Whoever attacked the chamber, they did a hell of a good job. I guess they figured if they couldn't destroy it or get inside it, they would simply seal the being in forever."

Janeway pushed off her heels, rising to her full height beside the gleaming metal box. On the top of the chamber, in the center of the lid was an emblem, a circle of gold enclosing a diamond shape of deep sapphire blue. The symbol appeared on the side of the ship as well, above some markings in an alien script.

Reaching out absently, her mind wondering for the hundredth time who this being was, what race had possessed this advanced technology almost a thousand years ago, Kathryn placed her palm gently over the diamond shape itself. Barely discernable ridges along the outline of the shape thrust up against her flesh. Moving her fingers to the center of the diamond, Janeway pushed down. The diamond descended into the top of the chamber.

With a sharp intake of breath, Janeway took a step back, Torres and Seven at her side as, with a minute whir, the lid of the chamber slid back to reveal the transparent inner seal, and with it, the being inside.

 "Doctor, what have you concluded?" Janeway asked softly. She stood on the left hand side of the chamber, the Doctor opposite her. Torres, Chakotay, Seven, Harry, Tom, and Tuvok were all arrayed around the chamber, either out of scientific curiosity or fascination with the being they had discovered inside.

"Female, obviously. Humanoid. In fact, except for a few minor deviations in the DNA, I would say disturbingly human. Approximate age, discounting the time spent in stasis of course, around thirty-five or so. That is, unless there is something about the aging process of this species that isn't evident from my tests. Amazingly good health, especially for a nine hundred and thirty nine year old woman. The technology of the chamber is nothing short of miraculous. That's all I can tell you until Lt. Torres and Seven find a way to get her out of there," the Doctor answered breezily.

Torres directed a glare in the Doctor's direction. It wasn't as if they hadn't been trying to get her out. Sometimes the holographic physician forgot who took care of his maintenance, or he wouldn't be so deprecating in his comments.

Glancing from the Doctor to the Captain, B'Elanna was startled by the look on Janeway's face as she gazed down at the woman behind the transparent covering. Kathryn's expression was one of an almost bemused longing, her blue-grey eyes soft and unfocused, one hand pressed gently against the lid, the other, the fingers tenderly brushing back and forth, as if she could actually touch the cheek of soft, honeyed skin.

"Sleeping Beauty," the Doctor murmured, his gaze, as with the others, inexorably drawn to the woman who lay unmoving against a backdrop of deep blue silk.

"I guess that makes us the Seven Dwarfs then," Tom Paris grinned, "Doc, you can be Doc, and Tuvok can be Happy, Harry can be Sleepy, Chakotay can be Grumpy, while I take on the role of the handsome Prince Charming."

"Prince Charming? Please! To tell you the truth, Tom, I had you pegged more for the role of Dopey," Torres responded with a gleeful smirk.

"Actually, Lt. Paris, you have mixed up your fairy tales. The Seven Dwarfs were featured in the tale of Snow White, not Sleeping Beauty," Seven inserted, a disdainful look on her face as she addressed the pilot.

Kathryn was drawn out of her contemplation of the woman by the banter of her crew and by Seven's reply.

"Why, Seven, I never knew you had read the Brothers Grimm," Janeway said with surprise.

"Naomi Wildman asked me to read them to her, for a 'bedtime story'. There is no instance of dwarfs in Sleeping Beauty. It featured instead a disgruntled fairy," Seven replied evenly.

Gazing at Seven's beautiful face, her features marred by a look of impatience and annoyance at Tom, Kathryn could almost picture her as that disgruntled fairy, unhappy at not having been included in the party. Except that she had been included, brought fully into the fold by her relationship with B'Elanna. Even now, after a year, Kathryn still found it difficult to reconcile the unusual pair, a mingling of sun and moon, light and shadow, passion and rectitude. Cliches are cliches for a reason, she surmised, mainly because they were so often true.

Returning her attention to the task at hand, Janeway stated firmly, " There has to be some way to get this thing open. B'Elanna, have you considered rerouting the power supply and the relays into a separate control panel?"

"If I could figure out what exactly is running this thing I would be happy to try, Captain, but right now, as far as I know, there could be little white mice in there, making the damn thing run," Torres said with annoyance, her fingers threading through the black silk of her hair.

"Cinderella," Seven spoke softly to herself.

"Huh?" B'Elanna looked at her lover with a confused expression on her face.

"The white mice. They appear in the tale of Cinderella, not Sleeping Beauty. They are transformed into horses by the fairy-godmother," Seven stated, a slight flush of embarrassment staining her cheek at her continued focus on the fairytales.

Smiling fondly at her, B'Elanna merely said, "Well, it's too bad we don't have a fairy-godmother right now. Maybe she could figure out how to get into this damn chamber."

"Keep trying, Lieutenant, Seven. I refuse to simply leave her here," Janeway ordered, turning to gently touch the lid of the chamber before walking determinedly away.

The cave was almost empty. Along the red walls, grotesque and mammoth shadows rose like mythic monsters, or the demons that haunt a child's nightmare, thrown by the few lights that had been placed throughout the cavernous hold.

Kathryn Janeway stood silently beside the stasis chamber, her back bent, her frame leaning forward over the transparent lid, gazing down at the woman inside. She had been standing here for hours, her eyes memorizing every line and feature of the still face below her.

She allowed her lids to slip shut, still able to see the perfect line of jaw, the high curve of cheekbones, the sensual slope of full lips, all framed by hair the color of the sheaves of winter wheat that lined the fields back home in Indiana, a pale, ashy gold. She wondered what color those shuttered eyes would be, perhaps the brilliant hue of the blue bonnets, or a wise, knowing grey.

Kathryn wasn't sure why she had come here each night, long after her crew had retired for the evening, exhausted by another day of not finding the answers they sought. Some invisible string had pulled her here, tugging lightly on her mind and her heart, ensuring that she keep this silent, lonely vigil.

"Funny, isn't it? I mean, you've been alone here all these centuries and yet, for some reason, I can't abide the idea of leaving you here without someone to keep you company," Kathryn said self-consciously, her voice barely a whisper, "I know what it feels like to be alone. Sort of cold and empty.

"I promise, we will get you out of there. It may take us some time, but we will succeed. Although, after nine hundred years you may wish we had simply let you be, or that whoever attacked you had been a little more accomplished. I can't imagine what it would be like to wake up and know that everyone you had ever known, all your friends and family were long dead."

There was no reply from the still form encased in the chamber, not that Kathryn had been expecting one. Yet, there seemed to be a small arch of connection, some intangible link that had been formed when she first laid her hand on the carved sapphire diamond and, like the genie of old, who, intoning words of magic, opened the chamber to reveal riches as yet undreamed.

It was a link that Kathryn was loath to break. Her mind played out a thousand different scenarios, trying to find some explanation for why this woman had come to be here, alone, amid these revolving chunks of rock. Of its own volition, somehow, her mind always found itself wandering back to that ancient fairy tale, of the cloistered princess, of the spinning wheel, and of the spell that could only be lifted with a kiss. On the periphery of her mind, an unacknowledged thought hung, like an errant leaf blown against a fence, as she wondered if those full lips would be as sweet and soft as she imagined.

The low hum of a transporter beam cut through her reverie, bringing Janeway reluctantly back to reality. Turning, she saw the sparkle of the molecules coalesce into the form of Neelix, Voyager's resident Delta Quadrant native, self-appointed chef, and part-time ambassador. He stood still for a moment, as his eyes adjusted to the relative gloom of the chamber, his speckled countenance broken by a smile as he spied his Captain standing by the stasis chamber.

"Neelix. Was there a problem?" Kathryn asked, somewhat self-consciously, aware of the lateness of the hour and the perceived oddity of the ship's captain standing watch, as it were.

"No, Captain, no problem. I noticed that you didn't come by for dinner this evening so I stopped by your cabin with a little snack. You weren't there and when I asked the computer your location, it said that you weren't aboard Voyager. I hope you don't mind the intrusion, but I just thought I would check and make sure that everything was all right," the diminutive alien replied, his manner warm, caring and completely non-judgmental.

 "I wasn't hungry," Janeway answered softly, her eyes straying back to the figure inside the chamber, fragile and ephemeral against the dark blue silk, "So, I just thought that I would, well, check in on our mystery woman."

"Sleeping Beauty. That's what the crew is calling her," Neelix moved close to the Captain's side, peering over the edge of the stasis chamber, "I must say, it is an apt description. She is one of the loveliest creatures I have ever seen, of any species. Tom has started a pool to see who comes closest in their version of who she is and how she got here. As good as some of the guesses are, I personally liked the story I found in Naomi's book of fairytales."

Kathryn smiled faintly. Odd, that she had just been thinking of that story herself. She wondered how many members of her crew had envisioned themselves gently delivering that enchanted kiss that would wake the slumbering princess.

"The unlucky princess, cursed by what Seven called a disgruntled fairy, sent into a realm of eternal sleep by the prick of a needle from a spinning wheel," Janeway recited, her eyes fixed on the still form.

"She is lucky though, you know," Neelix said absently.

"How so?" Kathryn asked, her face puzzled.

"Well, everyone has been saying how horrible it would be to wake up and find that all the people you knew and loved were gone. But, at least she didn't have to see them die, didn't have to watch them killed or live the rest of her life never knowing what happened to them. That is a much worse fate," the diminutive alien's words hung in the air between them.

Knowing that he was speaking of his own experiences, Kathryn reached out and wrapped slender fingers around his arm, squeezing gently. Neelix smiled sadly in response, his eyes gratefully acknowledging the unspoken expression of sympathy.

"Besides, she is fortunate that you found her, Captain. I know that I was. I can't imagine better people to wake up to," he said, his voice stronger, his smile certain.

"Thank you, Neelix. Let's just hope that she feels the same way. As for finding you, Neelix, I can honestly say that running into you was one of the best things that has happened to us out here," Kathryn answered sincerely.

The Talaxian beamed at her, his broad face alight at the compliment from this woman he so admired.

"Can I interest you in a late night snack, Captain?"

Raising her eyes to meet Neelix's, Kathryn gave a short nod.

"I guess it is time for me to eat and get some sleep myself. I'll meet you in the Mess Hall," Janeway replied, her hand sliding slowly along the lid of the chamber.

Realizing that the Captain wished to be alone, Neelix returned to the beam down spot on the other side of the cavern and signaled Voyager that he was ready to return.

As he began to dematerialize, he murmured to himself, "After all, Captain, Prince Charming needs rest, too."

"Any luck?" Janeway's voice cut through the litany of Klingon curses swirling around B'Elanna's brain.

Glancing up at her Captain and seeing the look of hopeful expectation on her face, Voyager's Chief Engineer would have given a week's worth of holodeck time to be able to answer in the affirmative.

"Not so you'd notice," Torres answered wearily, "I'm sorry, Captain. I've tried everything I can think of, everything Seven can think of. Hell, I even tried one of Tom's suggestions. No good. If I could just manage to figure out what is making this thing run, then I might have a chance at figuring out how to turn it off. So far, I haven't made much progress. I know what doesn't make it run, if that helps any."

"Mind if I try my hand at it?" Janeway asked, removing her uniform tunic and setting it on some of the diagnostic equipment Torres had brought down from the ship.

Waving her hand in a sweeping gesture, B'Elanna stood and gave her Captain room to kneel down beside the chamber's access panel.

Settling down on the tarp that covered the dusty floor of the cave, Janeway began tracing connections, trying to find some method of deciphering the ancient, alien technology. Her slender fingers probed and prodded, as she followed lead after dead-end lead. The scans that Seven and Torres had run had been unable to ascertain what sort of power supply kept the chamber functioning. The scientist in Kathryn refused to belief that there was not some fail-safe, some way to open the chamber if something catastrophic went wrong with the controls.

After four hours, Janeway was beginning to think that Torres was right, that there was no way to undo the damage caused by the phaser fire. She had tried everything she could think of, short of prying the whole panel out, an option that would surely do tremendous damage to the chamber's occupant. She was leaning back on her hands, her eyes half-closed, her gaze unfocused as she stared at the panel. Suddenly, she saw it.

"B'Elanna! Look at this," Janeway said excitedly, pointing to the control panel, "See the crystals at each edge of the panel and the one in the center? One at the top, one at the bottom, one on each side, and one in the middle. They're all blue, and they form a diamond shape, the same as the release on the top of the chamber."

Torres knelt down beside the Captain, noticing for the first time the formation of the various crystals in the panel.

"Get the Doctor down here. I want him standing by if this does unseal the chamber, " Kathryn said forcefully, rising to her feet and slipping her arms into the sleeves of her uniform jacket.

As Torres contacted the ship's EMH, Janeway placed her hand on the transparent lid, murmuring almost to herself, "I told you we'd figure it out."

Kathryn Janeway stood unmoving at the side of the stasis chamber. The Doctor was positioned on the other side, ready to monitor and assist as the chamber was opened. The other members of the senior staff was also in attendance, all eager to see the reawakening of Sleeping Beauty.

Torres and Seven knelt next to the control panel. They, along with the Captain, had decided that pushing down on the outer crystals simultaneously and then depressing the one in the center of the panel was the most logical sequence to release the seal.

"Doctor, are you ready?" Janeway asked.

"Whenever you are, Captain," the EMH said cheerfully.

Nodding to Torres, Janeway said, "All right, let's do it. B'Elanna, Seven, try the sequence."

One on each side of the panel, Seven and B'Elanna positioned their fingers over the outer crystals.

"On three. One, two, three," Torres counted, as both crewmembers pushed down on the four outer crystals.

Torres then placed her hand over the large blue crystal at the center of the panel and gently depressed it. For a few seconds nothing happened, then, with a hissing release of air and a low whirring sound, the controls activated. The Doctor's medical tricorder registered the alterations in the air of the chamber and the slow awakening of its occupant.

No one spoke as they waited, time suspended, for the chamber to complete the reanimation process.

Finally, after a brief eternity, the lid of the chamber began to slide back.

"Doctor?" Janeway asked worriedly.

"As far as I can tell, she's fine. No problems with respiration, heart functions. Brain waves are rapidly increasing," he replied, his eyes focused on the tricorder in his hand.

Gazing down at the prone figure, Kathryn felt as if strong fingers were grasping at her throat, making breathing almost impossible. As she stared, the woman moved slightly, her chest rising as she drew in deep breaths. Slowly, ever so slowly, her eyelids began to flutter open.

Emeralds. Verdant pieces of green ice that seemed to glow with an inner fire were revealed as those lids opened fully and the woman looked, unfocused for the moment, at the red and rocky ceiling above her.

A moment passed and then her gaze sifted, her eyes coming to rest on Janeway's own blue-grey orbs. Kathryn felt a palpable shock race throughout her body as their eyes met, the words of greeting dying on her tongue.

"Captain?" The Doctor's voice broke the spell, reminding her of her role here.

"Please, don't be apprehensive," Janeway stated kindly, "I'm Kathryn Janeway, Captain of the Federation Starship, Voyager. This is our ship's doctor," she continued, nodding towards the hovering EMH, "and the others are the rest of my senior staff. We're here to help you. Your stasis chamber was damaged, but we managed to unseal it and release you."

The woman didn't respond, her eyes still locked with Kathryn's. She made no attempt to move or sit up, although, beneath the cloak in which she was wrapped, her body tensed.

"Is it possible that the universal translator isn't working? Maybe she can't understand you," Tom Paris offered from somewhere to Kathryn's left.

"B'Elanna?" Janeway asked, her gaze never leaving those green eyes.

"Of course, it's possible. We know nothing about her language, whether it is related to any other languages we've encountered, so the computer would have a hard time translating anything."

Sighing at the possibility that, after finally freeing the chamber's occupant, they would be unable to communicate with her, Janeway decided to try a more universal language. Cautiously, slowly, she reached out her hand to the woman, clearly offering to help her sit up.

The finely arched brows over those astonishing eyes lowered slightly, as a frown of indecision creased the smooth skin of the woman's forehead. She glanced down at the proffered hand and then back to Kathryn's face, uncertain about the advisability of accepting this offer.

Something that she found in Kathryn's face must have swayed her, for suddenly her hand, gloved in black leather, emerged from beneath the heavy cloak. As Janeway felt the smooth, cool leather slip across the skin of her palm, a thin flame traveled up the nerve endings of her arm. Tugging gently, she pulled the woman to a sitting position in the chamber.

Those green eyes left Janeway's face as they swept around the other faces surrounding her and then over the cavern itself, pausing on the large ship that sat against the far wall. Another frown, this one clearly more impatient and annoyed than uncertain, brought her brows together as she gazed at the ship.

The cloak fell back as she sat, revealing a short, waist length jacket, pants very similar to jodhpurs, and glossy boots, all black as well. Her hair curled perfectly along the edge of her jawline, the straight, silken strands silvery-gold against the dark collar of her jacket.

Tearing her eyes away from the starship, the woman again stared rather pointedly at the group assembled around her, returning her gaze at length to the Captain.

"What is this place and how exactly did I come to be here?" She asked suddenly, her voice melodious and low, with an accent quite similar to that of the British Isles of Earth.

Smiling somewhat bemusedly, Janeway replied, "So you can understand us."

"Yes. My apologies, Captain, but it did seem advisable to wait a bit and get a little better grasp of the situation before committing myself. After all, when one awakens in a foreign place with a rather large group of unknown people in military uniforms surrounding one, then it does seem wise to play it close to the chest, doesn't it?" The woman said, her own lips tilting at the corners in an acknowledging smile.

"Yes, I suppose it does. I should have considered that it would be a tad off putting to wake up to so many people. We were just so excited at having discovered a way to free you that it didn't occur to me. It should have, and I do apologize as well," Janeway said with a glance at her senior staff.

"Considering that my ship is still here and that you don't appear to be carrying any weapons, it seemed safe enough. Though, I would appreciate an answer to my questions," the woman replied with an air of one who expects her demands to be met promptly.

"I can answer the first part of your question, but I am afraid that I don't know the answer to the second. To be honest, we were hoping you could enlighten us on that front."

"Very well, then let's just start with the first part, shall we?" The woman said with a sigh.

"You are inside an asteroid in an unnamed asteroid belt in what we have been told is the Medico system. How you got here, how the artificial atmosphere is being produced, and the identity of the remains we found are all questions that remain elusive however," Kathryn told her as gently as possible.

Janeway could see from the growing look of unease and perplexity that the woman was becoming more and more troubled by the situation in which she found herself.

"You've been told?" She asked, hitting upon part of Kathryn's explanation.

"We aren't familiar with this part of space. To tell the truth, we're from the Alpha Quadrant, trying to get back home and we happened upon this field in search of energy reserves for our ship. We located a life sign, found this asteroid with an artificially produced atmosphere and then found you. Your stasis chamber had been badly damaged and we've spent the last six days trying to figure out how to open it. Beyond that, there isn't much that I can tell you," Kathryn answered as concisely as possible.

"The Alpha Quadrant. I see. Damaged in what way? And to what remains are you referring?" The woman asked, her voice tight.

Glancing at her staff, who remained rooted in place by the unfolding drama, Kathryn sidestepped the issue.

"Why don't we get you out of there and on board Voyager, where the Doctor can examine you thoroughly? We can discuss all the details later. You must be thirsty? Hungry?" Janeway asked, an innocent expression on her face.

"Thirsty, yes. Easily dissuaded, no. If you would be so kind as to help me out of this infernal casket, I would be most appreciative. Then you can answer my questions, Captain. What remains? And the chamber was damaged in what way?" The flash of determination in those green eyes brooked little discussion.

Pushing herself up on her heels and placing her hands on either side of the chamber, the woman stood up inside the casket. Both Chakotay and Paris moved forward to help her step out, but she merely quirked her eyebrows at them and turned to Janeway.

Reaching up with both hands, Kathryn felt again the supple slide of leather against her skin as the woman grasped her hands and stepped from the higher perch to the solid metal block of the base of the chamber. She faltered for a moment, her grip on Janeway's hands tightening as a wave of light-headedness overtook her. Kathryn hesitated only an instant before slipping one arm around the slender, black-clad waist, the woman's slim hand still clasped in her own.

Staring down into Kathryn's eyes, the woman smiled gratefully, perfect, even white teeth showing against rose colored lips.

"Thank you, Captain. For everything. I'm afraid that my behavior has not been all that it should be. I find myself quite taken aback by the situation in which I find myself. I have not been as appreciative of your assistance as circumstance requires. I do hope that you will bear with me?" The woman told Janeway, her voice pitched for Kathryn's ears alone.

"Of course. I understand perfectly. I wasn't trying to disassemble. I just thought that it might be a bit too much to take in all at once," Kathryn responded, as she helped the black-clad figure to descend to the hard rock floor of the cavern.

"Perhaps it will be. However, I would prefer to learn as much as possible now. I find the experience of being not completely in control of my circumstances to be more than a little troubling."

"Very well. I'll tell you all that I can," Kathryn stated honestly.

"You mentioned remains. May I see them?"

"Of course. We haven't removed or disturbed them, because we had no knowledge of the burial practices or rituals of dealing with the dead for their culture. They're in one of the corridors leading out of this chamber. Follow me and I'll show you," Janeway said, leading the woman towards the passageway in which the skeletal remains had been found.

The Doctor trailed behind them, apparently intent on keeping his new patient in sight, while the rest of the senior staff remained clustered around the chamber. Whispers and snippets of conversation could be heard as they discussed the now awakened Sleeping Beauty.

Kathryn watched as the woman knelt slowly beside the first skeleton found, the one wearing the large pendant. She had stood over the other set of remains, murmuring a few words in an alien tongue before moving on to this one. At first Janeway thought she was saying the same prayer or blessing over these bones, one slender, gloved hand reaching out to lightly touch the bejeweled medallion. Suddenly, the woman grasped the necklace in her hand and pulled roughly, breaking the remnants of the silken rope that had held it in place.

"Idiots! Fools! How is it possible to be so mind-numbingly incompetent?!" She raged, her voice ringing along the corridor.

Kathryn saw one booted foot come up as if the woman meant to crush the skull beneath it, her face white with anger. At the last minute she changed her mind, bringing her foot back down with an air of defeat.

Closing her eyes and breathing deeply, the woman stood, one arm against the dusty wall of the passageway, her head bowed into the crook of her elbow. Janeway simply waited, unsure of how to respond, uncertain of the meaning of what she had just witnessed. At length, the woman raised her head, turning to face Kathryn, her eyes clouded, full of pain and fear.

"What is the stardate?" She whispered to Janeway.

As Kathryn hesitated a moment, she saw the terrible look of awareness and realization come into those emerald eyes.

Wanting to delay the incomprehensible revelation, Kathryn said, "As I said, we're from the Alpha Quadrant. It's entirely possible that our stardates will not correspond."

"Very well, according to your instruments and tests, how long have I been in that chamber?" The woman asked pointedly.

"We have run various tests on the phaser burns on the chamber, on these remains, and on you, while you were in the chamber. The results seem to be fairly conclusive, though given the little we know about you and your race, there is no way to be exact at this point," Kathryn hedged, not wanting to see the horror that she knew would appear on that lovely face.

"Interesting. You seem a reasonably intelligent woman, Captain Janeway, and I am quite confident that you are a very competent commander. Given those facts, it would seem logical to assume that your crew is also well equipped to perform their duties. Therefore, it seems safe to conclude that whatever tests they have performed and whatever conclusions they have reached are, in fact, correct. So, I ask you again, Captain, how long have I been in that damn chamber?" Even in the gloom of the corridor, those green eyes glowed with determination and a deep need to know the truth.

"According to our readings, nine hundred and four years," Kathryn stated quietly.

The woman's breath left her body in one muted gasp. She stood, immobile, her eyes wide with shock, the gloved hand that still rested against the wall clutching the stone, small, dusty pieces falling with a clatter to the floor.

"I'm sorry. Truly sorry. I wish that there were something I could say to make this easier for you, but we both know there isn't. All I can do is offer to help you in any way possible," Kathryn said gently, coming to stand within a few feet of the black-clad figure.

The Doctor had moved closer as well, his eyes fixed on his tricorder as he measured her vital signs.

"Don't worry, Doctor. I managed to survive almost a millenium in stasis. I doubt that the truth, unpleasant though it is, is likely to harm me," the woman said finally, her head tilting back in a show of bravado.

"I know this is extremely difficult for you, but you seemed to recognize the pendant worn by that skeleton. Is this someone you knew?" Kathryn inquired as kindly as possible.

"Yes, I do. Or rather, I suppose I did is more appropriate now, isn't it?" The woman answered, her voice sounding heavier and much more weary than it had up to that point, "Perhaps I could have something to drink now, Captain? Then I will be happy to tell you to whom these remains belong. And, indeed, it is quite possible, given the characters of these two dearly departed, that they may have left me some sort of explanation on the ship."

Kathryn moved towards the woman, her hand instinctively coming up to grasp a silk-clad elbow, gently steering her companion back down the corridor to the cavern. Motioning for Neelix to bring the canister of water, Janeway found her hand hovering protectively along the small of the woman's back as she drank slowly from the cup.

"Thank you," the woman told Neelix, a slight, tired smile touching the corners of her mouth.

"My pleasure. Are you hungry as well? I've brought a variety of different foods, light snacks, vegetables, bread, cheese. I would be happy to make anything you would like, just say the word," Neelix responded exuberantly, his speckled face aglow with welcome and concern.

Clearly recognizing the sincerity of the offer, the woman smiled again, the expression reaching her eyes this time.

"No, I'm not at all hungry. I do thank you for you kindness and your concern, however. It is good of you to be interested in my welfare."

Turning to face Janeway, the woman said, "Now, Captain. Perhaps we could investigate my ship and see what we can learn?"

"There is some sort of force field surrounding the vessel. We have been unable to deactivate it or even ascertain what is powering it," Kathryn explained as the duo made their way to the ship, still followed closely by the Doctor and now by other members of the senior staff as well.

"That shouldn't prove to be a problem. It is my ship, after all."

Coming to the edge of the force field, the woman stopped. Slowly she removed the glove from her left hand. Raising her hand, she placed her palm flat against the field. With a flicker of molecules, the force field dropped.

Without hesitating, or pausing to see if her companions were following her, the woman moved briskly towards the ship. Reaching the sealed hatch, she again raised her bare left palm. Placing it against the insignia of the blue diamond that lay just to the right of the hatch, she pressed down. The door slid open with nary a sound, revealing the open, large compartment inside.

Stepping over the sill, she turned to wait for Janeway, reaching out her still gloved right hand to assist her inside the ship. Janeway motioned for the rest of the crew to remain outside. She could see the looks of disapproval from both her First Officer and her Security Chief, but she ignored them. She was determined to learn the secrets of this gorgeous creature and it seemed clear that, while she trusted Janeway, she was leery of too many people.

Kathryn was amazed at the beauty of the compartment. Plush couches lined three of the walls, covered in rich fabric of blue, green, cream, and deep burgundy, thick carpet under foot. Forward, through the open hatch, lay the cockpit, silent and dark, instrument panels lining the front and sides of the compartment.

There appeared to be other cabins to the rear, though the back hatch was closed, blocking the view of the rest of the ship. A single golden light flashed on a panel on the far wall. The woman walked slowly toward the light, seeming to pause for an instant before reaching up to activate the control.

In a subtle burst of color, a holographic projection sprang to life in the middle of the compartment. An older man, hair gray and thinning, and garbed in a suit of pale blue, a jeweled medallion around his neck, turned to the woman and bowed deeply at the waist.

"My good and gracious Queen. My Sovereign. I pray that you will forgive and have mercy on an old man. I know that right now you must be furious with me and with Palin. It is not his fault. I forced him to help me with my plan. I could not bear the thought of you in the hands of those savages. There is no question in my mind that, had you met with their so-called leader, that they would have seized you.

"I also have no doubt that after they had held the Empire hostage and gotten whatever they demanded that they would have killed you. I have known you since you were but a babe. I served your dear, late mother for half my life. My conscience and my duty could not allow such an ignoble fate to befall you, my Queen.

"Since you are now hearing this message, it is at present one year since we left Regala for the outer colonies. We placed you here, in this asteroid belt, far from danger. The ship is primed and ready to bring you home to, what I pray will be, a safer and strife free kingdom.

"I know you did not condone the use of force against the revolting colonies, but in truth, I fear that your sympathies were misplaced. Sometimes force is the only answer to force. Your nature is not one that allows for the weaknesses and shortcomings of others. You see only the good, only the possibilities in your subjects, not the evil that they may bring about for their own gains. I tried to warn you of this, my Queen, but you refused to listen, or believe. I did the only thing I felt I could do.

"Again, I can only hope and pray that you will have mercy on an old man who only wished to serve and protect his Sovereign. We await your return with much joy and thanksgiving."

The figure bowed deeply again, the monologue at an end. Kathryn had stood, mesmerized by the holographic message. She turned to face the old man's Queen, feeling her heart wrenched by the immense pain that gleamed forth from those green eyes.

"Devon, you old fool," The Sovereign addressed the image resignedly, " Why couldn't you trust me? Why couldn't you see that your ways, the old ways of violence and fear, were what got us into such horrible trouble to begin with? I wasn't blind, I didn't take all that they said at face value. I simply knew that if there were any chance at all of averting massive and mortal civil war it was by stepping down from that perch that all the previous Sovereigns had occupied and talking, actually talking, face to face, with my people.

"I should never have agreed to allow you and Palin to accompany me. I should have gone alone, as I originally proposed. Idiot that I was, I was concerned that, as Prime Minister, you would feel slighted if I refused your company. In a thousand years, I would never have guessed you had such treachery in you, such deceit. Incompetent fools that you were, it appears that you never even made it off this rock. I would call it divine retribution, but it would appear that the joke was on me as well."

She finished speaking, turning to face Kathryn across the short stretch of blue carpet. Her face was tired, those brilliant eyes dulled with pain and loss.

"My apologies, Captain. In case you have failed to guess, that was the holder of the pendant we saw so recently in the corridor. His name, as I have just said, was Devon. He was my Prime Minister. His companion, Palin, was the head of my palace guard. It occurs to me that I still have not introduced myself. I hope that you will forgive my reprehensible manners. I am Acacia.....I am the," her voice faltered, "I was the Ruling Sovereign of the Regalan Empire," she said almost absently.

"Your Majesty, "Kathryn said, bowing her head briefly in courtesy, "I am guessing you now have the answer to the second part of your question, of how you got here?"

"Indeed. I appear to have been betrayed by those I trusted most. They second-guessed their Queen, assumed that their ideas and wishes somehow superceded my own," she answered, sinking wearily onto one of the sofas, and gesturing for Kathryn to join her.

"I was on my way to one of the outer colonies of the Empire. I inherited a kingdom in its last death throes, you see," she began to explain, "My predecessors had committed the crime most common among those intent on conquering the galaxy. They had over-expanded, taking over planets too far flung to manage, too poor and underdeveloped to supply their own worth to the Empire, so that in the end, it cost more to keep them then they brought in.

"This, of course caused resentment among the colonies being overtaxed to make up for revenues. It caused further resentment among the poorest colonies, who felt that they were being used merely as chattel by the richer colonies, who were exporting the poorest citizens to work the industries of the wealthier planets. The Empire was on the verge of collapse. It was apparent, even in my mother's time, that stopping this giant from toppling over under its own weight would be impossible.

"So, when I took the throne, the latest in a dynasty that had ruled for nearly twelve hundred years, all that I could do was oversee that demise. I was attempting to see that it came about with as little bloodshed as possible. I wanted all of the colonies, from the most prosperous to the most downtrodden, to share equally in the stored wealth of the Empire. I thought that if we could manage to divide the resources, including the military arsenal, that all of the colonies would stand a fair chance at surviving on their own. Needless to say, I faced resistance."

"But surely, your own advisors could see the sense in such a plan?" Kathryn asked, leaning forward, her arms on her thighs, completely captivated by the Queen's tale.

"Greed does unpleasant things to people, Captain, even those for whom there is no need for gain. Devon and Palin were both from old families on the homeworld, Regala. They and their ancestors had served my family for centuries. Clearly they felt that they were more worthy of benefit than those poor miners on Alros III, our most destitute colony," the Sovereign replied, a trace of anger ghosting along her voice.

"Who are the 'savages' that he referred to?" Janeway inquired.

"Rebels. They wanted what I wanted, a fair distribution of the Empire's resources. They were also willing to fight for those resources if pushed. I think that they believed the rumors that said that all of my promises and words were merely a ploy to get the poorer colonies to lower their guard. They would then be taken over and enslaved by the more powerful colonies. Either that, or they did not trust that I actually held enough power and support to carry out my plans. It would appear now, that they were right on that last count.

"I had agreed to meet with the rebel leaders, to assure them of my intentions and to gain their support. I was going to meet with them alone, but at the last minute, Devon and Palin insisted that they accompany me. I honestly thought that it would be a show of respect on my part, to them and their families, to allow them to escort me. I never thought that they would betray me so. I wish I could find solace in their own sad end, but I fear I cannot. They were good men, in their own ways, and I will miss not only their presence and insights, but my own good opinion of them," she finished sadly, her eyes gazing absently at the far wall of the room.

Kathryn felt the overwhelming urge to reach out and comfort the clearly wounded Queen. Carefully she took the woman's bare, left hand between her own, squeezing it gently. The Sovereign stared down at their clasped hands for a moment, before raising her eyes to Kathryn's.

"If there were some way for me to make any of this easier for you, please know that I would, without hesitation," Kathryn told her, their eyes locked in an intense gaze.

"You have been remarkably kind, Captain Janeway. I consider myself most fortunate to have been rescued by you and your crew. Clearly, I have had other, less benevolent visitors. I can only guess that God must be guiding my way, and that all that has occurred is part of some greater plan, of which you have been a truly gracious part. If there is any way that I can repay your kindness, please, let me know," the Queen said softly, her fingers gently entwining with Kathryn's own.

Lt. Torres stuck her head inside the hatch, sent by Chakotay to check on the Captain and their mystery woman. She was met by the sight of her Captain, seated very close to Sleeping Beauty on a couch. Janeway was leaning forward, the other woman's bare hand clasped tenderly between her own. The circumstances alone were enough to make Torres take note, but the look on the Captain's face brought her up short. Ducking back out to the cave, B'Elanna turned to the expectant looks of her fellow crew members.

"They're fine. Still talking," she told them briskly.

Tuvok's cautious Vulcan voice interjected, "We do not know anything of this being or of her intentions. It does not seem advisable to leave the Captain alone with her, until such matters can be ascertained."

"I'm pretty sure that the Captain is perfectly safe with her, Tuvok," Torres reassured, making a note to herself to tell Seven what she had witnessed, including the look of deep infatuation that had been on the Captain's face.

"Perhaps. However, I will remain within earshot until the Captain leaves the alien vessel."

Little did he know that inside the sleek white ship, his commanding officer and the beautiful Queen would talk until hunger and Kathryn's need to sleep overcame them, forcing them to leave the confines of the ship that the Regalan ruler had told Janeway was called "The Redemption".

"Did you sleep well?" Kathryn asked, aware of the irony of the question as she addressed the former ruler of a once mighty empire. One would think that sleeping for over nine hundred years would preclude the need for further rest, but the Sovereign had found herself exhausted by the emotional events of the day.

They were seated in Voyager's Mess Hall. Janeway had convinced the young Queen to return with her to the ship last night, installing her in the VIP quarters next to her own. They had shared a light meal, a comfortable silence between them, as bits and pieces of the lengthy conversation they had shared twirled through both their minds.

Kathryn had told the other woman of the plight of Voyager and its crew, lost here in the Delta Quadrant, unlikely to see their friends and family again. Somehow the revelation had brought them both a modicum of peace, as each realized how temporary and fragile life could be. Whether the gap was one of time or of distance, the feelings of loss and longing were the same.

"Yes, actually, I did. I was surprised. I imagined that I would be up all night, haunted by dreams and ghosts, yet, instead, I slept all night, without a single nightmare to trouble me," the other woman stated.

She was still attired in black, though she had shed the military style boots for soft leather slippers, and exchanged the jacket for a fitted shirt of thick black silk. Her hair gleamed a muted silvery-gold under the lights of the Mess Hall. She had removed her gloves, having explained to Kathryn last night that she had always been required to wear them in the presence of her subjects. According to an ancient and never rescinded Regalan law, no one but immediate family or mates were allowed to touch the ruler. It was just one more of the rules that the former Queen had intended to change.

On the palm of her left hand was a mark, the same one that adorned the chamber and the ship, a diamond of the deepest blue. Kathryn had asked if it was a tattoo of some sort, but the Sovereign had told her it was a birthmark which all the rulers of Regala had possessed.

"So, you didn't ever tell me if you had managed to find the supplies of energy for which you were searching. Were you successful, Kathryn?"

"Actually, no. The deuterium we were looking for didn't pan out, so it appears we'll just have to move on and hope that we come across some in a neighboring system," Janeway admitted stoically.

"Deuterium? Explain to me how your ship's engines function," the Queen requested, a look of intense interest on her face.

"How much do you know about physics and engineering?" Kathryn asked, wanting to know how technical to make her information.

"Enough. I designed the shielding and engines for the entire Regalan fleet. I think I should be able to keep up," she replied, an amused gleam lighting her green eyes.

With a look of bemused pleasure, Janeway launched into a lengthy and detailed description of the pros and cons of the ship's warp technology, bio-gel packs and the search for dilithium and deuterium in a quadrant that, by and large, lacked a great many space-faring cultures.

The conversation went on for hours, moving from the Mess Hall to Main Engineering, as Kathryn showed her companion the warp core, the dilithium chamber and the bio-gel circuitry that ran the ship. Janeway found herself amazed by the depth of knowledge and understanding of physics that the queen possessed, as she made suggestions on how Voyager could be made more energy efficient. Torres and Seven joined them and the four women were soon engrossed in the inner workings of the starship.

Regalan technology turned out to be even more advanced than Janeway or her crew had imagined, as the Sovereign took them back to the cavern to demonstrate the workings of her own ship. The shields were a thing of wonder and the ship was equipped with a cloaking device, something that the crew had yet to encounter during their time in the Delta Quadrant. The engines were along the same design of the slip-stream of Arturus' ship, yet different in that they used a series of "jumpgates" positioned throughout the Empire that allowed the Regalans to navigate their far-flung dominion with ease.

"Do you think that you could modify our engines to these parameters, allowing Voyager to safely utilize the slip-stream technology?" Janeway asked excitedly.

"No," the Queen replied, dismayed at the crest-fallen look of disappointment that came over not only the Captain's, but Torres' and Seven's face as well, "It's simply that your ship wasn't designed to withstand the stresses of that type of travel. I could design you a ship with that technology, but there really is no way to make your ship into something it wasn't designed to be.

"Besides, without the 'jumpgates' there would be little way of determining exactly where you were going. The gates were our method of navigation, our stars by which to steer. Take that away and the technology, while allowing ships to travel immense distances in a relatively short amount of time, is dangerous and unsound. Who knows where in the galaxy, or even out of the galaxy, you could end up. I am sorry, Kathryn. I know how much this must mean to you. I wish that I could answer differently, but I can't."

"I understand. We attempted to alter Voyager's shields and deflectors to withstand the stress but it didn't work. I guess I was hoping that since you built this ship that you might be able to think of a different method," Janeway replied, reaching out unconsciously to place her hand on the Sovereign's arm.

"Give me a year and a spaceport to utilize and I could take Voyager apart and put her back together so that the slip-stream would work. However, you would still need to come up with some method to ascertain when to leave the stream. It would take time and somehow, I don't think that that is an option you want to consider," came the sympathetic reply.

"Without the gates, how will you be able to travel in your own ship?" B'Elanna asked, the problem suddenly occurring to her.

"The slip-stream is not the only method of travel for our ships. That was utilized only to travel to the outer reaches of the empire. There is a conventional, well, for us conventional, means of travel, utilizing the same power source, but at a reduced speed. Although, this ship can reach Warp 9.99, using far less energy and can maintain that speed for much longer. That is something with which I can be of assistance. I can also make some modifications to your shields and design a cloaking device for your vessel, if that is something you would like?" The Queen answered, her green eyes fixed on Kathryn's face.

"We would be very pleased with any help you can offer," Janeway said warmly, squeezing the arm that still lay under her hand.

"I owe you my life, Captain. I would never be so ungrateful as to deny you anything I might be able to provide."

"You don't owe us anything, Acacia," Janeway answered firmly, "But we would welcome your help, as a friend."

Seven glanced surreptitiously at B'Elanna, noting that the Captain and the Queen were now on a first name basis. Torres and Seven had been watching, had seen the looks exchanged, had witnessed the number of times that the two other women had managed to "accidentally" touch, brushing hands or shoulders. It was clear that their Captain had been quite enthralled with Beauty from the outset, and now that the flesh and blood woman was close at hand, that fascination seemed to have grown tenfold.

"Very well, friend, let's see what we can do with your ship, shall we?" The Sovereign replied, her face lit with a smile.

Eleven days later, Voyager's shields had been reconfigured to withstand even Borg technology and a cloaking device had been installed, allowing the ship a measure of safety it had been previously been lacking. Acacia had also managed to refit the dilithium chamber so that the amount of crystals necessary to power the ship had been reduced.

During that time, Kathryn had found herself utilizing any and every opportunity to spend time with the young Queen. They had breakfast together, lunch together, spent the afternoons in Engineering working side by side, and in the evenings, after a private meal in the Captain's quarters, they would sit and drink coffee, something Acacia had found she greatly enjoyed, and talk.

It was an extraordinary thing for Kathryn to have someone with whom to share, someone who knew firsthand the burdens and loneliness of leadership. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, she found that they talked less about the difficult times and more about themselves, about their experiences, their families, their fondest memories. Janeway was astonished at how freely she discussed her father and his death, Mark and his "dear Jane" letter, how much she missed her mother and sister, and how hard it had been to be alone all these years, even on a ship of 143 people.

She began to realize that she was falling in love with this amazing creature and that the thought of never seeing her again was too much to bear. Acacia had not mentioned what she planned to do, when or if she planned to leave Voyager, and Kathryn found that she was terrified to bring up the subject for fear of the answer.

She knew that Acacia was fond of her, she could read that much in her eyes and her voice, but Kathryn also knew that the other woman was petrified of becoming too connected to anyone. She had lost everything she had ever known. Kathryn realized that the risk of being hurt again seemed overwhelming to the young queen.

After a long day of work in Engineering, Kathryn finally broached the subject, taking a somewhat circuitous route.

"I told the senior staff that we will be preparing to leave the asteroid belt tomorrow. Even with all the modifications you and B'Elanna have made, we still need to locate some deuterium. We'll just have to keep on course for home and hope that we run into something along the way," Kathryn said matter-of-factly.

Her words were met with silence. Glancing up from her seat at one end of the couch in her quarters, Janeway could see Acacia's perfect profile as she looked out the viewport at the spinning rocks surrounding the ship.

"Acacia? Something wrong?"

Turning her head to meet Kathryn's eyes, Acacia simply shook her head, rising from her seat to move toward the door.

"No, nothing at all, Kathryn. I am a bit tired. It was a long day in Engineering, and well, I am nine hundred and thirty-nine years old. Elderly by anyone's standards," she joked lightly, a weary smile tilting the corners of her mouth," I think that I will try and sleep. Tomorrow will no doubt be exhausting as well."

"I don't know if you've looked in the mirror recently, but you hardly fit the description of elderly," Kathryn laughed, "Still, I guess you're right. It has been a long day. And tomorrow will be just as demanding. I don't know if I have said this as often as I should have, but I do want you to know how deeply grateful I am to you for all of your help and advice. It has been of immense value to my ship and I am in your debt."

"You saved my life, Kathryn. It is I who am in your debt. You owe me nothing," Acacia said quietly, standing by the door, " You and your crew are truly extraordinary beings and I know with absolute certainty that God will speed you safely on your journey. I hope you sleep well, Kathryn."

"Thank you. Sweet dreams," Janeway replied, moving to Acacia's side and smiling gently at the other woman, "I'll see you for breakfast?"

Acacia stared into Janeway's eyes for a long moment, her expression unreadable, those green eyes slightly hooded, appearing dark and opaque in the subdued lighting of the cabin. Reaching up, she suddenly ran the back of one slender finger along the line of Kathryn's cheek. Before Janeway could respond, Acacia spoke again.

"Goodnight, Kathryn," the former Empress said, slipping out the cabin door without answering the Captain's query.

Janeway continued to stand in the entranceway to her quarters, a slightly puzzled frown creasing the skin of her forehead. It was unlike Acacia to be evasive. Still, Kathryn reasoned, it was clear that the other woman was tired. There had also been a sadness, a lack of energy and luster in those green eyes. Perhaps the events of the past week had finally begun to catch up to her.

Acacia had been remarkably stoic about the situation in which she found herself. Although Janeway had not spent every hour of every day with her, she knew that in those moments spent in public, the Sovereign had never betrayed any feelings of loss, or despondency, or grief. What she felt in private, what emotions she grappled with in the confines of her quarters, only Acacia knew. Yet, Janeway was convinced that, given enough time, the Queen would feel safe enough to share her feelings with her. Until then, she would respect her privacy and allow her time to mourn in her own way.

The perfectly modulated voice of the computer announced that the time had come to arise for morning watch, bringing up the lights in the darkened bedroom of Voyager's captain. Janeway lay still for a moment, the last vestiges of a dream slithering like an eel from her grasp. All that remained was a vague and troubling feeling of emptiness, an echoing lack, like that instant between dark and dawn, when the light merely seemed to exist, caught along the edge of the horizon, an absence of feeling in an endless search for lacking more.

Shrugging off the lingering traces of the disquiet, Kathryn arose and prepared for her day, removing a fresh uniform from the replicator and dressing quickly in the silence of her cabin. Moving swiftly, she crossed into the living area, replicating a large pot of coffee. Acacia seemed to enjoy a light breakfast, as did Janeway, so Kathryn chose a selection of scones and muffins, along with some fruit, placing the food on the dining table. Carefully setting out plates and silverware, Kathryn glanced absently at the chronometer, noting the thirty minutes remaining before Alpha shift began.

Janeway was just seating herself at the table, pouring that first, essential cup of coffee when her Comm badge chimed discreetly.

"Janeway," she answered briefly.

"Captain," came B'Elanna Torres' voice, "Would it be possible for me to speak with you this morning, before the shift starts?"

"Of course, B'Elanna, what is it?"

"I think that this would be better in private, Captain," Torres replied, a note of something Kathryn couldn't quite name in her voice, "I'm right outside your quarters. Would it be okay if I came in?"

"All right," Kathryn responded, the feeling of dread and emptiness that had plagued her earlier returning to fill the cavity of her chest.

The door to her quarters slid open with a muted whoosh and Torres entered, her expression somber. In her hand she carried a small data module, the sliver thin piece of crystal pale against the darker skin of her fingers.

"Something's wrong. What?" Kathryn found herself asking abruptly.

"The Sovereign is gone, Captain. I went down early this morning to get a piece of diagnostic equipment I left down there and the ship is gone. She must have engaged the cloak and slipped out sometime during the night. She left this on top of the stasis chamber. It's coded just for you," Torres told her, her voice and eyes kind and sympathetic as she handed the slim module to her Captain.

Janeway was uncertain of how, but she found the crystal nestled neatly in her palm, still warm from B'Elanna's grasp. Her hand had reached out without conscious direction, moving instinctively, just as the rest of her body did now, propelling her across the short distance to the couch, where she sank without response to the cushions.

"I'm sorry, Captain. I know that you, well, we could see....that is, Seven and I could see that you really cared for her," Torres said haltingly.

"Thank you, Lt. Tell Chakotay to prepare to leave the asteroid field and continue on course to the Alpha Quadrant. I'll be on the Bridge by the time we're ready to leave," Janeway stated, her voice devoid of emotion, flat and distant.

"Captain, aren't you going to go after her?" B'Elanna asked incredulously. It had been so clear that Janeway was deeply infatuated with the beautiful and brilliant queen, that Torres found it impossible to believe that the Captain was willing to simply let her walk out of her life like this.

"No. I have no right to do that, B'Elanna. She is a grown woman, the former ruler of a vast empire. If she chooses to leave, then that is her decision. I can't force her to stay. She isn't a wayward member of my crew that I can simply order to come back. I won't put her or myself in the position of chasing after someone who obviously doesn't want to be caught," Kathryn answered, a new weariness to her face as she gazed unseeing at the bulkhead.

"But Captain, maybe it isn't so much that she doesn't want to be caught as it is that she didn't really know that you wanted her to stay?" B'Elanna hypothesized," I mean, did you ever actually say, 'Acacia, please come with us.' ?"

"I think that you've overstepped your bounds, Lt.," Janeway said stiffly, pulling down the command mask she used to hide her true feelings from her crew.

"Maybe I have, Captain. Feel free to toss me into the brig for insubordination if you really think it warrants it. But, if I am going to be punished for speaking out, I intend on having my say first," Torres stated firmly, her face a picture of obstinate Klingon pride, "This is ridiculous, Captain. We've been out here for six years and in that time you have distanced yourself completely from the crew.

"You don't let anyone close. You refuse to go against stupid Federation regulations that have nothing whatsoever to do with our situation, forcing yourself to remain alone. For the very first time, you have actually met someone who isn't a member of this crew. Someone who knows the burdens of leadership, someone who shares your interests, whose scientific abilities outshine even your own, someone genuinely kind, someone you seem to truly care for. And instead of embracing those feelings and begging her to stay, not only do you not let her know how you feel, you let her leave. And now, now you don't even have the guts to go after her?!" Torres finished in a rush of words, her olive-toned cheeks flushed with pink.

"Are you quite through?" Kathryn asked, her voice dangerously quiet.

"Yes." Torres replied defiantly.

"Good. Now, if you don't mind, Lieutenant , I would like to be alone. I suggest that you return to your duties and get this ship ready to travel. I would further suggest that you do not ever speak to me like that again or I will throw you in the brig. I appreciate your concern and that of the rest of the crew, but my private life, or lack thereof, is no one's business but mine," Janeway stated firmly.

"I have to disagree with you on that point, Captain. Your welfare and mental health are of great concern to the entire crew. You're our captain and we rely on you. We also care about you. We want you to be happy. Unless a miracle happens, we are going to be out here for a long time. Do you really intend to spend the next forty years alone? Do you think you can remain sane alone all that time?"

 "I'm not going to have this discussion with you, Lieutenant," the Captain responded, her face and tone softening, " Please, B'Elanna, just let it go, all right? Go back to Engineering and let's get out of this sea of stone, shall we?"

"Okay, Captain."

As the door slid shut behind Torres, Kathryn leaned back against the hard bulkhead. Her eyes closed wearily as the full weight of what had happened settled on her shoulders, a thick and burdensome wrap made of loss and deserted dreams.

Finally, with a sigh, she pushed herself upright, crossing the small space to her workstation. Sitting heavily, she slid the crystal into the side of the terminal, accessing the encoded message. As she slumped back against the chair, Acacia's image appeared on the screen, those green eyes dull and resigned.

"I thought of lying to you," she began, seeming almost in mid thought, "I tried to concoct some believable tale, some passable explanation for leaving like this, but I couldn't do that to you. I owe you too much. I care for you too much to do that. Odd, isn't it, to care for someone such a great deal after so short a time, but there didn't seem to be anything I could do to stop myself.

"That is one of the reasons I have to go. I don't think I am ready to feel any kind of attachment, not yet. If I stayed, it would only get stronger, only bind me to you all the more. I don't want to lose anyone else I love. And since I do not hold the power to bring death to its knees and end its dominion over the lives of mortals, then the one solution left to me is simply not to love. So, I have to leave.

"Besides," Acacia continued, a frown furrowed between arched brows, eyes fixed on scenes almost a thousand years old, "I think it is time for this pampered queen to find out if she is capable of being alone. All of my life someone took care of me, from my mother, to nannies and tutors, to statesmen like Devon, and protectors like Palin. The one time I tried to accomplish something without aid, my chance was ripped away from me. I have never been allowed the opportunity to fail or succeed on my own skills, on my own terms.

"Sleeping Beauty cannot simply be content to be swept up by Prince Charming onto that white horse and installed in yet another palace as a prize, a portrait to adorn the wall. She must be the Prince's equal, she must feel that she is equal. Right now, I don't feel that way. I've been rescued once again, taken care of by you and your crew. I must discover if I can take care of myself. I hope that you understand, Kathryn. I don't mean to sound selfish. I owe you so much. I just know that, until I am forced to deal with my life and my situation on my own, with no one standing by to save me, I will never be what I honestly believe I deserve to be.

"Please forgive me for not having the courage to say this to you in person. I doubted my own resolve to go if I had forced myself to see your face as I told you these things. Again, selfish of me, I know. I wish you only the very best and I have no doubt that you will succeed in getting your ship and crew back home. Who knows, perhaps we will meet again someday. Until then, thank you for all that you have done for me. God speed you home, Kathryn," she finished softly, her eyes shimmering with unspilled tears.

Kathryn felt the tickle of moisture as a solitary tear threaded its way, unchecked, down her cheek to fall soundlessly to the fabric of her jacket, a single drop of emotion against a dull red sea of duty. She resisted the urge to play the message back again, knowing that her heart would only take so much before it overran the confines of her self-control.

The words that Acacia had spoken had come as no real surprise. Somewhere in the recesses of her mind, Kathryn had known what had been troubling her lovely guest. They were the same thoughts that Kathryn knew that she herself would have, had she found herself in Acacia's position. It had been clear from the outset that, along with a love of science, the starship captain and the former empress shared a wide streak of stubborn pride.

Janeway stood slowly, taking all of her feelings and fractured dreams and stuffing them, as one would an old, discarded quilt, into a deep drawer in a derelict chest in the back of her mind. Allowing herself to become immersed in regret wasn't going to change anything. This was just another disappointment in what sometimes seemed to be an endless chain of them. One more thing not to think about, one more fantasy that was never going to magically morph into something real and lasting.

Squaring her shoulders, Kathryn Janeway stepped out the door of her quarters into the brightly lit corridor, her face empty of expression. She moved determinedly down the passageway, acknowledging the various members of her crew as she passed them. Life went on, and she had a starship to see safely back to the Alpha Quadrant. Time to get back up on that horse. There were dragons to slay and villages to protect.

Seating herself in the command chair on her bridge, Janeway asked, "Course set, Tom?"

"Laid in and ready to go, Captain." None of the senior staff on the bridge gave a hint to what they knew their Captain was feeling.

"We've got some deuterium to find and a quadrant to reach. Let's get out of here. Warp six, whenever you're ready, Mr. Paris."

"And away we go," Paris answered whimsically, his fingers lightly touching the controls, hurtling the small starship again towards the unforeseen dangers and untold mysteries of an often unforgiving universe.

SIX MONTHS LATER

Unforgiving it was indeed, at least to the crew of the USS Voyager. Six months had passed since they had left the asteroid field, determined to locate some deuterium to shore up their dwindling supply. The modifications that the Sovereign had made to the engines had helped a great deal, allowing them a wider window of time in which to locate the element. The cloak had proved invaluable as well, providing the often beleaguered ship with an element of protection it had not enjoyed since being ripped away from the Alpha Quadrant. Still, without the deuterium, the chance of the ship reaching home dimmed more and more each day.

The Captain had finally made contact with a race of traders who operated an interstellar trading post on a small planet, serving as brokers for buyers and sellers. The post had taken them quite a bit off course, not that they had made all that much in the way of progress in their search for the deuterium. Still, Janeway was banking on the alien traders abilities to locate and produce the much needed power supply.

After several days of negotiations, the traders located a seller, a planet rich in deuterium, who were quite happy to trade for a very reasonable rate. The deal was made and Voyager spent the days waiting for the shipment to arrive by refitting several of the ships systems with new parts purchased from various alien purveyors.

However, on the day the freighter was to arrive with the deuterium, Janeway received a message from the leader of the trading colony.

"I am quite sorry to inform you that the shipment will not be arriving as scheduled, Captain Janeway," the trader told her, his face and voice lugubrious.

"What do mean, won't be arriving? We paid for the merchandise, and we expect it to be delivered," Janeway responded, her face hard.

"I assure you, you will be refunded in full for your purchase, Captain. Unfortunately, this is quite out of my hands. The system in which the sellers reside has been suffering for some months now from attacks by mercenaries, pirates who have been robbing their shipping and causing a great deal of turmoil. The Galan people are an honorable race, quite civilized, and a pleasure to trade with. It is quite regrettable that they are being plagued by these marauders," he responded, the small tufts on the top of his round head shaking back and forth, appearing to move in sympathy with his words.

Janeway sighed deeply, running her hand across her forehead, as if the effort could somehow erase the lines of worry and annoyance that had appeared there.

"How far away is the Galan homeworld?" She asked abruptly. If the mountain wouldn't come to Mohammed then Mohammed would go to the mountain.

"Approximately two of your weeks travel. In the opposite direction from what I understand is your course back to your own quadrant," the alien answered, clearly apologetic at the answer he was forced to provide, "I would offer to attempt to locate other sellers of the deuterium, but alas, I fear I would be unsuccessful. That element is not common in this quadrant, as you yourselves have discovered, and I do not think I would be able to find any more for you in a shorter time than it would take for your ship to travel to Galan.

"Besides," he continued, "as I have said, the Galan are wonderful trading partners. As long as the raids are allowed to go on, trade will not be possible. You and your ship look quite capable of dealing with these marauders, Captain Janeway. So, by going to the Galan system, you would be doing not only a service for yourself, but for the Galan as well."

"Not to mention, you," Kathryn replied dryly.

"Well, yes of course, I would benefit. But quite frankly, Captain, with or without the Galan, I will prosper," the trader said sagely.

Sighing again, Janeway thanked the trader for the information, making arrangements for the payment to be refunded before Voyager left the trading colony. She returned to the ship to find preparations under way for departure.

"So, time to go tilting at windmills?" Chakotay asked, his wide face creased by a smile.

"From the sound of it, and considering that we didn't get our deuterium, this may actually be a dragon," she replied, her lips touched by an answering grin, "So, Sancho Panza, the horses saddled and the lance prepared for battle?"

"Of course, my dear knight. Have I ever let you down?" Her First Officer queried, a quizzical grin lighting his face.

"All right then," Kathryn said wryly, "Tom, head for the Galan system and don't stop till you spot that first windmill."

"Aye, Captain. The Galan system at full gallop."

Thirteen days later, Voyager entered the Galan system. They had sent a subspace message to the homeworld, introducing themselves and stating the purpose of their visit. The reply had been somewhat cryptic, merely offering words of welcome and informing Voyager that the shipment of deuterium would be waiting for them upon their arrival. No mention was made of the pirates, nor did the Galans send any warnings of marauders.

Coming into orbit around the planet, Janeway was struck by the similarity of the Galan world to Earth. The spinning globe of blue and white and green sent little tremors of homesickness through her mind and heart. The inhabitants of the planet received them warmly, inviting the Captain and senior staff to visit the surface.

The away team beamed down into the capital city, a gracious, serene metropolis of gleaming white buildings, of lush gardens and tall green trees, of wide avenues and meandering pathways, all laid out under an impossibly blue sky. The regent of the Galan people met them at the entrance to the Parliamentary houses, a slight woman of sixty, greying hair piled high in a bun at the top of her head. A few stray strands had fallen free, which, combined with a broad smile, proclaimed a woman who did not rely on formality to govern her people.

"Greetings and welcome to Galan, Captain Janeway. We are so very pleased to have visitors. Our planet is somewhat off the beaten path, so we have found that we must venture out in order to meet new friends. It is refreshing to have those new friends come to us. My people are quite excited at your visit, perhaps more so because we are celebrating. We do hope that you and your crew will be able to stay and join in our celebration? You have arrived just in time for the banquet," the regent enthused warmly, motioning Janeway and the rest of the away team inside the building.

"Thank you for the generous welcome, Regent. My crew and I are very pleased to be able to visit your planet. When we learned of your problems with the mercenaries, we decided that we would come to you and offer our assistance, along with renewing our proposal to purchase your deuterium. I hope that we may be able to help you in dealing with the pirates who are interrupting your trade?" Kathryn replied, stepping into the grand foyer of the Parliament, and gazing in wonder at the marble floor and the ceiling rising into the sky above them, gilded with gold and adorned with scenes from the planet's history.

The hall was teeming with partygoers, laughter and music echoing throughout the great chamber. The away team were deluged with offers of food and drink, as the merriment of the Galans swirled about them.

"Your offer is incredibly kind and magnanimous, Captain. However, I am happy to be able to decline your beneficence. You see, that is the reason for our festivities. The pirates are gone, most destroyed, the others driven out of our system," the Regent stated joyfully, her face alight with a glowing smile.

"How did you manage to rid yourselves of them? I understood from the head of the trading colony that you were not a military people and that the raiders had been preying on your shipping for some months, knowing that you were unable to defend your fleet or your planet," Janeway asked, a puzzled expression in her blue-grey eyes.

"Indeed, all that is true. We were at our wit's end, stymied in our attempts to deal with the marauders. We tried to negotiate with them, offering supplies, goods, anything we could think of, but they refused. Then, last week one of our freighters reported that during a raid by the pirates, another ship appeared, or at least they believed it to be a ship. Phasers blasts simply began to pour forth from space itself, destroying three of the raiders ships and damaging three others. The pirates could not defend themselves, our ship reported, unable as they were to even locate the source of the weapons fire, much less disable it. The remaining marauders limped off towards the outer rim of the system.

"They came back of course, attacking another of our fleet two days later. The same thing occurred, though this time, the invisible ship finished off the rest of the pirates. We knew that they had only six ships, so it was clear that our menace had been eradicated. It was only then that our savior appeared to us. We could not believe that one ship had been able to destroy the entire contingent of raiders. To know that we have been the recipients of not one, but two gestures of friendship and amazing generosity is a source of great joy for my people, Captain," the Regent proclaimed, her voice carrying to the revelers around her, who let out a cheer of approval and welcome.

As the Regent had told her story, a tingling had begun to creep up Kathryn's spine. A cloaked ship, one capable of firing without decloaking. As far as Janeway knew, there was only one such vessel in the Delta Quadrant, a ship called The Redemption.

"Hello, Regent," came a voice that had slipped nightly from its place of imprisonment inside the recesses of Kathryn's mind to linger, ethereal and haunting, long after she had awoken.

"Ah, Acacia, I have someone I want you to meet. Captain Janeway, I am pleased to introduce our savior, Acacia. Captain Janeway and her crew have just arrived. They came to offer their help with our pirate problem, but I have just finished telling the kind lady that you have already come to our rescue," the Regent beamed, drawing Acacia close to Kathryn's side.

"Hello, Kathryn. It's good to see you again," Acacia said somewhat hesitantly, the smile that graced her lips just a trifle unsure.

"You know each other?" the Regent exclaimed incredulously.

"Yes, we meet several months ago. I was most fortunate to be on the receiving end of someone else's good deed. The Captain and her crew rescued me from a rather unpleasant situation," the former empress answered softly, her green eyes fixed on Kathryn's own.

The Regent glanced quickly from one woman to the other, taking in the lingering look that passed between them. Being a wise woman herself, she decided to leave them alone to reacquaint themselves.

"If you will forgive me, Captain, Acacia, I must attend to my duties as hostess for our little gathering. Please, eat, drink, enjoy yourselves. The party will no doubt go on until morning, so please invite any of your crew that you wish to come and join in the festivities, Captain," she said graciously, as she walked towards a large group of partygoers.

"Captain?" Tom Paris' voice broke in before either woman could speak.

"Yes, Tom?"

"Permission to join the revelry, Captain? This looks like a doozy of a party," Tom said, his eyes flitting around the room, already having spied several lovely Galan women, "By the way, nice to see you again, Acacia. I hear you've been doing some fancy flying and even fancier shooting."

"Mr. Paris. It is nice to see you again, as well. And thank you for the compliment," Acacia responded, glancing briefly in Tom's direction before returning her gaze to Kathryn's immobile face.

"Permission granted. Inform Chakotay of the kind invitation of the Galans and have him set up a rotation of crewmembers who want to join the festivities," Kathryn answered, her voice devoid of emotion.

"Aye, Captain," Paris replied happily, already turning to leave the two women.

"And Tom?"

"Yes, Ma'am?"

"Try to stay out of trouble. The Galans have been kind enough to invite us to their celebration. At least make an effort not to insult, annoy, or start a disagreement with any of them, will you?" Janeway said pointedly.

"I promise, Captain. I will be the perfect guest," Paris intoned solemnly.

"I expect you to keep that promise, Lieutenant. Dismissed."

The distraction of dealing with Paris had allowed Kathryn a moment to gather her shaking senses. Seeing Acacia again, so unexpectedly, had sent her nerves into a short-circuit, racing her pulse and causing a decided tremor in both hands. After so many months, the reality of having her so near was more than a little disconcerting. Even more disconcerting was the knowledge that the time apart had done nothing to dull or dim the feelings that Kathryn still harbored for the lovely queen.

Meeting Acacia's eyes, Kathryn was amazed to find apprehension clear in those green depths. The former ruler was obviously uncertain about Kathryn's feelings in seeing her again, especially considering the manner in which she had left Voyager. Inclining her head, Kathryn motioned for Acacia to follow her, leading her out of the crowded hall into the now twilight air outside the grand white building. Still not speaking, the duo walked slowly towards the green enclosure of the garden that surrounded the structure.

Coming to a stone bench that rested beneath the stretching branches of an enormous tree, Kathryn sat down, waiting for Acacia to join her before speaking.

The light was fading gently from the darkening sky, the air holding just a hint of dampness as the dew began to settle on the thick fall of grass beneath their feet. The shadow of the great tree threw patterns of dark and declining light across their faces, obscuring here, illuminating there. It was difficult for either of them to clearly read the other's expressions.

"Acacia," Kathryn began, only to be interrupted by the touch of warm fingers along the back of her hand.

"Please, Kathryn, let me say something first. I am so sorry for leaving the way I did. I should have been stronger, I should have allowed you the courtesy of recriminations in person, not forcing you to voice them to a transitory image on a screen. That was callous and cowardly of me, and I do beg your forgiveness," Acacia's voice trembled, the words spilling out her, as air out of a punctured balloon.

"Acacia, there were no recriminations to voice. I understood why you left, even why you left the way you did, though I did wish that I had had the opportunity to say goodbye. I'm not saying that I was happy about your decision, but it was exactly that, your decision. I had no right to interfere in what you thought was best for you. So there is nothing to forgive," Kathryn replied gently, her other hand coming to cover Acacia's where it rested atop her own.

In the long silence that followed, Kathryn peered somewhat unsuccessfully into the growing gloom, unable to read the emotions that flickered across those astonishing green eyes. When the reply came, Kathryn was rather taken aback.

"I see," came Acacia's voice in the falling darkness, an odd note seeming to linger along the edge, "Well, it would appear that I do owe you an apology, Captain, for so clearly misreading our interactions. I have quite obviously attributed feelings that were not present and for that I am sorry. You will forgive my stupidity and my presumption," she said, rising abruptly from the bench and beginning to walk along the path, further into the shadows.

It took a moment for the meaning of the words to make themselves manifest in Kathryn's mind.

"Wait! Acacia, wait, please," Janeway entreated urgently.

The young queen stopped, her head turned away from Kathryn, her posture stiff and impatient.

"Acacia," Kathryn murmured softly, reaching out to grasp an unwilling hand, "You didn't assign feelings that weren't there and you certainly weren't wrong about the nature of our interactions. When I said that there were no recriminations, I meant it. I had no claim on you, and absolutely no right to demand that you stay aboard my ship. That doesn't mean that I wasn't incredibly unhappy that you left. I was. I still am. So, please, don't think you presumed anything."

"I needed to go. I had to find out if I could survive without benefit of aides and armies and untold legions at my command. Until I was certain of that, I would have been merely existing in the shadow of someone else's strength, someone else's life. Part of me kept saying I was being foolish, that I should simply stay with you and be content. I knew I couldn't. Eventually I would have been eaten up with self doubt. Besides, I don't recall being asked to go with you," Acacia replied, her head tilted a trifle defiantly.

The Galan moon slipped from its hiding place behind a bank of clouds to suddenly illuminate the garden, that just seconds before had been a realm of shadows.

"I just assumed that you would be staying with us. You were so wonderful in Engineering, and you seemed to like the crew. After all, it's difficult enough out here with friends, I couldn't imagine trying to make it alone," Janeway said by way of explanation.

"You assumed? You assumed that I would stay because I didn't want to be alone? Well, I am alone. Completely and irrevocably alone. But then, you know that, don't you? And you feel sorry for me, don't you? Do I strike you as an object of pity, Kathryn, because I assure you I am not. I don't require your assistance or your commiseration. I thank you for your help thus far and I wish you well on your journey. Good night, Captain," Acacia stated hotly, sparks glinting brightly in her green eyes as she turned again to leave.

"Acacia! Please, wait," Kathryn implored, crossing the short distance between them to stand well within the other woman's personal space, "I'm sorry. I handled that very badly. You're right, I didn't ask you to come with us. I didn't ask because I was afraid you'd say no. I know how hard this has been for you and how the thought of letting anyone close to you is terrifying. I should have been more sensitive. It's just that...well, I thought that we, well, that you and I...," Janeway's voice faltered.

"You thought what, Kathryn?" Acacia asked softly, her eyes stealing of their own accord to trace the contours of Janeway's lips.

"I have feelings for you, feelings that I would like, no, that I need to explore and I was under the impression that you felt the same way. I want you to come with us, Acacia, please. I want you to know that you aren't alone," Kathryn whispered, her voice barely audible, certain that this discussion had just begun.

"Very well, Kathryn, I will come with you," Acacia replied suddenly, her bowed head disguising the sparkle of mischief that lit her emerald eyes.

"Just like that?" Kathryn said incredulously.

"Yes."

"A minute ago you were ready to walk away, out of my life and now you're coming with me?" Kathryn's face was a study in confusion.

"You hadn't asked me to go with you. I knew you assumed that I would, but I couldn't continue to be there on your ship and not know that you truly wanted me to be there with you. Not be there on your ship and help with Engineering, but be there with you , Kathryn. I didn't want to be another orphan picked up along your travels out of a sense of duty or decency or obligation. I needed to know that you felt as I do. You forget Kathryn, I am the last ruler of a mighty empire. Pride is always going to be one of my shortcomings."

"In other words, I had better get used to it?" Kathryn asked, laughing at the whole situation.

Pursing her lips, Acacia seemed to ponder the question for a moment. She moved closer to Janeway's side, slipping one slim arm through Kathryn's own.

"Exactly," she finally replied, "Although, I think you will find that I come with some compensatory, redeeming qualities. With your permission, Captain, I would be happy to demonstrate."

Without waiting for a response, Acacia lowered her head, her lips gently but thoroughly laying claim to Kathryn's. After what may have been minutes or possibly hours as far as Kathryn could tell, Acacia raised her head.

"Convinced?" She asked coyly.

"Not quite. I am afraid that you're going to have to be a little more persuasive. Tell me, do I get a similar demonstration every time your pride gets the better of you?" Kathryn inquired, her fingers idly tracing a line down the smooth skin of Acacia's neck.

"Of course. I am sorry that you aren't yet persuaded. I guess I will simply have to try harder. Tell me, Captain, do you have any suggestions as to how I might be able to win you over?"

"Several, actually," Kathryn said, her lips now following the line her fingers had traced down the curve of honey skin.

"I was right. You really are an intelligent woman, my dearest Princess Charming," Acacia said, her head tilted back to allow Janeway easier access to her throat.

Kathryn pulled back a little to gaze into those amused green eyes, her own expression a trifle embarrassed.

"Who told you about Sleeping Beauty?"

"No one. I overheard some crew members talking and I looked it up in your ship's library. For what it's worth, my dear Kathryn, I couldn't have wished for a more dashing and delectable rescuer," she answered, her eyes lit by an inner glow.

Chuckling low in her throat, Janeway pulled the lovely queen close again.

"Come here, Beauty. I believe you still have some persuading to do," Kathryn murmured, covering those entrancing lips with her own.

From the hall behind them, the sounds of revelry filtered out, voices raised in laughter and the strains of music floating on the cool night breeze. Neither woman heard the raucous sound, drowned out as the noises were by the steady pounding of their own two hearts.

Epilogue

"I don't suppose that you happened to notice the palm of the Regent's left hand, did you, Kathryn?" Acacia asked from her place at the other end of Kathryn's couch. Voyager had left the Galan homeworld two hours ago, after a final goodbye from the Regent and her chief advisors.

The Galans had insisted that Voyager take the deuterium, free of charge, as a reward to Acacia for ridding them of the pirates. The Regent had seemed quite pleased to learn that their lovely savior would be joining Janeway and her crew on their journey.

"I can honestly say, no, I wasn't really paying attention to her hand. Or to any other part of her to be perfectly honest. I have to admit that my attention was elsewhere," Kathryn replied, the expression in her eyes making clear her meaning.

"Cheeky wench, aren't you?" Beauty asked, eyes brilliant, lit by the grin that graced her full lips, "But, getting back to what I was saying. On the palm of the Regent's left hand is a diamond shape of the deepest blue. A mark exactly like the one that adorns my own left hand."

Kathryn straightened from her reclining position against the armrest, swinging her legs from their perch across Acacia's lap to sit up fully.

"I thought that you said that the mark was a birthmark, one that only graces the hand of the rulers of Regala?"

"I did. When I left you, I decided that I needed to know what had become of my people. It took some searching but I discovered that after the civil war, the one I so hoped to avert, the empire broke down and was taken over by various races and groups. However, according to an old woman I met on some obscure colony, a good many of the people of the empire, people from a great many different planets and colonies, banded together and set out to establish a new world. I traveled for weeks before I finally was able to find their planet. When I did, I also found that they were under attack by raiders. It seemed the least I could do to rid them of that particular plague.

"So the Galans are the descendants of your people?" Kathryn asked rhetorically, her mind amazed at the way all of this had played out.

"Yes."

"And the Regent? I thought that you had no heirs?"

"I didn't. I did, however, have a younger sister. Clearly she survived the civil war and became one of the members of that courageous group. The Regent must be her descendant," Acacia said quietly, her eyes distant as memories of her family and her world scrolled slowly across her consciousness.

Sliding down the cushions of the couch, Kathryn slipped her arms around the slender form of her new found love.

Whispering gently in her ear, she murmured, "They're a good and honorable people, Acacia. You can find some solace in knowing that the real legacy of your race lives on in them. That your sister lives on in them."

"I know. I know that I should be pleased to have found out what happened, pleased to know that in the end, all that was good in my people survived. And someday, I will be pleased at those things. Somehow, right now, all I can manage is sorrow. My sister lived and died never knowing what happened to me. My people slaughtered one another, all in the name of greed and power. Everything, everyone I ever knew has returned to dust. I've been running so hard to prove myself that I haven't allowed myself to mourn. It never felt safe enough," Acacia explained, her voice thick with emotion.

"Does it feel safe enough now?" Kathryn asked tenderly, pulling her closer, so that that blonde head rested securely against the curve of her shoulder.

Acacia's only response was an almost inaudible sob, as one by one tears made their singular journey over the gentle slope of her cheekbones. Kathryn held her delicately, whispering words of comfort, as the stoic queen finally allowed herself to grieve.

Janeway knew that now the healing would begin, that Acacia would finally be able to move forward, now that she had permitted herself to acknowledge and let go of her past. It would take time and support, but Kathryn knew that one day soon Acacia would be able to look with pride and fondness on the legacy that the Galan people represented.

In the meantime, the stalwart white starship made its way through the ever-present sea of stars, each hour bringing the crew of Voyager closer to home. In every corner of the ship, people laughed, planned, dreamt, toiled, and played, while in the darkened quarters of the Captain, Beauty fell asleep, tears spent, in the safety of Kathryn's arms.

THE END