Kathryn grabbed a croissant from the breakfast tray Chakotay had ordered and held onto it with her teeth as she stepped over the sleeping Tom Paris to grab her clothes.
"Here," Chakotay handed her the cream colored blouse and slacks she had laid out on the chair the night before.
"I can't believe B'Elanna didn't put my Starfleet Uniform in here," she muttered as best she could with the croissant in her mouth.
"You'll look fine, Captain," he kissed her on the cheek. "Lucky for me, I have my uniform, pips and all," he teased.
"And Tuvok set up the monitor and link for the doctor to communicate through?" She asked quietly still trying not to wake the other two people in the room.
"Yep, and repairs to the ship are already underway," he stated.
"And the Starfleet documentations have been transferred for . ." she was cut off as he grabbed her to him kissing her. The sound of their lips filled the slumbering room as they hungrily fed their passion.
Tom opened one eye and watched as Chakotay and Kathryn kissed. He smiled and went back to sleep.
"Captain Janeway," the man greeted. "I am Minister Barweck and may I introduce my councilor of affairs Pangimun and my own personal assistant, and closest friend, Tandrum." All three men were rather tall, averaging six feet. Their skin color was a moss-green color with their pigmentation sporting swirling motifs in grey. Kathryn studied the congregation and smiled at each introduction.
"Minister Barweck, thank you for having us here today. May I present my first officer, Commander Chakotay, my tactical officer, Mr. Tuvok and my own ambassador, Neelix." She indicated her compatriots. "We were all a little surprised that you wanted to discuss the history and current foundations of Starfleet," she said pleasantly, not holding back her own excitement.
"Is it so wrong to want to find peace through someone who has set a rather extraordinary example?" The minister asked.
"No, of course not. And we are flattered by your statement -- though we still have much to learn. I understand that your system and its cultures are experiencing quite a bit of strife," Kathryn asked as they moved towards the circular table to take their seats.
"Yes," the Minister lowered his head. "It shames me to admit that much of that strife is caused by my own race -- our inabilities to make sure that the systems are not taken advantage of. You have to understand that in all my dreams as a young boy I never would have envisioned myself a mongrel to my people."
Kathryn smiled glumly and leaned forward, "It is quite obvious that you are not fully to blame here, Minister. In fact, when we encountered the mining colony of the Vavarie Race they held the overseers responsible as well as the other officials that made up the system that governed them."
"Yes . . ." he closed his eyes, "The Vavarie Race. They have suffered much but I hope to rectify that with your help of course."
"We would be glad to give it," Kathryn smiled.
"With all due respect," the Councilor of Affairs spoke up, "Haven't you done enough already?"
"Pangimun!" The Minister growled. "Enough! We have no other alternative but to change."
"Change?" The man snarled, "Change into what? Slaves to our slaves? Under the guidance of these peoples from an unknown quadrant? It must be your old age speaking," he was filled with disgust. Kathryn was taken aback. Something about this didn't sit right with her and she realized that Tuvok and the rest of her group were obviously nervous as well.
"I will not stand for this! This proves my point further! Tandrum!" he stood up from the table and walked over to his friend. "Escort the 'Counsilor,'" he bit the name out sharply, "out of this meeting and relinquish him of his duties until I see fit."
"I'm sorry," Tandrum squeezed the ministers neck causing the man to gasp sharply, "but I can't do that."
"What are you doing!" Kathryn stood up suddenly and noted that Tandrum held a device in his hands.
"Get down!" She cried out just before the room rocked with an explosion. Red gas filled the room cutting off the air supply and she could hear alarms ringing fiercely in the back ground. She turned from her fallen position on the floor to see her crew in the same predicament. Her eyes stung and her lungs felt as if they were going to strain through the skin of her chest. Suddenly arms surrounded her . . lifting her up. 'Chakotay?' she thought helplessly to herself but dismissed the idea . . he would never be so rough, so careless with her helpless form. She was being dragged to the window. She could hear guards on the other side of the door to the room trying desperately to enter. Perhaps she was going to be thrown to her death from the window? But why . . . 'WHY?!' her mind screamed.
From the expanse of the window that made up the room she could see a small spacecraft hovering just outside and just as suddenly it shot energy beams towards their direction. The glass shattered outwardly and showered them with thousands of jagged pieces. Kathryn ironically thought that if it hadn't been so painful it would have been beautiful. But that was her last moment of truth before she was torn away from the reality that she had just begun to accept.
CONTINUED!
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