Rating: PG-13 (mature subject matter, some explicit language)

Disclaimer: Star Trek: Voyager and all things contained therein are the property of Paramount and Viacom. I will receive no profit from this story.

Author: Raven

Background: Set during the seventh season, Voyager is still in the Delta Quadrant. Captain Janeway and her crew must face their most dangerous challenge ever.

Title: The Dance

ACT EIGHT

Chakotay and Tuvok venture thru numerous corridors to find their crewmen. To their surprise they receive no resistance.

INT. ALIEN VESSEL

Chakotay: Where is everyone?

The ever so efficient Vulcan whips out his tricorder and scans the area.

Tuvok: There are no life signs within 200 yards.

Chakotay: Where are they?

Tuvok: I'm picking up a high concentration of people directly ahead. They appear to be in the same vicinity as our crewmen.

Chakotay: Their diversion must be working. Quick...lets grab the Crystals and get back to the Flyer. We'll come back for them later.

Tuvok: A prudent decision.

Chakotay: That's high praise coming from you.

***

INT. ALIEN VESSEL

The Voyager women continue their diversion.

Torres: How much more of this? I'm running out of veils.

Seven: We must improvise until our crewmen arrive.

Torres: What the hell do you think I've been doing? What are we supposed to do now...strip?

Seven: If necessary.

Torres: I was only kidding Seven.

Seven: I was not.

Seven reaches behind her neck and begins the task of unzipping her bio-suit. Torres reluctantly removes her Starfleet tunic
and is left wearing a gray tank top. Just as Seven is about to expose herself, an explosion takes place. As the smoke clears,
Chakotay and Tuvok appear. The four of them quickly vacate the brig and board the Delta Flyer.

INT. DELTA FLYER

Torres: (relieved) Thank Kahless...you guys have impeccable timing.

Chakotay: I'm not about to ask what you two were doing back there. But I'm sure as hell curious to find out.

Torres: Believe it or not, it was Seven's idea.

Chakotay: Care to explain?

Seven: It will be easier if I performed the ritual for you later.

Chakotay: I look forward to it.

Seven wraps a red veil around Chakotay's neck and places a juicy kiss on his lips. B'Elanna and Tuvok roll their eyes in
disbelief.

Torres: I hate to interrupt your little love fest, but did we get the Crystals?

Tuvok: Affirmative. While you successfully kept the Aliens preoccupied, we obtained nearly half of their inventory. It should be sufficient to replenish our "Coffee" supply indefinitely.

Torres: ...or get us home.

Chakotay: (breaking his kiss off from Seven) What do you mean?

Torres: While on board the Alien vessel, I was able to study the Crystals. According to Seven, these beings are responsible for the technology that created transwarp conduits and these Crystals are used to propel their propulsion. If we combine our Dilithium and their Tricaffeinium, we may be able to create a matrix and generate our own conduit.

Chakotay: Seven, if you knew of this, why didn't you say anything?

Seven: Nobody asked.

Torres: Once a Borg bitch...always a Borg bitch.

Chakotay: B'Elanna!

Seven glares at the half Klingon.

Tuvok: In theory it's feasible. However, the Captain has strict orders about the use of the Crystals.

Torres: ...but we could finally get home. I'm not going to let that crazy woman strand us here again. I can't and I won't!

Tuvok: You're actions are unacceptable Lieutenant. If you continue to slander the Captain and disobey her orders, I will have no choice but to confine you to solitude confinement for a minimum of 30 days.

Torres: Great. Just like Tom. I guess I could always write a letter to dear old Dad.

As the Delta Flyer approaches Voyager, they notice the Alien vessel has opened fire on the mighty starship. The Flyer joins the
battle by firing it's Borg enhanced weapons. Within minutes, the Alien vessel is disabled and limps away slowly. The Flyer
docks in Voyager's shuttle bay and it's crew disperse to their separate destinations.

INT. SHUTTLE BAY

Janeway: Where's Chakotay and Seven?

Torres: Trust me...you don't want to know? They've been all over each other since our rescue. It's disgusting if you ask me.

The fearless Captain rolls her eyes.

Janeway: All right...where are the crystals?

Torres: On their way to Engineering.

Janeway: What? Who gave that order?

Torres: I did.

Janeway: (furious) I want those crystals in the mess hall...now!

Torres: But Captain, if we modify them, we could get Voyager home within minutes. Then you can have all the "Coffee" your heart desires.

Janeway: Maybe someday when you're the Captain you can make those decisions. But today, I'm making them. Now get those crystals to the mess hall!

Torres: (enraged) P'Taq! I'm going to...!

Tuvok silences B'Elanna in mid sentence with a nerve pinch.

Janeway: Tuvey...remind me to promote you when we get home.

Tuvok: Considering we're still about sixty years from our destination, I won't hold my breath.

Janeway: Was that a joke?

Tuvok: It was not. I was merely stating the obvious. ...and don't call me Tuvey.

Janeway: You're such a wet blanket.

Tuvok: I beg your pardon?

Just as Janeway is about to respond, a hail comes thru from the mess hall

Neelix: (voice only - excited) Captain...it's working! We've got a fresh supply of "Coffee" and it tastes great! The Doc has certified it's safe to drink.

Janeway: Woo Hoo! On my way!

The "Coffee" deprived Captain sprints to the mess hall, knocking down crewmen in her path.

***

Janeway: "Captain's log stardate 47...69...yada...yada...yada. It's been thirty days since replenishing our "Coffee" supply. After completing the Doctor's 12-step drug rehabilitation, things are finally back to normal. B'Elanna has also been released from her confinement and has resumed her responsibilities in engineering. Having defeated our greatest challenge, we are ready to resume our journey home. Computer...end log."

All senior staff are present with their perspective mugs of "Coffee" in hand.

Paris: (sipping from a Starfleet mug) This is good stuff.

Janeway: (gulping from a mug the size of her head) I couldn't agree more. It's heavenly.

Kim: (drinking out of a spill-proof cup with a straw due to nerve damage) Mmmmmm...

Doctor: You're all nuts!

Tuvok: (sipping hot tea from a Starfleet mug) A logical assumption.

Seven: (tentatively taking sips from a silver mug) This is pungent.

Neelix: (sipping from a colorful mug) It takes some getting used to Seven. Give it some time.

Torres: (sipping from a black mug with chrome spikes) Now that we have almost sixty years to go, that shouldn't be a problem.

Chakotay: (sipping from a Starfleet mug) Listen B'Elanna, it's not the destination that matters, it's the people who accompany you on that journey.

Paris: (coughs) Bullshit!

Chakotay: Who said that?

Everyone looks in different directions.

Janeway: Well, I'm just glad to get my old staple back. I'll never take this for granted again.

Paris: Michael Sullivan's glad too. Harry and I had to reprogram Fair Haven half a dozen times. What did you do to him?

Janeway: That's none of your business. While we're on the topic, nice job on the Seven Veils program?

Seven and B'Elanna exchange shocked expressions. B'Elanna walks over and slaps Tom.

Janeway: (laughing) Well, I think we've had enough fun for a while. It's time we got back on the road. Tom...resume course to the Alpha Quadrant.

Paris: (rubbing his bruised cheek) Yes ma'am.

The music grows louder as we see our favorite starship surrounded by stars alter it's direction. Within seconds, a stream of
light fills the screen as Voyager resumes it's course...home.

*

*

The End...?