Dark Hearts
Disclaimer: I don't own ST: Voyager or anything associated with it, someone much more famous than me does.
AU ST: Voyager with major episode rewrites and an EVIL Janeway.
Summary: DARKFIC—Captain Janeway sets out to punish Seven of Nine for her actions against the arms dealer, Kovin, only to find a twisted pleasure in the power she wields. Feeling Alienated from the crew Seven must deal with the Captain’s actions on her own until someone unexpected comes to her defense.
Authors Notes:
I got the idea for this story while listening to a J/7 music mix located at
screamingxenas (dot) com/voyager/mp3/lucky (dot) mp3
If you don't like darker themes please don't read, but feel free to listen to the song using win amp or media player.
Also I would like to thank Soleil Fra for being the straw that broke the camel’s back. Your email convinced me to sit down and actually WORK on this story for the first time in nearly 6 months. As for the others who have also worked to bring me closer to the completion of this story (you know who you are) I also thank you because without your pleas I never would have gotten around to this.
IMPORTANT NOTE
This is an OFFICIAL warning to anyone who reads this. BEYOND THIS POINT LIES EVIL JANEWAY AND SEVERE EMOTIONAL TRAUMA.
YES I made Janeway EVIL, but not necessarily when compared to Canon because guess what? THIS IS A FANFICTION! I can do what I want including turning Voyager itself into a giant beet and having it get eaten by a duck. Not that it will happen but I'm just saying. This story is A/U (for those of you who don't know, this means Alternate Universe) and heavily so.
I cannot, and WILL NOT write anything too graphic, but I WILL give you enough hints to fill in the blanks. If you do not like these types of stories then PLEASE go find something else to read. I would rather not catch any flames for my story when I have warned you that it’s not for everyone.
In any case I don't plan on having this story become too graphic as I have absolutely NO wish to write any scenes dealing with sex… abuse I can do same with fight scenes, but I'm horrible at sex scenes. So unless I deem it necessary to try to illustrate a scene, you will have to use your imagination.
One last warning, if you are against slash for whatever reason, then please turn away now and find a nice J/C story or something to read, because the only romantic entanglements I write about are of the girl/girl persuasion.
Also I would like to ask that if you read my story and enjoy/hate it, then please tell me. I enjoy feedback as it helps me to work harder to write good stories that appeal to people like me. (Part of the reason I am rewriting it into this. You wouldn't BELIEVE how good it feels to see all those good reviews. I'm just sorry I couldn't update for you sooner.)
Last but not least… I DO NOT CONDONE RAPE AND OR TORTURE OF ANY TYPE! You want to be kinky with your partner that's your business, but make sure it's consensual ok?
Now, on to the story.
.:Dark Hearts:.
“Have a seat.” Her voice is harsh and commanding, a direct order that would not be obeyed.
“I prefer to stand.” The tone of arrogance, tempered with a cold logic of intellectual superiority.
“I keep forgetting… here we are yet again.” A tired sigh escapes; briefly dislodging the steadily growing headache she could feel building. “Oh, I’m tired of having this conversation; you know what I’m going to say, I know how you’re going to respond, so it seems pointless to say anything.”
“Then shall I consider my privileges restricted and confine myself to the cargo bay?” She stands in the perfect military at ease stance, with perfect posture and perfectly clipped tones. No emotion seems to exist in that voice, none visible anyways, and for a fleeting moment she tenses.
“I think we’ve established that traditional disciplinary measures don’t work with you.” Captain Kathryn Janeway stands tall from behind her ready room desk and stares the young woman squarely in the eyes. “The only question is, what will?”
“Are you asking for my opinion?” She quirks her implant, truly baffled as to where this conversation seemed to be heading.
The small captain merely stares at her young charge for a moment before shaking her head as she moves to stand before the younger blonde. “Maybe I am. What will it take to make you understand?” She stares searchingly into the other woman’s face a moment before moving to the replicator to order coffee, black.
Sitting once more at her desk with the bitter drink in hand she continues to study the woman before her from head to toe. The captain’s eyes wander as she thinks, not for the first time, of what must lay beneath the blonde’s clothes. Slowly she smiles as the inkling of an idea takes shape behind her eyes.
It is a smile that sends chills down the spine of the former drone, unlike anything she had felt since being severed.
“Captain?” Seven of Nine was beginning to feel more than a bit uneasy at the older woman’s behavior. This reprimand was not going as they usually did, and for some reason she could not understand, the Captain’s look was making her feel… well she wasn’t sure what the emotion actually was, but it was decidedly not an enjoyable one.
“Seven, I want you to meet me in holodeck-three tonight, after your duty shift is over, 2000 hours. I will deliver the parameters of your punishment to you there, until then you are dismissed.” Janeway snapped as her mind ran a thousand light-years a second. She would need to secure a few items from the Medical Bay and reserve the time necessary in the holodecks for the next 2 weeks.
‘This may seem a bit harsh, but she needs to learn better. Hopefully I won’t be forced to punish her anymore than is necessary…’
“I will comply.” With that Seven of Nine turned on her heel to leave the ready room and continue with her duty shift plotting this sector of space, the sense of unease she had felt quickly being pushed aside as ‘irrelevant’.
.:Dark Hearts:.
Strolling through the doors of holodeck three at precisely 2000 hours on the dot, Seven vaguely wondered what the diminutive Captain had in store for her punishment this time. Nothing she herself could think of as an actual punishment seemed likely.
‘Maybe the Captain wishes to teach me more human behaviors so that I may avoid my supposed infraction in the future.’
“Ah Seven, you’re right on time. Over here please.” Captain Janeway stood at her tallest, the pips on her uniform collar gleaming brightly under the ships lighting as she leveled a small glare at the young woman before her. “Hand me your com-badge, Seven.”
Complying with the order the ex-drone merely raised her ocular implant in curiosity; one would assume the Captain meant to isolate her within a holo-program of her choice. A fact that was neatly proven as the computer was ordered to remove her access to the computer controls for the allotted time period.
“I wanted to make sure that this would be a punishment that you can’t escape or hide from, and to that end I am taking all available options out of your control. Once the program has activated you will not be able to do anything to alter it, and will in fact come here every night after your duty shift for the next two weeks to run it until 0200 hours.” Looking at the young woman before her Kathryn felt a pang of guilt knowing she was using something told in confidence as punishment. It was nothing short of exploitation.
“I suggest regenerating until Alpha Shift every morning as opposed to a longer cycle every few days, as you will still be required to perform your normal duties.” At this point the Captain in her reasserted itself as she pulled out a hypo-spray and motioned the younger woman to remain still so it could be administered. “Do you have anything to say about your punishment?”
Seven merely quirked her implant as she tried to figure out where it was the older woman was heading with her explanation. “I do not.”
“Somehow I find that hard to believe, computer activate program Seven-Janeway-Dark and seal holodeck doors with a privacy code. Authorization, Janeway Alpha-Gamma-Omega.” The normal grid of an empty holodeck changed into what appeared to be a heavily modified version of Voyager’s brig, the main difference being the size and number of cells. Instead of a full sized brig with several cells, there was only the one, much smaller, cell that had been stripped bare and sat across from what appeared to be a couch and table.
“In you go.”
Enforced isolation was not something new to the ex-drone, and in fact was slowly losing its ability to affect her as it had when she was first severed from the collective. Being forced to remain in a cell about the half the size of normal did not seem any different than if she had been forced to remain in the actual brig.
“The hypo-spray I gave you should begin working in the next few moments, and was designed specifically with you in mind. More specifically it was designed to keep you from utilizing your Borg strength when you first came on board…” at this the force field snapped into place and the Captain had to force herself not to appear sympathetic at her next words. “You will remain here until 0200 hours to contemplate what it was you did wrong.”
And with that Seven’s view of the world went black.
.:Dark Hearts:.
At first Seven thought her ocular implant had begun to malfunction, but that would not explain the dark as viewed by her fully human eye. It took her nearly a full 30 seconds, an eternity for someone of her capabilities, to understand what had just happened. Her Captain had betrayed her trust, something she had just started to come to understand.
“Captain Janeway?” There was no answer; in fact there were no sounds at all. She had been isolated completely from everyone and everything in a room meant to deprive a person of their senses.
Suddenly a wave of dizziness washed over her, forcing her to lean against the nearby wall as the muscle relaxant began to work against her. ‘No… why…?’
Her thoughts were starting to jumble as feelings she had experienced only briefly upon her severance began to swirl through her body. All she could hear was herself, all she could feel was the wall she leaned against.
In here her enhanced senses were useless.
“Captain?” Her voice was trembling in uncertainty and fear as she stared futilely through the black, praying to Omega that this was all a cruel joke, knowing that it wasn’t. Turning around she slid down the wall slowly as her legs started to give out, too weak to keep her standing any longer.
A whimper escaped her throat unnoticed as her thoughts raced frantically. ‘Why…? Why has she betrayed me? She knows I…’ She wanted to jump up and force her way out of this horrible place, but was too weak to even stand.
Curling into a protective ball she made her way along the wall and to the corner as tears began to stream from her human eye. ‘I hate the dark. I hate the dark. I hate the dark…’ It became a mantra as memories she hated began to haunt her once more. ‘I hate the dark…’
.:Dark Hearts:.
Seven and the Captain went about their day as if nothing of any importance had happened, and only those who spent any real time with both of them would be able to say otherwise. It was certainly obvious to the Chief Security officer that their newest crew member was not being her usual self, though his Vulcan logic kept him from interfering as her work had not been affected in the least.
He would however keep an eye on the young blonde to make sure that whatever was wrong would be kept from ships business… at least that is what he told himself. In reality, Tuvok was as worried for the usually logical woman as any Vulcan could be, having come to care for her during their many frequent talks about the logic of humans.
As for his Captain, he knew that what ever was bothering her would be kept from ships business. He would only inquire into the matter should it persist for more than a few days, or if her performance slipped during duty hours. As it was he would continue to discreetly keep an eye on their interactions for the next while, until he was satisfied that it had all been worked out.
‘It is only logical to keep the crew in good mental health, as any interference would likely cause detrimental effects to their work performance during a crucial matter…’
.:Dark Hearts:.
It had been several hours before the program had finally released her, but it had felt like days as her thoughts raced endlessly in every direction. Curled into a semi fetal position with her head tucked into her arms, and hair loose from its bun, it had taken her over a minute to even realize that she was free. She had looked a mess and knew it, but didn’t care as she quickly escaped to the safety of her alcove and cybernetic oblivion.
Since then she had spent a large portion of her shift trying to avoid thoughts of the nights coming torment. Just the thought of having to be so alone again was nearly enough to send her into a blind panic. Briefly she had toyed with the thought of not going but knew that it would only make things much worse later, the Captain was not one to be trifled with.
It wasn’t until a second brief regeneration after her duty shift that she began to think more fully on the coming punishment. ‘I can not do this. I must do this… I am Borg, we do not fear anything. I do not want to be alone… Why must I do this?’ Her thoughts continued to run in panicky little circles even as she began to unconsciously pace the length of the cargo bay.
It wasn’t until she felt the tell-tale tingle of the transporters that she realized that she was late to meet the Captain.
“Hello Seven. You didn’t forget about your punishment, did you?”
Janeway was leveling a force ten glare at the blonde who had materialized before her. “You are late. Though this is the first time you have ever been late to my knowledge, I will let it pass for now.” Reaching up before Seven had realized what was happening, she emptied the hypo-spray into the blondes neck and stepped back to activate the force field.
“I…I apologize Captain, I did not mean to be late. I… did not realize the time.” She looked away in embarrassment and shifted nervously as she studied the cell, hoping that the Captain wouldn’t think she had done it on purpose. She did not want things to get worse.
Studying the twitchy blonde before her, Captain Janeway thought back on everything she knew about the individual before her and what she had been like as a Borg Drone. Deception was not something she knew how to do, and she realized that the younger woman really had lost track of the time. “That’s alright Seven, just don’t let it happen again or I will think you are doing it on purpose. If that were to happen I would be forced to take measures ensuring you come.”
Even as she said it the older woman had vague thoughts of exactly how much she would enjoy making the blonde do just that. ‘…damn libido.’
“In the meantime though, for every minute you are late from now on I will lengthen the time spent here. Tonight I will only extend it by the twenty minutes you are late, and from now on your punishment will only start from the time that the force field is blacked out. Do you understand?” The Captain had given her no room for argument and so she merely nodded her understanding.
With a sigh Captain Kathryn Janeway activated the black out effect on the holo-programs force field and left Seven to her punishment.
.:Dark Hearts:.
She was feeling a bit guilty. It was hard not to feel guilty when over a hundred lives depended on your leadership, and even harder when you knowingly betrayed the trust of those who looked to that leadership. Guilt, it was the curse and burden of being a Captain.
Currently she sat on the couch across from Seven’s cell, staring blankly into space as her thoughts swirled over every decision she had ever made that turned out badly. It was maddening, and often the reason she couldn’t sleep at night. But like her father had told her, ‘To be a leader of men is to be responsible for those men in all aspects. Never let the guilt you feel at making a mistake keep you from doing what is needed.’
For now though, her guilt was overwhelming. She was supposed to be a mentor, someone who would be there to help her charge regain her humanity. Instead she felt she was using that position to make a point by betraying something told in confidence. She knew, had known since the first time Seven came to her for a ‘philosophical discussion’, that the ex-drone was terrified of being alone in the dark. That knowledge is why she knew this was the most effective punishment she could ever devise.
Just the threat of being punished the same way again would make the younger woman behave at all cost.
A loud whimper, followed by a choked sob came through the com unit built into the table that allowed her to keep track of how the ex-drone was faring.
That she felt herself getting aroused at the sounds Seven was making nearly sickened her.
She had of course been attracted to the younger woman for some time now, but this was just perverse. It was getting harder to listen to the quiet whimpers without drifting into fantasy. ‘…would she sound like that in bed?’
A steady murmur broke her thoughts and she increased the volume to make out what was being said. “…fear anything. I am Borg. We do not fear anything. I am Borg. We…”
Disturbed by the litany she turned the com unit off quickly. It would be many hours before Captain Kathryn Janeway would be able to sleep tonight.
.:Dark Hearts:.
B’Elanna was bored. The upcoming sector of space seemed to be uneventful, no major mishaps had occurred since Seven popped that greasy rat Kovin, and besides the fact that the iso-kinetic cannon wasn’t compatible with Voyagers systems, there had been no Engineering emergency’s in days.
In fact the only thing of any interest that seemed to be happening was the occasional speculation into what punishment the captain had cooked up for Barbie Borg.
No one seemed to know exactly what it was, and Seven wasn’t telling. Of course most people could care less about the ex-drone getting a slap on the wrist from the Captain, but then B’Elanna wasn’t most people.
Despite her dislike of the blonde, she was Klingon enough to respect a person as strong as the ex-drone and her abilities. That said abilities seemed to be suffering, if only enough that no one else could tell, was just cause for her to take some notice. After all the saying goes ‘keep your friends close, and your enemies even closer.’
‘I wonder what punishment would be able to get Blondie so out of sorts…’
.:Dark Hearts:.
Despite her fear of the dark Seven had kept her word and shown up on time for the last few nights, though she was coming to regret that more and more.
Each night seemed to be so much worse than the last as the blackness threatened to consume her whole and leave nothing but the terrible memories of acts she knew would never be forgiven. At all other times she acted like the ex-drone she had been, hiding behind the mechanical barrier of ‘perfection’, but in the dark she remembered what it had been to be a child and exactly how it had felt to lose that.
The remembered pain alone was enough to make her weep, let alone the acts she had committed once fully assimilated.
Tonight she had reached her limit. Seeing the assimilation of Naomi Wildman in the darkness made sure of that. The thought had come as she remembered herself a drone on Voyager, and exactly what she would have done to her young friend had the Borg succeeded in assimilating the crew.
The overwhelming ache she felt in her chest at these thoughts had sent her to find the half Ktarian as soon as possible.
At the moment it was 0300 hours and here she stood in front of the Wildman quarters, eager to see her young friend was safe but not wanting to wake her from sleep. The sound of muffled footsteps alerted her to movement from within the quarters and without another moments hesitation she quietly knocked on the door just loud enough to be heard.
A moment later and she was staring a tired Samantha Wildman in the eyes.
“Seven? Wha- Why are you here so late? Is there something wrong?” Sam Wildman was not entirely trustful of her daughter being friends with an ex-drone, but over time had come to see that the other woman was in need of Naomi’s company as much as anyone. Still didn’t mean she appreciated the tall blonde coming around so early in the morning though.
“I… there is nothing wrong. I heard footsteps and…” Taking a closer look at the blonde at her door, Sam Wildman was shocked. The normally composed woman was a mess, her clothes rumpled, hair hanging from its usual bun and what she knew to be her human eye swollen and red from tears. Whatever was wrong it was obviously not ships business. “I apologize for disturbing you so late but…”
“Seven.” She interrupted softly by placing a hand on the other woman’s arm. “What ever is wrong can wait long enough for you to come in and sit down. Come on.”
Following along silently, Seven was grateful that the older woman had let her in, but still nervous at the situation she found herself in. She had no idea how to behave in this type of situation, but understood that being her usual self would not be appreciated.
“Alright Seven, have a seat while I get us something to drink.”
Spotting the nearby couch Seven did so without even the thought of her usual response. From her spot she could distinctly hear two other heart beats, one the familiar steady rhythm of her friend at rest. Unconsciously she relaxed just a fraction, something that did not go unnoticed.
Coming to sit next to her unexpected guest, Sam wondered at how young she seemed in her mannerisms, and not for the first time.
“Alright Seven, I know something has to be bothering you to come by when you know very well that Naomi is asleep. I promise that whatever you say to me will not go beyond these walls, but I really would like to know.”
“I… I wish to see that Naomi Wildman is functioning properly.” She hadn’t meant her words to sound so forceful, and flinched at how badly she knew this may end up. She really just wanted to see with her own eyes that the girl was safe and it would be enough.
“What do you mean by functioning properly?” Sam had seen the woman flinch at her own words and decided to keep calm and get her to explain fully. “Why do you need to see Naomi?”
“I…” She was at a loss. Seven knew that Naomi’s mother didn’t appreciate her being friends with her daughter, and really didn’t want to upset the woman with talk of assimilation. Before today she would have simply blurted it out as she always did, but without regeneration to calm her, the images were still as real and fresh in her memory as if they had only occurred moments ago. She didn’t want to see them again.
“Does this have anything to do with why you were crying?” Sam said it softly and without malice, but knew it was so when the young blonde snapped her head around to face her. “Seven, I promise no matter what you say I will hear you out. Just tell me as best you can, ok?”
And so she did.
She told the older woman everything about her punishment and how much she hated the dark. Told in detail the things she had felt and thought as she lay crying in the dark, and told exactly why she felt the need to make sure her friend was not assimilated. The telling was clinical and detached as she relived those moments in her mind, doing her best to not break down as she had only hours ago.
The entire recitation took only half an hour, but it had felt like longer. By the end Samantha was in tears and to be honest with herself, livid with the Captain. “Oh Seven…”
Moving closer she pulled the stiff blonde into her arms for a hug only to be resisted at first. Gently she coaxed the younger woman to relax and within moments had a crying ex-drone in her arms.
“Shh, it’s ok. Let it all out, Seven. Naomi is fine and sleeping in her bed.” She kept trying to calm the overwhelmed woman just like she would for her own daughter.
At this moment Samantha could never understand why it was they had ever treated this woman so coldly.
“Look at me Seven.” Gently she tilted the younger blondes head up to look her in the eyes, and carefully wiped away the tears she saw.
“I am sorry if I have ever hurt you with my words or actions, but what the Captain has done is not right. You said that she knew you were afraid to be alone in the dark. No one who says they care for you should ever do that. You need to tell someone-“
Seven interrupted quickly as she pulled away. “You promised you would not tell!”
“I did, and I won’t. But Seven what the Captain is doing is wrong. At least promise me you will think about telling Tuvok, I know he would be able to help if you asked.” Sam stroked Seven’s cheek in a maternal gesture of affection as she tried to calm the blonde once more. “Can you do that? I don’t want you to feel like you deserve this, because you don’t.”
Seven locked eyes with the mother of her friend and saw something directed at her that she hadn’t witnessed from anyone other than Naomi. Affection shone from blue eyes and she could only agree. “I promise.”
“Good. Now dry your eyes and let’s go see my daughter, I’m sure she won’t mind if you check in on her.” And with the magic that all mothers are capable of, Seven’s fears had been eased for the night.
.:Dark Hearts:.
Well! This seems as good a place as any to stop this chapter. Any one who has actually read this before will quickly notice the new changes, including a brand new scene!
Also before anyone asks, Samantha Wildman is NOT a potential love interest. I had to put that in b/c as I reread it myself that thought sort of popped up. Seven is friends with Naomi in a more child like fashion than the TV series depicts this time around, and is in effect learning her Humanity from a child’s point of view through their various games and adventures in the holo-deck.
Sam does recognize this but is still mistrustful of Seven simply b/c she has never spent any time around the woman when she wasn’t on duty, though she does hear plenty from Naomi. As we all know Seven on duty is much different from Seven playing tag with her best friend.
Also as for the whole telling point of view, Seven’s punishment is literally her worst fear used against her, and having someone she trusts use it as such is tantamount to torture. However Seven also has tremendous respect for her Mentor, and a healthy dose of fear. You can not forget that she still remembers ALL of what occurred during Year of Hell, and that was a year of character building and learning that is not so easily dismissed for her.
In any case I hope you are enjoying the rewrite! Chapter 2 will be up as soon as I finish typing it.