Author’s note: Like pissing off Paramount on a regular basis wasn’t bad enough, with this story I also went after George Lucas’s Empire. Pun intended, of course.

Rebel Alliance
by Maquis Mom

Commander Chakotay sat back on his heels, cautiously peering ahead into the thick underbrush. One branch at a time, he pushed the lush foliage aside until he could see down the steep slope into the clearing at its foot. A glint of metal had caught his attention, nearly blinding him in the clear pink-tinged midday sunlight of this obscure little planet in the Renshavi system. He knew that his entire work team was far behind and above him on the broad plateau. Neelix had promised them all wild fruits and vegetables in abundance, and for once the Talaxian hadn't exaggerated; a large band of foragers was gleefully filling baskets and crates with fresh food, and so far, everything appeared to taste as good as it looked. Neelix had assured Chakotay that the planet was uninhabited except for several types of harmless animals, and in this out-of-the way corner of the quadrant, it had no strategic significance and therefore shouldn't have attracted any offworld presence. So, what exactly had he seen?

There it was again, something moving below him. He saw a flash of white and heard the muffled thudding of feet. Suddenly, a figure clad in body armor crashed into the clearing, whirling to look behind, a large and impressive weapon clutched in one gloved hand. He reached for his phaser, his keen eyes trained on the intruder. As the--man?--it was hard to tell--continued toward him, Chakotay stared at the white armor in disbelief. The stuff looked damned uncomfortable, hot and noisy, and he thought amusedly that he would not have wanted to have to try to sneak up on somebody while wearing it. Even this Starfleet issue uniform of his was too confining to allow him to move as freely through the thick brush as he would have liked. He could almost sympathize with the plight of the armored man, if only he hadn't looked so dangerous or so out of place.

He raised a hand to his comm badge, ready to alert Voyager to beam the foraging party up, but before his hand could hit the switch, something leaped on his back, knocking him forward. Taken by surprise, he lost his balance at the edge of the slope, and even the thick branches he grabbed at didn't break his fall. He crashed through the shrubbery and began to slide down the slope toward the armored man, who was evidently so astonished to see him that he forgot to raise his weapon and fire. Chakotay grimly held his phaser as his body plummeted out of control, hoping to get at least one shot off when he stopped falling. He felt a hand gripping the back of his shirt and became aware that someone else was tumbling with him, arms and legs tangling with his. A large metallic object that the other person was holding was jabbing him in the side, and he tried to roll away from it. A cloud of dust preceded them to the foot of the incline, hiding the sudden drop-off, a five foot, nearly vertical cliff. Before he could see it, Chakotay was over the edge. He landed flat on his back nearly at the feet of the armor-clad man. A split second later, a small but extremely strong body crashed down on top of him, and Chakotay was looking up into the face of a dark-eyed girl who spared him not a glance. Her small hands came up cradling a weapon similar to that of the armored man, her teeth gritted, and there was a tremendous blast of sound as the girl calmly shot several rounds over his head. Behind him, Chakotay heard the armored man crash to the ground, obviously dead.

As the dust cleared and he caught his breath, Chakotay became aware of two things. First, this girl, whoever she was, was extremely attractive, with expressive dark eyes and fair skin. Her hair was coiled over her ears in two buns which reminded Chakotay of pictures he had seen of Hopi women from Earth. The second thing he noticed was that she lay flat on top of him, her slender hips pressing against his, and her breasts crushed against his chest. It had been a long time since Chakotay had held a woman in his arms, and he couldn't help his body's involuntary response to this particular woman. He felt himself hardening, and he knew from her sharply indrawn breath that she felt it too. His arms reflexively came up around her waist, and he felt her grip on the weapon that now lay across his shoulder loosen.

"Who are you? Are you with the Rebel Alliance?" The girl looked down at him, frowning. Her voice had a firmness to it that reminded him of Captain Janeway's. "I don't recognize this uniform you're wearing. And what IS that thing on your forehead?"

Before he could reply, a small group of armored men came running into the clearing, evidently drawn by the weapon fire. She didn't see them, and her weapon was aiming in the wrong direction. Chakotay groped for his comm badge. "B'Elanna, two to beam up. Now!"

An instant later, they were lying on the transporter platform on board Voyager and B'Elanna Torres was staring down at them. "Interesting transport position, Commander," she said, grinning wickedly and making no move to help them up. Chakotay's worst fears were realized when Captain Janeway came striding into the transporter room.

"What happened down there? Mister Neelix reported some kind of explosions or shots fired, and I--good God!" For once, words failed Janeway as she stared down at the couple lying tangled together on the platform.

"Captain, get our people back on board right now," Chakotay said urgently. "There's some kind of an army down there, men with white armor and big guns, and they don't appear friendly." As he spoke, Janeway nodded to B'Elanna to contact the Away Team, then turned her attention back to Chakotay, who was trying to get up. "Will you please help, girl?" he hissed in frustration.

"Girl?" If words could kill, Chakotay was uneasily aware that he would be a dead man. The young woman planted a hand on his chest and shoved herself away from him, managing to get to her feet while still holding her weapon, which she now pointed at him. "I'll have you know that I am Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan. I don't know who in bloody blue blazes you people are, but I require some answers. Now." The gun never wavered during her indignant statement.

"Pardon my first officer for any unintentional rudeness, Princess Leia," Janeway said with a trace of amusement in her voice. "We're newcomers to the Delta Quadrant, and we're unfamiliar with--Alderaan, was it? If we have unknowingly offended--"

"Delta Quadrant? What are you talking about?" The gun swung around to point at the Captain, which allowed Chakotay to get to his feet. He brushed absently at the dirt that covered his uniform, his eyes never leaving the small figure in white as he stepped down from the transporter platform. B'Elanna lost no time beaming the first of the Away Team members back aboard. Even as Janeway opened her mouth to reply, the first five crew members materialized on the platform, catching the princess's attention. Her jaw dropped in astonishment, and for a fraction of a second her grip on the weapon loosened. Chakotay, watching closely, made his move, and a moment later the gun was in his hands. The princess scowled fiercely at him, and he returned her glare with what Janeway privately thought of as his Indian Face--eyes hooded, jaw tense, and just the slightest flare of his nostrils to let you know he found you wanting in some way. To her surprise, though, the hint of a dimple appeared on one cheek, an indication that he was trying hard not to smile. Janeway didn't think Chakotay had smiled at HER for at least a month after their first meeting, and she wondered what there was about this--princess--that prompted such a reaction. To her equal surprise, Princess Leia smiled back at him, nodding slightly as if to acknowledge defeat.

Janeway cleared her throat. "Princess, I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway, and you're on the Federation starship Voyager. I suggest we go up to my ready room to discuss things, as this room is about to become very crowded." She politely gestured toward the turbolift, wordlessly requesting that the princess precede her. Chakotay followed them toward the door. As he passed the console where B'Elanna prepared to transport the next group up from the planet, he tossed her the large, heavy gun. "This is just your style," he said with a parting grin.

What had promised to be a long, confused meeting between captain and princess was cut short when the women quickly determined that they were not only unfamiliar with each other's mode of dress and level of technology but that their two universes were obviously unconnected. The United Federation of Planets was as alien to Princess Leia as the Rebel Alliance was to Captain Janeway; the only Empire Leia knew was completely removed from the various empires--Klingon, Cardassian, Romulan--within Janeway's range of experience.

"My ship's sensors indicate that Voyager is still in the Delta Quadrant," Janeway reported after checking with the bridge. "My guess is that somehow you have stumbled into some kind of a space-time distortion which allowed you to pass from your reality into this one."

Leia looked back at her, her dark eyes confused. "I'm no scientist," she finally admitted. "What does that mean?"

Janeway laughed. "I don't really understand it either, but past experiences have shown us that there are multiple layers of reality all coexisting within the same time and space, and that it’s possible to move between these layers. Sometimes, natural phenomena cause the boundaries to erode, and there is--leakage--between what are essentially two separate universes."

"Leakage? You're saying I'm leakage?" Leia's eyebrows rose in icy disdain. Chakotay, just walking into the room in a clean uniform, was glad he had removed the weapon from the princess's capable hands, as he had no doubt it would be pointing directly at Captain Janeway's head now if he hadn't.

"Leakage was probably a poorly chosen term," Janeway said, amusement evident in her voice. "In any case, you're here, and we're going to have to try to find out how it happened if we're to get you back where you belong."

"What about those men on the planet?" Chakotay asked. "Are they leakage, too?"

Janeway studied her first officer in surprise. If she didn't know him so well, she would almost think that he was trying to provoke the haughty young princess into another heated response. If he was, it worked.

"Those men were Imperial storm troopers," Leia told him. "As it happens, they were chasing me when whatever happened--happened." She had been sitting, but she got up to face him now, hands on her hips in what seemed to him to be another Captain Janeway-like gesture. "You're very fortunate that I was there to save your neck when the one in the clearing saw you. Your puny little weapon would have been no match for his blaster."

"That puny little weapon would have vaporized him most satisfactorily, I assure you, Princess," Chakotay retorted, not allowing himself to remember that the phaser had been set on stun. "Not that I would have needed to kill him if someone hadn't decided to push me off that cliff!"

"I didn't push you! Well, I did, but it was an accident," Leia clarified. "I was trying to use the Force on you, to keep you from moving or making any noise. Sometimes I lose control of it, though. You seemed to be somewhat resistant, and I had to nudge you harder than I planned." She grinned at that. "A lot harder! It was a very exciting fall, wasn't it?"

"You fell off a cliff?" Janeway didn't trouble to hide her astonishment. "Onto this--what did you call him, a storm trooper?"

Leia nodded. "I had to blast him, of course."

"Of course. And this Force you mentioned--what is it?"

"It's a little hard to explain. It's a way of tapping into the natural power of the universe and using it to do things you can't normally do, like lifting a heavy weight or compelling someone to be silent. My brother Luke is a Jedi Knight, and he’s been training me to use the Force, but I'm still a beginner. We have a talent for it, inherited from our father." Leia stopped, knowing her explanation wasn't convincing her audience. "Look, I'll show you." She glanced around the room, then her gaze focused on the data padd at Captain Janeway's elbow. She seemed to draw herself inward, eyes never leaving the padd, a fierce frown creasing her brow. Slowly, hesitantly, the padd began to rise from the desk. A moment later, it hung suspended, a foot above Janeway's head, and then it turned on its side and began to soar around the room, picking up speed as it went, dipping and swaying like a miniature spacecraft. It turned suddenly, and headed straight for Chakotay. He ducked, but couldn't completely evade the padd, which smacked him sharply on the forehead then fell to the floor. "You see, I can't always control it as well as I'd like." Leia picked up the padd and restored it to its place. "I'm so sorry. That must have hurt," she said sympathetically. He might have believed it was an accident if he hadn't seen the roguish grin that she couldn't hold back. His eyes narrowed, but he didn't speak, just glanced in appeal toward his captain, who had not missed any of it.

"Commander, you might want to go down to sickbay for dermal regeneration, as it appears you're already developing a bruise," Janeway said briskly. "I'll escort our guest to quarters. I'm sure she would like to clean up and change." Leia nodded regally at her words. "And, Princess, I hope you won't be offended if I restrict your movement about the ship for the time being. These powers of yours leave me fearful for the safety of my crew."

Leia nodded again, as if she had expected it. "Luke says I'm going to be very good at it some day, but in the meantime I'm a menace to innocent bystanders," she admitted. "I guess he's right." She turned to leave the room with the captain, brushing close to Chakotay as she did and glancing up at him. "That does look nasty, Commander," she said softly, raising on tiptoe with her hand outstretched. Chakotay could not prevent himself from flinching and backing away from her, and she abruptly dropped her hand, her cheeks flushing. She turned away and followed Captain Janeway out the door, not deigning to look back. If she had, she might have been surprised at the look of regret on the handsome features of Commander Chakotay.

Leia sat cross-legged on the bed, staring around at the small but comfortable room. Captain Janeway had told her that they were unable to offer her the sort of accommodations she was probably used to, but these quarters seemed more than adequate to her, considering the last few places she had stayed. The Ewok village on Endor came to mind; the beds there were nothing more than furry nests, too small even for her to sleep comfortably. This place was clean, dry, and fur-free, and she sensed that these people meant her no harm. Now, if they could just figure out how to get her back to--to Han? Leia frowned at the thought. She and Han had quarreled earlier, as they seemed so often to do. In the aftermath of the fight, she had stormed away on a speeder bike and rode for hours, becoming lost in the process. While trying to spot a familiar landmark, she had run right into a squadron of Imperial storm troopers, who in these early days following the death of the Emperor and Darth Vader were still a considerable danger. She had managed to evade them, racing away on foot after ditching the speeder. They chased her, and then--funny how she couldn't really remember what had happened next. There was nothing in her memory except for a bright, rainbow-hued flash, and suddenly she was here, in the Delta Quadrant, whatever and wherever that might be. She wondered if Han was trying to find her now. Or maybe he was still too angry to follow her. She sighed, then, wondering if things between them were really meant to work out. She loved him, of course she did, and she was sure that he felt the same, but somehow they could never manage to be around each other without one or the other of them instigating a fight. Maybe they were too much alike, both headstrong, both wanting to be in charge. Maybe they would start to hate each other eventually.

"And maybe Ewoks will learn to fly," Leia muttered to herself. It did no good to think about him, especially now that he was off in some other plane of existence, or whatever it was Captain Janeway had called it. "Time to think about something else." But, what? She had investigated every corner of the room already, and--an image formed in her mind, a dark-skinned, curiously marked but definitely attractive face, and then the feel of a solid well-muscled body lying beneath her. Now that had been something, hadn't it, her first encounter with this Commander Chakotay? She could still recall the wave of heat that rose from him. For one crazy moment, she had thought he meant to take her right then and there, whether there were storm troopers in the vicinity or not. Even crazier, she had wanted---

An odd chirping sound seemed to come from the door. Leia stood up and smoothed down the short tunic she had been given to wear while her robe was being cleaned and repaired. Approaching the door, she listened carefully, not sure what the sound could be. Another chirp startled her. "Hello? Is someone there? How do I open this thing?" She reached out to touch the door just as it swished open. Commander Chakotay stood there, a large tray in his hands.

"Oh, it's you!" Leia had the strange notion that her thoughts had conjured him out of thin air, but of course that wasn't possible. She wasn't THAT good with the Force, not yet, anyway!

"Yes, it's me. I brought you some lunch," he explained as he held the tray out to her.

Leia looked down at the large quantity of food, then back up at him. "Would you like to share? There's enough for two here. Even if one of them is a Wookiee." Chakotay let the Wookiee reference pass, then mumbled something about not being sure what her food preferences might be while she grinned up at him and took the tray, pretending to stagger at its weight. "So, will you stay?" she cajoled. "I’d like some company, and I promise not to make the food fly around the room."

"Actually, I missed my lunch, and I guess Captain Janeway can do without me on the bridge for a little while," he said, following her into the room. He seemed ill at ease, but Leia had the feeling that he had hoped to be invited in. Wishful thinking? She glanced back at him over her shoulder, catching him staring at her slender figure. The tunic and leggings were in a shade of dark blue that suited her, she knew, and since she was just slightly larger than the girl--Kez, was it? or Kes?--who had loaned her the clothes, they fit like a second skin. Leia smiled to herself as she set the tray on the table and motioned to him to join her. This whole experience was turning out to be very interesting.

They talked about the food, mostly. Much of it appeared foreign to Leia, and Chakotay confessed that a lot of it was strange to him, too. They compared and contrasted the entire menu to food they both were familiar with, neither of them tasting much of what they ate because they were both occupied with sneaking looks at each other. Leia was entranced by the curve of the Commander's sensual mouth, and by the cleft in his chin. She noticed immediately that these intriguing shapes were echoed by the marks on his forehead, She had originally taken them to be paint, but on closer examination she now suspected they were permanent. She noticed, too, that his eyes frequently rested on her coiled braids, and momentarily regretted that she had not thought to take her hair down. The sight of those gleaming brown tresses had always made Han's eyes glaze over with desire, and--

Leia frowned, disturbed at the intrusion of that thought, and equally disturbed with herself for finding the thought of Han intrusive. She loved him, even if she was angry with him, and she had no business even looking at another man, no matter how attractive he was. She clenched her hands into fists, determined to put a stop to it, then glanced up at Chakotay, surprising a look of intense scrutiny on his face. There was unmistakable heat in his eyes. Her frown faded, replaced by a dawning smile. Thoughts of Han faded, then vanished completely as Chakotay bent toward her. His hand cupped her chin, lifting her face, and then that beautiful mouth descended on hers.

The kiss was a light, sensuous brush across her mouth, very different from Han's hard, possessive kisses. Leia's eyes drifted closed as his mouth firmed against hers, coaxing her to respond. Her lips parted under the gentle pressure of his, and she felt his tongue graze her lower lip, sending a flurry of shivers down her spine. Leia moaned into his open mouth, her body bending towards him, but the table between them was just a bit too wide. She needed to touch him with more than just her lips. His shoulders, his chest, the short-cropped dark hair--it didn't matter where, it only mattered that he not stop kissing her for even a second. She could only think of one way to accomplish this. Summoning up a tiny finger of the Force, she gave the table a shove, not realizing that it was firmly attached to the floor. Since it was not about to move, the Force did the next best thing, lifting the tray which was still littered with an assortment of food. It raised upward, then flipped sideways, depositing the remains of their meal right into Chakotay's lap before dropping back onto the table with a loud thump. The cheese and fruit didn't do much damage, but the corn salad went everywhere. The largely untouched portion of rumari casserole with leola root gravy landed in a mushy purple ball on his thighs, and Tom Paris's favorite dessert, strawberry jello, oozed down his legs.

Chakotay broke off the kiss, and closed his eyes. "Leia, you could have just said no," he finally managed to say. She didn't reply, just stared down at the mess in shock. Then, feeling his wary gaze on her, she looked up at him, her expression of remorse completely undermined by the grin she couldn't hide. He just shook his head as she dissolved in laughter. What was it about this girl? He couldn't decide which he wanted to do more, make love to her, or give her a good spanking. Or maybe both. In spite of himself, his lips twitched, and as soon as Leia saw the dimples in his cheeks appear, she knew she had been forgiven. Again.

"You poor man, look what I've done to you now," she finally said when her mirth had subsided sufficiently for speech to become possible. She came around the table and knelt beside him, eyeing the sloppy goo and trying to decide how she was going to clean it up. She reached a tentative hand out, but Chakotay shook his head.

"I think you'd better let me handle this. Princesses aren't supposed to get their hands dirty, are they?" He picked up a napkin and began to scoop the biggest lumps into it, uneasily aware of the pool of gravy that had made its way between his legs.

Leia laughed again, but there wasn't much humor present this time. "You can't begin to imagine how many messes these hands have had to deal with," she said somberly. Wadding up her own napkin, she began to dab at his damp thigh.

He looked down at her in surprise, then his hand lifted to clasp her shoulder gently. "You've had a bad time of it," he said softly, recognizing the pain behind the proud tilt of her head.

"It's not easy being a rebel leader. There is so much suffering involved."

"I know."

Leia looked up, and saw that he did understood exactly what she meant. She no longer questioned the strength of her attraction for this man she had just met. They might be products of two separate universes, but they had been through the same agony and heartbreak. No wonder the feeling between us is so strong, she mused silently.

Chakotay looked back, his face alive with unspoken need. Heedless of the gloppy mess congealing between his thighs, he bent down and slipped his arms around Leia, pulling her close for a moment before releasing her and dropping a kiss onto the nearest bun. "I'd better go and change before the leola root starts to eat through my uniform," he said humorously, gratified to see her smile.

"Will you come back?" She sounded forlorn, or as close to that emotion as a strong and regal princess/rebel leader could sound.

"I'm on duty. I'll have to get back to the bridge soon, or Captain Janeway will be down here looking for me," he said. "I'll return later and take you to the galley for dinner. Maybe you can dump your food on someone else for a change."

"Anyone special you'd like to see humiliated? I can take care of that for you."

"I'll think about it."

By 1930 hours that evening, less than half an hour after Chakotay and Leia had left the galley following an incident-free meal, the entire ship was buzzing with gossip. It didn't take very long to reach Captain Janeway's ears. She had spent the last several hours on the bridge, studying the data the sensor sweeps of the planet below was relaying back to Voyager, trying to locate the anomaly responsible for Leia's appearance in the Delta Quadrant. It wasn't until her stomach began to growl loudly enough for Ensign Kim to glance her way in surprise that she realized it was well past suppertime. She went down to the galley, knowing Neelix would have kept something warm for her. Not only did he give her food, he also regaled her with a highly-colored account of the intimate supper her first officer and their honored guest had shared. Chakotay had kept her all to himself, Neelix had said. They had talked, heads together, through the whole meal, paying no attention to anyone else. The princess had looked at Commander Chakotay like he was a twelve-scoop Vendirian sundae with golpafruit and whipped cream, and he had looked--happy. It struck Neelix that this had been the first time he could recall seeing Chakotay really smile. Janeway recalled the byplay between her first officer and the princess earlier that day, and felt her heart sink. Was it possible that now that she'd found him, she was going to lose him to a pretty young girl from some other galaxy? Not, she corrected herself, that he was anything more to her than just an excellent first officer, one who suited her particular needs and complemented her captaincy perfectly, better than anyone else ever had. She was simply concerned with the circumstances, and afraid that it was going to turn out badly for at least one of them. Or maybe for all three.

Neelix's observations came to a merciful end when Harry Kim's voice intruded. "Captain, I think you'd better come back to the bridge. There's some kind of a firefight going on down on the surface."

After dinner, Chakotay took Leia on a tour of the ship. She was impressed with Voyager, but more impressed with her guide. "It amazes me that you care so much about this ship and her crew, when a short time ago you were bitter enemies," she commented as they walked into Engineering. Chakotay had explained about the Federation, the Cardassians, and the Maquis at dinner, and told her the story of how they came to be in the Delta Quadrant. "I'm trying to imagine what would happen if a Rebel cruiser and an Imperial star destroyer were trapped together they way you were. Somehow I don't see the two crews joining forces."

"If it had been anyone but Captain Janeway in command, I doubt that it would have happened," Chakotay said. "She has a unique outlook, and the determination to make her ideas and dreams work. I'm not sure any of us could have survived this without her."

Leia glanced sharply at her companion. He didn't seem the type of man to make such an extravagant statement, and she had to conclude that admiration for his captain ran very deep in him. "She seems like a remarkable woman. And she's very beautiful."

"Yes, she is."

"I'm surprised that you and she haven't--well--" Leia broke off, disturbed at the sudden flash of jealousy his calm agreement had caused.

"Leia, things don't work that way in this universe, at least, not wherever Starfleet holds any sway. Command protocols don't allow personal involvements. Do you want to see the warp core?" He was obviously uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation.

"I have no idea what a warp core is, but I'll look at it if you want me to," she commented wryly. "So, even though this Starfleet is seventy thousand light years away, you're still bound by its dictates?" She shook her head. "It seems very odd to me."

"As long as I wear this uniform, I am."

"Then maybe you should take it off." The words popped out before she could stop them.

Chakotay's lips twitched, but he managed to prevent himself from smiling. "Are you suggesting that I should do that for her, or for you?" he asked, his tone suspiciously innocent.

"Oh, for her, of course. I'm sure your precious Starfleet would not permit personal involvement with inhabitants of another galaxy. Or another plane of existence." Sarcasm oozed from every pore, Leia's usual reaction whenever she found herself in an awkward situation.

"I'm not sure they've made any rules about that," he replied. "And in any case, I have a confession to make--I haven't really been noted for my adherence to Starfleet regulations in recent years. I go my own way." He took her elbow and drew her farther into the room, stopping her as they approached the center, where a large glowing tube surrounded by railings and control panels dwarfed them.

Leia studied the immense structure in front of her without really seeing it. This man seemed full of contradictions. In Starfleet, but not of it. Attracted to his captain, even if he didn't want to admit it, but seemingly also attracted to her. A rebel at heart, though he wore the robes of the Empire--or the Federation, whatever that was. She hazarded a glance at him, wondering if his feelings were as confused as hers were. His eyes caught hers and they held the same light she had noticed earlier, just before he had kissed her. She straightened her shoulders and gave him her most imperious glare. "Where is this warp core?" she demanded.

He laughed, a sound so startling that several crewmen working at computer stations around the room looked up in surprise, and pointed to the huge tubular structure she had been intently staring at. "You didn't notice it?"

Leia felt her cheeks reddening—but she NEVER blushed! She turned on her heel and swept out of Engineering, not glancing back to see if he was following. She had reached the turbolift and entered it by the time he caught up to her. The lift sat there, waiting for her to tell it where she wanted to go. What deck were her quarters on? Damn, she couldn't remember! She folded her arms, prepared to stand there all night if necessary. She was not about to ask him for help!

"Deck Four," Chakotay prompted, but as soon as they began to move, he issued another command. "Computer, hold turbolift."

Leia turned to look at him, her eyes narrowing. "What are you doing?"

"This." He reached out and pulled her into his arms. Leia knew she was playing with fire, but suddenly she didn't care. Han might be lost to her forever, whereas Chakotay was here, and it was obvious that he wanted her, even if, as she suspected, he had deeper feelings for Captain Janeway than he was willing to admit. Would it be so wrong to do what felt so right? She raised her face, and her arms slid upwards to encircle his neck, pulling his head down for the kiss they both had known was inevitable.

This kiss was different from the last one, full of an edgy passion fueled by the confrontation in Engineering. Chakotay tried to hold back; he was not a man who found it necessary to prove his manhood by force of conquest. Leia, however, was beyond restraint, wanting him to lose himself in her, and only her. She kissed him fiercely, her body pressed tightly against his. She felt it the instant he became aroused, and her hips rubbed sensuously against him. He groaned, deepening their kiss and letting his hands slide down her back to cup her bottom, lifting her off her feet and settling her against his loins. It had been so long since he had held a woman, had eased himself in warm, loving arms...

Leia's heart beat so quickly, she thought she might actually pass out. She and Han hadn't had time to do much more than exchange hurried kisses and caresses. They had yet to spend a whole night together. She had never awakened in his arms. She wanted that, wanted the security of knowing she was the center of the universe to some man. Considering her current plight, probably it would not be Han. Could it be Chakotay? He was holding her so tightly that she couldn’t move far enough away to see his face. She pushed at his chest, forcing him to let go of her, then sliding down to stand between his legs. She raised both hands to cup his face, her expression full of wonderment as she gazed up at him. She stood on tiptoe, again pressing her lips to his, but this time there was less fury in her kiss. There was need, and maybe even a trace of hope, and she felt him respond immediately, his big body seeming to surround and cradle her. Leia relaxed then, knowing somehow that Chakotay was hers, at least for tonight. Tomorrow could take care of itself.

Reluctantly, Chakotay broke off the kiss. "I think we'd better continue this someplace more private, Princess," he said ruefully as he gazed down at her. "Starfleet frowns on lovemaking in the turbolifts."

"Oh, damn Starfleet! Who cares what they frown on?" she replied, her eyes full of laughter. "Come back to my quarters with me."

He had just opened his mouth to respond when his comm badge sounded, Janeway's voice startling both of them. "Janeway to Chakotay. I need you on the bridge, Commander. And bring the princess, if she's with you."

"On our way, Captain."

There was indeed a battle raging on the planet. Sensors indicated that a large group of life-forms seemed to have trapped a much smaller group in a narrow box canyon. They were exchanging fire, but it appeared that the smaller group was in serious jeopardy. Janeway explained the situation briefly and emotionlessly, willing herself not to see the way Leia's hand gripped Chakotay's forearm as she listened, or to notice that the princess's lips had a soft, just-kissed look. She did not glance at her first officer at all as she spoke.

"It's my feeling that we're dealing with people from your galaxy, Princess, "she concluded. "This is a guess, but I think the larger group must be the Imperial storm troopers you mentioned earlier. Do you have any idea who the others might be?"

Leia hesitated, biting her lip, then nodded. "It might be Han Solo, come to look for me. He's--he's a general in the Rebel Alliance, and he and I--" She broke off, unable to look at Chakotay, who had stiffened and pulled away from her.

"Captain, I'm reading several life-forms in the canyon, and I think I can get a lock on them," Harry Kim interjected. "It doesn't look like they can hold out much longer."

"Very well, Ensign, hail Mister Tuvok and have him meet us in Transporter Room A with a security team, in case the princess has guessed wrong." She turned to Leia, seeing that the younger woman looked distraught. "Don't worry, we'll have them safely on board in just a few minutes."

The turbolift ride was silent. Tuvok and his team joined them in the transporter room within a few minutes, phasers drawn. Janeway checked the coordinates Harry had transferred down to the console, and began the transport procedure. "Stay well back," she warned Chakotay and the princess. "They have weapons, and I doubt very much that they're set on stun."

Chakotay nodded, leading Leia to the far corner of the room and moving her behind him. "Stay here until we're sure it's safe," he said tersely.

"Chakotay," Leia said softly. "I'm sorry. I should have told you about Han."

"Yes, you should have."

Any further conversation was forestalled by the activation of the transporter beam. A matter of moments later, three figures materialized on the platform. The first was a tall, well-built, ruggedly handsome man a few years younger than Chakotay. He was dressed in tight black pants tucked into boots, a white shirt open to reveal his muscular chest, and a black leather vest. He looked dangerous and very dashing, and mad as hell. He had a blaster in his hand which he waved menacingly at Tuvok, who stood calmly by with his phaser raised. The second was some kind of a huge shaggy creature, covered completely with long reddish hair. It--he?--held a blaster, too, and it was making threatening growls deep in its throat. The third, even more astonishingly, appeared to be some kind of a robot, with a thin gold-colored metallic body. It toddled off the platform, heedless of the armed security team, and looked around the room in amazement.

"Oh, dear me, what have you gotten us into now, General Solo?" it said plaintively.

"It's all right, Three-pio, Chewbacca, we're with friends now," Leia said as she stepped out from behind Chakotay. The big hairy creature squalled at her in excitement, and Han Solo turned abruptly toward her, relief in his eyes. A second later that emotion passed, to be followed directly by anger.

"Damn it, Leia, I can't leave you alone for a minute without you getting into some kind of trouble. Taking off on your own like that was a damn fool thing to do, and making us chase after you into an army of storm troopers was even worse. Do you realize we were two minutes away from getting killed down there?"

"No one told you to come after me, General," she replied, emphasizing his title. "I didn't need or want you to rescue me. I may have a knack for getting into trouble, but I'm also capable of getting back out of it without your help. As you can see, I'm perfectly safe here."

"Yeah, maybe. And just where the hell is HERE?" Han looked around the room, his keen eyes studying the unfamiliar transporter room. "Is this an Imperial ship, or what?"

"It's a long story, General Solo," Janeway said amusedly as she stepped around the transporter console. "I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway, and you're on the Federation starship Voyager. If you'll all come with me, I promise that I'll do my best to explain what has happened." She gestured toward the turbolift, nodding at Tuvok to indicate that the security team could leave. Tuvok took a long measuring look at the rebel general, then holstered his phaser and motioned to his crew. They left by the hall door, but Tuvok stepped into the turbolift with the others, not entirely sure that this Solo person was trustworthy. The large, gamy-smelling alien moved over to make room for him, then patted his shoulder with his paw and howled something incomprehensible but apparently friendly.

"Fascinating," Tuvok muttered to himself.

The robot twittered a series of "oh mys" and "oh dears," the walking teddy bear held an animated if one-sided conversation with Tuvok, Han and Leia continued their low-voiced argument, both seemingly talking at once, and Janeway just watched in awe and amusement. She couldn't help her gaze from falling on Chakotay, though, and her expression sobered. He stood well back from the others, his face stony. Though it was hard to tell by looking, she knew that he had to be upset at this new revelation, and her heart went out to him. Maybe there was something she could do, some comfort she could offer--

"So, you're a captain, huh?" Han had turned his back on Leia and was now openly ogling Janeway. "Where I come from, there aren't too many females in high command positions. And there sure aren't many who look like you." His hazel eyes made an appreciative sweep from her shapely legs up to the top of her head. "I like your hair."

Ignoring Leia's indignant snort, Janeway smiled at the rebel. "Thank you, General." She found his overtly macho posturing surprisingly inoffensive, and could not resist the temptation to allow her own eyes to travel a similar path along his rangy frame. He watched her eye him, and a devilish one-sided grin appeared on his face. Janeway leaned toward him as if to confide in him. "I like your gun," she said, her husky voice a caress as the turbolift doors opened onto the bridge.

Much later that night, Janeway sat quietly in her ready room, reflecting on the events of the day. Han and his motley band of rescuers had found it difficult to follow her explanation of the type of anomaly that could have caused the rift through which they had passed, and finally he told her bluntly to keep the science to herself and tell him how they were going to get back. How had he put it? "Just get me home, sister, I don't care how you do it, but I've got an empire to conquer." The man had a blunt, earthy charm, no question about it. It was easy to see why Leia had fallen for him, though it surprised her to realize that they were in fact seriously involved, since all they did from the moment Han had emerged from the transporter beam was fight. Her sharp eyes had noticed, though, that there was a light in Leia's eyes when she looked at Han, and that Han's clumsy attempts to flirt with HER were all obviously made for Leia's benefit. He might pretend to be besotted with me, she thought, but he can't keep his feelings for Leia from showing clearly. And through the long process of explanation and argument, Chakotay had stood back, silent and alone, his eyes never once falling on Leia. Janeway's initial judgment of the young princess had been favorable, but she found it hard to forgive her for what she had done, even if unintentionally, to her stalwart first officer. The man was crushed--perhaps others couldn't see it, but Janeway knew. She sighed, rubbing her eyes tiredly. With all the events of the day, she had worked straight through two full duty shifts, and she was just now realizing how exhausted she was. Telling herself that the problems would still be there in the morning, she stood up, stretching the kinks from her back, and prepared to retire. She had nearly reached the door when the buzzer sounded. Surprised, her first hope was that it might be Chakotay. She had wanted to talk to him, but hadn't known how to approach him or what to say. "Come in," she called.

To her astonishment, Princess Leia stood there. "Captain, I wonder if you have a minute," she asked, her usual imperious tones lacking. "I need to talk to someone, and I don't know anyone here but you."

Janeway put thoughts of her comfortable bed resolutely out of her mind. "Of course you can talk to me. Come in and sit down."

Leia sat, and Janeway perched on the edge of her desk, folding her hands and waiting for the princess to speak.

"It's about Chakotay," she finally said. "I've done something very wrong, and I know I've hurt him." She shook her head. "I never meant for it to happen, and--" She broke off, then added, "I suppose I should tell you exactly what happened first, shouldn't I?"

Janeway sighed. "I know all about it," she said ruefully. "This isn't a very big ship, and the rumors about you and Commander Chakotay spread like wildfire after you were seen together at supper. And of course I was there when your General Solo arrived, so I'm aware that you and he are involved."

"I love Han, Captain. I've always loved him. But Chakotay--he's so different from Han, and he made me feel different, too. There was no Empire holding threats over my head, no battles to fight, and for once all that seemed to matter was what I felt and what I wanted. I know I should have tried harder to resist him, but--"

"Leia, there's no sin in finding a man attractive, and I certainly can't fault you for feeling drawn to Chakotay. But you should have told him the truth right from the start. He shouldn't have had to hear about Han the way he did, with all of us standing there watching."

Leia nodded, her eyes grave. "I know it's no excuse, but it all happened so suddenly. And I suppose there was a part of me thinking that maybe I would never see Han again--as if that would make it all right!" Her voice rose in self-mockery with these last words.

Janeway paused, thinking carefully before she spoke. In spite of herself, she found she could sympathize with Leia. If she had been thrown into close company with Chakotay, and if he had looked at her the way he had looked at Leia earlier, could she have resisted him, even though she, too, had a lover somewhere far, far away? Maybe not. Undoubtedly not. "I think the question you should be asking yourself right now is what your attraction to Chakotay really means. If you truly love General Solo, would you have even looked twice at him?"

"I think it would be difficult not to look twice at him, Captain--don't you?" Leia glanced up at Janeway, interested to see how she would respond.

"Yes, but that's not what I meant. I meant--"

"You meant that if I love Han, I wouldn't have allowed myself to respond to Chakotay, even if I was attracted to him." Leia sighed. "I only wish it were that simple. But nothing about my relationship with Han has been easy, and I doubt it ever will be. Maybe I thought to myself that Chakotay would be an easier man to love."

"If you think that, you don't know him very well," Janeway said tartly, thinking of the circumstances of his past life and the complex character he hid under that stoic exterior. She had had mere glimpses of Chakotay's true nature, and "easy" was not a word she would associate with him, not by a long shot. Shrugging mentally, she returned her attention to Leia, noticing that the young princess was studying her intently, almost as if she could read her thoughts. Time to get back to the subject at hand, she thought, annoyed. "Frankly, a single day's acquaintance based primarily on the physical attraction you evidently feel for Chakotay is hardly enough for you to know him at all."

Leia nodded, as if in acknowledgment of Janeway's words. "Captain--may I call you Kathryn?" At Janeway's nod, she went on. "Now that Han is here, I’ve realized that all we've been through together has to count for something. It may not look that way, but we are very much in love, and I think we would both be miserable without each other, even more miserable than we probably appear to be when we're together!" She grinned wickedly at that, but then her face softened. "I owe him so much, in ways you can't possibly imagine, and I know in my heart that I can't allow these feelings for Chakotay to destroy what we’ve fought and nearly died for. He is--he has to be a sort of dream to me, something that almost happened but wasn't meant to be."

Janeway nodded, impressed at Leia's eloquence.

"What I want most is for Chakotay not to be hurt. He has been wonderful, and he doesn't deserve to be treated so badly." Leia paused, clearing her throat. "If you're willing to help, I think I've come up with a way to insure that he will accept my decision gladly--no, eagerly."

Janeway couldn't conceal her surprise. What did this girl have in mind? "I'm listening," she prompted, wondering what she was getting herself into.

"I have reason to believe--that is--well, it's not that he's said anything, because I wouldn't violate a confidence like that, but--" Leia stopped abruptly, then looked closely at Janeway. "If Chakotay could have any woman in this or any other galaxy, the one he would choose is you, Kathryn."

Janeway's jaw dropped and she found herself speechless for a long moment, then her head began to shake in denial. "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard," she finally managed to say. "And, trust me, Leia, I've been around for long enough to hear it all!"

"Ridiculous?" Leia repeated. "Like it's ridiculous that you feel the same way about him?"

"I don't. I've never even dreamed--" Janeway stopped abruptly, her face flushing. She could bluff with the best of them, but this young woman's eyes were so knowing, so full of understanding… "Even if I did have feelings for him, it would be impossible for me to act on them," she said miserably.

"Oh, please, you're not going to start carrying on about this almighty Starfleet of yours, are you? I've already heard this lecture, and frankly I find it--" Leia paused, grasping for a word. "--ridiculous!"

The two women stared at each other, identical expressions of annoyance creasing both classic brows. Janeway shook her head again, then turned back to her desk, assuming her captain's mantle. "Princess, it's late, and we've both had a long day," she began as she gathered up a handful of data padds and straightened them.

"Kathryn, listen to me," Leia pleaded. "My universe is a harsh one, and I've witnessed firsthand the depths of cruelty mankind is capable of. I've seen whole worlds destroyed at the whim of an evil Emperor." She paused, the shadow of a terrible grief crossing her face. "The dark side of the Force is unbelievably strong, but there's one thing that can defeat it, and that's love. My brother Luke taught me that, and so did Han, and so did an evil man named Darth Vader, who was redeemed by it. It's the only thing worth having, and if you turn away from it, you're a fool."

"Leia, I agree with all you've said--how could I not? I'm known as somewhat of a rebel myself, you know. I've never hesitated to tilt at windmills when I believed strongly enough in my own reasons. And I do know something about the power of love, as well." She sighed. "I also know that if Chakotay has fallen in love with someone, that someone is you." Janeway smiled, but her eyes were sad. "Remember, I know him better."

"Maybe you do, but has it occurred to you that you and I share other qualities besides our rebel hearts and our buns?" Leia stood up, placing her hands on her hips. "I've seen the recognition on Chakotay's face when I've said certain things, or made certain gestures. I didn't understand at first, but now I do. You and I are so much alike, we could be sisters, and he saw that from the very beginning. And maybe he thought that if he couldn't have you, I would be an acceptable substitute."

Janeway had no response to make to this incredible statement. She sat down abruptly, ready at last to hear the princess's plan.

Half an hour later, Commander Chakotay stood outside Princess Leia's quarters, unable to raise his hand to request admittance. Leia had sent him a message via that strange golden robot she called "PC30" or something like that. She needed to see him, the droid had told him, and she wondered if he would meet her here, now. He was here, but he wondered why. He knew he had been acting completely out of character during his brief acquaintance with Leia. He had found her attractive, of course. She was exactly the type of woman he felt most drawn to--feisty, intelligent, elegant but practical, quick to both anger and laughter. He sighed, knowing he had completely lost his head, and unable to remember when that had last happened to him. He wondered fleetingly what might have happened if Han Solo hadn't shown up, knowing that right now he would be inside this room, making love to her, blissfully unaware that his princess had other commitments, another love who meant more to her than he did. He didn't understand why she had led him on, didn't really want to know, but still--

Muttering a curse under his breath, he turned sharply and headed back to the turbolift. It was insane to even consider seeing her again. He paused at the open door. What if she had changed her mind? No, not bloody likely, he had seen the strength of the bond between her and that Solo guy even when they were ripping each other to verbal shreds. In the single day he'd known Leia, there was no way he could have done more than momentarily seduce her, and he hadn't even managed that! Chakotay prided himself on his self-control, a trait he had mastered only after a bitter, years-long struggle with himself, but now, before he could stop it, his hand raised and he delivered a savage punch to the wall beside him.

He was pretty sure he broke something in his hand, but the wall was undamaged. He was trying to decide if he should head for sickbay for treatment, or if a night of pain might be just what he needed to get his mind off the events of the day when the door to Leia's room opened and Captain Janeway's head peeked out, her expression quizzical. Chakotay saw her, wondered briefly if he was hallucinating, then turned toward her, ever the proper first officer. "Captain, can I help you with something?"

She jumped when she heard his voice. "Commander, I--umm--I thought I heard something, like a crash--?"

"That was me. I hit the wall."

Janeway couldn't repress a smile at his nonchalant statement. "Did you hurt it?"

"The wall? No."

"I meant your hand." She walked over, holding her own hands out to him. "Let me see."

He rolled his eyes at her motherly tone, but extended his right hand obediently. She studied it, wincing at the scraped knuckles, two of which were already beginning to swell, her fingers gentle as she examined the bruises. "You'd better get down to sickbay and let the doctor examine you. I can't tell, but they might be fractured."

He nodded, but made no move. "Captain, what were you doing in Leia's room just now?" he asked, curiosity suddenly taking precedence over pain.

"It doesn't matter, Commander. Please, just go and get this taken care of."

"It matters to me. Why are you here, when it was Leia who asked to see me?" Chakotay studied her bent head, wondering why she was unable to meet his eyes. "Kathryn?" Her name came out in a half-whisper, but she started so violently, he might as well have shouted it.

"Chakotay, please just go. It was a bad idea, I see that now."

"What was a bad idea?" Janeway looked up then, her eyes roaming over Chakotay's face. To him, her expression seemed almost unbearably sad. She still held his hand lightly, and now he turned it, his palm clasping her fingers in spite of the sudden pain that shot up his arm. "Tell me, please?"

She shook her head. "I can't. I--"

"Tell me."

"Leia thought that I might be able to help you to get over what happened between the two of you." The words rushed out, almost involuntarily. Had she taught him this Force of hers, or was it just the hope shining from his usually blank dark eyes that freed up her tongue?

"Why would you want to do that for me?"

She sighed. "I can't bear to see you hurt." She glanced down at his hand, and obeyed the sudden impulse to raise it and drop a soft kiss onto his abused knuckles. "Even the little hurts." Her gesture awed him. He didn't know what to say, what to do, and he pulled away and took a sudden step backward, bumping into the wall and then leaning against it, dazed. In a second, she was there, trying to help him, worry creasing her high forehead. "Maybe this isn't such a little hurt after all," she commented wryly.

"No, it's not my hand. It's this, it's you--" Chakotay stopped, unable to find the words. He flashed on a memory, that day months ago when he had first seen Janeway, her face framed by the borders of the viewscreen on the bridge of his now-destroyed ship. They had just been hurled thousands of light years from home, they were enemies by decree of the Federation, and they faced who knew what kind of immediate danger, and yet her face had seemed serenely beautiful to him. His life had not been his own since that moment. Nor had his heart. He swallowed, audibly, then pushed away from the wall and held out his battered hand to her, leading her gently into Leia's room.

Once there, his confidence deserted him. He stood in the center of the room, shoulders rigid, head averted, and waited--for what, he had no idea. Janeway thought he looked like a man about to have some dire sentence passed on him, and could not prevent her fertile imagination from embroidering that fanciful notion into something that almost seemed like the truth. Was she about to wreck his life, both their lives, by allowing their formal relationship to become a personal one? Was it too late to turn back? Honesty won out over her fears, as it generally did. It had been too late to turn back for months now, it had just taken Leia to make her see that.

Unless he felt differently, of course. A cold hand gripped her heart then, and she felt the beginnings of an uncharacteristic panic beginning to build deep inside her. She had to know. Now. She stepped toward him, her hands lifting to his shoulders, and studied his face in silence. He looked stunned, but there was more there than shock. Again, the word "hope" flashed into her brain. Sudden insight flooded her, and she knew that it was fear that held him motionless. Fear that she might reject him. Fear that he might be misunderstanding her actions. Somehow, she had to make him see that he had nothing to be afraid of.

"Do you remember the dark nebula?" she asked softly. "When I saw you in sickbay and the doctor told me you were brain dead, I didn't know how I was ever going to go on without you. I hadn't realized until then how much I had come to rely on your strength and your wisdom. I've never been prone to it, but that day I knew despair." Her gaze touched him, but unseeingly, as if she were visualizing the scene in her mind. "Then, when the doctor was able to reintegrate your consciousness, and I knew I hadn't lost you after all, I was so overwhelmed." She shook her head. "I couldn't stop touching you. I wanted to cry, or to laugh with joy. I--I don't understand how it was that no one there watching me could have been unaware of my feelings. I thought I had made them embarrassingly obvious."

"And I thought that I might have dreamed them. God knows I've fantasized about you often enough in the past few months," he said. "Just sitting on the bridge with you, sometimes, I'd be weaving these elaborate daydreams in my head." He shook his head, a sudden grin lighting his dark features. "I used to think you'd have me in the brig for the rest of my life if you ever had any idea what I was thinking about when I should have been doing my job."

Janeway's hand lifted, her fingers tracing the firm line of his jaw and then moving upward to the deep dimples that creased his cheeks all too seldom. Chakotay's smiles were few and far between, but worth the wait, she thought, bemused, as his arms slid around her waist. They both hesitated, then, gazes locked, as if aware that the next few moments would change their lives in ways probably neither of them could anticipate. Chakotay moved first, his arms drawing her closer and his head lowering to Janeway's. She saw his eyes drift closed before his lips could touch hers, but she twisted away at the very last instant, her hand sliding across his cheek until her fingers lay across his mouth. His eyes opened and he jerked backwards, but before he could speak, she asked him the one last question that troubled her mind.

"Leia?"

He smiled fully at that, joy shining from his suddenly expressive eyes--had she ever thought them unreadable?--and pulled her back against him. "She's a beautiful girl, but she's no Kathryn Janeway." This time when his head lowered to kiss her, she didn't stop him.

Janeway awoke early the next morning, stretching luxuriously. Her body felt wonderful, relaxed in a way that she hadn't felt in--months? Years? Ever?? Her fond glance rested on the man sprawled next to her, noting that Chakotay slept like a child, limbs spread every which way across the bed and his face buried in the pillow, nothing visible except the very top of his severely cropped head. She had asked him about that haircut, sometime last night, or had it been this morning? He had grimaced and told her about the repercussions his decision to apply to Starfleet Academy had caused in his family, most of whom had failed to understand his need to leave the land, to explore the stars. The day his acceptance papers had come, he had made the gesture which had proved to them all that he was intent on going away, cutting the long hair that hung nearly to his waist, symbolically cutting the ties that bound him to the People. He had kept it short ever since, even though the severed bond had long ago healed, and did not regret dispensing with the hours of beading and braiding and fussing with it. Janeway, easily able to imagine how he would look with that hair trailing down his back, a feathered braid falling forward to tickle her breast, regretted it. His mother had been his only supporter through the long, bitter arguments, but she had taken one look at his shorn head and, for the first and last time he could remember, she had wept. The rest of the story hadn't been told, because by then Janeway was crying, too, and Chakotay had had to think of some way to cheer her up, to distract her. He'd succeeded at that, admirably.

Janeway felt a smile cross her face as she reflected on Chakotay's ability to seduce, entice, distract, and otherwise engage her every sense. He was that rare lover who honestly seemed to find his pleasure in pleasing her, repeatedly, in a variety of ways, with hands and lips and body. It had been a night of moments, vivid images frozen against the ever-increasing spiral of need and lust and love. She saw them again, a dark-skinned hand caressing the fullness of her pale breast, the subtle movement of his hips, locked with hers in the oldest dance of all, the flash of white teeth bared in a grimace of ecstasy the first time her fingers had closed on him, even the not-so-ecstatic grimace when she had accidentally rolled onto his poor, battered right hand, and above all, the light of joy that shone from his face as he brought her to mind-shattering fulfillment. It had been the most sensual experience of her life, and she had felt like an untutored virgin at times, allowing him to lead her along pathways of delight she had never dreamed of. She wondered if there had been a single moment, during that long night, that was just for HIM. She glanced at the time then back at the deeply sleeping figure of her lover, suddenly wanting to give him that same gift he had given her.

Reaching out, she gently rolled him away from the pillow he clutched in his left hand, turning him carefully onto his back, and noting that, even in sleep, he seemed willing to cooperate with her. Her hands caressed his shoulders, enjoying the feel of his skin. She traced the bold line of his jaw as she had done last night, but this time with her lips. The line of kisses rose, circled his ear, then crossed his left temple. In the dim light, she could barely make out the dark lines of his tattoo, but she knew them by heart; these, too, she traced with lips and tongue, her hands now shifting downward to circle his nipples, teasing them to hard beads with her palms.

By now, Chakotay knew something was going on. He shifted, blinking sleepily up at her, then his arms raised to encircle her. "No," she said firmly. "This time, let me love you." She pushed his arms back down onto the bed and held them there, giving him a stern glance.

"Aye, Captain," he mumbled, his voice still drugged with sleep. "I'm all yours."

Janeway couldn't prevent a triumphant smile from crossing her face, but she didn't pause to gloat. Her hands moved back to his chest, then down over his ribs, tickling him briefly but always moving lower, raking her nails lightly across the flat plane of his stomach. Bending over him, she kissed his forehead, then the bridge of his nose and the cleft in his chin. His sensual lips quirked at her, but she ignored them, lowering her head to lick his collarbone, then eliciting a surprised moan from him by sucking hard at his left nipple. Maybe there was a thing or two she could teach him after all, Janeway thought as she felt his heart rate suddenly increase under her lips. Her head slid lower and her hands began to move again, brushing down across his navel and just barely grazing the undersurface of his penis, which sprang to life with flattering eagerness and quite remarkable stamina, considering how often and how strenuously he had put it to use in the past few hours.

"I can see you're going to wear me out within a week if you mean to go on as we've started," she commented wryly.

"Kathryn, no, I wouldn't--" Chakotay's hurried words trailed off as her hands closed on him, pushing his foreskin back to expose the proudly thrusting head of his penis.

"Yes, you would, and I'll be loving every minute of it," she said tartly before her mouth closed on him and they both forgot what it was they had been talking about. Chakotay writhed under her skillful lips and tongue, his hands caught in her hair as she drove him close to ecstasy. When his moans told her he was about to lose control, she smiled to herself, and stopped. There was no sound except for his panting, but he lay still, even under these circumstances unable to bring himself to protest her cruelty. She slid upwards along his body, feeling the slickness of his sweat drenching her body in a potent musky aura. When she was draped along his length, she looked deeply into his eyes, then lowered her lips to his and gifted him with the kiss she had withheld earlier, putting all the unspoken emotion that welled up within her breast into it. The kiss never broke, not when he lifted her hips and entered her with in one long thrust, or when she calmed his frantic movements with gentle caresses that soothed even as they continued to stoke the fire that burned inside him, not even when he finally exploded in her arms, groaning his love into her open mouth and his seed into her welcoming womb.

Janeway was late for duty call that morning, the first time anyone could recall it happening. Her first officer didn't appear at all, as he was having his broken hand repaired by the disapproving holographic doctor, who could not imagine why he had waited all night to seek treatment for the injury. "It didn't really bother me much," was all Chakotay said.

The breakthrough they needed finally came later that day when, during yet another sensor sweep, Harry Kim had taken it upon himself to widen the parameters of their search. "Captain, I think I have something," he commented excitedly. Janeway bustled over to look at his console, feeling yet again the pleasurable ache between her thighs that had accompanied her every movement this morning. "We missed it before because we were looking for something much smaller. This rift is huge, and our concentrated sweeps didn't register it."

She studied the data intently. "You're right, Mister Kim. Good work." Touching her comm badge, she signaled to Leia. "Princess, it seems we've found your pathway home. Will you and your friends join us on the bridge?"

Leia's firm voice gave her assent, and Janeway could clearly hear Han in the background, asking what the hell that meant. So, had they used her room for the same purpose she had used Leia's, then? As they had talked last night, the princess had confided the difficulty she and her lover had had just trying to find the time and space to be together, and it pleased Janeway to think that perhaps she had had a hand in smoothing out their admittedly rocky relationship. She glanced over at Chakotay, wondering how this relationship might progress, confident suddenly that only good things lay ahead for them. She couldn't help smiling to herself at the thought, though she quickly averted her gaze and then looked around guiltily to be sure that no one had been watching. Fortunately, everyone on the bridge was hard at work and paying no attention whatsoever. That being the case, of course, she could not resist peeking at Chakotay again. The smile made a second appearance as she studied him. He sat silently, absently rubbing his injured hand. There was just a trace of a smile on his face, and he appeared to be off in some pleasant dream world of his own. As if feeling her eyes, though, he turned to look in her direction, and one small dimple made an appearance in his cheek. Janeway felt her heart turn over. It was not the first time that day, nor would it be the last.

It was agreed that Leia and the others would beam down to the surface as close to the opening of the rift as possible, hopefully passing through without drawing the attention of the storm troopers, who had continued to wander around trying to figure out where they were for most of the night. Janeway was firm in her intention to send an Away Team down to the surface later to explain the situation to the Imperial troopers and to assist them in making the return as well. She fixed Han Solo with one of her most regal glares, then, and told him that she would rely on his sense of honor NOT to be standing on the other side with a team of Rebels holding blasters.

"Y'know," Han remarked to Leia after Janeway concluded her speech, "She really reminds me of somebody, but I can't think who."

Janeway and Leia just looked at each other and smiled.