Klingon Hearts 02 Violations - Battered and Bruised

by Tracy Sobieski

  This is the second story in the "Klingon Hearts" series. It is set the end of season 5, a couple of weeks after "Thirty Days". This story deals with violent acts of rape and abuse, I am rating it PG13. If you don't like this sort of thing, please don't read it.

  This story started as an idea after reading a review for "Vis a Vis". I was outraged at the fact that Steth may have raped B'Elanna and it was never addressed in the show. As I started to write, the original coda to "Vis a Vis" morphed into a story of its own, which is what you are reading here.

  As always, Voyager and her crew are owned by Paramount and Viacom, Inc. I am just playing with their toys. I promise to put them back when I am done. I do, however, own this story.

  Klingon Hearts

  Violations--Battered and Bruised

  by: Tracy Sobieski

  Tom Paris piloted the Delta Flyer through the planet's atmosphere. Ion storms raged around them. Things were a little bumpy, in more ways than one.

  "Take it easy, flyboy. I'm the one who has to fix this thing.” B'Elanna Torres told him, testily. She was obviously angry at him for something.

  "Yes, ma'am." Tom smiled brazenly as he threw the arrogant reply over his shoulder.

  B'Elanna marveled, briefly, how the Captain managed to restrain herself when Tom did that to her on the bridge. It's a wonder he hadn't been busted down to Ensign a -long- time ago.

  "Do you think obtaining the galacite will be as much fun as the last time we needed it?" Tom he asked the irritated half-Klingon, innocently.

  B'Elanna's head snapped back, as if she had been struck. Her eyes narrowed. Memories of her run in with the Vulcan Pon Farr washed over her.

  Tuvok raised an eyebrow, but remained silent. He questioned the logic of angering Lt. Torres further.

  Sitting in the co-pilots seat, Chakotay's eyes widened at Tom's audacity. Did he have a death wish? He hadn't seen him antagonize B'Elanna this much in years. What in the Name of the Spirits was going on between the two of them?

  *****

  Earlier that morning....

  "I don't see why you won't move in here with me." Tom was annoyed with her, this discussion had been revisited more than once in the last month. He zipped up the jacket to his uniform and sat down on the couch to put his boots on.

  "I just don't want to announce to the whole ship that we are sleeping together."

  Why couldn't he just drop this, she wondered.

  Tom looked at her, stunned. It's not as if it was a big secret.

  "Um...'Lanna, I'm pretty sure everybody -knows- we're sleeping together. If they didn't before, they sure do after that scene with you and Seven a while back."

  B'Elanna groaned silently and closed her eyes, she could hear that smug Borg's voice all over again. "There is no one on Deck 9, Section 12 that does not know when you are having intimate relations."

  Jolting herself back to the present, she looked him square in the eye.

  "That's beside the point. This would be an open admission,” she snapped back.

  "An open admission to what? That you love me and want to be with me?" Tom's temper began a slow burn.

  "I'm not moving in here, end of discussion." She stood defiantly, near the bedroom door, hands on her hips.

  "This discussion is -not- over! I want to know the real reason behind this." He stood up and faced her, his body tense with anger.

  "I told you why. Now leave it alone." She lowered her arms and tried to walk past him.

  He wasn't about to let this drop. He grabbed her upper arm as she tried to pass. It was a mistake, he knew it instantly. Trying to strong arm his mate was never wise. Her body stilled. She looked up at him. There was fire in her eyes. Unfortunately, they were not flames of passion.

  "I said 'leave it alone'. We are not getting into this." Her voice was quiet with barely constrained rage.

  If he was going to die, he might as well have an answer to what he really wanted to know.

  "Is this because we aren't married?" he asked.

  "Of course not, don't be ridiculous,” but she had paused just a beat before answering. "I told you, I don't believe in that archaic Klingon tradition. Just because we are sleeping together doesn't mean we have to be married. Besides, you're not exactly the type to settle down. Are you, Tom?"

  He stiffened at the insult. The 'Paris mask' fell into place and he viewed her through guarded eyes.

  "I guess not." He turned on his heel and stalked out of the cabin.

  *****

  Sitting at the Engineering station on the Delta Flyer, B'Elanna seethed. Tom was deliberately antagonizing her, she knew it. He was retaliating for this morning, she had hurt him. She had regretted the words as soon as they had left her lips. He had hit too close to the truth, but she couldn't tell him that. So she did what she always did. She pushed him away, hard.

  As sharp jolt pulled her out of her revive.

  "What was that?" She demanded.

  "We have been caught in some kind of tractor beam. It is originating from the Northern continent, at the site of the galacite readings." Tuvok answered.

  "I can't break us out. Paris to Voyager--we're being pulled to the surface by a tractor beam." There was no response.

  "They're jamming our communication." Chakotay informed them.

  "I'm going to try..." Tom was cut off as a blinding flash of light illuminated the cockpit.

  Suddenly, they were sitting on the floor of a large room. There were several bunks in the room and nothing else. Standing up, Chakotay went to the door. It didn't open.

  "Is anybody there?" He called out as he pounded on the door. No answer came. He tapped his comm-badge.

  "Chakotay to Voyager. Come in Voyager." Again, no answer.

  Chakotay turned to face his away team. They had risen from the floor as well. He took note of the tension in Tom's body, ready to do battle at a moments notice. The fact that Tuvok was rapidly assessing the current situation and the cell they were trapped in. And B'Elanna had already approached the door mechanism and was trying to access it's controls. The crew of Voyager has been together so long, sometimes verbal interaction was almost unnecessary.

  B'Elanna jumped back as the door opened. Two armed guards entered followed by a third man who did not carry a weapon.

  They were a large species, humanoid, taller than Tom by several inches. Solidly muscled and fierce. They had heavily ridged eye sockets, that were connected by ridged tissue to the tops of their ears. The dark blue jumpsuits they wore were obviously military uniforms. They reminded Tom of the Cardassians.

  It was the unarmed man that worried Tom the most. The alien's gaze had come to rest on B'Elanna, and Tom did not like what he saw in his eyes. He took a step forward and positioned himself between B'Elanna and their captor. He knew this would anger her, but he didn't care.

  "Why have you imprisoned us here?" Chakotay demanded.

  "You have invaded Lynarian air space. You are the ones who shall be answering questions." One of the armed guards replied.

  "Why are you here?" The leader directed the question to Chakotay.

  "My name is Chakotay, Commander on the Federation Starship Voyager. We are in need of some galacite. The ion storms in your atmosphere interfered with our attempts to communicate with the surface so we brought a shuttle in hopes to obtain what we needed. I am authorized to make a fair trade for the ore." The Commander told him.

  An evil glint shown in their captor's eye.

  "Well, -Commander-, there will be negotiations. I will be speaking to the Captain of your ship about trading for your return. The galacite is not for sale."

  As he spoke,
the alien approached Tom. One of the guards followed him and the other remained at the door. Tom's arm reached behind him and pulled B'Elanna closer to his back, shielding her more. She didn't appreciate the gesture. Violently pulling away from Tom she faced their captor, in all her Klingon glory.

  "Our Captain will not negotiate with criminals." B'Elanna all but spat at the tall alien.

  The alien leader's eyes blazed with hunger as he viewed B'Elanna. He reached out and grabbed her by the hair, pulling her forcefully to him.

  Tom went after the man and was immediately struck with the butt of a phaser rifle along his jaw. B'Elanna, enraged, struck the leader in the jaw. Laughing, he didn't even turn his head. The sound turned Tom's blood to ice.

  "Take this woman to my quarters. I will be there shortly" His voice was cold and hard. Two new guards came into the room and took B'Elanna by the upper arms.

  B'Elanna began fighting like a caged animal, but she was no match for the larger aliens. More guards had come and they were surrounded. Tom, rising from the floor, went after her. Tuvok stepped in front of the younger man, stopping him. The guards leveled their weapons on him.

  "Getting yourself killed will not help Lt. Torres." He told Tom.

  "B'Elanna, don't fight him," Tom implored. "It's what he wants. This means nothing."

  Tom was desperate to get through to her, but it was hopeless. He knew she would fight to her last breath. His eyes met hers, pleading.

  Momentarily stopping her struggle, she looked at him. He could see the battle that raged within her.

  In the end, the Klingon in her won. He could hear her fighting as they took her away.

  The leader looked Tom square in the face, and grinned evilly. Tuvok had to use considerable force to hold the pilot back. Laughing, the alien left. His guards followed.

  "She'll be all right, Tom. B'Elanna can take care of herself," Chakotay said. Desperate to believe it himself.

  "Not this time,” came Tom's lifeless reply.

  *****

  B'Elanna stood ram-rod straight in the center of room. She would not show weakness or fear. She was Klingon. This animal would not take her without a battle. She surveyed the room looking for possible weapons. The guard at the door watched her intently.

  The door hissed opened, and the leader of the aliens entered. He motioned to the guard.

  "You can go now,” the guard nodded and left without a glance to B'Elanna.

  There was a feral gleam in his eyes as he approached her. She held her ground, she would not give him the satisfaction of seeing her cower.

  B'Elanna tensed ready to strike. In her mind she heard Tom's voice

  B'Elanna, don't.

  She knew what he was asking, but she couldn't do it. She was Klingon, she had to fight.

  Closing her eyes for a split second, she answered him.

  I'm sorry.

  Then she lunged at her captor with all her strength.

  In the cell, Tom sat on the edge of one of the bunks. His elbows resting on his knees and his head buried in his hands. A single tear slipped from the corner of his eye.

  *****

  B'Elanna's unclothed form materialized on the floor of the cell. She was laying on her side, curled up in a ball. Tom quickly knelt down next to her, removing his jacket to cover her. She was a mass of bruises and abrasions. He reached out and gently touched her shoulder. As she opened her eyes the brief flash of terror he saw there tore his heart in two. With a small cry of recognition she shakily tried to sit up. Tom's reached out, pulled her close and held her as tight as he dared.

  As carefully as he could he pulled her on to his lap, and sat on the cell floor. He tried vainly to comfort her as she shook violently in his arms. She was having difficulty breathing and he could feel the blood, that seeped from between her legs, soaking his uniform. She clung to him as if he were her only hold on life itself. Tom had never seen her so vulnerable, it terrified him. Raising his head he looked at Chakotay.

  The look in Tom's eyes sent chills down Chakotay's back. He had seen that type of fury before. It made men do dangerous things.

  Tom held B'Elanna, rocking her battered body, soothing her as best he could. After a while, she fell asleep in his arms. He gently laid her down on one of the bunks. The bastards hadn't even given them a blanket. Tuvok removed his jacket and handed it to Tom so he could cover B'Elanna more.

  Glancing up at the Vulcan to thank him, Tom was caught off guard at the anger blazing in the other man's eyes. Tom was reminded, once again, that Vulcan's are not devoid of emotions. They just have better control of them, in most instances.

  After making B'Elanna as comfortable as he could he walked over to where Chakotay and Tuvok were standing.

  "How bad is it?" Chakotay asked quietly. He was pale and shaken. B'Elanna was like a sister to him. He had know her longer than any of them.

  "Not good." Tom began. "She has at least one broken rib, most likely several. Her breath sounds are labored, indicating a punctured lung. She has a broken wrist, and a fractured clavicle. I can't even begin to guess at the internal injuries," pausing to gather himself he continued. "She's bleeding vaginally and has tenderness in her abdomen. We need to get her to Voyager, now."

  The extent of her injuries had horrified Tom. She had been brutally savaged. He was surprised she was still alive. Had she been fully human, he doubted she could have withstood the violence of the rape.

  Chakotay nodded and said: "Let's hope the Captain has a plan."

  *****

  "Seven, have you been able to break through the ion storms with the sensors yet?" The Captain asked as Seven continued to work at her duty station on the bridge.

  "Negative. There is too much interference. I am unable to isolate their signatures."

  "I am not about to negotiate with that man. I want options people. And I want them now." Captain Janeway was running out of patience. Hold her people hostage, would he? He didn't know who he was dealing with.

  "Take Voyager down through the atmosphere. Once we are below the storms we will be able to lock on to the away team." Harry said. It was the only thing he could think of.

  The current helmsman, Ensign Deeis, looked up from the conn in horror. He wasn't Tom Paris, in the name of the Prophets! He had never taken Voyager into an atmosphere. No one but Tom had ever landed the ship.

  "Um... Captain? Ensign Paris isn't here. Just who did you have in mind to pilot the ship into the atmosphere?" he asked the Captain, knowing full well what her answer would be.

  "I believe that's your job, Ensign." She said, her tone brooking no argument. "You are qualified for a planet decent? Are you not?"

  "Yes, ma'am"

  "Then I guess that answers your question." She told him with more confidence in her voice than she actually felt. She had learned a long time ago, the belief in yourself and your crew could get you through almost anything.

  "Blue Alert! All hands to battle stations! Prepare for planetary decent." Captain Janeway announced to the ship.

  Turning back to the conn, Deeis Navar offered a small prayer to the Prophets. He was going to need all the help he could get.

  *****

  Tom was concerned about B'Elanna. She was feverish and beginning to drift in and out of consciousness. Helplessly he sat on the floor next to her cot and held her hand. She was moaning in her sleep, he could feel her pain.

  Chakotay had been trying to get a guard to come to the door, but had given up pounding and yelling when it became apparent no one would come. Tuvok had also given up trying to access the door controls, they were too well sealed.

  Tuvok approached B'Elanna. Tom looked up at him, there was such pain in his eyes that Tuvok could not help but be moved.

  "I believe I can help, Mr. Paris." Tuvok said.

  "How?" Tom asked.

  "There are certain meditative techniques Vulcan's use to heal themselves. I may be able to help Lt. Torres use her own body to heal herself. If you'll let me," he told Tom.

  "T
uvok, if you can do -anything-, please try." Tom said.

  Tuvok nodded and knelt down at the head of the bunk. He placed his hand on B'Elanna's cheek.

  "My mind to your mind." The connection began forming.

  Tuvok's mind was buffeted by the pain and trauma B'Elanna was suffering. It was almost overwhelming. Her mind was filled with images of the assault. One brutal act after another. Tuvok felt his own rage, as well as B'Elanna's, at the alien who abused her. He pushed it aside, he needed to focus on B'Elanna. He began to force the memories of the rape aside. Pushing them into a corner of B'Elanna's mind. Isolating them from her, she needed to use all her strength to heal. She would have to deal with those memories later...if she survived.