Kashyk finds himself a new partner. A/U.
Disclaimer - Paramount own them.
I think this may eventually have some J/C, but I'm not promising anything.
*
The door to the small, grimy room hissed open.
Looking up from her chosen sleeping place on the floor, she smiled at the light that glared into the room, changing the murkiness into a pale greyness.
It was him, again. It was always him. Silent, unforgiving, the bearer of the nature of her survival. She could argue that without him she would starve, but then she could also argue that without him someone else would simply bring her food.
She was glad it was him. He rarely looked at her, simply placing the food on the floor a few feet away from her. She had long ago decided that trying to attack him would only lead to her own injury, and possible death. Although, she had to assume that they wanted her alive. Otherwise they wouldn't keep feeding her.
She also assumed that they were attempting to break her. Demoralise her. These were tricks she knew so well herself. Confinement was nothing new to her, either. Not her personal confinement, but she had seen enough people trapped like bugs - often through her own instructions - that she knew how to deal with the situation.
It was - she decided - something she would have done if their positions were reversed, but the man keeping her here would probably think exactly the same thing.
Diverting her thoughts away from that man, she focused on the man who was now standing up and away from the food. She had heard his name, once, and remembered it always.
Silent. Strong. Dutiful. Here - truly - was a man worthy of her attention. It mattered little if she was successful on this individual, but she needed to keep herself sharp, needed to make sure her talents hadn't dimmed.
"Ah, Prax," She began, sitting up and moving a dirty clump of hair out of her face. "You're looking radiant as always. Tell me; are there more like you at home?"
He said nothing of course. But as he turned away she was certain that she saw his back tighten.
Her smile grew.
The door closed, the room darkened.
She groped in the blackness for the food, arms thinner than they ever had been despite his provisions.
Moving back to her sleeping area in the corner, she lifted the food to her nose and sniffed. No odour. No surprise. There was never an odour, nothing to please the senses.
She smiled at their genius. They really were rather clever.
Thirty-two days.
He would visit her soon, she was certain of it.
*
"Has she said anything, Prax?"
His underling stood to attention stiffly. "Nothing of consequence, sir."
Kashyk idly played with a thread on his uniform as he sat in his seat on the bridge. "So she's still playing her little games." It was a rhetorical question, of course.
Prax answered anyway. "Yes sir."
Kashyk fought to keep the smile from his lips. This woman...was an interesting one. Defiant. Refusing to give in. And something told him that actual physical torture would have as little effect on her as their current attempts. Not that he wasn't get to test that theory, just in case; he *could* have been wrong.
Sighing, he stood from lounging in the chair and straightened his uniform. "Very well. I will talk with her. If she remains uncooperative we shall simply have to step up to the next level." Looking over at his second, he nodded. "The bridge is yours, Reshak."
"I take it," He responded, and Kashyk knew - not for the first time - that Reshak very much wanted the bridge for his own. Not that he would get it. Not that he would ever do anything that might help him get it. Still, Kashyk didn't travel anywhere without a weapon. It seemed prudent.
Turning away, Kashyk left, Prax appropriately at his heels.
*
Kashyk entered the room, Prax waiting outside.
Leaving the door open, he approached the woman who was in the corner. She was sitting up with her back resting against the wall, her blanket on the floor under her. She spoke before he did.
"Hello, Inspector. A pleasure to see you again."
She always had humour in her voice. He did the same.
"Likewise." Bending, he sat down and studied her. She was dirty, of course. Unkempt. That was his own - and perhaps Prax's - doing. Yet she never wavered. "Why were there telepaths on your ship?"
She chuckled. "I told you this before, Inspector. I simply needed some people to run my ship, and they happened to have the expertise I needed. There was no need for you to kill them."
To his ears, she didn't sound particularly upset. More...inconvenienced. "They were taken to a relocation centre. That is all."
"Oh come on, Inspector. We both know what happens at these 'relocation centres'."
He had to admit that she was right. "Personal experience?"
She smiled, again, to herself. "You could say that."
Nodding in understanding, he continued. "Why were you in our territory?"
Shrugging, she studied the ceiling. "Just looking for something..."
"Anything in particular? Perhaps I could help you find it."
Laughing at his offer, she looked back at his face. "How sweet of you, Inspector. But perhaps you can."
He struggled to keep the expression of surprise from his face. She did seem to have a talent for catching him off-guard. "Go on."
Finding his eagerness amusing, she leant towards him. "It's just a little Starship called Voya-"
"-ger," He finished, eyes wide as he stared at her.
Her own eyes widened. "How did you...?" She recovered quickly, the smile slipping back into place. "I see you've heard of it."
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" He demanded, voice harsh. Would that woman and her ship *never* leave him alone?
"You weren't particularly nice earlier. And, in case you hadn't noticed, you haven't been spending a great deal of time getting to know your 'guest'." She retorted, again leaning forward. "But perhaps we can help each other. I have information...a great deal of information about Voyager and its crew. Something tells me you'd be interested in hearing it."
Kashyk stared at her. He knew, he absolutely knew that she couldn't be trusted. She was manipulative, no doubt a murderer, and had collaborated with the enemy.
He liked her.
"Prax!" He waited for the sound of footsteps before continuing, still looking at her. "Arrange some quarters for our guest. She's just about to move into better circles." Standing, he held out his arm to her. "May I give you a hand?"
She took it, quickly, standing carefully. "I'm going up in the world? How wonderful. Will I have my own shower?"
Kashyk guided her out of the room - ignoring Prax's own silent observations - as she took slow steps into the light. "Time for that later. Do you have a name?"
Wincing, she shuffled along the corridor, but not once did the smile leave her face. "Yes I do, Inspector."
Nearly growling, he sighed. "Would you care to share it with me?"
She chuckled as they turned a corner. "Seska, Inspector. My name is Seska."
TBC