And so the mystery continues. Still smut free.

Disclaimer: Paramount, all mighty ruler of the universe.

Ensign O’Donnell paced her room, biting her thumbnail nervously. She felt sick to her stomach. She glanced over at her padd, sitting on top of her desk, where she had dropped it in shock. Her day of reckoning had arrived. She had been summoned. What the hell was she going to do? She swallowed as she felt the bile rise in her throat. She couldn’t be discovered now. She laughed bitterly. God it was ironic, she had spent 5 years trying not to be noticed and now she was to be discovered because of it. She reached the wall, turned, and began to pace in the opposite direction. She needed to plan.

Kathryn sat at her desk, feeling bewildered. It was almost as if Ensign Justine O’Donnell did not exist. There seemed to be no pictures of her anyone on Voyager’s computer. The one with her personnel file was missing, the Doctor had said that she had never been in for a check up and had no medical record of her. Only a small number of the crew knew of her existence and even they knew nothing about her. She was a mystery. She had to admit she was impatient to meet this elusive Ensign whom Chakotay clearly worried about, she refused to admit that the small pang she felt was jealousy, excused it as a side effect of Neelix’s food. She sat back in her chair with a departmental report from engineering as a little light reading.

Tuvok glanced at the young girl walking solemnly by his side. He was disturbed to realise that he did not know her. He believed that he was knowledgeable about all of the crew, clearly this was not the case. It was… disturbing. He guided her into the brig and engaged the force field.

"The Captain will be along momentarily." He stated solemnly, not missing the sudden look of fear in her eyes. He stared at her thoughtfully; she turned her back to him and faced the wall of the small cell her back rigid.

She squeezed her eyes tightly shut, she felt sick to her stomach. Oh god what was she going to do now? There was no escape. Admittedly trying to steal the shuttle was a bad idea she acknowledged to herself, but desperate situations require desperate means. She would have got away with it too, if that amorous couple hadn’t stumbled into the bay. She felt brief petty satisfaction that Tuvok was going to report them to Commander Chakotay for their inappropriate behaviour. She winced; he would not pleased with her, for some reason it left a bitter taste in her mouth. She wasn’t sure why his opinion of her was important. It wasn’t like she had ever given a damn before. Behind her the door whooshed open and all her thoughts froze.

Kathryn strode into the room, she was not happy. She nodded to her security officer. When Tuvok had requested her presence in the brig she couldn’t believe the reason why. Why on earth would O’Donnell do something so stupid? So potentially suicidal? She wouldn’t have survived long free from Voyager, even if their worst fears were realised and she had been in league with Seska, neither she nor the Kazon would have been able to help her. It just didn’t make any sense. She stood in front of the cell and scrutinised the ensign with her back to her. Her hair was raven black she noted, cut in a sleek bob.

"I prefer to look at the people I’m speaking to Ensign O’Donnell." She said in icy cold tones. Slowly the girl turned. Kathryn stared at her; her eyes widened her expression frozen.

"Drop the force field Tuvok." She said quietly. Tuvok raised an eyebrow.

"I do not believe that would be wise Captain as we have not…"

That was an order Lieutenant." She interrupted firmly. Tuvok looked at her for a moment but then turned to his security officer, nodding to him to turn off the force field. Kathryn’s mouth thinned.

"Follow me Ensign," She paused

"O’Donnell." She turned towards the door.

"Captain do you require my assistance?" Questioned Tuvok, doubting the logic of this decision.

"No Tuvok I do not." Kathryn replied curtly as the door whooshed open. Tuvok stared after her, as the Ensign quickly followed behind he caught the words,

"…Hit the fan."

His face wore a frown as he walked briskly towards the Captain’s ready room, puzzling over what Tuvok had just told him. It just didn’t make any sense. Justine was not the type of girl to take chances like that and Kathryn was certainly not the type to let them go so easily. He stopped suddenly as he the ready room. He tapped the alert and heard a muffled

"Enter." Through the door. The door opened and just as he stepped through he felt that everything was about to change.