A Night Out

“You know, 7,” Captain Janeway was attempting to take 7 of 9 into another social activity, “this could be fun.”

“Is this another one of your ‘suggestions’, Captain?” Seven continued to do her calculations in the Astrometrics lab.

“Well, I’m not going to force you to do anything you don’t want to do, Seven. I just thought this would be a nice opportunity for you to interact with the crew.”

“You mean half of the crew.”

“Well, it couldn’t hurt for you to spend some quality time with the female members of the crew. You may learn something interesting about human nature.”

“I would hardly call a baccalaureate party ‘quality time’.”

“Oh, but it is, Seven. It’s one of the few real opportunities for real female bonding on this ship. Won’t you even consider coming?” Janeway gave her patented all-purpose smile. “Come on, Seven, almost the whole crew will be there. I’m going.”

“I suppose these calculations can wait until another time.” She stopped and placed her hands behind her back. “When and where do I need to be?”

“Holodeck 2 in four hours. Bring sleepwear. It’s a sleep-over style party.” Janeway hurried out of Astrometrics to make sure all the preparations were complete for the party.


7 had no clue as to what kind of ‘sleepwear’ she should bring to such an occasion, so she decided to go talk to the Doctor. He had thus far been her teacher on the social behaviors of humanity. She was certain he could help her decipher what to bring.


“So, you’ve decided to go to B’Elanna’s part? Splendid! How did Captain Janeway manage to talk you into it?” The Doctor was being his usual arrogant self.

“She pointed out that it would be a good opportunity to observe ‘female bonding’.” Seven was unsure how the statement sounded to the Doctor, but she didn’t sound very sure to herself.

“I see.” He raised an eyebrow as he went through a data PADD looking for a present for B’Elanna. “In other words, she said she was going to attend.” Apparently, the uncertainty had not escaped his notice.

Seven hesitated. “Yes.”

“Well, I’ve found a present for you to give B’Elanna. What do you think?”

“A piece of lingerie?” The skepticism was obvious in Seven’s voice.  

“Yes, this is an appropriate gift. Trust me Seven. Now, what do you think about it?”

Seven considered it for a second. “I believe, Doctor, that lime green would not be a flattering color on Lt. Torres.”

“Hmmm, yes, I suppose you’re right. What about red?”

“Command red or simply a blood red?”

The Doctor looked surprised. “Command red? I didn’t realize such a color existed. Seven, are you sure that you’ve been regenerating enough?”

“Yes, Doctor, why do you ask?”

“No reason.” He moved to the replicator. He replicated the gift, wrapped, and the nightwear. “Here, I believe this outfit will be appropriate for tonight’s activities.” He was more chipper than normal as he handed her the items.

“What are they?”

“Well, this is what is referred to as a ‘sports bra’. I believe you will be more comfortable wearing one considering your…” he trailed off looking for the right phrase, “natural gifts.” He hurried to the next item trying to avoid any conversation regarding what kind of ‘natural gifts’ he was referring to. “This is a nightshirt. It’s worn to sleep in along with the boxers.” 

Seven examined the garments individually. The shirt was white with oversized short sleeves and had an overall t-shirt appeal, but it was obvious that it wasn’t meant to be worn in public. It also had a cartoon duck with curlers in its hair, fuzzy pink slippers on, a drowsy look on its face, and a cup of coffee in its hands. The writing above the duck said, “There is no life before coffee.” The boxers were of a silky material although they were not silk. They were black, and Seven was certain they would only reach halfway down her thighs. She recalled a time when Captain Janeway had made an off-handed remark about the Doctor having a dirty mind. She almost smiled at the memory.

“Does everything meet your approval?” The Doctor pulled Seven out of her daydream state.

“Yes, Doctor, everything appears to be acceptable.”

“Good, then you’d better hurry and get dressed or you’ll be late.”


Seven hurried to the turbolift, present in tough. Captain Janeway greeted her as the doors to the lift closed.

“Seven!” The Captain greeted with an unexpected amount of enthusiasm. “I’m so glad you decided to come.”

“You did say it would be good for my social growth.”

The Captain smiled her crooked smile. “Yes, I did.”

They stood in relative silence until the lift came to a halt. Seven took notice of the Captain's dress.

She wore clothes that were appropriate for her age, Seven decided. Captain Janeway had on a pair of navy blue silk pajama bottoms with a pair of matching slippers. She wore a white tank top, un-tucked, and had the pajama top on as a type of coat. The whole thing fit her well without being too tight or too loose. Seven surprised herself at the thought of anything the Captain worse as being becoming.

The doors swooshed open and Seven was brought back into the real world.

“Shall we?” the Captain motioned for Seven to exit first.


The Captain and Seven walked into the Holodeck along with a few other crewmen including Samantha Wildman.

“Seven,” the Ensign was surprised by her presence there, “You look…normal.” The look on Samantha Wildman’s face proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that her statement was not what she had intended to come out of her mouth. “I mean, I mean, that’s a cute shirt. I’m going to go sit over there now.” She left in a hurry leaving Seven questioning what had just happened.

The Captain was laughing. “Well, Seven, it looks like this is going to be an interesting night. Come on, let’s put our presents with the rest of B’Elanna’s.” She walked ahead of Seven to the gift table.

She followed behind the Captain trying to maintain some composure but finding it more and more difficult as she viewed the Holodeck scenery.

The scene was set inside a huge Victorian style house. The main party was in the living room with a pool in the backyard. The house was decorated in the 21st century country/ townhouse décor, and it suited the situation well. The colors were in shades of dark blue, white, black, and dark green. Seven Noticed how the colors accent what the Captain was wearing and wondered if she had done that purposely. She also noted it accented her blue eyes and auburn hair.

It wasn’t until she nearly ran into Kathryn Janeway, who had stopped to talk to another crewmember, that she decided to discuss this preoccupation regarding the Captain to the Doctor. Perhaps he could suggest something to counter-act whatever it was causing this inconvenience.


The party began fairly normally as far as Seven could tell. B’Elanna opened her gifts, there was chatting among the females in the room, some ‘friendly men bashing’ (as the Captain had put it), and there was, of course, food. Seven was certain she’d never seen Captain Janeway eat so much chocolate before.

“Captain?”

“Yes, seven?” Kathryn had a piece of chocolate cake in her plate.

“If you don’t mind me inquiring, what is your fascination with chocolate?”

The room fell silent as the women gathered around to help Kathryn Janeway explain the holiness of The Chocolate. It had fallen dark outside and there were only a few lights on inside the huge Victorian mansion. The whole scene was rather eerie, and Seven found herself wishing she had not asked the question.

“Well you see, Seven…” Janeway looked for a tactful way to explain the situation.

B’Elanna butted in. “For the same reason I’m getting married.” There was laughter throughout the room. “We eat chocolate as a substitute for…”

Janeway butted back in, “other, harder to obtain…actions.”

“Explain.”

“Sex.” B’Elanna blurted out. Janeway looked rather pale.

“I see, Lt.” Seven was trying to find some way to get herself out of this situation. “Why not simply find some one you’re attracted to and copulate? That would be more logical. You would not gain weight and possibly loose as the act of copulation requires the use of carbohydrates.”

There were low hung snickers in the room. Some one had light some candles. Janeway tried to explain. “You see, it’s not that easy, Seven. Humans naturally want long-lasting relationships, so to simply…act on one’s urges without any real thought would only cause more problems than it would solve.”

“Because of the complex social structure of love?”

“Yeah, something like that.” B’Elanna gave a small snort.

“I believe I understand.”

“Besides,” B’Elanna was about to cause trouble, and Janeway knew it, “haven’t you ever had to alleviate some urges of your own?” The laughter was more pronounced in the room.

Seven raised an eyebrow and cocked her head. “No. The Borg have no need of such ways to procreate. If we require more drones, then we simply assimilate them into the collective from other species adding their perfection to our own.”

“But, Seven,” Janeway sounded hurt, “you’re no longer part of the collective. Surely some of your humanity in that area has asserted itself.”

Seven was about to respond when there was a knock at the door.


The rest of the night progressed well, and the ladies fell asleep where they fell. Seven woke up the following morning lying on the floor beneath the couch that Kathryn Janeway was sleeping on.

As she sat up to regain her bearings on where she was and what had transpired, she accidentally hit Janeway’s left elbow sending her hurtling back to the floor with a thud.

“Seven? Seven, are you alright?” Janeway was immediately by her side. Most of the other party guests were still asleep or too hung-over to pay attention to what was going on in the corner of the room where the two of them were.

"An apparition, such beauty…” Seven was delirious.

“Seven? No, it’s me, Kathryn Janeway... your captain.”

“An unrequited love, you're gorgeous.” She sighed. “I love you.” She passed out.


“Doctor?” Seven woke up in sickbay dazed and a little confused.

“Ah, you’re awake! You took a good hit from Captain Janeway’s elbow. Remind me next time to tell you to look out for flying limbs so you don’t hurt yourself.” He smiled at his own joke.

Seven didn’t acknowledge the comment. She was looking for the Captain. “Where is Captain Janeway?”

“She’s in her ready room or on the Bridge I presume. She’s on duty right now.” He turned to scan her with his tricorder. “However, she did tell me to tell you to go see her after I released you.”

“Are you finished, Doctor?”

“Yes, you now have a clean bill of health thanks to me.” His smile broadened at his own self-complement. “You’re free to leave. Oh, and have a nice day!”


“Captain, you wanted to see me?”

Janeway was sitting at her desk looking over PADDs as Seven entered the Captain's Ready Room. “Yes, Seven, how are you?”

“The doctor has given me a ‘clean bill of health’.”

“Good. I’m glad to hear I didn’t do any permanent damage.” She smiled. “I want to ask you something. Would like something to drink?” She headed toward the replicator.

“No, thank you.”

“Coffee, black. Alright, but you really ought to try it one day.”

“Perhaps.”

“Seven, what do you remember before waking up in sickbay?”

“Hitting my forehead against your elbow.”

“Anything else?”

She thought for a moment. “No.”

Janeway took a sip of coffee and shook her head in the positive. “Good, that’s all I wanted to know. You can go.” She motioned for Seven to leave. “Oh, one more thing, Seven.”

“Captain?”

“If you ever see an apparition you think you're in love with, kiss it for the chance may never come again."

“Yes, Captain.” Seven left as confused as she had been before the whole incident had started.