“It is late.”

A nod was received – peculiar. Returned was a once over glance – standard.

“Have a minute?”…a year, a decade, a lifetime? A night, a chance? – A heart? Even for her?

Seven of Nine was being confined in the Cargo Bay, so she had several of them. Kathryn Janeway had put her there, so why was she asking? Perhaps it was ‘rhetoric’ again? Inefficiency, nevertheless.

“Yes, Captain.” Seven’s voice was softer and smoother than normal for this room; for these circumstances. There was an enriching warmness to it, whereas before, it usually worked succinctly for “I am Borg.” Human was more accurate currently.

What was different, though? Merely the time of day? Did she even notice the welcoming allowance she just forwarded, or did she simply adapt now without contemplation?

“Seven…” How many times had she begun like that? How was it that one utterance of a name brought so much comfort under such uncomfortable circumstances. It was the name of a number, for god’s sake; it was the name of her destiny. Doom and destruction or resurgence and hope? She only knew her duty and mission anymore.

“This is crazy,” Janeway meekly hissed at her own omnipotent weakness.

“Captain?” Peculiar.

“Seven.” Again, she said that name in the same tone, in the same room she first truly met her. Janeway then lifted her chin in defiance of her very own self. She was the captain. She did not bow to fear. She did not retreat from her own battles. She knew how to make a statement…didn’t she?

Seven merely waited, with moderate patience exhibited, while her youthful face showed signs of her confusion for the ranking officer’s behavior all around today, but especially now. Kathryn Janeway had come into the Cargo Bay many times and displayed various aspects of her individuality that ran the gamut. Thus, this new incarnation, however unsettling – for mostly her lack of fluidity – was greeted with patience driven by curiosity. Captain was acting peculiar; Seven was curious. It was a common theme between them.

Seven was Borg, though. She was discriminating. She wasn’t intrigued about everything…or especially everyone. Humans were foolish, reckless, contradictory, unharmonious, and lacked greatness.

That was a statement without perfection, nonetheless, because it was uttered without absolution.

“I have something to say…that I forgot to say earlier,” Janeway clarified. She’d indeed already said several things during their previous ’discussion,’ none of which she regretted.

This, right now, was her regret. Only that it was difficult, though…for her.

It couldn’t keep on this way with them. Seven was running out of patience and curiosity, and Janeway was running out of lectures and punishments. Sooner or later an incident was going to occur where there wouldn’t be enough time able to be spent in the Cargo Bay that could ease the tension; Kathryn could feel it in her bones. It was coming.

It was forcing her to do this: her very own mutiny. She wondered if Daddy would be proud.

Again, the blonde waited. She did remove the creases from her alabaster brow by raising her eyebrows, however.

This was about their argument today, Seven knew before Kathryn ever mentioned ‘earlier.’ That would be typical. Inefficiency again simply because the blonde knew what would occur next, and her human collective’s insistence on ‘going through the motions’ showed signs of their self–delusion. Janeway would now tell her she respected her point of view, first and foremost. She would then follow with something about having compassion and understanding for her, Seven’s, position, and furthermore, that even though she still didn’t agree the Borg was correct, she believed she had a valid point, and finally Janeway would say that she didn’t see a need for her, Seven, to remain confined in the Cargo Bay. It was best to live and learn from our mistakes…not to dwell. That’s what she would say with kindness, but then, before she would leave, if Seven argued at all, she’d become fiercer and defensive. She’d tell her that respect was a two–way street, and she had to prove that by showing it, but then she’d remind her she was the captain; due respect was a given.

When Seven would finally nod in compliance, carry on as she was, so would Janeway…and so would they until the next round. On and on, round and round they went.

Where would they stop? Where would they start? The captain thought now was in order.

Five whole seconds of silence passed before Kathryn blinked once, took a quick breath and stated in a voice completely removed from how this was supposed to be presented, “I forgot to tell you earlier that I also love you…”

Seven’s face remained perfectly still when she dropped her chin and raised it with her standard nod that signaled she was aware of the data already. Not peculiar, now, though…irritating. Seven wasn’t a child. Persuasive tactics that Naomi Wildman’s mother used on her were not for Borg.

Humans and their so–called love. She’d say that about each and every member of her ‘family.’ Did Janeway really think this would work? – Perhaps it was time to leave Voyager? Seven knew humans were fallible, but she was honestly surprised.

“…that I’m in love with you.” Finally.

Seven’s face remained impassive, but her eyelids fluttered like the wings of a butterfly. Peculiar didn’t do this event justice. She’d need to find another word.

Love? Intriguing. Enlightening…

“Well,” Kathryn broke in when there was another long pause and no real reaction. After she swallowed the lump in her throat, she grinned, once toothless and frazzled, “I’ll let you get back.” Nodding, she finished, before she turned for the door, “As you were.”

This is was going worse than she imagined. She vowed to never call herself over–dramatic again. She’d under–estimated this time.

“Captain…” Her timbre had returned to that of her typical direct and unflappable presence. Her objectives were clear now.

This time it was Kathryn’s turn to wait in silence. She kept her back to the tall, cool blonde, but only turned her head enough to show that she was attentive.

Seven contemplated that and changed tactics. She too would wait. She’d stood many times in a similar position.

Several seconds passed before Janeway responded. She closed her eyes after looking at the exit, then held her breath and finally pivoted cleanly, coming full around, bending her arms a small amount at the elbows while she did so. Her traitorous jaw was locked closed

Three more seconds passed while they stared, unmoving. There was no nervously lost hand on her abdomen; there wasn’t a small, eager upturn of her lips. There was only a drone standing ramrod stiff in front of Seven. Perhaps they weren’t so different? Kathryn operated out of fear as well, it seemed.

Nodding to show she appreciated the captain’s full attention, Seven requested, “When the terms of my confinement are complete, you will join me for dinner in your cabin.”

It wasn’t a question, both of them knew very well better.

Janeway held Seven’s solid and confident look for three seconds, then narrowed her eyes in cogitation, pursed her lips, and then inhaled through her nose. Holding the breath for a moment, she let it out and said, her voice raising higher than they both expected, “Alright.”

Was there warning in that?

“Please,” the blonde included, bobbing her head again, leaving it bowed long enough for the redhead to notice.

Kathryn included on next beat, her shoulders lowering to a comfortable level, “I will comply.” Deeper, surer: real.

When Seven tilted her head, blinked, then nodded again, quick, and turned back toward the console, Kathryn watched her closely as she had been known to do quite often. As the Borg reached out for the construct to return to whatever she was doing before she was interrupted, Janeway said, “And Seven?”

Seven of Nine turned only her head and cocked her steel encased eyebrow.

“As you were.” Those words were now spoken in an airy tone as she gazed about the blonde’s face and settled on her lips.

Definitely intriguing. Seven’s eyes showed her renewed curiosity.

Kathryn followed that with smirk to match the higher crane of Seven’s eyebrow, then grinned, grateful and modest, which produced a wink from her twinkling eyes.

Seven turned back to the console with the smallest allowance of true approval on her full lips while she said, melodic, “I will comply.” Remarkable…that was more apt, she decided. Peculiar was best left for those that lacked her presence; her charm. It was too simple for Kathryn.

Needing nothing further, the captain did an about face and moved with ease and lightness to her step back toward from where she entered, not forgetting to reseal the room.

She had two days to figure out what to wear.

fin