Chapter VI (day six, day three Drone)

Cargo Bay two was cloaked in silence as Seven walked slowly toward the second Borg alcove.  Stepping up on the dais with despondency, she shut the enhanced alcove down.  She offered a few silent moments to One before pulling herself away and coming off the dais.  Thinking about her deceased 'child' only made the feeling of loss build up stronger; she was alone once again.  Attempting to get her mind off One, Seven turned to a console and instead of getting to work, she caught her reflection off a shiny surface.  When just a few days ago she'd been smiling, now all that reflected back on her was grief.

~*~

Kathryn sat quietly, whispers of holo-breezes blowing her hair around her face like wildfire; the moons glow set her auburn tresses ablaze.  Though the willow tree she was settled in was hardly the one she remembered from home, the aromas were familiar if not exact.  The smell of freshly turned soil almost overwhelmed her senses, but the fading fragrance of flowers lingered providing with relief.  She hoped now, that maybe the familiarity of it all would soothe her heartache, as she once believed.  So far, all sitting in the tree accomplished was her bottom numbing from being in the boughs for so long.  Time had slipped away from her since entering the holodeck.

~*~

Celes thanked the Prophets for the quiet in her quarters.  It was even enough to outweigh that the lights were on.  Fortunately, Corey was keeping her mouth shut allowing her time reflect in peace.  Celes hadn't encountered Seven since she'd reciprocated her embrace days ago.  The event didn't surprise her at the time, but as she had time to think about it she grew nervous about having felt the way she did.  Now, in the silence, Celes was reevaluating her feelings again.  She wanted to talk to her friend Billy about it all, but at the same time didn't want to know how he'd react, and she wasn't about to lose the best friend she had.

 “Is there a reason you've been laying there for hours just staring at the ceiling?”

Hearing Corey's voice rip through the air, a slow sigh parted and escaped her lips.  She decided to ignore the girl.  Moments later, Corey's face hovered above hers.  In response, Celes shut her eyes.  She felt a tap on her forehead.

“What's wrong with you?”

She inhaled deeply and exhaled slow before opening her eyes.  “Please, leave me alone,” Celes's voice was just a whisper.  Corey's face wrinkled into an expression she couldn't read.  “Could you just go away for once, Corey?”

“I'm not allowed to worry about you?”  Corey settled down on the bed beside the Bajoran.  “Celes, I'm your friend.”

Celes wanted to laugh, hard.  She bent at the waist until she was upright and only an inch from Corey's face.  “Corey, I live with you, but you are hardly my friend.”  Her legs flew off the bed to the right as she completed her last word.  Her toes bounced her off the floor and out the door in no time.  Corey was protesting behind her, but she didn't care.  Stepping into the turbo lift, she cursed the captain again for being in the holodeck when she needed it then ordered the lift toward cargo bay two.  She kept her eyes on the floor as she stepped off the lift and around the corridor.

Nearing Seven's so-called quarters, Celes leveled her gaze and stopped in her tracks.  Staring back at her from the opposite side of the entrance to the cargo bay stood the captain.  The captain looked just as stunned as Celes thought she did from seeing her there.  As surprised as the captain seemed to be, the expression in her eyes gave way to her determined nature.  Suddenly, Celes felt as if the captain had become her rival in some game.  She felt her legs moving her forward before she knew what she was doing.

As she walked, Celes noticed the soft, intent look the captain was giving her.  She veered inches away from her hoping that the doors to Cargo Bay two would allow her to enter as fast as she strode.  Before she entered the sensor area, she felt the captain's hand on her arm stopping her cold.

Now that Kathryn stopped the Bajoran, she wasn't sure what to say.  She doubted that Celes knew about One’s death and didn't know if she should let the girl know, to warn her.  “A lot has happened in the last few days,” her voice was even and controlled, husking warmly in that portion of the corridor.  “I'm not sure if you've seen Seven or not...”

“Captain, with all due respect,” the shaking she attempted to control from her hands moved into her voice when she spoke, “I'm sure Annika would appreciate you not telling me anything.  She'd want to tell me herself.”  Celes thought about it for a nanosecond before adding, “I would like her to tell me.”  She knew she sounds slightly defensive, but Celes strangely felt the need for it.

Kathryn nodded, “I'm sure of that, too.”  Celes was attempting to protect herself from something she needn't, Kathryn knew.  Her posture, words and tone let Celes's position show.  “I'm going to tell you exactly what I told Seven a few days ago, Celes.”  She saw fear instantly cloud the Bajoran's dark eyes.  “I won't stop pursuing Seven.  After all the contemplating I've done in the last week, there's no way in hell I'm going to let her go that easily.”

Celes felt the amount of fear grow as her eyes widened, anticipating what the captain was going to say next.

“But, I'm not going to ruin what you two have.”

Though slightly confused by the captain's statement, Celes understood what was meant.  Even with the admission to court Seven, Celes decided not to let the Borg go either.  She could be just as stubborn as the captain seemed to be.  Celes hoped more so.  “If you don't mind, Captain.”

It wasn't a question.  It was a dismissal.  Kathryn bit her protesting tongue to keep the rash remarks hindered.  “Tell Seven that if she needs anything, my door is open.”  She forced a smile before turning away, tracing steps to her quarters.

A small satisfied smile etched itself onto Celes's lips as she entered the cargo bay.  Her sure steps and smile dwindled as she realized she'd never been in the bay before.  Standing in place, she noticed the four regeneration alcoves along the right wall, but no Seven.  “Annika?”  The room was rather large, and she wasn't up to searching the entire area for one person, especially since the alcoves were large, dark and creepy to her eye.  Her call elicited a tiny gasp that echoed throughout the expanse of the room making it difficult to gauge where it came from.  Celes took a few steps forward, her bare feet padded quietly across the cold deck and she regretted not grabbing some shoes or slippers before running from Corey.  She halted by the work console near the alcoves, almost afraid to head any farther near the monstrous structures.  “Where are you,” she felt a need to whisper in the dead silence around her.

Seven knew Celes was above her behind the console and she debated for minutes whether letting the Bajoran know she was there or not.  She hated showing her weak human side to anyone, even herself.  “Celes...”  Instantly, Celes was kneeling in front of her helping her chin to rise.  The picture was fuzzy through her tear soaked eyes as she closed them, but she still recognized the Bajoran.  Feeling Celes's arms wrap around her, Seven sighed and started to relax.  Celes's body was a welcome change from the cargo bay's hard deck.  Her warm embrace smoothed out Seven's fears and grief, and just knowing the Bajoran cared enough to come looking for her after three days of not meeting with her, though it wasn't done on purpose, made her feel good.  Seven laid her head back onto Celes's shoulder for support and rest.

As her tear stained cheeks dried, Seven closed her reddened eyes and leaned into Celes allowing the caresses she offered to soothe her previous fuming anger.  Anger that she allowed One to die needlessly.  Some part of her knew there was nothing she could have done to prevent him from protecting his new collective.  However, dying and leaving her alone again wasn't an option, but somehow One thought it was.  A deeply inhaled sigh exited through her nose slowly as Seven settled back into Celes more wanting to immerse herself in the warmth encircling her, protecting her.  Seven moved her right hand over Celes's at her waist in thanks, wedging her fingers between the Bajoran's.

“Feeling better?”

The whisper felt like feathers in Seven's ear.  She only nodded in response, squeezing Celes's hand hoping that she conveyed she wasn't ready to speak yet.  Sitting in silence being held by someone she...  Seven stopped the thought cold.  She couldn't...  Could she?  Learning to love someone took time, and a week didn't seem sufficient time to love someone...  Could it?  Moreover, was this, sitting in comfortable peace not needing anything more than touch, what love felt like when one succumbed to it?  Fright suddenly tightened her muscles.

“You all right?”  Celes felt Seven's body tense instantly and closed her embrace.  Seven shook her head against her.  The corner of her mouth turned up as she tried to figure out whether the blonde meant she wasn't all right or she didn't want to talk about it.  Either way, she figured, she'd allow the silence to continue.  Celes enjoyed it even though she wished the need wasn't there.  She hated the thought of Seven, or anyone, going through anything that would make her feel as bad as she apparently did.  Celes also didn't like sitting on a cold deck while comforting someone.

~*~

As late as it was, Janeway allowed her caller to enter.  When she looked up from her book, she was surprised to see not only Seven, but Celes as well.  She tried to hide the cold feeling's she had for the girl, feelings she didn't want to have and should have simply because she was the captain, but she knew the icy glare shot through Seven and into Celes.  “Seven,” she nodded, “Celes.”

“Captain,” Seven walked partly into the room, keeping a distance of at least five feet between herself and Kathryn.  She didn't trust either her or Celes in the same room, with or without her being there.  The expression that came over Kathryn's face when she noticed the Bajoran scared her.  “I was wondering if I could take you up on your offer of using the V.I.P. quarters on deck two until the cargo bay has been sufficiently converted.  At current, the cargo bay is insufficient for,” she hesitated, “certain of my needs.”

Kathryn felt the blood drain from her face after hearing Seven's request.  She knew what it meant, and she didn't like it, but she couldn't do anything to stop it.  Now regretting the promise she made to both of the women before her, Kathryn released the breath she hadn't realized she was holding.  “If that's what you want.”

“It is,” Celes answered for Seven.  Seven turned back sharply and shot her a look that turned her blood cold.  The captain just stared at her in surprise, her mouth slightly agape.

Seven wanted to laugh at Celes's interjection despite the sharp glare she offered.  The surprised expression over Kathryn's face increased the urge, but she suppressed it.  “It is what I want, Kathryn.  Thank you.”

“If that's all, I'd like to get back to my book.”

“Of course,” Seven agreed arrogantly knowing her captain was upset with her.  The reasons behind it were clear, but she still couldn't understand why.  Seven made herself clear in the beginning, and Kathryn had rejected her.  Now, after some thought, Kathryn wanted her for her own.  She shook her head, not wanting to think about it anymore.  She wanted to go to deck two and rest in Celes's arms.  “Good night.”  She nodded then turned headed for the door.

Celes stared the captain right in the eye, “Good night, Captain,” then walked after Seven.

“Do you want to get anything from your quarters?”  Celes shook her head.  Seven knew she was biting her cheek to abstain from speaking about the captain.  “Very well.”

The ride to deck two was quick.  Celes grabbed Seven’s hand as she stepped out and pulled her along.  “Which one is it?”

As Seven pointed with her free hand, Chakotay exited the door opposite of where they were headed.  When he saw them, a stunned expression sprouted and his tattoo crinkled up neatly.  “Commander,” Seven nodded as she was dragged toward the door across from him.

Chakotay noted Seven was with Tal Celes again, holding hands even.  “Seven,” he nodded back, “Celes.”  He wondered what it was about the women on Voyager these days?  Were they all giving up men?

Seven punched in a few keystrokes to allow Celes and her access to her temporary quarters.  She was determined to make cargo bay two into a suitable place to relax now that she had someone to do it with.  The door opened easily before them.  Celes looked up at her.  “Are you waiting for something?”  Celes grabbed her other hand and pulled her inside.  She oddly heard two doors close behind her then remembered Chakotay across the hall.  Seven thought for a moment that living across the corridor from Chakotay would be strange, but then wondered why and couldn't think of any valid reason, so she dismissed the idea.  As Celes pulled her inside the V.I.P. quarters, Seven kept their eyes in contact.  She needed to tell her where she'd been and why for the past few days.  “I was not avoiding you previous to tonight.”

Celes smiled and was happy Seven finally decided she was ready to talk.  “I didn’t think so, but I was worried.”  She looked to her left, saw a comfortable looking sofa, and adjusted her heading toward it.  “With the Borg around, I wasn’t sure what was going on.”  Seven was looking at her with an amused expression.  “I was just worried, ok?”  Celes plopped onto the sofa bouncing a few times before settling then opened her arms to invite Seven down.  “So, what did happen that kept you away from me?”

Seven closed her eyes momentarily at Celes’s inquiry.  “I,” she settled on the sofa nestled in the crook of Celes’s shoulder, “became a mother.”  Celes grabbed her chin and forced her to look left and up at her.  “Not in the sense that you think.”

“How else do you become a mother then?”

“You did not allow me to finish.”  Confusion crossed the Bajoran’s face before she turned her head into a more comfortable position.  “We encountered a plasma storm during our mission that forced us to return to Voyager prematurely.  During the transport, my nanoprobes fused with the Doctor’s mobile emitter to form a twenty-ninth century drone.  One.  He died in an attempt to protect us from the Borg.”  Seven gulped for air, her words slipping from her mouth uneasily.  “While I understand the reasoning for what he did, I cannot help but feel angry with him for an unnecessary sacrifice.”

Figuring she got the abridged version of events, Celes wasn’t sure what to say.  She guessed that One allowed himself to die to prevent the Borg from coming after him in attempt to gain the enhanced technology, but she couldn’t be sure without all the facts.  She caressed Seven with tenderness hoping to ease her pain.  “I know it hurts now,” she whispered, “but in time it’ll hurt less.”  Seven’s head shifted as if she was stretching out a kink.  “No, it never stops hurting, but it does become bearable at some point,” she ended in a sigh.

“Experience or wise words?”

“Both,” her half sullen, half solemn voice turned her stomach.  Celes decided on a change of subject, “The captain offered the suite to you before?”

“I inquired three days previous concerning a plan to renovate the cargo bay into something more suitable.  The captain suggested that the V.I.P. quarters would be a better idea; however, I declined.  This will be sufficient until the cargo bay is refitted.”  She took a silent moment to think about what Kathryn had insinuated days ago: living with Celes.  “When your quarters are too crowded, we can come here instead of the holodecks or the mess hall.”

Celes laughed knowing ‘crowded’ meant when Corey was around, which was far too often for her liking.  Seeing how large the V.I.P quarters were compared to her own made her want to ask Seven to move in permanently.  The idea of renovating the cargo bay was an interesting one, but she wondered how much space Seven would consider for herself.  Believing she could live with Seven a lot easier than she lived with Corey made her want to ask her if she could build the new quarters large enough for two… just in case.  “Heck Annika,” Celes decided to play a little, testing the waters, “we should just move in here and be done with it.”  She laughed about it, not taking herself seriously until Seven replied acutely.

“I had thought about it.”  Maybe Kathryn was right all along.  “At present, I believe some absence makes the heart grow fonder.”  Seven turned her head up to the left locking her eyes on Celes’s.  “I also believe I like that idea.”

“The more fondness, the better I say,” Celes whispered through a smile.