Part One
*

Seven opened her eyes, and stepped from the regeneration chamber. Her first business would usually be to report to Astrometrics, but today was different.

In one hour, she, Captain Janeway, and Lt. Tuvok would be beaming down to the surface of a small planet that Voyager had been orbiting for the past day.

Sensors showed traces of various metals, and dilithium just under the surface. Sensors also showed that the planet was rich in oxygen, plant life, and totally void of intelligent life. It was host to thousands of forms of animals, but very few predators, from what sensors indicated.

Janeway had decided that this would be an opportunity to stretch her legs on some real-life soil, and so she assigned herself to the away team. She chose Seven also, which Seven attributed to the fact that Janeway valued her keen powers of observation and her ability to adapt to any situation easily. Seven held a certain pride at the fact that she was good at anything she tried... anything technical.

Janeway had confided in Seven that Tuvok needed some time in nature, and that it was a personal and spiritual necessity for the Vulcan that it be true nature, and not a holosimulation. Janeway had told her, this is why the Vulcan seemed so tense lately.

Seven had observed Tuvok. She could see nothing unusual in his mannerisms, nothing which would indicate that he was, as the Captain had said, 'tense'. He seemed his usual staid and logical self to Seven.

But then, Janeway had a way of reading her crew that escaped even Seven's keen powers of observation.

Seven had chosen her blue biosuit today. B'Elanna had once told her, in a rather annoyed way, that it made her eyes more noticeable. Seven hadn't understood where the annoyance came from, but B'Elanna had never been one to give out compliments. Perhaps it annoyed her to do so. Seven didn't see why people felt the need to give compliments, but she would remember it. And the blue would be her outfit of choice for a while.

As she passed by the mess hall, Seven heard the door whisper open, and Neelix came hurrying after her.

"Oh, Seven!" He hurried to catch up with her long legged strides, a metallic black box held gingerly in his hands. "I've prepared a snack for the away mission."

"That was not necessary, Mr. Neelix". Seven thought that perhaps this was one of those times when a nicety was appropriate. However, it could wait until she knew what it was that Neelix had prepared.  "The away team will be equipped with the appropriate rations."

"Yes, but what's in this box is very special, Seven."

He seemed to be having trouble keeping up with her. Seven slowed, just a bit.

Neelix went on, "Naomi and her mother requested I make a batch of caramel brownies- it was a recipe Samantha's Grandmother used to make on Earth. Naomi liked them so much, that she requested I put some aside for you. Actually, I've made enough for the crew's desserts, and so far everyone is raving about them."

Seven continued walking, but glanced at Neelix, and took the box. "Thank you, Mr. Neelix. And thank Naomi Wildman for me. I will not see her until the away team returns."

"Yes, of course." Neelix continued walking with her, "I didn't have the exact ingredients. The caramel is replicated, and I used Xanath root instead of eggs." He suddenly stopped, turning on his heel, "My popovers!" He headed back for the mess hall, and called back over his shoulder, "That box will keep them warm for a few days. And they won't dry out!"

The scent of the brownies wafted up, and Seven inhaled in spite of herself. They did smell good. She would be sure to have one once they were on the planet.

She thought of Naomi Wildman, insisting that these brownies be saved for Seven. She would have to eat one, or the child's feelings might be hurt. It seemed to Seven that children should never be hurt, and she found it a priority in her mind to be sure that Naomi was protected from harm.

As Seven stepped into the briefing room, she noticed Janeway and Tuvok’s conversation come to a quick close. She took her seat next to Janeway, who sat at the head of the table as always. Seven set the box on the table, and awaited the Captain's first words to her.

"Please tell me those are the brownies I've been hearing so much about." Janeway indicated the box.

"Yes, they are. Mr. Neelix prepared them for the away mission."

Janeway took a deep long inhalation, and smiled, "Remind me to give him a commendation." She said, "and remind me to bring coffee. Nothing like caramel brownies and coffee." She leaned back in her chair. "Now, then. This planet."

The briefing commenced as Seven expected. Janeway described much that Seven already knew. She went on for a few minutes about the scanning once on the planet, and about the mining process.

Seven watched her when she spoke. The way her lips formed words. The way her tongue, on certain syllables, glistened in her mouth, if Seven watched for it. She noticed for the first time that the Captain's eyelashes were very long... they had hints of red.

"The whole process should take no more than a day. If all goes as planned, Voyager will be beaming the dilithium and minerals we need directly into the cargo bays." Janeway turned to Seven, "We will be on the surface for two days."

Seven spoke up, "And what will our time be used for on the second day?"

Tuvok spoke for the first time since Seven had arrived. "There is a Vulcan ritual I must attend to. I will need to meditate, fast, and remove myself completely from physical pleasure for a period of twenty-four hours. I will require solitude, and a natural setting.
The main cave will provide that solitude."

"Yes, and Tuvok has asked me to accompany him."

Tuvok faced Seven to explain. "On Vulcan, the seeker in the rite is watched over by an elder clergywoman. This ensures that the seeker will be safe if he or she should find the trance sought by the renunciations. The trance might last for hours, and the seeker will not be aware of the outer world."

"While Tuvok is in the cave, I will be on the outside. Relaxing." Janeway continued for him, "And frankly, Seven, I'd like your company."

Inside, Seven's heart fluttered. Her Captain wanted her company, just for the sake of having it. Why did it make her feel strange... there was the genuine taste of fear in her mouth. Fear, or anxiety? Seven wasn't yet sure.

"If you wish my company, I freely give it." Seven said, monotone as always, and not for one moment giving away the strange dance that was going on in her mind. She would have to think about it later.

Tuvok stood, "Captain, permission to take my leave. I must prepare for my meditation now, before we leave."

"Of course, "Janeway said. "See you at 1200 hours." She stood, "Seven, I'll see you then as well." She picked up the box of brownies, and smiled at Seven, "I'll just take these"

*

Beaming down to the surface of the planet went as it should. They materialized in a large clearing, surrounding by tall tress in all direction, and a large cave mouth to directly in front of them.

The three away team members pulled out tricorders, did the usual cautionary checks before moving from the spot. But for a moment, Janeway was awed by the beauty of this place.

Seven saw it also, and tried to take in a full 360 degree view.

The tress, all with a silvery white bark, were tall and lush with leaves of green and purple hues. The ground, covered in a light moss, was lush and soft beneath their feet. Plants and flowers of every color covered the forest floor where the trees began. The mouth of the cave itself was formed from a mountain tinged with a blue mineral striation. The sky, with its two suns, one large and one small, was a soft pale lavender.

Seven observed how Janeway was enjoying the scenery. This was one of her newest endeavors- to allow herself to enjoy things for the pure tactile or aesthetic pleasure of it. It was a human behavior she hoped to perfect. She had observed many humans who were very adept at enjoying things for no reason other than the amusement. She knew she would have to learn the skill if she had any hope of adapting further into the Voyager collective.

Tuvok immediately headed for the caves, tricorder in hand, and Janeway and Seven followed.

"The dilithium is approximately ten meters inside," Tuvok said, still watching the readouts on his tricorder. "No signs of animal life inside."

Janeway adjusted the straps on her backpack and lead the way in.

*
The larger sun was setting, and the sky glowed a brilliant purple. Many of the leaves on the tress had turned, showing their bright magenta undersides to the sky. A cool breeze blew, but the air was a balmy degree.

The dilithium had been located, and the surrounding minerals located. There was an ore much like the gold of Earth, as well as something reminiscent of Silver. Substantial amounts of each were beamed aboard Voyager, and now Tuvok stayed behind in the cave.

Janeway and Seven had set up camp approximately fifty meters from the mouth of the cave, facing it to be sure of Tuvok’s safety. It was forbidden for him to take any weapons inside, so Janeway set phaser gun directly outside in case he needed it. They were nearer to the edge of the woods now, and they created small fire from the sticks they'd found all along the edge of the trees. The smoke spiraled up in delicate wisps; it smelled like apples.

Janeway had laid out her roll, and Seven, having done the same, was now busy checking readings on her tricorder.

"This really is a lovely place. "Janeway mused, "Hard to believe it's not inhabited."

Seven looked up from her readings, which showed nothing more than rodents in the area, night birds, and insects. "Yes. It is quite... aesthetically pleasing."

Janeway sat on her roll, "Seven I don't believe I have ever heard you say such a thing." She motioned to the tricorder, "Anything?'

"No."

"Great. Then let's get down to business." Janeway reached into her pack, pulled out the box of brownies, and a carafe of coffee. "Seven, please, have a seat. Think of this as a little vacation."

"Yes, Captain." Seven sat on her roll, uncomfortable with the act. She was used to sitting in chairs only rarely. She even slept standing up. Her knees seemed to be in the way. She swung them around, behind her, and sat with them to her side.

Janeway had poured herself a cup of coffee in the carafe lid, and was shaking her head. "Please, call me Kathryn. Let's dispense of formalities for now. Consider us both to be acting in unofficial capacity. Two friends, sharing a fire, and the stars in the sky."

Seven nodded. "Friends. Yes, I do consider you my friend. Kathryn."

"I consider you the same, Seven. " Kathryn smiled at her. "Sometimes, because we have to follow a chain of command on the ship, it's hard to let our hair down on the off hours. I have many friends on Voyager, but..."

Seven waited for the rest of the words. Perhaps Kathryn was thinking of Chakotay, of the friendship they shared. "Are you missing Commander Chakotay?"

Janeway actually laughed at that, "No! I mean, no. Chakotay is a great friend, and a confidant. He understands me in ways I don't know if my ex-fiancé ever did. But I was thinking about the friendship I have shared with you."

Seven understood that. They did have a special friendship Kathryn had given her a life. Freeing her from the collective gave her a rebirth that had opened up more vistas than the Borg ever could. Seven had an admiration for Kathryn that could not be measured. This woman, this beautiful human being, was more to Seven than she knew anyone could be. She valued Kathryn's opinions, she valued her judgment, and if Kathryn told her the sky above was green and not purple, she'd be inclined to have her own eyes checked by the doctor when they got back to Voyager.

Seven looked down at the ground. It was too much to think about right now.

Kathryn opened the box, and offered it to Seven.

"We have not had our evening rations yet." Seven stated.

"Well, Seven, "Kathryn said, while taking out one caramel brownie for herself, "Sometimes dessert comes first."

Se delicately bit into the brownie, and it's think caramel frosting stretched as she pulled it away from her lips.

"Oh my, "She mumbled, using her fingers to push a few strings of caramel into her mouth. She swallowed soon, and looked at Seven, "Neelix has outdone himself. Won't you try one with me?"

Seven reached into her pack, and pulled out a rations kit "Perhaps after dinner."

"Suit yourself." Kathryn said, taking a sip of coffee, "But I just might eat them all before you've finished. "

Seven knew Kathryn was being facetious, but looking down at the rations in her kit, she changed her mind. "Perhaps I will eat my dinner later."

Seven took a brownie, and Kathryn moved her roll a little closer to Seven. "It's nice to see you letting your hair down a bit. A few months ago you wouldn't have sat here at all, and now you're eating a brownie before dinner. You have adjusted wonderfully to life as a human. "

Seven almost smiled. It meant so much to hear Kathryn say that. She turned the word over in her mind, Kathryn. Kathryn. What a comforting name. It was... pretty. Seven nibbled the corner of her dessert.

"The crew of Voyager has made it a pleasure. "

"A pleasure?" Kathryn's eyes widened, "That's the second time you've used such a word. It's great to hear it!"

"I have been attempting to expand my vocabulary, to become more adept at conversation."

"You're doing quite well." Kathryn finished off her brownie, and then became thoughtful." Seven... have you ever given thought to our friendship?"

Seven wanted to say yes, but something held her back. She became suddenly self-conscious. She couldn't look at Kathryn right now. "Yes, I have."

"I wonder if you value it like I do."

"I would imagine I do... perhaps more."

There was silence for a moment, until Kathryn opened the brownies again. "Another?"

Seven hadn't finished hers yet, and indicated this to Kathryn. She decided to continue the e conversation, "Your friendship has brought me much pleasure."

Janeway sat back, the brownies momentarily forgotten. She brought her knees up, and wrapped her arms around them. She spoke her next words gently, as if she were afraid of what reaction Seven might have.

"You've been thinking about pleasure?"

Seven nodded slowly. "I have. Since discovering that there are so many forms of enjoyment. I have discovered that my favorite foods have remained the same as when I was Annika." She didn't say it out loud, but this brownie was quickly becoming a favorite.

"Favorite foods? Like what?" Kathryn leaned forward on her knees, " What are some of you favorites?"

Seven swallowed a bite, "Spaghetti. Bajoran Kava Root. Andorian Soufflé."

Kathryn agreed, "Andorian Soufflé is one of my favorites, too. You remember those parts of your childhood? Favorite foods."

"Yes." Seven said, "One day in the mess hall, Tom Paris laughed so hard at a joke told by Ensign Lopez, that he coughed spaghetti out of his nose. And I remembered."

Laughing, Janeway shook her head. "Amazing what can trigger memories."

Seven was enjoying this line of conversation. It was nice to see Kathryn in such a jovial mood.

There was something else which Seven wanted to approach. She was apprehensive. It made her nervous to think of, and she wasn't sure how to bring it up.

"Kathryn, I have always valued your honesty with me, when I have had questions about human nature. You have been candid, and discrete when necessary. I would like to broach a subject that has been on my mind recently."

"Please, Seven." Kathryn tucked her hair behind one ear. "You can talk to me about anything."

Seven took a breath. "As I mentioned, there has been much learning about pleasure. And it is only natural, I think, that I would begin to think about sexuality. "

"Of course."

"Kathryn, I-" Seven stopped herself, and looked again at the ground. "I have begun experiencing feelings of a sexual nature. Feelings such as I have never experienced before." She looked back up at Kathryn's eyes, "And I feel I might wish to act on those feelings in the future."

"I see." Kathryn was the one who looked at the ground now. She seemed to be breathing a little deeper than before, and she met Seven's eyes again, and sat back, relaxed and went on. "That's another good sign. Sexuality being a large part of the human experience, it's only natural that you would feel it. I take it you have begun to think about more than just the technical side of things?" She reached for another brownie.

Seven nodded. "This is not like the time I requested that Ensign Kim mate with me."

Kathryn would have choked had the brownie made it to her mouth. Instead she picked it up off the ground, and tossed the moss covered brownie into the fire, where it sizzled and sent sweeter smoke into the air.

Seven watched as the brownie melted into the fire. "I believed at the time that I needed to experience sexuality. I thought that my assimilated knowledge would be enough to engage in the act. I was wrong. I have discovered that there is more to sexuality than I had previously assumed. My assimilated knowledge did not prepare me."

"It can be a complex issue. And yet, it is so simple."

"Desire." Seven stated, setting her hands in her lap. "I find I desire."

There was silence. Seven could feel Janeway's eyes on her, as she continued to stare at the fire.

"Seven, there's nothing wrong with desire."

"Yes. I have read that."

"You've been reading about desire?"

"Desire, lovemaking. There is much that the Borg never assimilated. There is much that was assimilated, but set into categories where no category was required. There are variations and algorithms of emotions and physical urges. The emotions. I have no point of reference from which to adapt to the emotions"

"Seven. Are you saying that you've been feeling emotionally attracted to someone?"

Seven returned her eyes to Kathryn, and pulled her own knees up, wrapping her arms around them and sitting as Kathryn was. "Not just someone. I have found myself attracted to many. I did not know there were so many variations one could experience at once. I find myself distracted by this at times. When the urges are most strong. I function at less than peak efficiency when I am working with certain crew members." Seven heard her voice quiver, and gathered herself. "It is inefficient to feel this way."

"It's normal. You are a grown woman, who had never even been kissed. Unless?"

Seven shook her head slowly.

"Your hormones are catching up on lost time." Janeway stretched her legs out in front of her, and took ion Seven's silence. "You're feeling shy? It's hard for you to talk about these things?"

"Yet I must, if I am to understand what has been happening to me. The dreams I have. The thoughts." Seven said, "If I am to one day act on my feelings."

"You will learn to understand." Kathryn said quietly, "Just don't push yourself. Wait until you are ready. It never occurred to me that you might be going through this."

"I can ask you a personal question, Kathryn?"

"You can ask me anything." Her attention was fully on Seven.

Seven had opened her mouth to speak when the sound came from the distance.

The howl was long, high. It pierced the night and it's beauty sent chills up Seven's spine. The howl tapered off, leaving the night silent and still, the lone small sun setting behind the trees. A moment later, the forest insects were chirping again, and the sound of wings as birds settled back into the trees.

"One of the few predators, I imagine." Kathryn said. "It sounds far away."

Seven had lost the courage to ask the question that had been on her mind.

"You were saying?" Kathryn's attention was back on Seven, the howl forgotten.

"No. No questions. Perhaps another time."

Kathryn let it go. "Sure. Just ask when you feel up to it." There was a brief pause. "I'm very glad we can talk like this."

"I am tired." Seven suddenly lay back on her blanket. "I would like to try sleeping. With no regeneration chamber. To see how the average sleep feels."

"As if anything about you is average." Janeway poured herself another cup of coffee. "That howl makes me think we ought to sleep in shifts. I'll wake you in six hours. So much for the average sleep."

Seven had closed her eyes. She listened to her heart, trying to settle the rapid pace it had attained while talking to Kathryn. She focused on her breathing, as Chakotay had once taught Naomi. Seven had observed, and remembered.

But when she that she had almost asked, her heart pounded again.

Kathryn, do you desire me?

She forced herself to think about computational algorithms. Eventually, sleep came.

*

When the howl came the second time, Seven's eyes snapped open, and she sat up.

Kathryn was already standing, phaser in hand "That wasn't so far away. The suns will be up soon. Let's hope that thing is nocturnal, whatever it is."

Seven could hear it before Janeway. She stood quickly, "It's in the trees."

Janeway reached into her pack, and easily pulled out a phaser, tossing it to Seven. Her eyes scanned the forest. She asked the former Borg the obvious question. "Can you see it?"

Seven took in every inch of forest that was visible to her. "No. But the light is insufficient." She heard it at the opposite edge of the woods. "Over there." She pointed her phaser.

"It's fast, isn't it?" Janeway kept her phaser pointed also, and picked up her pack. "We're moving closer to the cave. Get your pack."

Seven did so, and keeping their eyes on the woods around them, they made their way to the mouth of the cave. Janeway peered inside, and spoke quietly, "Tuvok’s pretty deep inside. We won't disturb him here."

She grabbed a nearby large stone, and fired the phaser at it until it glowed red.

"A little warmth. " She said.

Seven still listened, but turned to Kathryn. "I will keep watch now. You should sleep."

"I couldn't sleep now if I tried. "

Seven looked out at the fire they had left behind. It now seemed small and insignificant against the darkness.

"Dammit. "Janeway muttered.

"Captain?" Seven kept her eyes on the woods.

"We left the brownies by the fire."

*

End Part One