Seeking Perfection
Captain Janeway gradually leaned back until her back touched the work station
in the middle of Cargo Bay 2. She thoughtfully watched Seven of Nine continue to
regenerate in her Borg alcove. It gave the captain several quiet moments to just
enjoy Seven's presence without any suspicious of her crew or even Seven for that
matter.
"Computer, when is Seven of Nine's regeneration cycle complete?"
There was a brief chirp then the computer reported, "One point two minutes."
Janeway tilted her head a little as she folded her arms over her chest. She'd
been running this ship for almost five years now. She'd seen many things in the
Delta Quadrant and she suspected she still had many more before their arrival in
the Alpha Quadrant. Overtime, she'd grown rather close to her fellow crewman and
the entire crew was now her family. Yet the one thing Janeway was coming to
realize was just exactly how much Seven of Nine stood out in front of her than
the rest of her crew. The past few days had reminded her of that when Kurros and
the rest of the Think Tank wanted Seven of Nine, and desperately at that.
Kathryn Janeway shifted out of her musings when the computer announced the end
of Seven's regeneration cycle being complete.
Seven's eyes instantly opened and locked on Janeway below. "Captain, can I
assist you?" She gracefully stepped down from the dias of the alcove.
Kathryn softly smiled as she straightened up, becoming more of the captain. "Yes,
I was wondering if you'd be interested in dinner this evening?" She slightly
grinned when Seven lifted her metallic eyebrow.
"Indeed," whispered the remotely surprised borg. "Is it not your weekly dinner
with the Commander?"
The captain's lips pressed together a little tightly but she quickly replied, "It
was but plans have changed." She tilted her head back a little more so she could
look directly at Seven's face. "I'll have a dinner ready and nobody to eat it
with." She smiled and asked, "Care to join me?"
Seven had clasped her hands behind her back earlier and now she clenched and
unclenched her hands as she considered. "I'd be honoured, captain."
"Wonderful." Kathryn smiled at that and shifted away from the borg. "Be there
around nineteen hundred-ish time."
Seven of Nine's metallic eyebrow again lifted up. "Are you on 'ish time,'
captain?"
Captain Janeway stopped walking towards the doors and turned around, a grin on
her face. "I suppose so… there's no rush."
"Of course," agreed the brog.
"I'll see you then." Janeway flashed a smile then quickly left the cargo bay.
Seven of Nine tilted her head to one side and curiously wondered what that was
about. She'd never known Janeway to cancel a dinner date with Chakotay unless
certain events merited it. Seven even had to admit to herself that she'd never
really had a quiet evening meal with the captain.
Seven decided she needed to get to Astrometrics before it got any later. As she
headed there, she continued to turn over the captain's interesting behaviour.
She knew this week's events with the Think Tank had bothered the captain but
nothing considerably extreme like other cases. However earlier on, only a month
ago, the captain had gone to great length to save Seven from the Borg Queen. Now
Seven wondered if this was an after effect of everything and the captain's way
of re-establishing the closeness in the friendship.
When Seven entered Astrometrics, she noted everybody's head turn to her and she
merely ignored them as always. She set about to do her work and started by
entering the recent information she obtains from the Think Tank. She had much to
enter into the database for future reference.
Suddenly the door to Astrometrics swooshed open and Lt. Torres appeared. She
went directly to Seven of Nine. "Seven, I need your help in engineering."
The borg continued to enter her information without even giving any regard to
the Chief Engineer. "What is the problem, lieutenant?"
"I've got some wet nose baby engineers down there and unfortunately I'll need
your help for this."
Seven almost let out a heavy sigh at the Lt. Torres obnoxious words and tone.
She came to a stopping point in her data entry and she looked at the smaller
woman. "Lead the way, lieutenant."
B'Elanna Torres briskly nodded and turned around. She led the way down to
engineering and first picked up her tools. "We need to go into the Jefferies
Tubes," she explained when she returned to Seven's side. She started to head to
the main entrance of the tubes with Seven at her side. "I didn't pick up the
problem until after we got underway." She let out a heavy sigh.
"What is the problem?" probed the curious borg.
"Let's just say if we don't fix the problem, there'll be a mutiny on board."
"Ah." Seven of Nine nodded. "The main replicator system has failed."
"Yes," replied B'Elanna. She said nothing else as she crawled into the tube and
Seven followed her. "I don't know about you, but I don't like Neelix's slop."
Seven sighed as she crawled along side the smaller woman. It was times like this
that she wish she was about a foot smaller much like Naomi Wildman or at least
the captain's height. "Yes, it'd be wise if we fix it now." She was silent for a
moment then added, "Especially since I'm having dinner with the captain."
Lt. Torres hesitated but kept crawling and tugging along her toolbox. "You're
having dinner with the captain?"
The borg glanced over briefly to B'Elanna. "Yes, later this evening."
B'Elanna sucked in a breath and breathed out, "Kahless… you really are her
favourite."
Seven note ahead was the small door into the replicator room for the machine.
She reached up to punch in the access code then crawled in after Lt. Torres. "I
do not see how I am the captain's favourite."
The Chief Engineer rolled her eyes. She sat down cross legged by the replicator
and started to pull out her tools. "Trust me, Seven… you get special treatment
from the captain."
The borg's eyes slightly narrowed. "I believe the captain and I have a different
relationship than most."
B'Elanna snorted at the remark. "You could say that." She then nodded at the lid
on the replicator. "Can you get that?"
Seven of Nine reached forward and punched in the code for the hatch on the
replicator. The lid slid open and flipped out of the way. "Are you ready?"
"Yes." Lt. Torres had her two tools she figured she needed. She was about to go
down into the replicator but then she recalled one more complication. "Zero
gravity, Seven."
Seven resisted from smirking as she held out her left hand towards the wall to
her left. "Of course, lieutenant." Her hand fisted up and suddenly two borg
tubes slithered out of her knuckles and connect to a circuit panel on the
opposite wall.
B'Elanna suppressed a shiver at seeing the borg tubules but her attention
suddenly went to the zero gravity in the small room. "Alright, here goes," she
grumbled and reached forward to the sides of the replicator entrance.
Seven extracted her tubules and when Lt. Torres started to pull herself down the
replicator, she helped push the smaller woman down. She used her human hand
though to hold onto the deck so she wouldn't float anywhere while her borg hand
helped guide B'Ellanna into the replicator.
Lt. Torres felt all the blood rush to her head but she tried to ignore it. She
wanted to fix the problem and get out of the replicator as fast as possible. She
could still feel Seven's cool hand on her right ankle to anchor her in a safe
position. B'Elanna slowly and carefully grabbed various tubes, hoses, pipes, and
whatnot as she turned inside of the replicator. She finally came to a stop and
stared directly at the problem. "Kahless," she hissed and stared at the liquid
that seeped out of the pipe and floated in midair. "Seven, I'll need that cover
tape."
"Hold onto something, Lt. Torres."
B'Elanna grabbed the broken pipe and she felt Seven's hand release her ankle.
Seven bent forward and over the opening of the replicator. She pulled the
hovering toolbox over to her side and she fished through it until she came to
the grey cover tape. She then brought the tape to the opening of the replicator
hatch and carefully pushed it downwards.
B'Elanna saw it coming and she sensed the borg hand on her ankle again. She
grabbed the tape as it came into close proximate. She pulled the tape apart and
ripped a decent size chunk then carefully wrapped it around the pipe to the stop
the leak.
"Is it the pipe defective?" inquired the borg.
"It looks it… just aged out." She sighed and added, "Looks like I'll have to get
a new one made and installed."
Seven peered down to study the temporary fixed pipe. "It is for the
hydrogenation?"
"Yes," replied the miffed Chief Engineer. She put the tape into her mouth then
grabbed the pipe again. She carefully pushed upwards and her body was one
quarter out of the replicator and her feet just touching the ceiling of the
tubes. She'd felt Seven's hand travel up her leg and now stopped just under her
left knee. She removed the tape from her mouth and let it float near her head.
"I'm going to by-pass the hydrogenation pipe to the backup pipe."
"Wise decision," agreed the borg.
Lt. Torres tried not to roll her eyes and instead went to work on the pipe. She
first had to take her spanner and turn off the flow of liquid hydrogenation to
the main pipe then use her spanner to open it up in the neighbouring pipe.
"Lieutenant?"
B'Elanna let out a heavy sigh. "Seven, just call me B'Elenna… please."
Seven noted the agitation in the older woman's tone but she didn't comment on
it.
"And what do you want to ask now, Seven?" insisted the Chief Engineer.
The borg's full lips faintly pierced together then relaxed. "How do perceive the
captain's relationship with me?"
Lt. Torres almost released her spanner while opening the values for the backup
pipe. "Like I said, you're her favourite out of the crew." She knew not to say
anymore since Seven was currently holding onto her and if she angered the borg,
she may end up hitting her head in several spots in the replicator.
"Why?" persisted the younger woman.
"If I told you, Seven I'm almost positive I'd… accidentally start hitting my
head on these pipes." A slight grin touched the Human-Klingon's lips.
Seven looked down into the replicator and saw the grin. She quickly processed it
as a joke. "And that will not happen if you do not tell me?"
B'Elanna clearly stiffened until she'd realized Seven's tone had been light and
not its normally icyness. "Kahless the Doctor has been teaching you the ways of
a smartass."
The amused borg suddenly tightened her grasp on B'Elanna's leg. "I believe I've
learn that Human trait from you, Lt. Torres."
B'Elanna yelped as she was suddenly being pulled out of the replicator. She
quickly grabbed the tape and held tightly to it and the spanner in her other
hand. She closed her eyes as everything spun around until finally two strong
hands grasped her hips and settled her down onto the floor of the Jefferies
Tube. She carefully opened her eyes and let out a sigh. "Thanks." She carefully
crossed her legs under her and just hovered over the floor.
"You are welcome." The borg pushed Lt. Torres's toolbox to her.
B'Elanna caught it and opened the lid as the box floated in front of her. She
took a few seconds to put her tools and tape away.
Seven, however, had outstretched her fisted left hand. Her borg tubules snaked
out and connected with the panel.
B'Elanna peered up and looked into cool blue eyes. She felt another chill ripple
down her back as she watched some kind of data flash through Seven's eyes like a
computer screen. Suddenly the gravity returned and B'Elanna half yelled and half
growled when her toolbox slammed onto her right foot. "Kahless!"
Seven heard a few other words hiss from the Human Klingon and she knew they were
curses in the Klingon tongue. "Are you okay, B'Elanna?"
The lieutenant just glared at the younger woman. "I'm great," she chided in an
annoyed tone. She put her toolbox aside and looked up to see the replicator
hatch seal shut.
"We are finished," announced the borg.
"We are," agreed the Chief Engineer. She shifted onto her hands and knees and
nodded to Seven to follow.
Seven shifted onto her hands and knees too and quietly crawled along side
B'Elanna. After a few seconds, she finally broke the silence. "You did not
answer my question, B'Elanna."
"Damn. I was hoping you forgot." Lt. Torres flashed a teasing grin but lost it.
"Of course that borg mind of yours doesn't forget anything."
"Forgetfulness is inefficient."
"That it is," quietly agreed B'Elanna. She was quiet for a moment then finally
spoke again. "I use to think Janeway was like your mother… a parental figure in
your life."
"Perhaps," mused the borg.
"You don't agree, do you?" urged the lieutenant.
"Perhaps at one time but that is incorrect now."
B'Elanna suddenly came to a stop and leaned back to straighten up. After Seven
did the same, she locked eyes with the younger woman. "Seriously, Seven… you
come off like Janeway's little borg."
Seven gradually lifted her metallic eyebrow. She made no comment on the remark
because she knew B'Elanna was stating it as a fact and not attacking her.
"That's to any outsider of the Voyager." B'Elanna lost her gaze and her
eyes unfocussed. Something seemed to occur to her as she returned her attention
to the borg. "But to everybody on this ship, especially me, Janeway only favours
you for one reason and I doubt she even realizes it." She paused, shrugged then
added, "But she might realize it too."
Seven tilted her head to the side. "What's the reason?"
B'Elanna smirked, reached over, and patted the borg on her shoulder. She bent
forward and continued crawling but called back, "Because she likes you more than
a friend."
Seven opened her mouth to quickly refute Lt. Torres's idea but she hesitated
because she didn't quite understand what B'Elanna meant. More than a friend so
what did that mean? She quickly continued to crawl through the tube until she
met with the lieutenant.
B'Elanna was working on the door for the tubes but a sudden cold hand stopped
her. She quickly looked at Seven.
"How do you know the captain would be interested in me?"
Lt. Torres was slightly surprised by Seven's persistence as well as her obtuse
view about the topic. "Come on, Seven." When she felt the borg hand release
hers, she shifted around to face Seven better. "It's like an equation… add it
up. You're good at logic."
"The Borg Queen," stated Seven.
A grin slowly grew on B'Elanna's face. "She saved you from her." She folded her
arms over her chest as she sat back on the heels of her boots. "Not to mention
what just happened with the Think Tank."
"And now a dinner," quietly mused the borg.
"Plus plenty of other small things." B'Elanna shook her head and went back to
opening the door for the tubes. "You'll figure it out, Seven."
"I already have."
B'Elanna couldn't hide her grin but suddenly her eyes were filled with the light
from the engineering room. "Come on, Seven."
Seven crawled out of the tubes last and felt relieved to stretch her long legs.
"Will you need assistance installing the new pipe later?"
"I may, Seven." B'Elanna was about to walk away but paused and looked back at
the younger woman. "If you don't mind helping."
Seven of Nine folded her hands behind her back. "I will assist." She saw a
flicker of warmth pass through B'Elanna's eyes, it was the first time she'd ever
seen it.
"Thanks." B'Elanna grasped Seven's forearm briefly then disappeared into
Engineering with her toolbox hanging from her side.
Seven gave a brief shake of her head and returned back to Astrometrics. As she
returned to her department, she realized just how much she had to consider by
nineteen hundred hours.
Kathryn Janeway quickly stole a piece of tomato from the small glass bowl on her
kitchen counter. As she chewed on it, she continued to vertically slice an onion
on a cutting board. The door chime though brought her out of her cooking
preparations and she looked up. "Come in."
Seven of Nine gracefully stepped into the captain's quarters and her eyes
quickly centred on Janeway. "Captain," she politely greeted.
"How are you, Seven?" The captain gave a warm smile. "I'm glad you made it." She
returned her attention to cutting up the onion in front of her.
"I see I am a bit early." Seven silently crossed the quarters to come to the
opposite side of the kitchen counter.
"Not at all." Janeway gave a grin then added, "You can see my cooking talents."
"Are they as skilled as your captain talents?" gently teased the younger woman.
The captain softly chuckled and shook her head. "Many would probably disagree."
"They cannot be quite as good as Mr. Neelix's," further teased the borg.
Janeway paused in cutting up the onion and offered a half glare. "If you keep
these remarks up you can eat in the messhall." Her threat finally brought a grin
to Seven's face.
"I believe trying your cooking is worth endeavouring, captain."
"You're too kind, Seven."
Seven appreciated the gentle smile on the captain's lips, something she rarely
saw but quickly committed to memory. "And what are you making, captain?"
Kathryn lifted her head as she popped a piece of tomato into her mouth.
"Something quite traditional back in Indiana." Her grey eyes softened to a mild
blue. "Burgers with yellow corn."
Seven shifted on her feet a little but remained ridged and her hands behind her
back. "I believe that is a rather old tradition as well."
"It is," confirmed the captain. She knelt down suddenly and opened some doors
below.
Seven heard the sound of metal moving around underneath and she considered what
it was the captain was looking for. "Was it a summer tradition in Indiana?"
Janeway suddenly rose up with a black square object in her hands. "Actually
yes." She placed the item down on the counter and plugged it in for electric. A
rather old item, Seven noted. "This is actually my mother's." She tilted the
item towards Seven.
The borg bent forward some and inspected the item. She noted long metal bars
that run across the top in a grill-like pattern. "What is it?"
Janeway quietly laughed as she lowered the item back down. "An electric grill."
She turned away and walked over to the replicator. She began to punch in various
commands.
Seven craned her neck to the right so she could see if the replicator was
working efficiently. The meat was produced but she could tell it took a little
longer than normal.
"I swear that replicator will finally fall apart." The captain turned around
with a cutting board that had a large portion of ground beef on it.
"Actually B'Elanna and I repaired it today."
"Oh?" asked the curious captain. She'd never heard Seven call Lt. Torres by her
first name and it remotely surprised her.
"Yes, one of the hydrogenation pipes is defective," reported the borg.
"You and Lt. Torres had no problem fixing it?" Kathryn peered up through hooded
eyes while she continued to break up the meat into four piles.
"Lt. Torres merely patched it until she can make a new pipe."
The captain only nodded and urged herself to shift out of her captain persona.
She wasn't here to talk work with Seven despite at times it was almost
impossible. "Do you like raw onions or tomatoes, Seven?"
"I am… unsure, captain," answered the curious borg.
"Here." Janeway offered first a thin piece of sliced onion.
Seven attentively took it and studied it.
"Try it," persisted Kathryn.
The young woman carefully put the onion piece into her mouth. Within a second,
her eyes widened and she tried to hide her coughing.
Janeway held back her laughter but her face was smug. "Like it, Seven?"
Seven cleared her throat and blinked a few times as she urged the tears to stay
back. "It is quite… robust."
"That it is," agreed the captain. She finished making the burger patties and
lifted them onto the electric grill that had red grill bars now.
Seven heard the meat patties immediately start to sizzle against the hot grill.
Janeway knelt down once again and pulled out a pot with a lid. "Try a tomato
piece," she offered.
Seven eyed the small bowl of finely sliced tomato pieces. Did she dare try that
next?
"Go on," urged Kathryn, "it's not as bad as the onions."
"You erred to tell me about the onions." Seven lifted a metallic eyebrow.
"If I had, would you have tried it?" teased the Kathryn. She went to the
replicator again and put in another set of operations.
Seven let out a dramatic sigh then reached forward to pluck a piece of tomato.
"I am fool enough to trust you again, captain." She lifted the tomato tidbit to
her lips.
The captain was returning and caught sight of Seven trying the tomato. "You
won't regret it. It's nice."
Seven of Nine slowly started to nod her head. "I concur." Her head nodded in
approval again. "The tomato has an aesthetically pleasing taste."
"One of my favourites," agreed Kathryn, her eyes bright with pleasure. "I
especially enjoy Cherry tomatoes." She walked off to her right and turned on the
electric stove top. She put the pot down and let the corn cook over the heat.
"Mother grows them in her garden."
"Organic tomatoes," quietly stated the borg.
"A much better flavour… something these replicators could never reproduce."
Seven tilted her head to the side as she studied the captain. "Growing food is
very inefficient, captain."
"It might be but it tastes much better." Janeway pulled out a metal spatula to
flip the burgers over very carefully.
The borg was silent as she mulled over what the captain said. Her lips puckered
a little and she thoughtfully looked at Janeway. "I hope one day I have a chance
to compare."
Kathryn peered up from the grill and gradually a warm smile creased her lips.
"Me too, Seven." Her smile grew even warmer as her eyes shifted bluer. "I
promise to take you to Indiana so you can compare my mother's dinner to a
replicated one."
Seven at first didn't respond but then a smile touched her lips. "I would enjoy
that, captain." Her thoughts now shifted to Earth and their arrival in the Alpha
Quadrant. "What do you believe will happen to me, captain once we return to the
Alpha Quadrant?"
Captain Janeway released a heavy sigh as she considered the variables for Seven.
"That depends on what you want, Seven."
"I am… concerned about Starfleet," gently mentioned the borg.
"Your concerns are shortcoming, Seven." Janeway could already feel herself
shifted back into the captain. "Starfleet will not perceive you as a threat or
scientific experiment."
Seven clenched her hands behind her back then tried to remain relaxed. "I do not
hold the same… faith in Starfleet as you do, captain." She paused but gently
added, "I cannot claim to know how Starfleet will react nor can you claim to
know after being away from the Alpha Quadrant for so long."
Janeway contained herself and attempted to remain calm because she knew Seven
was only worried. "Seven, I understand your concern but nothing will happen."
She locked eyes with Seven.
The intensity of the gaze helped settle some of Seven's worries but something
still rested in the pit of her stomach.
"Besides," whispered Kathryn, her focussed lowered to the burgers, "I will not
let anything happen to you."
Seven felt a flutter ripple through her stomach. She took a brief moment to
figure the captain's protectiveness into her already building equation. She
decided this merited more testing and studying. "I am not sure where I will go
once we arrive on Earth."
"You'll have options, Seven." Kathryn felt relieved for the mild change of
topic. "You can continue with Starfleet, become a citizen…." She lifted her head
after flipping the burgers again. "Or I'm sure there will be plenty of
scientific organizations that would love to have you work with them."
"Yes, I suppose a borg mind would be fascinating for them."
Janeway shook her head despite she was amused. She was taking the burgers off
the grill and putting them on a plate to her left. "I think it's Annika Hansen's
mind that's more vast." She lifted the plate and held it out to Seven. "Can you
put those on the table for me?"
"Of course." The taller woman took the plate and carried it to the already set
table.
Janeway however took a few minutes to ready the cooked corn after pouring out
the hot water. She turned off the stove top and put the yellow corn into a bowl.
She carried both the bowl and the cutting plate that had cheese, the tomato
bowl, and onions.
"What would you like to drink, captain?" inquired the borg as she went to the
replicator.
After the captain had the plate and corn bowl set on the table and looked at
Seven.
Seven noticed the playful glint in the captain's eyes.
"A dark beer would great, Seven."
Seven's eyebrows somewhat knitted to the centre. "Another tradition?" She busied
herself with programming her drink and Janeway's into the replicator.
"Yes." Janeway pulled out her chair and sat down comfortably. She smiled when
Seven lowered a tall, thick glass of dark beer in front of her.
Seven however had simply replicated a glass of water, not in the mood to disrupt
the flavour of Janeway's dinner. "This looks pleasant, captain."
The captain brightened but then her expression faltered. "I forgot one thing."
She quickly rose up and went to the replicator. When she returned she had four
rolls and she placed them beside the burgers.
"You can lead," mildly teased the borg.
Kathryn merely chuckled as she took one of the buns and put it on her plate.
Seven followed suit and she studied the burgers after Janeway had picked one
out. She actually sensed her stomach growl in anticipation of nutritional
supplements. It was a sensation she rarely had but when it happened, it made her
feel a little more Human and less Borg. Finally Seven picked out one of the
larger burgers and placed it on her bun. After that, she noted Janeway was
putting the cheese, a slice of onion, and some tomato on her burger. Seven
retrieved the same but passed on the onion and instead added an extra slice of
cheese.
The captain had noticed it but reserved herself to say anything and just simply
grinned. She then picked up the bowl of corn and spooned out a good helping of
the corn. She could only hope her meal tasted as good as it looked but she'd
spent many summers perfecting the art of grilling numerous foods.
Seven remained quiet as she took the offered bowl of corn from the captain. She
also took a decent helping of the corn and set the bowl off to her left.
"Let's do a toast, Seven."
Seven's lips pulled with a hidden smile. She picked up her glass when Janeway
did the same. She lifted her glass even higher and brought it towards the
captain's.
Kathryn met her halfway and their glasses clinked together. "To your future,
Seven."
"To yours as well, captain." Seven couldn't hide her smile anymore.
Kathryn had a silly grin as she pulled her glass back and took a drink of her
beer.
Seven followed suit with her glass and took a drink.
The captain put her glass down and eyed her burger. "I hope this tastes as good
as it looks."
"I will be very displeased if it doesn't," muttered the borg.
"Agreed." Kathryn lifted her burger and took a large bite.
Seven had done the same and as she thoughtfully chewed, her expression went into
awe.
Kathryn caught the expression and she almost laughed since it was her first
experience at seeing such an expression on Seven's face. She was lucky to be
able to hold her laughter so she wouldn't choke on her burger.
"Captain, this is exceptional," complimented Seven after she swallowed her bite
down.
The captain had finished her bite as well. "Now that is a compliment coming from
you, Seven."
Seven shook her head. "I do not understand how people can make complaints about
your cooking."
Kathryn tried not to let out a grumble as she returned her focus to her meal.
She and Seven remained fairly quiet as they happily ate their meals, both quite
content how it turned out. When Kathryn finished her burger and corn, she sat
back in her chair and eyed the two burgers sitting on the cutting board.
Seven was relaxing back in her chair as well and took a drink of her water. She
also studied the two burgers. "I do not have room for another."
"But do you have room for half of one?" probed the captain, a grin played on her
lips.
"I can be persuaded," lightly teased the borg.
Janeway instantly sat forward and took her knife so she could cut the burger in
half. As she picked up her half of the burger, Seven retrieved her own. "Try the
onion."
"I prefer not to," replied the borg.
Kathryn eyed the younger woman as she cut an onion slice in half. "Try it," she
persisted again.
Seven opened her mouth to protest again but her words failed to leave her lips.
Her shoulders vaguely slumped in defeat and she took the offered onion slice.
"You are the only one," she muttered quietly while she took two slices of Swiss
cheese.
"Only one what?" questioned the captain.
Seven peered up from her plate, her expression rather serious. "You are the only
one that I cannot resist."
Janeway remained still as she absorbed the information. It was quite a statement
coming from Seven of Nine, the borg that still sought some sort of perfection
even when she wasn't under the Borg influence. "I'm not sure I concur, Seven."
She returned to stacking her burger with tomato slices. "You've done pretty well
in resisting my command at times."
"My attempts are becoming more futile, captain." Seven had picked up her fork
and knife but hadn't touched her prepared burger yet.
"Why?"
Seven expected the question and she tried to think of the best way to answer
without giving too much truth. She recalled this Human tendency as glazing the
truth. "I respect you, captain and more as I've come to realize how exceptional
of a captain you are." She paused as she collected her thoughts. "I also believe
in the past years you've managed to tap into…." The word she was looking for was
slightly lost but then it came to her. "You've reached my heart, captain and my
logical side cannot resist what is in my heart. It is a futile attempt on my
part to disagree with you anymore."
Kathryn thoughtfully studied the younger woman and took her words to heart, it
warmed her. "If it's any consolation, Seven you've touched my heart as well."
She left it at that as she lowered her attention to her meal.
Seven sensed her body warm up and she tried to remain in control. She knew the
captain wanted to let the topic go and she agreed but only for now. She decided
to finish her burger before it got any colder.
After the meal ended, Seven and Kathryn took about ten minutes or so to collect
the dirty dishes and put them in the recycler. Janeway asked Seven to sit down
on the sofa as Janeway took a moment to replicate a hot cup of coffee.
"Would you like anything, Seven?"
"I am satisfied, captain. Thank you." Seven leaned back into the sofa and tried
to relax just for once during her time with the captain.
Kathryn came over and sat down on the sofa next to the younger woman. She curled
up the silver mug in her hands and let it warm her hands.
"Thank you for dinner, captain."
Janeway softly smiled up at Seven. "It was my pleasure." She paused and
considered the dinner for a moment. "We'll have to do it again sometime."
"I would like that," quickly agreed the borg.
The captain chuckled and brought a grin to her lips. "Hopefully all my meals
will turn out to be as successful."
Seven was quiet for awhile as she processed tonight's events as well as the past
few weeks. "Captain?"
"Seven…." Janeway freed her left hand and placed it on Seven's closest knee.
"Call me Kathryn, please." She shot a grin at Seven as she teased, "I'm not sure
I can handle much more of this captain stuff in my quarters."
"I apologize."
"It's okay, Seven." Janeway squeezed Seven's knee then removed her hand. She
took a sip of her coffee and when the rim of the mug left her lips, she asked,
"What'd you want to ask?"
"I was curious as to why you invited me to dinner."
"Do I really have to have a reason?" countered the older woman.
"There is a reason for everything," reminded the young borg.
Kathryn let out a faint sigh but she couldn't help her soft smile. "I suppose
you're right." She shifted a little in her seat and took a sip from her coffee
again. When the mug was back in her lap, she finally answered the question.
"It's my way of thanking you, Seven."
"There is no reason to be thankful, Kathryn."
The captain thoughtfully looked up and took in Seven's gentle expression. "I
don't agree." Her eyes lowered as various thoughts went through her head. "I
admit… I was concerned you would leave to join the Think Tank team." Her eyes
lifted up to Seven. "I couldn't… Voyager couldn't afford to lose you,
Seven."
"I cannot leave," reassured the borg, "not even to the Borg."
"Yes… I've come to realize this." Janeway peered down at her mug and stared at
the dark contents.
Seven debated whether to explain why she couldn't leave Voyager but she
decided it wasn't the right moment yet. "I did have an interesting conversation
with Lt. Torres today."
"In the Jefferies Tubes?" probed the older woman. She gazed up at Seven.
Seven nodded. "She believes I am your favourite." Her eyes directly locked on
Janeway. "Is that true?"
The captain fiddled with her mug a little; she seriously considered the
question. "I can't lie, Seven. I try not to favour any one person over another."
She released a long sigh. "However I know I do favour you more than anybody else
in the crew."
"Why?" persisted the borg.
"Because you merit special treatment, Seven," honestly replied the captain.
Seven found that curious as much as almost insulting that she wouldn't be
treated like any other crewmen onboard. She tried not to let it anger her since
she didn't know the whole truth. "I never expected Captain Janeway to give any
crewman special treatment." She arched her metallic eyebrow for emphasis.
Kathryn sucked in a breath because she knew this would be a lengthy
conversation. She leaned forward and settled her mug onto the coffee table. "I
didn't mean special treatment as in hand holding, Seven." She rested back into
the sofa. "You are unique compared to the rest of the crew." She lift her focus
up to the young woman, her head somewhat tilted back. "Unique in many ways and
such uniqueness requires a different set of rules."
"I do not wish to be treated any different."
"I know you don't, Seven and I don't do it to anger you." The captain felt her
temples faintly throb from on onset of a possible headache. "I merely do it
because you're still growing into a Human and learning."
"And how do you expect me to become Human when you treat me different?"
Kathryn knew she was pitting her common sense against Seven's logic and it was
never an easy battle. "Seven, as time goes on and you learn more about your
Human side, I will not favour you. You will be held more accountable for your
actions and expect to follow protocol to a T." She shrugged. "Until then, I will
remain somewhat lenient considering your circumstances."
"That is not logical, Kathryn," refuted the young woman.
"No, not exactly," agreed the captain, "but it is common sense." She studied the
confused borg and felt her heart go out to her. "You've been through much,
Seven." She returned her hand back to Seven's knee. "You lost your parents, were
assimilated, and severed only to have to deal with being Human." She shook her
head. "Many of my crewmen have been through tough times but compared to you, it
doesn't measure up."
"It may have been tough," agreed Seven, "but it has never hurt me." She paused
while studying the captain's eyes. "The assimilation was the second best thing
in my life."
Janeway squeezed the knee under her hand and removed her grasp. "I understand
that, Seven even though I don't accept assimilation."
"You cannot appreciate it until you've achieved it, Kathryn." Seven's eyes
glimmered with on old hunger for the Borg Collective. "To seek perfection is
powerful."
Kathryn felt her chest tighten at the look on Seven's face. She'd seen it when
the young woman was originally apart of the Borg and it still chilled her. She
knew though she accepted Seven's borg qualities as well as respected and even
admired them. Yet she would never admire the Borg goal even though she
understood it clearly and could appreciate it as their ultimate mission.
"Perfection is not everything, Seven."
Seven suddenly returned from her Borg thoughts and her eyes warmed again. "It is
for the Borg but it is not for Humans." She tilted her head a little and quietly
stated, "Love is Human perfection."
Kathryn swallowed when Seven hit the nail on the head. She hadn't realized Seven
had come to understand so much about Humans, she hadn't given Seven enough
credit.
"Knowledge is power, Kathryn and the Borg desire that perfection." Seven's
ocular implant lifted some. "The Borg are like a locus, they will not stop until
they've achieved perfection."
"I know," whispered Janeway, "but you cannot tell me love isn't just as
satisfying, Seven."
"Emotions, especially love, are irrelevant," stated the borg in her old monotone
voice.
Kathryn straightened up and held out her hands, palm up. "Give me your hands."
Seven held out her hands and much smaller, warmer hands curled around hers.
Kathryn lifted her gaze up to Seven and started rubbing her thumbs across the
tops of Seven's hands. She then stopped her right thumb that rubbed Seven's borg
hand. "You cannot tell me what you feel in this hand…." She squeezed Seven's
Human hand in signal and continued her caress. "Is irrelevant compared to this
hand." She now squeezed the Borg hand and started caressing again. She dropped
her head to the side when she saw Seven's eyes drift shut.
Seven's mind was rapidly comparing the two sensations from both hands. Her Human
hand was warm and seemed to surge through her body, made her stomach flutter.
Then she focused on her Borg hand and all she received was data such as the
temperature of Janeway's hand, the speed at which Janeway's thumb moved, the
perfect measurements, and even Janeway's fingerprints were recorded.
Kathryn had watched all the emotions flicker across the younger woman's face.
She admitted she was enjoying this debate with Seven. She softly smiled when
Seven opened her eyes again.
"What I feel in my Human hand is… intriguing."
"And your Borg hand is very factual, I'm sure," gently teased the captain.
"Yes." Seven sensed Janeway's caressing stop but they still clasped hands.
"You're currently thirty-seven degrees Celsius." She narrowed her eyes as a grin
pulled at her lips. "Thirty-seven point seven, two, two." Her head tilted a
little. "You're getting warmer, Kathryn."
The captain merely mocked glared at the young woman.
"Knowledge is a powerful draw, Kathryn," reminded the borg. Her left hand
started to fist up.
Kathryn looked down when she felt very cool metal tubes snake around her wrist.
Her eyes widened at the borg tubules that extended from Seven's knuckles. She'd
seen Seven's tubules several times in the past but she'd never touched them or
felt them. She tried to remain calm even though it unnerved her. She accepted
Seven's borg side and she wouldn't show anything less.
Seven had noted the incredible decrease in temperature in Kathryn's hand and a
slight shaking. However she maintained her tubules just over Kathryn's wrist.
The captain drew in a deep breath as she pulled her hand away from Seven's
clenched hand. She slowly lifted her hand until her fingertips came in contact
with the cool swinging tubules.
Seven also watched as Janeway gently touched the borg tubes and seemed to
inspect them. She carefully laced her right human hand through Janeway's to
offer comfort.
Kathryn gradually felt her nervousness fade away as she became more comfortable
with the sensations of the tubules. She reminded herself it wasn't anymore
different than seeing Seven's ocular implant or her jaw starburst.
"Do you trust me, Kathryn?" whispered Seven.
Kathryn lifted her eyes to meet with Seven's. She felt her all her fears smother
under the caring gaze of Seven. "Yes."
Seven vaguely nodded then looked down at her borg hand and the tubules. "This
will hurt for a brief second but you will be fine." She looked at Kathryn again.
"I promise," she quietly added.
The captain nodded, not sure what to say.
Seven inwardly smiled at the trust and faith that shined in Kathryn's eyes and
it even reassured her. Carefully, Seven directed her tubules to gently wrap
around the captain's wrist. They extended a little further up Janeway's arm and
suddenly the tips opened and two faint needles extracted.
Kathryn's eyes flew shut when the two needles pierced her skin but the pain was
immediately gone. Suddenly all these images bombarded her mind at such a rapid
pace. She dropped her head back and a quiet moan escaped her lips.
Seven's eyes were shut too as she carefully processed the data through her mind,
to her tubules, and sent it to Janeway's brain.
The captain was breathing harder and harder as her mind suddenly filled with
extensive knowledge on Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct of Uni-Matrix Zero One.
So many images flashed through Janeway's mind of all the places Seven of Nine
had been, who she assimilated, what she experienced, and the very last image was
of herself: Captain Kathryn Janeway.
Seven ended the data transfer and extracted the needles from the captain's arm.
Kathryn rasped for air as her head fell forward. "Oh god," she breathed. She
sensed her body reacting to the onslaught of information and she felt weak.
Seven's tubules had retreated back into her hand and she unlaced her right hand.
She quickly grasped the captain's sides to give her support. "Are you okay,
Kathryn?"
Kathryn covered her face with her right hand and tried to steady her breathing.
"I think so."
"I apologize… I didn't realize how little Humans could handle."
"Neither did I," joked the captain as she started to massage the bridge of her
nose. "Well… that certainly encouraged my headache."
Seven instantly frowned and scooted closer to the captain. "Lay back into the
sofa, captain."
Kathryn decided not to make a comment on the use of her title. Instead she
leaned back until her head touched the back of the sofa. She then felt one cool
hand on her right temple then a warmer hand on her left temple. "I said it
before and now I've had my proof." She took a deep breath then said, "You've
been through a lot, Seven."
"I believe we all have," commented the borg.
Kathryn didn't argue the statement but instead enjoyed the sensations of
massaging that Seven did.
"And thank you, Kathryn," quietly said Seven.
"For what?"
Seven softly smiled as she warmly replied, "Trusting me."
Despite the captain had her eyes closed, she could hear the smile in Seven's
words. "Thank you for sharing your borg life with me, Seven." Kathryn contently
breathed deeply as the felt the remains of her headache float away. "Mmmm… this
is exquisite, Seven. I will remember the next time I have a headache to have you
report to me right away."
Seven had a faint grin. "Would that be an order?"
"Oh yes," teased the captain. She now opened her eyes and the lights in her
quarters didn't hurt her eyes now. "Much better… thank you."
Seven pulled her hands way now that she was content that the captain's headache
was gone.
"I do have to ask you one thing, Seven." Janeway tried to resist her smug look
so Seven wouldn't be suspicious.
"Continue," urged Seven.
Kathryn repositioned herself as she locked her gaze with Seven. "The Borg's
desire… aspiration is perfection, knowledge." She tilted her head to one side.
"Correct?"
"Of course," agreed the borg.
"Right so...." Kathryn tapped her piercing lips with her right index finger. Her
hand fell back to her lap. "What if the Borg did accomplish this perfection?"
She shrugged before adding, "For arguments sake, suppose the Borg assimilated
the entire Universe and have contained utterly all the knowledge in the
Universe." Her grin slightly played on her face. "The Borg even have the Omega…
they have complete perfection."
Seven breathed heavily and tried to imagine such a scenario, it was amazing in
her mind. A slight smile started to develop.
The captain was quiet for a moment as she let the young borg contemplate such a
Universe. "Now that the Borg have perfection… what is left for them?"
Seven's smile started to falter as her mind raced to an answer but nothing came,
her smile was lost. "I… do not know."
"There surely has to be something?" argued the captain, her hands held up for a
moment then fell. "Or is it just a Universe filled of perfect and emotionless
Borgs wondering the Universe?"
"I…." Seven's smile had turned into a complete frown. "I have never considered
this."
"No, I suspect you haven't nor has the Borg Queen." Kathryn laced her hands in
her lap. "That is why Humans consider perfection absolutely imperfect… it is the
means to the end."
Seven's eyebrows were knitted together as much as they could be as she turned
over Janeway's words. "Then perfection is truly not perfection." Her eyes
focused on the other woman. "What is true perfection then?"
Kathryn softly smiled as she whispered, "It is love, Seven."
Seven was quiet for awhile as she tried to process the new information. She
shook her head a little and asked, "How can love be perfection?"
"Because Seven, it is something anybody can strive for and no matter how hard
you try or how close you get, you can never contain it." Kathryn went silent but
only briefly before saying, "Love is perfection because nobody can contain it…
not even the Borg… especially not the Borg."
Seven swallowed a little and her eyes had brightened into a soft blue that
Kathryn had never seen. "I agree, Kathryn." She felt as if this information had
been eluding her for some time now and now that she not only knew it but
understood it seemed to help her accept her Human side. "I was correct when I
said my assimilation was the second best thing in my life."
Kathryn had a mildly confused look but she asked, "What was the best thing,
Seven?"
Seven uneasily shifted some in her spot. She rarely felt anxiousness or
apprehension but right now she did more than ever but she used her Borg side to
gain courage. "The best thing in my life, Kathryn was meeting you."
Kathryn stopped breathing for several seconds as a warm charge rippled through
her body.
Seven knew it would take more encouragement to get the captain to open up. "I do
not believe you favour me merely because of my circumstances either, Kathryn."
Finally Janeway realized she needed to start breathing again. She took in a
shaky breath and her head dipped down a little. "Those are the only reasons,"
she stated a little more harshly than she wanted. She suddenly stood up and
walked away from the young woman. She crossed over to her office area and faced
the window. She simply watched the stars streak across and she willed her mask
to cloak over her again for protection.
Seven studied the woman's back for a moment then she stood up. She silently came
up behind the smaller woman but remained several inches behind her. "If love is
perfection, Kathryn… why do you not seek it?"
Kathryn closed her eyes and folded her arms over her chest in a protective
manner. "I could tell you it's because I'm a Starfleet captain. That I don't
have time for relationships. Or that protocol cannot allow me to be with my
crewman."
"But?" probed the borg.
"But… you would simply see through that." Kathryn swallowed the lump down in her
throat as she stared out the window.
Seven was hesitant as she lifted her hands but she carefully clasped Kathryn's
tight shoulders. "Then what is it?"
"Seven, I've been burned too many times," whispered the captain. "First when I
lost… my 'childhood sweetheart' then Mark Johnson." She let out a disgusted
sigh. "And too many other failed attempts in the past."
Seven had some knowledge of the captain's past romances but she never
endeavoured to talk about them. "And now you have given into the notion of never
finding a mate?"
"Yes," whispered Kathryn, "I am content with my command, my crew, and my ship."
Seven squeezed Kathryn's shoulders carefully then quietly stated, "Then you
would make an excellent borg."
Kathryn stiffened and completely stunned by the abrupt yet truthful statement.
She slowly turned around and her eyes met Seven's.
Seven tilted her head to the left. "Perhaps One of None would be an appropriate
name." She saw the hurt look on Kathryn's face and she regretted her words but
only to a point if it got across her message. "I do not understand how you
insist I embrace my humanity when you do not do the same, Kathryn." Seven could
tell she'd over stepped the bounds as the captain pulled away and moved to
another spot before the window. Seven tried not to sigh at how hard this would
be but she knew resistance was futile, even for Kathryn.
"Seven, even if I could… you are not ready."
Seven lifted her metallic eyebrow.
Kathryn already knew she made a mistake by materializing such a lie.
"And you are not my mother," jibed the borg. She closed in the distance between
her and Janeway. "I think I can decide for myself if I am ready." She stopped
just inside of Janeway's personal space and she kept her back ridged so she
lived up to her full six feet. "I am ready."
Kathryn had to drop her head back to look up at Seven. "Seven… no," she breathed
but her resistance was faltering.
"Kathryn…." Seven clasped her hands on the smaller woman's hips. "Resistance is
futile." She lowered her head some. "Embrace it."
Kathryn sensed the last of her walls breaking and she hadn't realized she'd
stepped forward. Her arms slid around Seven's waist and Seven pulled her in
closer. She lowered her head onto Seven's chest and closed her eyes. A very deep
breath escaped between her lips and weight lifted off her shoulders.
Seven smiled as she lowered her head and rested it against the top of Janeway's
head. "It is okay to be Human, Kathryn," she quietly teased.
The captain let out a small grunt and squeezed Seven very tightly.
The borg felt the wind squished out of her and when Janeway's hold loosened, she
breathed hard.
"How did you figure it out?" quietly asked the older woman.
Seven had a faint grin on her lips. "It was a simple equation to add up although
B'Elanna helped point me in the right direction."
"Damn her," muttered the captain playfully. "Although the past few weeks haven't
helped me."
"Because of the Borg Queen and the Think Tank," clarified Seven.
Janeway lifted her head finally and peered up at the younger woman. "Yes… I was
scared I'd lose you." Her gaze fell for a moment but came back to Seven. "I
wouldn't have stopped you though if that was what you wanted."
"No," protested Seven, "I could not leave your side… regardless of how our
relationship stands between us."
Kathryn carefully took in Seven's statement and knew she meant each word, it was
a promise. "I guess I haven't realized until tonight exactly how much you've
learned, Seven. Far more than I originally suspected."
"I endeavour to always surprise you, captain."
Kathryn softly laughed at Seven. "That you do."
Seven didn't say anything back as the closeness of their bodies was sending
shocks through her body that she could no longer ignore. She slowly lowered her
head and let her lips brush against Kathryn's.
Kathryn was breathing a little harder and her heart beating faster. She felt her
lips burst with warmth that flooded her senses. Her eyes drifted shut as she
closed in the distance and captured Seven's lips in a very gentle kiss.
Seven didn't urge the kiss deeper as her lips pressed tightly against Kathryn's.
She then felt Kathryn pull back and for a brief second she thought something was
wrong until her lips were suddenly captured again by Janeway's.
This time, Kathryn parted her lips and the tip of her tongue ran along Seven's
lips.
Seven instinctively opened her mouth then her mouth was filled with Kathryn's
tongue. Seven ran her tongue against Kathryn's and she heard a muffle moan come
from Kathryn.
Kathryn started to pull her tongue back but Seven stopped her by sucking on her
tongue. This only caused her to moan again and tightened her arms around Seven's
waist.
Seven sensed Kathryn's need for support and she drew her arms around the smaller
woman's waist. She then finally felt the need to breathe and she broke the kiss.
The captain let out a faint whimper but she pulled back as well. She gradually
opened her eyes and stared into amazing icy blue eyes. "Wow," she breathed, "it
has been awhile."
Seven had a faint grin. "We should sit down, Kathryn."
Janeway gave a nod and willed herself to separate from Seven.
The borg turned as Janeway stepped around her and went towards the sofa. Again
Seven couldn't resist smiling some. She crossed the space into the living room
but stopped beside the coffee table. She lifted a metallic eyebrow at Janeway
after she sat down. "Another coffee, perhaps?"
"That would be wonderful," agreed Kathryn and before she could get her mug Seven
already had it. She inhaled deeply and finally felt some sense of control come
over her again. Already her mind was processing the changes between her
relationship with Seven and some fears arose in her. However she forced herself
to remain calm and chided herself that her fears were purely childish. When
Seven returned, she received back her mug that had warm steam filtering out of
the top. "Mmmm."
Seven sat down beside the captain and observed how the captain drank her coffee.
After Kathryn lowered her mug from her lips, she quickly looked at Seven;
surprise written over her face. "What'd you put in this? It's exquisite, Seven."
She looked back into the mug and noted it was more of a light brown than the
rich almost black colour that it normal would be. She considered how it tasted
and she thought she'd picked up a hint of vanilla.
"Simply some milk and vanilla flavouring." Seven curiously watched Kathryn take
another drink but Kathryn seemed to be test tasting it this time. "And a little
almond."
The captain chuckled as she straightened up and leaned back into the sofa. "It's
excellent, Seven. Thank you."
"I am glad you approve."
Kathryn softly laughed. "Very much so." She finally peered up at the younger
woman and her stomach automatically knotted up.
Seven could tell how worn out the captain was between the past few weeks and how
tonight seemed to end the last of her resolve. "You need to rest soon, Kathryn."
"I will soon," agreed Janeway. She took a moment to take another drink of her
warm coffee.
"At least attempt to relax more," quietly persisted Seven. She could tell the
other woman was somewhat tense and probably because of earlier.
"I am," refuted the captain.
"No you are not, Kathryn," countered the borg. She decided not to verbally argue
about it anymore and instead grabbed Kathryn's shoulders and pulled.
Before Kathryn could even protest, she found herself starting to lie downwards
and she decided not to argue either. She shifted around until she rested
horizontal on the sofa and her boots dangled just off the edge of the sofa. Her
head now was propped up by Seven's muscular thigh. Her hands still held her mug
that rested on her stomach.
Seven lowered her gaze down and saw how comfortable Kathryn was becoming.
"Acceptable?"
"Mmmm," was the captain's only response and she took a drink from her coffee.
She took two full gulps of her coffee and realized she only had a small amount
left. After a quite minute, she emptied her mug.
The borg noted it and took the mug from Kathryn. She leaned forward and placed
the silver mug onto the coffee table before leaning back again. She decided to
rest her left hand on the arm of the sofa but her right hand attentively lowered
onto Kathryn's stomach.
Janeway paused for a moment but she returned the gesture by pulling Seven's hand
into her own. She closed her eyes and with her left hand, which rested on top of
Seven's hand, she began to trace out Seven's hand. "Seven, this won't be easy."
"I realize this," stated the borg, "I have considered every angle."
Janeway slowly opened her eyes and tilted her head back to gaze up at Seven. She
broke the eye contact and lifted her head back. "We cannot act out of our
positions when we're on duty."
"Why would we otherwise?" countered Seven. "Lt. Torres and Mr. Paris have always
been professional despite their romantic relations. As the captain, you expect
that just as the rest of the crew. Why would we do any less?"
Kathryn let out a sigh but she was grinning. "You're correct." She chewed a
little on the inside of her mouth as she stared at their locked hands. "And if
you don't mind, I would like to keep this private until we're more comfortable."
Seven hid her amusement as she seriously replied, "I would like the same." Her
eyes drifted towards their hands on Janeway's stomach. "I have no experience in
a romantic relationship." She paused as she put together her thoughts briefly.
"It would be detrimental to me if Voyager knew before I could adapt to
our new relationship."
Janeway felt remotely surprised at how well Seven knew what she wanted. "You
have thought a lot about this, Seven."
"Of course… why would I not?" persisted the borg.
Kathryn dropped her head back. "I don't give you enough credit, Seven." Her lips
teased with a grin. "I didn't realize how ready you were."
"I have collected thirty thousand gigaquads on the subject of relationships,"
stated the borg, "however I lack experience."
Kathryn suddenly had a devilish grin. "Well then, we'll just have to give you
thirty thousand gigaquads of experience." She then reached up with her right
hand and started to sit up.
Kathryn's hand on the back of her head urged Seven to lower her head and she met
Janeway halfway. Her lips met Kathryn's and Seven savoured the vanilla taste
when she entered Kathryn's mouth. She felt Kathryn free her left hand from hers
and Kathryn helped prop her body up with her left hand on the sofa. Seven
offered support by sliding her left arm under Janeway's upper back then returned
her focus to the kiss.
Kathryn quietly moaned as Seven's tongue danced with hers. She hadn't felt this
amount of desire in a long time, especially over a kiss. Seven started to
separate from the kiss but Kathryn took a second to nip at Seven's lower lip
when she pulled back far enough.
A shock instantly flashed through Seven's entire body from the playful nip. Her
mind was attempting to record data as fast as her body reacted to all the
sensations growing in her. She carefully helped Janeway lower back down into her
comfortable position. "You have made the wrong assessment in the amount of data
I will collect," Seven factually stated.
"Oh?" asked the intrigued captain. "Did I?"
"Yes, I believe I will collect far more than thirty thousand gigaquads." Seven
considered the playful expression on Janeway's face and she wondered what it was
about.
"I believe you will never stop collecting your… data," teased the captain.
Seven opened her mouth to reply but she faltered as her eyebrows knitted
together. "You are correct."
Kathryn chuckled and contently sighed as her eyes closed. She urged herself to
relax, which was quite a battle for her.
"You should rest, Kathryn and I must regenerate." Seven clearly saw the
captain's shoulders deflate.
"You're right, Seven… it is late."
Seven had put her hand back on Janeway's stomach earlier and laced again with
Janeway's hands. She tried to offer some comfort by rubbing her thumb against
Janeway's hand. "I have been here for two point fifty-three hours."
"Thanks for the reminder," chided the captain but she briefly squeezed Seven's
hand.
The borg's ocular implant lifted a little but lowered back down as she studied
Janeway's face. "So we have agreed on the new dynamics of our relationship?" She
felt Kathryn's body shake a little and she saw the huge grin on Kathryn's face,
she knew now that Kathryn was inwardly laughing.
"Yes, Seven," agreed the captain. She patted the woman's larger hand then added,
"And we are taking this slow."
"Of course," agreed the not so convinced borg.
Kathryn quickly opened her eyes. "Seven," she warned.
The borg couldn't resist her grin when Janeway's stare locked her in place. "I
will comply, Kathryn."
"Excellent." The captain's happy grin reappeared and she suddenly sat up. When
she swung her legs off the sofa, she looked over at Seven and noticed the amused
expression on the borg's face. "What is it?"
Seven's head tilted a little to the right. "We are agreeing on many things,
captain."
Janeway noticed the use of her title and knew it was apart of Seven's teasing.
She patted the borg's closest thigh and stood up. "Will miracles ever cease?"
Seven of Nine mused over the question and after she stood up, she replied, "I do
not see how this is a 'miracle.'" She now put her hands behind her back, her
normal stature returning.
"It is to me." Kathryn instinctively put her hands on her hips and became very
much the captain. "I never thought I'd see the day you'd agree with me."
"Hmmm." Seven's head bobbed a little as she studied the captain. "I believe it
is you who is agreeing with me, captain." She gave a taunting grin then suddenly
turned to leave the quarters.
Captain Janeway furrowed her eyebrows at the change of tide. She quickly
realized she'd only been stating what Seven had already decided upon prior to
the change in their relationship. For the past hour, she had really only been
agreeing with Seven's ideas. "Damn," she muttered. "Seven?" she called when she
lifted her gaze from the floor.
Seven stopped by the door and questioningly looked at the captain. Her hands as
always went behind her back as she stood stoic and cool.
Kathryn approached Seven and despite Seven's emotionless demeanour, she could
see the warmth in Seven's frost blue eyes. "Thank you again for coming over."
Seven remained still and calm as she professionally said, "I enjoyed it very
much. Thank you, captain." Despite Seven's monotone, her words were still
sincere and the captain knew it.
"We'll do it again, soon," promised Janeway. Then she threw off her captain
attitude and stepped into Seven's personal space. Her left arm went around
Seven's waist while her right hand went to the back of Seven's head.
The tall borg didn't hesitate to free her hands and bring her arms around
Janeway's waist. Her lips met Janeway's in a long kiss that grew heated closer
to the end.
Kathryn drew back and she put her right hand on Seven's chest. "Slow," she
muttered to herself and took a few deep breaths.
Seven had a smug look as she whispered, "Resistance is-"
"Not futile," hotly stated the captain but the grin on her face deceived her.
"Go regenerate, Seven."
"Of course," agreed the borg and she stepped away from Kathryn, closer to the
door. The door automatically swooshed open and Seven remained in the doorway.
"Goodnight, captain."
"Goodnight, Seven. See you tomorrow." Janeway caught a glimpse of Seven's smile
before she stepped away and the door closed. She then let out a long and deep
breath she'd been holding within all night. Finally the desire and need in her
started to subside now that Seven wasn't near her. Janeway went over to her sofa
and sat down but she was bent forward, arms in her lap, and her eyes locked on
the carpeted floor. She took in tonight's events and how they turned out to be
nothing she'd expected especially Seven becoming her girlfriend.
"Girlfriends," quietly stated Kathryn; she tasted the title for the first time.
It was as if the title of their relationship instantly settled thickly into her
consciousness. "Oh my god… I'm dating… and another woman." She laughed but more
out of astonishment than amusement. "What am I doing?" She lifted her head and
shook it as she stared across her quarters. "The scary part is, it doesn't
bother me for an instant," she muttered while grabbing her mug and she stood up.
Captain Janeway tossed her mug into the recycler and finally decided to call it
a night. She was trying too hard to think about tonight and it would have to
wait until tomorrow. She went into her ensuite, changed, and prepared for bed.
She replicated a new uniform for tomorrow and left it on the edge of her sink.
She took her commbadge and carried it back into the bedroom with her. She placed
it by her nightstand then she adjusted her Starfleet issued silk pyjamas that
pretty much matched the same colour of the royal blue bedsheets. She crawled
into the cool bed and ordered the lights off.
Kathryn rolled to her left side and gradually closed her eyes but a thought
occurred to her. She opened her eyes and called out, "Computer, locate Seven of
Nine."
"Seven of Nine is in Cargo Bay Two."
"Is she regenerating?"
The computer chirped then replied, "Seven of Nine regenerating for twenty
point thirty-seven minutes."
"Thank you," called back the captain and she wondered why she'd just thanked the
computer. She shrugged it off, closed her eyes, and for the first time in weeks
she was able to drift off to sleep. Kathryn was content to fall asleep to the
knowledge that tomorrow would be better than today and that every day forward
would hopefully be better than the one after. Seven of Nine was now seeking
perfection with Kathryn Janeway.
The End