Seven, tertiary
adjunct of unimatrix 01, switched off his alcove. One was dead.
She stepped back
and turned her head to the left. Her Borg alcove was still connected to the
ships energy system and the green metal sheet above flickered steadily.
The pain she felt
inside grew with every second that passed. She was confused and angry at the
same time. Seven couln´t understand why he had done this. She had been so sure
that they could adapt to the new danger, that One´s presence on board of the
Voyager caused. That they would find a solution for the problem with the Borg
signal he had sent out.
Instead he had
chosen the death to keep the crew into safety and had hurt her with his decision
more than she thought it would. Seven felt a dull pain spreading from her
stomach upwards to her heart. Her breathing was irregular and she brought her
Borg enhanced hand up to her cheek. A single tear had escaped the corner of her
eye and slid down slowly.
Seven examined
her hand and the glistening fingertips. She made a fist and felt how more and
more from the liquid moistened her cheeks.
It didn´t take long and the first sobs of grief echoed through Cargo Bay 2.
~~~~~~~~~~
Kathryn Janeway,
Captain of the starship Voyager, stood in front of the window in her quarters
and observed the expanding nebula. Its red gleam mirrored in her face and if she
narrowed her eyes tightly enough she could see fragments of the destroyed Borg
bullet floating through it.
She had liked
One. The intelligent and curious Borg had earned her liking with his childlike
behavior. He remembered her of his “mother”. Kathryn smiled. Somehow she knew
that he represented what Seven could be in the future.
Kathryn´s
expression changed and she felt sorry for Seven. Despite the circumstances of
One´s birth, he had been her child and it was for every mother painful to loose
her child. Although it had seemed in the beginning like Seven wasn´t so fond of
her responsibility for One, Kathryn knew better. She had seen the hurt
expression in the former Borg´s face, as they all thought that One had been
destroyed together with the Borg scout ship. A few moments later she had seen
the relief washing over Seven, as Harry discovered that the male Borg was still
alive and she had seen the concern in her eyes as she saw that he was seriously
damaged. Seven had left the bridge and went immediately to him. 10 Minutes later
Kathryn had been informed by the doctor that One hadn´t survived.
30 Minutes were
left since she had received that message. Seven hadn´t returned to the bridge
afterwards and Kathryn decided to visit her. She wanted to be sure that Seven
was all right and wanted to give her some comfort. Kathryn wanted her to know
that she wasn´t alone with her pain and she wanted her to know that she was
there for her.
Janeway turned around and neared the entrance of her quarters.
~~~~~~~~~~
Kathryn stood in
front of Cargo Bay 2 and waited for Seven´s response. Many seconds passed but no
answer came. She tried it again.
“Seven? Are you
all right?”
No answer. She
was about to override the door lock with her authorisation code as the door
opened itself for her. Kathryn stepped inside.
“Seven?” The
lights in the room were dim and the Captain needed a short moment to adjust her
eyes to this loss of illumination.
A shaky voice
responded quietly. “Leave me alone … please ..”
Kathryn turned
her head to the source of this sad voice and discovered the Borg in a corner.
She sat on the ground and had put her arms protectively around her knees.
“Seven ..”
Kathryn´s voice was full of concern as she stepped closer to her.
“Please go away
.. I don´t want you to see me like this ..” The Borg´s voice trembled.
“Like what?”
Kathryn asked softly.
“Like .. like..”
Seven trailed off.
“ .. showing
emotions?”
The Borg nodded.
“Seven it´s ok ..
it´s human.” Kathryn sat beneath her onto the ground and rested her back at the
wall behind her. She turned her head to the left and saw straight into the
Borg´s eyes. They glistened and the cheeks were damp from tears.
“You´ve cried.”
It wasn´t a question, it was a statement.
“Yes ..” Seven
averted her eyes.
“Don´t be ashamed
.. it´s the natural way to show the sorrow you feel.”
She looked
curious to her. “How do you know what I feel?”
Kathryn smiled.
“I miss him too .. and I care about your well-being.”
“You care about
me?” Seven´s voice asked quietly.
“Yes, I care
about you.” Kathryn took Seven´s human hand between hers.
The Borg watched
her movements and took hold on her. Tears were running again down her cheeks.
“Let your
emotions come up to the surface Seven. I am here for you.”
As Seven started
to cry she took the Borg into her arms and held her safely. She murmured
comforting words to her and waited till the waves of grief subsided.
“How do you feel
now?” Kathryn asked her as Seven went silent.
“Better ..” The
Borg snuggled deeper into her embrace and rested her cheek onto the Captain´s
collarbone.
“Good.” Kathryn
smiled.
“It still hurts
.. but I will adapt.”
“Yes, you will.
It takes time, but you will feel better.”
The young woman
relaxed more and more in the Captain´s arms.
“How can you
humans life with those emotions?”
Kathryn breathed
audibly.
“We can, with the
help of our friends. Their support and sympathy gives us the strength which we
need to start the process of healing. It´s not easy but it had always worked.”
She encircled her waist absently.
“I am glad that
you are there.” Seven murmured.
Kathryn smiled
again.
“Me too.”
“Kathryn.. ?”
Blue eyes searched her brown ones.
“Yes?”
“I don´t want to
loose anyone again.” Seven focused on the Captain´s eyes, her concern clearly
visible. Janeway was still captured from the Borg´s inspecting gaze as she saw
realisation sinking in into her Astrometrics Officer.
“I don´t want to
loose you ..”
Kathryn looked at
her as if she saw her for the very first time. This beautiful woman next to her
didn´t want to loose her. She felt warmed by this confession of her young
friend and held Seven´s innocent gaze. The love she felt for Seven filled her
eyes with immense softness as she answered.
“I´ll never do
that.” Janeway brushed a loose strand of golden hair out of her face and tugged
it neatly behind her ear.
“I´m the Captain
and Captain´s don´t easily die, remember?” She joked and hugged her playfully.
The former Borg
smiled and stroked Janeway´s arm with deliberate slowness. Kathryn enjoyed the
extra attention the young Borg gave her and knew that now the time has come to
tell Seven that she had feelings for her. She felt no hesitation this time, no
fear that it might be false to confess her love to the former drone.
Kathryn bent her
head closer to Seven and whispered. “And besides I won´t never loose the woman
I´m in love with..”
Seven blinked
several times and looked straight into the brown eyes above her. Tears were
welling up again and a quiet understanding settled over the two of them.
They loved each
other and they knew they were bound to each other. None of them could exist
without the other. Their heads drifted closer and soft lips were touching for
the first time. Both closed their eyes and enjoyed the sensations that were
caused with this single kiss.
Seconds of warmth
and happiness passed. Finally Kathryn pulled away and started to get up.
“Come, let´s go
to the mess hall. I invite you to a late drink and further ‘philosophical
discussions’.” Kathryn smiled and helped her to her feet.
She held out her
right elbow to Seven and the younger woman took the offered arm with the softest
smile that Kathryn ever had seen on her face.
They left the
Cargo Bay and walked slowly to the mess hall. None of them really cared that
passing crewmembers saw them this close together.
Kathryn saw
expressions of surprise and contentment in the faces that were watching them as
they entered the mess hall. The two choosed a table in the middle of the room.
After they had settled comfortable on their chairs, the two continued to talk.
Beyond the
kitchen counter stood Neelix. He smiled and nodded in understanding. It was a
long journey till they reached the alpha quadrant, but at least two souls had
found each other.
The Voyager
hurried away from the red nebula, left behind the peaces of the shattered Borg
bullet and the last evidences of their lost friend.
~ End ~