Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek Voyager, nor the characters.
Warning: Will eventually contain femslash.
Update (new Author's note): I'm just reloading this chapter because I realized that Tal is a Crewman, and not an Ensign. However, I will be posting the next chapter soon, when my beta is done with it. :)
On the eve of the Bajoran Time of Cleansing, Tal Celes submitted her medical request of fasting to the Doctor. Even if Starfleet tolerated the Bajoran religion, Tal had learned that it helped to remind those in charge. After going over the usual spiel that the Doctor repeated every year, arguing against the practice, she turned away from him to make her way to the Bridge, where she would inform Commander Chakotay, who would then let the Captain know. It seemed like a waste of resources, but Tal was still skittish around Janeway, her own shortcomings weighing down on her with every second in the powerful woman's presence.
As the doors of Sickbay swished open in front of her, her attempts to exit were blocked by the solid form of Voyager's own ex-drone.
Stopping short, Tal blushed, muttering out, "Sorry, Seven! Don't mean to be in your way!" Trying to edge around the other woman, she was stopped by Seven's voice.
"Crewman Celes. You were not 'in my way'. As there are only one set of doors to the Sickbay, it is logical to assume that people walk through them at conflicting times." The tall blonde inclined her head slightly to the left. "There is no need to apologize."
"Oh…Oh. Okay." Turning back to her department head, the young Bajoran gave a small, nervous shake of her head. Although she saw Seven every day in her duty shift, she rarely interacted with her outside of work. Knowing that the woman had criticized her abilities and was still double-checking her every once in a while, Tal only felt more and more depressed about herself whenever in her presence. That was one of the things she was planning on meditating on while she fasted… Why she still found herself underachieving.
As if noticing her sudden bout of melancholy, Seven asked, "Are you functioning within parameters, Crewman Celes?"
"Huh? What?" Jarred out of her inner turmoil, Tal stared at Seven, looked away, looked back, and then studied her hands. "No, I-I'm fine. Thank you for asking. I… Will be on my way?" She turned and started to take another step around Seven, but was stopped again.
"Crewman. It is the evening before your 'holiday', is it not?"
"What?" popped out of her mouth before she could stop it, and Tal whirled around, her eyes wide, "You know about that?" How could Seven know about her fasting?
Seven inclined her head again, the blonde standing firmly upright with her arms behind her back, her eyes staring intensely at the young Bajoran in front of her. Heedless of the fact that they were standing in front of the doors of Sickbay, the ex-borg answered.
"Yes. In my time as a Drone, I had assimilated knowledge of countless beings, Bajoran being one of them. It is my knowledge that you have a month of… not ingesting? However, I am unsure of the exact reason why your species would do this."
Tal felt her eyebrow twitch. "The Borg… Thought that the Time of Cleansing was relevant?"
"Yes." Seven nodded. "The Borg are interested in any reason a species or individual would deny itself nutrients or supplements that it would normally need to continue functioning."
Again, Tal didn't know what to say. She had long ago come to terms with the fact that she worked with someone who had helped assimilate thousands of people, Bajoran included. However, when that knowledge was forced in front of her nose, it was another matter altogether.
"Uhm…" she started, shifting on her feet, "So you know of the Cleansing, which means you know why we do it, religiously, but you are really asking the… The personal reason?"
A small smile flashed across Seven's face, and Tal got the impression that if she had blinked, she would have missed it. "Yes. That is correct."
"Yes yes. Although this is a quite fascinating and exciting conversation, I don't need you putting ideas into Seven's head, and keeping her from her checkup. Not to mention you two cluttering up the entrance to my Sickbay. So, if you must," the Doctor glared tightly at Tal, "Please continue this conversation at another time, and not in my Sickbay!"
Tal gulped, seeing this as her chance to make a clean getaway. "I-I, I'm sorry! Bye Seven!" And she hurried out before Seven could stop her again.
Watching the young woman's exit, Seven turned to the Doctor. Her face impassive, she raised her ocular implant at him.
The Doctor tried to ignore her expression and took her arm, leading her farther in. "Come, come, Seven. How's my little Borg doing?"
"I am not little nor yours, Doctor. Other than that, I am doing 'fine.'"