Life or Death by Gwen Miller

"0600 hours. Regeneration cicle complete." I opened my eyes and looked around Cargo Bay Two. Mezoti, Azon and Rebi were regenerating in their alcoves, and Ichib was quietly dong his homework. I stepped out of my alcove and walked over to Ichib. He looked up at the sound of my footsteps. "Sickbay to Seven of Nine." The Doctor's voice came over the comlink. "Seven here. What is it, Doctor?" "You are overdue for you weekly maintenance exam." "I will be there in five minutes. Seven of Nine out." I said good bye to Ichib and went to the turbolift.

***

As I walked into sickbay, I heard Lt. Torres aguing with the Doctor. "There is no way an A.I. can replace real human brain fuction," she was saying. "I'll chose not to take that personally, Lt." said the Doctor. "Doctor, I'm here for my exam" I said. The Doctor quickly looked my way. "Oh, hello Seven. Lt. Torres, as you do not appear to be injured, I must ask you to leave my sickbay. Seven, have a seat on the bio-bed." I sat. The Doctor opened a drawer and rummaged around. He found the med. tricorder and started scanning me with it. "Oh dear. Seven, lie down." The Doctor sounded worried, a major achievement for a hologram. "Why, what's wrong?" I asked, lying back on the bed. "Your cortical implant is malfunctioning." "Am I dying, Doctor?"* My cortical implant had malfunctioned in the past, and Ichib didn't have one to give this time. "Not if I can help it," the Doctor said grimly. He pressed a hypospray into my neck. The last thing I saw before I fell asleep was a worried Captain Janeway passing in the sickbay door.

***

Seven lay on the bio-bed, asleep. If we didn't find a live corneal implant soon, she would never wake . . . . "Any luck, Captain?" The Doctor's voice interrupted my thoughts. "The children refuse to risk their lives, even for Seven," I said. "I had Ichib talk to them, but they still say no." "Let the children see Seven. Maybe they'll change their minds." "All right, I'll try. For Seven." Walking away, I stopped at the doorway of the cargo bay. Seeing Seven like this wound upset the children, but I had to try . . . for Seven. As soon as I stepped inside, I saw the difference. Boxes had been organized, floors cleaned, alcoves checked, everything. Amazing what four bored Borg children could do. "Is she better? Is she?" The children ran to me, all asking the same question. "No, she isn't. But the Doctor said you could see her." "Okay!" was the reply. We walked to sick bay in silence. When we reached sick bay, Mezoti spoke up. "Captain?" "Yes, Mezoti?" I asked. "Well," Mezoti said hesitantly. "Seven can h-have my c-cortical implant. S-she needs it more."

***

A DAY LATER

The operation was a success. Seven was regenerating, and Mezoti was resting in sickbay. I stopped by her bed. She was asleep. I whispered something into her ear. "Thank you, Mezoti."

The End