Regeneration cycle complete. Seven of nine awoke to disturbing thoughts. "I have been experiencing strange dreams, she thinks to herself. I will consult
the captain on this manner". Seven shuts down her alcove and proceeds to her morning breakfast with the captain.
"Good morning Seven, you're late", says Janeway. "I apologize", she tells the captain. The captain looks at Seven. "What's wrong?" "I have
experienced some disturbing dreams". "What kind of dreams"? "They center around Ensign Kim". "Oh I see", Janeway says. "Do you have feelings for
Harry"? "I do not know exactly". "I think of him often, even when I am not regenerating. When I see him with other females I get...apprehensive". "In
other words you get jealous", says Janeway. "That would not be the correct term to use". "Uh huh", Janeway responds. "You know that he has feelings
for you, why don't you just ask him out"? "His infatuation with me ended two years ago", says Seven staring at her breakfast. "I don't think his feelings
for you will ever end. I know that he talks about you often". "He does?, says Seven enthusiastic. Janeway smiles. "Why would he or anyone have
feelings for me, I am Borg"? "You haven't been Borg for three years Seven". "What should I do"? "Ask him out on a date", Janeway states while eating
breakfast. "I do not know how"? "Invite him to dinner in the mess hall and then talk to him about your feelings. I'm almost certain that he won't turn
you down", Janeway smiles. "You are sure this is the best course of action"? "Yes Seven, I'm sure". Seven nods, " I will comply with your decision".
"Now, states Janeway, lets finish breakfast". They continue to eat when Janeway announces, "Harry is not the only one that has feelings for you
Seven. Seven looks confused. Chakotay, Tom, Neelix, Tuvok, the doctor, even Bellana, in her own strange way, considers you a close friend". "What
about you captain, how do you view me"? "I view you as my daughter, the captain tells her. Whatever strange twist of fate brought us together, I was
the one that decided to sever you from the collective. I was the first single voice that you heard in over twenty years. I was the one who guided you
back to humanity. You are in my heart now Seven, and I will always be there for you". Seven experiences something that she hadn't experienced in
over twenty years, the forming of tears. "I do not know how to respond to that", she tells Janeway. I always thought that as Borg, I would never be
loved by anyone". Janeway leans over to hug Seven. Seven begins to cry. "I have often referred to you as my mother in private". "I'm happy that you
view me that way Seven". "This is the first hug that I have received in twenty years". Janeway wipes tears from her eyes. " You will receive many more,
she says. As you know, I'm a very tactile individual". "This much is certain", says Seven. They both laugh then separate to continue their breakfast.
The next morning Harry Kim enters astrometrics. "Good morning Seven". Seven remembers her conversation with Janeway, "Good morning Harry, how
are you"? Harry taken aback responds, "I'm fine Seven how are you"? "I am functioning within acceptable parameters", she states. He looks at her. "Is
everything alright Seven"? "Why would it not be? I am simply adhering to the normal protocol administered in a structured society". "Whatever", Harry
shakes his head walking to a console. Seven kicks herself mentally. "I would like to ask you to dinner", she blurts out. Harry looks stunned. "Are you
asking me out on a date Seven"? "I believe I just stated that". "Why"? Seven takes a deep breath. "Because I have feelings for you and I hope that
you have feelings for me as well". Harry looks stunned. "Of course I'll go to dinner with you". She smiles at him. "Nineteen hundred in the mess hall"?
"It's a date", smiling he returns to his console.
2100 hours, after dinner in the mess hall. "I had a good time Seven", states Harry. "It was enjoyable for me also". "Would you like to join me in my
quarters for an after dinner drink". "Alcohol impairs my implants, but I will accompany you nonetheless". He smiles at her, then leads on to his quarters.
"You know I was shocked when you asked me to dinner", he tells her once they have reached his quarters. I've had a thing for you since you came
aboard, but I never thought that you had those types of feelings for me". "I did not, she tells him, but you have been a recurring entity in my dreams
for several months now. I have spoken with the captain and she has assured me that I harbor feelings for you. I thought the best course of action
would be to explore these feelings and ascertain if she was correct". "Was she correct Seven? I mean do you see yourself being with me in a romantic
relationship"? Seven nods her head shyly. "How do you know for sure"? "I await your presence during, the day. I am comforted by your voice when you
speak. I am excited by your smile. I feel uneasy when I see you with other females, and when you touch me I feel warm", she delivers her statements
with her head down. Harry places his hands over Seven's that rests in her lap. "Are you warm now Seven"? She nods. "Would it upset you if I kissed
you"? "I am anxiously awaiting my first kiss", she tells him. Harry leans down to give Seven her first real kiss. He stops just before their lips meet, "are
you sure"? Her response is to grab hold of his hair and fuse their lips together. The kiss starts slow then escalates to a hot and frenzy make out
session. He hears her moan mingle with his own.
"God Seven I never thought it could be like this", he groans. Seven, having lost all sense of herself, breaks the kiss. She looks at him confused. "Is this
the way it feels every time you kiss someone"? He shakes his head no. "This is how It feels when you kiss the person you plan to spend the rest of
your life with", he tells her. Seven tears up. "Are you certain"? "Never more certain in my life, he responds. I love you Seven, I have from the first time I
met you and that's never going to change". "But we were not together, how could you have loved me all this time"? "Somethings just can't be
explained", he tells her. "I know for a fact that I will love you till the day that I die and even beyond that if possible". "How can you know this for
certain"? " Because I await your presence during the day, he sends her words back to her. I am comforted by your voice when you speak. I am excited
by your smile. I felt uneasy when you conducted your experiment into sexuality and when you touch me I feel warm". He smiles at her while she sheds
tears. "I do not know how to proceed", she responds. "We will proceed and learn together". "That is a sound plan", she tells him with a smile. "Now, I
think it's time that we both get some sleep", says Harry. "You've had a long day and you need to regenerate". "I do not wish to leave you". "I don't
want you to leave either but we should call it a night". "I only need to regenerate every 72 hours now. The doctor has been working on shorter time
periods. He assures me that he will eliminate my need for the alcove completely". "Would you like to stay with me tonight Seven"? "I would be very
happy to stay with you Harry". They proceed strip down to their underwear and get comfortable in the bed. "Goodnight Seven, he mummers with a kiss
to her forehead". "Goodnight Harry", she respond and they drift to sleep.
Engineering 0800 hours. "Seven", Bellana yells. Seven looks up startled. I've been calling your name for the last five minutes, Bellana looks at her.
"What's up with you this morning"? "I apologize Lieutenant, I was…...distracted". "I'll say, Bellana responds. Does this have anything to do with your
dinner last night with Harry"? "I do not understand your question". "Well, I saw you and Harry in the mess hall last night eating dinner. You two looked
very cozy. Were you on a date"? "I do not see how this can be any concern of yours", Seven states. "I'm not so much concerned as I am curious", says
Bellana. "Why are you curious"? "Well Harry is my friend and so are you …...sort of, Seven raises her brow looking at Bellana, well anyway I just wanted
to know are you two dating now"? "Would it upset you if we were"? "At one time, yeah I think it would have upset me. It took me awhile to warm up to
you Seven. I really didn't like you much when you first came aboard. You're different now. You've changed a lot, hell for that matter so have I. Like I
said, Harry is my friend. What ever happiness any of us can scrape out way out here, I'm all for it". "'Thank you lieutenant". "Don't thank me. There are
still times where I would like to bash your face in, no offense". "None taken, says Seven. Often there are times when I would like to do the same to
you". "See there you have it, another thing we have in common", Bellana smirks. "Well, are you two seeing each other"? Seven gives a small smile.
"Yes, last night was our first date". "How did it go"? "We had dinner, then we returned to his quarters to talk. We kissed, talked further, kissed again,
then slept together". Bellana hangs her mouth open. "You mean to tell me that Harry had sex with you on the first date"? "We did not have
intercourse. We both needed to regenerate, so he allowed me to sleep with him. Seven looks at Bellana puzzled. You appear to be disturbed"? "I was
shocked by the thought that Harry would take advantage of you like that". "Why would the thought of me being taken advantage of disturb you? You
do not really like me or consider me a close friend". "We may not be the best of friends but you are some one that I would not like to see anything
happen to". "Explain", says Seven. "You are probably the smartest person on this ship Seven, with all the stuff you have rolling around in your head,
but you're innocent in the ways of humanity. Men, especially the wrong men, take advantage of that. I was upset to think that Harry would be that type
of man". Seven looks at Bellana humbled. "You care for me", Seven says in a small voice. "I never said that", Bellana says flustered. "You were
concerned for me which constitutes care", says Seven. "Don't get all bent out of shape about it. It'll probably never happen again", Bellana says
walking away, seven trailing behind. "We can be girlfriends now, chums, pals", Seven teases. "Don't push it Seven", Bellana says leaving engineering
while Seven trails behind taunting her. "Can I call you Bellana or maybe B", Seven calls after her. "Bite me", yells Bellana. Confused crew look on after
them.
"Report", Janeway says entering the bridge. "The planet is M class captain", states Chakotay. "Any lifeforms present"? "It's has a industrialized
civilization". "Are they space culpable"? "Yes sir". "Open a channel". "Channel open". "This is captain Janeway of the USS Voyager. We are currently
passing through your system on our way home. We mean you no harm. We would like the opportunity to meet with you and possibly exchange goods",
the captain says. "Incoming message". "This is Senator Syrus for the planet Zyrillian. We acknowledge your response and are happy to receive you as
guest on our planet". "Acknowledged senator. We will meet at your convenience and set up schedule for trade. We look forward to meeting you,
Janeway out". "Chakotay you and I will greet the senator. Ready an away team to go to the surface to secure supplies that we might need. I want
Bellana and Seven on board to gather the necessary supplies". "Aye sir". "All hands this is the captain. We are currently in the Zyrillian system. We will
be meeting with representatives from their planet. I want all personnel to maintain their post until further notice. Janeway out".