The doors to the astrometrics lab slid open smoothly and Seven of Nine stepped through in a quick and easy movement. There was no wasted motion, as even as she walked her mind was already computing what she would have to do-

"YAAAAAAAH!"

The ex-borg did not blink. "Mr. Paris, what was the purpose of that exercise?"

"Huh?"

"You waited behind the door, and when I entered you screamed and leapt at me. Why?"

Tom Paris gave her a faintly incredulous look. "Really. I didn't scare you at all?"

"No."

"Hmmph." The sandy-haired lieutenant leaned against a wall. "I'll have to work on that one… Oh, yes. It's April Fool's Day."

"April Fool's Day… a human festival in which the unaware are ritually frightened and/or humiliated?" The inhuman precision of her voice left no doubt, yes, she could pronounce a backslash.

"Er, I wouldn't put it exactly that way, but- Hey!" Tom staggered, trying to regain his footing. Seven had abruptly shoved him, hard, in the chest.

"April Fools."

Tom winced. "That's not what I meant."

"I humiliated and frightened you. I said the phrase. Clarify."

"Well, uh, don't actually hurt anyone, okay? And try to be creative. You can't just walk up to someone, shove them, and call it a prank." He glanced from side to side. "Er, I've got to go."

Seven did not watch his hasty exit from the lab. April Fool's Day, eh? She quickly pulled up a database of 'pranks' and began to scroll.

/

"Captain."

Kathryn Janeway looked up, startled. "Oh, hello Seven." Don't bother to knock, she thought. But, then again, when had Seven ever knocked?

Seven was still standing straightly, hands clasped behind her back. "I regret to inform you that there is an arachnoid creature crawling on your upper abdomen." Then, with barely a beat, "April Fool."

"Seven, what- "

Her question was too late. The ex-borg had left.

"Well, that was strange." She remarked to no one.