So this is just something I'm putting out there. Not sure how often I may get to update it, but eventual B/7.
Light travels across the dark vacuum, never stopping, never changing its speed. It is timeless, constant, but it knows how to bend. It can indicate distance, heat, and compositon. Moons need it to light up the night skies, plants need it to grow, and black holes seek out its very essence. Seven of Nine used it to create vast star charts to help Voyager find it's way home.
Her newest endeavor filled the large screen in front of her. Their current course would take them through a region of space filled with stellar and nebular phenomenon. The Captain would be pleased. While the priority was the Alpha Quadrant, exploration would always be a desire with this crew. Seven sighed and saved the information to a PADD, Captain Janeway would want to see it first thing, they were coming up on a large planetary nebula that would surely peek her interest.
It was late into the beta shift, and Seven finally logged off her console. Often she preferred working this late. It was rare she would be interrupted by other crew members, and she could come and go as she pleased. She gathered up the PADDs scattered over the console and headed toward the Mess Hall. Neelix would have long ago gone to bed, and she could consume her nutritional supplement in peace, and though she would never admit it, she enjoyed poking through whatever leftovers he left behind for the night owls on board.
B'elanna Torres stared at the warp core, watching the various blues flow up and down the long tube. She was just finishing up the reports for the next day's staff meeting, and had stopped on her way out of her office to observe the beta shift crew. They were all working at various consoles, eyes on the tasks in front of them, but she could tell she was also being observed. Beta shift was always anxious when she was around, not used to her presence. Lt. Carey was hovering nearby. "Relax Carey, I'm leaving."
She could see his shoulders relax, and grinned slightly. "Not at all Lieutenant. Is there anything you need?"
Torres almost laughed. "No Joe, I just had to finish up reports."
Carey stepped up to her. "Burning the midnight oil?"
"I couldn't sleep, and these reports are due in the morning. I think I'm going to stop by the messhall on the way back to my quarters. See what Neelix left laying around."
"Good luck with that." Carey smiled at her as she headed toward the door. "Good night Lieutenant."
"Night, Joe."
The mess hall was thankfully empty when she entered. The blonde dumped her PADDs on a table near the large windows and headed toward the galley. Neelix had left several "finger foods" out on the counter, and she examined them as she passed. A small grin passed her lips when she saw a plate of rashi lined up among the various dishes. Despite its unappealing brown color it held a flavor not that much different from carrots. Once Neelix had discovered that she actually liked them, he made sure to always have some on hand.
It was one of the few foods she could remember from her childhood, and Lt. Paris had made a remark that only Seven would like vegetables as a child. Surprisingly B'elanna Torres had come to her rescue. "Not every child was a brat when they were six, Tom."
She sighed again. It was best not to dwell on such thoughts. Seven was sure any thoughts and insights she had on the Chief Engineer would not be welcomed or appreciated. No matter how much she admired Torres the half-Klingon had made her feelings clear. Even if her feelings were..."Enough." Seven said to herself.
She put her plate down on the table and picked up one of the PADDs. It was a rough plan for an enhanced warp core. Not exactly slip stream or trans-warp, but it might be plausible to boost the power the engines exerted, with minimum energy usage. It was only a matter of getting B'elanna to listen without dismissing her outright. Perhaps one of the Doctor's social lessons would come in handy.
She sighed and set the PADD down on the table. A slight grimace passed her lips and she was glad she was alone. Seven pulled the chair next to her out and propped her feet up. While she would never show it around the crew the high heels that were part of her biosuit often caused her feet to ache. She popped a piece of rashi in her mouth and picked the PADD back up.
Her preliminary designs would have required a complete retooling of the core, something neither she nor anyone else on the ship would want to undertake. She had decided months ago that using the current systems, with modifications would make the engines work in almost the exact same way. It would still require several simulations and tests, but she believed it would work. The questions was, would anyone else agree?
The doors to the Mess Hall opened and Seven jerked herself upright, turning quickly to see who the midnight snacker was. Lieutenant Torres stopped in the doorway, then raised an eyebrow. "Seven. I thought I'd be the only one pulling an all nighter."
"I was just finishing some projects Lieutenant, I will be out of your way shortly." The half-borg picked up her plate and headed toward the recycler. She didn't want a conflict right now. She wasn't in the mood.
"It's all right, Seven. Just relax, I'm only here for a snack." Seven nodded and turned back to her PADD, but left her feet on the floor. She glanced back at the PADD in her hand, finding herself a little disconcerted. Since her incident with the Vinculum, Lieutenant Torres had been wary around her, which was understandable. Seven herself had been embarassed by her actions, yet they had made a few things clear about her feelings for the half-klingon. Feelings that she must never reveal. She knew those feelings weren't reciprocated, and would probably in fact be ridiculed.
"What's got you up so late tonight?" Seven was startled again and looked up to see B'elanna standing next to the table with a plate in her hand. She was appalled to feel herself blushing.
Quickly she answered, "I had scans that I needed to complete, since beta shift was short of personnel tonight I decided it would be an appropriate time."
B'elanna glanced at the PADD in her hand, but didn't mention it. She put her plate down on the table and sat in the chair across from her. "I didn't know Astrometrics was short tonight."
Seven sensed the question in the statement, and her ocular implant raised slightly. "Engisn Celes called in one hour before her shift. I agreed to cover for her. She claimed to not be feeling well."
B'elanna frowned. "That's not like her. I hope nothing's wrong."
"I believe she and Engisn Chapman have ended their relationship." Seven selected another piece of rashi from her plate and chewed it. She glanced up when Lieutenant Torres was silent. Surely she hadn't said anything wrong.
The Lieutenant was giving her a speculative look, "I didn't know you were aware of that, Seven."
"The relationship was obvious, Lieutenant. It was also obvious that they were an incompatible pair."
"What makes you say that?" B'elanna started poking at the food on her own plate as she asked.
"Ensign Chapman says he cares for Celes yet is not ready for a full commitment. Or this is what he confided to me. He was involved with a woman back in the Alpha Quadrant and is still in love with her. He feels it would be unfair to her."
B'elanna snapped her mouth shut after Seven's short speech. "He told you that?"
"Yes, while we were recalibrating the EPS manifolds. He claimed he knew I would listen and not pass judgement."
B'elanna nodded and looked back down at her plate. She hadn't realized Seven was that plugged in to ship's gossip, or that she was getting it directly from the horse's mouth. She also didn't realize the ex-drone would understand a topic such as love. After the Vinculum B'elanna was seeing a different side to Seven.
The Son of K'vok aside, she'd heard Seven's screams over her comm link with the doctor. It had sent chills through her spine and stabbing pains to her heart. She had dismissed it as concern for a crewmate, but now she wasn't so sure. Seeing the ex-drone sitting in the Mess Hall when she walked in, had sent an unexpected jolt through her body.
She looked at the PADDs Seven had scattered across the table and decided to be curious. "What's all this?"
Seven stiffened, then picked up the PADD closest to her. "They are plans for a possible enhancement to the warp drive. I...thought I would ask you to look at them when they were finished."
Translation, Seven was scared to ask her to look at them. B'elanna berated herself silently, then reached her hand out. "No time like the present Seven."
Almost reluctantly Seven handed the PADD over, B'elanna started to read them, immediately seeing that the ex-drone's calculations were possible with a few tweeks. It would take a few tests and simulations, but it was possible. She had no way of knowing her thoughts were in line with Seven's own.
"This looks good Seven. I have a few suggestions but I think this could go forward. After we speak to the Captain of course." B'elanna set the PADD down and went back to her plate.
Seven raised an eyebrow but decided not to voice her opinion. The Lieutenant had accepted the ideas without her usual sarcastic comments and for that she was thankful. "How are you feeling Seven? After the vinculum?"
The ex-drone looked shocked that anyone had asked. In fact except for the Doctor and the Captain they hadn't. "Occasionally there are headaches, but the Doctor assures me they will pass. Otherwise I am well Lieutenant."
"That's good Seven." The Klingon stood, picking up her plate. "I'm going to bed."
She paused after putting her plate back in the replicator. "I'll request a meeting with the Captain in the morning. Good night."
Seven watched her go. "Goodnight Lieutenant."
"This is impressive. Good work Seven." Captain Janeway set the PADD on her desk and smiled at the two women. "How long do you expect it to take?"
"We could have the initial upgrades online in a few weeks." B'elanna took a deep breath, "The final changes would need a space dock, but would only take a few days. Once the initial changes are made Captain we should see an immediate change in power systems and performance of the engine."
"I agree Captain. Efficiency would be increased by 15%, it may seem a small amount but it would be significant."
Janeway smiled and held up her hand. "Relax ladies. I agree with you. I want you to start as soon as possible." She stood, making her way around the desk. "Have the final schematics drawn up and on my desk in the morning."
The turbolift doors shut and started in motion Seven turned to the Lieutenant. "I can start on the power modifications while I finish my scans in Astrometrics."
They had a tenative peace going and Seven was loathe to do anything to upset it. She figured if she stayed out of the Lieutenant's way until the actual changes were made things may go more smoothly. "Actually Seven it might be easier..."
The ship rocked violently, and the intertial dampners failed sending them both crashing into the the turbolift walls. Above them the lights flickered out.