A/n: Thanks to khrom for updating "The Borg Files". :) I really enjoyed the chapter.
Harry Kim glanced up from the reels of data being presented by Astrometrics sensors as the doors behind him whoosh softly open in welcome to a new arrival. He fought the by now familiar quiver in his knees as he saw Seven walk in and leaned lightly on the console to maintain his unaffected composure as he tried not to be hurt by her complete dismissal of his presence. "Hey Seven." He greeted carefully while also cursing how inadequate the words sounded to his ears.
They had the desired effect on Seven though, she jumped slightly and he was unsettled to see her Borg hand shaking as it rested on the control panel. Her eyes, when they met his, were obviously dazed but within an instant her usual cool detachment had reasserted itself, the worrying disorientation gone. "Ensign." She replied with the polite inclination of her head which he had learned was her interpretation of a cordial greeting. Harry didn't really expect her to say any more, based on previous experience, but she surprised him by speaking again after a few silent moments, "I apologise for leaving you to perform the sensor reconfigurations unassisted, it was lax of me."
Harry smiled despite the decidedly sombre, almost ashamed tone of her voice. Apologies were definitely a step forward! "It was no problem Seven, you were ordered to report to Sickbay after all." He paused, flushing as he was met by her disarming gaze, "At least, there's no problem if I've done your modifications right…" He amended sheepishly.
"You have." Seven assured him firmly, a mild smirk of amusement fluttering over her features before a brief wince shattered it.
Harry frowned at her in concern, "I hope I'm not crossing a line here Seven, but are you really okay? I know the Doctor checked you over but…"
"A headache, derived from lack of regeneration, nothing more." Seven answered perfunctorily, her attention again stubbornly fixated on the sensor readings in front of her, "There is an L Class planet in the system 2.1 light-years from our current position which appears to have a deuterium rich surface. I will forward the co-ordinates to the Bridge for consideration."
Within a few moments of Seven's impossibly speedy fingers dialling in the appropriate command, the Captain's pleased voice echoed through the comm. system, "Well done Seven, Harry. We're changing headings to go to that system right now. Conduct more in-depth planetary scans if you can, we need to know how easy it's going to be to reach this deuterium."
Harry gave Seven's console a sidelong glance, she had pre-empted the Captain's order. "We've already started Captain."
"Good, keep me updated. We should be within visual range in five minutes or so. Janeway out." The Captain replied briskly before the system obediently clicked off.
"So…" Harry began stutteringly after about a minute of silence, although it was probably only awkward for him. "Why haven't you been regenerating? Is there something wrong with your alcove?"
Seven stiffened, studying him through narrowed eyes before releasing a small sigh. "The Doctor believes…" Her lips curled tightly inwards, clearly illustrating her dissatisfaction with the Doctor's conclusion, "…that "nightmares" are disrupting my regeneration cycles."
"Nightmares?" Harry echoed dubiously, "I didn't know you could have…" He cringed as he belatedly realised how insulting he sounded.
Seven however, was nonplussed. "Neither did I." She admitted ruefully, "Nor was I even aware of the concept."
"You weren't?" Harry asked, swallowing as she nodded. "Nightmares aren't something you want to be aware of but I guess we all have them. My mom always said warm milk helps."
A phantom of a smile danced briefly over Seven's face, "Then perhaps I will follow her recommendation."She said quietly.
Harry beamed at her gleefully; this conversation was going much better than he'd hoped! Before he could continue it however, his console beeped an insistent alert. "We're in visual range of the planet." He announced, immediately pulling the image of the planet. Its silver rings, larger and more spectacular than even Saturn's, hung like a magnificent choker over the midnight blue surface. The sensors counted over 30 moons in orbit around it. "It's amazing!" He exclaimed, "I hope we get to go down there…" He stopped as Seven's stifled, frightened, gasp hit his ears, a sound he'd never expected to hear. He turned to watch her warily. She was frozen in place, her eyes eerily fixated on the stunning image before them and her face rendered chalk white by panic. "Seven? What's wro…" His question was cut off by her grunt of pain as her whole body gave a violent jerk. Harry recoiled backwards in horror as he saw a new implant sprout out on her human hand, then another burst of metal erupted from her temple like some sort of grotesque bloom. "Oh my God!" Harry jarred his hand against his comm. badge, "Doctor, report to Astrometrics…"
"I…must return…" Seven declared robotically, although her voice was broken and strained, "The Borg! The Borg are calling…" Her blank eyes blink closed for a split second before she promptly turned on her heel and strode purposefully out into the hallway.
"What the hell happened?" Janeway questioned Chakotay heatedly as they ran breathlessly towards Astrometrics.
"Harry just said new implants came from her and she left, saying "The Borg were calling her"…" Chakotay explained.
"That's impossible!" Janeway cried out in exasperation, "We're thousands of light-years away from Borg Space, Seven knows that better than anyone…" She trailed off, her lips pursing anxiously, "She's come so far in the month she's been here, she was adapting." She told Chakotay resolutely, "I know she doesn't want to go back…"
Chakotay paused to grip the woman's shoulder. "You may have to face the possibility that you're wrong Kathryn…" He winced at her glare, even though he'd been expecting it, "But until then we'll give her the benefit of the doubt and try to help her." He reasoned gently.
"You bet we will." Janeway muttered defensively and met the eyes of every member of the security team surrounding them. "Keep your phasers on stun and only use them as a last resort, understood?" she ordered sharply.
"Yes Captain…" The gold and black suited crewmen all began to reply but were interrupted by the arrival of the fugitive herself, striding confidently down the hallway as if indifferent of the heavily armed crewmen swarming around her like bees and also her Captain's stricken face.
"Seven, what are you doing?" The Captain asked cautiously, approaching the woman slowly, as she would a wild animal. "We need to talk about this…"
Seven ignored all but the first question. "The Borg are summoning me. I must go to them." Her voice was leaden and matter-of-fact.
"Seven, the Borg can't be summoning you! They're not here, it would take years to reach Borg Space!" The Captain argued, worry making her attempts at reasoning sound harsh.
"They are summoning me." Seven countered with icy insistence but Chakotay saw a flash of confusion burn across her face as her hands tightened into stubborn fists. "I can…hear them calling for me."
Chakotay stepped forward to stop the Captain's desperate retort, he doubted it would help. Seven's pupils were pinpoints, like a drug addict, and he could see her muscles taunt and ready. Despite her apparent regression back into the hold of the Collective mind, he sensed hope. When Seven had truly been a drone, she'd constantly referred to herself in the plural, while now she still clung to first person. Also, he sensed none of the unrepentant violent intent he'd witnessed when he'd met her as a drone, instead this was a form of automaton determination. "Look Seven, if you come with us, we'll help you scan for and find the Borg, okay?" He suggested thoughtfully. He saw her pause and took a deep breath, "That would be more efficient wouldn't it?" he coaxed.
Seven's lips pressed together, almost regretfully. "There is no time Commander." Her cybernetic arm sprang up from her side and began to dial unknown commands into the wall console.
"Stop her!" The Captain shouted. Several phasers fired in a wild flurry but a luminous green shield formed instantaneously around Seven's body and absorbed the weapons fire with harmless ease. Seven tilted her head up definitely as she moved forward utterly unscathed, pressing one final button and within a blink of an eye the transporter had beamed her away.
A/n: PLEASE REVIEW! :D
