Tuvok lifted his eyes from his Vulcan compatriot's dazed and apprehensive face as he heard Sickbay's doors open again. Unexpectedly he saw Erin Hansen enter and approach them. He noticed Seven and Chakotay, sitting side by side at the other end of the Vulcan's biobed, both stiffen at the sight, Chakotay's face became tense, dark and unreadable while Seven's facial muscles gave a sharp jerk of surprise before falling into its habitual impassive mask. Not for the first time Tuvok found his crewmate's level of self control impressive, almost Vulcan in standard when her human genetic predisposition for excess emotion and her lack of formal training were taken into account. He focused again on her mother as she approached him. "Excuse me Commander, I heard you were going to talk to the Vulcan who was freed with us and I think I could help, since we're in similar situations."
Tuvok shot Seven a minimal glance and she gave an equally discreet nod of acquiescence despite sensing Chakotay's growing unease and distrust beside her. Tuvok then turned to the older woman with a carefully measured expression, "That is a logical argument Dr Hansen; you may interact as you wish."
Erin gave him a grateful look as she murmured "Thanks" but she wasn't sure if his unbelievably stoic face even registered it as she sat down in the chair nearest Annika, just catching Chakotay's disapproving eyes give her a sidelong glance as she settled herself.
Tuvok observed this interaction for a moment, noticing how Erin unconsciously assumed exactly the same sitting position as her daughter before he focused again on the other former Borg who was unofficially his responsibility. "You are on the Federation starship the U.S.S Voyager, stranded in the Delta Quadrant. We have freed you from the Borg Collective, what do you remember of your former life?" He asked.
The woman's face betrayed more fear than was considered decent in a Vulcan but given the circumstances he could forgive that, more encouragingly her eyes were steady as she met his, "My designation…my name is…T'Lena. I am…was a microbiologist on the Vulcan science ship Kalor."
"That corroborates the records; the Kalor was assimilated eight years ago." Seven said quietly, one eye on the information padd and one on the woman's face to assess her reaction, which was thankfully controlled, her next question logical as she saw her implants and those of the two women beside her.
"The two of you were also assimilated?" T'Lena asked.
"Yes." Seven replied before going more in depth. "I am Seven of Nine; I was freed by the Voyager crew over four years ago after more than eighteen years as a drone." Reluctantly she indicated her mother, "This is Dr Erin Hansen, she and her husband were freed with you." Erin flinched when Annika didn't introduce her as her mother but wordlessly allowed the slight to pass.
T'Lena now looked at them both, but especially Erin, with interest. "I apologise, I don't recall…"
Erin offered her a warm smile. "Don't worry, I think most, if not all, of your memories will return. Commander Tuvok…" The next name, if she could call it that, clogged her throat but she decided to give her daughter a concession for the moment, "…Seven and I will help you all we can."
Seven quickly hid the surprise and unexpected triumph that came over her as Erin finally used her preferred name and looked instead at T'Lena. "She is correct, we will do all we can to aid your adjustment."
"Thank you…" T'Lena began but was interrupted by a sudden ruckus in the doorway.
Seven felt horror set in as she saw Tom and Harry drag her obviously inebriated father into Sickbay on his knees, slurring with violent incoherence. She barely registered her mother's stupefied but angered exclamation, "Magnus, how much did you take?"
The Doctor was automatically in command now, issuing orders to the two unintended bearers. "Lay him on the biobed."
Tom and Harry did so, using every charm they had to coax and cajole before finally resorting to brute force to lay him down onto the biobed but he continued to struggle, yelling out wordlessly and thrashing around. The Doctor somehow managed to run a tricorder over him and quickly read the results. "A blood alcohol level of 0.48, more than enough." He looked to Tom. "Did you make note of his…method?" he asked discreetly, giving Seven and Erin an apologetic glance.
"Vodka. Half a bottle at least." Tom replied.
Erin looked flabbergasted. "He told me he was going to have a drink but he's drank more than that before and never been so…"
"Belligerent?" The Doctor filled in. "Well, Borg physiology can't absorb alcohol, any drink is about five times stronger with any of the three of you than with the average human. We'll need to sedate him before I can start treatment." He began to approach the now confused frightened man, whose yells were now pain filled cries.
"Silence, silence! Too quiet! Alone…can't function, help me! Oh God, why…" He howled as the Doctor came near him with a tranquiliser before twisting away, almost knocking over Harry with the uncontrollable strength in the movement.
Seven expected her mother to intervene and soothe him but she did nothing. Seven herself felt his unhappy rants, drunken though they were, tear at her soul until she couldn't take it anymore and strode up to the Doctor. "Give me the hypospray." She ordered in a tone which brooked no argument. Mystified, the Doctor handed it over and she fearlessly approached her father, looking him directly in the face as she murmured painfully, "Papa…allow me to sedate you…please…" Magnus instantly fell silent and abruptly stopping fighting, gazing at her unnervingly as she hurriedly injected the hypospray into his neck and he slid into unconsciousness and she became aware of everyone staring at her in wonder. Distractedly she looked to Tom and Harry, now freed of their burden. "Lieutenant Paris, Ensign Kim, thank you for bringing him here…I appreciate it."
Both men looked at her in mournful sympathy. "No problem Seven." Tom muttered before leaving quickly, Harry close in behind.
Seven, white as a ghost and leaning heavily on Chakotay caught her mother staring at her openly. "What do you want?" She snapped tearfully, eyes flashing before she hid them in Chakotay's shoulder.
"Nothing my love, I'm just surprised…" Erin began in trepidation.
Seven kept her gaze fixed on the floor, biting her lip as she coldly ground out, "Despite what you may think, I can be magnanimous, when it is utterly necessary. If I wasn't you would still be on that Cube…" She felt Chakotay tighten his grip round her waist and managed to stop the sudden flow of venom.
Erin had suddenly gone stiff, feeling as if Annika had slapped her, her gaze frozen on Annika and her lover as she spoke with resignation. "Well, we're both overwrought…I for one have a migraine, do you think you could show me to an unoccupied set of quarters for a rest Commander?"
Tuvok looked ready to volunteer but Chakotay somehow knew she meant him and felt a shiver of unease travel up his back as he looked at Seven, who stepped out of his arms in silent permission. "Yes, of course. Come with me." God, it was like talking to his Cardassian jailers again, forced politeness was the skill of the day.
"Thank you." She said quietly as she headed for the doorway. Chakotay paused, loathe to leave as he saw Seven half collapse against a biobed.
Seven saw his upset look and she sighed deeply. "Go with her my love. I've had enough for now."
Despite her words of release the reluctance lingered on until the Doctor whispered. "I'll attend to her, just go." Curling his lips Chakotay braced his shoulders and followed Erin out into the hall.
A/n: How is my characterisation this time? Please review!