Seven awoke to a pressure bearing down on her chest. She kept her eyes tightly sealed…at least until the pressure started to bounce politely up and down while singing; "You gotta loves me cuz I so cute! Yes you gots to loves me… I so cute." She heard a giant intake of breath and kept her eyes closed quiet amused listening to the child make up words to the tune of the earth song 'if your happy and you know it'. "if I so cute and you knows it you gots to buy me lots of presents yes you do!" she heard the doctor laughing and couldn't help but join in. "Mommies wake! Uncle Doctor looks!" Seven laughed even harder watching Desyn beam at her and point as if the doctor couldn't see for himself that her eyes were open.
"Yes Desyn I do see that. How are you feeling?" He patted the girl on the head and proceeded to pick her up off of Seven so she could breathe better. She was heavy for such a small child. Seven smiled slightly at the Doctor but he was looking at Desyn fixing curls that had come out of a pony tail someone had fixed for her. She was glad to see them getting along, especially after that beautiful kick he'd received upon her arrival.
"I am….sore but it is not life threatening I will adapt." He nodded and scanned her.
"You look fine but Seven," He hesitated a second while she bent down and picked up her daughter, "I'm worried about these spells, we don't know what's causing them."
"You told me that already. I do not wish to be kept in sickbay all day every day, Doctor. Perhaps you can monitor my condition and still allow for my free will?"
"I'll keeps you company mommy…" Desyn thought for a second, "Well except for play time…and I wanna eat with Naomi….and Captain said she'd show me the hollow deck…don't correct me!" Desyn effectively cut her off before she could explain it wasn't a hollow deck. "Anyways I can give up…..oh! School time that okay with me yes. Doctor was saying I should go to class with Naomi but I'll stay with u. Sacrilege and all that."
"Sacrifice Desyn…not sacrilege," Seven corrected gently.
Desyn gave her a death glare, "Just had to do it didn't you?" Seven shrugged and smirked.
"Seven the captain wanted to speak with you." Seven frowned she didn't really want to speak to Janeway. At least not until she'd collected her thoughts on these dreams and that voice, it was still all so confusing to her. "Here," he placed a node behind her left ear, "this will monitor your vitals and send feedback to me. If you feel faint let me know immediately and ill transport you to sickbay." Seven nodded and looked at Desyn.
"Where will you be while I am talking to the Captain?"
"Can I go with Icheb? He said he'd take me to play kadis kot with Naomi while he studied." Seven's eye quirked.
"You have discovered Icheb?"
Desyn looked sheepish. "I ran away from Neelix and got lost he found me and got onto me. Said you'd be sad if I got hurt and he didn't want you to be sad. Me neither mommy so I promise never to run way again. I just got bored and Neelix talks too much bout food. And his people I swear its Laxative this Non-edible food dish that." Seven smiled she couldn't get onto Desyn with her being so cute it was impossible, and at least the child had been properly admonished for her actions.
"I believe it is Talaxian…..but I do see your point he does talk a little…too much. Okay Desyn you can go with Icheb and Naomi. But you must be good." Desyn smiled and squirmed until Seven put her on her own feet.
"I always good!" She smiled until she saw Seven's 'yeah right' look and quickly corrected her statement. "Well most the time." The doctor laughed approvingly.
"She does remind me of you ,Seven, all that determination and rebellion." He seemed to be reminiscing with himself, talking in low tones about something in the past so Seven simply took Desyn's hand and walked out of sickbay. He had given her permission to leave and she hadn't even deactivated his program. She could behave as well.
Seven escorted Desyn to Icheb in astrometrics, he seemed excited to see her and promised Seven he'd take good care of her. Seven gave them a curfew and proceeded to the Captain's quarters, albeit very slowly, she wanted to put the inevitable off for as long as possible. She wasn't even sure what she was going to tell Janeway yet. She was debating it in the lift when she heard her own voice again.
"Everything, Seven, tell her everything. Trust her. You don't have much time left the Queen is near." Seven jerked in response. What could the Queen be doing coming after her. Wasn't it the alternate Seven she wanted? "She doesn't care which she has she just wants one of us. I cannot explain why I do not know. You have to warn Voyager! When she arrives there will be no Borg signatures she will simply drop out of space on top of you! You have to protect yourself and Desyn before she gets there." Seven gasped just as the lift stopped, she could communicate with herself…..okay that just sounded crazy maybe she needed to head back to the Doctor for a full evaluation. "You're not crazy please listen to me. She wants you alive but she won't see a problem with killing all of Voyagers' crew and possibly even Desyn to get you." Seven wondered why she was after her if the alternate Seven was still alive wasn't it easier to obtain her. Especially if she didn't want Desyn there was no reason for her to jump dimensions that in itself sounded utterly complex and hazardous.
"Uhh…Seven you getting off?" Seven jumped and nodded hastily exiting the lift and making her way to the Captain's door.
"I am not alive….I can't explain how I'm communicating to you but I can tell you it's by the same power that allowed me to transport Desyn….I have to go…..Tell Janeway….And trust Sypher."
"No wait!" Seven didn't mean for the outburst to be verbal but she hastily chimed in to the Captain's chamber when she felt all of the crew's eyes boring into her. Her cheeks were flushed bright red in embarrassment by the time the Captain finally answered.
Janeway was dressed casual, it was the first time Seven had ever seen her in a pair of loose blue jeans and a button up shirt…..She found it difficult to concentrate on anything but the way the buttons were undone to show so much skin. "Sit Seven, we need to talk." It took Seven a minute to understand Janeway even spoke and she had to look up and give an uncharacteristic "what?" before she finally understood and forced her attention to the matter at hand. To confide in Janeway or avoid letting her know she was losing her mind. Seven was still struggling with the decision when she finally noticed Janeway sitting right beside her. "Seven are you alright? It's unlike you to be so spaced out."
Seven had decided. If there was any risk to Voyager she knew she had to tell the Captain. Just as she knew if the Queen of the Borg really did appear she would go with her without a fight to procure the safe escape of her crewmen and Desyn. "I do believe we need to talk. I have….something…..illogical to tell you."
Janeway nodded…"I'm listening Seven."
Seven shook her head and stood up. She began pacing the room; Janeway allowed her trying to give the ex-Borg time to collect her thoughts. It was obviously going to be a difficult story so she prepared herself to be open minded. "I believe the ship is in danger of a Borg attack."
Janeway balked…she already knew this her ship was scanning for Borg signatures every twenty minutes, Seven knew this. "Yes Seven. Since Desyn told us we've been-"
Seven interrupted her, "No captain. My alternate self explained that when the Queen arrives it will be from her reality and there will be no signs, like when Desyn arrived. She will be on top of us before we have a chance to react."
Janeway nodded thoughtfully. "I don't want to know how you got into contact with …well yourself, but I assure you we will protect Desyn, Seven, from anything Borg or non-Borg."
"Thank you Captain but the Queen is not after Desyn. Seven believes she is after me. I propose when the Queen arrives you send me to her and leave this space at maximum warp. I do not wish the crew to be harmed."
"Unacceptable Seven you know this. I didn't leave you before and I won't abandon you now, accept that. I'm not going to forfeit your life just to extend my own you can't-"
"It will not be just for your own!" Seven took a few deep breaths to calm herself. She was unaccustomed to such strong emotions. "You must keep my daughter safe Captain. I once entrusted myself into your care. It was a slow process but you have never failed me…I am asking that you do the same for my daughter."
Janeway let the tears in her eyes fall, losing Seven….she doubted she'd be useful to anyone and she couldn't even bear the thought of Seven rejoining the Queen to save her ship yet again. They'd found a way last time surely they would this time as well she wasn't going to give up hope. Janeway stood and made her way over to Seven. "I will do whatever is necessary to ensure the safety of Desyn and my crew….but I will never give up on you. If she takes you I will search for you…I will tear the galaxies apart to look for you. Do you understand?"
Seven parted her lips but no words formed. That declaration sounded much like the last dream she'd had where the Queen swore nearly the same thing. "She said that as well. That is why she is coming Captain." Janeway furrowed her brow in confusion.
"When have you been in contact with the Borg?" Seven was surprised that it didn't sound accusing but instead concerned. Janeway was worried about Seven's wellbeing she was glad her earlier doubts were no longer a concern.
Instead of answering her though she broke eye contact, she was still hesitant about sharing her dreams…or the alternate's memories as she suspected them of being. Janeway would have none of it she gently grasped her chin and brought her back to meet her troubled gaze. Seven couldn't help but realized how close they were, how Janeway's scent was all around her and comforting. If she leaned forward even a hair she could kiss the smaller woman, her eyes quickly darted down to the frowning mouth before back to her eyes. Before she could think about what she was doing Seven leaned forward and kissed the surprised Captain. She was hoping not to be slapped and for Janeway to forget about her question. She hadn't expected for Janeway to return the kiss. It was a pleasant surprise and would be a fitting goodbye for when the Queen did take her. She just hoped she'd have another chance to instigate one.