A/n: I'm sorry about the total lack of updates over the weekend. I was really tired so I took a break. I hope this chapter helps to make up for my laziness!
Seven's muscles sent shooting pains of complaint up her nerves as she tentatively uncurled from her foetal position on the cold, unyielding Cargo Bay floor. She ignored them stubbornly as she forced herself to stand; just glad that the violent, uncontrollable churn of her sickened stomach had dulled to an intermittent nauseous ache, unpleasant though it was she was functional again. Still, she had to put one steadying hand on a nearby container for a moment as she rose, taking an irritated swipe at the hot, insidious tears staining her face with the back of her other hand as she did so. However, even as she worked to remove every trace of her inner turmoil from her face with the help of water, soap and makeup, she couldn't really regret the brief emotional vent crying had given her; she did feel marginally better or at least more able to cope. She knew better than anyone that even if she were to allow herself to cry forever the dilemma that caused them would still be lying in wait, ready to strike. Admiral Janeway had simplified it to her thus; her family or revenge against the Borg, but Seven couldn't see it as revenge, not for herself. Dealing a blow to the Borg wouldn't help her, but it would save so many others and she'd spent too many years relearning compassion and carrying guilt that she was unable to dismiss those strangers as irrelevant. It almost seemed that the Admiral wanted that ruthlessly pragmatic drone she'd once been to resurface, put herself and her small Collective of Voyager first…
She scrunched her eyes closed at the thought, her hands tightening painfully into fists as she tried to shut it out. Casting an embarrassed eye down at the mess her bout of vomiting had left her Cargo Bay in; she set to cleaning it up, a more productive task than brooding to be sure. Yet, even as she scrubbed the floor to sparkling on her hands and knees questions fought their way back into her mind. What about Chakotay and their future family? If she did nothing, the Admiral was certain they would all perish… Her hand left the sponge she was gripping and pressed lightly against her as yet unchanged abdomen guiltily, the thought of giving life only to knowingly snatch it away made the tears instantly return to her eyes but she blinked them back with a sigh. She felt as if she were being pulled in two directions or crushed between two walls. Was this the way the Captain felt when she was faced with a weighty decision that affected her crew? If so, then Seven herself often hadn't made those decisions any easier with her Borg tunnel vision. She found her pager, the metal device felt slick in her sweat dampened hand, and stared down at it indecisively. The Captain, and Chakotay for that matter, would expect her to come to them with this information; she didn't have a right to deal with this on her own, no matter what the Admiral said. Swallowing down her doubts, she pressed her comm. badge, "Seven of Nine to the Captain." She didn't wait for the Captain's usual greeting, instead continuing straight away, "I must discuss something with you, it concerns the Admiral."
She waited impatiently as Janeway's spoken reply was translated to the written word on the pager's tiny screen, "Okay Seven, I'll see you in my Ready Room right away."
Seven had to take a deep breath as she read this confirmation. There was no going back now. "Chakotay must also be included." She told the Captain firmly. Part of her shied away from repeating to Chakotay what the Admiral had told her about their future, it would probably hurt him more than her, but selfishly she longed for his comfort.
"He'll be there." The Captain replied through the pager.
"Thank you." Seven replied automatically before hastily cutting the comm. line and walking shakily from the Cargo Bay to face her fate.
Chakotay gave a start as he saw Seven enter the Ready Room where he stood waiting with the Captain. She had managed to maintain that habitual stoic mask which generally deflected people's interest in her, but after their few months together, he could read the subtleties of her expressions as well as she could read his lips. Her eyes, although focused and unflinching, were red and puffy around the rims and her complexion was grey, the skin taunt with anxiety. "What's wr…" He started to gasp out, and then stopped himself. She'd tell them.
Seven had seen the question forming urgently on his lips and couldn't help but feel relieved as the words stopped flowing. She tried to summon up the most reassuring smile she could for him under the circumstances and was rewarded by him relaxing slightly. The Captain however, wasn't about to relax anytime soon as she looked at her ashen faced protégé and recalled her future self's dark prophecy. "YOU DON'T LOOK WELL SEVEN." She signed anxiously, "WHAT'S WRONG?"
"I'm not ill Captain." Seven assured her quietly, shooting Chakotay a quick glance, "I believe I am suffering from morning sickness but that is not what I came here to discuss…"
She saw that they weren't listening to her after the words "morning sickness" came out of her mouth. Chakotay eyes immediately fixed on her intently, bright as stars as a beaming smile tugged at his mouth. If she hadn't known him better she would've thought he would've whooped in delight as Tom Paris had done in a similar situation. The pride that radiated from him was enough to warm her heart enough to withstand the panic that instantly shot across the Captain's face before she hid it. "Morning…" The Captain started to repeat before the exclamation died on her lips. "What did the Doctor say Seven?" she asked finally as she watched Chakotay hug Seven protectively into his side and felt guilt burrow deep into her gut.
Seven averted her gaze for a moment, "I haven't seen the Doctor as yet. The Borg Queen and Admiral Janeway both informed me separately of my condition."
Chakotay frowned at his fiancée in confusion. "The Admiral?"
The younger Janeway instantly cringed, "What did she tell you Seven?"
Seven felt tears and nausea build within her again but she resisted both. "She…She informed that in her future, myself, Chakotay…and our children are all going to die." She found she couldn't bear to look at Chakotay and instead cut herself off from their reactions by staring at the floor as she spoke again, "The Admiral…requested that I lie to you about the viability of your plan to destroy the transwarp conduit so that we would use it as she wishes." She unconsciously began to wring her hands as she looked into their horrified faces again, "I…I couldn't make such a decision…"
The Captain clamped her hand to her mouth for a moment, feeling sick herself, then remembered Seven's deafness and lowered it, although her whole body still shook with distress. "Oh my God, I'm sorry Seven, she never should've put you in that position. I should've dealt with it…"
"You knew about this?" Chakotay exploded, "You knew that we were going to…"
"Yes, that's what she confronted me with, deaths!" The Captain retorted brokenly, "Not just yours but others too and Tuvok…" She stopped as Chakotay and Seven stared at her, desperate to explain, "I thought that if I knew I could stop it from happening. The transwarp conduit could kill us all now…"
Seven, though she had struggled to get every word of this exchange, understood her dilemma as the same as her own earlier and put a calming and restraining hand on Chakotay's arm as she said, "We know you'd do everything in your power to keep your crew safe Captain, that is unquestionable." She said firmly, "The problem is, what are we going to do now?"
The truth of Seven's words began to sink in and Chakotay's anger faded slowly. He gave the Captain a compassionate, sorrowful look, "I'm sorry Kathryn. This isn't your fault, I just panicked…" He reached over to Seven beside him and squeezed her hand tightly.
Janeway's lips twitched bitterly, "It's not my fault, yet." She reminded him, "You were completely within your rights to be angry, she's playing with all our lives, whether her intentions are good or not."
Chakotay sighed heavily, "We're still left to deal with it though. I can't say it wouldn't be good to get home now like she says, especially given what we know now, but the Borg…" He glanced at Seven unhappily, feeling like he was betraying her for not immediately dismissing everything else to get her, and their baby, back to the Alpha Quadrant and safety.
Seven however nodded in agreement. "I also feel deeply uncomfortable about ignoring the chance to damage the Borg Captain."
The Captain grimaced, "Neither of our current options appeals to me either…" She muttered in frustration before her eyes lit up suddenly and she snapped her fingers, "We need a way to have our cake and eat it too…"
Seven felt her frown deepen as she studied the Captain's fluidly speaking mouth. Utterly confused by what she read, she allowed herself a quick glance at Chakotay for clarification. "METAPHOR." He signed quickly in explanation.
Seven considered the Captain's point. "You are wondering if there is a way we can destroy the conduit while travelling through it Captain?"
Janeway gave her the ghost of a smile. "PRECISELY." She signed in reply before doubt creased her features, "COULD THAT BE POSSIBLE?"
Seven nodded firmly. "Certainly, it would just be highly difficult." She answered matter-of-factly.
"You're never one for understatement are you?" Chakotay commented fondly, kissing her cheek as hope returned to his heart.
"I suggest you ask the Admiral if she has considered the possibility while I investigate it from a scientific angle." Seven advised the Captain, who nodded.
"I think she's earned herself another conversation with me." The Captain agreed, looking to Chakotay for support, "Would you like to come as back up Commander?"
Chakotay's face darkened as he thought of the Admiral. "Definitely Captain."
"Good." Janeway was practically grinning as she settled on a plan of action. "Now you…" She met Seven's gaze kindly, "Try not to worry. If this works out, not only your but also B'Elanna's baby will be born safe in the Alpha Quadrant."
A/n: I'm not overly pleased with this chapter. PLEASE REVIEW and tell me what you think! :D