Adapt
The beginning of the journey through the nebula was routine; every morning Seven emerged from her regeneration cycle and checked the status of the stasis pods. Next, she tended to the duties on the bridge and Engineering. Presently, she was making her way to Deck Five to check in with the Doctor.
"How's it going out there?" the Doctor asked.
"Fine. The ship has traversed nearly twenty percent of the nebula. We are still on course to exit in thirty two days."
"I'm not surprised. Is there anything you need from me?"
"No. I simply...wished to speak with you. I believe I have started to feel...loneliness."
"You are human, Seven. It's understandable that you are beginning to crave human contact."
"It is an unpleasant feeling."
"Well, why don't you stay for a while? I haven't had much interaction myself these last few days."
Seven nodded, sitting down on one of the bio beds. The Doctor leaved on the one opposite her.
"So, how is the crew?"
"They are stable. Lieutenant Paris attempted to escape from his chamber again but nothing else unexpected has occurred."
"I suppose it's true that he truly dislikes small spaces."
Seven's brow furrowed. "He is unconscious. He should not register that he is in a small space."
"Our unconscious mind knows things our conscious mind does, even if we don't realize it. When he went into the pod, he knew it was small. He has some memory of that, eve while he sleeps."
"It grows tiresome and if he continues this behavior, he will damage his lungs."
"You're correct. But, you've kept a vigilant eye on him. I'm sure you have it under control."
They fell into a comfortable silence for some time. Seven finally looked about and stood up.
"Do you have somewhere to be?"
"There are several gel packs on Deck Two that need maintenance. It is one of my duties for today."
"Well, don't hesitate to stop by when the get some free time."
"Thank you for your time, Doctor."
"Any time."
As Seven made her way through the ship, she had to distinct feeling that someone or something was following her. Her left hand gripped the phaser on her belt as she reached the juncture with the damaged gel packs. Just as she bent to pull the panel from the wall, she felt a presence behind her. In one motion, she'd pulled her weapon and spun to face the intruder. Standing before her was Q.
"You frightened me."
"Sorry."
"You should not be out of stasis."
"Oh, it got boring in there. Thing seem so much duller when you're in a small space contemplating everything."
"You...can survive in this atmosphere."
"You forget; I'm not human."
"Why did the Captain insist you join the rest of the crew?"
"She's on one of her 'everything in moderation' binge. She caught me using my powers around Junior a few days ago and threw a fit."
Seven merely nodded and turned her attention back to the gel packs. Q watched her work for a few minutes.
"So...how's the ship looking with a crew of one?"
"The ship's systems remain at peak efficiency and our course is progressing smoothly."
"Nothing...unusual happened?"
"No. If you are going to remain out of stasis, then you should make yourself useful. Go to astrometrics and make the following course adjustments. I believe they will take approximately two hours off our journey."
"If you insist." He took her calculations and started for a turbolift.
Seven finished her work on the gel packs and returned to the Cargo Bay. She found Q's stasis chamber and disengaged it. There was no need to drain any more power than necessary.
"Seven of Nine to the Doctor."
"Go ahead. Has Mr. Paris tried to escape again?"
"No. It appears that Q is unaffected by the nebula's gases."
"Hmm. I see. Well I suppose we should count ourselves lucky."
"Explain."
"You'll have someone else to talk to, socialize with. It should diminish your lonely feelings."
"I am not certain I wish to socialize with Q."
"You'll have to learn to take what you can get, Seven."
Seven exhaled in annoyance and returned to Cargo Bay Two. She had several small tasks to complete there. Some twenty minutes later, the doors opened and Q strolled in.
"Course changes laid in. Anything else I can do for the good of the crew?"
"No. That is all for now. If I require your assistance again, I will contact you."
Q didn't move. He just watched her entering data into her personal logs. He'd been wary of her when she'd first joined the crew. How he wondered just how adjusted she'd become.
"You know...you seem to have things under control. Maybe I should just go back into stasis."
"I have already disengaged your pod. There is no reason to drain additional energy from the ship's power reserves."
"If you says o. I just thought…it would be easier…with only one person doing the work. You Borg are so enamored with efficiency after all."
Seven looked at him and shook her head. "You may remain. I…require someone to socialize with. The Doctor believes it may aid in alleviating my…loneliness."
Q couldn't stifle the snicker and snort that erupted. "I'm sorry. I just…the thought of a Borg drone being lonely…makes sense."
"You are not making this situation any better, Q."
He cleared his throat. "Well…what else can I do?"
"I do not believe you heard me. I am not in need of your assistance at this time. I will contact you when I do."
"Fine."
With a huff, he stormed out. The rest of the day passed by without incident. Q ended up sleeping in Kathryn's quarters while Seven's regenerated. By the third week, a pattern had begun to emerge. Seven and Q would meet in the morning in Cargo Bay One to monitor the stasis pods. They would then split the day's duties between them and reconvene in the Mess Hall at 13:00 hours for a quiet meal.
"How are we doing course-wise?" Q asked on the twenty-fourth day in the nebula.
"We will reach the outer perimeter of the nebula in eight days."
"We're almost there. And nothing horrible happened."
"Yet."
"Oh come on...I'm a likable guy."
"Several of the ship's systems have begun to require constant maintenance."
"Oh. Well maybe you didn't fix them properly the first time."
"My attempts were not incorrect. The ship's power has been drained."
"We could cut life support."
'We still require it, Q."
"Well can't we cut it from some of the decks? It's not like we're on all of them all the time."
"Compromising the life support systems on even one deck could alter the stasis pods. I cannot risk the safety of the crew."
"Well then what do you expect to do?"
"We will continue to monitor the systems and repair them as needed. We will not fail on this mission."
"If you say so. I don't see why I can't just snap us out of this cloud."
"It would go against the Captain's instructions."
"Rules are meant to be broken you know."
"We will not deviate from the Captain's instructions."
"She wouldn't have to know."
"We will not discuss this further. I have maintenance to complete and you do as well."
With that, Seven left Q sitting at one of the tables, staring after her. He shook his head. She'd been spending too much time around Kathy.
On the bridge, Seven attempted to compensate for a power surge in the helm controls. They had been functional half an hour earlier.
"Q, I require your assistance."
"I'm on my way."
As she waited for Q's arrival, Seven couldn't help but feel uneasy, as if something were approaching that shouldn't be there.
"Who is there?" she called out, phaser drawn.
She got no answer. Suddenly, warnings began to flash.
'Computer, identify the problem."
"Life support is failing on all decks."
Seven's heart began to race as she took off in the direction of the Cargo Bays. She couldn't let it fail in the stasis pods. She couldn't let the crew die. Her heart pounded so rapidly in her chest, she could hardly breathe.
"Computer, initiate site to site transport."
Her body disappeared, reappearing just outside Cargo Bay One. The alerts continued to blare, drowning out the blood pumping in her ears. The stasis pods appeared to be functioning until she tripped over a body. She looked t see Tom.
"Help me," he rasped.
Seven did her best to drag him back into the stasis pod. Just as she shoved him back inside the computer began to issue a series of fatal system errors.
"Primary computer systems not responding."
Seven's vision began to blur. it was too much. She couldn't handle the pressure. And where had Q gone. She tried to take a step but fell to the floor, the sound of the alarms roaring in her ears.
When she finally came to, everything was silent and the concerned faces of Kathryn and the Doctor hovered over her.
"Are you alright?"
"What happened?"
"You got us through the nebula," Kathryn replied.
"The ship...the entire system was failing."
"everything looks fine now."
The doors to Cargo Bay One opened and Q walked in.
"How is she?"
"Still disoriented," the Doctor answered.
"How...?" Seven blinked several times as she tried to sit up.
"I just snapped and we were fine."
"Was...was the ship in danger?"
"A few of the gel packs on the bridge were burnt out but nothing that can't be fixed."
Seven nodded. Even with Q there through the journey wit her, she'd managed to succumb to the anxiety and the fear. It was not an experience she was looking forward to having again.