Hope
The Mess Hall was quiet as Kathryn walked in. She looked around the room and couldn't help but smile to herself. It was going to be a busy day; Quinten's first birthday. They'd docked at a small space port a day or two earlier and she'd given the crew shore leave. Still, the ship was busy with party preparations. Moments after she walked in, the doors opened to reveal Chakotay carrying a large pile of wrapped gifts.
"Where would you like these?" he asked, balancing them on the edge of the table in front of him.
Kathryn looked around the room. "Set them there. Thank you."
"No problem. For a kid he's certainly got a lot of presents."
Kathryn set down the pad she'd been browsing and leaned in. "To be honest with you, I think the Doctor went a little replicator happy."
Chakotay laughed as he started to un-stack the pile. Kathryn looked around the room. It was going to take a lot of replicator rations to get the room party-worthy.
"Morning, Captain," Neelix called from the kitchen.
"Oh, good morning, Neelix. I didn't hear you back there."
"No worries." He appeared; arms full of streamers.
"My contribution to the little guy's celebration. I hope they're ok."
"They're wonderful, Neelix. Thank you." Kathryn took the mass of hangings from the Talaxian and began climbing on chairs to hang them.
"Would you like some help?" Chakotay called as she teetered precariously over the replicator.
"No. I've got it."
"Are you sure?"
"Chakotay...go enjoy your shore leave. I can take care of this."
"You know where to find me if you need anything."
Kathryn just gave a soft noncommittal noise as the doors opened and closed. She was so focused on hanging the streamers she didn't hear the doors open again until a voice called to her.
"Captain," Seven said.
Kathryn turned, nearly falling off a chair. She caught herself just in time. "Seven...you startled me."
"I apologize. What are you doing?"
"Decorating."
"Decorating? For what purpose?"
"Quinten's birthday."
Seven raised a brow in curiosity. "As part of the Collective, such events were not acknowledged."
"I'd imagine it wouldn't be very efficient. There are so many drones."
"Yes." She paused. "Do you require assistance?"
"As a matter of fact, I do. Q should be in my Ready Room working on the cake. Do you think you could entertain the baby for a little while?"
"He is an infant. He does not require entertainment."
Kathryn shook her head, putting a hand on Seven's shoulder. "Consider it a learning experience to improve your social skills."
"As you wish, Captain." She turned to leave but Kathryn stopped her.
"Was there something you needed, Seven?"
"Mr. Paris returned with a visitor. They wished to speak with you."
"A visitor?"
"I have not met this individual. I was simply informed by Ensign Kim."
"Alright. Thank you."
Seven nodded and proceeded to leave the Mess Hall. Kathryn exhaled, looking around the room. The rest of the decorating would have to wait.
"Janeway to Lieutenant Paris."
"Paris here, Captain."
"I've been informed we have a guest on board?"
"Yes, Ma'am. You really should come speak to him."
"I'll meet you in the Briefing Room."
"Acknowledged."
With one final look around the room, Kathryn left the Mess Hall and caught a turbo lift to the Deck One. When she walked in to the Briefing Room, Tom, Harry and an alien stood to greet her.
"Captain, this is Arturis."
"It's very nice to meet you," Kathryn said, extending a hand politely.
Arturis shook it and gave her a smile. "Thank you for your hospitality. Tom tells me you may be in need of my particular expertise."
Kathryn looked to Tom. "We are?"
"It was amazing, Captain. There was an argument down on port and Arturis stepped in to translate. He couldn't have heard more than a few phrases of English."
"I'm good with idioms," Arturis explained.
"I see." She took a moment to consider what Tom and Harry were trying to tell her. She finally gave their guest a second smile and motioned for Tom and Harry to join her. "Would you excuse us for a moment?"
"Of course." Arturis gave them a small bow before exiting the room.
"Gentlemen, what are you trying to say?"
"Captain, he's like a universal translator. He might be able to help us decrypt the latest message from Starfleet Command."
"I'm afraid I don't follow."
"Binary code is another language. Once he sees how it works, I'm sure he'll be able to help unscramble the message," Harry explained.
"Alright. But I want you with him at all times."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Take him to astrometrics. I'll have Seven meet you there."
The pair nodded, leaving the Captain alone. She ran a hand over the back of her neck. The party would have to wait. Exhaling slowly, she made her way back to her Ready Room. Q stood over the desk doing his best to frost the cake.
"Having trouble?"
He looked up. "It's harder than it looks. I don't see why I can't just...you know." He raised his hand.
"Why don't you take a break? The party is going to have to wait for a while."
"Why? Junior was looking forward to it!" Q exclaimed.
"Q, try to relax. We've had a guest come aboard. He's somewhat of a linguistic genius. I have him and Seven working on trying to decode the last message from Starfleet."
"Junior's with her. She can't multi-task. It's not in her nature."
"Come on, then. I'd like to oversee the process anyway."
Together, Kathryn and Q made their way down to astrometrics. They arrived just as Tom, Harry and Arturis. They walked in to find Seven pulling up the encrypted file, Quinten at her feet.
"Mama," the boy squealed, pulling himself to his feet and tottering towards Kathryn.
"There's the birthday boy," she cooed, picking him up.
Arturis looked at the child. "He's very cute, Captain."
"Thank you." She turned to Q. "Take him."
"Come on, Junior. Let's go sneak a look at all your presents."
Kathryn turned her attention back to Seven and Arturis. She looked Tom and Harry and gave them a dismissive nod. Arturis moved to stand beside Seven and took note of her Borg implants.
"You're Borg."
"Yes."
"You're much more attractive than the average drone," he commented.
"I am no longer linked to the Collective. Captain Janeway liberated me a year ago."
"I see."
Without a word, Seven played the message in its garbled format. Arturis' eyes locked on the screen in front of him as he tried to decipher the problem. As he examined the file, Kathryn leaned over and whispered in Seven's year.
"Do you know his species?"
"Yes. The Collective referred to it as Species 116."
Arturis let out a snort. "Is that what you called us?"
"Yes. The Collective was unable to assimilate them."
"Have you had any luck?" Kathryn asked, moving to stand beside Arturis.
"I agree that the message is very damaged. But I think that packet of information can be deciphered. I believe if we can determine how to decipher it, you'll be able to decode the rest of the message."
He grew quiet for a few minutes, watching as Seven's Borg algorithms began to work their way through the file again. Hit he a few buttons on the display and the message slowly began to play without interference.
"That's amazing."
"It's a matter of seeing the patterns in the right places, Captain."
"I want you to keep working on this together. Let me know when you've deciphered as much of the message as you can."
"Yes, Captain," Seven replied. She kept glancing at Arturis out of the corner of her eye. Something about him bothered her and she could not explain what or why.
"Something wrong?" he inquired after a length of silence.
"No."
On Deck Five, Kathryn walked into Sickbay to find the Doctor reading at his desk. He spotted the Captain and immediately stood up.
"Am I late for the party?"
"No. It's been put on hold while our guest, Arturis, works with Seven to try and decrypt the message from Starfleet."
"Oh. I see. Well I trust Quinten is being occupied?"
"Of course. I'd like to ask you something, Doctor."
He nodded, waiting for her to continue. She gave him a smile and laid a hand on his arm.
"Just how many presents did you replicate?"
"Oh...you don't think it was too many do you?"
"Well he's only a year old. He's not going to need all that much, Doctor."
"I just couldn't help it."
"It's fine. I'm sure he'll love all of them."
"And with his...abilities I'm sure he'll know they were from me."
Kathryn nodded and was about to leave when Seven's voice came over the comm. system.
"Seven of Nine to the Captain."
"Go ahead, Seven. Have you found something?"
"Yes. We've deciphered most of the message. I believe the Senior Staff should join us."
"Understood." Kathryn tapped her comm. badge. "Janeway to the Senior Staff. Report to the astrometrics lab immediately."
"I'll keep you informed about the party, Doctor," she called as she raced out of Sickbay.