Affections
As she walked through the harsh corridors of the Borg cube, Seven of Nine couldn't help but feel nervous. She had been so frightened to lose her connection with the Collective when Kathryn had severed her link. Now, all she felt was fear. Having had a taste of her humanity and freedom, she didn't want to give it up. They reached the central hub of the cube and Seven of Nine was shoved forward. A large cylindrical tube began to descend, joining the Queen's body together.
"Hello, Seven of Nine," the Borg Queen greeted as she stepped off the platform.
Seven gave no response. Instead, pulled her arm from the grasp of one of the drones that had been escorting her.
"It is generally considered polite to return a greeting."
"I have nothing to say to you," Seven finally said.
The Queen shook her head, walking around Seven, circling like a vulture watching its prey. Seven's body tensed when she felt a hand brush against her shoulder and down her arm.
"They have remade you in their image. Hair and garments. But we both know you'll always be mine," the Queen hissed, squeezing Seven's hand with her own.
"You are wrong," Seven spat.
"You don't have to be afraid," the Queen said, her tone almost soothing in quality.
"I will not comply with your demands. You will have to assimilate me."
The Queen shook her head. "I don't want to assimilate you. You're too unique to us the way you are...too valuable to lose."
"What do you want from me?"
"You're assistance. You belong with us, the Collective."
"You steal lives from innocent species. You are vile and I will never help you."
The Queen locked gazes with Seven, causing the former drone to squirm uncomfortably. There was something disturbing in the Queen's gaze. it was as though the Queen was trying to penetrate her with her eyes.
"You will return to us. We have other ways of making you comply." She directed Seven's attention to a view screen on a nearby wall. The screen flickered to life, revealing Voyager.
Seven's body once more tensed at the implied destruction of her friends. "Leave them out of this. I will do what you ask."
"I thought you might agree."
On Voyager, the away team reappeared in Transporter Room Two. Chakotay stood waiting as the stepped off the transporter pads.
"What the hell happened over there?" he asked as Kathryn stormed out of the room.
"I have no idea. One minute everything is fine. The next, Seven of Nine insists she has to stay onboard."
"Do you think it might have something to do with her being so near active Borg technology?"
"I don't know. The Doctor mentioned there was a power surge in her alcove around 02:00 hours. Perhaps she was contacted by the Borg."
Chakotay just shook his head. Kathryn turned to look at Tuvok and Harry. "Get that installed as quickly as you can. Tell B'Elanna to use whatever personnel and resources you have to.'
"Yes, Captain," Harry replied.
"Captain, may I offer some advice?"
Kathryn let out a breath. "Of course."
"Perhaps Seven of Nine's motives were to allow us to get away with the reactor coil."
"What are you saying, Tuvok? She stayed behind to give us time to get out of here?"
"Precisely."
"No. I refuse to believe that."
"Kathryn, think about it. It makes sense."
"Chakotay, we aren't going to leave here behind."
"Then what do you propose we do about it?"
"I don't know. I'll be in Sickbay if you need me."
The two men watched Kathryn walked off towards the nearest turbolift.
"Do you really think Seven of Nine was just trying to give us time to escape?" Chakotay asked.
"I am uncertain. It would be a logical explanation for her actions. I also believed it would allay the Captain's concerns."
"I hope you're right.'
By the time Kathryn arrived at Sickbay, the Doctor had already heard about the away mission. She nearly collided with the hologram as she walked through the doors.
"I think we made a mistake," he said.
"We shouldn't have let her go," Kathryn agreed.
"She wasn't functioning at one hundred percent efficiency. Her electrolytes were still down when she left."
"Doctor, have you been able to determine the source of the energy surge in Seven's alcove?"
"It appears to have a Borg signature which isn't all that surprising, given the territory and the technology that was being used. However, it does not seem to match Seven's alcove energy readings."
"You think maybe someone in the Collective contacted her."
"It's a likely explanation."
"We can't attempt a rescue mission. The Borg no doubt know we're here. They'll have increased their security and shields."
"You aren't just going to leave her there."
"Not if I can help it." She paused. "Keep me informed if you find anything else from the alcove incident."
"Aye, Captain."
In Engineering, B'Elanna watched as Harry and a couple other crew members began to fit the Borg reactor coil into the warp core. She had to admit she was a little worried about Seven of Nine. They didn't always see eye to eye but the former drone had become just as much a part of this crew as the Maquis had when they'd arrived in the Delta Quadrant.
"Something on your mind?" Tom asked, walking up behind her.
"Just thinking about Seven. Wondering what the hell she was thinking. Trying to take on an entire Borg vessel by herself."
"Maybe she isn't."
B'Elanna let out a laugh. "You really think she's still got her independence?"
"Maybe. She's stronger than you think, B'Elanna."
"I suppose you're right. I just get jumpy whenever the Borg are involved." She looked at him, smiling. "Was there something you needed?"
"I thought you might want an extra pair of hands to get this thing installed."
"Thanks."
Several decks up, Kathryn was pacing back and forth in her Ready Room. She was trying to determine a way to get Seven of Nine safely off the cube without provoking the Collective. She was so immersed in her thoughts she didn't hear the doors open or see the eighteen-month charge her until she felt his arms around her legs.
"Mama. Play!" the boy exclaimed, tugging on her uniform.
"Not right now. Mommy is busy."
He gave her a pout, tugging harder on the fabric of her pants. She bent down and picked the boy up, setting him in a chair. With that, she returned to her pacing and contemplating. Moments later, he was on his feet too, following in her path.
"Quinten, why don't you go play with Daddy. I can't play with you now," she scolded when she nearly tripped over him.
"No. Play Mama."
She had to take several deep breaths to keep from yelling at the child. He had not done anything wrong. He just wanted her attention. As much as he was Q with knowledge of everything, he was still very much a toddler who wanted his parents' attention and affections.
"Sweetie you need to stay out the way." Her tone was firm as she set him in a chair for the second time.
Just as she turned back to wearing an ellipse in the carpet, the doors opened and Q walked in. He took notice and cleared his throat. "Am I interrupting?"
"I'm just trying to think."
He moved further into the room, catching Kathryn as she started to pace back the other way. He wrapped his hands around her shoulders, beginning to massage the muscles. She opened her mouth to protest but no sound came out. Maybe she needed the moment to relax, re-gather her thoughts. Q watched her facial expression until her neck and shoulders had relaxed.
"You weren't this tense when you left," he commented, picking Quinten up and swinging him around in a wide arc.
"Seven of Nine was still apart of this crew when I left."
"Oh…I heard she defected."
"She didn't defect. I think the Borg Queen may be manipulating her somehow, trying to use her against us."
"And let me guess, you've locked yourself in here, wearing a very unattractive hole in the carpet trying to find a way to get her back?"
Kathryn glanced down at the carpet. "Yes."
"Have any luck?"
"Not so far. Do you have any suggestions?'
Q gave her that trademark smirk and she spun to face him. "I'm listening."
"Well…the Continuum was rather…adamant about me using my powers more freely now. I suppose I could…I don't know…temporarily move the Collective into an alternate dimension."
"You really think you could get Seven of Nine back?"
Q heaved a sigh and crossed his arms over his chest. "Kathy, I'm a Q. I can do anything."
She couldn't hide the smile threatening to burst forth. "I don't think we need something as extreme as sending them to an alternate dimension. But using your powers to manipulate space and matter may actually come in handy this time."
