Chapter One: Chocolate Fixes Everything
Crewman Jepsom must have thought she'd left, instead of retreating to the rear of Engineering to perform some upgrades Lieutenant Torres had asked her to see to.
"You'd have thought three years on Voyager would've warmed her up a bit," he said to Crewman Teles. "She's still a frigid bitch."
Seven stiffened at the words. It wasn't a phrase she'd heard before, but she'd been aboard Voyager for long enough now to understand the sentiment behind the words.
"I wouldn't go that far," Crewman Teles whispered back. "Cold, unfeeling, and rude come to mind though."
Seven cleared her throat, unwilling to listen to this attack on her character. The two crewmen jumped and Seven quirked her optical implant in a way she knew could cut down in the cockiest of Voyager's crew.
The crewmen had nothing more to say while Seven finished her upgrades. It was a relief, but she knew the twisting in her stomach was a result of the harsh words rather than a physical complaint.
A week later, Naomi and Seven were on their third game of kadis kot for the evening.
"You know, you're going to have to tell me what's wrong sooner or later," Naomi said as she moved one of her orange pieces across the board.
"I am undamaged."
"I know there's nothing physically wrong with you," Naomi explained. "But I still know something's wrong."
Seven quirked her optical implant. It always amazed Naomi that a single facial expression could have so many different meanings. She often practised raising her own eyebrow in the mirror, but she wasn't very good at it yet. She imagined Seven would call her efforts "insufficient." She'd keep practising.
"And why have you drawn this conclusion?" Seven asked. "What evidence have you collected?"
"Well, this is the third time we've played kadis kot this week."
"Do you not enjoy our games of kadis kot?"
"Of course I do, Seven! I love them—even though I lose most of the time."
"Then why are you questioning how many times we've played?"
"Because you normally don't have time for this many games with me!"
Seven raised her implant again.
"Tell you what," Naomi said using her best diplomacy voice, "I'll go and get us a beverage suitable to the situation and, when I get back, you can tell me what's bothering you."
Before Seven could respond, she jumped to her feet and skipped over to the replicators.
"Two hot chocolates with whipped cream and marshmallows, please."
The replicator chirped and two red mugs, piled high with white mounds of cream, appeared.
Seven said exactly what Naomi knew she would when she arrived back at the table with the drinks.
"These drinks contain no nutritional value."
"Emotional nutrition is important too," Naomi said with a smile.
"Emotional nutrition? Explain."
"Well, Neelix calls it food for the soul. Comfort food. Things that make you feel better when you eat or drink them. Chocolate is scientifically proven to make you feel better."
Seven didn't look convinced, but she cautiously picked up the mug and took a sip. A small smile played at the edges of her mouth and Naomi laughed.
"You like it, admit it!"
"It's satisfactory."
Seven took another sip and her smile broadened.
"You have cream on your nose!"
Instead of wiping the cream away, as Naomi expected her to do, Seven dipped her finger in Naomi's whipped cream and deposited it on her nose.
"And now, so do you," Seven said in a serious tone of voice that didn't fool Naomi for a second. She could see the mischief sparkling in Seven's eyes. "I think you're correct. This chocolate is making me feel better already. Shall we play another game of kadis kot? You may go first."
Naomi was reaching for her orange pieces to reset the board when she realised what Seven was doing.
"Hey! Don't distract me! You still haven't told me what's wrong."
"If I tell you, can we resume our game?"
"Yes."
"I…" Seven hesitated, which was unusual for her. "I do not seem to be integrating with the crew very well. I've been here for over three years, and my only real friends are a six-year-old and a hologram."
"What about the captain?" Naomi asked, hiding her smile. She like hearing Seven call her a friend. Now she was once more the only child on board, she missed having so many friends.
"What about the captain?"
"She's your friend. She plays with you, you spend time together, you like to talk to each other. All the things that we do together."
Naomi noticed Seven's cheeks pinken a little, but she had no idea why she would be embarrassed about having a friend. Maybe blushing also meant other things. She'd have to ask the Doctor during their next Biology lesson.
"I suppose she is my friend, then."
"But you'd like to make more friends?"
"I believe I would."
"Okay, then! That's easy. We just need to make sure you attend more social activities. Once people get to know you better, I'm sure they'll love you!"
Seven looked worried. "I have tried being social in the past. The Doctor has given me lessons in socialising and they do not seem to have been effective."
"That's because becoming friends has to happen naturally. You can't force it! You just have to be yourself."
"But people do not seem to like me when I'm myself," Seven said.
Naomi reached for her hand and held it tightly. "You are wonderful, Seven. If people don't like you, that's their loss and they're not worth bothering with. Show Voyager the real you and it will help you find the people who like you and care about you. Like me!"
Seven gave her a small smile and took another sip of her drink. "You're very wise for a six-year-old, Naomi Wildman."
"I know."
They both laughed and got back to their game. Naomi even managed to win a round before her bedtime.
At 0800 hours the next day, the doorbell to Kathryn's Ready Room chirped.
"Enter," she called, looking up from her PADD. Anything that distracted her from personnel reports was a good distraction.
She was surprised to see Naomi walking through her door, holding a steaming stainless-steel mug.
"Miss Wildman, I don't believe I was expecting you this morning."
"Apologies for the interruption, Captain," Naomi said in the serious voice that always amused Kathryn. "I brought coffee with me to make up for it."
"Thank you," Kathryn said, taking the mug. The rich and bitter aroma confirmed that the coffee was from the replicator rather than one of Neelix's questionable homebrews. Naomi must have spent her own replicator rations on the beverage—she clearly meant business. "What can I do for you, Miss Wildman?"
Naomi stood up straight, her hands clasped behind her back. She looked like a mini Seven.
"I have a report to make as Captain's Assistant."
"Proceed."
Kathryn was struggling to conceal her smile at Naomi's antics.
"I was playing kadis kot with Seven of Nine last night and she told me that she was still struggling to make friends. I think someone must have said something to upset her last week. I've encouraged her to seek out more social situations and to be herself. I thought that she'd be more likely to do so if she heard the advice from another of her friends."
"And that's why you've come to me?"
"Yes, Captain."
"A good call, Miss Wildman. I'm glad to see you taking your duties as Captain's Assistant so seriously. I'll see what I can do."
"Thank you, Captain."
"Dismissed."
Naomi saluted and made her way to the door.
"Thank you again for the coffee," Kathryn said. "It's delicious."
Naomi flashed her a shy smile and hurried away.