Chapter Four
"Mama?" The voice was distant, barely more than a vague sound floating through the air. Originally Seven thought it was a part of her dream, causing her to mutter something under her breath as she rolled over and shook her head in protest. "Mama?" The voice came back, this time a little bit louder and more coherent. She cracked open one eye and saw Mezoti standing uncomfortably next to the bed, barely half a meter away from her. "Mama?" she asked in a hushed whisper.
"Is something wrong? Are you damaged?" Seven asked as she propped herself up on one arm. A million terrible thoughts rushed to mind at warp speed as she tried to figure out what could be so important that Mezoti would show up at her bedside in the middle of the night. She quickly glanced over her shoulder to make sure Mezoti hadn't woken Chakotay. The dark lump next to her snored softly, indicating that he was completely oblivious to the intrusion and still fast asleep. She had quickly learned that he could sleep through just about anything, but she still wanted to be sure Mezoti's intrusion hadn't woken him, as he had work in the morning.
"I can't sleep, and I don't need to regenerate."
"I fail to see why you felt it necessary to wake me up. We all have to get up early, and this is an inefficient use of time." Mezoti chewed on her bottom lip nervously.
"Can I sleep with you?" She sounded so innocent, yet unsure of herself. She'd never asked for something like this before, and she wasn't sure how Seven would react; it seemed highly intrusive, but she saw no harm in asking.
"Mezoti…" Seven's tone clearly gave away that she thought the suggestion was a terrible idea. She firmly believed that there needed to be some sort of boundary established, and this seemed to cross that boundary.
"I'm nervous about starting school tomorrow," the child blurted out in an attempt to get her mother to comply. "Just for tonight? Please, Mama?" Seven was about to say no, but when she looked in her daughter's eyes, her heart began to soften. It was understandable to be nervous; her research told her that it was common for children before their first day of school, and it was her job as mother to comfort her.
"Very well." She sounded reluctant as she slid over and lifted up the blanket. Smiling, Mezoti climbed into bed and cuddled up against Seven. At first, Seven felt uncomfortable having the small body pressed against her. After a while, however, she found the warmth oddly comforting. She instinctively stroked the child's hair.
"I love you, Mama," Mezoti mumbled sleepily.
"I love you too." For someone who supposedly couldn't sleep, it only took a few minutes for Mezoti to fall asleep safe in her mother's arms. Seven looped her arm around her protectively, and sleep quickly consumed her once again as well.
Chakotay's alarm went off, blaring loudly and instantly shattering his sleep. He slammed his hand down on the device, turning it off. Since he still had a few more minutes before he had to get up, he rolled over and wrapped his arm around Seven. When his arm hit a second body, he immediately sat up and tried to figure out what was going on. That was when he noticed Mezoti, fast asleep in Seven's arms. He had no idea when that happened, when he went to bed, it was just the two of them.
"Seven," he whispered as he shook her shoulder. She twitched and shook off his touch. "Seven." Her eyes opened, and she rolled over to face him. "Is everything alright?" he asked as he nodded towards Mezoti's sleeping form.
"She couldn't sleep and asked if she could sleep here. I meant to wake her up and send her back to her room before you woke." He looked over Seven's shoulder, at least now Mezoti appeared to be fast asleep. Chakotay pecked Seven on the cheek.
"You're a wonderful mother," he murmured. A warm blush crept across her cheeks. She'd never really thought about her parenting skills before, she simply followed her instincts and hoped for the best. She'd been unsure about letting Mezoti into bed with them, but apparently it had been the right choice.
"Thank you." She leaned over and kissed him softly. "But you have to get up if you're going to get to work on time." He knew she was right, no matter how much he wanted to stay in bed with her. He stole one last kiss before climbing out of bed and heading for the bathroom to shower and change
Once Chakotay was in the bathroom, Seven turned her attention to Mezoti, who was still fast asleep and oblivious to all the noise around her. She hated to wake her, especially when she looked so peaceful, but she had overstayed her welcome, and it was time for her to return to her own room, although as soon as she did so, she'd just have to get up for school, so she might as well just get up and get her day started.
"Mezoti, it's time to wake up," she stated bluntly as she shook her daughter's shoulder. Mezoti grumbled and pushed her hand away. "Mezoti, wake up."
"Just a few more minutes," she begged as she rolled over and held the blankets tightly around her as if that could stop her.
"Comply." Seven's tone was firm and forceful, making her message crystal clear. Mezoti knew that tone, and she knew she better get up. Glowering with frustration and exhaustion, she rolled out of bed and stumbled to her feet. She was about to ask where Chakotay was but the sound of the sonic shower running quickly answered her unspoken question. Seven followed her lead and got out of bed. "Go get dressed and ready for school. I want to approve of your outfit before we leave."
"Why?" Mezoti whined. She instantly regretted it, as her mother glared angrily at her, telling her that such a tone was completely unacceptable.
"Because the first day of school is your chance to make a positive first impression on your teacher and your peers. Part of that includes a suitable outfit."
"You never did this before."
"No, but today I will, now comply." Grumbling under her breath in abject protest, Mezoti turned on her heels and stalked out of the room. She was nine years old and felt perfectly capable of getting herself dressed for the day, after all, she'd been doing that for two years now with complete success.
With Mezoti gone, Seven produced a dark blue bodysuit from the dresser and got dressed herself. She smoothed her hands along the gentle swells of her hips and examined her reflection in the full length mirror hanging in the corner. As with the rest of her bodysuits, the fabric clung tightly to her body, leaving nothing to the imagination. Her appearance was of the utmost appearance, especially today. Just like Mezoti, she had to make a good first impression today; this was the first real job she'd ever had, and it was imperative that everything go perfectly. She folded her pajamas and laid them out under her pillow for tonight before heading to the bathroom to finish with her morning routine.
Chakotay stood in the sonic shower, allowing the sound waves to course over his body, helping to chase away the last remnant of sleep that still gripped him. When the bathroom door opened, he almost grabbed a nearby towel to cover himself up out of instinct until he remembered that it was just Seven. She stood in front of the vanity and started to run a brush through her hair.
"You should wear your hair down," Chakotay called over the noise from the sonic shower. "It looks beautiful down."
"How my hair looks is irrelevant," Seven commented as she pulled it back into its usual French twist. He turned off the sonic shower and wrapped a towel around his waist.
"I beg to differ." He leaned against the counter next to her. When he got a closer look, he could see anxiety in her crystal blue eyes. Suddenly, how she wore her hair really was irrelevant. "What's wrong?" he asked as he gently turned her to face him. He ran one hand down her arm, taking her hand in his. Seven was about to argue that nothing was wrong, but she knew better than that. He could read her like a book, just like she could do the same to him.
"I am feeling some anxiety about today," she confessed. "I have never taught a Starfleet class before, and I hope my preparations are adequate."
"I know they will be. Every single one of your students will be lucky to have you as their instructor. Besides, everyone gets nervous on their first day of work. My first day back at Headquarters, I didn't sleep at all the night before. I knew the stigma that came with being a former Maquis, and I was a nervous wreck about it. I also knew that I had earned my place there, and Starfleet doesn't make any mistakes. You are going to be one of the best instructors at the Academy, I have no doubt."
"Your ability to always know what to say is comforting." Seven sincerely meant it. No matter what, Chakotay always knew exactly what to say to make her feel better, even if she struggled to articulate her feelings clearly, which had happened several times; it was one of the things she loved so much about it. He never passed judgement and always had the right thing to say to make her feel better, no matter what was going on.
"It's part of the job description." He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it softly. "So, I was thinking…" Seven raised her eyebrow in intrigue. "You and I will be working right near each other, which means it wouldn't be completely unreasonable to ask you to join me for lunch."
"Are you sure that's appropriate?" she asked.
"People do it all the time," Chakotay replied with a shrug. He'd seen so many spouses and significant others stop by offices or in the mess hall for meals. In fact, there were many times when he saw Tom and B'Elanna eating together in the mess hall, just like on Voyager. It always reassured him that some things never changed. Seven still looked unsure, he could see it in her eyes. "Okay, how about you let me know how you're feeling around 1200 hours? If you're up to having lunch, that's fine, but if you have a lot of work to do, I'll understand. Is that reasonable?" She wrapped an arm around his neck.
"I believe I can comply." It was the best he was going to get, which was fine with him. He knew how chaotic the first day of a new job could be, and he didn't want to add to the stress by forcing her to promise him something like this.
Right as Chakotay leaned down to seal the deal with a kiss, a small voice from the bedroom called out, "Mama?" He sighed. So much for that. He was starting to believe that her cranial transceiver always told her when the two of them were having a private moment, thus encouraging her to interrupt them. "Mama? You said you wanted to look at my outfit." Based on Mezoti's voice, she was standing in the bedroom searching for Seven.
"I need to oversee Mezoti's preparations for the day." She kissed his cheek softly and patted him on the chest right above his heart. "And you need to get in your uniform." She was right, just like she always way. He was going to be late if he didn't hurry up.
Mezoti stood in the bedroom wearing a purple dress over a pair of dark green leggings and black ballet flats. Her hair was styled in its usual braids, keeping it tied back from her face. With her arms folded behind her back, Seven closely scrutinized her daughter's appearance.
"Your shoes are scuffed," she observed. "But other than that, your appearance is acceptable. Go downstairs and eat breakfast. You will need to fix your shoes before you leave." It was a simple enough problem to fix, and most parents probably wouldn't care if their children had scuffed shoes, but Seven wasn't most parents, and her daughter would look perfect today, no matter what. Mezoti couldn't help but feel proud of herself. She had been expecting her mother to find several flaws with her outfit and had another outfit already planned out, just in case.
"Yes, Mama." Seven appraised Mezoti's outfit one last time as she dashed out the door and down the hall to the kitchen. She looked at the clock. Realizing they had to get going, she also headed downstairs as well.
After a quick breakfast and change of shoes for Mezoti, she and Mezoti were out the door and on their way to school. The school was only ten minutes away by shuttle, and the entire time, Mezoti felt sick to her stomach with anxiety, although she did her best to hide it. Seven landed her shuttle in front of the school and looked over at Mezoti, who shifted uncomfortably in her seat and made no effort to unbuckle herself.
"I don't feel well," she complained. "Can I go back to the house?"
"No, today is your first day of school, and they are expecting you here. There is no need for you to be nervous."
"That's easy for you to say, you've never been to school before," she grumbled. The accusation stung, but Seven put on a steely outward appearance. Yes, she had no recollection of ever getting a formal education, but that didn't mean she couldn't sympathize with her daughter. In fact, today more than ever she understood how she was feeling because she felt the same way about her first day working at the Academy. Unlike her daughter, however, she had managed to keep her emotions concealed.
"That may be true, but I have felt my share of discomfort. I feel the same way right now." The admission surprised Mezoti, who looked at her mother with wide eyes, prompting her to continue. "I have never had a job outside of Voyager, and I am unsure how my students will react to my outlined curriculum and presence at the Academy, but Chakotay and I talked about it this morning."
"What did he say?"
"He said that the Academy is lucky to have me, which is undoubtedly true for your situation as well. This school is very fortunate to have you as a part of its student body. While it may be a difficult adjustment, I have no doubt that you will adapt and soon look forward to school every day, just like many students."
"But what if nobody likes me?"
"You are a very likeable child. You will make friends quickly." Seven unbuckled herself and stood up. "We need to go before I am late for my first day." Not wanting to be the cause of her mother's tardiness on her first day, Mezoti unbuckled herself and followed her out of the shuttle. It was now or never.
Just like many buildings in the area surrounding San Francisco, the school was a square, grey building, hardly anything worth noting. To Mezoti, it looked more like a prison than a school. Large windows lined the two story building, causing it to appear to shine in the early morning sunlight. Laughter filled the air as students who had arrived early chased each other and played on the fenced in playground that started in front of the school and wrapped around the back where the sports fields were. Several students stopped to openly stare at Mezoti and Seven as they walked side by side along the sidewalk and up the steps. Mezoti couldn't be sure if they were staring at their implants or the fact that she was Norcadian, a species completely unheard of in the Alpha Quadrant. Either way, she hated the gaping, it made her feel like an animal at the zoo. Feeling self-conscious, Mezoti slid her hand into her mother's, who gave her a reassuring squeeze. It was a small action, but it worked wonders making her feel better, at least for the time being.
The inside of the building matched the exterior, it was drab and uniform, hardly the welcoming environment Mezoti expected at an elementary school. The high ceiling caused Seven's footsteps to echo against the tile floor as she lead Mezoti to the glassed in main office just to the right of the main entrance. An elderly Bajoran woman sat at the front desk with her eyes glued to the computer console in front of her, forcing the guests to wait impatiently.
When Seven found she couldn't wait any longer, she blurted out, "Excuse me, I require your assistance." The secretary rolled her eyes and finally looked up from whatever was so important on her computer.
"May I help you?" she asked, obviously annoyed with the interruption.
"This is my daughter, Mezoti, she has been enrolled in your school, and today is her first day." The secretary nodded and began to type on the computer but stopped after several seconds.
"What was the name again?"
"Mezoti," Seven repeated. This wasn't a good first impression. The secretary typed the name into the computer and read over the information on the screen.
"Here it is. She's in Ms. Coalburg's class. You're going to go out this door, turn right, at the end of the hall, turn left, and it'll be the third door on the left. Got it?"
"I have an eidetic memory," Mezoti assured. "I will be able to find the classroom on my own." The secretary looked relieved that she didn't have to get up and escort Mezoti to her classroom so she could go back to pretending to do her job.
"My, uhh….her, ummm...someone will be here to pick her up at the end of the day."
"Okay, whoever comes can pick her up right out front at four."
"Thank you." Clearly unimpressed with the lack of professionalism on the part of the secretary, Seven guided Mezoti to the other side of the office so they could talk in private. "Chakotay will pick you up at 1600 hours where I dropped you off. I office hours until 1800 hours, then I'll be home."
"Okay, Mama." Seven cupped Mezoti's chin in her hand, forcing the child to look up at her. Although Mezoti gave the outward appearance of being cool and collected, she could see in her dark brown eyes that she was absolutely terrified.
"Do you want me to walk you to your classroom?" She shook her head, if she showed up to class on her first day with her mother, the other students would make fun of her, and it would be much more difficult for her to make friends. With her implants and ridge along her nose, she already stood out enough, and she didn't want to make it worse by walking around with her mom, no matter how much she secretly wanted her to come with her. "Remember what we discussed on the shuttle."
"Yes, Mama." She threw her arms around Seven's waist and looked up at her. "And you remember what Chakotay told you." Seven smiled. Although she wasn't nearly as nervous as her daughter, her words were still comforting.
"You're going to be late." She pulled away from Mezoti and looked over her appearance one last time to make sure she looked presentable. She smoothed down her hair and tugged on her dress, causing the child to wiggle uncomfortably.
"Mama, stop," she whined. Seven knew she was right. Not only did Mezoti have to leave, but she had to get going if she was going to make it to the Academy on time. She ran her fingers over her daughter's hair one last time before leaving.
Clutching the straps of her backpack tightly, Mezoti made her way down the crowded hall. In the few minutes she'd been in the office, children began to spill into the building from outside, filling the halls with noise and laughter. Children darted down the hall, chasing after their friends, only to be reprimanded by staff members stationed along the hall to watch and ensure everyone behaved. Everywhere she looked, Mezoti saw students laughing with their old friends without even noticing her. She wondered if she would ever be like them, so carefree and with friends her own age. She'd spent so much time around adults, she wasn't sure she'd ever be able to fit in with kids her own age. Yes, she had had Naomi, but between her close relationship with Seven and the fact that they were the only little girls on the starship, it was a given that they would become friends. This was entirely different; there were plenty of children here to become friends with, so nobody had to be her friend. Everyone already had their own circle of friends, and they all ignored her. Would they like her? Mezoti became self-conscious of her implants and wished the Doctor had found a way to remove them completely. So far, nobody seemed to notice her or her implants, which was fine with her as she entered her designated classroom.
Mezoti found the classroom to be just as chaotic as the hallway. Student streamed into the room, paying her no mind as they swung their backpacks off their shoulders and hung them up in small cubbies in an alcove just to the left of the door. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, bouncing off the white walls. It was significantly more inviting in the classroom than the rest of the school, all thanks to the hard work put forth by the teacher. Posters and diagrams covered the walls, including a timeline of major historical events along the ceiling, a map of the galaxy, a map of the United States and a periodic table. After putting away their backpacks, students automatically took their seats, continuing to laugh and joke. Several of them noticed Mezoti and openly stared at her, wondering who she was, but none of them approached her.
Feeling overwhelmed, Mezoti stood frozen in the doorway. She had no idea what to do or where to go from here. Perhaps she should have agreed to Seven's offer to walk her to class, she'd know what to do now.
"You must be Mezoti," a warm, comforting voice said. Mezoti's head shot up and saw a young woman who couldn't be more than 28 or 29. She had dark skin, several shades darker than Chakotay's, and dark hair pulled back in an elegant hair clip, leaving half of it to tumble past her shoulders. "My name is Ms. Coalburg, welcome." Ms. Coalburg put a comforting hand on Mezoti's shoulder. "Let's get you settled in. Your mother provided me with a very detailed report about you and your academic progress so far. I have to admit, I was a bit nervous when I saw the amount of information she gave me, but I'm so excited to have you here." She guided Mezoti over to the collection of cubbies built into a small alcove just to the left of the doorway. By this time, there were only a few stragglers left in the alcove, more focused on getting a glimpse at the new student than putting away their belongings. "Now, this is where you'll put your backpack every day." She motioned to a cubbie with Mezoti's name neatly printed above it. "How about you do that, then I'll show you your desk?" All of this felt very strange to Mezoti, who was used to just showing up where her mother told her for the designated lesson, but she took her supplies out of her backpack and hung it up in her designated cubby. At this point, all the other students had taken their seats and many were staring at Mezoti. Ms. Coalburg gathered up the child's supplies and lead her to the front of the room. "Class, this is Mezoti," she introduced loudly. Now, every single pair of eyes was on her. Many of the students were humans, but not all of them. Mezoti recognized a Vulcan, two Bolians and a Klingon. It was comforting to know that she wasn't the only non-human in the class, but she was the only Norcadian. "She's joining us all the way from the Delta Quadrant." A ripple of excitement traveled through the classroom at the realization. Many leaned forward, longing for more information. Ever since it came out that the crew of Voyager was alive and well in the Delta Quadrant, there had been a new fascination with it and all its mysteries. Now, they had someone who had seen it the Delta Quadrant with her own eyes stood right in front of them. "I know you'll make her feel welcome." Ms. Coalburg turned her attention from her class to Mezoti. "Do you have anything else you want to add?" Her heart fluttered. She hadn't prepared any type of formal statement to deliver. Her eyes grew wide, and she tried to think of something to say, but her mind simply froze, which only made her grow more anxious; it was a vicious cycle that she seemed unable to escape.
Despite the fact that she could tell that her teacher wanted her to say more, the child simply said, "No, Ma'am." All she wanted to do was take a seat. Ms. Coalburg seemed slightly disappointed as she lead Mezoti to a seat in the third row of the classroom, but she wasn't going to force her to do anything she didn't want to.
"How about you take a few minutes to get settled?" she gently suggested as she put Mezoti's supplies on her desk. Grateful not to be stuck in the front of the room anymore, Mezoti complied and began to put all of the supplies replicated by her mother the other night in her designated desk.
At the Academy, Seven stood in the front of the auditorium full of cadets as they streamed into the large room. Behind her stretched a large screen projecting the name of the course so nobody ended up in the wrong place while a holographic emitter built into the floor a meter diagonally to her left projected an image of a Borg cube, leaving no doubt in anyone's mind that this was a class about the Borg. The cadets' voices bounced off the high ceiling as they took their seats. Most sat in groups of two or three with their friends, while some sat alone. The first two rows remained more or less empty with only a handful of cadets brave enough to occupy those rows. Instead, they eyed Seven suspiciously as they took their seats. Everyone knew who she was, and while it was a unique experience to have a class like this being offered, many were still dubious about being in the same room as a Borg, albeit a former Borg.
At 1000 hours on the dot, Seven stepped up to the podium situated in the center of the auditorium and folded her arms behind her back. She took a few moments to appraise her class. There were roughly forty cadets, a respectable number, and she had three other classes to teach today as well.
"It is 1000 hours and time for class to commence," she announced into the microphone. Her voice carried over the din of talking, and her authoritative tone instantly put an end to all other noise. The cadets all leaned forward, eager to see what was going to happen next. "My name is Seven of Nine, but you can call me Seven, and I am your instructor. This course will outline the basics of the Borg and their technology. Over the course of the next eight weeks, you will be expected to keep up with course materials and actively participate during every session. By the end of this course, you will have a rudimentary understanding of the Borg and their technology, which is necessary for all Starfleet officers to be successful. Are there any questions?" At least a dozen hands shot up. While Seven had expected some questions, she didn't expect this many right away. She nodded towards an eager looking Bajoran cadet in the seventh row off to the right. "Go ahead."
"How long were you a drone?" he blurted out.
"I was assimilated when I was six, but this class isn't about my experiences in the Collective. Who has a relevant question?" The same dozen or so hands remained in the air, although she doubted all of them were relevant. She nodded towards a human sitting in the eleventh row towards the middle.
"How many times have you encountered the Borg since you left the Collective?" she asked.
"That question is irrelevant," Seven snapped. "If we are to use the time efficiently, we need to start." She pressed a button on the console mounted to her podium, causing the screen behind her to change. The imposing image of a Borg cube dominated the screen, matching the holographic one slowly rotating off to the side. "The Borg first arrived at Earth in the year 2063 in an attempt to prevent first contact with the Vulcans. This was unsuccessful, and Earth was unaware of the threat the Borg posed to the planet. Instead, they focused on understanding the quadrant and the ramifications of first contact." Every single cadet dutifully took notes on their PADDs as Seven continued to lecture. Slowly, her apprehensions melted away as she fell into a comfortable pace and continued to lecture.
At school, Mezoti completed the work assigned to her on her PADD in a matter of minutes as sat back at her desk. She'd covered this material shortly after she arrived on Voyager, making this all an unnecessary review. She put down the PADD and looked around the room. The diagram of the galaxy drew her attention. Since she was done, she figured it would be alright to get up and take a closer look. As she slid out of her seat, several students around her stopped working and stared at her. Ignoring them, she walked over to the diagram and tilted her head to the side. The diagram was inaccurate, especially the Delta Quadrant. It wasn't Ms. Coalburg's fault, this was clearly a faulty diagram provided by the school. Starfleet was still trying to update their databases with the information from Voyager's expedition, and it would undoubtedly take longer for diagrams like these in schools to be updated. Despite its flaws, there was a certain comfort in seeing the Delta Quadrant, her former home.
At this point, nearly half the class was openly staring at Mezoti as she examined the diagram. They'd all been given directions to complete the math problems on their PADDS independently while Ms. Coalburg circulated and helped students. She was currently crouched down next to a student, walking him step by step through the process when she realized that a low murmur was starting to ripple across the classroom. She stopped what she was doing and looked around the room.
"Mezoti, you're supposed to be working," she scolded as she got to her feet and crossed the room to talk to Mezoti privately.
"I finished," Mezoti stated innocently as she turned around to face her teacher. Ms. Coalburg looked unconvinced. They had only been working on the math problems for seven minutes, there was no way she could have finished all of them.
"Did you check to make sure they were correct?" she asked as she picked the PADD up off Mezoti's desk to examine her work.
"I don't need to check them, I know they're correct. My mama taught me how to do this a year and a half ago." The class began to murmur with excitement and shock. Never before had they heard someone talk back to the teacher like that. They were expected to do their work without protest and follow directions. With her lips pursed with frustration, Ms. Coalburg looked over all of Mezoti's answers. Sure enough, they were all correct.
"Good job. I'm fine with you looking around the room and even getting a book to read when you're done working." She motioned towards several low bookshelves wedged in the corner among a collection of pillows that littered the floor. "But you need to ask permission before you get out of your seat. Okay?" Mezoti's gaze dropped to her feet as she shifted uncomfortably; she was used to doing what she wanted when she was done with her academics without having to ask for permission. She'd been trying so hard to make a good first impression, and she'd already ruined it.
"Okay." With a smile, Ms. Coalburg nodded towards the diagram of the galaxy, indicating that Mezoti was free to return to what she had been doing before. While she still felt guilty for breaking the rules, Mezoti was relieved that she hadn't gotten in too much trouble.
At lunch, Mezoti clutched her tray tightly in her hands and scanned the cafeteria for a place to sit. Just like when she entered the classroom for the first time that morning, she stood frozen along the wall, desperately searching for an empty seat. Long tables full of students talking and laughing filled the large room, and sounds of cheerfulness and friendship floated around her. All the talking almost sounded like the hive mind, which unsettled her as she wandered around and looked for somewhere to sit. Strange faces stared at her as she passed, and she even heard the word "Borg" come up several times, whispered behind hands and murmured under peoples' breath. In the corner, she finally found a half empty table. When she stopped there, the hostile stares of the inhabitants told her that she wasn't welcome to join them. Since she had nowhere else to sit, however, this was the best she could do; she would simply have to ignore them and hope they didn't give her any trouble. She sat on the far end of the table, half sitting on the hard, unforgiving bench and half dangling off the edge uncomfortably. A tear or two threatened to spring up in her eyes as she looked across the cafeteria and saw that everyone but her had someone to sit with, but she blinked them away. It was only her first day here, it would get better.
Not feeling particularly hungry, Mezoti poked at the food on the tray in front of her. The food looked like hardly palatable mush, not like the carefully planned and replicated meals her mother usually provided her. When she took a small bite of what she assumed was chicken, she made a face. This food was clearly mass-replicated; it tasted dry and flavorless, nothing like she was used to eating. While Seven may not be a gourmet chef, at least the food she prepared tasted like food. This, however, tasted terrible. As it was all she had to eat, she couldn't just recycle the food and go without eating; she wouldn't be able to eat again until her mom got home from the Academy that evening. Mezoti sucked it up and took another bite. It wasn't as bad as the first bite, but it was still unappetizing.
So far, school felt like an utter disappointment to Mezoti. She was significantly further ahead of most of her classmates, she couldn't make any friends, and the food was disgusting. When she was homeschooled, she didn't have any of those problems. Seven ensured her academic needs were met, they kept each other company, and the food wasn't this awful tasting. Mezoti knew that she couldn't stay home all day while Seven and Chakotay went to work, but she didn't know why she had to come here of all places. There had to be a better place for her to go. Just about anywhere else in the galaxy would be better than this. Mezoti rubbed her eye, forcing the tears back once again. All she wanted to do was go home.
During a break between her classes, Seven retreated to the privacy of her office to reexamine her lessons and ensure they were adequately prepared for her remaining classes for the day. She felt surprisingly drained, which she didn't expect. She thought this would be an easy job, all she had to do was stand in front of a room full of cadets and talk; it was hardly a difficult job. After two classes, however, she was tired, both emotionally and physically, and she wanted nothing more than to disappear into the privacy of her small office tucked away at the far end of the hall and take a few minutes to regroup before repeating the process all over again. No sooner did she sit down did her door chime, indicating someone was there. So much for a short break.
"Come in." The door opened, and Admiral Paris walked in as if he owned the place. Caught off guard by the surprise guest, it took Seven a few seconds longer than usual to get to her feet.
"Admiral," she greeted formally as she folded her arms behind her back and held her head high. She could see the apprehension in the man's eyes as the door closed behind him. She wasn't surprised to see his unease, he never seemed fully comfortable around her. "I must apologize, I did not expect you."
"I should have contacted you ahead of time to make sure you weren't busy. My apologies."
"There is no need to apologize. Please, have a seat." She motioned towards one of the available chairs on the other side of her desk. Admiral Paris sat on the edge of the seat as if he needed to be ready at a moment's notice to be on his feet and out the door in case she tried to assimilate him.
Once Admiral Paris took a seat, Seven returned to her seat behind her desk. Normally she was used to uncomfortable interactions with humans who were skeptical about her, but there was something about this encounter that made her feel particularly uneasy. She had heard plenty of stories from Tom Paris about his father, and while she knew he had a particular bias, the stories still came to mind whenever she saw the Admiral.
Never one to beat around the bush, the Admiral jumped right into why he was there and said, "I know you're busy and hate to interrupt your break, but this is very important. I am here to recruit you for Project Pathfinder." Confusion flashed across her face. The public had been told that Project Pathfinder had been disabled shortly after Voyager's return to the Delta Quadrant; there was no need for Pathfinder to continue anyway, the entire purpose was to get Voyager home, which had happened nearly a year ago, rendering the endeavor useless.
"I was under the impression that the Pathfinder Project was discontinued upon Voyager's return. Explain," she stated bluntly. Unaccustomed to being talked to in such a manner, the Admiral's finger twitched with frustration, but he ignored it. He'd had a handful of encounters with Seven, and all of them were equally terse. Admiral Janeway assured him that she would soften up once she came around and got to know him better, but he had his doubts, some people never changed, no matter how hard they tried.
"While Project Pathfinder's primary focus was getting Voyager back to the Alpha Quadrant, there was a secondary purpose as well: transwarp technology." His eyes sparkled at the notion of Starfleet finally achieving transwarp technology, it's Holy Grail of sorts, the one thing they needed more than anything else to continue to thrive.
"Transwarp technology?" Seven repeated in a less impressed tone as she raised her eyebrow skeptically. "Admiral Janeway tried several times to implement transwarp technology and was always unsuccessful."
"That's because she didn't have the technology available here on Earth. With our resources and your expertise on Borg technology, I know that this is something we can achieve." Seven pursed her lips and shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She had countless reservations about this, and she struggled to think of where to start.
"Why does Starfleet want to return to the Delta Quadrant? There is much exploration still to be done right here in the Alpha Quadrant. It would be an inefficient use of resources to attempt to explore two quadrants at once."
"If the Federation is to expand into the Delta Quadrant, we have to do so quickly while its inhabitants still remember all the positive contributions of Voyager, and they're more likely to join. Think of a Federation that includes Talaxians, Enarans, the Nezu, Sikarians and so many other species. Voyager made a mark on the Delta Quadrant, and the Federation wants to capitalize on it." Seven shook her head. Yes, Admiral Paris had a logical argument, but it was also incredibly flawed. He was only seeing the positives here; she'd spent two decades in the Delta Quadrant and knew the negatives of the Delta Quadrant more than anyone else on this planet.
"For each friendly species you name, I can name three or four others in the Delta Quadrant who are openly hostile. Are you fully prepared to face the Vidiians, the Hirogen, the Devore, the Voth? You also seem to have forgotten that the Borg control large portions of the Delta Quadrants, hundreds of systems, thousands of planets. The Federation may be ready for the Delta Quadrant, but is the Delta Quadrant ready for the Federation?" Admiral Paris leaned forward. He was accustomed to giving orders and people following them, but here was this young woman, not even half his age, arguing with him over a decision that was established months ago. Nothing she said could make him cancel Pathfinder, too much time and resources had already been pumped into it, and ending it would undoubtedly ruin his Starfleet career.
"The Alpha Quadrant wasn't ready for the Federation until it was formed and everyone realized that it was necessary. We've already achieved relative peace across this quadrant, and now I'm asking you to help us reach that goal."
"I have many hesitations," Seven confessed. "And you've forgotten that my job is here, at the Academy. It is impossible for me to carry out my duties here and work on Pathfinder." Admiral Paris was already prepared for this argument. He knew this was Seven's job now, and he wasn't about to take her away from it, especially on the first day of her classes.
"You would be a part time consultant. You would work late one evening a week on Pathfinder." Working late one evening a week was reasonable enough. If Seven just had to think about herself, then she would accept, even with her hesitations, but it wasn't just herself that she had to think about. Working late one evening a week would mean Chakotay and Mezoti would be left to their own devices for that evening. She wasn't sure how he would react to that, as it would be a massive disruption to their newly established routine.
"I would need to talk to Chakotay," she finally said slowly with the hopes that this could buy her some time to think about if she really wanted to do this, as she still felt reluctant. There were extreme consequences to returning to the Delta Quadrant, consequences she wasn't sure Admiral Paris had fully considered. "This is something that doesn't affect just me."
"Understandable, but this is a time sensitive issue. I would need to know by the day after tomorrow." Admiral Paris got to his feet and walked towards the door. He stopped in the doorway and turned around. "If it makes your decision any easier, Lieutenant Kim, Tom and B'Elanna have both joined Pathfinder, and B'Elanna is the one who told me that we need you on this project." Seven found that hard to believe. Yes, her relationship with B'Elanna had gotten better, especially now that they weren't forced to work together on a regular basis, but she still didn't think she would speak so highly of her. If this were true, then perhaps she should accept the gracious offer, despite her extreme reservations.
By the end of the school day, Mezoti couldn't wait to go home and forget today ever happened. Full of menial lessons being pandered to the lowest students, the afternoon had dragged on just like the morning did. She completed her work in record time and sat around reading a book while she waited for the rest of the class to catch up. Finally, the bell rang. Immediately every single student jumped to their feet and scrambled to their cubbies to grab their backpacks and fly out the door with their bags flapping half open. None of them seemed to care; they were more focused on going home. As excited as she was to go home, Mezoti slowly and methodically gathered together her belongings so she didn't risk leaving anything behind before crossing the room to the cubbies.
"Mezoti," Ms. Coalburg called as she fell into step next to the child. "How do you think your first day went?"
"How I think it went is irrelevant, it happened, and it's over with," Mezoti replied indifferently. Ms. Coalburg sighed. The information she got about Mezoti told her that she could sometimes be very analytical, it was often a result of her time in the Collective, but she still hoped that she could get her to open up to her.
"Did you enjoy your first day? I know it can be very frightening, and you've had to undergo a lot of changes the past few months. One of my jobs as teacher is to make sure all of my students are comfortable and enjoying themselves at school. Is there anything I can do to help you adjust?"
"I am capable of adjusting on my own." Mezoti stuffed her belongings in her backpack and swung it over her shoulder. "I have to go. I don't want to be late." Ms. Coalburg felt lost and confused as she watched the child leave the room. Normally, she was able to read a child and determine how their first day went just by looking at him or her. This girl, however, was an utter mystery. She would have to keep a closer eye on her to see how she was adjusting, as she wasn't going to get the information using more conventional methods.
Finally free from the confines of the school, Mezoti emerged in front of the building and scanned the grounds for Chakotay. There seemed to be dozens of shuttles all grouped together while parents stood patiently in small groups along the grounds socializing and waiting for their children to show up. There were so many people all over the place, making it difficult to find anyone. Children shoved past her, eager to go home and play. Mezoti stumbled along with the crowd, searching for Chakotay. When she couldn't find him, she started to grow a little nervous. It was the first time he had to pick her up, maybe he forgot. It was a sobering thought. She didn't know how to contact him if she needed to. Of all the things she prepared for, she never thought about what would happen if he didn't come to get her.
Even though she'd only been outside for a few minutes, it felt like a lifetime to Mezoti as she looked for Chakotay. Finally, she found him, just a few meters away from her, smiling at her as he waited patiently for her to join him. Relief washed over her as she approached him.
"How was school?" he asked as he took her backpack in one hand and put his other hand on her shoulder.
"It was adequate," she replied with a shrug.
"Just adequate?" he pressed as he guided her towards his shuttle. "Did you learn anything new?"
"That the map of the galaxy in my classroom is out of date." He chuckled; she was so much like her mother.
"How about anything academic? You spent all day in school, surely you learned something new." They climbed into the shuttle and both buckled up. Mezoti carefully thought about it. Had she learned anything new?
"We learned about Dr. Zefram Cochrane and the invention of the warp drive. We also read a book called A Wrinkle in Time. Have you heard of it?" Chakotay stopped to think before finally starting up the shuttle and taking off. Children's literature wasn't his area of expertise, but the book sounded familiar.
"It sounds familiar." The zipped through the air, heading back to their house. "It sounds like you had a good day today." Mezoti shrugged. She wasn't sure if she'd go that far. Rather than tell Chakotay about all the problems she'd had trying to adjust, she kept her mouth shut. It would be better to let him think that she had a good day than worry him over nothing. It was far more difficult for her to adapt than she thought it would be.
As soon as she walked in the door, Seven smelled dinner cooking. She put her bag down next to the front door and walked down the hall. Chakotay stood in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on dinner. The table was already set, and Mezoti was curled up on the couch reading her book for school. Figuring she was busy with her homework, Seven decided against interrupting her and instead headed to the kitchen.
"Hello beautiful," Chakotay greeted as he put a bowl of salad on the table amongst the place settings. Now that his hands were free, he could slide an arm around her waist and kiss her softly. "How was your first day?"
"It was satisfactory." He raised an eyebrow.
"Just satisfactory?" Seven glanced over her shoulder towards Mezoti, indicating that this wasn't a conversation she wanted her to overhear. Chakotay immediately understood and instead called, "Okay, Mezoti, time for dinner." Mezoti noted what page she was on and put the book to the side.
"Hi Mama," she chirped as she threw her arms around Seven's waist and looked up at her. "How was the Academy?"
"The Academy was fine. How was school?" Mezoti pulled away and took a seat at the table. Seven and Chakotay followed her lead, sitting in what was starting to become their normal seats.
"School was adequate," she replied, giving the same exact answer she gave Chakotay on her way back to the house, which didn't go unnoticed by him. He kept his mouth shut and instead began to serve himself.
"Explain."
"There's nothing to explain," Mezoti said with a shrug as she shoveled a bite of salad into her mouth with the hopes that the food would give her a break from having to explain herself further. It had only been her first day of school, she was convinced that it would get better in the days to come, or at least that's what she hoped.
That night, Seven and Chakotay went about their evening routine as they prepared for bed. Mezoti was safe in her alcove for the night, giving them freedom to talk openly about their day without little ears overhearing.
"So how was your day really?" Chakotay called as he tossed his dirty clothes in the designated hamper in the closet.
"My students are more interested in my life than what I have to teach," Seven complained as she stepped out of her bodysuit. The cool air being circulated through the air conditioning vents tickled her exposed flesh as she crossed the room to put her bodysuit in the hamper as well.
"You're the first Borg these cadets have ever met. They're fascinated by you and your story. You can't blame them for being interested in who you are and what's happened to you." Clad only in her bra and underwear, she walked into the bathroom with a fiery look in her eyes.
"I am not an animal at the zoo to be gawked at by Starfleet cadets," she snapped, her voice loud and imposing.
"I'm not saying that," Chakotay said as he pulled his t-shirt over his head and walked out of the closet. "I'm just saying that maybe you could dedicate a few minutes at the end of every class to answer their questions."
"That is an inefficient use of time. We are only allocated a certain amount of time per day, and we have a lot of information to cover. To sacrifice that time to answer frivolous questions would be a waste of time." She turned her attention to her reflection in the mirror, unpinning her hair and running a brush through it.
"But if they're going to ask the questions anyway, it's already time you're going to lose. If they know you're going to take a few minutes at the end of each class, you'll be able to get through your lecture without as many interruptions." He ran his fingertips along her spine to the hem of her underwear, which he mindlessly traced along the swell of her hips that jutted out sharply. "Would you rather sacrifice a few minutes at the end of each class or a lot more time throughout the class?" She stopped brushing her hair, holding the hairbrush mid-stroke, as she thought about what he said.
"I will consider your suggestion." When he looked in her eyes in the reflection of the mirror, he could still see conflict, something bothering her. He continued to run his fingers lightly over her exposed flesh, causing goosebumps to ripple along her pale skin.
"What else is bothering you, sweetheart?" he asked softly. She put down the hairbrush and turned around.
"Admiral Paris came to speak to me." Suddenly it all made sense to him. He knew the Admiral would be coming to talk to her, but he had been sworn to secrecy since she technically wasn't a Starfleet Officer. Plus, for the time being, Pathfinder was on a need to know basis.
"About Pathfinder."
"You knew?" Seven demanded indignantly. "Were you planning on informing me?"
"I couldn't. There are classified aspects of my career, Seven. They're very few, but Pathfinder is one of them. Can you imagine what would happen if the Cardassians or the Romulans get their hands on such technology? It would shift the balance of power in the quadrant." His voice raised slightly in frustration. His old Maquis ways made it impossible for him to trust the Cardassians, so the thought of them getting their hands on such crucial technology made him feel sick to his stomach. "What did Admiral Paris want?"
"He wants me to join Pathfinder as a consultant, which would require working late once a week. I told him that I would have to discuss it with you. I'm hesitant, as it would disrupt our routine." It didn't seem like a big deal to him. It wasn't like she would be working late every day, which would definitely disrupt their routine, but once a week was hardly worth noting.
"It's just once a week. Mezoti and I will be fine. I think you should go for it, it's an extremely prestigious project to work on, and they need you. You're the only one in the Federation who has a detailed understanding of transwarp technology." He took a hold of both her hands, giving them a reassuring squeeze as she leaned back against the bathroom counter.
"So you believe it's a good idea to attempt to return to the Delta Quadrant?"
"I think the Admiral's logic is reasonable." Seven didn't look convinced. "We're bound to get to the Delta Quadrant sooner or later, and I think it makes sense to go now while people there still remember us, and our friendships are still somewhat viable, but they need your help. I've spoken to B'Elanna, and they're struggling. They need you."
"I will consider the offer." Knowing that that was probably the best he was going to get, he kissed the top of her head softly before heading to the bedroom and crawling into bed. He couldn't force her to do anything she wasn't comfortable with doing, but he sincerely hoped that she would take up the Admiral on his offer, Starfleet needed her.
As he waited for Seven to join him, Chakotay stared at the shadows and light that played across the ceiling. He flung one arm above his head and thought about her day, especially her students' inherent curiosity about her. Without a doubt, she was one of the bravest women he knew. Everyone who looked at her instantly knew who she was and her past. There was no way to blame her for her past, nobody ever asked to be assimilated, but that never stopped people from passing judgement on her. It was only natural to be curious, but he hated when people stared at her and whispered behind her back. He knew she heard them, but she never made any comment on it until today. He could only imagine how difficult it must be for her to have to confront her past in front of dozens of strangers on a daily basis. If anyone could handle it, though, it was her.
Finished in the bathroom, Seven shut off the light and entered the bedroom. It was slightly warmer than last night, so she just pulled on the shirt tucked her pillow and crawled into bed. She instinctively curled up against Chakotay with her head on his chest. His arm came down to wrap around her, stroking her arm with his thumb in the process. Her arm draped across his waist, and their legs tangled together. The gentle thumping of his heart comforted her as she thought about their conversation. There was a lot for her to think about, making it difficult for her to relax and fall asleep. She had worked so hard to put her time in the Collective behind her, and she knew she would have to confront her past, but she never thought she would have to answer so many questions about her personal life. Curiosity was a natural human response, especially for Starfleet cadets who were taught to inquire about everything around them. Therefore, it would be foolish for her to expect them to accept her as their instructor without asking so many questions. She might have to adapt and be more willing to answer their questions, whether she wanted to or not.
In addition to her problem with her students, Seven also had to think about Admiral Paris' request. Helping the Federation get back to the Delta Quadrant would undoubtedly open them up to new enemies, including countless species Voyager hadn't encountered during its seven years stranded there. In a sense, it would be putting the entire Federation in danger, which was highly reckless. On the other hand, it was inevitable to expand into the Delta Quadrant, and they might as well make use of the bonds forged over the years to help the Federation. There was also her unique expertise. Without her, all those working on Pathfinder may be in danger by using faulty technology and unsound techniques. In a way, she was necessary on Pathfinder, whether she wanted to be or not. For that reason alone, she knew what her choice had to be.
Author's Note: Wow, this chapter is a beast! I'm sorry it's so long, I just couldn't find somewhere to cut it off. I hope you enjoyed it. Make sure to leave a review and check out my other fic: Coming Clean. It's another Chakotay/Seven story.