Disclaimer: NOT MINE! NOT MINE! NOT MINE!
Sorry this one took so much time, but its long so you all can deal with it. I would
appreciate reviews and to know how you all feel about Finnegan and Seven's developing
relationship. Maybe even a suggestion or two for the ending, because I think I'm going to
write multiple ones.
The Captain finished up her third cup of coffee, her nerves were on edge. People
in her crew were in trouble, as they were so often, and she had to make sure that they
were safe before she could get a moments peace.
"What is the situation Mr. Tuvok, what happened to you guys down there?" she
asked from the head of the table in the ready room.
"It seems that the X radiation affected all our systems and caused the Delta Flyer
to go out of control," Tuvok said, " The radiation also effected the transporters, which
explains why you could only get a lock on Mr. Paris and I."
"Can you tell me anything about Finnegan and Seven's situation before you left?"
she asked.
"There really is nothing to say, they were both standing at their stations when we
were beamed out of there," Tom replied.
"We have adjusted sensors to compensate for the radiation and have picked up
their two life forms on the planet, we tried to beam them out but we will need to get
closer," Chakotay said.
The Captain looked into his eyes, those eyes that had given her so much strength,
she needed that strength now. She had grown to know Finnegan and appreciate his
company, if something were to happen to him, so soon after he joined her crew, on his
first away mission, she wouldn't be able to forgive herself. Then there was Seven. Seven
had become like a little sister, or even a daughter to Janeway, she couldn't imagine
returning to Earth without her. Janeway had so much to show her, so much to teach her.
She looked into Chakotay's eyes and some weight was lifted of her shoulders, some level
of understanding was reached. They were alive, that was a good sign. For some reason
Janeway knew that Finnegan wouldn't let anything happen to Seven, no matter how he
had been acting toward her lately. And she knew that Seven would do the same for
Finnegan. She knew Seven, better then anyone on the ship, and she had seen them dance.
Despite her level on intoxication she knew that there was something going on between
the two of them.
"Chakotay, do you think you can send a message to the ship," she asked.
"It's not possible, to much interference," he replied.
"How about if you send it to Seven's cortical node," she replied, "perhaps on a
frequency that could penetrate the interference."
"It's possible," he said.
"Good, Tuvok, Harry and you get to work, the Doctor too, he should be able to
help you with the cortical node frequencies," she said, "B'Elanna, Tom, and I will start to
figure our how we are going to get our selves closer to the ship," she said.
They group dispersed and went their separate ways.
Janeway got up and walked to the replicator, "Computer, one cup of coffee."
Seven and Finnegan had been working for three hours straight, comparing data,
repairing systems, trying to figure a way out of their tiny little prison. It had been
difficult, they had experienced many disagreements, but they both knew that if they were
going to get through this they needed to be civil with each other, there was no place to go
if one of them blew their tops and they weren't sure how long they were going to be stuck
in the Delta Flyer on this unknown, uninhabited planet.
Finnegan was tired and sore. There was nothing that he wanted more then to get
out of the shuttle that he was stuck in, "Seven, how are those sensors going," he asked for
what probably was the fifth time in the three hours they had been there.
"You are the most impatient man I have ever met," she said, " but fortunately for
you that sensors will be on momentarily," she said, not picking her head up from her
work.
"Thanks Seven, you are just the most efficiently swell person," he replied in a
mocking tone, giving her the thumbs up. She simply rolled her eyes at him. This type of
banter had been going on between them for the past couple of weeks, since a couple days
after their date. When Seven first thought of returning to work with Finnegan, it made her
feel sick to her stomach. She just remembered what he had said to her in the sickbay
before she had walked away from him. She remembered how he had told her that he
thought he had found love again and how she would regret her decision.
At first she had, and perhaps she still did. When she arrived into astrometrics the
first day he was back, and saw him working at his station, she almost felt the urge to run
up to him and apologize, to tell him that she had changed her mind. That all change when
she saw how cold he was being to her. Seven understood that he was hurt, and he had
reason to be mad, but she had guessed that they would at least remain friends. It was not
so, they began to bicker more then they had before they had gone on the date. The only
problem was that the unsure feelings that she had when she was around him before were
now identified. It was attraction that she had felt for him, that was clear; he was a
handsome man. He was tall, dark blond, a strong build, and smile and hazel eyes that
could melt a girl. Seven had been attracted to him right away, but that was only
physically. After the date, she knew that it was more then physical, it was so much more,
and that's why she had to end it. When she had seen him lying in the hallway she had to
almost grab the railing to keep herself up. Pain flowed into her, the same pain that she
had felt not so long ago when she was ripped away from Axum, she couldn't go through
that again, she wouldn't allow it. Yet now she was trapped in a shuttlecraft with a man
that she was strongly attracted to, and she believed to be attracted to her. She didn't know
how long the would be stuck on the planet. Part of her wanted to get of the planet right
away and return to the safety of Voyager where she could hide from him and from her
feelings. But there was a part of her that wanted to be stuck on the tiny little shuttlecraft
forever.
"So what's up with the sensors, Miss Efficiency?" Finnegan asked again. Maybe
not forever.
" The sensors are scanning the area," she said, she finally looked up to find
Finnegan staring at her, but not really seeing her.
"Is there something wrong?" she asked.
"No, I just had this dream earlier and I'm trying to remember it, I think that you
were in it," he said, straining his brow with thought.
"I think that your dream is somewhat irrelevant at this time, we have a problem,"
she said.
"Ok, what is it?" he asked walking over to the consul and leaning over to look at
it. When he leaned over he pressed against Seven's side. He paused and Seven thought
she felt him shudder, but it could have very well been herself shuddering, or the both of
them.
"Oh great," he said when he had read that data. " We're under and damn lake, I
guess we're just going to have to stay in her until Voyager can come and get us. We're
just lucky that there weren't any hull breaches."
"I don't think that Voyager will be able to transport us out of her with the
radiation," she said.
"So what are you suggesting, that we swim out of here or something, cause there
is no way that we are going to be able to get thrusters back on line, no way," he said.
"That is exactly what I am suggesting," she said.
"Seven, the surface is 115 meters above us, there is no way that we will be able to
hold our breaths for that long, I mean, and even we could, do you know how cold that
water is, we wont survive it," he said, gesturing with his hands.
"There is one pressure suit that was not damaged in the fire, you will wear it to
the surface, I will swim it, and when I reach the surface I will quickly put the suit on and
warm myself," she said.
"Oh there is no chance in hell that I am going to let you do that, you'll wear the
suit and all swim it without it," he said, Seven could see that this was not going to be
simple. He was a stubborn man, but she was stubborn as well.
"Mr. Finnegan, it is illogical that you would be the one to swim without the
pressure suit, my physiology is better prepared to handle the cold then …" he cut her off.
"Seven, first of all, my body is just as ready for the cold as yours is, second of all
you know that I am not going to go out of this shuttle with that pressure suit on so you
can just agree with me or we can both stay in here," he said, his voice carried a tone that
indicated he was not going to budge from his opinion.
"We will discuss this in the morning, we cant leave until then anyway, it is to cold
to do it tonight," she said.
It was cold, in fact they were beginning to see their own breath forming misty
clouds when they talked, it was going to be a long night. Finnegan looked at Seven as she
went back to work. How could he be expected to "share body heat" with her, be pressed
so closely against her for an entire night, all alone. It was going to kill him. He was so
intense in his thought that he didn't notice Seven flinch when she got a message from
Voyager through her cortical node.
"Seven, this is the Captain, I hope that you are getting this, we have devised a
plan to transport you, but it possesses a very small window of opportunity, you must
make it to these coordinates in four days, I hope that you can make it, Janeway out," that
was all the Seven received, along with a set of coordinates 16km from where they were.
They could easily make it there in 4 days, if they could just get out of the shuttle.
Janeway had never been more proud of her crew. They proved themselves to her
time and time again, without fail. The Captain, Tom , and B'Elanna had been examining
the asteroid belt for hours when they finally found their window of opportunity. There
was one section of the asteroid belt where the asteroid field was less dense then the rest.
A couple well-placed phasers shots and they could fly the ship into orbit, the only
problem is that they could only stay there for about 15 seconds before asteroids would
start slamming into the hull. Then it would only be another minute till the shields failed.
It didn't leave much time. The Captain had Chakotay and Tuvok send a message to Seven
to go to a set of coordinates that were at the highest point on the planet. This way there
was less chance of failure. Yet the Captain knew that with her crew, with her people,
there was no chance of failure, or at least she hoped it.
Finnegan and Seven were uncomfortable, and it had little to do with the fact that it
was 35 degrees below Celsius. It was mostly because they were sharing a small bed with
each other, cradled in each other's arms, trying to go to sleep.
Sleep, however, was nearly impossible for Finnegan; there was no way it was
going to come to him while he was this uneasy, no matter how tired he was. So he tried to
break the awkwardness with the only way he knew how.
"Seven," he whispered. She was lying to his right with her upper body curling
somewhat over his; her head was resting on his chest.
"Yes," she said, she sounded wide-awake, and Finnegan wondered if she had
been having the same problems too, but then another thought came to him.
"Wait, Seven, can you even sleep at all? I mean, don't you need you regenerator,
how long can you go with out it," he asked. Fear began to spill over him. What if
something happened where they were stranded on the planet, if Seven didn't regenerate
she would die, and then he would have to watch her as she slowly lost her life.
"I should be fine for the remainder of this trip, I can go several days without it,"
she said.
"Well, what if the Captain doesn't get us out of here, what will happen to you if
we have to stay on this planet," he asked.
Seven could sense that he was worried for her and some overwhelming need to
comfort the man whose arms were holding her prevented her from letting him know the
truth, "I am Seven, I will adapt," she said.
Finnegan smiled, he knew that she was just saying this, but he smiled anyway
because it was still comforting. There was another long silence, until Finnegan broke it
again.
"Can you sleep?" he asked her in a whisper.
"I am capable of sleeping, though it is an inefficient way to recharge my body,"
she said.
"No, no, no. I meant can you fall asleep now, cause I can't for the life of me fall
asleep," he said.
"I am finding it difficult to fall asleep as well," she said.
"Are you cold?" he asked her.
"No, I am not cold at all," she said. In fact, she thought she was a little to warm
for the situation she was in. She had noticed that once she lied down she had felt
surprisingly warm and secure.
"Ok then, if we aren't falling asleep we might as well make use of the time we
have, tell me something about yourself Seven," he said.
"Excuse me?" she asked, slightly confused at the topic he had chosen to discuss.
"Well I told you how I got her, and I know bits and pieces of the story of how you
got here, but I've never heard you tell it. I understand that it's painful, so if you don't
want to share you don't need to," he said.
"I don't really remember that much about it. My parents were scientists who came
to the Delta quadrant to explore. They discovered the Borg and recklessly decided to
investigate. They put our family in danger for the conquest of knowledge. My mother
schooled me and most of my time was spent reading. I remember my sixth birthday party,
they sung 'Happy Birthday Annika', and then I was assimilated. My memories from
being in the collective… there is to much information to explain. Then, after the Borg
made a treaty with Voyager against Species 8417, I was chosen to represent the Borg.
When the Borg no longer needed Voyager, I attempted to assimilate them and Janeway
severed my link to the Borg, I have been on Voyager ever since," she said.
"Wow, you know, we have a lot in common," he said.
"Explain." she asked/commanded.
"Well we both have clear issues with our parents. You are mad at them for putting
you in danger by bringing you close to the Borg. I'm mad at my parents for getting me
the genetic surgery that got me kicked out of Starfleet. Different, but the same," he said.
"You're parents simply believed that they were doing the best for you," she said,
trying to comfort him, she knew that it was a sore topic.
"Yeah, but they weren't thinking, they acted like children. Here's an example. As
a little kid I once made my parents breakfast in bed, but I took the term a little to literally
and actually tried to make them breakfast on their bed, I mean I threw some pancakes and
syrup onto the bed, some eggs, it was a mess," he said.
Seven let out a little chuckle.
"Was that a laugh I just heard?" he asked, surprised by the reaction he had gotten.
"Yes, the story was entertaining," she said.
"You should really laugh more often, it suits you more then you think, and it's
good for you," had said. He paused. "Well anyway, back to the story. My point was, that
while I was trying to do something nice for my parents, it really wasn't a good thing and
it had consequences. It was slightly excusable though, because I was only 7, but my
parents were 32 when they got me the surgery, there is no excuse for what they did," he
said, his voice filling with pain and anger.
" Perhaps, but I have realized that love can make a person blind to the
consequences of their actions," she continued, " You should consider yourself lucky that
your parents are still alive and that they are still there for you," she finished.
"That's true, I often wonder, when we get back, if I should go and see them. Betsy
always told me that she was going to make me, that I couldn't go my entire life without
contacting them, that I would regret it if something was to happen to them," he said, "but
ever time I think about it, I get so mad."
"Then perhaps you are not ready to think about it," Seven replied.
"I think you are right. What about you?" he asked.
" What?" she asked.
"If you could see your parents again, would you forgive them?" he asked.
Usually if someone had asked her this question, she would have just blown them
off, telling them that it was none of their business or that she did not wish to discuss that
matter, but there was something about Finnegan's voice and the situation they were in
that made her want to tell him.
"I really haven't thought about it, I suppose that it would be very difficult to
forgive them," she said, her voice quivering a little because of the subject matter.
Finnegan must have noticed it, because she felt his powerful arms slightly tighten their
grip around her, it gave her strength. " Nevertheless I believe that it would be possible,"
she said, " Sometimes I find myself wondering what my life would have been like if my
parents and I hadn't run into the Borg. I imagine that it would be normal, that I would
have the normal childhood that everyone else seems to have had. Sometimes I envy the
people who had this kind of a childhood, I envy the stability that they were raised with,
because it is something that I can never have. I have grown a lot since I regained my
individuality. I have matured. Yet the fact still remains that I am a woman, with the
emotional maturity of a child." When she ended she couldn't believe how much she had
said. She had never told anyone about any of the feelings that she had just told Finnegan,
not even the Captain. Suddenly she started to feel sick to her stomach, coldness began to
envelope her.
Finnegan's words broke the silence, "Seven, I don't think that you give yourself
half the credit that you deserve. You have affected so many people on Voyager. Everyone
of the people on that ship considers you a member of their family. Trust me, I've noticed
it and I have only been here for a couple months. You have touched so many lives. You
are probably the most amazing person that I have ever met, and I know that I will never
be the same after having met you. Do you know how much strength it requires to do what
you have done, to face the trauma that you have had to face?"
Seven didn't say anything. She turned herself over so she could face Finnegan. He
was staring into her eyes, sympathy and concern filling his own. Seven simply nestled
herself closer to Finnegan and began to cry.
"Thank you," she said through the tears, "Thank you."
Sorry this one took so much time, but its long so you all can deal with it. I would
appreciate reviews and to know how you all feel about Finnegan and Seven's developing
relationship. Maybe even a suggestion or two for the ending, because I think I'm going to
write multiple ones.
The Captain finished up her third cup of coffee, her nerves were on edge. People
in her crew were in trouble, as they were so often, and she had to make sure that they
were safe before she could get a moments peace.
"What is the situation Mr. Tuvok, what happened to you guys down there?" she
asked from the head of the table in the ready room.
"It seems that the X radiation affected all our systems and caused the Delta Flyer
to go out of control," Tuvok said, " The radiation also effected the transporters, which
explains why you could only get a lock on Mr. Paris and I."
"Can you tell me anything about Finnegan and Seven's situation before you left?"
she asked.
"There really is nothing to say, they were both standing at their stations when we
were beamed out of there," Tom replied.
"We have adjusted sensors to compensate for the radiation and have picked up
their two life forms on the planet, we tried to beam them out but we will need to get
closer," Chakotay said.
The Captain looked into his eyes, those eyes that had given her so much strength,
she needed that strength now. She had grown to know Finnegan and appreciate his
company, if something were to happen to him, so soon after he joined her crew, on his
first away mission, she wouldn't be able to forgive herself. Then there was Seven. Seven
had become like a little sister, or even a daughter to Janeway, she couldn't imagine
returning to Earth without her. Janeway had so much to show her, so much to teach her.
She looked into Chakotay's eyes and some weight was lifted of her shoulders, some level
of understanding was reached. They were alive, that was a good sign. For some reason
Janeway knew that Finnegan wouldn't let anything happen to Seven, no matter how he
had been acting toward her lately. And she knew that Seven would do the same for
Finnegan. She knew Seven, better then anyone on the ship, and she had seen them dance.
Despite her level on intoxication she knew that there was something going on between
the two of them.
"Chakotay, do you think you can send a message to the ship," she asked.
"It's not possible, to much interference," he replied.
"How about if you send it to Seven's cortical node," she replied, "perhaps on a
frequency that could penetrate the interference."
"It's possible," he said.
"Good, Tuvok, Harry and you get to work, the Doctor too, he should be able to
help you with the cortical node frequencies," she said, "B'Elanna, Tom, and I will start to
figure our how we are going to get our selves closer to the ship," she said.
They group dispersed and went their separate ways.
Janeway got up and walked to the replicator, "Computer, one cup of coffee."
Seven and Finnegan had been working for three hours straight, comparing data,
repairing systems, trying to figure a way out of their tiny little prison. It had been
difficult, they had experienced many disagreements, but they both knew that if they were
going to get through this they needed to be civil with each other, there was no place to go
if one of them blew their tops and they weren't sure how long they were going to be stuck
in the Delta Flyer on this unknown, uninhabited planet.
Finnegan was tired and sore. There was nothing that he wanted more then to get
out of the shuttle that he was stuck in, "Seven, how are those sensors going," he asked for
what probably was the fifth time in the three hours they had been there.
"You are the most impatient man I have ever met," she said, " but fortunately for
you that sensors will be on momentarily," she said, not picking her head up from her
work.
"Thanks Seven, you are just the most efficiently swell person," he replied in a
mocking tone, giving her the thumbs up. She simply rolled her eyes at him. This type of
banter had been going on between them for the past couple of weeks, since a couple days
after their date. When Seven first thought of returning to work with Finnegan, it made her
feel sick to her stomach. She just remembered what he had said to her in the sickbay
before she had walked away from him. She remembered how he had told her that he
thought he had found love again and how she would regret her decision.
At first she had, and perhaps she still did. When she arrived into astrometrics the
first day he was back, and saw him working at his station, she almost felt the urge to run
up to him and apologize, to tell him that she had changed her mind. That all change when
she saw how cold he was being to her. Seven understood that he was hurt, and he had
reason to be mad, but she had guessed that they would at least remain friends. It was not
so, they began to bicker more then they had before they had gone on the date. The only
problem was that the unsure feelings that she had when she was around him before were
now identified. It was attraction that she had felt for him, that was clear; he was a
handsome man. He was tall, dark blond, a strong build, and smile and hazel eyes that
could melt a girl. Seven had been attracted to him right away, but that was only
physically. After the date, she knew that it was more then physical, it was so much more,
and that's why she had to end it. When she had seen him lying in the hallway she had to
almost grab the railing to keep herself up. Pain flowed into her, the same pain that she
had felt not so long ago when she was ripped away from Axum, she couldn't go through
that again, she wouldn't allow it. Yet now she was trapped in a shuttlecraft with a man
that she was strongly attracted to, and she believed to be attracted to her. She didn't know
how long the would be stuck on the planet. Part of her wanted to get of the planet right
away and return to the safety of Voyager where she could hide from him and from her
feelings. But there was a part of her that wanted to be stuck on the tiny little shuttlecraft
forever.
"So what's up with the sensors, Miss Efficiency?" Finnegan asked again. Maybe
not forever.
" The sensors are scanning the area," she said, she finally looked up to find
Finnegan staring at her, but not really seeing her.
"Is there something wrong?" she asked.
"No, I just had this dream earlier and I'm trying to remember it, I think that you
were in it," he said, straining his brow with thought.
"I think that your dream is somewhat irrelevant at this time, we have a problem,"
she said.
"Ok, what is it?" he asked walking over to the consul and leaning over to look at
it. When he leaned over he pressed against Seven's side. He paused and Seven thought
she felt him shudder, but it could have very well been herself shuddering, or the both of
them.
"Oh great," he said when he had read that data. " We're under and damn lake, I
guess we're just going to have to stay in her until Voyager can come and get us. We're
just lucky that there weren't any hull breaches."
"I don't think that Voyager will be able to transport us out of her with the
radiation," she said.
"So what are you suggesting, that we swim out of here or something, cause there
is no way that we are going to be able to get thrusters back on line, no way," he said.
"That is exactly what I am suggesting," she said.
"Seven, the surface is 115 meters above us, there is no way that we will be able to
hold our breaths for that long, I mean, and even we could, do you know how cold that
water is, we wont survive it," he said, gesturing with his hands.
"There is one pressure suit that was not damaged in the fire, you will wear it to
the surface, I will swim it, and when I reach the surface I will quickly put the suit on and
warm myself," she said.
"Oh there is no chance in hell that I am going to let you do that, you'll wear the
suit and all swim it without it," he said, Seven could see that this was not going to be
simple. He was a stubborn man, but she was stubborn as well.
"Mr. Finnegan, it is illogical that you would be the one to swim without the
pressure suit, my physiology is better prepared to handle the cold then …" he cut her off.
"Seven, first of all, my body is just as ready for the cold as yours is, second of all
you know that I am not going to go out of this shuttle with that pressure suit on so you
can just agree with me or we can both stay in here," he said, his voice carried a tone that
indicated he was not going to budge from his opinion.
"We will discuss this in the morning, we cant leave until then anyway, it is to cold
to do it tonight," she said.
It was cold, in fact they were beginning to see their own breath forming misty
clouds when they talked, it was going to be a long night. Finnegan looked at Seven as she
went back to work. How could he be expected to "share body heat" with her, be pressed
so closely against her for an entire night, all alone. It was going to kill him. He was so
intense in his thought that he didn't notice Seven flinch when she got a message from
Voyager through her cortical node.
"Seven, this is the Captain, I hope that you are getting this, we have devised a
plan to transport you, but it possesses a very small window of opportunity, you must
make it to these coordinates in four days, I hope that you can make it, Janeway out," that
was all the Seven received, along with a set of coordinates 16km from where they were.
They could easily make it there in 4 days, if they could just get out of the shuttle.
Janeway had never been more proud of her crew. They proved themselves to her
time and time again, without fail. The Captain, Tom , and B'Elanna had been examining
the asteroid belt for hours when they finally found their window of opportunity. There
was one section of the asteroid belt where the asteroid field was less dense then the rest.
A couple well-placed phasers shots and they could fly the ship into orbit, the only
problem is that they could only stay there for about 15 seconds before asteroids would
start slamming into the hull. Then it would only be another minute till the shields failed.
It didn't leave much time. The Captain had Chakotay and Tuvok send a message to Seven
to go to a set of coordinates that were at the highest point on the planet. This way there
was less chance of failure. Yet the Captain knew that with her crew, with her people,
there was no chance of failure, or at least she hoped it.
Finnegan and Seven were uncomfortable, and it had little to do with the fact that it
was 35 degrees below Celsius. It was mostly because they were sharing a small bed with
each other, cradled in each other's arms, trying to go to sleep.
Sleep, however, was nearly impossible for Finnegan; there was no way it was
going to come to him while he was this uneasy, no matter how tired he was. So he tried to
break the awkwardness with the only way he knew how.
"Seven," he whispered. She was lying to his right with her upper body curling
somewhat over his; her head was resting on his chest.
"Yes," she said, she sounded wide-awake, and Finnegan wondered if she had
been having the same problems too, but then another thought came to him.
"Wait, Seven, can you even sleep at all? I mean, don't you need you regenerator,
how long can you go with out it," he asked. Fear began to spill over him. What if
something happened where they were stranded on the planet, if Seven didn't regenerate
she would die, and then he would have to watch her as she slowly lost her life.
"I should be fine for the remainder of this trip, I can go several days without it,"
she said.
"Well, what if the Captain doesn't get us out of here, what will happen to you if
we have to stay on this planet," he asked.
Seven could sense that he was worried for her and some overwhelming need to
comfort the man whose arms were holding her prevented her from letting him know the
truth, "I am Seven, I will adapt," she said.
Finnegan smiled, he knew that she was just saying this, but he smiled anyway
because it was still comforting. There was another long silence, until Finnegan broke it
again.
"Can you sleep?" he asked her in a whisper.
"I am capable of sleeping, though it is an inefficient way to recharge my body,"
she said.
"No, no, no. I meant can you fall asleep now, cause I can't for the life of me fall
asleep," he said.
"I am finding it difficult to fall asleep as well," she said.
"Are you cold?" he asked her.
"No, I am not cold at all," she said. In fact, she thought she was a little to warm
for the situation she was in. She had noticed that once she lied down she had felt
surprisingly warm and secure.
"Ok then, if we aren't falling asleep we might as well make use of the time we
have, tell me something about yourself Seven," he said.
"Excuse me?" she asked, slightly confused at the topic he had chosen to discuss.
"Well I told you how I got her, and I know bits and pieces of the story of how you
got here, but I've never heard you tell it. I understand that it's painful, so if you don't
want to share you don't need to," he said.
"I don't really remember that much about it. My parents were scientists who came
to the Delta quadrant to explore. They discovered the Borg and recklessly decided to
investigate. They put our family in danger for the conquest of knowledge. My mother
schooled me and most of my time was spent reading. I remember my sixth birthday party,
they sung 'Happy Birthday Annika', and then I was assimilated. My memories from
being in the collective… there is to much information to explain. Then, after the Borg
made a treaty with Voyager against Species 8417, I was chosen to represent the Borg.
When the Borg no longer needed Voyager, I attempted to assimilate them and Janeway
severed my link to the Borg, I have been on Voyager ever since," she said.
"Wow, you know, we have a lot in common," he said.
"Explain." she asked/commanded.
"Well we both have clear issues with our parents. You are mad at them for putting
you in danger by bringing you close to the Borg. I'm mad at my parents for getting me
the genetic surgery that got me kicked out of Starfleet. Different, but the same," he said.
"You're parents simply believed that they were doing the best for you," she said,
trying to comfort him, she knew that it was a sore topic.
"Yeah, but they weren't thinking, they acted like children. Here's an example. As
a little kid I once made my parents breakfast in bed, but I took the term a little to literally
and actually tried to make them breakfast on their bed, I mean I threw some pancakes and
syrup onto the bed, some eggs, it was a mess," he said.
Seven let out a little chuckle.
"Was that a laugh I just heard?" he asked, surprised by the reaction he had gotten.
"Yes, the story was entertaining," she said.
"You should really laugh more often, it suits you more then you think, and it's
good for you," had said. He paused. "Well anyway, back to the story. My point was, that
while I was trying to do something nice for my parents, it really wasn't a good thing and
it had consequences. It was slightly excusable though, because I was only 7, but my
parents were 32 when they got me the surgery, there is no excuse for what they did," he
said, his voice filling with pain and anger.
" Perhaps, but I have realized that love can make a person blind to the
consequences of their actions," she continued, " You should consider yourself lucky that
your parents are still alive and that they are still there for you," she finished.
"That's true, I often wonder, when we get back, if I should go and see them. Betsy
always told me that she was going to make me, that I couldn't go my entire life without
contacting them, that I would regret it if something was to happen to them," he said, "but
ever time I think about it, I get so mad."
"Then perhaps you are not ready to think about it," Seven replied.
"I think you are right. What about you?" he asked.
" What?" she asked.
"If you could see your parents again, would you forgive them?" he asked.
Usually if someone had asked her this question, she would have just blown them
off, telling them that it was none of their business or that she did not wish to discuss that
matter, but there was something about Finnegan's voice and the situation they were in
that made her want to tell him.
"I really haven't thought about it, I suppose that it would be very difficult to
forgive them," she said, her voice quivering a little because of the subject matter.
Finnegan must have noticed it, because she felt his powerful arms slightly tighten their
grip around her, it gave her strength. " Nevertheless I believe that it would be possible,"
she said, " Sometimes I find myself wondering what my life would have been like if my
parents and I hadn't run into the Borg. I imagine that it would be normal, that I would
have the normal childhood that everyone else seems to have had. Sometimes I envy the
people who had this kind of a childhood, I envy the stability that they were raised with,
because it is something that I can never have. I have grown a lot since I regained my
individuality. I have matured. Yet the fact still remains that I am a woman, with the
emotional maturity of a child." When she ended she couldn't believe how much she had
said. She had never told anyone about any of the feelings that she had just told Finnegan,
not even the Captain. Suddenly she started to feel sick to her stomach, coldness began to
envelope her.
Finnegan's words broke the silence, "Seven, I don't think that you give yourself
half the credit that you deserve. You have affected so many people on Voyager. Everyone
of the people on that ship considers you a member of their family. Trust me, I've noticed
it and I have only been here for a couple months. You have touched so many lives. You
are probably the most amazing person that I have ever met, and I know that I will never
be the same after having met you. Do you know how much strength it requires to do what
you have done, to face the trauma that you have had to face?"
Seven didn't say anything. She turned herself over so she could face Finnegan. He
was staring into her eyes, sympathy and concern filling his own. Seven simply nestled
herself closer to Finnegan and began to cry.
"Thank you," she said through the tears, "Thank you."