"Mezoti?"
"Yes, Seven?"
"Where are you?"
"Under here," Mezoti said, crawling out from an open access panel under one of the consoles in Astrometrics.
"You will not do that again," Seven said, staring harshly at the little girl.
"Do what?"
"Disappear from sight in such a fashion. I have been entrusted with the responsibility of caring for your well-being, and I cannot do so if I am unable to determine where you are."
"I was only under the console," Mezoti replied, straightening up.
"Nonetheless. A starship is not a playground. There are many systems that can be easily damaged, and others that could easily damage you."
"But I wanted to investigate," Mezoti said with a touch of indignance.
"Irrelevant. In the future, before you consider doing any more 'investigating', you will ask permission from a qualified crewmember."
"Oh." Mezoti stood there for a moment, considering her options. Seven had already turned her back and was working on the long-range sensor data. After a few moments, Mezoti spoke up again:
"Seven?"
"Yes, Mezoti?"
"Can I go under the console?"
Seven turned away from her station to glare at Mezoti.
"You said I should ask," Mezoti said in her own defence.
Seven looked at her for a few more seconds, then said: "Permission denied."
"If you are simply going to deny me permission, why should I bother asking?"
"You must comply with the rules and regulations that govern this vessel. You cannot place your own curiosity above your welfare and that of the crew."
"But there's nothing else to do," Mezoti said, slightly petulant. "I've already finished my studies, and my next regeneration cycle isn't for another four hours."
"What are the other children doing?"
"Naomi is still studying, Icheb is reading about Surak, and Azan and Rebi are playing a mid-twentieth century Earth board game about property purchasing. None of these activities interests me."
Seven seemed to reflect for a moment. "Part of my responsibilities for your well-being is tending to your development as an individual, and that should include extracurricular activities. When my duties permit me, I shall devise a schedule of activities for all the children to participate in. Until then, however, please try to find safer ways to pass the time. Perhaps you should try to advance yourself in your studies."
Mezoti never had the chance to tell Seven what she thought of that option because the doors to Astrometrics whooshed open and Captain Janeway walked in.
"Has the data from the probe we sent out revealed anything further?" Janeway asked.
"It has," Seven reported. She glanced down towards the little Norcadian. "Mezoti, the Captain and I have to work now. You will return to Cargo Bay Two and await your regeneration cycle there."
"Yes, Seven," Mezoti acknowledged. Nodding curtly at the captain, Mezoti turned and walked out of Astrometrics. She did consider simply returning to the cargo bay, but soon decided against it. It was boring there. Besides, Seven and the Captain were probably going to talk about the Borg they'd seen back on the bridge. And she certainly didn't want to miss that.
After assuring herself that the corridor was deserted, Mezoti walked over to the nearest access junction for the Jefferies Tubes. As she crawled through the cramped conduits, she was glad that she had taken to time to familiarize herself with the ship's layout. As it was, she was able to reach a segment of the tubes running just outside of Astrometrics that controlled the environmental systems. Thanks to the ventilation ducts, she could overhear the conversation of the two women in Astrometrics.
"…how long would it take to go around this patch of Borg activity?" Janeway was asking.
"Approximately six point two months, due to the clusters of subspace sinkholes where warp would be useless." Seven answered.
"That's a lot of time. There has to be a faster way through."
Mezoti heard the sound of LCARS controls being tapped as Seven answered: "There is a passageway here, between these two clusters, that would let us cross the nest in just a few hours. However, probe telemetry would indicate that there is anywhere between three to six Borg cubes active in that area."
"This ship is no match for even three cubes. Are we absolutely certain that they'll attack us if we try to pass?"
"They have not reacted to the probe's presence, and to date, the Borg have not made any concentrated efforts to assimilate Voyager. A single starship is simply not worth the Collective's time. However, it might be a different matter if Voyager simply presents itself in Borg territory."
"So we've either got a six-month detour, or a fight with three – or more – Borg cubes. That's not acceptable. I want more options. Work with Harry and B'Elanna, see if you can't figure out something to counter the effects of the subspace sinkholes."
"Yes, Captain."
Mezoti heard footfalls, no doubt Janeway leaving Astrometrics. The conversation over, there was nothing left for her to do in the cramped Jefferies Tubes. Mezoti decided to head back to Cargo Bay Two before anybody noticed she was missing.