Category: Star Trek Voyager - C/7
Rating: PG-13 for later chapters.
Disclaimer: Star Trek: Voyager and all things contained therein are the property of Paramount and Viacom. I will receive no profit from this story.
Title: What Admitting Feelings Can Lead To.
By: Angeldream
Author note: When 'Endgame' was released I was amazed, yes the idea of Chakotay & Seven together wasn't completely out of the blue thanks to 'Human Error', but for them to already be on their 3rd date was (frankly) annoying, where was the confession of feelings, the 1st date, the romance. Well if Paramount wasn't going satisfy my curiosity then I would have to do it my self and this is it. This story is set after the episodes 'Human Error' and 'Natural Law' and although I'm writing it after watching the 'Endgame' episode, I will completely ignore it and any reference to anything learnt in that episode is a complete accident.
Chapter 1 - The Ventu Waterfall Program.
At 1800 hours Seven of Nines' duty shift was over and as she was about to leave Astrometrics the doors opened to reveal Commander Chakotay.
"Do you need something Commander?"
"Yes, I was hoping you could join me on holodeck 2 at 2000 hours, I've designed a holo-program that I'd like your opinion on."
Seven was uncertain as to why he would want her opinion on it, "I am not familiar with holo-program design, Lieutenant Paris would be a more suitable person to ask."
"It's not the technicalities that I need help with, it's the aesthetics, I need you to tell me if I've got the colours and positions of everything right."
"I am still uncertain as to why you would need my help Commander but I will comply."
"Thank you Seven, I'll see you at 2000 hours." Commander Chakotay turned around and left the Astrometrics Lab.
Seven was left feeling unsure of what she should do now, being in the Commanders company was dangerous for her, she had feelings for him, ones that she couldn't control but ones that could control her, even kill her if she wasn't careful, therefore she would have to be careful.
Seven left Astrometrics and to went to Cargo Bay 2 where her regeneration alcove was operational, she checked the last diagnostic the computer had run on her alcove to make sure it was operating as normal. She then programmed the alcove for a one hour regeneration cycle to help calm her mind and to sort through and save the days relevant data to a borg data node. She stood on the platform, the alcove connected the subcutaneous wires on Sevens' back to the power conduits in the alcove, she then felt her primary cortical node tingle as it was connected, her eyes closed and her mind floated.
The alcove beeped, Sevens' eyes opened and she stepped off the platform. *Regeneration cycle is complete* stated the computer. She tapped her combadge and said "Seven of Nine addition to daily log, at 2000 hours I will be viewing Commander Chakotays' new holo-program as he has requested my opinion on it. As for the emotional aspect, I will instruct the Doctor to monitor my vital signs and should I become at risk he will transport me to sickbay and stabilise my cortical node. After the viewing I shall eat, as I will require nutritional supplements by then. End Log."
At the door of holodeck 2 Commander Chakotay ordered the computer to run his program.
"Seven I want you to do something for me."
"I am already doing something for you Commander, am I not?"
"True, alright something else for me."
"Which is?"
"I'd like you to close your eyes."
"Why?"
"Because I want to surprise you."
Seven took a deep breath, she was feeling the emotion of anticipation, it was an unfamiliar sensation which she needed to control, she took another deep breath and gave her answer "I will comply."
She closed her eyes, Commander Chakotay placed his arms around her to guide her, it was a curious sensation, what humans call 'goose bumps' she believed, but also a feeling of safety, of the belief that he wouldn't hurt her, curious she would have to analyse the feeling later. The door to the holodeck opened and they walked in.
Seven could hear the sound of water rushing, falling, of a breeze rustling leaves, and birds singing, calling to each other, she could hear the sound of their feet moving over soil, crunching on dead leaves. The smell was unique; she couldn't place it, which was unusual for her. It was as if closing her eyes had increased the abilities of her other senses and they were being overwhelmed, she took a few more deep breaths. Commander Chakotay guided her to the spot where he wanted her to open her eyes, so that she would see that view first.
"Open your eyes now."
The waterfall, she was facing the Ventu waterfall, she looked around, the rock where she had sat and watched with the little Ventu girl, the flowers, the plants, everything was as she remembered.
"From your expression, I'm going to assume that I've got the aesthetics just right."
"Your assumption is correct. Your attention to every detail is incredible, but I don't understand how you reproduced it, I lost my tricorder under a bush before my guide reached me and, until you came the next morning, I had no way of recording any data. You came with your guides while I was at the deflector debris and I'm sure you would have mentioned the waterfall had you seen it."
"That's true. Do you remember how worried you were about the Ledosians having time to scan the planet and the deflecter modifications and be able to reproduce the technology in time?"
"Yes, and I still am, why?"
"Well, you don't have to worry about the Ledosian expeditions' scans anymore, because their tricorders were left behind when Tom beamed them to the Delta Flyer, Tom then beamed them to the aft compartment before he destroyed the deflector dish."
"How did you know that Lieutenant Paris had them?"
"The Ledosians complained that they had been left on the planet and in their last transmission they demanded that we reopen the barrier so that they could retrieve their contaminating technology for the Ventu's sake. Not so they could take advantage of the new resources that would become available to them or to destroy the Ventus' way of life. So the Captain asked me to check before we did anything, I did, Tom gave me the tricorders and the Captain told the Ledosians that, because of the Prime Directive, we couldn't interfere in local Ledosian matters nor could we do anything that might affect a pre-warp culture. As we're out of Ledosian space and we haven't heard anything more from them I'm guessing that they'll keep trying to remove the barrier but it will remain a fruitless exercise."
"I hope so, as I believe it would be a shame to damage their unique way of life and I know that introducing the Ventu to the Ledosians would do that."
"There's nothing we can do now, we couldn't stay and guard their planet forever, we just have to remember that the Ledosians couldn't get to the Ventu before we arrived and it's doubtful if they could find a way now we've gone."
"That is correct." Seven felt reassured, at times she felt the emotion of guilt, if she hadn't wanted to go to the conference on Ledosia Prime to study warp mechanics they wouldn't have been anywhere near the Ventu preserve to damage the barrier in the first place.
"Now that your fears have been put to rest, would you like to explore see what beauty spots we missed or would you like to stay here and watch the water fall some more?"
"I'd like to stay here, for some reason I find this place relaxing."
"No, I find water relaxing as well. I have something to confess."
Seven felt her heart skip a beat, what if he had found out that she had used a hologram of him on the holodeck, yes she had deleted the program but it was still something that she shouldn't have done. She heard the Borg metronome sound grow louder, it beat in time to her own heartbeat and she knew she had to slow it or risk the Doctor transporting her to sickbay. She practised the Vulcan breathing exercise that Tuvok had taught her two weeks before, and the Borg metronome grew silent.
"I removed your Ventu blanket from the Cargo Bay in the hope that you would want to stay, we can spread it out over there, sit on it and talk."
"That is acceptable, and I forgive you for your transgression." Seven smiled and Chakotay knew that she was again attempting to diffuse tension with a joke as the Doctor had taught her.
Once seated Chakotay turned to face Seven "I have something else to confess." When she was facing him he continued, "I have feelings for you Seven, romantic feelings, the time I spent with you on the Ventu preserve made me realise them. You have amazing depths of strength and courage, which you've shown in the way you fought emotionally to reclaim your humanity and individuality, which you've done, and yet you keep striving to discover more and you've taught those lucky enough to be around you to do the same. You're a very loyal person and you would never willingly betray anyone, you've got a natural sense of humour that I find enchanting and your intelligent and I find you beautiful. In short Seven I think I've fallen in love with you. I need to know though, if you think it's possible, if in time, you will be able to feel the same way about me?"
Sevens' Borg metronome was again beating and she could hear a buzzing sound as well, she knew she didn't have long before the doctor would transport her. She took a deep breath to try to delay that moment because she desperately needed to tell the Commander how she felt about him, it was a compulsion she could not, would not, deny. "You have been honest with me and I owe you nothing less in return, Commander, I find it hard to discuss, even to understand, my emotions but I will try. When I became truly aware of Unimatrix Zero I learnt of a six-year relationship that I'd had with Axum and while I was there my feelings for him returned. As I was not connected to the hive-mind when I left Unimatrix zero my feelings remained and left me feeling incomplete. I tried to recreate those feelings on the holodeck by participating in a number of social occasions but it didn't work. However those feelings of completeness have returned, they occur when I am with you, along with other physical indications that indicate that I experience an emotional response to you. I believe that I love you but I am uncertain as to how I should act with regard to this knowledge."
Chakotay reached out with his hand and stroked Sevens cheek, his touch was like satin and her skin tingled pleasurably. Then the buzzing advanced into a sharp pain, which she was able to hide from Chakotay, she knew that she must finish this conversation quickly. "There is more Commander. In my primary cortical node is a fail-safe device, it was designed to shut down my higher brain functions when I achieve certain levels of emotion stimulation and deactivate me. The Doctor has designed a surgery procedure that could deactivate the fail-safe device, but if my primary cortical node were to be damaged I would die. I am incapable of surviving without it, as the only Borg implants that remain in me are vital and the primary cortical node regulates them. I needed to tell you this because my feelings have activated the fail-safe and very soon the Doctor will be transporting me to sickbay."
Chakotay took hold of Sevens hand, then moved so that he could put both his arms around her and hold her. "Seven I don't understand, you've felt stronger emotions before, when your link was first severed from the collective mind you were both terrified and furious, pretty strong emotions, so why is your cortical node reacting now?"
Seven relaxed into Chakotays hold, she felt safe, almost as though nothing could happen to harm her, and she wished she could spend eternity just like this. She winced with the next spasm of pain, she had to hurry, the pain was getting stronger. "My primary cortical node was once Ichebs' so it's a later design than my old one, it has the fail-safe incorporated in it, mine didn't. As Icheb had been a Borg for such a short period of time he's able to survive with out his Borg implants, I cannot survive without mine."
Chakotay felt her wince in pain. "Should I call for a transport to sickbay now?" He asked, clearly worried about her.
Seven tried to bury herself further into his arms. "No, I want to stay with you, like this for as long as I can. Please don't worry, the Doctor has ordered the computer to monitor my vital signs and the minute I become at risk he will transport me himself he will stabilise my primary cortical node and I will be fine again."
"You asked the Doctor to monitor you so you must have known this was a possibility, so why did you agree to view this program?"
Seven knew that, once again, she needed to answer honestly. "Because I wanted to spend time with you, because I have found that time spent with you is worth this happening. Because I love you." The view of the waterfall was starting to spin. "Chakotay . . . ." She started to warn him but the familiar whine of the transporter stopped her and they started to dematerialise.
TBC.
Rating: PG-13 for later chapters.
Disclaimer: Star Trek: Voyager and all things contained therein are the property of Paramount and Viacom. I will receive no profit from this story.
Title: What Admitting Feelings Can Lead To.
By: Angeldream
Author note: When 'Endgame' was released I was amazed, yes the idea of Chakotay & Seven together wasn't completely out of the blue thanks to 'Human Error', but for them to already be on their 3rd date was (frankly) annoying, where was the confession of feelings, the 1st date, the romance. Well if Paramount wasn't going satisfy my curiosity then I would have to do it my self and this is it. This story is set after the episodes 'Human Error' and 'Natural Law' and although I'm writing it after watching the 'Endgame' episode, I will completely ignore it and any reference to anything learnt in that episode is a complete accident.
Chapter 1 - The Ventu Waterfall Program.
At 1800 hours Seven of Nines' duty shift was over and as she was about to leave Astrometrics the doors opened to reveal Commander Chakotay.
"Do you need something Commander?"
"Yes, I was hoping you could join me on holodeck 2 at 2000 hours, I've designed a holo-program that I'd like your opinion on."
Seven was uncertain as to why he would want her opinion on it, "I am not familiar with holo-program design, Lieutenant Paris would be a more suitable person to ask."
"It's not the technicalities that I need help with, it's the aesthetics, I need you to tell me if I've got the colours and positions of everything right."
"I am still uncertain as to why you would need my help Commander but I will comply."
"Thank you Seven, I'll see you at 2000 hours." Commander Chakotay turned around and left the Astrometrics Lab.
Seven was left feeling unsure of what she should do now, being in the Commanders company was dangerous for her, she had feelings for him, ones that she couldn't control but ones that could control her, even kill her if she wasn't careful, therefore she would have to be careful.
Seven left Astrometrics and to went to Cargo Bay 2 where her regeneration alcove was operational, she checked the last diagnostic the computer had run on her alcove to make sure it was operating as normal. She then programmed the alcove for a one hour regeneration cycle to help calm her mind and to sort through and save the days relevant data to a borg data node. She stood on the platform, the alcove connected the subcutaneous wires on Sevens' back to the power conduits in the alcove, she then felt her primary cortical node tingle as it was connected, her eyes closed and her mind floated.
The alcove beeped, Sevens' eyes opened and she stepped off the platform. *Regeneration cycle is complete* stated the computer. She tapped her combadge and said "Seven of Nine addition to daily log, at 2000 hours I will be viewing Commander Chakotays' new holo-program as he has requested my opinion on it. As for the emotional aspect, I will instruct the Doctor to monitor my vital signs and should I become at risk he will transport me to sickbay and stabilise my cortical node. After the viewing I shall eat, as I will require nutritional supplements by then. End Log."
At the door of holodeck 2 Commander Chakotay ordered the computer to run his program.
"Seven I want you to do something for me."
"I am already doing something for you Commander, am I not?"
"True, alright something else for me."
"Which is?"
"I'd like you to close your eyes."
"Why?"
"Because I want to surprise you."
Seven took a deep breath, she was feeling the emotion of anticipation, it was an unfamiliar sensation which she needed to control, she took another deep breath and gave her answer "I will comply."
She closed her eyes, Commander Chakotay placed his arms around her to guide her, it was a curious sensation, what humans call 'goose bumps' she believed, but also a feeling of safety, of the belief that he wouldn't hurt her, curious she would have to analyse the feeling later. The door to the holodeck opened and they walked in.
Seven could hear the sound of water rushing, falling, of a breeze rustling leaves, and birds singing, calling to each other, she could hear the sound of their feet moving over soil, crunching on dead leaves. The smell was unique; she couldn't place it, which was unusual for her. It was as if closing her eyes had increased the abilities of her other senses and they were being overwhelmed, she took a few more deep breaths. Commander Chakotay guided her to the spot where he wanted her to open her eyes, so that she would see that view first.
"Open your eyes now."
The waterfall, she was facing the Ventu waterfall, she looked around, the rock where she had sat and watched with the little Ventu girl, the flowers, the plants, everything was as she remembered.
"From your expression, I'm going to assume that I've got the aesthetics just right."
"Your assumption is correct. Your attention to every detail is incredible, but I don't understand how you reproduced it, I lost my tricorder under a bush before my guide reached me and, until you came the next morning, I had no way of recording any data. You came with your guides while I was at the deflector debris and I'm sure you would have mentioned the waterfall had you seen it."
"That's true. Do you remember how worried you were about the Ledosians having time to scan the planet and the deflecter modifications and be able to reproduce the technology in time?"
"Yes, and I still am, why?"
"Well, you don't have to worry about the Ledosian expeditions' scans anymore, because their tricorders were left behind when Tom beamed them to the Delta Flyer, Tom then beamed them to the aft compartment before he destroyed the deflector dish."
"How did you know that Lieutenant Paris had them?"
"The Ledosians complained that they had been left on the planet and in their last transmission they demanded that we reopen the barrier so that they could retrieve their contaminating technology for the Ventu's sake. Not so they could take advantage of the new resources that would become available to them or to destroy the Ventus' way of life. So the Captain asked me to check before we did anything, I did, Tom gave me the tricorders and the Captain told the Ledosians that, because of the Prime Directive, we couldn't interfere in local Ledosian matters nor could we do anything that might affect a pre-warp culture. As we're out of Ledosian space and we haven't heard anything more from them I'm guessing that they'll keep trying to remove the barrier but it will remain a fruitless exercise."
"I hope so, as I believe it would be a shame to damage their unique way of life and I know that introducing the Ventu to the Ledosians would do that."
"There's nothing we can do now, we couldn't stay and guard their planet forever, we just have to remember that the Ledosians couldn't get to the Ventu before we arrived and it's doubtful if they could find a way now we've gone."
"That is correct." Seven felt reassured, at times she felt the emotion of guilt, if she hadn't wanted to go to the conference on Ledosia Prime to study warp mechanics they wouldn't have been anywhere near the Ventu preserve to damage the barrier in the first place.
"Now that your fears have been put to rest, would you like to explore see what beauty spots we missed or would you like to stay here and watch the water fall some more?"
"I'd like to stay here, for some reason I find this place relaxing."
"No, I find water relaxing as well. I have something to confess."
Seven felt her heart skip a beat, what if he had found out that she had used a hologram of him on the holodeck, yes she had deleted the program but it was still something that she shouldn't have done. She heard the Borg metronome sound grow louder, it beat in time to her own heartbeat and she knew she had to slow it or risk the Doctor transporting her to sickbay. She practised the Vulcan breathing exercise that Tuvok had taught her two weeks before, and the Borg metronome grew silent.
"I removed your Ventu blanket from the Cargo Bay in the hope that you would want to stay, we can spread it out over there, sit on it and talk."
"That is acceptable, and I forgive you for your transgression." Seven smiled and Chakotay knew that she was again attempting to diffuse tension with a joke as the Doctor had taught her.
Once seated Chakotay turned to face Seven "I have something else to confess." When she was facing him he continued, "I have feelings for you Seven, romantic feelings, the time I spent with you on the Ventu preserve made me realise them. You have amazing depths of strength and courage, which you've shown in the way you fought emotionally to reclaim your humanity and individuality, which you've done, and yet you keep striving to discover more and you've taught those lucky enough to be around you to do the same. You're a very loyal person and you would never willingly betray anyone, you've got a natural sense of humour that I find enchanting and your intelligent and I find you beautiful. In short Seven I think I've fallen in love with you. I need to know though, if you think it's possible, if in time, you will be able to feel the same way about me?"
Sevens' Borg metronome was again beating and she could hear a buzzing sound as well, she knew she didn't have long before the doctor would transport her. She took a deep breath to try to delay that moment because she desperately needed to tell the Commander how she felt about him, it was a compulsion she could not, would not, deny. "You have been honest with me and I owe you nothing less in return, Commander, I find it hard to discuss, even to understand, my emotions but I will try. When I became truly aware of Unimatrix Zero I learnt of a six-year relationship that I'd had with Axum and while I was there my feelings for him returned. As I was not connected to the hive-mind when I left Unimatrix zero my feelings remained and left me feeling incomplete. I tried to recreate those feelings on the holodeck by participating in a number of social occasions but it didn't work. However those feelings of completeness have returned, they occur when I am with you, along with other physical indications that indicate that I experience an emotional response to you. I believe that I love you but I am uncertain as to how I should act with regard to this knowledge."
Chakotay reached out with his hand and stroked Sevens cheek, his touch was like satin and her skin tingled pleasurably. Then the buzzing advanced into a sharp pain, which she was able to hide from Chakotay, she knew that she must finish this conversation quickly. "There is more Commander. In my primary cortical node is a fail-safe device, it was designed to shut down my higher brain functions when I achieve certain levels of emotion stimulation and deactivate me. The Doctor has designed a surgery procedure that could deactivate the fail-safe device, but if my primary cortical node were to be damaged I would die. I am incapable of surviving without it, as the only Borg implants that remain in me are vital and the primary cortical node regulates them. I needed to tell you this because my feelings have activated the fail-safe and very soon the Doctor will be transporting me to sickbay."
Chakotay took hold of Sevens hand, then moved so that he could put both his arms around her and hold her. "Seven I don't understand, you've felt stronger emotions before, when your link was first severed from the collective mind you were both terrified and furious, pretty strong emotions, so why is your cortical node reacting now?"
Seven relaxed into Chakotays hold, she felt safe, almost as though nothing could happen to harm her, and she wished she could spend eternity just like this. She winced with the next spasm of pain, she had to hurry, the pain was getting stronger. "My primary cortical node was once Ichebs' so it's a later design than my old one, it has the fail-safe incorporated in it, mine didn't. As Icheb had been a Borg for such a short period of time he's able to survive with out his Borg implants, I cannot survive without mine."
Chakotay felt her wince in pain. "Should I call for a transport to sickbay now?" He asked, clearly worried about her.
Seven tried to bury herself further into his arms. "No, I want to stay with you, like this for as long as I can. Please don't worry, the Doctor has ordered the computer to monitor my vital signs and the minute I become at risk he will transport me himself he will stabilise my primary cortical node and I will be fine again."
"You asked the Doctor to monitor you so you must have known this was a possibility, so why did you agree to view this program?"
Seven knew that, once again, she needed to answer honestly. "Because I wanted to spend time with you, because I have found that time spent with you is worth this happening. Because I love you." The view of the waterfall was starting to spin. "Chakotay . . . ." She started to warn him but the familiar whine of the transporter stopped her and they started to dematerialise.
TBC.