(Standard disclaimer still applies. Oh yeah, and to Love Voyager – I thank you for your comment, and I'd like to make a few things clear. I never said that Seven 'loved' the EMH. She may have seen a side of Chakotay in him, but I didn't mean the 'personal relationship' side. I meant more like the caring, generous side. Sorry if that came out wrong in my writing (:-S). I know she said his look was 'loving', but that was in a platonic sense. Hopefully this chapter will clear that up. Oh, and I'll try to describe why Chakotay went to Tuvok later on. I can understand why you'd think he'd go to B'Elanna. And I've been forgetting to thank SpikesGal, Cat C, Sci Fi Fan Gillan, Dark Borg Drone, and katie janeway for their wonderful comments! Where would I be without you? This story only continues for those who review! Now enjoy!)
"Good work today, Doctor," Barclay said, patting me on the back. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Good night, Reg," I say.
"Computer, deactivate the Emergency Medical-"
"I don't mean to intrude, but I require a moment of the Doctor's time." Reg and I turn to see Annika. "I shall make sure he is deactivated once our conversation has ended."
"Of course, Annika," Reg says, just as curious as I am to see what she's up to now. He quietly makes his exit and I gesture for her to sit down in chair in front of my desk. She hesitantly does so, and I lean back against my desk, interested as to why she's here and so shaken.
"What's seems to be the matter, Annika?"
"I... am having substantial difficulty now that my implants have been removed."
"It's a dawning of a new era for you. For once in your life, you actually have control over yourself, and that can be scary."
"You are mistaken, Doctor. I was an individual as a child, and after my separation from the hive mind."
"But this is a new and different situation. As a child, your parents were the ones who made the hard decisions for you. And after your separation from the Borg, you still had the lingering implants that restricted you."
"That is not my point of being here."
"Then what is, Annika?" I say, desperate. "You've been hiding in your quarters, doing studies and research on your own. Why won't you speak with anyone?"
"I am speaking with you now."
"That's not what I meant. You seem to avoid everyone that is human," I say. I watch with compassion as she turns her gaze away from me and tears corner her eyes.
"I... am afraid," she says quietly, a tear sliding down her cheek.
"Afraid of what?" I ask, my voice soothing and caring.
"Re-assimilation."
"Re-assim—Annika, there's no Borg outposts for countless light-years!"
"The Queen was after me," she says, turning to me. Her face burns into me – so pained and hurt. Emotions I thought she would never hold.
"We both know that she was killed by the future Admiral Janeway.." I find my voice to melt to compassion.
"That remains under speculation. And if she is alive, she will know that I am no longer at all Borg. She used to contact me through my cortical node, but once she realizes that I no longer possess it, she will try and locate me by other means."
"There is no need for this paranoia, Annika!" I say, shock washing over me. "We are at one of the most prestigious medical facilities Starfleet has to offer. It wouldn't leave you defenseless if a Borg vessel were to even attack here."
"A valid point," she says, wiping her eyes.
"So what does this have to do with you avoiding humans?"
"The Queen has a preference for humans, being that they have outmaneuvered her on so many previous occasions. As Borg technology adapts towards perfection, I fear that we might not be able to distinguish a drone from a normal human being. The human race is a very vulnerable people."
"Seven, Annika... listen to me. You're emotions are getting the best of you."
"I'm merely prepared for the worst case scenario."
"Is this why you broke things off with Chakotay?"
Annika sighs and shifts slightly. "Chakotay is a very compassionate man. As my journey into a new life begins, I don't want him to waste it over moments such as these. He has previous expressed his desire for children, and I know that it would be impossible for me to conceive."
"Not anymore though! You're completely human now; you can do anything that any ordinary woman could."
"That is not entirely true."
"What?" I say, my voice faltering.
"I did not want you to know, but after you and Lieutenant Commander Barclay left after my surgery, the Doctor informed me that my operation had some... setbacks. The surgery had risks to begin with, and the consequences were dramatic but tolerable. All for the sake of my humanity." She pauses, and I hesitate to say something. She takes a deep breath and continues, "The doctor was forced to do a hysterectomy."
"What? Did he tell you why?"
"It was part of my failsafe device. An unforeseen accident."
"I see," I say. "Did you tell Chakotay about this?"
"No. I ended our relationship prior to my surgical procedure. I have not spoken with him since. Besides," she sighs, "he is currently on Ajilon Prime on an archaeological dig. The ruins he is investigating have no means of necessary communications."
"Do you plan on speaking with him?"
"Negative. I wish to further explore my own humanity on my own terms."
"Hiding yourself in your quarters or a secluded lab will only hinder your development. Perhaps you should start working on Reg and me on our current project," I say, the idea just rolling over my holographic lips. "Of course I'll have to check with Reg first."
"Certainly. I will take it under consideration."
"Good work today, Doctor," Barclay said, patting me on the back. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Good night, Reg," I say.
"Computer, deactivate the Emergency Medical-"
"I don't mean to intrude, but I require a moment of the Doctor's time." Reg and I turn to see Annika. "I shall make sure he is deactivated once our conversation has ended."
"Of course, Annika," Reg says, just as curious as I am to see what she's up to now. He quietly makes his exit and I gesture for her to sit down in chair in front of my desk. She hesitantly does so, and I lean back against my desk, interested as to why she's here and so shaken.
"What's seems to be the matter, Annika?"
"I... am having substantial difficulty now that my implants have been removed."
"It's a dawning of a new era for you. For once in your life, you actually have control over yourself, and that can be scary."
"You are mistaken, Doctor. I was an individual as a child, and after my separation from the hive mind."
"But this is a new and different situation. As a child, your parents were the ones who made the hard decisions for you. And after your separation from the Borg, you still had the lingering implants that restricted you."
"That is not my point of being here."
"Then what is, Annika?" I say, desperate. "You've been hiding in your quarters, doing studies and research on your own. Why won't you speak with anyone?"
"I am speaking with you now."
"That's not what I meant. You seem to avoid everyone that is human," I say. I watch with compassion as she turns her gaze away from me and tears corner her eyes.
"I... am afraid," she says quietly, a tear sliding down her cheek.
"Afraid of what?" I ask, my voice soothing and caring.
"Re-assimilation."
"Re-assim—Annika, there's no Borg outposts for countless light-years!"
"The Queen was after me," she says, turning to me. Her face burns into me – so pained and hurt. Emotions I thought she would never hold.
"We both know that she was killed by the future Admiral Janeway.." I find my voice to melt to compassion.
"That remains under speculation. And if she is alive, she will know that I am no longer at all Borg. She used to contact me through my cortical node, but once she realizes that I no longer possess it, she will try and locate me by other means."
"There is no need for this paranoia, Annika!" I say, shock washing over me. "We are at one of the most prestigious medical facilities Starfleet has to offer. It wouldn't leave you defenseless if a Borg vessel were to even attack here."
"A valid point," she says, wiping her eyes.
"So what does this have to do with you avoiding humans?"
"The Queen has a preference for humans, being that they have outmaneuvered her on so many previous occasions. As Borg technology adapts towards perfection, I fear that we might not be able to distinguish a drone from a normal human being. The human race is a very vulnerable people."
"Seven, Annika... listen to me. You're emotions are getting the best of you."
"I'm merely prepared for the worst case scenario."
"Is this why you broke things off with Chakotay?"
Annika sighs and shifts slightly. "Chakotay is a very compassionate man. As my journey into a new life begins, I don't want him to waste it over moments such as these. He has previous expressed his desire for children, and I know that it would be impossible for me to conceive."
"Not anymore though! You're completely human now; you can do anything that any ordinary woman could."
"That is not entirely true."
"What?" I say, my voice faltering.
"I did not want you to know, but after you and Lieutenant Commander Barclay left after my surgery, the Doctor informed me that my operation had some... setbacks. The surgery had risks to begin with, and the consequences were dramatic but tolerable. All for the sake of my humanity." She pauses, and I hesitate to say something. She takes a deep breath and continues, "The doctor was forced to do a hysterectomy."
"What? Did he tell you why?"
"It was part of my failsafe device. An unforeseen accident."
"I see," I say. "Did you tell Chakotay about this?"
"No. I ended our relationship prior to my surgical procedure. I have not spoken with him since. Besides," she sighs, "he is currently on Ajilon Prime on an archaeological dig. The ruins he is investigating have no means of necessary communications."
"Do you plan on speaking with him?"
"Negative. I wish to further explore my own humanity on my own terms."
"Hiding yourself in your quarters or a secluded lab will only hinder your development. Perhaps you should start working on Reg and me on our current project," I say, the idea just rolling over my holographic lips. "Of course I'll have to check with Reg first."
"Certainly. I will take it under consideration."