Evolutions I: An Act of Betrayal
Part Ten
As Seven was being led by the guards to her cell she was aware of their eyes tracking up and down her body. It was the same way Janeway had looked at her before they were traded to the Socadan and again it made her feel extremely uncomfortable.
When the cell door slid open Seven finally looked up to see B'Elanna, and Naomi looking at her with shocked expressions. At first she didn't know what to do. She couldn't even guess what they were thinking.
"Seven, you look different," Naomi said softly.
This caused B'Elanna to recover her composure as well. "They didn't hurt you this time," B'Elanna said with a big smile on her face.
As Seven smiled at her friend's one of the guards decided that she wasn't moving rapidly enough. The guard slapped Seven's bottom sharply causing her to gasp and jump into the cell. She quickly turned around, glaring at the guard and rubbing her bottom.
"Next time do as you're told," the guard said as he left the room, smirking at her.
When the guard left, Seven turned around to see a red faced B'Elanna. She was glaring at the smirking guard. It looked as though she wanted to tear him apart with her bare hands.
Seven quickly padded over to her. "Do not let it bother you B'Elanna, soon we will be able to leave and we will never have to see them again," She gently put her hand over B'Elanna's.
The effect on B'Elanna was almost immediate. She looked down at Seven with a smile on her face, and pulled her in for a tight hug. "I won't ever let anything like this happen to you again."
"This was not your fault B'Elanna, you could not have stopped this from happening." Seven said smiling softly at her.
"Seven, I like your new dress," Naomi said as she walked over. "It doesn't look as uncomfortable as your bio-suits."
Seven smiled again at the child. "Thank you Naomi," She hugged her as well.
As Seven straightened up she felt a pair of arms encircle her waist from behind. She didn't have to look to know that it was B'Elanna. She was the only one that could make her feel this safe and protected. She let B'Elanna support her as she leaned back into her with a content smile on her face.
"I care about you B'Elanna," Seven said, hoping that the passionate woman would return her feelings.
B'Elanna felt like jumping for joy at the words that had just left Seven's mouth. It was as though, for the first time in her life, everything was as it should be. "I have feelings for you too Seven" B'Elanna said as she pulled Seven a little closer to her.
Seven slowly turned around, still wrapped in B'Elanna's arms. She looked up into the eyes of the woman she loved. She leaned closer, gently bringing her hands to B'Elanna's face, and kissed her lips sensuously.
When Seven pulled away, B'Elanna was smiling at her. "I think that I'm falling in love with you Seven." B'Elanna admitted as she brought her lips down to Seven's again, kissing her passionately.
"Well it's about time!" Naomi said, interrupting the two lovers. "The way you two look at each other I can't believe it took this long," she smirked.
"Was it that obvious?" B'Elanna asked as she embraced Seven again.
"You'd have to be blind not to see it, everyone knew about you two. Why do you think Seven's never been on a serious date? They're all afraid of what you'd do to them," Naomi said smiling.
"You're right Naomi," B'Elanna chuckled. "I won't let anyone else kiss these lips," B'Elanna kissed Seven again to illustrate her point.
Seven just smiled up at B'Elanna, "Good."
"Captain, is there some way we can at least visit them?" Samantha asked hopefully.
"I've already inquired about that Ensign, they'll allow absolutely no interruptions," Janeway said, not liking where this conversation was going.
"We made a huge mistake Captain, we have to save them," Tom said desperately.
"My hands are tied Lieutenant, we have an agreement with the Socadan. The technology they are giving us as payment will take years off our trip home, and I won't sacrifice that for anything," Janeway was adamant.
"Captain, they didn't do anything to deserve this. The price was too high," Kim pleaded.
"Oh, come off it, Kim," Janeway said getting annoyed. "You wanted them gone just as much as the rest of us, hell you were the one that sabotaged Seven's alcove."
"We have all been doing things that are completely out of character, I think that something has been controlling us Captain," Neelix said trying to reason with her.
"Let me get this straight, you all did things you regretted," Janeway said, pausing to look at each crew member. "And now you believe that you aren't responsible for those choices because something else is controlling you," she said sarcastically.
"I know it seems strange but..." Samantha started to say.
"That's enough, you're all grasping at straws. Seven, B'Elanna and Naomi will be back on Voyager in three more days, you're just going to have to wait until then."
The crew nodded disappointedly, realizing that they wouldn't be able to get anywhere with Janeway. What ever affected the crew was still affecting Janeway, and until it was out of her system she wouldn't do anything to help their friends.
"Alright Captain, we'll leave it at that," Neelix said dejectedly as he led everyone out.
"Neelix, what are you doing? We have to help them," Tom said when they got out of the ready room.
"I hate to say it but the captain is right, it's too late to do anything now. There is no telling what the Socadan will do if we try to go after them," Neelix said sadly. "The best we can hope to do is make it up to them as soon as they get back."
"Maybe we can throw them a welcome home party," Tom said hopefully.
"I guess it's as good a way as any to make it up to them," Harry agreed.
Samantha and Neelix agreed, and the four of them began to plan what they hoped would be the best welcome back party that Voyager had ever seen.
B'Elanna, Seven and Naomi were sitting comfortably on the cot near the far wall of the cell.
B'Elanna sat on the bed, her back against the wall, with Seven's feet in her lap.
Seven was lying on her back watching as Naomi talked animatedly about what she wanted to do once they got out.
"And then we can go back to that uninhabited planet we passed a few light years ago. We could spend the whole day building sand castles," Naomi finished excitedly.
"We can do all of that Naomi, but first we're going to have to get Seven some shoes, and real clothes" B'Elanna said, smirking at Seven.
"Will we still be able to continue this activity," Seven asked as B'Elanna rubbed her feet.
"Anytime you want, honey." B'Elanna lifted Seven's foot up and kissed her ankle, causing Seven to blush slightly.
"Have you noticed any changes since the last hypo spray?" B'Elanna asked, growing serious.
"I am not sure," Seven said thoughtfully. "Do I look any different?"
B'Elanna and Naomi examined her carefully. At first glance nothing more seemed to have altered.
"Seven hasn't got any younger, she wasn't sick, and she hasn't lost any more implants," B'Elanna thought. Then something occurred to her. "Your implants," B'Elanna said quickly, "they're different." She lifted Seven up and ran her fingers over Seven's ocular implant. "It feels like it isn't metal anymore. If I had to guess, I would say that the implant was almost completely organic."
"You are correct B'Elanna," Seven said after a moment, "my arm also feels different."
"With Omega inside do you feel stronger?" Naomi asked.
"I am unsure," Seven frowned. "I will have to test it," Reaching across to the other cot, she wrapped her cybernetic hand around one of the legs and tried to twist it, but nothing happened. "I do not understand," Seven said confused. "I should have easily been able to bend the frame, even with just my Borg strength."
"Wait Seven," B'Elanna said. "Let's try something else," she held onto Seven's wrists, and pulled them together. "Okay Seven. Try to move your arms apart."
Seven tried again, but B'Elanna was able to stop her from moving, seemingly without any effort at all.
"Seven, you're about as strong as the average human for your size," B'Elanna said astonished.
"Maybe your strength will come back after the third phase," Naomi said hopefully.
"Yeah, your body is going through a lot of changes. This could be how your body is trying to adjust," B'Elanna said.
"I am tired," Seven said yawning. "Perhaps we should rest," she suggested.
"Good idea Seven, they're probably going to complete the last stage tomorrow, and I think you're going to need your rest for that," B'Elanna said as she lay down on the cot.
Naomi nodded and made her way to the second cot, while Seven moved to B'Elanna's. Seven lay down next to B'Elanna and rested her head on B'Elanna's chest.
B'Elanna wrapped an arm around Seven and kissed her forehead. "Good night Seven."
Seven smiled back sleepily, and mumbled, "Sleep well B'Elanna." She then glanced over at Naomi. "Good night Naomi," she said before falling asleep.
Seven's Dream
Seven felt herself waking up in the white room again. She looked around hoping that the voices would get there soon. It felt strange to be there alone.
"Hello, is anyone out there?" Seven asked growing slightly worried.
"Do not fear child," a voice said, seemingly coming from everywhere.
"Please tell me, what is happening to me?" Seven pleaded.
"You are changing child," another voice said. "You are changing into a higher being. You will know power the universe has never seen before."
"What if the power changes me?" Seven asked anxiously. "I do not wish to be responsible for any more deaths."
"That is precisely why you have been chosen to wield the power, child. You are an innocent, and will not use the power for evil."
"What about the Socadan?" Seven asked, remembering what they planned to do.
"They can never control the power. It takes much more than stable Omega molecules to bond with Omega."
"Why will it not work for them?"
"Omega looks into the hearts of those that bond with it. If the person is unworthy, Omega will reject them."
"Does that mean if the Socadan try to bond with Omega they will be destroyed?" Seven asked.
"No child, Omega will leave them, and they will return to normal. There will be a time soon when you must make a choice. Will it be to heal or to protect? Think carefully child, for they are both very different. Each path will lead you in different direction."
"I do not understand," Seven said confused.
"When the time comes you will understand, but now you must wake up."
"Seven, wake up," B'Elanna said as she gently shook the younger women.
Seven slowly opened her eyes and looked up into a pair of worried brown ones. "What is it B'Elanna, what has happened?"
"You were calling out in your sleep, I was worried about you."
"It was another dream about the voices. Only I do not think that it was a dream," Seven said thoughtfully.
"What do you mean Seven, how can it be a dream and not one at the same time?"
"I believe that it is a way for the Omega molecules inside me to communicate. They told me that I would have to make a choice soon, between healing and protecting, and that they both would lead to a different destiny."
"If Omega can think for itself, does that mean that it can choose who to merge with?" B'Elanna asked, catching on.
"Yes," Seven said happily. "The Socadan will not be able to hurt anyone else."
Seven finally sat up and looked over to see Naomi still sleeping. "After everything that has happened to her, she is still so strong."
"I still can't believe that Samantha would turn on her own daughter like that. If she were my daughter I would do everything that I could to protect her."
"Samantha does not spend as much time with her daughter as you believe, B'Elanna."
"What do you mean?" B'Elanna asked.
"I do not believe that Samantha Wildman cares about her daughter as much as she should."
Seven and B'Elanna's musings were cut short when Carkonas and Callik entered the cell, followed by three armed guards.
"Be safe Seven," B'Elanna said as she kissed her.
"That will be enough of that," Callik said as he grabbed Seven's arm and quickly pulled her out of the cell.
"Well, well, it looks like you've been busy," Carkonas said.
"That is none of your concern," Seven said sharply. "Please complete your experiments, and release us."
"Oh yes, about the experiments, we will actually be done sooner than expected. We can release you a few hours after we administer the last hypo spray."
"Explain," Seven said.
"Well you see, Omega has been merging with you much more quickly than we expected. If you continue to merge at the same rate, Omega will stabilize in about three hours."
"Proceed."
Carkonas took the last hypo spray, and carefully injected it into Seven's neck.
This one was not like the others; it felt almost welcoming. It felt as though Omega and Seven were finally one, instead of two separate entities.
"Take her back to her cell so that she may prepare to leave," Callik said to the guards.
When they got back to the cell, Naomi had finally woken up and was looking at Seven expectantly. Seven noticed that one of the guards escorting her was the one that had slapped her bottom the last time. Instead of giving him the satisfaction of doing so again she quickly walked into the cell.
"Seven, is everything okay?" B'Elanna and Naomi asked at the same time.
"Everything is fine," Seven said, reassuring them. "We will be able to leave in a few hours. They said that they will only need to perform one more test."
"That's great," B'Elanna said happily. "All we have to do now is find a ship, and then we can get away from Voyager."
Seven frowned slightly as she realized something they had completely forgotten. "How will we able to get a ship? We do not have any money."
"Then we'll just get jobs on the space station. We'll have enough money saved in no time," B'Elanna said optimistically.
The three prisoners sat down to await their release and a few hours later Callik appeared outside their cell.
"I must scan you now," he said as he pulled out a scanning device and motioned for Seven to move to the front of the cell.
Callik moved the scanner up and down a few times before saying, "Alright we're done. You are free to go."
"Wait, could you have scanned me like this the other time?" Seven asked.
"No, the first stage was the most important and dangerous part. We gain very little new information during the second and third stages, a simple scanner such as this is enough."
Seven nodded and walked out of the cell, followed by B'Elanna and Naomi.
TO BE CONTINUED... (no cliff hanger? But I tried so hard. What, I told everyone what was going on? That can't be right)