AN: Here we are, another piece to this one as we move along.
I hope you enjoy! Please don't forget to let me know what you think!
111
Elnor didn't stop to ask entrance at the door or ring the bell. He knew the code to Seven and Raffi's quarters, and he let himself in without hesitation. Seven stood up when she saw him, and she quickly passed Owen over to Raffi. Owen, despite the reputation his Klingon background might have earned him, was good-natured and just as thrilled to visit Raffi's arms as he had been to visit Seven's. Elnor rushed directly to Seven, and he wrapped her in a hug that would have taken her off her feet if he hadn't made absolutely certain that such a thing didn't happen.
"Alright," Seven told him. "It's alright."
"You weren't injured?" Elnor asked, still not quite ready to release Seven. Raffi walked over and rested her hand on Elnor's shoulder.
"I am not damaged," Seven said.
"That's only because Spalen hasn't had his way," B'Elanna offered.
"I do not want you to give him anything," Elnor said.
He had finally released Seven, but he hovered close to her, and Raffi sensed the tension in the air. Elnor was not done loving on her. He was not done reassuring himself that Seven was actually fine. Raffi didn't mind it at all—she wasn't done reassuring herself, either, that Seven was actually as fine as she claimed to be.
Seven embraced Elnor this time.
"My sweet boy," she said, simply holding him a moment. When she pulled away, B'Elanna offered her something to dry her eyes—something she'd replicated with the anticipation that it might be needed. "I will talk to the Doctor and Dr. Crusher. I value the opinion of both of them. There are several researchers aboard the Soñador, and the Federation is interested in dispersing information about the Borg. Knowledge of the Borg can help xBs in ways that could save lives. If the Doctor and Dr. Crusher agree that there is something to be gained from allowing this group of scientists to study me, then I will provide them with the samples that they deem necessary and safe to collect."
"I won't allow it," Elnor said, matter-of-factly.
"It is my choice to make, when the time comes," Seven countered.
"OK," Raffi interrupted, trying to keep her voice pleasant for Owen's benefit. While she tried to keep things calm, she wrestled her pips out of his tiny fingers—surprised to find that he was stronger than she predicted. "Seven—I'm sure what Elnor means is that none of us feel comfortable with this, and we want to make sure that you're not feeling coerced into anything."
"Would you approve if someone wanted to remove parts of my body?" Elnor asked bluntly. Raffi saw everything register on Seven's face, and she felt her stomach ache in response. The memory—or, rather, the nightmare—of Icheb was never too far away, though Seven had fought against some of the hurt by dedicating herself, in the past few years, to trying to make sure that xBs wouldn't be in the kind of danger that they had once been in—if there were ever any other xBs, again, besides herself.
Raffi shook her head, well-aware that this was a very delicate conversation.
"OK," Raffi said. "OK—let's just—everybody calm down, OK? Seven—Baby, you want to sit? Elnor? Sit." Somehow, Raffi's suggestion worked, and she felt relieved to at least have everyone sitting and settling. Elnor and Seven chose to sit side-by-side on the couch. "Now, look—we haven't talked to the Doctor or Dr. Crusher. This is all hypothetical. But—neither of them is going to put Seven in a compromising position. If they're asked for something that she can't easily give, they're not going to go along with that. They'll just let their personal research suffice."
"Blood, hair, urine, even a sample of human tissue," B'Elanna counted off, "those are all things that you can spare, and the collection of those samples is minimally problematic. However, I cannot stress enough that you do not have any Borg components that you can part with. None. No matter what anyone tries to say. Everything that you have left—everything, internal and external—has an active function. If it didn't, we would have seen rejection like we saw with the other components that weren't needed as your human systems were restored. Spalen—and nobody else—can have any Borg technology removed from your body, and that's what they most want to study. I can show them scans. I can show them the map of your Borg implants, and nodes, and their functions. I can even show them the adapted material I created for your chip so that your Borg systems would recognize it and not reject it. I can provide them with a way to create that material for themselves for the benefit of future xBs, but you don't have anything you don't need. Take something you're using now, and some part of your body shuts down for good."
"I understand the implications," Seven said. She blanched, and Raffi was glad that she was sitting.
"Good," B'Elanna said. "Because—your baby needs everything you've got, too, and Raffi mentioned that you wanted more babies. That's more important than any research Dr. Spalen, or any of them, can do. Your family needs you whole more than anyone needs you in parts."
"I have to admit—and you can say I'm not at all altruistic, and maybe everything I feel goes against Starfleet ideals entirely, but I'd rather have you healthy and whole, than to save all the possible xBs that could ever be severed from the Collective," Raffi admitted.
Seven gave Raffi a tender expression, and Raffi purposefully chose to nuzzle Owen's head to distract herself for a moment from her own feelings.
"I will not be sacrificing myself," Seven said. "I have a family. A purpose. If they wish for Borg technology, then B'Elanna's notes and a small supply of nanoprobes will have to suffice. And that is only if the Doctor and Dr. Crusher deem the research worthwhile in a way that Dr. Crusher's own research cannot be."
"I'm going to talk to Chakotay tomorrow," Raffi said. "To Janeway…to JL. I'll contact the President of the Federation, if I have to. I'm going to talk to everyone. Spalen doesn't seem like the kind of individual who likes to hear the word 'no,' and I want them to prepare for that."
"No is a simple word to understand," Elnor said. "If he should have trouble understanding it…I could make it my cause to educate him."
"Elnor—you should focus on your studies. On your duties. On the building of a social life," Seven said.
"And not my family?" He challenged.
Raffi hummed to herself. Seven, for her part, looked slightly amused. Rather than argue with Elnor, she switched tactics. She brushed back his hair with her fingertips and squeezed his shoulder.
"As your mother," she said, raising her eyebrows at him, "it is my cause to take care of you. Not the other way around."
"In the Musiker Collective, the one takes care of the many," Elnor said. "And the many take care of the one."
"I will let you know if I require assistance," Seven said. "For the time being, I remain undamaged, and I intend to remain that way."
111
Raffi stood halfway at attention beside B'Elanna, despite both of them having been told they could relax. Like her current half-Klingon counterpart, she tried to appear contrite, but found that only possible by keeping her head at least partially ducked to keep from giving herself away. She'd accidentally made eye contact with B'Elanna, and both of them had nearly laughed. From where she was standing, Raffi couldn't see Seven without turning her head, but she was aware that she was there, too.
Kathryn Janeway had already put both B'Elanna and Raffi "at ease," and now she sat at her desk and frowned at them. Raffi was almost certain that her frown—a bit dramatic for the situation and the way Raffi knew she felt about it—was one that she'd developed to keep herself from making inappropriate facial expressions during meetings like this one.
"The research being done on Delta Quadrant species is important to the Federation, since these are species that will become a part of life in the other quadrants. The more we understand about them, and the more we work to make that knowledge accessible, the better our society is able to prepare for the cultural enrichment that will take place—and the smaller the likelihood there is for prejudices and problems arising from the mixing of cultures and peoples."
"Admiral…" B'Elanna started.
"I suppose you know why you're here," Janeway said, cutting her off before she could say anything else. Janeway stood up and walked to the side of her desk, changing her position. Neither Raffi nor B'Elanna tracked her with their eyes, nor did they dare to look at one another. "Captain Chakotay, Vice Admiral Picard, and I have all been in contact with Starfleet this morning. We've been fielding calls and concerns. Our mission has barely begun, and there are already reports of hostile work environments and threats to the well-being of our scientists and researchers as they work to gather the information about species in the Delta Quadrant."
"Admiral," Raffi started.
"It goes without saying that we cannot have crew members threatening researchers and instilling fear in them for attempting to do their jobs."
"He…" B'Elanna started.
"Everyone is expected to work together to fulfill all the various aspects of our mission, and one of those is the advancement of our understanding of every species that we encounter. The Borg are of particular interest because there is an expressed interest in liberating xBs whenever possible, and nobody wants to risk any kind of situation where future xBs may be treated in the same manner as current and past xBs."
"OK, but…" Raffi started.
"Dr. Spalen has reported, along with what he claims are the concerns of his colleagues, a number of concerns for his own health and well-being, as well as the health and well-being of the entire mission complement. Among those concerns, this morning, I've already addressed the concern of assimilation."
"Admiral…" Seven started.
"And I've addressed the concern of assault by crew members," Janeway said. "I have assured my superiors that I will handle the situation, and that the researchers will not be harmed by the crew. Every Starfleet cadet and officer will conduct themselves in a way that is respectable to Starfleet and its ideals."
There was silence for a moment.
"May we speak?" B'Elanna asked.
Janeway sighed.
"You know—I may have expected some kind of outburst from B'Elanna," Janeway said. "And I was ready to defend her, as I have before. But—Raffi?"
Raffi looked up. For the first time, she made eye contact with Kathryn Janeway. Janeway looked amused, though she was doing her best to hide it. Raffi realized that she was being given her opportunity to respond.
"I am sorry for any inconvenience that I caused you, Captain Chakotay, or Vice Admiral Picard," Raffi said. "However, I am unable to apologize for my threat to break Dr. Spalen's nose."
"And I'm not sorry for my offer to be one of those who assisted in the breaking of his nose," B'Elanna said.
Janeway laughed, finally, unable to hold back everything with the trained sincerity she'd been practicing.
"And I'm not personally sorry to hear it," she said. "The fact remains, though, that you cannot go around making public threats to the research team." She moved and sat, again, behind her desk. This time, she looked truly relaxed. "Sit," she said, gesturing toward the chairs in front of her desk. Raffi and B'Elanna sat side by side. A quick glance over her shoulder told Raffi that Seven was already sitting, and looking quite relaxed while doing so. As Janeway's assistant, she may have already been briefed on those conversations in which Janeway had been involved. Janeway sighed. "I tell you this in the strictest confidence," she said. "And I will deny it if I must. I do not care for Dr. Spalen's bedside manner—or whatever you call it, in his profession. Despite the fact that he's clearly never even seen a Borg cube or a living drone, he's managed to get himself published enough to be considered one of the leading experts on the Borg. They would like for us to cooperate with him and the other researchers as much as possible."
"Nobody is being uncooperative," Raffi protested. "Dr. Rosenberg asked if she could join us for breakfast in the mess hall this morning, and she was nothing but friendly. We're supposed to be meeting with her again."
"Dr. Spalen evidently felt shunned, when his request for further study was turned down," Janeway said. "And I'm sure that I don't have to tell you how difficult that is for some people's egos."
"Dr. Rosenberg has an interest in learning about the experiences of the Borg from their own perspective," B'Elanna said. "Dr. Spalen has an interest in dissecting the Borg, and the only xB he has available to dissect is Seven."
"Nobody is dissecting anybody on my watch," Janeway said. "You should know, however, that Dr. Crusher was contacted this morning, as well. She and the Doctor were asked whether or not it was possible to disconnect, in some way, Seven's assimilation tubules. Apparently, Dr. Spalen is suggesting that—without further study of the way that the brain works post-assimilation in xBs that cannot be fully restored—the tubules can be seen as an ongoing threat and, as a result, it may be better for them to find some kind of procedure that xBs can undergo to assure that they are never tempted to begin the creation of a future Collective."
"The only way to disconnect my assimilation tubules is to amputate my arm," Seven said with a scoffing noise. "I will not voluntarily undergo amputation for no reason other than to soothe Dr. Spalen's over-imaginative concerns."
"The Federation would never require its citizens to amputate their body parts," Raffi said, her stomach twisting. "If they wouldn't ask an Andorian to remove their antennae or…"
Janeway held her hand up.
"Please do not be unnecessarily upset, Commander," Janeway said, forgetting their accepted informality for a moment. "The doctors both submitted declarations that Seven was of sound mind and body—and not at all likely to assimilate anyone—and they also declared that they would find the practice of attempting to remove the tubules, for nothing more than the psychological comfort of others, to be cruel and inhumane. The entire command team that was consulted supported their assessment. There will be no unnecessary amputations performed on any member of this mission."
"Admiral—I think it needs to be addressed that this individual may not be the best person to have input about the new species we may encounter," Raffi said.
"I have presented that concern myself," Janeway said. "It is under review. For the time being, my recommendation is that we all humor Dr. Spalen, to some degree, while absolutely keeping a certain distance. It is possible to make people believe they are getting what they want without actually giving them anything. I expect there to be no more threats, however. I've already told Starfleet this will be handled, so I want to consider it handled."
Raffi and B'Elanna made eye contact. Raffi wondered if B'Elanna was thinking what she was thinking—she was fine with skipping threats and simply taking action, if action was needed. Raffi decided not to point out to Janeway that Elnor, if he felt that Seven or the baby was truly threatened, would likely not bother with threats, either. Elnor had very little use for threats when direct action would do, instead.
Raffi and B'Elanna both agreed not to threaten, and left it at that.
"Now that the unpleasantness is out of the way," Janeway said, her entire demeanor changing, "I haven't heard the report of the day on Baby M."
Raffi turned in her chair to look at Seven. Seven was already smiling. Her concern, at the moment, over Dr. Spalen seemed minimal. Her happiness over their baby, though, was anything but minimal. Raffi normally was the one that gave "reports" on the baby's development, but she nodded toward Seven to give her the reins. Seven's smile only grew.
"Baby M is growing rapidly," Seven said. "The accelerated growth continues at a relatively stable speed. The baby measured at ten weeks this morning."
"No," Raffi said. "The baby's development measures at eleven weeks. Baby M is underweight, though. Both of the doctors believe that Seven's metabolism is very high given that she's pregnant and, also, that Baby M is developing at a more advanced speed than normal. They prescribed a more carefully monitored diet that involves more calories with more regularity."
"Dr. Crusher might have mentioned that to me," Janeway said, sipping from the coffee cup that she had on her desk—no doubt cold by now. "She suggested I might help Seven remember to eat, even though she took the opportunity of reminding me that I was notoriously guilty of skipping meals throughout both of my pregnancies. I assured her that we're not taking chances with the development of the first baby that will likely be born on this mission. But—I want to know…are we going to know if Baby Musiker is a boy or a girl?"
Raffi realized it was her turn to answer.
"The nanonannies—what we're jokingly calling Seven's nanoprobes—have blocked most of our scans. They seem unwilling to allow a clear visual of the baby, and we're relying on readings to monitor the health of the baby, for the most part. We've decided they're protective. At next week's scan, though, Seven's going to have a blood test to screen for any problems that the tricorder won't detect and, during that time, they'll run a test to tell us what Baby Musiker will be."
"B'Elanna—tell Tom that, though I'm sure there's no gambling taking place on this ship—if there were, I would be interested in joining the pool," Janeway said. Raffi laughed at the suggestion.
"I'm sure there's nothing like that taking place," B'Elanna said. "But—if there were, I'd really talk to him about the birthday pool. That's where things would really be heating up."
"Can someone with insider info participate in the pools?" Raffi asked. "Hypothetically, of course…"
"You would gamble on your own child's arrival?" Seven asked.
"Hypotethically," Raffi teased.