=/\=
Not long after Seven's unsatisfactory foray into exploring romantic relationships, another encounter with the Borg brought with it a very specific and painful reminder of her actions when she was a drone.
Voyager reached a space station that, for once, seemed happy to meet visitors from the other side of the galaxy. Amid crowds of visitors who came on board the vessel to meet and greet the crew while the crew were doing much the same thing on the station, three individuals came on board seeking Seven of Nine. Two of Nine, Three of Nine, and Four of Nine, the other survivors of the scout ship crash eight years prior to this, confronted her and forced her to remember the error she'd made when she'd reassimilated them against their wishes.
Forcing them to return to the Borg wasn't her only mistake. The method she'd used had an unforeseen side effect. Even though Lansor, P'Chan, and Marika Willkara had managed to free themselves from the Collective several months prior to their meeting, they discovered that they now shared their thoughts with each other. The link had not been apparent when they were three of billions. Although they were now free of the "white noise" of the Collective, they still couldn't live in their own minds as individuals. What one of them felt or thought, the others did, too. They were willing to do anything to free themselves of each other's thoughts. The only one who could help them was Seven of Nine.
With the Doctor's help, they discovered what Seven had done. The minds of the three could be separated from each other, but if this was done, the resultant brain damage would doom them to death in a month or less. The only other option was for them to be reassimilated by the Borg. They could live on for many years then, but only as drones, without any ability to choose the course of the rest of their lives. They were now comatose, leaving Seven with a decision that was unrelentingly grim, no matter which she picked.
Seven chose for them to have a short life as individuals, rather than condemn them to living a long existence functioning in a system they abhorred. Seven knew she could not undo the damage she'd done, but she hoped that this was the decision would have made for themselves, if they were conscious and could express their opinion.
When they woke up and learned their remaining days would be short, but lived as individuals as they'd always wanted, the three assured Seven she'd made the right choice. Lansor decided to explore the station and enjoy his new life for as long as he could. P'Chan decided to spend what time he had left on a nearby world, close to nature. Both forgave her for making the wrong choice for them eight years before. Lieutenant Marika Willkarah said she would not forgive her, although she did admit she understood why Seven did what she did.
During the final month of her life, Lieutenant Marika remained on board Voyager as a member of its crew. During the first two weeks, she served shifts in Engineering and enjoyed the chance to serve as a Starfleet officer once again. During the third week, her body began to weaken. The captain and the Doctor placed her on medical leave, and the lieutenant spent most of her time in her quarters, updating her personal log and recording memories of her early years on Bajor, her service in Starfleet, where she'd met her husband, and her impressions of life as a Borg.
Seven did not feel comfortable visiting her, but she spoke with Ensign Tabor and Crewman Tal Celes, to encourage them to spend time with their fellow Bajoran. Tal Celes reported to Seven afterwards that, "When we aren't praying to the Prophets, we trade stories about our favorite places to visit on our home planet. She told us she's glad we're on this ship and sharing time with her like this. Thank you for suggesting it, Seven. I should have thought of it myself. Tabor said the same thing."
Towards the end of her fourth week, Marika became very feeble. Ensign Tabor came to Seven and said, "She's never said she's forgiven you, but when we prayed to the Prophets today, she asked them to keep you safe. She knows you were a frightened child when you did what you did and bore her no malice. You're an important part of her history, even if it's painful for both of you. I think she'd like to say goodbye."
That night, while ingesting nutrients in Cargo Bay Two, Seven of Nine contemplated her existence, as well as that of Marika Willkarah, formerly Three of Nine of Unimatrix 01. The next morning, Seven went to the captain's ready room and made a special request: to be excused from duty in Astrometrics for that day so that she could "sit with a sick friend." The captain readily granted her request.
Seven entered the very comfortable quarters the captain had assigned to her temporary officer. Marika was stretched out on the couch, gazing out at the stars; but when Seven entered, she smiled weakly. After Seven explained she was there because Tabor had suggested her presence would not add to the Bajoran officer's pain, Marika nodded and pointed to the chair nearest the couch. Although sitting for prolonged periods continued to be uncomfortable for her, Seven took the seat offered and remained with Marika for the entire day. Whenever Marika pointed to the beaker on the table, Seven helped her take a drink. While the Doctor visited several times to check on his patient, he left her, for the most part, in Seven's care.
Towards the beginning of Beta shift, Tabor and Celes entered Marika's quarters. By this time, Marika's breathing had become somewhat uneven, but she was still conscious when Tabor bent over her and said, "You'll be with your husband in the Presence of the Prophets very soon now, Marika. When you go to them, do you want us to sing the death chant for you?"
Marika managed to breathe out one word: "Short." Tabor smiled and assured her that instead of the full death chants, which could take days, they would sing the abbreviated forms.
Seven stood up to leave, but Marika became agitated and shook her head. Marika reached out and grabbed Seven's left hand and whispered, "Stay." Seven nodded and sat down again. They listened while Tabor and Celes recited Bajoran folk tales and sang songs, until Marika's eyes closed but didn't reopen. Her breathing became more and more irregular and labored. Tabor and Celes spoke soft words of comfort. Marika no longer responded to them; and the next time the Doctor came in to check on his patient, he remained in the room to monitor her condition.
A little over an hour later, Seven felt the pressure from Marika's fingers lessen. Her chest rose and fell a few more times, but then, it was over. Tabor and Tal began chanting rituals which had been sung for millennia on their home planet, leading the soul of Marika Willkarah to meet her husband's in the Celestial Temple. The Bajoran Wormhole was far away from Voyager's current position; but, as Tabor later explained to Seven, "Marika's faith will guide her there."
Seven stayed until Tabor's and Celes' chants were finished. She hoped the passings of Lansor and P'Chan had been as peaceful as Marika's.
=/\=
