~t
Disclaimer: not mine
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"Crewman Celes, is something wrong?"
At the stern question Tal Celes turned from staring blankly at her console to focus on the Astrometrics Chief still working on the console behind her.
"Uh, no not really." Tal answered uncertainly, "Why do you ask?"
"You have not entered any data or commands in that console in the last 4.3 minutes." Seven replied, still not looking up from inputting her own data.
"Oh," Tal blushed, "sorry. I guess I just got lost in thought."
Seven finally looked up at the Bajorian
"Indeed."
Her expression made it a question rather than a statement.
Under the blonde's inquisitive stare, Tal made an impulsive decision. "It's just something I overheard in the mess hall." She stopped and bit her lip before looking the taller woman in the eyes. "Lieutenant Torres was saying you were trying to pawn me off on engineering."
Seven's forehead wrinkled in confusion "Pawn you off? I am not familiar with that expression. Explain."
"Um, it means to get rid of something you don't want by giving it to someone else." Tal flushed, "I know I'm kind of a burden, I'm not really good at this stuff and you have to check my work all the time." She smiled but it didn't quite reach her eyes, "I'd understand if wanted me out of Astrometrics."
"Do you not want 'out' of Astrometrics?" Seven asked, perplexed. "I would think you would rather work somewhere more suited to your abilities."
"What abilities?" now Tal sounded confused, "I'm not really suited to anything."
The former Borg turned fully to face Celes, clasped her hands behind her back and assumed a lecturing expression.
"You are not adept at conceptual equations and Astrometrics calculations but very few people are completely useless, they merely need to be assigned to the proper tasks."
"Proper tasks?" Tal echoed in disbelief, "Are you saying you want to send me to Engineering because you think I'd be good at it?"
"Yes." Seven looked confused again "Why else would I suggest transferring you there?"
"To be rid of me and make Astrometrics more efficient…"
The Astrometrics chief raised her ocular implant at that.
"That would make Astrometrics more efficient, but moving an incompetent worker to a different department wouldn't improve Voyager's overall efficiency unless that worker was better suited to the new assignment."
Seven paused and Tal thought she was finished but just when she was opening her mouth to respond the Astrometrics head continued with more than a touch of Borg arrogance.
"If you were truly useless I would prefer you remain assigned to Astrometrics where I can ensure your mistakes are corrected rather than under a less diligent supervisor."
Tal couldn't help wilting a bit. She had said basically the same thing to the Captain, but it still hurt a little to hear it so bluntly from Seven. After the initial sting of the ex-Borg's words passed, the Bajorian digested their content and mustered up her previous question.
"But what makes you think I'd be any better in Engineering?"
Seven cocked her head slightly and gave Tal an irritated look.
"It would be inefficient to list the observations I have made to come to that determination. It should be sufficient that I have considered the problem and come to a probable solution"
"But…" Tal sputtered slightly, irritation creeping into her own response along with a hint of desperation and hope "How do you know?"
"I just do." Seven's tone gave the impression of a small child stamping her foot.
"What like intuition?" Celes blurted in wide eyed surprise.
This earned her a dirty look from the stoic Astrometrics Chief.
"Borg do not… intuit." Seven practically spat the word, before grudgingly conceding, "However, sometimes processes that are utilized with great frequency become subconscious." A pause. "Determining the most efficient use of drones and technology was one of my main tasks in the collective and has become such a process."
Tal was momentarily sidetracked, "Aren't all drones kind of the same?" she asked curiously.
"No." Seven had reverted to a flat tone and expression, "There are physiological differences in the musculature, bone structure and neural structure of different species and individuals that effect their capabilities."
Borg culture, who knew. Tal pondered that a moment in fascination before shaking her head slightly as though to dislodge the thought.
"Okay, but I'd still have the same brain if I transferred to Engineering. I don't see how I'd be more useful there."
Seven sighed in frustration.
"You would have the same brain but I believe it would be more suited to the 'hands on' nature of Engineering than the less tangible applications of Astrometrics. Dealing with the mechanical systems of Voyager provides more immediate and visible responses if you are doing something incorrectly."
"Yeah, like the warp core explodes!" Tal yelped "I don't need that kind of feedback!"
Seven very nearly rolled her eyes. "Lieutenant Torres would likely give you something inconsequential to blow up before allowing you to work on the warp core directly."
The ex-Borg seemed to deflate a bit, "At the moment it is irrelevant since the Lieutenant disregarded the suggestion."
"Oh." Tal deflated a lot and turned to fiddle with her console. While she hadn't really wanted to transfer to engineering, the idea that maybe she might be good at something had started to grow on her. To not feel so inadequate having to fight constantly with intimidating Astrometrics calculations…
Unsure, Seven hesitantly returned to her interrupted work then paused, still facing her console.
"Perhaps I will need to bring the subject to Lieutenant Torres attention again, I did not have time to properly present the idea initially. She may be more inclined to consider the transfer once I've explained the advantages."
Tal looked back at Seven, now immersed in her work. She couldn't decide if she wanted to encourage the transfer idea or not. After a moment she decided Seven seemed content to end the conversation there so Tal opted for silence. But when she returned to her work, more productively this time, it was with a small smile.
~t