Chapter 11 – The Cabin
The Borg Queen, Seven of Nine, and Commander Chakotay materialized onto the planet's surface. Chakotay and Seven looked about confused. "This isn't Voyager's transporter room," Chakotay remarked. They were at the same lakeshore where Seven had landed the tetrahedron the week before. Both the tetrahedron and the shuttle were now gone.
"No it isn't," the Queen remarked. She was wearing clothing very similar to Chakotay and Seven, her black hair coming down to her waist. No Borg accessories or technology were evident, although she had retained her cortical node and means of interfacing with the Hive Mind, of course. Both Chakotay and Sever were still getting used to her new appearance. "The two of you will not be going to Earth with the rest of the Voyager crew," she continued and raised her hand to stop their potential protests. "There will be time in the future for you to go, but I have determined what you both need is time alone together, and I intend to give that to you." She motioned for them to direct their attention across the lake. On the far shore on a slight rise above the water, the cabin the drones had started when they were here last was completed. A deck faced the lake with the entrance visible on the side with a chimney on the corner. "Shall we take a look?"
Chakotay and Seven agreed without hesitation or comment and linked hands and started the walk along the pebbly shore towards the cabin. By the smiles on their faces, the Queen knew she had made the right decision and followed behind them. A slight breeze kept moving her long black hair from its intended position and into her face. No wonder the Borg previously eliminated hair from drones as an unnecessary distraction.
When they reached the cabin, Seven turned to the Queen with a smirk. "You know… Lileth. I can teach you how to put your hair up so it's more manageable."
The Queen was about to remind her that the Borg had assimilated that knowledge and could figure it out on her own, but instead decided to say, "perhaps another time." She opened the door to the cabin and motioned them inside. "Let me show you around, and then I have to be on my way. Captain Janeway is, what do you say, chomping at the bit."
They first entered into a small room with a stone floor. There was a bench on one side with a rack holding various footwear and a closet. Beside this was a rectangular machine of some sort. On the other end of the room near a door was a stack of wood on a stand. "This is something often referred to historically as a mud room," the Queen commented. "There are outer garments and shoes sized for the two of you to enjoy various outdoor activities, a washing machine and dryer to clean your clothes and save on replicator energy, and some combustible material to sustain a fire in the appropriate place inside." The Queen then opened the second doorway elevated with a short step up. "Come, this way."
They then stepped inside the main cabin. The floor appeared to be wood planks. In front of them was a small kitchen with sink and stove and another slightly larger container. The Queen noticed their questioning look. "A refrigerator," she explained. "A place to store food and such at a desired lower temperature. Again, a way to reduce replicator needs and the associated energy cost." She pointed to a spot next to the sink. "The single replicator is located here inside the kitchen. The cabin has been stocked for about a month of food for the two of you. Water is provided by a well, and photovoltaics on the roof keep the batteries charged and supply the energy you need, as long as you go easy on the replicator."
The rest of the cabin was fairly simple. A main living area with some places to sit with the aforementioned fireplace in the corner. On one wall was a large sliding glass door that opened up onto a deck and view of the lake and mountains beyond. Opposite this was a door that led into a small bedroom and bathroom. Open stairs on the wall opposite the entryway led up to a loft area. "There's another bed and bathroom up in the loft," the Queen explained. "For guests." She glanced up towards the loft and added, "after a month or so, perhaps Lon and I could come for a visit."
Seven and Chakotay exchanged a look and Seven raised an eyebrow. The apparent budding relationship between the Borg Queen and Mister Suder was another thing that was taking time to get used to. "We'd like that," Chakotay replied.
The Queen turned to Seven. "I think your parents would like an invitation too, when you're ready. For now, they've agreed to stay on with us and help the Borg with our new initiative." The Queen then went towards the sliding glass doors. They didn't open automatically, and she had to unlatch one side and push them both open. The three of them stepped out onto the large deck. To one side there was a stand with a hanging swing big enough for two people to sit side by side. On the other side was a small table with four chairs. An overhang protected most of the deck from rain and provided shade. "Our hope is this cabin will provide the two of you a refuge and time together, for now and years to come."
"Thank you," Seven replied. "I think this is exactly what we needed."
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Seven and Chakotay sat together on their swing overlooking the lake. They were wrapped together under a soft blanket, Seven with her knees pulled up and leaning on Chakotay's shoulder. The sun had just set behind the mountains off to their right, but the aspenglow still illuminated the landscape about them. The everblues and evergreens of the forest, where they had spent their days exploring their new home, were only silhouettes against the rose-colored sky. The lake's surface like a sheet of glass reflecting the trees and sky in the stillness of the evening.
"I can't imagine being any happier," Seven sighed.
Chakotay agreed. Each day had brought them closer, and now he couldn't imagine life without her. "I can't help but think of those other Chakotays and other Sevens in universes where they don't find one another," he mused. "How different their lives must be. How… sad for them."
Seven hugged him a little more tightly. "I don't want this to end," she whispered.
Chakotay nodded. "I suppose we could contact Lileth. Ask that she and Lon delay their visit. Give us more time alone."
"No, that's not what I mean," Seven replied shaking her head, her hair tickling Chakotay's neck. "I'm actually quite looking forward to their visit. I mean, I don't want this feeling to end." She closed her eyes and tried to put words to her thoughts. "Contentment. Wholeness. Love," she managed.
Again, Chakotay agreed silently. He was still thinking of those other timelines. "Perhaps," he began tentatively, "there's more to our mortal experience and existence. More that links certain souls together that is not fully realized in this life. We can imagine those other Chakotays and other Sevens in those universes where fate intervened in this life find their happiness and love together in the next. Perhaps it is inevitable."
Seven frowned just a little. "I've spent enough time thinking about other universes," she finally replied. "From now on, it's just you and me and this one universe we call home. We'll take the future as it comes head on. All those other universes can take care of themselves."
Chakotay wrapped his other arm around her and kissed her neck. That was perfectly fine with him.
THE END
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Author's Note: Sorry lizzy that Chapter 9 was confusing. I tried to write it in the same fashion as similar scenes from the two previous AUs in which the Multiverse Stewards appeared ("The Folly of the Stewards" and "Dimensions"). Unfortunately, those stories weren't my best.
As always, thanks for reading and please leave a review if you are so inclined.
One more incomplete C/7 story to finish…