# Chapter 8 – Transformations

Voyager was being tractored by Phoenix back to New Earth. The journey, which had only taken a few days when following Voyager's warp core signature in the other direction, was now going to take a few weeks since they were limited to warp two. It was crowded on both ships, with many having to double or triple up in the available quarters, but all three hundred and twenty three were eventually accommodated. Captain Janeway took command of Voyager for the trip and left Chakotay in command of Phoenix. To allow their quarters on Phoenix to be used by others, Seven and Minnik had moved to use the regeneration alcoves in Chakotay's quarters. The work in engineering was substantially increased, as the warp engine strained to manage with Voyager in tow, but with the crews of both ships swelled in numbers, they had all the help they needed. In fact, Seven and Minnik had been able to train some of these new crew members to take over for a short time to allow themselves time to plan for their futures on New Earth.

Seven and Minnik entered Voyager's sickbay together. The Doctor had just discharged the last of the Vidiian patients and so it was nearly deserted, a stark contrast to Phoenix and the rest of Voyager. The Doctor was speaking with one of the Vidiians and turned as they approached. Seven recognized the Doctor's companion immediately. "Ah, Seven, Minnik," the Doctor said. "I'd like to introduce you to Doctor Denara Pel."

Seven extended her hand. A human greeting, she knew, but Doctor Pel understood and clasped her hand in return. "We briefly met in the stronghold," Seven said. "We didn't get a chance, however, to meet properly. The Doctor has spoken to us about you."

Denara smiled. "I've spent the last five years worrying about what might have happened to Shmullus. As it turns out, Voyager was untouched in all that time."

"Doctor Shmullus?" Minnik said with a smile. "Why didn't you ever tell us you had a name?"

The Doctor appeared embarrassed. The intricacy of his holographic program and sub-routines always amazed Seven. Denara reached out and touched his holographic shoulder, and Seven wondered idly if there was a sub-routine that somehow identified the contact and translated that information into the Doctor's holo-matrix consciousness to provide the sensation of physical touch. What did it matter? Denara considered the Doctor sentient and cared for him, and he obviously cared for Denara in return.

"I want to thank you both," Denara said, turning to Seven and Minnik. "From all of the Vidiians you rescued. We are greatly in your debt."

"Many Vidiians died defending our position at the stronghold, and so we need to thank you as well," Seven replied matter of factly. "Besides, you should really be thanking Commander Chakotay. It was he who decided to free the Vidiian prisoners as well as our own. If the decision had been mine at the time, I might have chosen differently. Fortunately, Chakotay was in command and made the correct decision."

Minnik laughed. "Don't let her fool you," she said. "She and Chakotay are more alike than she lets on. She would have freed you once she realized you were being held prisoner as well. Only S'par might have hesitated."

"S'par is passionate with her opinions," Seven countered. "But I assure you, she is quite comfortable with the Vidiians who are with us. She has been equally passionate about defending the Vidiians to the other former prisoners." Seven turned to Denara. "Have the Vidiians decided to stay and join us on New Earth?"

Denara nodded. "It was a unanimous vote. We all want to distance ourselves from our past and other Vidiians and to start fresh."

"Apparently the Voyager crew has also unanimously voted to settle on New Earth," Seven replied. "The desire is to perhaps develop a trans-warp drive at some point to make the journey to the alpha quadrant in days instead of years, and that can be done equally well from New Earth."

"How about the other prisoners?" the Doctor inquired. Being restricted to Voyager's sickbay, he was often out of the loop on the latest developments.

"There are a few who wish to return to their planet of origin," Minnik said. "Captain Janeway has assured them that, when we are able, we will escort them back. In the meantime, they are welcome to stay with us on New Earth."

"So I take it you plan to stay?" Denara asked.

Minnik looked surprised. "Of course."

Seven turned to the Doctor. Small talk, as it was called, was fine, but she wished to discuss the reason for their visit to sickbay before having to return to Phoenix. "Doctor, we are here to schedule the procedure to remove all our Borg implants. There are adequately trained personnel to handle Phoenix's engineering responsibilities. The Captain has given us permission, and we would like to start the process as soon as possible."

The Doctor nodded solemnly and Denara appeared confused at his sudden change in his manner. "Shmullus, what's wrong?"

The Doctor turned to Seven as if to ask permission to discuss these matters with Denara. Seven sensed this and said, "you can say anything you wish in front of Doctor Pel."

The Doctor turned back to Denara. "I'm confident I can remove all of Minnik's Borg components without difficulty," he began. "In Seven's case, however, since she was assimilated as a child, I fear her operation will be risky and recovery will be long and difficult."

"Because of the required skeletal rebuilding and muscle grafting?" Denara asked.

The Doctor nodded. "I've been trying to convince her to retain some of her Borg implants, but Seven is insisting on having everything removed."

"How do you plan on regenerating the eye?" Denara asked.

The Doctor raised his eyebrows. "It is not only the eye, but the optic nerve as well. I'm uncertain anything can done for that."

Denara looked surprised. "I see," she said quietly and then turned to face Seven and Minnik to examine them more closely. They all waited patiently as she seemed to be considering something. "We've had some experience with Borg technology," Denara finally said. "Would you consider having our Vidiian doctors examine you?"

Seven glanced at the Doctor and then Minnik. "Of course doctor," she replied.

Denara smiled. "Then please delay the procedure for a short time and allow me to consult with some of my colleagues. Let us see if we can return the favor and do something more for you."

Seven felt a curious sensation of anticipation. The Vidiians were far more advanced medically than the Federation. What did Doctor Pel have in mind? She glanced to Minnik and then back to Denara. "We eagerly await your input," she said.

#

Seven lay on a biobed in Voyager's sickbay and a Vidiian doctor held an instrument above her. Disconcertingly, it was essentially what they considered a Vidiian weapon, one that could transport a healthy organ from another's body or induce blindness as done to the prisoners in the stronghold. After scanning the full length of her body, he turned to the Doctor and Denara who were both standing beside him. "I think it can be done," he said simply. "It will take a little more time, but I see no unsurmountable issues."

Chakotay moved closer to the biobed and Seven sat up and shifted off the bed to stand beside him. "You can remove all the Borg technology?" Seven asked.

The Vidiian doctor nodded.

"And she won't have a long and painful recovery?" Chakotay added.

The Vidiian doctor nodded again. "We can clone her existing healthy bone and muscle and graft it in place with our bio-neural transport device," he said. "The tissue will essentially be fully formed and optimally conditioned immediately. Regenerating the eye and optic nerve will be a little trickier, but we should be able to take care of that as well at the same time."

Chakotay turned to Seven and smiled. "Extraordinary," he said.

"There are still some risks, but I believe they can be managed and are minimal," the Vidiian Doctor continued. "We can proceed whenever you are ready."

"I am ready now," Seven said. "Let us start immediately."

Chakotay furrowed his brow. "Before we begin," he said. "I'd like to discuss something in private with you." He looked up, and the three doctors understood immediately and moved off out of ear shot to another part of sickbay. It was just the five of them in sickbay and so Seven and Chakotay were alone.

"What is it?" Seven asked with some concern.

Chakotay hesitated. "I've been giving it a lot of thought over the past few days," he began, "and, well, this was of course before we knew the risks were going to be minimal…" He smiled nervously and curiously lacked his typical confidence.

Seven tilted her head confused. "I'm uncertain what you are getting at Chakotay."

"Well, I was thinking, ah, I had convinced myself it would be best if we could formalize our relationship before you underwent the operation."

"What are you asking?"

Chakotay laughed and shook his head. "This is not quite going as smoothly as I had hoped. But, if you'll have me, I would very much like for us to be married."

Seven looked at Chakotay incredulously. "Now?"

Chakotay shrugged, but nodded his head with a smile.

"Do you not wish to wait until I appear more human?" Seven lifted her hands up before her, as if to show him the Borg exoskeleton armor that covered them for the first time. The pale skin that lacked the human color of life. The cold and indifferent Borg components.

Chakotay reached forward and grabbed hold of both her arms. "I do not wish to take a chance, even a minimal chance. It's never been about what you look like Seven. You and I'm sure everyone else knows how I feel about you. I would prefer to be bonded in marriage before you undergo this operation. My only concern is that it is your desire as well."

Chakotay was still smiling widely, and Seven couldn't help but smile back in return. Always an incongruent look for a Borg drone, but of course she was not a Borg drone anymore. Despite the technology throughout her body and even within her brain, she was no longer Borg, but human. She was a human female who was deeply in love with the human male in front of her; the one individual in the whole of space-time who completed her. Of course she approved of his proposal. She took one step closer to Chakotay. "I will comply," she said softly.

Chakotay released one of Seven's arms and tapped his comm badge. "Commander Chakotay to Captain Janeway."

"Go ahead Commander."

"Kathryn, if you could come down to sickbay, Seven and I need you to do something for us."

"I'll be right there."

Chakotay then pulled Seven closer ignoring the Borg technology, the armor and metal latticework of sensors on her arms and hands. He carefully moved in, closer than he had ever been before, and pressed his lips lightly against hers. Deep within her, the human who so desperately wished to purge herself of everything Borg felt the stirring of those truly powerful human desires and emotions once more.

#

Stardate 58343.1 – MaquisRange, New Earth

Seven stepped onto the porch and looked out over the lake. The forest of evergreens stretched out on both sides, and the distant peak of Mount B'Elanna loomed to the northeast. The rest of the MaquisRange, somewhat appropriately, surrounded their valley where they had chosen to build. Chakotay liked to call it a cabin, but in reality it was nothing more than a Star Fleet modular shelter. They were making some additions, however, like the recent fireplace in the main living area and this porch and swing here at the front entrance. The chill of the night still lingered in their cozy valley and there was a slight breeze coming down from the higher peaks. She brought the mug of tea she was holding closer to her face to feel the warmth before settling onto the swing. The smell of jasmine and lemon from the mug intermingled with the pine of the outdoors and she took a sip. Minnik had been sending her various creations, and Seven decided this was her best tea blend yet. Although there were now over a hundred other humans in the New Earth settlement, she found she remained closest to Minnik. They identified with each other more due to their shared experiences.

Near the lake was a clearing big enough for a shuttle, the only way to access their cabin since the magnetoelectric activity in this hemisphere made transporters unreliable and dangerous. The night before Seven and Chakotay had lain out under the stars in that clearing by the lake. New Earth's system had a higher concentration of dust than usual, and so the night time display of meteors was always spectacular. They had also been treated to an aurora display, again more common on New Earth due to the enhanced magnetic field of the planet. The aurora from the night before was still active, and Seven could detect a hint of green glow to the north just at the edge of the cabin roof despite the imminent sunrise.

A flock of ducks glided in silently over the forest from the east and coasted to a stop on the lake before her. Seven recognized them as Mallards. Not the Mallards of Old Earth of course, but a species native to New Earth. Ayala had started a systematic identification and naming of the birds of New Earth and had enlisted her and Chakotay's help in cataloging the types and frequency in the mountains of the MaquisRange. He and S'Par had spent a week with them at the cabin the previous month, but the two of them were now exploring the wildlands of the southern continent. A whole world awaited the colonists to be explored.

Chakotay and Seven's cabin was not completely within the magnetoelectric storm zone that made communication impossible, but close enough that contact with Voyager and the colony settlement near the Borg cube crash site was restricted to a few hours each evening. Chakotay had thought it would be nice to have that privacy. It was just her and Chakotay in their small cabin overlooking their private lake. A virgin forest extended on all sides, and surrounding that were mountain peaks, many above treeline. It was early fall in this hemisphere, and so most of the peaks were covered with a blanket of snow.

She smiled and took another sip of tea. It was perfect. She couldn't imagine feeling more comfortable. The Mallards began splashing about on the lake, and she idly started counting them. Within the group she discovered an interloper. Their holoimager was on the seat beside her for just these occasions, so she placed down her mug of tea, picked it up and zoomed in for a closer look. Slightly larger than the Mallard, the new bird also had a darker bill and slightly metallic blue tint to its nape. She had never seen its species before, nor was it contained in Ayala's preliminary Birds of New Earth field guide. She took some images before switching back out for her mug of tea.

Seven breathed in deeply and let out a sigh. Their time in the cabin was coming to an end, at least for a short while. Chakotay said to everyone they were still on their honeymoon, but of course it had been months since they arrived on New Earth. Saychek, the newly elected governor of New Earth, had asked Chakotay and Seven to return to the main settlement to help in his administration of the planet. There was a great deal going on. Neelix's ship had been found about the planet where Voyager was discovered. Neelix, and a few others, were planning a return to the system where the stronghold was located to ascertain what had happened and also investigate possible trading opportunities. The Borg wreckage was being surveyed for possible construction of another sphere, with the rest of the refined metals being used to construct the settlement itself. Fields were being transformed into farmland to feed the small population and a nascent economy was being established. Voyager was at the center of the settlement, serving as a ready made capital building and medical facility. Captain Janeway stayed mostly aboard the Phoenix with its new crew in orbit, but also oversaw the repairs of Voyager. Eventually, Voyager would return to space and be the flagship of New Earth's fleet with Kathryn the fleet commander.

Before returning to the main colony settlement, though, she and Chakotay were going to go backpacking into the MaquisRange and explore a little further their little corner of New Earth. They had already replicated the required gear: a small tent, sleeping bags and pads, and the backpacks themselves that would carry all their gear and food. Their plan was to leave sometime in the morning after a good breakfast. It was a steady uphill climb to the pass to the south. They had made this journey many times before and would follow a game trail all the way. It was still early in the season, so the snow level was above this elevation. After that, it was into the unknown. Their goal was to get back below treeline and set up camp in the valley beyond before dark.

"There you are," Chakotay said, coming out onto the porch. He was carrying a blanket that could cover them both. New Earth's sun was just peaking over the mountains to the east. Chakotay moved the holoimager and settled down next to Seven to enjoy the view with her and lifted the blanket over them like a cocoon.

Seven leaned in closer to snuggle up against Chakotay. She could feel his warmth as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her even closer. He gazed out over the lake. She of course didn't know specifically what he was thinking, and yet she did know him. They were separate minds, and yet one. Not the joining of minds as in the Borg Hive Mind, but a more intimate joining that required work to get to know the other and effort to understand and love them for all their gifts and faults. What a wonderful feeling. She breathed in deeply to smell the pine of the forest near their cabin. The taste of jasmine and lemon lingered on her lips. The sounds of the ducks splashing on the lake and the wind through the pines reached them. She couldn't remember a time when she was more content and happy.

She finally felt fully human.

#

THE END

Author's Note: Thanks to scifiromance, lizzy74656, and Ladybug Jess for your reviews of the last chapter (and Rono777, Djsmith, lmr0211 and Alaster Boneman for previous chapter reviews). Hope everyone enjoyed this entry in the "Alternatives" series. And thanks again to all who have reviewed and followed/favorited any of my stories (particularly StanaTorv and KristaPetal who I neglected to single out before but who gave such nice reviews to previous stories – hope you're still enjoying them). We'll pick up again with the next "Alternatives" story sometime in the New Year, or perhaps even a one-shot back in the "That Good Night" universe. Happy Holidays everyone…