A/N:- So here's the next chapter, hope people like it. This is the first time I've written in the first person and also the first time I've written anything as non-fluffy as this therefore any and all feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks :)
I roused from my slumber slowly. At first only my auditory system was functioning but the data it was processing seemed hazy and inaccurate. I could hear running water and distorted voices, though couldn't understand any of the words spoken. As more senses returned I became aware of a weight resting on my left side and an earthy smell with a metallic edge and the hint of lavender. A harsh throbbing pain suddenly burst into existence at the back of my neck and I moved my right hand to investigate, keeping my eyes closed. Something had been implanted into the dermal tissue at the top of my spine. It was small and round or spherical in shape. I opened my eyes to a blurred dark environment and blinked to bring it into focus. After a few attempts my vision returned, not quite to its former Borg acuity but enough to allow me to see my surroundings.
Captain Janeway's unconscious form was huddled against the left side of my body and one of her hands rested on my stomach. I studied her peaceful features and smiled; she was a far cry from her formidable Captain persona when she was asleep. Her hair had been partially loosened during the incident on the shuttlecraft and a few stray strands had fallen over her face. Before I knew what I was doing my hand had moved to tuck these strands behind her ear and in doing so my fingertips grazed the side of her face. I was surprised to find that her skin was remarkably smooth. I felt a sudden wave of warmth spread over my body and moved hurriedly backwards in surprise. She let out a small moan and her eyes fluttered open and met mine in a questioning gaze.
"Captain." I said in greeting, unsure of whether she was aware I had touched her face. It didn't seem appropriate to ask.
"Seven." She replied, still groggy from sleep. I watched as her fingers traced the spot I had touched a moment ago, a confused expression appearing briefly on her face before she shook it off. "Are you alright?" She asked as she sat up and shuffled her body away from me.
"The base of my neck throbs slightly Captain. Other than that I find myself to be in an acceptable condition." I glanced around at our surroundings for the first time. We were in a rectangular cell with 3 stone walls and the entrance which was made up of metal bars. Across the corridor from us was another cell occupied by two aliens from a species I had never encountered before. Our cell was small, dark and damp with an earthen floor. The only light was coming from the right of the corridor. I assumed there was a window there.
"Yes, my neck hurts too." She muttered more to herself than to me. She reached up to the back of her neck with her hand mimicking what I had done only minutes before her. "Let me have a look." She gestured to me to turn around. I complied and moved so my back was facing her. I felt her cool fingers trace the base of my neck, pressing lightly at the object buried into my skin.
"It's not too deeply implanted Seven. I could try to remove it so we can get a proper look." Her tone was questioning, seeking my permission. I felt a flash of anger at her presumption that I was still some sort of scientific experiment. Why should I be constantly poked and prodded? I jerked away from her and turned around.
"I think I've undergone enough medical procedures at your insistence Captain." I stared at her coldly, memories of my body in various stages of being stripped of its Borg exterior surfacing in my mind. She had had no right. Her face studied mine intently, reading my anger. An emotion I didn't recognise resided fleetingly on her features before she nodded and turned around, pulling her hair to the side to give me access.
I leaned in close behind her and inspected her neck, anger still bubbling deep within me. She was right, the device wasn't very deep. It was grey and circular, approximately 5mm in diameter.
"I see it." I stated simply. "I need something sharp to create a laceration. May I use a hairpin?" She nodded her consent. I removed one of the metal hair pins holding my hair in place.
"This may hurt."
I placed my left hand on her neck using my fingers to stretch out the skin around the device and readied the pin in my right hand.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." An unfamiliar male voice called loudly.
"They won't be very happy." Another voice, female this time chimed in. The two aliens opposite us had moved close to their bars and were watching us.
The Captain and I stood making our way to the front of our cell. From this distance, despite the relatively dark conditions we could see that their skin was a dark blood red colour and their eyes a muddy brown.
"Why not?" The Captain asked, unperturbed by their appearance.
"You'll be punished." Came the simple reply. The aliens' companion nodded furiously in agreement. "I'm Rohin by the way and this is my sister Kerra."
"Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. This is Seven of Nine, a member of my crew." I was gestured towards. "I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with your species."
"We are Lodarian. We are a small species inhabiting 3 planets including our homeworld Lodar and you?"
"We are human." Janeway answered and this infuriated me. I was not human. My genetic make-up was not what defined me.
"I am not human," I spoke loudly. "I am Borg." I received a puzzled look from Rohin and Kerra and what I supposed was meant to be a withering glare from Captain Janeway.
"But they have two of each species." Rohin said confused.
"You look the same." Added Kerra. "Well, except for those metal bits."
"I may look the same as Captain Janeway because genetically I am human but I was a Borg Drone for most of my life. I possess advanced attributes that make me more than just a human and I have access to the entire knowledge of the Collective."
"Seven now is not the time." She put her hand on my bicep. Her touch was firm. I stopped. "What do you mean by they have two of each species and who are 'they'?" Rohin opened his mouth to reply but Kerra beat him to it.
"The Varlet. They are a species driven by a need for scientific knowledge and research. They are highly advanced genetic engineers every few months they take samples from four species and test them. The most favourable sample pair is harvested for their DNA which is then integrated into the Varlet species. Some say that-"
"Kerra, be careful…" Rohin interrupted his sibling and glanced up at the ceiling.
"Rohin, we're dead either way." She snapped taking a breath before continuing in the same calm tone. "Some say that the decades of experimentation have made the Varlet…not quite right." She tapped the side of her head alluding to mental instability. "They say that the tests before the genetic extraction are not actually necessary. The Varlet merely use the tests as part of some twisted form of entertainment."
"But we don't know that as fact." Rohin added firmly, directing a stern look at Kerra. The expression on Kerra's face suggested she thought otherwise.
"Do you know of a way out?" asked Janeway. Her demeanour and steely glint to her eyes letting me know she didn't plan on waiting around to be tested. I had to admit, she was a very determined woman. Her desire and will to survive almost rivalled that of the Borg.
Rohin laughed mirthlessly. "There is no way out." He moved away from the bars to sit on the floor at the back of the cell he shared with his sister.
Kerra looked at us sadly and moved to sit next to him but not before whispering to us. "You're the last species to arrive. The tests will start soon."
The Captain turned to face me, releasing her hold on my arm.
"I don't know about you Seven but I don't plan on finding out what those tests entail. We need options."
"We are in a locked cell Captain. Our options for action are limited to choosing which wall we lean against and which bit of the floor we rest on."
"Have you tried the door?" She asked. I raised an eyebrow in scorn.
"It would be highly improbable that a species that takes the time to orchestrate a series of test in order to genetically advance themselves would forget to lock the door of our cell."
The Captain pushed against the section of bars that was a hinged door. It didn't move. I smirked; oddly satisfied that it was indeed locked. Janeway let out a frustrated noise.
"Which part of the floor would you like Captain?" Fiery blue eyes locked with my own. She took the few steps to close the distance between us.
"You may not like being human Seven but let me tell you something about your species. We are resilient. Humans have survived epidemics, wars and god knows what else to produce a civilisation that now travels the galaxy. My ancestors have survived three world wars, the black death, wars with other species and I'll be damned if I'm going to die because of some species' twisted idea that stealing DNA from others is acceptable. You may think that you are better than humanity, that your Borg past makes you strong but I don't. I think your reluctance to accept and adapt to who you are will make you weak."
"What gives you the right to decide who I am?" I retorted raising my voice. "You don't know anything about who I am. Humanity, Captain, makes you weak. You are controlled by your emotions and as such they will get us killed."
"Emotions aren't a weakness Seven. Emotions can be strong enough to drive people to succeed in extreme situations." The anger was gone from her voice, replaced by a pitying, frustrated undertone.
"You are wrong. You were driven by your emotions and human morals to severe me from where I belonged. All you succeeded in doing was ostracising me from two species and trapping us here. If you hadn't removed me from my home and made me a part of your crew you wouldn't have been testing my loyalty and we wouldn't be sat in this cell." I said coldly. "Humanity is flawed."
We sat in silence, avoiding each other's gaze and leaning against opposite walls for 3.25 hours. My mind was overwhelmed with hatred and anger but not just at the woman sitting across from me. I found myself angry at the Collective for not retrieving me. I had been abandoned by my species and forced into one I didn't understand. I now didn't fit into either species and the idea of being truly alone scared me much more than being trapped in a cell ever could.
"Seven." The Captain began hesitantly. "I'm sorry." I looked up, meeting her gaze. "If I hadn't insisted on trying to bond with you in that shuttle we wouldn't be where we are now but you have to understand that I needed to see if you were ready to integrate into my crew. Evidently it would seem that you are not. You're still angry and I understand that the changes to your life are scary but I'm here to help you through that."
"My request to help your crew was genuine Captain. Being contained in the cargo bay was difficult. I miss the voices of the others and wanted a distraction but you cannot ignore that I am not a part of your crew. I am Borg."
"But you can be Seven. You can have friends and be part of the family…" The Captain paused and smiled ruefully as she glanced around our cell. "Once we get out here that is."
I opened my mouth to ask exactly how we were going to accomplish that but I was interrupted by a figure outside our cell. Like our unwelcome guest on the shuttlecraft the alien was dressed in black body armour and his eyes were cold.
"You!" He shouted pointing at Janeway. "Come with me." When she didn't move he drew a weapon from his belt. "Now!" She stood, casting a parting glance over her shoulder at me before she was coerced down the corridor. They also took Rohin and two other aliens from further down the corridor to my left.
After forty or fifty minutes I had stopped my restless pacing due to my wanting to know what was happening to the Captain. The waiting was frustrating me. As a Borg I had never had to wait for anything, there was always something to be doing and if there wasn't you were regenerating. I had just eased myself into a sitting position, propped up against the rear wall of the cell when the screaming started.
