I hope i'm not doing too badly! Any suggestions tho' can only make me a better writter so...
Any comments or suggestions, you can mail me at
I don't handle criticism well, so... please be gentle.
Disclaimers:-
Paramount, or someone other than myself, owns these people, their ship and, i imagine, some parts of the universe thru which they travel.
If you think i'm likely to make any money outta this, you obviously haven't read the story yet :-)
This story may contain some slightly naughty words, same-sex relationships, very minor violence and bad coffee. Sorta like a toned-down version of the real world.
I don't hold a degree in medicine, astrophysics, biology or anything else for that matter, so if i try to say something techie and it makes no sense, just make like it does :-)
..Here & Now..
by MoJoR.
"I know there is strength in the differences between us
and i know there is comfort where we overlap." ani difranco.
Chapter Four.
Kathryn sat in her ready room, her chin resting on her hand, not knowing exactly what to make of the day's events. She had left Seven of Nine to continue Kayla's tour planing to join them both a little later. For some reason she felt the need to take this woman under her wing, to encourage her to make her home with them on Voyager.
But did she have the right to do that? She could hardly rescue every stray in the Delta quadrant. But this young woman was human. She had been tossed around so much in her life she deserved a home.
But she had a home. No doubt in the past two years she had made a life for herself, had friends who loved her. Was another upheaval what she wanted in her life.
Life on Voyager was hardly safe, there were no quarantees they would make it safely home to the Alpha Quadrant. And was Earth any place Kayla would want to be, there would be nothing there for her after so much time.
Yet, in the mean time, she would be surrounded by her own people. Given the opportunity to grow and learn instead of being restricted to menial work as she so obviously was on D'jeri.
Seven of Nine had adapted to life on Voyager, yet apart from herself, Kathryn knew she had made very few friends amongst the crew. Would Kayla meet with the same difficulty when people learnt of her time with the Borg. Somehow, Kathryn didn't think so, and her presence may even form some kind of a bridge between Seven and the crew. If Kalya even wanted to join Voyager.
*One step ahead of yourself there Kathryn. Think about what's best for the girl, not you or your ship or your Borg, the girl.*
Janeway snorted to herself as she pushed up from her desk and decided to see what sort of coffee the replicator was trying to make today.
Seven and Kayla stood side by side in Cargo Bay 2, studying Seven's regeneration chamber.
"You still require regeneration?"
"Yes. I perform at optimum proficiency with 4 hours of regeneration in each 24 hour period."
Kayla was silent a moment, tracing the lines of the alcove, following the path of each of the cables.
"Sometimes, there are some things I think I... miss about being Borg."
"I have also felt that I am lacking without the Collective. Captain Janeway has helped to explain those feelings to me." Seven turned away from the alcove to face her companion before continuing. "You no longer require regeneration. You sleep?"
"Yes. From the moment I woke on D'jeri I have slept in order to regenerate. That was at least something they could fix."
"I have noticed you do not possess full motor control of your left arm." Seven stated. The lack of subtlety unnoticed by either of the women. Kayla held up the offending arm for both to see more clearly.
"The medical staff were able to successfully clone both my arm and eye. But my muscular system was different enough that it made reconstructive surgery difficult. I have very little sensation in this arm, but my muscle control is improving. I imagine whatever remaining nanoprobes I have are working overtime to try to repair the damage. I wish they'd hurry up with my eye."
"The ships medical doctor was able to replace all my essential body organs. However, I still require approximately eighteen percent of my Borg implants to operate efficiently." Seven explained, arching her brow as if to emphasise the occular implant still in place. "Perhaps it would be worthwhile speaking with him while you are onboard."
Running the fingers of her right hand along her arm, registering the slight tingle she felt at the contact, Kayla imagined regaining the use of her arm. Shutting her right eye, she concentrated on the hazy shades of grey, trying to make sense of the fuzzy images sent to her brain by the eye left useless by the loss of her Borg eyepiece.
"I agree." was all she said.
"So, how is our visitor doing?" Commander Chakotay asked as he took his seat opposite the Captian.
"Her and Seven are getting accquainted." she replied with a smile.
"Seven of Nine?" Chakotay's face mirrored the suprised tone in his voice, "an unusual choice for a welcoming committee."
"It appears we have an unusual guest." The Captain replied, at her most enigmatic.
Standing and ushering Chakotay over to the couch at one end of the room, the Captain made herself comfortable, leaning back into the soft cushions. Chakotay placed a data padd on the table between them as he too sat down.
"Kayla Thompson, originally from Earth, also known as Four of Twelve, member of the Borg Collective." Janeway stated simply.
"A Borg drone?"
"So it would seem." And the Captain proceeded to relate Kayla's story in a nutshell to the man sitting across from her. "She really is a remarkable young woman, Chakotay."
"And you're considering having her stay on Voyager?" he asked, already sure of the answer.
"You object?"
"Not at all. I just want to make sure you consider all the angles on this."
"Such as...?"
"What effect it would have on the safety of the crew to have two ex-drones on board were we ever to encounter the Borg again." He spoke steadily, wanting the Captain to know that although he voiced these doubts, he did so as his duty as First Officer not neccesarily because he disagreed with her. "How she would react to being surrounded once again by unfamiliar people and new rules. We may, in essence, be human, but she was raised in a different time with different customs. I am not sure we can offer her a better life than what she may aleady have here."
"I don't believe that Chakotay, and neither do you." Kathryn added with a grin, "you may not have heard her speak of her life here, but you saw how she was treated by Professor Merga. She is little more than a third class citizen here."
"I just think you should take the time to fully consider what you are proposing. Give Kayla a chance to become familar with the people on Voyager before extending an invitation to stay."
"You're right of course." Janeway sat in comtemplation for a moment before reaching for the data padd on the table. "An update from the away team?"
"Yes. They seem to be progressing well. The hydroponics and airponics they are using are apparently quite impressive. Ensign Mojawa thinks perhaps it is their unfamiliarity with hybridization and cross-fertilization that is limiting their success." As Chakotay spoke, the Captain accessed the report and forced herself to concentrate on the matter at hand.
Kayla sat sideways on the edge of the step below Seven's alcove, her head resting against the cool metal, angled so she could look at Seven as she spoke. Seven of Nine stood, her back supported by the structure behind her.
"The majority of my time is spent in Astrometrics. However, I also play Velocity and partake in the Doctors regular tutorials designed to assist me in becoming 'more human'". The former drone replied in answer to Kayla's question concerning her choice of leisure activities.
"More human?"
"Yes. I currently have trouble integrating myself into this collective. The Doctor is assisting me to familiarize myself with human social behaviour."
"Are his tutorials beneficial?"
Seven thought for a moment, trying to find evidance either way.
"I am unsure." Seven continued to consider this. She had previously taken for granted the necessity of the Doctors intervention, despite the fact that she did not enjoy the lessons. She had not stopped to consider if they had actually acheived anything. It was quite disturbing to think that the time she had spent with the Doctor had been for nothing. Kayla interrupted her musings as she pushed herself to her feet and clunked across the bay floor in her boots.
"Do you like it here, on Voyager?" she asked, daring herself to ask the next question.
"It has been interesting. I have had to adapt to an existance quite unlike the only life previously known to me. But... yes. I believe I do like it here."
"And the Captain gave you a job in Astrometrics?"
"Affirmative. The knowledge the Borg possessed of this region was far beyond that of Voyagers. I assisted in integrating Borg technology with existing systems to increase Voyagers efficiency."
"Is there any possibility that Captain Janeway would offer me a job on the ship?" Kayla asked, hoping against hope for the chance to start fresh. For a chance to live her life as she chose. Even the short time she had spent on this ship served to emphasise all she was lacking on D'jeri and Kayla faced the fact that unless she was somehow able to convince the Captain that she could perform a function on this ship, she would likely spend the rest of her life alone.
"In what areas are you qualified?" Seven asked.
"I have no idea." was the honest reply. "The only data I possess from my time as a Borg is that which I accessed directly. The knowledge of the Collective is lost to me. My current designation of Courier requires little skill." Kayla was silent as she thought the question thru.
"Hell Seven, I left school too damn long ago to remember any of that. I can't even begin to imagine what you people are teaching your kids these days! I don't have any qualifications!" Kayla's tone clearly expressing her frustration with her limitations.
"Then you must adapt and learn." Seven looked somewhat disaprovingly at Kayla causing the smaller woman to compose herself.
"You are correct. You should inform me of Voyagers requirements." She spoke calmly, pushing the feelings of hopelessness to the back of her mind. The two ex-drones focused their efforts on finding a way for Kayla to contribute to Voyager's operation and offer Captain Janeway a reason to allow her to stay.
Chapter Five.
"Professor Merga, thank you for agreeing to see me." Janeway smiled at the smaller man as she grasped his hands in greeting.
"You're officers have been remarkable. They have ways of looking at our work that both fascinates and confuses me. I think much has been learnt here today."
"I am glad that we can be of assistance. The supplies that your government has offered us in exchange are also greatly appreciated. But, that is not the reason for my visit."
"I understand. Let us walk for a while." Merga led them along the gently curving walkway that skirted the outer ring of the station. Janeway understood his silent request that she leave the matter of Kayla for somewhere more private, and instead they dicussed the various functions of the station, the extent of the D'jeri's exploration of this sector of space and finally, the social structure of his people.
By the time they reached Merga's private quarters on the station, Janeway had a better idea of the people she was dealing with and the life Kayla had had with them. While it was taken for granted that every person on D'jeri should have the basic luxeries of food, clothing and shelter, there was little else for much of the community. They were a race intent on improving themselves, by furthering their knowledge of the surrounding systems, expanding their skills in areas as diverse as agriculture to warp technology, medicine to architecture. But progress was measured by the acheivements of the few, while the majority of the population existed to serve those above them.
"K'la came to us 11 turns ago." Merga began as soon as the hatch closed behind them. "My wife was her physician during her recovery, but I had little to do with her until recently. She does not belong with us. I heard of her trouble with the Protection Authority. Your ways are not ours. She is lost here."
"I wished to know if Kayla had a family here, someone I should speak to regarding her position here?"
"No. She resides with the others in her work group. But they are not family. She has no mate, nor will she have. She works on this station as my Courier every other duty-roster. Currently, she is under my direction." Merga spoke the last statement as if it was of particular importance.
"I have not spoken directly to Kayla as yet. I was unsure of her connections here. Are you saying that in your opinion, she would be better off remaining with us on Voyager?" Janeway asked, wanting to be sure of the decision she had all but made regarding the young woman.
"I shall direct her to return her uniform and report to you for her next roster." Merga spoke as if that was the end of the matter.
"But will Kayla want to remain with us? She may not welcome another upheaval in her life." the Captain asked again. Merga looked a little confused by the question.
"To that, there is no answer from me." he replied and the interview was at a close.
Janeway entered Cargo Bay 2 to find both Seven of Nine and Kayla laying on their backs, a half an arms length from each other, eyes shut, apparently asleep. Unsure of what to do she stood for a moment, watching them.
It was not the first time she had watched Seven as she slept, or regenerated as was usually the case. On more than one occasion she had found herself in front of the Borg. Watching.
There was no denying that the tall blonde woman was beautiful, but when she regenerated, there was a vunerabilty about her that Kathryn found alluring. She invariably caught herself imagining what it would be like to reach out and touch her pale skin. Maybe hold the woman in her arms.
Something that was never likely to happen. Something that never could happen. She was the captain, it would be innappropriate for her to pursue a relationship with a member of her crew. Not out here, so far from home, where her crew needed her individed attention. She couldn't afford to get involved, she owed her people that much at least. But Kathryn still found herself living for the very rare occasions when she made Seven smile.
Like now. Seven's eyes opened to find the Captain standing over her, and an almost guilty grin seemed to find it's way onto her usually aloof features.
"Hello Captain. Did you wish to see me?" she asked without moving from the floor.
"What on earth are you doing Seven?" was Janeway's response.
"We are attempting to discover an area in which Four of Twelve can best serve this ship in order to convince you to allow her to remain on board. Apparently, she is better able to think in this position."
Seven's statement was followed by a groan from the body next to her.
"You do realise Seven that we were supposed to present our proposal to the Captain in such a way as to improve my chances of staying." Kayla remarked sarcastically.
"This method is more efficient." Seven replied only to receive a decent punch from the woman next to her as Kayla slid her hand across the deck until it impacted on Seven's Borg enhanced hip bone.
"That hurt." Kayla grumbled only to have Seven return the blow. "Ooof, so did that!"
"If you two have finished?" Captain Janeway gazed down at them trying not to show her amusement. "I think we have some things to discuss if we are to find a place for you on Voyager, Kayla." At this, the small blonde woman opened her eyes to look up at her Captain.
"So, what did you and Seven come up with?" Janeway asked Kayla who sat nervously at the Captains desk.
"Seven of Nine had said that you had probably already decided that I should remain with you. I didn't believe her. I thought it unlikely that you would allow someone to remain on board that could not contribute to the overall economy of your ship." Kayla spoke candidly.
"And Seven believed otherwise?" Kathryn was, for some reason, warmed by the knowledge that Seven had anticipated her actions. Glad that maybe she was beginning to understand the reasons why she had forced her to remain with them when she had severed the drone's link to the Collective.
Kayla nodded in response.
"Is there an area in which you would like to serve on the ship? What did you do on Earth?"
"I was a fitness instructor. I don't imagine there's much call for that on Voyager." Janeway waited for her to continue, knowing that the two of them must have come up with something to pitch to her. "Seven mentioned that your Doctor could use a nurse. Someone with better 'bedside manners' was her opinion" Kayla related with a grin.
Janeway's chuckle was exactly what she was hoping for and she felt again the same desire Seven had admitted to having, to please this woman who would guide them.
"That we could. I shall have to arrange for you to meet the Doctor to discuss your experience and training requirements. It's good to have you aboard Kayla Thompson."
Chapter Six.
"And just when exactly did you come aboard?" The Doctor asked, piqued that yet again, something of importance had occured without anyone bothering to inform him.
"Earlier today." Kayla replied, sensing that something was most definately annoying the bald man. Looking to the Captain for a clue as to how to proceed, she was relieved to see an only half-hidden smile creasing the corners of her mouth. "Captain Janeway has only just now accepted my application to remain on your ship."
"Humpff. Well then, what exactly can I do for you?" The hologram allowed, realising there was no use in allowing them to provoke him any longer.
"Doctor, " Janeway cut in, "Kayla has expressed an interest in becoming your assistant." This got his attention and the Doctor cast an appraising glance over the blonde woman in front of him.
"You have a medical background?" He asked hopefully.
"Nothing quantitative. Basic biology and first aid. I think you will find me a willing pupil."
"Well, better than nothing I imagine." The Doctor said although the expression on his face seemed to indicate otherwise. Kayla realised what Seven had meant when she commented on his lack of etiquette.
"I think I'll leave you two to get accquainted." Janeway rested her hand on Kayla's upper arm as she stepped closer to speak with her. "Call me if you have any problems or questions. I shall have to see about arranging quarters for you. And something to wear." The bright yellow of her Courier uniform suddenly striking Janeway as being innappropriate.
"If it's possible, I'd like to speak with Professor Merga before I leave Captain." Kayla replied, asking permission to say goodbye.
"I'll make the arrangements, we'll be remaining in orbit another day yet. I'll see you when you finish here." Giving a gentle squeeze to reassure her, Janeway let her hand drop from the warm shoulder and headed out of sickbay. Kayla watched her leave and continued to stare at the door thru which she had gone, until the Doctor interrupted her thoughts by clearing his throat.
Kayla spent the next few hours with the Doctor, undergoing all manner of tests. Once he had discovered that she too had previously been a member of the Borg Collective, he was keen to determine how the D'jeri had managered to remove the Borg implants from her system. While he had been able to remove little more than eighty percent of Seven's implants, the D'jeri medical staff had removed closer to ninety percent of Kayla's.
His earlier admiration of their skills was soon replaced with contempt when he saw the condition of her arm, eye, kidneys and several other organs that had had implants forcebly removed without any consideration of future complications.
"It may be possible to repair the damage. I am well versed in the medical requirements of Borg drones, as no doubt you would already have seen in my remarkable acheivements with Seven of Nine." He said quite sincerely, trying to put his patient at ease by conveying his superior talents.
"Are you able to restore the sight of my left eye?" Kayla watched as the Doctor assembled several intruments on a metal trolley and wheeled the unit over to the bed she was seated on.
"Your eye and arm are the most extensively damaged, but, using a rather unique technique I recently developed, I should be able to repair them for you immediately. However, I suggest a number of progressive treatments to heal the damage to your other systems." He explained as he waved a diagnostic tool over the side of her head. "If you could lay down, I'll get started."
As the Doctor reconstructed the damaged neurons and muscles he quizzed his patient on what he considered fundamental medical knowledge. After several frustrated sighs and rolled eyes at the limit of her knowledge, Kayla sat up from the bio-bed and spoke.
"Doctor, I apologise if I am lacking. But you must remember that everyone has to start somewhere. Information must be assimilated. With your assistance, I wish to obtain that knowledge. I would very much like to be your medical assistant."
"And you shall. I will design a study roster to begin your education. In the meantime, I think we are almost finished here." He tinkered few a few moments with the neural regenerator fixed to her temple. "You may feel a little disorientation, but I assure you it will pass." As he released the disc, Kayla felt a surge of heat behind her eye as the blood began to flow thru tissue long unused. Gradually, she began to receive images from her left eye, a swirl of colour, the movements of the Doctor in front of her. Finally, the images solidified and Kayla closed her good eye so she could fully appreciate the change.
"Thank you, Doctor." Kayla eventually resonded.
He smiled gently at his patient before speaking "You are most welcome Kayla." He said softly, "I shall inform the Captain that we are finished here. I imagine I will be seeing you tomorrow, come by when you are settled and we can get started."
After wheeling the trolley back into position against the wall, the Doctor entered the office adjoining sickbay to contact the bridge. Kayla lay back on the bed to wait for the Captin.
B'Elanna Torres leaned over the small table between her and Ensign Tom Paris as they ate a new soup Neelix had prepared with one of the D'jeri vegetables. Or rather, B'Elanna was eating while Tom scooped spoonfull after spoonfull and watched it run back into the bowl rather than putting any more anywhere near his mouth.
"If you're not going to eat that, pass it over before it gets cold." B'Elanna reached for his bowl before he could answer, "Now, tell me what you heard."
The Lieutenant had been attempting to find out from her partner what the gossip was on the bridge regarding their newest crew member.
"Well, she's really quite cute." The glare from the half-klingon opposite stopped him before he went any further. "Um, well, she's gonna help the Doc out, apparently she had a medical background on Earth."
"And how did she get out here?"
"Not sure. No-one seems to know. She's the only human here though so either she came alone, or she was the only survivor on her ship. She seems pretty chummy with Seven though, maybe you should ask her." He nodded towards the entrance where Seven had just entered the mess hall. B'Elanna waited till she caught her eye and waved her over.
"Good evening Lieutenant, Ensign." Seven greeted them.
"Hey Seven, what brings you to the mess-hall?" Tom smiled at her as she stood at attention by their table.
"I thought Kayla may require sustanence. I was going to take her a bowl of Neelix's soup." A significant glance past between B'Elanna and Tom before B'Elanna spoke.
"That's very considerate of you, Seven. You spent a bit of time with Kayla today, what's she like?"
"I find her company to be acceptable."
"Acceptable hey, well that's good I guess." Tom joked.
There was a moments silence while B'Elanna tried to decide the best way to proceed.
"So, I hear she'll be the Doc's assistant." she finally came up with.
"If the Captain is agreeable, yes." Seven confirmed. "If you will both excuse me. " Seven began to step away from the table before remembering to use one of the socially acceptable parting phrases she had rehearsed with the Doctor. Turning back to the couple at the table "Have a nice night." she told them, before heading to the kitchen to see Neelix, leaving Tom and B'Elanna to speculate alone.
Chapter Seven.
"If you have any trouble finding your way around, just access any of the terminals located along each corridor. You're three decks below sickbay and two below the mess-hall. I'll arrange to have you shown around again after you've had a good nights sleep." Janeway explained as she walked Kayla to her new quarters about Voyager.
"That sounds pretty simple, I shouldn't have too much trouble getting lost." Kayla replied with a smile.
Stopping in front of one of the many doors off this section of corridor, Janeway entered a few commands into the keypad to one side.
"The door should now open upon your approach, but no-one elses." Touching the largest light on the keypad, the door swooshed open. "Lights" she told the computer, bringing the illumination to full.
"Thank you, Captain. I am not sure if I've said that yet. Thank you, for giving me this opportunity." Kayla spoke sincerely amazed at how, once again, her life had changed completely in the space of a day. This time it seemed for the better.
"You're welcome. I believe you will be an assest to this crew. I look forward to getting to know you better and hearing the rest of your story." Kathryn admitted.
"Name the time and place and I'm yours Captain." Kayla arched her brow as she spoke, grinning at the older woman.
Not sure what to make of the comment, Janeway continued to move into the room. Kayla mentally slapped herself for going too far. *Yeah, you like her, so go scare her off why don't you. Idiot. You don't flirt with your Captain. Surely there's a rule about that somewhere.*
Taking a step to follow the other woman, Kayla took a good look around the room taking note of the more familiar items as Janeway gave her the grand tour and explained the use of the replicator and bathroom facilities.
The women had just replicated two coffees when the door chimed announcing a visitor.
"Enter" Kayla called to open the door. "Seven of Nine, my very first visitor." she smiled broadly as she stood to welcome Seven.
"Is that significant?" Seven asked.
"To me it is. I'm glad you came around, I was wanting to talk to you." Kayla ushered her into the room to allow the door to close behind them. As she entered the room, Seven noticed the Captain who was sitting comfortably on the low couch.
"I apologise for interrupting, Captain. I did not realise you were here."
"You're not interrupting Seven. I was just helping Kayla to settle in." Seven stood uncertainly for an instant before handing the lidded container of soup to the shorter blonde woman at her side.
"Neelix, the ship's cook, made this using the produce accquired from the planet this morning. I thought you might like something familiar while you are adjusting to Voyager."
Kayla smiled broadly at Seven as she took the container from her and brought it up to her nose to see what it was.
"Seven, thanks. Demgat broth, you'll like this. As much as I have missed a good cup of coffee, my stomach doesn't seem to be agreeing with me." Talking her hand, Kayla dragged the Borg over to the couch.
Kathryn was smiling gently at them, amazed in the changes in Seven over less than a day. Suprised at herself for being suprised that Seven would even think of bringing Kayla soup. While she was increasingly proud of the former drones progress, she was ashamed of her own lack of faith in her. Seven had always been a kind and considerate person, it was just her unfamiliarity with human interaction that sometimes left her floundering. Here at least, she shared some common ground and probably had the best understanding of anyone on this ship as to what Kayla was going thru at the moment.
Still, to see the two of them interracting showed so clearly the woman Seven had become and was yet to become. *Was it just Seven and herself, or did Kayla have the ability to make everyone feel at ease?* she wondered, Kathryn felt more relaxed around her than she probably should. More than likely because she wasn't really a member of her crew yet, she reasoned. It was disconcerting nevertheless.
"Well, pull up a chair everyone. We, have soup." Kayla said with a flourish as she sat the bowl on the table. "Where do I keep the spoons?" she asked with a smile and Kathryn indicated the replicator.
Kayla took a seat on the floor opposite the Captain and passed out the cutlery, Seven followed suit and sat at the end of the low table.
"Okay, I guess I could manage that." Kathryn said as she lowered herself to the floor asking herself why she was doing this. "You realise you have a perfectly good table over there."
"Yes, but isn't this fun?" Kayla tried to get the older woman to smile but succeeded with only a wry grin, "Just eat your soup Captain, you can lodge a complaint later." This had more effect and Kathryn actually laughed out load, a soft chuckle that made Kayla and Seven smile at each other. Both acknowledging that for some reason, making this woman laugh was important to them. Kayla unsure why because she had only just met the Captain. And Seven unsure because of her lack of understanding of the importance of laughter. The three woman picked up their spoons and looked expectantly at one another.
"Who's first?" Kayla asked.
After adding a decent pinch of salt and some herb bread, the Captain allowed the soup was edible. Both Seven and Kayla though, ate with considerable enjoyment. Having never seen Seven actually enjoy a meal, Kathryn was a little facsinated by the enthusiasm with which she ate.
"There are forty seven different vitamens, minerals and electrolytes in this soup." Seven remarked, amazed.
"I know. The iron and isoleucine in this alone will keep you going for days. And you'll probably find the gamma aminobutyric acid is affecting your neurotransmitter." she agreed with Seven, swallowing another spoonful of her soup.
Seven paused to access her systems, finding Kayla was correct, the high levels of the inhibitor in the vegetable had slowed her nervous responses but had also had a similar effect on her Borg neurotransmitter.
"You are correct. My processors response time has decreased by four percent." Seven looked a little puzzled and the Captain immediately became concerned.
"Are you alright, Seven." without waiting for an answer she turned to Kayla, her expression serious. "Exactly what effect is this having?"
"There is nothing wrong, Captain. Seven is fine. The demgat contains an amino acid that slows our Borg algorithms. It is absorbed almost immediatley by our systems and had no long terms effects." Seeing the Captain was far from convinced, Seven stepped in.
"Captain, there is no cause for concern. The amino acid would reduce the efficiency of any connection with the Collective. It has no negative impact on my individuality." The two locked eyes for a moment before the Captain nodded. However, the friendly atmosphere they had enjoyed up until that moment was lost.
After an uncomfortable silence during which they finished the last of the soup, Kayla finally spoke.
"I believe you mentioned something about a new outfit?" she reminded her Captain.
"I certainly did. I suppose we should get you something to sleep in while we're at it." Standing she headed over to the replicator, both Seven and Kayla following along behind.
"What did you have in mind?" she asked. Kayla looked between Seven and the Captain and smiled.
"I don't think I could get away with that." she indicated Seven's form fitting attire. "I'm not quite as... " she gestured vaguely.
Seven looked herself up and down an almost hurt expression on her face.
"You dissapprove of my clothing?" she asked cautiously.
"God, no! It just wouldn't look the same on me!" Kayla replied emphatically. Seeing Seven wasn't quite sure what she was missing Kayla looked to Kathryn for help. The older woman had her hand over her mouth trying not to laugh.
"You probably can't see too well in this tunic, but look at me." Kayla spread her arms, "and then look at you." Seven did as she was told. "Stay with me here, Seven. I know things could be a whole lot worse, but you see my point?" Kayla asked, attempting to ignore the not so quiet chuckling behind her.
"I understand." Seven concluded somewhat sadly "You have no need of this suits enhancements for your Borg implants. You are self-sufficient."
The chuckling stopped. Janeway saw once again how vunerable this young woman still was. She searched madly for a way to reassure her.
"I wish!" Kayla shot back with a short laugh. "I meant you're absolutley gorgeous. I'd feel all short and awkward walking around with us both dressed like that."
Seven looked curiously at Kayla for a moment, aware of the fact that the compliment made her feel suprisingly good about herself. And realising that she disagreed with Kayla's assessment of herself.
"You are incorrect. As your physical dimensions are somewhat similar to the Captain's I must conclude that you would also look acceptable in such clothing." Kayla looked at the Captain who appeared to be at a loss for words. Kayla wasn't entirely sure she wanted to know how familiar Seven was with her Captain's physical dimensions. The sudden twinge of misplaced jealousy taking away from what was meant to be a compliment. Kayla mentally shook herself, telling herself to grow up and stop thinking entirely of herself. She recognised immediately how well the ex-drone and the formidibale woman beside her were suited to one another. Although from her conversations with them both she was pretty sure there was no existing relationship.
"Regardless, I think I'd prefer a uniform like yours Captain."
"Kayla, I'm sorry. Only Starfleet officers are issued with these uniforms." Janeway explained, regretting that she couldn't give Kayla a uniform like the rest of her crew, not wanting her to feel different to her new shipmates.
"Oh, what are my choices then?" she was a little dissapointed, having thought the Doctors blue uniform would have looked pretty good on her.
Scrolling though the computers display, Janeway called up a number of standard outfits that would be suitable for a medical assistant.
"I just pick the one I want and the computer will make it to suit?" she inquired.
"That's it."
"And if I don't like it once I try it on." looking through the options, Kayla was not really sure which she preferred.
"Put it back on the platform and it will be reclaimed. We do have energy restrictions though, so try not to replicate them all." Janeway answered teasingly.
"Understood. I think I'll have a look in the morning." Kayla decided, too tired right at the moment to be deciding on her wardrobe.
"You require regeneration." Seven stated.
"I do. It's kinda been a big day."
"Then we will see you tomorrow. I'll arrange for you to have some time with Professor Merga before we leave."
"Thank you Captain. At what time should I report for duty?" she queried, not sure what was expected of her yet.
"Whenever you are awake and refreshed. Just ask the computer to inform me when you are ready." Janeway replied as she and Seven headed for the door.
After a round of good-nights, the two departed, and as the door slid shut, Kayla leant against the wall of her new quarters and wondered where her life would go from here.
Index | Part One | Part Two | Part Three |