Seven entered the cargo bay, ready to give into her exhaustion after a day of fitting the Admiral's armour to the ship. When she thought of the Admiral she gave an involuntary shudder, the whole situation disturbed her, and it gave her what the humans would describe as a bad feeling.
Attempting to shake it off, she walked to her alcove. "Computer, begin regeneration cycle." She was only in a peaceful silence for a matter of seconds before a voice she recognised instantly broke roughly into her mind.
"Seven of Nine tertiary adjunct of Unimatrix Zero One, it's been too long."
"What do you want?" Seven somehow managed to keep the fear out of her voice.
"Do I need a reason to visit a friend?"
"We are not friends."
"No. We're more than that, we're family." The Queen noticed Seven's wince and sneered triumphantly. "Now, while we're on the subject of old friends, I see Voyager has a visitor. From the future. Tell me why."
"You may be able to communicate with me while I am regenerating, but I am no longer a drone. I don't answer to you."
The Queen seethed at that and changed tact. She but her hand up to Seven's face who shuddered in disgust. "You've always been my favourite Seven" she purposely used that idiotic human diminutive to distress her captive. "In spite of their obvious imperfections, I know how much you care for the Voyager crew, so I've left them alone, until now."
Seven couldn't halt the panic seeping into her voice. "Voyager is no threat to the Collective! We only wish to return to the Alpha Quadrant!"
"I have no objection to that, but if you enter my nebula again I will destroy you." At that instant the Queen sent a shock through Seven's body which threw her from her alcove and left her unconscious on the floor of the cargo bay, the computer blaring above her "Regeneration cycle is incomplete."
Some time later Chakotay was in command of the bridge when a harassed looking Captain entered. He rose from his chair and asked "What's wrong?"
Concentrating on the console in front of her, the Captain said "The Borg Queen communicated with Seven and injured her." If the Captain had been looking at Chakotay she would have seen the colour drain from his face, feeling as if he'd been kicked in the stomach. In a loud and agitated tone only Tom and Tuvok picked up on, he responded "Where is she?"
"Oh, in Astrometrics. The Doctor treated her, it was minor." Not noticing that her First Officer looked sick with worry, she went on. "The Admiral says she has tactics which can defeat the Borg, we'll keep going, I've taken precautions, don't worry." Not worrying was the last thing on Chakotay's mind as he left for Astrometrics, without even passing on command.
He felt relief wash over him as he entered Astrometrics to see Seven working quietly as usual. "I heard what happened. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Seven replied in a reassuring, affectionate tone.
"Because if you need a break, I am in charge of the duty roster."
"It would be inappropriate to allow our…personal relationship to interfere with your command decisions."
"You're right, it's a time to keep things professional." He said teasingly. "Report!"
Seven smiled and shook her head slightly but kept the joke going. "The scans show there is no Borg activity over ten light years."
"That's good news…Crewman."
"Yes, sir." Seven let her jovial tone drop into seriousness with her next statement. "The Borg continues to pose a threat."
Chakotay, seeing her reveal anxiety to him, tried to reassure her. "The Admiral seems to think we'll get past them."
"The Captain seems less certain." Seven realised she sounded distrustful of the Admiral.
"Listen, our chances would be good with one Kathryn Janeway on the bridge but with two I'd put a bet on us." I may disagree with the Captain on many things but I know she has a single minded desire to get us home. The Admiral almost too much, said another voice in his head. The same thought may have been passing through Seven's head because she didn't look too comforted. Changing the subject completely he asked "If we do get back to Earth, what are you going to do?"
Seven looked at him in surprise, but she didn't want to admit that she tried not to think about it. "Well, I assume Starfleet will want to debrief me…and then I suppose I'll try and find a useful position somewhere." She felt curiosity rise in her and held his gaze. "You?"
"I don't know yet either." He admitted, stepping closer. "But I know wherever I end up; it'll be within transporter of you."
It was an amazing and unknown comfort for Seven to know with certainty that she wouldn't be abandoned. "Then perhaps it won't be a terrible adjustment." She murmured, hooking her arm round his neck and kissing him tenderly.
When they parted, too soon in Chakotay's opinion, he said gently with a glint in his eye. "That was highly unprofessional of you, Crewman."
Seven met his gaze through her eyelashes. "Are you going to discipline me Commander?"
"Now I didn't say that." He said laughingly, pulling her against him for a more passionate kiss.
In another decidedly less pleasant meeting that day for Seven, she was cornered in the Cargo Bay with the Admiral, her mind spinning after what she had just been told. Trying valiantly to compose herself, she stated as stoically as she could "I…appreciate your candour Admiral, but the Captain is my commanding officer, I won't disobey her."
"I'm not asking you to. I'm simply asking you to inform her that in your opinion this scheme is much too risky and ineffective."
"Now that I know these things, nothing is certain, but even if they were" she paused, swallowing a lump in her throat. "I would still destroy the trans warp hub."
"Seven, I've known you a long time, longer than you've known yourself, so I know this is just your way of atoning for the Borg atrocities you participated in and I'm telling you it's time to let go of that and think of your own future!"
"How can I think of my own future when millions are losing theirs to the Borg?"
"You're being selfish!"
"Selfish? How can you call saving millions of others selfish?"
"Millions of strangers! What about your colleagues, your friends, people who love you!"
How can she say that to me! That I don't love him! She was struck as the blade of grief stabbed her heart how similar the methods of the Borg Queen and the Admiral were. They corner you when you least expect it and use emotional blackmail to get the result that they want! "Excuse me, Admiral, I have work to complete." She stated stonily. As soon as she was out of range of her she fled blindly to Astrometrics, images of assimilation and screams of victims ringing in her ears. "Computer, lock the doors!" she cried feeling a sob escape her throat as she leaned on the console and sank into the foetal position on the floor. She knew the Captain would not change her mind and shouldn't. She also knew that what would happen to Chakotay if they continued along this timeline was unacceptable. A vision of him as a drone hit her and thus could not longer sustain the mental wall blocking her memories and fears. Aching for relief, her shredded defences gave in and she let herself cry.
A/n: Sad chapter I know but it had to be done! Please forgive me and review. I'll continue soon.