But that kiss didn't happen.
Much to Seven's surprise, Zimt pressed her palm over her mouth and pushed her back. Not harshly, but definitely.
"You do not want this?" the Borg asked in shock as the young doctor removed her palm from the Commander's face.
"What do I not want?" asked the other party, just as shocked.
"Well, sex."
"No" answered Zimt straight and quite distraught.
Then she just looked bewildered at the Commander, who was just as bewildered, she scanned the young woman's face. Finally, Zimt broke the silence.
"What makes you think I want sex?"
"People want it," shrugged the Commander, but there was so much uncertainty in her voice that Zimt almost laughed out loud.
"And then you sleep with them?"
Seven nodded. Seriously.
"Why?"
Seven shrugged again.
"It's not very tiring," she said finally.
"Isn't it very tiring?" Zimt amazed.
After all, what kind of experience can this Borg woman have with people to say that? Moreover, she was completely insensitive about it. It's like she was just talking about a little physical training.
"Do you do this to anyone?" she continued to question the Commander.
"Only if asked," Seven nodded again. "People tend to like it."
"And you?" asked Zimt, almost screaming from helplessness.
"It's good for me too..." replied the Commander, but so hesitantly that Zimt could quickly diagnose the lie.
Zimt sighed and looked at Seven's expressionless face.
"Do you at least like to do it?"
"I like to feel the other person," finally answered the Commander. "At this point, it's like I'm a little bit back in the Collective."
"Do you miss that?" asked Zimt, trying to sound neutral.
Seven lowered her head, but the young doctor could see the emotions running through her.
"You don't have to answer. You clearly miss that. Of course you miss that. You couldn't deny it." Seven lifted her head. She began to speak with difficulty.
"It gave me security. Frameworks for existence. Meaningful pastime and opportunities for development. Unlike Humanity. Nevertheless, I left them. I was seduced by the charm of individualism. But now, from the distance of the years, I think it would have been better if I had stayed with them. I could have lived a fuller life with them instead of trying to become human, which I never succeeded in."
The older woman fell silent. Zimt felt sorry for her.
"You know, I've always looked at the Borg as a form of existence that accommodates and accepts anyone. In fact, Borg provides them with opportunities for development. Regardless of race, gender, or perspective."
"You don't know the Borg..."
Zimt nodded and interrupted.
"No, I don't know them. But I know Humanity, I know quite a few species, and I think the Borg have the right to live as Borg. At the very least, it would improve the situation if they got rid of the habit of forced assimilation."
Zimt added the last sentence with such an optimistic tone that Seven almost laughed at her naivety. Then she started thinking. Zimt instinctively felt for the root of the problem. If the Borg didn't assimilate, all the other races wouldn't want to exterminate them.
"But this is how the Borg multiply and acquire new knowledge! It's coded into them."
"It can be solved in another way," waved the young doctor impatiently. "Both can be solved in another way."
"Do you really think so?"
At Seven's astonished eyes, Zimt nodded seriously.
"Imagine a Borg where everyone is an individual at the same time and can be part of a unified consciousness! Where drones are free to choose when they are living individually, and when they are together with the others! What an opportunity this can provide for personal and community development!"
Zimt's face burned with enthusiasm. And this enthusiasm was also transferred to Seven. Maybe it would be possible to change an entire species! Maybe. It would be possible. Then she suddenly remembered Icheb, Elle, the Doctor of the Voyager...she didn't manage to change their fate either. Not to mention her own fate. Yet how could she do that to an entire species? She lost them. Just like she would lose the Borg. Seven felt herself sinking deeper and deeper, and she no longer had the strength to get back up. She'd rather stay there. Down, on the floor. Her life could end sometime.
Well, she got a chance to do that too. Red lights lit up and some text was heard, the meaning of which did not reach the Commander's consciousness. Zimt also said something to which Seven also did not react. The young doctor pulled the Commander to her. Seven could still feel her embrace and the increased gravity pulling them both down to the floor. Her skull was hit by something, and started aching, and some sticky liquid pouring over her.
She let it happen.