DRONE pt 2

Star Trek Voyager fanfic. A remake of the episode "Drone", on the premises that B'Elanna was the first person to enter the science lab instead of Mulchaey and thus becoming the other parent of One.
(Seven/B'Elanna) Divided into four parts due to size.

Read DRONE pt 2

Disclaimer: See part one.



DRONE pt 2 of 4
--------------------------------------
by Carola “Ryûchan” Eriksson




The meal passed pleasantly, and B’Elanna made sure to tell Seven that she looked very nice in the replicated clothes, as well as to thank her for finishing the cooking. After finishing their breakfast B’Elanna brought Seven with her as she went to see Janeway. B’Elanna was amused to see the stunned reactions Seven’s new clothing invoked along the way, especially since Seven herself did not appear to take any notice. Only when reaching the door to the Captain’s Ready Room did Seven appear self-conscious, perhaps even somewhat nervous, straightening her clothes before entering.

B’Elanna had to give the Captain credit for her reaction upon seeing Seven’s attire, or rather, her ability to cover it far more quickly than most people could. Although, even though Janeway could school her features and her voice, the older woman’s eyes still carefully examined every detail of the outfit with obvious curiosity. Privately B’Elanna was quite pleased with her choice, the sleek blue-grey suit was a nice cut on Seven and the pale blue of the jacket’s shoulders and arms made Seven’s pale eyes shine. However...

Seven’s human eye was still bloodshot and slightly puffy, although clearly improving rapidly. One look at it and B’Elanna’s momentary good mood vaporised, giving way for the grief that was never far away.

“Good evening Seven, B’Elanna.” Janeway greeted them warmly. “Chakotay informed me that he had given the two of you the day off...” She trailed off as she rounded her Captain’s desk to stand in front of them. “What can I do for you?”

Knowing that Seven did not know exactly why they had gone to see the Captain, and suspecting that the younger woman had gotten the impression they were to either report for duty or possibly to make excuses for their absence, B’Elanna put a supportive hand on Seven’s back and spoke up first.

“About that Captain, we’ll need the day off tomorrow as well... and, if both holodecks should be booked full tomorrow, your permission to overrule the schedule to give us a two-hour slot.” B’Elanna had given this some thought while in the shower and felt that two hours was the minimum time allotment they could ask for. She had briefly thought about offering a reimbursement to whoever got their holodeck time taken but reconsidered, reasoning that in lieu of the traditional arrangement two hours of holodeck time was not too much to ask for.

It took Janeway a moment to stop blinking at B’Elanna and answer, as the Captain was clearly mystified why and for what B’Elanna was asking. In fact, the older woman was staring at B’Elanna much in the way she might have had B’Elanna entered the room with a shaved head and a sign hung around her neck that said ‘Borg Chicks Are Hot’.

“Allright... I think we can arrange for another day off for both of you, barring any major emergencies.” A quick glance in Seven’s direction revealed that Seven was as clueless to what B’Elanna was up to as Janeway herself. “As for the holodeck time, that depends. I would have to know exactly what you intend it for... don’t get me wrong,” Janeway hastened to assure, putting a hand on the arms of each of the younger women. “I am pleased beyond words to see the two of you trying to get along, but...”

“We do ‘get along’ well presently.” Seven interrupted, her voice softer than it normally would have been. “We have... bonded, through our child.”

Janeway lost whatever it was that she had been about to say and could only stare in open-mouthed shock at Seven. Seven sought out B’Elanna’s free hand in support against the grief, and B’Elanna entwined their fingers, giving Seven’s hand a small squeeze in encouragement.

“Your... child?” Janeway managed weakly after a moment.

B’Elanna decided to cut in. “Yes, our child, One. And the requested holodeck time is needed for us to... tend to the funeral details.” She added more quietly. “We know we can’t give One the traditional Starfleet space-burial, and we will hold a private ceremony tomorrow instead.”

Shock slowly got overtaken by horror on Janeway’s face. “Burial? B’Elanna, I ordered the doctor to see to... the body... once his mobile emitter was extracted. I told him to make sure there were no remains.”

B’Elanna ground her teeth together, hard, against the urge to scream at the woman that was not only her commanding officer but also a dearly loved unofficial second mother to her. Deciding against arguing with Janeway B’Elanna instead eased out of Seven’s death-grip on her hand and slapped her combadge. “Torres to Sickbay.”

The voice that came across the speakers was far less jovial than it tended to, and held a note of sympathy. “B’Elanna, what can I do for you?”

B’Elanna grasped Seven’s hand again. “Doctor, One’s body... what happened to her?”

The doctor cleared his throat and when he spoke again the sympathy was a bit more evident. “I have removed my mobile emitter as per the Captain’s orders, and with the aid of Tuvok placed One’s remains in Sickbay pending your and Seven’s decision. I’m afraid time is of the essence so I will have to ask that you come to an agreement tonight... possibly tomorrow morning at the latest.”

“You haven’t...” B’Elanna searched for a fitting word but found none. “disintegrated her body?”

“No...” The doctor replied slowly, sounding slightly confused. “The Captain has given me the order to... tend to the body... but in the cases of children or non-Starfleet individuals onboard a Federation vessel family ties take precedence in who decides on the funeral detail. That would be you and Seven.” He added helpfully.

“Thank you doctor.” B’Elanna choked out. “Seven and I will hold a private ceremony tomorrow, we will let you know as soon as possible what we intend to do. Torres out.”

Janeway’s relief was palpable. “God, B’Elanna, I’m so sorry... I didn’t...”

Whatever else she had intended to say and whatever B’Elanna might have replied were lost as the soft sound of Seven’s sobs interrupted them. Janeway watched in mute awe as Seven, overcome with emotions, turned to B’Elanna and the shorter woman immediately wrapped her arms around Seven offering a shoulder to cry on.

Janeway tried to give them some privacy until Seven regained her composure enough to manage the walk back to B’Elanna’s quarters or wherever else the two of them were headed next, but she found herself unable to leave the room. She was sick to her stomach with the realisation of what she had done, and worse, what she must have ignored in order to not even consider that certain decisions were not hers to make, Captain or no Captain.

Watching Seven Janeway was hit by the realisation that the young former Borg did not even have a place to go to where she could grieve in peace. She had no ‘home’ to speak of as the only corner of the ship that was assigned as hers was a tiny spot in a cargo bay among the rest of the stored equipment. No bed, no chair, no shower, not even a door to close and lock around her for privacy. And looking at Seven now, whether the younger woman knew enough to acknowledge it, Seven truly needed these things. She was no longer the emotionless Drone that could be stored anyplace Janeway saw fit and that posed a potential threat to the welfare of the others onboard – the events with One had certainly proven that beyond any doubt.

Seven had been forced to make the ultimate sacrifice for her ‘new collective’, and had Janeway acknowledged it? Had anyone, besides B’Elanna who shared the loss? No, they had carried on, business as usual, because Voyager’s Captain had, despite earlier protests about ‘pulling the plug’, allowed a life, a soul, be sacrificed for all of them and not be recognised for that act. Oh yes, Janeway was sick to the core with her own actions and decisions of late, and she fully intended to do everything she could to rectify things now.

When Seven and B’Elanna left, Janeway locked the doors to her Ready Room and sat down to think. She had a lot to think about.



It took quite some time before Seven and B’Elanna went to the Sickbay to inform the doctor of what they had decided, mostly because Seven had many questions that needed answers, some even regarding the concept of an afterlife which in turn became a halting and somewhat difficult exposition on B’Elanna’s own beliefs in the matter. Seven of course had none to speak of, nor did she have any preference in regards to the ceremony itself, but it was clear to B’Elanna that the conversation gave Seven a lot to think about. She only hoped that when Seven was ready to talk about it, she would still seek B’Elanna out.

B’Elanna had suggested a ceremony that was a combination of sorts of Vulcan, Klingon and Terran light-ceremonies. Seven had no objections, and they proceeded to look for a hopefully empty time-slot in one of the holodecks to use. They found however that one holodeck had a suspiciously empty schedule all day, while the other was booked to the brim. Janeway had clearly acted quickly to accommodate them, and while B’Elanna was a little aggravated that the older woman had gone overboard – they really would not use more than the two hours – she was still grateful for the help.

Their next stop was Sickbay and the doctor. They laid out their plans to him and then, as they had agreed upon beforehand, both feeling rather keenly grateful for his thoughtfulness, asked him if he wanted to attend the ceremony as well. It was going to be a very small and private ceremony with only the two of them, the doctor and Neelix, the latter because he had been a great support for Seven during One’s brief lifespan, as well as a good friend to One. Both men gracefully accepted, the doctor going so far as to volunteer to arrange for the actual disposal, so that Seven and B’Elanna need not be concerned with that part.

When Seven and B’Elanna stepped out of the holodeck they found to their surprise that the Starfleet funeral dirge was playing on near ship-wide transmission. Captain Janeway had decided to rectify her earlier ignorance by holding a speech for the tragic yet heroic life of One, timed with the private ceremony and broadcast everywhere on the ship save the holodecks and private quarters. When her speech was over a moment of silence was observed, then the funeral hymn was performed by an Ensign on the Bridge and broadcast the same way.

The doctor and Neelix left the two women to their thoughts as Seven and B’Elanna walked down the corridor in silence, heading for Cargo Bay 2. It was time for Seven to regenerate and B’Elanna felt a need to see her settled before returning to her own quarters and the solitude that was beginning to look less and less palatable for each passing moment. She was also worried about Seven, knowing that the other woman would have to face the alcove in which One had regenerated and the knowledge that this alcove would now be empty, that night and every other night to come.

B’Elanna spent a long time in Cargo Bay 2, making up excuses to linger even though she had already seen to it that Seven was regenerating peacefully. B’Elanna had even made sure that the ship’s computer would awaken or otherwise alert her in time for B’Elanna to return to Cargo Bay 2 and be present when Seven would come out of regeneration. Eventually B’Elanna ran out of excuses and had to return to the silence of her own quarters and at least attempt to sleep.

Finding Seven’s scent still faintly clinging to one of the pillows B’Elanna clutched it to her as she curled up tightly and, eventually, fell asleep.



Slowly, somewhat painfully but as always inescapably, the days came and went. Seven and B’Elanna both returned to full duty, but, with dedicated determination on B’Elanna’s part, not to their old adversary relationship. In fact, because Seven with her inexperience with such emotions and her eidetic memory had a much harder time to handle her grief, B’Elanna found herself often having the taller woman over after their shifts. Seven spent enough nights sleeping in B’Elanna’s bed that B’Elanna had taken to replicate Seven a baby-blue silk nightgown that fit the taller woman far better than the one she had previously borrowed from B’Elanna. Unconsciously B’Elanna had even come to think of one side of her bed as Seven’s, and the nights that Seven had to regenerate proved restless for the half-Klingon.

Other changes had occurred as well since the death of One, the most obvious one being the change in how Seven was treated. B’Elanna had gone to see Janeway regarding the issue of Seven’s biosuits only to find that not only had the Captain been oblivious to the reasons Seven wore them, Janeway had also begun thinking of the many ways in which Seven was treated... inhumanly was the word Janeway had reluctantly used to describe it.

Three weeks after the funeral of One, Seven was presented with her own version of a Starfleet uniform. It was made in the same cut and fabric as the suit that B’Elanna had replicated for her and that Seven had taken to wearing whenever she could, but with the proper colours of a Starfleet science uniform. Seven also received a Starfleet rank at that time, to her complete and visible shock as the event was kept very small and completely secret in order to give Seven a nice surprise for a change.

Deciding on the rank itself had been difficult for Janeway and in the end involved both Chakotay and Tuvok to help advice her. That Seven as the senior and chief Astrometrics officer was a part of the science-section fairly self-evident, what proved to be a more sensitive issue was the fact that Seven had been placed in a situation where she had to all effects acted, prompted by all involved, as a kind of section head. Science personnel regularly sent their requests and reports to Seven, whom in turn presented them in abbreviated form to Janeway, or when more appropriate, B’Elanna. To make her command status official would step on quite a few toes onboard, but to not give Seven the command position she effectively had worked as up until then would mean not using an invaluable asset to her full potential, not to mention that Janeway then would have to find another to take Seven’s place and there just wasn’t anyone that could match Seven’s skill.

Finally Seven’s new rank was recorded as Lieutenant and Chief of Astrometrics, with Astrometrics containing all of the old Stellar Cartography and the science sections. It placed Seven rather squarely on the command track, theoretically on the same level as B’Elanna as the fourth-in-command, so a few alterations were added to the rank to ensure that B’Elanna was still Seven’s superior. It landed Seven as fifth-in-command and placed the none too pleased Tom Paris a level lower than previously as sixth.

The newly minted Lieutenant Seven – her name causing a minor problem as ‘Lieutenant Nine’ sounded even more awkward and ridiculous than ‘Lieutenant Seven’, and Seven was still adamant about not using her birth-name of Annika Hansen – then, through no fault of her own, prompted the next issue on Janeway’s agenda of errors to rectify. The question of private quarters.

This issue was something Janeway put quite plainly before the senior officers. The simple truth of the matter was that for Seven it would be an advantage to be thrown in the Brig, as at least there she would have access to a few basic amenities such as a bathroom, a place to sit, and overhead lighting... and unlike Seven, anyone onboard Voyager that had to serve any kind of long-time punishment would be confined to private quarters rather than the public Brig. So in short, the need for quarters for Seven was obvious and undisputable.

The location and spaciousness of private living accommodations onboard Starfleet vessels were assigned according to rank, single living quarters considered a privilege connected to promotion, and Voyager was no exception. Because Astrometrics was a creation unique to Voyager, the position of Chief of Astrometrics was of course not taken in account when building private living space onboard, so there existed no pre-determined area that would be allotted for someone with this rank. Janeway and Chakotay had juggled living quarters before to suit the unique needs of Voyager’s crew, originally assigning the Chief Medical Officer’s quarters to Kes and Neelix, then re-assigning them to Sam Wildman despite her rank, as family housing, while Kes and Neelix were given other, by then separate, quarters.

Due to a handful of such relocations and a few rebuilds none of the regular officers’ living quarters were available for Seven, leaving Janeway with the option of assigning one of the spare V.I.P quarters for private living accommodations. However, only the ship’s Captain and first officer had personal quarters that were more generously built than the one that was the likeliest candidate for Janeway to allocate. That meant that the obvious thing to do that would be in spirit with Starfleet customs would be to grant the V.I.P quarters to the third ranking senior officer onboard, and then merely ‘move up’ everyone else until a vacancy was created for Seven.

That put Tuvok as first in line for the new, large and somewhat more luxurious living space. And he of course, being Vulcan after all, politely declined the offer, stating that he was comfortable with his present arrangement. That put B’Elanna as next in line for the V.I.P, and created something of a dilemma. If B’Elanna accepted Seven would receive B’Elanna’s old quarters as her own, and Janeway was aware that Seven had spent a great deal of time in them since One’s death so at first glance it seemed a perfect solution. The dilemma was that the women had spent so much time together that neither seemed quite willing to consider separate quarters, and also that B’Elanna was quite aware that if she declined, the V.I.P residence would go to Seven directly.

After a long silence during which B’Elanna’s eyes never left Seven, B’Elanna finally quietly told Janeway to go ahead and install a regeneration alcove for Seven in the V.I.P rooms. Almost as an afterthought, and without acknowledging her superior officer with as much as a glance – which Janeway found somewhat amusing – B’Elanna said that she and Seven needed some time to plan for the rest, earning a questioning Vulcan eyebrow at the implication that she herself had some part in the planning for Seven’s future residence.

Seven was understandably rattled by all the changes in her life. For a woman who prided herself of being ‘adaptable’ she was rather annoyed to find herself uncharacteristically hesitant and worried about what some of the changes would bring. She enjoyed her new uniform and was curiously enchanted by the existence of rank insignia on her collar. Whenever B’Elanna caught Seven touching or looking at the insignia in question the shorter woman would tease Seven by polishing and admiring her own Marquis buckle in an overly devoted manner, sometimes going so far as to speak to the ornament and call it endearments.

The rank in itself posed no problem for Seven. She was aware that her duties were much the same as before work-wise, and Seven was no stranger to command, having been a Tertiary Adjunct with the Borg. No, what was a point of worry for Seven was that there was suddenly the factor of individuals working directly under her command.

For Seven that was new. And she was afraid that ‘her’ crew would not like her, not acknowledge her authority.

As things turned out perhaps not everyone assigned to the new section liked Seven all that well, but they all had long since come to acknowledge her superior skill, her dedication, yes, indeed her authority. Most were happy to have their work be assigned as a part of the new and important section, since on Voyager the various sciences had all too often had to accept that assignments and resources that normally would have been allocated to them instead be given to Engineering. Many hoped that with such a visible and determined Chief would improve the status of science work onboard the ship, and therefore Seven was a welcome addition.

Seven still intimidated a lot of people, but that was solved internally by keeping the Delaney sisters, Tal Celes and Sam Wildman as go-betweens as they were used to Seven and, in the case of all but Tal Celes, far less intimidated by her. Seven of course knew nothing of the arrangement, but most of her concerns were laid to rest when she arrived at the Astrometrics lab a day after receiving her new rank to find that her new department, organised by the Delaneys and Sam, had thrown her a small party.

Seven had still been talking about it in almost childlike awe as she got into bed with B’Elanna that night, causing the other woman to grin goofily into the dark and mentally vow to give her thanks to Sam Wildman at first opportunity.



A few days passed, and the two women would have procrastinated infinitely regarding Seven moving to her own quarters if it had been left up to them. A chain of events would however set things in motion despite their reluctance to approach the subject.

A meeting in the Briefing Room for all senior officers brought nothing out of the ordinary, or at least not for a day in the Delta Quadrant, and did not take long. As the Captain dismissed her senior officers and all rose to leave the room, Seven turned to Janeway and made a small request.

“Captain, request permission to remain and hold a meeting with Mr. Neelix.” Seven was polite but as always spoke in such a tone as to make the request seem somewhat less than a request and more perhaps like an order. Most of the senior staff had long since learned to ignore that when speaking to Seven, chalking it up to a by-product of ignorance and her Borg upbringing, so it was not the sound of the request that stayed everyone in place. No, it was simply curiosity regarding such an unusual request. “We shall not take long.” Seven added, thinking that might be the reason for the looks directed at her from her colleagues.

“Certainly Seven,” Janeway said with fairly good cheer, but not without a touch of curiosity herself. “Might I ask why you would want to hold it here and not in your office?”

Seven looked at her strangely. “Captain, I have no ‘office’. And as Ensigns Delaney and Tal Celes are currently working in Astrometrics I do not wish to disturb them by holding our meeting there.” A slight pause. “Ensign Tal is easily... distracted.”

“Ah.” Janeway blinked and silently berated herself for considering Astrometrics something of Seven’s personal office when it was nothing of the sort. The fact that the rest of the ship surely viewed Astrometrics the same way was of no real comfort either. Mentally wincing she knew how Tal Celes would indeed be ‘distracted’ and most likely fumble whatever assignment she was on if Seven returned there. “Of course.”

What prompted Tom Paris to make the comments he would was the mounting frustration from trying to get B’Elanna alone time and again for the past week without succeeding. Glancing at the half-Klingon where she stood next to Seven he adopted what he thought of as his ‘charming rascal’ expression and asked Seven “Ensign Delaney? Which one?”

Seven looked at him, clearly not grasping why this was relevant. “Both.”

“Mmm... Meg and Jen both, not bad. Though that Tal Celes is shaping up to be quite a cutie. Maybe I should slip on over and ask her out, seeing as I have a moment before my shift starts.” His grin was wide and insinuating, making more than one person present want to smack him on pure principle.

“I would... ask... that you do not, Lieutenant Paris. Your duty shift has perhaps not started yet but Ensign Tal’s has, and your presence would undoubtedly cause her to make a critical error in her current assignment.” Seven hesitated for a moment before continuing. “Also I believe you will find it to be a... wasted effort if you were to approach her for... romantic liaisons... as Ensign Tal already has someone in mind for that purpose.”

Seven was quite uncomfortable with the subject and both unwilling to discuss Tal Celes’ private matters and somewhat at a loss as to what terminology to use not to offend, but felt it was her duty to discourage Paris. She was uncertain if she was doing so more as a favour to Tom Paris or to Tal Celes, which made her all the more eager to leave the subject completely.

Tom was not so easily dissuaded, despite the roomful of superior officers that were glaring at him.

His grin became delighted. “Really? Who is it?” An amused laugh. “Don’t tell me... she’s fallen for you, hasn’t she?” There was no malice in his voice, just genuine good humour. Despite her resistance to his charms and his complete incapability to understand her, Tom had never had anything against Seven and would every so often try to drag her with him on his holodeck adventures.

Whatever reprimand Janeway had been about to voice to end this conversation died on her lips as B’Elanna suddenly stiffened from her relaxed position and spun around towards Seven, clearly furious.

“WHAT?! Celes’ got designs on you?” B’Elanna demanded in a bark, gesturing angrily. “Why that two-faced little... I’ll have her cleaning plasma for the rest of her natural life!” She glared at Seven and crossed her arms over her chest, her stance challenging. “Well? Is she?”

Seven was caught completely off guard, unable to do anything but stare wide-eyed and speechless at B’Elanna’s ire. She had not seen B’Elanna angry for some time, and never before had B’Elanna’s anger been quite like this.

The rest of the room was so silent one could almost hear the grinding of B’Elanna’s teeth as her expression darkened. If Vulcans had been prone to sigh, Tuvok would have before speaking up. As it was his eyebrow wavered in a fashion that would have signalled much the same thing as a sigh to a fellow Vulcan, had one been present.

“Seven of Nine, although it is inappropriate to discuss Ensign Tal’s private matters at a briefing, I do believe you will have to answer Lieutenant Torres’ question. With the Captain’s permission I suggest the rest of us return to our duties.”

With that, and a nod of approval from Janeway, Tuvok turned to silently urge Lieutenant Paris and Ensign Kim to move out of the room without resorting to nudging them along.

Seven looked slightly shy. “I am... not the individual Tal Celes is... romantically interested in.” Through no fault of her own, Seven glanced briefly at Harry Kim as he was moving towards the door as slowly as he could. Harry gulped and froze, causing Tuvok to grasp his shoulder and simply shove him out the door.

This mollified B’Elanna and made her ire rather deflate. Unsure of herself she glanced into Seven’s eyes and suddenly they were locked, both of them staring wide-eyed at one another, completely oblivious to their surroundings.

Janeway was somewhat chagrined. While watching the two young women who were so close to her own heart in this suddenly tender scene was heart-warming, not to mention amusing since the amazed expressions on both their faces made them look much younger than they actually were, she could not for their sakes in good conscience let them kiss right there. Her first officer and chief medical officer were walking as slowly as they could without walking backwards – thankfully Tuvok had gotten Tom with him out of the room a moment earlier – and the doctor was after all the biggest gossip on the ship.

Not that Seven or B’Elanna noticed, Janeway realised, they had stopped seeing anything other than one another the moment their eyes met, neither did either of them seem conscious of the fact that they were definitely beginning to lean in towards one another.

Remembering what it was like being young, in love and sharing those first handfuls of kisses with someone special, Janeway hated doing what she had to. Frankly, sometimes it really sucked being the woman in charge. She cleared her throat.

“B’Elanna, I suggest you keep your temper better in check in the future. I don’t want to have to order you to take more lessons from Tuvok.” Janeway’s warning was a lot louder than it needed to be, but it did manage to catch B’Elanna’s attention. “Seven, I’ll send Neelix in so you can begin your meeting, let me know what you come up with when you’re done.”

Both women drew back as if stung, suddenly standing ramrod straight and not looking at one another. B’Elanna blushed a fierce crimson, muttered something in reply to Janeway, and then bolted for the door... leaving Seven, with a pale blush of her own dusting her cheeks, to watch her go with a forlorn expression mixed with quite a bit of confusion.

B’Elanna had hardly disappeared from the doorway before Neelix peeked back into the room. “Ah! Well Seven, what do you say we go over our storage details? I need to be starting dinner soon I’m afraid...”



The meeting with Neelix pertained Voyager’s stores and reserves in terms of non-replicated foodstuff and material, and the fact an opportunity to replenish the former had revealed itself when Seven went over planetary scans in Astrometrics. Due to the fact that there was no shortage of energy presently and that Voyager were aiming to make First Contact with a space-faring species in a few days in the hopes of doing some bartering, some port work on the ship, and preferably also some shore leave, it was a very low-priority assignment. If things worked out at the space port, the stocks would be replenished anyway, but there were a few things in the planet survey that had caught both Seven’s and Neelix’ interest.

A few soil and fluid samples from the planet would be a welcome addition to airponics, as judging from the scans there was every possibility that either or both could be used to increase and speed up the harvest of their ship-grown fruit and vegetables. There were also a handful of particularly interesting specimens among the plantlife that Voyager could benefit from, especially if the information Seven had gleaned from a launched probe had been correct and the planet held something very similar to Earth’s Coffea Arabica.

While Seven had no personal interest in the beverages made from the beans of that plant, it was still the selling point with her to support the endeavour. She had examined her reasons and found that she simply wanted to bring a sample of the plant in case a non-replicated substitute could be created for the Captain and B’Elanna, both of whom took great pleasure in the various concoctions derived from the plant. Seven found herself wanting to undertake the mission simply because it would please the two women who were otherwise dependent on the replicators to receive their daily dosage of the brew.

Neelix himself was enthusiastic about the endeavour, for much the same reason as Seven, but to his regret he would be needed at the space-port, to oversee the larger restock and to be on hand for any negotiation work Janeway might need assistance in. Seven was reluctant to assign anyone else for the mission as it would take several days before they would reunite with Voyager at the space-port, and it would be asking whoever went to risk losing their one shot at shore-leave for who knew how long... and for what was a rather frivolous reason.

So Seven therefore decided to go herself.

Unfortunately Starfleet regulations prevented her from going alone, and now that she was a Starfleet officer herself, Seven felt obliged to actually follow the rules. Well, most of the time anyway. She did consider asking Tuvok along, since they would pass by an interesting nebula whose readings were unlike anything Seven had on record, and the Vulcan had an interest in these things to match her own. It would be an activity that Tuvok may well, and had in the past, chose for his recreation during shore-leave if left to his own devices, but it was unlikely the ship’s Chief of Security would feel it appropriate to leave the ship presently.

Slightly frustrated with the complications of what really should be a simple and quickly expedited matter Seven decided to get Tuvok’s input on the subject as soon as she had visited B’Elanna. Just the thought of the other woman sparked a number of strange and strong reactions within, the most prominent and easiest to identify being anxiety... Seven was certainly intelligent enough to realize that something had occurred between herself and B’Elanna earlier, or been about to, and it seemed important. She did not, however, have any way to reason out what exactly that was, or why it seemed to have changed things.

Since she was at heart a rather straight-forward person, Seven’s first response to this problem was to go to B’Elanna and ask. Fortunately they had decided before the briefing to meet at B’Elanna’s quarters for a private dinner during their meal break, so Seven would see her there.



The argument was loud enough that it did not take Borg-enhanced hearing to hear the raised voices from out in the hallway, but Seven’s sensitive ears also allowed her to hear the less loud words in full clarity as she walked from the turbolift to the door to B’Elanna Torres private quarters. The people arguing were B’Elanna and Tom.

“...what are you so uptight about? I just came to ask you out to dinner.” Tom Paris complained, something apparently not going according to his plans. “You’ve been avoiding me for, oh I dunno, forever!”

“That’s because we broke up, Tom... We. Broke. Up.” B’Elanna was not happy but had not yet resorted to shouting. “And I told you: thanks but no thanks.”

“Aww come on, don’t be like that.” He pleaded, trying to convince her. “I don’t see why you wouldn’t want to see me for a little while.”

“Because we broke up.” B’Elanna muttered, slamming something inside the room. “Will you get a move on, I’m busy.”

“Is this because of this morning? Because what I said in the Briefing Room? You know I was only kidding.”

“No, that would be because we have _broken up_. I couldn’t care less who you’re drooling over now, Tom.”

“Don’t be jealous babe, Celes may be cute but she doesn’t hold a candle to you.” Tom’s attempt at a winning smile was evident in his voice, though the touch of smug pride ruined the effect somewhat.

B’Elanna’s sigh was audible to Seven even through the bulkhead wall. “I’m not, I’m really not. And I’m not interested.” Moving closer to the door. “What I am, Tom, is busy, so you’re leaving. Now.”

It finally seemed to reach through to Tom that he was being rejected, and so he switched tracks. “Busy doing what, B’Elanna? Hiding away in here, eating alone? At least come to the Messhall with me, what’s one lousy meal huh?”

The doors opened with their usual tiny burst of air. “Nope, I’m waiting for Seven actually. We’re having dinner together.” She pushed him slightly through the opening. “Scram.”

“Really? About Seven, B’Elanna...” Tom’s voice was not unkind as he continued, but surprisingly serious for him. “How long are you going to be babysitting her? Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy you’re not going for her throat anymore, and I think it’s great that you’ve been taking care of her through this tough time, but... how much longer are you going to put your own life on hold to be the good Samaritan?” Tom’s voice dropped a notch or two. “You don’t date, you don’t socialize, you don’t do anything but take care of Seven or work. She’s a big girl you know, you don’t have to keep sacrificing any chance of being happy for her sake anymore. She’s even got her own quarters now, we can concentrate on _us_.”

B’Elanna was at first simply too furious to reply, and that let both her and Tom quite clearly hear the sharp gasp beside them where B’Elanna had pushed Tom through the doorway. They both snapped their heads around in the direction of the sound.

“Oh shit, Seven...” Tom whispered, looking and sounding very remorseful all of a sudden.

B’Elanna found herself staring right into wide pale blue eyes rapidly filling with hurt and tears and knew suddenly that right then, right there was where her life changed. This was the place in time where B’Elanna’s sweet dream of innocent and unspoken affection, curiously domestic life and uncomplicated companionship ended. She could see it in Seven’s eyes, no matter what B’Elanna said now the damage was done – Seven would be thinking in terms of sacrifice and pity now.

All that passed through B’Elanna’s mind in no more than a heartbeat or two, before Seven spun around and disappeared in the direction of the turbolift. Enraged and in pain herself, B’Elanna let out an agonized cry, grabbed Tom’s uniform by the front and body-slammed him into the bulkhead on the other side of the corridor with enough force to make Tom’s head whiplash against the wall with a dull thud. She snarled in his face.

“Listen carefully, you idiot, because I won’t repeat myself again.” She held him hard enough that he would end up with twin bruises from her hands. “You and I are _over_. I’m not interested and even if you were the last humanoid in this godforsaken Quadrant, I wouldn’t take you back.” She shook him against the wall to emphasize her words. “The relationship I have with Seven is none of your business, but just for the record... it’s not charity. In the entire universe there’s no-one I’d rather be with, and she means more to me than anyone. Get what I’m saying?”

At his weak nod she tossed him aside. “Get out of my sight.”

As soon as she released Tom B’Elanna spun and sprinted down the hall where Seven had disappeared. She caught up to the turbolift just as it was closing, barely managing to get her hand in the opening to make them open for her. Seven quickly wiped at her eyes, trying to hide a few tears that had escaped before B’Elanna noticed.

Seven had heard every word spoken in the hallway, but did not know what to make of them. She was upset and confused, and people often said things they did not mean, or meant things they did not say, leaving Seven unable to grasp what was really spoken.

“Seven?” B’Elanna all but whispered, stepping inside to stand in front of Seven. “Seven, look at me.” She pleaded.

Seven was staring at the turbolift wall next to B’Elanna’s head. “I apologize Lieutenant, I did not realise that I was... it was not my intention to...” To Seven’s embarrassment, her voice wavered and the words fled.

B’Elanna closed the gap and reached up to cup Seven’s face in her hand, gently urging Seven to meet her gaze. When she spoke her voice was choked but intense, and her dark eyes pleading. “Seven, honey, don’t listen to that moron. He wouldn’t know anything genuine if it walked up to him and hit him in the head with a hyperspanner.”

A deep breath. “It’s not like he said, not at all. It couldn’t ever be, not with us. I...” B’Elanna looked into wide, wet pale blue eyes and somewhere deep inside, beyond the roaring sound in her ears, beyond the fierce pounding of her heart, beyond even the icy chill of risk at the nape of her neck, B’Elanna made the decision to let go. “I want you Seven, need you in my life. I’m only ever really happy if you’re with me, and I can’t stand us being apart... I want you with me always.”

“I...” Love you, her mind finished the sentence as her body, perhaps cognisant of the fact that they were alone and without superior officers present at last, followed the pull of instinct. The hand on Seven’s cheek carefully guided the taller woman to lean closer, and then there were no room for words, no room for anything at all but the soft meeting of lips.

And it was heaven, it was perfection, it was unbelievable sweetness and it was Omega. Seven’s response was timid at first, although not lacking in enthusiasm. The small moan the taller woman emitted when B’Elanna’s tongue eased past her lips to engage in an electrifying caress caused B’Elanna to gasp and her knees to buckle. Encouraged Seven grew bolder, catching B’Elanna with ease and pinning her against the wall, eagerly conducting her own exploration beyond B’Elanna’s lips.

B’Elanna’s response was to moan out loud followed by a deep growl, then to capture the inquisitive tongue to give it extensive and fervently passionate attention. After long moments like this they traded places again, and once Seven was leaning against the wall B’Elanna sucked a full lower lip into her mouth and...

The problem with turbolifts is that they are always in use and not very private.

The door opened to reveal a startled Tal Celes, loaded up with data pads, an oblong reddish fruit that Neelix was always trying to convince his customers to eat, and a medium sized lunch box.

B’Elanna spun towards the intruder that not only she was still a bit peeved with from earlier that day even though she now knew the truth, but that also had the audacity to disturb her precious moment with Seven. B’Elanna felt quite... upset.

She roared at the young Bajoran, whose already wide eyes took on a new dimension of width, appearing to almost fall out of her skull. Tal Celes opened her mouth to emit a high-pitched, ear-piercing scream, threw the pads and the lunchbox at B’Elanna, then turned to run down the corridor in blind panic, arms flaying aimlessly in the air above her head as she went.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa”

The lunchbox lost its lid upon impact and a sizeable blob of gelatine-like vegetable mash struck B’Elanna’s cheek, flopped down to her shoulder, rolled down her chest and dropped with a squelching sound squarely down on her shoes. B’Elanna did not move. Then...

“RAAAAAAAAARRRR CELES DO YOU HAVE A DEATH-WISH?!”

The screaming increased in strength even though it was moving rapidly away from them. Seven cleared her throat and slapped her combadge. “Seven to Ensign Tal. Cease running and screaming this instant!”

The sound stopped as if by magic. “Return in four minutes to clean up your mess and retrieve your items. You will have the opportunity to apologize to Lieutenant Torres at another time.” Seven glanced at the fuming B’Elanna. “And she shall apologize to you as well. Seven out.”

B’Elanna merely snorted at that.

“I gave her four minutes so she will be here in eight.” Seven mentioned quietly and flicked some mash off B’Elanna’s face. “You... need to clean up. And... since our dinner break is over, I need to speak to Lieutenant Commander Tuvok.” Seven sounded regretful about having to leave.

“What? Dinner is over already?” It had been almost forty minutes left of her break when Tom had appeared at B’Elanna’s door, but Seven was never wrong about the time. “What are you going to see Tuvok about?” Discreetly scraping mash off one shoe with the toe of the other.

So Seven told her about the sample retrieval from the planet, and her hope that Lieutenant Commander Tuvok would be able to suggest someone to accompany her since regulation demanded Seven bring someone with her on the newly commissioned Delta Flyer.

“You’re going away?” B’Elanna sounded as disappointed as she looked.

“Yes, for the duration of my away-mission. Although I find myself very... reluctant to go.” The last was spoken very quietly. B’Elanna thought about it.

“You’re going away on a mission that will keep you on the Delta Flyer for days... all alone with whoever goes with you...” She mused out loud and then began to grin. It could be arranged, she was sure of that. “I can almost guarantee that I have someone that will go with you.”

Seven raised an eyebrow in polite interest, even though leaving Voyager right now had become curiously even less palatable.

B’Elanna grinned widely. “Me!”