Gifts
forever opening ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Seven of Nine walked through the ship efficiently. She had been irritated by the Bajoran ensign’s incessant need for her work to be verified, but the time away from the Captain had been fruitful. The most recent telemetry would be welcome news for the crew, and had indeed merited her presence. Seven had also ascertained several possible explanations for the Captain’s irregular behavior. She knit her brows in thought. Seven kept thinking of the gentle way the Captain had touched her. It made her feel… cherished. Seven theorized that the Captain’s actions were a function of the prolonged distance from her family and friends, especially at this significant time. Then again, perhaps the Captain was merely having an “off day” and had not even remembered the corresponding date on the Julian calendar. Either way, Seven had decided to come to the holodeck prepared. “Computer, alter program parameters according to Seven Phi sixty.” She commanded crisply. “Access denied, authorization Janeway Alpha four twelve.” Seven knelt to access a maintenance panel and deftly replaced an isolinear chip. “Override lock using borg encryption code Seven Omega Chi.” “Access granted.” The computer replied pleasantly. The young woman made several changes to the program’s parameters and entered the simulation. She walked down Ark Row purposefully and was slightly surprised to see two holograms at their table. The Captain was nowhere to be found. “She’s nipped out to the loo, for a bit.” The other hologram said by way of explanation. “I’m Tyana, Daphne’s wife.” “Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix Zero One.” “Pleased to meet you, Seven of Nine.” Tyana replied, shaking Seven’s hand heartily. “Have a seat. Katie ordered you a ham, cheese, and mushroom crepe in béchamel sauce.” “It looks… appetizing.” Seven said. She had always found it convenient to practice her social lessons on holograms. They were… simpler… than the actual crew of Voyager. “Katie doesn’t bring too many of her friends here. And she hardly ever sees her staff socially.” Tyana smiled. “You must be very close.” Seven tilted her head thoughtfully. There was something very welcoming about this hologram, she reminded Seven of the way Neelix would be solicitous while being careful never to pry. “The Captain is a good friend.” Seven stated. “We engage in many activities during our off-duty periods.” “Oh?” Daffy asked. “Velocity, art, meals…” Seven enumerated. “She really likes you.” Daffy said matter-of-factly. “Indeed.” “Katie is a funny person.” Daffy elaborated. “I can only tell when she likes people by the way she rests her hands on them and in her voice when she talks to them. But with you… I can almost hear the way her fingers creak as she lets go of her pride.” Seven chewed her food thoughtfully. She had recently discovered that chewing was an excellent way to excuse herself from commenting on an issue that she found confusing. The dark haired hologram – was Tyana Betazoid? – patted her arm comfortingly. “Katie’s a bit standoffish really, but she’s as sound and sweet as an apple. Bit dodgy now and again, but you can always tell her to bugger off.” “Excuse me?” Seven replied. Daffy laughed. “Tyana is from a part of Terra that is under the mass delusion that they speak English.” “While Daffy can’t blame any extraneous factors for her conduct.” Tyana finished. “And that’s a polite way of putting it.” The Captain’s voice made Seven turn in her seat. Janeway was cradling a toddler of about two years old who was toying with the pips on her uniform. Tyana took the child from the Captain and she and Daffy made a discreet exit. “Whatever they told you, it’s not true.” The Captain said, a chuckle lacing her voice. “They were pleasant.” Seven said lightly. “Was there anything wrong at Astrometrics?” Janeway asked politely. Kathryn knew full well that if there had been something amiss she would have been summoned to the bridge instantly. She’d trained Harry well. “On the contrary, Captain. Crewman Celes has found a Class M moon both rich with dilithium deposits and suitable for shore leave.” Seven said. “Celes stated that it resembled an environment on the smaller moon of Tellar… the Srapeian Cove?” “The Cove?” Kathryn leaned forward in anticipation. “Ensign Craner and Crewman Boylan will be thrilled. They’ve always had a fascination for spelunking.” “The exploration of caves and grottos?” Seven clarified. “Yes.” Kathryn grinned. “The Tellarites are an irascible species that are extremely prone to debates. It took them years to argue about joining the Federation. I once got into an argument with a Tellarian biophysicist about dynamic sub-unit exchange in the heat-shock proteins of Denebian slime slugs… it was the longest conference of my life.” Seven raised an eyebrow. “Why is this cove relevant for potential shore leave?” “Because the caves in the Srapeian Cove echo nearly every sound, the Tellarites are forced to be quiet.” Kathryn laughed. “It’s been a welcome respite for centuries. Tuvok will be glad for some space to meditate. I’m sure the xenopaleontologists could find some fascinating fossils. And the rest of the crew will probably enjoy camping in some of the grottos. The Doctor may even take it into his head to perform a concert.” Seven frowned. “He has asked me repeatedly to join him in such a pursuit.” “Seven, I didn’t know you could sing.” “It is not for public consumption.” Seven replied. “I’m sure your singing isn’t that bad if the Doctor wants to do a couple of duets with you.” “The quality of my voice is perfect.” Seven stated. “However, that does not imply that I desire to perform for 150 individuals.” “How about just one?” Kathryn wheedled. The idea of Seven singing piqued her curiosity. She wondered what type of music Seven enjoyed. An endearing half-smile was lurking at the corners of the young woman’s mouth. “Perhaps,” Seven said, “I will sing to Naomi Wildman.” The sardonic glare that the Captain shot at her made Seven feel oddly… warm inside. Was this a rational reaction? She had not meant to imply that she would not sing for the Captain, only… why had she said she would sing for Naomi? The Captain was smiling and relaxed, more than Seven had ever seen her. She had not misinterpreted Seven’s words. The young woman’s eyes widened as she remembered where she had observed this interaction, and a tiny part of her glimmered with… anticipation? Hope? Seven couldn’t seem to isolate the feeling, she kept being drawn to the Captain’s clear blue eyes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kathryn hadn’t enjoyed herself this much in years. Dimly, she had acknowledged from the very beginning that Seven was an intoxicatingly beautiful woman. But Kathryn had no idea that the young woman could be so… charming. Seven was like a gift that she was forever opening, an unearned and unlooked for pleasure she had stumbled over in her recklessness. An undercurrent of guilt was still running through her thoughts, but Kathryn quashed the building pressure to gently probe into Seven’s first date. She certainly wanted Seven to continue exploring this aspect of humanity and make sure that the Doctor’s meddling hadn’t ruined her interest in dating, but there was time enough for that later. Best to let the conversation progress naturally and subtly sound out Seven’s feelings about the matter. By now, many of the patrons had left the restaurant, the candles on most tables had been snuffed out, and the fire cast an alluring glow around Seven’s face. Kathryn rested her chin on her entwined fingers. “Captain?” Seven ventured, curious about the sudden silence. “Seven, have I ever told you…” Kathryn paused. “I’m very proud of how far you’ve come, Seven. I know it hasn’t been easy.” Seven considered this for a moment, a strange expression on her face. “I know it might have seemed that you were simply a charitable project I indulged in my spare time, but your adjustment… it’s very important to me. And I’m so proud of you, Seven.” Kathryn repeated. “I also feel pride in what I have accomplished.” Seven admitted quietly, no longer surprised when the Captain reached for her hand. The words had cost her much. Seven continued slowly. “I am aware that my efforts are not sufficient.” Kathryn held the young woman’s hand tightly. “Seven, you shouldn’t…” Seven shook her head, laying her Borg-meshed hand gently over the Captain’s. “Look...” Seven said softly. Kathryn couldn’t stifle the smile that spread across her face. Snow was falling from thick, bunched clouds. It began to cover the multi-colored roofs of Tiburon gently. “How did you-?” Seven shook her head again, still cradling the Captain’s hand tenderly within her own. Kathryn arched an eyebrow in silent confusion. Seven nodded her head towards the window, and the Captain looked outside once more with a bemused smile. For a moment she couldn’t determine what had changed, if anything, and then she saw it. A transporter beam was slowly shimmering into life and gradually beaming something onto the holodeck. Kathryn watched in fascination as an object was deposited in the snow at a painstakingly sluggish rate. “Would you like to go outside, Captain?” Seven asked. The answering smile she received made Seven look away shyly. The Captain held on to her hand, so excited by this new development that she bolted out of the restaurant without another word. She almost yanked Seven's arm out of its socket. Kathryn crouched outside expectantly, wondering what all this was all about, knowing that Seven was behind it, and trying not to spoil the young woman’s fun by asking her any questions. When the transporter beam faded away, it left a medium-sized box wrapped in blue and silver paper. “Is it…” Kathryn looked up at Seven. “Is it for me?” “Perhaps it is for the holograms.” Seven deadpanned. The Captain laughed and Seven’s chest was suffused with warmth. She wondered if anyone had informed the Captain of how…beautiful she was when she laughed. Kathryn tore through the wrapping paper and ripped open the container, unable to wait a moment longer to see what was inside. After removing the tissue inside the box, she gasped as she gently lifted out its contents. She looked at the gift silently, pondering each detail as she turned it around in her hand. “It is a 1/24 billionth scale replica of each vessel in your career.” Seven said helpfully when the Captain remained silent. “I had planned to present it to you on your birthday.” The Captain’s silence pressed on Seven’s chest like a weight, and when the young woman spoke her words were strung together like school children crossing a street. “I was not aware that this time was particularly significant to humans and was not able to research the appropriate expressions for this occasion thoroughly. I will replace the gift.” The Captain took her hand quickly, careful not to drop the delicate glass sculpture. “No… Seven, it’s beautiful… I… I don’t know what to say.” Kathryn was awed by the intricacy of each ship. She knew that Seven could be precise to at least eight decimal places, but she had no idea that she could create something like this. The Al-Batani stood proudly at the base, it’s hull duck-egg blue. Each starship she had served on was positioned in mid-flight as if they were on a spiral staircase. The USS Billings had a large gash across its hull, just the way she had brought it back to Earth, a testament to the battle she and Tuvok had won against two Romulan warbirds. And Voyager was nearest the top, shot through with cerulean blue and sporting a blood red primary deflector. “What is this recess at the top for?” Kathryn asked. “Another ship?” Seven smiled. “It is a receptacle for your pips, Captain.” Kathryn grinned. She didn’t know whether to laugh out loud or to hug Seven or both. So she stood there awkwardly, holding the sculpture in the palm of her left hand as if it were a tray of food, and holding Seven’s hand in her right. She felt Seven tighten her grip gently. Kathryn turned away from her gift and looked into Seven’s luminous eyes. “Merry Christmas, Captain.”
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Belated
holiday greetings to you and yours. ~ Christmas 2002
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