Copyright 2001, Susan S. McCrackin  Reprinted with permission of the author.

Kathryn B’Elanna was standing at the edge of Ketaria’s mind. Ketaria was lost. Her mind was darker than Mama’s mind. Kathryn B’Elanna moved forward.

"Keta." She yelled the name out. "Keta."

There was no response. She moved forward into the total darkness. There was nothing to give her a direction. "Keta." She tried again. Stopping, she turned in a circle, listening carefully for any sound. She concentrated and waited.

Nothing.

Kathryn B’Elanna allowed herself to move deeper inside herself, opening herself up fully to the darkness that surrounded her. 

"Keta."

Keta was here. She could feel her now. She moved in the direction that she knew Keta was, still not finding any light. Finally, she stopped, waited, then turned.

"Keta."

This time, she heard a response, "Kathryn B’Elanna?"

"Hi, Keta."

"Kathryn B’Elanna, where are you?"

She concentrated, and Keta finally came into view.

"Oh, Kathryn B’Elanna." Keta was crying, "I am lost."

"Kathryn B’Elanna take Keta home."

"No, Kathryn B’Elanna. I do not think you can do that."

Kathryn B’Elanna felt around her. After a few moments, she said, "Keta falla Kathryn B’Elanna."

"I will try, but I cannot see you, sweetheart." Kathryn B’Elanna started to move, but Ketaria called to her immediately, "Kathryn B’Elanna, where are you?"

"Come, Keta." She stopped until she knew Keta was with her, then they started again. Each time she would move, Keta would call her back, unable to see her. 

Finally, Ketaria spoke to her, "Kathryn B’Elanna, let’s sing a Flotter song." She started to sing one of the songs they sang in Flotter’s Forest and Kathryn B’Elanna walked slowly, leading Ketaria back toward the light.

Finally, Ketaria saw a glimmer of light, the first she had seen since she lost consciousness. As she started to breathe a sigh of relief and feel a sense of excitement, she saw the child in front of her wobble.

"Kathryn B’Elanna, I am finding my way. You should leave now."

"Get Keta home."

"No, Kathryn B’Elanna."

Before she could say anymore, Kathryn B’Elanna turned to her, "Mama needs Keta. Kathryn B’Elanna get Keta home." She turned back and led Ketaria unsteadily toward the light. As soon as they were close, the child turned back to her and said, "Keta and Kaykay come. Kaykay do. Kathryn B’Elanna not do. Hurry come."

Then, she left, her movements unsteady. Ketaria did not allow herself to watch the child go. She knew she could not. She put all of her energy into getting herself back to awareness safely.

Ketaria slowly opened her eyes, the world around her fuzzy. Her head hurt and her body was stiff. She tried to move her arm, the action of doing so sending prickles of pain through her muscles and joints. She groaned.

Kahkar immediately lifted his head from his hands and addressed her, his voice surprised, "Ketaria?"

She slowly turned her head in his direction, "Kahkar." She tried unsuccessfully to lift her hand to his face, watching as it fell short of its mark and landed heavily on his arm.

He lifted her hand, almost disbelieving, "Ketaria, you are awake."

"How long have I been asleep?"

"Nine days."

She struggled to sit up, but he pressed her back on the bed, "No, you should lie still. You were supposed to sleep another day."

"What?"

"I put you into a healing sleep. You should have sleep for ten days. How did you wake up?"

She gave him a sleepy smile, "Our grandchild."

"Kathryn B’Elanna?"

She nodded, moving her head very carefully, "She helped me find my way home. I do not think I could have come home without her." She looked around the room, still having trouble focusing, "There is trouble, Kahkar. They need us." Her eyes rolled back in her head as she tried to hold on to consciousness.

"Ketaria, you should rest."

"They need us."

"But you need to heal. Rest now, I will prepare. You sleep."

He watched as she closed her eyes. Then, he reached for a hypospray. Hesitating a moment, he pressed it against her neck and administered a dose of medication. He needed to know what she had to tell him, but first, she had to complete her healing sleep. He knew there was trouble, but she had to rest first. He lifted his head and sighed, hoping that whatever it was she had to tell him was not a matter of life of death. He had to trust that this was the right thing to do. He looked at his wife and thought about the daughter of his heart.

Please, he thought, please let this be the right thing to do.

Kathryn B’Elanna fought to return to her physical body. She did not try to come back to awareness. As soon as she reconnected, she allowed herself to fall toward asleep. Kaykay and Keta come. Kaykay do. Kathryn B’Elanna could not do.

Hurry, come. It was the last thing she thought before sleep took her.

The courtroom was full. Janeway sat next to the Doctor, her hand resting on his arm. Chakotay, Tuvok, Harry and Neelix flanked them. Tom and B’Elanna had wanted to come, but Dr. E’Nalto had refused to release B’Elanna to attend, so she and Tom were keeping KB. None of them spoke. They were all too nervous.

Suddenly, all eyes were drawn to the side door that opened, and Seven shuffled through, surrounded by three armed guards. She kept her head down and did not look at any of the spectators in the courtroom. The guards accompanied her to the defendant’s table and pushed her down into the chair. She sat, unmoving until the judge entered. As the people stood, two guards reached down and jerked her to her feet. Before she could sit again, the judge addressed her.

"Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix Zero One, please approach the bench."

She moved with great difficulty toward the judge. He looked at her harshly, "It is my understanding you have released your attorney."

"Yes."

"Yes, Your Honor is the proper response."

She sighed, "Yes, Your Honor."

"It is also my understanding that you wish to change your plea."

"Yes." She paused, then added, "Your Honor."

"Do you wish to have the charges against you read?"

"No. Your Honor."

"Then, Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix Zero One, how do you plead?"

"Guilty."

"Do I understand that you are pleading guilty of all charges against you?"

"Yes."

He paused and looked at the woman in front of him, thinking he had never seen a colder look in his life. "Do you wish to have a jury trial for sentencing?"

"No. Your Honor."

He narrowed his eyes, "Then are you ready for me to pass sentence on you now?"

"Yes." She raised her head to look at him, "Your Honor."

"Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix Zero One, I sentence you to life in Matarin Prison, with no opportunity for parole. Your sentence is to begin as soon as transportation can be arranged." He glowered at her, "You will be allowed to live, which is more than can be said about your victims as a Borg. You have received a greater consideration from humanity than you yourself have shown humanity. May you think about that every day of your confinement." He looked at the guards, "Take her away." As soon as she left the room, he stood and left, not even giving the people in the room the time to rise.

The Doctor sat, shocked. Life. They gave her life. And she had plead guilty. She was not guilty. How could she have admitted guilt?

Janeway pulled on his arm, "Let’s go, Doctor. We need to get back and plan. There has to be something we can do."

He allowed her to pull him toward the door. He was still so shocked, he did not know what to think. She had not even looked at him. She had to have known he would have been there, but she had not looked at him.

Then, he knew. She had been blackmailed into pleading guilty. It was the only thing that made any sense. They were walking outside of the room into a brilliant light that temporarily blinded him. He put his hand up to shield his eyes, turning to find Captain Janeway to tell her what he realized. He saw her and opened his mouth to speak. Suddenly, he felt something strange.

"Doctor?"

He tried to respond to her, but he could not say anything. He tried to move toward her, but he could not move.

"Doctor!" Janeway was yelling. "Chakotay, Tuvok, Harry, the crowd! Hurry."

Her senior staff joined her in turning toward the crowd, each with their back to the Doctor, trying to protect him. But the crowd was massive and crowding in. Janeway caught a look at the Doctor and saw him flicker, then his program fritz. She reached toward his mobile emitter, trying to grab it and deactivate him before it was too late. In horror, she watched as he dematerialized and his mobile emitter fall. She dove for it, trying to find it in the mass of people in the crowd, fighting to recover it. She felt herself jostled and felt a body fall over her, knocking her sideways. Struggling to recover her balance, she pushed through the crowd of legs, searching for the mobile emitter. Seeing it, she desperately reached for it, falling short as a foot came crashing down on it.

Screaming in frustration, she pushed off of the body behind her and fell on the emitter, covering it with her body, trying to protect it. It was only seconds before she heard the guards breaking up the crowd, forcing people back. Chakotay and Tuvok got to her, trying to help her to her feet, but she refused to allow them to pull her up. She looked down at the emitter beneath her body, seeing the pieces scattered under her. Tuvok kneeled beside her, and they exchanged glances. Together, they picked up every piece they could find.

Suddenly, Darrian Green was beside her, "Is that….?"

She looked up at him and nodded her head.

"Come, we will see if we can find a way to download his program."

She allowed him to help her to her feet and toward their waiting vehicle.

Darrian Green looked at them and shook his head. "I’m sorry. It was too badly damaged. Apparently, he was hit with a photon disrupter. His program was decompiled. We were not able to recover it."

Janeway spoke, her voice catching as she did, "What about his program on Voyager?"

He looked at her, sadly, "When he was given self-determination, his program was fully loaded into his mobile emitter. Then, it was deleted from Voyager’s computer system."

"What?"

"His program was fully contained in the mobile emitter." When she didn’t say anything else, he continued, his voice soft, "I am afraid he is….dead."

She stumbled back into a chair and sat down, speechless. Then, she closed her eyes and lowered her head, "Dead?"

"Yes."

She raised her head and looked at the people around the room, "It can’t be."

"I’m sorry, Captain, but we tried everything. There was nothing we could do. The Doctor is gone."

She looked up at Chakotay, "Seven? What are we going to tell Seven? And what about Kathryn B’Elanna?"

Before Chakotay could respond, Darrian Green stepped forward, "I will tell Seven."

She turned on him, her fury apparent, "I don’t think you are the best person to tell Seven."

"Captain, right now, I am the only one who can get in to see her." He drew himself up, "I will be gentle. Even I realize this will be difficult for her to hear." He moved closer to her, "You can trust me."

"At least let me go with you."

"I am sorry, Captain. You will not be allowed in to see her. There is nothing I can do to change that."

She looked up at him, her anger flaring. Chakotay reached to take her arm, "He’s right, Captain. There is nothing you can do."

Her eyes cut to him and then closed tightly. Finally, she nodded her head, knowing that Chakotay was right. And so was Darrian Green. She turned back to the man, "Please, tell Seven….." She didn’t know what to say.

He nodded, "I understand." Turning, he slowly left.

Janeway looked at the faces of the people in the room, each one as grief-stricken as hers.

He stared at her a long moment before he stepped into the cell. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, her eyes locked on him. He walked up to her slowly, his hands held behind his back, one hand rubbing the small bag he held. He could see by the look in her eyes that she knew something was wrong. She tried to rise, but he put an empty hand out toward her.

"No, please stay seated." He indicated the bed next to her, "May I?"

Her eyes narrowed, but she nodded, sliding slowly away from him as he sat.

"Seven…." Suddenly, he realized he did not now what to say to her.

She spoke, and he did not think he had ever heard a colder voice, "Tell me what it is you have to tell me."

He lowered his head a moment, then raised his eyes to look at her, "Seven, I am afraid something has happened to the holo… your husband." He watched as she paled, her face freezing. He saw the question in her eyes and knew she would not ask it. Taking a deep breath and forcing himself to look her squarely in the face, he continued, "They were leaving the courtroom after your sentencing. The crowd was huge. Someone, and we have not found out who, hit him with a photonic disrupter. It decompiled his program." Her expression had not changed. Her eyes were locked on his face, her eyes becoming even colder than they had been. He would not have thought that possible. He realized he was struggling to finish. "When he dematerialized, his mobile emitter fell. Captain Janeway tried her best to get to it, but she…. I’m sorry, but it was crushed by the crowd." He had to look away from her to gain strength. Then, he turned back to her, "Seven, I’m sorry, but the Doctor is dead."

Her body was starting to shake. She stared at his face, unable to speak. She watched as he lifted a small bag and placed it in her left hand.

"This is what we were able to recover from his mobile emitter. I..thought you might want it." He finished weakly, her pain so deep he could feel it. "Seven, I am sorry."

And he was. It surprised him. He considered her less than human. They had been something and something, not husband and wife, but he found he hurt for her for her loss. He looked toward the opening of the cell, "I have delayed your departure for twenty-four hours to give you some time. I can understand that you would not want to…have to face any public right now. I am also ordering your restraints removed. They will be off as long as you do not do anything inappropriate. The guards will be increased and the force field set to maximum." He moved his head to catch her eyes, "Can I trust you not to try anything?"

She gave him a barely perceptible nod. He waved the guards in and one of them moved to her to unlock her restraints while three others held their weapons on her. She never moved.

He indicated to the guards they should move back and stood, "If you need anything, have them call me."

She looked up at him and spoke, her voice barely audible, "Kathryn B’Elanna?"

He gave her a surprised look. He had not thought about the child. "Yes. She is with Tom and B’Elanna Paris."

"Do I still have legal standing as her mother?"

He frowned, "Yes, I think you do."

"I want to sign my parental rights over to Tom and B’Elanna. I do not want my aunt to have her."

He nodded, "I will see what I can do."

She looked at him, her eyes softer than they had been, "Thank you."

He could only nod. Then, he turned and left the cell. He turned, once outside and watched as the lights flashed as the force field was activated. She never noticed. She only sat on the bed, staring at the small bag she held in her hand. He tightened his lips, watched her for a few more minutes, then left.

He was pacing around his room, furious. How could that have happened? The Doctor’s death put everything at risk. He was not supposed to die. Where had the guards been? The Doctor should have been escorted out of the courtroom through a secure exit.

This was unacceptable.

His plans had all been so perfect. How could this have gone wrong? And what would it mean to his hold on her? That was at risk. He knew this would change everything.

Although, there was still the child. He could still control her with the child. She wanted the child with B’Elanna Torres-Paris. He could make certain that happened.

Calming himself, he pulled the device out of his pocket and sat in his chair. Giving himself a few minutes to prepare, he attached it to his neck and turned up the power.

"Hello, Seven of Nine."

She did not answer, but he knew she could hear him.

"I am sorry for your loss." He hesitated, "I failed to protect the Doctor, and I apologize for that."

He could feel her coldness. She did not believe him.

"Seven of Nine, I assure you. What happened was not planned. It pains me that I did not keep my promise to you to protect your husband. But, I want to assure you, I will step up security around your daughter. And around B’Elanna Torres-Paris. I will make certain nothing happens to either of them. They will be protected." He waited, then made his voice soft in her head, "I know you want Kathryn B’Elanna with B’Elanna. I will make certain that happens. I ask you to give me the chance to show you that I only have the best interest of you and your child at heart. This will be taken care of by mid-morning. I promise you, Seven of Nine, I will protect your daughter."

She did not think. She did not respond.

"I know you will only believe me when I show you. That is acceptable to me, Seven of Nine. I will show you. Do not believe me until I take steps to make certain your daughter is with B’Elanna Torres-Paris. That will happen soon. I will visit with you once that happens. Goodbye, Seven of Nine."

He removed the device. She did not believe him, but he would prove himself to her again. Nothing would go wrong this time. He was too close, and he would not lose her now. The child was the key. He had to protect the child.

B’Elanna was rocking To’mas, but her eyes were locked on Kathryn B’Elanna. She was resting on the sofa, rubbing her head and kicking her feet. B’Elanna knew she was hurting. The child’s face was pale, and she had not played at all since the Doctor had left her earlier. Even though it was obvious the child was sleepy, she had not napped. B’Elanna wanted to try to find out if she had seen Ketaria but had refrained. Part of her knew she had, and that was what was causing her pain now.

She sighed, her worry increasing. She was getting more and more concerned. There was a nervousness growing in her that she could not understand. It had started a couple of hours ago and had only intensified. Once again, she had been tempted to turn on the news, but did not do so because of Kathryn B’Elanna. She did not want Seven’s name mentioned in the child’s presence.

She looked up as the door opened, and the Captain walked in, followed by Chakotay, Tuvok, Harry, Neelix and Dr. E’Nalto. She took one look at the Captain’s face and felt the bottom of her stomach fall.

"Tom," she called for her husband, knowing she wanted him near her. Then, she immediately moved to the sofa, pulling Kathryn B’Elanna up to hold her close. She looked back to the Captain and asked, "What happened?"

Tom walked in, going to sit next to his wife on the sofa, putting his arm around her. He also looked at the faces of the people in the room and knew that something terrible was wrong. He frowned, "Where is the Doctor?"

Janeway walked over, looked down at the rocking chair, closing her eyes briefly before sitting down in it. She took a deep breath, "Tom, B’Elanna." She stopped and swallowed, "The Doctor….." She looked at the face of his daughter, seeing a dawning recognition come into it. Before she could continue, she heard the child.

"Dada?" It was soft. Then, she screamed, "Dada! Dada! Dada!"

B’Elanna looked at KB in shock, suddenly finding herself fighting with the child. Tom quickly took his son from her so she could concentrate on KB. Dr. E’Nalto moved forward and administered a heavier than normal dose of sedative. As soon as she settled down, B’Elanna looked up at Janeway.

"What is wrong?"

Janeway reached out to touch B’Elanna’s knee, "There is no easy way to say this." She sighed, "The Doctor was killed today."

B’Elanna thought the world around her stopped. She wanted it to stop. She wanted time to turn backwards and the Captain to take away what she had just said. She realized her eyes were wandering around the room, but she was not seeing anything. Her world had suddenly gone blank. Finally, she looked down at the child, now sleeping in her arms and then at her son sleeping in her husband’s. She forced herself back into the world. These children needed her.

"How?"

She tried hard to concentrate as the Captain told her what had happened. Later, she realized she had heard only part of what had been said, but she heard enough. Once Janeway finished, she asked, "Seven?"

Janeway took another breath, "She was sentenced to life."

"Has she been told?"

"Darrian Green has told her."

Before she could respond, the computer announced Mr. Green’s presence at the door. Tuvok moved to allow him in and he moved quickly to stand before Tom and B’Elanna. She looked up at him expectantly.

He immediately started to speak, "Seven has indicated she wishes to sign her parental rights over to you. Are you willing to accept that responsibility?"

B’Elanna and Tom looked at each other, then each turned to face Darrian Green, nodding simultaneously.

"Good. I will begin to prepare the orders immediately. We should have the orders authorized by mid-morning. I would like to have this done before Seven leaves to begin her sentence."

He nodded to the people in the room and left.

B’Elanna pulled an unconscious Kathryn B’Elanna to her, leaned heavily against her husband and started to cry.

He gripped the PADD in his hands and looked at the figure sitting on the bed in the cell.

"Has she moved since I left?"

The female guard behind him responded, "No."

His eyes glanced down toward the floor, then he nodded at the guard, and she deactivated the force field. He stepped over the base and approached the prisoner.

"Seven."

She slowly turned her head in his direction. The first thing he noticed was how empty her eyes were.

"I, uh, I have the orders here. Judge Marshal had these drawn up immediately as soon as he heard." He looked around uncomfortably, "He asked me to send you his condolences. He, he wanted me to tell you that meeting your husband had been a distinct honor for him. As was meeting your daughter." He cleared his throat, "He wanted you to know he will take every action possible to protect your daughter."

It took her a long time to respond, "Please tell him thank you."

"I will." He glanced down at the PADD in his hand, "This will give custody of your daughter to Tom and B’Elanna Paris. That is, once the three of you authorize it." He handed it to her. "I will act as witness for all of your authorization."

She took the paper from him, holding in front of her. He waited as she read. She read it twice – he could tell. Finally, she placed her hand on the PADD, authorizing it. She looked at it for a long moment before handing it back to him.

"I will take this to Mr. and Mrs. Paris immediately. I will let you know once…everything is taken care of."

She did not respond, but slowly lowered her head to look down at her left hand. He stood, uncertain what to say. Finally, he turned and left.

She continued to stare at her left hand. She had been unable to wear a wedding ring. Closing her eyes, she tried to remember what it was B’Elanna had told her about wedding rings. It must have been important to her at the time. She had carefully recorded the conversation in her personal logs.

‘Rings are traditionally given as symbols of the love two people have for each other. It is also an indication to other people that you are committed to someone.’

The Doctor was gone, and there was nothing she had to indicate her commitment to him.

‘But you and the Doctor have a symbol of your love and commitment to each other….Kathryn B’Elanna.’

She had just given her away. By simply authorizing the orders on a PADD, she had given their child away. Kathryn B’Elanna was the only thing she had of him and now even she was gone. She lifted the bag holding his mobile emitter and opened it, gently fingering the broken pieces. Her fingers found a long strand of gleaming gold. She pulled it out of the bag and stared at it.

B’Elanna authorized the PADD and handed it to Tom. He quickly added his own authorization and handed the PADD to Darrian Green. He took it and placed it in the pocket of his jacket. 

"Judge Marshall has promised he will move this forward quickly. The two of you will have temporary custody. He will preside over the adoption as soon as it can be arranged."

"Adoption." B’Elanna whispered the word. "I just never thought….." 

Tom pulled her to him, holding her tightly. 

Mr. Green looked toward the door leading into the bedroom where Kathryn B’Elanna was sleeping, "How is she?"

B’Elanna stood up, angry, "How do you think she is, Mr. Green? Her father is dead. Her mother has been taken from her. Her life has been ripped apart. Do you want me to tell you that she is handling all of this wonderfully? Well, she isn’t. She has been crying in her sleep. Her pillow is wet with her tears." She furiously wiped away her own tears, "She loved her father and her mother more than anything. She will never get over losing them. She will never get over this."

Pushing past Tom, she rushed from the room, going into the small bedroom and closed the door behind her. She saw the small child sleeping in the crib, the ringlets of her hair wet and plastered to her face. She looked down at the face that was her mother’s face. And her father’s. She was so much the two of them. She was all of them that was good and wonderful. 

How could the Doctor be dead? How could Seven be condemned to life in prison? How could she and Tom be the parents to KB that the Doctor and Seven had been to her?

Where are you Kahkar and Ketaria? We need you to come. She raised her head. Please come.

The guard looked up at him, a look of relief coming over her face, "Mr. Green, thank goodness you are here!"

"What happened?"

"Nothing yet, but she is acting strange. Something is about to happen. I can tell."

He looked up and saw Seven. He immediately knew the guard was right. He started walking toward the cell, then stopped as he watched her walk toward the opening. The look on her face made him hold his position.

She walked up to the opening and dropped to her knees. Before he could say anything, she stuck her left hand into the force field. He yelled at her to stop, demanding that she move back, but he could tell that she was beyond hearing him even as the words left his mouth. He screamed at the guard to deactivate the force field and cover him. As soon as the force field was deactivated, she collapsed on the floor and lay there, twitching. He quickly stepped inside the cell, checking her.

"Get a doctor in here. Now!"

He checked her pulse again, relieved that it seemed to be regular and strong and that she was breathing. He lifted her left hand, seeing the burns on the skin around the exoskeleton. Then, he saw something else. Wrapped around her ring finger was a strand of gold, welded to the Borg exoskeleton. He could not remember seeing that before. His attention was pulled away from her as Dr. E’Nalto rushed to his side.

"What happened?"

"I’m not sure." His voice was tense. He moved back to allow the doctor to check the prisoner.

She scanned her, then sat back on her heels, relieved, "I think she is okay. She is just suffering from a shock. What did she do?"

"She put her hand through the force field."

"What? How did she do that?"

"I have no idea. It was set to maximum. She should never have been able to do that."

Dr. E’Nalto lifted Seven’s left hand, her eyes widening when she saw the band of gold now welded to her finger, "Where did this come from?"

"I don’t know. Wasn’t it always there?"

"No, I don’t think so." She looked at the small bag on the bed and the pieces scattered on it. She was starting to think she understood where the gold had come from when she saw Seven’s eyes flutter open. She leaned over, into Seven’s line of vision, "Seven, can you hear me?"

It took a moment for her to respond, "Yes. I can hear you."

Dr. E’Nalto lifted Seven’s left hand, "Was this from the Doctor’s mobile emitter?"

Seven nodded.

"Okay, Seven. I am going to give you something to help your system and to help you rest. Do you think you can get up?"

Seven nodded and pushed herself up from the floor. As soon as she was situated on the bed, Dr. E’Nalto medicated her, and she drifted off to sleep. Then, Dr. E’Nalto indicated to Mr. Green that they should leave. As soon as they stepped out of the cell, the guard reactivated the force field.

Darrian Green turned to her immediately, "Did she fashion a wedding ring out of the gold from the mobile emitter?"

"Yes, I think that is exactly what she did?"

"Why?"

She did not respond. She only looked at him.

He looked at the prisoner. Suddenly, he knew, and the realization gave him cold chills.