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

"She is too close to the sun. She is caught in its gravitational pull." Janeway whirled to look at the queen as she spoke, "She cannot break away."

"Can you do anything?"

The queen concentrated, and Janeway could tell that Voyager was moving even faster.

Janeway yelled at Tuvok, "Can you get a lock on them?"

"We are not in transporter range. We must get closer."

The queen concentrated, then said, "Try again."

He looked down at his console, his eyebrow raising, "I have a lock. The shuttle’s shields have failed. Initiating transport." After what seemed like a lifetime, he gave her a look, "They are in transporter room one."

Without speaking, she and Kahkar left the bridge. Even as they did, the queen turned both ships, starting to move them in the direction of the Delta Quadrant.

Supala groaned and rolled onto her back. Harry raised over her, still uncertain as to whether to touch her. She grabbed her head, fighting to open her eyes. She saw Harry leaning over her, but could not focus on him. 

"She is on Voyager."

He started at her words, "What?"

But she could not respond. The pain was too intense. Her head was throbbing, and she felt herself falling into a deep, dark hole. She wondered if she would ever get to the bottom of it. Then, as everything around her went totally dark, her final thought was to wonder whether she would ever be able to get out of it.

Harry watched as all of the color left her face. He grabbed her body, holding it tightly to his, feeling as it went lifeless in his arms.

"Supala!" He looked up at Neelix, a feeling of total helplessness coming over him. He sat up, holding her body, rocking back and forth, "Supala, don’t go. Please, don’t go."

As soon as she materialized, she felt the Borg on the ship.

"No!" She pulled Kathryn B’Elanna tighter to her and crossed to the transporter console, reaching out to touch it with her left hand. She jerked it back immediately. The Borg controlled Voyager. She could feel it. Pulling a phaser from her belt, she quickly left the transporter room. She would fight her way to the shuttle bay, take the Delta Flier and fly back to the sun.

It had all been a trick. Somehow, the Borg had used her own memories against her. There was no one she could trust. 

She turned a corner, saw the turbolift open and Captain Janeway and Kahkar emerge. She lifted her phaser, "Stop."

They halted, both of them looking at her in shock. Janeway stepped forward, "Seven? Is that you?"

"Stand aside."

"Seven," Kahkar moved slowly toward her, "you are safe now. You can put the phaser down. There is nothing to be afraid of."

"Are the Borg controlling this ship?"

Janeway and Kahkar exchanged glances, and she tried to explain, "Seven, there is more to this than you realize. Please put the phaser down, and we’ll explain everything."

"Are the Borg controlling this ship?"

Kahkar took a deep breath, "Yes, Seven. The queen is controlling Voyager. She is helping us escape. She is controlling my ship also. Please, there is nothing for you to be afraid of. We are all trying to protect you and Kathryn B’Elanna."

"You are helping her get control of us."

"No," he tried to move closer, but stopped when she backed up, tightening her grip on the phaser, and raising it in his direction, "I promise you, you are not in danger."

"I have heard enough promises. Now, move out of my way."

"What are you going to do, Seven?" Janeway made her voice a gentle as she could.

"I will take the Delta Flier, and do what I should have done the last time."

"No, Seven. Please, give us a chance to prove ourselves to you. We are telling you the truth."

Before she could respond, they heard an explosion and the ship rocked. Janeway hit her combadge, "Report."

"Captain," Tuvok’s voice replied, "we are being attacked."

"Who is it?"

"It is the Explorer."

Janeway glanced up at Kahkar, "The Federation ship."

"Captain."

‘What, Tuvok?"

"There are many Federation ships converging on our position. There are also a number of unidentified ships moving toward us. All ships are heavily armed." There was a moment of silence, then he continued, "The Federation and the unidentified ships are engaging each other."

They felt another blast, and Janeway gave Kahkar an imploring look. He immediately stepped toward Seven, looking at her, "Seven, I have never lied to you, and I am not lying to you now. Please, I am asking you to trust me. We must go to the bridge and assist in this battle. Go to the shuttle bay if you must, but please do not try to leave the ship. You would probably be destroyed if you tried to leave now, anyway. If that is what you truly want, we will not stop you. But," he paused, his eyes full of emotion as he leveled them at her, "I am asking that you give us a chance to explain everything to you. If, after doing that, you still want take the Flier into the sun, I will assist you."

"Kahkar!" Janeway jerked on his arm, but he never took his eyes off of Seven’s face..

Seven stared at him, searching his eyes. Slowly, she nodded her head. Kahkar gave her a quick look, then turned, grabbed Janeway’s arm and pulled her toward the turbolift. She allowed him to do so, looking over her shoulder at the tall figure standing in the middle of the corridor. Even as they rushed for the turbolift, she wondered if she would ever see her again.

As soon as the turbolift doors opened, they saw the battle raging on the view screen. The queen was sitting, perched on the edge of the captain’s chair, and it was immediately obvious that she was struggling to maintain control over two ships and provide them with protection. 

Kahkar walked up to her, "What can we do?"

"We must escape. The shields are not strong enough to hold off many more direct hits. I am bringing the transwarp coils online."

As she finished speaking, another explosion rocked the ship and the queen grimaced in pain. Tuvok spoke up immediately, "The transwarp coil is offline." He studied his screens, "We have sustained damage to our aft shields."

The queen’s face hardened in concentration, "I am using the shields on Kahkar’s ship to supplement Voyager’s." She frowned again, "The transwarp coil has sustained minor damage. I cannot bring it online."

Kahkar watched her concentrate, then saw her eyes shift slightly, "What are you doing?"

"I am calling in assistance."

Before he could ask her what she meant, the ship was rocked again and the light’s flickered. The computer announced, "Hull breach on deck eleven."

Janeway moved to an open console, "I am sealing off the area of the hull breach." She did not reroute any power. There wasn’t anyone in that area to worry about. She studied her console and gave Kahkar a worried look, "The shields are weakening. We won’t be able to make many more direct shots."

He watched the queen as she struggled to keep both ships moving, trying to escape the battle that was raging around them. With a sinking heart, he realized what happened next was beyond anything he could control.

Ketaria had been quietly monitoring Seven since she had been transported to Voyager. She had reached Kathryn B’Elanna’s mind, feeling how drugged she was. She had been shocked to realize that Kathryn B’Elanna had her mother in her thoughts. Following them, she had realized that Seven was alive. 

Alive. She was alive. 

She had carefully felt for her, feeling her confusion and her anger. She also felt her deep distrust. Seven’s thoughts were open to her, and she knew what she had planned. With a sinking heart, she reached out, gently trying to reach her.

"Go away."

"Seven, please." She could tell Seven was entering the shuttle bay, intent on taking the Delta Flier and leaving Voyager. "Listen to me. You have nothing to fear from us."

"You have joined forces with the Borg."

"Yes, we have. I will not lie to you. We did it to save your daughter."

"By delivering her to the Borg?"

"No. That was never the intention. That is not the plan."

"And just what is the plan?"

Ketaria hesitated, not certain how Seven would respond. She knew she could not lie. Seven would know. "Captain Janeway asked Kahkar to contact…old friends and they have offered asylum. We are going to take you there. You and Kathryn B’Elanna will be safe."

"We are not safe anywhere."

"There is one place where you will be safe, Seven. There is one place where neither the Borg nor humans will come after you. We are going to take you there."

Seven stopped, thinking carefully. She could not imagine where in the universe there would be safety for either her or her daughter. Ketaria felt her thinking. She knew she had her attention. Then, she felt another presence and knew Kathryn B’Elanna had joined her, but was hiding that fact from her mother. She could feel comfort slowly, almost imperceptibly flowing into her mother’s mind. She smiled, allowing herself to absorb some of it, preparing for the question she knew was coming.

"Where is that place?"

"Seven, we are taking you to fluidic space."

There was dead silence. Ketaria fought to remain calm, using Kathryn B’Elanna’s support to give her strength.

"Species eight-four-seven-two?"

"Yes."

"That is the safety you offer me?"

She heard the anger in Seven’s mind. "They were your enemies, but they became your friends. Kahkar has talked to them, and they have promised you a safe place. The Borg will not enter their space. And the humans will not be able to cross the Delta Quadrant. The Borg will not let them."

"Are you telling me the Borg will protect me, also?"

Ketaria heard both the growing anger and the skepticism in her thoughts, "Seven, the queen will protect you. Just as she is protecting you now. She will not let the humans have you."

She saw Seven turn from her in her mind, her confusion growing to match her anger. Suddenly, she realized they were in their special place – all three of them. She looked at Seven, struggling not to let the shock of seeing her throw her out of their place. The person in front of her was nothing like she could have ever imagined. In a quick glance, she took in the brace, the vest and the armaments, the short, dark hair and the black, cold and angry eyes. The eyes chilled her, and it took everything she had not to step back in reaction.

Seven looked at her in surprise, "How?"

Ketaria shook her head at her, "This is not me."

"Mama." 

Seven looked at the child in her arms, her eyes growing wider. Looking up at Ketaria, she asked, "How can I be holding her in this place?"

"I do not know, Seven. But the Doctor can hold her in this place, also. I cannot. I suspect your ability to do so has something to do with your cybernetic implants."

But Seven was barely hearing what Ketaria said. Her confusion was starting to overwhelm her. Kathryn B’Elanna reached out and took her face in her hands, putting her forehead against her mother’s, "Mama. Good, Mama. Go see Dada."

Seven looked up at Ketaria, "Dada? The Doctor?"

Ketaria smiled at her, nodding her head, "Yes, Seven. The Doctor is alive. He is on Kahkar’s ship."

"How? I saw his mobile emitter. It was crushed."

She hesitated, "Kahkar copied his program. Do you remember when he told the Doctor he wanted to run a full diagnostic on his program to see what Kathryn B’Elanna had done to his program?" When Seven nodded, she continued, "What he did was not run a diagnostic. He fully copied the Doctor’s program. He was afraid that what happened to the Doctor would happen. He is alive, Seven. He is without his mobile emitter, but he is alive. And he is waiting for you."

Seven shook her head. This was all too much. Ketaria felt her emotional pain and tried to reach out to help her, but Seven backed her off with a thought. "No, Ketaria. I cannot believe this. This is too much. Somehow, the Borg have taken over. This is all a deception."

"Seven, what do the Borg need with deception? It is not in their nature."

"I do not understand this. Why would the Borg queen act to protect us? Why would she just not assimilate us?"

Ketaria smiled at her, "Seven, I think you know the answer to that. You might not want to accept it, but you know why."

She watched as Seven’s black eyes clouded, and she did not pursue the thought further. It was time to step back and wait. What happened next was up to Seven.

Tom was watching the battle on the screen in front of him. He had never felt so helpless in his life. All he could do was sit and watch. The drones had moved to take up places at different consoles, tying into Kahkar’s ship. He could tell they were helping the queen protect the two ships. He could see they were trying to extend the ship’s cloaking ability to Voyager in an effort to hide both ships. For a moment, he thought they were going to be successful when a random shot hit Kahkar’s ship and the cloaking device was thrown off line. Now, both ships were fully visible – and vulnerable. He could see that both ships’ shields were failing. He did not think either ship could last much longer. If he was going to die, he wanted his son and his wife in his arms. As he started to rise from his seat, he glanced down at the scans one last time and caught his breath. Looking back up at the screen, he watched as one Borg cube after another emerged from a transwarp conduit. He stopped counting at ten, suddenly seeing the ships in space around them turn their weapons on the cubes instead of each other or Kahkar’s ship and Voyager. 

There was a sudden jolt, and he knew the ship had been caught in a tractor beam. Looking up at the screen, he saw the Federation ships and the other ships firing on the cubes, but saw that the cubes were not returning fire. He watched as the ships appeared to move away, and he knew they were entering a transwarp conduit and leaving the fighting ships behind. With a sinking heart, he stood and walked off the bridge. If the Borg were going to try to assimilate them, he wanted his family together. He would not allow them to be assimilated. They would die as a family first.

Kahkar watched as the cubes surrounded them and felt when the tractor beam grabbed them. He turned to the queen immediately.

"Supala."

Janeway saw the look she gave him and almost laughed. For a moment, she thought the queen was going to roll her eyes at him. Instead, she simply raised her eyes, before leveling her look back at him. Then, Janeway watched as the queen almost slumped back against the chair.

Harry was holding Supala tightly against his body. Neelix moved toward them, fear in his face. He tentatively reached out to touch her on the neck, to feel for a pulse, afraid at what he would find. Before he could tell anything, he realized they were being transported. As soon as they materialized, he looked around them in shock.

They were inside a Borg cube, and drones were moving toward them.

The ships emerged from the transwarp conduit and stopped. The queen turned to Kahkar and Janeway. "Seven of Nine is in the shuttle bay. You should all go there. I will have everyone transported there."

Janeway stepped toward her, "The holographic programs have been purged from Voyager’s systems. You will not be able to transport the Doctor."

She concentrated, "I have copied the holographic program of Kahkar’s ship to Voyager. He will be able to transport safely."

Janeway shook her head in disbelief. Then, she looked to the people on the bridge, "Shall we?"

They all moved toward the turbolift. As the doors closed, her last sight of her bridge was the Borg queen still sitting in her chair. She looked up at Chakotay, a look of helplessness in her eyes. She had never felt so out of control.

They moved as quickly as possible toward the shuttle bay. When they entered, they saw Seven standing inside the Flier, her eyes lock on them.

"Do not come any closer." Her eyes watched them carefully 

They stopped, not certain what to expect. Before anyone could say anything, three figures materialized beside them. Janeway turned her head to see Harry and Neelix standing in front of her, with Harry holding an unconscious Supala in his arms. She caught her breath when she saw Borg technology on Supala’s head.

"Was she assimilated?"

Harry shook his head, "No, they are attached, not implanted. They seem to be helping her." He looked up as Kahkar moved through the crowd to get to her, pulling out a medical tricorder as he did. 

Studying his results carefully, he said, "They are giving her support, but we need to get her to the sickbay." He reached for her.

"No, I’ll carry her." Harry gave her a gentle look and starting walking past everyone to take her to the sickbay. Kahkar quickly moved to join him. 

Janeway turned her head as another group of people materialized. She saw Tom first, his son in his arms, then B’Elanna and Miral. Behind them was Ketaria. Finally, her hand went to her mouth when she saw the Doctor.

His eyes immediately locked on his wife and hers on him. He moved away from the group and walked slowly toward her. Janeway watched as Seven’s emotions ran though her eyes. It was all she could clearly see since the headband and the cloth covered so much of her face. She waited, realizing she was holding her breath.

The Doctor moved steadily toward her, his eyes looking over her carefully. He saw the brace running down her leg, the vest with the crossed bands of ammunition and the cloth covering her face. His eyes wandered up to see the short, dark hair. He could not help but think that she reminded him of what she had looked like when she first came on Voyager. He forced himself to focus on her eyes, working to ignore their blackness, knowing from the look in those eyes that he only had one chance to convince her to stay. 

The Doctor walked up to the ramp of the Flier, "Seven."

It was his voice. It was his face. It moved liked the Doctor. But it could not be the Doctor. The Doctor was dead. She could not believe what she had been told. She was afraid to allow herself to believe. She could not stand the thought of losing him twice. 

"No. Do not come any closer." She fingered the phaser on her vest, "If you do, I will kill us both."

He stopped. He saw the disbelief in her eyes. He straightened his body and forced himself to relax. "It’s really me, Seven. It is not the me that went to Earth with you. But it is the me that Kahkar copied in the sickbay." He smiled at her, "I may be missing a few memories of us, but so are you. We should be used to that by now."

She tightened her grip on the phaser, shaking her head, "No. It is a trick. It is a lie."

"It is not a lie, Seven, and neither am I." He took a small step forward and slowly lifted his right hand toward her, "There is one way you will know, Seven." He lowered his voice to speak softly to her, "Touch me, and you will know."

She would know. She looked at the hand extended toward her. As soon as she touched it, she would know. She fingered the phaser, thinking. It would almost be better to die before finding out that the person in front of her was not him. She did not want to know. Glancing down at the child in her arms, she saw the look in Kathryn B’Elanna’s eyes. Kathryn B’Elanna did not say anything. She searched her mind but could not feel her child there. It was just the look in her eyes. She knew she had to take the hand.

She did not allow herself to look at anything but the hand in front of her. She moved down the ramp, wary of any move made toward her. Keeping her eyes on the hand, she stopped, staring at it. Then, she raised her eyes to his and felt the warmth of them. She felt her stomach tighten and her body start to shake. Trembling, she reached forward with her left hand, stopping just short of touching him.

He did not move. "Seven," his voice was a whisper, "always remember our time in the dance." 

She closed her eyes and reached forward, only touching the tips of his fingers. As soon as she did, she knew. Her head went back and a low groan escaped her. She grabbed his hand, and he pulled her to him as her knees buckled beneath her. They sank to the deck. He held her tightly, then ripped the headband from her head and kissed her face and then his daughter’s. Neither spoke. He could not let go of her, and she did not want him to. 

Kathryn B’Elanna finally managed to get her arms free from her parents’ embrace and reached to wrap her arms around each of their necks, pulling their heads to hers. 

We are three, thought Seven, but we are one.

Janeway could not tear her eyes away from the couple still on their knees on the deck in front of her. She realized she had tears on her checks, but she was smiling with relief and happiness. Suddenly, she was aware that the Doctor was helping Seven to her feet. She watched as he embraced her again, unwilling to release his hold on her. With a glance at Ketaria, she approached them.

"Doctor, I am sorry to intrude, but Kahkar might need your help in the sickbay with Supala."

The Doctor turned his head to her, but did not release his hold on his wife and child, "Supala?"

"She appeared to be hurt. She was unconscious."

"What happened?" The conflict he was feeling was apparent in his voice.

"I don’t know, Doctor," Janeway gave him a worried look. 

Seven pulled back from him, "Go."

"But…."

"Go. We will be there soon." She leaned her face against his, "You must go take care of her." She kissed his cheek softly and whispered in his ear, "We will not go anywhere. I promise."

He tightened his embrace, then let her go and turned to walk out of the shuttle bay. Before he could leave, Janeway grabbed his arm. "Doctor," her voice choked on her words, "I am so glad …." She could not finish.

He reached to take her in his arms and hold her. When he broke his hold on her, he took her face in his hands and pulled her to him, giving her a kiss on her forehead. He lifted her face to him and smiled at her, "So am I, Captain. So am I." Giving his wife another glance, he let go of Janeway’s face and started walking towards the door again.

"Doctor," Ketaria called after him.

"What?" He stopped and faced her.

"Your mobile emitter." She pointed to the empty spot on his arm.

He glanced at his arm, "Oh, right. I completely forgot." Standing up straight, he ordered the computer, "Computer, transport EMH to the sickbay."

As he dematerialized, the faces in the shuttle bay turned toward Seven. She straightened, lifting her chin. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at the people staring at her. She watched as Janeway slowly approached her.

"Seven, I can’t believe you are alive." She watched as the black eyes leveled their look at her, and she felt a coldness tear through her. Swallowing hard, she reached for her, but Seven pulled away, keeping her distance. She tried again, "We are taking you and Kathryn B’Elanna to a safe place."

"Ketaria told me."

"You and Kathryn B’Elanna will be safe there."

Seven did not respond. Before Janeway could say anything else, a voice filled the shuttle bay. "Captain Janeway, I require your presence on the bridge."

Seven’s eyes widened as she recognized the queen’s voice.

Janeway saw the look, "Seven, we will explain everything to you. Please give us time. I have to go right now, but I will talk with you soon." She gave Seven an imploring look, "I realize all of this is a bit overwhelming. Just give us time, Seven."

Kathryn B’Elanna reached up to touch her mother’s face, and Seven glanced into her eyes as she spoke, "Good, Mama."

Seven looked at Janeway and gave her a slight nod of her head. Janeway acknowledged her with a grateful smile and quickly turned to leave for the bridge. A silence fell over the group as they turned their attention back to Seven. She stood silent, her eyes falling on B’Elanna.

B’Elanna saw the look. She lowered her eyes and momentarily bowed her head. She felt Ketaria turn to say something to her, but stopped her. "Would all of you let me talk to Seven?" When they looked to her questioningly, she added, "Privately."

Tom saw the look that was passing between the two women. He quickly leaned down and kissed his wife’s cheek, then looked at his mother-in-law, "Miral, let’s take To’mas to our quarters." She nodded, and he turned to Seven, "Seven, I’m glad you and the Doctor and Kathryn B’Elanna are okay." Then, he quickly left with Miral on his heels. 

Ketaria turned to B’Elanna, reaching out to take her hands. Squeezing them tightly, she gave B’Elanna an encouraging smile, "I will be in sickbay if you need me." 

"Thank you," she squeezed back, her eyes thanking Ketaria for the gift of comfort.

Ketaria turned to Seven, seeing the look in her eyes. Biting her lip, she dropped B’Elanna’s hand and left the shuttle bay, her heart heavy with worry.

B’Elanna gave herself a moment to gather her thoughts. This was not going to be an easy conversation. She could feel the anger pouring from Seven. Thinking about what to say, she finally approached Seven, giving herself a chance to look her over carefully. The woman in front of her was nothing like the Seven she had grown to know. She was so much…darker. Her face was hard, the scar and the blackness of her eyes throwing up a wall that seemed impenetrable. B’Elanna took a deep breath.

"Seven, I let you and Kathryn B’Elanna down. I made you a promise, and I failed to keep it. You have every right to be angry with me, and I know that nothing I will ever say will be able to make up for that fact. I cannot ask you to forgive me, and I won’t. I want you to know, I cannot forgive myself for that." She looked away, tears now starting to fall down her cheeks, "I’m sorry, Seven. I failed you. I failed Kathryn B’Elanna." 

"Why?"

She winced. The voice was so cold and harsh B’Elanna almost felt as if it had been a slap. She shook her head, "Why doesn’t matter. Why would only be words, excuses."

"I trusted you." Seven stepped toward her, her anger starting to boil, "I trusted you to keep your promise."

B’Elanna stood her ground and just nodded at Seven, whispering, "I know."

Before Seven could say anything else, Kathryn B’Elanna reached up to touch her face, "No, Mama." Then, she reached for B’Elanna, touching her cheek. Looking into her mother’s eyes, she said, "Good, Bala."

Suddenly, Seven saw the anguish in B’Elanna’s thoughts. She felt B’Elanna’s pain and confusion, knowing that To’mas had been threatened and hearing Ketaria’s words to her to give up her daughter and trust them.

Her daughter. 

She focused on the words, knowing the truth behind them. She felt the depth of the feeling behind the words and knew B’Elanna felt the same deep love for Kathryn B’Elanna that she felt for To’mas. Suddenly, she understood that giving up Kathryn B’Elanna had been as devastating for B’Elanna as it had been for her when she signed her own parental rights over. B’Elanna had done exactly what she herself had done and for the same reason.

"B’Elanna." Seven’s voice broke.

B’Elanna saw the black eyes glisten and the tears start to slide. She watched as one tear followed the ragged red line down the side of Seven’s face, finally falling from the bottom of the scar on her chin. Reaching her hand to grasp Kathryn B’Elanna’s hand and hold it tighter to her face, she whispered, "I’m so sorry."

But Seven shook her head, "No, there is nothing for you to be sorry for." She looked at her daughter through watery eyes, "I know. I understand." She swallowed, moving her eyes back to B’Elanna, "I…." She closed her eyes, tears now falling freely.

B’Elanna did not speak. She tentatively reached out to wipe the tears from Seven’s face. When Seven opened her eyes, B’Elanna traced the scar down the side of her face, "You were hurt."

Seven nodded, blinking rapidly. Swallowing hard, she spoke through a broken voice, "So were you."

B’Elanna’s hand froze on Seven’s face, and her eyes widened in surprise at Seven's words. After a second, she shrugged her shoulders and gave a slight shake of her head. Seven reached up, grasping B’Elanna’s hand and holding it tightly against her face.

"Thank you."

B’Elanna shook her head again, lowering it slightly as she did, "No."

But Seven nodded her head, "B’Elanna."

The tone of her voice made B’Elanna’s head come up, her eyes focused on Seven’s face, waiting.

Seven shifted Kathryn B’Elanna toward her, almost forcing the child into B’Elanna’s arms. "I thought you would like to hold…your daughter."

B’Elanna looked at her in shock, even as she pulled Kathryn B’Elanna to her in a tight hug, "Seven, you are her mother."

"Yes, but she is as much your daughter as she is mine." Her eyes cut to the side and she pulled her arms back to hold them behind her back, straightening her back, "I have learned from Kahkar and Ketaria that one does not have to be the parent to love like one. I am Kathryn B’Elanna’s mother, but I accept that you love her as your own." She looked at her child, the hint of a smile coming to her face, "As I accept that she loves you as deeply as she loves me."

B’Elanna accepted a tight hug from Kathryn B’Elanna, then looked around the shuttle bay, fighting to regain her composure. She knew that the tension between them were gone. Even though she knew Seven had forgiven her, she knew it would take much longer for her to forgive herself. She allowed herself time to pull her thoughts together and to take another long look at Seven. She saw the brace running down her leg and the vest, as well as the ammunition belts crossing her chest, complete with a multitude of armaments. Allowing a smile to come to her face, she asked, "So, Seven, is that the latest in Borg fashion?"

Seven frowned, then realized B’Elanna was attempting to lighten the mood, "No, this is my own…design."

She gave her a slightly wicked grin, "Well, I hope you won’t mind me saying so, but I think you should stick to astrometrics. Fashion Designer does not appear to be one of your talents."