Copyright 2000, Susan S. McCrackin  Reprinted with permission of the author.

Ketaria was holding herself away from the Doctor and Seven while they spent time with Kathryn B’Elanna. She could tell how happy Seven was in this special place. Kathryn B’Elanna and the Doctor were thoroughly enjoying themselves and the closeness they were able to share. Ketaria watched Seven’s face as she watched her husband and her daughter. She did not think she had ever seen Seven so content. She had recognized how comfortable Seven was inside the Doctor’s program the first time they had entered it. The first time was an incredible experience for Ketaria, and she was almost able to see the love that Seven felt for the Doctor grow. She realized later, it was the first time Seven had been able to truly touch the Doctor on an emotional level. The feeling of absolute, pure love between them had almost overwhelmed her. She had cried when she told Kahkar about it afterward.

The best news was that Seven was able to manage Kathryn B’Elanna in this place and hold her close. It was partially the bond of love between them, but it was also due to Seven’s mastery over technology. 

Finally, she noticed that Seven had glanced in her direction and she nodded, acknowledging that it was time to return to awareness. She lifted an eyebrow and Seven smiled, calling to Kathryn B’Elanna and, for the first time, leading them all back to awareness. 

Ketaria opened her eyes and broke her hand hold with Seven, lifting her hands up to Seven’s face, more out of habit than a real need to assist her in coming back into awareness. Seven’s eyes opened at the same time her hands slid from her knees to wrap around Kathryn B’Elanna, who was sitting in her lap. The child and her mother took a simultaneous breath and, behind them, the Doctor materialized. Kathryn B’Elanna stood and grabbed her mother by the neck, bouncing up and down.

"Dada. Dada."

He offered his hands and she broke her hug with her mother and reached for him. He lifted her over his wife’s shoulder, "That was so much fun, wasn’t it?" He shifted his daughter to hold her in his right arm and reached down to his wife, pulling her to her feet, "I love spending time with both of you, but that time is so special."

Seven wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.

Ketaria watched as Kathryn B’Elanna reached to hug both of them while they kissed each other. She remembered Kahkar talking about how much more human Seven seemed to him. It was as if she was finally able to enjoy her marriage and her family. Even the realization that Kathryn B’Elanna was gifted with great telepathic powers was not causing the problems everyone was afraid they would. The child seemed to understand that she should not use her gifts without either Seven or herself present. Ketaria was not certain how she knew that, but she was happy she did. Regardless, Kahkar had developed a mental dampener for her to wear. It looked like a choker and everyone told Kathryn B’Elanna how pretty she looked in it. The child did not like to take it off.

Things were going so well that she and Kahkar were preparing to return to Eutaria for a visit. They had been gone from home a long time, and their crew was anxious to see friends and family. 

She started to rise from the floor and felt a hand helping her. She looked up into the Doctor’s beaming face and laughed, "It absolutely amazes me I can feel emotion coming from you after you have been there."

"I don’t think you are anymore surprised about that than I am."

She looked to Seven, "Can you feel it?"

Seven thought a minute, "Maybe. But I think I feel it on some level all the time." She looked over to the Doctor and raised her chin, "It is different inside your program, though. It is almost…more physical in there. It is much more powerful." She took Kathryn B’Elanna from the Doctor, "I must admit, I enjoyed being in that place." She gave the Doctor a special look and he returned it.

Ketaria turned, allowing the couple a moment of privacy and walked from Kathryn B’Elanna’s bedroom into the living room. Seven and the Doctor soon followed.

"So, when are you and Kahkar leaving?" He put his daughter down near her toy box and she immediately started pulling toys out, starting with her stuffed blue Flotter.

"I think we will leave in the morning," she replied, her voice expressing both an excitement and a sadness. "I am thrilled to be going home, but I will really miss all of you."

"You will be able to find us, won’t you?" Seven sat in the rocking chair and faced her.

"I think so. Still, being separated from the three of you will be difficult. Kahkar and I very much consider you a part of our family."

Seven just nodded and the Doctor said, "We feel the same about you." He moved to sit on the sofa next to her, taking her hand. "So, what is Kahkar doing?"

"He is preparing the ship for the journey. They are checking the transwarp coil. He plans to travel at transwarp speed all the way back to Eutaria."

"He has not had any problems, has he?" Seven ask, a frown on her face.

"No, but you know Kahkar," she gave Seven a knowing look, "he worries about everything that can go wrong." Kathryn B’Elanna came up to her and placed the stuffed Flotter on her lap.

"Flota." She slapped the stuffed toy. "Go Flota."

"What?" Ketaria looked at her questioningly.

"I think she is telling you she is going to see Flotter soon," answered Seven. "I am taking her to Flotter’s Forest. She is camping there with Tom and B’Elanna tonight."

"You are going to see Flotter?" Ketaria asked Kathryn B’Elanna, who started bouncing up and down, flat-footed. 

"Flota. Flota."

Ketaria looked up at Seven, "Sounds like she is looking forward to another Flotter adventure."

"That she is," replied the Doctor, "but a more traditional one."

Ketaria played with Kathryn B’Elanna a moment, then asked, "By the way, how did Flotter react to B’Elanna’s little change in his program?"

"Do you mean the little change where she turned him neon pink?"

"Yes," laughed Ketaria.

"Well," said the Doctor, "the joke was on B’Elanna."

"What?"

"He liked it. He wanted to know if she could turn him into other colors."

Ketaria threw her head back in laughter. "I wish I could have seen the look on her face!"

"She was a little put out." The Doctor shared in her laughter. "But, to be honest, I think she has developed a fondness for him."

"I am not surprised," responded Ketaria, "there is a child in B’Elanna, also. She might not want to admit it, but it is there."

"Flotter likes her," said Seven.

"Yes, I think you are right." Ketaria stood, "I must go. I promised Kahkar I would get back early to help him." The Doctor and Seven stood, then she said, "Would you two join us for the morning meal?"

"We’d love to," answered the Doctor.

Ketaria grabbed each of them by the hand, gripping tightly, then let go to reach down to lift Kathryn B’Elanna up, "Goodbye, my special little girl. I will see you again, sometime soon." She kissed the child on the cheek, gave her a tender hug, handed her to the Doctor and quickly walked to the door. "I will see you two in the morning." With a wave, she left.

**

Seven walked into the holodeck to find B’Elanna working on setting up the campsite.

"Bala!"

"Hello, sweetheart," B’Elanna dropped what she was doing and turned toward Seven and Kathryn B’Elanna, reaching for the child. "Are you ready to sleep in a tent tonight?"

Kathryn B’Elanna reached out and patted B’Elanna on the face with both hands, eliciting a laugh from B’Elanna. She looked up at Seven, "Are you sure you and the Doctor won’t join us?"

"Thank you, but the idea of sleeping on the ground is unappealing."

"You should try it sometime, Seven. You might actually like it."

Seven raised an eyebrow but did not respond. Instead, she asked, "Where is Tom?"

"He is getting the food. He is planning on cooking on a real campfire tonight." B’Elanna had barely finished speaking when they heard a voice behind them.

"Mama Seven!"

"Hello, Flotter," said Seven.

B’Elanna gave her a quizzical look, "Mama Seven?"

Seven shrugged as Flotter excitedly approached her, "Are you going to camp with us tonight? Look, B’Elanna turned me neon green this time. Isn’t it pretty? Would you like to change colors? Hello, Kathryn B’Elanna. Mama Seven doesn’t like for me to call her KB." He had turned to B’Elanna to utter his last statement, then quickly turned back to Seven, "You can share my sleeping bag if you camp with us."

"Thank you, Flotter, but I will let you and Kathryn B’Elanna share the sleeping bag tonight."

"Okay, Mama Seven." He turned to Kathryn B’Elanna, "Would you like to see the singing bird?"

Seven looked to B’Elanna who said, "I added a nightingale to the program. Flotter thought it would make the adventure more interesting."

Seven gave her a small smile and B’Elanna gave her a shrug. She leaned over to put Kathryn B’Elanna on the ground, and Flotter took her hand, leading the child over to a nearby tree. Seven looked up to see a bird in the tree, singing.

She cut her eyes over to B’Elanna, "It is colorful."

"The colors were Flotter’s idea," said B’Elanna sheepishly. Then, to change the subject, she asked, "So, what do you and the Doctor have planned for tonight?"

"We do not have anything planned."

"Really?" B’Elanna grinned at her. "I would have thought you might have had a ‘special’ evening planned since you have the place to yourselves."

Seven looked blankly at her, "Explain."

"Uh," she searched for the right words, realizing Seven really did not understand. She gave herself a moment, then brightened, "I think it’s time for a social lesson."

**

The Doctor entered his living quarters, noticing immediately how dim the living room was. 

"Seven." He walked in, then, continued, "Computer, lights to one hundred percent." He was surprised when nothing happened. He called again, "Seven."

Concerned when she did not respond, he walked into the bedroom to look for her, then stopped in surprise when he saw the bedroom lit by candles spread throughout the room. He looked around, then saw her in the flickering light. A smile started to spread across his face as she crossed slowly to him, slipping her arms around him.

"Have we been studying more earth culture and traditions?"

"No, I have been taking social lessons from B’Elanna."

"Oh?"

"Yes. She called this Seduction one-oh-one."

She kissed him and he wrapped her in a tight embrace. When they finally broke, he whispered in her ear, "Remind me to thank her the next time I see her."

**

Kahkar crawled into bed, trying unsuccessfully not to wake Ketaria. She turned to him as soon as he put his head on the pillow and draped her arm across his chest, "Finally."

"I am sorry it is so late," he said, his voice tired, "but there were a lot of last minute things I needed to take care of."

"Are we ready for our trip?"

"I think so. Everything seems to be functioning."

"Good. I think."

He pulled back his head to look at her, "Do you not want to go home?"

"I do," she sighed, "but I have mixed feelings. It is sad to think about leaving Seven, the Doctor and Kathryn B’Elanna."

"I know how you feel. I have been thinking the same thing." He pulled her closer to him, his arm around her and his hand on her shoulder, "It makes me sad to think about possibly not ever seeing them again."

She raised up, "I do not believe that. But I do believe we will not see them for a while." She rested her hand on his chest, then her chin on the back of her hand, "That part makes me very sad. I cannot stand the thought of Kathryn B’Elanna growing up without sharing it."

Kahkar did not respond immediately, and she could feel his sadness. Leaving was going to be as hard on him as it was on her. Maybe, she reflected, even more. He had allowed himself to grow closer and closer to Seven, and she knew his love for her ran very deep. Not sharing in her life and seeing her everyday was going to be very difficult for him. Still, they had a crew they had to think about, and their people needed to travel home.

"It is the right thing to do, Kahkar."

She felt his hand tighten on her shoulder but he stayed silent. They soon fell asleep.

**

She was pacing around their living quarters. From time to time, she would stop and look into the bedroom, debating whether to wake him or not. Each time, she would turn away and continue pacing. Finally, she knew she had no other choice and she entered the bedroom, sitting gingerly on the bed.

"Doctor, wake up."

He did not respond and she looked up, blowing through her lips slightly. She considered not waking him for a moment, then reached out and lightly shook him, "Doctor. Wake up."

He rolled over, his eyes opening as he did. He looked at her in confusion when he realized she was sitting on the bed next to him, opposite of the side she usually slept. He gave her a small smile as he reached out to wrap his arm around her. When he touched her, the smile disappeared immediately and he started to sit up, "What’s wrong, Seven?"

"I am in pain." The words came out in small gasps.

He could hear her fighting for control. "Computer, lights on."

As soon as the room was bright, he saw her white face and the beads of sweat on her forehead, "Where does it hurt?"

She put her hand on her lower right ribcage, "Here." The word was almost cut off as she bent over, double, groaning.

He quickly got out of bed and grabbed her by the shoulders to lay her on the bed, feeling her trembling body as he did so. "How long?"

"About an hour."

"An hour?" He looked at her, "Why didn’t you wake me?"

"I thought it would go away."

"No, you thought you would adapt." He looked at her and she reluctantly nodded. He checked her pulse and felt it racing. He quickly left and returned with his medical tricorder and scanned her. "I think it might be a problem with this implant." He looked at her, "We’d better get you to the Sickbay. Come on, I’ll help you." He reached out to help her off the bed.

"Doctor." Her words came out in puffs of air.

"What, Seven?"

"Clothes."

"What?" He looked down, "Oh. Computer, EMH uniform." His uniform appeared immediately, "Thanks. That would have been cute." He reached for his mobile emitter and attached it to his arm.

He helped her off the bed and they made their way into the living room. They had barely entered the room when she gave a deep groan and her knees buckled. He grabbed her and lifted her, "Computer, medical emergency. Two to beam to Sickbay."

They materialized in an empty Sickbay and he quickly laid her on the biobed. She immediately turned on her side and doubled up in a fetal position. The Doctor activated the biobed, reading the diagnostics. 

"Doctor." Seven’s voice was strained, "It hurts. It hurts so much."

He read the diagnostics and a frown deeply furrowed his forehead. He raised his head, "Computer, open a channel to Kahkar Omarahn." He waited a beat, then spoke, "The Doctor to Kahkar Omarahn."

It took a moment for the sleepy voice to fill the sickbay, "Kahkar Omarahn here."

"Kahkar, I am sorry to wake you, but I have Seven in the Sickbay."

This time, the voice was more alert, "What is wrong, Doctor?"

"She is in considerable pain. I think there is a problem with an implant. Would you look at her?"

"Of course. Transport to my lab. I will meet you there immediately."

The Doctor deactivated the biobed, "Come on, Seven. We are going to let Kahkar check you."

He tried to help her off the biobed but she tightened into a ball as a pain shot through her. Her face contorted in pain as her body tensed. Finally, he lifted her in his arms, "Computer, medical emergency, two to beam to Kahkar Omarahn’s lab.

As soon as they materialize, her laid her down on the examination table. He had barely put her down when the doors opened and Kahkar and Ketaria came running in. Ketaria quickly moved to Seven’s side, working to calm her. As soon as she put her hands on her, she looked up to Kahkar, her expression shocked. Kahkar started his scans and returned her shocked expression with one of his own. 

**

The voice filled her cabin. "The bridge to Captain Janeway."

One eye almost opened as she struggled to wake up. The voice came again, "The bridge to Captain Janeway."

"Janeway here." The words were mumbling.

"Captain, I am sorry to wake you but there has been an emergency transport out of Sickbay to Kahkar Omarahn’s lab."

She came up out of the bed immediately, "Who was it, Tuvok?"

"It was the Doctor and Seven."

"Do you know what was wrong?"

"No. The Doctor initiated the transport. I do not have any information."

She was out of the bed now, changing into her uniform, "Open a channel to Kahkar." She gave him a moment, then spoke, "Janeway calling to Kahkar Omarahn."

It only took a second for a voice to come back to her, "Captain." It was Ketaria, "The Doctor transported with Seven. Kahkar is examining her right now."

"Do you have any idea what is wrong?"

It was silent for a beat, then Ketaria responded, "Not yet, Captain. Would you like to transport over?"

She did not hesitate, "Yes."

"I will meet you in the transporter room."

Janeway did not even sign off as she quickly left the room. 

Ketaria was standing in front of her when she materialized, and they both started moving immediately toward the doors, "What happened?"

"I don’t really know, Captain. The Doctor contacted Kahkar and asked him to look at Seven. She is experiencing pain near an implant."

"How bad is it?"

"She is in considerable pain. Kahkar is having a difficult time examining her."

"Can he give her something to help the pain."

"He is trying not to until he knows exactly what is going on." They were approaching the doors to Kahkar’s lab.

"Where is Kathryn B’Elanna?"

"She is camping with Tom and B’Elanna."

"That’s good."

Ketaria nodded her head as they walked in the doors. Ketaria could feel Janeway’s shock when she saw Seven doubled up on the examination table and heard her groaning in pain. It took Ketaria a moment to lift her face from Seven to Kahkar and, when she did, she caught her breath. She watched as he turned to prepare a hypospray, then administered it to Seven’s neck. Her eyes stayed on her husband’s face as he watched the medication take effect and Seven’s body slowly relax. She did not take her eyes from his face as he leaned over to speak to his patient.

"I have given you something to help the pain. It will help, but it will not stop the pain completely." She saw the look in his eyes when he continued speaking, "Are you more comfortable?"

"Yes. It is getting better." She heard Seven breathe a few time and saw Janeway move to stand beside the Doctor, opposite Kahkar. Ketaria moved to stand beside Kahkar, placing her hand on Seven’s shoulder.

"Kahkar," the Doctor’s voice was tight with concern, "what is it? What is going on?"

"The implant there degraded and failed."

"What?" The Doctor’s voice was incredulous.

Kahkar picked up Seven’s hand and held it gently. She looked at her hand in his, then at the look in his eyes. Even through the medication, a look of awareness came into her eyes.

Janeway asked, "What caused it?"

Kahkar continued to look into Seven’s eyes, and he gave her a slight shake of his head.

The room fell completely silent. Finally, Seven spoke, her words a statement, "It will happen again."

Kahkar slowly started to nod his head, "Yes, Seven. It will happen again."

"Kahkar?" The Doctor was looking from Kahkar’s face to Seven’s and back. "What are you saying?"

Kahkar finally raised his eyes from Seven’s to the Doctor’s, "Seven’s implants are starting to fail." He looked back at Seven, "There is nothing I can do." His voice started breaking, "I am sorry."

"This is what you have been afraid of." Seven’s voice was calm.

"Yes. This is exactly what I have feared."

"Kahkar," Janeway’s voice was soft and incredulous, "are you saying…?" She could not finish.

Kahkar just nodded.

Seven looked at him, "How…long?"

"Maybe a couple of weeks."

She took the Doctor’s hand, squeezed it tightly and closed her eyes.

**

They were in the Omarahn’s guest quarters. Seven was in the bed, propped up with pillows, her eyes droopy with pain medication. The Doctor was sitting close by, his face a mask of shock. The Captain was sitting in a chair, her eyes locked on the couple, obviously struggling to come to terms with what was happening. Ketaria was on the bed, next to Seven, her hand on her arm, working to comfort her. Kahkar was standing at the foot of the bed, trying to find the words to explain what was happening.

"Your implants…were damaged by the chemical changes your body went through during your pregnancy. I had hoped they had managed to regenerate themselves. But, it is apparent now that they will spontaneously degrade and fail."

"Kahkar," the Doctor’s voice was desperate, "can we replace them?"

"We could replace a number of them, but some of the implants most critical to Seven’s survival are located in places that make them impossible for us to replace." He sighed deeply, "I have learned much about Borg technology over the last couple of years, but I have not learned enough to replicate the assimilation process." He lowered his head, "Seven, I honestly thought you were…going to be all right. I…." He stopped, his words trailing off.

The room fell silent. Finally, Seven broke the silence, her words slightly slurred because of the medication, "Tell me what to expect."

"You will probably experience episodes similar to the one you had tonight. Most will probably not be quite as painful. We will make certain you have medicine to control the pain. Your implants most likely will fail one by one, slowly over the next few weeks, but you could experience a sudden failure. I am not certain how it will happen." His eyes were locked on hers, his deep sadness apparent.

She took a deep breath and shifted slightly in the bed. She looked into the Doctor’s face and saw his look of shock and pain. Then, she glanced over to Captain Janeway and, for the first time, saw an expression of uncertainty and loss. She looked up at the distressed faces of Kahkar and Ketaria, who were now standing close together, holding onto each other for support.

She took the Doctor’s hand, holding it tightly, and gave him a sad smile, but she could not find any words to comfort him. She could not find any words at all.

**

Ketaria watched Captain Janeway pace around the living area of the guest quarters. From time to time, she would stop and stare at the closed door leading to the bedroom where Seven and the Doctor were. Kahkar had finally had to give Seven another dose of pain medication and she had drifted into a fitful sleep. The Doctor refused to leave her side.

Janeway walked over and sat in the chair opposite her, with the elbows on her knees and her head in her hands. After a moment, she looked at Ketaria, her eyes moist. She opened her mouth to say something, but could only shake her head. Then, she stood up and started pacing again.

Ketaria reached out to gently touch Seven, but could not feel anything. She was still deeply under the effect of the medication. She started to pull back when she felt something. She reached out again and was startled to realize she was touching the Doctor, feeling his grief. She closed her eyes, and without thinking, reached out to comfort him. After a few moments, the door opened and he walked out, his look amazed.

"You?"

She nodded, as surprised as he was.

"What?" Janeway had turned to him as soon as he opened the door. She moved to him quickly, her face fearful. "Has something happened to Seven?"

He reluctantly pulled his attention from Ketaria and looked at the Captain, "No, Captain, she is resting. Well, maybe not resting," his voice softened, "but she is sleeping." He glanced back at Ketaria, then asked the Captain, "Would you like to stay with her a while?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. If you would like to."

She nodded to him, and he passed to allow her into the room. Once she entered, he pulled the door closed and crossed to sit next to Ketaria, "How?"

"I don’t know, Doctor. I do not understand how I did that." She grabbed his hand, "But maybe it is not me. Maybe it is you."

"Me?" He shook his head, "But I am just a computer program."

"No, you are not just a computer program. You have become so much more."

His eyes wandered to the closed door and he sighed, "If I have become more, it is so much because of her." He shook his head, "Our relationship started because I wanted to reach out to help her find her individuality, her humanity." He looked at Ketaria, "Wouldn’t it be ironic if, in helping her, I found my own?" 

She squeezed his hand but did not say anything. After a moment, he lowered his head and said, his voice not much more than a whisper, "How am I going to go on without her? Kathryn B’Elanna. How can I raise her without her mother?" He looked at her, his voice now desperate, "Ketaria, what am I going to do?"

She reached out for him and pulled him close.

**

Janeway was sitting close to Seven’s bed, listening to her breathing, watching her face. Hesitantly, she reached down and picked up her hand to hold it gently. Seven turned her head, her eyes opening.

"Seven, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you."

Seven glanced down at Janeway holding her hand and wrapped her hand around Janeway’s, "Do not be sorry. I am glad you are here." She looked around the room, "Where is the Doctor?"

"He is with Ketaria in the living room."

Seven sighed and shifted her body slightly, "Captain."

"What, Seven?"

"Do not let them take Kathryn B’Elanna from him."

Janeway clinched her jaws and nodded.

Seven continued, "I know Starfleet will not recognize our marriage and that they doubt that we…he will be able to care for Kathryn B’Elanna. I know you have been fighting for us."

Kathryn Janeway’s eyes widened in surprise, "How do you know that?"

Seven’s expression turned sheepish, "Captain, I must admit to you that I accessed your confidential logs. But only the ones that referenced us in some way." She hesitated, then added, "I had to know if my family was at risk."

Janeway’s first reaction was anger but she quickly realized she would have done the same thing. After a moment she said, "You had not said anything. And you continued to help us get home."

Seven nodded, "I was trusting you to fight for us. I believed you would win."

At that, Janeway put her hand over her eyes. Finally, she looked up, her eyes wet, "I won’t give up the fight."

"I know you will not."

"We will find a way to keep them together, Seven. I promise you that."

Seven tightened her grip on the Captain’s hand and drifted back to sleep. Janeway sat and let the tears roll down her cheeks.

**

Ketaria walked into the observation deck and saw her husband sitting on the semi-circular sofa. She quietly joined him, watching the stars through the observation windows. He lifted his arm, and she tucked herself close to him.

After a moment, he said, "We are losing our daughter."

She nodded her head.