A Gift of One (part 1) written by Steve Cellor

The following story is set upon Voyager, a few weeks after the episode "The Gift" where Kes sadly departed and where Seven Of Nine joined up with the crew and struggles to fit into the status quo with the crew, many of whom aren't too delighted with her presence aboard.

(In the Captains Office)

Kathryn Janeway, Captain of the Federation Starship Voyager and her 1st officer Commander Chakotay are relaxing on a cup of succulent Caribbean coffee, Janeway's favourite beverage.

[sigh] Janeway as she lay back showing obvious signs of stress and much needed rest both physically and mentally.

"Maybe now you can take the time off and have a nap or something, it really looks like you'd need it." stated Chakotay attentively.

"I wish that I could," replied the exhausted captain of Voyager as she lay back to welcome the comforting grasp of her couch and her first officers company.

It had been rare to be granted such a occasion when their ship was neither being attacked by some alien force like the Kazon or one of the Marquis or StarFleet crew taking a personal dislike to one another and choosing to represent it Physically.

"It's about her isn't it" stated Chakotay.

"Em..."? Janeway inquired semi awake.

"Seven, I mean her presence on the ship."

Though he wasn't gifted with psychic abilities like Tuvok the past 3 and a half years had spent with his superior officer had granted him more insight of her than thought possible.

"Your not probing into my thoughts are you." Kathryn inquired jovially.

"Well," he smiled warmly "I'm not Tuvok..." then his smile faded to be replaced by a solemn look of deep thought and concern.

"Nor Kes..." he added.

The very mention of the name of the beautifull and young Ocampa girl whom they had befriended and bought aboard who would eventually become the ships most helpful and friendly member, which the crew had in itself regarded as a very personal companion had been unwillingly left behind a few weeks past., due to her sudden but untimely well developed psionic abilities.

Which as Janeway fondly but sadly reminded herself had saved each and everyone on board the ship. But what troubled her the most was what Kes had done to save them by knocking them more than 10.5 thousand light years home but leaving herself at the merciless grip of the Borg and Species 8472.

And how she felt very responsible for leaving her behind...

"Ever since..." she finally spoke tears forming in her sea blue eyes.

When Kes left, many of the crew had their morale greatly diminished for some strange reason.

"I mean we've had ceremonies for fellow officers who fell in the line of duty one way or another, but the subsequent loss felt by them usually dispersed in a week or two, but this time..."

With her first officer listening on intently she continued.

"But after the incident with the Borg and the cursed 8472, how long has it been, a few weeks ?"

"Nearly 3 months now" Chakotay answered.

"The crew both Marquis and StarFleet, are still showing the signs of her loss as if it happened only yesterday, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't among them." She added.

"She was like a universally recognised peace treaty almost like a counsellor for many of us here. Accepted by both StarFleet and Marquis." Answered Chakotay.

"A Symbol of all the warmth and kinship we left back home." Janeway replied.

"Peace for all but Tom and Neelix". The commander stated nonchalantly with an almost mischievous smile whose intent was to brighten the atmosphere and cheer his loved one up. It worked, as Kathryn Janeway turned from her sullen mood to give forth an unbridled burst ofjoyfut laughter.

Waiting for her to catch her breath, her Number one continued,

"But now it's more of Seven of Nine's presence that's most concerning right?" he asked as he looked towards his lady's eyes.

She answered his question with a brief but comforting smile.

"Was I wrong to forcibly remove her from the collective ?" Janeway asked both to herself and her companion.

After a few moments of dedicated analysis and thought about Seven of Nine.

"You gave her a life of warmth and love in return for what the merciless and forsaken existence she had been forced into. Something... many of those captured by the Borg would have given almost anything to have back."

Janeway raised her Byebrows in challenge of the words "life of warmth" about Sevens current existence with them on the ship.

"For what, so that I've had to confine her to either her quarters or the Brig for most of the time she's been with us." Janeway continued.

"You did the right thing, after all we can't be sure she won't attempt to reach her people one way or another, but now she seems happy and I'm sure the crew will liven up in time."

"But at what price, taking her from the life she knew for most of her life."

With these words the thought of the Seven filled the thoughts of the minds of both.

Just then the door chimed entered the ships chief of security, who had come to report an another unauthorised tampering with the ships systems.

"What can I do for you Tuvok" asked the Captain restlessly

"Seven has been again confined to quarters, as you requested if anything should occur again. Instead of my advice of throwing her back into the brig for the seventh time this week."

"Let me guess" interrupted her lst officer, she's attempted to alter some of the ships systems again".

"Correct" replied the Vulcan

"Well I supposed she's got to find something to do" Janeway replied hand over her face as she spoke, a familiar sign her first officer had come to identify as stress.

"Well Tuvok, let's see what are restless guest is up to again shall we" as she began arose and headed for the doors.

Though as the three occupants left the room unknown to them, an unauthorised access of the COM systems by a lonely individual in her quarters had allowed her to hear all that had been said...

Seven moved around uncomfortably upon her "sofi and bouncy" rest area and retracted herself from the food replicator. Something the other less advanced lifeforms aboard called a bed a primitive form for her peoples "regenerative chambers".

If them had wanted to welcome her into a life of love and trust they'd at least have given me a portable computer to learn about my "lost humanity" she grinded angrily.

When she wasn't even allowed access to a most basic level one, computer terminal, the one in her room had been altered so that she couldn't get to "anything important" the darn Vulcan had said. Unlike what they had assumed, all she wanted was to learn something about her fellow crewmates, so that she would be accepted as one of them and not some half-mechanical and biological alien stowaway. She didn't know why these "less advanced" life forms had even bothered to give her food and drink if she was to be kept in her quarters for the next 60 years.

"Curse that Janeway for taking me away all that I was and all that I wanted to be, all for what? She whispered to herself.

After all, what was wrong with wanting to help this "crew" get home instantly by re-adjusting the aft warp core matrix coils; better than spending most of your life getting somewhere when you could be there in a few minutes, even if it was without that paranoid half-klingon's permission. Seven thought to herself.

Anyway, what's done was done and barring that these overly paranoid humanoids began employing "Chronometric"(time travel) technology to alter the past she would still be confined to these dismal quarters. "Until Captain Janeway had a chance to speak to her" another darn lecture on the pitiful ways of being a "Sophisticated human." Her reverie was interrupted though, by a door chime.

"Seven are you in there" came the familiar voice she had come to associate with the Captain of the vessel, and also the one who tore her from the Collective comfort of those she'd grown up with.

Outside stood Captain Kathryn Janeway and her chief of security Tuvok who had brought to her knowledge that their new guest had begun to dabble with the warp coils for some reason.

"I'm sure she had a good reason," said Janeway matronly as Tuvok summarised the incident to her.

"Perhaps she wanted to access engineering and sabotage the warp drive before summoning the rest of her friends" replied the Vulcan coldly with the slightest sign of annoyance.

"We'll know soon enough" remarked Janeway.

"Seven are you in there" she asked once more when Seven did not answer

"No, i'm in engineering trying to ignite the warp core". Came a quiet but obviously annoyed voice.

"It's open." Seven added.

As the two visitors entered the room, the scene kind of reminded Janeway of her own life as a rowdy Teenager unwilling to clean up her own room, with stacks of clothes and furniture strewn everywhere.

And it was in the middle of this chaos knelt the occupant of this chamber, the ex-Borg whom the crew had no choice but to welcome into their home.

"Captain Janeway is here to see you, it would be courteous of you to stand up and address us."

Seven still sat they're glumly staring into the dark confines of her quarters, intentionally ignoring the arrival of her two visitors. The Vulcan stepped forward with the intent on doing whatever had to be done to get her to acknowledge them, dragging her up to her feet if he had to.

"No," stated Janeway, who had been analysing her new guests state of mind until now, "Leave us."

"But Captain she might..."

"and wait for me outside Tuvok" she added before signaling for her lieutenant to depart.

"If there is any problem just give me a signal." The Vulcan added.

Reluctantly, he began to depart until that is when he heard a whispered comment from the Occupant beneath his gaze.

"What, afraid that I may assimilate her" Seven stated sarcastically.

The Vulcan stood for a moment before departing without shedding another look towards the much despised, creature on the ground. As the door shut, Janeway stepped slowly forward and sat down upon one of the cushions by the unmoving figure.

"What’s wrong Seven ? Ever since you came on board you’ve seemed pre-occupied and shown reluctance to accept any offers of friendship from either myself or the rest of the crew. What can I do to make you happy ?". Janeway, stated matronly like a mother who’d spoken to their distressed child.

"You maybe, and that ensign of yours, but not anyone else." Seven almost hissed in reply to the idea of the crew offering her friendship.

"Harry you mean, he offered you friendship ?" said Janeway visibly showing interest in the matter.

"I’m surprised" mused Janeway.

"Why so because somebody would actually show a positive interest in me ?"

"No, No" the captain replied reassuringly, "It’s just that Harry’s been known to be one of the Shy ones" the captain smiled at the thought.