A Gift of One (part 6) written by Steve Cellor

Meanwhile back in the cell another manifestation of herself had appeared to Seven.

"Seven, you’re not alone, don't cry", the light and energy entity said with a voice of perfection and harmony, which calmly bought Seven out of her depressive state.

"Who are you ?", Seven asked through slightly tear filled eyes this of which she quickly but carefully wiped away.

"As Borg we do not show weakness to anyone", she thought to herself before turning to address the strange mainly energy composed being.

Seven however had already assessed the question of what this strange entity could be.

"You're radiating waves of positively charged particles" Seven whispered calmly.

The energy entity was genuinely surprised by this individuals keen eyed perception, the others in the Mess hall could only see her glowing outline.

"Why are you here ?" growled Seven, "Come to watch me suffer, like the others?" Seven hissed, rage and emotion permeating her voice.

"No... of course not" she replied compassionately.

She was about to ask which "others" when her other presence at the mess hall looked again at the two other officers who’d steeped in.

"Cooper and Lomas" she whispered towards the two unassuming crewman, coldly.

"You know them ?" asked Lt Tuvok.

Then the series of images stopped and a perfect sensation of calm and clarity reached her.

"It wasn't Seven’s fault it was them" she spoke solemnly to Janeway.

"Seven" the whole company of observers said to each other together simultaneously, confused.

"Seven, do not send her back, to her captors."

Through some strange yet near divine gift she understood all that had and would happen. In her mind she saw Janeway being convinced by her fellow crew especially the Ensign Cooper and Lt Lomas to send Seven away on to a desolate planet and allow her to be reclaimed by the Borg, her people and what Cooper and Lomas had instigated to ensure that Janeway would throw Seven off the ship. Yet she also saw the reasons behind their incredible curtain of hatred towards the ex Borg.

"Seven is one of you now, and you should treat her as such, though many of you among yourselves may have lost many friends to the Borg you should not blame the actions of her people on her alone. Isn’t open mindedness, compassion and acceptance that all species are equal, the most treasured traits of your society, of you Starfleet ?" She wisely asked.

"You’re right, they are. But how did you know I was considering sending Seven away ?" Janeway asked respectfully towards the wise and knowledgeable being who had spoken to them.

"What are you talkin about you alien misfit ?", screamed Lomas.

Janeway and Tuvok looked at their fellow crewman with disdain and surprise at his outburst.

"Let me show you what I’m describing" she softly replied.

Reaching into each of the crews mind, those both present in the Mess hall and otherwise, she sent forth the sum of the Knowledge and images of the truth of what had happened earlier in the mess hall.

Clasping his face with both hands, Lt Lomas yelped out "You're lying, she’s a killer and as her associate so are you!"

As Janeway and Tuvok, and for that matter the rest of those present awoke with a version of the truth of what had occurred earlier, their suspicions and belief towards what this entity had showed them coalesced into the truth...

For reaching for a Phaser he had pilfered out of the security officer beside him, he levelled it directly at the glowing entity whose shape and outline had begun to form into that of a young human looking girl. He casually set his finger down upon the trigger as he would pick up a piece of food. As the bright orange ray trailed by an deadly shriek emitted and struck the unknowing but friendly entity, a pain enshrouded scream erupted and registered in each of the minds of those present in the room.

"No.." cried Janeway leaping a second too late as the Phaser beam struck home.

She felt her body crack and splinter as if a thousand pins had fell upon her uncovered Skin. A series of blinding white flashes encased the entity of light, before giving a final breath of a cry of pain the entity exploded in harmless yet bright shards of crystalline light.

"You're dead ha...!" screamed Lomas maniacally in triumph before the Telepathic cry of pain reduced all the minds she had reached within, into unconsciousness aboard the vessel except Seven.

"I'm sorry" cried Janeway weakly as she slipped into the welcoming darkness of unconsciousness before her.

While the part of her was talking to Janeway and the others, this smaller manifestation of her spoke to Seven who was still alone.

"I came because I was drawn to you, I mean your feelings", she spoke calmly "and not to see you suffer."

"You know, you're the only one aboard who’ve actually bothered to come and talk to me, for your own sake and not with what you can do and what you can't aboard this damn vessel."

Seven stated feeling calmer after being given a chance to express her inner thoughts without the fear of having someone laugh at her. Yet Seven didn’t know why, only that she felt that she could speak to this alien creature she had met for no more than a few minutes.

"You're filled with..., rage"

The entity continued after a moment to search for the appropriate word to describe her feelings.

"You're right, but I feel..."

"Better" they said at once.

For the first time in nearly twenty years Seven gave forth a burst of Joy filled giggle of laughter, and it was a sweet sound to hear.

Suddenly the reality of what had happened to her other self shocked her to the core of her being, as Sevens visage turned from that of a happy smile to one of deep concern.

"It’s Ok" whispered the entity who began to fade and shimmer as she spoke. "Lomas hit me with a Phaser beam, I can't hold my form here anymore."

"I’ll call the Doctor he’ll.." Seven spoke visibly concerned.

"It’s too late, but you needn't worry I’ll be back soon to look on how you're getting on."

"Ah" she cried as more of her form faded and arrows of light began to emit from her form.

"But there's something I’ll have to ask you to do before I go..." the being gasped weakly.

"Sure anything" Seven replied worry present upon her fair features.

"Sleep, then Sleep, it will cancel out the Pain that will rock the ship in a minute."

Though Seven objected and was confused slightly, she only had time to ask the next words before she found herself in an almost completely calm and warm place somewhere in her childhood as a human, with a irresistible urge to rest.

But before Seven did, she summoned up the will to force the following words from her mind...

"By the way what's your designation...." Seven shook her head slowly before deciding to rephrase her words in more human terms.

"I meant you’re name", Seven asked softly.

A familiar face of the girl in her visions appeared once more as the Entity’s dual consciousness as she whispered, "I think people used to call me... Kes".

Though whether Seven had heard it or not was another matter.