A Gift of One (part 7) written by Steve Cellor

Epilogue:

Seven was now back fully awake in her quarters, with Janeway humbly apologising for her misplaced faith in Cooper and Lomas’s deception. But also inquiring as to why of all the crew that Seven was unaffected by the telepathic cry of pain.

"Well, it looks like Lomas at least will be spending a lot of his time in the Brig after what he did to our entity friend. I owe her my eternal gratitude, for if it wasn’t for her appearance I might have made a terrible error, one that I could never have undone", spoke Janeway as she laid her hands onto Sevens warmly.

Seven didn't quite understand the human logic of wanting to make constant physical contact with one another but she did not shrug away from the warm reception.

"So, is there anything you want to tell me of what happened while the entity was talking to you at the same time it was to me ?" Janeway gently asked.

As mentally in her mind she called out to her soul mate and friend. Unknown that she had said it aloud

"Kes", Seven said "the alien entity said to me moments before she vanished that people used to call her Kes..."

The name of the individual in question and what Janeway herself had allowed to occur could only be stated in a hollowed face expression as tears welled up in her eyes in the knowledge of what she’d allowed one of her officers to do...

She could only manage a unspoken "Kes I'm sorry.." and wondered how she would explain this to the rest of the crew...

THE END