The Coin Toss
......."Set a course...for home."
Janeway could feel her heart racing madly as she sat in her command chair staring sightlessly at the view screen for several moments. She took a nano-second to offer a brief, mental "thanks" to the Delta Quadrant for keeping her fit before she said, "Chakotay, once you've gotten someone to replace you at the helm, plan to settle into high orbit around Earth. Come see me in my Ready Room once that's taken care of." Then she gracefully rose out of her chair and left the Bridge. In no time, she was in her office, asking her replicator for coffee, then settling behind her desk. Five minutes passed before she heard her door chime.
"Enter." She looked up at her First Officer as he swaggered in. She raised her coffee mug and her eyebrow in question.
"None for me," he replied with a wave of his hand, correctly interpreting her look after seven years of inter-play. "Congratulations, Kathryn. You said you'd do it, and you did. Not many people can hold on to a promise of that magnitude for that long. But you did, and I'm damned if I can't figure out how. And right now, I don't even care!" he grinned over at her.
She smiled and shrugged. "Not like I didn't have lots of help, Chakotay." She came around her desk to move up the steps to the sofa that ran the length of the viewport, sat down and sighed. "So. We're back. I'm going to need you to keep the crew from coming out of their collective skins. I doubt anyone will get to go home immediately," she warned. "Departments will need to be secured and reports made. There will be debriefings and questions. We can't have everyone abandoning ship as though there has been no discipline for seven years!" she stated firmly. "We'll settle in to high orbit around Earth and let Starfleet tell us where they want us, whether its Mars or McKinley Station or the front yard at Headquarters!" she said with a smile.
Chakotay rubbed his tattoo briefly. "I'd better go make an announcement, send out some memos. I'm sure there are a few already making arrangements. Maybe if we can get Starfleet to allow everyone comm’ time with their families? That'd help keep the peace," he theorized.
Janeway nodded. "I'll see to it. Let me know what you come up with." She smiled up at him. "Dismissed."
The big man nodded and left, leaving the Captain to ruminate over the last 24 hours. "Here we go," she whispered aloud .
--- --- ---
A half an hour after Chakotay returned to the Bridge and made his announcement to the crew, the Bridge Crew heard a clipped, "Janeway to Tuvok. Report to my Ready Room immediately." With eyebrow raised, Tuvok nodded to Chakotay, secured his station and entered the Captain's domain.
He found her tense form sitting behind her desk, glaring at the viewscreen of her workstation. She cut her eyes up to him and muttered, "Have a seat, Commander."
And so he sat waiting, with stoic patience.
The Captain leaned back slowly, with deliberate emphasis, and looked at one of her dearest friends. A bleak disappointment evident in her countenance. A hint of fear, if you knew where to look for it. And Tuvok, having much practice throughout their years of association, did. It was not logical to speculate on which of the dozens of issues could be affecting his commanding officer, however; so he waited.
Janeway looked down at her hands, which she had unconsciously clutched together. "You and I spoke of something about a year and a half ago, Tuvok. You had just been released from Sick Bay," she began softly. "I was walking you to your quarters. I'm sure you remember the conversation," she prodded. "I need to know if its something you're still willing to do." She looked up, sorrow, anger, and bitter disappointment warring on her features.
To say he was surprised was understatement. Being Vulcan, however, he did not allow it to show. "My thoughts on the matter have not deviated, but what has occurred that has led you to believe such steps are necessary?" he asked.
Janeway leaned forward to angle her viewscreen so that he could read the information she summoned with a few clicks on her keyboard. She watched as he read the official memo from Starfleet Command, obviously received in the brief time they had been back and saw his brow hike higher on his forehead. She then watched him sit back in his chair, the picture of calm. She was so very grateful for that calmness. Especially now.
Tuvok hesitated only briefly before speaking. So briefly, only their long association with each other allowed her to even notice. "Captain, I believe I have been somewhat presumptuous," he stated evenly.
Janeway leaned forward in wary anticipation.
"Shortly after that conversation, I sent an application through the Midas Array for forwarding to Vulcan. The application itself was highly encrypted and hiding in an innocuous letter to T'Pel. The letter contained hidden instructions for decrypting the application and what to do with it. The next letter I received from T'Pel informed me that everything was prepared." Tuvok tilted his head and continued, "there is only the matter of Seven of Nine's approval for completion. I have been holding on to the documentation ever since."
"How can you be sure Starfleet didn't decrypt the letter and the application?" Janeway pressed.
Were he not Vulcan, Janeway was sure she could classify the look on his face as a smirk. "Seven of Nine was the cryptographer used," he replied. "She did not, however, inquire as to the contents, merely assisted me with one of her strongest Borg encryptions, as per my request."
"Tuvok," Janeway breathed, "are you sure? I know what family means to you and T'Pel." She hesitated, shocked that her long-time friend would act so hastily.
"Indeed, Captain," returned the Vulcan, one brow high on his forehead. "It is something I had contemplated prior to our discussion. I hold Seven of Nine in high regard."
Janeway was stunned. For her security chief to make such a statement was the equivalent of a human affectionate response. She knew the two were close but had no idea the extent of their interaction over the last four years.
"She has no one, Captain," Tuvok stated bluntly. Janeway gasped, shocked at the amount of emotion the statement implied. Tuvok contradicted her. "My statement is not motivated by sentiment. Rather it is a logical assessment of facts. She has only distant relatives she has never met, related to parents for whom she holds much contempt. Seven of Nine's value is immense. She must be protected. Vulcan can offer her that protection. That I appreciate her in much the same way as I regard Asil is, as you would say, a bonus."
The Captain’s jaw dropped. She was stunned. "Tuvok," she murmured. "I had no idea." Then she snorted, “Not motivated by sentiment…my ass. No matter how logical it appears, Tuvok, you wouldn’t offer to adopt someone without there being some sentiment attached.” However, Kathryn did see his point. If he already regarded Seven as a 'daughter' in thought, to make her so legally was only logical. "In that case," she said softly, "I believe we need to meet with Seven immediately. Time could very well be of the essence." She gifted the Lt. Commander with a pointed look.
He nodded and rose from the chair. "I will retrieve the documentation from my quarters and return with alacrity, Captain." That said, at her nod, he took his leave. He glanced at no one on the Bridge as he passed through, though he felt their curious stares.
--- --- ---
In her Ready Room, Kathryn quickly shot Chakotay a note detailing orders to distribute the personal comm’ time throughout the crew that Starfleet had approved and arranged. She then grabbed her coffee mug, took a large gulp, and grimaced at the cold liquid. She got up to fetch a fresh cup from her replicator before heading, once again, to the upper level, deep in thought. She gazed sightlessly out the viewport, wondering how things had gotten away from her. She sighed. Face it, Katie. You're wondering how SHE got away from you. How you LET her get away from you.
The Captain shook her head. She had no idea how to fix her relationship with Seven. They had become so distant from each other in recent months. Having been so close for years, this pained Kathryn in ways she didn't want to acknowledge. It was completely unacceptable. When did this happen? Janeway snorted and shook her head ruefully, looking down at her coffee. She knew when it happened. Quarra. Jaffen. Her failure to understand and come to grips with her actions during that time led her to distance herself from Seven. That distance allowed Seven to explore other options. Kathryn bit off a curse. Dammit.
The call of the door chime brought her out of her melancholy. "Enter."
She tapped her communicator when she saw her Chief of Security enter with a PADD in his hands. "Janeway to Seven of Nine."
---Seven of Nine here, Captain.---
Janeway tipped her head up toward the ceiling. Smiled slightly. A quick twist of her lips. "Would you please come to my Ready Room, Seven?" she asked gently, imagining the raised optical implant on her Astrometrics officer's Nordic features.
---I will comply. Seven out.---
Janeway chortled softly.
Tuvok raised an eyebrow. "Captain?"
Still smiling, Kathryn made her way back down the steps and slid in behind her desk before explaining. "In four years, Tuvok, she has NEVER learned that the Captain closes the communication channel." She smirked and continued, "she also rarely remembers to ask for permission to enter my office."
Tuvok tilted his head. "This does not seem to displease you, Captain."
Janeway held her coffee mug to her lips with both hands, lifted both eyebrows, and murmured quietly, "caught me," her blue eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Indeed," he replied, his own amusement not evident to anyone but Kathryn, pleased that Janeway was beginning to make certain acknowledgements regarding her all-too-Human emotions.
In mid-swallow of her precious coffee, Seven walked into her office unannounced. Janeway immediately started choking.
Seven walked quickly to older woman's side, "Captain, are you damaged?" she asked, concern evident in her tone.
Kathryn waved her hand briefly and coughed one more time. "I'm fine, Seven. Please...have a seat." She nudged the blonde toward the front of her desk, her hand tingling where it briefly brushed the former drone's corseted waist.
Seven's brows were furrowed skeptically but moved around the desk as requested. "I prefer to stand, Captain," she stated, which was typical behavior for the ex-drone. She stood with perfect posture and placed her feet shoulder width apart, her hands clasped loosely behind her back.
Kathryn gazed fondly at her Borg. "Comply please?" was all she replied. Her voice was quiet and gentle, not unlike it used to be before they grew apart. Seven made a mental note of this, her optical implant high on her forehead.
"Very well," she acquiesced easily. Rarely able to refuse Janeway anything, though the Captain was unaware.
Tuvok, however, was aware. He and Seven had engaged in many conversations over the years which had allowed him to draw that conclusion previously. He was inordinately pleased at the interaction he just witnessed between the two females.
Unbeknownst to Janeway the thoughts of her two officers, she began the meeting. "Seven, Tuvok has something he'd like to ask you. I would bear witness," she officially noted. She turned the meeting over to him with a nod.
Tuvok knew, through experience in dealing with the young science officer, there was no need to dissemble. He merely handed over his PADD of official Vulcan documentation.
Seven accepted the PADD and read the contents at lightening speed. Then she did something completely out of character. She read it again. A useless need given that the data was stored in her eidetic memory after one reading. She simply could not help herself. A Human frailty, she mentally noted.
Dazed, Seven looked up. Her gaze unerringly finding Janeway's. That grounded her somewhat. She looked over to Tuvok. "Sa-mekh?" she asked softly in disbelief.
Tuvok nodded. "Ko-fu," he stated firmly. "Kuv tu nar-tor."
Seven looked back down at the PADD in her hand. "This was completed nearly a year ago. Why did you wait to ask me?" she queried the stoic man.
Tuvok shifted in his chair, vaguely disconcerted at the question. "I am not completely sure," he began. "It was shortly after the Tsunkatse incident, and I did not wish to add to your burdens. With family comes much responsibility and obligation. It is often difficult deciding when to protect and when to encourage a daughter. It is a fine line. Now that we have arrived back in the Alpha Quadrant, I suspect you will encounter many changes. I wish you to have as much support as possible," he concluded, looking at her openly.
Seven nodded in acceptance. Vulcans as a rule did not prevaricate. Tuvok was no exception. "I accept, sa-mekh. Nam-tor dor-tor," she finished softly, humbly honored. She pressed her human thumb to the PADD, activating the Borg code that backdated the acceptance to nearly a year ago. She passed the PADD to Janeway and watched impassively as the Captain, whose eyes were suspiciously moist, added her own thumbprint to the document, sealing it as witness, also backdated to the same Stardate. Tuvok's thumbprint signature the only one actually added ON that Stardate. Janeway handed the PADD to Tuvok for safe-keeping.
The Captain cleared her throat. "Seven, this documentation is important in more ways than you know." She glanced up at the blonde, taking in her beautiful features.
The former Borg tilted her head. "In what way, Captain?" she asked, perplexed. She shot Tuvok a swift glance.
Janeway stifled a sigh and a curse before replying, "To put it bluntly, Seven, StarFleet Command is demanding that I turn you over to them for 'debriefing and examination.' I refuse," she growled through clenched teeth, "to allow ANYONE to treat you with such disregard and as less than a vital member of my crew!" She took a deep, fortifying breath. "Tuvok, however, showed me that I would not have to resort to measures likely to get me a swift and speedy court martial," she dryly continued.
Seven looked startled. Whether it was at StarFleet's demands or Janeway's reactions, no one but Seven knew. The ex-drone quickly turned to her left, hands gripping the armrests of her chair. "Sa-mekh?" she asked tensely, ready to bolt from the room. She also had a distinct desire to track down Icheb and check his status.
“Calm is required, Daughter.” Tuvok began, turning Seven’s mental energies onto a more constructive path. This was a relief to Janeway, who could envision an out-of-control Borg storming through Headquarters, lashing out at those who threatened her.
Tuvok continued, “You are now a member of a prominent family on Vulcan. The Vulcan Ambassador to the Federation is fully aware of this adoption. The Vulcan government will not allow StarFleet to take possession of any legal Vulcan citizen without proof of criminal activity. You have no need to worry regarding this matter,” he stated with finality. His logic was irrefutable.
Seven exhaled, partially relieved. Her focus may have been redirected by her sa-mekh’s intervention, but her anxiety was not completely eradicated. She looked up at Janeway, fear in her eyes. Kathryn’s heart skipped a beat at seeing it. “What is it, Seven?” she murmured.
Seven shuddered. She then looked to Tuvok. “Icheb is Borg. And Brunali. A Delta Quadrant planet NOT associated with the United Federation of Planets,” she bit out. She glanced back and forth between Tuvok and Kathryn. “Sa-mekh, Captain," she addressed them both. "He is important to me,” she stressed, leaning forward.
Janeway immediately tapped the communicator on her chest, wanting to rid Seven’s beautiful baby blues of the abject fear she saw there. “Computer, locate Icheb.”
---Icheb is in Astrometrics.---
Janeway continued, “Computer, what is Icheb’s status and is there anyone else in Astrometrics?”
---Icheb is active. There is no one else in Astrometrics.---
Seeing that Seven was only marginally comforted, she made one final request of the computer. “Computer, run continuous scans of Icheb’s status. Notify myself, Seven of Nine, and Lt. Commander Tuvok of any changes in status or if his biosigns disappear from Voyager. Authorization Janeway pi zero one epsilon alpha.” She watched as Seven visibly relaxed.
---Acknowledged. Scans in progress---
Janeway sat back in her chair and sighed. “Any ideas?” she raised an eyebrow at her security chief.
Tuvok nodded. “Yes.” He turned to Seven of Nine. “Would you be agreeable to adopting Icheb?” he asked bluntly.
Janeway and Seven immediately saw where he was going. Seven’s optical implant rose high on her forehead. “Yes,” she replied. She nodded and inferred, “as my son he, too, would become a Vulcan citizen. He would be your grandson.” She looked to her sa-mekh for confirmation. He tilted his head in acknowledgement. “Efficient,” Seven praised her adoptive parent.
Janeway smirked. High praise, indeed.
She then leaned forward. “Tuvok, compile the documentation for Icheb’s adoption immediately. I don’t want to give StarFleet a chance to remember I have two Borg on my ship.” Her lips thinned in disgust. “Now that we’re back in the Alpha Quadrant, you should be able to send it directly to Vulcan.”
Tuvok nodded and rose from his chair. “If that is all for the moment, Captain, I will take my leave to begin the adoption proceedings.”
“Dismissed, Commander,” she stated wistfully. “Seven. A moment, please,” she requested as Seven stood to depart, as well.
The blonde turned back to her Captain and placed her hands behind her back in a pose Janeway privately referred to as ‘Borg Parade Rest.’ “Yes, Captain?” she queried.
Kathryn snickered as she came out from behind the desk. “At ease, Seven,” she murmured. “Come on,” she coaxed, lightly grasping the former drone’s elbow to gently propel her to the upper level of the Ready Room. Janeway wanted to use this occasion to start bridging the gap that had come between them.
“Captain?” Seven was puzzled at the petite woman’s behavior but gamely went where directed. Truthfully, nearly everything about Janeway puzzled the Borg these days. She missed their interaction tremendously. It was like an open wound that would not heal. She tried filling the void with other engagements, but that endeavor has been largely unsuccessful. Chakotay briefly crossed her mind, leaving her feeling ill-at-ease. She was confounded by that relationship and had no one but Neelix to discuss it with. Her most important avenue to humanity had been closed to her in recent months.
Seven perched on the edge of the sofa, where the Captain indicated, and waited for the other woman to speak.
--- --- ---
On the Bridge, Chakotay was becoming frustrated. He didn’t like being kept out of the loop. And that was exactly what it felt like Janeway was doing. At first, when she called Tuvok in and he was gone for so long, he thought it might be about the Maquis crew onboard. He was becoming more and more certain of it when Tuvok emerged from the Captain’s office, strode across the Bridge and left in the turbolift. The First Officer was further embittered when the Vulcan arrived back on the Bridge moments later and again entered the Ready Room. He had, in fact, been moments away from interrupting the two to find out if that was the case when Seven of Nine stepped out of the turbolift and strode directly to the Ready Room and let herself in! Without so much as a nod in his direction! It was at that point that he began to quietly seethe.
He hadn’t liked it when he stepped out of the Ready Room earlier, and Seven was no longer on the Bridge. He felt vaguely…dismissed when he stepped out onto the Bridge to learn she had excused herself while he was in with the Captain. And then she blatantly ignored him when she arrived on the Bridge awhile ago! It was unacceptable, and he would be sure to address such interactions with her later, after things settled down.
So now he didn’t know what to make of the meeting between the Captain, the Vulcan, and the Borg. He was stewing in his chair when the doors to the Ready Room swished open a fifth time and Tuvok again stepped out. The Vulcan security chief gave him a barely perceptible nod before leaving the Bridge. That meant Seven was left in the office with the Captain. Alone. Now he was really unsettled.
--- --- ---
Back in the Ready Room, Janeway and Seven were settled onto the sofa on the upper level. They could see Africa clearly as Voyager finally entered into orbit around Earth.
Janeway’s gaze was wistful as she took in the sight. The entire day seemed so surreal. Was it only an hour ago that they were trading phaser fire and torpedoes with the Borg in the Delta Quadrant? Kathryn shook her head, trying to shake off the images.
Seven watched Janeway. And Janeway felt it. Janeway shivered. And Seven noticed.
“What are we going to do, Seven?” Kathryn whispered.
“Captain?” Seven questioned, unsure what was required of her.
Janeway smiled faintly at her Borg. Kathryn knew she was confusing the younger woman. She just couldn’t help herself. She sat for several minutes, gathering her thoughts, trying to decide where to begin. After a long moment of silence between the two, Janeway reached a decision.
“I’ve missed you, Seven,” Kathryn finally stated quietly.
“I have been here,” Seven replied equally quietly, instinctively knowing they were speaking of deeper meanings. She was fervently hoping they would finally come to an understanding and regain the closeness they had enjoyed previously. With her entire future undecided, Seven wanted THIS one aspect of her life to be secure. She needed it. She required it to function acceptably. This she knew with absolute certainty.
It was not meant to be, however, as Voyager’s First Officer interrupted.
---Chakotay to Captain Janeway---
The Captain sighed in frustration. She rested a hand on Seven’s knee as she tapped her comm’ badge. “Janeway here, Commander.”
---Captain, you have a call from Admiral Paris.---
Seven, meanwhile, couldn’t keep her eyes off of Janeway’s delicate hand where it rested lightly against her person. She was overcome with an urge to grasp it but resisted. Her cortical node was assaulted by dozens of sensations when the Captain gently squeezed her knee with that hand before letting go and rising from the sofa. It took Seven a second to focus back on her surroundings, completely confused about her reactions to Janeway’s touch.
The Captain started down the steps to take the call at her desk. “I need to take this call, Seven. We can continue this discussion later, I hope?“ Getting no answer, Janeway turned back toward the blonde. “Seven? Are you alright?” Kathryn asked, her voice laced with concern. She had rarely seen Seven disassociate like she just had.
“I am functioning, Captain.” stated the former drone, her very word choice indicating otherwise to Janeway. This further frustrated Kathryn because she absolutely could not take a moment to investigate what was bothering the woman.
“I’ll come see you in a little bit,” Kathryn offered. Seven just nodded. “I promise, Seven. I’ll make time for this,” she insisted.
That finally got a reaction out of the Borg. Seven smirked. “I find that acceptable, Captain.” And not allowing another word, Seven turned and immediately left the room.
Janeway laughed out loud alone in her Ready Room.
--- --- ---
Outside her Ready Room, Seven came face to face with an unpleasant and frustrated Chakotay.
To Be Continued…
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