Siblings Of Fate

Working together

 Ensign Kim walked into Astrometrics to give Seven the daily ops log for sensor re-calibration. He found Captain Janeway also in the room after acknowledging her presence he announced, "I just passed Maria and Ryomai heading to the shuttle bay to and they were in a heated conversation."

Seven proceeded to work on the sensor re-calibration.

Janeway looked at Seven, "What were they discussing?"

"You've got me. They were talking in that language that Ryomai described. The same language that was playing in the mess hall with that music last night. The same language that the universal translator can't translate." Harry described as he shook his head, "I do think that they were fighting and that it wasn't pretty. There were two words I seemed to understand and that was Korean word for naked and the Latin word for dream."

"You know Latin Ensign?" Janeway asked in shock.

"A few words but they were used in the same statement. Their language is a mash of many languages and our universal translator can't figure it out because the grammar is so mixed up and doesn't match any known syntax."

Seven looked up, "I can understand it."

Janeway turned to Seven, "How?

"I am unsure but this is not at all how I understand other races that the Borg have encountered." Seven stated slowly."

Harry shook his head, "I might be able to get you a recording of their speech if you want to try and translate it for us."

Seven turned to look at the screen, "I am not sure it would work that way. It was a feeling and not so much words. It was... uncomfortable to experience." Seven said as she chose her words.

Janeway leaned in, "I could order you to try and translate their conversation you know?"

"I know captain however I would like to forget that Maria is even here." Seven responded as she resumed her work.

Janeway placed her hand on Seven's shoulder, "You need to do this at your own pace. Seven but just know that we have a week to get this right."

Ensign Kim shrugged, "I have to see Lt. Torres about an issue in engineering."

After Harry left the room Seven turned back to her work, "OK Seven what is bothering you. And don't tell me that you need to get back to work. We are discussing this here in astrometrics so you can work while you talk."

"If Maria is my sister and not something else that we can't detect. When we found Icheb's parents' you made him go with them until we found evidence to prove they were not fit parents. When Azan and Rebi's people were found you made them go with them and even encouraged Mezoti to go when they offered." Seven responded tersely with an edge to her voice.

Janeway sighed, "Seven they were children. You are an adult, you can choose where you would like to stay. Maria has also never said anything about asking you to join her and leave us."

"Am I an adult Captain?" Seven asked the captain

"Seven of course you are! Just because the doctor and I care about your unique medical needs doesn't mean you aren't an adult. When you first came on board there was a necessity because you needed that help but now it is just to be a reassurance to you. You always have the final say in what happens to your medical needs. What happens to you now is your own say. So if you want to learn from Maria then learn from her if not then just say so and you can change your schedule so that for the next week you won't have to run into her." Janeway protested to Seven with the passion she had learned to reach the former drone.

"I will let you know my decision shortly about how I would like to approach the situation." Seven announced as she turned back to her work.

Janeway nodded and placed her hand on Seven's hand, "Take your time but maybe before you make your final choice visit with her one more time."

Seven didn't respond so Janeway took her leave.

*****

Tom poked around the shuttle, "So what does this console do?"

Maria pushed him aside, "In this state, it has no function. If you touch it you could give us hours of more work."

"What can I do to help you?" Tom asked as he stepped aside.

Ryomai handed him a familiar tool, "You can follow behind me and seal the conduits after I have realigned them."

Tom took the tool and shook his head, "All this interesting technology and I get to seal conduits."

Seven entered in, "Can you use another set of hands?"

Tom jumped up, "You can take my very exciting spot of sealing conduits. I think I am getting a stiff back from crawling around behind Ryomai here."

Ryomai shook her head, "You only just began helping me. You have hardly been crawling around behind me either."

Maria nodded, "I have a task you can help me with if you are interested."

Seven nodded and followed Maria to a cockpit seat, "I need to realign to navigation relay's and I need someone who understands alternate forms of travel other than just the limited range of a warp engine."

Tom protested, "I know more than you think. And warp travel isn't limited."

"Ryomai shook her head, "Lieutenant Paris, you have no idea. And Seven isn't even going to see the piloting mechanisms involved with this system."

Seven sat next to Maria and took a look at the console. "Where are we supposed to start?"

Maria smiled, "If you follow my lead and confirm the sensor locks where it is supposed to and that there is no deviation."

Seven nodded and watched what Maria did before checking the results on her monitor.

Maria spoke, "I am glad you came down to see me."

"I am still not sure. The captain urged me to visit with you before I made up my mind." Seven announced as she confirmed alignment.

Maria initiated another scan, "Well I am glad you are giving this a chance and not just blocking me from your life."

Seven nodded, "These controls are very responsive could I see some more?"

Maria smiled and nodded, "Here is a peek at what powers our computers."

Seven took a glance at the coding and turned to look at Maria, "I have never encountered a species that used a trinary computer system."

"You mean our computer is different from other computer systems you have found?" Maria inquired as she moved to look at the screen display.

"No, every race I encountered during my time with the collective used the standard Binary form for a computer operating system." Seven announced as she looked again at the readout.

Maria tapped some buttons and the programs began running again. "I have only ever known the trinary system that runs our computers on KO-35 and our ships."

"Seven nodded, "Why don't we finish aligning your sensors?"

Maria agreed, "Let's do that, and then maybe we can go somewhere and talk away from prying ears."

Seven looked behind her to where Tom was trying to look busy but she knew him well enough to know that he was listening to everything they said.